[Long-term care facilities (LTCF) for the elderly: the surveillance of communicable diseases as part of health care and protection.].

During the last decades, healthcare has undergone important changes. Increased life expectancy has given rise to an aging population that, according to the United Nations, is about to become one of the most important social transformations of the 21st century. Globally, there were 727 million people aged 65 or over in 2020 (9.

Mercury, lead and cadmium in human milk in relation to diet, lifestyle habits and sociodemographic variables in Madrid (Spain).

Background: Although breastfeeding is the ideal way of nurturing infants, it can be a source of exposure to toxicants. This study reports the concentration of Hg, Pb and Cd in breast milk from a sample of women drawn from the general population of the Madrid Region, and explores the association between metal levels and socio-demographic factors, lifestyle habits, diet and environmental exposures, including tobacco smoke, exposure at home and occupational exposures.

Methods: Breast milk was obtained from 100 women (20 mL) at around the third week postpartum.

[EpiData: the natural heir to EpiInfo 6?].

EpiData is an epidemiological software developed by the EpiData Association (www.epidata.dk).

[Evaluation of a system to feedback information on Public Health: the experience of Area 2 of the Community of Madrid].

Background: In January 2000 the Public Health Service of Area 2, in the Region of Madrid, began to publish a weekly sheet on epidemiological and public health information (HISP) addressed to health professionals working in the Area. The aim of the present study was to estimate to how extend the "HISP" was known among health professionals of Area 2, and also to estimate the suitability and usefulness of its contents, during 2000.

Methods: A postal survey was carried out among a random sample of professionals working in Area 2.