We analysed the prevalence of cigarette smoking among subsequent birth cohorts of Spanish males and females. Data were drawn from the Spanish NHIS conducted in 1993 (n = 26 400), 1995 (n = 8300) and ...1997 (n = 8300). From the original computer files, the three surveys were pooled to obtain a single sample. A total of 33 223 subjects (16 036 men and 17 187 women) born between 1900 and 1979, ≥ 16 years old, were directly interviewed and with complete information on the history of smoking included for analysis. Based on each respondent's sex and calendar year of birth, the person was classified into a particular sex-birth cohort in the decades from 1900-09 to 1970-79. For each year from date of birth to date of survey, respondents were further classified as either cigarette smoker or nonsmoker. The prevalence of cigarette smoking among successive cohorts of Spanish men and women was estimated, with correction for excess mortality of smokers. In men, the peak in smoking was reached in the 1950-59 birth cohort (prevalence rate of 68% at ages 20-29), after increases during the previous calendar years. Smoking among women was rare until 1960. Female smoking prevalence rates increased progressively among subsequent cohorts until 1980. The age distribution of smoking prevalence in women in 1990 mimics that observed in men 40 years earlier. A substantial delay in the spread of the tobacco epidemic among men is apparent. In women, the delay in the initiation of the smoking epidemic ended with a quick diffusion of the habit.
There are currently no standard diets or practices to counteract or ameliorate the growth arrest and extremely poor feed conversion rates (FCR) in gilthead sea bream Sparus aurata caused by low water ...temperatures. The present study analysed the effects of reducing dietary lipid content from 18 to 14% during a temperature fluctuation period. Temperature was gradually reduced from 22° to 14°C over a period of 5 d, and maintained at this low temperature for a further 45 d before gradual recovery over 7 d to 22°C under controlled conditions, avoiding other stressors often present in cage culture conditions. Decreasing dietary lipid content at an elevated temperature (22°C) did not significantly affect the standard growth rate or FCRs of the sea bream, indicating a possibility to reduce the dietary energy during the months before winter. Although cold-induced growth arrest and metabolic depression were unavoidable, a well-formulated, lowlipid diet adequately met the low energy demands at low temperatures. Analysis of plasma metabolites and liver enzyme activities demonstrated a reorganisation of liver metabolism, mainly in fish on a low-lipid diet. Recovery from low temperatures was delayed, with a higher dietary lipid content required for optimal liver condition, and mineral supplementation to maintain osmoregulation and bone formation. Our results provide useful information for fish producers and researchers, suggesting that dietary lipid contents should be reduced to allow fish to better cope with low temperatures, and that improved diets with higher lipid content are required for recovery from low temperatures.
Low temperatures, and the voluntary fasting that they induce, have been implicated in outbreaks of winter syndrome in farmed gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata). Two experiments were performed with ...the objective of studying if a decrease in water temperature is sufficient to induce this disease or some of its associated signs. In the first experiment, water temperature was either acutely or gradually reduced to 8 °C. In the second experiment, fish were exposed to either 8 °C or 12 °C, or fasted at 14 °C.Although no mortalities due to winter syndrome were registered during any of the experiments, some of the signs described in affected sea bream were observed in 8 °C-exposed fish. Among the most relevant were the paleness and friability of the liver and the occurrence of fatty degeneration in the hepatocytes.During the experiments, the general state of health of fish was monitored by measuring hematic parameters and the plasma concentration of proteins, glucose and ions. Low temperatures (8 and 12 °C) and fasting at 14 °C resulted in significant decreases in the levels of the different plasma protein fractions. This drop was more important in all the 8 °C-exposed fish, due mainly to a higher descent of albumin, α1-globulins and fibrinogen. Moreover, 8 °C-exposed fish showed a fall in total white blood cells and a rise of plasma glycemia, as well as a significant drop of plasma potassium and calcium levels and a transient increase of plasma magnesium concentration. In 8 °C-exposed fish, the rate of water temperature descent did not modify the profiles of change of any of the studied parameters. These results indicate that at 8 °C gilthead sea bream are unable to maintain the levels of plasma protein fractions and ions present in control animals.
