Host-feeding patterns of Culex tritaeniorhynchus and Anopheles sinensis (Diptera: Culicidae) in a ricefield agroecosystem.

金沢大学理工研究域　自然システム学系水田発生性蚊類成虫の吸血選択を調べるために, 佐賀県西有田町で1996及び1997年の5月から9月に成虫採集を行った。ドライアイス付加ライトトラップと吸虫管により合計31,804頭のコガタアカイエカとシナハマダラカ雌成虫を採集した。調査したすべての牛舎と豚舎ではライトトラップ採集により多数の成虫が捕獲されたが(牛舎7,933,豚6,441,鶏舎5,267), 鶏舎では吸血蚊がほとんど採集されなかった。コガタアカイエカとシナハマダラカの吸血率は, 牛舎と豚舎ではそれぞれ62%(N=7,113), 74%(N=7,261)であったが, 鶏舎では5%以下(N=5,267)であった。ELISAによる吸血源同定の結果, 両種とも鶏よりも牛と豚を選択していることが示された。また, 牛舎と隣接した鶏舎から採集された吸血蚊も90%以上(N=143)が牛を吸血していた。鶏よりも豚と牛から吸血する傾向は採集場所(棚田周辺か平野部), 採集方法(ライトトラップか吸虫管)を問わず観察された。 Adults of rice-field mosquitoes were collected between May and September of 1996 and 1997 in Nishi Arita, Saga Prefecture, Japan, to determine their feeding pattern in an area where animals were available in large numbers. In total, 31,804 female Culex tritaeniorhynchus and Anopheles sinensis were collected from animal sheds using dry ice-baited light traps and mouth aspiration. Light traps in all the animal sheds captured large numbers of mosquitoes (cowsheds 7,933,pigsties 6,441 and chicken sheds 5,267 mosquitoes), although few fed upon the chickens. Overall, 62% (N=7,113) of fed Cx. triaeniorhynchus and 74% (N=7,261) of An. sinensis were caught by light traps at the cowsheds and pigsties compared to less than 5% (N=5,267) at the chickens sheds. The type of animal in the shed was the most important factor determining the feeding rates. Blood-meal identification by direct ELISA indicated that both Cx. tritaeniorhynchus and An. sinensis preferred cows and pigs to chickens. Over 90% (N=143) of the fed mosquitoes collected from one chicken shed had fed upon cows in an adjoining cowshed. The tendency to feed upon cows and pigs more than on chickens was observed both in the hillside (terraced) and lowland ricefields. This trend is shown in the results obtained by both the aspirator and light trap collection methods

Quality of life in purely ocular myasthenia in Japan

Background: Since there has been no conclusive evidence regarding the treatment of ocular myasthenia, treatment guidelines were recently issued by the European Federation of Neurological Societies/European Neurological Society (EFNS/ENS). However, the therapeutic outcomes concerning the quality-of-life (QOL) of patients with ocular myasthenia are not yet fully understood.Methods: We investigated the therapeutic outcomes of patients with purely ocular myasthenia in a multicenter cross-sectional survey in Japan. To evaluate the severity of ocular symptoms, we used the ocular-quantitative MG (QMG) score advocated by Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America. We used the Japanese translated version of the MG-QOL15, a self-appraised scoring system.Results: Of 607 myasthenia gravis (MG) patients with an observation-duration of illness ? 2 years, the cases of 123 patients (20%) were limited to ocular muscles (purely ocular myasthenia). During the entire clinical course, 81 patients experienced both ptosis and diplopia, 36 had ptosis alone, and six had diplopia alone. Acetyl-cholinesterase inhibitors and prednisolone were used in 98 and 52 patients, respectively. Treatment improved ocular symptoms, with the mean reduction in ocular-QMG score of 2.3 ± 1.8 points. However, 47 patients (38%) failed to gain minimal manifestation or a better status. Patients with unfavorable outcomes also self-reported severe QOL impairment. Multivariate analyses showed that the pretreatment ocular-QMG score was associated with unfavorable outcomes, but not associated with the patient\u27s QOL.Conclusion: A treatment strategy designed in accord with a patient\u27s ocular presentation must be considered in order to improve ocular symptoms and the patient\u27s QOL

蔬菜・花卉の生長・生理に及ぼすジベレリンの影響(第 1 報)

