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The ilioinguinal approach described by Emile Letournel in 1961 allows an extensive exposure of the anterior elements of the pelvis and acetabular fractures involving the anterior wall and/or column, pubic symphysis, and sacroiliac joint. It also facilitates a rapid recovery of muscle function and leaves a cosmetic scar.

El abordaje ilioinguinal descrito por Emile Letournel en 1961 permite una extensa exposición de los elementos anteriores de la pelvis y de las fracturas acetabulares que involucran la pared o columna anterior, sínfisis del pubis y articulación sacroilíaca. Facilita una rápida recuperación de la función muscular y deja una cicatriz cosmética.

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The direct anterior approach (DAA) for total hip arthroplasty has been popularized in the last decade as a minimally invasive approach used by many surgeons, including the authors, to preserve the integrity of muscle groups and their insertions and the dynamic hip stability resulting in less surgical trauma and faster recovery process with decreased postoperative pain. This surgical approach is not without a variety of complications and pitfalls. This review aims to identify any potential drawbacks and challenges associated with the DAA in THA and guide surgeons on minimizing and avoiding them.

El abordaje anterior directo (AAD) en artroplastía total de cadera se ha popularizado en la última década como un abordaje de mínima invasión utilizado por varios cirujanos, incluyendo a los autores, con la ventaja de preservar la integridad de los grupos musculares de la cadera y sus inserciones, así como la estabilidad dinámica de la articulación, resultando en menor trauma quirúrgico y una recuperación más rápida con menos dolor postoperatorio, a pesar de esto, el abordaje quirúrgico no está exento de complicaciones. El propósito de esta revisión es describir los riesgos y complicaciones potenciales relacionados al abordaje anterior directo en cirugía de artroplastía total de cadera y presentar una guía de cómo minimizarlas o evitarlas.

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INTRODUCTION: The anterior direct approach to the hip has become popular in recent years, as it favors rapid recovery and better evolution, as well as shorter hospital stay time, painkiller consumption, physical therapy requirement and thus a possible overall reduced cost. The results of the first 50 cases are reported, with this technique assisted by the use of a special traction table. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective study of 50 hip arthroplasties in 47 patients by said method and special table, between April 2018 and April 2020. Etiology, gender, affected age and side, surgical lapse, transoperative bleeding and implant size were recorded. Immediate clinical and radiographic evolution was evaluated at the start and during the first 90 days. RESULTS: Sample of 18 men and 29 women. The average age was 67.7 years (range 28 to 94). Mean surgical time two hours 37 minutes, average bleeding 513 ml, clinical progress according to Harris scale: excellent 42 (84%), seven good (14%) and one bad (2%), due to infection. There were two calcar fractures without the need to remove an implant, eight cases of muscle mass injury, bruising in four (8%), femorocutaneous nerve paresis in six (12%), superficial infection two cases (4%). No dislocations. CONCLUSION: The anterior approach is a safe and reliable technique with immediate satisfactory outcomes and minor complications.

INTRODUCCIÓN: El abordaje anterior directo de cadera se ha popularizado en estos últimos años, ya que favorece una rápida recuperación y mejor evolución, así como reducción en tiempo de estancia hospitalaria, en consumo de analgésicos, requerimiento de terapia física y con todo ello un posible costo en general disminuido. Se reportan resultados de los 50 primeros casos usando esta técnica, auxiliada del uso de una mesa especial de tracción. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Estudio retrospectivo de 50 artroplastías de cadera, mismo implante en 47 pacientes mediante el citado abordaje y utilizando dicha mesa, entre Abril de 2018 y Abril de 2020. Se registraron etiología, género, edad y lado afectado, tiempo quirúrgico, sangrado transoperatorio y tamaño de los implantes. Se evaluó el progreso clínico y radiográfico inmediatos y en los 90 días iniciales. RESULTADOS: Muestra de 18 varones y 29 mujeres. La media de edad fue 67.7 años (rango de 28 a 94). Lapso quirúrgico promedio dos horas 37 minutos, sangrado promedio 513 ml, evolución clínica de acuerdo a escala de Harris: excelente 42 (84%), bueno siete (14%), malo uno (2%) por infección. Se presentaron un par de fracturas de calcar sin necesidad de retirar implante, ocho casos de lesión de masa muscular, hematoma en cuatro (8%), paresia del nervio femorocutáneo en seis (12%), infección superficial en dos (4%). No se presentaron luxaciones. CONCLUSIÓN: El abordaje anterior es una técnica segura y confiable con consecuencias inmediatas satisfactorias y complicaciones menores.

