Die Hypercholesterinämie in der Allgemeinpraxis: zwei Repräsentativbefragungen in der Schweiz. [Hypercholesterolemia in general practice: 2 representative surveys in Switzerland].

Two representative surveys of general practitioners in 1987 and 1989 showed, that cigarette smoking and high blood pressure are considered the most important risk factors for coronary heart disease. Elevated blood cholesterol level rank third. Between the two surveys no significant changes took place. The blood cholesterol level is usually measured at a check-up visit or in presence of another risk factor. Routine measurement is not common. At what level do Swiss physicians initiate a therapy? The median range in 1989 for a diet therapy was 6.2-6.7 mmol/l (240-260 mg%) for a 30 years old person, and 6.7-7.2 mmol/l for a 60 years old person. Lipid-lowering drugs are used at about 1 mmol/l (40 mg%) higher levels and there is less agreement between the physicians. Within two years the levels of initiating therapy decreased significantly. Differences between the three Swiss language regions (german/french/italian) in initiating therapy can be seen. 90% of the physicians mentioned compliance problems with a diet therapy. In 1989 half of the surveyed doctors experienced insufficient results in both diet and drug treatment. Further, compliance problems and side effects of drug treatment are mentioned. Half of the physicians reported having tested their own cholesterol level in the last 12 months. Older physicians are considerably more conscious of high cholesterol levels than younger.

Effets bénéfiques du ranélate de strontium compare à l'alendronate sur le TBS chez les femmes ostéoporotiques ménopausées: une étude de 2 ans.

Introduction. - Le TBS ou Score Trabéculaire Osseux (TBS, Med- Imaps, France) est un index d'architecture osseuse apportant des informations indépendantes de la densité minérale osseuse (DMO), et calculé par la quantification des variations locales des niveaux de gris à partir d'examen de densitométrie (DXA) lombaire. Dans des études antérieures prospectives et cas-témoins, cet index a été considéré comme associé aux fractures. Nous avons comparé les effets du ranélate de strontium (RanSr) et de l'alendronate (ALN) sur l'architecture vertébrale à l'aide du TBS, chez des femmes ostéoporotiques ménopausées. Patients et méthodes. - Une analyse post hoc a été réalisée sur des DXA (Hologic and GE Lunar Devices) de 79 des 189 femmes incluses dans une étude en double aveugle et double placebo et réparties de façon randomisée entre un groupe à 2 g/jour de RanSr et un groupe à 70 mg/semaine d'ALN pendant 2 ans. Les paramètres de TBS ont été évalués en aveugle par TBS iNsight (v1,9) au niveau vertébral après 12 et 24 mois de traitement. Nous avons appliqué les règles de l'ISCD (International Society for Clinical Densitometry) pour chaque exclusion de vertèbre, de façon indépendante respectivement pour la DMO et le TBS. Des doubles mesures ayant été réalisées initialement, la reproductibilité est exprimée en % CV. Résultats. - Les caractéristiques initiales (moyenne ± DS) étaient identiques entre les groupes en termes d'âge, 69,2 ± 4,4 ans ; d'IMC, 23,8 ± 4,4 kg/m2 ; de T-score L1-L4, - 2,9 ± 0,9 et de TBS, 1,230 ± 0,09. Comme prévu, le coefficient de détermination entre la DMO et le TBS au niveau du rachis était très basse r2 = 0,12. Les reproductibilités brutes étaient respectivement de 1,1 et 1,6 % pour la DMO et le TBS au niveau vertébral. Après 1 et 2 ans, la DMO en L1-L4 a augmenté de façon significative de respectivement 5,6 % et 9 % dans le groupe RanSr et de respectivement 5,2 % et 7,6 % dans le groupe ALN. De même, le TBS au niveau vertébral a augmenté respectivement de 2,3 % (p < 0,001) et de 3,1 % (p < 0,001) dans le groupe RanSr et de 0,5 % (NS) et de 1 % (NS) dans le groupe ALN avec une différence entre groupe significative en faveur du RanSr (p = 0,04 et p = 0,03). Il n'y avait aucune corrélation entre la différence de DMO et de TBS à 1 ou 2 ans. Les deux traitements étaient bien tolérés. Discussion. - Ces résultats sur le TBS confortent des études précédentes qui sont en faveur de l'effet bénéfique du RanSr sur l'architecture osseuse. Conclusion. - Le ranélate de strontium a des effets plus importants que l'alendronate sur le score trabéculaire osseux, indice d'architecture osseuse au niveau vertébral, chez les femmes ayant une ostéoporose post-ménopausique, après 2 ans de traitement.

