Efficacy of Citrullus colocynthis seed extract on Earias vittella, Fabricius, (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae): environment sustainable approach

Abstract Earias vittellaFabricius, 1794 (Noctuidae: Lepidoptera) is deliberated to be one of the most destructive pests of cotton and okra vegetation in the world including Asia. The pest has established resistance to various synthetic insecticides. The use of bio-pesticide is one of the unconventional approaches to develop a vigorous ecosystem without harming non- target pests and beneficial natural insect fauna. In the present study, the toxicity levels of Citrullus colocynthis seed extract have been evaluated against the populations of E. vittellaunder standardized laboratory conditions. The toxic effects of C. colocynthis on development periods, protein contents and esterase activity of the life stages of E. vittella were also evaluated. The toxicity levels of methanol, ethanol, hexane, water and profenofos were evaluated on the 1st instar larvae of E. vittella. LC30 and LC80 concentrations exhibited the effectiveness of methanol-based C. colocynthis seed extract against 1st instar larvae of E. vitella. The enhanced larval and pupal periods were revealed in treated samples during the comparison with untreated samples. The intrinsic rate of increase, net reproductive rate in the LC30 and LC80 concentrations exposed larvae remained less than the control treatment. Fecundity, the esterase activity and protein contents were declined in LC30 and LC80 treated samples as compared to the control. The present findings suggest that C. colosynthis extracts based botanical insecticides are beneficial, ecosystem sustainable and can be integrated with insect management programs from environment safety perspective.

Resumo Earias vittella Fabricius, 1794 (Noctuidae: Lepidoptera) é considerada uma das pragas mais destrutivas de algodão e quiabo no mundo, incluindo a Ásia. Essa praga estabeleceu resistência a vários inseticidas sintéticos. O uso de biopesticidas é uma das abordagens não convencionais para desenvolver um ecossistema saudável sem prejudicar as pragas não alvo e a fauna natural benéfica de insetos. No presente estudo, os níveis de toxicidade do extrato de semente de Citrullus colocynthis foram avaliados nas populações de E. vittella em condições de laboratório padronizadas. Os efeitos tóxicos de C. colocynthis nos períodos de desenvolvimento, conteúdo de proteína e atividade esterase das fases de vida de E. vittella também foram avaliados. Os níveis de toxicidade de metanol, etanol, hexano, água e profenofós foram avaliados em larvas de 1º instar de E. vittella. As concentrações de LC30 e LC80 apresentaram eficácia do extrato de sementes de C. colocynthis à base de metanol contra larvas de 1º instar de E. vittella. Os períodos larval e pupal aumentados foram revelados nas amostras tratadas durante a comparação com as amostras não tratadas. A taxa intrínseca de aumento e a taxa reprodutiva líquida nas concentrações de larvas expostas LC30 e LC80 permaneceram menores do que o tratamento controle. A fecundidade, a atividade da esterase e o conteúdo de proteína diminuíram nas amostras tratadas com LC30 e LC80 em comparação com o controle. As presentes descobertas sugerem que os extratos de C. colocynthis à base de inseticidas botânicos são benéficos, sustentáveis para o ecossistema e podem ser integrados com programas de manejo de insetos do ponto de vista da segurança ambiental.

Efficacy of Citrullus colocynthis seed extract on Earias vittella, Fabricius, (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae): environment sustainable approach / Eficácia do extrato de semente de Citrullus colocynthis em Earias vittella Fabricius (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae): abordagem ambiental sustentável

Abstract Earias vittellaFabricius, 1794 (Noctuidae: Lepidoptera) is deliberated to be one of the most destructive pests of cotton and okra vegetation in the world including Asia. The pest has established resistance to various synthetic insecticides. The use of bio-pesticide is one of the unconventional approaches to develop a vigorous ecosystem without harming non- target pests and beneficial natural insect fauna. In the present study, the toxicity levels of Citrullus colocynthis seed extract have been evaluated against the populations of E. vittellaunder standardized laboratory conditions. The toxic effects of C. colocynthis on development periods, protein contents and esterase activity of the life stages of E. vittella were also evaluated. The toxicity levels of methanol, ethanol, hexane, water and profenofos were evaluated on the 1st instar larvae of E. vittella. LC30 and LC80 concentrations exhibited the effectiveness of methanol-based C. colocynthis seed extract against 1st instar larvae of E. vitella. The enhanced larval and pupal periods were revealed in treated samples during the comparison with untreated samples. The intrinsic rate of increase, net reproductive rate in the LC30 and LC80 concentrations exposed larvae remained less than the control treatment. Fecundity, the esterase activity and protein contents were declined in LC30 and LC80 treated samples as compared to the control. The present findings suggest that C. colosynthis extracts based botanical insecticides are beneficial, ecosystem sustainable and can be integrated with insect management programs from environment safety perspective.

