[Description of Influenza B in seasonal epidemics in Spain]. / Descripción de la gripe B en las epidemias estacionales de España.

OBJECTIVE: Seasonal influenza epidemics are a major public health concern. They are caused by the influenza A and B viruses; although the A virus is more prominent, influenza B virus infection causes a disease with similar characteristics. There are two phylogenetically distinct influenza B lineages (B/Victoria and B/Yamagata), only one of which is present in the trivalent vaccine formulated each season. METHODS: Epidemiological data from the Spanish Influenza Surveillance System for 2007 to 2017 were reviewed to establish the relative proportion of each type of virus and the characterization of the B lineages in relation to the composition of the trivalent vaccine. RESULTS: The median proportion of B (2007-2017) was 27.2% (0.7%-74.8%) vs. 16.3% (0.4%-98.6%) for A-H3 and 44.2% (0.1%-98.0%) for pandemic A-H1N1 (20092017). The B lineages co-circulated in 8/10 seasons and there was mismatch with the B vaccine strain in 4/10 seasons. The B virus was dominant in 2007/08 and 2012/13 throughout Spain. There was a combination of dominance/codominance of influenza B and mismatch with the vaccine lineage in at least one third of epidemic seasons reviewed. CONCLUSIONS: Epidemiological information on influenza B has been less compiled in comparison with data on the A virus. Influenza virus type B is responsible for a significant number of cases in almost all seasons. The predominant B lineage in each season is unpredictable, affecting the protection conferred by the seasonal vaccine. Spanish epidemiological data support the rationale for a quadrivalent vaccine with both B virus lineages similarly to data from other settings.

Semiclassical transport properties of IrGa3: a promising thermoelectric material.

IrGa3 is an intermetallic compound which is expected to be a metal, but a study on the electronic properties of this material to confirm its metallic character is not available in the literature. In this work, we report for the first time a first-principles density functional theory and semiclassical Boltzmann theory study of the structural, electronic and transport properties of this material. The inclusion of the spin-orbit coupling term is crucial to calculate accurately the electronic properties of this compound. We have established that IrGa3 is an indirect semiconductor with a narrow gap of 0.07 eV. From semiclassical Boltzmann transport theory, it is inferred that this material, with the appropriate hole concentration, could have a thermoelectric figure of merit at room temperature comparable to other intermetallic compounds such as FeGa3, though the transport properties of IrGa3 are highly anisotropic.

The electronic and optical properties of the sulvanite compounds: a many-body perturbation and time-dependent density functional theory study.

We have studied, by means of first-principles calculations, the electronic and optical properties of the sulvanite family: Cu3MX4 (M = V, Nb, Ta and X = S, Se), which, due to its broad range of gaps and chemical stability, have emerged as promising materials for technological applications such as photovoltaics and transparent conductivity. To address the reliability of those properties we have used semi-local and hybrid functionals (PBEsol, HSE06), many-body perturbation theory (G0W0 approximation and Bethe-Salpeter equation), and time-dependent density functional theory (revised bootstrap kernel) to calculate the quasi-particle dispersion relation, band gaps, the imaginary part of the macroscopic dielectric function and the absorption coefficient. The calculated valence band maximum and the conduction band minimum are located at the R and X-points, respectively. The calculated gaps using PBEsol are between 0.81 and 1.88 eV, with HSE06 into 1.73 and 2.94 eV, whereas the G0W0 values fall into the 1.91-3.19 eV range. The calculated dielectric functions and absorption coefficients show that all these compounds present continuous excitonic features when the Bethe-Salpeter equation is used. Contrarily, the revised bootstrap kernel is incapable of describing the excitonic spectra. The calculated optical spectra show that Cu3VS4 and Cu3MSe4 have good absorption in the visible, whereas Cu3NbS4 and Cu3TaS4 have it on the near ultraviolet.

A search for the ground state structure and the phase stability of tantalum pentoxide.

