Genetics of population exchange along the historical Portuguese-Spanish border.

The present analysis compares the distribution of surnames by means of spatial autocorrelation analysis in the Spain-Portugal border region. The Spanish National Institute of Statistics provides a database of surnames of residents in the western Spanish provinces of Zamora, Salamanca, Cáceres, Badajoz and Huelva. The Spanish and Portuguese patterns of surname distribution were established according to various geographic axes. The results obtained show a low diversity of surnames in this region - especially in the centre - which can be explained by the absence of any major geographic barriers, with the exception of the mountain ranges between hydrographic basins, and by the presence of traditional roads that have existed since Roman times. The latter have resulted in a constant migratory flow over short-median distances, which, as can be deduced from the surnames, fits two north/south territorial axes running parallel to the border between Spain and Portugal. The distribution patterns of Portuguese and Spanish surnames differ with regard to their frequencies in the five provinces studied, which can be attributed to their respective historical, economic and social conditions. It is concluded that the border delimiting these two countries has affected the migratory flow, thereby conditioning the demographic and genetic structure of the western Spanish regions.

Factors determining the variation in birth weight in Spain (1980-2010).

BACKGROUND: Low weight and premature deliveries arouse clinical interest concerning the survival of newborns. The determinants of birth weight among Spanish natives and immigrants may differ. Research which considers maternal origin and associated factors such as age and parity is important. AIM: This study analyses and models the influence of the rapid and intense arrival of immigrants in Spain on birth weight variation. METHOD: Data on deliveries from the Spanish National Institute for Statistics (n = 9 443 882) are analysed regarding low birth weight, premature births and other variables. The inter-relation among these variables was interpreted by means of logistic regression models. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The birth weight has decreased since 1980 in Spain, but has slightly recovered in recent years. Meanwhile the percentage of foreign maternities increased to 17.3% in 2010. Logistic regression models assess the different influence of variables known to determine low birth weight (weeks of gestation, sex, etc.) and other maternal characteristics (age at delivery, professional activity, etc.). The progressively greater contribution of foreign women to total births in Spain and their differential numerical input to the various risk groups have slowed the pattern of reduction in the mean weight of newborns in this country.

[Effects of an intensive thalassotherapy and aquatic therapy program in stroke patients. A pilot study]. / Efectos de un programa intensivo de talasoterapia y terapia acuatica en pacientes con ictus. Estudio piloto.

INTRODUCTION: Stroke remains the leading cause of acquired disability. Health and social planning and management may vary and although prevention is crucial, having better treatments and strategies to reduce disability is needed. AIM: To determine the effect of an intensive program of thalassotherapy and aquatic therapy in stroke patients, valuing clinical parameters and functional validated scales. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A quasi-experimental prospective study consisting of a specific program assessed pre- and post- 3 weeks treatment to 26 stroke patients with a mild-moderate disability. The outcomes measured were: Berg Balance scale, Timed Up and Go test, 10-meter walking test, 6-minute walking test and pain Visual Analogue Scale. RESULTS: After intervention, participants had a significant improvement in all outcomes measured. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that an intensive program of thalassotherapy and aquatic therapy could be useful during stroke rehabilitation to improve balance, gait and pain.

TITLE: Efectos de un programa intensivo de talasoterapia y terapia acuatica en pacientes con ictus. Estudio piloto.Introduccion. El ictus es la principal causa de discapacidad adquirida. Su planificacion y gestion (sanitaria y social) varia y, aunque la prevencion resulta crucial, no es menos importante disponer de mejores tratamientos y estrategias para reducir la discapacidad. Objetivo. Analizar la eficacia de un programa intensivo de talasoterapia y terapia acuatica en pacientes con ictus, valorando parametros clinicos y escalas funcionales validadas. Pacientes y metodos. Se realizo un estudio prospectivo cuasi experimental con 26 pacientes con discapacidad leve-moderada postictus. Los pacientes fueron evaluados con las siguientes escalas: equilibrio de Berg, equilibrio dinamico/Timed Up and Go, marcha de 10 metros, seis minutos de marcha y escala visual analogica del dolor, antes y despues de realizar tres semanas de tratamiento. Resultados. Finalizado el tratamiento programado, se obtuvieron diferencias significativas para todas las variables estudiadas. Conclusion. Un programa intensivo de talasoterapia y terapia acuatica contribuye a mejorar el equilibrio, la marcha y la percepcion del dolor en estos pacientes.

