White blood cells, TNF-α, and interleukin-6 in subjects with infantile colic treated with Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG (ATCC 53103): a randomised prospective study.

Recent metanalysis reported that certain probiotic strains, such as Limosilactobacillus reuteri and Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus (LGG), seem effective for treatment of infantile colic of exclusively breastfed infants; some reports have also linked probiotics to have an immunological effect, however further investigation are needed to fully understand the exact mechanism. The objective of this study was to assay white blood cells, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-6 values in peripheral blood in subjects treated in a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial for infantile colic with LGG. Fifty-eight infants were enrolled and followed for a study period of 28 days. Parent were asked to record daily crying time using a structured cry diary. Peripheral white blood cells was assessed and RNA (mRNA) expression of TNF-α and IL-6 was measured using TaqMan real-time PCR-maternal amplification. Infants with colic treated with LGG showed a reduction in daily crying duration after 28 days of treatment and a reduction in values of IL-6 ( P < 0.005) and TNF-α ( P < 0.05); we observe also a significantly decreasing of IL-6 in the placebo group while decrease of TNF-α was not significant in this group. A significant decreased values of monocytes ( P < 0.05) was observed in infants treated with LGG. Our data therefore showed, in addition to crying time reduction, a significant decrease of TNF-α and a significant reduction of monocytes cells in colicky infants treated with LGG, compared to placebo group. This observation supports the hypothesis that probiotics may have anti-inflammatory properties. Further studies are needed to better understand the influence of probiotic on immunity cells.

The prophylactic use of negative-pressure wound therapy after cardiac surgery: a meta-analysis.

Surgical site infections (SSIs) pose a frequent complication in cardiac surgery patients and lead to increased patient discomfort and extended hospitalization. This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the protective role of single-use negative-pressure wound therapy (sNPWT) devices on closed surgical wounds after cardiac surgery, and explored their potential preventive application across all cardiac surgery patients. A comprehensive literature search was conducted on ScienceDirect, focusing on studies related to "negative pressure wound therapy" or "PICO negative pressure wound therapy" combined with "cardiac surgery" or "sternotomy," published between 2000 and 2022. Inclusion criteria encompassed case-control studies comparing sNPWT with traditional dressings on closed cardiac surgical incisions in adult patients undergoing median sternotomy without immediate postoperative infective complications, with available details on SSIs. A retrospective analysis of cases treated with sNPWT in our centre was also performed. The meta-analysis revealed a protective role of sNPWT, indicating a 44% risk reduction in overall SSIs (odds ratio 0.56) and a 40% risk reduction in deep wound infections (odds ratio 0.60). Superficial wound infections, however, showed non-significant protective effects. A single-centre study aligned with the meta-analysis findings, confirming the efficacy of sNPWT and was included in the meta-analysis. In conclusion, the meta-analysis and the single-centre study collectively support the protective role of negative pressure wound therapy against overall and deep SSIs, suggesting its potential prophylactic use on all cardiac surgery populations.

The Efficacy of a Pyrethroid-impregnated Mattress Liner on Multiple International Strains of Cimex lectularius (Hemiptera: Cimicidae) and Cimex hemipterus (Hemiptera: Cimicidae).

Modern bed bugs are resistant to multiple insecticide classes, particularly the pyrethroids. The efficacy of pyrethroid-impregnated mattress liners marketed for bed bug management has been variable. This study evaluated the efficacy of a permethrin-impregnated mattress liner, ActiveGuard, against 24 bed bug strains, consisting of both Cimex hemipterus (F.) and Cimex lectularius L. A 'mat assay', employing an allethrin-impregnated mat, was used to establish the pyrethroid resistance profile of all strains. Three experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of ActiveGuard exposure on bed bug knockdown: 1) exposing the bed bugs continuously on the liner for up to 24 d, 2) holding the bed bugs on the liner for either 4 or 6 h, and 3) placing a noninsecticide treated fabric above the liner with the bed bugs held continuously on top. Our results indicated that all modern strains (collected within the last 15 years during the current resurgence) were pyrethroid-resistant, although the magnitude of resistance was highly variable between strains. In the continuous exposure study, an incomplete knockdown was recorded for most modern bed bug strains, with some having no knockdown even up to 7 d of constant exposure. In the 4 or 6 h exposure study, the level of knockdown was reduced even further, and very few bed bugs were knocked down in the double fabric study. The results of this study indicate that pyrethroid-impregnated mattress liners are not likely to be effective in the management of most modern bed bug infestations involving either C. hemipterus or C. lectularius.

Computational Evaluation of Combined Cerebellar and Frontal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Treatment-Resistant Depression.

