New Rydberg-Rydberg transitions in N2. Identification of the d3 1Sigmag+ state.

Use of a special Penning-ionization source allowed Fourier-transform recording of two previously nonobserved IR emission bands spectra at 5480 and 7630 cm(-1) arising from neutral N(2). The first of these bands is the c(4) (') (1)Sigma(u) (+)-a(") (1)Sigma(g) (+) (0,0) transition, both states involved being previously known by direct vacuum (UV) absorption spectroscopy. The second band corresponds to a d(3) (1)Sigma(g) (+)-c(4) (') (1)Sigma(u) (+) (0,0) transition, in which the upper level belongs to an up to now unidentified Rydberg state. Both the upper and lower levels are perturbed by neighboring valence state levels.

Urinary excretion of homovanillic acid in workers exposed to manganese.

Homovanillic acid, an end product of dopamine catabolism, and manganese (Mn) were measured in the urine of 68 male workers exposed to Mn-containing dust in a dry alkaline battery plant or an Mn oxide and salt producing plant, and in 35 control male subjects. The geometric mean of the airborne concentration of inhalable (total) dust amounted to 0.95 and 1.37 mg/m3 in the dry alkaline battery plant and the Mn oxide and salt producing plant, respectively. In the latter, a higher prevalence of increased values of urinary homovanillic acid concentration was found. In the total population, there was a low but statistically significant positive correlation between the concentration of homovanillic acid and Mn in urine (r = 0.20, P = 0.04) but there was no significant correlation between the level of homovanillic acid in urine and Mn in airborne dust or duration of exposure. This observation might be compatible with the stimulation of dopamine turnover in the brain, which has been observed in the early phase of Mn intoxication in animals. However, the large variability in urinary homovanillic acid excretion in control subjects precludes the use of this biological indicator to detect early interference of Mn with the dopaminergic system.

[Seroepidemiology of poliomyelitis in Mexico]. / Seroepidemiología de la poliomielitis en México.

With the massive vaccination campaigns with the inactivated poliomyelitis vaccine starting in 1955 and its oral presentation in 1961, this disease has been controlled in many countries. However, wild polio virus is still transmitted in many developing countries. The study reported in this article had the objectives of estimating the prevalence of antibodies against polio for three types of virus (1, 2 and 3) in the population from 12 to 59 months of age in Mexico and determining the factors associated with the absence of immunity. One section of the National Seroepidemiology Survey (NSS), a study with a representative sample of the Mexican population, included the analysis of 5,260 blood samples for polio seropositivity. These samples were processed using the technique of plaque-reduction-neutralization, with the cut-off for positive titer values at 1:8. The national immunity levels reported for the three types of polio virus were: type 1 (89.8%); type 2 (97.6%); and type 3 (85.4%). The state with the lowest seroprevalence was Campeche, with 59.7 per cent, and the highest observed was Baja California Sur, with 93.0 per cent. The NSS also showed that the immunity level increases with age. There were some differences observed by place of residence; seroprevalences were higher in the urban areas (type one, 93.4%; type two, 98.5% and type three, 88.2%) than in the rural zones (86.6%, 96.8% and 82.9%, respectively). As expected, previous vaccination with three or more doses, referred verbally by the parent or guardian of the child, was associated with higher positivity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Seroepidemiology of measles in Mexico]. / Seroepidemiología del sarampión en México.

Measles is an illness of universal distribution and great social impact. According to the WHO, the annual deaths due to this disease amount to more than a million children in the world. The objectives of this paper are to estimate the seroprevalence of titer of antibodies to measles in the population of 12 to 59 months of age in Mexico and identify the determinants of the immunity state. From the National Seroepidemiology Survey, 5,232 blood samples of children between 12 and 59 months of age, were analyzed, their blood samples were considered positive when the antibody titers were greater or equal to 1:4, tested by hemagglutination inhibition using sensitized erythrocytes. The National seroprevalence was 76.2 per cent. By age group, an increment in positive level was observed age increased. The seroprevalence was 56 per cent in children of 12 to 24 month and 82 per cent for children 48 to 59 month of age. The history of vaccination was obtained verbally; 62.5 per cent of seropositive didn't have vaccination history and 82.5 per cent were of those vaccinated were positive. By place of residence, at rural level (populations less than 2,500 inhabitants) 74 per cent positives, compared to 79 per cent in children of urban areas. All risk factor were significant, based on a univariate analysis, being the one with greatest risk those with negative vaccine history and children of one year of age. The efficiency of the vaccine estimation was of 63.6 per cent. Risk factors related to the vinculation of immunity protection to measles or seropositives were age, and verbal history of vaccination.

[Seroepidemiology of Chagas disease in Mexico]. / Seroepidemiología de la enfermedad de Chagas en México.

