Unsupervised Screen Exposure and Poor Language Development: A Scoping Review to Assess Current Evidence and Suggest Priorities for Research.

Screen exposure has both negative and positive effects on the level of language skills a child acquires. The purpose of this review is to address current literature on the possible relationship between unsupervised screen exposure and language development in children and to provide recommendations to caregivers regarding screen exposure of children, taking into consideration the possible effects. A scoping review was conducted using the PubMed/MEDLINE (Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online) database. A total of 590 articles were retrieved and considered for inclusion. Twenty-one articles were finally included and reviewed with an emphasis on language, communication, and executive skills as well as cognitive development. The negative effects of screen exposure for children outweigh the positive effects. The largest number of studies demonstrate that unsupervised screen exposure may negatively impact a child's language usage and cognitive and executive skills, disrupt playtime, and affect the quality of sleep. On the other hand, supervised screen use is associated with improved language skills. More evidence is needed on unsupervised exposure in children to new types of screens. As technology could play a significant role in schools in the future, additional research is required to create educational media for schoolchildren with specific guidelines.

Development, application and evaluation of three novel TaqMan qPCR assays for phosphine resistance monitoring in major stored product pests Tribolium castaneum and Rhyzopertha dominica.

BACKROUND: Stored product protection from insect pests relies heavily on the use of phosphine. The most serious drawback of phosphine is the development of resistance in major stored product insects worldwide, including the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) and the lesser grain borer, Rhyzopertha dominica (F.). Two genetic loci are responsible for phosphine resistance: the rph1 (S349G mutation in the cyt-b5-r homolog) in T. castaneum and the rph2 (P45/49S mutation in the dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase (dld) gene) in T. castaneum and R. dominica. RESULTS: In this study, we have developed and applied high-throughput, practical and specific molecular diagnostics (TaqMan qPCR) for monitoring mutations S349G, P45S and P49S. In our pilot monitoring application, we have included phosphine-resistant and susceptible populations from different parts of the world (USA, Australia, Brazil) and European strains from Greece and Serbia. Our results for the resistant T. castaneum showed a P45S mutant allele frequency (MAF) of 100% and 75.0% in the populations from Serbia and Brazil, respectively. Regarding the susceptible T. castaneum, P45S was detected in Greece (MAF = 62.5%) and was absent in Australia (MAF = 0.0%). Additionally, the S349G mutation was found to be fixed in all resistant populations, while it was also detected in susceptible ones (frequencies: 65.0% and 100.0%). The only case where both mutations were fixed (100%) was a resistant population from Serbia. In R. dominica, the P49S mutation was found only in the two resistant R. dominica populations from Serbia and Greece (50.0% and 100%) and was absent from the susceptible one from Greece; thus, P49S seems to be a satisfactory indicator for monitoring phosphine resistance. CONCLUSIONS: Our P49S detection assay in R. dominica seems to be a viable option in this direction, yet its utilization needs additional large-scale confirmatory work. The identification of additional resistance markers also should be prioritized. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols for total joint replacement surgery.

The enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols are a comprehensive therapeutic approach that prioritizes the well-being of patients. It encompasses several aspects such as providing sufficient nutritional support, effectively managing pain, ensuring appropriate fluid management and hydration, and promoting early mobilization after surgery. The advent of ERAS theory has led to a shift in focus within modern ERAS protocols. At present, ERAS protocols emphasize perioperative therapeutic strategies employed by surgeons and anesthesiologists, as well as place increased importance on preoperative patient education, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the enhancement of patient satisfaction and clinical outcomes. This editorial highlights the application of ERAS protocols in the current context of total joint replacement surgery.

Unusual Presentation of Pneumocephalus With Late Onset During Labour Epidural Analgesia.

