Biotic barriers to colonizing new hosts by the cinnabar moth Tyria jacobaeae (L.)(Lepidoptera: Arctiidae)

The cinnabar moth (Tyria jacobaeae (L.), Lepidoptera: Arctiidae) is an icon in population ecology and biological control that has recently lost its shine based on evidence that (1) it is less effective than alternatives (such as the ragwort flea beetle Longitarsus jacobaeae (Waterhouse) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) for controlling ragwort Senecio jacobaea L. (Asteraceae), (2) it eats nontarget plant species (including arrowleaf ragwort Senecio triangularis Hook. (Asteraceae), a native North American wildflower), and potentially harms the animals that depend on these native plant species, and (3) it carries a disease (caused by a host-specific microsporidian Nosema tyriae). This presents us with an opportunity to study whether poor nutrition and disease might constrain colonization of new hosts by this phytophagous insect and thereby mitigate risk of biological control to nontarget plant species. We evaluated the interactions within a tritrophic system composed of the cinnabar moth (herbivorous insect), its Old and New World Host plant species, and its entomopathogen (Nosema tyriae) both at the individual and population levels in a controlled environment. Chapter one concentrates on the two trophic (herbivore-host plant) interactions, addresses the importance of the preference and performance relationship, and the reasons why we might observe a weak relationship between preference and performance. Performance was measured both by vital rates and by population dynamic parameters, and we conclude that the projected population growth rate of the cinnabar moth population is the best indicator of host suitability. We found a positive correlation between preference and performance in the cinnabar moth (Tyria jacobaea) on Old World and New World host plants. The second chapter incorporates the third trophic level, the pathogen Nosema tyriae, and measures the individual and interacting effects of pathogen dose and host plant species on the performance of the cinnabar moth. It concludes that all cinnabar moth vital rates (rates of growth, development, survival, and reproduction) decrease with the increasing dose of pathogen (Nosema) spores. Vital rates generally were lower on the New World host S. triangularis compared to Old World host S. jacobaea. The projected population growth rates of cinnabar moth populations were more sensitive to low infection dose in cinnabar moth populations on the New World host S. triangularis compared to the Old World host S. jacobaea. At high pathogen doses, the effect of the pathogen was so overwhelming that no effect of host could be expressed. In conclusion, we observed a strong positive correlation between preference and performance of the cinnabar moth on the New World and Old World test plants. In the most successful new host-herbivore association, the cinnabar moth was more vulnerable to the impact of the natural enemy on New compared to Old host plant species

Evolving while invading: rapid adaptive evolution in juvenile development time for a biological control organism colonizing a high-elevation environment

We report evidence of adaptive evolution in juvenile development time on a decadal timescale for the cinnabar moth Tyria jacobaeae (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae) colonizing new habitats and hosts from the Willamette Valley to the Coast Range and Cascades Mountains in Oregon. Four lines of evidence reveal shorter egg to pupa juvenile development times evolved in the mountains, where cooler temperatures shorten the growing season: (i) field observations showed that the mountain populations have shorter phenological development; (ii) a common garden experiment revealed genetic determination of phenotypic differences in juvenile development time between Willamette Valley and mountain populations correlated with the growing season; (iii) a laboratory experiment rearing offspring from parental crosses within and between Willamette Valley and Cascades populations demonstrated polygenic inheritance, high heritability, and genetic determination of phenotypic differences in development times; and (iv) statistical tests that exclude random processes (founder effect, genetic drift) in favor of natural selection as explanations for observed differences in phenology. These results support the hypothesis that rapid adaptation to the cooler mountain climate occurred in populations established from populations in the warmer valley climate. Our findings should motivate regulators to require evaluation of evolutionary potential of candidate biological control organisms prior to release.Keywords: phenology, heritability, Tyria jacobaeae, natural selection, quantitative trait, contemporary evolution, development time, Senecio triangulari

Internet gaming disorder and problematic internet use: the links between cyber-bullying, aggression, loneliness and psychiatric comorbidities

