Flavonoid sequestration by the common blue butterfly Polyommatus icarus: quantitative intraspecific variation in relation to larval hostplant, sex and body size.

Common blue butterflies (Polyommatus icarus) sequester flavonoids from their larval food and store these pigments as part of their adult wing colouration. Insects were reared on 10 different diets to assess effects of host plants on variation in flavonoid sequestration in this moderately polyphagous butterfly. Rearing experiments revealed an unexpectedly large gradient in flavonoid richness, ranging from individuals with high flavonoid loads (reared on inflorescences of Medicago sativa, Trifolium repens, T. pratense) to butterflies which contained almost no such pigments (fed with foliage of M. sativa or Robinia pseudoacacia). Flavonoid sequestration was much more effective from natural hostplants than from experimentally offered diets which would not be accepted in the field. Female butterflies on average sequestered almost 60% more flavonoids than males. This sex difference was more pronounced on natural than on experimental diets. Flavonoid load was significantly and positively related to dry mass and forewing length as two important fitness correlates of butterflies. This correlation was particularly strong on experimental diets (i.e. under constraining conditions for development). On natural hostplants, in contrast, when butterflies generally were flavonoid-rich, no clear relationship between flavonoid load and size or mass emerged. Our analytical data are consistent with field results according to which females rich in UV-absorbing flavonoid wing pigments are more attractive to mate-searching males. In P. icarus, flavonoid richness might therefore increase visibility (by more effective sensory stimulation of the visual system), but could also confer information about the feeding history, and thus ontogenetically determined 'quality' of a potential mate.

Flavonoid wing pigments increase attractiveness of female common blue (Polyommatus icarus) butterflies to mate-searching males.

Common blue butterflies (Polyommatus icarus) sequester flavonoids from their larval host plants and allocate these UV-absorbing pigments to the wings. In field experiments using dummies constructed from female butterflies, mate-searching males inspected flavonoid-rich dummies more intensively than those with little or no flavonoids. Flavonoid content as signalled by UV-wing pattern may indicate ontogenetically determined female quality or enhance detectability to males.

Cerebrospinal fluid cytology in granulocytic sarcoma with meningeal extension but without bone marrow involvement.

Granulocytic sarcoma (GS) is a localized tumour of immature granulocytes that is usually associated with myelogenous leukaemia. We report an unusual case of mastoid GS with meningeal extension but no bone marrow involvement on presentation. Histological examination of the surgical specimen and the characteristic cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cytology showing cytoplasmic granulations and Auer bodies led to the diagnosis of GS. Positive cytochemical staining of the immature CSF cells for naphthol-ASD chloroacetate esterase and myeloperoxidase confirmed their myeloid origin. Immunophenotyping did not reveal common acute lymphoblastic leukaemia antigen, cytokeratin, T- or B-cell antigens. The patient underwent surgical resection of the localized tumour, followed by radiation therapy, intrathecal and systemic chemotherapy, as if he had acute myelogenous leukaemia (AML). He did not develop AML in the 21 months after the tumour resection. This case emphasizes the value of CSF cytological examination of tumour cells and the use of an immunocytochemical marker for differentiating GS from malignant lymphoma.

[Fluorouracil as monotherapy or combined with folinic acid in the treatment of metastasizing colorectal carcinoma]. / Fluorouracil als Monotherapie oder in Kombination mit Folinsäure in der Behandlung des metastasierten kolorektalen Karzinoms.

In a prospective randomized multicentre trial 139 patients with metastatic colorectal carcinoma (70 men, 69 women; age 35-81 years) were given palliative treatment with fluorouracil (400 mg/m2 daily for 5 days) alone or combined with folic acid (100 mg/m2 before each dose of fluorouracil). Both groups were comparable in respect of age, sex, Karnofsky index and number of localisations of metastases. The criterion for starting the treatment was progression of the malignancy or clinical symptoms caused by the tumour. Resulting remission rates (fluorouracil monotherapy vs combination with folic acid) were: complete or partial remission, 9 vs 16%; arrest of tumour growth, 20 vs 60%; progression 71 vs 24%. Peripheral side effects, such as stomatitis and diarrhoea, were similarly frequent with the two treatment regimens and reasonably tolerable. Median survival time for the fluorouracil monotherapy was 7.24 months from onset of treatment, and 9.1 months from the time that any metastases were diagnosed. The combination treatment with folic acid achieved a significantly longer median survival time (P less than 0.0001), 14.98 months from treatment onset and 16.3 months from metastasis diagnosis. The higher rate of response and the significantly prolonged survival time signify an improvement of the therapeutic profile of fluorouracil by addition of folic acid in the palliative therapy of colorectal carcinomas.