The invasion, provenance and diversity of Vespa velutina Lepeletier (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) in Great Britain.

The yellow-legged or Asian hornet (Vespa velutina colour form nigrithorax) was introduced into France from China over a decade ago. Vespa velutina has since spread rapidly across Europe, facilitated by suitable climatic conditions and the ability of a single nest to disperse many mated queens over a large area. Yellow-legged hornets are a major concern because of the potential impact they have on populations of many beneficial pollinators, most notably the western honey bee (Apis mellifera), which shows no effective defensive behaviours against this exotic predator. Here, we present the first report of this species in Great Britain. Actively foraging hornets were detected at two locations, the first around a single nest in Gloucestershire, and the second a single hornet trapped 54 km away in Somerset. The foraging activity observed in Gloucestershire was largely restricted to within 700 m of a single nest, suggesting highly localised movements. Genetic analyses of individuals from the Gloucestershire nest and the single hornet from Somerset suggest that these incursions represent an expansion of the European population, rather than a second incursion from Asia. The founding queen of the Gloucestershire nest mated with a single male, suggesting that sexual reproduction may have occurred in an area of low nest density. Whilst the nest contained diploid adult males, haploid 'true' males were only present at the egg stage, indicating that the nest was detected and removed before the production of queens. Members of the public reported additional dead hornets associated with camping equipment recently returned from France and imported timber products, highlighting possible pathways of incursion. The utility of microsatellites to inform surveillance during an incursion and the challenge of achieving eradication of this damaging pest are discussed.

DNA barcoding for biosecurity: case studies from the UK plant protection program.

Since its conception, DNA barcoding has seen a rapid uptake within the research community. Nevertheless, as with many new scientific tools, progression towards the point of routine deployment within diagnostic laboratories has been slow. In this paper, we discuss the application of DNA barcoding in the Defra plant health diagnostic laboratories, where DNA barcoding is used primarily for the identification of invertebrate pests. We present a series of case studies that demonstrate the successful application of DNA barcoding but also reveal some potential limitations to expanded use. The regulated plant pest, Bursephalenchus xylophilus, and one of its vectors, Monochamus alternatus, were found in dining chairs. Some traded wood products are potentially high risk, allowing the movement of longhorn beetles; Trichoferus campestris, Leptura quadrifasciata, and Trichoferus holosericeus were found in a wooden cutlery tray, a railway sleeper, and a dining chair, respectively. An outbreak of Meloidogyne fallax was identified in Allium ampeloprasum and in three weed species. Reference sequences for UK native psyllids were generated to enable the development of rapid diagnostics to be used for monitoring following the release of Aphalara itadori as a biological control agent for Fallopia japonica.

Clinical significance of serum CA-125 and soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor type I in cervical adenocarcinoma patients.

HYPOTHESIS: The purpose of this study was to answer the question whether the measurement of the pretreatment tumor markers and cytokine levels would be of clinical use in patients with cervical adenocarcinoma. METHODS: CA-125, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), as well as interleukin 6 (IL-6), IL-8, vascular endothelial growth factor, IL-1 receptor antagonist, soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor type I (sTNF RI), and sTNF RII, were assessed in the sera of 120 cervical adenocarcinoma patients. RESULTS: CA-125 presented a better diagnostic sensitivity than did CEA and SCC, whereas the concentration of most cytokines, except for sTNF RII, revealed higher sensitivity, than did the standard tumor markers. The highest sensitivity was found for sTNF RI. The concentrations of the examined parameters were found to be significantly higher in patients with advanced stage (IIB-IV) as compared with patients with I-IIA stage. [Float1]Serum concentration of IL-6 was the only one that differs significantly, depending on the histological grade. During the 3-year follow-up, 25 patients relapsed, and 73 patients were disease-free. Significantly higher pretreatment serum concentrations of the examined parameters (except for SCC and IL-1 receptor antagonist) were found in patients who developed recurrences. Soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor type I and CA-125 were found to present the highest sensitivity, with areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.833 and 0.809, respectively. As the result of univariate analysis, CA-125, CEA, sTNF RII, IL-6, sTNF RI, and clinical stage were considered factors of poor prognosis. Multivariate analysis has proven that CA-125 and clinical stage were the only significant independent prognostic factors of the disease-free survival. CONCLUSION: CA-125 is an independent prognostic factor for disease-free survival. Our results have also demonstrated that sTNF RI is probably the most useful marker in cervical adenocarcinoma patients, especially in the early stages of disease.

[Analysis of labour and perinatal complications in case of foetus weight over 4000 g]. / Analiza przebiegu porodów oraz powiklan okoloporodowych u noworodków z masa urodzeniowa przekraczajaca 4000 g.