A 36-year-old woman with no significant medical history was in active labour and requested labour analgesia. While the epidural technique was performed at the L4-L5 interspace, using the loss of resistance to air technique (LORA), inadvertent dural puncture occurred. Since the patient reported no headache or discomfort, the same procedure was repeated at the L3-L4 interspace successfully. Loss of resistance was reported at 3 cm and the epidural catheter was advanced uneventfully at 8 cm. Aspiration was negative for blood or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and a test dose of 2 ml lidocaine 2% was administered epidurally. Within five minutes the patient exhibited a mild hypotensive episode successfully treated with 2.5 mg ephedrine IV, a sensory blockade up to T6 level, and a motor blockade up to T10 level. Both the woman's and the baby's vital signs remained stable, no further drugs were administered epidurally and labour progressed painlessly and uncomplicated for 90 minutes with subsequent vaginal delivery of a healthy newborn. During the episiotomy incision repair, the patient complained of light dizziness and nausea. Her vital signs and the arterial blood gases (ABGs) ordered were within normal range, but the neurological examination revealed an isolated Babinski on the right foot. The head CT scan requested indicated a considerable quantity of air within the subarachnoid region. The patient was treated conservatively; symptoms showed steady improvement with total resolution on the sixth day, and the woman was discharged. This case reemphasizes the possibility of pneumocephalus, which may, in reality, occur more frequently than is commonly recognized without a CT confirmation.

IL-6 Serum Levels in COVID-19 Patients With Vertigo.

Introduction Dizziness and vertigo represent well-established symptoms of COVID-19. An overexpression of cytokines, a condition often described with the term "cytokine storm" or "hypercytokinemia", is a key characteristic of SARS-Cov-2 infection and plays a pivotal role in disease progression and prognosis. Among them, IL-6 is of major importance.  Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate any probable IL-6 serum titer difference in COVID-19 patients with vertigo (V+) or without vertigo (V-) admitted to the COVID-19 internal medicine departments of Attikon University Hospital, Athens, Greece, within 12 months. Methods The sample consisted of 52 COVID-19 patients who were diagnosed between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2020. Of those, 31 reported vertigos during their admission (V+), while the remaining 21 COVID-19 patients did not complain of such symptoms (V-). Results Higher IL-6 serum levels post-COVID-19 infections lead to higher incidence rates of vertigo symptoms (p<.005), regardless of gender and age (p.005).

Functionally characterized arthropod pest and pollinator cytochrome P450s associated with xenobiotic metabolism.

The cytochrome P450 family (P450s) of arthropods includes diverse enzymes involved in endogenous essential physiological functions and in the oxidative metabolism of xenobiotics, insecticides and plant allelochemicals. P450s can also establish insecticide selectivity in bees and pollinators. Several arthropod P450s, distributed in different phylogenetic groups, have been associated with xenobiotic metabolism, and some of them have been functionally characterized, using different in vitro and in vivo systems. The purpose of this review is to summarize scientific publications on arthropod P450s from major insect and mite agricultural pests, pollinators and Papilio sp, which have been functionally characterized and shown to metabolize xenobiotics and/or their role (direct or indirect) in pesticide toxicity or resistance has been functionally validated. The phylogenetic relationships among these P450s, the functional systems employed for their characterization and their xenobiotic catalytic properties are presented, in a systematic approach, including critical aspects and limitations. The potential of the primary P450-based metabolic pathway of target and non-target organisms for the development of highly selective insecticides and resistance-breaking formulations may help to improve the efficiency and sustainability of pest control.

Over-expression in cis of the midgut P450 CYP392A16 contributes to abamectin resistance in Tetranychus urticae.

Cytochrome P450 mediated metabolism is a well-known mechanism of insecticide resistance. However, to what extent qualitative or quantitative changes are responsible for increased metabolism, is not well understood. Increased expression of P450 genes is most often reported, but the underlying regulatory mechanisms remain widely unclear. In this study, we investigate CYP392A16, a P450 from the polyphagous and major agricultural pest Tetranychus urticae. High expression levels of CYP392A16 and in vitro metabolism assays have previously associated this P450 with abamectin resistance. Here, we show that CYP392A16 is primarily localized in the midgut epithelial cells, as indicated by immunofluorescence analysis, a finding also supported by a comparison between feeding and contact toxicity bioassays. Silencing via RNAi of CYP392A16 in a highly resistant T. urticae population reduced insecticide resistance levels from 3400- to 1900- fold, compared to the susceptible reference strain. Marker-assisted backcrossing, using a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) found in the CYP392A16 allele from the resistant population, was subsequently performed to create congenic lines bearing this gene in a susceptible genetic background. Toxicity assays indicated that the allele derived from the resistant strain confers 3.6-fold abamectin resistance compared to the lines with susceptible genetic background. CYP392A16 is over-expressed at the same levels in these lines, pointing to cis-regulation of gene expression. In support of that, functional analysis of the putative promoter region from the resistant and susceptible parental strains revealed a higher reporter gene expression, confirming the presence of cis-acting regulatory mechanisms.

