Aedes albopictus bionomics data collection by citizen participation on procida island, a promising mediterranean site for the assessment of innovative and community-based integrated pest management methods

In the last decades, the colonization of Mediterranean Europe and of other temperate regions by Aedes albopictus created an unprecedented nuisance problem in highly infested areas and new public health threats due to the vector competence of the species. The Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) and the Incompatible Insect Technique (IIT) are insecticide-free mosquito-control methods, relying on mass release of irradiated/manipulated males, able to complement existing and only partially effective control tools. The validation of these approaches in the field requires appropriate experimental settings, possibly isolated to avoid mosquito immigration from other infested areas, and preliminary ecological and entomological data. We carried out a 4-year study in the island of Procida (Gulf of Naples, Italy) in strict collaboration with local administrators and citizens to estimate the temporal dynamics, spatial distribution, and population size of Ae. albopictus and the dispersal and survival of irradiated males. We applied ovitrap monitoring, geo-spatial analyses, mark-release-recapture technique, and a citizen-science approach. Results allow to predict the seasonal (from April to October, with peaks of 928-9,757 males/ha) and spatial distribution of the species, highlighting the capacity of Ae. albopictus population of Procida to colonize and maintain high frequencies in urban as well as in sylvatic inhabited environments. Irradiated males shown limited ability to disperse (mean daily distance travelled <60m) and daily survival estimates ranging between 0.80 and 0.95. Overall, the ecological characteristics of the island, the acquired knowledge on Ae. albopictus spatial and temporal distribution, the high human and Ae. albopictus densities and the positive attitude of the resident population in being active parts in innovative mosquito control projects provide the ground for evidence-based planning of the interventions and for the assessment of their effectiveness. In addition, the results highlight the value of creating synergies between research groups, local administrators, and citizens for affordable monitoring (and, in the future, control) of mosquito populations

FLUORESCEIN CONJUGATES OF 9- AND 10-HYDROXYSTEARIC ACIDS: SYNTHETIC STRATEGIES, PHOTOPHYSICAL CHARACTERIZATION, AND CONFOCAL MICROSCOPY APPLICATIONS

Different strategies are presented to conjugate a fluorescein moiety to 9- and 10-hydroxystearic acids (HSAs). 5-Amino-fluorescein (5-AF) was used as a starting reagent. When reacted with acyl-chloride-modified HSAs, 5-AF gave rise to stable amide derivatives with a 75% reaction yield. These products exhibited the typical steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence properties of the fluorescein chromophore with absorption at 494 nm and emission at 519 nm. Flow cytometry studies confirmed the distinct proapoptotic effect of underivatized 9-HSA on Jurkat cells and revealed a comparable ability of its amide derivative. Confocal microscopy imaging studies showed that green fluorescence could stain intracellular membranous structures. Moreover, dual-dye labeling with Mito Tracker Red, followed by colocalization analysis, revealed that HSA can move to the mitochondria. Thus, fluorescent derivatives of HSA can be used to monitor the localization of these biologically active molecules in living cells and can provide a useful tool for linking biochemical investigation with optical visualization methods. In contrast, when unmodified HSAs were used, the reaction gave monoesterified and diesterified fluorescein derivatives. These products exhibited unusual steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence properties with the excitation wavelength at 342 nm and the emission wavelength at 432 nm. It is shown that the synthesized HSA amides of fluorescein provide all of the typical photophysical and instrumental advantages of this popular dye, whereas the unusual luminescence and excitation properties of the monoester and diester of the 5-aminofluorescein would make these dyes interesting to explore as potential candidates for two photon excitation applications

Phytosterols and Lack of Occurrence of Cholestasis in Rats Nourished Parenterally or Orally.

