Previous herbivory alerts conspecific gravid sawflies to avoid unsuitable host plants.

The willow sawfly, Nematus oligospilus (Förster), is a pest in Salix commercial forests and has been reported worldwide. Female adults must recognize a suitable host plant to oviposit, since her offspring lack the ability to move to another host. We evaluated the effect of conspecific herbivory on the oviposition choices of N. oligospilus females by providing damaged (DP) and undamaged (UP) plants of Salix humboldtiana, a native willow from South America, as oviposition substrates. Local and systemic effects were studied. For the local treatment, a twig from the DP with damaged leaves was contrasted to a twig from a UP in dual choice experiments. For systemic treatment, a twig from the DP with intact leaves was contrasted to a twig from a UP. We estimated the use of olfactory and contact cues by comparing volatile emission of DP and UP, and by analysing the behaviour of the females during host recognition after landing on the leaf surface. In the context of the preference-performance hypothesis (PPH), we also tested if oviposition site selection maximizes offspring fitness by evaluating neonate hatching, larval performance and survival of larvae that were born and bred on either DP or UP. Our results demonstrate that previous conspecific herbivory on S. humboldtiana has a dramatic impact on female oviposition choices and offspring performance of the sawfly N. oligospilus. Females showed a marked preference for laying eggs on UP of S. humboldtiana. This preference was found for both local and systemic treatments. Volatile emission was quantitatively changed after conspecific damage suggesting that it could be related to N. oligospilus avoidance. In the dual choice preference experiments, the analysis of the behaviour of the females once landing on the leaf surface suggested the use of contact cues triggering egg laying on leaves from UP and avoidance of leaves from DP. Furthermore, 48 h of previous conspecific feeding was sufficient to dramatically impair neonate hatching, as well as larval development and survival, suggesting a rapid and effective reaction of the induced resistance mechanisms of the tree. In agreement with the PPH, these results support the idea that decisions made by colonizing females may result in optimal outcomes for their offspring in a barely studied insect model, and also opens the opportunity for studying tree-induced defences in the unexplored South American willow S. humboldtiana.

Assessment of Sampling Methods for Sarcosaprophagous Species and Other Guilds of Calyptratae (Diptera) in Temperate Forests of Southern South America.

The aim of the present study was to compare three different collecting methods, namely, baited traps, active capture with hand net, and Malaise traps, to establish which method is more appropriate for sampling different Calyptratae guilds inhabiting temperate forests of South America. Specifically, it was analyzed which technique or combination of techniques is more adequate for obtaining sarcosaprophagous Calyptratae, which are of great interest from a veterinary and medical viewpoint. Taxa were classified into guilds according to their biology. Active capture was the technique that registered the highest diversity of guilds. When analyzing sarcosaprophagous species, it was observed that their percentage of captures, diversity, and abundance showed clear differences in guild composition between the trapping techniques studied. From these analyses it can be concluded that baited traps and active trapping are complementary methods for capturing sarcosaprophagous Calyptratae species. From the perspective of the biodiversity of this group, the combination of both methodologies allows obtaining a more complete inventory of sarcosaprophagous species of austral temperate forests of South America.

Platelet derived growth factor stimulates chondrocyte proliferation but prevents endochondral maturation.

Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) is a cytokine released by platelets at sites of injury to promote mesenchymal cell proliferation. Since many bone wounds heal by endochondral bone formation, we examined the response of chondrocytes in the endochondral lineage to PDGF. Confluent cultures of rat costochondral resting zone cartilage cells were incubated with 0-300 ng/mL PDGF-BB for 24 h to determine whether dose-dependent changes in cell proliferation (cell number and [3H]-thymidine incorporation), alkaline phosphatase specific activity, [35S]-sulfate incorporation, or [3H]-proline incorporation into collagenase-digestible protein (CDP) or noncollagenase-digestible protein (NCP), could be observed. Long-term effects of PDGF were assessed in confluent cultures treated for 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, or 10 d with 37.5 or 150 ng/mL PDGF-BB. To determine whether PDGF-BB could induce resting zone chondrocytes to change maturation state to a growth zone chondrocyte phenotype, confluent resting zone cell cultures were treated for 1, 2, 3, or 5 d with 37.5 or 150 ng/ml PDGF-BB and then challenged for an additional 24 h with 1,25-(OH)2D3. PDGF-BB caused a dose-dependent increase in cell number and [3H]-thymidine incorporation at 24 h. The proliferative effect of the cytokine decreased with time. PDGF-BB had no effect on alkaline phosphatase at 24 h, but at later times, the cytokine prevented the normal increase in enzyme activity seen in post-confluent cultures. This effect was primarily on the cells and not on the matrix. PDGF-BB stimulated [35S]-sulfate incorporation at all times examined, but had no effect on [3H]-proline incorporation into either the CDP or NCP pools. Thus, percent collagen production was not changed. Treatment of the cells for up to 5 d with PDGF-BB failed to elicit a 1,25-(OH)2D3 responsive phenotype typical of rat costochondral growth zone cartilage cells. These results show that committed chondrocytes can respond to PDGF-BB with increased proliferation. The effect of the cytokine is to enhance cartilage matrix production, but at the same time to prevent progression of the cells along the endochondral maturation pathway.

