Immunological analysis of phloem sap of Bacillus thuringiensis corn and of the nontarget herbivore Rhopalosiphum padi (Homoptera: Aphididae) for the presence of Cry1Ab.

Phloem sap of transgenic Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) corn expressing a truncated form of the B. thuringiensis delta-endotoxin Cry1Ab, sap sucking aphids feeding on Bt corn and their honeydew were analysed for presence of Cry1Ab using ELISA. Phloem sap of Bt and non-Bt corn was collected using a newly developed technique with a microcapillary being directly inserted into the phloem tubes. Using this technique, no Cry1Ab was detected in the phloem sap. In contrast, measurable concentrations of Cry1Ab in the range of 1 ppb were detected when phloem sap of pooled leaf samples was extracted using EDTA buffer. This was probably because of Cry1Ab toxin released from damaged cells. When analysing apterous adults of Rhopalosiphum padi L. and their honeydew, no Cry1Ab could be detected. In contrast, Cry1Ab was clearly detected in both larvae of the leaf chewing herbivore Spodoptera littoralis (Boisduval) and their faeces, showing that Cry1Ab is detectable after ingestion and excretion by herbivores. These results suggest that R. padi ingests or contains no or only very low concentrations of Cry1Ab in the range of the detection limit. In consequence it is hypothesized that R. padi as an important prey for beneficial insects in corn is unlikely to cause any harm to its antagonists due to mediating Bt toxin.

Indirect effects of an unspecialized endophytic fungus on specialized plant - herbivorous insect interactions.

The effects of Acremonium alternatum Gams (Ascomycotina, Clavicipitacea) on the development and nutrition of diamondback moth larvae Plutella xylostella L. (Lepidoptera, Plutellidae) were studied in the laboratory. All experiments were conducted before the endophyte reached the green parts of the plants; thus P. xylostella, a folivore, was not in direct contact with the endophyte. Larvae feeding on leaves of previously inoculated plants suffered from increased mortality, especially during the first 10 days of development. Likewise, during early development surviving larvae had a reduced relative growth rate (RGR), which, however, did not result in reduced pupal or adult weight. We found sexual differences in the food utilization efficiency; female P. xylostella progeny reacted more sensitively to endophytic infection of cabbage than male larvae. Female larvae feeding on leaves of endophyte-infested plants responded to reduced efficiency of conversion of ingested food (ECI) by increasing their relative consumption rate (RCR). The underlying mechanisms for these results are discussed in relation to changes in plant phytosterol metabolism which could account for reduced larval growth on inoculated cabbage plants. Our data suggest that unspecialized, soil-borne endophytic fungi, even when their association with the host plant is weak, can influence aboveground herbivore development and should be considered when investigating plant-insect interactions.

[A psychiatrist's work with the homeless of Tel Aviv].

This is the first report of a psychiatrist's work (18 months) with the Tel Aviv homeless. A brief report of the phenomenon is given, as well as a few case descriptions. The work was performed under the patronage of the Tel Aviv Municipality. An attempt is made to provide the Israeli-Tel Aviv perspective from the legal, medical and psychiatric points of view.

["Saddam syndrome:" acute psychotic reactions during the Gulf War--renewal of concept of brief reactive psychosis].

6 patients came to our psychiatric emergency room during the first 2 weeks of the Gulf War presenting the clinical picture of acute delusional paranoid psychosis (4 women and 2 men between the ages of 30-77). 4 were without previously known psychopathology, while the other 2 were known to have had some nonpsychotic cognitive impairment. The first 4 recovered completely within a short time while the other 2 continued to have psychopathological symptoms. We discuss psychogenic or reactive psychosis, and the concept of reactivation when cumulative trauma exceed the individual's personal threshold, as may occur during a war. Different phenomenological syndromes may follow.

Geophysical variables and behavior: LXIX. Solar activity and admission of psychiatric patients.

Numbers of first admissions per month for a single psychiatric unit, from 1977 to 1987, were examined for 1829 psychiatric inpatients to assess whether this measure was correlated with 10 parameters of geophysical activity. Four statistically significant values were 0.197 with level of solar radioflux at 2800 MHZ in the corresponding month, -0.274 with sudden magnetic disturbances of the ionosphere, -0.216 with the index of geomagnetic activity, and -0.262 with the number of hours of positive ionization of the ionosphere in the corresponding month. Percentages of variance accounted for were very small.

Solar activity and admissions of psychiatric inpatients, relations and possible implications on seasonality.

Admission data for a month, from a single psychiatric unit, were examined for over 1800 psychiatric inpatients during the period of 1977 to 1987, to assess their correlation with 10 parameters of geophysical activity. This pilot study indicates two statistically significant correlations between the numbers of first psychiatric admissions per month and the level of solar radioflux in the corresponding month (p less than 0.05) and sudden magnetic disturbances of the ionosphere (p less than 0.01). There is a statistically significant inverse correlation between the number of first psychiatric admissions per month, with the index of geomagnetic activity (GMA) (p less than 0.05) and with the number of hours of positive ionization of the ionosphere in the corresponding month (p less than 0.01).

Rheumatoid arthritis, hypochondriasis, depression and sewing.

Six female postmenopausal psychiatric inpatients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), domineering personality, hypochondriasis, alexithymia and perfectionism are presented. None of the patients fully responded to antidepressant drug treatment. Five of the six women were professionally engaged in sewing, which might be considered a mechanical risk factor for rheumatoid arthritis. Several psychiatric aspects of RA are discussed, particularly the existence of the "arthritic personality" and the influence of psychological stress in RA patients.