Selective recovery of boron, cobalt, gallium and germanium from seawater solar saltworks brines using N-methylglucamine sorbents: Column operation performance.

The European Union (EU) identified a list of Critical Raw Materials (CRMs) crucial for its economy, aiming to find alternative sources. Seawater is a promising option as it contains almost all elements, although most at low concentrations. However, to the present, the CRMs' recovery from seawater is technically and economically unfeasible. Other alternatives to implement sea mining might be preferred, such as reverse osmosis brines or saltworks bitterns (after sodium chloride crystallisation). The CRMs' extraction in a selective way can be achieved using highly selective recovery processes, such as chelating sorbents. This study focuses on extracting Trace Elements (TEs) from solar saltworks brines, including boron, cobalt, gallium and germanium, using commercial N-methylglucamine sorbents (S108, CRB03, CRB05). The application of these sorbents has shown potential for boron recovery, but their selectivity for cobalt, gallium, and germanium requires further investigation. This research aims to assess these sorbents' kinetics and column mode performance for TEs recovery from synthetic bitterns. Boron and germanium were rapidly sorbed, reaching equilibrium (>90 %) within 1 h, except for S108, which took 2 h. In column mode, 20-25 pore volumes of bittern were treated to remove boron and germanium, but competition from other elements reduced treatment capacity. An acidic elution (1 M hydrochloric acid) allowed to elute them (>90 %), reaching concentration factors for germanium and boron of 35 and 11, respectively, while cobalt and gallium had less affinity for the sorbents. In addition, the experiments performed were fitted by a mass transfer model to determine the equilibrium constants and selectivities. Therefore, bittern mining has been proven as a secondary/alternative source to obtain CRMs, which can lead the EU to a position in which its dependence on other countries to obtain these raw materials would be decreased.

Mining minerals and critical raw materials from bittern: Understanding metal ions fate in saltwork ponds.

Seawater represents a potential resource for raw materials extraction. Although NaCl is the most representative mineral extracted other valuable compounds such as Mg, Li, Sr, Rb and B and elements at trace level (Cs, Co, In, Sc, Ga and Ge) are also contained in this "liquid mine". Most of them are considered as Critical Raw Materials by the European Union. Solar saltworks, providing concentration factors of up-to 20 to 40, offer a perfect platform for the development of minerals and metal recovery schemes taking benefit of the concentration and purification achieved along the evaporation saltwork ponds. However, the geochemistry of these elements in this environment has not been yet thoroughly evaluated. Their knowledge could enable the deployment of technologies capable to achieve the recovery of valuable minerals. The high ionic strengths expected (0.5-7 mol/kg) and the chemical complexity of the solutions imply that only numerical geochemical codes, as PHREEQC, and the use of Pitzer model to estimate the activity coefficients of the different species in solution can be adopted to provide valuable description of the systems. In the present work, for the first time, PHREEQC Pitzer code database was extended to include the target minor and trace elements using Trapani saltworks (Sicily, Italy) as a case study system. The model was able to predict: i) the purity in halite and the major impurities contained, mainly Ca, Mg and sulphate species; ii) the fate of minor components as B, Sr, Cs, Co, Ge and Ga along the evaporation ponds. The results obtained pose a fundamental step in critical raw materials mining from seawater brine, for process intensification and combination with desalination.

Prevalencia de disfonía infantil en el colegio de educación infantil y primaria "Ensanche" de Teruel / Prevalence of infantile dysphonia in the school of early childhood and primary education "Ensanche" of Teruel

