Pedro Juan Tárraga-López

Dr. Pedro Juan Tárraga-López

Faculty of Medicine, University of Castilla-La Mancha, 02008 Albacete, Spain
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Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

21Years (2006-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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1 January 2014 in Clinical Medicine Insights: Gastroenterology
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PTPedro Juan Tárraga-López
Pedro Juan Tárraga-López
JAJuan Solera Albero
Juan Solera Albero
JRJosé Antonio Rodríguez-Montes
José Antonio Rodríguez-Montes
Introduction: Cancer is a worldwide problem as it will affect one in three men and one in four women during their lifetime. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most frequent cancer in men, after lung and prostate cancer, and is the second most frequent cancer in women after breast cancer. It is also the third cause of death in men and women separately, and is the second most frequent cause of death by cancer if both genders are considered together. CRC represents approximately 10% of deaths by cancer. Modifiable risk factors of CRC include smoking, physical inactivity, being overweight and obesity, eating processed meat, and drinking alcohol excessively. CRC screening programs are possible only in economically developed countries. However, attention should be paid in the future to geographical areas with ageing populations and a western lifestyle. 19 , 20 Sigmoidoscopy screening done with people aged 55-64 years has been demonstrated to reduce the incidence of CRC by 33% and mortality by CRC by 43%. Objective: To assess the effect on the incidence and mortality of CRC diet and lifestyle and to determine the effect of secondary prevention through early diagnosis of CRC. Methodology: A comprehensive search of Medline and Pubmed articles related to primary and secondary prevention of CRC and subsequently, a meta-analysis of the same blocks are performed. Results: 225 articles related to primary or secondary prevention of CRC were retrieved. Of these 145 were considered valid on meta-analysis: 12 on epidemiology, 56 on diet and lifestyle, and over 77 different screenings for early detection of CRC. Cancer is a worldwide problem as it will affect one in three men and one in four women during their lifetime. There is no doubt whatsoever which environmental factors, probably diet, may account for these cancer rates. Excessive alcohol consumption and cholesterol-rich diet are associated with a high risk of colon cancer. A diet poor in folic acid and vitamin B6 is also associated with a higher risk of developing colon cancer with an overexpression of p53. Eating pulses at least three times a week lowers the risk of developing colon cancer by 33%, after eating less meat, while eating brown rice at least once a week cuts the risk of CRC by 40%. These associations suggest a dose–response effect. Frequently eating cooked green vegetables, nuts, dried fruit, pulses, and brown rice has been associated with a lower risk of colorectal polyps. High calcium intake offers a protector effect against distal colon and rectal tumors as compared with the proximal colon. Higher intake of dairy products and calcium reduces the risk of colon cancer. Taking an aspirin (ASA) regularly after being diagnosed with colon cancer is associated with less risk of dying from this cancer, especially among people who have tumors with COX-2 overexpression. 16 Nonetheless, these data do not contradict the data obtained on a possible genetic predisposition, even in sporadic or non-hereditary CRC. CRC is susceptible to screening because it is a serious health problem given its high incidence and its associated high morbidity/mortality. Conclusions: (1) Cancer is a worldwide problem. (2) A modification of diet and lifestyle could reduce morbidity and mortality. (3) Early detection through screening improves prognosis and reduces mortality.

3 April 2023 in Journal of Exercise Science & Fitness
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Journal Article
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José Francisco López-GilJosé Francisco López-Gil
José Francisco López-Gil
VMVicente Martínez-Vizcaíno
Vicente Martínez-Vizcaíno
PTPedro Juan Tárraga-López
Pedro Juan Tárraga-López
AGAntonio García-Hermoso
Antonio García-Hermoso
The aim of this study was to examine the reliability and validity of the Spanish Perceived Physical Literacy Instrument (S-PPLI) questionnaire in Spanish adolescents. The participants of this study were 360 Spanish adolescents (aged 12–17 years) from three secondary schools in the Region of Murcia (Spain). A cultural adaptation process of the original version of the PPLI questionnaire was developed. Confirmatory factor analysis was applied to test the three-factor structure of physical literacy. Intraclass correlation coefficients were computed to estimate the test-retest concordance. Using a confirmatory factor analysis, the factor loading of all items above the standard of 0.40 ranged from 0.53 to 0.77, suggesting that the observed variables sufficiently represented the latent variables. Analyses for convergent validity showed average variance extracted values that ranged from 0.40 to 0.52 and composite reliability values higher than 0.60. All the correlations were below the recommended cutoff point of 0.85, which indicated that the three physical literacy factors achieved adequate discriminant validity. Intraclass correlation coefficients ranged from 0.62 to 0.79 (p < 0.001 for all items), which indicated moderate/good reliability. Our results suggest that the S-PPLI is a valid and reliable measure of physical literacy among Spanish adolescents.