UNLABELLED: The fetal macrosomia occurs in 3-15% pregnancies. It is recognized when foetus weight exceeds 4000 g in any period of pregnancy. Macrosomia can also be determined in case of foetus weight over 90 percentyl for the appropriate pregnancy period. The most detrimental foetal complications of macrosomia are: shoulder dystocia with Erb's brachial palsy, facial nerve palsy, clavicular and humeral bone fracture. The attempts in order to eliminate these complications lead to increase in the number of caesarean sections and labour inductions. Clinical examination and assessment of risk factors as well as ultrasonographic examination cannot exclude or confirm the possibility of macrosomia with sufficient specificity and sensitivity. On the other hand it is well known that delivery of macrosomic foetus is not always associated with perinatal complications. The aim of the study was to assess the risk of perinatal complication in foetuses with large birth weight. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In case-control study the data from medical records of 652 newborns with birth weight over 4000 g were analysed. Only single born at term foetuses in cephalic presentation were included into the analysis. RESULTS: The Erb's brachial palsy, clavicular bone fracture, shoulder dystocia and convulsions in newborn were significantly associated with excessive fetal weight. Shoulder dystocia, clavicular bone fracture and brachial palsy were more frequent in group of newborns with birth weight over 4500 g. The frequency of brachial dystocia and its complications (clavicular bone fracture and Erb's brachial palsy) were significantly connected with the use of VE. CONCLUSIONS: Significant increase in the frequency of perinatal complications in foetuses with birth weight over 4500 g indicates the necessity of considering caesarean section as a favourable mode of delivery.

[Survival of cervical cancer patients in selected regions of Poland in 1990-1996, in relation to some prognostic factors]. / Ocena przezyc chorych na raka szyjki macicy w wybranych rejonach Polski w latach 1990-1996 z uwzglednieniem niektórych czynników rokowniczych.

To evaluate whether cervical cancer patients in selected regions of Poland show similar 5-year survival rates and if they are different from European average and, also, to evaluate the effect of selected prognostic factors. The analysis based on a cohort of 1386 cervical cancer cases identified by population-based Cancer Registries collecting data from Kieleckie and Opolskie voivodships and from the City of Warsaw in 1990-96. These data become complete by adding information from medical records. The 5-year relative survival rates were calculated using the life tables method, and, a multivariant regression analysis was applied for evaluation of prognostic factors. The regions differed significantly in stage distribution (p<0.001), however, they were similar in age groups and histological diagnosis. The age-standardized relative 5-year overall survival rate was 52.2%, and was among lowest rates in Europe. The rate in Kieleckie was 60.7%; in Opolskie--43.3%, and in Warsaw--51.9%. The rates for Stage I in those regions were comparable at over 80%, but were different for Stage II and higher stages. The multivariant analysis showed a significant risk increase related to stage advancement (p<0.0001) as well as to the place of living in Opolskie (p=0.02) and to the adenocarcinoma diagnosis (p=0.05). However, the analysis did not confirm the effect of age of diagnosis as a prognostic factor. The overall, age-standardised 5-year relative survival rates of cervical cancer patients are one of the lowest in Europe, though diversified in the regions. They are almost satisfactory and close to European average in Kieleckie where prevention was effective, but poor in the other regions. The low survivals overall are basically due to the unsatisfactory proportion of the early stage of disease. The uneven survivals of patients with Stage II and higher stages of cancer in the selected regions of Poland suggest different standards of treatment.

[Postoperative verification of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade]. / Pooperacyjna ocena zaawansowania procesu sródnablonkowej neoplazji szyjki macicy.

UNLABELLED: Colposcopically directed punch biopsy and endocervical curettage is considered to be a "gold standard" in diagnosing premalignant lesions of the uterine cervix. However, in daily routine practice the CIN grade, assessed on the basis of colposcopically directed punch biopsy, sometimes differs from postoperative histopathological evaluation. Such a situation can influence the methods and outcomes of further treatment of women with premalignant lesions of the uterine cervix. OBJECTIVE: The comparison of histopathological diagnoses of punch biopsies to postoperative findings. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The accuracy of punch biopsies findings was evaluated in 104 women treated in the Gynecology Ward of the District Hospital in Kielce in the years 1996-2000. Women with cytological diagnosis of LGSIL and HGSIL were included to the study. Histopathological findings of colposcopically directed punch biopsies and endocervical curettage were compared to definitive diagnoses of postoperative material obtained by conization or hysterectomy. RESULTS: Discrepancies between the diagnosis of CIN grade, evaluated by colposcopically directed punch biopsies, and postoperative findings were detected in 37 cases (35.5%). Lower grade of CIN evaluated in biopsy was found in 23 cases (22.1%). Discrepancies in this group were found most often when colposcopy was unable to examine the entire lesion and positive endocervical specimen was obtained by curettage. In 12 (11.5%) cases when preoperative diagnosis showed CIN an early invasion was detected in postoperative material. CONCLUSIONS: Significant discrepancies were found between pre- and post-operative evaluation of CIN grade. Therefore in each case of LGSIL diagnosed in punch biopsy HGSIL should be ruled out. Expectant management of LGSIL lesions and ablative treatment of CIN should be performed only in centers with highly qualified medical staff experienced in colposcopy and cytology. It seems to be advisable to discriminate a group threatened with fast progression into CIN III or cancer among women with LGSIL (e.g. typing of high risk HPV, aneuploidy).