RESUMEN Introducción: La disfonía es un síntoma muy frecuente en la infancia, que genera mucha preocupación en los padres y que puede afectar negativamente en el desarrollo emocional de los niños. A pesar de esto en España carecemos de datos estadísticos de su prevalencia. Objetivo: Determinar la prevalencia de disfonía en los niños de edad escolar matriculados en el Colegio "Ensanche" de Teruel. Material y método: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo de corte transversal. Nuestra población de estudio fueron niños entre 6 y 12 años matriculados en el Colegio "Ensanche" de Teruel. Para la valoración de la voz utilizamos una escala visual analógica y el índice de discapacidad pediátrico modificado. Resultados: 200 niños cumplieron los criterios de inclusión, 103 fueron de sexo femenino (51,5%) y 97 masculinos (48,5%). El rango de edad fue de 7 a 12 años. El 57% de los padres identificaron alteraciones de la voz en sus hijos para un total de 114 niños, de los cuales 17 puntuaron en rango patológico (24 ±11) que representan el 8,5%. Conclusión: Detectamos trastornos de voz en 57% de los niños evaluados y de éstos el 8,5% obtuvo puntuaciones que ameritarían una visita al especialista.

ABSTRACT Introduction: Dysphonia is a frequent symptom in childhood, which generates concern in parents and can negatively affect the emotional development of children. Despite this, in Spain, we lack statistical data on its prevalence. Aim: The aim of our study was to determine the prevalence of dysphonia in school- age children enrolled in the "Ensanche" de Teruel school. Material and method: A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out. Our study population was children between 6 and 12 years enrolled in the "Ensanche" de Teruel school. For the evaluation of the voice, we used an analogue visual scale and the modified index of pediatric disability. Results: 200 children met the inclusion criteria, 103 were female (51.5%) and 97 male (48.5%). The age range was 7 to 12 years, 50.5% were between 10 and 11 years old. 57% of the parents identified voice alterations in their children for a total of 114 children, of which 17 children scored in pathological range (24 ±11) representing 8.5% of the total. Conclusions: We detected voice disorders in 57% of the children evaluated and of these, 8.5% obtained scores that would warrant a visit to the specialist.

Sex addiction and gambling disorder: similarities and differences.

OBJECTIVE: Recently, the DSM-5 has developed a new diagnostic category named "Substance-related and Addictive Disorders". This category includes gambling disorder (GD) as the sole behavioral addiction, but does not include sex addiction (SA). The aim of this study is to investigate whether SA should be classified more closely to other behavioral addictions, via a comparison of the personality characteristics and comorbid psychopathology of individuals with SA with those of individuals with GD, which comes under the category of addiction and related disorders. METHOD: The sample included 59 patients diagnosed with SA, who were compared to 2190 individuals diagnosed with GD and to 93 healthy controls. Assessment measures included the Diagnostic Questionnaire for Pathological Gambling, the South Oaks Gambling Screen, the Symptom CheckList-90 Items-Revised and the Temperament and Character Inventory-Revised. RESULTS: No statistically significant differences were found between the two clinical groups, except for socio-economic status. Although statistically significant differences were found between both clinical groups and controls for all scales on the SCL-90, no differences were found between the two clinical groups. The results were different for personality characteristics: logistic regression models showed that sex addictive behavior was predicted by a higher education level and by lower scores for TCI-R novelty-seeking, harm avoidance, persistence and self-transcendence. Being employed and lower scores in cooperativeness also tended to predict the presence of sex addiction. CONCLUSIONS: While SA and GD share some psychopathological and personality traits that are not present in healthy controls, there are also some diagnostic-specific characteristics that differentiate between the two clinical groups. These findings may help to increase our knowledge of phenotypes existing in behavioral addictions.

Tratamiento quirúrgico de la atresia de coanas: caso clínico / Surgical repair of choanal atresia

La atresia de coanas es la alteración congénita más frecuente del desarrollo nasal. Puede ser unilateral o bilateral, y según eso, la clínica puede aparecer desde el momento del nacimiento, o bien permanecerá asintomática hasta la edad adulta. En el neonato, si es bilateral, se manifiesta por una disnea inspiratoria y una cianosis cíclica al lactar, que se alivian con el llanto; y en el adulto, la clínica es de insuficiencia respiratoria nasal unilateral, con rinorrea. El tratamiento es quirúrgico, con varias vías posibles de abordaje, siendo la vía endoscópica la más utilizada hoy en día. La complicación más frecuente tras la cirugía es la reestenosis. Presentamos el caso de una paciente con atresia unilateral, que fue intervenida con éxito en nuestro hospital, y describimos la técnica.