Tantalum pentoxide (Ta2O5) is a wide-gap semiconductor that presents good catalytic and dielectric properties, conferring to this compound promising prospective use in a variety of technological applications. However, there is a lack of understanding regarding the relations among its crystalline phases, as some of them are not even completely characterized and there is currently no agreement about which models better explain the crystallographic data. Additionally, its phase diagram is unknown. In this work we performed first-principles density functional theory calculations to study the structural properties of the different phases and models of Ta2O5, the equation of state and the zone-centered vibrational frequencies. From our results, we conclude that the phases that are built up from only distorted octahedra instead of combinations with pentagonal and/or hexagonal bipyramids are energetically more favorable and dynamically stable. More importantly, this study establishes that, given the pressure range considered, the B-phase is the most favorable structure and there is no a crystallographic phase transition to another phase at high-pressure. Additionally, for the equilibrium volume of the B-phase and the λ-model, the description of the electronic structure and optical properties were performed using semi-local and hybrid functionals.

Assessing photocatalytic power of g-C3N4 for solar fuel production: A first-principles study involving quasi-particle theory and dispersive forces.

First-principles quasi-particle theory has been employed to assess catalytic power of graphitic carbon nitride, g-C3N4, for solar fuel production. A comparative study between g-h-triazine and g-h-heptazine has been carried out taking also into account van der Waals dispersive forces. The band edge potentials have been calculated using a recently developed approach where quasi-particle effects are taken into account through the GW approximation. First, it was found that the description of ground state properties such as cohesive and surface formation energies requires the proper treatment of dispersive interaction. Furthermore, through the analysis of calculated band-edge potentials, it is shown that g-h-triazine has high reductive power reaching the potential to reduce CO2 to formic acid, coplanar g-h-heptazine displays the highest thermodynamics force toward H2O/O2 oxidation reaction, and corrugated g-h-heptazine exhibits a good capacity for both reactions. This rigorous theoretical study shows a route to further improve the catalytic performance of g-C3N4.

Gd3+ spin-lattice relaxation via multi-band conduction electrons in Y(1-x)Gd(x)In3: an electron spin resonance study.

Interest in the electronic structure of the intermetallic compound YIn3 has been renewed with the recent discovery of superconductivity at T ∼ 1 K, which may be filamentary in nature. In this work we perform electron spin resonance (ESR) experiments on Gd(3+) doped YIn3 (Y1-xGdxIn3; 0.001 ⪅ x ⩽̸ 0.08), showing that the spin-lattice relaxation of the Gd(3+) ions, due to the exchange interaction between the Gd(3+) localized magnetic moment and the conduction electrons (ce), is processed via the presence of s-, p- and d-type ce at the YIn3 Fermi level. These findings are revealed by the Gd(3+) concentration dependence of the Korringa-like relaxation rate d(ΔH)/dT and g-shift (Δg = g - 1.993), that display bottleneck relaxation behavior for the s-electrons and unbottleneck behavior for the p- and d-electrons. The Korringa-like relaxation rates vary from 22(2) Oe/K for x ⪅ 0.001 to 8(2) Oe/K for x = 0.08 and the g-shift values change, respectively, from a positive Δg = +0.047(10) to a negative Δg = -0.008(4). Analysis in terms of a three-band ce model allows the extraction of the corresponding exchange interaction parameters Jfs, Jfp and Jfd.

Conduction electron spin resonance in AlB2.

This work reports on electron spin resonance experiments in oriented single crystals of the hexagonal AlB2 diboride compound (P6/mmm, D16h structure) which display conduction electron spin resonance. The X-band electron spin resonance spectra showed a metallic Dysonian resonance with g-value and intensity independent of temperature. The thermal broadening of the anisotropic electron spin resonance linewidth ΔH tracks the T-dependence of the electrical resistivity below T is approximately equal to 100 K. These results confirm the observation of a conduction electron spin resonance in AlB2 and are discussed in comparison with other boride compounds. Based on our main findings for AlB2 and the calculated electronic structure of similar layered honeycomb-like structures, we conclude that any array of covalent B-B layers potentially results in a conduction electron spin resonance signal. This observation may shed new light on the nature of the non-trivial conduction electron spin resonance-like signals of complex f-electron systems such as ß-YbAlB4.

Varicella paediatric hospitalizations in Spain.

