Markovian optical modes.

We describe the transition of a set of optical modes following a Markov chain process, where the mean value of the amplitude converge to a new type of partially coherent mode, with the property that the coherence features are easily tunable with the parameters of the chain. The amplitude of the resulting mode depends on the probability transition of the chain. As a prototype, we establish an analogy with gambler's chain ruin, using as a basis for the vector space the Bessel modes of integer order. Computer simulations are shown.

[Prevalence of "hidden" renal failure in the population suffering from type-2 diabetes]. / Prevalencia de insuficiencia renal "oculta" en población diabética tipo 2.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of renal failure (RF) in type-2 diabetics and to compare two criteria of definition: that based on the calculation of glomerular filtration by the Cockcroft-Gault formula corrected for body surface area and that based on serous creatinine. DESIGN: Cross-sectional, descriptive study. SETTING: El Cristo Health Centre, Oviedo, north of Spain. PARTICIPANTS: All patients in the catchment area diagnosed with type-2 diabetes. METHOD: Demographic, clinical, risk factor, and cardiovascular pathology details were gathered. Renal failure was diagnosed on figures of plasma creatinine >=1.3 mg/dL in women and >=1.4 mg/dL in men, and glomerular filtration (GF) calculated by means of the Cockcroft-Gault formula: moderate GF, 60-30 mL/min/1.73 m2; severe GF, 29-15 mL/min/1.73 m2, and terminal GF: <15 mL/min/1.73 m2. RESULTS: 499 patients were included. 52.3% were women, aged 69.7+/-10.4 years old. Prevalence of RF by serous creatinine was 12%; and by the Cockcroft-Gault formula, 40.5%. Patients with lower glomerular filtration and normal creatinine were older (75.5+/-7.9 vs 65.4+/-9.8; P<.001), mainly female (76.3% vs 41.7%; P<.001), had lower BMI (27.3+/-3.7 vs 30.9+/-4.4) and had worse glucaemia control (HbA1c 7.1+/-1.8% vs 6.9+/-1.9%; P=.007) and higher indices of cardiac failure (6.4% vs 2.1%; 95% CI, 1.1-8.8; P=.02) than patients with normal glomerular filtration and creatinine. CONCLUSION: Calculation of glomerular filtration by the Cockcroft-Gault formula corrected for body surface area revealed unknown renal failure in 1 in 3 type-2 diabetes patients.

Prevalencia de insuficiencia renal «oculta» en población diabética tipo 2 / Prevalence of “hidden” renal failure in the population suffering from type-2 diabetes

Objetivo. Determinar la prevalencia de insuficiencia renal en diabéticos tipo 2 y comparar dos criterios de definición: el basado en la estimación del filtrado glomerular por la fórmula de Cockcroft-Gault corregida para la superficie corporal y el basado en la creatinina sérica. Diseño. Estudio descriptivo y transversal. Emplazamiento. Zona básica del Centro de Salud de El Cristo, Oviedo. Participantes. La totalidad de pacientes diabéticos tipo 2 diagnosticados de la zona básica. Mediciones principales. Se recogieron datos demográficos, clínicos, factores de riesgo y enfermedad cardiovascular. Se diagnosticó insuficiencia renal (IR) según unas cifras de creatinina plasmática >= 1,3 mg/dl en mujeres y >= 1,4 mg/dl en varones y según el filtrado glomerular (FG) estimado mediante la fórmula de Cockcroft-Gault: moderada para FG, 60-30 ml/min/1,73 m2; grave para FG, 29-15 ml/min/1,73 m2, y terminal para FG, < 15 ml/min/1,73 m2. Resultados. Se incluyó a 499 pacientes. El 52,3% era mujer con una edad de 69,7 ± 0,4 años. La prevalencia de IR según la creatinina sérica fue del 12%, y según la fórmula de Cockcroft-Gault del 40,5%. Los pacientes con FG reducido y creatinina normal tenían mayor edad (75,5 ± 7,9 frente a 65,4 ± 9,8 años; p < 0,001), predominaban las mujeres (76,3 frente a 41,7%; p < 0,001), tenían un menor índice de masa corporal (27,3 ± 3,7 frente a 30,9 ± 4,4), presentaban un peor control glucémico (HbA1c 7,1 ± 1,8 frente a 6,9 ± 1,9%; p = 0,007) y la prevalencia de insuficiencia cardíaca era superior (6,4 frente a 2,1%; IC del 95%, 1,1-8,8; p = 0,02) en comparación con los pacientes con FG y creatinina normales. Conclusión. La estimación del FG por la fórmula de Cockcroft-Gault corregida para la superficie corporal muestra una insuficiencia renal no conocida en uno de cada 3 pacientes diabéticos tipo 2

