Invasive Populations of the Emerald Ash Borer Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire, 1888 (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) in Saint Petersburg, Russia: A Hitchhiker?

Simple Summary The emerald ash borer (EAB) is an invasive beetle of Asian origin that has killed millions of ash trees in North America and Russia, with a devastating economic and ecological impact. In September 2020, EAB was detected for the first time in Saint Petersburg, Russia, notably killing ash trees. The invasion came from the eastern direction (Moscow) and became a significantly notable event for Saint Petersburg, famous for its historical parks. Moreover, Saint Petersburg is 120-130 km from the eastern EU borders of Estonia and Finland, with railway, motorway, and ferry connections. Currently, EAB is one of the most serious quarantine insect pests in the EU. There is a risk that the eventual EAB invasion could potentially extirpate European populations of ash. Currently, 95% are devastated by the invasive fungal disease ash dieback. Here, we investigated the development of EAB populations in Saint Petersburg, from its initial invasion (estimated year 2015), until 2021. We found that climatic conditions of north Russia do not favor the natural aerial spread of EAB. The two isolated populations were located, respectively, close to a motorway, and the Neva River (used for cargo shipping), implying that the insect spreads by transport vehicles, or "hitchhiking". This could potentially lead to the eventual invasion of the EU by this serious, tree-killing beetle. The emerald ash borer (EAB), Agrilus planipennis, is an invasive beetle of East Asian origin that has killed millions of ash trees (Fraxinus spp.) in North America and Russia. In September 2020, EAB was detected in Saint Petersburg, a notable event for the metropolitan city. The aim of the present study was to investigate the occurrence and ecology of EAB in Saint Petersburg. The presence of two distinct enclave populations of EAB was revealed, each of which has, most likely, been established through separate events of "hitchhiking" via transport vehicles. Following the invasion, the further spread of EAB in Saint Petersburg was slow and locally restricted, most likely due to climatic factors. This spread by "hitchhiking" suggests that the possibility of the further long-distance geographic spread of EAB in the Baltic Sea region (the EU) is high, both by ground transport (120-130 km distance from EU borders) and ferries that transport cars across the Baltic Sea. In certain cases, the development of EAB on Fraxinus excelsior, based on the stem portion colonized, larval densities, number of galleries, exit holes, viable larvae, and emerged adult beetles, was more successful than in Fraxinus pennsylvanica trees. The observed relatively high sensitivity of F. excelsior to EAB, therefore, casts doubt on the efficacy and benefits of the currently ongoing selection and breeding projects against ash dieback (ADB) disease, which is caused by the fungus Hymenoscyphus fraxineus. Inventory, mapping, and monitoring of surviving F. excelsior trees infested by both ADB and EAB are necessary to acquire genetic resources for work on the strategic long-term restoration of F. excelsior, tackling the probable invasion of EAB to the EU

North-Westward Expansion of the Invasive Range of Emerald Ash Borer, Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) towards the EU: From Moscow to Saint Petersburg

Agrilus planipennis is a devastating invasive pest of ash trees in European Russia, Ukraine, and North America. To monitor the north-western limit of its European invasive range, in June 2018 we established 10 study plots along the federal highway M10 (Russia) that runs between Moscow and Saint Petersburg through Tver' City (approx. 180 km from Moscow), and lined with ash trees. On each plot, 2-4 Fraxinus pennsylvanica trees with heights ranging 6.1-17.0 m and diameters ranging 7.0-18.0 cm were girdled, i.e., 50 cm of their bark were removed. The study plots were visited and girdled trees were examined in September and November, 2018, and in October, 2019. Observations revealed that the current continuous north-western limit of A. planipennis range in European Russia coincides with the north-western border of Tver' City and this range limit has not distinctly shifted north-westward during 2015-2019. In spite of the rich food supply (due to abundant F. pennsylvanica and F. excelsior plantings) in Tver' City and along roads going to and from, the population density of A. planipennis in the area is currently low. Recent (September 2020) sudden detection of a spatially isolated A. planipennis outbreak approx. 520 km far north-westward from Tver' (in Saint Petersburg) suggested that A. planipennis most likely had arrived at Saint Petersburg not by gradual stepwise (flying tree-to-tree) expansion of its continuous invasive range in Tver' City, but as a result of its accidental introduction by means of, e.g., "insect-hitchhiked" vehicles, transported plants for planting, and/or other commodities. The proximity of the reported A. planipennis outbreak to the borders of the EU (approx. 130 km to Estonia and Finland) requires urgent measures for its containment and control, and constant monitoring

Abiraterone Acetate for the Treatment of Chemotherapy-Naive Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer: An Evidence Review Group Perspective of an NICE Single Technology Appraisal

This project was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Programme (see the HTA programme website for further project information [http://www.hta.ac.uk])

Population-based study of patients with primary Sjögren’s syndrome and lymphoma : lymphoma subtypes, clinical characteristics, and gender differences

