Effects of mowing on the arthropod community in grass buffers and adjacent crop fields.

Grass buffers are commonly planted along crop borders to filter nutrient and pesticide runoff. These buffers also provide food and shelter for beneficial and herbivorous arthropods and can serve as corridors for their movement into neighboring crops. Mowing is a common maintenance practice to control woody plants in these buffers. Field experiments were conducted to determine whether mowing influences the movement of arthropods into neighboring soybean plantings (Glycine max L) and impacts their abundance in corn (Zea mays var. indentata) the following spring. Results showed that mowing had varying effects on the abundance of herbivores, saprovores, parasitoids, and predators, particularly in the grass buffers. Aerially active arthropods in the plant canopy were more adversely affected by mowing than surface-dwelling arthropods. Mowing significantly reduced grasshopper (Orthoptera: Acrididae) density in the buffers, but did not trigger their movement into adjoining soybean fields. Parasitoids, predators, and thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) were dissimilarly affected by mowing, and their responses were influenced by grass type. Altogether, these findings indicate that mowing did not cause notable movement of arthropods from grass buffers into adjoining crops and had minimal effects on the community of beneficial arthropods the following spring. Also, there were no differences in the level of insect feeding injury in crop fields next to mowed and unmowed buffers.

Impact of Post-Harvest Management Practices in Corn (Zea mays L.) Fields on Arthropods in Subsequent Soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.) Plantings.

There is increased adoption of cover cropping and conservation tillage in the USA. Many farmers view these practices as methods for improving their soils. However, different cover cropping and tillage practices conducted post-harvest can have a disparate impact on arthropods within the subsequent cash crop. Field experiments were conducted during 2017 and 2018 at two experimental sites to examine the influences of different post-harvest practices following corn (Zea mays L.) harvest on pests and beneficials in subsequent soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] plantings. Experimental treatments included: (1) tillage via chisel plow (CP), (2) no-tillage in which corn residue/stubble remained on the soil surface (CS), and (3) planting a cover crop into corn residue (CC) following corn harvest. Overall, insect herbivore abundance was greater in the CP treatment. Foliar predator numbers were similar among treatments or of greater abundance in CP. The activity density of epigeal insect predators varied according to site and feeding guild. However, spider activity density was greatest in CP. Stink bug egg mortality due to predation and parasitism varied among treatments. However, the percentage of stink bug eggs that hatched was greatest in the CC during both years. Findings suggest that post-harvest practices investigated during this study will have a similar influence on most epigeal and foliar arthropods in soybean.

Influence of Winter Cover Crop Mulch on Arthropods in a Reduced Tillage Cucurbit System.

Winter cover crop mulches can diversify agricultural habitats and provide a range of benefits for crop production and pest management. Here we report the influence of strip tilled winter cover crop mulches on arthropod abundance in organic vegetable plots. Crookneck squash (Cucurbita pepo L.; Cucurbitales: Cucurbitaceae) was direct seeded into mowed and strip tilled barley (Hordeum vulgare L.; Poales: Poaceae), crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.; Fabales: Fabaceae), a barley + crimson clover mixture, or a no-cover crop control. Arthropods on squash plants were assessed weekly using visual counts. Seed predation was assessed using weed seed arenas. In 2013, mixed species cover crops produced the most ground cover, fewest weeds, and largest squash plants, but herbivore and predator abundance were not correlated with any of those factors. In 2014, mixed species cover crops again produced the most ground cover and fewest weeds, but the largest squash plants were found in no-cover crop control plots, which also had the highest herbivore abundance per plant. Predator and herbivore abundance were positively correlated with squash plant size in 2014. There were no differences in seed predation across treatments. Differences in ground cover biomass and weed presence between the 2 yr may have contributed to differences in squash plant quality and subsequent herbivore abundance between seasons. Results suggest that arthropods on plants responded largely indirectly to cover crops through host plant quality. Results are interpreted in light of overall costs and benefits of cover cropping.

