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Liana Suciu,1 Maria Suciu,1 Mirela Voicu,1 Raluca Mureșan,2 Florina Viorica Pârv,3 Valentina Buda,1 Carmen Cristescu1 1Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Victor Babeș, Timisoara, Romania; 2Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics, West University, Timisoara, Romania; 3Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Victor Babeș, Timișoara, RomaniaCorrespondence: Maria Suciu; Mirela VoicuDepartment of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Victor Babeș, Eftimie Murgu Square, No. 1-3, Timișoara, RomâniaTel +40723319050; +40745763424Email suciu.maria@umft.ro; mavoicu@yahoo.comPurpose: Romania has a high prevalence of hypertension (45.1% in 2016). Whether this is attributable to a low rate of treatment adherence—which can aggravate the pathology and reduce patients’ quality of life (QoL)—is unknown. To address this point, the present study investigated the factors that influence short- and long-term adherence and QoL in patients with arterial hypertension using a specially designed questionnaire.Patients and Methods: The study enrolled 289 patients at different stages of hypertension with or without comorbidities. The diagnosis of hypertension was established by the cardiologist, and treatment regimens were communicated by patients to the clinical pharmacist who administered the questionnaire, which comprised 7 domains with variable numbers of items.Results: The majority of surveyed patients (57.43%) considered that their capacity for effort was decreased because of their hypertension, with 65.05% reporting that they were affected by symptoms associated with high blood pressure (eg, headache and dizziness). Most patients (71.28%) understood the consequences of discontinuing their medication and the severe complications of hypertension, and 69.55% indicated that they would not stop treatment if they experienced side effects. For 53.28% of patients, social activity was significantly affected by their condition. Only 47.05% of patients underwent regular mandatory medical examinations and 55.36% periodically monitored their blood pressure at home. A regression analysis revealed correlations between specific questionnaire items and patient characteristics.Conclusion: Nonpharmacologic factors that were shown to influence patients’ adherence to treatment and QoL included the level of health education and knowledge of disease complications, self-monitoring of hypertension, and consultation with medical and pharmaceutical healthcare providers regarding hypertension and its treatment.Keywords: arterial hypertension, quality of life, adherence, medication

Valentina Buda,1,* Andreea Prelipcean,2,* Minodora Andor,3,* Liana Dehelean,4,* Olivia Dalleur,5 Simona Buda,2 Lavinia Spatar,2 Maria Cristiana Mabda,1 Maria Suciu,1 Corina Danciu,6 Anca Tudor,7 Lucian Petrescu,8,9 Carmen Cristescu1 1Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Victor Babeş” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania; 2“Victor Babeş” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania; 3Department of Medical Semiotics, Faculty of Medicine, “Victor Babeş” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania; 4Discipline of Psychiatry, Department of Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, “Victor Babeş” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania; 5Clinical Pharmacy Research Group, Louvain Drug Research Institute, Université catholique de Louvain UCLouvain, Bruxelles, Belgium; 6Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Victor Babeş” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania; 7Department of Statistics and Biomedical Informatics, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Victor Babeş” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania; 8Department of Cardiology VI, Faculty of Medicine, “Victor Babeş” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania; 9Cardiovascular Diseases Institute, Timisoara, Romania*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Valentina BudaDepartment of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Victor Babeş” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 2 Eftimie Murgu Street, Timisoara 300041, RomaniaTel/Fax +40-256-494-604Email buda.valentina.oana@gmail.comBackground: Rational use of medications and monitoring of prescriptions in elderly patients is important to decrease the number and duration of hospitalizations, emergency medical consultations, mortality, as well as medical costs.Purpose: To identify potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) and potential prescription omissions (PPOs), and determine their prevalence based on the Screening Tool of Older Persons’ potentially inappropriate Prescriptions (STOPP) v2 criteria and Screening Tool to Alert doctors to Right Treatment (START) v2 criteria for patients aged > 65 years.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in two rural counties in Romania based on electronic prescriptions for chronic conditions (EPCCs) issued from 30 days to 90 days by a specialist or general practitioner. Collected EPCCs were evaluated by an interdisciplinary team of specialists based on 26 STOPP v2 criteria and 10 START v2 criteria.Results: PIM prevalence was 25.80% and PPO prevalence was 41.72% for 646 EPCCs. The mean age of patients was 75 years and the mean number of drugs per EPCC was four. The most frequently identified PIMs were treatment duration (6.65%), theophylline administration (5.72%), drug indication (4.64%), cyclo-oxygenase-2 non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (1.39%), and zopiclone prescription (0.77%). Statins (24.76%), beta-blockers (8.04%), and beta-2 agonist/antimuscarinic bronchodilators (5.88%) were the most frequently identified PPOs.Conclusion: PPOs were more prevalent than PIMs for elderly populations living in the two rural counties in Romania we studied. Health practitioners (family physicians, specialists, and pharmacists) should focus on prophylactic and curative considerations when prescribing agents to decrease the morbidity and mortality of elderly rural Romanian patients.Keywords: Romanian elderly, rural zones, chronic prescriptions, STOPP, START