Varicella is a very common childhood disease responsible for an important number of hospitalizations every year in Spain. The aim of this study was to assess the burden of chickenpox hospitalizations in Spain in the 7-year period between 1999 and 2005. Data of hospital discharges relating to varicella were obtained from the Conjunto Mínimo Básico de Datos (CMBD), the Spanish surveillance system for hospital data. All paediatric hospitalizations for primary varicella that occurred between 1 January 1999 and 31 December 2005 were selected. The hospitalization rate for the 7-year study period was 23.06 hospitalizations/100 000 population. The highest incidences of hospitalizations were observed in the youngest groups (60.79 and 55.65/100 000 population for ages 0-12 months and 1-2 years respectively). Nineteen deaths were reported during the study period. The median length of stay in hospital was 4 days (interquartile range 3-7 days). Despite the availability of effective varicella vaccines, chickenpox remains an important cause of hospitalizations in Spain.

[Present status of psychosurgery in Spain]. / Estado actual de la psicocirugía en España.

In order to know the present activity of psychosurgery in Spain, and the opinion of neurosurgeons relative to it, a survey was designed and applied to all active neurosurgeons in our country. We obtained data from at least one neurosurgeon from the 74 neurosurgical centers in Spain (response rate= 100%). Only 6 neurosurgeons performed psychosurgical interventions. In total, 121 psychosurgeries were performed between 1999 and 2003, 75.7% of them in private centers. The most frequent indication is obsessive-compulsive disorder and the most frequent technique is anterior capsulotomy, although techniques and indications differ among the practising neurosurgeons. Those not performing them cite lack of patient referral (54.4%) or unexperience (36.8%) as the causes. A suspected lack of efficacy or the possible adverse effects are seldom expressed. The possibility of using deep brain stimulation for psychiatric indications, as well as the experience of some neurosurgeons and the favorable opinion of the rest, might increase the number of operations in our country.

X-ray spectroscopic study of the charge state and local ordering of room-temperature ferromagnetic Mn-doped ZnO.

The charge state and local ordering of Mn doped into a pulsed laser deposited single-phase thin film of ZnO are investigated by using x-ray absorption spectroscopy at the O K-edge, Mn K-edge and L-edge, and x-ray emission spectroscopy at the O K-edge and Mn L-edge. This film is ferromagnetic at room temperature. EXAFS measurement shows that Mn(2+) replaces the Zn site in tetrahedral symmetry, and there is no evidence for either metallic Mn or MnO in the film. Upon Mn doping, the top of O 2p valence band extends into the bandgap, indicating additional charge carriers being created.

Hospitalizaciones pediátricas atribuibles a infecciones por virus varicela zoster / Paediatric hospitalizations attributable to varicella zoster virus infections

Objetivo: Estimar la carga de hospitalizacionespor varicela y herpes zoster de sujetos menores de21 años en la Comunidad Autónoma del País Vascoen el período 2001-2003.Material y métodos: Se han utilizado los datosobtenidos del Sistema Nacional de Datos Hospitalarioscorrespondientes a altas hospitalarias con diagnósticode varicela o herpes zoster. Las variablesconsideradas han sido edad, sexo, fecha de ingresoy de alta así como los trastornos subyacentes ycomplicaciones de los sujetos seleccionados.Resultados: Se registraron un total de 123 hospitalizacionespor varicela y 11 por herpes zoster, obteniéndoseuna incidencia media anual de hospitalizacionesde 11,3 y 1,0 por 100.000 habitantes respectivamente.La mediana de estancia hospitalariacalculada fue de 5 días tanto para la varicela comopara el herpes zoster. El único fallecimiento registrado,relacionado con una infección primaria por varicela,correspondió a una niña de dos años que padecíanecrosis hepática. Las hospitalizaciones pediátricaspor varicela supusieron un gasto hospitalarioanual de 79.523 §, muy superior al del herpeszoster, de 11.410 § anuales.Conclusiones: La varicela, una enfermedad prevenible,genera todavía un importante número dehospitalizaciones entre individuos en edad pediátrica.Se hacen necesarios nuevos estudios de incidenciapediátrica de herpes zoster para evaluar unaposible variación en la epidemiología de la enfermedadtras la implantación de la vacunación frente avaricela