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BACKGROUND: 18F-FDG PET/CT predicts cardiovascular disease. To analyze the predictive value of cardiovascular events from inflammation and arterial calcification in patients who underwent an 18F-FDG PET/CT for lung cancer. METHODS: A retrospective study of 274 patients with primary lung neoplasia. We determined: (i) TBR (target-to-background ratio), and (ii) the calcium score, at eight common arterial segments. We took as arteriosclerosis, a TBR ≥1.6 and ≥15 Calcium Score sum. We registered cardiovascular risk factors, comorbidities, histology, stage, treatment, status at the last clinical review, cause of death and cardiovascular event during the follow-up. RESULTS: The territory presenting the greatest uptake of 18F-FDG, was the thoracic aorta with an average of 1.77 (± 0.27 TBR) in the aortic arch, while the greatest degree of calcification was obtained in the abdominal aorta (52% with a Calcium Score ≥ 3). 24% of the patients presented a sum Calcium Score ≥15, and 17% a TBR ≥1.6. Patients with high TBR, (17%), had not a higher frequency of cardiovascular comorbidities beforehand, nor did they in the follow-up. However, those with a sum Calcium Score ≥15 (24%), were older, had more cardiovascular risk factors and ischemic events during follow-up. The calcium score, but not the TBR, predicted the emergence of a cardiovascular event (HR 4.9 IC95% 2.1-9.1, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: In our cohort, a high Calcium Score was an independent predictor for developing cardiovascular events.

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Climate change affects distribution and persistence of species. However, forecasting species' responses to these changes requires long-term data series that are often lacking in ecological studies. We used 15 years of small mammal trapping data collected between 1978 and 2015 in 3 areas at Doñana National Park (southwest Spain) to (i) describe changes in species composition and (ii) test the association between local climate conditions and size of small mammal populations. Overall, 5 species were captured: wood mouse Apodemus sylvaticus, algerian mouse Mus spretus, greater white-toothed shrew Crocidura russula, garden dormouse Eliomys quercinus, and black rat Rattus rattus. The temporal pattern in the proportion of captures of each species suggests that the small mammal diversity declined with time. Although the larger species (e.g., E. quercinus), better adapted to colder climate, have disappeared from our trapping records, M. spretus, a small species inhabiting southwest Europe and the Mediterranean coast of Africa, currently is almost the only trapped species. We used 2-level hierarchical models to separate changes in abundance from changes in probability of capture using records of A. sylvaticus in all 3 areas and of M. spretus in 1. We found that heavy rainfall and low temperatures were positively related to abundance of A. sylvaticus, and that the number of extremely hot days was negatively related to abundance of M. spretus. Despite other mechanisms are likely to be involved, our findings support the importance of climate for the distribution and persistence of these species and raise conservation concerns about potential cascading effects in the Doñana ecosystem.

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Surgical treatment of acetabular fractures is indicated in displaced cases in order to restore and stabilize the hip joint and the pelvic ring integrity. Posterior structure fractures must be treated through posterior pelvic surgical approaches. The Kocher-Langenbeck is the most recommended approach for the majority of posterior acetabular fractures.

Las fracturas de acetábulo son lesiones articulares que en la mayoría de los casos requieren manejo quirúrgico para restablecer la integridad de la articulación de la cadera y el anillo pélvico. Las fracturas de elementos posteriores del acetábulo deben ser tratadas por abordajes posteriores. El de Kocher-Langenbeck es el más recomendado en la mayoría de los casos.

