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Many plant breeding programs have incorporated plant resistance characteristics without considering how this resistance may affect the natural enemies of plant pests. We evaluated the biological aspects of Delphastus davidsoni (Gordon) fed with Bemisia tabaci B biotype eggs laid on tomato genotypes with different trichome densities and types. On LA1335 and NAV1062, the development periods were 21 days, and the larval mortality rates were 46.7 % and 28.9 %, respectively; on IAC294, the development period was 26 days, and the mortality rate 88.9 %. None of the larvae completed development when fed with whitefly eggs laid on PI134418. Most of the deaths took place in the second instar stage because the larvae became trapped in the glandular trichomes; similar results were also observed on IAC294. The adult longevity and female fecundity on LA1335 and NAV1062 were 32 and 34 days, and 61 and 78 eggs, respectively. The type IV and VI glandular trichomes present on PI134418 and IAC294 adversely affected the larval development of D. davidsoni, resulting in high mortality rates. Nevertheless, type V non-glandular trichomes, in high (NAV1062) or low (LA1335) densities, did not affect the development of the insect.

Two facts should be underlined before discussing this topic: (1) in recent years the anesthetist “went out” the operation theater to be more and more involved in post-operative care; (2) it doesn’t exist a “gold standard “ in anesthesia, but the possible options are many and varied. The term “anesthesia” usually includes general (intravenous, inhalatory, mixed) and loco-regional anesthesia, plus MAC (Monitored Anesthesia Care). In this paper, the three options are briefly analyzed in order to understand the implications and the pros vs cons of each, with the objective of offering some suggestions about the best choice in knee replacement surgery. The conclusions support regional anesthesia, fully integrated with MAC to minimize (or cancel) post-operative pain.

Background Cancer chemo- and radiotherapy are constantly associated with unwanted side effects at least partially ascribable to oxidative stress, an imbalance between pro-oxidant and antioxidant factors. However, the possible indication and efficacy of antioxidant supplementations — including glutathione-based formulas — aimed to restore the oxidative balance should be, respectively, evaluated and monitored carefully with reliable analytical tools.

A mosca-branca é um dos insetos mais prejudiciais à cultura do feijoeiro, devido principalmente à intensa sucção de seiva e à transmissão do vírus do mosaico dourado. O uso de cultivares resistentes ao inseto é uma ferramenta importante no seu controle. Ensaios foram conduzidos em laboratório, avaliando-se aspectos biológicos de Bemisia tabaci biótipo B para os seguintes genótipos de feijoeiro: Arc 3s, Arc 5s, G13028, G11056, Arc 1 e Porrillo 70. As plantas (estágio IV-1) foram infestadas por moscas-brancas durante um dia e os ovos e ninfas foram observados até a emergência dos adultos. A longevidade e a fecundidade dos insetos emergidos também foram avaliadas. Ninfas alimentadas no genótipo Arc 3s (26,5 dias) tiveram o período de desenvolvimento mais longo, seguidas de G11056 (25,9 dias) e G13028 (25,3 dias). Houve um alongamento de 5,5 dias no período de desenvolvimento dos insetos em Arc 3s quando comparado com Porrillo 70. Altas taxas de mortalidade das ninfas nos genótipos Arc 3s e G11056 (94,7 e 83,1%, respectivamente) indicam que tais materiais podem apresentar resistência do tipo não-preferência para alimentação e/ou antibiose. Assim, embora a longevidade e a fecundidade do inseto não tenham sido afetadas quando criado nos genótipos resistentes (Arc 3s, G11056, G13028 e Arc 5s), sugere-se que tais materiais sejam utilizados em programas de melhoramento de feijoeiro visando à resistência a B. tabaci biótipo B. The silverleaf whitefly is one of the most harmful pests that attack bean crops, mainly for extracting large quantities of phloem sap and transmitting the bean golden mosaic virus. Resistant germoplasm plants can be an important method for controlling this pest. The biological aspects of Bemisia tabaci B biotype on bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) genotypes were evaluated. The tests were conducted under laboratory conditions, with the following genotypes: Arc 1, Arc 3s, Arc 5s, G13028, G11056 and Porrillo 70. The bean plants in a stage IV-1 were infested during one day with silverleaf whiteflies. Afterwards the eggs and nymphs were observed until adult emergence. Longevity and fecundity of emerged insects were also evaluated. The longest development time occurred for nymphs fed on Arc 3s genotype (26.5 days), following by G11056 (25.9 days) and G13028 (25.3 days). The development period was 5.5 days longer in Arc 3s when compared with Porrillo 70. Also, the wild genotypes Arc 3s and G11056 showed higher mortality rates (94.7% and 83.1%, respectively), which may suggest antibiosis and/or feeding nonpreference resistance type. For this reason, although longevity and fecundity were not influenced when the whitefly fed on resistant genotypes (Arc 3s, G11056, G13028 and Arc 5s), those genotypes can be used for bean breeding program towards B. tabaci B biotype.