Multiple TaqMan qPCR and droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) diagnostics for pesticide resistance monitoring and management, in the major agricultural pest Tetranychus urticae.

BACKGROUND: Decisions on which pesticide to use in agriculture are expected to become more difficult, as the number of available chemicals is decreasing. For Tetranychus urticae (T. urticae), a major pest for which a number of candidate markers for pesticide resistance are in place, molecular diagnostics could support decision-making for the rational use of acaricides. RESULTS: A suite of 12 TaqMan qPCR assays [G314D (GluCl1), G326E, I321T (GluCl3), G119S, F331W (Ace-1), H92R (PSST), L1024V, F1538I (VGSC), I1017F (CHS1), G126S, S141F, P262T (cytb)], were validated against Sanger-sequencing, and subsequently adapted for use with the ddPCR technology. The concordance correlation coefficient between the actual and ddPCR measured mutant allelic frequencies was 0.995 (95% CI = 0.991-0.998), and no systematic, proportional, or random differences were detected. The achieved Limit of Detection (LoD) was 0.1% (detection of one mutant in a background of 999 wild type mites). The ddPCR assay panel was then assessed in terms of agreement with phenotypic resistance, through a pilot application in field populations from Crete, with strong correlation and thus predictive and diagnostic value of the molecular assays in some cases (e.g., etoxazole and abamectin resistance). Molecular diagnostics were able to capture incipient resistance that was otherwise missed by phenotypic bioassays. The molecular and phenotypic resistance screening of T. urticae field populations from Crete, revealed both multi-resistant and susceptible populations. CONCLUSION: The highly sensitive T. urticae molecular diagnostic platforms developed in this study could prove a valuable tool for pesticide resistance management. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

The Use of the Hypotension Prediction Index Integrated in an Algorithm of Goal Directed Hemodynamic Treatment during Moderate and High-Risk Surgery.

(1) Background: The Hypotension Prediction Index (HPI) is an algorithm that predicts hypotension, defined as mean arterial pressure (MAP) less than 65 mmHg for at least 1 min, based on arterial waveform features. We tested the hypothesis that the use of this index reduces the duration and severity of hypotension during noncardiac surgery. (2) Methods: We enrolled adults having moderate- or high-risk noncardiac surgery with invasive arterial pressure monitoring. Participating patients were randomized 1:1 to standard of care or hemodynamic management with HPI guidance with a goal directed hemodynamic treatment protocol. The trigger to initiate treatment (with fluids, vasopressors, or inotropes) was a value of HPI of 85 (range, 0-100) or higher in the intervention group. Primary outcome was the amount of hypotension, defined as time-weighted average (TWA) MAP less than 65 mmHg. Secondary outcomes were time spent in hypertension defined as MAP more than 100 mmHg for at least 1 min; medication and fluids administered and postoperative complications. (3) Results: We obtained data from 99 patients. The median (IQR) TWA of hypotension was 0.16 mmHg (IQR, 0.01-0.32 mmHg) in the intervention group versus 0.50 mmHg (IQR, 0.11-0.97 mmHg) in the control group, for a median difference of -0.28 (95% CI, -0.48 to -0.09 mmHg; p = 0.0003). We also observed an increase in hypertension in the intervention group as well as a higher weight-adjusted administration of phenylephrine in the intervention group. (4) Conclusions: In this single-center prospective study of patients undergoing elective noncardiac surgery, the use of this prediction model resulted in less intraoperative hypotension compared with standard care. An increase in the time spent in hypertension in the treatment group was also observed, probably as a result of overtreatment. This should provide an insight for refining the use of this prediction index in future studies to avoid excessive correction of blood pressure.

Transcriptomic analysis of s-methoprene resistance in the lesser grain borer, Rhyzopertha dominica, and evaluation of piperonyl butoxide as a resistance breaker.

