[Laughter: gender differences]. / La risa: diferencias según el género.

Laughter is associated to many physiological and psychological benefits. Although women laugh more than men do, the daily frequency of laughter does not seem to differ. Laughter in all its forms and manifestations is an indicator of family vitality and healthy couples. Laughter is very attractive at the interpersonal level, especially for women. Men use humor much more and laughter when it comes to discussing sensitive health issues. In women, laughter would be more associated with greater social support in relationships and as a tool to cope with stress. Inviting laughter in the doctor's office may be very useful when directing certain messages on therapeutic management. Taking into account possible gender differences in the use of humor and laughter may help to improve the relationship with the patient and optimize the clinical application of laughter in health care and education setting.

Alcohol consumption among high school students in Barcelona, Spain.

OBJECTIVE: Since adolescents are a high-risk group for alcohol-related problems, this study was undertaken to gain insight into the prevalence of alcohol consumption among this population. METHOD: This study was carried out in the city of Barcelona using an anonymous questionnaire which included information about frequency and quantity of alcohol consumption. The sample population was composed of all the students from 13 to 20 years old who were attending high school during 1992-93 (n = 1,137) and 1994-95 (n = 1,094). The amount of alcohol consumption was calculated in alcohol units per week for 4 groups of different beverages (beer, wine, spirits and aperitifs) and also in grams per day. RESULTS: Lifetime prevalence of alcohol consumption was 92.5% in 1992-93 and 77.0% in 1994-95. Students who drank more frequently were older and male. In 1992-93, 8% of female students had an absolute alcohol intake beyond 24 g per day (risk consumption), which was the same percentage in 1994-95. Male students had a higher intake, although risk consumption rate (more than 40 g per day) was similar to that of females: 9% and 7.4% in 1992-93 and 1994-95, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: While changes in the prevalence of drinking are encouraging, the results of this study also show an increase in the quantity of alcohol consumed.

[Use and presentation of statistics methods in original articles published in MEDICINA CLINICA in 1993]. / Uso y presentación de la metodología estadística en los artículos originales publicados en MEDICINA CLINICA durante 1993.

BACKGROUND: In the last few years a marked increase has been observed in the use of statistical techniques in biomedical publications. Some characteristics of the statistical quality of the first 100 articles consecutively published in 1993 in the section of originals and surveys of the journal MEDICINA CLINICA are presented in this study. METHODS: In each original one reviewer identified errors and/or criticisms in statistical methodology. An adaptation of the protocol of statistical revision made by the journal The Lancet since november 1990 was used in addition to its own classification. Likewise, an error and/or criticism involving minimum statistical quality necessary was considered as major and that which only had a decrease in optimum statistical level was considered as minor. Statistical analysis consisted in descriptive tables of the number of originals in which each of the classified errors and/or criticisms were observed. RESULTS: Sixty-seven percent of the originals (CI 95%: 64;70) presented major errors and/or criticisms in design, analysis and inference. The most frequent were found in power and sample size (design), need for better analysis (analysis) and lack of confidence intervals (inference). Only 15% (CI 95%: 13;17) had major errors in statistical presentation and 82% (CI 95%: 80;84) minor errors among which the so-called orphaned p was of note. CONCLUSIONS: The need for accompanying the p values by the confidence intervals or taking the calculation of the required sample size into account are of note. Furthermore, the diffusion of explicit recommendations concerning the carrying out and presentation of statistical analysis is necessary.

[Current trends in the use of statistics in medicine. A study of original articles published in the Medicina Clínica (1991-1992)]. / Tendencias actuales en la utilización de la estadística en medicina. Estudio de los artículos originales publicados en Medicina Clínica (1991-1992).

