Museum records indicate male bias in pollinators of sexually deceptive orchids.

Deception has evolved in a range of taxa. When deception imposes costs, yet persists over generations, exploited species typically have traits to help them bear or minimise costs. The sexually deceptive orchids, Cryptostylis spp., are pollinated by tricking male haplodiploid wasps (Lissopimpla excelsa) into mating with flowers, which offer no reward and often elicit sperm wastage. We hypothesise that by attracting haplodiploid species, orchids have a pollinator ideally suited to withstand the costs of sexual deception-and a selective advantage compared to other orchids. Haplodiploid females can reproduce with or without sperm-albeit when spermless, females can only have sons. Through orchid deception and sperm wastage, deceived haplodiploid populations could become male biased, providing enough males to share between orchids and females. In this way, pollinator populations can persist despite high densities of sexually deceptive orchids. Here, we aim to broadly test this prediction using museum and digital records of the pollinator, L. excelsa, from sites with or without orchids. For robustness, we also analyse the sex ratio of a sister ichneumonid species that occurs in the same areas but is not deceived by orchids. We found that at sites with orchids, L. excelsa was significantly more male biased than at sites without orchids and significantly more male biased than the sister ichneumonid. This survey is the first to test the population-level effects of sexually deceptive orchids on their pollinator. It supports our prediction that orchid deception can drive male-biased sex ratios in exploited pollinators.

Female fecundity and offspring survival are not increased through sexual cannibalism in the spider Larinioides sclopetarius.

Many hypotheses explaining the evolution and maintenance of sexual cannibalism incorporate the nutritional aspect of the consumption of males. Most studies have focused on a fecundity advantage through consumption of a male; however, recent studies have raised the intriguing possibility that consumption of a male may also affect offspring quality. In particular, recent studies suggest prolonged survival for offspring from sexually cannibalistic females. Here, we measured the protein and lipid content of males compared to insect prey (crickets), quantified female nutrient intake of both prey types and finally assessed how sexual cannibalism affects female fecundity and spiderling quality in the orb-web spider Larinioides sclopetarius. We found no evidence that sexual cannibalism increased fecundity when compared to a female control group fed a cricket. Contrary to previous studies, spiderlings from females fed a male showed reduced survival under food deprivation compared to spiderlings from the control group. Offspring from females fed a male also tended to begin web construction sooner. The low lipid content of males compared to crickets may have reduced offspring survival duration. Whether additional proteins obtained through consumption of a male translate to enhanced silk production in offspring requires further investigation.

Experiences of sleep paralysis in a sample of Irish university students.

BACKGROUND: Sleep paralysis (SP) is characterised by an inability to move voluntarily for a period on going to sleep or on waking. It is also associated with hallucinations, and often with fear. This study seeks to explore the experience of SP in an Irish university sample. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey design was employed, with a validated scale for the assessment of SP being distributed to 2,500 students. A total of 418 responded, of whom 83 reported having experienced SP. RESULTS: The most commonly reported and most intense hallucinations were falling, sensed presence, visual hallucination, pressure on the body and belief might be dying. Fear was also commonly experienced. Bivariate analyses showed an association between fear and several hallucination types. CONCLUSION: SP in university students often includes experience of hallucinations. These, in turn, are associated with frequent and intense fear.

Survival and nutritional requirements of three bacteria isolated from ultrapure water.

Bacteria isolated previously from ultrapure water (UPW) systems were examined for their ability to survive in UPW, with the ultimate goal of elucidating potential carbon and energy sources for the bacteria. Two strains of Ralstonia pickettii isolated from different areas within the UPW system (pretreatment and polishing loop, and referred to as strains 3A1 and MF254A, respectively) and a strain of Bradyrhizobium sp. were compared to increase our understanding of the fundamental behavior of bacteria contaminating UPW. R. pickettii (3A1) grew significantly slower in R2A medium, with a final cell yield much lower than the isolate from the polishing loop. In addition, R. pickettii MF254A showed a broader substrate range than either strain 3A1 or Bradyrhizobium sp. In UPW, there appears to be a threshold cell concentration (approximately 10(6) colony-forming units/ml), whereby the cell numbers remain constant for a prolonged period of 6 months or more. Below this concentration, rapid proliferation is observed until the threshold concentration is attained. Preliminary experiments suggested that nitrogen gas (frequently added to UPW storage tanks) may contribute to growth of Bradyrhizobium sp. Above the threshold concentration, the strain of Ralstonia sp. isolated from the polishing loop was capable of cryptic growth with heat-killed cells in UPW. However, cryptic growth was not observed when the cells supplied as nutrients were killed using UV254 light. Furthermore, cryptic growth did not appear to contribute significantly to proliferation of Bradyrhizobium sp. or Ralstonia sp. 3A1 (isolated from the pretreatment loop). We believe that cryptic growth may aid survival of the bacteria in UPW, but further experiments are warranted to prove this phenomenon conclusively.