Gabriela Radu,1,2,* Constantin Luca,3,* Lucian Petrescu,3,* Diana Aurora Bordejevic,2,3,* Mirela Cleopatra Tomescu,1,2 Minodora Andor,1,2 Ioana Cîtu,1,2 Adelina Mavrea,1,2 Valentina Buda,4 Cătălin Tomescu,1,2 Florin Borcan,4 Liana Dehelean5 1Department of Internal Medicine I, Cardiology Clinic, “Victor Babeş” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timişoara, Romania; 2City Emergency Hospital Timisoara, Timişoara, Romania; 3Department of Cardiology, “Victor Babeş” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timişoara, Romania; 4Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, “Victor Babeş” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timişoara, Romania; 5Department of Neurosciences and Psychiatry, “Victor Babeş” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timişoara, Romania*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Valentina Buda 2 nd E. Murgu Square, Timişoara 300041, RomaniaTel +40755100408Email buda.valentina.oana@gmail.comPurpose: This study aimed to assess the serum levels of intracellular adhesion molecule (sICAM-1), and vascular cell adhesion molecule (sVCAM-1), in the first psychotic episode schizophrenia (SZ) patients, before and after six months of antipsychotic treatment.Patients and Methods: The study included 50 patients with a first hospitalization for SZ and 50 healthy control subjects that were patient-matched regarding age, gender, body mass index and smoking status. The evaluation included the presence of cardiovascular risk factors, measurements of systolic and diastolic blood pressure, body mass index, smoking status, ankle-brachial index, carotid intima-media thickness, and echocardiography. The Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) score was calculated for the patients. The plasma levels of fasting glucose, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 were determined at baseline in all subjects and after six months of antipsychotic treatment. Thirty patients (60%) were treated with olanzapine and 20 (40%) with risperidone.Results: The average age of patients experiencing their first episode of SZ was 29.7± 6.6 years, and 23 (46%) were men. The initial sICAM-1 levels of the patients were lower than those of the control group (P< 0.0001), and increased after treatment (P=0.02), but remained lower than in the healthy controls (P=0.026). The initial levels of sVCAM-1 levels were higher in the patients (P< 0.0001) and decreased after treatment (P< 0.0001) to values that were similar to those of the control group (P=0.39). The only independent predictor of a baseline BPRS over 120 was the baseline sVCAM-1 level (P< 0.0001). Antipsychotic treatment induced significant decreases in BPRS score (P< 0.0001), in systolic (P=0.005) and diastolic (P< 0.0001) blood pressure, in HDL-c (P=0.02), as well as significant increases in blood glucose (P< 0.01) and LDL-c (P< 0.001), with no differences between olanzapine and risperidone.Conclusion: In the patients experiencing an FEP of SZ, the levels of sICAM-1 were lower, while the levels of sVCAM-1 were higher than in the healthy control subjects. The antipsychotics used in the treatment of schizophrenia increased sICAM-1 and decreased sVCAM. The baseline level of sVCAM-1 was an independent predictor of a BPRS score > 120 at baseline.Keywords: sICAM-1, sVCAM-1, schizophrenia, inflammation, atherosclerosis, cardiac dysfunction

Valentina Buda,1,* Minodora Andor,2,* Carmen Cristescu,1,* Mirela Cleopatra Tomescu,2 Danina M Muntean,3 Dana Emilia Bâibâță,4,5 Diana Aurora Bordejevic,4,5 Corina Danciu,6 Olivia Dalleur,7 Dorina Coricovac,8 Zorin Crainiceanu,9 Anca Tudor,10 Ionut Ledeti,11 Lucian Petrescu4,5 1Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Victor Babeş” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara 300041, Romania; 2Department of Medical Semiotics, Faculty of Medicine, “Victor Babeş” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara 300041, Romania; 3Department of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, “Victor Babeş” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara 300041, Romania; 4Department of Cardiology VI, Faculty of Medicine, “Victor Babeş” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara 300041, Romania; 5Cardiovascular Diseases Institute, Timisoara 300310, Romania; 6Department of Pharmacognosy, “Victor Babeş” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara 300041, Romania; 7Clinical Pharmacy Research Group, Louvain Drug Research Institute, Université Catholique De Louvain, Woluwe-Saint-Lambert 1200, Bruxelles, Belgium; 8Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Victor Babeş” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara 300041, Romania; 9Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, “Victor Babeş” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara 300041, Romania; 10Department of Statistics and Biomedical Informatics, Faculty of Medicine, “Victor Babeş” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara 300041, Romania; 11Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Victor Babeş” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara 300041, Romania*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Valentina BudaCorina Danciu Faculty of Pharmacy, “Victor Babeş” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 2 Eftimie Murgu Street, Timisoara 300041, RomaniaTel +40-256-494-604Fax +40-256-494-604Email buda.valentina.oana@gmail.comBackground: Thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) is a matricellular functional protein of the extracellular matrix. As it is not constitutively present extracellularly, its secretion is enhanced in several situations, namely injury, chronic pathology, tissue remodeling, angiogenesis, and aging. Over the last decade, TSP-1 has been reported to be involved in complex and opposing biological effects on vasculature in the context of NO signaling. Several studies have reported high patient TSP-1 plasma levels, indicating that the protein can potentially serve as a prognostic marker for pulmonary arterial hypertension.Materials and methods: Here, we aimed to quantify TSP-1 serum levels in hypertensive patients with endothelial dysfunction before and after one year of treatment with Perindopril (an antihypertensive drug with vasoprotective properties).Results: After one year of treatment, TSP-1 levels increased in hypertensive patients compared to baseline (T0: 8061.9 ± 3684.80 vs T1: 15380±5887 ng/mL, p