ジベレリンは作物の種類により, その濃度, 撒布時期, 撒布回数等の影響が非常に異るものであるから, 個々の作物の最適条件を見出して応用しなければならない。本実験は園芸作物を材料として, その結果を報告するものである。1. マリー・ゴールドの生育および開花現象に対しては1.25∿10.0ppm濃度で影響を及ぼす。特に2.5ppm水溶液1回の葉面撒布の場合, 生育が最もよく, 又開花も1週間早くなる傾向をしめした。2. 花椰菜の花蕾叢の出現に対しては, 1.25∿2.5ppm水溶液を定植後3∿4回撒布することにより効果を認められる。3. 九条葱の生育に対してはジベレリンの1.25∿10ppm水溶液3回撒布では効果は殆んど認められない。10ppm水溶液3回撒布により分蘖数はやゝ増加し, 開花を遅らせる傾向を認めた。4. セルリーの生育に及ボすジベレリンの効果は, 10ppm水溶液3回撒布により, 葉長に於ては10糎以上増加し, 葉数に於ては影響はみられなかつた。重量に於ては170瓦の増加をみた。5. チユーリツプの生育及び開花現象に対しては, 100ppm水溶液8回撒布により草丈に於て6糎, 花梗長に於て8糎の増加を示し, 開花も10日早くなる傾向を示した。6. チユーリツプ球根を0.625∿20ppm濃度に24時間浸漬した場合, 発芽, 草丈および花梗長には影響が認められなかつた。開花状態は葉面撒布処理した場合と逆に低濃度で処理した程, 開花始めは早い傾向をしめした。7. ジベレリン水溶液にチユーリツプ球根を24時間浸漬することにより, dropperの発現率をたかめ, 待に1.25∿5.0ppm水溶液浸漬に於て顯著である。Gibberellin must be applied under the best possible condition, because its density and its time and frequency of spraying, etc. make very different effects according to the kind of plant to which it is applied. This is a report of the results of the experiments made by horticultural crops. (1) In the case of the growth and blooming of Marry Gold, it is effective in the density of 1.25∿10.00ppm Especially in the case of onepantspray of 2.5ppm solution, the best growth was obtained and blooming seemed to come one week earlier. (2) In the case of the appearance of the head of the Cauliflower, three or four sprays of 1.25∿2.5ppm solution after planting proved effective. (3) In the case of the growth of Onion (Kujyo), three sprays of 1.25∿10ppm solution of Gibberellin proved almost uneffective. By three sprays of 10ppm solution there was observed the tendency that the number of suckers increased a little and blooming was delayed. (4) As regards the effect of gibberellin on the growth of Cerley, three sprays of 10ppm solution incresed the length of the leaf more than 10cm. and gave no effect on the number of leaves; the weight of individual stab increased 170gr. (5) In the case of the growth and blooming of the Tulip, after eight sprays of 100ppm solution there was observed the tendency that the length of the leaf increased 6cm., the flower stalk grew 8cm. and blooming came 10 days earlier. (6) When the bulbs of the Tulip were soaked in solution of 0.625∿20.0ppm density for 24 hours, there was observed no effect on their germination, lengths of leaves and flower stalks. Inverse to the case of the process of plants sprayed, there was observed the tendency that the lower the density was, the earlier came blooming. (7) By soaking the bulbs of Tulip in gibberellin solution for 24 hours, the percentage of the appearance of dropper was increased. This was prominent especially in the case of soaking them in 1.25∿5.00ppm solution

Co-occurrence of Point Mutations in the Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel of Pyrethroid-Resistant Aedes aegypti Populations in Myanmar

Background:Single amino acid substitutions in the voltage-gated sodium channel associated with pyrethroid resistance constitute one of the main causative factors of knockdown resistance in insects. The kdr gene has been observed in several mosquito species; however, point mutations in the para gene of Aedes aegypti populations in Myanmar have not been fully characterized. The aim of the present study was to determine the types and frequencies of mutations in the para gene of Aedes aegypti collected from used tires in Yangon City, Myanmar.Methodology/Principal Findings:We determined high pyrethroid resistance in Aedes aegypti larvae at all collection sites in Yangon City, by using a simplified knockdown bioassay. We showed that V1016G and S989P mutations were widely distributed, with high frequencies (84.4% and 78.8%, respectively). By contrast, we were unable to detect I1011M (or I1011V) or L1014F mutations. F1534C mutations were also widely distributed, but with a lower frequency than the V1016G mutation (21.2%). High percentage of co-occurrence of the homozygous V1016G/S989P mutations was detected (65.7%). Additionally, co-occurrence of homozygous V1016G/F1534C mutations (2.9%) and homozygous V1016G/F1534C/S989P mutations (0.98%) were detected in the present study.Conclusions/Significance:Pyrethroid insecticides were first used for malaria control in 1992, and have since been constantly used in Myanmar. This intensive use may explain the strong selection pressure toward Aedes aegypti, because this mosquito is generally a domestic and endophagic species with a preference for indoor breeding. Extensive use of DDT for malaria control before the use of this chemical was banned may also explain the development of pyrethroid resistance in Aedes aegypti