Mirtazapine effects on alertness and sleep in patients as recorded by interactive telecommunication during treatment with different dosing regimens.

This double-blind study compared mirtazapine's effects on alertness and sleep between parallel groups treated for 2 weeks according to a fixed regimen of 30 mg at bedtime (N = 69) and one that increased in dose from 15 to 30 mg at bedtime after the first week (N = 71). These patients with depression used an interactive telephone/computer system for daily alertness and sleep recordings on self-rating scales before and during treatment. Efficacy (17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression [HAM-D], Clinical Global Impression Scale [CGI]) and safety assessments were made by participating psychiatrists. Both groups' alertness ratings were subnormal at baseline and even lower after the first dose. The ratings recovered after the second dose and increased progressively to levels 18% higher than those at baseline by the end of treatment. Patients receiving the fixed dose reported earlier sleep onset and longer duration. Similar mean changes in HAM-D scores (approximately -40%) and frequencies of CGI responders (>50%) occurred in both groups. The regimens were equally well tolerated. Somnolence, the most frequent side effect, was reported by only 10% of each group during the first week and by fewer patients during the second. Mirtazapine in fixed and ascending nocturnal dosing regimens was found to facilitate sleep, but it does not generally reduce daytime alertness. The fixed regimen seems preferable because of its greater effects on sleep.

Marijuana, alcohol and actual driving performance.

The objective of the current study was to assess the separate and combined effects of marijuana and alcohol on actual driving performance. Eighteen subjects were treated with drugs and placebo according to a balanced, 6-way, crossover design. On separate evenings they were given weight calibrated Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) doses of 0, 100 and 200 &mgr;g/kg with and without an alcohol dose sufficient for achieving blood alcohol concentrations (BAC) of 0.04 g/dl while performing a Road Tracking and Car Following Test in normal traffic. Main outcome measures were standard deviation of lateral position (SDLP), time driven out of lane (TOL), reaction time (RT) and standard deviation of headway (SDH). Both THC doses alone, and alcohol alone, significantly impaired the subjects performances in both driving tests. Performance deficits were minor after alcohol and moderate after both THC doses. Combining THC with alcohol dramatically impaired driving performance. Alcohol combined with THC 100 and 200 &mgr;g/kg produced a rise in SDLP the equivalent of that associated with BAC=0.09 and 0.14 g/dl, respectively. Mean TOL rose exponentially with SDLP. Relative to placebo mean RT lengthened by 1.6 s under the combined influence of alcohol and THC 200 &mgr;g/kg. Changes in SDH ranged between 0.9 and 3.8 m. Low doses of THC moderately impair driving performance when given alone but severely impair driving performance in combination with a low dose of alcohol. Copyright 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Minimally invasive saphenous vein harvesting.

The intent of this article is to describe the emergence and continuing evolvement and improvement in harvesting saphenous veins by the minimally invasive versus the traditional open technique. The comparison of endoscopic versus open techniques, patient population, systems limitations, clinical outcomes, and perioperative care of the patient will be discussed. The author's intent is to take a multidisciplinary approach.

Psychomotor, Cognitive, extrapyramidal, and affective functions of healthy volunteers during treatment with an atypical (amisulpride) and a classic (haloperidol) antipsychotic.