Delia Muntean,1 Monica Licker,1 Ersilia Alexa,2 Iuliana Popescu,2 Calin Jianu,3 Valentina Buda,4 Cristina Adriana Dehelean,5 Roxana Ghiulai,6 Florin Horhat,1 Delia Horhat,7 Corina Danciu8 1Department of Microbiology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara 300041, Romania; 2Department of Food Control, Faculty of Food Processing Technology, Banat’s University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine “King Michael I of Romania”, Timisoara 300645, Romania; 3Department of Food Tehnologies, Faculty of Food Engineering, Banat’s University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine “King Michael I of Romania”, Timişoara 300645, Romania; 4Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara 300041, Romania; 5Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara 300041, Romania; 6Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara 300041, Romania; 7Department of ENT, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara 300041, Romania; 8Department of Pharmacognosy, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara 300041, RomaniaCorrespondence: Valentina Buda; Delia Horhat“Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 2nd EftimieMurgu Square, Timisoara 300041, RomaniaTel +40 25 649 4804Fax +40 25 649 4804Email buda.valentina.oana@gmail.com; horhat.ioana@umft.roBackground: Bacterial multidrug resistance currently poses an increasingly serious threat, with important clinical consequences regarding treatment options. In 2017, the WHO released a global list of resistant bacteria, identifying multidrug-resistant (MDR) Gram-negative bacteria such as carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa or Acinetobacter baumannii, extended-spectrum cephalosporin-resistant Enterobacteriaceae as critical priorities for developing new strategies of treatment.Purpose: The novelty presented in this study refers to the evaluation of the volatile oil obtained from the leaves of Mentha×piperita L., on MDR strains from hospitalized patients.Material and methods: The essential oil was extracted by steam distillation and tested on six reference bacterial strains and also on the MDR strains collected from patients of the “Pius Brînzeu” Emergency Clinical County Hospital Timișoara. The in vitro antibacterial activity was evaluated by agar disk diffusion method and microdilution method.Results: Testing the antibacterial activity of peppermint oil on both reference strains and isolated MDR strains from hospitalized patients demonstrated its bactericidal effect. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was lower (20 mg/mL) for Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Proteus mirabilis and higher (40 mg/mL) for Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii strains. Minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) was equal to MIC, with the exception of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains, where MBC was the double of MIC.Conclusion: The present study highlights the bactericidal activity of Mentha×piperita L. essential oil on all tested MDR or extensively drug-resistant Gram-positive and Gram-negative strains of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiellapneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii. This oil may be a therapeutic option in the near future for many infectious diseases produced by MDR bacteria.Keywords: bacterial multidrug resistance, peppermint, essential oil, bactericidal effect

Valentina Buda,1,* Minodora Andor,2,* Dana Emilia Baibata,3,4,* Ramona Cozlac,3,4 Gabriela Radu,2 Dorina Coricovac,5 Corina Danciu,6 Ionut Ledeti,7 Adelina Cheveresan,8 Cristian Nica,9 Paul Tuduce,10 Mirela Cleopatra Tomescu21Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Victor Babeş” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania; 2Department of Medical Semiotics, Faculty of Medicine, “Victor Babeş” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania; 3Department of Cardiology VI, Faculty of Medicine, “Victor Babeş” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania; 4Cardiovascular Diseases Institute, Timisoara, Romania; 5Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Victor Babeş” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania; 6Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Victor Babeş” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania; 7Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Victor Babeş” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania; 8Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, “Victor Babeş” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania; 9Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, “Victor Babeş” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania; 10Department of Balneophysiotherapy, Rheumatology and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, Vasile Goldis Western University, Arad, Romania*These authors contributed equally to this work Purpose: Endoglin is a transmembrane glycoprotein which plays an important role in maintaining cardiovascular homeostasis. One of its forms, soluble endoglin (sEng), a molecule with antiangiogenic properties, has been found overexpressed in patients suffering from hypercholesterolemia, diabetes mellitus and hypertension, and is proposed as a marker of endothelial damage. Accordingly, we aimed to quantify the efficacy of various antihypertensive regimens on sEng levels, in hypertensive patients with endothelial dysfunction.Patients and methods: 323 patients were enrolled, and there were 99 patients with normal blood pressure values, 106 hypertensive patients under chronic treatment with different types of antihypertensive molecules (beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, and diuretics) in monotherapy, and 118 hypertensive patients under chronic treatment with perindopril. sEng plasma levels were quantified and were correlated with classical methods of assessing the endothelial damage.Results: Patients under chronic treatment with perindopril had lower sEng plasma levels compared with the other group of hypertensive patients under different regimens of antihypertensive treatment (sEng: 4.73±1.39 versus 5.63±2.33, p