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AIM: Interrelationships between traditional dental variables are becoming more evident in far-reaching aspects of life such as psychosocial interaction, self-esteem, overall health and even occupational performance. This study compares quality of life in postmenopausal women with chronic periodontitis with that of healthy postmenopausal women. METHOD: A total of 128 randomly recruited postmenopausal women received a comprehensive periodontal evaluation and completed the Utian Quality of Life Survey. The participants were divided into healthy and periodontitis groups based on comprehensive periodontal examination. Mean scores were calculated for each quality-of-life item, domain and the overall summary score. Periodontitis patients' quality-of-life outcomes were compared to those of healthy patients using the t-test with threshold of significance at p < 0.05. RESULTS: Quality-of-life scores in all fields measured were significantly poorer in the periodontitis patients compared to the healthy patients, occupational (25.74 ± 8.25 vs. 21.40 ± 9.19), health (26.46 ± 5.93 vs. 19.64 ± 10.24), emotional (21.04 ± 10.20 vs. 16.40 ± 10.84), sexual (9.23 ± 4.92 vs. 5.96 ± 5.20), and total score (82.48 ± 23.74 vs. 63.69 ± 26.61). CONCLUSION: This study has identified that postmenopausal women with chronic periodontitis report significantly poorer quality of life than healthy patients. Clinicians caring for postmenopausal women should be aware that periodontitis also impacts quality of life when making referral decisions for oral health care.

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We analysed the main geographical trends of terrestrial mammal species richness (SR) in Argentina, assessing how broad-scale environmental variation (defined by climatic and topographic variables) and the spatial form of the country (defined by spatial filters based on spatial eigenvector mapping (SEVM)) influence the kinds and the numbers of mammal species along these geographical trends. We also evaluated if there are pure geographical trends not accounted for by the environmental or spatial factors. The environmental variables and spatial filters that simultaneously correlated with the geographical variables and SR were considered potential causes of the geographic trends. We performed partial correlations between SR and the geographical variables, maintaining the selected explanatory variables statistically constant, to determine if SR was fully explained by them or if a significant residual geographic pattern remained. All groups and subgroups presented a latitudinal gradient not attributable to the spatial form of the country. Most of these trends were not explained by climate. We used a variation partitioning procedure to quantify the pure geographic trend (PGT) that remained unaccounted for. The PGT was larger for latitudinal than for longitudinal gradients. This suggests that historical or purely geographical causes may also be relevant drivers of these geographical gradients in mammal diversity.

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INTRODUCTION: Laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication is the technique of choice in the surgical treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease. AIMS: To review the cases of laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication carried out at our hospital and to analyze the prognostic factors that influenced surgical outcome. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 226 patients that underwent laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication within the time frame of 1996 to 2010 were retrospectively reviewed. Surgical results and prognostic factors were evaluated in 182 patients that had a follow-up longer than one year. RESULTS: The Nissen-Rossetti technique was carried out in 219 patients, without short gastric vessel division, and the "floppy"-Nissen technique was performed on seven patients. Intraoperative complication rate was 3.1%, conversion rate was 6.6%, and postoperative complication rate was 4%. Mortality was 0. After surgery, 19% of patients presented with dysphagia that was persistent in only 3.5%. Of the 182 patients with a follow-up longer than one year, 166 (91.2%) were satisfied with the surgical results. In the univariate analysis, esophagitis (OR=0.59) was a protective factor, while a DeMeester score >50 (OR=1.97) and medical treatment resistance (OR=1.75) were risk factors. In the multivariate analysis a DeMeester score >50 (OR=4.24) was the only independent prognostic factor associated with poor outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Our results with laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication are comparable to those found in the medical literature, with a high degree of patient satisfaction. Esophagitis is associated with good outcome, while massive reflux and medical treatment resistance are negative prognostic factors.

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INTRODUCTION: Fractures that compromise pelvic and/or acetabular mechanical stability are usually injuries caused by high energy mechanisms and are life threatening. OBJECTIVE: To present the treatment options for the early stabilization of pelvic rim injuries and acetabular fractures in hemodinamically unstable patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective, cross-sectional, descriptive study in patients with diagnosis of pelvic ring or acetabular fracture and hemodynamic instability seen in the emergency room between January 2002 and December 2010. The mechanisms of injury were identified and the following variables were considered: sex, age, type of fracture, time course, associated injuries, early and definitive management. RESULTS: Fifteen patients were included; 9 with pelvic fracture, and 6 with acetabular fracture or both, who had hemodynamic instability resulting from hypovolemia: 8 males (53.3%) and 7 females (46.6%) with an age range of 18-72 years. The most common mechanism of injury was motor vehicle accident in 8 cases (53.3%), motorcycle accident in 2 (13.3%), fall in 2 (133%), and being run over in 3 patients (20%). All of them had associated injuries. Initial management consisted of external fixation with a standard fixator in 6 cases; C clamp in one case; girdle-like pelvic bandage in 2; laparotomy with packing and definitive primary osteosynthesis in one case. Results were assessed after a minimum of 3 years and were classified into excellent, 10 (76.9%) good, 1 (7.7%) fair, 0 and poor 1 (7.7%). One female patient (7.7%) died 8 hours after admission. CONCLUSION: Unstable pelvic or acetabular fractures are injuries produced mostly by high energy mechanisms and are life threatening in most cases. Initial management is extremely important for treatment course and final outcome. In cases that present initially with hemodynamic instability mortality is higher and management should be much more aggressive.

