Population Dynamics of Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae) in Berry Crops in Southern Brazil.

Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) is an invasive species originating in Southeast Asia and considered a severe pest in berry crops in several countries of the Northern Hemisphere and Europe. In South America, the species was first detected in 2013. The objective of the study was to monitor the seasonal activity of D. suzukii in commercial crops of blackberry, strawberry guava, surinam cherry, blueberry, and strawberry during two consecutive harvests and in three properties in the Southern region of Brazil during the 2015/2016 and 2016/2017 harvests, with the aid of traps baited with apple cider vinegar. The highest population peaks were observed during late spring to mid-fall in all areas and plant species studied. It was verified that temperature is the factor that most influenced the seasonal activity of D. suzukii in the field, promoting low catches of the species during winter. However, even during periods of low temperatures (winter period), the presence of D. suzukii in the crops was verified, demonstrating the species' ability to stay in place from year to year, surviving in alternative hosts such as Eriobotrya japonica, a common species in the region. The information on the time of the highest occurrence of the pest in different hosts presented in this study provides the basis for decision-making in relation to the management of D. suzukii, to avoid further economic damage.

Duplex ultrasound and efficacy criteria in foam sclerotherapy from the 2nd European Consensus Meeting on Foam Sclerotherapy 2006, Tegernsee, Germany.

RATIONALE: The spread of foam sclerotherapy has resulted in the renaissance of sclerotherapy as a non-invasive treatment method for varicosis. An expanded European expert committee meeting in Tegernsee in April 2006 was prompted by new findings and continuous further development of the method and worked especially on the topics "The role of (duplex) ultrasound in Foam sclerotherapy" and "Evaluation of therapeutic effects of foam Sclerotherapy". It was felt that these criteria are"non-specific" to foam sclerotherapy and would possibly also be suitable for other endovenous ablative procedures. The organisers of the 2nd European Consensus Meeting on foam sclerotherapy (2nd ECMFS) were then asked to publish these recommendations in this separate publication. The entire recommendations of the 2nd ECMFS are published in an extensive overview in this journal (VASA 2008; 37; Supplement 71: 1-32). METHODOLOGY: The 29 participants were sent a comprehensive questionnaire in advance covering all the relevant aspects of foam sclerotherapy. The organisers drew up various preliminary statements on the basis of the results. During the meeting itself the participants revised and/or approved and/or rejected these statements. For the "non-specific" topics, two working groups were given the task of conducting the concluding assessment of these items. Their final results were presented in March and April 2007. RESULTS: For foam sclerotherapy, duplex ultrasound is important in pre-treatment diagnosis, treatment monitoring/guidance, post-treatment efficacy evaluation and surveillance. In the pre-treatment diagnosis of varicose veins, the exact localisation of the insufficient saphenous, communicating and perforating veins is important. Duplex ultrasound is the accepted gold standard for this purpose. The application of ultrasound imaging during foam sclerotherapy increases the safety of accessing the vein in certain indications, and it can help when making a decision concerning the foam volumes to be injected, the patients' position or specific movements the patients should perform. Following treatment, the findings of duplex ultrasound, the clinical findings and the patients' symptoms can be arranged according to the recommended definitions. This allows grading of the therapeutic outcome and enables a better comparability between different treatment protocols or different treatments. Besides the evaluation of treatment success, duplex ultrasound is the method of choice to exclude or confirm complications such as deep venous thrombosis or disease progression.

2nd European Consensus Meeting on Foam Sclerotherapy 2006, Tegernsee, Germany.