Choanal atresia is the most frecuent congenital anomaly of nasal development. It can be unilateral or bilateral, and according to it, it will give symptoms from the moment of the birth, or will remain asymptomatic up to the adult age. In the newborn it demonstrates for an acute respiratory distress and a cyclic cyanosis by feeding, that relieve with crying; and in the adult, the clinic is of unilateral nasal obstruction, with rhinorhea. The treatment is surgical, with several possible surgical approaches. Transnasal endoscopic repair is the most used nowadays, because it's a safe and successful technique, and reestenosis is the most frequent complication. We present the case of a patient with unilateral atresia, that was operated in our hospital, and we describe the technique used.

Sordera súbita: estudio retrospectivo sobre 40 casos ingresados en nuestro hospital / Sudden deafness: a retrospective study of 40 cases admitted to our hospital

Introducción: La sordera brusca es una pérdida súbita de audición a nivel neuro-sensorial, por causas desconocidas, y con mal pronóstico funcional. Las causas son desconocidas, lo que genera múltiples hipótesis y discusiones sobre esta patología. Objetivo: Evaluar los factores asociados al pronóstico y determinar los aspectos terapéuticos que influyen en el pronóstico de estos pacientes. Material y método: Revisamos las historias clínicas de los pacientes diagnosticados de sordera brusca durante un período de estudio de 4 años, y calculamos las frecuencias de las diferentes variables consideradas como relevantes; realizamos análisis bivariante y una comparación de las distribuciones mediante test de ANOVA y un análisis multivariante con regresión logística y lineal múltiple. Resultados: Analizamos 40 casos. Consideramos factores como el oído afectado, antecedentes cardiovasculares, HTA, diabetes, dislipemia, tabaco, hemoglobina, hematocrito, las circunstancias temporales y geográficas, de las que ninguna de ellas resultaron significativas para la recuperación. Tras el análisis de otros factores, encontramos un predominio de casos en verano y otoño (90 por ciento) frente a invierno y primavera (10 por ciento). El uso del famciclovir estuvo asociado a mayor probabilidad de recuperación completa OR 21,164 [1,265-374,47]. Por el contrario, estuvieron ligados a una menor probabilidad de recuperación completa: el tratamiento con medicina hiperbárica OR 0,013 [0,001-0,433], la curva audiométrica descendente OR 0,164 [0,032-0,533], y la presencia de vértigo asociada a acúfenos OR 0,158 [0,08-1,015]. La aspirina mejoró la recuperación de decibelios media 24,3 db IC 95 por ciento [1,00-47,61]. Conclusiones: El estudio es una serie retrospectiva cuyo análisis multivariante muestra que el famciclovir y el AAS tienen un efecto estadísticamente beneficioso en el tratamiento de la sordera súbita...