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BACKGROUND: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and periodontitis are common chronic inflammatory conditions. Recent studies showed a beneficial effect of periodontal treatment on the severity of active RA. This study was undertaken to further examine the effect of non-surgical periodontal treatment on the signs and symptoms of RA in patients treated with or without anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha (anti-TNF-alpha) medications. The effect of anti-TNF-alpha therapy on periodontitis also was assessed. METHODS: Forty participants diagnosed with moderate/severe RA (under treatment for RA) and severe periodontitis were randomly assigned to receive initial non-surgical periodontal therapy with scaling/root planing and oral hygiene instructions (n = 20) or no periodontal therapy (n = 20). To control RA, all participants had been using disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs, and 20 had also been using anti-TNF-alpha before randomization. Probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), bleeding on probing (BOP), gingival index (GI), plaque index (PI), RA disease activity score 28 (DAS28), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were measured at baseline and 6 weeks later. Linear mixed models were used to identify significant differences between subjects who received periodontal treatment and those who did not. RESULTS: Patients receiving periodontal treatment showed a significant decrease in the mean DAS28, ESR (P <0.001), and serum TNF-alpha (P <0.05). There was no statistically significant decrease in these parameters in patients not receiving periodontal treatment. Anti-TNF-alpha therapy resulted in a significant improvement in CAL, PD, BOP, and GI. CONCLUSIONS: Non-surgical periodontal therapy had a beneficial effect on the signs and symptoms of RA, regardless of the medications used to treat this condition. Anti-TNF-alpha therapy without periodontal treatment had no significant effect on the periodontal condition.

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Objetivo: valorar la capacidad predictiva del resultado a los 15, 30,60 y 90 días en el resultado obtenido a medio plazo (180 días), en una cohorte de fumadores tratados con terapia sustitutiva (TSN), bupropión (BPP) o terapia combinada (TC), según la normativa SEPAR, en las condiciones clínicas habituales. Pacientes y métodos: estudio multicéntrico, prospectivo, longitudinal, en pacientes mayores de 18 años. Se efectuaron controles a los15, 30, 60, 90 y 180 días, determinándose la abstinencia mediante autorrespuesta y CO en aire espirado conjuntamente. Se ha calculado la probabilidad de haber estado abstinente a los 15, 30, 60 y 90 días, frente a la probabilidad de no haberlo estado a los seis meses (odds ratio y límites de confianza exactos del 95%). En todos los contrastes el nivel de significación estadística aceptado fue de p < 0,05. Resultados: Se incluyeron 904 fumadores, 476 varones y 428 mujeres, edad media de 42,51 ± 10,09 años. No se observó que sexo, edad, comorbilidad, número de cigarrillos/día, historia de paquetes-año, intentos previos de abandono, nivel de dependencia o la concentración inicial de CO guardaran relación con el éxito o fracaso terapéutico. Para el total de los pacientes, solamente permanecer abstinente a los quince días se relacionó de forma independiente con mayor probabilidad de éxito en el tratamiento en el análisis de regresión: la OR ajustada fue 3,11,(LC 95% de 2,80-3,46). El modelo predice el 65,14 % de los eventos. Conclusión: Los resultados del estudio indican que la abstinencia a los 15 días es el predictor más consistente del resultado final (AU)

