[Robert Koch, eminent medical bacteriologist, creator of the applied microbiology and its technnology]. / Robert Koch, eminente bacteriólogo médico gran impulsor de la microbiología aplicada y su técnica.

In our communication we wish consider to bring at a first instance the egregious figure of Robert Koch a hundred of years after his dead. Nobody else had contributed so much in the development of the bacteriology as unic and independent science. Several books and biographical sketchs had been published about Koch in german, english and french, mainly, with differents detais and interpretations, about his life. However, nobody doubred about his innovator spirit and scientist at highest level. This communication revise and discuss diverse chapters about his life as innovator, researcher, groups leader and Magister.

[Social impact of epidemic or pandemic infectious contagion. The repercussion on the sanitary control of the health area]. / El impacto social del contagio infeccioso de carácter epidémico o pandémico. Repercusión en la gestión sanitaria del area de la salud.

The social impact originated from the threat or presence of an infectious outbreak of epidemic and pandemic character is analyzed, using several diseases of big epidemiological relevance, such as AIDS, rabies, listeriosis, bovine spongiform encephalopathy, avian and human type A influenza of porcine origin. Once that the updated historical scheme has been established, the social reaction and the consequences of the fear and anxiety attitudes are studied, as well as the consequences that these states of mind may have, due to diverse reasons, on the health management of an epidemic or pandemic situation.

[Epidemiological actualization of the avian influenza. New analysis of sanitary risk]. / Actualización epidemiológica de la influenza aviar. Nuevo análisis de riesgo sanitario.

A review has been made of the present epidemics of Avian Influenza, which originated in the year 2003 in Southeast Asia, and expanded thereafter to 60 countries in three continents (Asia, Africa and Europe), with more than 3000 outbreaks and millions of affected poultry, and 80% mortality. Special emphasis is made on the genetic variability of the etiological agent, the Orthomyxovirus A H5N1, which may accumulate point mutations in several genes distributed in eight segments, and especially in the gene which encodes the hemagglutinin (HA). Stress is made in a recent mutation in the gene which encodes polymerase PB2, which determines the substitution of one amino acid, and is associated to the virulence of the virion, enabling it to adapt to the upper human respiratory tract and to replicate in this area. This mutation dangerously approaches the virus A H5N1 to a possible interhuman transmission and to become a pandemic virus, possibly in the near future. The present knowledge and the social structure would permit to content and control the pandemic state with the due speed and efficacy.

[Paratuberculose enteritis and Crohn's disease]. / Enteritis paratuberculosa y enfermedad de Crohn.

Paratuberculose enteritis is an infectious and contagious chronic disease of the rumiants. It is characterised by periodic diarrhoea and progressive emaciation and loss of condition, intestinal ileitis and oedematous mucosa with cirumvolutions. The disease is caused by Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis. Crohn's disease or inflammatory bowel disease has identical characterization with ileitis, colitis with oedematous state and enlarged intestinal mucosa. Iflammatory infiltration of the intestinal mucosa has a transmural character, affecting the submucosa. The similarity between Crohn's disease and Johne's disease is the reason for considering an identical etiology for both diseases, but in the 75 years of the natural history of Crohn's disease it has been impossible to demonstrate this hypothesis. However, actually the predominant idea is that Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis is frequently present in patients with Crohn's disease. This has been demonstrated by hemocultures, PCR and in situ hybridization.

[The primordial reservoir in the infectious contagion cicle. The avian influenza model]. / El reservorio primordial en el ciclo de contagio infeccioso. El modelo de la influenza aviar.

An update of the role of the primordial reservoir in the biological cycle of the process of infection and contagion is made, using diseases of very frequent incidence at the present moment in the Mediterranean Area and the Iberian Peninsula. These diseases are, amongst others Severe and Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), Rabies, Lyme disease, African Horse Sickness, Blue Tongue, African Swine Fever, Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever, Hantavirosis, and Avian Influenza. The zoonoses classification proposed by the WHO Control Center in Athens in 1994 for the Mediterranean Area, based on the type of reservoir, the importance of the process and the type of transmission, and not focusing on the etiological agent, is very positively valued. Finally, the problem of Avian Influenza and the real risk posed by aquatic migratory birds in the diffusion and contagion of the present Avian Influence epidemics is reviewed.

[Natural history of Avian Influenza or "chicken flu". Present and future health analysis]. / Historia natural de la influenza Aviar o "gripe del pollo". Análisis sanitario actual y prospectivo.

A review and update about a new zoonosis, as it is the Avian Influenza or "poultry grippe" has been made. This disease is endemic in the Southeast of Asia and continues at present time, being active in Vietnam and Tailand. We have considered the Natural History of the Avian Influenza and specifically the late epidemies, starting from the one in 1997 in Hong Kong, in which an Orthomyxovirus type A, subtype H5N1, broke the interespecies barrier. A health analysis is made, both for the present moment and the future, about the possibility of a World pandemic flu, originated by the mentioned Orthomyxovirus type A, agent of the Avian Influenza of highly virulent specificic virus strain pathogenic for men. The most favourable fact, among others, to deny the possibility of a future pandemic flu is the stability of H5N1 strain in both epidemics of poultry in Hong Kong and in the Southeast of Asia.

[The tortuose path of human evolution]. / La tortuosa senda evolutiva del hombre.

The human genome sequencing and also the chimpanzee's, among others alive beings in every kingdom, and the similarities between genomes, due to an unique life origin, has developed two movements in the Biological Sciences to the XXI Century. In the first place to find a genetic explanation to understand the genomic affinity, very narrow in many cases, in front of the reality, with abyssal differences in behavior, which undervalue the significance of the genomic resemblance between the alive beings. The second movement is directed to ethological studies of the animal behavior and conduct, as a real fact. Special interest has the comparative studies since the two points of view, the genome and proteome in one side and ethology in front, both related to the Homo sapiens sapiens and his relatives, the great anthropomorphic apes, and consequently beside the names of Craig Venter, Collins and collaborators, artificers of the human genome sequencing, appear, unde revaluation, those of Leakey, Goodall, Fossey and Galdikas, specialists in anthropology and ethology of chimpanzees, gorillas and orangutans. These ideas are complementary in order to a better understanding of the origin, human evolution and behavior, shedding light on human cognitive abilities.

[A frieze of extolling for health sciences]. / Un friso de exaltación para las ciencias de la salud.

It is our wish to review the series of 14 medical scientist or included in the Health Area of Research surrounding the Amphitheatre of the Royal National Academy of Medicine in Madrid, analyzing several circumstances to explain the absence of medical scientists like Behring, Ehrlich, Metchnikoff, Paracelso, Avicena and Wirchow, among others.

[Biological security confronting bioterrorism]. / Seguridad biológica frente a bioterrorismo.

A review is made on Biosecurity at both local and global level in relationship with Bioterrorism as a real threat and its control and prevention. The function of the network of High Security Laboratories around the world able to make immediate diagnosis, research on vaccines, fundamental and urgent epidemiological studies, conform a steady basis to control natural infections and also the possible bioterrorism attacks.