The primary objective of this study was to compare the objective and subjective effects of amisulpride with those of a classic antipsychotic, haloperidol, when both were given to healthy volunteers in representative therapeutic doses over 5 days. The secondary objective was to compare the effects of relatively low and high doses of amisulpride to confirm the suspected duality of its pharmacologic activity. Twenty-one subjects participated in the four-way, randomized, double-blind, crossover study with repeated daily doses of amisulpride 50 mg, amisulpride 400 mg, haloperidol 4 mg, and placebo. Subjects were institutionalized during treatment periods and were under 24-hour medical supervision. They underwent a series of psychomotor and cognitive tests 1 hour before and 3 and 6 hours after dosing on days 1 and 5. Their extrapyramidal disturbances and drug-related feelings were assessed at the end of each replication. Psychiatric interviews and ratings of depression, subjective well-being, and negative symptoms occurred on day 4. Amisulpride 50 mg had no significant effect on any parameter. Amisulpride 400 mg had several adverse effects on psychomotor and, although less severe, on cognitive performance on the fifth day only. Amisulpride 400 mg produced no significant extrapyramidal disturbances in the group as a whole, although it may have in some individual subjects. Also, it produced no signs of mental disturbances on clinical rating scales or during a structured psychiatric interview. Haloperidol ubiquitously impaired psychomotor and cognitive performance in a similar fashion after the first and the final doses. It produced extrapyramidal disturbances in nearly every subject, the most common being akathisia and the most severe, in the case of one individual, being acute dystonia. Unlike amisulpride, haloperidol produced a number of mental disturbances, the most noteworthy being negative symptoms. Amisulpride seems to be a well-tolerated drug. Its side effects should be much less troublesome to patients using the drug on a long-term basis than those of classic antipsychotics, like haloperidol.

Venlafaxine's effects on healthy volunteers' driving, psychomotor, and vigilance performance during 15-day fixed and incremental dosing regimens.

Effects of venlafaxine, an antidepressant acting by selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibition with a potency ratio of 5:1, were assessed in a standardized, actual driving test, a battery of psychomotor tests (Critical Flicker/Fusion Frequency, Critical Tracking, Divided Attention), and a 45-minute vigilance test (Mackworth Clock). Thirty-seven healthy volunteers, 22 of whom completed the study, received venlafaxine in fixed (37.5 mg twice a day) and incremental (37.5-75 mg twice a day) doses as well as mianserin (10-20 mg three times a day) and placebo according to a 4-period (15 days each), double-blind, crossover design. Testing occurred on days 1 and 7 and after dose increments, on days 8 and 15. Plasma concentrations of venlafaxine and its active metabolite were measured on test days for confirming compliance. Venlafaxine had no significant effect on the primary driving parameter (standard deviation of lateral position) and failed to impair psychomotor performance. Mianserin profoundly and consistently impaired driving and psychomotor performance. However, both drugs significantly impaired vigilance performance. Maximal effects occurred on day 1 with mianserin and similarly on day 7 with venlafaxine in both series. The increment in venlafaxine's dose on day 8 did not increase this effect. The drug's selectively impairing effect on vigilance is shared by other "serotonergic" anxiolytics and antidepressants, suggesting that interference with 5-HT transmission reduces arousal in particularly monotonous tasks or environments. This study concludes that venlafaxine does not generally affect driving ability and should be safe for use by patients who drive.

Fexofenadine's effects, alone and with alcohol, on actual driving and psychomotor performance.

BACKGROUND: Fexofenadine is the hydrochloride salt of terfenadine's active metabolite. OBJECTIVE: Fexofenadine's effects on performance were assessed in this study for the purpose of determining its safety of use by patients who engage in potentially dangerous activities, especially car driving. METHODS: Fexofenadine was administered in daily doses of 120 or 240 mg, each in single and divided units given over 5 days. Two milligrams of clemastine given twice daily and placebo were given in similar series. Twenty-four healthy volunteers (12 men, 12 women; age range, 21 to 45 years) participated in a double-blind six-way crossover study. Psychomotor tests (critical tracking, choice reaction time, and sustained attention) and a standardized actual driving test were undertaken between 1.5 to 4 hours after administration of the morning dose on days 1, 4, and 5 of each series. On day 5, subjects were challenged with a moderate alcohol dose before testing. RESULTS: Fexofenadine did not impair driving performance. On the contrary, driving performance was consistently better during twice daily treatment with 120 mg fexofenadine than during treatment with placebo, significantly so on day 4. Both of the 240 mg/day regimens significantly attenuated alcohol's adverse effect on driving on day 5. Effects in psychomotor tests were not significant, with the exception of the critical tracking test in which the first single doses of fexofenadine, 120 and 240 mg, had significantly impairing effects. CONCLUSION: It was concluded that fexofenadine has no effect on performance after being taken in the recommended dosage of 60 mg twice daily.