This work aimed to estimate the distribution of the electric field generated by a combined cerebellar and frontal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) for treatment-resistant depression using electromagnetics computational techniques applied to a realistic head human model. Results showed that the stronger electric fields occur mainly in the cerebellum and in DLPFC areas, where the two pairs of electrodes were applied. Furthermore, the study demonstrated that the simultaneous use of the two pairs of electrodes did not imply a lower effectiveness of the tDCS technique, in fact the electric field distributions in the primarily targets of the anatomical regions (i.e., cerebellum and DLPFC) were very similar to when the pairs of electrodes were applied separately.

Quantification of Fecal Spot Production as a Measure of Environmental Contamination Based on Common Bed Bug (Hemiptera: Cimicidae: Cimex lectularius L.) Population Size.

The presence of fecal spots has often been used to verify the existence of a bed bug (Cimex lectularius) infestation. However, no research has been conducted to determine how much fecal material that a bed bug population produces over time. In this study, the number of fecal spots that each nymphal life stage was capable of producing after a bloodmeal was quantified. Adult fecal spots were also quantified to determine if there was consistent production between feedings. During this study, it was discovered that bed bugs produced visible fecal spots and clear spots that were only visible under ultraviolet light. Therefore, three types of fecal spots were quantified: dark feces, light feces, and clear spots. Clear spots were produced in greater amounts (38.5-55.5%) than either dark spots (27.3-40.7%) or light spots (17.3-21.9%). For example, 5th instar bed bugs were thought to produce an average of 21 spots (dark and light) after a single bloodmeal. However, using the ultraviolet light, it was found that the 5th instars actually produced an average of 44.7 spots. Using the total fecal spot data collected during this study, researchers could project contamination potential for an infestation starting with a single gravid female over 30, 60, and 90 d. In addition, the amount of area covered by these spots was projected to be over 12 m2 in just 3 mo, which could greatly reduce the environmental and aesthetic quality of a home.

Quantifying the Efficacy of an Assessment-Based Pest Management (APM) Program for German Cockroach (L.) (Blattodea: Blattellidae) Control in Low-Income Public Housing Units.

Over the last several decades, low-income public housing facilities have been known to be infested with particularly large German cockroach populations. These populations persist even though the housing pest control contracts often require, and pay for, IPM practices to be used in their facilities. When Virginia Tech researchers began reviewing public housing contracts in Virginia and North Carolina, it was easy to see why these 'IPM programs' were not successful. Many of these 'low-bidder' contracts do not allow the technician enough time in each apartment to assess the size of the pest population. In addition, these pest management contracts did not require German cockroach population monitoring, even though all IPM programs are based on assessments of the pest population. There was a clear need for an effective, easy to apply cockroach management program in U.S. public housing authorities. This study determined the long-term efficacy of an Assessment-based Pest Management (APM) program for German cockroach control in U.S. public housing facilities. Specifically, we evaluated an APM program where the residents were not asked to clean or prepare for treatment, and where overnight cockroach trap counts were used to determine the volume of gel bait that would be applied. The APM baiting program was conducted for 15 mo in three housing authorities. In all three housing authorities, cockroach populations in test units were typically reduced by >90%. German cockroach infestations were even eliminated from 49 of the 65 (75%) test units during this study.

A Method for Evaluating Insecticide Efficacy against Bed Bug, Cimex lectularius, Eggs and First Instars.

Standard toxicity evaluations of insecticides against insect pests are primarily conducted on adult insects. Evaluations are based on a dose-response or concentration-response curve, where mortality increases as the dose or concentration of an insecticide is increased. Standard lethal concentration (LC50) and lethal dose (LD50) tests that result in 50% mortality of a test population can be challenging for evaluating toxicity of insecticides against non-adult insect life stages, such as eggs and early instar or nymphal stages. However, this information is essential for understanding insecticide efficacy in all bed bug life stages, which affects control and treatment efforts. This protocol uses a standard dipping bioassay modified for bed bug eggs and a contact insecticidal assay for treating nymphal first instars. These assays produce a concentration-response curve to further quantify LC50 values for insecticide evaluations.

Insecticide Resistance in Eggs and First Instars of the Bed Bug, Cimex lectularius (Hemiptera: Cimicidae).

