VEGFR Inhibitors for Uterine Metastatic Perivascular Epithelioid Tumors (PEComa) Resistant to mTOR Inhibitors. A Case Report and Review of Literature.

Uterine perivascular epithelioid cell tumors (PEComas) are rare neoplasms. PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway upregulation is critical for their pathogenesis and is often associated with TSC1/TSC2 inactivation. Although first line mTOR inhibitors are an effective treatment, metastatic PEComas eventually progress. A 53-year-old woman presented a 4-month history of post-menopausal vaginal bleeding. Clinical and radiological examination detected a uterine mass and a single S1 bone lesion. The patient underwent a radical hysterectomy and bone biopsy. The anatomopathological evaluation concluded to an oligo-metastatic uterine PEComa. The tumor harbored a heterozygous deletion of 9q34 that contains the TSC1 gene. Concerning the primary lesion, the resection was complete and the single bone metastasis was treated with radiotherapy. Three months later, the patient presented bone, lung and subcutaneous metastatic progression. An everolimus and denosumab treatment was initiated. After 2 years of treatment, a clinically significant bone, lung and subcutaneous progression was detected. Following a literature review of the possible therapeutic options, we initiated a second line treatment by pazopanib. This treatment resulted in regression of the subcutaneous lesions and stability of lung and bone metastases. In this challenging, rare setting, our report suggests single agent, anti-angiogenic, tyrosine kinase inhibitor to be effective as second line treatment of metastatic uterine PEComa progressing on mTOR inhibitors

Carrion Beetles Visiting Pig Carcasses during Early Spring in Urban, Forest and Agricultural Biotopes of Western Europe

Carrion beetles are important in terrestrial ecosystems, consuming dead mammals and promoting the recycling of organic matter into ecosystems. Most forensic studies are focused on succession of Diptera while neglecting Coleoptera. So far, little information is available on carrion beetles postmortem colonization and decomposition process in temperate biogeoclimatic countries. These beetles are however part of the entomofaunal colonization of a dead body. Forensic entomologists need databases concerning the distribution, ecology and phenology of necrophagous insects, including silphids. Forensic entomology uses pig carcasses to surrogate human decomposition and to investigate entomofaunal succession. However, few studies have been conducted in Europe on large carcasses. The work reported here monitored the presence of the carrion beetles (Coleoptera: Silphidae) on decaying pig carcasses in three selected biotopes (forest, crop field, urban site) at the beginning of spring. Seven species of Silphidae were recorded: Nicrophorus humator (Gleditsch), Nicrophorus vespillo (L.), Nicrophorus vespilloides (Herbst), Necrodes littoralis L., Oiceoptoma thoracica L., Thanatophilus sinuatus (Fabricius), Thanatophilus rugosus (L.). All of these species were caught in the forest biotope, and all but O. thoracica were caught in the agricultural biotope. No silphids were caught in the urban site

Effect of aphid host plant on development and reproduction of the third trophic level, the predator Adalia bipunctata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)

Secondary plant substances, also called allelochemicals, play a major role in pest infestations. Glucosinolates (GLS) and their degradation products are powerful phagostimulants for herbivores feeding on Brassicaceae and deter the noncrucifer feeders but are tolerated by some generalist phytophagous insects such as the peach-potato aphid, Myzυs persicas Sultzer. Do the allelochemical substances only effect the herbivores or do they also influence the predators of the pest? Broad bean, Viciafaba L (GLS free), oilseed rape, Brassica tiapus L (low GLS level), and white mustard, Sinajris alba L. (high GLS level), were used in this work as host plant for the prey. Although the two latter Brassicaceae species had positive effects on aphid reproductive rates, host plants displayed mixed influences on the performance of the predaceous twospotted lady beetle, Adalia bipunctata L. Both rape and mustard shortened development duration and increased adult weight of the twospotted lady beetle. No significant difference of lady beetle mortality was observed, depending on the prey host plant. Whereas, rape-fed M. persicae enhanced larger egg production and larvae emergence, mustard-fed M.. persicae induced lower fecundity and egg viability of the beetles. Fitness of M. persicae on high GLS plant-fed A. bipunctata was lower than the other plants. Biological parameters of aphid predators are closely linked to chemical composition of Brassicaceae species. This work on allelochemical impact gave opportunities to better understand interactions of the plant-aphid-lady beetle tritrophic model and demonstrated that successful biological control of pests must integrate the environmental aspects of each trophic level