Considering the P450 cytochrome system as determining combined effects of antidepressants and benzodiazepines on actual driving performance of depressed outpatients.

Parallel groups of depressed (DSM III-R) outpatients received moclobemide (n = 22) and fluoxetine (n = 19), double blind, for 6 weeks. Respective starting doses were 150 mg twice a day and 20 mg q.a.m. These could be doubled after 3 weeks for greater efficacy. Chronic users of benzodiazepine anxiolytics continued taking them as comedication. Therapeutic and side effects were assessed using conventional rating scales. Actual driving performance was assessed during the week before therapy and at 1, 3 and 6 weeks thereafter using a standardized test that measures standard deviation of lateral position (SDLP). Similar remissions in depressive symptoms and side effects occurred in both groups. Patients drove with normal and reliable (r = 0.87) SDLPs before treatments. Most continued to do so but a few drove with progressively rising SDLPs and the overall trends were significant in both groups (p < 0.03). A post-hoc multiple regression analysis was applied for identifying factors that correlated with SDLP in separate tests after the beginning of therapy. At 3 and 6 weeks there were significant (p < 0.03) relationships involving the same factor; patients who drove with progressively higher SDLPs appeared to be those using benzodiazepines that are metabolized by a P450 isozyme subject to inhibition by their particular antidepressant.

Antidepressant therapy and behavioural competence.

Major depression can impair an individual's motivation to perform routine daily activities and cause a deterioration in cognitive and psychomotor function. Some antidepressants add to pathological dysfunction through unwanted side-effects. Although most patients eventually recover as a simultaneous consequence of tolerance and therapeutic response, some may not. Where side-effects continue to retard normal recovery they can be called behaviourally toxic, which can be classified as disruptive, inhibitory or provocative. Disruptive behavioural toxic effects are measured using either psychometric tests or simulations of real-life activities (for example, a driving test). There are no widely-accepted tests for inhibitory or provocative behavioural toxicity, and assessments of antidepressants are made on the basis of case studies. This review summarises the results of psychometric and real-life simulation tests and compares the effects of antidepressants on behaviour competence. The purpose is to identify those drugs that seem to be the most and least likely to produce behavioural toxicity.

A comparison of the effect of intramuscular diclofenac, ketorolac or piroxicam on post-operative pain following laparoscopy.

Sixty patients presenting for in-patient gynaecological laparoscopic surgery were randomly allocated to receive either diclofenac 75 mg (n = 20), ketorolac 30 mg (n = 20) or piroxicam 20 mg (n = 20) as an intramuscular (i.m.) injection immediately after induction of anaesthesia. Post-operative Visual Analogue Scores at rest, over the first 24 h after surgery, using a 10 cm scale, ranged from 3.2-0.5 in the diclofenac group, 2.7-0.85 in the ketorolac group and 2.8-0.5 in the piroxicam group. The scores did not differ significantly between the three groups (P > 0.05). Mean time (SD) to first analgesia was 27 (94) min in the piroxicam group, 16 (30) min in the diclofenac group and 62 (120) min in the piroxicam group. Six out of 20 patients in the diclofenac group required further analgesia compared with nine out of 20 in the other two drug groups, this was not significant. There were no reports of increased bleeding, bronchoconstriction, bleeding from the upper gastrointestinal tract, renal impairment or pain from the intramuscular (i.m.) injection site in any of the groups. The administration of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug to patients presenting for laparoscopic surgery reduces post-operative pain and analgesic requirements, and piroxicam 20 mg provides a suitable alternative to 75 mg diclofenac and 20 mg ketorolac.

Preoperative application of piroxicam gel compared to a local anaesthetic field block for postoperative analgesia.