Two strains of the common bed bug, Cimex lectularius L., eggs and first instars collected from pyrethroid-resistant adults were evaluated for insecticide resistance and compared to a susceptible strain. Dose-response bioassays were conducted using two insecticide formulations (Temprid: imidacloprid/ß-cyfluthrin, and Transport: acetamiprid/ bifenthrin). The lethal concentration (LC50) for the two resistant egg strains exposed to imidacloprid/ß-cyfluthrin ranged from 3 to 5-fold higher than susceptible strain eggs. Resistant strain eggs dipped into formulations of acetamiprid/bifenthrin had LC50 values which were significantly greater (39 to 1,080-fold) than susceptible strain eggs. Similar to eggs, resistant strain first instars exposed to residual applications of imidacloprid/ß-cyfluthrin had LC50 values ranging from 121 to 493-fold greater than susceptible strain first instars. When resistant strain first instars were treated with acetamiprid/bifenthrin, they had LC50 values that were 99 to >1,900-fold greater than susceptible strain first instars. To determine differences between egg and first instar resistance, stage resistance ratios (SRR) were compared between the two stages. There was little difference between the egg and first instar stages, indicated by small SRR values ranging from 1.1 to 10.0. This study suggests that insecticide resistance is expressed early during bed bug development.

Clinal variation in colony breeding structure and level of inbreeding in the subterranean termites Reticulitermes flavipes and R. grassei.

Social insects exhibit remarkable variation in their colony breeding structures, both within and among species. Ecological factors are believed to be important in shaping reproductive traits of social insect colonies, yet there is little information linking specific environmental variables with differences in breeding structure. Subterranean termites (Rhinotermitidae) show exceptional variation in colony breeding structure, differing in the number of reproductives and degree of inbreeding; colonies can be simple families headed by a single pair of monogamous reproductives (king and queen) or they can be extended families headed by multiple inbreeding neotenic reproductives (wingless individuals). Using microsatellite markers, we characterized colony breeding structure and levels of inbreeding in populations over large parts of the range of the subterranean termites Reticulitermes flavipes in the USA and R. grassei in Europe. Combining these new data with previous results on populations of both species, we found that latitude had a strong effect on the proportion of extended-family colonies in R. flavipes and on levels of inbreeding in both species. We examined the effect of several environmental variables that vary latitudinally; while the degree of inbreeding was greatest in cool, moist habitats in both species, seasonality affected the species differently. Inbreeding in R. flavipes was most strongly associated with climatic variables (mean annual temperature and seasonality), whereas nonclimatic variables, including the availability of wood substrate and soil composition, were important predictors of inbreeding in R. grassei. These results are the first showing that termite breeding structure is shaped by local environmental factors and that species can vary in their responses to these factors.

Deep sequencing of pyrethroid-resistant bed bugs reveals multiple mechanisms of resistance within a single population.

A frightening resurgence of bed bug infestations has occurred over the last 10 years in the U.S. and current chemical methods have been inadequate for controlling this pest due to widespread insecticide resistance. Little is known about the mechanisms of resistance present in U.S. bed bug populations, making it extremely difficult to develop intelligent strategies for their control. We have identified bed bugs collected in Richmond, VA which exhibit both kdr-type (L925I) and metabolic resistance to pyrethroid insecticides. Using LD(50) bioassays, we determined that resistance ratios for Richmond strain bed bugs were ∼5200-fold to the insecticide deltamethrin. To identify metabolic genes potentially involved in the detoxification of pyrethroids, we performed deep-sequencing of the adult bed bug transcriptome, obtaining more than 2.5 million reads on the 454 titanium platform. Following assembly, analysis of newly identified gene transcripts in both Harlan (susceptible) and Richmond (resistant) bed bugs revealed several candidate cytochrome P450 and carboxylesterase genes which were significantly over-expressed in the resistant strain, consistent with the idea of increased metabolic resistance. These data will accelerate efforts to understand the biochemical basis for insecticide resistance in bed bugs, and provide molecular markers to assist in the surveillance of metabolic resistance.

Population Growth Potential of the Bed Bug, Cimex lectularius L.: A Life Table Analysis.

Experimental life tables were constructed and analyzed for three strains of the common bed bug: a pyrethroid-susceptible laboratory strain (HS), a highly resistant field strain (RR), and a field strain with a declining level of resistance (KR). Egg to adult survival in the RR strain was 94% compared with 79% and 69% in the HS and KR strains, respectively. The RR strain also developed significantly faster from egg to adult (~35 days) than the other two strains (~40 days). Analysis of a survivorship and fecundity life table for the RR strain produced the following results. The average life expectancy for a newly laid egg was ~143 days, and that of a newly molted adult was ~127 days. Females produced an average of 0.64 daughter eggs/day with the highest weekly production during the fifth week of adult life. Analysis of daily reproductive parity showed that females produced 1-3 and 4-6 eggs on 79 and 21% of the days, respectively, when egg laying occurred. The net reproductive rate (R0) of the RR strain was ~35, which represents a 35-fold increase in the population per generation (~92 days). The intrinsic rate of increase, r, was 0.054 indicating that the population multiplies 1.1 times/female/day (λ) and doubles in size every 13 days. The stable age distribution (cx) was dominated by nymphs (54%), followed by eggs (34%) and adults (12%). Reproductive values (vx) for the strain increased from egg to the adult stage.