Objective: To examine lymphoma subtypes, clinical characteristics, and gender differences in patients with primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS) and lymphoma in a population-based setting. Method: Patients with Sjögren’s syndrome and lymphoma diagnoses were identified by linkage of the Swedish Patient Register 1964–2007 with the Cancer Register 1990–2007. Clinical data were collected from medical records and lymphoma tissues were re-examined. The lymphoma subtype distribution was compared with the Swedish Lymphoma Register. Results: We identified 105 pSS patients with lymphoma. Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) (32%) and marginal zone lymphoma [MZL including mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma] (31%) were the most common lymphoma subtypes. The proportion of DLBCL was not increased compared to the general population reference (32%, p = 1), in contrast to MZL (general population 5%, p < 0.0001). Compared to DLBCL, MALT lymphoma was diagnosed at a younger age (55 vs 67 years, p = 0.0001), and earlier after patient-reported sicca onset (7 vs 18 years, p = 0.0001) and pSS diagnosis (2 vs 9 years, p = 0.0005). Sixteen of the pSS-lymphoma cases were men (15%), twice the proportion in general pSS populations. Compared to women, men had a shorter median time from pSS diagnosis to lymphoma diagnosis (1 vs 8 years, p = 0.0003) and more often had lymphoma in the salivary glands (56% vs 29%, p = 0.04). Conclusion: DLBCL and MZL are common in pSS patients, but only MZL/MALT lymphoma occurs at an increased relative frequency in pSS compared to the general population. The study supports increased awareness of signs of lymphoma in men in the first years after pSS diagnosis

Distribution patterns of fungal taxa and inferred functional traits reflect the non-uniform vertical stratification of soil microhabitats in a coastal pine forest

In boreal systems, soil profiles typically consist of distinct stratified horizons, with organic layers at the surface overlying deeper mineral horizons providing microhabitat variation along a depth gradient, and vertical stratification of fungal communities along such soil profiles is commonly observed. We studied fungal community structure in a coastal pine forest along a gradient of decreasing influence from the coast. In this system, the vertical stratification pattern of soil microhabitats (defined here as organic, mineral with roots and mineral without roots: O, MR and MN, respectively) is non-uniform; organic horizons are sometimes buried under drifting sand dunes. Our results show that soil microhabitats are distinct with respect to physiochemical characteristics, community composition and OTU richness. While community composition was partly related to depth and distance from the coastal forest edge, microhabitat appeared to have the strongest influence. A closer inspection of the OTUs with the highest relative sequence abundance within each microhabitat revealed that microhabitats support functionally distinct fungal communities with respect to trophic mode and growth morphology. These results suggest that in coastal pine forests, variation in soil microhabitats contributes to the high fungal diversity found belowground and may play an important role in optimizing nutrient cycling

Comparison of patients with and without pre-existing lymphoma at diagnosis of primary Sjögren's syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: In the 2016 American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism classification criteria for primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS), pre-existing lymphoma is not an exclusion criterion for pSS diagnosis, as in earlier criteria. We aimed to explore whether there are differences between pSS patients with and without pre-existing lymphoma at pSS diagnosis. METHOD: Patients with ICD-7-10 codes for Sjögren's syndrome (SS) and a diagnosis of malignant lymphoma before or after SS diagnosis were identified by linking the Swedish Patient Register 1964-2007 with the Cancer Register 1990-2007 (n = 224). Clinical data were collected from medical records. Lymphoma diagnoses were evaluated by tissue review. Characteristics of pSS patients with and without pre-existing lymphoma were compared. RESULTS: We identified 107 patients with pSS as the reason for an SS diagnosis code and a verified lymphoma. Of these, 18 (17%) had a pre-existing lymphoma at pSS diagnosis, defined as lymphoma diagnosed before or within 6 months of pSS diagnosis. Male gender (39% vs 10%, p = 0.006), enlarged lymph nodes during the pSS disease (61% vs 27%, p = 0.01), mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma (50% vs 22%, p = 0.02), and salivary gland lymphoma (61% vs 26%, p = 0.006) were more common in patients with a pre-existing lymphoma at pSS diagnosis. Other pSS characteristics were similar. CONCLUSION: In a substantial proportion of patients, particularly in men, pSS remains undiagnosed until after lymphoma diagnosis. The study highlights the importance of pSS investigation in patients with lymphoma, especially MALT lymphoma, in the salivary glands

Invasive Populations of the Emerald Ash Borer Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire, 1888 (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) in Saint Petersburg, Russia: A Hitchhiker?

The emerald ash borer (EAB), Agrilus planipennis, is an invasive beetle of East Asian origin that has killed millions of ash trees (Fraxinus spp.) in North America and Russia. In September 2020, EAB was detected in Saint Petersburg, a notable event for the metropolitan city. The aim of the present study was to investigate the occurrence and ecology of EAB in Saint Petersburg. The presence of two distinct enclave populations of EAB was revealed, each of which has, most likely, been established through separate events of &ldquo;hitchhiking&rdquo; via transport vehicles. Following the invasion, the further spread of EAB in Saint Petersburg was slow and locally restricted, most likely due to climatic factors. This spread by &ldquo;hitchhiking&rdquo; suggests that the possibility of the further long-distance geographic spread of EAB in the Baltic Sea region (the EU) is high, both by ground transport (120&ndash;130 km distance from EU borders) and ferries that transport cars across the Baltic Sea. In certain cases, the development of EAB on Fraxinus excelsior, based on the stem portion colonized, larval densities, number of galleries, exit holes, viable larvae, and emerged adult beetles, was more successful than in Fraxinus pennsylvanica trees. The observed relatively high sensitivity of F. excelsior to EAB, therefore, casts doubt on the efficacy and benefits of the currently ongoing selection and breeding projects against ash dieback (ADB) disease, which is caused by the fungus Hymenoscyphus fraxineus. Inventory, mapping, and monitoring of surviving F. excelsior trees infested by both ADB and EAB are necessary to acquire genetic resources for work on the strategic long-term restoration of F. excelsior, tackling the probable invasion of EAB to the EU