Can conservation tillage reduce N2O emissions on cropland transitioning to organic vegetable production?

Nitrous oxide (N2O) is an important greenhouse gas and a catalyst of stratospheric ozone decay. Agricultural soils are the source of 75% of anthropogenic N2O emissions globally. Recently, significant attention has been directed at examining effects of conservation tillage on carbon sequestration in agricultural systems. However, limited knowledge is available regarding how these practices impact N2O emissions, especially for organic vegetable production systems. In this context, a three-year study was conducted in a well-drained sandy loam field transitioning to organic vegetable production in the Mid-Atlantic coastal plain of USA to investigate impacts of conservation tillage [strip till (ST) and no-till (NT)] and conventional tillage (CT) [with black plastic mulch (CT-BP) and bare-ground (CT-BG)] on N2O emissions. Each year, a winter cover crop mixture (forage radish: Raphanus sativus var. longipinnatus, crimson clover: Trifolium incarnatum L., and rye: Secale cereale L.) was grown and flail-mowed in the spring. Nearly 80% of annual N2O-nitrogen (N) emissions occurred during the vegetable growing season for all treatments. Annual N2O-N emissions were greater in CT-BP than in ST and NT, and greater in CT-BG than in NT, but not different between CT-BG and CT-BP, ST and NT, or CT-BG and ST. Conventional tillage promoted N mineralization and plastic mulch increased soil temperature, which contributed to greater N2O-N fluxes. Though water filled porosity in NT was higher and correlated well with N2O-N fluxes, annual N2O-N emissions were lowest in NT suggesting a lack of substrates for nitrification and denitrification processes. Crop yield was lowest in NT in Year 1 and CT-BP in Year 3 but yield-scaled N2O-N emissions were consistently greatest in CT-BP and lowest in NT each year. Our results suggest that for coarse-textured soils in the coastal plain with winter cover crops, conservation tillage practices may reduce N2O emissions in organic vegetable production systems.

Field surveys of egg mortality and indigenous egg parasitoids of the brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys, in ornamental nurseries in the mid-Atlantic region of the USA.

The brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stål), is an invasive species native to regions of China, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan. In its native and introduced range, H. halys is considered a pest of tree fruits, vegetables, legumes, and ornamental trees. The highly polyphagous nature of this insect as well as its vast dispersal capabilities, require an integrated approach to management. Here we focus on the potential impact of indigenous natural enemies on H. halys in woody ornamental nurseries in Maryland, USA. We sampled naturally field laid H. halys egg masses for mortality and parasitism rates in 2012 and 2013. Overall, egg mortality averaged 54% for both years, and increased within season and between years. The largest source of mortality was from egg parasitoids with mean parasitism rates of 30.73 and 39.63% in 2012 and 2013, respectively. Mortality from predation was much lower and averaged 4.61% by chewing and 2.53% by sucking predators. We found seven species of Hymenopteran egg parasitoids attacking H. halys eggs, with Anastatus reduvii being the dominant species comprising 61.17 and 79.12% of all parasitoids in 2012 and 2013, respectively. The observed increase in parasitism over time and female biased sex ratio of parasitoids suggests that native parasitoids may be responding to the novel host, H. halys. Consequently, the use of these native eupelmid egg parasitoids in augmentative or conservation biological control may be a viable H. halys management strategy in ornamental nurseries.

Effects of Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) Feeding Injury on Sweet Corn Yield and Quality.

The brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stål), is an Asian species that now dominates the stink bug complex in many cultivated crops throughout the mid-Atlantic United States. Sweet corn (Zea mays L.) is a preferred host of H. halys, and the bug can cause kernel injury on developing ears. Currently, there is limited information available on which plant growth stages are most sensitive to H. halys feeding or density of bugs required to cause yield and quality reductions on processing and fresh market sweet corn ears. In 2011 and 2012, sweet corn ears were infested at three different corn growth stages: silking (R1), blister (R2), and milk (R3) at densities of zero, one, three, and five H. halys adults per ear for 7 d. At harvest, four yield measurements were assessed and ears were inspected for quality reductions. The greatest yield loss from H. halys occurred when infestations were initiated during early stages of ear development, and the greatest quality reductions (damaged kernels) occurred during later stages of ear development. A density of one H. halys per ear resulted in levels of kernel damage great enough to cause significant quality reductions. This study highlights the ability of H. halys to cause substantial economic losses in both fresh market and processing sweet corn in a relatively short period of time at low population densities. Therefore, infestations by this insect in sweet corn must be considered when making pest management decisions in regions where it has become established.

Can Row Spacing Influence Arthropod Communities in Soybean? Implications for Early and Late Planting.

Row spacing in agricultural systems can influence crop yield as well as pest and predator abundances. Soybean (Glycine max L. Merrill) growers in Maryland typically plant in narrow (∼19 cm), medium (∼38 cm), or wide (∼76 cm)-spaced rows, and there is a general lack of information on how these row-spacing schemes influence arthropod abundance and soybean yields. A study was conducted during two growing seasons to determine the effect of soybean row spacing and planting date (early and late) on soybean arthropods and yield. Despite a great deal of variation in arthropod responses to row spacing, and interactions between row spacing and study year, leaf-feeding herbivores were generally more abundant in narrow-spaced soybeans. All arthropod functional groups were more abundant, and yield was greater in early-planted soybeans relative to late-planted soybeans. Potential causes and implications of these finding are discussed.

Sunn hemp cover cropping and organic fertilizer effects on the nematode community under temperate growing conditions.

Field experiments were conducted in Maryland to investigate the influence of sunn hemp cover cropping in conjunction with organic and synthetic fertilizers on the nematode community in a zucchini cropping system. Two field treatments, zucchini planted into a sunn hemp living and surface mulch (SH) and zucchini planted into bare-ground (BG) were established during three field seasons from 2009 to 2011. In 2009, although SH slightly increased nematode richness compared with BG by the first harvest (P < 0.10), it reduced nematode diversity and enrichment indices (P < 0.01 and P < 0.10, respectively) and increased the channel index (P < 0.01) compared to BG at the final harvest. This suggests a negative impact of SH on nematode community structure. The experiment was modified in 2010 and 2011 where the SH and BG main plots were further split into two subplots to investigate the added influence of an organic vs. synthetic fertilizer. In 2010, when used as a living and surface mulch in a no-till system, SH increased bacterivorous, fungivorous, and total nematodes (P < 0.05) by the final zucchini harvest, but fertilizer type did not influence nematode community structure. In 2011, when incorporated into the soil before zucchini planting, SH increased the abundance of bacterivorous and fungivorous nematodes early in the cropping season. SH increased species richness also at the end of the season (P < 0.05). Fertilizer application did not appear to influence nematodes early in the season. However, in late season, organic fertilizers increased enrichment and structure indices and decreased channel index by the end of the zucchini cropping cycle.

Effects of the integration of sunn hemp and soil solarization on plant-parasitic and free-living nematodes.

Sunn hemp (SH), Crotolaria juncea, is known to suppress Rotylenchulus reniformis and weeds while enhancing free-living nematodes involved in nutrient cycling. Field trials were conducted in 2009 (Trial I) and 2010 (Trial II) to examine if SH cover cropping could suppress R. reniformis and weeds while enhancing free-living nematodes if integrated with soil solarization (SOL). Cover cropping of SH, soil solarization, and SH followed by SOL (SHSOL) were compared to weedy fallow control (C). Rotylenchulus reniformis population was suppressed by SHSOL at the end of cover cropping or solarization period (Pi) in Trial I, but not in Trial II. However, SOL and SHSOL did not suppress R. reniformis compared to SH in either trial. SH enhanced abundance of bacterivores and suppressed the % herbivores only at Pi in Trial II. At termination of the experiment, SH resulted in a higher enrichment index indicating greater soil nutrient availability, and a higher structure index indicating a less disturbed nematode community compared to C. SOL suppressed bacterivores and fungivores only in Trial II but not in Trial I. On the other hand, SHSOL enhanced bacterivores and fungivores only at Pi in Trial I. Weeds were suppressed by SH, SOL and SHSOL throughout the experiment. SHSOL suppressed R. reniformis and enhanced free-living nematodes better than SOL, and suppressed weeds better than SH.