Objective: To identify the predictive values of smoking abstinence at 15, 30, 60 and 90 days in the outcome at the 180 days in smokers treated with NRT, bupropion or combined therapy (NRT + bupropión)according with the SEPAR guidelines. Patients and methods: multicenter, longitudinal and prospective study in smokers older than 18 years. Evaluations were made at 15,30, 60, 90, and 180 days. In each visit, abstinence was determined by SR and CO measurement in expired air. The probability of abstinence at 15, 30, 60 and 90 days has been calculated against the probability of not have been at 180 days (odds ratio and confiance interval 95 %). The statistic significance level are p < 0,05. Results: The study group included 904 smokers, 476 men and 428 women, with a mean age of 42.5±10.1 years. None of the personal variables(gender, age, comorbility, number of cigarettes smoked per day, Fagerström, CO in aspired air) are predictors of abstinence. Subjects who smoked during weeks 1 and 2 were significantly less likely to be abstinent from smoking at 180 days than those who did not smoke during weeks 1 and 2. The abstinence at 15 days are the better predictive variable with the outcomes at the 180 days (OR 3.11, CI 95%: 2.80-3.46). Conclusión: The 15 days abstinence were the better predictive variable of outcomes at the 180 days (AU)

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OBJECTIVE: To assess the reliability of smokers' response as criteria for measuring abstinence and the necessity or not of confirming abstinence with carbon monoxide (CO) measurement. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A multicenter, prospective, longitudinal study was carried out on patients over 18 years of age from 5 smoking cessation clinics who underwent treatment with nicotine or bupropion. When the patient attended the clinic at 15, 30, 60, 90, and 180 days, abstinence was checked by self-reporting and expired-air CO levels. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive, negative, and overall predictive value of patient reporting, measured CO levels, and the 2 procedures in combination were calculated. RESULTS: A total of 904 smokers (476 men and 428 women) with a mean (SD) age of 42.51 (10.09) years were enrolled in the study. Of the 904 patients that made up the study population, 820, 776, 687, 719, and 679, respectively, attended the scheduled visits to check abstinence. Self-reported point-prevalence abstinence at 15 days was 74.5% and at 180 days was 57.6% while abstinence determined by expired-air CO was 75.7% and 59.4% respectively. Results according to self-reporting, CO measurement, and the 2 methods in combination were not significantly different (P<.05) at any of the points in time. Neither sensitivity nor specificity showed significant differences in relation to patient variables. CONCLUSION: The reliability of self-reported abstinence from smoking is high. Measurement of CO is therefore not essential, although it could be advisable for motivating patients rather than as a way of confirming abstinence.

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OBJETIVO: Valorar la fiabilidad de la respuesta del fumador como criterio de medida de abstinencia y el carácter de prescindible o indispensable de la determinación de monóxido de carbono (CO) para corroborar dicho criterio. PACIENTES Y MÉTODOS: Se ha realizado un estudio multicéntrico, prospectivo y longitudinal en pacientes mayores de 18 años que acudieron a 5 consultas de tabaquismo y a quienes se pautó tratamiento sustitutivo con nicotina o bupropión. Se efectuaron controles a los 15, 30, 60, 90 y 180 días. En cada control se determinó la abstinencia mediante la respuesta dada por el paciente, la determinación de CO en aire espirado y ambos procedimientos conjuntamente. Se calcularon la sensibilidad, especificidad, valor predictivo positivo, negativo y global de la respuesta dada por el paciente respecto de la determinación de CO. RESULTADOS: Se incluyó en el estudio a 904 fumadores (476 varones y 428 mujeres), con una edad media (± desviación estándar) de 42,51 ± 10,09 años. De los 904 acudieron a los controles programados 820, 776, 687, 719 y 679, respectivamente, que constituyen la población objeto de estudio. La abstinencia puntual a los 15 y 180 días determinada por la respuesta de los pacientes fue del 74,5 y del 57,6%, y mediante determinación de CO en aire espirado del 75,7 y del 59,4%, respectivamente. No se observaron diferencias significativas (p < 0,05) entre los 3 procedimientos a los 15, 30, 60, 90 y 180 días. Ni la sensibilidad ni la especificidad mostraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre las distintas categorías de las variables. CONCLUSIÓN: La fiabilidad de la respuesta dada por los pacientes sobre la abstinencia tabáquica es elevada. Por ello la determinación de CO es prescindible y no resulta indispensable, si bien en el seguimiento del proceso puede ser recomendable como factor motivador para el paciente más que como una forma de comprobar la abstinencia