The non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs inhibit prostaglandin synthesis and hence have an analgesic action. Following topical administration, the drug is concentrated in the tissues and so can have a local analgesic effect. This study investigated the effect of the preoperative application of topical piroxicam on postoperative analgesic requirement compared to a placebo group and a conventional local anaesthetic field block. Forty-two patients presenting for in-patient inguinal hernia repair were randomly allocated on a double-blind basis to have either piroxicam gel 15gm applied preoperatively, or an inguinal field block with 20 ml of 0.375% bupivacaine following induction of anaesthesia, or no treatment. Postoperative Visual Analogue Scores for pain on moving in group P, I or C on admission at 1h, 2h, and 4 h following surgery were: 2 vs 1 vs 6.5; 3 vs 3 vs 5; 3 v 2 vs 4.5; 3 vs 2 vs 5.0, respectively (P < 0.005). Median(range) time to first analgesia was 25.4(15-70) min in group I, 30.3(10-49) min in group P; this was not significantly different from group C21.5(7-70) min. Over the first 24 hours the postoperative morphine requirement was significantly less in the two treatment groups 30(20)mg in group I and 34(17) mg in group P and 71(15) in group C, P < 0.0001. There were no apparent NSAID-induced side-effects, or effects on wound healing. The preoperative administration of piroxicam (15gm) topically compared favourably with a preoperative local anaesthetic field block with respect to VAS scores, time to first analgesia and total morphine consumption. And both treatment groups provided significantly superior analgesia than the control group.

A comparison of the effect of intramuscular diclofenac, ketorolac or piroxicam on postoperative pain following laparoscopy.

Sixty patients presenting for in-patient gynaecological laparoscopic surgery were randomly allocated to receive either diclofenac 75 mg (n = 20), ketorolac 30 mg (n = 20) or piroxicam 20 mg (n = 20) as an intra-muscular injection immediately after induction of anaesthesia. Postoperative visual analogue scores over the first 24 hours, using a 10 cm scale, ranged from 3.2-0.5 in the diclofenac group, 2.7-0.85 in the ketorolac group and 2.8-0.5 in the piroxicam group. The scores did not differ significantly between the three groups (p > 0.05). Mean time (SD) to first analgesia was 27(94) minutes in the piroxicam group, 16 (30) minutes in the diclofenac group and 62 (120) minutes in the piroxicam group. Six out of twenty patients in the diclofenac group required further analgesia compared to nine out of twenty in the other two drug groups. This difference was not significant. There were no reports of increased bleeding, bronchoconstriction, bleeding from the upper gastrointestinal tract, renal impairment or pain from the intra-muscular injection site in any of the groups. The administration of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug to patients presenting for laparoscopic surgery reduces postoperative pain. There were no obvious differences between the agents used.

Effects of semprex-D and diphenhydramine on learning in young adults with seasonal allergic rhinitis.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that learning ability is impaired in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis relative to untreated individuals and to evaluate a combination compound (acrivastine 8 mg + pseudoephedrine 60 mg) for attenuation of the learning impairment in these patients. BACKGROUND: In a previous study employing the same method it was shown that young children (10 to 12 yrs) suffering from seasonal allergic rhinitis performed significantly worse on tests of learning and using knowledge after acute treatment with a sedating antihistamine (diphenhydramine 50 mg) or placebo as compared with nontreated healthy controls. This effect was partially reversed by treatment with loratadine. METHODS: Sixty-seven young adults suffering from seasonal allergic rhinitis and 28 matched controls were trained on didactic simulation for three consecutive days. Atopic subjects were treated differentially during training according to a double-blind, randomized, parallel group design with either diphenhydramine hydrochloride 50 mg, a combination compound (acrivastine 8 mg + pseudoephedrine 60 mg, A + P), or placebo, administered qd. After training, all atopic subjects were maintained on A + P treatment for 14 days at which time all groups returned for examination. RESULTS: Mean performance at the end of training was worse for all atopic subjects combined compared with normal subjects. Subjects treated with diphenhydramine performed significantly worse than either normals (P < .001) or those treated with A + P (P < .001). At the examination, the diphenhydramine group's performance differed significantly from those of the normal (P < .001) and A + P groups (P < .001). CONCLUSION: The study supports our previous finding that allergy symptoms reduce learning ability which is further reduced learning ability which is further reduced by diphenhydramine. Atopic subjects with allergies treated with acrivastine + pseudoephedrine learned as well as normal subjects.