The lack of information about Chagas disease in Mexico, as well as the controversy concerning its importance, was the basis for the seroprevalence study of Trypanosoma cruzi in the National Seroepidemiology Survey (NSS). This information was representative of the national situation with regard to disease prevalences and other factors related to the nation's health. Unfortunately the NSS was not a very good information source for the study of trypanosomiasis americana, because its coverage in the disperse rural areas was poor. Nevertheless, the results of the NSS indicated that Chagas disease has an irregular distribution in Mexico with seroprevalences of 1.6, 0.5 and 0.2 for the different dilution levels used in the evaluation. The survey data showed Chagas disease to be less important than that mentioned by other authors. The NSS data confirmed the areas of disease transmission already reported and identified some new ones in Hidalgo, Chiapas and Veracruz. The survey also detected migratory workers with Chagas antibodies in Baja California border cities, a situation which indicates a risk for blood transfusion in areas of the country presumed to be free of the disease. Three quarters (74.5%) of the seropositive population were less than 39 years old. Moreover, the fact that children of less than four years were infected suggests that natural transmission is still very important in some areas. Although the seroprevalences were greater in the lower socio-economic groups, some persons of the higher socio-economic level were also affected. This situation may be explained by the fact that many of these persons own vacation homes in tropical areas.

[Values of serum cholesterol in the Mexican population]. / Valores de colesterol sérico en la población mexicana.

The National Seroepidemiologic survey was carried out by the General Directorate of Epidemiology of the Ministry of Health from March 1987 to May 1988. One of the objectives of this survey was to know the mean cholesterol levels in the whole country and in each of the different states of the Mexican Republic by sex and in the different age groups. Of the 68,257 individuals studied, 39,990 (58.6%) were females and 28,267 (41.1%) males. The blood samples were processed at the Lipid Laboratory in the Endocrinology Department of the National Institute of Cardiology "Ignacio Chávez". The mean serum cholesterol levels were for the entire country 184 and 185 mg/dl in adult males and females, respectively, and 145 in males and 149 mg/dl in females in the age group below 20 years old. The northern states and two states in the southeast (Yucatan and Campeche) had the highest mean values of the country, and were found to be very similar to those observed in the United States population. When the values seen during childhood were compared with those attained on adult age, an increment of around 33 percent in the mean cholesterol levels was disclosed. This finding was similar in the different regions of Mexico as well as in the USA population. Also, the states with the highest mean cholesterol values in the young population had the highest values during adulthood (R2 = 0.90 and 0.91, for males and females). This information can be of great value for developing public health strategies to diminish the incidence of coronary heart disease.

[Seroepidemiology of toxoplasmosis in Mexico]. / Seroepidemiología de la toxoplasmosis en México.

This article presents to the results of the National Seroepidemiology Survey with regard to the prevalence of toxoplasmosis in Mexico. Some theoretical aspects of the disease are discussed, and the prevalences found in earlier reports are presented. The study measured 29,279 blood samples from persons in all 32 states of Mexico, for both sexes, all ages, and socio-economic groups. The samples were processed by indirect immunofluorescence for antibody titers of 1:16 and 1:128. Positivity levels were stratified by age, sex, socioeconomic level, place of residence, education level, number of persons in the family, state, and with or without rights to care in the social security medical institutions. The results pointed to greater prevalences in the costal areas, in lower socioeconomic levels, and a high incidence in women of reproductive age. Also included are a discussion of socio-economic aspects and the potential role of the domestic cat.

[Seroepidemiology of brucellosis in Mexico]. / Seroepidemiología de la brucelosis en México.

Brucellosis is an important and widely distributed zoonosis in Mexican cattle which also affects an unknown proportion of the human population. This report presents the brucellosis antibody levels registered in the National Seroepidemiology Survey (NAS) in sera obtained from 66,982 healthy persons from one to 98 years of age and determined by the test of plaque microagglutination. Seroprevalences by states ranged from 0.24 per cent in Morelos to 13.5 per cent in the state of Mexico. The national mean was estimated to be 3.42 per cent. The analysis showed no statistical differences for brucellosis antibody levels by urban and rural residence and by density of family sleeping areas (three or more persons vs. one or two persons per bedroom). Adults between 20 and 39 years of age had greater seropositivity and children from one to nine years had the least. Women were most affected and had 48 per cent more seropositivity than men. According to the information obtained in the study, brucellosis in Mexico has the following characteristics: it is related to gender but not to occupation; affects persons in all age groups, social strata and is independent of size of the community of residence. Historically, brucellosis has been an endemic disease in Mexico. Recently an increasing incidence has been reported, and this is possibly due to a better national notification system.

