Prevalence of corpus callosum pathology in an unselected population. Should assessment of the corpus callosum be included in the routine 20 weeks scan?

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of abnormalities of the corpus callosum (AbnCC) in a non-selected population, to propose a systematic screening protocol for AbnCC in all populations through direct assessment, and to describe the follow-up and prognosis of all AbnCC cases diagnosed in our clinical setting. METHODS: This was a retrospective review of the prevalence of AbnCC over 11 years. We included a sagittal assessment of the corpus callosum (CC) in the second-trimester scan. AbnCC was classified into complete agenesis of CC (ACC) and dysgenesis of CC (DCC; including small, partial agenesis, thick and with lipoma). RESULTS: Of the 38,586 second-trimester scans performed during our screening, 43 cases of AbnCC were detected (prevalence of 0.8/1000). Of the AbnCC cases, 10 cases were identified as ACC (29.40%) and 24 as DCC (70.59%). Follow-up investigations showed that in the 43 cases with AbnCC, 76.5% had other associated ultrasound abnormalities, 26.5% had genetic abnormalities, 11.8% had other MRI abnormalities, and 25% of the children had neurodevelopmental delays (8.8% of the total), which were severe in only one case. CONCLUSIONS: AbnCC is found in approximately 0.8/1000 of cases in an unselected population. The findings suggest that systematic and direct assessment of the CC as part of screening ultrasound in the second trimester of gestation should be recommended as a routine practice.

Ageing with Parkinson's: Identification of Personal Needs in the Northern Spanish Context.

As individuals diagnosed with Parkinson's disease enter older age, the myriad challenges and complications associated with this condition tend to escalate. Hence, there is a critical necessity to comprehensively discern the perceived needs of these individuals, along with their proposed remedies and essential support requisites. Additionally, understanding the perspectives of their families becomes imperative to formulate tailored interventions aimed at enhancing their overall development, progression, and quality of life. The study's main objective is to assess the perceived needs of individuals with PD and their family members, propose necessary solutions, and suggest future perspectives. The study encompassed a cohort of 268 participants, comprising 179 individuals diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and 89 of their relatives. A meticulously designed structured interview instrument consisting of 93 items was employed to assess various domains encompassing perceived needs, institutional support mechanisms, essential solutions, and future anticipations. Results: Statistically significant differences were found in health resources, social services resources, obstacles, solutions, and future outlook, with higher mean values from the relatives. Conclusions: The results highlight the most concerning needs in this context. Specifically, those needs related to health resources, social services resources, and future outlook present the greatest differences between the two subsamples, with the family members perceiving more needs. This alignment extended to both the categorization of unmet needs and the requisite solutions envisioned to address them. Suggested improvements include a sociosanitary strategy, stakeholder involvement, and prioritizing flexible home assistance to support older individuals with PD and their families.

Dietary Adequacy in Older Adult Nursing Home Residents of the Northern Iberian Peninsula.

According to the latest data, Spain (19.4%) and Portugal (21.8%) are the two European countries with the highest percentage of older adults. Concerns about diet quality are increasing, especially among institutionalized older people, who are at the greatest risk of malnutrition. To assess the adequacy of dietary intake of 186 older adults (>65 y) institutionalized in public nursing homes (NH) in Galicia (Northwest Spain) and the Porto district (Northern Portugal), a cross-sectional study has been carried out. The double-weighing method and a country-specific food composition database were employed for nutritional assessment. Nutritional adequacy was assessed based on the recommendations of the EFSA and WHO. Caloric intake in Spanish NHs was higher than in Portuguese facilities; 20.3% and 35.8% of Spanish and Portuguese residents, respectively, had a protein intake below the EFSA recommendation, and 46.2% and 44.9% of residents in Portugal and Spain, respectively, had lipid intakes below the reference intake range. Further, 45.5% of the residents in Portugal and 66.9% in Spain had a carbohydrate intake within the recommended range. Salt intake was higher than the recommendation for 67.0% and 32.3% of the residents in Spain and Portugal, respectively. This study supports the notion that institutionalized older adults are prone to significant nutritional inadequacies.

Inserción laboral de las matronas graduadas entre los años 2001 y 2005 / Integration into the workforce of midwives graduated between 2001 and 2005

Objetivo: Conocer las características de la inserción laboral de las matronas que se graduaron entre los años 2001 y 2005. Personas y método: Estudio observacional, descriptivo y transversal. Se estudiaron todas las matronas que se graduaron en España entre los años 2001 y 2005, en 18 Unidades Docentes de Matronas pertenecientes a 15 Comunidades Autónomas. Se utilizó un cuestionario elaborado por el equipo investigador que se envió por correo postal o electrónico. Resultados: Se recibieron 328 cuestionarios cumplimentados, un 44,14% de los enviados. Todas las matronas que respondieron habían trabajado como matrona, y el 89,3% (293) consiguió trabajo en menos de un mes. Tenía un contrato fijo el 12,2% (38), lo tenía interino el 43,9% (136), y el resto tenía un contrato eventual. El 84,8 (263) desarrollaba su actividad asistencial en el hospital. Un 24,2% (74) estaba en situación de pluriempleo. El 5,4% (18) no trabajaban como matronas. El número de matronas que estaba trabajando en la misma CC.AA. que se había formado era inferior al 50% de las matronas formadas en Canarias, Castilla-La Mancha, Cataluña, Galicia y País Vasco. Conclusiones: La inserción laboral se realiza rápidamente y la situación de pluriempleo es alta, lo que indica escasez de profesionales. La mayoría de las matronas desarrolla su actividad asistencial en hospitales. Hay unidades que forman a más matronas procedentes de otra comunidad que de la propia, como consecuencia de esto son menos las matronas que trabajan en estas comunidades que las que se formaron en ellas (AU)

Objective: To characterize the integration into the workforce of midwives graduated between 2001 and 2005. Participants and method: A descriptive, observational, cross-sectional study was performed. It included all the midwives who graduated from 18 Midwifery Teaching Units in 15 Spanish autonomous communities from 2001 to 2005. A questionnaire prepared by the research team and distributed by postal or electronic mail was employed. Results: We received 328 completed questionnaires, 44.14% of those sent out. All the responders had worked as a midwife and 89.3% (293) had found work within less than a month. Thirty-eight (12.2%) had found permanent jobs, while 136 (43.9%) had substitute positions and the remainder had temporary jobs. In all, 84.8% (n=263) were working in a hospital. Seventy-four (24.2%) held more than one job. Eighteen (5.4%) were not working as midwives. The number of midwives who were working in the same autonomous community in which they had received their training was less. Than 50% among those who had studied in the communities of Canary Islands, Castilla La Mancha, Catalonia, Galicia and the Basque Country. Conclusions: Midwives are integrated rapidly into the workforce and many work in more than one place, an indication of the shortage of these professionals. Most of the midwives work in hospitals. There are units that train more midwives from outside their community. Consequently, the number of midwives working in these communities is lower than the number who studied midwifery there (AU)