Background/objectives: A smoking law was passed by the Spanish Parliament in December 2005 and was enforced by 1 January 2006. The law bans smoking in all indoor workplaces but only in some ...hospitality venues, because owners are allowed to establish a smoking zone (venues > 100 m²) or to allow smoking without restrictions (venues < 100 m²). The objective of the study is to assess the impact of the Spanish smoking law on exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) in enclosed workplaces, including hospitality venues. Materials and methods: The study design is a before-and-after evaluation. We studied workplaces and hospitality venues from eight different regions of Spain. We took repeated samples of vapor-phase nicotine concentration in 398 premises, including private offices (162), public administration offices (90), university premises (43), bars and restaurants (79), and discotheques and pubs (24). Results: In the follow-up period, SHS levels were markedly reduced in indoor offices. The median decrease in nicotine concentration ranged from 60.0% in public premises to 97.4% in private areas. Nicotine concentrations were also markedly reduced in bars and restaurants that became smoke-free (96.7%) and in the no-smoking zones of venues with separate spaces for smokers (88.9%). We found no significant changes in smoking zones or in premises allowing smoking, including discotheques and pubs. Conclusions: Overall, this study shows the positive impact of the law on reducing SHS in indoor workplaces. However, SHS was substantially reduced only in bars and restaurants that became smoke-free. Most hospitality workers continue to be exposed to very high levels of SHS. Therefore, a 100% smoke-free policy for all hospitality venues is required.
Low temperature has been implicated in inducing outbreaks of 'winter syndrome' or 'winter disease' in farmed gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata). The responses of gilthead sea bream to reduced ...temperature followed by maintenance at low temperaturewere studied. In a first experiment, oxygen consumptionwas measured when water temperature was reduced from 18°C to 8 °C at either a rate of 1 °C· day-1 or as two 'sharp drops' (from 18 °C to 12 °C, and from 12 °C to 8 °C). In a second experiment, the water temperature was reduced from 16 °C to 8 °C or 12 °C and then maintained for 20 days to study the fish acclimation to these temperatures. In both experiments, fish stopped feeding below 13 °C and did not resume feeding when maintained at low temperatures. The decrease in metabolic activity, expressed by the oxygen consumption rate, was directly related to the fall in water temperature: the Q10(18 °C-8 °C) values were between 2.2-2.5, independently of the descend rate in water temperature. However, we observed a more reduced metabolic rate when the water temperature was below 12 °C. Fish maintained at low temperatures showed only a partial recovery in oxygen consumption (15% at 8 °C and 20% at 12 °C) after 20 days. A higher metabolic rate together with a fasting-temperature condition meant that maintenance at 12 °C was more aggressive than at 8 °C, as revealed by the condition factor and energy needs. Data suggest that 12 .C could be a threshold temperature for the metabolic activity of gilthead sea bream. The relationship between low temperatures and their possible implication in the appearance of 'winter disease' in gilthead sea bream is also discussed.PUBLICATION ABSTRACT
Ghrelin is involved in the regulation of growth in vertebrates through controlling different functions, such as feed intake, metabolism, intestinal activity or growth hormone (Gh) secretion. The aim ...of this work was to identify the sequences of
and Ghrelin receptors (
), and to study their responses to different nutritional conditions in gilthead sea bream (
) juveniles. The structure and phylogeny of
was analyzed, and a tissue screening was performed. The effects of 21 days of fasting and 2, 5, 24 h, and 7 days of refeeding on plasma levels of Ghrelin, Gh and Igf-1, and the gene expression of
and members of the Gh/Igf-1 system were determined in key tissues.
and the receptors are well conserved, being expressed mainly in stomach, and in the pituitary and brain, respectively. Twenty-one days of fasting resulted in a decrease in growth while Ghrelin plasma levels were elevated to decrease at 5 h post-prandial when pituitary
expression was minimum. Gh in plasma increased during fasting and slowly felt upon refeeding, while plasma Igf-1 showed an inverse profile. Pituitary
expression augmented during fasting reaching maximum levels at 1 day post-feeding while liver
expression and that of its splice variants decreased to lowest levels. Liver Gh receptors expression was down-regulated during fasting and recovered after refeeding. This study demonstrates the important role of Ghrelin during fasting, its acute down-regulation in the post-prandial stage and its interaction with pituitary Ghsrs and Gh/Igf-1 axis.
