AimTo evaluate the prevalence of alcohol consumption among university students during late adolescence and young adulthood and to identify the associated factors.Material and MethodsCohort study among university students in Spain (n = 1382). Heavy Episodic Drinking (HED) and Risky Consumption (RC) were measured with the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) at ages 18, 20, 22, 24 and 27 years. Data on potential factors associated with alcohol use were obtained with an additional questionnaire. Multilevel logistic regression for repeated measures was used to obtain adjusted OR (Odds Ratios).ResultsThe rates of prevalence of RC were lower, but not statistically significant, in women. The age-related changes in these rates were similar in both genders, and the prevalence of RC peaked at 20 years. By contrast, the prevalence of HED was significantly lower in women and peaked at 18 years in women and at 22 years in men. Multivariate models showed that early age of onset of alcohol use (OR = 10.6 and OR = 6.9 for women; OR = 8.3 and OR = 8.2 for men) and positive expectations about alcohol (OR = 7.8 and OR = 4.5 for women; OR = 3.6 and OR = 3.3 for men) were the most important risk factors for RC and HED. Living away from the family home was also a risk factor for both consumption patterns among women (OR = 3.16 and OR = 2.34), while a high maternal education level was a risk factor for RC among both genders (OR = 1.62 for women; OR = 2.49 for men).ConclusionsAlcohol consumption decreases significantly at the end of youth, with higher rates of prevalence and a later peak among men. Prevention strategies should focus on beliefs and expectations about alcohol and on delaying the age of onset. Women are at particular risk for these consumption patterns if they live away from their parents. Belonging to a high-income family is a strong risk factor for RC.

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the population’s mental health. However, its impact on the consumption of anxiolytics, sedatives, hypnotics and antidepressants remains to be evaluated. Hence, this article aims to assess the prescription trends of these drugs in Portugal, from January 2018 to March 2021, while critically examining whether the COVID-19 pandemic had an impact on these prescription trends or not.MethodsA nationwide interrupted time-series analysis of the prescription data of anxiolytics, sedatives, hypnotics and antidepressants in outpatient setting of the public health sector was conducted. The data encompassed the defined daily dose per month, age range and sex and were analysed following a segmented regression approach.ResultsThe pandemic preceded an immediate reduction in the prescription of anxiolytics, sedatives and hypnotics for children and adolescents. However, an increasing trend throughout the pandemic has been noted in the prescription of these drugs, especially among adults aged 65 years or above. A drop in antidepressant prescription was observed as an immediate effect of the pandemic among male and female adolescents and elderly women. From March 2020 to March 2021, a decreasing prescription trend has been noted among men.ConclusionsWhen analysing specific genders and age ranges, differences can be noted, in terms of both immediate impact and prescribing trends throughout 1 year of the COVID-19 pandemic. The impact of the pandemic on mental health and its association with the consumption trends of psychoactive drugs, and with the access to mental health treatments, should be further assessed.

A multidisciplinary study on aerosol characterization was performed at the regional background monitoring station of El Arenosillo, in SW Spain, between 28 June and 5 July 2006. The main aim of the Arenosillo aerosol measurement campaign 2006 was to compare the results of aerosol characterization obtained by different groups by measuring physical and chemical parameters using optical methods and in situ sampling. The campaign coincided with a long-range transport episode from Western Iberia, passing through the Gulf of Cadiz and the Straits of Gibraltar towards the study area. The results of the variability of PM levels and chemical composition of PM10, PM2.5 and PM1 at El Arenosillo and at three nearby regional and urban background sites were interpreted. Mean levels measured during the campaign reached 23, 15 and 12 microg m(-3) for PM10, PM2.5 and PM1, respectively, at El Arenosillo. PM during the Arenosillo campaign 2006 was dominated by the secondary inorganic aerosols (SIA, 24, 38 and 39% of PM10, PM2.5 and PM1 mass), carbonaceous aerosols (17, 21 and 23% of the mass), crustal material (13, 9 and 4%), and sea spray (10, 5 and 1%). These values are within the usual range of regional background sites of Southern Spain with the exception of the relatively low crustal load and the high SIA levels. Two major PM episodes were differentiated. The first one was characterized by high levels of Bi, As, Pb, Se, P and Zn, which are the main tracers of the industrial emissions near the town of Huelva. High concentrations of these elements were also recorded at the nearby sites. In the second episode, maximum levels of SO4(2-), V and coarse Cu as well as the bulk mass of PM1 were determined, tracing the polluted air mass transport from Western Iberia through the Straits of Gibraltar. These results underline the importance of the influence of long-range transport of pollutants on the levels and composition of regional background PM in SW Iberia, where local emissions may also play a role.