[The seroepidemiology of rubella in Mexican women. A national probability survey]. / Seroepidemiología de la rubéola en mujeres mexicanas. Encuesta nacional probabilística.

A rubella seroepidemiologic survey was carried out in a rural population to better understand the epidemiology of this infections disease in Mexico. 24,331 serum samples from women between 10 and 44 years old were collected during 1987-1988 from the 32 federal states. Samples were tested for Rubella Antibodies by use of hemagglutination inhibition with a titer 1:8 bring considered as positive; 79.96 per cent (CI 95%, 7.5-80.5%) of women were seropositive, seropositivity increased with age, from 69.26 per cent in the age group of 10 to 14 years old, to 87.84 per cent in the 40-44 age group. Seropositivity rates were lower in southern states than in northern states and, higher in urban areas that rural areas (82.4 vs 76.6%); statistical significative difference in seropositivity rates were found between girls less than 14 years of age in urban areas as compared to rural areas (74.7 vs 63.6%). Seropositivity rates were related to socioeconomic status only when high status group were compared lower status group (82.5 vs 77%). In addition, we observed a significative trend of increasing seropositivity as level of school education increased. In comparison to the 1974 national survey, this seroepidemiological survey showed a decreased seropositivity for all age groups, even with an increase in the number of susceptible women, particularly in the group less than 20 years old. This study offers seroepidemiologic information about rubella at a national and regional level.

Tratamiento de infecciones urinarias con dosis bajas de cinoxacino / Treatment of urinary infections with low dose of cinoxacin

Se valoró, mediante estudio clínico multicéntrico, prospectivo y abierto, la eficacia, seguridad y aceptación de cinoxacino, en dosis de 250 mg cada doce horas, durante 10 días, para el tratamiento de infección aguda no complicada ni recurrente del aparato urinario, por bacterias sensibles al medicamento. La respuesta clínica y bacteriológica fue satisfactoria en todos los casos estudiados que se apegaron al protocolo de estudio. Se obtuvo respuesta clínica satisfactoria en 92% de 37 pacientes estudiados y respuesta bacteriológica favorable (eliminación del patógeno aislado antes del inicio del estudio) en 88%. No se observó toxicidad por la administración del medicamento y los efectos indeseables fueron de intensidad y duración moderadas que en ningún caso ameritaron suspensión del medicamento

Valoracion de indices del riesgo de transmision de dengue / Evaluation of risk factors of dengue transmission

Resumen La visita domiciliaria para detectar la presencia en las casas de larvas de Aedes aegvpti es la forma de encuesta que permite obtener varios índices tradicionales de la infestación por este vector. que se emplean como predictores del riesgo de transmisión del dengueo Este estudio se llevó a cabo para valorar la utilidad de otros indicadores del riesgo de transmisión, que se registraron con más facilidad y rapidez y que sufren menores variaciones estacionales. se estudiaron tres sectores de Matamoros. Tamaulipas. México y tres de Brownsville. Texas. EUA. registrando desde un vehículo en movimiento características de las casas que se consideraron indicadores de la accesibilidad de las mismas al ingreso de mosquitos (puertas o ventanas abiertas. estado de los mosquiteros). o de facilidades peridomiciliarias para la reproducción del vector (recipientes visibles. sombra en los patios o jardines) y se determinaron las dimensiones de los sectores. Además. se hicieron visitas domiciliarias para confirmar la presencia de criaderos potenciales. indicar el número de éstos que contentan agua y larvas y registrar el número de personas que vivían en la casa y el número de cuartos. Los datos obtenidos enjulio de 1981 se contrastaron con las tasas de ataque de dengue obtenidos en ambas ciudades en noviembre de 1980: Se encontraron coeficientes de correlación lineal que indicaron altos grados de asociación entre algunos de los indicadores estudiados y la actividad previa de la enfermedad. destacando un significativo paralelismo entre las tasas de ataque de dengue y el número de personas por km2...

Coronary insufficiency in children. Coronary arteriographic studies in two siblings from a family with hyperbetalipoproteinemia.

A family affected with hyperbetalipoproteinemia was studied. Two siblings, a boy 11 and a girl 9 years of age, with characteristic findings of homozygous type II hyperlipoproteinemia are described. The highly atherogenetic nature of this disorder is illustrated by the occurrence of progressive coronary atheromatosis in the boy, in whom two coronary arteriographic studies documented the development of progressive obstruction of two coronary arteries in the course of 2 years. During this interval angina pectoris developed followed by myocardial infarction, cardiomegaly and congestive heart failure. The sister has remained asymptomatic, with apparently normal coronary arteries at age 9 years. Phonocardiograms were suggestive of aortic valve involvement although no aortic valve gradient was demonstrated by cardiac catheterization.