A mosca-branca é um dos insetos mais prejudiciais à cultura do feijoeiro, devido principalmente à intensa sucção de seiva elaborada e à transmissão do vírus do mosaico dourado. O uso de cultivares resistentes a esse inseto é uma ferramenta importante no seu controle. Foi testada a preferência para oviposição de Bemisia tabaci (Genn.) biótipo B em 20 genótipos de feijoeiro. Nos ensaios com chance de escolha, os materiais foram divididos em dois lotes de 10 genótipos, com 10 repetições de uma planta/vaso, dispostas em gaiolas de 80 x 50 x 50 cm, cobertas com voil e infestadas com 1.000 moscas-brancas durante quatro dias. Nos ensaios sem chance de escolha, realizaram-se 20 repetições de um folíolo (genótipos em melhoramento e cultivares) ou de um trifolíolo (genótipos selvagens) recém-expandido por gaiola e infestados com 25 casais de moscas-brancas durante 48h. Nos ensaios com chance de escolha, verificou-se que os genótipos G13028, Arc 5s, Arc 1s, G11056, Arc 3s apresentaram as menores oviposições e os menores índices de preferência, variando de -91,9 a -78,6, enquanto Arc 1 (+33,0) teve o maior índice. Nos ensaios sem chance de escolha, os menores números de ovos/folha foram observados nos genótipos G13028 (28,2), Arc 3s (37,6) e G23425E (39,0), enquanto que o genótipo mais preferido teve 105,0 ovos/folha (Bolinha). O genótipo selvagem G13028 foi altamente resistente (não-preferência para oviposição) a B. tabaci biótipo B. Destacaram-se também como resistentes, os genótipos Arc 3s, Arc 5s e G11056; já Bolinha, Arc 1 e Arc 4 mostraram-se altamente suscetíveis à mosca-branca. Whitefly is one of the most harmful pests that attack bean crops, mainly for extracting large quantities of phloem sap and transmitting the bean golden mosaic virus. Resistant germoplasm plants can be an important method for controlling this pest. The oviposition preference of Bemisia tabaci biotype B for 20 bean genotypes was tested. In a free-choice test, the genotypes were divided into two plots of 10 replicates. The bean plant pots were set up in a randomized design in a cage (80 x 50 x 50 cm) covered by nylon netting and infested with 1.000 adults during four days. No-choice test was carried out with 20 replicates where one newly expanded leaflet from bred genotypes and cultivars or one leaf from wild genotypes, was placed in a cage infested by 25 pairs of whiteflies during 48h. In free-choice tests, the genotypes G13028, Arc 5s, Arc 1s, G11056, Arc 3s presented the smaller oviposition and preference index, varying from -91.9 to -78.6, while Arc 1 (+33.0) had greater index. In no-choice tests, smaller number of eggs/leaflet were observed in genotypes G13028 (28.2), Arc 3s (37.6) and G23425E (39.0), whereas the most preferred had 105.0 eggs/leaflet (Bolinha). The wild genotype G13028 was highly resistant (oviposition nonpreference) toward B. tabaci B biotype. The wild genotypes Arc 3s, Arc 5s and G11056 were also resistant. The Bolinha, Arc 1 and Arc 4 genotypes were highly susceptible to whitefly oviposition.

Submitted by Guilherme Lemeszenski (guilherme@nead.unesp.br) on 2013-08-22T19:02:24Z No. of bitstreams: 1 S0301-80592000000300019.pdf: 393980 bytes, checksum: 5fcdd8e60ba97aad9281050959b52d23 (MD5) Made available in DSpace on 2013-08-22T19:02:24Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 S0301-80592000000300019.pdf: 393980 bytes, checksum: 5fcdd8e60ba97aad9281050959b52d23 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2000-09-01 Made available in DSpace on 2013-09-30T20:03:22Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 S0301-80592000000300019.pdf: 393980 bytes, checksum: 5fcdd8e60ba97aad9281050959b52d23 (MD5) S0301-80592000000300019.pdf.txt: 22605 bytes, checksum: ca1c0f19671e7e452ffbf07e40ab27c6 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2000-09-01 Submitted by Vitor Silverio Rodrigues (vitorsrodrigues@reitoria.unesp.br) on 2014-05-20T15:16:14Z No. of bitstreams: 2 S0301-80592000000300019.pdf: 393980 bytes, checksum: 5fcdd8e60ba97aad9281050959b52d23 (MD5) S0301-80592000000300019.pdf.txt: 22605 bytes, checksum: ca1c0f19671e7e452ffbf07e40ab27c6 (MD5) Made available in DSpace on 2014-05-20T15:16:14Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 S0301-80592000000300019.pdf: 393980 bytes, checksum: 5fcdd8e60ba97aad9281050959b52d23 (MD5) S0301-80592000000300019.pdf.txt: 22605 bytes, checksum: ca1c0f19671e7e452ffbf07e40ab27c6 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2000-09-01 Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) Genótipos de feijoeiro (P. vulgaris) que contêm arcelina em suas sementes foram avaliados quanto à preferência para oviposição de Bemisia tabaci biótipo B (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae). Os testes foram conduzidos em condições de estufa, nas épocas das águas e da seca, em dois anos consecutivos, com os seguintes genótipos: ARC 3s, ARC 5s (genótipos selvagens portadores de arcelina); ARC 1, ARC 2, ARC 3, ARC 4 (linhagens quase-isogênicas portadoras de arcelina - Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária (EMBRAPA)), Porrillo 70, Bolinha e IAPAR MD 808 (cultivares sem arcelina). Nos ensaios de preferência para oviposição, em teste com e sem chance de escolha, observou-se que os genótipos Bolinha e Porrillo 70 foram os mais preferidos para oviposição pelo inseto. A suscetibilidade do genótipo Bolinha pode estar relacionada com o grande número de tricomas aciculares presentes em suas folhas. Os genótipos selvagens, ARC 5s e ARC 3s, apresentaram resistência do tipo não-preferência para oviposição. Esta resistência não está relacionada com a arcelina, uma vez que os genótipos melhorados também contêm arcelina em suas sementes e não mostraram-se resistentes a esse biótipo de B. tabaci. The oviposition preference of Bemisia tabaci biotype B (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) for bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) genotypes containing arcelin in the seeds was evaluated. The tests were carried out under greenhouse conditions, in the dry and wet seasons, with the following genotypes: ARC 3s, ARC 5s (wild genotypes containing arcelin in the seeds); ARC 1, ARC 2, ARC 3, ARC 4 (near isogenic lines containing arcelin in the seeds - Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária (EMBRAPA)) and Porrillo 70, Bolinha, IAPAR MD 808 (commercial genotypes without arcelin). In the free choice and no-choice oviposition tests, Bolinha and Porrillo 70 genotypes were preferred for oviposition by that insect. The Bolinha susceptibility could be related to the great number of acicular trichomes presents on its leaves surface. The wild genotypes, ARC 5s and ARC 3s, showed oviposition nonpreference resistance type. This resistance is not related to the arcelin variants, since the bred genotypes also contain arcelin in its seeds and did not show resistance to B. tabaci, biotype B. USP ESALQ Dept° de Entomol., Fitopatol. e Zoologia Aplicada UNESP FCAV Dept° de Entomol., DDept° de Fitossanidade UNESP FCAV Dept° de Entomol., DDept° de Fitossanidade

