Sugarcane stem borers of the Colombian Cauca River Valley: current pest status, biology, and control

Citation: Vargas, G., Gomez, L. A., & Michaud, J. P. (2015). Sugarcane stem borers of the Colombian Cauca River Valley: current pest status, biology, and control. Florida Entomologist, 98(2), 728-735. Retrieved from ://WOS:000356451400049Sugarcane stem borers of the genus of Diatraea (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) form a species complex that causes serious economic losses to sugarcane production in the Cauca River Valley and other regions of Colombia. Two primary species, Diatraea saccharalis (F.) and D. indigenella Dyar and Heinrich, have been effectively managed for more than 4 decades through augmentative releases of the tachinid flies Lydella minense (Townsend) and Billaea claripalpis (Wulp) (Diptera: Tachinidae) and the egg parasitoid Trichogramma exiguum Pinto & Platner (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae). Here we review the current pest status of Diatraea species, damage assessment protocols, management tactics, and the environmental factors and cultural practices that can affect biological control outcomes. Recent changes in the cultivars grown have the potential to increase pest populations and diminish biological control efficacy. Additionally, recent outbreaks of new Diatraea species may further increase overall pest pressure. Thus, there is a need to develop supplementary tactics for the management of these pests that will be compatible with biological control, as well as more reliable protocols for assessing host plant resistance against the increase in infestation intensity

Molecular cloning and functional characterization of the pig homologue of integrin-associated protein (IAP/CD47)

We report the cloning of cDNA encoding the pig homologue of human integrin-associated protein (IAP or CD47). A pig CD47-specific probe was generated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of pig leucocyte cDNA, using primers based on consensus regions among the known sequences of CD47 from different species. Screening of a pig aorta smooth muscle cDNA library identified seven clones, all containing identical sequences. The clones contained an open reading frame (ORF) that encoded an 18 amino acid putative signal peptide, a 122 amino acid sequence consisting of a single extracellular immunoglobulin variable (IgV)-like domain followed by a 147 amino acid region containing five membrane-spanning domains and a 16 amino acid cytoplasmic tail. The amino acid sequence of the clones was 73% homologous to human IAP and therefore it was termed pig IAP or CD47. Reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT–PCR) showed that pig CD47 was expressed in a wide range of tissues and detected different alternatively spliced forms. The monoclonal antibody (mAb) BRIC 126, anti-human CD47, was shown, by flow cytometry, to stain pig platelets as well as Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells transfected with the cDNA encoding pig CD47. Western blot analysis of pig erythocytes and platelets showed a molecular weight (MW) of 43 000–50 000 and of 55 000–65 000, respectively, under non-reducing conditions. Pig CD47 was stably expressed on CHO cells and shown to bind human thrombospondin (TSP). BRIC126 antibody inhibited the binding of platelets and of CD47-transfected cells to human TSP and to pig fibrinogen, whereas no effect was observed on control CHO cells

Evaluation of the colorectal cancer screening Programme in the Basque Country (Spain) and its effectiveness based on the Miscan-colon model

The population-based Basque Colorectal Cancer (CRC) Screening Programme started in 2009 with a biennial immunochemical quantitative test (FIT) biennial and colonoscopy under sedation in positive cases. The population target of 586,700 residents was from 50 to 69 years old and the total coverage was reached at the beginning of 2014. The aim of our study was to determine possible scenarios in terms of incidence, mortality and reduction of Life-years-Lost (L-y-L) in the medium and long term of CRC. Methods: Invitations were sent out by the Programme from 2009 to 2014, with combined organizational strategies. Simulation was done by MISCAN-colon (Microsimulation Screening Analysis) over 30 years comparing the results of screening vs no-screening, taking the population-based Cancer Registry into account. Lifetime population and real data from the Programme were used from 2008 to 2012. The model was run differentially for men and women. Results: 924,416 invitations were sent out from 2009 to 2014. The average participation rate was 68.4%, CRC detection rate was 3.4% and the Advanced Adenoma detection rate was 24.0‰, with differences observed in sex and age. Future scenarios showed a higher decrease of incidence (17.2% vs 14.7%), mortality (28.1% vs 22.4%) and L-y-L (22.6% vs 18.4%) in men than women in 2030. Conclusions: The Basque Country CRC Programme results are aligned to its strategy and comparable to other programmes. MISCAN model was found to be a useful tool to predict the benefits of the programme in the future. The effectiveness of the Programme has not been formally established as case control studies are required to determine long term benefits from the screening strategy

ASIA syndrome, calcinosis cutis and chronic kidney disease following silicone injections. A case-based review

An immunologic adjuvant is a substance that enhances the antigen-specific immune response preferably without triggering one on its own. Silicone, a synthetic polymer used for reconstructive and cosmetic purposes, can cause, once injected, local and/or systemic reactions and trigger manifestations of autoimmunity, occasionally leading to an overt autoimmune disease. Siliconosis, calcinosis cutis with hypercalcemia and chronic kidney disease have all been reported in association with silicone injection. Here, we describe a case of autoimmune/auto-inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants, calcinosis cutis and chronic kidney disease after liquid silicone multiple injections in a young man who underwent a sex reassignment surgery, followed by a review of the literature. To our knowledge, this is the first report describing the concomitance of the three clinical conditions in the same patients. The link between silicone and the immune system is not completely understood yet and requires further reports and investigations with long-term data, in order to identify the main individual and genetical risk factors predisposing to the wide spectrum of the adjuvant-induced responses