Effectiveness of a flamenco and sevillanas program to enhance mobility, balance, physical activity, blood pressure, body mass, and quality of life in postmenopausal women living in the community in Spain: a randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to test the effectiveness of a dance therapy program in improving mobility, balance, physical activity, blood pressure (BP), body mass, and quality of life in postmenopausal women in Spain. METHODS: Fifty-two sedentary postmenopausal women (mean age 69.27 ±â€Š3.85 y) were randomly assigned to receive either dance therapy (n = 27) or self-care treatment advice (n = 25). The intervention group participated in 2 months of dance therapy, three sessions weekly, based on Spanish folk dance (flamenco and sevillanas). The control group was provided a booklet containing physical activity recommendations. Mobility, balance, physical activity, BP, body mass, and quality of life were assessed at baseline and posttreatment in both groups. Statistical analysis was performed using a 2 × 2 analysis of variance (ANOVA). RESULTS: Women in the intervention group showed significant improvements in mobility and balance (timed up-and-go test [P = 0.022], cognitive timed up-and-go [P = 0.029], and one-leg stance test results [P = 0.001]), physical activity (total time index [P = 0.045], energy expenditure [P = 0.007], vigorous physical activity [P = 0.001], leisure activity [P = 0.001], moving [P < 0.001], and activity dimension summary [P = 0.001]), and fitness (overall fitness [P = 0.039], cardiorespiratory fitness [P < 0.001], speed-agility [P = 0.001], and flexibility [P = 0.007]) compared with those in the control group. No differences were observed in BP, body mass, or quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: Spanish dance therapy may be effective to improve mobility, balance, and levels of physical activity and fitness in sedentary postmenopausal women.

Effectiveness of an occupational therapy intervention in reducing emotional distress in informal caregivers of hip fracture patients: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effectiveness of an occupational therapy intervention program in reducing emotional distress in informal caregivers of hip fracture patients. DESIGN: Single-blind randomized controlled trial. SETTING: A public Trauma and Rehabilitation Hospital in Granada, Spain. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 186 caregivers and their care recipients with hip fracture (93 in each group) were allocated to an intervention group or a control group using a block system. INTERVENTION: An occupational therapy intervention during patient hospitalization focused on patient handling by caregivers and ergonomic treatment for both. MAIN MEASURES: The Goldberg General Health Questionnaire was used to measure emotional distress and psychological well-being. The Goldberg Anxiety and Depression Scale was used to measure caregiver affective illness. RESULTS: Among informal caregivers, emotional distress decreased to a greater extent in the intervention group than in the control group from the first assessment to the six-month follow-up (intervention group: 4.16 (SD 4.57) to 2.81 (SD 2.93); control group: 4.61 (SD 4.57) to 4.24 (SD 4.30)), showing significant differences at the first, third and sixth month. As regards anxiety levels, significant differences were only found at the third month (1.54 (SD 2.09) vs. 2.35 (SD 2.53) in the intervention and control groups, respectively (p < 0.05)), although the intervention group always showed lower levels from the first month. Although depression levels decreased in both groups, the decrease was also greater in the intervention group. CONCLUSION: Occupational therapy training for caregivers of hip fracture patients helps to significantly reduce emotional distress, anxiety and depression in caregivers.

Influencia del estado nutricional, niveles hormonales séricos e historia familiar de cáncer en el desarrollo del cáncer de mama / Influence of nutritional status, hormones serum levels, and family history on breast cancer development

Background: Several studies have analyzed the relation between obesity and the hormonal imbalances generated by overweight and a family history of breast cancer. All of these factors are potentially implicated in the early development of breast cancer. Aim: To verify the existence of a significant relation between the nutritional status of breast cancer patients, their hormone serum levels (estrogens, prolactin, and progesterone), and the existence of a family history of breast cancer. Material and Methods: Retrospective data was collected from clinical records of524 women diagnosed with breast cancer in a Spanish hospital. Results: There was a positive association between estrogen, progesterone and prolactin serum levels and body mass index. The elevations in hormone levels occurred earlier in life among women with a family history of breast cancer. A two way ANOVA found a significant association between progesterone and prolactin levels with the age at diagnosis of breast cancer. Conclusions: Extreme serum levels of these hormones appear to be related to the early development of breast cancer, which in turn is influenced by the existence of a family history of cancer among those women with normal or average hormone levels.

[Influence of nutritional status, hormones serum levels, and family history on breast cancer development]. / Influencia del estado nutricional, niveles hormonales séricos e historia familiar de cáncer en el desarrollo del cáncer de mama.

BACKGROUND: Several studies have analyzed the relation between obesity and the hormonal imbalances generated by overweight and a family history of breast cancer. All of these factors are potentially implicated in the early development of breast cancer. AIM: To verify the existence of a significant relation between the nutritional status of breast cancer patients, their hormone serum levels (estrogens, prolactin, and progesterone), and the existence of a family history of breast cancer. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective data was collected from clinical records of 524 women diagnosed with breast cancer in a Spanish hospital. RESULTS: There was a positive association between estrogen, progesterone and prolactin serum levels and body mass index. The elevations in hormone levels occurred earlier in life among women with a family history of breast cancer. A two way ANOVA found a significant association between progesterone and prolactin levels with the age at diagnosis of breast cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Extreme serum levels of these hormones appear to be related to the early development of breast cancer, which in turn is influenced by the existence of a family history of cancer among those women with normal or average hormone levels.