BackgroundObesity is considered a major public health issue in most developed countries nowadays. This paper provides an overview of current population data available in Spain and the approach to develop preventive strategies in the country.MethodsReview of population data available is based on individually measured weight and height as well as determinants. On this basis, the approach used in the country to develop preventive strategies is discussed.ResultsAccording to the DORICA study, the prevalence of obesity (BMI ≥30 kg m−2) is 15.5% in Spanish adults aged 25–60 years (13.2% in men and 17.5% in women). Obesity rates are higher among women aged 45 years and older, low social class, living in semi-urban places. Population estimates for the prevalence of obesity in Spanish children and young people based on the enKid study are 13.9% for the whole group. In this study, overweight and obesity is related to absence of breastfeeding, low consumption of fruit and vegetables, high consumption of cakes, buns, softdrinks and butchery products, low physical activity levels and a positive association with time spent watching TV.In 2005, the Spanish Ministry of Health jointly with the Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition launched the multifaceted NAOS strategy for nutrition, physical activity and the prevention of obesity. The important role of the family and the school setting as well as the responsibility of the Health Administration and Pediatric Care in the prevention of obesity is highlighted in the document. The need for environmental actions is recognised. The PERSEO programme, a multicomponent school-based intervention project is part of the strategy currently in place.ConclusionObesity is a public health issue in Spain. A national multifaceted strategy was launched to counteract the problem. Environmental and policy actions are a priority. Young children and their families are among the main target groups.

Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) frequently overexpress somatostatin receptors (SSTR) on their cell surface. The first-line pharmacological treatment for inoperable metastatic functioning well-differentiated NETs are somatostatin analogs. On second line, Lu-DOTA-TATE (¹⁷⁷Lu-DOTA⁰ Tyr ³ octreotate) has shown stabilization of the disease and an increase in progression free survival, as well as effectiveness in controlling symptoms and increasing quality of life. The management of functional NETs before and during LU-DOTA-TATE treatment is specially challenging, as several complications such as severe carcinoid and catecholamine crisis have been described. The aim of this review is to establish practical guidance for the management and prevention of the most common hormonal crises during radionuclide treatment with Lu-DOTA-TATE: carcinoid syndrome (CS) and catecholamine hypersecretion, as well as to provide a brief commentary on other infrequent metabolic complications. To establish a practical approach, a systematic review was performed. This systematic review was developed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement and conducted using MEDLINE (accessed from PubMed), Google Scholar and ClinicalTrials.gov. Literature searches found 449 citations, and finally nine were considered for this systematic review.

Objectives: To evaluate prospectively the usefulness of the routine determination of BRAF^T1799A mutation on thyroid fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) to detect cytopathology false negative papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTC) and, therefore, as a tool to improve the sensitivity of the preoperative cytopathological diagnosis of PTC in thyroid nodules. Background: FNAB is the most reliable diagnostic test to discriminate between malignant and benign thyroid nodules, but nondiagnostic results remain a clinical management dilemma. BRAF^T1799A mutation is the most prevalent genetic alteration in thyroid cancers and is specific for PTC, characteristics that make it the most potentially helpful genetic tool to improve the diagnostic accuracy of FNAB. Methods: An exhaustive recruitment of all patients subjected to thyroid FNAB in our institution during 4 years was performed. BRAF^T1799A mutation was determined on thyroid FNAB specimens by PCR and restriction fragment length polymorphism, plus direct sequencing in positive samples. Results: BRAF^T1799A mutation on FNAB detected 47.2% (17/36) of PTC cases. It confirmed preoperatively 45.5% (5/11) of the PTC cases in the indeterminate category and decreased the rate of cytopathology false-negatives in 33.3% (6/18), improving the combined (BRAF^T1799A mutation + cytopathological analysis) sensitivity of the detection of PTC on FNAB in 16.7%. Conclusions: BRAF^T1799A mutation improves the diagnosis of PTC on FNAB, mainly because of the detection of cytopathology false-negatives, and it can be helpful in the routine analysis of thyroid nodules, especially in clinical settings with moderate sensitivity to detect PTC on FNAB.