José Luis Alfonso Sánchez

Socio-economic cost and health-related quality of life of burn victims in Spain

OBJECTIVES The aim of the study was to determine the economic burden (direct and indirect costs) of burn victims and the impact of burn on health-related quality of life in Spain. METHODS In 2003, a cross-sectional study was carried out with 898 burned people. Data regarding demographic features, health resource use, informal care, indirect costs and quality of life were prospectively collected through hospital admission databases and questionnaires filled out by burn victims and caregivers. RESULTS The mean annual cost (direct and indirect) per burn patient was US

Embryonic stem cells: are useful in clinic treatments?

99,773. The most important categories of costs were those of in-patient care and temporary and permanent disability. Direct healthcare costs of burn patients represented 19.6% of the total. Total annual cost for burn patients in Spain was US

The Social Nature of Chronic Noncommunicable Diseases and How to Tackle Them Through Communication Technology, Training, and Outreach

313 million. The mean health-related quality of life measured by European Quality of Life 5-Dimension score was 0.84 and the mean visual analogue score was 67. CONCLUSIONS The costs of burn are higher than those of many other conditions, and a cost-effectiveness assessment of the different interventions for burn should become a priority in health policy.

Results of the implementation of a virtual microscope in a course of histology

It is not uncommon to find statements in the social media and even in some scientific journals declaring that embryonic stem cells can be used in human medicine for therapeutic purposes. In our opinion, this statement does not fit the medical reality. To go into this subject in depth, and if possible to clarify it, we reviewed the most recent literature on clinical trials conducted with embryonic stem cells, concluding that up to the present time, there is only one ongoing clinical trial being carried out with these types of cells to treat a small group of patients with spinal cord injury. The results of this trial have still not been published. In conclusion, at present, there is only evidence of one phase I clinical trial conducted with embryonic stem cells, in comparison to the numerous trials conducted with adult stem cells.

Cost-Benefit Analysis of an Intervention Program in Avoidable Hospitalizations

As world leaders prepare for the United Nations High Level Meeting on Noncommunicable Diseases, to take place in September 2011, international organizations, nongovernmental organizations, and economic and business fora have created new alliances and initiatives to accelerate research, advocacy, and political commitment. This article argues that the time is propitious to reflect on the social nature of the most common behavioral noncommunicable disease determinants, including tobacco and alcohol use, physical inactivity, and unhealthy diet. Evidence is presented related to the fact that these diseases are profoundly rooted in social and community ties and points to the need for a modern communication strategy to serve as a linchpin of any successful action to address these public health threats. Several proposals, aimed at promoting health literacy, strengthening health workforce skills, capturing the power of new media and technologies, and targeting vulnerable groups, are discussed.

“How innovation in knowledge reduces food destruction and hunger in the world”. Presentation of the volume

The course of Anatomy and Histology is studied in the first year of Dentistry at the University Cardenal Herrera CEU (Alfara del Patriarca, Spain). Its practices consist on choose freely six samples and draw their most representative features. These practices were made by optical microscopy until 2014, and in 2015 was introduced the virtual microscope exclusively. The aim of the study is to test whether this new teaching method has improved the quality of exercise and the understanding shown by students. First, the best exercises of both years were chosen, and from them some drawings from the same tissue were compared. Some tissues which samples for optical microscope were hard to obtain, were drawn for the very first time thanks to the virtual microscope. Also, with the virtual microscopy the drawings contained more details and definition. The understanding of the structures improved, shown by a more functional, detailed and defined vision of the tissues. The labels of the virtual microscope helped to the self-study and avoided the loss of unnoticed structures. In conclusion, replacement of optical microscope by the virtual microscope is a teaching improvement and facilitates student learning.