Composition and acaricidal activity of Laurus novocanariensis and Laurus nobilis essential oils against Psoroptes cuniculi

The major components of Laurus nobilis and L. novocanariensis leaf oils were identifi ed and their acaricidal activity against Psoroptes cuniculi evaluated. Monoterpenes were predominant in L. nobilis oil (91.8%), while ses quiterpenes were only 1.4%. The main components of this oil were 1,8-cineole (39.2%), α-terpinyl acetate (11.3%), sabinene (10.6%) and linalool (7.4%). The acaricidal activity of L. nobilis oil, at a concentration of 10%, led to a mortality rate of 73%; at 5% the average activity was signifi cantly reduced to 51%, while dilutions of 2.5%, 1.25% and 0.625% were ineffective. Laurus novocanariensis oil, compared to L. nobilis, was richer in sesquiterpenes; the main constituents were α-pinene (10.4%), 1,8-cineole (9.6%) and β-selinene (7.2%). After 24 h of contact, the oil of L. novocanariensis killed all the mites when used at 10% and 5% concentrations. At lower concentrations the mortality signifi cantly decreased; a dilution of 0.625% was ineffective.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Aqueous extract of codonopsis javanica against larval and pupal stages of aedes albopictus

SUMMARY The fight against adults of Aedes albopictus is temporary, unsatisfied, and polluting for the environment, while larval treatment is more localized in time and space, resulting less dangerous. The most common antilarval product used is a crystal protoxin of Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis serum-type 14 produced during the sporulation process and considered harmless for humans, fishes, and other not dipteran insects. Unfortunately the antilarval activity of B. thuringiensis is lost after 24 hours, when larvae can develop undisturbed and its activity is completely absent against eggs and pupae. Acqueous extract of roots of Codonopsis javanica Hook. f. & Thoms (Campanulaceae) was tested to develop new natural formulations against larval and pupal stages of A. albopictus showing poor or no activity against larvae; on the contrary, statistically significant activity was observed against pupae after 48 hrs with 75% of mortality both at 12.79% and 6.39% concentration of the decoction. RIASSUNTO Il trattamento delle forme larvali rappresenta il metodo di lotta più efficace contro Aedes albopictus perché consente di ottenere risultati migliori nel tempo e conseguenze minori sull’ambiente rispetto alla lotta contro la forma adulta. Una tossina batterica prodotta da Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis sierotipo H-14 è divenuta il prodotto maggiormente utilizzato nel mondo come larvicida perché ritenuto innocuo nei confronti dell’uomo, dei pesci e di altri insetti che non siano ditteri. L’attività antilarvale di questo prodotto, però, si annulla dopo 24 ore, permettendo alle larve appena nate di svilupparsi indisturbate; inoltre, è del tutto inattivo contro uova e pupe. Con questa indagine sono stati studiati gli effetti dell’estratto acquoso delle radici di Codonopsis javanica (Campanulaceae) contro larve e pupe della zanzara. L’estratto possiede attività scarsa o nulla contro le larve, mentre è significativamente attivo nei confronti delle pupe dopo 48 ore di trattamento con mortalità del 75 % alle diluizioni del 12,79 % e del 6,39%

Aroma Profile of Rubus ulmifolius Flowers and Fruits During Different Ontogenetic Phases

The chemical composition of spontaneous volatile emission from Rubus ulmifolius flowers and fruits during different stages of development was evaluated by HS-SPME-GC/MS. In total, 155 chemical compounds were identified accounting 84.6 – 99.4% of whole aroma profile of flowers samples and 92.4 – 96.6% for fruit samples. The main constituents were α-copaene, β-caryophyllene, germacrene D, (E,E)-α-farnesene, 1,7-octadien-3-one,2-methyl-6-methylene, tridecane, (E)-2-hexenol acetate, (E)-3-hexenol acetate and cyperene. The results give a chemotaxonomic contribution to the characterization of the VOCs emitted from flowers and fruits during their ontogenic development

