Detection and monitoring of mosquito flaviviruses in Spain between 2001 and 2005.

Between the years 2001 and 2005, a total of 72,895 female mosquitoes were trapped during their season of abundance, and analyzed. They were sorted into 4,723 pools belonging to 20 Culicidae species from the Anopheles, Aedes, Ochlerotatus, Culex, Culiseta, Coquillettidia, and Uranotaenia genera. The aim was to detect arboviral RNA directly from mosquito homogenates for the genera Alphavirus, Flavivirus, and Phlebovirus. The study formed part of general arbovirus transmission research in four of the most important wetlands in Spain; in the provinces of Girona, Barcelona, Tarragona, and Huelva. The mosquitoes were collected using human bait, CO(2) traps, or light traps, and they were pooled according to date of collection, location, and species. No arboviral RNA from known pathogenic arboviruses was found. However, 111 pools tested positive for unknown mosquito Flavivirus, the only genus detected. The Flavivirus sequences identified were different from all known Flavivirus mosquito viruses, but very close to Kamiti River virus or cell fusing agent virus. The maximum likelihood estimation infection rate (MLE) was calculated for all regions and species. Aedes albopictus had the highest MLE at 47.14, followed by Ae. vexans with 43.67 (over the entire area). These species were followed by Culiseta annulata, with 36.00. The most common species, Ochlerotatus caspius and Culex pipiens, had low MLE values-0.94 and 0.38, respectively-over the area as a whole.

Binuclear Copper(II) Chelates of Amide-Based Cyclophanes.

A chelating cyclophane has been synthesized by cyclocondensation of two ethylenediaminetetraacetic (EDTA) units with two p-phenylenediamine units: the resulting cyclophane is 2,9,18,25-tetraoxo-4,7,20,23-tetrakis(carboxymethyl)-1,4,7,10,17,20,23,26-octaaza[10.10]paracyclophane, abbreviated as (bis-edtapdn)H(4). Cyclocondensation of two EDTA and two 1,5-diaminonaphthalene units has given the naphthalenophane, 2,9,22,29-tetraoxo-4,7,24,27-tetrakis(carboxymethyl)-1,4,7,10,21,24,27,30-octaaza[10.10](1,5)naphthalenophane, (bis-edtanap)H(4). Studies of electronic and EPR spectra have been carried out on the binuclear Cu(2+) complexes of these new ligands and of related chelating cyclophanes, 2,9,25,32-tetraoxo-4,7,27,30-tetrakis(carboxymethyl)-1,4,7,10,24,27,30,33-octaaza[10.1.10.1]paracyclophane, abbreviated as (bis-edtabpm)H(4), and 2,9,25,32-tetraoxo-4,7,27,30-tetrakis(carboxymethyl)-1,4,7,10,24,27,30,33-octaaza-17,40-dioxa[10.1.10.1]paracyclophane, abbreviated as (bis-edtabpe)H(4). Common features of these chelating cyclophanes are as follows: (1) amino, amide, and pendant carboxymethyl donor groups are substituents in the cyclophane ring, and (2) the amide groups are directly bound to the aromatic groups. These ligands formed neutral binuclear Cu(2+) chelates [Cu(2)L](0) that are water-insoluble. In alkaline solutions, these Cu(2+) complexes were converted to anionic chelates [Cu(2)(LH(-)(4))](4)(-) in which deprotonated amide nitrogens coordinated Cu(2+) ions. These anionic metal chelates of (bis-edtapdn)H(4), (bis-edtabpm)H(4), and (bis-edtabpe)H(4) exhibited three pi-pi transition bands in the spectral range 240-340 nm, in contrast to the uncoordinated cyclophanes, which showed a single band in this spectral range. The unusual pi-pi transition spectra of the [Cu(2)(LH(-)(4))](4)(-) complexes originate from the combined effect of metal-ligand charge transfer and proximity of the pi systems. The absorption and emission spectra of (bis-edtanap)H(4) were also influenced by coordination with copper. The EPR spectrum of [Cu(2)(bis-edtanapH(-)(4))](4)(-) in a methanol glass matrix showed a hyperfine structure due to the spin exchange between two Cu(2+) ions. These unusual spectral and magnetic properties arise from the strong coordination between Cu(2+) ions and deprotonated amide nitrogens that are bound to the pi systems.

[Diagnosis of mild arterial hypertension: 3 or 5 measurements?]. / Diagnóstico de hipertensión arterial ligera: tres o cinco tomas?

OBJECTIVE: To determine the differences in the diagnosis of light arterial hypertension between using three tension measurements (over 2 or 3 weeks) or five (6 or 7 weeks). DESIGN: A descriptive, longitudinal study. SETTING: Santomera Health Centre, Murcia. PARTICIPANTS: In 245 patients initially diagnosed as suffering from light Hypertension (with three takes of blood pressure), two more tension measurements were taken, over four weeks, to make a definitive diagnosis of light arterial Hypertension. 156 patients completed the series, for whom the differences in diagnosis between three and five takes, and variations in their blood pressure figures on repetition of the measurements, were studied. There were no differences in patients' basic characteristics between those who completed the tests and those who didn't. But there were differences between different professionals regarding their compliance with the procedure. RESULTS: 19.9% of the patients diagnosed initially after three blood pressure measurements did not have the diagnosis confirmed after five. Repetition of the measurements signified decrease in diastolic (p < 0.00005) and systolic (p < 0.00005) pressures. Average age of patients definitely diagnosed as having light hypertension was higher than the age of those not confirmed (p < 0.005). The older the patient, the higher the systolic pressure (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The diagnosis of light arterial hypertension differed in 19.9% between three measurements and five.