BACKGROUND: In recent years there has been a notable increase in the use of statistical techniques in biomedical journals. Furthermore, the complexity of statistical analysis has increased because of data processing. In this study statistical accessibility is quantified and the types of statistical analysis performed in all the articles published under the section of original articles in the journal Medicina Clínica from 1991 to 1992 (volumes 96 to 99). METHODS: One reviewer analyzed a total of 264 original articles. The statistical analyses were classified according to a list with 18 categories. The quantification of accessibility was obtained from the order of the 18 categories with bivariate statistics (up to simple regression), being used as the reference threshold. Intrareviewer concordance was 97%. RESULTS: Eighty-one percent of the 264 originals used categories of statistical analysis beyond that of descriptive statistics (inferential methods). The originals used bivariate tables (49.2%) and t and z tests (33.3%) most frequently. In 1992 the use of variance analysis and survival analysis increased notably (from 12.8% to 33.8% and 7.2% to 18.7%, respectively). More complex statistical techniques that models of simple regression (threshold reference) were used in 38.3% of the originals (31.2% in 1991 and 44.6% in 1992). CONCLUSIONS: The use of inferential statistics and the complexity of statistical analysis has increased suggesting a lower statistical accessibility in the originals of Medicina Clinica. The categories of variance analysis and survival analysis were those in which the greatest increase was observed in 1992 and were responsible for the increase in the complexity of 20% of the originals.

[Current use of statistics in biomedical research: a comparison of general medicine journals]. / Uso actual de la estadística en investigación biomédica: una comparación entre revistas de medicina general.

BACKGROUND: The use of statistical techniques has become strongly consolidated in biomedical investigation. The present study analyzes the statistical repertoire of the original articles published in 1993 in four general medicine journals: Med Clin (Barc), Rev Clin Esp, Lancet and N Engl J Med. METHODS: A single reviewer examined 100 original articles from Med Clin (Barc), 42 from Rev Clin Esp, 105 from Lancet and 116 from N Engl J Med, studying the use of 18 categories of statistical analysis and the statistical accessibility of the reader. The criteria for assigning techniques to a specific category were those described by Emerson and Colditz. The knowledge of bivariable techniques (standard reader) was established as the reference for the study of statistical access. Statistical use consisted in the tabulation of frequencies, graphic representations and chi square tests. RESULTS: The five most used categories were: Contingency tables, t and z tests, epidemiologic statistics, survival analysis (in both English journals) and analysis of variance (in both Spanish journals). The percentage of articles without statistics or with only descriptive statistics was 16% in Med Clin (Barc), 29% in Rev Clin Esp, 18% for in Lancet and 23% in the N Engl J Med. A reader familiarized with bivariable techniques has statistical access to 58% for the originals of Med Clin (Barc), 62% of Rev Clin Esp, 35% of the Lancet and 42% of the N Engl J Med. CONCLUSIONS: In the four journals selected, the use of bivariable techniques is still frequent although the growing use of multivariant analysis is of note. The study of the current profile of the standard reader in Spain is the aim of priority.

[An approach to the study of excess weight in health professionals using observational data]. / Aproximación al estudio del exceso de peso en profesionales sanitarios mediante datos observacionales.

BASIS: Overweight is a public health problem in Catalonia as well. Quetelet's body mass index (BMI) is the most commonly used measurement in epidemiology for obesity quantification. This study was designed to assess its prevalence among the Catalonian health professionals. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We used a self-evaluated anonymous questionnaire which was filled up by 176 health professionals (75 men, 101 women) attending several training programmes in public health. More than 90% of the were between 25 and 38 years of age. RESULTS: Overweight prevalence (BMI > or = ) was of 15% (10% - 10% - 20%), significantly greatest among men (29%) than among women (5%). In both cases, it was mainly mild overweight. CONCLUSIONS: Overweight prevalence is highest among male health professionals, although globally, it is lower than in the general adult population of Catalonia for similar age groups.

[The current challenges of the treatment of depression: venlafaxina extended release and remission outcomes in real-world clinical practice]. / Retos actuales del tratamiento de la depresión: venlafaxina retard y datos de remisión en la práctica clínica habitual.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to assess the utility of venlafaxine for the current challenges of treatment of depression (remission and response) in real-world clinical practice. METHOD: Observational, prospective, multicenter, cross-national, sixteen-week treatment study including out-patients seen in psychiatry with mild to moderate depressive (HAM-D7) to whom venlafaxine extended release (XR) was prescribed in real-world clinical practice. Remission of symptoms (HAM-D17