Essential Oil Composition of Summer and Winter Foliage of Chiliadenus bocconei

The composition of the essential oil (EO) obtained from dry leaves of Chiliadenus bocconei Brullo (Asteraceae subfam. Inulae), a Maltese endemic aromatic plant, collected in two different seasons, was evaluated in this work. The main EO components identified in the summer foliage were camphor (25.6%), borneol (27.1%) and τ-cadinol (13.9%). In the winter foliage τ-cadinol was the most represented compound (59.5%), followed by camphor (13.1). A comparison is also made between the EO composition of the two samples of C. bocconei and the EO obtained from different aerial parts of C. lopadusanus, an endemic plant of Lampedusa Island, another Mediterranean Island

Epidemiology and outcome of candidemia in internal medicine wards: A regional study in Italy

Background More than one-third of candidemia episodes occur in Internal Medicine Wards (IMWs) but only few studies have focused on this setting and specific data about epidemiology, clinical characteristics and risk factors for mortality are scant. Objective To describe epidemiology and to assess risk factors for in-hospital mortality among patients with candidemia in IMWs. Methods Multicenter retrospective cohort study on patients with candidemia cared for in IMWs of an Italian region (Emilia Romagna) from January 2012 to December 2013. Non survivors were compared with survivors; variables with p\uc2\ua0\ue2\u89\ua4\uc2\ua00.1 at univariate analysis were entered into a multivariate Cox regression model. Results 232 patients were included. Overall candidemia incidence was 2.2 cases/1000 admissions. Candida albicans accounted for 59% of cases. Antifungal treatment was started \uc2\ua072\uc2\ua0h from blood cultures in 47%, 27% and 12% of patients, respectively; 13.8% of patients received no antifungal treatment. In-hospital mortality was 40%. At multivariate analysis, chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease (HR 2.72, 95%CI 1.66\ue2\u80\u934.45, p\uc2\ua0<\uc2\ua00.001) and isolation of C. tropicalis (HR 2.18, 95%CI 1.19\ue2\u80\u933.99, p\uc2\ua0=\uc2\ua00.01) were the independent risk factors for in-hospital mortality; central-venous-catheter removal (HR 0.59, 95%CI 0.36\ue2\u80\u930.96, p\uc2\ua0=\uc2\ua00.03) and adequate and timely (within 72\uc2\ua0h from blood drawing) empirical therapy (HR 0.42, 95%CI 0.25\ue2\u80\u930.69, p\uc2\ua0=\uc2\ua00.001) were protective factors. Conclusions The present study conducted in a relatively large geographic area confirms high incidence and mortality of candidemia in IMWs, with a worrisome rate of inappropriateness in patient management. Specific interventions aimed to increase awareness of IMWs about candidemia are needed

Consensus conference on TIPS management: Techniques, indications, contraindications

The trans jugular intrahepatic Porto systemic shunt (TIPS) is no longer viewed as a salvage therapy or a bridge to liver transplantation and is currently indicated for a number of conditions related to portal hypertension with positive results in survival. Moreover, the availability of self-expandable polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)-covered endoprostheses has dramatically improved the long-term patency of TIPS. However, since the last updated International guidelines have been published (year 2009) new evidence have come, which have open the field to new indications and solved areas of uncertainty. On this basis, the Italian Association of the Study of the Liver (AISF), the Italian College of Interventional Radiology—Italian Society of Medical Radiology (ICIR-SIRM), and the Italian Society of Anesthesia, Analgesia and Intensive Care (SIAARTI) promoted a Consensus Conference on TIPS. Under the auspices of the three scientific societies, the consensus process started with the review of the literature by a scientific board of experts and ended with a formal consensus meeting in Bergamo on June 4th and 5th, 2015. The final statements presented here were graded according to quality of evidence and strength of recommendations and were approved by an independent jury. By highlighting strengths and weaknesses of current indications to TIPS, the recommendations of AISF-ICIR-SIRM-SIAARTI may represent the starting point for further studies