Report of Adeniana longiceps (Hem.: Auchenorrhyncha: Cicadidae) from Iran

با بررسی نمونه‌های زنجره‌ی متعلق به خانواده‌ی Cicadidae در موزه‌ی حشرات هایک میرزایانس، سه نمونه از گونه‌ی Adeniana longiceps (Putton) مشاهده گردید. این گونه به عنوان یک عنصر فونی eremian شناخته شده و تاکنون از شمال آفریقا، فلسطین اشغالی و آذربایجان گزارش شده است. جنس و گونه‌ی این زنجره برای اولین بار از ایران گزارش می‌شود

Molecular Detection of Grape Decline Phytoplasma in Leafhopper Species Associated with Infected Grapevines in Iran

Following recent detection of ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma fraxini’, ‘Ca. P. aurantifolia’, ‘Ca. P. solani’ and ‘Ca. P. phoenicium’-related strains in Iranian vineyards, a survey was conducted in 2016–2017 in vineyards located in Qazvin province of Iran. Nested PCR analysis was performed to identify phytoplasma strains in leafhopper species. The overall, less than 5% of grapevine trees shows phytoplasma symptoms and phyto-plasma was detected in all symptomatic samples. Phytoplasma DNA was detected in two leafhopper species. Most leafhopper species in which phytoplasma DNA were detected are recorded to be grass feeders, among which, Stolbur phytoplasma vectors, i.e. Psammotettix alienus (Dahlbom 1851) and Agallia ribauti (Ossian-nilsson, 1938), showed a strong potential ability for ‘Ca. P. solani’ transmission in Qazvin vineyards. The possibility of phytoplasma transmission between leafhoppers and grapevines is discussed

Trends in Trans Fatty Acids Reformulations of US Supermarket and Brand-Name Foods From 2007 Through 2011

Introduction: Although some US food manufacturers have reduced trans fatty acids (TFA) in their products, it is unknown how much TFA is being reduced, whether pace of reformulation has changed over time, or whether reformulations vary by food type or manufacturer. Methods: In 2007, we identified 360 brand-name products in major US supermarkets that contained 0.5 g TFA or more per serving. In 2008, 2010, and 2011, product labels were re-examined to determine TFA content; ingredients lists were also examined in 2011 for partially hydrogenated vegetable oils (PHVO). We assessed changes in TFA content among the 270 products sold in all years between 2007 and 2011 and conducted sensitivity analyses on the 90 products discontinued after 2007. Results: By 2011, 178 (66%) of the 270 products had reduced TFA content. Most reformulated products (146 of 178, 82%) reduced TFA to less than 0.5 g per serving, although half of these 146 still contained PHVO. Among all 270 products, mean TFA content decreased 49% between 2007 and 2011, from 1.9 to 0.9 g per serving. Yet, mean TFA reduction slowed over time, from 30.3% (2007–2008) to 12.1% (2008–2010) to 3.4% (2010–2011) (P value for trend < .001). This slowing pace was due to both fewer reformulations among TFA-containing products at start of each period and smaller TFA reductions among reformulated products. Reformulations also varied substantially by both food category and manufacturer, with some eliminating or nearly eliminating TFA and others showing no significant changes. Sensitivity analyses were similar to main findings. Conclusions: Some US products and food manufacturers have made progress in reducing TFA, but substantial variation exists by food type and by parent company, and overall progress has significantly slowed over time. Because TFA consumption is harmful even at low levels, our results emphasize the need for continued efforts toward reformulating or discontinuing foods to eliminate PHVO

Safety and efficacy of filgotinib, lanraplenib and tirabrutinib in Sjogren's syndrome: a randomized, phase 2, double-blind, placebo-controlled study

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to characterize the safety and efficacy of filgotinib, lanraplenib and tirabrutinib in patients with active SS. METHODS: This multicentre, double-blind study randomized patients with active primary or secondary SS [EULAR SS disease activity index (ESSDAI) ≥5) to receive filgotinib 200 mg (Janus kinase-1 inhibitor), lanraplenib 30 mg (spleen tyrosine kinase inhibitor), tirabrutinib 40 mg (Bruton’s tyrosine kinase inhibitor), or placebo. The composite primary end point was the week-12 proportion of patients fulfilling protocol-specified improvement criteria (based on CRP and SS-related symptoms). The EULAR SS patient-reported index (ESSPRI) and the ESSDAI change from baseline (CFB) were secondary end points. Exploratory end points included disease-related biomarkers. Treatment-emergent adverse events (AEs) represented safety outcomes. RESULTS: The mean of the baseline ESSDAI was 10.1, and of ESSPRI was 6.2 in the 150 patients who were treated; 125 completed the 24-week placebo-controlled treatment period. At week 12, 43.3% of the filgotinib group achieved the primary end point (P = 0.17 vs placebo) vs 42.3% (P = 0.16), 34.7% (P = 0.33), and 26.7% of lanraplenib, tirabrutinib, and placebo groups, respectively. Neither secondary end point was met. Biomarker reductions included immunoglobulins classically associated with SS disease activity. Filgotinib ESSDAI CFB appeared more pronounced in subgroups with baseline ESSDAI ≥14 or without DMARDs/CSs. Most AEs were Grade 1 or 2. CONCLUSION: Three drugs with disparate mechanisms were tested, but no significant differences vs placebo in primary or secondary end points were observed. These results may be considered hypothesis-generating, given the drug tolerability, subgroup analysis, and biomarker findings. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, https://clinicaltrials.gov, NCT03100942