90Yttrium-Ibritumomab Tiuxetan Consolidation of First Remission in Advanced-Stage Follicular Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma: Updated Results After a Median Follow-Up of 7.3 Years From the International, Randomized, Phase III First-Line Indolent Trial.

PURPOSE Updated results are presented after a median follow-up of 7.3 years from the phase III First-Line Indolent Trial of yttrium-90 ((90)Y) -ibritumomab tiuxetan in advanced-stage follicular lymphoma (FL) in first remission. PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients with CD20(+) stage III or IV FL with complete response (CR), unconfirmed CR (CRu), or partial response (PR) after first-line induction treatment were randomly assigned to (90)Y-ibritumomab consolidation therapy (rituximab 250 mg/m(2) days -7 and 0, then (90)Y-ibritumomab 14.8 MBq/kg day 0; maximum 1,184 MBq) or no further treatment (control). Primary end point was progression-free survival (PFS) from date of random assignment. Results For 409 patients available for analysis ((90)Y-ibritumomab, n = 207; control, n = 202), estimated 8-year overall PFS was 41% with (90)Y-ibritumomab versus 22% for control (hazard ratio [HR], 0.47; P < .001). For patients in CR/CRu after induction, 8-year PFS with (90)Y-ibritumomab was 48% versus 32% for control (HR, 0.61; P = .008), and for PR patients, it was 33% versus 10% (HR, 0.38; P < .001). For (90)Y-ibritumomab consolidation, median PFS was 4.1 years (v 1.1 years for control; P < .001). Median time to next treatment (TTNT) was 8.1 years for (90)Y-ibritumomab versus 3.0 years for control (P < .001) with approximately 80% response rates to second-line therapy in either arm, including autologous stem-cell transplantation. No unexpected toxicities emerged during long-term follow-up. Estimated between-group 8-year overall survival rates were similar. Annualized incidence rate of myelodysplastic syndrome/acute myeloblastic leukemia was 0.50% versus 0.07% in (90)Y-ibritumomab and control groups, respectively (P = .042). CONCLUSION (90)Y-ibritumomab consolidation after achieving PR or CR/CRu to induction confers 3-year benefit in median PFS with durable 19% PFS advantage at 8 years and improves TTNT by 5.1 years for patients with advanced FL.

Cardiorenal end points in a trial of aliskiren for type 2 diabetes.

BACKGROUND: This study was undertaken to determine whether use of the direct renin inhibitor aliskiren would reduce cardiovascular and renal events in patients with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, or both. METHODS: In a double-blind fashion, we randomly assigned 8561 patients to aliskiren (300 mg daily) or placebo as an adjunct to an angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitor or an angiotensin-receptor blocker. The primary end point was a composite of the time to cardiovascular death or a first occurrence of cardiac arrest with resuscitation; nonfatal myocardial infarction; nonfatal stroke; unplanned hospitalization for heart failure; end-stage renal disease, death attributable to kidney failure, or the need for renal-replacement therapy with no dialysis or transplantation available or initiated; or doubling of the baseline serum creatinine level. RESULTS: The trial was stopped prematurely after the second interim efficacy analysis. After a median follow-up of 32.9 months, the primary end point had occurred in 783 patients (18.3%) assigned to aliskiren as compared with 732 (17.1%) assigned to placebo (hazard ratio, 1.08; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.98 to 1.20; P=0.12). Effects on secondary renal end points were similar. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures were lower with aliskiren (between-group differences, 1.3 and 0.6 mm Hg, respectively) and the mean reduction in the urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio was greater (between-group difference, 14 percentage points; 95% CI, 11 to 17). The proportion of patients with hyperkalemia (serum potassium level, ≥6 mmol per liter) was significantly higher in the aliskiren group than in the placebo group (11.2% vs. 7.2%), as was the proportion with reported hypotension (12.1% vs. 8.3%) (P<0.001 for both comparisons). CONCLUSIONS: The addition of aliskiren to standard therapy with renin-angiotensin system blockade in patients with type 2 diabetes who are at high risk for cardiovascular and renal events is not supported by these data and may even be harmful. (Funded by Novartis; ALTITUDE ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00549757.).