To determine the effects of sustained swimming on the use and fate of dietary nutrients in gilthead sea bream, a group of fish were forced to undertake moderate and sustained swimming (1.5 BL s^sup ...-1^) for 3 weeks and compared with a control group undertaking voluntary activity. The exercise group showed a significant increase in specific growth rate (C: 1.13 ± 0.05; E: 1.32 ± 0.06 % day^sup -1^, P < 0.05) with no significant change in food intake (C: 3.56 ± 0.20; E: 3.84 ± 0.03 % of body weight). The addition of ^sup 13^C-starch and ^sup 15^N-protein to a single meal of 1 % ration allowed analysis of the fate of both nutrients in several tissues and in their components, 6 and 24 h after force-feeding. In exercised fish improved redistribution of dietary components increased the use of carbohydrates and lipid as fuels. Gilthead sea bream have a considerable capacity for carbohydrate absorption irrespective of swimming conditions, but in trained fish ^sup 13^C rose in all liver fractions with no changes in store contents. This implies higher nutrient turnover with exercise. Higher retention of dietary protein (higher ^sup 15^N uptake into white muscle during the entire post-prandial period) was found under sustained exercise, highlighting the protein-sparing effect. The combined effects of a carbohydrate-rich, low-protein diet plus sustained swimming enhanced amino acid retention and also prevented excessive lipid deposition in gilthead sea bream.PUBLICATION ABSTRACT
Background: While several studies have analysed sex and socioeconomic differences in cancer incidence and mortality, sex differences in oncological health care have been seldom considered. Objective: ...To investigate sex based inequalities in hospital readmission among patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer. Design: Prospective cohort study. Setting: Hospital Universitary in L’Hospitalet (Barcelona, Spain). Participants: Four hundred and three patients diagnosed with colorectal between January 1996 and December 1998 were actively followed up until 2002. Main outcome measurements and methods: Hospital readmission times related to colorectal cancer after surgical procedure. Cox proportional model with random effect (frailty) was used to estimate hazard rate ratios and 95% confidence intervals of readmission time for covariates analysed. Results: Crude hazard rate ratio of hospital readmission in men was 1.61 (95% CI 1.21 to 2.15). When other significant determinants of readmission were controlled for (including Dukes’s stage, mortality, and Charlson’s index) a significant risk of readmission was still present for men (hazard rate ratio: 1.52, 95% CI 1.17 to 1.96). Conclusions: In the case of colorectal cancer, women are less likely than men to be readmitted to the hospital, even after controlling for tumour characteristics, mortality, and comorbidity. New studies should investigate the role of other non-clinical variable such as differences in help seeking behaviours or structural or personal sex bias in the attention given to patients.
The aim of this paper was to analyse recent changes in cancer mortality in Catalonia (Spain) between 1975 and 1998 using joinpoint regression models. Mortality data were obtained from the Mortality ...Registry of Catalonia. For each sex, age-standardised (standard world population) mortality rates were computed by the direct method, and joinpoint analysis was used to identify the best fitting points where a statistically significant change in the rates had occurred. In men, the overall cancer mortality (except skin non-melanoma) was highest in 1991 and decreased thereafter. Lung cancer was the main cause of cancer mortality, with an increase until 1989, and a subsequent levelling off (−0.8% annual between 1989 and 1998). Colorectal cancer was the second cause of cancer death, both in men and women, with a levelling-off of the rates since 1991 and 1989, respectively. In women, the mortality rate decreased for total cancer (except skin non-melanoma) since 1991 (−0.9% annually). Breast cancer increased until 1975, levelled-off and begun to decline since 1992 (−3.8% annual). Lung cancer increased since 1988 (+2.1%) and became the third cancer cause of death among women in 1998. These changes are mainly due to the decline of smoking prevalence in males, but not in females, and to the introduction of new diagnostic techniques and improved therapies for female breast cancer.
This study analyzed the pattern of smoking initiation by sex and educational level in Catalonia, Spain.
Data from the 1994 Catalan Health Interview Survey were used (n = 12,245). The age and smoking ...status of each subject were reconstructed for each calendar period. Age-specific smoking initiation rates were calculated.
Smoking initiation among females was rare until the 1960s, but from the period 1968-1972 onward a converging pattern was observed between the genders. Women with higher levels of education started smoking before other women, but the gradient of educational level has changed in recent years, with higher initiation rates among less-educated women.
These results are consistent with diffusion-of-innovations theory and could be related to social and economic changes from the 1960s onward in Spain.
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