This study investigates the microvascular permeability changes in tracheal tissue of rats exposed to hyperbaric oxygen (HBO). Rats, following exposure to HBO or ambient air (control animals) for 1.5, 3 and 6 h, were prepared for recording of nitric oxide exhaled (FENO) in air using a chemiluminescence analyser. The level of FENO was not statistically different in the two groups. Plasma exudation, evaluated by measuring the leakage of Evans blue (EB) dye into the tracheal tissue, was significantly elevated (48, 86 and 105% at 1.5, 3 and 6 h, respectively) in HBO-treated rats. Plasma exudation in the trachea of control rats was significantly increased (42%, P

We investigated the safety and efficacy of preoperative epoetin alfa used in conjunction with preoperative autologous blood donation (PAD) in 40 anemic orthopedic surgical patients undergoing hip replacement surgery [hematocrit (Hct) ≤39%]. Patients were randomized 25–35 days before surgery to twice weekly intravenous (i.v.) epoetin alfa (300, 150, or 75 IU/kg) or placebo treatments supplemented with 200 mg i.v. iron. Epoetin alfa facilitated dose-dependent increases in PAD (4.3 units, 300 IU/kg; 3.4 units, 150 IU/kg; 3.0 units, 75 IU/kg; 2.1 units, placebo), and minimized reductions in Hct associated with repeated phlebotomy. All epoetin alfa doses were well tolerated and safe. Our results indicate that preoperative epoetin alfa dose-dependently stimulates erythropoiesis and facilitates PAD in anemic orthopedic patients, which may benefit patients by reducing their exposure to the risks of allogeneic transfusion, hastening recovery and discharge from hospital.

The aim of this study, starting from some concepts of physiology, was to deal with the ever growing question of intentional anemia. Physiology suitably expresses the linear relationship between hematocrit and blood fluidity, and at the same time explains how viscosity and aggregability are important co-factors in the circulation, in disease and in thromboembolic complications. The need to understand how a low hematocrit level, compared to the volemia, is a fundamental requirement in surgery, and even more so in surgery with a high risk of embolism, like orthopedic traumatology surgery. Normovolemic hemodilution was analyzed both for the risks it involves and for how much it sticks to the changes induced by a similar situation on the various organs and apparatus. The authors, based on their experience in the field of anesthesiology, propose an operating schedule to safely perform intentional normovolemic hemodilution, describing the preoperative, intraoperative and finally the postoperative period. In conclusion, the authors advocate a wider use of this technique, confirming its safety in relation to volemia.

To assess the causes of failure in a blood saving program and the consequent need for homologous transfusions during major orthopedic surgery, data were collected from six orthopedic centers where an autotransfusion program was carried out from 1992–1994. The 1,576 (1,016 female and 560 male) patients studied (average age 63.6 ± 10 years) were treated either for total hip prosthesis (1,144 pts) total knee prosthesis (212 pts), plate and screw removal plus hip prosthesis (8 pts), hip revision (cup 48 pts, stem 10 pts, cup plus stem 146 pts) and total knee revision (8 pts). Ninety percent of patients did not undergo homologous transfusions, which was significantly connected to: male sex (8% versus 11.7% p=0.02), younger age (63.2 vs 66.9 years, p=0.0001), higher weight (male 76 vs 70.7 Kg. p = 0.003, female 65.6 vs 61.9 Kg. p = 0.0003); higher baseline Hb (13.9 vs 12.8 gl dl, p = 0.0041), shorter operation time (110 vs 128 minutes, p = 0.0001); use of indobufen for antithromboembolic prophylaxis (indobufen 4.6% vs heparin calcium 15.2% vs low molecular weight heparin 9% p = 0.0001). On the contrary, the factors favoring homologous transfusions were: peripheral anesthesia (spinal and epidural 15.3% vs general 9.3% vs integrated 9.8% p = 0.016), total hip or knee revision, fixation device removal before hip prosthesis, systemic hypertension and coronary heart disease.

No laboratory test completely distinguishes malignant ascites (MA) from ascites associated with cirrhosis and (or) hepatocellular carcinoma (A/C-HC). Ascitic cytology is highly specific but has a diagnostic sensitivity of only 40-60%. We determined 11 ascitic analytes and cytology in 58 patients with cirrhosis, 15 with hepatocellular carcinoma, and 21 with MA (10 ovarian cancers, 4 mesotheliomas, 6 gastrointestinal neoplasias, 1 leukemia). Ascitic total protein, cholesterol, pseudouridine, and lactate dehydrogenase (LD), and the ascitic:serum ratios of total protein and of LD showed the most significant differences between the two groups of patients. Stepwise multiple linear discriminant analysis (applying the Wilks' lambda criterion) of several variables, corroborated by the "jack-knife" reallocation procedure, showed that the ascitic cholesterol and ascitic LD association correctly identified 100% of MA and A/C-HC; cytology had a diagnostic specificity of 100%, but identified only 48% of MA. This association may represent a primary tool for the discrimination of ascites of unknown origin, particularly in the presence of negative cytology findings.