A Locally Advanced Endometrioid Adenocarcinoma Arising from Vaginal Endometriosis: Management and Review of the Literature

Endometrioid adenocarcinoma associated with endometriosis at extrauterine or extraovarian localization is a rare entity. Often presenting with local spread without nodal and distant metastasis, this entity has no specific staging system nor treatment guidelines. In the case of nodal and distant spread, the treatment decision requires personalization. In this article, we present the diagnosis and surgical and systemic treatment of a 56-year-old woman diagnosed with an endometriosis-associated advanced endometrioid adenocarcinoma of the vagina with nodal involvement. Following an extensive review of the scarce data reported to guide the treatment choices in this rare setting, we proposed a multidisciplinary treatment with laparoscopic surgical cytoreduction, four cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy with carboplatin and paclitaxel, and radiotherapy with brachytherapy. Due to an anaphylactic reaction on the first administration, paclitaxel was replaced with nab-paclitaxel. Despite many negative prognostic factors, the patient is free from relapse after 48 months. We report the case of a locally advanced endometrioid adenocarcinoma associated with endometriosis of the vagina, with pelvic nodal spread, and the relevant literature review of similar cases

Effects of closed environment on entomological diversity in vegetable open field.

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Effects of insecticide treatments on insect density and diversity in vegetable open fields.

Vegetable open field areas increased for 15 years in Wallonia, mainly in Hesbaye. To be in accordance with quality standards, especially in terms of agro-chimical residues (R.M.L.), biological pest control was developed and allowed to reduce the insecticide use, leading to have safer fresh products. Among cultivated species in Wallonia, leguminous crops represent more than 85% of the vegetable production. To assess the impact of insecticide treatment on both pests (mainly aphids) and beneficial insects (predators and parasitoids), broad bean (Vicia faba L.) fields were investigated during all the production duration. Twelve fields between Waremme and Hannut were visited weakly from May to July. In each field, control untreated and treated plots were investigated. Insects were caught using yellow traps and determined until the family level. Approximately 90.000 insects belonging to 59 major families (99% of captures) and 64 minor families were identified. These results showed that biodiversity in terms of family numbers was significantly higher in unsprayed plots. In addition, biodiversity and biomass (insect density) increased gradually during the season. Evaluation of pest and beneficial diversity and density was discussed in relation to aphicid (lambda-cyhalothrin, pirimicarb) treatments and the development of I.P.M. program in vegetable crops

Effet de l’environnement proche sur la biodiversité entomologique en culture maraîchères de plein champ

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Evolution of aphidophagous ladybird populations in a vegetable crop and implications as biological agents.

Aphidophagous predators such as hoverfly and ladybird beetles are effective biological agents to control aphid pests in perennial and annual cultivated species. Introduction and conservation of beneficial insects are two ways to increase natural control of pests. Whether massive releases of entomophagous insects are expensive and time consuming, the preservation of predator natural populations can be expected by reducing and by adapting chemical treatments in crop fields. Vegetable cultivated areas increased in Belgium for several years, mainly Fabaceae species such as peas and beans. In this work, the evolution of ladybird species population was assessed from May to June in broad bean fields (Vicia faba L.) between Waremme and Hannut, in Hesbaye. Weekly, the aphid and aphidophagous beetle populations were collected from yellow traps and determined on plants by visual observations. Even if five ladybird species were identified, three of them represented more than 95% of the collected insects (Coccinella septempunctata L., Propylea quatuor-decimpunctata L. and Psyllobora vingintiduopunctata L.). Evolution of coccinellid populations during the cultivation season was discussed in relation to the presence of potential aphid preys and the agrochemical treatments which were applied. Integrated pest management in vegetable fields constitute a reliable way to increase the quality level of fresh vegetables in terms of pesticide residue limitations

Effect of host plant on Brassicaceae specialist/generalist aphids and their natural predator, Adalia bipunctata L. (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)

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Evaluation of aphidophagous ladybird populations in a vegetable crop and implications as biological agents

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