[Social characteristics of a HIV-positive patient group]. / Características sociales de una población VIH positiva.

OBJECTIVE: To discover the social, economic and cultural characteristics of the HIV+ population within our health area and any consequent implications for the spread of the disease. DESIGN: A descriptive study by means of a direct questionnaire. SETTING: The Macarena area in Sevilla. PATIENTS: 110 HIV+ patients. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: A questionnaire, which included items concerning work situation, cultural and economic status, drug habits, sexual behaviour and social situation, was administered to 110 people. The determinant social profile of those patients studied was: male, PVDU, between 25 and 34, heterosexual, with multiple sexual partners, resident in the urban area, economically dependent on their parents with whom they live, and having a low education level. Homosexual patients had a higher education level. CONCLUSIONS: 1. The social conditions of marginal groups must be changed, in order to lessen drug consumption and so cut the epidemiological transmission chain. 2. High-risk behaviour, rather than high-risk groups, should be referred to, given that (albeit to a lesser degree) this infection can affect people at any social level, who engage in high-risk activities.

[Endogenous digitalis]. / Digitálicos endógenos.

During the past 10 years, several groups of researchers from different laboratories have carried out research on an endogenous substance or substances which had cross immunoreacted to digoxin antibodies in patients without previous cardiotonic treatment. The increase has been demonstrated in various clinical cases which involve an augmentation of plasmatic volume. A considerable amount is known about its molecular structure and anatomic origin; the competitive inhibition of the sodium pump being quite clear.