Daily flight activity rhythms of the peach and mediterranean fruit flies using sexual and olfactory attractants

The periodicity of insect activity is affected by endogenous and exogenous factors, and these factor thresholds often limit its activity. The flight activity within 24 h circadian rhythm is often influenced by light, whereas the abundance is affected by temperature. This study aimed to hourly follow the flight activity of the peach (PFF) and Mediterranean (MFF) fruit flies, at guava orchard, using sexual and olfactory attractants. The flight of PFF males usually started before that of females, whereas that of MFF males was in the same time as females. As temperature rose above 30 °C, the flight activity of males affected, but that of females not. Thus, flight activities of males were negatively, and females were positively, correlated with temperature. On the contrary, males were positively, and females were negatively, correlated with relative humidity. The sexual attractant attracted more PFF males than MFF, but the olfactory attractants attracted more PFF females than MFF. The highest male captures were between 7:00 am and 10:00 am, and females between 11:00 am and 5:00 pm, suggesting males fly actively during the morning to locate their mates, whereas females fly actively during the afternoon to locate their food and/or distribute their eggs. This also suggests that PFF and MFF are diurnal species. For management of both species, the spray treatments therefore should be taken during the time interval 7:00 am and 10:00 am for males (to disrupt mating) and 11:00 am and 5:00 pm for females (to disrupt feeding and oviposition)

A geographical study on Pseudaulacaspis pentagona and its parasitoids in Hungarian highway margins using pheromone traps and molecular markers

Πραγματοποιήθηκε μελέτη διασποράς του Pseudaulacaspis pentagona (Targioni Tozzetti) (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) και των παρασιτοειδών του σε 32 σημεία κατά μήκος των Ουγγρικών αυτοκινητοδρόμων (M0, M1, M3, M5, και M7) με τη χρήση φερομονικών παγίδων κατά τα έτη 2009 και 2010. Κατά τη μελέτη νέα σημεία συμπεριλήφθηκαν και σε συνδυασμό με προηγούμενα δεδομένα έγινε προσπάθεια κατανόησης της τάσης διασποράς του εντόμου. Ο αριθμός αρσενικών στους αυτοκινητοδρόμους ήταν χαμηλότερος σε σχέση με σημεία κοντά σε πόλεις (M0). Τα δεδομένα συνάδουν με αυτά άλλων μελετών όπου συμπεραίνεται ότι το είδος P. pentagona διασπείρεται μέσω οχημάτων κατά μήκος των αυτοκινητοδρόμων (“transport vector”). Η σημαντική μείωση των συλλήψεων αρσενικών από το 2007 έως το 2010 μπορεί να σηματοδοτεί την έναρξη μιας περιόδου χαμηλού πληθυσμού του εντόμου στην Ουγγαρία. Οκτώ διαφορετικά είδη παρασιτοειδών βρέθηκαν στις φερομονικές παγίδες. Το παρασιτοειδές Coccophagus sp. ήταν το κυρίαρχο είδος, ωστόσο ενδεχομένως να προέρχεται από άλλο κοκκοειδές. Η ταυτότητα των αρρένων κοκκοειδών καθώς και ενός παρασιτοειδούς επαληθεύτηκε με μοριακούς δείκτες.A study has been conducted to monitor geographical spread of the white peach scale Pseudaulacaspis pentagona (Targioni Tozzetti) (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) (WPS) and its parasitoid populations in 32 stops of the Hungarian highways (M0. M1, M3, M5 and M7) using pheromone traps during 2009 and 2010. In addition to the data collected in the current study, previous data were used to investigate the population trend of this pest from 2007 to 2010. The number of males recorded in traps placed on highways was much lower than in the sites close to urban areas (M0). Our data support results of previous studies which suggest the spreading of white peach scale by vehicles (“transport vector”). The significant decrease in the WPS male catches from 2007 to 2010 might indicate the lowering of the population levels of this pest in the area of the study. Eight hymenopterous parasitoid species were captured in pheromone traps. Coccophagus sp. was the predominate species in pheromone traps of WPS in M7, how-ever they may be associated with another coccid species. The identity of scale males and some parasitoids was proved by molecular markers