Brazil is one of the main tomato producers worldwide. Nevertheless, 40 to 70% of the production is lost due to Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) B biotype attacks. Resistant plant germplasm can be an important method for controlling this pest in an integrated pest management program. This research aimed to evaluate the no-choice ovipositional preference of B. tabaci B biotype on 18 tomato genotypes with different densities and types of trichomes testing two screening techniques and to determine the influence of trichomes on whitefly ovipositional preference. Two methods of confinement experiments were used. Leaflets detached from the upper third part of the tomato plants (first experiment) and 30-day-old plants (second experiment) were infested with whiteflies during 24 h. For the first experiment, simple linear correlation tests between the number of insects and eggs, and number of trichomes in the tomato genotypes were carried out. The first technique was better than the second one, as it was easier to carry out and the evaluation demanded less time and as well as was effective to discriminate the resistance level of the evaluated genotypes. Glandular trichomes had a negative correlation with attracted adults and number of eggs deposited, and a positive correlation with number of trapped insects. Negative correlations were observed between number of nonglandular trichomes and trapped insects, and also between total number of trichomes and attracted and trapped insects. Positive correlations were observed between number of total trichomes and eggs cm-2 and nonglandular trichomes and number of eggs. Both confinement methods efficiently discriminated whitefly oviposition among genotypes, especially the resistant ones. High levels of antixenosis for oviposition related to type IV glandular trichomes were exhibited by genotypes LA716, PI134417 and PI134418. The high level of ovipositional preference by B. tabaci for genotypes LA1963 and NAV1062 was related to a high density of type V nonglandular trichomes. O Brasil é um dos maiores produtores mundiais de tomate, porém grande parte da produção é perdida devido ao ataque de Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) biótipo B. Entre as táticas de controle dessa praga num manejo integrado de pragas, pode-se relacionar a resistência de plantas. Avaliou-se a preferência para oviposição de B. tabaci biótipo B por 18 genótipos de tomateiro com diferentes densidades e tipos de tricomas utilizando-se dois métodos e estudou-se a influência dos tricomas nesta preferência, utilizando-se dois métodos para os experimentos de confinamento. Folíolos seccionados do terço superior dos tomateiros (primeiro método) e plantas com 30 dias de idade (segundo método) foram infestados com moscas-brancas durante 24 h. Para o primeiro experimento, foram realizados testes de correlação linear simples entre o número de insetos e de ovos e o número de tricomas nos tomateiros. O primeiro método foi melhor que o segundo, pois foi mais fácil de ser conduzido e demandou menos tempo para as avaliações, além disso, foi efetivo em discriminar o nível de resistência dos genótipos avaliados. Tricomas glandulares correlacionaram-se negativamente com adultos atraídos e com ovos, e positivamente com adultos capturados. Correlações negativas ocorreram entre o número de tricomas não-glandulares e o número de insetos capturados, e entre o número de tricomas totais e o número de insetos atraídos e capturados. Correlações positivas ocorreram entre o número de tricomas totais e o número de ovos cm-2 e de tricomas não-glandulares e o número de ovos. Ambos os métodos foram eficientes para discriminar os genótipos, principalmente os resistentes, com destaque para LA716, PI134417 e PI134418, que apresentaram altíssima antixenose para oviposição relacionada à presença de tricomas glandulares tipo IV. A preferência para oviposição de B. tabaci pelos genótipos LA1963 e NAV1062 está relacionada à alta densidade de tricomas não-glandulares tipo V.

Insecticide plants are an important tool among the new alternatives for pest control in IPM systems because they reduce the use of synthetic insecticides, preserving human health and the environment. We investigated the effects of aqueous extracts of Melia azedarach leaves and Azadirachta indica seeds and three tomato genotypes, 'Santa Clara', 'IPA-5' - Solanum lycopersicum (= Lycopersicon esculentum Mill), and LA444-1 - S. peruvianum (= L. peruvianum), on the development, reproduction and longevity of the tomato pinworm Tuta absoluta (Meyrick), under laboratory conditions. The trials were set up in a completely randomized design, with nine treatments [three genotypes x two extracts (M. azedarach and A. indica) and control]. The replication consisted on five tubes, each with three newly hatched larvae, totalizing 90 individuals per treatment. The larvae were fed with tomato leaves treated with aqueous extracts at 0.1% concentration or distilled water (control) and daily observed until adults' emergence. Larval and pupal development and mortality, pupal weight, longevity and fecundity were evaluated. The accession LA444-1 negatively affected the development and reproduction of T. absoluta; the tomato pinworm had similar development and reproduction on 'IPA-5' and 'Santa Clara' (the susceptible control). The association of resistant tomato genotypes and extracts of M. azedarach leaves and neem seeds did not result in synergistic or antagonistic effects on T. absoluta.

We analyze a recently proposed distribution, defined as the ratio between three- and two-particle energy-multiplicity correlations, which probes the connection between colour and hadron multiplicity flows in e+e− annihilation. This connection is due to QCD soft gluon interference and is the same dynamical feature involved in the “string” effect in three-jet final states. The quantity we analyze does not suffer from any of the limitations of the string effect. It does not require any special event selection or jet finding algorithm, thus it provides a high statistics test of the colour connection. Although energy-multiplicity distributions are infrared singular, the ratio we consider can be calculated completely within perturbative QCD. Due to its infrared sensitive structure, the perturbative parameter is √αs rather than αs, thus corrections are large. We find that the first next-to-leading corrections are relatively small (of the order of 10–20%) except for two contributions: (i) the singular behaviour for vanishing angle between the two registered particles is screened by an anomalous dimension obtained by resumming higher order leading collinear logarithms; (ii) a hard elementary processes, not present to leading order, gives a numerically enhanced contribution which is comparable to the leading term. Further higher order corrections are not expected to be large.