Changes in brain serotonin and 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid levels induced by 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic butyl ester.

Brain concentrations of Serotonin (5-HT) and 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid (5-HIAA) were determined in male, mother and virgin female adult rats after exposure to 69 mg/kg body weight/day of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic butyl ester (2,4-Dbe) during 15 or 45 consecutive days. Both 5-HT and 5-HIAA concentrations were increased in the brain. These effects reverted to levels even lower than controls, when the animals were fed an untreated diet after the 2,4-Dbe treatment. High 5-HT and 5-HIAA brain concentrations were also observed in adult rats born from treated mothers (during pregnancy and lactancy) and fed with or without treated diet after weaning. Two different effects on serotoninergic system were detected: a transient effect if 2,4-Dbe was given to adult rats in a short period of time and a permanent effect if the herbicide was supplied during pre- and post birth period (rat brain development). However, in utero exposed but lactationally cross-fostered rat pups were not affected, suggesting that prenatal exposure did not have any influence on the postnatal status of the neurotransmitter(s).

Stage IV endometrial carcinoma in a 25-year-old woman: a case report and review of the literature.

Presented is a case of endometrial adenocarcinoma FIGO stage IV grade III in a 25-year-old woman with no evidence of any associated disease or known risk factors. To the best of the authors' knowledge this association has not been reported previously.

Nuclear vacuolar acantholytic vesicular dermatitis associated with leukocytoclastic vasculitis.

A 48-year-old obese white woman had had a recurrent vesicular eruption for the previous 5 years. This eruption involved almost all parts of the body, including vaginal mucosa. The plantar and palmar surfaces were not involved. Eruptions start with a prodromal phase: 24 to 48 hours prior to the eruption, the normal-appearing skin becomes painful. A reddish discoloration occurs, and vesicles form within a half hour. The histologic features of the vesicles are unique in that they contain acantholytic cells. The nuclei of these cells are vacuolated and contain a reddish, "target"-appearing substance. The underlying corium shows a necrotizing leukocytoclastic vasculitis. They only effective medication for this disease is cyclophosphamide. Pathogenesis is discussed and is compared with that of other vesiculo-bullous acantholytic lesions with that of leukocytoclastic vasculitis. To the best of our knowledge, this disease appears to be unique.

TRU-CUT needle biopsy of the breast. An analysis of its specificity and sensitivity.

One hundred fifty needle core biopsies of the breast, performed with the use of the Travenol TRU-CUT disposable needle, were done from January 1980 to November 1984. There were 112 diagnoses of breast cancer and 33 diagnoses of normal breast tissue or nonneoplastic breast disease, including 2 diagnoses of marked atypia. In five biopsy specimens, no breast tissue or tumor could be identified. Fourteen cases of malignancy were not diagnosed by TRU-CUT biopsy specimens. There were no false-positive diagnoses. Sensitivity for the diagnoses of breast cancer was 89% overall and 94% for lesions greater than 2.5 cm in diameter. The histopathologic correlation between the core biopsy specimen and the excised specimen is excellent. The core biopsy specimen permits the pathologist to accurately classify the mammary carcinoma. The overall specificity for the TRU-CUT needle biopsy is 100%, and the overall predictive value of a positive needle biopsy is 100%. A factor not apparent in all reports, whether they be fine needle aspiration or core biopsy, is the ability of the individual obtaining the tissue and the cytopathologist or pathologist interpreting the material.

Luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone and thyrotropin-releasing hormone induction of female sexual receptivity in the lizard, Anolis carolinensis.

Both luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) and thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) induce sexual receptivity in ovariectomized, estrogen-primed female lizards (Anolis carolinensis). Ovariectomized females pretreated with three daily injections of a subthreshold dose (0.2 micrograms) of estradiol benzoate were administered either 500, 1,000 or 1,500 ng of LHRH, or 1,000 ng of TRH 48 h following the last estrogen pretreatment injection. Hormone-treated females exhibited significantly higher sexual receptivity scores than controls when tested 2, 4, 6 and 24 h post-injection. Female sexual receptivity scores in females that were administered 500 ng of LHRH or 1,000 ng of deamido TRH were, however, no different than control scores at these test times. The observed ability of LHRH to increase female sexual receptivity is consistent with previous results in birds and mammals. The ability of TRH to increase female sexual receptivity is a novel finding that may underscore differences in neuroendocrine regulation of vertebrate estrous behavior.

Sipple's syndrome with a malignant pheochromocytoma presenting as a pericardial effusion.

Sipple's syndrome is a multiple endocrinopathy usually involving the adrenal medulla and the thyroid. In the present case, a malignant pheochromocytoma metastasized to the pericardium and both lungs. The patient was known to have had a calcified right suprarenal mass for 8 years. He was admitted to the emergency room with symptomatology consistent with pericardial tamponade, but despite intensive management, he expired.

Malignant mixed tumor of the parotid gland presenting as a scalp nodule: a case report.

Malignant mixed tumors of the parotid gland are rare. Metastasizing lesions are even more rare. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case reported in the English literature in which the scalp nodule was the primary manifestation of the malignant nature of the parotid tumor.