Objective. To determine the prevalence of renal failure (RF) in type-2 diabetics and to compare two criteria of definition: that based on the calculation of glomerular filtration by the Cockcroft-Gault formula corrected for body surface area and that based on serous creatinine. Design. Cross-sectional, descriptive study. Setting. El Cristo Health Centre, Oviedo, north of Spain. Participants. All patients in the catchment area diagnosed with type-2 diabetes. Method. Demographic, clinical, risk factor, and cardiovascular pathology details were gathered. Renal failure was diagnosed on figures of plasma creatinine >=1.3 mg/dL in women and >=1.4 mg/dL in men, and glomerular filtration (GF) calculated by means of the Cockcroft-Gault formula: moderate GF, 60-30 mL/min/1.73 m2; severe GF, 29-15 mL/min/1.73 m2, and terminal GF: <15 mL/min/1.73 m2. Results. 499 patients were included. 52.3% were women, aged 69.7±10.4 years old. Prevalence of RF by serous creatinine was 12%; and by the Cockcroft-Gault formula, 40.5%. Patients with lower glomerular filtration and normal creatinine were older (75.5±7.9 vs 65.4±9.8; P<.001), mainly female (76.3% vs 41.7%; P<.001), had lower BMI (27.3±3.7 vs 30.9±4.4) and had worse glucaemia control (HbA1c 7.1±1.8% vs 6.9±1.9%; P=.007) and higher indices of cardiac failure (6.4% vs 2.1%; 95% CI, 1.1-8.8; P=.02) than patients with normal glomerular filtration and creatinine. Conclusion. Calculation of glomerular filtration by the Cockcroft-Gault formula corrected for body surface area revealed unknown renal failure in 1 in 3 type-2 diabetes patients

Una nueva vacuna contra la varicela / A new vaccine against varicella

La varicela es una enfermedad universal altamente contagiosa causada por el virus VaricellaZoster (VVZ). Pese a considerarse generalmente como una enfermedad leve, en ocasiones puede provocar complicaciones graves, especialmente en adultos e inmunocomprometidos. Se ha demostrado que la nueva vacuna es altamente inmunogénica, segura y eficaz. En plena polémica sobre la introducción de la vacuna de varicela en calendario vacunal, resulta muy interesante la próxima comercialización de una nueva vacuna indicada para individuos sanos y de fácil conservación (2-8 °C), impulsando así un programa de vacunación universal contra la varicela en nuestro país (AU)

Pesticides distribution in sediments of a tropical coastal lagoon adjacent to an irrigation district in northwest Mexico.

This work presents the content of organochlorine (OCs) pesticides in sediments of both, agricultural drains from the Irrigation District 076, El Carrizo, Sinaloa, and of the adjacent coastal lagoon ecosystem of Agiabampo-Bacorehuis-Jitzamuri, located in northwest Mexico. A questionnaire was applied to the farmers of this irrigation district, to evaluate the usage of pesticides and to determine if banned OCs are still used. Around 31 tons of active ingredients were applied in the autumn-winter cycle (1997-1998). There were eighteen different pesticides; of them 61% are insecticides, 28% herbicides, 6% fungicides and 6% other compounds. Around 73% of the pesticides applied are organophosphorus, carbamates and sulfur, OCs are still applied and represent 4% of the total. All the pesticides applied in the irrigation district are authorized in the Official Pesticide Catalog, nevertheless forbidden and restricted compounds were detected in the sediment samples. The presence of heptachlor, heptachlor epoxide, alpha-endosulfan, beta-endosulfan, endosulfan sulfate, alpha-HCH, beta-HCH, lindane, delta-HCH, aldrin, dieldrin p,p'-DDT, p,p'-DDE and p,p'-DDD was recorded in the sediment sample. The analysis of the sediments suggest that the principal pesticides input to the coastal ecosystem is mainly through three of the seven agricultural drains, that collect the excess irrigation water and runoff from the district surface. A gradient of pesticide residues in sediments exists from the agricultural drains (52 ng OCs g(-1) dry weight) to the Jitzamuri bay (32 ng OCs g(-1) dry weight).

[Effect of non-radioactive thymidine on mitosis in bone marrow]. / Efecto de la timidina no radiactiva en la mitosis de médula ósea.

Intraperitoneal administration of thymidine into albino mouse (strains CD-1) at dose of 4.8 mg (180 mg/kg) increases mitotic rate in bone marrow at 6, 9 and 12 hours; this effect begins at 3 hours and disappears at 24 hours. It is suggested that thymidine increases mitotic rate by an indirect mechanism, stimulating DNA synthesis during S phase through activation of thymidoquinase. Control group (saline solution without thymidine) showed reduction in mitotic rate; such a finding has no explanation as yet.