We used a recently devised HPLC method to quantify eight modified nucleosides, an emerging group of tumor markers, in human serum and then calculated their reference intervals in a healthy population from Italy and the United States. We used the statistical procedure of element analysis, which reveals the effects of chosen variables (in this case, nationality, sex, and age) on an analyte (here, modified nucleosides). Using element analysis, we calculated the exact weight of each variable on the reference values. We found that nationality has the greatest effect on the serum concentrations of all the modified nucleosides apart from pseudouridine, whereas sex significantly influences only the concentrations of 4-pyridone-3-carboxamide-N1-ribofuranoside, 1-methylinosine and N2,N2-dimethylguanosine; age affects only N2,N2-dimethylguanosine. Thus, the reference intervals of all the nucleosides except pseudouridine were calculated separately for Italians and Americans, and the reference values for 4-pyridone-3-carboxamide-N1-ribofuranoside, 1-methylinosine, and N2,N2-dimethylguanosine were calculated separately for men and women. Our data form the baseline for study of variations in serum concentrations of modified nucleosides in various pathophysiological conditions.

Insecticide plants are an important tool among the new alternatives for pest control in IPM systems because they reduce the use of synthetic insecticides, preserving human health and the environment. We investigated the effects of aqueous extracts of Melia azedarach leaves and Azadirachta indica seeds and three tomato genotypes, 'Santa Clara', 'IPA-5'--Solanum lycopersicum (=Lycopersicon esculentum Mill), and LA444-1--S. peruvianum (=L. peruvianum), on the development, reproduction and longevity of the tomato pinworm Tuta absoluta (Meyrick), under laboratory conditions. The trials were set up in a completely randomized design, with nine treatments [three genotypes x two extracts (M. azedarach and A. indica) and control]. The replication consisted on five tubes, each with three newly hatched larvae, totalizing 90 individuals per treatment. The larvae were fed with tomato leaves treated with aqueous extracts at 0.1% concentration or distilled water (control) and daily observed until adults' emergence. Larval and pupal development and mortality, pupal weight, longevity and fecundity were evaluated. The accession LA444-1 negatively affected the development and reproduction of T. absoluta; the tomato pinworm had similar development and reproduction on 'IPA-5' and 'Santa Clara' (the susceptible control). The association of resistant tomato genotypes and extracts of M. azedarach leaves and neem seeds did not result in synergistic or antagonistic effects on T. absoluta.

We study in perturbative QCD the initial-state radiation associated to hadron processes in the semi-hard region of small x (x is the Bjorken variable). A recent analysis of the exclusive multi-gluon distributions to double (infrared and collinear) logarithmic accuracy is extended to the case of inclusive distributions, which we evaluate to single (infrared) logarithmic accuracy. Thus the resulting x → 0 structure function or N → 1 gluon anomalous dimension is computed to all-loops accuracy. For the inclusive distributions we are able to perform a calculation to such an accuracy by extensively using cancellations which originate from coherence of QCD radiation and the infrared regularity of real-virtual singularities. We find that the x → 0 structure function satisfies the Lipatov equation. With the present study we therefore provide a new derivation of the Lipatov result in the context of hard collisions together with a fully exclusive description. We discuss the structure of the Lipatov equation in relation with the x → 0 exclusive distributions previously obtained and with the Altarelli-Parisi equation valid for finite values of x.

Background: Severe obesity is a major worldwide public health concern affecting 0.5–5% of the adult population. Adiponectin (Acpr30), an adipokine secreted from adipocytes, shows pleiotropic beneficial effects on obesity and related disorders. In this study, sequence analysis of Acpr30 gene (ACDC) was performed in a highly selected population of severely obese young adult patients from Southern Italy to investigate the associations between polymorphisms in the ACDC gene and the development of severe obesity concomitantly with other features of the metabolic syndrome. Methods: The ACDC gene was analyzed by direct sequencing in the severely obese patients (n = 220) and compared to healthy controls (n = 116). The associations between the ACDC gene single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and the levels of serum Acpr30 as well as the correlation with the presence of severe obesity jointly associated with other features of the metabolic syndrome were also investigated. Total serum Acpr30 concentrations were measured by the ELISA method. Results: ACDC gene molecular screening revealed the presence of previously described SNPs and a new nucleotide alteration, c.355T>G, leading to a protein variant, p.L119V. Measurement of serum concentration of Acpr30 demonstrated lower levels of Acpr30 in the obese population compared to controls (30.5 ± 28.3 vs. 43.9 ± 35.7 μg/ml, p < 0.01); in particular, significantly lower Acpr30 concentrations were observed in obese patients bearing c.–11377C>G SNP CG+GG genotypes than in those with CC genotype (22.9 ± 20.5 vs. 33.1 ± 29.4 μg/ml, p < 0.05). Conclusions: Our results confirmed that low serum levels of Acpr30 are related to severe obesity and a difference in protein expression is associated with variants in ACDC gene promoter region.

The silverleaf whitefly is one of the most harmful pests that attack bean crops, mainly for extracting large quantities of phloem sap and transmitting the bean golden mosaic virus. Resistant germoplasm plants can be an important method for controlling this pest. The biological aspects of Bemisia tabaci B biotype on bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) genotypes were evaluated. The tests were conducted under laboratory conditions, with the following genotypes: Arc 1, Arc 3s, Arc 5s, G13028, G11056 and Porrillo 70. The bean plants in a stage IV-1 were infested during one day with silverleaf whiteflies. Afterwards the eggs and nymphs were observed until adult emergence. Longevity and fecundity of emerged insects were also evaluated. The longest development time occurred for nymphs fed on Arc 3s genotype (26.5 days), following by G11056 (25.9 days) and G13028 (25.3 days). The development period was 5.5 days longer in Arc 3s when compared with Porrillo 70. Also, the wild genotypes Arc 3s and G11056 showed higher mortality rates (94.7% and 83.1%, respectively), which may suggest antibiosis and/or feeding nonpreference resistance type. For this reason, although longevity and fecundity were not influenced when the whitefly fed on resistant genotypes (Arc 3s, G11056, G13028 and Arc 5s), those genotypes can be used for bean breeding program towards B. tabaci B biotype.