Titrated Misoprostol Versus Dinoprostone for Labor Induction

Background: Misoprostol is as effective as dinoprostone for labor induction with low cost and temperature stability.Aim: This study designed to compare titrated misoprostol regarding its safety and efficacy with dinoprostone for induction of labor.Subjects and Methods: Women with a single pregnancy, above 37 weeks’ gestation, cephalic presentation, modified Bishop’s score <8, and not in labor with reassuring fetal heart rate, admitted for labor induction enrolled in this randomized controlled study. Studied women were randomized into; Group I: received oral misoprostol titrated in sterile water (200 μg tablet was dissolved in 200 ml sterile water [1 μg/ml]), starting dose of 20 μg misoprostol required, given every 2 h, and stopped if adequate contractions obtained and Group II: received vaginal dinoprostone tablet maximum two doses followed by augmentation of labor by oxytocin ± amniotomy if there is no uterine contractions after two doses of dinoprostone. In Group I, if the contractions were inadequate after two doses of oral titrated misoprostol (20 μg [20 ml]), the starting dose increased to 40 μg (40 ml), escalating the dose from 5 to 10 ml (45–50 μg), and 20 ml (60 μg) maximum ± amniotomy. If the uterine contractions were adequate, the next dose of misoprostol or dinoprostone was omitted. Statistical analysis done using Student’s t‑test for quantitative data and Chi‑square test for qualitative data.Results: Induction‑to‑delivery time was significantly longer in misoprostol than dinoprostone group (975 vs. 670 min, respectively), (P = 0.01). About 20.2% (21/104) of women in misoprostol group did not deliver vaginally within 24 h compared to 7.4% (8/108) in dinoprostone group (significant difference, P = 0.01). Augmentation of labor was significantly high in dinoprostone (37.96% [41/108]) compared to misoprostol group (10.6% [11/104]) (P < 0.01).Conclusion: Titrated misoprostol for induction of labor seems to be associated with significantly longer induction‑to‑delivery time, low incidence of vaginal birth within 24 h, and less need for augmentation of labor compared to vaginal dinoprostone.KEY WORDS: Dinoprostone, labor induction, titrated misoprosto

Safety of Thioguanine in Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease:A Multi-Center Case Series

Thioguanine (TG) has been shown as a safe alternative in adults with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) who did not tolerate conventional thiopurines [azathioprine (AZA)/mercaptopurine]. However, data in pediatric IBD are scarce. Therefore, we aimed to assess the safety of TG as maintenance therapy. METHODS: A retrospective, multicenter cohort study of children with IBD on TG was performed in the Netherlands. TG-related adverse events (AE) were assessed and listed according to the common terminology criteria for AE. RESULTS: Thirty-six children with IBD (median age 14.5 years) on TG (median dose 15 mg/day) were included in 6 centers. Five AE occurred during follow-up [pancreatitis (grade 3), hepatotoxicity (grade 3) (n = 2), Clostridium difficile infection (grade 2), and abdominal pain (grade 2)]. All patients (n = 8) with a previously AZA-induced pancreatitis did not redevelop pancreatitis on TG. CONCLUSIONS: In pediatric IBD, TG seems a safe alternative in case of AZA-induced pancreatitis. Further research assessing long-term TG-related safety and efficacy is needed

Tpeak-Tend, Tpeak-Tend/QT ratio and Tpeak-Tend dispersion for risk stratification in Brugada Syndrome:A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Brugada syndrome is an ion channelopathy that predisposes affected subjects to ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation (VT/VF), potentially leading to sudden cardiac death (SCD). Tpeak-Tend intervals, (Tpeak-Tend)/QT ratio and Tpeak-Tend dispersion have been proposed for risk stratification, but their predictive values in Brugada syndrome have been challenged recently. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to examine their values in predicting arrhythmic and mortality outcomes in Brugada Syndrome. PubMed and Embase databases were searched until 1 May 2018, identifying 29 and 57 studies. Results: Nine studies involving 1740 subjects (mean age 45 years old, 80% male, mean follow-up duration was 68 ± 27 months) were included. The mean Tpeak-Tend interval was 98.9 ms (95% CI: 90.5-107.2 ms) for patients with adverse events (ventricular arrhythmias or SCD) compared to 87.7 ms (95% CI: 80.5-94.9 ms) for those without such events, with a mean difference of 11.9 ms (95% CI: 3.6-20.2 ms, P = 0.005; I2 = 86%). Higher (Tpeak-Tend)/QT ratios (mean difference = 0.019, 95% CI: 0.003-0.036, P = 0.024; I2 = 74%) and Tpeak-Tend dispersion (mean difference = 7.8 ms, 95% CI: 2.1-13.4 ms, P = 0.007; I2 = 80%) were observed for the event-positive group. Conclusion: Tpeak-Tend interval, (Tpeak-Tend)/QT ratio and Tpeak-Tend dispersion were higher in high-risk than low-risk Brugada subjects, and thus offer incremental value for risk stratification