Aims: To compare adolescents clinically diagnosed with Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) and problematic internet use (PIU) in terms of cyberbullying, aggression, and loneliness. Methods: Male adolescent patients (N=124, 14.3±1.7 years) with Internet Addiction Scale (IAS) scores ≥50 were clinically interviewed for IGD in utilizing DSM-5 criteria. Patients without full IGD criteria were included as PIU comparisons. Clinical variables were assessed using the second version of the Revised Cyber Bullying Inventory, short-form of the UCLA Loneliness Scale, Buss Perry Aggression Questionnaire, Child Depression Inventory, and Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders. Results: Compared to individuals with PIU, those with IGD were significantly more likely to have attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, higher social phobia scores, higher cyberbullying scores, higher loneliness scores, been a cyberbully, and been a cyberbully victim. Conclusion: Male adolescents with IGD have higher rates of psychiatric comorbidity, perceived loneliness, cyberbullying, and being a victim of cyberbullying than those with PIU. Future studies could evaluate these predictors of transition from PIU to IGD in large cohort samples

Serum fetuin-A and RANKL levels in patients with early stage breast cancer

Background: Breast cancer (BC) is the primary cause of mortality due to cancer in females around the world. Fetuin-A is known to increase metastases over signals and peroxisomes related with growing. Receptor activator of nuclear factor-kB ligand (RANKL) takes part in cell adhesion, and RANKL inhibition is used in the management of cancer. We aimed to examine the relationship between serum fetuin-A, RANKL levels, other laboratory parameters and clinical findings in women diagnosed with early stage BC, in our population. Methods: Women having early stage BC (n=117) met our study inclusion criteria as they had no any anti-cancer therapy before. Thirty-seven healthy women controls were also confirmed with breast examination and ultrasonography and/or mammography according to their ages. Serum samples were stored at -80 °C and analysed via ELISA. Results: Median age of the patients was 53 (range: 57-86) while it was 47 (range: 23-74) in the healthy group. Patients had lower high-density lipoprotein levels (p=0.002) and higher neutrophil counts (p=0.014). Fetuin-A and RANKL levels did not differ between the groups (p=0.116 and p=0.439, respectively) but RANKL leves were found to be lower in the favorable histological subtypes (p=0.04). Conclusions: In this study, we found no correlation between serum fetuin-A levels and clinical findings in patients diagnosed with early stage BC. However, RANKL levels are found to be lower in subgroups with favorable histopathologic subtypes such as tubular, papillary and mucinous BC and there was statistically significant difference

Interventions for preventing oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment

Interventions for preventing oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatmentTreatment for cancer (including bone marrow transplant) can cause oral mucositis (severe ulcers in the mouth). This painful condition can cause difficulties in eating, drinking and swallowing, and may also be associated with infections which may require the patient to stay longer in hospital. Different strategies are used to try and prevent this condition, and the review of trials found that some of these are effective. Two interventions, cryotherapy (ice chips) and keratinocyte growth factor (palifermin®) showed some benefit in preventing mucositis. Sucralfate is effective in reducing the severity of mucositis, and a further seven interventions, aloe vera, amifostine, intravenous glutamine, granulocyte‐colony stimulating factor (G‐CSF), honey, laser and antibiotic lozenges containing polymixin/tobramycin/amphotericin (PTA) showed weaker evidence of benefit. These were evaluated in patients with different types of cancer, undergoing different types of cancer treatment. Benefits may be restricted to the disease and treatment combinations evaluated

Malign catatonia, treatment-resistant benzodiazepine but treated successfully With electroconvulsive treatment: A case report

Catatonia is a neuropsychiatric syndrome that can occur in schizophrenia, major depression and general medical condition. It presents with decrease in psychomotor activity or increase in motor symptoms or a change in motor activity in time. It is known that acute catatonia and malign catatonia responds to benzodiazepine treatment to a great extent. Here, we report a case of acute and malign catatonia which did not respond to benzodiazepine treatment and treated successfully with electroconvulsive treatment. As we know, there are many case reports and studies about catatonia in our country, but our case is the first case which is resistant to benzodiazepine treatment although it has an acute beginning, we think that our case has a clinical importance in this aspect

Efficacy of aripiprazole augmentation in treatment resistant obsessive compulsive disorder: A preliminary report

Objective: To investigate efficacy of aripiprazole augmentation in treatment resistant obsessive compulsive disorder

A study on the effects of quetiapine on social cognitive functions of schizophrenia patients

Objective: The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of quetiapine on social cognitive functions of schizophrenia patients