Minodora Andor,1,* Liana Dehelean,2,* Ana-Maria Romosan,2,* Valentina Buda,3 Gabriela Radu,1 Florina Caruntu,1 Aurora Bordejevic,1 Minodora Marinela Manea,4 Ion Papava,2 Cristina Ana Bredicean,2 Radu Stefan Romosan,2 Mirela Tomescu1 1Medical Semiology II, Department of Internal Medicine I, “Victor Babeş” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timişoara, Romania; 2Discipline of Psychiatry, Department of Neurosciences, “Victor Babeş” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania; 3Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology, 2nd Department, “Victor Babeş” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timişoara, Romania; 4Department of Psychology, Medical Education, “Iuliu Haţieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania *These authors contributed equally to this work and thus share first authorship Purpose: This research article assesses the cardiovascular impact of long-term injectable antipsychotic therapy on patients diagnosed with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. In our study, we attempted to quantify the potential causes of cardiovascular damage, assess cardiovascular parameters, and correlate them with the time elapsed from the onset of the psychosis until the initiation of injectable antipsychotic therapy, as well as the duration of long-acting therapy, and finally, to compare two of the most utilized long-acting injectable (LAI) medications (olanzapine vs risperidone).Patients and methods: This cross-sectional study recruited 64 patients of 2 outpatient clinics undergoing treatment with LAI antipsychotics for schizophrenic spectrum disorder. The study reports outpatients’ clinical data, laboratory blood sample findings, routine echocardiography, as well as speckle tracking echocardiography.Results: Among patients with longer durations of pre-long-acting antipsychotic treatment, body mass indices, mitral velocity wave values (E and A waves), and the global longitudinal strain (GLS) measurements significantly correlated with patients’ myocardial contractility. The study also found that GLS was significantly lower in the group in which pre-LAI duration was prolonged, and was not influenced by the duration of LAI treatment. Furthermore, patients receiving olanzapine showed significantly improved myocardial contractility as measured by the aforementioned parameters, in comparison with patients treated with risperidone.Conclusion: The results of our study indicate that patients suffering from schizophrenia and who are left untreated or poorly treated for a longer period of time may develop myocardial impairment. The changes may be both secondary to a high prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors and may also be generated by the disease per se. The group who received olanzapine demonstrated improved results for a longer period of time without proper medication. Keywords: schizophrenic patients, speckle tracking echocardiography, myocardial dysfunction

The infection of Lithuanian honey bee colonies by Nosema apis and N. ceranae and the consequences were analysed over a four-year (2011 - 2014) period. Both mono-infection either by N. apis or N. ceranae, and co-infection by both Nosema species, were found. There was a decrease in the percentage of Nosema infected colonies during the four-year study period. There were fewer colonies infected by N. ceranae, whereas the number of colonies with N. apis remained approximately at the same level during the study. The prevalence of both types of Nosema in honey bee colonies varied seasonally, i.e. there was a higher percentage of colonies infected in spring and summer but very rarely was Nosema detected in autumn. Mono-infection by N. apis, and co-infection by both Nosema species, were significantly more often recorded in weak and moderate colonies than in strong colonies. Mono-infection by N. ceranae was more often detected in weak colonies than in moderate and strong colonies, but more often detected in strong than in moderate colonies. A moderate link between a high prevalence of N. ceranae infection and an increased risk for winter colony mortality was observed.

Ephedra alata Decne. belongs to the Ephedraceae family. It is a species of Ephedra that grows mostly in the desert. Today, the main importance of Ephedra species in the medical field is due to the presence of the alkaloids derived from phenyl-alanine, which act on the sympathetic nervous system as a sympathomimetic. The aim of this study was to conduct a phytochemical characterization of the hydroalcoholic extract of the aerial part of Ephedra alata Decne., which is indigenous to Tunis, that involves the total phenolic content, individual phenolic content, and antioxidant activity as well as a biological screening for the evaluation of the antimicrobial, antifungal, antiproliferative, pro-apoptotic, and cytotoxic potential against the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line. The results show that the hydroalcoholic extract contains polyphenolic phytocompounds (156.226 ± 0.5 mgGAE/g extract) and elicits antioxidant activity (7453.18 ± 2.5 μmol Trolox/g extract). The extract acted as a bacteriostatic agent against all tested bacterial strains, but was bactericidal only against the Gram-positive cocci and Candida spp. In the set experimental parameters, the extract presents antiproliferative, pro-apoptotic, and cytotoxic potential against the MCF-7 human breast cancer cell line.

