Atopic eczema (AE) is a chronic skin disease. Recent reports indicate that the worldwide prevalence of AE is increasing and that various environmental factors are implicated in its aetiology. Climatic conditions have been related with AE prevalence, and Spain has varying climatic conditions. The aim of this study is to document the possible climatic influence on the prevalence of AE in schoolchildren aged 6-7 years in three different climatic regions in Spain. We conducted a cross-sectional population-based survey of 28,394 schoolchildren aged 6-7 years from 10 Spanish centres in three different climatic regions. The mean participation rate was 76.5%. AE prevalence was assessed using the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire and the Spanish Academy of Dermatology criteria used in Spain to diagnose AE. The data, including annual temperature, precipitation, relative humidity and the annual number of sunny hours per climatic region, were obtained from the Spanish National Institute of Meteorology. Different AE prevalences were found in all three climatic regions studied: Atlantic, 32.9; Mediterranean 28.3; and Continental 31.2 per 100 children studied (p < 0.005). AE was positively associated with precipitation and humidity, and was negatively associated with temperature and the number of sunny hours. The results show that AE is significantly dependent on meteorological conditions.
Few epidemiological studies have compared the risk factors of asthma or wheezing between atopic and non-atopic children. The objective of this study was to determine if there are specific risk factors for current wheezing related to atopic status in schoolchildren. Schoolchildren 9-12 yr of age from three Spanish cities (n = 2720) were subject to a cross-sectional study of asthma risk factors (by questionnaire) and atopy (by skin prick test) according to the ISAAC phase-II protocol. Risk factors for current wheezing (in the last 12 months) as reported by parents were investigated among the atopic (positive prick test to at least one allergen) and the non-atopic (negative prick test) children. The prevalence of current wheezing was 13.1% in the whole group, 22.1% in the atopic group and 7.8% in the non-atopic group. However, only 62.4% of children with current wheezing were atopic. Male gender and asthma in the mother and/or the father were both significant and independent risk factors for current atopic wheezing, whereas maternal smoking in the first year of the child's life and mould stains on the household walls were for current non-atopic wheezing. In summary, this study shows that atopic and current non-atopic wheezing children in Spain do not share identical environmental and family risk factors.
Background: Mycosis fungoides (MF) is a chronic cutaneous T-cell lymphoma characterized by small cells with cerebriform nuclei that usually express a mature peripheral T-helper cell (CD4+) immunophenotype. Its evolution is typically quite slow, with years between the first manifestations and development of advanced stages of disease. Objective: The purpose of the present paper is to contribute to the material about MF already present in the literature. The review articles that have appeared to date fundamentally address the morphological characteristics, diagnostic criteria and treatment of the disease; in contrast, the present study centers on the evolution of the incidence of MF and on the knowledge of the possible risk factors implicated in its development. Methods: Review of published papers about MF epidemiology. Results: The evidence suggests that the incidence is increasing, but this may be artifactual due to improved diagnostic techniques. The risk of MF is limited to gender and race, being higher in males and in blacks. Survival is highly stage dependent, but 90% of patients survive 15 years with only 10% of cutaneous involvement. Few risk factors have been identified, but several studies have found an association with industrial exposure, particularly to oils. Conclusion: MF is a rare disease and its risk factors have not been studied in any great detail. A European case-control study in progress will substantially increase the evidence available and progress towards identifying a prevention strategy.
Hospitalización domiciliaria, atención domiciliaria, alianzas estratégicas, gestión sanitaria, innovación en salud. RESUMENEn la actualidad se presentan, cada vez con más frecuencia, propuestas alternativas a la gerencia y la organización tradicionales de los servicios de salud debido a la necesidad de que estos servicios funcionen con mayor eficiencia y eficacia (1, 2). Por otra parte, el incremento de la demanda de servicios y del gasto para la salud, los cambios demográficos, sociales y de los patrones de morbilidad, y las constantes innovaciones en el campo de la tecnología, están estimulando la aparición y difusión de nuevas formas de asistencia y atención hospitalarias (3, 4).Esta actividad innovadora da preferencia a la asistencia ambulatoria y favorece la transferencia del paciente del hospital a su entorno familiar. Sus objetivos principales son mejorar la atención del paciente y lograr una utilización más eficiente de los recursos (5, 6).Entre las numerosas modalidades alternativas figuran el hospital de día, el hospital de semana, la cirugía ambulatoria, la unidad médica de corta estancia y la hospitalización domiciliaria (HD). La HD rompe con el esquema clásico de atención hospitalaria tradicional, que abarca ingreso, urgencia y consulta externa (7,8).Pese a que en la literatura hay varias definiciones de la HD como modalidad de atención, así como controversias acerca del marco en que debe funcionar, parece haber consenso en que su función primordial sería brindar al paciente en su domicilio cuidados mé-dicos y de enfermería en igual cantidad y calidad que en el hospital (4, 9). Dicho de otra forma, la HD estaría indicada para aquellos pacientes que
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.