Objective: To estimate the burden of hospital admissionsfor varicella and herpes zoster among subjectsup to 20 years old in the Autonomous Regionof Basque Country in Spain during 2001-2003.Methods: Varicella and herpes zoster dischargesdata were obtained from the national surveillancesystem for hospital data. Variables age, Sex, admissionand discharge dates, underlying conditions andcomplications were collected.Results: A total of 123 hospital discharges for varicellaand 11 for herpes zoster were reported, withan average annual incidence of hospitalizations of11.3 cases and 1.0 cases per 100,000 population,respectively. The median length of stay in hospitalwas 5 days for both diseases. The only death reportedwas caused by varicella, corresponding to a 2years old girl suffering from hepatic necrosis.Varicella generated an annual pediatric hospitalizationcost of 79,523 §, much more than herpeszoster, with 11,410 § per year.Conclusion: Despite being a preventable disease,varicella is still generating an important number ofpaediatric hospitalizations. New studies assessingthe paediatric incidence of herpes zoster are requiredto evaluate possible effects of the implementation ofvaricella vaccine on the epidemiology of the disease

Electronic structure of phospho-olivines Li(x)FePO4 (x = 0, 1) from soft-x-ray-absorption and -emission spectroscopies.

The electronic structure of the phospho-olivine Li(x)FePO4 was studied using soft-x-ray-absorption (XAS) and emission spectroscopies. Characteristic changes in the valence and conduction bands are observed upon delithation of LiFePO4 into FePO4. In LiFePO4, the Fe-3d states are localized with little overlap with the O-2p states. Delithiation of LiFePO4 gives stronger hybridization between Fe-3d states and O-2p states leading to delocalization of the O-2p states. The Fe L-edge absorption spectra yield "fingerprints" of the different valence states of Fe in LiFePO4 and FePO4. Resonant soft-x-ray-emission spectroscopy at the Fe L edge shows strong contributions from resonant inelastic soft x-ray scattering (RIXS), which is described using an ionic picture of the Fe-3d states. Together the Fe L-edge XAS and RIXS study reveals a bonding character of the Fe 3d-O2p orbitals in FePO4 in contrast to a nonbonding character in LiFePO4.

Nuevos avances en las vacunas frente al Virus del Papiloma Humano (VPH) / New advances in the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines

Objetivos: Describir la situación actual del cáncer de cérvix, su relación con el Virus del Papiloma Humano (VPH), y conocer el estado actual de las vacunas profilácticas y terapéuticas frente al VPH. Metodología: Se consultaron algunas bases de datos electrónicas (Medline, The Cochrane Library, EMBASE, etc), páginas web (Doyma, National Cancer Institute, etc) y los abstracts de la 21ª Conferencia Internacional del Virus del Papiloma Humano. Epidemiología: La infección por el VPH es la principal causa del cáncer cervical. Éste es el segundo cáncer femenino más frecuente de todo el mundo. Cada año se estima que se producen 470.000 casos nuevos en todo el mundo y 230.000 muertes por esta causa. Vacunas: Se encuentran en estudio tres tipos de vacunas frente al VPH: profilácticas, terapéuticas y combinadas. Las vacunas profilácticas se encuentran en fase III. Los distintos estudios han demostrado que todas ellas son seguras, bien toleradas y altamente inmunógenas, y especialmente, la vacuna bivalente VLPVPH-16/18. Son múltiples las estrategias diseñadas para el desarrollo de vacunas terapéuticas. Algunas de ellas, ya se encuentran en fase I y fase II. Se tratan de vacunas seguras, aunque los resultados sobre su inmunogenicidad no son concluyentes. Por último, las vacunas combinadas (profilácticas-terapéuticas) también se encuentran en fase I y II. Se ha demostrado que son bien toleradas e inmunogénasante la falta de datos sobre la respuesta clínica que desencadena. Con toda probabilidad, las vacunas profilácticas pronto estarán disponibles y con ello se conseguirá reducir significativamente la incidencia de cáncer cervical en todo el mundo