Effects of Tagetes patula on Active and Inactive Stages of Root-Knot Nematodes.

Although marigold (Tagetes patula) is known to produce allelopathic compounds toxic to plant-parasitic nematodes, suppression of Meloidogyne incognita can be inconsistent. Two greenhouse experiments were conducted to test whether marigold is more effective in suppressing Meloidogyne spp. when it is active rather than dormant. Soils infested with Meloidogyne spp. were collected and conditioned in the greenhouse either by 1) keeping the soil dry (DRY), 2) irrigating with water (IRR), or 3) drenching with cucumber (Cucumis sativus) leachate (CL) for 5 wk. These soils were then either planted with cucumber, marigold or remained bare for 10 wk. Suppression of nematode by marigold was then assayed using cucumber. DRY conditioning resulted in the highest number of inactive nematodes, whereas CL and IRR had higher numbers of active nematodes than DRY. At the end of the cucumber bioassay, marigold suppressed the numbers of Meloidogyne females in cucumber roots if the soil was conditioned in IRR or CL, but not in DRY. However, in separate laboratory assays, marigold root leachate slightly reduced M. incognita J2 activity but did not reduce egg hatch (P > 0.05). These finding suggest that marigold can only suppress Meloidogyne spp. when marigold is actively growing. This further suggests that marigold will more efficiently suppress Meloidogyne spp. if planted when these nematodes are in active stage.

Population distribution and density of Pentalonia nigronervosa (Hemiptera: Aphididae) within banana mats: influence of plant age and height on sampling and management.

The banana aphid, Pentalonia nigronervosa Coquerel (Hemiptera: Aphididae), is the most economically important pest of banana (Musa spp.) fields in Hawaii. Recently, there has been a concerted effort in Hawaii to learn more about the biology and ecology of this pest. However, limited work has been directed at determining the distribution of P. nigronervosa in banana fields and developing an integrated pest management plan. Therefore, a survey was conducted in banana fields throughout the Hawaiian Islands to determine the distribution and density of P. nigronervosa within banana mats from plants of different stages. Another aim was to determine whether the presence of ants on banana plants could be used as a reliable indicator of aphid infestations. Results of the survey showed that plants < or = 1.5 m (small sucker) in height contain the highest aphid populations per meter in plant height and that mother plants (> or = 2.5 m) had the lowest aphid counts and rate of infestation compared with small and intermediate suckers (> 1.5 < 2.5 m). More specifically, aphid population was reduced by approximately 12 aphids for every meter increase in plant height and that aphids are rarely found > or = 2.5 m within the plant canopy. Although there was an increase likelihood of finding ants on banana plants with higher aphid densities, results suggest that ants would be present on plants in the absence of aphids. Implications of these and other findings with respect to sampling and managing P. nigronervosa and associated Banana bunchy top virus are discussed.

Impact of No-till Cover Cropping of Italian Ryegrass on Above and Below Ground Faunal Communities Inhabiting a Soybean Field with Emphasis on Soybean Cyst Nematodes.