Introduction: The sudden deafness is a sudden loss of hearing at the neuro-senso-rial, for unknown reasons, and bad functional prognosis. The cause is unknown, generating multiple hypotheses and discussions on this topic. Aim: To evaluate the factors associated with prognosis and determine therapeutic aspects that influence the prognosis of these patients. Matherial and method: We reviewed the medical records ofpatients diagnosed with sudden hearing loss during a study period of 4 years, and calculate the frequencies of the different variables considered relevant; performed bivariate analysis and a comparison of the distributions byANOVA and a multivariate analysis with logistic regression and multiple lineal. Results: We analyzed 40 cases. We consider factors like the affected ear, cardiovascular history, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, snuff, hemoglobin, hematocrit, temporal and geographical, of which none were significant for recovery. After analysis of other factors, we found a predominance of cases in summer and autumn (90 percent) compared to winter and spring (10 percent). Use of famciclovir was associated with greater likelihood of complete recovery OR 21.164 [1.265 to 374.47]. On the contrary, were linked to a lower linked to a lower likelihood of full recovery: treatment with hyperbaric OR 0.013 [0.0010.0433] OR descending audiometric curve [0.164 0.032 to 0.533] and the presence of vertigo associated with tinnitus OR o.158 [0.08 to 1.015]. Aspirin improved recovery of 24.3 db decibel half 95 percent CI [1.00 to 47.61]. Conclusions: The study is a retrospective multivariate analysis which shows that famciclovir and aspirin have a statisfically beneficial in the treatment of sudden deafness, which in our sample is more frequent in summer and autumn. Biased studies are needed on these results may provide new hypotheses for treatment.

Mood changes after delivery: role of the serotonin transporter gene.

BACKGROUND: Polymorphic variations in the serotonin transporter gene (5-HTT) moderate the depressogenic effects of tryptophan depletion. After childbirth there is a sharp reduction in brain tryptophan availability, thus polymorphic variations in 5-HTT may play a similar role in the post-partum period. AIMS: To study the role of 5-HTT polymorphic variations in mood changes after delivery. METHOD: One thousand, eight hundred and four depression-free Spanish women were studied post-partum. We evaluated depressive symptoms at 2-3 days, 8 weeks and 32 weeks post-partum. We used diagnostic interview to confirm major depression for all probable cases. Based on two polymorphisms of 5-HTT (5-HTTLPR and STin2 VNTR), three genotype combinations were created to reflect different levels of 5-HTT expression. RESULTS: One hundred and seventy-three women (12.7%) experienced major depression during the 32-week post-partum period. Depressive symptoms were associated with the high-expression 5-HTT genotypes in a dose-response fashion at 8 weeks post-partum, but not at 32 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: High-expression 5-HTT genotypes may render women more vulnerable to depressive symptoms after childbirth.

Prevalence of primary and secondary resistant mutations to antiretroviral drug in a population of Puerto Rican infected with HIV

INTRODUCTION: Several studies have reported increasing number of therapeutic failures with HAART in HIV-infected individuals. In order to assess the impact HIV antiretroviral resistance could have on treatment, we decided to determine the prevalence of primary and secondary antiretroviral resistant genotypes in a population of HIV-infected Puerto Ricans and compare the mutational distribution pattern with that reported in Europe and US. METHOD: In a total of 80 plasma samples from patients with detectable viral load of over 1,000 RNA copies/ml, the Trugene Visible Genetics HIV sequencing method was used to detect antiretroviral resistance mutations. RESULTS: We found 55 subjects (69 per cent) with high level of resistance to ZDV in the reverse transcriptase gene and 46 subjects (58 per cent) with high level of resistance to NFV in the protease gene. Mutation frequencies to the NRTI ranged in appearance from as high as 54 per cent (i.e., M184V) in the studied subjects to a low of less than 5 per cent (i.e., M184I and V75T). For the NNRTI the most common mutation was K103N in 40 per cent of the subjects and found to confer cross resistance to NVP, DLV and EFV. Another concerning finding is the increasing trend of the frequency of primary and secondary resistant mutations from year 2000 to 20001. Nine (23 per cent) of the total detected primary mutations, to either RTI or PI, showed an increase of at least 5 per cent from one year to the other. Similarly, there were 6 (11 per cent) secondary resistant mutations showing an increase of at least 5 per cent during the two years studied. CONCLUSIONS: In two year period we detected a tendency to increase in primary and secondary HIV-resistant mutation in a population of HIV-infected Puerto Ricans.

Speciation and origin of particulate copper in runoff water from a Mediterranean vineyard catchment.