Host Searching and Aggregation Activity of Recently Fed and Unfed Bed Bugs (Cimex lectularius L.).

Groups of starved, virgin adult male or female bed bugs were stimulated to search for a host by the presence of a heated artificial feeder. Some of the bed bug groups were allowed to obtain a blood meal and some were not. After the removal of the feeder, bed bugs were observed throughout the scotophase to record their searching and aggregation behavior. Groups of male and female bed bugs that were unable to obtain a blood meal continued to search in the arena for the majority of the scotophase. Bed bugs that were able to obtain a blood meal returned to their shelter to aggregate 30 min after feeding. Overall, the proportion of bed bugs aggregating in shelters during the scotophase was significantly greater for those that had fed successfully than those that had not. However, all bed bugs, regardless of feeding status, began to return to shelters to aggregate 2 h prior to the photophase.

Survivorship During Starvation for Cimex lectularius L.

Four bed bug strains (Cimex lectularius) with different levels of pyrethroid resistance were evaluated to determine their ability to survive extended periods of starvation. First instar bed bugs of all strains were the most vulnerable to starvation (13.8-36.3 days mean survival time). Fifth instars and adults survived the longest during starvation (41.5-142.6 days). Significant differences in survivorship during starvation were observed between resistant and susceptible strains of bed bugs. Overall, all immature and adult stages of the resistant bed bug strains had significantly shorter survival times than those of the susceptible strains (P < 0.05).

Reproductive Potential of Field-collected Populations of Cimex lectularius L. and the Cost of Traumatic Insemination.

Egg production was compared among three field-collected bed bug strains over the course of 13 feeding/oviposition cycles, each of which lasted ~10 days. No significant differences were found among bed bug strains in the mean number of eggs/female/day (~1.0 egg). However, significant differences were found among strains in their patterns of egg production throughout the study period. Specifically, differences were observed in the timing of peak egg production and the rapidity of egg production decline among the three strains. Egg production was also quantified for female bed bugs that were subjected to single or multiple traumatic insemination events over a period of six feeding/oviposition cycles. Significant differences were found in egg production between females exposed to single and multiple inseminations. Females mated only once produced 83.8 ± 4.5 (mean ± SE) eggs over six feeding cycles. Females exposed to multiple inseminations produced 61.0 ± 3.1 eggs, indicating that multiple traumatic inseminations may reduce female fecundity by as much as 27%. This study is the first to suggest that, in a new infestation (first ~6 weeks), a solitary, singly-mated female with access to regular blood meals is capable of producing greater numbers of offspring than the same female in the presence of a male.

Field evaluations of insecticide treatment regimens for control of the common bed bug, Cimex lectularius (L.).

BACKGROUND: Because bedbugs, Cimex lectularius L., have not been a problem in the USA for over 40 years, few insecticide products are labeled for their control. Most products that are labeled for bedbugs are pyrethroids. However, recent studies indicate that field-collected bedbugs may be resistant to pyrethroids. There are also non-pyrethroid products labeled for bedbugs, but, like the pyrethroids, none of these products has been evaluated for field efficacy. This study evaluated the efficacy of two insecticide treatment regimens for bedbugs in multi-unit housing. Both of the treatments included multiple products currently being used by the pest management industry. RESULTS: The 'traditional' treatment consisted of applications of pyrethroid products and an insect growth regulator. The 'novel' treatment consisted of applications of non-pyrethroid products. The traditional treatment significantly reduced the number of bedbugs from 39.8 +/- 10.1 per unit prior to treatment to 2.2 +/- 1.0 at the end of the test period (P = 0.02; 95% reduction). The number of live bedbugs in the 'novel' treatment was also significantly reduced from 71.4 +/- 25.3 bedbugs per unit to 10.2 +/- 4.4 after 8 weeks (86% population reduction). CONCLUSIONS: Although both treatment regimens reduced bedbug numbers, the fact that bedbugs were not eliminated after multiple applications suggests that the insecticides, applied at the current label rates, were inadequate. These results suggest that a more integrated approach to bedbug control is necessary in multi-unit housing situations.