The pheromones of crane flies (Tipulidae), one of the largest families within the order Diptera (over 15,000 species), are unknown. The aim of our study was to identify the chemical compounds involved in communication in Tipula autumnalis , a representative species of the family. Female cuticular washes were found to be attractive to males in a bioassay. GC-EAD analysis revealed nine EAG-active compounds, which were identified as cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs). Both males and females contained these CHCs, though in different ratios. The strongest antennal responses in male T. autumnalis were evoked by n -pentacosane, ( Z )-9-pentacosene, and ( Z , E )-6,9-pentacosadiene, which were the predominant components in females. Each of these compounds were attractive to males in the behavioral assay and are therefore attributed to the female sex pheromone of T. autumnalis . ( Z )-9-tricosene and ( R )-3-methylheneicosane elicited both EAG and behavioral responses in males and were abundant in washes from same-sex individuals. In addition to the compounds involved in female-male interactions, it is evident that T. autumnalis also employs CHCs in male-male interactions. The exact roles of some compounds remain undetermined. Among the semiochemicals, the established stereostructure of ( Z , E )-6,9-pentacosadiene and the olfactory/behavioral effects of ( R )- and ( S )-3-methylheneicosane were novel findings in insects.

Cuckoo wasps, also known as jewel or gold wasps (Hymenoptera: Chrysididae), are kleptoparasites and parasitoids that impose their offspring on the breeding efforts of other wasp species. Chrysidids oviposit in the nests of predatory wasps, and the hatched larva kills the host's larva and consumes the resources collected by the host. When a cuckoo wasp is detected by the host wasp, the host may abandon the nest or take other measures to prevent the development of the kleptoparasite. Chemical camouflage, particularly involving cuticlar hydrocarbons (CHCs), is crucial for cuckoo wasp females. There is a conflict because females need chemical signals that are easily detectable by males but not by the host wasps. It was demonstrated that virgin females of Chrysis angustula, Chrysis fulgida, and Chrysis iris contain CHCs that stimulate behavioral reactions in conspecific males. Coupled gas chromatography-electroantennogram detection analysis revealed 16 hydrocarbons with carbon chain lengths of C23-27 in virgin females: 6 in C. angustula, 8 in C. fulgida, and 13 in C. iris. A specific ratio of CHC compounds, including putative sex pheromones, was established for these three chrysidid species. Observations of re-mating refusals led to the hypothesis that virgin females of cuckoo wasps cease production of some unsaturated CHCs, functioning as sex pheromones, following mating. This change could reduce the risk of detection of CHCs traces left while entering the host's nest., (© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Beetle Tenebrio molitor L. (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae) is a well-known pest of grain and flour in food stores and grocery shops. Recently, commercial cultivation of the insect was started for human food and animal feed. Behaviour control of this insect using natural repellents is promising both for grain protection and commercial cultivation. We analysed if natural products of plant origin, namely essential oils (EOs), could be used for this purpose. Behavioural tests were performed using EOs of six plants: thymus ( Thymus vulgaris ), eucalyptus ( Eucalyptus globulus ), spearmint ( Mentha spicata ), lavandin ( Lavandula × hybrida ), East-Indian lemongrass ( Cymbopogon flexuosus ), and clove ( Eugenia caryophyllus ). The most effective repellent for mealworm larvae was EO of spearmint, moderate activity showed that of clove and the least repellent were EOs of lemongrass thymus and lavandin. EO of eucalyptus caused almost no or very low effect. Six of the most abundant compounds of the EOs were selected for testing. The most effective single compounds were terpinene-4-ol and carvone, low-effective cis-sabinene hydrates and those of no significant activity were limonene, myrcene and γ -terpinene.

The parasitoid Cotesia glomerata L. (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) oviposits in larvae of the large cabbage white butterfly (Pieris brassicae L.). Many parasitoids are attracted by volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by the plant that the host insects feed on. The objectives of the study were to identify the VOCs in leaves of two varieties of cabbage (white cabbage, Brassica oleracea var. capitata f. alba and cauliflower, B. oleracea var. botrytis) damaged by P. brassicae caterpillars which elicit antennal responses of C. glomerata, and characterize the olfactory spectra of females and males. Leaf extracts were analyzed by using gas chromatography equipped with an electroantennographic detector (GC-EAD) and GC-mass spectrometry. In total, 32 olfactory-active compounds for C. glomerata in cauliflower and 24 in white cabbage were revealed. The females perceived more compounds than males. Hexan-1-ol, (E)-3-hexen-1-ol, (E)-2-octenal, benzylcianide, tetradecanal, and two unidentified compounds elicited EAG responses in females but not in males. Females were more sensitive to (E)-3-hexenal, (Z)-3-hexenal, and pentadecenal, whereas males showed higher sensitivity to (Z)-3-hexenyl butanoate, heptanal, (Δ)-2-pentenal, (E)-2-hexenol, and octanal. The olfactory spectrum of C. glomerata was expanded from 18 to 41 VOCs emitted by different varieties of cabbage damaged by P. brassicae caterpillars. Eight EAG-active VOCs were common for all cabbage varieties. In tritrophic interactions, benzylcyanide can serve as an important signal for C. glomerata females indicating damage of cabbage caused by P. brassicae caterpillars. The data are useful for development of a push-pull strategy for P. brassicae control, based on parasitoid behavior regulation by VOCs., (© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Sosnowsky's hogweed ( Heracleum sosnowskyi Manden.), an important invasive species in Eastern Europe, is a monocarpic perennial plant that propagates exclusively by seeds. Hence, interfering with seed viability could help control its spread. In the present study, we investigated the effect of exogenous GA 3 (25, 100 and 150 mg/L) sprayed twice onto flowering H. sosnowskyi plants on the development of fruits (mericarps) and their ability to germinate under field conditions over the growing seasons of 2018 and 2019. Mericarps from plants sprayed with GA 3 failed to develop normally. The width/length ratio of mericarps decreased by 23% to 25% after 150 mg/L GA 3 application and their average weight decreased between 7% and 39% under all GA 3 treatments. X-ray radiographs revealed that the internal structure was malformed, with many of the mericarps lacking well-developed seeds. Proportionally fewer well-developed mericarps were produced by GA 3 -treated plants than water-sprayed control plants in 2018. Seed germination assessed outdoors in seeds buried in the ground was also severely reduced (from 58% to 99% after 150 mg/L GA 3 application). This indicates that exogenous GA 3 sprays result in incomplete seed development and a consequent decrease in viability and germination. As the highest GA 3 dose used resulted in significantly reduced propagation of Sosnowsky's hogweed through seeds in the field, GA 3 provides a promising approach to the control of the spread of this invasive weed species.

