Body composition and resting energy expenditure in a group of children with achondroplasia.

BACKGROUND: Persons with achondroplasia develop early obesity, which is a comorbidity associated with other complications. Currently, there are no validated specific predictive equations to estimate resting energy expenditure in achondroplasia. METHODS: We analyzed the influence of body composition on this parameter and determined whether predictive models used for children with standard height are adjusted to achondroplasia. In this cross-sectional study, we measured anthropometric parameters in children with achondroplasia. Fat mass was obtained using the Slaughter skinfold-thickness equation and resting energy expenditure was determined with a Fitmate-Cosmed calorimeter and with predictive models validated for children with average height (Schofield, Institute of Medicine, and Tverskaya). RESULTS: All of the equations yielded a lower mean value than resting energy expenditure with indirect calorimetry (1256±200 kcal/day [mean±SD]) but the closest was the Tverskaya equation (1017 ± 64 kcal/day), although the difference remained statistically significant. We conclude that weight and height have the greatest influence on resting energy expenditure. CONCLUSION: We recommend studying the relationship between body composition and energy expenditure in achondroplasia in more depth. In the absence of valid predictive models suitable for clinical use to estimate body composition and resting energy expenditure in achondroplasia, it is recommended to use the gold standard methods by taking into account certain anthropometric parameters.

The perception and management of emotions in nursing students under clinical training / La percepción y la gestión de las emociones en los estudiantes de enfermería en formación clínica

BACKGROUND: Patient care must be understood holistically and to achieve this goal, nurses must be aware and familiar with the world of emotions. Poor handling of emotions by nursing professionals can affect their health, also leading to lower-quality care. Therefore, it is important to explore the management of their emotions before becoming a nurse. PURPOSE: To evaluate Perceived Emotional Intelligence in 3rd- year nursing students in an academic context and in clinical practicum. METHODOLOGY: Longitudinal and prospective design. The Trait Meta-Mood Scale-24 was used at three different moments, the first two corresponding to the academic context and the third to the clinical practice context, the age variable was also analyzed. RESULTS: 40 students of an average age (24.81±1.164 years old). Perception and Emotional Regulation were found to be different according to the learning context. Students over the age of 25 years old were also found to perceive their emotions better, but to understand them worse. CONCLUSIONS: Nursing students' perception of their own emotions may vary in function of their learning context, with age being a factor that has an influence on the management of emotions. Implications: In the design of the nursing program it's important to include managing emotions and to choose when to do so.

Space-time analysis of ovarian cancer mortality rates by age groups in spanish provinces (1989-2015).

BACKGROUND: Ovarian cancer is a silent and largely asymptomatic cancer, leading to late diagnosis and worse prognosis. The late-stage detection and low survival rates, makes the study of the space-time evolution of ovarian cancer particularly relevant. In addition, research of this cancer in small areas (like provinces or counties) is still scarce. METHODS: The study presented here covers all ovarian cancer deaths for women over 50 years of age in the provinces of Spain during the period 1989-2015. Spatio-temporal models have been fitted to smooth ovarian cancer mortality rates in age groups [50,60), [60,70), [70,80), and [80,+), borrowing information from spatial and temporal neighbours. Model fitting and inference has been carried out using the Integrated Nested Laplace Approximation (INLA) technique. RESULTS: Large differences in ovarian cancer mortality among the age groups have been found, with higher mortality rates in the older age groups. Striking differences are observed between northern and southern Spain. The global temporal trends (by age group) reveal that the evolution of ovarian cancer over the whole of Spain has remained nearly constant since the early 2000s. CONCLUSION: Differences in ovarian cancer mortality exist among the Spanish provinces, years, and age groups. As the exact causes of ovarian cancer remain unknown, spatio-temporal analyses by age groups are essential to discover inequalities in ovarian cancer mortality. Women over 60 years of age should be the focus of follow-up studies as the mortality rates remain constant since 2002. High-mortality provinces should also be monitored to look for specific risk factors.