Foi testada a preferência para oviposição (com chance de escolha) de Bemisia tabaci (Genn.) biótipo B em 20 genótipos de feijoeiro. Os materiais foram divididos em dois lotes, utilizando-se em cada um deles delineamento em blocos ao acaso, com 20 repetições. Folhas recém-expandidas de cada genótipo foram mantidas em tubos de vidro contendo água destilada, colocadas em uma gaiola acrílica, onde foram liberados cerca de 500 insetos. Após 24h, contou-se o número total de ovos na superfície abaxial e o número de tricomas aciculares e unciformes em duas áreas de 4,9 mm² da superfície abaxial. Mediu-se também a área foliar dos feijoeiros e o comprimento máximo e mínimo dos tricomas, que foram classificados em curto, médio ou longo. Não foram constatadas correlações significativas entre o número de ovos e a densidade de tricomas total e de tricomas aciculares e unciformes. Foram observadas correlações significativas entre o número de ovos e a densidade de tricomas aciculares longos tipo A1 (r = 2,85) e a densidade de tricomas unciformes curtos tipo B3 (r = -2,44). Assim, pode-se inferir que a preferência para oviposição da mosca-branca pela cultivar Bolinha (4,8 ovos/cm²) pode estar relacionada ao grande número de tricomas aciculares longos neste material tipo A1 (31,7 tricomas/4,9 mm²). O contrário pode ser considerado quanto ao genótipo menos preferido, G13028 (1,1 ovos/cm²), que possui principalmente tricomas unciformes curtos tipo B3 (64,1 tricomas/4,9 mm²) em suas folhas. The oviposition preference (free-choice tests) of Bemisia tabaci (Genn.) Biotype B for 20 bean genotypes was tested. The genotypes were divided into two plots and set up in a block-randomized design with 20 replications. New expanded bean leaves were sectioned and placed in glass tubes containing distilled water and disposed in acrylic cages containing approximately 500 insects. After 24h, the total number of eggs laid on the abaxial surface of leaves and the density of straight and hooked trichomes in two areas of 4.9 mm² on the abaxial surface were counted. The leaf area was measured as well as the maximum and minimum length of hooked and straight trichomes, which were classified in short, medium or long. No significant correlation was found between the number of eggs and the density of total trichomes (straight + hooked) or between hooked or straight trichomes. Significant correlation was detected between the number of eggs and long straight trichomes type A1 (r = 2.85) and short hooked trichomes type B3 (r = -2.44). In this way, the ovipositional preference of B. tabaci for Bolinha genotype (4.8 eggs/cm²) in a free-choice test could be associated to the larger number of long straight trichomes type A1 (31.7 trichomes/4.9 mm²) on its leaves surface. In addition, the whitefly ovipositional nonpreference for G13028 wild genotype (1.1 eggs/cm²) could be related with the numerous short hooked trichomes type B3 (64.1 trichomes/4.9 mm²) on its leaves surface.

The objective of this cross-sectional study was to compare the body composition and fat distribution measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DPX, Lunar) in different age decades of age-matched Danish and Italian women. The subjects comprised 133 healthy Italian women (age 20-60 years) age-matched to a representative sub-sample of healthy Danish women (n=375). Total and abdominal body fat tissue mass were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Italian women were shorter and fatter compared with age-matched Danish women, but in middle-age, had a less abdominal fat distribution. There was no difference in total body bone mineral density.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate to what extent serum leptin concentrations in obese humans are influenced by a history of weight cycling. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study on serum leptin concentrations and body composition in a cohort of obese subjects in whom a retrospective recall of weight and diet history was made. SUBJECTS: One hundred and twenty-eight obese patients (89 females and 39 males), aged 18-61 y, body mass index (BMI) 31.2 - 63.4 kg/m 2 . MEASUREMENTS: Serum leptin; various fatness and fat distribution parameters (by anthropometry and bioelectrical impedance analysis); history of overweight at puberty; number, magnitude and timing of previous diet episodes and of consequent weight regain by interview. RESULTS: By univariate analysis, serum leptin concentrations were significantly correlated with weight, waist-hip ratio, percentage body fat, maximal percentage weight loss in a single diet episode, cumulative percentage weight loss in all diet episodes, cumulative weight regained in all diet episodes, but not with the number of diet episodes. All correlations related to anthropometric and body composition parameters were stronger for men, compared to women, although the male subgroup was smaller. On the contrary, there was a strong positive correlation between weight cycling parameters and serum leptin in women but not in men. Leptin concentrations were significantly higher in patients who were overweight at puberty than in those who were not overweight at puberty. After correction for percentage body fat, presence of overweight at puberty did not correlate any longer with leptin concentrations in either gender. In women, cumulative percentage weight loss in all diet episodes contributed an additional 5% to the variance of serum leptin in the overall model. CONCLUSION: The positive correlation between weight cycling and leptin concentration in obesity is mainly accounted for the higher percentage body fat in obese weight cyclers, although in women weight cycling per se independently contributes to the variance of serum leptin.