[Blood pressure values in adolescents in the Community of Madrid: Tables based on the MEPAFAC Study]. / Valores de presión arterial obtenidos en población adolescente de la Comunidad de Madrid: Tablas basadas en el estudio MEPAFAC.

INTRODUCTION: High blood pressure (HBP) is a modifiable cardiovascular risk factor and its detection at early ages may allow strategies to be designed to reduce cardiovascular risk in adulthood. OBJECTIVES: To provide blood pressure (BP) values in a sample of adolescents using an electronic oscillometric device. MATERIAL AND METHODS: BP was measured according the European Society of Hypertension guidelines using an oscillometric device. Height and weight were also measured. Four height groups were used in order to associate the 90, 95, and 99 percentiles with systolic BP (pSBP) and diastolic BP percentiles (pDBP) for sex and age: H150 (≤ 150cm), H160(151-160cm), H170(161-170cm), and H180(≥171cm). RESULTS: Data from 2,758 students aged 12-17 years were included in the analysis. BP increases with age, with differences of up to 11mmHg in boys vs. 3mmHg in girls for SBP and 3mmHg vs. 1mmHg for DBP. In high SBP, for the younger adolescents, the difference related to height was 15mmHg in boys vs. 8mmHg in girls, with no significant increase in the older ones in either gender. The high BDP varied depending on the height, 10mmHg in younger boys and 3mmHg in older ones, while in girls the variation was 3mmHg for all ages. CONCLUSIONS: SBP/DBP in adolescents increases with age and also with height, giving similar figures in the taller ones, regardless of age.

[Comparative study of bone mineralization in children and adolescents with familial short stature and a control group]. / Estudio comparativo de mineralización ósea en niños y adolescentes con talla baja familiar y grupo control de referencia.

OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to study children with familial short stature (FSS) to observe whether they develop bone mineralization similar to that seen in healthy children with an adequate height for their age and sex. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included 70 FSS patients (39 boys and 31 girls) between 6 and 20 years of age and 246 control patients with the same mean age and sex of the study group. Bone mineral density was measured in the lumbar spine and forearm by performing dual energy X-ray absorptiometry using a Hologic ADR-1000. RESULTS: The main difference between the FSS population and the control group was in the final adult bone mass, which was 20% less in the lumbar spine and 15% less in the forearm in the FSS group. CONCLUSIONS: A large difference in bone mineralization was observed among the FSS population compared to the control group during infancy and adolescence and this becomes accentuated with age or growth resulting in bone mineralization that is not optimum for facing the losses which occur during adulthood.

Apartar la mente del cuerpo: un acercamiento a los pensamientos y sentimientos de las estudiantes universitarias trabajadoras sexuales / Separating mind and body: an approach to the thoughts and feelings of female university students/sexual workers

Partiendo de la visión de estudiantes universitarias que son trabajadoras sexuales, este artículo aborda el significado que para ellas tiene dedicarse a este tipo de labor. Objetivo: comprender los significados que sobre su trabajo tienen las estudiantes universitarias trabajadoras sexuales, lo que piensan y sienten de él. Metodología: se partió de la investigación cualitativa con el uso de técnicas etnográficas, utilizando instrumentos de recolección de información como la entrevista, el diario de campo y la revisión documental. Resultados: la vida cotidiana de las estudiantes universitarias trabajadoras sexuales gira alrededor de su vida familiar, universitaria y laboral, recurriendo a la práctica de apartar la mente de su cuerpo para no sucumbir ante sentimientos de tristeza o decepción.

This article takes into account the vision of female university students who are also sexual workers and the meaning that job has for them. Objective: to understand the meaning that sexual job has for female university students/sexual workers, what they think and feel about it. Methodology: qualitative research was the starting point using ethnographical techniques such as the interview, the field diary and documental revision. Results: the daily life of female university students/sexual workers goes around their family, university and work, where they separate mind from body as a mechanism of emotional protection to avoid sadness and deception.