[Therapeutic effectiveness of psoralen-UV-A bath therapy in psoriasis].

Introduction: The use of psoralen baths with long-wave UV radiation, known as PUVA bath therapy, is useful in the treatment of psoriasis. The therapy is not associated with systemic adverse effects and the dose of UV-A radiation administered is lower. The objectives of this study aimed to identify the variables that influence the effectiveness of PUVA bath therapy and the duration of remission, as well as to determine factors that predict relapse.

[The handicaps and the need for services among the aged detected in the health survey OARS-Vigo].

Background: In populational studies the standardized questionnaires of multidimensional functional evaluation, particularly the Older Americans Resources and Services Program-Multidimensional Functional Assessment Questionnaire (OARS), have shown to be the most adequate tools to evaluate the elderly persons living within the community.

Methods: A health care survey was performed by personal interview in the homes of a stratified randomized sample of people over the age of 65 years in Vigo, Galicia, Spain obtained from the Municipal Inhabitants Patronage (n = 841) using complete validated versions of OARS in the Spanish and Gallician languages.

Results: The prevalence of severe/absolute handicap in the basic functional areas among this population over 65 years was 7.

[Enteral nutrition and changes in taste in diabetic patients: a double-blind prospective study].

The authors present a prospective double blind test aimed at objectively determining the acceptance of flavoured orally administered enteric diets specific to patients with glucose metabolism alterations (Glucerna and Precitene Diabet), in the light of the taste disorders described in such patients. Sixty-two patients were studied, 32 diabetics and 32 control patients, who were given a sample of each product; the level of acceptance was quantified on a modified wine-tasting scale. The average taste of the diabetics was 12.