Potential of native Beauveria pseudobassiana strain for biological control of Pine Wood Nematode vector Monochamus galloprovincialis.

Three entomopathogenic fungal strains, Isaria farinosa (Holmsk.) Fr., Lecanicillium attenuatum (Zare & W. Games) and Beauveria pseudobassiana (Bals.) Vuill. were isolated in Spain from naturally infected Monochamus galloprovincialis (Olivier) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), the European vector of Pine Wilt Disease (PWD). This is the first time that these entomopathogenic fungi have been isolated from M. galloprovincialis beetles. Assays showed the B. pseudobassiana EABps 11/01-Mg strain to be highly virulent against the pine sawyer. Horizontal and vertical transmission were assessed for both aqueous (1×10(8)conidia/ml) and dry (4.25×10(9)conidia/g) conidial formulations. Evidence of horizontal or vertical transmission was not found when insects were inoculated with the aqueous conidial suspension. However, when dry conidia were applied, 100% of the horizontally-infected insects died and their average survival times (AST) were significantly reduced (from 21.10 and 25.00 days in controls to 10.40 and 10.00 days in infected males and females, respectively). Compared to control females, numbers of egg-laying wounds, eggs laid, live larvae after 5 days and larvae entering the xylem after 6 months were significantly reduced in both inoculated females and clean females that had mated with inoculated males, pointing to horizontally-induced reduction of progeny. These results validate the potential of the isolated B. pseudobassiana strain as an important natural population regulator. Through auto-dissemination techniques, it could be used for the integrated control of Pine Wood Nematode vectors and constitute a new tool for Pine Wilt Disease management.

Programa de Prevención y Educación Postural en el Sector Textil / Prevention and Postural Education Programme in theTextile Sector

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Fruit-pollen-latex cross-reactivity: implication of profilin (Bet v 2).

BACKGROUND: An association between allergy to fruits and latex, and between pollen and plant-derived food has been described. The cross-reactive structures responsible for these associations have not yet been completely elucidated. METHODS: IgE reactivity to the recombinant allergens Bet v 1 and Bet v 2, different pollens, natural latex, papain, and bromelain was investigated in 29 patients with allergy to fruits or vegetables who lived in an area without birch trees. RESULTS: Exactly 79.3% of patients were allergic to grass pollen, and two of them had clinical allergy to latex. Serum IgE reactivity (CAP) to birch pollen was found in 65% of patients, to Bet v 2 in 51.7%, to Bet v 1 in 3.4%, to latex in 58.6%, to bromelain in 51.7%, and to papain in 17.2% of patients. All subjects with positive IgE to Bet v 2 had also reactivity to latex, grass, olive tree, birch, and mugwort pollens. The six patients not allergic to pollen did not show IgE reactivity to latex, Bet v 1, or Bet v 2. A significant correlation was found between CAP to latex with Bet v 2 (r=0.86, P<0.001), with birch (r=0.86, P<0.001), and with ryegrass (r=0.81, P<0.001). Immunoblotting using nine sera with positive CAP to birch pollen showed IgE-binding to a 15-kDa band that was recognized by antiprofilin monoclonal antibody. Bet v 2 CAP could be inhibited up to 52% by ryegrass and up to 23% by mugwort. CAP to latex was almost completely inhibited by ryegrass pollen with sera from five subjects without symptoms due to latex, whereas no inhibition was observed with serum from one patient with allergy to latex. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with allergy to plant-derived food and associated pollinosis showed a high frequency of IgE reactivity to Bet v 2, which may cause positive serum IgE determinations to latex and birch pollen due to the presence of cross-reactive epitopes. IgE reactivity to Bet v 2 may serve as an indicator of broad sensitization.

Inhalant allergy to egg yolk and egg white proteins.

BACKGROUND: Several egg white and egg yolk and avian proteins have been described as a cause of inhalant allergy. Sometimes inhalational type I hypersensitivity to these proteins is associated with food allergy to egg. OBJECTIVE: We studied two patients who experienced respiratory and food allergic symptoms upon exposure to egg or avian antigens through the inhalative or digestive routes. Clinical and immunological studies were carried out in order to identify individual allergens from these sources that could be responsible for crossreactivity reactions. RESULTS: Patient 1 showed IgE sensitization to egg yolk livetins, feathers, and chicken serum. Specific bronchial challenge with chicken albumin and livetin extracts elicited a positive early asthmatic response and an increase in serum eosinophil cationic protein. Immunoblot and CAP-inhibition studies in this patient supported that chicken albumin (alpha-livetin) was the crossreactive antigen present in egg yolk and chicken serum and feathers. Patient 2 showed sensitization to egg white, ovomucoid and lysozyme. However, SDS-PAGE and immunoblot studies demonstrated contaminating lysozyme in the ovomucoid extract and identified lysozyme as the main allergen causing egg sensitization in this patient. Conjunctival challenge test confirmed allergy to lysozyme. CONCLUSION: Egg yolk and egg white proteins may act not only as ingested allergens but also as aeroallergens. Immunological studies using highly purified preparations of egg proteins are useful for the accurate diagnosis of allergic reactions to egg proteins and to identify individual allergens that may be responsible for crossreactivity reactions.

[Definition of a leak model and derivation of formulas for quantifying the accompanying leak surfaces in the anesthetic system]. / Definition eines Leckagemodells und Herleitung von Formeln zur Quantifizierung der zugehörigen Leckflächen im Narkosesystem.

Our intention was to conceive a simple model for the evaluation of well-defined leakages in the anesthetic breathing system. Utilization of any model requires a formula to calculate the corresponding leakage surfaces. METHOD. The leak is defined as the projection of a circle (radius r) onto the surface of a cylinder (radius R) in which anesthetic gas is flowing. If we remove the leakage surface from the cylinder and flatten it out this produces neither a circular nor an elliptic shape. We will develop an expression for the leakage surface depending on the two radii, r and R, in a two-dimensional coordinate system. RESULTS. Formulas (3), (4) and (5) can be used to compute leakage areas for our model. An analytic solution of the equations is impossible by the application of calculus, but a PC program for numeric integration can yield values with a sufficient degree of accuracy. Some results for well-defined leakages in breathing tubes (R = 11 mm) are shown. These show that the difference between the leakage area and the projected circle (radius r) can practically be neglected for some values of r. CONCLUSION. Leakages in most anesthetic breathing systems cause some gas loss. The main causes are leaking plug connections and screw joints. Damage to the breathing tubes or bellows is less significant. Part of the tidal volume will disperse into the environment via the leak. This might be hazardous for the patient because the breathing volume and inspiratory oxygen concentration are reduced and for the operating team because of air pollution. To examine how such parameters as flow, compliance and resistance cause loss of pressure and volume and variations in gas concentration in the case of leakages an appropriate model of practical use is needed. Application of the formulas derived from our model makes it possible to compare measurements gained from studying the impacts of leakages in cylindrical tubes of different diameters. By experimental research of pressure and volume loss we intend to gather reliable information that will allow us to make proper recommendations for efficient setting of the pressure disconnection alarm.

[Peptic ulcer and insular carcinoma of the pancreas with hepatic metastasis (Zollinger-Ellison syndrome)]. / ulcera péptica y carcinoma insular del páncreas con metástasis hepáticas (síndrome de Zollinger y Ellison)

A Zollinger-Ellison syndrome case is reported. During arteriography and surgical treatment islet cell carcinoma of the pancreas with metastasis to the liver was found. After surgery, patient has presented several periods of hypoglicemia. Hence it was speculated that this type of neoplasm might have double endocrine function.