Sanarakenteet 2;6-vuotiaiden dysleksiariski- ja kontrollilasten kielessä

Väitöksenalkajaisesitelmä Jyväskylän yliopistossa 24. tammikuuta 2003

Seroepidemiology of herpes simplex virus type 1 and 2 in pregnant women in Switzerland: an obstetric clinic based study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the seroprevalence of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and type 2 (HSV-2) IgG antibodies and the seroincidence of HSV-1 and HSV-2 infections in pregnant women attending the maternity clinic of the University Hospital Lausanne. STUDY DESIGN: Blood samples from 1030 women were taken at the usual pregnancy visit in the first trimester to assess the prevalence rate of IgG antibodies against HSV-1 and HSV-2 using a type-specific assay. A second blood sample was taken 6-8 weeks postpartum from returning women who were seronegative for HSV-2 or HSV-1 to assess the incidence of seroconversion (primary infection). RESULTS: The seroprevalence rates were 79.4% (95% CI: 76.9-81.9) for HSV-1 and 21.2% (18.7-23.7) for HSV-2 in women 14-46 years old. Type-specific serostatus patterns were as follows: 17.3% HSV-1/-2: +/+, 62.1% HSV-1/-2: +/-, 3.9% HSV-1/-2: -/+, 16.7% HSV-1/-2: -/-. Two hundred and sixty five women (59 of the 212 seronegative for HSV-1 (27.8%) and 265 of the 812 seronegative for HSV-2 (32.6%)) returned to the outpatient clinic for the post-delivery check and a second blood sample was obtained. One HSV-1 seroconversion was detected (HSV-1 seroconversion rate 2.4%/100 patient×year (95% CI: 0.06-13.4)) in a patient who had symptoms compatible with primary genital herpes. No HSV-2 seroconversion was detected (HSV-2 seroconversion rate: 0/100 patient×year (97.5% one-sided CI: 0-2)). CONCLUSION: Compared to a previous population-based study, our study results suggest a rise in the prevalence of HSV-2 among pregnant women in Switzerland. The low incidence of seroconversion detected during pregnancy is consistent with the very low reported incidence of neonatal herpes in Switzerland. CONDENSATION: This study in a public hospital in Western Switzerland suggests an increasing prevalence of HSV-2, but a low incidence of primary infections in women of childbearing age.

1,2-Dimethylindole-3-sulfonyl (MIS) as protecting group for the side chain of arginine

The protection of arginine (Arg) side chains is a crucial issue in peptide chemistry because of the propensity of the basic guanidinium group to produce side reactions. Currently, sulfonyl-type protecting groups, such as 2,2,5,7,8-pentamethylchroman (Pmc) and 2,2,4,6,7-pentamethyldihydrobenzofurane (Pbf), are the most widely used for this purpose. Nevertheless, Arg side chain protection remains problematic as a result of the acid stability of these two compounds. This issue is even more relevant in Arg-rich sequences, acid-sensitive peptides and large-scale syntheses. The 1,2-dimethylindole-3-sulfonyl (MIS) group is more acid-labile than Pmc and Pbf and can therefore be a better option for Arg side chain protection. In addition, MIS is compatible with tryptophan-containing peptides.

A importância do teste de tolerância à glicose oral no diagnóstico da intolerância à glicose e diabetes mellitus do tipo 2 em mulheres com síndrome dos ovários policísticos

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a importância do teste de tolerância à glicose oral (TTGO) no diagnóstico da intolerância à glicose (IG) e diabetes mellitus do tipo 2 (DM-2) em mulheres com SOP. MÉTODOS: Estudo retrospectivo em que foram incluídas 247 pacientes portadoras de SOP, selecionadas de forma aleatória. O diagnóstico de IG foi obtido por meio do TTGO de duas horas com 75 gramas de glicose de acordo com os critérios do World Health Organization (WHO) (IG: glicemia plasmática aos 120 minutos >140 mg/dL e <200 mg/dL); e o de DM-2 tanto pelo TTGO (DM: glicemia plasmática aos 120 minutos >200 mg/dL) quanto pela glicemia de jejum segundo os critérios da American Diabetes Association (glicemia de jejum alterada: glicemia plasmática >100 e <126 mg/dL; DM: glicemia de jejum >126 mg/dL). Para comparar o TTGO com a glicemia de jejum foi aplicado o modelo de regressão logística para medidas repetidas. Para a análise das características clínicas e bioquímicas das pacientes com e sem IG e/ou DM-2 foi utilizada a ANOVA seguida do teste de Tukey. O valor p<0,05 foi considerado estatisticamente significante. RESULTADOS: As pacientes com SOP apresentaram média etária de 24,8±6,3 e índice de massa corpórea (IMC) entre 18,3 e 54,9 kg/m² (32,5±7,6). O percentual de pacientes obesas foi de 64%, de sobrepeso 18,6%, e peso saudável 17,4%. O TTGO identificou 14 casos de DM-2 (5,7%), enquanto a glicemia de jejum detectou somente três casos (1,2%), sendo que a frequência destes distúrbios foi maior com o aumento da idade e IMC. CONCLUSÕES: Os resultados do presente estudo demonstram a superioridade do TTGO em relação à glicemia de jejum em diagnosticar DM-2 em mulheres jovens com SOP e deve ser realizado neste grupo de pacientes.