BACKGROUND: The lesser grain borer, Rhyzopertha dominica is a serious pest of stored grains. Fumigation and contact insecticides play a major role in managing this pest globally. While insects are developing genetic resistance to chemicals, hormonal analogues such as s-methoprene play a key role in reducing general pest pressure as well as managing pest populations that are resistant to fumigants and neurotoxic contact insecticides. However, resistance to s-methoprene has been reported in R. dominica with some reports showing a remarkable high resistance, questioning the use of this compound and other related analogues in grain protection. The current study attempts to identify possible molecular mechanisms that contribute in resistance to s-methoprene in R. dominica. RESULTS: Transcriptome analysis of resistant and susceptible strains of this pest species identified a set of differentially expressed genes related to cytochrome P450s, indicating their potential role in resistance to s-methoprene. Laboratory bioassays were performed with s-methoprene treated wheat grains in presence and absence of piperonyl butoxide (PBO), a cytochrome P450 inhibitor. The results indicate that PBO, when applied alone, at least at the concentration tested here, had no effect on R. dominica adult emergence, but has a clear synergistic effect to s-methoprene. The number of produced progeny decreased in presence of the inhibitor, especially in the resistant strain. In addition, we also identified CYP complement (CYPome) of R. dominica, annotated and analysed phylogenetically, to understand the evolutionary relationships with other species. CONCLUSIONS: The information generated in current study suggest that PBO can effectively be used to break resistance to s-methoprene in R. dominica.

Identification and characterization of striking multiple-insecticide resistance in a Tetranychus urticae field population from Greece.

BACKGROUND: Tetranychus urticae is a notorious crop pest with a worldwide distribution that has developed resistance to a wide range of acaricides. Here, we investigated the resistance levels of a T. urticae population collected from an ornamental greenhouse in Peloponnese, Greece, and analyzed its resistance mechanisms at the molecular level. RESULTS: Toxicological assays showed resistance against compounds with different modes of action, with resistance ratios of: 89-fold for abamectin; > 1000-fold for clofentezine; > 5000-fold for etoxazole; 27-fold for fenpyroximate and pyridaben; 20- and 36-fold for spirodiclofen and spirotetramat, respectively; and 116- and > 500-fold for cyenopyrafen and cyflumetofen, respectively. Bioassays with synergists indicated the involvement of detoxification enzymes in resistance to abamectin, but not to cyflumetofen and spirodiclofen. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis showed significant over-expression of several genes encoding detoxification enzymes such as cytochrome P450 monooxygenases and UDP-glycosyltransferases, which have been previously associated with acaricide resistance. Known target-site resistance mutations were identified in acetyl-choline esterase, chitin synthase 1 and NDUFS7/psst, but putative novel resistance mutations were also discovered in targets such as glutamate-gated chloride channel subunit 3. Interestingly, target-site resistance mutations against pyrethroids or bifenazate were not identified, possibly indicating a recent reduced selection pressure in Greece, as well as a possible opportunity to rotate these chemistries. CONCLUSION: We identified and characterized a striking case of multiple acaricide resistance in a field population of T. urticae. Exceptionally strong resistance phenotypes, with accumulation of multiple resistance mutations and over-expression of P450s and other detoxification genes in the same field population are reported.

Co-Expression of a Homologous Cytochrome P450 Reductase Is Required for In Vivo Validation of the Tetranychus urticae CYP392A16-Based Abamectin Resistance in Drosophila.

Overexpression of the cytochrome P450 monooxygenase CYP392A16 has been previously associated with abamectin resistance using transcriptional analysis in the two-spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae, an important pest species worldwide; however, this association has not been functionally validated in vivo despite the demonstrated ability of CYP392A16 to metabolize abamectin in vitro. We expressed CYP392A16 in vivo via a Gal4 transcription activator protein/Upstream Activating Sequence (GAL4/UAS) system in Drosophila melanogaster flies, driving expression with detoxification tissue-specific drivers. We demonstrated that CYP392A16 expression confers statistically significant abamectin resistance in toxicity bioassays in Drosophila only when its homologous redox partner, cytochrome P450 reductase (TuCPR), is co-expressed in transgenic flies. Our study shows that the Drosophila model can be further improved, to facilitate the functional analysis of insecticide resistance mechanisms acting alone or in combination.