La risa: diferencias según el género / Laughter: gender differences

La risa se acompaña de numerosos beneficios fisiológicos y psicológicos. Aunque las mujeres ríen más que los varones, la frecuencia diaria de risas no parece diferir. La risa es un indicador de vitalidad de la familia y de la salud de la pareja. Resulta muy atractiva en el aspecto interpersonal, especialmente para las mujeres. Los varones utilizan mucho más el humor y la risa cuando se trata de discutir sobre temas sensibles de salud. En las mujeres, la risa está más relacionada con la esfera social y se utiliza para afrontar situaciones de estrés. La facilitación de la risa en la consulta puede ser muy útil a la hora de ofrecer determinados mensajes. Tener en cuenta las posibles diferencias en el uso del humor y de la risa por varones y mujeres puede ayudar a mejorar la relación con el paciente y optimizar su aplicación clínica en el ámbito de la educación y la atención sociosanitarias(AU)

Laughter is associated to many physiological and psychological benefits. Although women laugh more than men do, the daily frequency of laughter does not seem to differ. Laughter in all its forms and manifestations is an indicator of family vitality and healthy couples. Laughter is very attractive at the interpersonal level, especially for women. Men use humor much more and laughter when it comes to discussing sensitive health issues. In women, laughter would be more associated with greater social support in relationships and as a tool to cope with stress. Inviting laughter in the doctor's office may be very useful when directing certain messages on therapeutic management. Taking into account possible gender differences in the use of humor and laughter may help to improve the relationship with the patient and optimize the clinical application of laughter in health care and education setting(AU)

Retos actuales del tratamiento de la depresión: venlafaxina retard y datos de remisión en la práctica clínica habitual / The current challenges of the treatment of depression: venlafaxina extended release and remission outcomes in real-world clinical practice

Introducción. El presente estudio persigue confrontar la utilidad de la venlafaxina retard frente a los retos actuales del tratamiento de la depresión en la práctica clínica habitual (remisión y respuesta). Métodos. Estudio observacional prospectivo, multicéntrico, de ámbito nacional, de 16 semanas de tratamiento con venlafaxina retard, en pacientes ambulatorios atendidos en consultas de psiquiatría con depresión leve o moderada (HAM-D 7). Se evaluó la remisión de síntomas (HAM-D17 <=7 y HAM-A <= 5) en 2.071 y 1.500 pacientes (de 2.515 reclutados) valorables para análisis de efectividad por intención de tratar (ITT) y por protocolo completo (PP). Resultados. A los 4 meses de tratamiento con venlafaxina retard (dosis mediana final: 150 mg/día) la tasa de remisión de síntomas de depresión y ansiedad asociados fue del 66,3 % (1.372/2.070) y del 57 % (1.180/2.071), respectivamente, en el análisis ITT (76,1 y 66 %, respectivamente, en el análisis PP). Del total de pacientes, el 19,2% abandonaron el estudio y sólo el 4,1 % lo abandonaron por tolerabilidad, siendo las reacciones adversas más frecuentes náuseas (3,87%), cefalea (2,18%) y estreñimiento (2,06%). Conclusiones. La venlafaxina retard ofrece una elevada tasa de remisión de síntomas de depresión y ansiedad asociados en pacientes ambulatorios con depresión, así como un muy buen perfil de tolerabilidad en la práctica clínica habitual

Introduction. This study aimed to assess the utility of venlafaxine for the current challenges of treatment of depression (remission and response) in real-world clinical practice. Method. Observational, prospective, multicenter, cross-national, sixteen-week treatment study including out-patients seen in psychiatry with mild to moderate depressive (HAM-D 7) to whom venlafaxine extended release (XR) was prescribed in real-world clinical practice. Remission of symptoms (HAM-D17 <=7 and HAM-A <=5) was assessed in 2,071 (ITT analysis) and 1,500 patients (per protocol analysis). Results. At 4 months of treatment, ITT remission rate after treatment with venlafaxine XR was 66.3 % (1,372/ 2,070) for depression symptoms and 57 % (1,180/2,071) for anxiety symptoms, whereas PP remission rate was 76.1% and 66%, respectively (median dose of venlafaxine XR: 150 mg/day). Of the total number of patients, 19.2% abandoned the study, but only 4.1 % withdrew due to adverse events, the most common of them being nausea (3.87%), headache (2.18%) and constipation (2.06%). Conclusions. Venlafaxine XR showed a high remission rate of either depressive or anxiety symptoms in out-patients with depression, as well as a good tolerability profile, in real-world clinical practice