Hymenoptera Ichneumonidae of Montecristo Island (Tuscan Archipelago), with some new records for the Italian fauna

Data on the presence in the Island of Montecristo (Tuscan Archipelago, Italy) of 35 taxa of Ichneumonidae (Hymenoptera Ichneumonoidea) are provided. The specimens were collected with a Malaise trap in 2011 and 2012. Seven of the identified species were already known for the Tuscan archipelago, four for the Island of Montecristo. The total number of Ichneumonidae in the Archipelago rises from 20 to 49 species, that of Montecristo from 5 to 36. Eleven species are new records for South Italy. Townostilpnus chagrinator Aubert, 1916, previously known only from Corsica and southern France, is new to Italy

Liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry analysis of synthetic coccidiostats in eggs

Coccidiostats are synthetic drugs administered to animals, especially to poultry, to cure coccidiosis. In this paper, we present a selective liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method to analyze residues of five synthetic coccidiostats in eggs: clazuril, diclazuril, robenidine, nicarbazin, toltrazuril and its two metabolites. The extraction efficiency was evaluated by testing several solvents, pH, different volumes and time of extraction. The clean-up procedures were optimized using different solid phase extraction cartridges and different eluants. The chromatographic separation was achieved in reversed phase using a gradient of 0.1% formic acid in water and acetonitrile, whereas the MS detection was performed in negative electrospray ionization (ESI) for all the analytes, except for the robenidine. The developed method has been validated according to Commission Decision 2002/657/CE. The validation parameters, as linearity, precision, recovery, specificity, decision limit (CC alpha), detection capability (CC beta), and robustness have been determined. The proposed method resulted simple, fast, and suitable for screening and confirmation purposes

Taxonomic revision of the Campoplex difformis group (Ichneumonidae, Campopleginae), with particular reference to species of economic importance

Despite their importance as potential biological control agents, species of the campoplegine genus Campoplex Gravenhorst, 1829 are hard to identify. Previous works provided short descriptions or poor illustrations of crucial characters, meaning it is often impossible to distinguish closely related species. We provide illustrations to identify species of the Campoplex difformis group and redescriptions of and illustrations for C. difformis (Gmelin, 1790), C. capitator Aubert, 1960, C. dubitator Horstmann, 1985, C. formosanae Horstmann, 2012, and C. unicingulatus (Schmiedeknecht, 1909). In addition, the taxonomic status of C. difformis is clarified; a lectotype is designated for C. capitator in Aubert’s collection in Lausanne and the host record for this species on Ancylis mitterbacheriana (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775) is queried; Campoplex corsicator Aubert, 1960 stat. nov. is removed from synonymy with Campoplex tibialis (Szépligeti, 1916) and redescribed

Rhabdomyolysis induced by co-administration of fluvastatin and colchicine

A case of fluvastatin-induced rhabdomyolysis after coadministration of colchicine is reported. A 77 year old man with ischemic heart disease, chronic pericardial effusion, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, arterial hypertension, chronic renal failure (stage 2 of classification of chronic kidney disease of National Kidney Foundation) and chronic gout presented with a generalized muscle pain. The patient had been taking 80 mg/day of fluvastatin for 4 years, and, for four weeks before presentation, he had also been taking a dose of colchicine (1.0 mg daily) for an exacerbation of gout. Investigations confirmed the diagnosis of rhabdomyolysis. Discontinuation of fluvastatin and colchicine therapy and adequate fluid administration resulted in the resolution of clinical and biochemical features of rhabdomyolysis. Although neuromuscular adverse effects of fluvastatin and colchicine are well recognized, rhabdomyolysis is rare, making this is only the second case reported of fluvastatin and colchicine co-administration induced rhabdomyolysis in literature

Recurrent extreme bilateral gigantomastia caused by pseudoangiomatous stromal hyperplasia (PASH) syndrome: a case report

Pseudoangiomatous stromal hyperplasia (PASH) of the breast is a rare and benign medical condition in which the breast tissue is affected by an abnormal myofibroblastic proliferation, which mimics a low-grade sarcoma angiomatous proliferation. PASH usually presents itself either as a palpable mass or as an incidental diagnosis during breast specimens' histological examination. A few cases have been reported in the literature of a diffuse form of breast PASH syndrome in which the clinical presentation is a bilateral form of gigantomastia without palpable masses. In such cases, the optimal surgical management is still debated due to a significant risk of relapse after breast reduction. Mastectomy seems to be the endpoint of this condition in relapsing cases. Recent studies report a good outcome with a Tamoxifen regimen when surgery cannot be performed, supporting a hormonal component for the etiology of the condition. This study reports on an extremely rare case of bilateral, rapid, and severe PASH in a young patient, presenting as a truly disabling gigantomastia that forced the patient to use a wheelchair due to the excessive breast weights (25 kg the right breast and 21 kg the left). We describe her complicated medical history, her diagnosis, and our course of treatment

Problematic mobile phone use in adolescence:a cross-sectional study

Aim: In recent years, mobile phone use has become increasingly common among Italian youth, while a growing scientific literature has been identifying the occurrence of a problematic mobile phone use which seems to share some features of other conditions often referred to as behavioural addictions. The study aimed to assess the prevalence of problematic mobile phone use in a population of Italian adolescents and its association with other behavioural addictions. Subjects and methods: The Mobile Addiction Test (MAT) was administered to 2,790 high school students from Barletta, an Italian town, together with the South Oaks Gambling Screen-Revised for Adolescents (SOGS-RA), the Compulsive Buying Scale (CBS), the Internet Addiction Test (IAT), the Exercise Addiction Inventory (EAI), the Work Addiction Risk Test (WART). Results: MAT scores fitted a Gaussian distribution model. Scores ≥ 17 was found as a cut-off value over which identifying problematic mobile phone users. Overall prevalence of problematic mobile phone use was 6.3%; this condition was associated with other behavioural addictions like compulsive buying. Conclusion: Problematic mobile phone use in adolescence should become a public health issue, and it could be a cause of health problems and social costs. © 2011 Springer-Verlag