Resumo Earias vittella Fabricius, 1794 (Noctuidae: Lepidoptera) é considerada uma das pragas mais destrutivas de algodão e quiabo no mundo, incluindo a Ásia. Essa praga estabeleceu resistência a vários inseticidas sintéticos. O uso de biopesticidas é uma das abordagens não convencionais para desenvolver um ecossistema saudável sem prejudicar as pragas não alvo e a fauna natural benéfica de insetos. No presente estudo, os níveis de toxicidade do extrato de semente de Citrullus colocynthis foram avaliados nas populações de E. vittella em condições de laboratório padronizadas. Os efeitos tóxicos de C. colocynthis nos períodos de desenvolvimento, conteúdo de proteína e atividade esterase das fases de vida de E. vittella também foram avaliados. Os níveis de toxicidade de metanol, etanol, hexano, água e profenofós foram avaliados em larvas de 1º instar de E. vittella. As concentrações de LC30 e LC80 apresentaram eficácia do extrato de sementes de C. colocynthis à base de metanol contra larvas de 1º instar de E. vittella. Os períodos larval e pupal aumentados foram revelados nas amostras tratadas durante a comparação com as amostras não tratadas. A taxa intrínseca de aumento e a taxa reprodutiva líquida nas concentrações de larvas expostas LC30 e LC80 permaneceram menores do que o tratamento controle. A fecundidade, a atividade da esterase e o conteúdo de proteína diminuíram nas amostras tratadas com LC30 e LC80 em comparação com o controle. As presentes descobertas sugerem que os extratos de C. colocynthis à base de inseticidas botânicos são benéficos, sustentáveis ​​para o ecossistema e podem ser integrados com programas de manejo de insetos do ponto de vista da segurança ambiental.

Cochlear and vestibular toxicity by the use of ototoxic drugs - the regional experience

The objective of the study is to find out the common pharmacologic agents causing ototoxicity in our region with their pattern of presentation and effects on the inner ear. This study was conducted at department of Ear, Nose, Throat, Head and Neck Surgery, Civil Hospital Karachi, over a period of three years from January 1998 to December 2000. A total of 44 patients were included who presented at ENT department with the diagnosis of ototoxicity. The diagnosis was established in each case by taking detailed history, through ENT examination and related investigations. All these patients were followed up regularly for a maximum of six months. Out of44 patients, 32 were male and 12 were female patients with mean age of 42.2 years. Majority of the patients had some form of cochleotoxicity with symptoms of deafness in 95.4% and tinnitus in 36.6% of the cases. Vestibular toxicity with symptoms of vertigo and sense of imbalance were presented in 29.5% of the cases. 26 patients received only one ototoxic drug while 18 patients had received more than one ototoxic drug at one time. Gentamycin was the commonest offending agent for ototoxicity in 40.9% of the cases. In this study no patient of ototoxicity was found due to macrolide antibiotics, salicylates or any non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Sensori-neural hearing loss in majority of the patients was moderate to severe in nature

Gene therapy: recent advances, future directions and concerns

There is now convincing experimental evidence which suggests that gene therapy, a procedure to correct inherited disorders by molecular techniques, may become a clinical reality in the near future. The modes of gene delivery to appropriate target cells and tissues are now more specific. Of the viral and nonviral methods of gene transfer, adenovirus based vectors have produced the best clinical results. Successful gene therapy trials which have recently taken place on some selected genetic disorders, indicate that the somatic gene manipulation as shown by the long-term stable expression of the transferred genes, will be more practical and a safer approach for the time being. This is compared to germ-line therapy which involves insertion of gene into gamete forming cells in such a way that the disorders in the offspring would also be corrected. Despite all this optimism there are still many difficulties to overcome, particularly the isolation of genes and their regulatory function. Ethical and religious considerations of gene therapy are also very important as both irrational and rational fears are associated with deliberate genetic manipulation. These will dissipate eventually, once reasonable success in gene manipulation is achieved

Low mean corpuscular volume: a useful diagnostic hematological parameter for detection of alpha-thalassemia at birth

Regional variations in the incidence of alpha -thalassaemia have been reported from Saudi Arabia. In a recent study, we observed that approximately 6-7% of the Saudi Arabia National Guard [SANG] newborn population had very low mean corpuscular volume [MCV] [100 fI]. The restriction analyses data showed that 28 of 31 [90%] with low MCV [

Role of functional cast bracing in the treatment of Colles' fracture

This work presents the results of 100 consecutive cases of Colles fracture treated by functional cast bracing in supination as advised by Sarmiento and colleagues, using locally made metallic hinge, followed up for 18 weeks. The results have been compared with those obtained by other authors using functional cast bracing and also other conventional conservative methods including percutaneous pinning. There is a wide variation in the results obtained by various authors using different techniques, but on the whole, our results with functional cast bracing in supination have been among the best in any published series

problems of first time expectant and recent fathers

Two hundred and fifty two first time expectant and recent fathers were interviewed to assess the prevalence of stress related disorder associated with the pregnancy of their wives. Eighty percent fathers manifested stress related behaviours. Out of them 93% were worried about increased financial responsibility, 80% about higher expectation of wife, 72% about the change in wife's physique, 64% about wife's attention being diverted to child 48% about theor out-door activities being curtailed and 40% thought that being a father would mean that they no longer belonged to younger generation. Based on these findings, it is suggested that expected fathers should be provided with counselling services to solve their problems