Fungicide treatments have led to large copper contents of the topsoils of most vineyards. This paper examines the contamination of surface waters by copper in a Mediterranean wine-growing catchment. Its aims were to characterise the forms of copper associated with suspended matter during a heavy autumn storm event and to identify which soils contribute the most to the copper exports. A mixing model involving three reservoirs, corresponding to three soil-landscape units (plateau, terraces and footslope-depression system) and two tracers (reducible iron content and dolomite/calcite ratio) was used to estimate the contribution of each reservoir to erosion during a storm flow. The average copper concentration of the suspended matter was 245 mg kg(-1), of which 1% was exchangeable, 4% acid-soluble, 10% oxidizable, 23% reducible and 63% residual. The soils of the plateau of the catchment (chromic luvisols and haplic calcisols-FAO soil classification) were the source of 42% of copper exports but represented only 27% of the total catchment area.

High prevalence of low HDL cholesterol concentrations and mixed hyperlipidemia in a Mexican nationwide survey.

The prevalence of lipid abnormalities revealed in a survey done in 417 Mexican cities is described. Information was obtained on 15,607 subjects, aged 20 to 69 years. In this report, only samples obtained after a 9- to 12-h fast were included (2,256 cases: 953 men and 1,303 women). The population is representative of Mexican urban adults. Mean lipid concentrations were: cholesterol, 4.80 mmol/l; triglycerides, 2.39 mmol/l; HDL cholesterol, 1.00 mmol/l; and LDL cholesterol, 3.06 mmol/l. The most prevalent abnormality was HDL cholesterol below 0.9 mmol/l (46.2% for men and 28.7% for women). Hypertriglyceridemia (>2.26 mmol/l) was the second most prevalent abnormality (24.3%). Severe hypertriglyceridemia (>11.2 mmol/l) was observed in 0.42% of the population. Increased LDL cholesterol (> or =4.21 mmol/l) was observed in 11.2% of the sample. Half of the hypertriglyceridemic subjects had a mixed dyslipidemia or low HDL cholesterol. More than 50% of the low HDL cholesterol cases were not related to hypertriglyceridemia. Insulin resistance was found in 59% of them. In conclusion, the prevalence of hypoalphalipoproteinemia and other forms of dyslipidemia in Mexican adults is very high and it is among the highest previously reported worldwide.

Mechanism of degradation of the quality of natural water in the Lakes Region of the Ethiopian rift valley.

The natural waters of the Lakes Region in the Main Ethiopian Rift (MER) show serious problems of chemical quality. The high content of fluoride reaches 300 mgl(-1) and affects the health of the population who live in this area. Furthermore, the alkaline and sodic characteristics (8 2(Ca + Mg)]. which results from the weathering and dissolution of the volcanic rocks. The predictive qualities of the model AQUA were tested in the context of this region. A simulation of the concentration of the waters by evaporation has shown chemical variations relatively similar to those obtained with field data which include the minor chemical elements such as the fluoride or the dissolved silica. For field data, enrichment is more variable and may represent localised conditions of mineralization. This model is then used to study a method of defluoridation by supplying these waters with calcium in the form of gypsum. This method also allows the reduction of the alkalinizing and sodifying characteristics of the waters without reaching the fluoride standard concentration accepted for drinking waters. For drinking purpose, waters of the Ethiopian rift should undergo another method of defluoridation.

Incidencia y coste de las infecciones nosocomiales en una unidad de lesionados medulares / Incidence and cost of nosocomial infection at a Medullar Lesion Unit

El objetivo es conocer la incidencia y el coste de las infecciones nosocomiales diagnosticadas en pacientes con lesión medular ingresados en la Unidad de Lesionados Medulares del hospital Vall d'Hebron. Durante 1995-1996 se han diagnosticado 229 infecciones nosocomiales en 312 pacientes. El coste sanitario del diagnóstico y tratamiento ha sido de 7.305.559 pesetas. En las infecciones del tracto urinario moderadas se ha realizado un análisis coste-efectividad, agrupando los tratamientos según el tipo de antibiótico y según la vía de administración, obteniéndose una mejor relación coste-efectividad en los tratamientos en que se ha utilizado "antibiótico de uso libre" y en los que se ha administrado "por vía oral", ya que el coste sanitario ha sido menor y la efectividad, valorada por el índice de curación, similar (AU)

Genetic variation in the 5-HT5A receptor gene in patients with bipolar disorder and major depression.