Acute low back pain is a common pathology, often treated with use or misuse of NSAID. NSAID are often used as over the counter medications, can have side effects and increase health costs. In anthroposophic medicine (AM), potentised Arnica montana extracts ampules are often prescribed for acute low back pain. A. montana is a trauma and pain remedy, well known in phytotherapy, traditional and homeopathic medicine. According to anthroposophical medical system, it is prescribed as a remedy against inflammation, through warmth and neurosensory organism modulation. To assess safety and effectiveness of arnica in acute low back pain, a non-randomised prospective trial was performed in the General Medicine Department of the Istituto Clinico San Siro (ICSS), in Milan, where AM is regularly prescribed as complementary or alternative treatment by the medical team, under patient informed consent, in daily practice. The study was performed in the context of the regional research program for CAM of Region Lombardy. A cohort of 30 inpatients (age 50–87), with acute low back pain and without other acute pathologies, have been evaluated with medical interviews, examination and parameters such as Schober's test and costo-vertebral mobility. They have been prospectively treated with an injectable anthroposophical potentised acqueous extract of Arnica planta tota Rh D3, administered locally subcoutaneously once a day for 6 days. After hospital treatment, the patients have been randomised in 2 groups: 15 patients (group C) did not receive any further treatment and 15 patients (group A) received further 3 months of arnica ampules treatment. The acute treatment and the consolidation treatment were well tolerated. All patients improved during acute treatment with no side effect. Patients without consolidation treatment presented again symptoms and signs after 3 months. Patients receiving consolidation treatment kept improving. Treatment with anthroposophical injectable low-potency A. montana showed to be safe, effective and cost-effective in acute and consolidation treatment of low back pain. Download : Download high-res image (161KB) Download : Download full-size image

Rats were exposed to hyperbaric oxygen (HBO = 100% oxygen; 2.5 atmospheres absolute pressure) for 6 h. Isovolumic left heart preparations from these animals were subjected to global low flow-ischemia (perfusion rate from 12 ml/min to 2 ml/min for 40 min) and reperfusion. Hearts from rats not exposed to HBO underwent the same ischemic-reperfusion procedure (controls). As compared to control, HBO treatment caused in ex vivo hearts a significant aggravation of cardiac ischemic picture as indicated by a marked increase in left ventricular end diastolic pressure (LVEDP) and reduced post ischemic left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP). At the end of the ischemic and reperfusion periods LVEDP values were 6.8 (p0.001) and 8 (p0.001) times higher than the corresponding control values. Moreover, LVDP and coronary perfusion pressure (CPP) values were decreased (2.8 times; p0.001) and increased (56%; p0.001), respectively, as compared to control preparations. These events were also associated with a considerable impairment of the cardiac tissue to generate 6-keto-PGF1 alpha. Treatments of rats with different doses of acetylcysteine (N-acetylcysteine, CAS 616-91-1, NAC; 0.25-0.5-1 g/kg p.o.) before HBO displayed a clear-cut and dose-related protective activity in hearts subjected to ischemia-reperfusion. Also the generating capacity of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha from these hearts were restored according to the dose of NAC employed. When aortic rings from rats exposed to HBO were considered, they showed a reduced capacity to release 6-keto-PGF1 alpha and an increased sensitivity to endothelin-1. At the same time, the relaxant activity of acetylcholine in these tissues was almost lost. Again, NAC treatment of the animals before HBO restored in a dose-dependent way the capacity of the aortic rings to generate 6-keto-PGF1 alpha. This event was paralleled by normalized responses of the preparations to endothelin-1 and acetylcholine. Taken together these results clearly indicate that acute HBO treatment of the rats markedly aggravates the ischemic-reperfusion damage in ex vivo hearts. This event is coupled with a compromised integrity of cardiac and extracardiac endothelial cell functions. The protective activity of NAC observed in this study once more emphasises its therapeutic role in increasing antioxidant defence mechanisms.

Objective To identify criteria with which to select candidates for conservative nephrectomy, and to compare the results of radical and conservative nephrectomy in two homogeneous groups of patients with renal carcinoma, in a prospective study. Patients and methods Forty patients (27 men and 13 women, mean age 49.9 years, range 23–76) with renal carcinoma (T1-T2 N0M0

Every trauma determines a state of local hypoxia that follows tissular ischaemia, because of anatomical vascular lesions or functional obstacles, which interfere with cellular metabolic processes. In soft tissues the post-traumatic interruption of the perfusion and oxygenation provokes mortification and necrosis. In the bones, the damage in the blood supply, which we can observe after a fracture, provokes an ischaemic-hypoxic state that interferes with the repairing processes that originate in the post-fracture haematoma and are completed only in normal oxygen conditions, causing a delay in the formation of the bone callus and, consequently, in the consolidation of the fractures.

Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is actually the first cause of accidental poisoning in Europe [1] and North America [2]. Despite efforts in prevention and public and medical education, this intoxication remains frequent, severe, and too often overlooked; frequent because carbon monoxide accounts for nearly 5000–8000 poisonings a year in France, and this number is likely to increase, because devices able to produce CO are used more and more by the general public. Besides, the energy crisis has led people to decreased air ventilation in homes. Thus, these two factors join together to increase the risk of CO production; severe because carbon monoxide is responsible for hundreds of deaths annually in Europe. But death is only one risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, and another one of major importance is neurological sequelae; underdiagnosed and thus inadequately managed. In 1979 a French Poison Control Center study [3] showed that nearly 30 % of CO poisoning was overlooked or misdiagnosed during the first visit to the hospital or by the general practitioner.

The concentration of oxygen in the Earth’s atmosphere presently is the evolutionary product of a biochemical and biophysiological balance between animals, which produce oxygen, and plants, which produce it by photosynthesis. Hundreds of millions of years have passed between the original composition of the Earth’s atmosphere and that of the present. The turning point was the appearance of the first living cell with the capacity of photosynthesis, and thus oxygen was first produced on Earth.

Oxygen is obviously a determining element for the retina. It has two purposes: the first is the more classic one and is represented by aerobic glycolysis (in the inner layers of the retina), anaerobic glycolysis (outer layers of the retina), and by the other characteristic metabolic functions of the oxygen in maintaining the homeostasis of the retina tissues. Oxygen also has a determining role in the resynthesis of visual photopigment. In carrying out research into the chorioretinal oxygenation in humans, it can be assumed that for every important modification in oxygen availability at a chorioretinal level there is a modification in the visual function. Ischemic alterations in the retina, although transitory, cause a temporary or permanent reduction in vision. According to recent experimental evidence, an increase in oxygen availability would cause an improvement in vision [1, 2].