Erythrocytic glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency and anaemia

This study demonstrates that glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase [G6PD] activity in anaemic patients is significantly increased compared with that in normal blood donors. There are inverse correlations between G6PD levels and several haematological indices. These correlations are difficult to explain as the reticulocyte counts in our anaemic patients were not greatly increased. A likely reason for these results is an effect of red cell age that is not properly reflected in the reticulocyte counts, and some unidentified factors affecting erythropoeisis may be responsible for the increased production of G6PD in these anaemic patients

Erythrocytic genetic disorders in the newborn population of the Saudi Arabian national guard

A cord blood screening programme initiated at King Fahad National Guard Hospital, Riyadh, revealed that the incidence of the commonly prevalent red cell genetic disorders was low in our newborn population. Approximately 5% had a-thalassaemia, 1% sickle cell disease and there was an overall incidence of 2.2% for severe G6PD deficiency. One-quarter of the G6PD deficient newborns were females, a significant finding in a condition known to have an X-linked mode of inheritance. This finding suggests that screening for this enzymopathy should include both sexes. In addition marked anisopoikilocytosis was detected on routine examination of cord blood films of four newborns. The clinical findings and the morphologic features of the parents' erythrocytes in two of them were highly suggestive of the genetic erythrocytic membrane defect, pyropoikilocytosis

effect of transfusing g6pd-deficient blood and prevalence of this enzymopathy in a Riyadh hospital blood donor population

A study was designed in a Riyadh hospital to determine the effects of transfusing glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase [G6PD]-deficient blood and to evaluate the prevalence of this enzymopathy in a hospital blood donor population. Approximately 2% of Saudi blood donors [almost all male] were found to be severely G6PD-deficient and a statistically significant difference in the normal levels of G6PD was found between various ethnic donor groups. Analysis of the preliminary data on patients transfused with G6PD-deficient blood failed to reveal any changes in morphology or biochemical parameters consistent with haemolysis compared with those receiving normal units of blood. It was therefore concluded that it is unjustified to proscribe G6PD-deficient blood

Haemoglobinopathies: a review

The inherited disorders of the haemoglobin molecule are commonly known as haemoglobinopathies. Since the discovery of sickle cell haemoglobin in 1959, almost 500 human haemoglobin variants mostly rare, have been reported; about one-third manifest their presence by clinical syndromes due to alteration in the function, solubility or stability of the haemoglobin module. The range of abnormal haemoglobins and their prevalence in the Middle East remains to be determined and this concise review presents current information on haemoglobinopathies

Genes and molecular probes in haemoglobinopathies

Red cell genetic disorders constitute a major public health problem in many parts of the world. The analysis of human DNA using recombinant technology is fast becoming an integral part of the diagnosis and prevention of several types of major haemoglobinopathies. This review presents advances made in this important field and describes current methods used for antenatal diagnosis of haemoglobinopathies as a prelude to genetic counselling

Sickle cell trait in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia: effect of concurrent alpha-thalassemia

The proportions of sickle haemoglobin in the peripheral blood were determined in 126 asymptomatic sickle cell trait parents of SS cohort babies. The sickle cell haemoglobin [Hb S] levels ranged between 18 and 48% and the values below 38% are presumably due to the interaction of various types of alpha thalassaemia genes with sickle cell genes. The haematological paramers correlated well with the amounts of Hb S in the red blood cells and the comparison of these erythrocytic indices with sickle cell traits from north western province revealed inter-province variations in haematological values, especially the mean cell volume [MCV] and mean cell haemoglobin [MCH]. These two parameters were significantly reduced in the sickle cell heterozygotes from the Eastern province as compared with those from the north western province, in particular the Khaiber area, for which the explanation remains obscure

Measurement of glycated haemoglobins in Saudi patients with sickle cell anaemia and other haemoglobinopathies

The levels of glycated haemoglobins were determined in 284 Saudis [both diabetics and non-diabetics] from the Eastern region with normal and abnormal haemoglobin electrophoretic patterns by the boronate affinity chromatography method. A marked decrease in the level of glycated haemoglobin was observed in patients with sickle cell anaemia. A less significant decrease in glycation was noticed in patients with sickle beta 0 and beta + thalassaemia. These changes presumably reflected an altered circulatory half-life of red cells in these disorders. In diabetic patients having an abnormal haemoglobin not associated with haemolysis, the increased amount of glycation was similar to that observed in patients with normal haemoglobin