Phytosterols, which are plant sterol, are significantly present in most intravenous lipid emulsions (ILEs) and are considered toxic substances leading to parenteral nutrition-associated cholestasis (PNAC). Glutamine on the contrary, is considered protective against the occurrence of PNAC. In this study we pursue several objectives. First we want to determine the plasma amount of phytosterols deriving from different oil sources in rats receiving parenteral nutrition, and compare it with those in rats on standard oral diet. Subsequently, we want to verify whether phytosterols have an impact on the occurrence of cholestasis. Finally, we intend to verify whether the addition of glutamine changes the outcomes. To this end, plasma phytosterols (\u3b2-sitosterol, campesterol, and stigmasterol) were quantified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry after performing a lipid extraction procedure in 15 weaning rats randomly divided into 3 groups receiving parenteral nutrition with soy bean oil (IL), IL plus glutamine (ILG), and chow respectively for five days. Diets were isocaloric and isonitrogenous. After killing, blood and liver samples were taken to determine plasma phytosterols and check liver histology. Every sample was triple-tested. Among phytosterols, sitosterol had the highest plasma level in all the groups. Its highest concentrations were found in the ILG group, followed by the IL group. Plasma stigmasterol levels were significantly higher in both the IL and ILG groups. Plasma campesterol levels were similar across groups including the one receiving chow. None of the liver specimens showed PNAC. In conclusion, sitosterol and stigmasterol levels were highly present in the plasma, particularly in all rats receiving parenteral nutrition. No cases of PNAC appear to have occurred. Addition of glutamine to the parenteral formulation seemed not to matter, as PNAC did not occur

Do carnitine and extra trace elements change stability of paediatric parenteral nutrition admixtures?

Introduction High concentrations of trace elements (TE), in particular zinc and selenium, along with carnitine, are often added to parenteral admixtures in paediatric patients on long-term Parenteral Nutrition (PN). We aim to evaluate whether lipid droplet diameters of these admixtures maintain the recommended range of 0.4\u20131.0 \u3bcm. Materials and methods Stability studies were carried out on six parenteral admixtures with carnitine, trace elements and electrolytes added in different amounts. Each admixture was formulated with five different lipid emulsions with or without fish oil. Analyses were performed at time 0 (t = 0) and 24, 48, 72, 96 (t = 96) hours after compounding. Droplet diameters were determined by Light Scattering-Reverse Fourier Optics Technique. Samples, stored at 4 \ub0C, were triple tested for a total of 450 analyses. Regression analyses were performed using panel-data techniques. Results During the 4 days, lipid droplet diameters were in the expected range of 0.4\u20131.0 \u3bcm regardless of trace element and carnitine amounts in all admixtures apart from those containing fish-oil based emulsions and calcium concentrations equal to 4.5 mmol/L. In these latter admixtures, 12% of droplet diameters were larger than 1.0 \u3bcm and 2% exceeded 5.0 \u3bcm immediately after compounding. Conclusion Carnitine and high concentrations of trace elements do not affect PN admixtures stability and can be safely infused in long-term home-PN paediatric patients and prematures. Only high calcium concentrations in compresence with fish oil based lipid emulsions seem to change PN stability

Skeletal muscle toxicity in HIV-1-infected patients treated with a raltegravir-containing antiretroviral therapy: a cohort study.

To evaluate the frequency of myopathy and serum creatine kinase (CK) elevation associated with the use of the integrase inhibitor raltegravir we conducted a retrospective, cohort analysis assessing the incidence of skeletal muscle toxicity among HIV-infected patients treated with raltegravir. Adult HIV-infected patients who started a raltegravir-containing therapy were enrolled into the study. The skeletal muscle toxicity was defined by the presence of one or more of the following parameters: (1) isolated and significant CK elevation without signs or symptoms; (2) diffuse myalgia without weakness; (3) proximal muscle weakness; (4) rhabdomyolysis. On the whole, 155 patients were included in the study, with a mean age of 49.2 years; the median duration of the raltegravir treatment was 30.7 months. The overall frequency of skeletal muscle toxicity was 23.9%, with an incidence of 4.7/100 person-years. An isolated CK elevation was reported in 21.3% of cases, while less than 3% of patients complained of myalgia or muscle weakness. The CK elevation was usually of grade 1 or 2 and self-limiting, and laboratory or clinical abnormalities did not require discontinuation of raltegravir in any patient. Factors significantly associated with skeletal muscle toxicity were previous use of zidovudine, higher baseline CK levels, previous increase of the CK levels, and a higher body mass index. Skeletal muscle toxicity is not an unusual adverse event in subjects receiving raltegravir, but it is usually represented by a mild-to-moderate increase in CK concentration, while clinical symptoms of myopathy are very uncommon