Weed biological control in Zimbabwe: Challenges and future prospects

In Zimbabwe, the structure and integrity of various ecosystems is rapidly deteriorating, in part due to invasive alien plants. While there is recognition of the challenges posed by invasive alien plants and the complexity surrounding their successful management, very little has been done, documented or evaluated in the country recently, including classical weed biological control activities. We review the current status of invasive alien plants and classical weed biological control in Zimbabwe especially their management and legislation governing this management. We record the presence and distribution of weed biological control agents currently in Zimbabwe. The Biological Control Target Selection (BCTS) system was used to identify invasive plant species in Zimbabwe that could benefit from on-going or new classical biological control programmes. While biological control has been implemented in the country since the 1960s, and significant control has been achieved on floating aquatic macrophytes, no biological agent has been released on a terrestrial weed since 1961. However, 10 agents released in neighbouring South Africa have spread naturally into the country on contiguous plant populations and some are providing gratuitous control of some of the weeds. We identified 19 invasive alien plants that could be successfully managed through classical weed biological control, and for 12 of these, this could be achieved at minimal cost, as agents are available within the region. Zimbabwe, perhaps with the help of international aid organisations investing in the region, could: a) conduct extensive surveys of established biological control agents already present in the country; b) redistribute these agents into areas of the country where they are not already present and foster those spreading north in South Africa and likely to arrive eventually through natural spread, and; c) initiate new weed biological control programmes against new targets by importing new agents available from South Africa or Australia

Endoscopic ultrasound criteria to predict the need for intervention in pancreatic necrosis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The natural course and treatment strategies for asymptomatic or oligosymptomatic pancreatic necrosis are still poorly defined. The aim of this retrospective study was to establish criteria for the need of intervention in patients with pancreatic necrosis.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A total of 31 consecutive patients (18 male, median age 58 yrs.) diagnosed with pancreatic necrosis by endoscopic ultrasound, in whom a decision for initial conservative treatment was made, were followed for the need of interventions such as endoscopic or surgical intervention, or death.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>After a median follow-up of 243 days, 21 patients remained well without intervention and in 10 patients an endpoint event occurred. In a multivariate logistic regression analysis of the clinical and endosonographic parameters, liquid content was the single independent predictor for intervention (p = 0.0006). The presence of high liquid content in the pancreatic necrosis resulted in a 64% predicted endpoint risk as compared to 2% for solid necrosis.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Pancreatic necrotic cavities with high liquid content are associated with a high risk of complications. Therefore, close clinical monitoring is needed and early elective intervention might be considered in these patients.</p

Serial study on the association between body mass index and hypertension in rural Japanese

The objective of this study was to examine the association between body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure. Two sets of cross-sectional data were obtained from annual health examinations for adults aged 40 years and over (n=1,327 in 1993; n=1,302 in 2000) in Tsunagi area of Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan. BMI was associated with mean blood pressure and with prevalence of hypertension both in 1993 and 2000. The association was independent of age, smoking status and alcohol consumption. A significant increase in risk of hypertension was found in most categories of BMI 25.0 and above, and a greater than three fold increase in those with BMI of 27 and above compared with those with BMI of 18.5–22.9. Although mean blood pressure and prevalence of hypertension sharply decreased in 2000 compared with that in 1993, BMI was positively and independently associated with increased blood pressure