Objetives: To describe cervical cancer epidemiology, its association with human papiloma virus (HPV), and to know the present situation of HPV vaccines. Methods: We consulted some electronic data bases (Medline, The Cochrane Library, EMBASE, etc), web sites from Doyma, National Cancer Institute, etc, and the abstracts of 21ª Papillomavirus Internacional Conference Epidemiology: HPV infection is the main cause of cervical cancer. Cervical cancer is the second malignant tumour. About 470.000 cases of this illness are diagnosed every year and 230.000 women die all over the world. Vaccines: Three types of HPV vaccines are in study: prophylactic, therapeutic and combined. The prophylactic vaccines are in phase III. The different studies have demonstrated that all of the mare sure, well tolerated and highly inmunogenicity, and specially, the vaccine bivalent VLP HPV-16/18.There are multiple strategies designed for the development of therapeutics vaccines. Some of the mare in phase I and phase II. They a sure vaccines, though the results of the inmunogenicity are not conclusive. Finally, the combined (prophylactic - therapeutic)vaccines also are in phase I and II. There has been demonstrated that they are well tolerated and immunogenicity before the lack of information on the clinical response that it unleashes. With all probability, the prophylactic vaccines soon will be available and with it one will manage to reduce significantly the effect of cervical cancer in the whole world

[Efficacy of electroconvulsive therapy: a systematic review of scientific evidences]. / Eficacia de la terapia electroconvulsiva: revisión sistemática de las evidencias científicas.

We carried out a systematic study of bibliographical review of scientific evidence provided by clinical trials that assessed the short, medium and long-term efficacy of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) from 1965 until June 2003. The studies with the following features have been excluded: a) those in which ECT is not the aim of the research; b) those that do not compare ECT with another different treatment; c) those in which the aim of the research is not to evaluate the efficacy of ECT, and d) those in which the studies are not randomized clinical trials. We have used the biomedical databases Medline, Psyclit, IME and Cochrane. On applying the corresponding search strategies on every bibliographical repertory, a total amount of 916 studies were found, which were reduced to 62 after having applied the specified exclusion criteria. The scientific evidence obtained, which compare the efficacy of ECT exclusively in depression, schizophrenia, mania and Parkinson disease, are systematized.

Ferromagnetism above room temperature in bulk and transparent thin films of Mn-doped ZnO.

The search for ferromagnetism above room temperature in dilute magnetic semiconductors has been intense in recent years. We report the first observations of ferromagnetism above room temperature for dilute (<4 at.%) Mn-doped ZnO. The Mn is found to carry an average magnetic moment of 0.16 mu(B) per ion. Our ab initio calculations find a valance state of Mn(2+) and that the magnetic moments are ordered ferromagnetically, consistent with the experimental findings. We have obtained room-temperature ferromagnetic ordering in bulk pellets, in transparent films 2-3 microm thick, and in the powder form of the same material. The unique feature of our sample preparation was the low-temperature processing. When standard high-temperature (T > 700 degrees C) methods were used, samples were found to exhibit clustering and were not ferromagnetic at room temperature. This capability to fabricate ferromagnetic Mn-doped ZnO semiconductors promises new spintronic devices as well as magneto-optic components.

[Akathisia due to risperidone withdrawal: two clinical cases]. / Acatisia por retirada de risperidona: dos observaciones clínicas.

Akathisia due to withdrawal or disruption of antipsychotic treatment is a rare and scarcely elucidated presentation of extrapyramidalism which can also occur after other drug withdrawal. After having reviewed biomedical data basis IME and the latest seven years of MEDLINE and EMBASE, we only found one case, which was published in 1997, of persistent akathisia after risperidone withdrawal, but it had started under treatment with haloperidol. We next present the clinical observation of other two patients who developed akathisia after risperidone withdrawal. In one of them, akathisia started within the first days of treatment at hig-medium doses and got worse after withdrawal; in the other case, akathisia immediately started just after withdrawal of a nine-month treatment with risperidone at low doses.

