Potential and realized feeding niches of neotropical hispine beetles (Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae, Cephaloleiini).

Accurate descriptions of feeding habits are essential to understanding the evolution of dietary preferences and the high levels of diversification within the Chrysomelidae. Both primary observations and summaries suggest that the cassidine beetle tribe, Cephaloleiini, is a species-rich group of feeding specialists on monocot hosts. However, accurate host ranges are poorly defined for most hispine beetle species. To better document occurrence and feeding, we censused the Cephaloleiini associated with rolled leaves of five species of Marantaceae and six species of Heliconiaceae (Zingiberales) in lowland Central Panama. Additionally, we conducted choice and no-choice feeding tests on a subset of both the plants and beetles encountered in the censuses. Both types of data suggest that most species of Cephaloleiini feed on a greater variety of related plant species than has previously been reported.

Gastroesophageal endoscopic features in cirrhosis. Observer variability, interassociations, and relationship to hepatic dysfunction.

Nowadays, gastroesophageal endoscopic features of portal hypertension are the recognized predictive factors for bleeding and consequently allow the selection of patients for prophylactic therapies. The aim of this prospective study was to investigate the interobserver agreement, the interassociations between these features, and the relationship between these signs and the degree of hepatic dysfunction. In 100 consecutive cirrhotic patients (84% with alcoholism) without history of digestive bleeding, gastroesophageal endoscopic examination was performed and recorded using a videoendoscope. Four independent observers evaluated the following endoscopic features: the size, extent, color, and red signs of esophageal varices, the mosaic pattern, congestive gastropathy, fundic varices, and associated lesions of the stomach. Agreement was assessed using kappa statistics (kappa) and a quantitative score. The size of esophageal varices was significantly associated with their extent and the presence of red signs, whereas no relation was found either between gastropathy or mosaic pattern and fundic varices, or between esophageal and gastric features. Agreement between observers was good for the size of esophageal varices (kappa = 0.59), the presence of red signs (kappa = 0.60), and of gastric-associated lesions (kappa = 0.68) and gastropathy (kappa = 0.50), while it was poor for the extent (kappa = 0.37) and the color (kappa = 0.28) of esophageal varices as well as for the mosaic pattern (kappa = 0.38). The Child-Pugh score significantly increased along with the presence or the size of esophageal varices as well as with the presence of red signs; no relationship could be shown between this score and the presence of gastric features. We conclude that (1) interobserver agreement was good for the main endoscopic features, especially for the size and the red signs of esophageal varices; (2) esophageal patterns were significantly associated between themselves and related to hepatic dysfunction; and (3) gastric patterns were related neither to esophageal features nor to hepatic dysfunction and were not associated between themselves.

Pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic study of propranolol in patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension.

1. The aim of this study was to investigate the pharmacokinetics and the beta-adrenoceptor blocking activity according to time of conventional (C) and long acting (LA) propranolol in cirrhotic patients. Twenty-four patients with alcoholic cirrhosis and oesophageal varices were randomly assigned to receive either 160 mg C propranolol, 160 mg LA propranolol or placebo acutely and then following repeated administration (acute and chronic phases). Thereafter propranolol concentrations and beta-adrenoceptor blockade (resting and exercise heart rates) were measured at different intervals. 2. The Cmax was significantly higher with C propranolol in both phases. The time of Cmax was significantly later with LA propranolol in both phases. The AUCs were significantly higher after chronic administration with both formulations of propranolol. 3. The exercise peaks of beta-adrenoceptor blockade were similar between the two formulations and between the two phases of administration of propranolol. The duration of effective beta-adrenoceptor blockade was significantly longer in the chronic phase and seemed to be longer with LA than with C propranolol although this was not significant (72 +/- 31 vs 48 +/- 18 h, respectively). 4. There was a significant correlation between the log propranolol concentration and exercise heart rate but not with resting heart rate. No correlation could be demonstrated between pharmacological data and the Child Pugh score. 5. We conclude that in cirrhotic patients exercise testing was a reliable method in the assessment of beta-adrenoceptor blockade. Pharmacology of propranolol was found to be different according to the formulation or to the phase of administration.