Background: Crohn's disease (CD) affects Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) especially in patients with clinical activity but their impact over the disease during periods of remission has not been sufficiently studied. Objective: To evaluate HRQoL in CD patients in remission and to identify socio-demographic and clinical factors related. Methods: We included patients with CD in remission for at least 6 months, defined as a CDAI < 150 and a CRP < 5 mg/L. Socio-demographic and clinical parameters were recorded. HR-QoL was evaluated with Short Form 36 Questionnaire (SF-36) and the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (IBDQ). Results were analyzed using multiple regressions with a confidence interval of 95%. Results: Nine two patients (X-= 37 ± 11.4 years, 52.2% men) were consecutively included. Two patients failed to fill correctly the questionnaire and were excluded. Scores on the SF-36 were lower than in the general population of similar age and gender. The most affected dimension in the SF-36 was General Health (47.98 ± 19.58) and the IBDQ Systemic Symptoms (5.15 ± 1.27). Age, colonic location and previous surgery was related with worse HRQoL, while higher educational status, more time since diagnosis, steroid-resistance and inflammatory behavior, was associated with better HRQoL. Conclusions: Despite being in remission, CD patients had affected their HRQoL, so we must continue working to achieve improvement in HRQL of these patients during these periods of the disease.

Residential radon exposure is a major public health problem. It is the second greatest cause of lung cancer, after smoking, and the greatest in never-smokers. This study shows the indoor radon exposure distribution in Galicia and estimates the percentage of dwellings exceeding reference levels. It is based on 3245 residential radon measurements obtained from the Galician Radon Map project and from controls of two previous case-control studies on residential radon and lung cancer. Results show a high median residential radon concentration in Galicia (99 Bq m), with 49.3% of dwellings having a radon concentration above 100 Bq m and 11.1% having a concentration above 300 Bq m. Ourense and Pontevedra, located in South Galicia, are the provinces with the highest median indoor radon concentrations (137 Bq m and 123.5 Bq m, respectively). Results also show lower radon levels in progressively higher building storeys. These high residential radon concentrations confirm Galicia as a radon-prone area. A policy on radon should be developed and implemented in Galicia to minimize the residential radon exposure of the population.

Previous studies have reported increased brain deposits of iron in patients with chronic migraine (CM). This study aims to determine the relation between iron deposits and outcome after treatment with OnabotulinumtoxinA (OnabotA). Demographic and clinical data were collected for this study through a prospective cohort study including 62 CM patients treated with OnabotA in the Hospital Clínico Universitario de Santiago de Compostela (Spain). Demographic and clinical variables were registered. Selected biomarkers in plasma during interictal periods (calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and pentraxin-3 (PTX3)) and neuroimaging changes (iron deposits in the red nucleus (RN), substantia nigra (SN), globus pallidus (GP), and periaqueductal gray matter (PAG), and white matter lesions (WML)) were determined. Subjects were classified in responders (≥50% reduction in headache days) or non-responders (<50%). Responders to treatment were younger (mean age difference = 12.2; 95% confidence interval (CI): 5.4–18.9, p = 0.001), showed higher serum levels of CGRP (≥50 ng/mL) and PTX3 (≥1000 pg/mL) and smaller iron deposits in the GP and PAG (mean difference = 805.0; 95% CI: 37.9–1572.1 μL, p = 0.040 and mean difference = 69.8; 95% CI: 31.0–108.6 μL, p = 0.008; respectively). Differences in PAG iron deposits remained significant after adjusting for age (mean difference = 65.7; 95% CI: 22.8–108.6 μL, p = 0.003) and were associated with poor response to OnabotA after adjustment for clinical and biochemical variables (odds ratio (OR) = 0.963; 95% CI: 0.927–0.997, p = 0.041). We conclude that larger PAG iron deposits are associated with poor response to OnabotA in CM.

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