Acatisia por retirada de risperidona: dos observaciones clínicas / Akathisia due to risperidone withdrawal: two clinical cases

La acatisia por retirada o discontinuación de tratamiento antipsicótico es una presentación rara y poco elucidada de extrapiramidalismo que también puede ocurrir tras la retirada de otros fármacos. Tras revisar las bases de datos biomédicas IME y los últimos siete años de MEDLINE y EMBASE sólo hemos hallado un caso publicado en 1997 de acatisia persistente tras la retirada de risperidona, pero que empezó bajo tratamiento con haloperidol. A continuación presentamos la observación clínica de otros dos pacientes que desarrollaron acatisia tras la supresión de risperidona: en un caso la acatisia había comenzado durante los primeros días del tratamiento con dosis altas-medias y se agravó tras la supresión; en el otro comenzó inmediatamente sólo tras la supresión de un tratamiento de nueve meses de dosis bajas de risperidona (AU)

[Variability in attitudes and use conditions of electroconvulsive therapy. Results of a preliminary study]. / Variabilidad en actitudes y condiciones de utilización de la terapia electroconvulsiva. Resultados de un estudio preliminar.

OBJECTIVE: Presenting the results of a pilot study on attitudes and use of ECT in Spain which was administrated to volunteers during a national congress of psychiatry. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross survey on a sample of psychiatrists (N= 125) which is not representative enough who attended the congress. A descriptive analysis of the outcomes is made. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: There is a statistically significant association depending whether ECT is used in the work place or not. When it is used, there are 100% favorable attitudes. On the other hand, only 36% attitudes are favorable when ECT is not used in the work place. It is typically applied within a period of 8-10 treatment sessions, with a mean frequency of three times a week, performed by psychiatrists who treat with this technique less than 10 patients per year and using facilities within 1 to 5 years old. Maintenance ECT is unusual and it is only performed in monthly or fortnightly sessions. The commonest anesthetic agents are Propofol and Thiopental but this is unknown by 27.6% of the practitioners. The outcomes are contrasted with the consolidated guidelines on clinical practice of ECT.

Experimental and theoretical identification of a new high-pressure TiO2 polymorph.

Our combined theoretical and experimental investigations have led to the discovery of a new polymorph of titanium dioxide, where titanium is seven-coordinated to oxygen in the orthorhombic OI ( Pbca) structure. The zero-pressure bulk modulus of the new phase measured in the pressure range 19 to 36 GPa is 318(3) GPa. We demonstrate that the group IVa dioxides (TiO2, ZrO2, HfO2) on compression at ambient temperature all follow the common path: rutile -->alpha-PbO2-type --> baddeleyite-type (MI) --> orthorhombic OI (Pbca) structure --> cotunnite-type (OII).

Body weight gain after administration of antipsychotic drugs: correlation with leptin, insulin and reproductive hormones.

Excessive body weight gain, hyperprolactinemia and low gonadal steroid serum levels are often observed during chronic administration of antipsychotic drugs (AP). Clinical and experimental findings suggest that leptin, the peptidic hormone involved in long-term body weight regulation, and reproductive hormones are interrelated. Therefore, we assessed circulating leptin levels in healthy, lean women (n = 12) and men (n = 7) before and after short-term administration of the AP sulpiride (SUL, 200 mg/day). In addition, we studied psychotic obese (n = 9) and lean women (n = 13) under chronic treatment with diverse AP. No significant weight changes were observed after SUL administration in healthy women--initial weight: 54.9+/-2.6 Kg; final weight: 55.04+/-2.6, NS. Leptin levels did not change either: 11.9+/-1.5 ng/ml. vs. 10.6+/-1.3, NS. By contrast, a small, but significant weight gain was found in SUL-treated men--60.6+/-1.9 Kg. vs. 61.3+/-2.1, p = 0.004. Leptin and insulin levels were significantly higher after SUL administration--leptin: 2.77+/-0.22 ng/ml. vs. 13.9+/-2.5, p=0.035; insulin: 3.59+/-0.17 mIU/ml vs. 8.81+/-0.81, p = 0.0001. In these subjects, leptin levels positively correlated with body weight change (p = 0.006), and serum prolactin change (p = 0.001). Obese psychotic women (Body Mass Index, BMI, Kg/m2 = 31.5+/-1.03) displayed higher leptin levels than non-obese psychotic women (BMI = 25.5+/-0.52): 26.8+/-4.8, vs. 12.8+/-3.4 ng/ml, p = 0.006. In these women, a significant positive correlation was found between leptin levels and BMI (p = 0.0001), and between leptin and basal insulin levels (p = 0.001). These results show that the expected circulating leptin elevation which is observed when body weight raises, is preserved in people treated with AP drugs.