Two field trials were conducted between 2008 and 2010 in Maryland to evaluate the ability of an Italian ryegrass (IR) (Lolium multiflorum) cover crop to reduce populations of plant-parasitic nematodes while enhancing beneficial nematodes, soil mites and arthropods in the foliage of a no-till soybean (Glycine max) planting. Preplant treatments were: 1) previous year soybean stubble (SBS); and 2) herbicide-killed IR cover crop + previous year soybean stubble (referred to as IR). Heterodera glycines population densities were very low and no significant difference in population densities of H. glycines or Pratylenchus spp. were observed between IR and SBS. Planting of IR increased abundance of bacterivorous nematodes in 2009. A reverse trend was observed in 2010 where SBS had higher abundance of bacterivorous nematodes and nematode richness at the end of the cover cropping period. Italian ryegrass also did not affect insect pests on soybean foliage. However, greater populations of spiders were found on soybean foliage in IR treatments during both field trials. Potential causes of these findings are discussed.

Strip-tilled cover cropping for managing nematodes, soil mesoarthropods, and weeds in a bitter melon agroecosystem.

A field trial was conducted to examine whether strip-tilled cover cropping followed by living mulch practice could suppress root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) and enhance beneficial nematodes and other soil mesofauna, while suppressing weeds throughout two vegetable cropping seasons. Sunn hemp (SH), Crotalaria juncea, and French marigold (MG), Tagetes patula, were grown for three months, strip-tilled, and bitter melon (Momordica charantia) seedlings were transplanted into the tilled strips; the experiment was conducted twice (Season I and II). Strip-tilled cover cropping with SH prolonged M. incognita suppression in Season I but not in Season II where suppression was counteracted with enhanced crop growth. Sunn hemp also consistently enhanced bacterivorous and fungivorous nematode population densities prior to cash crop planting, prolonged enhancement of the Enrichment Index towards the end of both cash crop cycles, and increased numbers of soil mesoarthropods. Strip-tilled cover cropping of SH followed by clipping of the living mulch as surface mulch also reduced broadleaf weed populations up to 3 to 4 weeks after cash crop planting. However, SH failed to reduce soil disturbance as indicated by the Structure Index. Marigold suppressed M. incognita efficiently when planted immediately following a M. incognita-susceptible crop, but did not enhance beneficial soil mesofauna including free-living nematodes and soil mesoarthropods. Strip-tilled cover cropping of MG reduced broadleaf weed populations prior to cash crop planting in Season II, but this weed suppression did not last beyond the initial cash crop cycle.

Aphid transmission of Banana bunchy top virus to bananas after treatment with a bananacide.

Field and laboratory studies were conducted to determine the impact of using a herbicide as a bananacide on aphid transmission of Banana bunchy top virus (family Nanoviridae, genus Babuvirus, BBTV) to healthy banana (Musa spp.) plants. BBTV-infected banana plants in a commercial orchard were treated with Roundup Weathermax herbicide. Using polymerase chain reaction, the time after herbicide treatment that BBTV could no longer be detected in the infected plants was determined. The impact of the herbicide treatment on Pentalonia nigronervosa Coquerel (Hemiptera: Aphididae) virus acquisition and ability to inoculate healthy banana plants with BBTV also were determined. Generally, banana plants were dead beyond 42 d after herbicide injection (DAI), and BBTV was detected in a similar high percentage of treated plants from 0 up to 21 DAI. During two field trials, 0 and 32% of P. nigronervosa acquired the virus from treated plants at 42 DAI, respectively, but none successfully inoculated a healthy banana plant beyond 35 DAI. Finally, 22% of P. nigronervosa colonies collected directly from the pseudostem of injected plants at the final sample date (42 DAI) tested positive for BBTV and infected 9.5% of the healthy banana plants. The findings indicate that banana plants may remain a potential source of virus inoculum 6 wk after injection with a bananacide. The implications of these findings with respect to BBTV management are discussed.

Influence of cover crop and intercrop systems on Bemisia argentifolli (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) infestation and associated squash silverleaf disorder in zucchini.

