[An endemic goiter study of a population in the Pyrenees (Cerdanya-Girona)]

INTRODUCTION

To evaluate the iodine deficiency, the scholar population is the most usually studied. However, the survey in general population offers information about the most affected groups. Our work was made in the frame of a health survey of Cerdanya (12,200 inhabitants), and five years after salt iodination.

AIMS

Aims.--1) Prevalence evaluation of endemic goiter and urinary iodine excretion in Cerdanya population (> 6 y.). 2) Measurement of iodine concentration in drinking water.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

492 individuals were randomly recruited (46.5% men and 53.5% women). A questionnaire and estimation of thyroid size (Pérez) were performed. Urinary iodine excretion was determined (Benotti) in 25% of the subjects. Measurement of iodine concentration in drinking water were performed.

RESULTS

Goiter prevalence (> or = Ia) was 28.7% (IC 95%: 24.8-32.6). The prevalence was higher in women (35.3% vs 21%/p < 0001). Goiter prevalence > Ia was 7.9% (IC 95%: 5.6-10.2) and for nodular goiter 3.4% (IC 95%: 1.9-4.9). In our population the goiter prevalence = Ia, decreased with age, but no significant changes age-related for goiter > or = Ib was observed. In women > or = 45 years and previous pregnancy, the prevalence was higher (35.6% vs 17.6%. p < 0.05). Median urinary iodine was 165 micrograms/l. In 81% of the population the fish consumption was higher than once a week. Mean iodine concentration in drinking water was 2.04 mg/l (2.1 SD).

CONCLUSIONS

After promote iodinated-food consumption, good results with a decrease in goiter prevalence and a increase in urinary iodine excretion were observed. Pregnancy increases the risk of goiter development. Although young people was more affected, the good level of urinary iodine excretion was the best indicator to expect progressive goiter disappearance. The low iodine concentrations in Cerdanya water drinking, explains the iodine deficiency in this area.

Epidemiology of urinary stone disease in the Balearic Islands Community

In a survey conducted on 1500 individuals, an overall prevalence of 14.3% for the year 1990 was found for urinary stone disease in the Balearic Islands. The prevalence showed higher figures for people living in rural areas than for those living in cities, and this could be correlated with traditional living habits such as traditional Balearic diet. Finally, a surprising fact is that only 54% had consulted a urologist as outpatients and the rare occasion at which the calculi were analyzed (15.1%).

Anxiety disorders in the joint hypermobility syndrome

A case-control study was designed to test the association between joint hypermobility syndrome (JHS), an inherited disorder of collagen synthesis, and anxiety and phobic disorders. One hundred fourteen cases of JHS diagnosed at the rheumatology outpatient clinic of the Hospital del Mar (Barcelona) were compared to 59 control subjects randomly selected from patients seen at the same clinic. Both cases and controls were examined by a psychologist who used the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R and who was unaware of their medical diagnoses. DSM-III-R diagnoses of panic disorder, agoraphobia, and simple phobia, but not generalized anxiety disorder, dysthymic disorder, or major depression were found to be highly associated with JHS (age- and sex-adjusted odds ratio = 10.7). Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) was present only among JHS cases. Among cases of JHS, subjects with MVP were almost three times more likely to suffer from anxiety than subjects without MVP (odds ratio = 2.95), although the association was not statistically significant. The strong association between panic anxiety and JHS appears to occur at a higher level than the association between panic and MVP, and provides a new basis for further studies on the genetic background of panic-anxiety.

Clinical assessment of hypermobility of joints: assembling criteria

We carried out a prospective study to determine the validity of different sets of criteria to define the hypermobility syndrome (HMS), as well as the frequency, reliability and clinical features of HMS items. All consecutive cases of HMS attending the rheumatological outpatient clinic of Hospital del Mar (Barcelona, Spain) constituted the index group (n = 114). A control group of non-HMS rheumatological patients (n = 59) was randomly selected to assess suitable cutoff points and particular HMS item prevalences. Beighton's, Carter's and Rotés' HMS scores correlated very highly among them. Both the correlation coefficients obtained between each pair of sets of HMS criteria and the predictive efficiencies were uniformly high, suggesting high concurrent and predictive validity. All but 2 of the major items were more frequent among women. A basic set of criteria to define HMS is proposed. In relation to previous criteria the new scale shows better internal reliability and homogeneity. Results suggest that it may be suitable for screening studies and in clinical rheumatological settings.

[Concentrations of serum cholesterol in Spanish children: results of a study on the isle of Menorca]

BACKGROUND

The little knowledge about the distribution of total cholesterol (TC) in childhood and adolescence in Spain, makes the planification of preventive measures for cardiovascular diseases difficult. The aim of this study is to determinate these values in the island of Menorca.

METHODS

A sample of 1,062 boys and girls 6 to 18 years of age was studied. Blood samples were obtained by venipuncture and were analyzed by the enzymatic techniques of cholesterol-esterase, cholesterol-oxidase, and peroxidase.

RESULTS

Boys showed lower mean TC values than girls in almost all age groups. In both sexes, a descending phase was observed in the TC by age curve at the beginning of the adolescence. TC values above 5.17 mmol/l (200 mg/dl) were recorded for 7% of participants, being this proportion lower than the value found in the Spanish study of Fuenlabrada (13%).

CONCLUSIONS

Results obtained are compared with other national and international studies. The values of this study rank an intermediate position between the highest mean TC values registered in Norway and the lowest registered in Israel.