Functional characteristics of chemosensory proteins in the sawyer beetle Monochamus alternatus Hope.

The Japanese pine sawyer, Monochamus alternatus Hope (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), is a major pest of pines and it is also the key vector of the exotic pinewood nematode in China. In the present study, we cloned, expressed, and purified a chemosensory protein (CSP) in M. alternatus. We surveyed its expression in various developmental stages of male and female adult tissues and determined its binding affinities for different pine volatiles using a competitive binding fluorescence assay. A CSP known as CSP5 in M. alternatus was obtained from an antennal cDNA library and expressed in Escherichia coli. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction results indicated that the CSP5 gene was mainly expressed in male and female antennae. Competitive binding assays were performed to test the binding affinity of recombinant CSP5 to 13 odour molecules of pine volatiles. The results showed that CSP5 showed very strong binding abilities to myrcene, (+)-ß-pinene, and (-)-isolongifolene, whereas the volatiles 2-methoxy-4-vinylphenol, p-cymene, and (+)-limonene oxide have relatively weak binding affinity at pH 5.0. Three volatiles myrcene, (+)-ß-pinene, and (-)-isolongifolene may play crucial roles in CSP5 binding with ligands but this needs further study for confirmation. The sensitivity of insect to host plant volatiles can effectively be used to control and monitor the population through mass trapping as part of integrated pest management programs.

Host suitability analysis of the bark beetle Scolytus amygdali (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae).

Scolytus amygdali is a polyphagous insect pest that feeds on fruit trees and forest trees. Our study assessed the host preference and reproductive potential of S. amygdali on four tree species: almond (Prunus dulcis), apricot (Prunus armeniaca), peach (Prunus persica), and plum (Prunus domestica). Females of S. amygdali produced maternal galleries that were longer on peach than the other three trees, and female fecundity was highest on peach. Females with longer maternal galleries produced more eggs, indicating a positive correlation between maternal gallery length and female fertility. The under-bark development time of S. amygdali is significantly shorter on plum (45 days) and almond (56 days) than on apricot (65 days) and peach (64 days). Despite this longer development time on peach, our results still suggest that, of the four types of tree tested, peach is the most preferred host for S. amygdali.

Common and uncommon CT findings in rupture and impending rupture of abdominal aortic aneurysms.

The rapid imaging evaluation and diagnosis of rupture and impending rupture of an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is imperative. This article describes the imaging findings of rupture, impending rupture, and other abdominal aortic abnormalities. It is important not to overlook AAA as the consequences can be life threatening. All patients who had open or endovascular repair of AAA rupture over 6 years (2008-2012) were identified from our departmental database. The computed tomography (CT) images of 99 patients were reviewed for relevant findings. The mean age of the patients was 65 years and 85% were male.

Melioidosis: an emerging infectious disease.

Infectious diseases account for a third of all the deaths in the developing world. Achievements in understanding the basic microbiology, pathogenesis, host defenses and expanded epidemiology of infectious diseases have resulted in better management and reduced mortality. However, an emerging infectious disease, melioidosis, is becoming endemic in the tropical regions of the world and is spreading to non-endemic areas. This article highlights the current understanding of melioidosis including advances in diagnosis, treatment and prevention. Better understanding of melioidosis is essential, as it is life-threatening and if untreated, patients can succumb to it. Our sources include a literature review, information from international consensus meetings on melioidosis and ongoing discussions within the medical and scientific community.

A case of presumptive monosomy 21 re-diagnosed as unbalanced t(5p;21q) by FISH and review of literature.

By using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), we demonstrate a case of monosomy 21 to result from an unbalanced translocation involving the short arm of chromosome 5 and the long arm of chromosome 21. Our case is compared to 3 similar cases of t(5p;21q) reported recently, which were also originally diagnosed as monosomy 21. The breakpoint on chromosome 5 in these cases occurred in the p13-p15 region, whereas the breakpoint on chromosome 21 was in the q21-q22 region. Comparison of the clinical findings in these patients demonstrated great similarities. Furthermore, a strong correlation between the clinical manifestations of these patients with cridu-chat syndrome patients was also noted. We suggest that cases with unbalanced t(5p;21q) represent a distinct syndrome which can be grouped under a new category of "5p/21q deletion syndrome."

Continuous infusion of ketamine in mechanically ventilated children with refractory bronchospasm.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether ketamine infusion to mechanically ventilated children with refractory bronchospasm is beneficial. DESIGN: Retrospective chart review. SETTING: Pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) of a children's hospital. PATIENTS: Seventeen patients, ages ranging from 5 months to 17 years (mean 6 +/- 5.7 years), were admitted to our PICU over a 3-year period and received ketamine infusion during a course of mechanical ventilation. The patients had acute respiratory failure associated with severe bronchospasm due to status asthmaticus (n = 11), bronchiolitis caused by respiratory syncytial virus (n = 4), and bacterial pneumonia (n = 2). INTERVENTIONS: All patients had been mechanically ventilated for 1-5 days (2.2 +/- 1.5 days) and received conventional treatment to relieve bronchospasm for more than 24 h prior to the initiation of ketamine treatment. An intravenous bolus of ketamine of 2 mg/kg, followed by continuous infusions of 20-60 micrograms/kg per minute (32 +/- 10 micrograms/kg per minute) was administered to all patients without changing their preexisting bronchodilatory regimen. Benzodiazepines were also given intravenously to all patients during the ketamine treatment. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The PaO2/FIO2 ratio in all patients (n = 17) and the dynamic compliance in the volume-preset mechanically ventilated patients (n = 12) were calculated. The PaO2/FIO2 ratio increased significantly from 116 +/- 55 before ketamine, to 174 +/- 82, 269 +/- 151, and 248 +/- 124 at 1, 8, and 24 h respectively, after the initiation of the ketamine infusion (p < 0.0001). Dynamic compliance increased from 5.78 +/- 2.8 cm3/cmH2O to 7.05 +/- 3.39, 7.29 +/- 3.37, and 8.58 +/- 3.69, respectively (p < 0.0001). PaCO2 and peak inspiratory pressure followed a similar trend of improvement with ketamine administration. The mean duration of the ketamine infusion was 40 +/- 31 h. One patient required glycopyrrolate 0.4 mg/day to control excessive airway secretions and one patient required an additional dose of diazepam to control hallucinations while emerging from ketamine. All patients were successfully weaned from mechanical ventilation and discharged from the PICU. CONCLUSION: Continuous infusion of ketamine to mechanically ventilated patients with refractory bronchospasm significantly improves gas exchange and dynamic compliance of the chest.