Field experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of cover cropping and intercropping on population densities of silverleaf whitefly, Bemisia argentifolli Bellow and Perring, and the incidence of squash silverleaf disorder (SSL) in zucchini, Cucurbita pepo L., in Oahu, HI. Two cover crops, buckwheat (BW), Fagopyrum esculentum Moench, and white clover (WC), Trifolium repens L., or sunn hemp (SH), Crotolaria juncea L., and an intercropped vegetable, okra, Abelmonchus esculentus L., were evaluated during the 2003, 2005, and 2006 growing seasons, respectively. Population densities of whiteflies and SSL severity varied during the three field experiments. In 2003, the severity of SSL and percentage of leaves displaying symptoms were significantly lower on zucchini plants in WC than BW plots throughout the crops' growth cycle. Additionally, the percentage of leaves per plant displaying SSL symptoms was significantly greater in bare-ground (BG) compared with the pooled BW and WC treatments on each inspection date. In 2005, zucchini intercropped with okra had lower numbers of adult whiteflies and resulted in significantly lower severity of SSL than pooled BW and WC treatments. During 2006, zucchini grown with SH had significantly lower numbers of all whitefly stages (i.e., egg, immature, and adult) and less SSL severity symptoms than BW. Despite these differences in whitefly numbers and SSL severity, marketable yields were not significantly lower in BW compared with WC or SH treatment plots during the study. The mechanisms underlying these results and the feasibility of using cover crops and intercrops to manage B. argentifolli and SSL are discussed.

Protecting crops from non-persistently aphid-transmitted viruses: a review on the use of barrier plants as a management tool.

Barrier plants are a management tool based on secondary plants used within or bordering a primary crop for the purpose of disease control. Aphid-transmitted viruses account for approximately 50% of the 600 known viruses with an invertebrate vector. Barrier plants may act as real natural sinks for non-persistent aphid-transmitted viruses and have proved in the past to be an effective crop management strategy to protect against virus infection. Increasing the knowledge on aphid host seeking and flying behaviour, and on how barrier plants may affect the behaviour of aphids and their natural enemies will allow further development of this environmentally-friendly habitat manipulation strategy. An ideal plant barrier should be a non-host for the virus and the vector, but appealing to aphid landing and attractive to their natural enemies and should allow sufficient residence time to allow aphid probing before taking-off occurs. In this review, we have addressed why aphids are manageable by barrier cropping, the mechanisms by which barrier plants affect the occurrence of non-persistently aphid-transmitted viruses and the limitations of using barrier plants as a virus control strategy. Finally, we have pointed out future directions of research that should be conducted to integrate barrier cropping with other disease management strategies, and optimise and extend the use of barrier plants as a strategy for managing aphid-transmitted virus diseases.

"Marsupial cava" and ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm. A case report and review of the literature.

A patient with a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm underwent an emergency operation. A rare anomaly of inferior vena cava, known as "marsupial cava," was found. The iliac vein confluence crossed anteriorly (rather then posteriorly) the right common iliac artery. Even though the patient had undergone a computed tomography scan, this rare anomaly had not been detected and therefore was unexpected by the surgeon. The aim of this report is to describe the technical details required to perform the aortic reconstruction and to stress the importance of routine computed tomography scans and their careful reading in the case of stable patients before retroperitoneal operation. This is, to our knowledge, the first report of an aortic prosthetic grafting for ruptured aortic aneurysm in association with a marsupial cava.

[Iliac PTA: long-term results and current prospects]. / PTA iliaca: risultati a distanza e prospettive attuali.

The authors outline their experience with reference to the treatment of segmentary lesions at the level of the iliac artery. They analyse a series of 93 patients undergoing PTA. In 85 cases it was possible to conclude the procedure: 4 patients presented a small occlusion and 81 stenosis which was associated with femoro-popliteal occlusion in 35 cases. The authors analyse the results using life tables and show that treatment is optimal for the common iliac artery whereas the percentage of restenosis increases parallel to progress in a distal direction. In conclusion, the authors affirm that the procedure is safe and in order to improve results, above all at the level of the external iliac artery, il will probably be necessary in the future to use additional endovascular techniques such asm for example, the systematic use of stent.