The incidence of recurrent cardiovascular events among acute coronary syndrome patients treated with generic or original clopidogrel in relation to their sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. The Aegean study.

INTRODUCTION: The use of generic drugs is continuously growing; however, there are limited epidemiological data regarding the therapeutic equivalence of each original drug formulation with its generic counterparts. We evaluated the 12-month composite endpoint of recurrent acute myocardial infarction, ischaemic stroke, cardiac deaths, or hospitalisation due to a major bleeding in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients treated with original clopidogrel or a generic clopidogrel formulation, in relation to sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Consecutive Greek ACS patients (n = 1194) hospitalised in the Aegean islands and the Attica region were enrolled. Clopidogrel treatment was recorded either as original clopidogrel hydrogen sulphate (Plavix®/Iscover®) or as a generic clopidogrel besylate formulation (Clovelen®). The composite endpoint was recorded at 12-month follow-up. RESULTS: The 12-month composite endpoint was 3.9% (4.6% in the Aegean islands and 3.5% in the Attica area, p > 0.05). The respective incidence in men was 4.0% and in women 3.8% (p > 0.05). Overall, generic and original clopidogrel use was 87% and 13% of patients, respectively. No significant differences were observed between original and generic clopidogrel use and 12-month composite endpoint incidence. Subgroup analysis with gender, region of residence, and clinical and lifestyle factors as strata did not reveal any significant outcomes. Haemorrhage incidence did not exceed 1% in the total sample. CONCLUSIONS: The use of a generic clopidogrel besylate formulation was quite high in both urban and insular areas of Greece and had similar efficacy and safety profile with the original clopidogrel salt, supporting the routine use of this low-cost generic clopidogrel in the management of cardiovascular disease patients.

Targeted mutagenesis using CRISPR-Cas9 in the chelicerate herbivore Tetranychus urticae.

The use of CRISPR-Cas9 has revolutionized functional genetic work in many organisms, including more and more insect species. However, successful gene editing or genetic transformation has not yet been reported for chelicerates, the second largest group of terrestrial animals. Within this group, some mite and tick species are economically very important for agriculture and human health, and the availability of a gene-editing tool would be a significant advancement for the field. Here, we report on the use of CRISPR-Cas9 in the spider mite Tetranychus urticae. The ovary of virgin adult females was injected with a mix of Cas9 and sgRNAs targeting the phytoene desaturase gene. Natural mutants of this laterally transferred gene have previously shown an easy-to-score albino phenotype. Albino sons of injected virgin females were mated with wild-type females, and two independent transformed lines where created and further characterized. Albinism inherited as a recessive monogenic trait. Sequencing of the complete target-gene of both lines revealed two different lesions at expected locations near the PAM site in the target-gene. Both lines did not genetically complement each other in dedicated crosses, nor when crossed to a reference albino strain with a known genetic defect in the same gene. In conclusion, two independent mutagenesis events were induced in the spider mite T. urticae using CRISPR-Cas9, hereby providing proof-of-concept that CRISPR-Cas9 can be used to create gene knockouts in mites.

Overexpression of an alternative allele of carboxyl/choline esterase 4 (CCE04) of Tetranychus urticae is associated with high levels of resistance to the keto-enol acaricide spirodiclofen.