First record of Scorlupella montana (Hem.: Fulgoroidea: Issidae) from Iran

در بررسی زنجرک‌ها‌ی خانواده‌ی Issidae در ایران، نمونه‌هایی متعلق به گونه‌ی Scorlupella montana (Becker) جمع‌آوری و شناسایی گردید که جنس و گونه‌ی آن اولین گزارش از ایران می‌باشد

Sexual dimorphism in the wing shape and size of the carob moth, Ectomyelois ceratoniae (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

The carob moth, Ectomyelois ceratoniae (Zeller), belongs to the family Pyralidae and the subfamily Phycitinae. In spite of some features of sexual dimorphism in size and shape in the order Lepidoptera and the mentioned family, it has not been recorded in this species. In the current study, sexual dimorphism in the wing shape and size of carob moth on four hosts (pomegranate, fig, pistachio and walnut) were detected using landmark- based geometric morphometric and analysis of partial warp scores and centroid sizes. The analysis showed significant wing shape differences (fore wing: P = 1.315E-011, hind wing: P = 1.168E-007) which was the same on all tested hosts. Geometric changes in the fore and hind wing of both sexes were illustrated. Analyses of size showed wings of the females are bigger than those of the males (fore wing: F = 23.19, P = 0.000; hind wing: F = 16.73, P = 0.000) on tested hosts and in spite of allometric growth in test specimens, significant shape differences are still remain in constant size

Fish, Fish-Derived n-3 Fatty Acids, and Risk of Incident Atrial Fibrillation in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study

Results of observational and experimental studies investigating the association between intake of long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) have been inconsistent.We studied the association of fish and the fish-derived n-3 PUFAs eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) with the risk of incident AF in individuals aged 45-64 from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) cohort (n = 14,222, 27% African Americans). Intake of fish and of DHA and EPA were measured via food frequency questionnaire. Plasma levels of DHA and EPA were measured in phospholipids in a subset of participants (n = 3,757). Incident AF was identified through the end of 2008 using ECGs, hospital discharge codes and death certificates. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to estimate hazard ratios of AF by quartiles of n-3 PUFAs or by fish intake.During the average follow-up of 17.6 years, 1,604 AF events were identified. In multivariable analyses, total fish intake and dietary DHA and EPA were not associated with AF risk. Higher intake of oily fish and canned tuna was associated with a nonsignificant lower risk of AF (p for trend = 0.09). Phospholipid levels of DHA+EPA were not related to incident AF. However, DHA and EPA showed differential associations with AF risk when analyzed separately, with lower risk of AF in those with higher levels of DHA but no association between EPA levels and AF risk.In this racially diverse sample, dietary intake of fish and fish-derived n-3 fatty acids, as well as plasma biomarkers of fish intake, were not associated with AF risk

Cicadatra lorestanica, a new species of cicada from Iran (Hemiptera: Cicadidae)

Cicadatra lorestanica, sp. n. is described from western Iran. The species was collected in oak woodlands. The song is a continuous series of sound pulses produced at a rate of 917 + 68 Hz (n=4) with peak frequency determined to be 11.391 + 0.099 kHz (n=4)

The first report of Macrosteles chobauti (Hem.: Cicadellidae) from Iran

In the course of our faunistic survey on leafhoppers (Hem.: Cicadellidae) in northwestern Iran, 46 species were collected and identified of which the species Macrosteles chobauti Ribaut, 1952 is newly recorded from Iran. Drs. Hani Abdul-Nour (Lebanese University, Lebanon) and Paul Freytag (University of Kentucky, USA) confirmed the identification of the species

A geometric morphometric study of the geographic populations of Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri (Hem.: Liviidae), in Iran and Pakistan

Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama, is an important pest of citrus that transmits the bacterial pathogens responsible for citrus greening disease, also called Huanglongbing. The aim of the current study was to investigate the shape variations of the forewing among the Iranian geographic populations of D. citri, as well as one population from Pakistan. The adult psyllids used in this study were collected on Lime, Citrus aurantifolia (Christm.) Swingle, from orchards in Southern Iran in 2011. The forewings of 12 D. citri populations (30 randomly selected adult females from each population) were examined using geometric morphometric analysis. Multivariate and univariate analysis of variance indicated significant variation of wing shape and size among the examined populations. Based on forewing shape, Sistan-Baluchestan and Pakistan populations were different from other populations, including Hormozgan (Minab, Rudan, Fareghan, Hajiabad), Kerman (Manujan, Kahnuj, Jiroft-Anbarabad, Jiroft-Blook, Orzoiye), and Fars (Darab). Considering the following reasons, geographic variation was developed by the interaction of genetic mechanisms and environmental processes: (1) there was a significant difference in the shape and squared Mahalanobis distance between some populations, (2) the correlation between geographic distances matrix and Mahalanobis distances matrix was significant, and (3) the wings grew allometrically, and geographic populations had separate allometric direction but parallel to each others. It is suggested that wing morphology could be beneficial for the preliminary assessment of population structure and pest control methods of D. citri in Iran