[Incidence and treatment of vascular prosthesis infection in the groin. Personal experience]. / Incidenza e trattamento della infezione protesica vascolare a livello inguinale. Esperienza personale.

The incidence of prosthesis infection in the groin ranges between 1 and 3%, with high morbidity and mortality rates. Contamination, irrespective of whether it is endogenous or exogenous, may occur during surgery of afterwards due to a secondary bacterial load which is often associated with a traumatic surgical technique for tissues, often in emergency surgery or re-operations. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Over the past 5 years a total of 410 prosthetic alloplastic grafts have been made by our Division of Vascular Surgery with at least one anastomosis at an inguinal level. The materials used for prosthesis were dacron and PTFE. Thirty-one infections were observed in the groin of which 11 involved the prosthesis and 20 were apparently restricted to the superficial and deep layer of the dermis. A cell culture test and antibiogram was always performed. Surgical or medical therapy (loco-regional + general) was used according to individual cases. RESULTS. With regard to the 11 patients with manifest infections of the prosthesis, only trans-obturator bypass surgery gave positive long-term results, whereas other operations (femoro-femoral bypass, axillo-popliteal bypass) were not satisfactory. Of the other 20 patients treated using loco-regional and general medical therapy, 9 developed pseudo aneurysm over time for which it was then necessary to resort to surgery. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION. Currently there is no universally accepted treatment protocol for the management of prosthesis infection. However, it is generally considered useful to isolate any pathological agent (using routine biopsies of arterial wall or thrombo-endoluminal fragments during the primary operation) before infection can develop so as to be able to commence specific antibiotic therapy. In this context the authors underline the more devastating action of some bacteria (pseudomonas, Staphylococcus aureus) in comparison to others (Staphylococcus epidermidis). Turning to therapeutic measures, when there are anatomical grounds and with the greatest possible respect for periarterial tissues, it is considered that trans-obturator bypass is preferable in the presence of manifest infection of the prosthesis, whereas medical therapy can be used (loco-regional + general) if infection is limited to the surface layers of the inguinal area. Possible complications over time may be corrected using surgery and in situ reconstruction if infection is no longer present.

[Controversies regarding an algorithm and the type of surgical treatment in popliteal aneurysms]. / Controversie sull'algoritmo e sul tipo di trattamento chirurgico degli aneurismi poplitei.

Having outlined their 20-year experience in the treatment of popliteal aneurysms (PA), the authors discuss the type of therapeutic approach used. From the authors' point of view an overly aggressive approach to PA is unnecessary, and the decision to adopt a given therapy must instead be weighed up on the basis of the careful clinical evaluation of each individual case, taking into account the patient's clinical conditions at the time, the pathological anatomy of the lesion and its consequences. The authors divide primary PA into symptomatic and asymptomatic cases; in the latter surgery is definitely indicated and the possible contraindications represented by anesthesiological risk or small aneurysm diameter need not be evaluated. In the case of symptomatic PA, treatment varies depending on whether they are manifested by rupture, acute ischemia or chronic ischemia. While there are no grounds for uncertainty regarding the need for immediate surgery in the first case, in the second and third cases the authors attribute decisive importance to the evaluation and possible improvement of run-off before surgical correction. In the event of acute arterial insufficiency of the limb, the careful assessment of clinical conditions (degree of loss of sensitivity, motility and cutaneous vascularization) and anamnestic data (possible presence of signs and symptoms of previous chronic arterial insufficiency) allow the surgeon to decide whether or not to resort to immediate surgery or to obtain an improved run-off by using loco-regional fibrinolytic therapy and therefore postpone surgical treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)