Improved postoperative analgesia with preoperative piroxicam.

PURPOSE: Piroxicam like other Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory drugs can be used to provide postoperative analgesia. With a half-life of 50 hr given preoperatively its' analgesic effect should continue postoperatively. This study compared the effects of 20 mg piroxicam given at different times in the perioperative period on postoperative analgesic requirement. METHOD: Following ethical committee approval and written informed consent, 60 ASA I and II patients presenting for inpatient gynaecological laparoscopic surgery were given either 20 mg piroxicam or a placebo po two hours preoperatively, immediately before induction of anaesthesia or one hour postoperatively in a randomised double bind manner. RESULTS: Postoperative Visual Analogue Pain Scores were lower on admission to the recovery ward in patients given piroxicam preoperatively (Group 1), than in the other two treatment groups (groups 2 and 3). Pain scores were 2.72 vs 4.25 vs 6.67 respectively (P < 0.001). Pain scores did not differ at any other times. Time to first analgesic request was greater in the group 1 than in the other two treatment groups; 141 (61) min vs 115 (147) in Group 2 and 30 (36) min in Group 3. Nine patients in Group 1 requested further analgesia compared with 15 in Group 2 and 16 in Group 3. There were no piroxicam-induced side-effects. CONCLUSION: Piroxicam given two hours preoperatively reduced pain scores, time to first analgesia and postoperative analgesic requirements compared with administration prior to induction or one hour postoperatively.

Effects of mefloquine alone and with alcohol on psychomotor and driving performance.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether mefloquine, a quinoline antimalarial drug, affects psychomotor and actual driving performance when given in prophylactic regimen, alone or in combination with alcohol. METHODS: Forty male and female volunteers were randomly assigned in equal numbers to two groups, and were treated double-blind for one month with mefloquine and placebo. The medication was taken in a 250 mg dose on the evenings of Days 1, 2, 3, 8, 15, 22 and 29. Testing was done on Days 4, 23 and 30, the latter after repeated doses of alcohol sufficient to sustain a blood concentration of about 0.35 mg.ml-1. Two real driving tests were used to measure prolonged (1 h) road tracking and car following performance. Critical Flicker/Fusion Frequency (CFF), critical instability tracking and body sway were also measured in the laboratory. RESULTS: Mefloquine caused no significant impairment in any test at any time relative to placebo. It significantly improved road tracking performance on Day 4. A significant interaction between prior treatment and alcohol was found in the body sway test, as the alcohol-induced change was less after mefloquine than placebo. The sensitivity of the driving test and the CFF test were shown by the significant overall effect of alcohol which did not discriminate between the two prior treatments. CONCLUSION: Mefloquine did not impair driving performance but rather improved it in the longer test, suggesting that the drug may possess psychostimulating properties.

A study of the pharmacodynamic interaction between befloxatone and ethanol on performance and mood in healthy volunteers.

The effects of befloxatone (20 mg o.d. for 10 days) alone and in combination with ethanol on psychomotor performance, memory and mood were assessed in a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled study. On treatment days 6, 8 and 10, subjects received 0.5 and 0.8 g/kg ethanol and ethanol placebo in randomly assigned, balanced orders, 2 h post-drug. Critical fusion frequency, choice reaction time, postural instability, critical tracking and mood were measured 1h before ethanol and 1, 3 and 5 h afterwards. Divided attention, sustained attention and memory (immediate and delayed recall) were also measured in single tests, 2.5-5 h post-ethanol.Ethanol's effects were generally significant when blood alcohol concentrations (BAC) after both doses were the highest; i.e. 0.48-0.67 and 0.96-1.10 mg/ml. Those effects were virtually gone after the subjects' mean BACs fell below 0.40 mg/ml. Befloxatone alone had no significant impairing effect in any test. Neither did it significantly interact with ethanol to cause any greater impairment than the latter alone. It was concluded that befloxatone does not potentiate the sedating and impairing effects of ethanol.