European cherry fruit fly, Rhagoletis cerasi (Diptera: Tephritidae), is the most important pest of sweet and sour cherry fruit. This fly is difficult to control by insecticide application since most of the conventional insecticides used have been banned in Europe. Traps are used for both the pest's mass trapping and the detection of the beginning of the flight period. Data on flies' reactions to host-plant volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can be used to search for new attractants. VOCs were collected from the headspace of sour cherry, P. cerasus , fruit. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) resulted in the identification of 51 compounds. Terpenes and esters predominated in two aspects: in the highest diversity of the compounds, and the amount of the total VOC emissions (62.3%). Among the single VOCs, ethyl octanoate prevails, followed by ( E )-4,8-dimethyl-1,3,7-nonatriene. GC-electroantennographic detection (GC-EAD) revealed 14 EAG-active compounds and those were identified. In Y-tube olfactometer tests, EAG-active compounds (( E )- β -ocimene, linalool, and ( Z )-3-hexenyl 3-methylbutanoate) attracted R. cerasi females in a similar way to the odour of sour cherry fruit.

Yeast produced semiochemicals are increasingly used in pest management programs, however, little is known on which yeasts populate cherry fruits and no information is available on the volatiles that modify the behaviour of cherry pests including Rhagoletis cerasi flies. Eighty-two compounds were extracted from the headspaces of eleven yeast species associated with sweet and sour cherry fruits by solid phase micro extraction. Esters and alcohols were the most abundant volatiles released by yeasts. The multidimensional scaling analysis revealed that the odour blends emitted by yeasts were species-specific. Pichia kudriavzevii and Hanseniaspora uvarum yeasts released the most similar volatile blends while P. kluyveri and Cryptococcus wieringae yeasts produced the most different blends. Combined gas chromatographic and electroantennographic detection methods showed that 3-methybutyl acetate, 3-methylbutyl propionate, 2-methyl-1-butanol, and 3-methyl-1-butanol elicited antennal responses of both R. cerasi fruit fly sexes. The two-choice olfactometric tests revealed that R. cerasi flies preferred 3-methylbutyl propionate and 3-methyl-1-butanol but avoided 3-methybutyl acetate. Yeast-produced behaviourally active compounds indicated a potential for use in pest monitoring and control of R. cerasi fruit flies, an economically important pest of cherry fruits.

Sea buckthorn, Hippophae rhamnoides L ., has considerable potential for landscape reclamation, food, medicinal, and cosmetics industries. In this study, we analyzed fungal microorganism populations associated with carposphere of sea buckthorn harvested in Lithuania. An amplicon metagenomic approach based on the ITS2 region of fungal rDNA was used to reveal the ripening-affected fungal community alterations on sea buckthorn berries. According to alpha and beta diversity analyses, depending on the ripening stage, sea buckthorn displayed significantly different fungal communities. Unripe berries were shown to be prevalent by Aureobasidium , Taphrina , and Cladosporium , while ripe berries were dominated by Aureobasidium and Metschnikowia . The selected yeast strains from unripe and mature berries were applied for volatile organic compounds identification by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry techniques. It was demonstrated that the patterns of volatiles of four yeast species tested were distinct from each other. The current study for the first time revealed the alterations of fungal microorganism communities colonizing the surface of sea buckthorn berries at different ripening stages. The novel information on specific volatile profiles of cultivable sea buckthorn-associated yeasts with a potential role in biocontrol is important for the development of the strategies for plant cultivation and disease management, as well as for the improvement of the quality and preservation of the postharvest berries. Management of the fungal microorganisms present on the surface of berries might be a powerful instrument for control of phytopathogenic and potentially antagonistic microorganisms affecting development and quality of the berries.