In the present study, genetic variation of the 5-HT5A receptor was analyzed in patients affected by affective disorders and healthy controls. The sample consisted of 181 patients with major depression, 88 patients with bipolar affective disorder (BP) and 157 unrelated controls (C), all of Spanish origin. Two polymorphisms (-19G/C and 12A/T) in the 5-HT5A receptor gene were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction amplification and subsequent enzyme digestion. No genotype, allele or haplotype differences were found when we compared patients and controls. When clinical variables were considered as possible tools for detecting genetic heterogeneity, no differences were found. Our results suggest that the polymorphisms analyzed in the 5-HT5A receptor gene do not play a major role in the pathogenesis of affective disorders.

Increased morbid risk for schizophrenia in families of in-patients with bipolar illness.

BACKGROUND: It has been reported that relatives of probands with severe, psychotic forms of bipolar illness have increased rates of schizophrenia but not the relatives of individuals with milder, non-psychotic forms of disorder. In this study, we examined the prevalence of psychiatric disorders in the first degree relatives of a sample of 103 inpatients with bipolar disorder and in a matched control sample of 84 healthy individuals. METHOD: Relatives of cases and controls were interviewed using the FH-RDC to determine familial morbid risk for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Age- and sex-adjusted morbidity risks were calculated in both samples according to the method of Strömgren. RESULTS: The morbid risks for both bipolar disorder (4.9%) and schizophrenia (2.8%) were higher in relatives of patients than in relatives of controls (0.3% and 0.6% respectively). The relative risks were 14.2 [95% confidence interval (CI)=3.1-64.2] for bipolar disorder and 4.9 (95% CI=1.3-18.8) for schizophrenia. Relatives of women with early onset of bipolar illness had the highest morbid risks for both bipolar illness and schizophrenia. The presence of more than one patient with bipolar disorder in a family increased the risk for schizophrenia nearly fourfold (RR=3.5, 95% CI=1.2-10.2). There was no additional effect of presence of psychotic features. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the transmission of psychosis is not disorder-specific. Bipolar illness characterised by a high familial loading is associated with increased risk of schizophrenia in the relatives.

Miopatía hipetiroidea. Presentación de un caso de curso clínico subagudo / Hyperthyroid myopathy. Presentation of a case of subacute clinical evolution

Se presenta el primer caso de miopatía hipertiroidea en autopsia en el Hospital General de México. Se trata de un hombre de 33 años con enfermedad de Graves-Basedow, quien 30 días antes de su muerte presentó debilidad muscular importante de miembros pélvicos y torácicos, además de disfagia y disfonía. Murió con datos de insuficiencia respiratoria. En los exámenes de laboratorio presentó hipopotasemia. En la autopsia se encontró adelgazamiento, exoftalmos leve, bocio hiperplásico difuso, así como atrofia, infiltración grasa y vacuolación focal en los músculos. Las miopatías relacionadas con hipo e hiperfunción tiroidea son poco frecuentes y recuerdan otras alteraciones musculares primarias y secundarias

Congenital dermatoglyphic malformations in severe bipolar disorder.

