Influence of Dry Soil on the Ability of Formosan Subterranean Termites, Coptotermes formosanus, to Locate Food Sources

The effect of barriers of dry soil on the ability of Formosan subterranean termites, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae), to construct tunnels and find food was evaluated. Termite movement and wood consumption in a three—chambered apparatus were compared between treatments with dry soil in the center container and treatments where the soil in the center container was moist. When a wood block was located in the release container, termites fed significantly more on that block, regardless of treatment or soil type. In the treatment with dry clay, none of the termites tunneled through the dry clay barrier to reach the distal container. When termites had to tunnel through a barrier of dry sand, topsoil, or clay to reach the sole wood block, there was no effect on wood consumption for the sand treatment, but there was significantly less feeding on wood in the treatments with dry topsoil or clay. When foraging arenas had a section of dry sand in the center, the dry sand significantly reduced tunneling in the distal section after 3 days, but not after 10 days. There was a highly significant effect on the ability of termites to colonize food located in dry sand. Only one feeding station located in dry sand was colonized by termites, compared with 11 feeding stations located in moist sand

Characteristics, interventions and outcome of women who used a birthing pool: a prospective observational study

Background: birthing pools are integrated into maternity care in the United Kingdom and are a popular care option for women in midwifery-led units and at home. The objective of this study was to describe and compare maternal characteristics, intrapartum events, interventions, and maternal and neonatal outcomes by planned place of birth for women who used a birthing pool.Methods: a total of 8,924 women at low risk of childbirth complications were recruited from care settings in England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Descriptive analysis was performed.Results: overall, 7,915 (88.9%) women had a spontaneous birth (5,192, 58.3% water births), of whom 4,953 (55.5%) were nulliparas. Fewer nulliparas whose planned place of birth was the community (freestanding midwifery unit or home) had labor augmentation by artificial membrane rupture (149, 11.3% [95% CI: 9.6–13.1]), compared with an alongside midwifery unit (271, 22.7% [95% CI: 20.3–25.2]), or obstetric unit (639, 26.3% [95% CI: 24.5–28.1]). Results were similar for epidural analgesia and episiotomy. More community nulliparas had spontaneous birth (1,172, 88.9% [95% CI: 87.1–90.6]), compared with birth in an alongside midwifery unit (942, 79% [95% CI: 76.6–81.3]) and obstetric unit (1,923, 79.2% [95% CI: 77.5–80.8]); and fewer required hospital transfer (265, 20% [95% CI: 17–22.2]) compared with those in an alongside midwifery unit (370, 31% [95% CI: 28.3–33.7]). Results for multiparas and newborns were similar across care settings. Twenty babies had an umbilical cord snap, 18 (90%) of which occurred during water birth.Conclusions: birthing pool use was associated with a high frequency of spontaneous birth, particularly among nulliparas. Findings revealed differences in midwifery practice between obstetric units, alongside midwifery units, and the community, which may affect outcomes, particularly for nulliparas. No evidence was found for a difference across care settings in interventions or outcomes in multiparas or in outcomes for newborns. During water birth, it is important to prevent undue traction on the cord as the baby is guided to the surfac

Valproate for the treatment of acute bipolar depression: systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Our aim was to analyse existing data on the efficacy and tolerability of valproatefor the treatment of acute bipolar depression.Methods: Randomized controlled trials comparing valproate with placebo were identified usingsearches of electronic databases in October 2008. Outcomes investigated were depression,anxiety, hypomania, attrition, and adverse events. Trial quality was assessed, and data weresummarized using meta-analyses.Results: Four randomized, controlled, doubleblind trials of 142 participants were included. Trialquality was good, although individual study sample sizes were small. Study duration was sixweeks (2 studies) and eight weeks (2 studies). Meta-analysis showed a significant difference infavour of valproate for reduction in depressive symptoms, both on depression symptom scales(standardized mean difference (SMD) ?0.35 (95% confidence interval, ?0.69, ?0.02)), andparticipants with at least 50% improvement in symptoms — relative risk (RR) 2.00 (1.13, 3.53).Effects on anxiety symptoms were small,SMD?0.32 (?0.72, 0.08) and inconclusive (p=0.12).No evidence of a difference in mania symptoms, withdrawal for any reason, lack of effectivenessor adverse events was detected. Nausea occurred more frequently with valproate comparedwith placebo though the difference was not significant, RR 2.01 (0.98, 4.11). Other adverseevents occurring more frequently with valproate (somnolence, fatigue/muscle weakness,headache, diarrhoea and dry mouth) did not differ significantly between treatment groups.Limitations: Sample sizes were small warranting a larger study to confirm or disprove thesefindings.Conclusions: Valproate is effective for the reduction of depressive symptoms of acute bipolardepression, and was well tolerated

Macrophages Play a Key Role in Angiogenesis and Adipogenesis in a Mouse Tissue Engineering Model

We have previously described a mouse adipose tissue engineering model using a silicon chamber enclosing the superficial epigastric pedicle in a Matrigel based environment. We have shown that when Zymosan, a sterile inflammatory agent, is added to the chamber, angiogenesis and adipogenesis are significantly improved. As Zymosan interacts with toll-like receptors on macrophages, the role of macrophages in new tissue development in the tissue engineering chamber was assessed. Morphological and histological results showed that macrophages were presenting in high numbers at 2 weeks but had decreased significantly by 4 and 6 weeks in the chamber. Numerous immature new blood vessels had formed by 2 weeks, becoming more mature at 4 and 6 weeks. Immature adipocytes were visualized at 4 weeks and mature cells, at 6 weeks. To investigate the functional role of macrophages in the tissue engineering process, we knocked out the local macrophage population by inserting Clodronate liposomes in this chamber. This study shows for the first time that when macrophages are depleted, there is minimal new vascular and adipose tissue development. We propose a new theory for tissue engineering in which macrophages play a central role in both neovascularisation and adipogenesis