0000000000123104
AUTHOR
Lydia Gorgojo
Spain: a decentralised health system in constant flux
The Spanish healthcare system is one of Europe’s most efficient, but urgent reform is needed if it is to cope with changing demands and rising costs, argue Jose M Martin-Moreno and colleagues
Vegetable and Fruit Intakes Are Associated with hs-CRP Levels in Pre-Pubertal Girls
The influence of diet on inflammation in children remains unclear. We aimed to analyze the influence of diet on high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels in a pre-pubertal population free of other influences that may affect hs-CRP levels. We determined hs-CRP levels in 571 six- to eight-year-old children using an hs-CRP ELISA kit. Information on food and nutrient intake was obtained through a food-frequency questionnaire. Overall dietary quality was assessed using the Healthy Eating Index (HEI). We found that girls in the highest tertile of hs-CRP levels had a higher intake of saturated fatty acid, and lower intakes of fiber and vitamin E and a lower HEI score when compared to tho…
Cholesterol and saturated fat intake determine the effect of polymorphisms at ABCG5/ABCG8 genes on lipid levels in children.
Purpose: Analysis of mutations in genes of the cholesterol metabolic pathway has not completely explained the interindividual variability of blood cholesterol concentrations attributed to gene–nutrient interactions. Thus, we analyzed polymorphisms in the ABCG5 and ABCG8 genes, involved in the regulation of intestinal cholesterol absorption, with special interest in a potential interaction with diet to determine lipid levels. Methods: The polymorphisms ABCG5 C1950G (Gln604Glu) and ABCG8 C1895T (Ala640Val) were determined by polymerase chain reaction and restriction analysis in 1227 healthy school children, aged 6 to 8 years. Results: No significant differences were found in blood lipid level…
Toenail cerium levels and risk of a first acute myocardial infarction: the EURAMIC and heavy metals study.
The association between cerium status and risk of first acute myocardial infarction (AMI) was examined in a case-control study in 10 centres from Europe and Israel. Cerium in toenails was assessed by neutron activation analysis in 684 cases and 724 controls aged 70 years or younger. Mean concentrations of cerium were 186 and 173 microg/kg in cases and controls, respectively. Cerium was positively associated with low socio-economic status, smoking, mercury, zinc and scandium (p0.001). Cases had significantly higher levels of cerium than controls after adjustment for age and centre (case-control ratio 1.074; 95% CI 1.002-1.151) and increased in further adjustment for other cardiovascular risk…
Valoración de la ingesta dietética a nivel poblacional mediante cuestionarios individuales: sombras y luces metodológicas
El desarrollo de la moderna metodología necesaria para caracterizar con rigor la ingesta de individuos y poblaciones data de hace sólo dos décadas, cuando germinó la epidemiología nutricional. La razón del carácter reciente de esta disciplina radica en el hecho de que la valoración de la ingesta dietética a nivel poblacional presenta retos complejos, que sólo van siendo superados a medida que investigamos y mejoramos los instrumentos metodológicos disponibles. En el presente artículo se revisan los métodos alternativos para estimar la ingesta de alimentos y nutrientes en los individuos. Tras una sucinta descripción de los métodos indirectos y directos de valoración del consumo alimentario, …
Cancer screening and health system resilience: Keys to protecting and bolstering preventive services during a financial crisis
The aim of this paper is to elucidate the rationale for sustaining and expanding cost-effective, population-based screening services for breast, cervical and colorectal cancers in the context of the current financial crisis. Our objective is not only to promote optimal delivery of high-quality secondary cancer prevention services, but also to underline the importance of strengthening comprehensive cancer control, and with it, health system response to the complex care challenges posed by all chronic diseases. We focus primarily on issues surrounding planning, organisation, implementation and resources, arguing that given the growing cancer burden, policymakers have ample justification for e…
Enhanced labelling on alcoholic drinks: reviewing the evidence to guide alcohol policy
Background: Consumer and public health organizations have called for better labelling on alcoholic drinks. However, there is a lack of consensus about the best elements to include. This review summarizes alcohol labelling policy worldwide and examines available evidence to support enhanced labelling. Methods: A literature review was carried out in June-July 2012 on Scopus using the key word 'alcohol' combined with 'allergens', 'labels', 'nutrition information', 'ingredients', 'consumer information' and/or 'warning'. Articles discussing advertising and promotion of alcohol were excluded. A search through Google and the System for Grey Literature in Europe (SIGLE) identified additional source…