Plasma folate concentrations after a single dose ingestion of whole and skimmed folic acid fortified milks in healthy subjects.

Background: Since mandatory folic acid fortification of grains and cereals was introduced in order to prevent neural tube defects, the number of products that are being fortified with folic acid is growing, especially milk and dairy products. However, the effectiveness of this action remains controversial.

Aim Of The Study: To investigate the efficiency of skimmed milk as a vehicle for folic acid fortification by the determination of the acute absorption from low-fat fortified milk compared to fortified and unfortified whole milk in healthy subjects.

Attitudes of general practitioners in Bizkaia, Spain, towards the terminally ill patient.

This paper reports the results of a survey of general practitioners in Biscay which investigated the types of narcotics used in the treatment of chronic malignant pain, the degree of their use and the difficulties encountered both in the use of narcotics and the general care of the terminally ill patient. We found that (1) 50% of the doctors surveyed used narcotics in the treatment of at least 60% of their patients with terminal disease; (2) morphine is the most frequently used narcotic, usually being given orally, and (3) those who completed the questionnaire showed themselves to be highly motivated when treating terminally ill patients. However, they considered that their motivation exceeded their level of competence and, according to the majority, collaboration between the different health services and the formation of interdisciplinary teams would be the best way to facilitate an increase in competence.