Impact of agroecological practices on Phytoseiidae communities in a vineyard of South of France: effect of covercrops and agroforestry.

Viticulture is characterized by substantial pesticide applications, impacting natural enemies. New pest control strategies and management of plant diversity into agrosystems acting as reservoirs of natural enemies are assumed to limit pesticide use. Various studies support this hypothesis but gaps exist on the effect of diversification on Phytoseiidae mites, generalist predators reported as prevalent and efficient natural enemies in vineyards. This study focuses on the effect of cover crop management (no cover crop, spontaneous cover crops with or without agroforestry) and grape variety (resistant cv. Artaban and cv. Syrah) on predatory mites and prey communities, in a newly planted experimental vineyard in South-East France. Samplings were carried out three times a year on vine, cover crops, and co-planted trees. Phytoseiidae, Tydeiidae, Eriophyidae mites and thrips were characterized. Nine Phytoseiidae species were identified on vine, the main ones being Kampimodromus aberrans, Typhlodromus exhilaratus, Phytoseius finitimus and Euseius gallicus. Kampimodromus aberrans was prevalent on the cv. Syrah, highlighting a strong effect of variety. The low unexpected effect of system management observed outcome could be due to several factors, such as the experimental plot size or the influence of vine stress on Phytoseiidae communities in vines with cover crops. All phytoseiid species present on vine were identifed at least once on cover crops and co-planted trees, suggesting their potential role as reservoirs. Further studies should be performed investigating the evolution of communities in this newly-planted experimental system, as well as potential differences in trophic network interactions.

Phytoseiidae (Acari: Mesostigmata) on plants of the family Solanaceae: results of a survey in the south of France and a review of world biodiversity.

Species of the family Phytoseiidae are predators of pest mites and small insects. Their biodiversity is not equally known according to regions and supporting plants. This paper focuses on Phytoseiidae species on plants of the family Solanaceae. The Solanaceae contain many cultivated plants, for example tomato on which leaf characteristics hinder Phytoseiidae settlement and dispersal. This study presents (i) results of surveys carried out on Solanaceae in the south of France, and (ii) Phytoseiidae biodiversity on Solanaceae worldwide. Eleven species were retrieved on 20 solanaceous plants in the south of France with four main species: Euseius gallicus, Euseius stipulatus, Phytoseiulus persimilis and Typhlodromus (Anthoseius) recki. The global analysis suggests that much more species might be found enhancing sampling efforts, whatever the biogeographic region considered. Five Phytoseiidae genera concentrate the highest number of reports and species [Amblyseius, Neoseiulus, Euseius, Phytoseius and Typhlodromus (Anthoseius)]. These genera are not evolutionarily related; adaptation on Solanaceae seems to be recent, except in the Neotropical region. The latter region represents the highest number of reports, species and Solanaceae plants sampled, probably as the centre of origin of this plant family. Occurrence probabilities in biogeographic regions and plant genera are provided as a baseline for searching for new predators adapted to Solanaceae.

Bioavailability Study of Menorest®, a New Estrogen Transdermal Delivery System, Compared with a Transdermal Reservoir System.

The aim of this study was to compare the bioavailability and plasma profiles of estradiol and estrone after repeated applications of 2 types of estradiol transdermal systems: a new adhesive matrix system (Menorest®) compared with a reference membrane/reservoir system (Estraderm®) and to evaluate their short term safety. This was an open, randomised, crossover study, with 2 treatment periods of 10.5 days separated by a 10-day washout period and with a 1-week follow-up. Participants were studied at Institut Aster, Paris, and Association de Recherche Thérapeutique (ART), Lyon, France, and included 31 healthy postmenopausal women, all volunteers aged between 49 and 67 years (mean 58 years). Each transdermal system was applied for three successive 3.5 day-wear periods (10.5 days) on the lower abdominal skin. Plasma estradiol and estrone concentrations were measured at steady-state, before and after the third application of each transdermal system at regular intervals over 106 hours. Cutaneous tolerance was assessed after each transdermal system removal. Although the extent of availability [area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) and average plasma concentration (Cav)] was similar with both transdermal systems, their pharmacokinetic profiles were different, with Menorest® producing less fluctuating and more sustained plasma estradiol levels than the reference system. The mean estradiol to estrone Cav ratio was similar with the 2 transdermal systems and in the physiological range of premenopausal status. The incidence of adverse events was similar for both treatments, but a lower incidence of local erythema was observed with Menorest® (8.9%) than with the reference system (18.3%). In conclusion, during the entire wear period, Menorest® produced more sustained plasma estradiol levels with less fluctuations (40 to 72 ng/L) than the reservoir/ membrane system (18 to 102 ng/L). Menorest® gave estradiol plasma levels approximating the concentrations observed during the early to mid-follicular premenopausal stage, with a 2-fold lower incidence of erythema than with the reservoir/membrane system.

Plasma bioavailability of 2 long-acting oxytetracycline formulations in the pig.

Two commercially available long-acting oxytetracycline (OTC-LA) formulations were administered by intramuscular injection in 2 groups of 10 clinically healthy pigs at the recommended dose level of 20 mg/kg. Plasma concentrations were analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) of a period of 0 to 84 h. The limit of quantification of the assay was 0.125 microgram/ml. The comparison of the CMAX did not reveal any significant differences (4.45 +/- 1.30 and 4.40 +/- 0.9 micrograms/ml). The results were similar for the TMAX (3.60 +/- 1.58 and 4.00 +/- 2.67 h). The areas under the curve were also similar. The AUC0-84 h results were respectively 92.8 +/- 14.1 and 96.3 +/- 11.3 mg.h/l and the AUC0-infinity results were 99.5 +/- 14.7 and 106.7 +/- 15.4 mg.h/l. No significant difference was found. This may be considered as a preliminary study to demonstrate the bioequivalence of the 2 preparations. On the basis of the statistical analysis of the results obtained, a cross-over study using 2 groups of 20 animals is theoretically necessary for such a demonstration.

Pharmacokinetics of 2-(alpha-thenoylthio)-propionylglycine (TTPG) in healthy volunteers--an oral dose-proportionality investigation.

The dose linearity of 2-(alpha-thenoylthio)-propionylglycine (TTPG) pharmacokinetics after a single oral administration at three different TTPG doses (180, 540 and 1080 mg) was evaluated in 12 healthy volunteers according to an open, randomized, cross-over study with a 1-week wash-out period between each administration. The duration of the study, for each subject, was 4 weeks. Plasma concentration and urinary excretion of TTPG and its two systemic metabolites, namely propionylglycine (tiopronin) and thiophenecarboxylic acid (TCA) were assayed by a previously well validated HPLC method. Due to differences in the physical and chemical properties of these compounds, two assays were needed, one to measure TTPG and TCA as such, and one to measure derivatized tiopronin. Both used UV detection. TTPG, tiopronin and TCA were quickly detected in plasma, suggesting that the drug administered is rapidly absorbed and biotransformed, in part, in the systemic circulation into the two metabolites noted above. Time-to-peak for all three analytes showed a trend to increase with increasing doses of TTPG, being: 0.42, 0.40 and 0.67 h (P < 0.01) with TTPG; 0.53, 0.47 and 0.73 h (P < 0.05) with TCA; and 1.33, 2.13 and 2.58 h (P < 0.01) with tiopronin. Cmax showed the opposite behaviour with values (ng ml-1) normalized to the dose of 540 mg: 1235, 905 and 513 (P < 0.001) with TTPG; 888, 547 and 383 (P < 0.001) with TCA; and 7290, 6950 and 5170 (P < 0.01) with tiopronin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)