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy, apart from some acute and very specialized indications regarding the treatment of decompression disorders and arterial air/gas embolism, is generally aimed at treating serious and complex disorders, generally reluctant to standard treatment and requires prolonged and reiterated hospitalization/rehabilitation periods as well as elevated technical, social and human costs.

In other chapters we have seen how the use of hyperbaric chambers has proven highly effective in a vast range of clinical applications that may also be of an intensive nature [i]. Consideration of a hyperbaric chamber for a resuscitation environment poses various problems that may also concern the ventilatory support and monitoring function of the clinical parameters [1, 3]. Use of the standard high technology equipment available presently in hyperbaric environments is not always possible without appropriate modifications. There are limitations created by safety standards that have to be followed in such cases. These mainly concern: 1. Power supply of instruments [4] 2. Manufacturing materials (especially certain lubricants) [5] 3. Any vacuum circuits that carry an implosion/explosion risk during compression or decompression (such as cathode tubes) 4. Use of motors with brushes that may generate electrostatic arcs and thus cause fire danger [6, 7].

Although oxygen has been present in the atmosphere for 5 billion years, it is believed that its concentration was infinitesimal until 2.5 billion years ago, when the first photosynthetic organisms appeared [1, 2]. The gradual increment of oxygen atmospheric concentration allowed further evolution for the animal species depending on an aerobic metabolism by enhancing the survival of those forms that had better protection against the increasing oxidative stress of the changing atmosphere [2].

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HC) is often difficult to distinguish from secondary liver neoplasia (SLN) by physical and imaging diagnostic procedures alone. To this aim we have extended and improved a laboratory approach based on a serum lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme ratio (LD4:LD5) by adding the carcinoembryonic antigen: alpha-fetoprotein ratio, alkaline phosphatase, and serum iron concentrations to obtain a highly efficient discriminant function. In two successive cohorts, for a total of 102 patients, all histologically diagnosed, with a prevalence of HC vs SLN of 3:1, we correctly classified 96% of cases (100% of SLN cases). Subsequent verification with the jackknife reallocation statistical algorithm confirmed these results. In conclusion, this discriminant function based on simple laboratory assays of a few analytes is an important tool in solving a diagnostic dilemma in cases of liver neoplasia.

The aim of this study, starting from some concepts of physiology, was to deal with the ever growing question of intentional anemia. Physiology suitably expresses the linear relationship between hematocrit and blood fluidity, and at the same time explains how viscosity and aggregability are important co-factors in the circulation, in disease and in thromboembolic complications. The need to understand how a low hematocrit level, compared to the volemia, is a fundamental requirement in surgery, and even more so in surgery with a high risk of embolism, like orthopedic traumatology surgery. Normovolemic hemodilution was analyzed both for the risks it involves and for how much it sticks to the changes induced by a similar situation on the various organs and apparatus. The authors, based on their experience in the field of anesthesiology, propose an operating schedule to safely perform intentional normovolemic hemodilution, describing the preoperative, intraoperative and finally the postoperative period. In conclusion, the authors advocate a wider use of this technique, confirming its safety in relation to volemia.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is used in ophthalmology in ischemic pathologies of the anterior and posterior segments. Our experiment was done on a healthy group of volunteers aged between 10 and 50 yr. We examined the subject's vision before and after acute HBO exposure (60 min at 2.5 atm abs with pure oxygen) to verify whether vasoconstriction induced by hyperoxemia can influence eyesight. We measured the psychophysical determination of the threshold contrast according to Maione-Maffei's zebra test. The results demonstrated that contrast sensitivity is significantly improved for almost all the studied frequencies in normal subjects after acute HBO exposure. We hypothesize that the visual system has a reserve which is activated by an improvement of retinal oxygenation.

The consensus conference on blood saving has allowed us to formulate some interesting guidelines. The autologous and homologous transfusion require the patient's consent. For volemic replacement crystalloid solutions are used for phlebotomies below 10-15%, and colloid solutions for those greater than 10-15% of the blood mass. Severe isovolemic hemodilution (Ht20%) necessitates the reduction of the dosage of some drugs. A limit of Hb around 9 g/dl after phlebotomy may be acceptable in the absence of cerebral and coronary vascular disease. Phlebotomies are therefore possible also when the Hb values are 10 g/dl (Ht 30%). Hb values around 7 g/dl in the late postoperative period (from day 3 to 6) may be accepted only if well tolerated. The blood salvaged during surgery and at the beginning of the postoperative phase must always be centrifugated, washed and microfiltered. Subsequently, in the first 8 hours it is possible to reinfuse red cells after sedimentation and microfiltration. The techniques of predeposit, hemodilution and recovery are valid especially if associated with careful control of postoperative bleeding by means of aspiration under controlled pressure (at minimum negative values and sometimes positive ones), monitoring of blood loss from drainage and application of elastic compression bandages.

No laboratory test completely distinguishes malignant ascites (MA) from ascites associated with cirrhosis and (or) hepatocellular carcinoma (A/C-HC). Ascitic cytology is highly specific but has a diagnostic sensitivity of only 40-60%. We determined 11 ascitic analytes and cytology in 58 patients with cirrhosis, 15 with hepatocellular carcinoma, and 21 with MA (10 ovarian cancers, 4 mesotheliomas, 6 gastrointestinal neoplasias, 1 leukemia). Ascitic total protein, cholesterol, pseudouridine, and lactate dehydrogenase (LD), and the ascitic:serum ratios of total protein and of LD showed the most significant differences between the two groups of patients. Stepwise multiple linear discriminant analysis (applying the Wilks' lambda criterion) of several variables, corroborated by the "jack-knife" reallocation procedure, showed that the ascitic cholesterol and ascitic LD association correctly identified 100% of MA and A/C-HC; cytology had a diagnostic specificity of 100%, but identified only 48% of MA. This association may represent a primary tool for the discrimination of ascites of unknown origin, particularly in the presence of negative cytology findings.