[Smoking in schools. A cross-sectional epidemiologic study of a population of 4,281 school children]. / Tabaquismo escolar. Estudio epidemiológico transversal en una población de 4.281 escolares.

Smokers begin to acquire their habit early. The objective of this study was therefore to determine real smoking habits among young people in Spain and create a profile of the adolescent smoker. A questionnaire was administered to a cross-section of the population. The results obtained coincide with reports by other authors in the Spanish and international literature. We found that the prevalence of smoking among young people between 9 and 19 years of age is approximately 25% and tobacco use increases with age. Young smokers participate less in sports and have a greater tendency to approve tobacco advertising. Young smokers' reasons for starting to smoke are diverse and the notion of "being grown-up" did not appear to apply to our cohort. We discuss, in the light of recent findings, the role of parents and social context in encouraging young people to smoke. The age of 14 is a key moment for taking up and establishing the habit of smoking.

[Pulmonary carcinoma associated with bullous emphysema]. / Carcinoma pulmonar asociado a enfisema bulloso.

Malignant complication of pulmonary bullous disease is rare but not negligible. Its importance lies in the young age when it appears. Eighty-nine cases in the literature, including four of our own cases, are included in this review. Etiopathogenic theories are discussed along with clinical, radiological, pathological, diagnostic, prognostic, and treatment characteristics. Smoking is a primary factor in this process, and quitting is key in terms of prevention. Surgical methods are usually necessary to perform the diagnosis, but that does not exclude the use of other techniques-particularly, fine-needle aspiration biopsy under radiological control-whose role should be validated. The prognosis is bad if there is no commitment to prevention. Even though the value of serial radiological controls is unknown, such controls may help in the early detection of neoplastic degeneration in bullous disease. The nature of the problem in handling these cases therapeutically is determined by the severity of bullous dystrophy: therefore, surgery should be considered on an individual basis.

[Sleep apnea syndrome. Clinical manifestations and treatment with continuous positive airway pressure in 40 patients]. / Síndrome de apnea del sueño. Manifestaciones clínicas y tratamiento con presión positiva continua sobre la vía aérea (cPAP) en 40 pacientes.

Sleep obstructive apnea syndrome (SOAS) is defined by the existence of recurrent respiratory pauses during sleep, in general accompanied by arterial hypoxemia. In the present study the clinical characteristics of 40 patients diagnosed of SOAS are defined, highlighting amongst them de time sleepiness (85%), unavoidable sleep (85%) and tendency to snore (100%). Incidence is greater in males, in the fourth or fifth decades of lives in obese subjects (82%) and with associated hypertension (38%). Treatment with continuous positive pressure on respiratory tract (cPAP) achieves a significant decrease (p less than 0.001) in the mean duration of apnea and in the apnea-hypopnea/hour index, and it also manages to significantly increase arterial oxygen saturation. Similarly, a good adaptation to treatment, with a drop out rate of 7.5% and the absence of serious complications are observed.

[Bagassosis. Allergic pneumonitis in an industrial employer (author's transl)]. / Bagazosis. Enfermedad pulmonar en un trabajador industrial.

A clinical observation of bagassosis in an industrial employer is reported. The disease had an acute initial onset with severe respiratory distress and roentgenographic image of pulmonary diffuse nodular infiltrates. Clinical manifestations and radiographic pattern disappeared after 4 months of corticosteroid therapy. Bagassosis is an allergic pneumonitis of hypersensitivity; other cases published up to the present time are reviewed as well as clinical symptoms, roentgenologic pattern, pathological findings and immunological origin corresponding to this condition. Bagassosis was first reported in 1937, it is an uncommon disease and its different forms of clinical presentation may lead to misdiagnosis. Cessation of exposure usually results in complete recovery.