ABSTRACT Background. Achieving an adequate control of glycaemic and cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs) is essential in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, several studies have shown that the percentage of patients achieving these goals is scarce. We evaluated the degree of control of CVRFs target goals in T2DM patients who regularly attend a specialized diabetic clinic. Methods. We studied T2DM patients who attended the specialized Diabetic Unit at the Department of Endocrinology of Clínica Universidad de Navarra with a minimum follow-up of one year. Clinical characteristics, chronic complications and treatments were collected and patients were classified into groups according to the fulfilment of target glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), LDL cholesterol and blood pressure (BP) levels, predefined according to the presence of different comorbidities and the duration of T2DM. Results. We analysed 137 patients (75% men) with T2DM, with an average age of 67 years and a 12.7 year duration of diabetes. During follow-up, 83.9% of the patients were within the individualized HbA1c target, 76.6% considering BP and 67.2% in terms of LDL-cholesterol. In addition, 68% had concomitantly the three main variables within the target. Conclusions. In our population of T2DM, HbA1c, LDL cholesterol and BP targets were achieved in a substantial proportion of patients (67-91%). Perhaps the intense and individualized care offered through a specialized diabetes unit may explain these results.

RESUMEN Fundamento. Un adecuado control de la glucemia y de los factores de riesgo cardiovascular (FRCV) es fundamental en los pacientes con diabetes mellitus tipo 2 (DM2). Sin embargo, diversos estudios han demostrado que el porcentaje de pacientes que alcanzan dichos objetivos es escaso. Hemos evaluado el grado de control de FRCV en pacientes DM2 que acuden con regularidad a una consulta monográfica de diabetes. Pacientes y métodos. Se han estudiado los pacientes con DM2 que acudían a revisión al departamento de Endocrinología de la Clínica Universidad de Navarra con un seguimiento mínimo de un año. Se presentan las características clínicas, complicaciones crónicas y tratamiento médico, así como la clasificación en grupos según el cumplimiento de los objetivos de hemoglobina glicada (HbA1c), perfil lipídico (LDL-colesterol) y presión arterial (PA) individualizados según comorbilidades y años de evolución de la DM2. Resultados. Se han analizado 137 pacientes (75% hombres) con DM2, 67 años de edad media y 12,7 años de evolución. Durante el seguimiento, se encontraron dentro del rango objetivo individualizado de HbA1c el 83,9% de los pacientes, el 67,2% en cuanto a LDL-colesterol y el 76,6% considerando PA. Además, el 68% presentaron las tres variables principales dentro del objetivo. Conclusiones. En nuestra población de DM2 la consecución de objetivos de HbA1c, LDL-colesterol y PA se alcanza en una importante proporción de pacientes (67-91%). Posiblemente la intensa e individualizada atención ofrecida a través de una unidad de diabetes especializada pueda explicar estos resultados.

Background. Health measuring instruments are essential in daily clinical practice. However, a validation process is needed in order to certify the validity and reliability of it. The aim of our study is to validate a questionnaire to assess the consequences of pain in work productivity. Methods. Based on the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire - General Health we have created a modified version called WPAI:Pain in order to be able to measure the consequences of pain in work productivity. The study was conducted following the usual guidelines of test validation, omitting face validity as WPAI:Pain is a modification of an existing questionnaire. Validity and reliability were calculated. Results. A total of 577 questionnaires were obtained in 2 spanish university hospitals. The questionnaire's discriminating power was verified by Mann-Whitney test. Reliability tests were realized, Cronbach's alpha was 0.896 and Guttman split-half was 0.921. Stability was evaluated with a test-retest which was significant. Construct validity was established by Pearson correlation comparing the results of the questionnaire with the pain visual analog scale, which was statistically significant for all values. Conclusions. The WPAI:Pain questionnaire is a valid instrument for measuring the consequences of pain in work productivity. It is currently the only one validated in Spanish. Major studies are needed in order to establish its universal validity.

Fundamento. Los instrumentos de medida de salud son esenciales en la actividad clínica diaria. Sin embargo, es necesario un proceso de validación para poder certificar la validez y fiabilidad de los mismos. En la actualidad no existe ninguno que permita evaluar la repercusión del dolor en la productividad laboral de los pacientes. El objetivo de nuestro estudio es validar un cuestionario para evaluar las consecuencias del dolor en dicha productividad. Método. En base al Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire - General Health hemos creado una versión modificada denominada WPAI:Pain con el fin obtener un cuestionario que pudiera medir las consecuencias del dolor en la productividad laboral. El estudio se realizó siguiendo las pautas habituales de validación de pruebas, omitiéndose las fases de redacción y validez de contenido ya que se modificaba un cuestionario existente. Resultados. Se obtuvieron 577 cuestionarios en dos hospitales universitarios españoles. Se comprobó la capacidad discriminante del cuestionario mediante prueba de U de Mann-Whitney. Se realizaron los test de fiabilidad obteniéndose un alfa de Cronbach de 0,896 con un test de dos mitades de Guttman de 0,921. Se comprobó la estabilidad con un test-retest estadísticamente significativo. La validez de constructo se estableció mediante correlación de Pearson comparando los resultados del cuestionario con el dolor en escala visual analógica, que resultó estadísticamente significativa para todos los valores. Conclusiones. El cuestionario WPAI:Pain es un instrumento de medida válido para determinar las consecuencias del dolor en la productividad laboral de los pacientes, siendo el único validado en español. Sin embargo, se requieren estudios de mayor envergadura para poder confirmar una validez universal.

An alga arising from Lake Titicaca basin (Bolivia, South America), has been studied faced with adsorption kinetics of Cr(III). The samples of Nostoc sp. were put in contact with chromium (III) solutions at 18°C. The pH effect has been measured from 2.50 up to 5.40. Concentration-time profiles shown exponential functions or first order processes. There is a linear relationship between pH and rate constants k o from 8.0x10-3 min-1 to 8.3x10-2 min-¹. At low pH, metal adsorption is negligible and maximum at high pH. Different initial concentrations of Cr(III), yielded also first order rate constants between 2.9x10-²min-¹ and 5.0x10-3min-1. Hydrogen ions would be competing against metal ions in order to achieve active sites. As possible mechanisms, not only the ion exchange could be involved, but also complex

Surface-active bio-oil (SABO) solutions, prepared from vacuum pyrolysis bio-oil with a phenol-to-levoglucosan mass ratio of 4.8, was compared to pine-oil (PO) as foaming agent in the process of flotation of sulfured copper minerals. With the aid of 2³ factorial designs, regression models were obtained for % Cu in flotation concentrate (L Cu) and % Cu recovery (R), as functions of foaming agent-to-Cu mineral, collector-to-Cu mineral mass ratio and liquid-to-solid ratio (v/w). Experimental designs composed of a <IMG SRC="/img/revistas/bjce/v22n1/a01img01.gif">saturated design in its first half and a fold over <IMG SRC="/img/revistas/bjce/v22n1/a01img01.gif">design in its second half allowed to study the influence of flotation conditions on L Cu and R when SABO was the foaming agent. The factors selected were: particle size; pulp pH; flotation time; initial Cu content in the mineral (mineral type); liquid-to-solid ratio and finally SABO-to-mineral and collector-to-mineral mass ratio. Within the chosen experimental region only pulp pH affected significantly both responses. It is shown that high pulp pH, in the presence of minerals rich in Cu content leads to a significant increase in L Cu and R. Although SABO to mineral mass ratio is high compared to PO, it is considered that an optimization study on pulp pH should reduce this difference making SABO an attractive alternative to PO and a way to widen the field of applications of pyrolysis products.