[Association between causes of lNPS compensated disability and occupational category (Veneto Region, 1994-2002): a surveillance method for occupational diseases?]. / Associazione tra causa di invalidita pensionabile INPS e comparto lavorativo (Veneto, 1994-2002): un metodo di sorveglianza delle malattie professionali?

BACKGROUND: According to Italian law, workers are insured against disability through the National Social Security Institute (INPS), whose records contain information on diseases causing disability and occupational histories. OBJECTIVES: Using the INPS data, our objective was to identify any excess risk of disabling diseases in relation to the occupational categories. METHODS: Insurance covers all private sector employees, a small proportion of public sector employees, agricultural labourers, domestic workers, self-employed workers (craftsmen, commercial dealers,farmers), and few other occupational categories. For each insured worker, a database was created containing registry data, occupational history and, for compensated workers, the disease code, for each year from 1994 to 2002. A cohort study design was adopted, in which references were self-employed workers (with mixed exposure) to whom different categories of employees in agriculture, industry, crafts, and services were compared. Data were analyzed by means of Poisson regression, estimating the Incidence Rate Ratio (IRR) and confidence interval (CI) at 99.99%, instead of 95%, in order to set the threshold of error for the entire study at 0.05. RESULTS: In the construction industry there were significantly high risks of disability in both industry and crafts for tumours (industry: IRR = 2.07; IC = 1. 67-2.57; crafts: 2.57; 1.89-3.18), circulatory disorders (industry: IRR = 2.24; IC = 1.65-3.04; crafts.: 3.06; 2.16-4.32), and bone and joint diseases (industry. IRR = 5.0; IC = 3.15-7.94; crafts: 6.58; 5.04-8.59). CONCLUSIONS: The advantage of this approach is to recruit a large number of subjects at limited cost. The procedure here proposed is a mainly exploratory approach aimed at establishing new study hypotheses: disability, in fact, is acknowledged by INPS when its cause is not occupational according to the current literature.

[Safety and health in workers employed in industry. Data from Industrial Accidents Compensation Board (INAIL) and National Social Security Institute (INPS), Veneto Region, 1994-2002]. / Sicurezza e salute dei lavoratori dell'Industria attraverso i dati INAIL e INPS, Veneto, 1994-2002.

BACKGROUND: A decreasing time trend for occupational injuries and sickness absence would be the effect of the new legislation (D.Lgs. 626/94 and successive laws) on prevention in occupational settings. Conversely, the reduction of INPS disability would reflect a health improvement due to non-occupational causes. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to investigate the efficacy of the new legislation among employees in industry (where the law was mainly applied), via the time trend of three standardized rates in the Veneto Region. METHODS: The numerator for the rate of occupational accidents (cases occurring in industry workers in the Veneto Region, broken down for sex, age and calendar years) was supplied by INAIL. The denominator for the above rate, as well as numerators and denominators for disability and sickness absence were supplied by INPS. Data were available from 1994 to 2002 for accidents and disability, and from 1997 to 2002 for sickness absence. In every year from 1994 to 2002, the rates were standardized for age and sex with the direct method, using an internal "standard" population. The time trend of year-specific standardized rates was analyzed by Joinpoint regression software. RESULTS: Among industrial workers in the Veneto Region, occupational accidents increased by 0.4% yearly, while disability decreased by 2.56% from 1994 to 2002. Sick absence increased up to 1999, then decreased. CONCLUSIONS: This epidemiological pattern is difficult to explain. The increase in accidents could be due to the increase of non-European Union workers and/or to the fact that accidents on the way to or from work were recognized as occupational accidents by INAIL starting from 2000. Both these phenomena could have contributed to increase the rate that was otherwise diminishing. On the other hand, this same situation could be due to insufficient efficacy of the legislation (D.Lgs. 626/94 and successive laws) for preventing occupational accidents and diseases.

Treatment of human immunodeficiency virus-associated facial lipoatrophy with lipofilling and submalar silicone implants.

In the absence of a current therapy to prevent facial lipoatrophy in HIV+ patients treated with HAART, surgical correction of the defect still remains the best option. We evaluate two different surgical techniques for facial contour enhancing and suggest the right choice related to the lipodystrophy severity. Twelve HIV+ patients underwent surgical submalar correction: eight were treated with lipofilling following Coleman's technique and four had bilateral malar silicone implants inserted after determining their positioning with the aid of a new software. Both techniques gave long lasting results in facial contour reshaping ranging from good to very good. No complication was observed. In the mean follow-up period of 2 years no patient felt uncomfortable with his/her image. Both techniques, lipofilling and silicone implant positioning, for managing facial lipoatrophy in HIV+ patients treated with HAART had good results, but the right choice has to be related to the severity of the lipodystrophy in the patient.