Identification and characterization of a novel non-structural protein of bluetongue virus

Bluetongue virus (BTV) is the causative agent of a major disease of livestock (bluetongue). For over two decades, it has been widely accepted that the 10 segments of the dsRNA genome of BTV encode for 7 structural and 3 non-structural proteins. The non-structural proteins (NS1, NS2, NS3/NS3a) play different key roles during the viral replication cycle. In this study we show that BTV expresses a fourth non-structural protein (that we designated NS4) encoded by an open reading frame in segment 9 overlapping the open reading frame encoding VP6. NS4 is 77–79 amino acid residues in length and highly conserved among several BTV serotypes/strains. NS4 was expressed early post-infection and localized in the nucleoli of BTV infected cells. By reverse genetics, we showed that NS4 is dispensable for BTV replication in vitro, both in mammalian and insect cells, and does not affect viral virulence in murine models of bluetongue infection. Interestingly, NS4 conferred a replication advantage to BTV-8, but not to BTV-1, in cells in an interferon (IFN)-induced antiviral state. However, the BTV-1 NS4 conferred a replication advantage both to a BTV-8 reassortant containing the entire segment 9 of BTV-1 and to a BTV-8 mutant with the NS4 identical to the homologous BTV-1 protein. Collectively, this study suggests that NS4 plays an important role in virus-host interaction and is one of the mechanisms played, at least by BTV-8, to counteract the antiviral response of the host. In addition, the distinct nucleolar localization of NS4, being expressed by a virus that replicates exclusively in the cytoplasm, offers new avenues to investigate the multiple roles played by the nucleolus in the biology of the cell

Selenium and Lung Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta Analysis

Selenium is a natural health product widely used in the treatment and prevention of lung cancers, but large chemoprevention trials have yielded conflicting results. We conducted a systematic review of selenium for lung cancers, and assessed potential interactions with conventional therapies.Two independent reviewers searched six databases from inception to March 2009 for evidence pertaining to the safety and efficacy of selenium for lung cancers. Pubmed and EMBASE were searched to October 2009 for evidence on interactions with chemo- or radiation-therapy. In the efficacy analysis there were nine reports of five RCTs and two biomarker-based studies, 29 reports of 26 observational studies, and 41 preclinical studies. Fifteen human studies, one case report, and 36 preclinical studies were included in the interactions analysis. Based on available evidence, there appears to be a different chemopreventive effect dependent on baseline selenium status, such that selenium supplementation may reduce risk of lung cancers in populations with lower baseline selenium status (serum<106 ng/mL), but increase risk of lung cancers in those with higher selenium (≥ 121.6 ng/mL). Pooling data from two trials yielded no impact to odds of lung cancer, OR 0.93 (95% confidence interval 0.61-1.43); other cancers that were the primary endpoints of these trials, OR 1.51 (95%CI 0.70-3.24); and all-cause-death, OR 0.93 (95%CI 0.79-1.10). In the treatment of lung cancers, selenium may reduce cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity and side effects associated with radiation therapy.Selenium may be effective for lung cancer prevention among individuals with lower selenium status, but at present should not be used as a general strategy for lung cancer prevention. Although promising, more evidence on the ability of selenium to reduce cisplatin and radiation therapy toxicity is required to ensure that therapeutic efficacy is maintained before any broad clinical recommendations can be made in this context