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There are many reasons why it is important that we find ways to conserve, and better utilize natural enemies of invertebrate crop pests. Currently, measures of natural enemy impact are rarely incorporated into studies that purport to examine pest control. Most studies examine pest and natural enemy presence and/or abundance and then qualitatively infer impact. While this provides useful data to address a range of ecological questions, a measure of impact is critical for guiding pest management decision-making. Often some very simple techniques can be used to obtain an estimate of natural enemy impact. We present examples of field-based studies that have used cages, barriers to restrict natural enemy or prey movement, direct observation of natural enemy attack, and sentinel prey items to estimate mortality. The measure of natural enemy impact used in each study needs to be tailored to the needs of farmers and the specific pest problems they face. For example, the magnitude of mortality attributed to natural enemies may be less important than the timing and consistency of that mortality between seasons. Tailoring impact assessments will lead to research outcomes that do not simply provide general information about how to conserve natural enemies, but how to use these natural enemies as an integral part of decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trichogramma Westwood egg parasitoids alone generally fail to suppress heliothine pests when released in established cotton-growing regions. Factors hindering their success include indiscriminate use of detrimental insecticides, compensation for minimal pest larval hatch due to their activity via reduced larval cannibalism or mortality in general, singly laid heliothine eggs avoiding detection and asynchronous development benefiting host over parasitoid. Yet, despite these limitations, relatively large Trichogramma pretiosum Riley populations pervade and effectively suppress Helicoverpa (Hardwick) pests in Australian Bt ( Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner)-transgenic cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L., crops, especially in the Ord River Irrigation Area (ORIA) of tropical northern Australia, where their impact on the potentially resistant pest species, Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner), is considered integral to the local insecticide resistance management (IRM) strategy for continued, sustainable Bt-transgenic cotton production. When devoid of conventional insecticides, relatively warm and stable conditions of the early dry season in 'winter' grown ORIA Bt-transgenic cotton crops are conducive to Trichogramma proliferation and biological control appears effective. Further, there is considerable scope to improve Trichogramma's biological control potential, in both the ORIA and established cotton-growing regions, via habitat manipulation. It is proposed that Trichogramma may prove equally effective in developing agricultural regions of monsoonal northern Australia, and that environmental constraints on Trichogramma survival, and those of other natural enemies, require due consideration prior to their successful application in biological control programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trichogramma limit pest damage to crops by killing the developing embryo of their insect host at the egg stage. Their impact on the potentially insecticide resistant species, Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner), is considered integral to the resistance management plan for transgenic cotton production in the Ord River Irrigation Area in northern Western Australia. The dominant species of egg parasitoid in Ord River Irrigation Area cotton crops is the introduced Trichogramma pretiosum (Riley). Surveys of similar northern Australian regions earmarked for agricultural expansion revealed that T. pretiosum has been introduced, or has adventitiously dispersed, to all developing agricultural regions of northern Australia. Several previously unsequenced species were collected during surveys in more pristine habitats. Trichogramma pretiosum demonstrates an apparent ability to supersede native Trichogramma species and is perhaps favoured by agricultural expansion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The encyrtid Coccidoxenoides perminutus is a widely distributed parasitoid of citrus mealybug (Planococcus citri). Worldwide, it has been implicated in successful biocontrol in only a few widely separated localities. C. perminutus contributes little to control P. citri in field situations in south-east Queensland, Australia, but invades insectary cultures and reduces mealybug populations considerably under these controlled conditions. This discrepancy between poor field performance and good performance under controlled conditions was investigated to establish whether climatic factors inhibit the field performance of this species in the biological control of P. citri. Subsequent laboratory examination of the influence of varied humidities and temperatures on the activity levels and survival of C. perminutus revealed a low tolerance for high saturation deficits (i.e., low % RH at high T °C) with reduced reproductive output. The influence of different food sources on adult survival and reproduction was also quantified, to establish if the adverse effects of climate could be overcome by supplementing adult diet. Neither honeydew from their mealybug hosts nor nectar from Alphitonia flowers significantly enhanced parasitoid survival. A subsequent test of five nectar species revealed a significant difference in their influence on C. perminutus survival and reproduction, with only Alpinia zerumbet proving to be as suitable as honey. The floral species that proved suitable in the laboratory need to be checked for their attractiveness to C. perminutus in the field and for their ability to enhance the survival and reproductive output of parasitoids. This information suggests that the prevailing dry conditions in south-east Queensland citrus-growing areas apparently impede successful biological control of P. citri by C. perminutus, but possibilities are available for habitat manipulation (by providing suitable nectar sources for adult parasitoids) to conserve and enhance C. perminutus activity in the field. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The objective assessment of outcome of surgical procedures is assuming increasing significance as the culture of audit and revalidation advances. There is a clear need for surgeons in all fields, but especially in Orthopaedics, to be familiar with the available scoring systems and their relative strengths and weaknesses. It is clear from a recent survey of BASK members’ practice that there is little consensus about which system to use (addendum). This review presents a summary of the scoring systems available for the assessment of patients undergoing total knee replacement. These scores are described in detail and their relative merits discussed. None of the systems reviewed is perfect but those developed most recently do appear to offer advantages over older systems. Overall, the Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index, Short Form 36 and Oxford Knee Score have undergone the most thorough assessment of reliability and validity and are therefore appropriate for the assessment of outcome after total knee replacement. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Unicompartmental patellofemoral arthroplasties are uncommon however numbers are increasing and there are a variety of new prostheses available. The Femoro-Patella Vialla (FPV, Wright Medical) device was the second most commonly used patellofemoral unicompartmental prosthesis in the 2012 British National Joint Register. There are however no published outcomes data for this device. Method: 52 consecutive cases were studied prospectively using Oxford Knee Score and American Knee Society Scores pre-operatively and at follow up to a minimum of two years. Results: Overall Oxford Knee Scores improved from 30 points pre-operatively (36.6%) to 19 points (60%) at one-year. American Knee Society Knee scores improved from 51 points pre-operatively to 81 points at one-year. Function scores improved from 42 points pre-operatively to 70 points at one-year. 13 (25%) patients had an excellent outcome with pain abolished and near normal knee function. 11 (21%) patients gained very little improvement and scored their knees similar or worse to their pre-operative state. There were no infective or thromboembolic complications. Seven cases have been revised to a total knee replacement for on-going pain in six cases and progression of arthritis in the tibio-femoral compartments in one case. The patellar button was found to be very poorly fixed in all cases that were revised. Conclusion: Early results with the FPV prosthesis demonstrate that successful outcomes can be achieved however the results were unpredictable and a significant minority of patients had on-going symptoms that they found unacceptable. The early revision rate was high in this series. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The pattern of symptoms of knee osteoarthritis has been thought to be indicative of specific compartment involvement. This study investigated whether there was a true correlation between patellofemoral joint (PFJ) symptoms and unicompartmental patellofemoral arthritis. Materials and Methods: A prospective analysis of 34 patients rendered to be suffering from PFJ osteoarthritis and subsequently undergoing unicompartmental patellofemoral arthroplasty (PFA) was performed. A control cohort of 32 patients suffering from medial tibiofemoral joint (MTFJ) osteoarthritis was included in the analysis. Four questions derived from the Oxford knee score questionnaire, traditionally deemed to be indicative of PFJ osteoarthritis, were combined to create a PFJ subscore and statistically analyzed for their potential relationship with PFJ osteoarthritis and outcomes following PFA. Results: The PFJ subscore indicated slightly worse pathology in patients undergoing PFA compared to MTFJ replacement, but the difference was not significant (9.7 and 9.6, respectively; p=0.851). The improvement in PFJ symptoms was higher in those undergoing PFA compared to MTFJ surgery; however, the difference was not statistically significant (3.7 and 2.2 respectively, p=0.074). Conclusions: We were unable to prove that these symptoms were predictive of PFJ pathology in the preoperative setting, nor were they useful in interpreting which symptoms would likely improve following PFA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: Knee dislocation is an uncommon but serious injury that has traditionally been associated with high velocity injuries such as motor vehicle accidents. More recently, individual cases of obese individuals sustaining knee dislocation from a low velocity mechanism have been noted. Associated injuries of knee dislocation are common and include popliteal vessel damage requiring surgical repair and injuries to the peroneal nerve. Prompt diagnosis and reduction is essential to reduce the risk of these complications. Objectives: We aim to highlight the importance of prompt diagnosis and management of obese patients presenting with knee pain after a seemingly innocuous injury who may have a knee dislocation. Cases: We present a series of four cases of dislocation of the knee that have presented to our hospital over the course of 1 year. Each was sustained by a morbidly obese female of body mass index range 35–41, age range 33–52 years, experiencing a simple mechanical fall from standing. Magnetic resonance image scanning revealed multiple knee ligament rupture in all four cases. One case had peroneal nerve palsy. Conclusion: This is the first series of such injuries that we are aware of and highlights a potential future increase in incidence of these major injuries as body mass in society increases, placing more strain on health care resources. Practitioners in the Emergency Department need to be aware that serious injury can be present in morbidly obese patients that have sustained no more than a fall from standing height. Prompt investigation and management is essential. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights: [•] Dex exerts dose-dependant inhibition of HACs viability and induction of apoptosis. [•] Dex-induced impairment of chondrocytes was attenuated by rhLF. [•] ERK and FASL/FAS signaling are involved in the effects of rhLF. [•] OA patients with glucocorticoid-induced cartilage damage may benefit from treatment with rhLF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]