The plantation area of sea buckthorn ( Hippophae rhamnoides L.) is expanding in many European countries due to increasing demand for berries, thus creating suitable conditions for the rapid expansion of the fruit fly Rhagoletis batava , a pest of economic importance. To decrease insecticide use, effective means for pest population monitoring are required, including the use of pheromones. Male fruit flies emit (-)-δ-heptalactone as revealed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analyses of samples obtained using headspace methods. The two enantiomers of δ-heptalactone were synthesized using enantioselective synthesis. A gas chromatography-electroantennographic detection analysis of both stereoisomers revealed that only (-)-δ-heptalactone elicited electrophysiological responses, whereas no signal was registered to (+)-δ-heptalactone in fruit flies of either sex. In the field assay, traps baited with (-)-δ-heptalactone caught significantly more fruit flies compared with the unbaited traps. Our results are the first to demonstrate the efficacy of (-)-δ-heptalactone as a bait for trapping R. batava . As a behaviorally attractive compound to R. batava fruit flies of both sexes, (-)-δ-heptalactone is attributed to aggregation pheromones. This is the first report of an aggregation pheromone within the genus Rhagoletis .

Olfactory cues have a large impact on insect behaviour and fitness consequently showing potential in pest management. Yeast released volatiles are used by insects as olfactory cues for finding feeding and oviposition sites. The yeast strain SB-16-15 was isolated from spontaneous fermentation of Hippophae rhamnoides berries and identified as Pichia kudriavzevii . Thirty-nine volatiles were sampled from the headspace of P. kudriavzevii yeasts by solid phase micro extraction and identified by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry techniques. Ten of those volatiles elicited antennal responses of Rhagoletis batava flies, one of the most serious pest of H. rhamnoides berries. In the two-choice experiments, R. batava flies preferred the mixture composed of nine synthetic compounds analogous to electroanntenographic active volatiles released by the yeasts compare to the solvent control. Female flies were significantly attracted to the mixture at the concentration 0.1 µL mL -1 and showed no preference to the mixture at the concentration 1 µL mL -1 versus control while males reacted positively to the synthetic blend at the concentration 1 µL mL -1 . Herein, for the first time, behaviour modifying effect of H. rhamnoides berry related yeast volatiles was shown suggesting these semiochemicals have potential in use for monitoring R. batava flies., Competing Interests: Authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2019 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Cairo University.)

Numerous studies have demonstrated the impact of exogenous gibberellin on fleshy fruit formation, but the effect on dry fruits is not yet well known. To test the role of gibberellin (GA 3 ) in dry fruit formation, we analysed the impact of exogenous GA 3 on the invasive plant Sosnowsky's hogweed ( H. sosnowskyi Manden.) seed development and germination. Treatment of GA 3 concentrations of 0.07 mM, 0.14 mM, 0.28 mM, 0.43 mM was applied to flowers at the early stage of development. Seeds were collected from treated satellite umbels. It was observed that GA 3 treatment did not have a significant effect on the size of H. sosnowskyi seeds, but caused various changes in their shape. The data on semi-thin longitudinal sections of H. sosnowskyi mericarps and SEM micrographs of embryos showed that the embryos in GA 3 (0.43 mM) treated variants were at torpedo stage, while in control variants-mature embryos. The germination of seeds of each variant was estimated by burying them in the soil. Our studies indicated that GA 3 application reduced the germination of H. sosnowskyi seed from 98.0% (control) to 16.5% (GA 3 concentration 0.43 mM). It was assumed that exogenous application of GA 3 had influence on the development of dry Sosnowsky's hogweed seeds and could be used to inhibit the spread of this invasive plant., Competing Interests: The authors declare there are no competing interests.

Analysis of the sex pheromone gland of virgin Synanthedon scoliaeformis females by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry revealed six compounds structurally related to sex pheromone components of other clearwing moths: (E,Z)-2,13-octadecadienyl acetate (E2,Z13-18:OAc), (E,Z)-2,13-octadecadienol, octadecanol acetate, octadecanol, (Z,Z)-3,13-octadecadienyl acetate (Z3,Z13-18:OAc), and (Z)-13-octadecenyl acetate. Trapping tests demonstrated that E2,Z13-18:OAc is the sex pheromone of S. scoliaeformis and is essential for attracting males; addition of the other compounds did not enhance catch. Synanthedon scoliaeformis and S. tipuliformis are the only Palearctic clearwing moths whose distribution range and seasonal flight periods overlap and that are known to use E2,Z13-18:OAc in sex pheromonal communication. Hourly monitoring of male catches in traps revealed that sex pheromone communication in S. scoliaeformis and S. tipuliformis species follows different diurnal patterns. Z3,Z13-18:OAc, found in S. scoliaeformis females, is a known behavioral antagonist against S. tipuliformis males, while (E,Z)-3,13-octadecadienyl acetate, a minor sex pheromone component of S. tipuliformis, is an antagonist against S. scoliaeformis males. The effect of sex pheromones and antagonists, combined with different diurnal mate searching times, contribute to the specificity of sex communication channels in these two clearwing moth species.

Previously it was shown that m- and p-cresols in the urine of mares exhibits a temporally reproducible pattern that is dependent on ovarian activity and, thus, provides information about the timing of ovulation. New behavioral data demonstrate 1) that stallions spend significantly more time sniffing p-cresol as compared to o-, and m-cresols, and, 2) that the extent of stallions' erections differ significantly in response to different types of samples. The lowest erection level was recorded for the pure-water control, a moderate erection level was elicited by the urine of diestrous mares, and the highest erection level was elicited by urine of a diestrous mare containing synthetic p-cresol at a quantity equivalent to half of the amount of p-cresol found in the urine of estrous mares. Consequently, p-cresol is at least one of the components of a horse sex pheromone.