Caracterização de amostras atenuadas do vírus da Diarréia Viral Bovina (BVDV) tipos 1 e 2 para uso em vacinas

Este artigo relata a caracterização de duas amostras citopáticas do vírus da Diarréia Viral Bovina (BVDV-1: IBSP-2; BVDV-2: SV-253) submetidas à atenuação por múltiplas passagens em cultivo celular e exposição à radiação ultravioleta. As amostras foram caracterizadas in vitro (tamanho e morfologia de placas, cinética de replicação e perfil antigênico) e in vivo (atenuação e resposta sorológica em bovinos). A caracterização in vitro de populações clonadas dos vírus obtidas nas diferentes passagens em cultivo celular (0, 1, 10, 20 e 30), demonstrou que o processo de atenuação não afetou negativamente as características antigênicas e fenotípicas das amostras. Não foram observadas alterações significativas no tamanho e morfologia de placas e na cinética de replicação. A reatividade com 48 anticorpos monoclonais demonstrou que o perfil antigênico não doi alterado durante as sucessivas passagens in vitro. A inoculação intramuscular dos clones de vírus obtidos na passagem 30 (IBSP-2: 10(7,3) DICC50; SV-253: 10(6,8) DICC50) em 12 novilhas soronegativas com idade média de 15 meses, não resultou em sinais clínicos, comprovando sua atenuação. Após a inoculação, o vírus foi detectado em leucócitos da maioria dos animais inoculados (10/12) entre os dias 3 e 6 pós-inoculação (pi) e em secreções nasais de três animais (dias 4, 7 e 8pi). No entanto, não ocorreu transmissão dos vírus vacinais aos três animais soronegativos mantidos como sentinelas. Todos os animais vacinados soroconverteram aos 14 dias pós-vacinação (dpv). Títulos moderados a altos de anticorpos neutralizantes foram detectados frente a 5 isolados brasileiros do BVDV-1 (títulos de 80 a > 1280) e quatro isolados do BVDV-2 (títulos de 20 a 640). Em geral, os títulos foram de magnitude superior frente a isolados brasileiros do BVDV-1. Aos 240dpv, os animais receberam uma segunda dose dos vírus vacinais (IBSP-2: 10(7,3) DICC50; SV-253: 10(6,8) DICC50). A revacinação induziu uma resposta secundária na maioria dos animais, resultando em um aumento dos títulos de anticorpos neutralizantes principalmente frente ao BVDV-2. Esses resultados são promissores no sentido da utilização dessas amostras na formulação de vacinas atenuadas para o controle da infecção pelo BVDV no Brasil.

Gliclazide and bedtime insulin are more efficient than insulin alone for type 2 diabetic patients with sulfonylurea secondary failure