BACKGROUND: Spirodiclofen is an acaricide that targets lipid biosynthesis by inhibiting acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase. Spirodiclofen resistance in spider mites has been previously documented and was associated with overexpression of CYP392E10, a cytochrome P450 mono-oxygenase that metabolizes spirodiclofen. However, additional mechanisms have been suggested in several studies and a carboxyl/choline esterase gene, CCE04, was shown to be overexpressed in two genetically different strains, SR-VP and SR-TK, both exhibiting high spirodiclofen resistance levels. RESULTS: We identified two different CCE04 alleles in both resistant strains, CCE04SR-VP and CCE04London , with CCE04SR-VP being highly overexpressed. Isoelectric focusing analysis confirmed the overexpression of a single esterase isozyme, while copy number and random fragment length polymorphism analysis revealed that CCE04SR-VP overexpression was more likely due to selection for the CCE04SR-VP allele rather than gene amplification. Both CCE04 alleles were functionally expressed using the Pichia expression system. Functional enzyme assays revealed only limited kinetic differences between CCE04 isoforms for model substrates. In addition, inhibition/competition experiments with spirodiclofen suggested a similar interaction with both enzymes, whereas its active metabolite, spirodiclofen enol, did not inhibit enzyme activity. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that selection with spirodiclofen results in enrichment of a specific allele of CCE04 (CCE04SR-VP ) in two genetically independent strains, which is highly overexpressed. Based on kinetic enzyme data, however, quantitative rather than qualitative differences between CCE04SR-VP and CCE04London seem more likely to be involved in resistance. Our findings are discussed in the light of a possible spirodiclofen resistance mechanism, with sequestration of spirodiclofen by CCE04SR-VP being a likely hypothesis. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.

Development of efficient RNAi in Nezara viridula for use in insecticide target discovery.

Stink bugs are an emerging pest in many regions of the world but their molecular biology is still poorly understood. While several transcriptomes are available, the lack of validated gene manipulation tools like RNA interference (RNAi) in species such as the southern green stinkbug Nezara viridula precludes the characterization of individual genes in vivo. Such tools are particularly useful in performing high-throughput screens to search for essential genes that can be prioritized as potential insecticide targets. Here, we developed and optimized an efficient RNAi in N. viridula for use in insecticide target discovery and beyond. The visible marker Sex combs reduced and the essential gene Actin were used to verify the usability and efficiency of RNAi by microinjection at both the adult and nymphal stages, respectively, with nymphal approach presenting significant advantages. Following validation, RNAi was then used to measure lethality following the knockdown (KD) of two genes that are known insecticide targets, Chitin synthase, and Acetyl-CoA carboxylase. The KD of each gene resulted in >75% corrected mortality. These results indicate that RNAi is an effective tool in N. viridula and set a benchmark to evaluate potential targets in future RNAi screens aimed at insecticide target discovery.

Functional characterization of CYP6A51, a cytochrome P450 associated with pyrethroid resistance in the Mediterranean fruit fly Ceratitis capitata.

Overexpression of the cytochrome P450 monooxygenase CYP6A51 has been previously associated with pyrethroid resistance in the Mediterranean fruit fly (medfly) Ceratitis capitata, an important pest species worldwide; however, this association has not been functionally validated. We expressed CYP6A51 gene in Escherichia coli and produced a functional enzyme with preference for the chemiluminescent substrate Luciferin-ME EGE. In vitro metabolism assays revealed that CYP6A51 is capable of metabolizing two insecticides that share the same mode of action, λ-cyhalothrin and deltamethrin, whereas no metabolism or substrate depletion was observed in the presence of spinosad or malathion. We further expressed CYP6A51 in vivo via a GAL4/UAS system in Drosophila melanogaster flies, driving expression with detoxification tissue-specific drivers. Toxicity bioassays indicated that CYP6A51 confers knock-down resistance to both λ-cyhalothrin and deltamethrin. Detection of CYP6A51 - associated pyrethroid resistance in field populations may be important for efficient Insecticide Resistance Management (IRM) strategies.

Fitness costs of key point mutations that underlie acaricide target-site resistance in the two-spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae.

The frequency of insecticide/acaricide target-site resistance is increasing in arthropod pest populations and is typically underpinned by single point mutations that affect the binding strength between the insecticide/acaricide and its target-site. Theory predicts that although resistance mutations clearly have advantageous effects under the selection pressure of the insecticide/acaricide, they might convey negative pleiotropic effects on other aspects of fitness. If such fitness costs are in place, target-site resistance is thus likely to disappear in the absence of insecticide/acaricide treatment, a process that would counteract the spread of resistance in agricultural crops. Hence, there is a great need to reliably quantify the various potential pleiotropic effects of target-site resistance point mutations on arthropod fitness. Here, we used near-isogenic lines of the spider mite pest Tetranychus urticae that carry well-characterized acaricide target-site resistance mutations to quantify potential fitness costs. Specifically, we analyzed P262T in the mitochondrial cytochrome b, the combined G314D and G326E substitutions in the glutamate-gated chloride channels, L1024V in the voltage-gated sodium channel, and I1017F in chitin synthase 1. Five fertility life table parameters and nine single-generation life-history traits were quantified and compared across a total of 15 mite lines. In addition, we monitored the temporal resistance level dynamics of populations with different starting frequency levels of the chitin synthase resistant allele to further support our findings. Three target-site resistance mutations, I1017F and the co-occurring G314D and G326E mutations, were shown to significantly and consistently alter certain fitness parameters in T. urticae. The other two mutations (P262T and L1024V) did not result in any consistent change in a fitness parameter analyzed in our study. Our findings are discussed in the context of the global spread of T. urticae pesticide resistance and integrated pest management.