1 September 2009 in Revista Española de Enfermedades Digestivas
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JFJ. A. Navarro Fernández
J. A. Navarro Fernández
PTPedro Juan Tárraga-López
Pedro Juan Tárraga-López
JMJ. A. Rodríguez Montes
J. A. Rodríguez Montes
Luisa Carlota Lopez CaraLuisa Carlota Lopez Cara
Luisa Carlota Lopez Cara
To determine the real importance of anamnesis, physical examination, and various tests in the assessment of acute abdominal pain. A retrospective observational study with patients complaining of abdominal pain at the Emergency Department, Altiplano Health Area (Murcia) was performed. In our study we considered the following variables: socio-demographic data, history of previous surgery, symptoms, place and type of pain. Imaging tests were labeled as positive, negative, or inconclusive for assumed diagnoses, which were retrospectively assessed by an external radiologist who was unaware of the patient s final diagnosis. Our study includes 292 patients with a mean age of 45.49 years; 56.8% of these patients were women. Regarding the frequency of the different acute abdomen diagnoses, appendicitis was the main cause (approx. 25%), followed by cholecystitis (10%). We found a significant diagnostic correlation between pain location in the right hypochondrium (RHC) and a diagnosis with cholecystitis. This location was also significant for acute appendicitis (up to 74%). Regarding clinical signs, we only observed a significant correlation between fever and viscera perforation, and between Murphy s sign and cholecystitis. Sensitivity and specificity found in relation to the psoas sign were similar to those seen in other series, 16 and 95% respectively, and slightly lower than the Blumberg or rebound sign, which we found to be around 50 and 23%, respectively. a) Anamnesis and physical examination offer limited accuracy when assessing acute abdomen; b) ultrasound scans offer a low diagnostic agreement index for appendicitis; and c) laparoscopy may prove useful for diagnosis, and is also a possible treatment for acute abdominal pain despite its low diagnostic efficiency.

28 January 2023 in Nutrients
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José Francisco López-GilJosé Francisco López-Gil
José Francisco López-Gil
Lee SmithLee Smith
Lee Smith
Desirée Victoria-MontesinosDesirée Victoria-Montesinos
Desirée Victoria-Montesinos
HGHector Gutierrez-Espinoza
Hector Gutierrez-Espinoza
PTPedro Juan Tárraga-López
Pedro Juan Tárraga-López
AMArthur Eumann Mesas
Arthur Eumann Mesas
Purpose: The aim of the present study was to examine the association of adherence to the Mediterranean Diet (MD) and its specific components with both sleep duration and sleep-related disorders in a sample of adolescents from the Valle de Ricote (Region of Murcia, Spain). Methods: This cross-sectional study included a sample of 847 Spanish adolescents (55.3% girls) aged 12–17 years. Adherence to the MD was assessed by the Mediterranean Diet Quality Index for Children and Teenagers. Sleep duration was reported by adolescents for weekdays and weekend days separately. The BEARS (Bedtime problems, Excessive daytime sleepiness, Awakenings during the night, Regularity and duration of sleep, and Sleep-disordered breathing) screening was used to evaluate issues related to sleep, which include difficulties at bedtime, excessive drowsiness during the day, waking up frequently during the night, irregularity, length of sleep, and breathing issues while sleeping. Results: Adolescents who presented a high adherence to the MD were more likely to meet the sleep recommendations (OR = 1.52, 95% CI 1.12–2.06, p = 0.008) and less likely to report at least one sleep-related problem (OR = 0.56, 95% CI 0.43–0.72, p < 0.001). These findings remained significant after adjusting for sex, age, socioeconomic status, waist circumference, energy intake, physical activity, and sedentary behavior, indicating a significant association of adherence to the MD with sleep outcomes (meeting sleep recommendations: OR = 1.40, 95% CI 1.00–1.96, p = 0.050; sleep-related problems: OR = 0.68, 95% CI 0.50–0.92, p = 0.012). Conclusions: Adolescents with high adherence to the MD were more likely to report optimal sleep duration and fewer sleep-related problems. This association was more clearly observed for specific MD components, such as fruits, pulses, fish, having breakfast, dairies, sweets, and baked goods/pastries.

