Currently, more than half of all donors are aged over 65 years, and previous studies have shown that this group is less willing to support organ donation. Objective: to analyse the attitude of people aged over 65 years toward organ donation and transplantation (ODT) and to determine how their psychosocial profile affects their attitude. Study population: citizens residing in southeastern Spain older than 65 years of age. A representative sample was obtained, which was stratified by gender and geographical location (n = 420). A validated questionnaire about ODT was used. Statistical analysis: a bivariate analysis was performed using the X2 test and a multivariate analysis. The favourable attitude toward the donation of one’s own organs was 53%. The psychosocial variables affecting attitude were mainly: having discussed ODT with one’s family (p < 0.001) or friends (OR 2.223), acceptance of cremation (OR 2.508), and acceptance of an autopsy (OR 2.578). Citizens aged over 65 tend to have an unfavourable attitude toward the donation of their own organs. The lack of dialogue about ODT in social and family settings, and the attitude to the manipulation of one’s own body after death, are aspects of a respondent’s psychosocial profile, which influence this attitude.

Introduction. In medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), calcitonin levels and TNM staging are established prognostic factors. However, the diagnostic accuracy of cytology in MTC is poor. In this context, microRNAs (miRNAs) may be useful as valuable biomarkers, although evidence in MTC remains scarce. The aim of this study was to determine the expression of several miRNAs in patients with MTC and to investigate their association with clinical aggressiveness. Methods. Twenty-five patients undergoing surgery for MTC were included. miRNA expression profiles (miR-183-5p, miR-375-5p, miR-144-3p, miR-34a-5p, and miR-200c-3p) were analyzed in both histological samples of MTC and paired healthy thyroid tissue. cDNA synthesis was performed using the miRCURY LNA RT Kit (Exiqon Ref. 339340 Qiagen, Hilden, Germany). Gene expression was studied by real-time PCR using the QuantStudio 5 kit (Applied Biosystem). Variables included epidemiological, clinical, and follow-up variables. Statistical analysis: SPSS v.29. Kruskal–Wallis, Mann–Whitney U, and Spearman’s ρ tests were used. Results. Sixty percent (n = 15) were female and 56% (n = 14) had familial CMT. The mean age at diagnosis was 41.8 years. The median expression of miR-200c-3p, miR-144-3p, miR-34a-5p, miR183-5p, and miR-375-5p was 1.02, 0.923, 1.002, 7.666, and 2.226, respectively. Significant differences in expression were found for miR183-5p and 375-5p (p = 0.001) compared to paired healthy thyroid tissue. Patients with a higher disease-free survival (DFS) showed higher expression of 200c-3p (ρ = 0.456, p = 0.022). Conclusions. The expression of miRNAs 183-5p and 375-5p may help us to diagnose MTC, and a lower expression of miRNA 200C-3p may indicate a higher clinical aggressiveness.