Congenital cytomegalovirus infection inducing non-congenital sensorineural hearing loss during childhood; a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is one of the most important risk factors for delayed onset and progressive hearing loss in children. However, the relevant literature is limited, heterogeneous and currently insufficient to provide guidance toward the effective monitoring of hearing acuity in these children. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to provide a systematic review focused on types of hearing loss that may escape diagnosis through universal neonatal hearing screening and/or present significant changes during childhood, such as progressive, fluctuating and late-onset hearing loss. DATA SOURCES: A review of the present literature was conducted via the PubMed database of the US National Library of Medicine (www.pubmed.org) and Scopus database (www.scopus.com) with the search terms "late-onset hearing loss cytomegalovirus", "progressive hearing loss cytomegalovirus" and "fluctuating hearing loss cytomegalovirus". STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: Prospective or retrospective clinical studies were included if they presented a detailed audiological assessment, for a follow-up period of >2years. METHODS: The prevalence and time of diagnosis of progressive, fluctuating and late-onset hearing loss were considered as primary outcomes. Results were recorded separately for symptomatic and asymptomatic children, when possible. RESULTS: This analysis refers to a population of 181 children with CMV-induced hearing loss, who were diagnosed among 1089 with congenital CMV infection. The prevalence of CMV-induced hearing loss was significantly higher among symptomatic children (p < 0.0001), who were also significantly more likely to develop bilateral hearing loss (p = 0.001). There was not sufficient information on the prevalence, laterality, degree and time of diagnosis of progressive, fluctuating and late-onset hearing loss that could constitute the basis toward the report of specific follow-up guidelines. CONCLUSIONS: Further studies are needed in order to understand and quantify the potential effects of congenital CMV infection in the inner ear and hearing acuity. The results presented in the relative studies should be very carefully evaluated and compared to each other, since they correspond to substantially different cohorts, study designs, and result elaboration. Infants with congenital CMV infection should be closely monitored, regarding their hearing acuity at least during their preschool years, although substantial changes in hearing thresholds have been reported as late as the 16th year of age. Parental counseling is of outmost importance in order to minimize the numbers of children lost to follow-up.

Comparison of click auditory brainstem response and chirp auditory steady-state response thresholds in children.

OBJECTIVES: During the last twenty years, auditory steady-state responses (ASSRs) are being used as an alternative and adjunct to the auditory brainstem response (ABR) for threshold estimation. This study aims at comparing and finding correlations between air-conduction thresholds using the traditional click ABR and the relatively recently used chirp ASSR test methods, for a large pediatric population. METHODS: One hundred and thirty children referred to our Clinic from Hospitals and Clinics of Western Greece ranging in age from 5 to 79 months (mean age = 32.7 ±â€¯14.0 months) participated prospectively. RESULTS: Strong and statistically significant correlations were found between the average of the 1000, 2000 and 4000 Hz chirp ASSR thresholds and click ABR thresholds (rs = .826, p < .001), and the average of the 2000 and 4000 Hz chirp ASSR and click ABR thresholds (rs = .824, p < .001). Additionally, there have been measurements for some children with hearing loss in the severe-to-profound range during the ASSR test, but no ABR at the upper limits of the equipment. Click ABR and chirp ASSR thresholds averaged at 2000 and 4000 Hz were within 20 dB in 90% of the ears tested. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study support the inclusion of chirp ASSRs into the pediatric test battery and indicate that they may provide an essential adjunct to the click ABR, especially in the management of very young children with severe-to-profound hearing loss.