ABSTRACT
Augmentative biological control is not commonly used in commercial orchards. We used an exclusion system to evaluate the potential of early-season releases of the European earwig (Forficula auricularia L., Dermaptera: Forficulidae) for control of the rosy apple aphid (Dysaphis plantaginea Passerini, Hemiptera: Aphididae) in the spring of 2009 in two pesticide-free apple orchards. In order to conduct this experiment we successfully reared earwigs with a high survival rate of nymphs (more than 96%) which may have commercial application. There were three treatments in the study: (i) a 'release treatment' where we confined the released earwigs in the canopy by using a barrier system; (ii) an 'exclusion treatment' where we blocked free access of earwigs into the canopy using the same barrier system; and (iii) a 'control treatment' that represented the natural situation. Contrary to expectations, earwig releases did not reduce D. plantaginea populations. In general, the abundance of natural enemies and their groups did not differ significantly among treatments, except for earwigs. We observed that the exclusion systems we used successfully kept both earwigs and ants away from tree canopies; total numbers on trees in the 'exclusion treatment' were significantly lower than on the other two treatments. Due to the complexity and difficulty of evaluating augmentative releases of natural enemies in open orchard conditions, we conclude that new technical approaches to control site conditions are needed when conducting such studies.
Subject(s)
Aphids/physiology , Insecta/physiology , Pest Control, Biological/methods , Animals , Ants/physiology , France , Male , Malus , Pest Control, Biological/standards , Seasons , Time FactorsABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To compare in vitro and in vivo biological and biochemical properties of five liquid intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) preparations licensed for therapeutic use in Europe. METHODS: ClairYg(®) was compared in a blinded manner to four other liquid IVIg preparations licensed in Europe (Octagam(®) , Kiovig(®) , Gamunex(®) , Privigen(®) ). Three batches of each preparation were tested, except for the IgG repertoires and the animal model. RESULTS: Levels of anti-A and anti-B antibodies were lower in ClairYg(®) (0·11/0·11) relative to a positive EDQM standard and Octagam(®) (0·11/0·08) than in other preparations (0·33-0·69/0·42-0·46). IgG in ClairYg(®) recognized 365 and 416 protein spots in HEp-2 cell and Escherichia coli protein extracts vs. 230-330 and 402-842 protein spots, respectively, for IgG in other preparations. IgA content (301 vs. 165-820 ng/mg of IgG), Factor XI and Factor XII antigen (0·46 vs. 0·85-2·40 mU/mg of IgG and 7·8 vs. 20·0-46·2 lU/mg of IgG) C1q binding (0·42 vs. 0·67-1·89 arbitrary units) and C5a uptake (0·41 vs. 0·45-0·66% of activation) were lower in ClairYg(®) than in other preparations. Finally, intravenous infusion of ClairYg(®) , Gamunex(®) and Privigen(®) had no major effect on arterial blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats. CONCLUSIONS: Our results evidence some differences in the biological and biochemical properties among licensed liquid IVIg preparations.
Subject(s)
Immunoglobulins, Intravenous/administration & dosage , Immunoglobulins, Intravenous/chemistry , Animals , Arterial Pressure/drug effects , Cell Line, Tumor , Disease Models, Animal , Humans , Hypertension/drug therapy , Immunoglobulins, Intravenous/immunology , Male , RatsABSTRACT
Chronic administration of 50% ethanol in a dose of 8 g/kg produces a toxic effect on functional activity of cardiomyocyte mitochondria, which manifested in decreased rates of respiration and oxidative phosphorylation. Structural GABA analogue Citrocard (phenibut citrate) and reference preparation piracetam in doses of 50 and 200 mg/kg, respectively, prevented the damaging effect of alcohol, which was seen from increased indexes of oxidative phosphorylation in treated animals compared to the control group.
Subject(s)
Alcoholism/drug therapy , Alcoholism/metabolism , GABA Agents/pharmacology , Mitochondria, Heart/drug effects , Mitochondria, Heart/metabolism , Myocytes, Cardiac/drug effects , Myocytes, Cardiac/metabolism , gamma-Aminobutyric Acid/analogs & derivatives , Animals , Male , Oxidative Phosphorylation/drug effects , Oxygen Consumption/drug effects , Piracetam/pharmacology , Rats , gamma-Aminobutyric Acid/pharmacologyABSTRACT
Chorea is a rare complication of polycythaemia vera. Polycythaemic chorea occurs predominantly in females and usually in generalised form. We present a 66-year-old woman with acute onset hemichorea-ballism with no vascular pathology in the basal ganglia region. A clear relationship was observed between the onset of chorea and worsening of haematological parameters in the patient. After repeated phlebotomies the patient's clinical status was improved. Polycythaemic chorea must be considered, especially in the elderly, as early diagnosis leads to effective treatment and prevention of complications.
Subject(s)
Chorea/etiology , Polycythemia Vera/complications , Acute Disease , Aged , Anti-Dyskinesia Agents/administration & dosage , Chorea/drug therapy , Dopamine Antagonists/administration & dosage , Female , Haloperidol/administration & dosage , Humans , Phlebotomy , Polycythemia Vera/therapy , Sulpiride/administration & dosageABSTRACT
Presentamos dos casos de esofagitis severa posterior a la ingesta de alendronato sódico. La evolución de los pacientes fue hacia la mejoría una vez suspendido el medicamento y comenzado el tratamiento específico. Se describe la clínica, los métodos diagnósticos y el tratamiento. Proponemos algunas pautas para pacientes con indicación de uso de esta droga
Subject(s)
Humans , Female , Alendronate/adverse effects , Esophagitis/classification , Esophagitis/diagnosis , Esophagitis/therapy , Osteoporosis/diagnosis , VenezuelaABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To determine if either wire-guided-catheters (WGC) or nonwire-guided catheters (non-WGCs) are associated with a higher rate of successful arterial cannulation overall or when evaluated by a variety of patient and operator characteristics. DESIGN: Prospective clinical trial in a ten-bed adult medical-surgical ICU in a 500-bed university hospital. PATIENTS: Adults requiring arterial cannulation for hemodynamic monitoring or frequent blood sampling. A total of 116 attempted arterial cannulations were recorded, and 112 in 67 patients were acceptable for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Overall, no difference in success rates could be demonstrated between WGC and non-WGC. WGCs were associated with a higher success rate in patients with pulses characterized as absent or weak (78% vs 37%; p=0.01). WGCs also had a greater success rate than non-WGCs for more experienced operators, whether defined by seniority (83% vs 44%; p=0.02) or by experience at arterial catheterization (81% vs 48%; p=0.02). CONCLUSION: WGCs were not associated with better success rates overall than were non-WGCs, although there were higher success rates in several subsets of patients and/or operators. Because of their significantly higher costs, WGCs cannot be recommended for routine use for arterial catheterization. In cases where successful catheterization is essential, however, there are circumstances under which they may be the preferred equipment, depending on patient characteristics and operator experience.
Subject(s)
Catheterization/instrumentation , Adult , Catheterization/economics , Catheterization/methods , Clinical Competence , Humans , Prospective Studies , Radial ArteryABSTRACT
A patient presented with multisystem disease due to a very aggressive malignant thymoma. The case was complicated by the triad of cardiac tamponade, superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome, and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). A review of the English literature reveals this to be a unique constellation of clinical symptoms and that DIC was heretofore unreported.