Dermatoglyphic alterations may be the result of early prenatal disturbances thought to be implicated in the aetiology of psychiatric illness. In order to test this hypothesis in the particular case of bipolar disorder, we assessed two congenital dermatoglyphic malformations (ridge dissociation (RD) and abnormal features (AF)) and two metric dermatoglyphic traits (total finger ridge count (TFRC) and total a-b ridge count (TABRC)) in a sample of 118 patients with chronic DSM-III-R bipolar illness, and 216 healthy controls. Bipolar cases showed a significant excess of RD and AF (OR = 2.80; 95% CI: 2.31-3.38) when compared with controls. In the cases, the presence of anomalies was associated with earlier age of onset. No differences were found for TFRC and TABRC. No associations were found with sex or familial morbid risk of psychiatric disorders. Our findings add further weight to the suggestion that early developmental disruption is a risk factor for later bipolar disorder.

Serotonin transporter gene and risk for bipolar affective disorder: an association study in Spanish population.

BACKGROUND: The serotonin transporter (5-HTT) is an important candidate gene for the genetic transmission of manic depressive illness. Many studies of patients with affective disorders have found abnormalities in serotonin metabolism and dysregulation of the transporter itself. In the present study, we hypothesize that genetic variation in the 5-HTT gene (17q11.1-17q12) may have an effect in the etiology of manic depression. METHODS: To test this hypothesis, we analyzed allele, genotype, and haplotype frequencies of two polymorphisms recently described in the 5-HTT gene (a variable number of tandem repeats in intron 2 and a deletion/insertion polymorphism in the transcriptional control region) in a sample of 88 patients with manic-depressive illness and 113 controls. Cases and controls were matched for ethnic and geographic origin. RESULTS: No associations were found between any of these polymorphisms, tested individually or as haplotypes, and manic depression. Moreover, the genetic analysis by sex, presence/absence of psychiatric family history, and age of onset did not reveal significant differences in allele or genotype distributions. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that the genetic variability of the 5-HTT gene is not a major risk factor for manic depression.

Comparative accuracy of glucose monitors.

BACKGROUND: Self-monitoring of blood glucose levels has become an important instrument for the management of patients with diabetes mellitus. Both patients and physicians expect that the monitors will provide reliable results. Numerous environmental, physiologic, and operational factors can affect system performance, yielding results that are inaccurate or unpredictable. METHODS: This study examined the effect of one factor--high altitude--on the performance of seven blood glucose monitoring systems. The following monitors were compared: two One Touch II; two One Touch Basic; two Reflolux II (Accu-Chec in the USA); two Glucometer 3; one Glucometer 2, and one Accutrend Alpha. Double blood glucose level values were compared with a controlled reference laboratory test value, which was unknown to the investigator until the end of the study because the study was double blind. Blood glucose values were obtained using each of the monitors in 200 patients; 150 with diabetes mellitus, and 50 healthy subjects. RESULTS: The One Touch monitors were the only monitors that reported adjusted straight lines (Y = a+bX) that were very similar for all three techniques. In addition, these adjusted straight lines are those closest to the ideal line, Y = X. These same monitors were the only ones that did not reject the null hypothesis Ho: a = 0. The relative deviation index at the 20% level was less than 3.5% for the One Touch II and One Touch Basic monitors; for the rest of the monitors, the index was over 14%. The clinically accepted EGA region was similar for all study monitors. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, the One Touch II and One Touch Basic Monitors showed greater accuracy in comparison to the other devices. The evaluation of the clinically acceptable region shows practical reliability for all of the monitors used.

Genetic variation of the 5-HT2A receptor gene and bipolar affective disorder.

Abnormalities of the serotonergic system have classically been associated with the origin of affective disorders through the biochemical action of therapeutic agents and their role in affective and perceptual states. In the present study, we hypothesized that genetic variation in the 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin) type 2A (5-HT2A) receptor gene (HTR2A) might have an effect on the aetiology of bipolar affective disorder. Four different polymorphisms in the HTR2A gene were studied in 88 patients with bipolar affective disorder and 113 healthy controls, all of Spanish origin. No significant association was observed between any of the four polymorphisms at the HTR2A locus, whether tested individually or as haplotypes, and bipolar affective disorder. The lack of association suggests that HTR2A is not a major risk factor for bipolar affective disorder.