Post-intervention Status in Patients With Refractory Myasthenia Gravis Treated With Eculizumab During REGAIN and Its Open-Label Extension

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether eculizumab helps patients with anti-acetylcholine receptor-positive (AChR+) refractory generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) achieve the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America (MGFA) post-intervention status of minimal manifestations (MM), we assessed patients' status throughout REGAIN (Safety and Efficacy of Eculizumab in AChR+ Refractory Generalized Myasthenia Gravis) and its open-label extension. METHODS: Patients who completed the REGAIN randomized controlled trial and continued into the open-label extension were included in this tertiary endpoint analysis. Patients were assessed for the MGFA post-intervention status of improved, unchanged, worse, MM, and pharmacologic remission at defined time points during REGAIN and through week 130 of the open-label study. RESULTS: A total of 117 patients completed REGAIN and continued into the open-label study (eculizumab/eculizumab: 56; placebo/eculizumab: 61). At week 26 of REGAIN, more eculizumab-treated patients than placebo-treated patients achieved a status of improved (60.7% vs 41.7%) or MM (25.0% vs 13.3%; common OR: 2.3; 95% CI: 1.1-4.5). After 130 weeks of eculizumab treatment, 88.0% of patients achieved improved status and 57.3% of patients achieved MM status. The safety profile of eculizumab was consistent with its known profile and no new safety signals were detected. CONCLUSION: Eculizumab led to rapid and sustained achievement of MM in patients with AChR+ refractory gMG. These findings support the use of eculizumab in this previously difficult-to-treat patient population. CLINICALTRIALSGOV IDENTIFIER: REGAIN, NCT01997229; REGAIN open-label extension, NCT02301624. CLASSIFICATION OF EVIDENCE: This study provides Class II evidence that, after 26 weeks of eculizumab treatment, 25.0% of adults with AChR+ refractory gMG achieved MM, compared with 13.3% who received placebo

Minimal Symptom Expression' in Patients With Acetylcholine Receptor Antibody-Positive Refractory Generalized Myasthenia Gravis Treated With Eculizumab

The efficacy and tolerability of eculizumab were assessed in REGAIN, a 26-week, phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody-positive (AChR+) refractory generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG), and its open-label extension

A randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled crossover trial on the effects of L-ornithine on salivary cortisol and feelings of fatigue of flushers the morning after alcohol consumption

Abstract Background Residual alcohol effects on physiological and psychological symptoms are commonly experienced the morning after alcohol consumption. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of L-ornithine on subjective feelings and salivary stress markers the morning after alcohol consumption and to investigate whether L-ornithine acutely accelerates ethanol metabolism. Methods This study had a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-masked crossover design. Subjects were all healthy Japanese adults with the ‘flusher’ phenotype for alcohol tolerance. In experiment 1, 11 subjects drank 0.4 g/kg body weight alcohol 1.5 h before their usual bedtime. Half an hour after drinking, they ingested either a placebo or 400 mg ornithine. The next morning on awakening, subjects completed a questionnaire containing a visual analog scale (VAS), the Oguri-Shirakawa-Azumi sleep inventory MA version (OSA-MA), and a profile of mood states (POMS) and collected a saliva sample for measurement of salivary stress markers (cortisol, secretory immunoglobulin A, and α-amylase). In experiment 2, placebo or 400 mg ornithine were administrated to 16 subjects both before and after drinking, and the feeling of drunkenness, breath ethanol concentration and one-leg standing time were repeatedly investigated until 180 min after alcohol consumption. Results There were significant decreases in “awareness”, “feeling of fatigue” and “lassitude” VAS scores and in “anger-hostility” and “confusion” POMS scores and a significant increase in “sleep length” in the OSA-MA test. Salivary cortisol concentrations on awakening were reduced after ornithine supplementation. There were no differences between ornithine and placebo in any of the subjective or physiological parameters of acute alcohol metabolism. Conclusions Taking 400 mg ornithine after alcohol consumption improved various negative feelings and decreased the salivary stress marker cortisol the next morning. These effects were not caused by an increase in acute alcohol metabolism.</p