New records of false spider mites (Acari: Trombidiformes: Tenuipalpidae) in Greece.

Two false spider mite species (Tetranychoidea: Tenuipalpidae) are reported in Greece. One new species, Aegyptobia insularis Stathakis and Vrettos sp. nov., collected from the Mediterranean shrub Phagnalon rupestre ssp. graecum (Asteraceae), is described. Dolichotetranychus summersi Pritchard and Baker is found on a new and probably natural host plant, the common couch grass Elymus repens (Poaceae); this is the first record of this mite in the Palearctic region. Females and deutonymphs of D. summersi are redescribed, based on the specimens from Greece.

Seasonal Variation of Aromatic Plants under Cultivation Conditions.

In this study, five plant species, members of the Lamiaceae family, namely Salvia officinalis L., Salvia rosmarinus Spenn, Mentha × piperita L., Mentha spicata L. and Origanum vulgare subsp. hirtum (Link) Ietswaart, were studied for the influence of harvesting time on the herb crop yield, the volatile compounds (EOs) content/yield and their chemical composition. EOs were isolated by means of hydro-distillation from different plant parts at different growth stages. Their components were analyzed by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The highest yields of EOs were obtained at the full flowering stage and important changes were observed in their composition. The fluctuations in the percentage composition of the major compounds in the EOs, throughout harvesting time, were observed at camphor/α-thujone for S. officinalis, camphor/1,8-cineole for S. rosmarinus, linalool/linalyl acetate and carvone/limonene for M. × piperita and M. spicata, respectively. The chemotype of O. vulgare subsp. hirtum was identified as carvacrol. The optimization of harvesting time could lead to increased crop production and better EOs quality control, with numerous industrial benefits upon the commercial production of such products.

Tydeid and triophtydeid mites (Acari: Tydeoidea) associated with grapevine (Vitaceae: Vitis spp.) in Brazil, with the descriptions of species of Prelorryia (André, 1980) and Tydeus Koch, 1835.

We report on the Tydeidae and Triophtydeidae associated with grapevine (Vitis labrusca L. and Vitis vinifera L.) in Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil, and describe a new species of Prelorryia, Prelorryia labrusca sp. nov., and two new species of Tydeus, Tydeus manoi sp. nov. and Tydeus riopardensis sp. nov. Brachytydeus formosa (Cooreman), B. podocarpa (Baker), Neolorryia pandana (Baker), Tydeus californicus (Banks), Pretydeus henriandrei Kazmierski and Triophtydeus lebruni (André) are recorded and illustrated. A key to species of Tydeidae and Triophtydeidae from Brazil is provided. 

Dimensional changes of maxillary sinuses and pharyngeal airway in Class III patients undergoing bimaxillary orthognathic surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the pharyngeal airway and maxillary sinus volume changes after mandibular setback surgery combined with maxillary advancement and/or impaction surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventeen Class III skeletal patients (11 females, 6 males) who required bimaxillary orthognathic surgery were selected. Volumetric measurements were performed using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans preoperatively and 3.9 ± 0.87 months postoperatively. All the CBCT scans were assessed and analyzed using MIMICS 14.0 software. Preoperative and postoperative volumes of pharyngeal airway and maxillary sinuses and the relationship between the amounts of surgical movement of the jaws and the above volumes were statistically evaluated. RESULTS: The pharyngeal airway area presented no significant change except for the lower and total pharyngeal airway volumes in males, in whom a significant decrease was observed (4196.27 ± 2061.11 mm(3) and 3375.53 ± 3624.67 mm(3), respectively). No significant change was observed in the minimal cross-sectional area of the pharyngeal airway. There was a significant decrease in the volume of the maxillary sinuses after the surgery by 3448.09 ± 3315.56 mm(3). No correlation was found between the amount of skeletal movement and the change in the volume of pharyngeal airway or maxillary sinuses. CONCLUSION: There was a significant decrease only for lower and total pharyngeal airway volumes in males and a significant decrease in the volume of the maxillary sinuses.

Aortic stiffness in patients undergoing hemodialysis is positively related to antigen presenting cell-dependent T-lymphocyte reactivity.

BACKGROUND: Aortic stiffness is increased in patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD), and it is associated with an increased cardiovascular mortality. Among others, aortic stiffness has been correlated with serum markers of inflammation, indicating a role of the immune system in its pathogenesis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of antigen-presenting cell-dependent T-lymphocyte reactivity on aortic stiffness in HD patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty patients were enrolled in the study. Exclusion criteria were medications or conditions, other than HD, that are known to influence the immune response or aortic stiffness. Antigen-presenting cell-dependent T-lymphocyte reactivity was assessed by cell proliferation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells cultured with or without stimulation with Staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB). Cell proliferation was estimated by immunoenzymatic measurement of bromodeoxyuridine uptake. Aortic stiffness was assessed by carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV) measurement. RESULTS: Linear regression analysis revealed a strong positive relation between carotid-femoral PWV and antigen-presenting cell-dependent T-lymphocyte reactivity, when SEB at concentrations of 1 ng/mL or 10 ng/mL was used as stimulant. CONCLUSION: The present study confirms that aortic stiffness in HD patients is positively related to antigen-presenting cell-dependent T-lymphocyte reactivity. The greater the ability of the immune system to react to a monocyte-dependent stimulant and, consequently, to provoke an inflammatory response, the greater the stiffness of the aorta. This is in agreement with the observation that aortic stiffness in HD patients is positively related to various serum inflammation markers.

The value of computed tomography-derived coronary artery calcification score in coronary artery disease detection in asymptomatic hemodialysis patients.

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the value of coronary artery calcification (CAC) score in coronary artery disease (CAD) detection in asymptomatic hemodialysis (HD) patients by evaluating the association among CAC score, exercise electrocardiography (EECG), and Thallium-201 dipyridamole scintigraphy. Correlation between aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) and CAC score was also evaluated. METHODS: CAC score was assessed with conventional computed tomography in 40 patients. Thirty patients completed EECG and 25; those with a positive CAC score and/or a positive EECG performed Thallium dipyridamole scintigraphy. Carotid-femoral PWV was assessed in all patients. RESULTS: There was no association among CAC score and EECG or Thallium dipyridamole scintigraphy. In contrast, CAC score was correlated with aortic PWV. CONCLUSION: The previous results question the role of CAC score in the detection of CAD in asymptomatic HD patients. The correlation between CAC score and aortic PWV raises the possibility that CAC score represents more an indicator of coronary artery medial wall calcification than a marker of CAD.