To determine the effects of combined therapy of gliclazide and bedtime insulin on glycemic control and C-peptide secretion, we studied 25 patients with type 2 diabetes and sulfonylurea secondary failure, aged 56.8 ± 8.3 years, with a duration of diabetes of 10.6 ± 6.6 years, fasting plasma glucose of 277.3 ± 64.6 mg/dl and a body mass index of 27.4 ± 4.8 kg/m². Patients were submitted to three therapeutic regimens lasting 2 months each: 320 mg gliclazide (phase 1), 320 mg gliclazide and bedtime NPH insulin (phase 2), and insulin (phase 3). At the end of each period, glycemic and C-peptide curves in response to a mixed meal were determined. During combined therapy, there was a decrease in all glycemic curve values (P<0.01). Twelve patients (48%) reached fasting plasma glucose <140 mg/dl with a significant weight gain of 64.8 kg (43.1-98.8) vs 66.7 kg (42.8-101.4) (P<0.05), with no increase in C-peptide secretion or decrease in HbA1. C-Peptide glucose score (C-peptide/glucose x 100) increased from 0.9 (0.2-2.1) to 1.3 (0.2-4.7) during combined therapy (P<0.01). Despite a 50% increase in insulin doses in phase 3 (12 U (9-30) vs 18 U (11-60); P<0.01) only 3 patients who responded to combined therapy maintained fasting plasma glucose <140 mg/dl (P<0.02). A tendency to a higher absolute increase in C-peptide (0.99 (0.15-2.5) vs 0.6 (0-2.15); P = 0.08) and C-peptide incremental area (2.47 (0.22-6.2) vs 1.2 (0-3.35); P = 0.07) was observed among responders. We conclude that combined therapy resulted in a better glucose response to a mixed meal than insulin alone and should be tried in type 2 diabetic patients before starting insulin monotherapy, despite difficulties in predicting the response.

Vascular complications of black patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Southern Brazil

Ethnicity has been shown to be associated with micro- and macrovascular complications of diabetes in European and North American populations. We analyzed the contribution of ethnicity to the prevalence of micro- and macrovascular complications in Brazilian subjects with type 2 diabetes attending the national public health system. Data from 1810 subjects with type 2 diabetes (1512 whites and 298 blacks) were analyzed cross-sectionally. The rates of ischemic heart disease, peripheral vascular disease, stroke, distal sensory neuropathy, and diabetic retinopathy were assessed according to self-reported ethnicity using multiple logistic regression models. Compared to whites, black subjects [odds ratio = 1.72 (95%CI = 1.14-2.6)] were more likely to have ischemic heart disease when data were adjusted for age, sex, fasting plasma glucose, HDL cholesterol, hypertension, smoking habit, and serum creatinine. Blacks were also more likely to have end-stage renal disease [3.2 (1.7-6.0)] and proliferative diabetic retinopathy [1.9 (1.1-3.2)] compared to whites when data were adjusted for age, sex, fasting plasma glucose, HDL cholesterol, hypertension, and smoking habit. The rates of peripheral vascular disease, stroke and distal sensory neuropathy did not differ between groups. The higher rates of ischemic heart disease, end-stage renal disease and proliferative diabetic retinopathy in black rather than in white Brazilians were not explained by differences in conventional risk factors. Identifying which aspects of ethnicity confer a higher risk for these complications in black patients is crucial in order to understand why such differences exist and to develop more effective strategies to reduce the onset and progression of these complications.

2S 7,1-17 en contexte historique, évaluation de la mise en forme et de la transmission du texte dans le débat portant sur la tradition deutéronomiste

L’objectif de ce mémoire est de mettre en lumière la mise en forme, la réception et la transmission de 2S 7,1-17 à l’intérieur du débat qui a présentement cours autour de la rédaction deutéronomiste, ainsi que de vérifier le lien possible de ce texte avec l’évolution de la pensée théologique juive issue de l’édition deutéronomiste. Notre recherche commence par établir un texte hébreu de travail fiable grâce à la critique textuelle. L’analyse syntaxique nous permet ensuite de proposer une traduction qui soit la plus fidèle possible au texte hébreu retenu afin de mieux comprendre le sens du texte dans sa langue originale. Nous abordons, dans le troisième chapitre, la question des différentes sources littéraires ayant pu servir à la composition du texte de 2S 7,1-17. L’exploration plus détaillée de quelques pistes qui sont apparues à la suite de la critique des sources et de la réception du texte de 2S 7,1-17 par le(s) Chroniste(s), nous permet de constater qu’à l’intérieur des traditions textuelles hébraïques, la prophétie de Nathan a évolué de façon significative dans le parcours des différentes traditions de relecture. À partir des quatres étapes de recherches, nous dégageons les éléments qui pourraient être mis en lien avec les théories existantes dans le cadre de l’histoire deutéronomiste et mettons en lumière les forces et les faiblesses des solutions proposées. Les résultats de la recherche nous permettent de penser que l’intégration de la prophétie de Nathan dans la trame historique s’expliquerait par la nécessité d’éclairer une suite d’événements selon diverses perspectives théologiques. Ce n’est qu’à partir des conditions exiliques que nous aurions le texte de 2S 7,1-17 le plus tardif offrant une réflexion sur la première histoire d’Israël. Dans ce sens, la prophétie de Nathan prendrait toute sa valeur et son extension bien au-delà de la seule histoire personnelle de David ou de Salomon.

