Impact of vaccination uptake on hospitalizations due to rotavirus acute gastroenteritis in 2 different socioeconomic areas of Spain.

Rotavirus is the leading cause of hospitalization due to acute gastroenteritis (AGE) in infants and toddlers. However, rotavirus vaccination has been associated with a decline in hospitalization rates due to rotavirus AGE. A descriptive retrospective study was conducted to analyze the impact of rotavirus vaccination on the rate of hospitalizations due to AGE among children ≤2 years old in 2 areas of the province of Almería, Spain.

PREVALENCE OF METABOLIC SYNDROME AMONG ADOLESCENTS IN A CITY IN THE MEDITERRANEAN AREA: COMPARISON OF TWO DEFINITIONS.

Background And Objective: there are few studies on the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in European adolescent populations, and some have reported a higher prevalence in the Mediterranean basin area. Our objective was to examine the prevalence of MetS in adolescents in a Mediterranean city of Spain, comparing two different definitions of MetS and the associated risk factors.

Methods And Results: a cross-sectional population-based study was conducted among 379 adolescents aged 12-16.

A two-year follow-up of oral antioxidant supplementation in primary open-angle glaucoma: an open-label, randomized, controlled trial.

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of oral antioxidant supplementation (OAS) on primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) over a 2-year follow-up period.

Patients And Methods: In this open-label, randomized controlled trial, 117 eyes of 117 patients with mild or moderate POAG and intraocular pressure under control with topical antiglaucoma medications were recruited and randomly divided into three groups according to supplementation: (1) OAS with (ICAPS R(®) - Alcon Laboratories, n = 26); (2) OAS without ω-3 fatty acids (OFTAN MACULA(®) - Laboratorios Esteve, n = 28); and (3) a control group without OAS (n = 63). They all underwent visual field (VF) tests (Humphrey 24-2) and scans using a Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography (FD-OCT) device (RTVue-100) at the beginning of the study and 2 years later.

The impact of common infections on school absenteeism during an academic year.

Background: School absenteeism because of infections is one of the most important problems facing both public and private primary schools. The aim of the study was to assess the impact of infections on school absenteeism and their reduction with a handwashing program using hand sanitizer.

Methods: The study was an 8-month-long, randomized, controlled open study (N = 1,609 children, aged 4-12 years old) at 5 state schools in Almeria (Spain).

[Associated factors to insulin values in a population-based study in adolescents].

Objectives: To identify factors that correlate with insulin values and to examine its independent associations among adolescents.

Methods: A cross-sectional population-based study was conducted among adolescents aged 12-16,9 years old. A multi-stage stratified cluster random sampling method was employed.

Effectiveness of a multifactorial handwashing program to reduce school absenteeism due to acute gastroenteritis.

Background: Acute gastroenteritis (AGE) is one of the most common diseases among children and an important cause of school absenteeism. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of a handwashing program using hand sanitizers for the prevention of school absenteeism due to AGE.

Methods: A randomized, controlled and open study of a sample of 1341 children between 4 and 12 years of age, attending 5 state schools in Almería (Spain), with an 8-month follow up (academic year).

Central corneal thickness, intraocular pressure, and degree of myopia in an adult myopic population aged 20 to 40 years in southeast Spain: determination and relationships.

Objective: To determine the values of, and study the relationships among, central corneal thickness (CCT), intraocular pressure (IOP), and degree of myopia (DM) in an adult myopic population aged 20 to 40 years in Almeria (southeast Spain). To our knowledge this is first study of this kind in this region.

Methods: An observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study was done in which a sample of 310 myopic patients (620 eyes) aged 20 to 40 years was selected by gender- and age-stratified sampling, which was proportionally fixed to the size of the population strata for which a 20% prevalence of myopia, 5% epsilon, and a 95% confidence interval were hypothesized.

[Analysis of the activity of mobile rehabilitation-physiotherapy units in primary care].

Objective: To describe the home care provided by mobile rehabilitation-physiotherapy teams as a response to the needs of the dependent population, the characteristics of their application, and the results they have on patients and their functional independence.

Design: A descriptive, cross-sectional study from 2004 to June 2007.

Setting: Community setting.

Impact of bilaterality and headache on health-related quality of life in Meniere's disease.

Objectives: We analyzed the impact of bilaterality and headache on the health-related quality of life (HRQL) of patients with Meniere's disease (MD).

Methods: A case series including 86 patients with a diagnosis of definite MD according to the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) diagnostic criteria was evaluated by the Short Form 36 (SF-36) Health Instrument and the Dizziness Handicap Inventory Short Form (DHI-S).

Results: The scores on all scales of the SF-36 were significantly lower for bilateral MD than for unilateral cases, except for body pain.