OBJECTIVE: To assess the reliability of smokers’ response as criteria for measuring abstinence and the necessity or not of confirming abstinence with carbon monoxide (CO) measurement. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A multicenter, prospective, longitudinal study was carried out on patients over 18 years of age from 5 smoking cessation clinics who underwent treatment with nicotine or bupropion. When the patient attended the clinic at 15, 30, 60, 90, and 180 days, abstinence was checked by self-reporting and expired-air CO levels. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive, negative, and overall predictive value of patient reporting, measured CO levels, and the 2 procedures in combination were calculated. RESULTS: A total of 904 smokers (476 men and 428 women) with a mean (SD) age of 42.51 (10.09) years were enrolled in the study. Of the 904 patients that made up the study population, 820, 776, 687, 719, and 679, respectively, attended the scheduled visits to check abstinence. Self-reported point-prevalence abstinence at 15 days was 74.5% and at 180 days was 57.6% while abstinence determined by expired-air CO was 75.7% and 59.4% respectively. Results according to self-reporting, CO measurement, and the 2 methods in combination were not significantly different (P<.05) at any of the points in time. Neither sensitivity nor specificity showed significant differences in relation to patient variables. CONCLUSION: The reliability of self-reported abstinence from smoking is high. Measurement of CO is therefore not essential, although it could be advisable for motivating patients rather than as a way of confirming abstinence

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OBJECTIVE: To describe the social environment and to identify the health problems and the functional and mental ability of the elderly in the community. DESIGN: Cross-sectional, observational study by means of a questionnaire. PATIENTS: 228 people over 71 and not living in an institution. SETTING: Cáceres Health Area. MAIN MEASUREMENTS: Questionnaire on social and demographic details, main pathologies, social assessment (Gijón scale), functional assessment (Barthel and Lawton-Brody scales), mental assessment (Pfeiffer test), geriatric problems and visits from health professionals. RESULTS: 67% of the 228 people in the sample were women, with an average age of 79. Comorbidity, present in over 70% of the elderly, was significantly related to multi-medication, falls, hospital admission, depression and insomnia. The most common social and family situation was of a person living with his/her partner (38.3%; CI, 6.31) or children, in a dwelling with architectural barriers (43.0%; CI, 6.43), with a good relationship to his/her social surroundings (61.0%; CI, 6.33). The Barthel test showed a significant relationship with all the geriatric problems declared. The Pfeiffer test showed a relationship with falls (t=3.10; P=.00214), with hearing problems (t=1.98; P=.048), with incontinence (t=3.59; P=.0040) and constipation (t=2.64; P=.0086). The Lawton-Brody test was related, in women, with falls (t=4.27; P=.00034), admissions (t=2.02; P=.044), constipation and sight and hearing problems; and in men, with depression and incontinence. CONCLUSIONS: Elderly people in the Cáceres Health Area showed good functional ability in their basic daily tasks, less ability in instrumental activities and high comorbidity.

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Arginase activity was measured in serum and biopsy from healthy individuals and colorectal cancer patients. Arginase activity in tumor samples (87 +/- 7.7 U/g tissue) was significantly higher than in controls (40.7 +/- 3.3 U/g tissue). However, serum arginase activity did not show any significant change in both groups. Finally, the micromethod used to quantify arginase activity in this study is superior to other methods because it has increased sensitivity, requires less sample, and is less time-consuming. Arginase differences are significant, according to the t-test (P<0.05)

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Primary care in Spain has undergone a burgeoning phase in the 80's, followed by a decade of stagnation in the 90's, with little creativity, a routinisation of tasks, and the set up of service port-folios and program-contracts. On the other hand, the recent changes in the orientation of the research promoted by the health administration, in favor of basic research, at the expense of health services research and clinical epidemiology, are in contrast with the importance of primary care as a natural setting for the management of many causal agents and risk factors for health. Despite such limitations, the culture of research has become present in many primary care centres and pharmacies, and primary care research is increasingly present in scientific journals. Nevertheless, it is necessary, also for the case of primary care, to manage research, in differentiated and specific ways, favoring priorization, evaluation and responsibility through flexible organisational formulas and information systems. This should include contracting procedures allowing for at least part-time research, as well as professional career models acknowledging research and teaching activities. Scientific and professional associations in primary care face the challenge of maintaning research projects, of increasing their presence among professionals, of formulating opinions regarding the problems of their sector, as well as of reinforcing their organizational and communication capabilities.

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