1 January 2018 in Nutrición Hospitalaria
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Journal Article
Open access
PTPedro Juan Tárraga-López
Pedro Juan Tárraga-López
Introduction: the study during adolescence of adherence to the Mediterranean diet, alcohol consumption, weight status as well as the practice of physical activity is fundamental to promote healthy habits conducive to a better quality of life in adulthood. Objectives: to knov,, the adherence to the Mediterranean diet (DM) in the adolescent population, the weight status, the consumption of alcohol and the practice of physical activity (AF); and to analyze if in the studied sample there is an association between the motivation towards the realization of physical and sports practice and sex, age, body mass index (BMI), DM, the consumption of alcohol and the practice of FA. Methods: transversal descriptive study of 648 adolescents aged between 12 and 16 years. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet was analyzed with the KIDMED test; alcohol consumption, with the alcohol consumption scale; physical activity; with the IPAQ-A; and physical-sport motivation; with the CSAPPA scale. Results: according to the results, 17.6% of school children are overweight, 73.4% have high adherence to DM, and most do not consume or make moderate alcohol consumption and practice vigorous intensity AF within the recommended ranges. Men have a higher BMI (20.86 vs 20.67) and practice more days per week vigorous AF than ''omen (3.16 vs 2.45). Schoolchildren who enjoy more the practice of AF have a better diet, spend more time doing AF and consume less alcohol. Conclusion: adolescents who do more physical activity have greater adherence to the Mediterranean diet, reduce alcohol consumption, have better weight status and increase physical-sports motivation.

1 July 2021 in Nutrición Hospitalaria
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PTPedro Juan Tárraga-López
Pedro Juan Tárraga-López
AMAlmudena Tárraga Marcos
Almudena Tárraga Marcos
JRJosefa María Panisello Royo
Josefa María Panisello Royo
JHJulio A. Carbayo Herencia
Julio A. Carbayo Herencia
José Francisco López-GilJosé Francisco López-Gil
José Francisco López-Gil
ECEliseo García Cantó
Eliseo García Cantó
Objective: to assess the degree of adherence to the Mediterranean diet and the practice of physical activity in university Health Sciences students in Castile-La Mancha. Methods: this was a cross-sectional, observational study by means of a dietary and physical activity survey. The sample consisted of 575 university students (77.7 % women). An initial data collection survey was developed using the Google Forms platform (https://www.google.com/forms/about/). Adherence to the Mediterranean diet was assessed with the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS) questionnaire and the modified Prevention with Mediterranean Diet (PREDIMED) questionnaire. The Rapid Assessment of Physical Activity Scale (RAPA) questionnaire was used to measure physical activity. Results: we found a 58.3 % adherence to Mediterranean diet among Health Sciences students, with 38.6 % of average adherence, and 5.0 % of poor adherence, with a low consumption of fruits with no gender differences, and a high consumption of red or processed meat and butter or cream with significant differences between women and men. There is also a high consumption of carbonated beverages (more frequent in women). Likewise, a high percentage of students (22.5 %) do practically no physical activity. As for physical exercise, it is always higher in men, with significant differences (p > 0.05). Conclusion: this study suggests that the sample of university Health Sciences students in Castile-La Mancha shows an acceptable adherence to the Mediterranean diet and insufficient levels of physical activity.