Urine samples from 14 mares, belonging to five breeds, were collected at estrus and diestrus to search for estrous specific volatile compounds which could be used to determine ovulation time. Around 150 volatiles were collected from urine head-space samples by solid phase micro extraction technique, and analyses were conducted by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry methods. Comparison of chromatographic profiles of volatile substances revealed that concentrations of m- and p-cresols were significantly greater during estrus while diethylphthalate was more abundant at diestrus. Monitoring of m- and p-cresols during the period of estrus and a few days before and after estrus revealed irregular changes in amounts of cresols until 3-4 days before ovulation when the concentration of the compounds began to increase with peaks 1 day before ovulation. On the day when ovulation occurred, amounts of the metabolites decreased sharply, almost to basal concentrations, and remained at these concentrations for 6 days - when sampling was finished. In four of the mares changes in the concentration of diethylphthalate were less pronounced and more temporally variable compared with those of cresols. Based on reproducible temporal changes in concentrations of m- and p-cresols, with respect to the time of ovulation, a noninvasive test to determine a precise insemination time could occur. This would save time, reduce costs and simplify the procedure., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Linalool is either a toxic compound to a few species of plant parasitic nematodes or attractive to entomopathogenic nematodes. This compound is produced and emitted by several host plants of Globodera rostochiensis and G. pallida, the potato cyst nematodes (PCN). With the aim to reveal the effect of linalool on PCN, laboratory assays were carried out. Survival of PCN second-stage juveniles (J2s) in water + linalool control did not differ; thus, proving linalool to be nontoxic to PCN. Behavioral assays carried out in Petri dishes revealed attractiveness in the form of positive response of J2s of both PCN species towards linalool. Based on these behavioral assays, sensitivity to linalool of G. rostochiensis J2s was higher compared with that of G. pallida J2s. Linalool is the first compound of plant origin to elicit positive response in both PCN species.

The solid-phase microextraction (SPME) technique was applied and optimized for collection of volatile compounds emitted from oestrous urine of mares Equs cabalus L. (Perissodactyla, Equidae) for GC-MS analyses. Variables such as type of SPME fibre, collection time of volatiles, and addition of salt were optimized to improve the sampling efficiency in two aspects: extent and selectivity of absorption/adsorption of urine volatiles onto SPME fibres. The data revealed that the number of volatiles and the total amount represented as quantitative peak areas of the compounds trapped on fibres coated either with polydimethylsiloxane-divinylbenzene or with divinylbenzene-carboxen-polydimethylsiloxane were significantly higher compared to those coated with polydimethylsiloxane, polyacrylate, and carbowax-divinylbenzene. The polydimethylsiloxane-divinylbenzene-type of fibre coating was chosen for optimization of sampling time and effect of salt addition. Sampling periods lasted for 15, 30, 60, 120, and 240 min. The optimal collection time of volatiles from urine maintained at about 36 degrees C was 60 min, as the number of compounds detected with amounts sufficient for quantification did not differ significantly from those trapped during longer collection periods. No significant increase in total amount of volatiles trapped was registered after 120 min of sampling. Addition of 0.3 g NaCl to the 2-ml of samples shortened the collection period from 60 to 15 min during which almost all compounds were trapped. Addition of salt has a significant effect at all sampling periods taking into consideration the total amounts of volatiles trapped. The total intensities increased about 8, 5, 3, 3, and 2 times at collection periods of 15, 30, 60, 120, and 240 min, respectively, when compare with the ones obtained from the urine samples with no salt addition. In oestrous mare's urine, 139 +/- 4 (average number +/- standard deviation) volatile compounds suitable for quantitative analyses were detected compared to 45 compounds collected by the gas-tight syringe method.

Development of new, ecologically safe technologies to control insect pest populations is of great importance. Photoactive compounds usually used for photosensitization might be effective as pesticide agents, with low impact on the environment, being non-toxic and not mutagenic. Phosensitizer accumulates within the insect body and, following exposure to visible light, induces lethal photochemical reactions and death. The aim of this study is to evaluate the possible usage of several photosensitizers (acridine orange, aminolevulinic acid, hematoporphyrin dimethyl ether, methylene blue) as photopesticides to control population of polyphagous plant pest Liriomyza bryoniae (Kaltenbach, 1858) (Diptera, Agromyzidae). Fluorescence measurements of intact cooled insects indicate that insect feeding with bait containing HPde and sugar induces remarkable accumulation of this compound in the body of insect. This accumulation is strongly dependent on sex and feeding duration. The highest HPde amount in the body of insect was detected 16 h after feeding, whereas no significant photosensitizer amount was detected in the same insect following 48 h. Following irradiation with visible light results in fast death of L. bryoniae. Of importance to note that survival of insects after feeding and irradiation depends on sex: female insect died much faster than males.