RATIONALE: The spread of Foam Sclerotherapy has resulted in the renaissance of sclerotherapy as a non-invasive treatment method for varicosis. The use of sclerosant foam for various forms of varicosis has now become established world-wide as safe and effective. An expanded European expert committee meeting in April 2006, in Tegernsee was prompted by new findings and continuous further development of the method, but also because it had not been possible to consider all the relevant aspects of Foam Sclerotherapy in depth at the first meeting. OBJECTIVES: To revise and update the results of the 1st European Consensus Meeting and to include new, important topics in the development of Foam Sclerotherapy. To provide practical information for less experienced colleagues. METHODOLOGY: The 29 participants were sent a comprehensive questionnaire in advance covering all the relevant aspects of Foam Sclerotherapy. The organisers drew up various preliminary statements on the basis of the results. During the meeting itself the participants revised and/or approved and/or rejected these statements. An additional analysis of the questionnaire data also enabled preparation of an illustrative description of the broad spectrum of individual procedures used in this form of treatment. RESULTS: Foam Sclerotherapy has become an established treatment option for varicosis and has undoubtedly improved the management of varicose veins. European experts met Tegernsee for a second time to revise and expand their previous recommendations. In addition, individual working groups focused extensively on important issues. The current consensus, recommendations and descriptions of the individual aspects of the methods concern such issues as the indications for Foam Sclerotherapy, concentration and volume of the liquid sclerosants, relative and absolute contraindications, access and puncture options as well as clinical and ultrasound-guided recording of the treatment results. This final document reflects the experts' opinions on the principles of the effective and, above all, safe use of sclerosant foam for various indications and correct monitoring of the results of Foam Sclerotherapy.

Physicochemical characteristics of novel P-glycoprotein inhibitors of the cage dimeric 1,4-dihydropyridine type.

Physicochemical characteristics of two structurally different cage dimeric 1,4-dihydropyridines HX (1) and CC (2) have been determined and compared to their P-glycoprotein inhibiting properties. While the weakly basic compound (1) showed pH-dependent apparent partition coefficients (log D), the neutral compound (2) proved to have almost identical log D values at varying pH-values. The subsequent determination of partition coefficients (log P) resulted in comparably low log P values revealing a less lipophilic compound character. Determined significantly differing P-glycoprotein (P-gp) inhibitory properties indicated that the lipophilicity of the compounds does not play a decisive role for the P-gp activity.

[Intravascular therapy of aortic aneurysms: initial clinical results]. / Endovaskuläre Therapie aortaler Aneurysmen: erste klinische Ergebnisse.

PURPOSE: A clinical study aiming at examining the implantation technique and the clinical results of a new vascular prosthesis in endovascular therapy of aneurysms of the aorta. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In 21 patients (20 men of 55 to 87 years of age, average age 70 years) with aneurysms of the infrarenal abdominal aorta (AAA n = 19) and the thoracic aorta (n = 2), a self-expanding nitinol stent with outer Dacron sheath (tubular prosthesis n = 4; bifurcation prosthesis n = 17) was implanted by means of an F-18 introductory set after surgical opening of the inguinal artery. RESULTS: By means of the 4 tubular prostheses and 13 of the 17 bifurcation prostheses the aneurysm was bypassed completely. In 4 cases residual perfusion through leaks (n = 3) or collateral blood supply (n = 1) was seen. In 6 patients 7 complications occurred which did not require to be operated on. No patient died in consequence of the surgical intervention or during the hospital stay. Follow-ups up to 8 months after surgery did not reveal any late complications to date. CONCLUSIONS: Endovascular implantation of vascular prostheses is a promising new method for interdisciplinary treatment of aneurysms of the aorta.

[Popliteal aneurysms: clinical aspects and diagnosis]. / Das Popliteaaneurysma: Klinik und Diagnostik.

PURPOSE: To identify clinical and radiological features allowing an early diagnosis of popliteal aneurysms. MATERIAL AND METHODS: History, clinical features and radiological findings of 23 patients with 37 aneurysms were reviewed. RESULTS: 14 patients presented with a history of a sudden onset of rest pain localised in the calf or foot. Arteriography found popliteal artery occlusion in 12 of them. Amputation was necessary in one patient in spite of immediate diagnosis and therapy. In two cases embolisation of the tibial vessels caused intermittent claudication. In at least 7 patients the underlying disease was not suspected until arteriography was performed. In 16/23 patients the presence of thrombus prevented direct visualisation of the aneurysm and there were only secondary angiographic signs of the underlying condition. Thus, arteriography may fail to diagnose popliteal aneurysms. In 21/22 cases colour Doppler sonography was quick and accurate in the assessment of patent and thrombosed aneurysms. CONCLUSION: In any patient with ischaemic symptoms of the lower extremity a thorough palpation of the popliteal fossa should be performed. In patients with a prominent popliteal pulse, in pulseless popliteal tumours and in patients arteriographically shown to have popliteal artery occlusion, a sonographic study of both popliteal fossae should be performed.