Copper(II) complexes of N(4)-substituted thiosemicarbazones derived from pyridine-2-carbaldehyde: Crystal structure of a binuclear complex

Ten copper(II) complexes {[CuL1Cl] (1), [CuL1NO3]2 (2), [CuL1N3]2 · 2/3H2O (3), [CuL1]2(ClO4)2 · 2H2O (4), [CuL2Cl]2 (5), [CuL2N3] (6), [Cu(HL2)SO4]2 · 4H2O (7), [Cu(HL2)2] (ClO4)2 · 1/2EtOH (8), [CuL3Cl]2 (9), [CuL3NCS] · 1/2H2O (10)} of three NNS donor thiosemicarbazone ligands {pyridine-2-carbaldehyde-N(4)-p-methoxyphenyl thiosemicarbazone [HL1], pyridine-2-carbaldehyde-N(4)-2-phenethyl thiosemicarbazone [HL2] and pyridine-2-carbaldehyde N(4)-(methyl), N(4)-(phenyl) thiosemicarbazone [HL3]} were synthesized and physico-chemically characterized. The crystal structure of compound 9 has been determined by X-ray diffraction studies and is found that the dimer consists of two square pyramidal Cu(II) centers linked by two chlorine atoms.

Vanadium complexes with 2-pyridineformamide thiosemicarbazones: In vitro studies of insulin-like activity

Reaction of VOCl(2) with 2-pyridineformamide thiosemicarbazone (H2Am4DH) and its N(4)-methyl (H2Am4Me), N(4)-ethyl (H2Am4Et) and N(4)-phenyl (H2Am4Ph) derivatives in ethanol gave as products [VO(H2Am4DH) Cl(2)] (1), [VO(H2Am4Me) Cl(2)] center dot 1/2HCl (2), [VO(H2Am4Et) Cl(2)] center dot HCl (3) and [VO(2Am4Ph) Cl] (4). Upon the dissolution of 1-4 in water, oxidation immediately occurs with the formation of [VO(2)(2Am4DH)] (5), [VO(2)(2Am4Me)] (6), [VO(2)(2Am4Et)] (7) and [VO(2)(2Am4Ph)] (8). The crystal and molecular structures of 5 and 6 were determined. Complexes 5-8 inhibited glycerol release in a similar way to that observed with insulin but showed a low enhancing effect on glucose uptake by rat adipocytes. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Electronic Structure and Chemical Bonding in the Ground and Low-Lying Electronic States of Ta(2)

The electronic structure and chemical bonding of the ground and low-lying Lambda - S and Omega states of Ta(2) were investigated at the multiconfiguration second-order perturbation theory (CASSCF//CASPT2) level. The ground state of Ta(2) is computed to be a X(3)Sigma(-)(g) state (R(e) = 2.120 angstrom, omega(e) = 323 cm(-1), and D(e) = 4.65 eV), with two low-lying singlet states close to it (a(1) Sigma(+)(g) : T(e) = 409 cm(-1), R(e) = 2.131 angstrom, and omega(e) = 313 cm(-1); b(1) Gamma(g): T(e) = 1, 038 cm(-1), R(e) = 2.127 angstrom, and omega(e) = 316 cm(-1)). These electronic states are derived from the same electronic configuration: vertical bar 13 sigma(2)(g)14 sigma(2)(g)7 delta(2)(g)13 pi(4)(u)>. The effective bond order of the X(3) Sigma(-)(g) state is 4.52, which indicates that the Ta atoms are bound by a quintuple chemical bond. The a(1) Sigma(+)(g) state interacts strongly with the X(3)Sigma(-)(g) g ground state by a second-order spin-orbit interaction, giving rise to the (1)0(g)(+) (ground state) (dominated by the X(3)Sigma(-)(g) Lambda - S ground state) and (9)0(g)(+) (dominated by the a(1) Sigma(+)(g) Lambda - S state) Omega states. These results are in line with those reported for the group 5B homonuclear transition metal diatomics. (C) 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem 111: 1306-1315, 2011