2,5-Dimethylfuran as a Validated Biomarker of Smoking Status.

Introduction: Exposure biomarkers are required in tobacco use studies to accurately assess smoking status since self-reporting usually results in misclassification estimates. This study uses breath analysis and assesses some volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as potential biomarkers of tobacco smoke exposure.

Methods: Forced-expiratory breath samples were obtained from 377 volunteers (174 smokers and 203 nonsmokers).

Embryonic ductal plate cells give rise to cholangiocytes, periportal hepatocytes, and adult liver progenitor cells.

Unlabelled: BACKGROUND& AIMS: Embryonic biliary precursor cells form a periportal sheet called the ductal plate, which is progressively remodeled to generate intrahepatic bile ducts. A limited number of ductal plate cells participate in duct formation; those not involved in duct development are believed to involute by apoptosis. Moreover, cells that express the SRY-related HMG box transcription factor 9 (SOX9), which include the embryonic ductal plate cells, were proposed to continuously supply the liver with hepatic cells.

[Influence of personal, professional and cross-national factors in burnout syndrome in Hispanic Americans and Spanish health workers (2007)].

Background: Burnout syndrome is related to cultural and individual factors. The aim of this study was to compare the frequency of burnout and the scores for its three components with the perceptions and the demographic and professional characteristics of the workers.

Methods: Burnout syndrome was studied in 11,530 Hispanic Americans and Spanish healthcare professionals (51% male, mean age 41.

[Evolution of anxiety and depression detected during hospitalization in an Internal Medicine service].

Objective: To study the evolution of the symptoms of anxiety (Ax) and depression (Dp) two months after hospital release and factors associated with their persistence.

Method: An observational longitudinal study. Patients with Ax or Dp, evaluated by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HAD) scale on the fourth day of hospitalisation, were followed over two months without the use of psychopharmacological drugs.

[Burnout syndrome in health workers and relationship with personal and environmental factors].

Objectives: High rates of professional burnout syndrome have been found among health service professionals. Our objective was to study the prevalence of burnout syndrome in hospital health workers and to determine its relationship with personal and environmental factors.

Methods: A total of 2290 health workers from five hospitals in the province of Girona (Spain) were invited to participate.