Chemical composition and larvicidal activities of the essential oil of Zanthoxylum armatum DC (Rutaceae) against three mosquito vectors.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: In view of the recently increased interest in developing plant origin insecticides as an alternative to chemical insecticide, this study was undertaken to assess the larvicidal potential of the essential oil from the seeds of Zanthoxylum armatum DC [syn. Z. alatum Roxb] (Rutaceae) against three medically important species of mosquito vectors, Aedes aegypti, Anopheles stephensi and Culex quinquefasciatus. METHODS: Essential oil was hydro distilled in the laboratory from the seeds obtained from the market and the chemical constituents of the oil were determined using GC/GC-MS. Bioefficacy of the essential oil was evaluated under laboratory conditions using III instar mosquito larvae. RESULTS: Among the three mosquito species tested, Cx. quinquefasciatus was the most sensitive (LC50 = 49 ppm) followed by Ae. aegypti (LC50 = 54 ppm) and An. stephensi (LC50 = 58 ppm). GC-MS analysis of the oil revealed at least 28 compounds, consisting mainly of oxygenated monoterpenes (75%) and monoterpenes (22%). Linalool though constituted a major part (57%), failed to produce any appreciable mortality when tested alone. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: From the results it can be concluded that the larvae of the three mosquito species were susceptible to the essential oil composition. Such findings would be useful in promoting research aiming at the development of new agent for mosquito control based on bioactive chemical compounds from indigenous plant sources as an alternative to chemical larvicides.

Larvicidal and mosquito repellent activities of Pine (Pinus longifolia, family: Pinaceae) oil.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Various plant-based products are safe and biodegradable alternatives to synthetic chemicals for use against mosquitoes. Oil of Pinus longifolia is traditionally used for protection against mosquitoes in some rural areas but there is no documented report of its use against mosquitoes. The present study was undertaken to scientifically evaluate the activity of Pine oil against mosquitoes. METHODS: The oil was procured from the market and its contents were chemically analysed. Larvicidal activity of oil was tested in laboratory bioassays, while repellent action was studied during whole night bait collections in field by direct application on the skin and after its impregnation on mats. RESULTS: Results showed varying degree of larvicidal activity of Pine oil against mosquitoes with LC50 values ranging between 82 and 112 ppm. The Pine oil had strong repellent action against mosquitoes as it provided 100% protection against Anopheles culicifacies for 11 h and 97% protection against Culex quinquefasciatus for nine hours respectively. Electrically heated mats prepared from Pine oil provided, 94 and 88% protection against An. culicifacies and Cx. quinquefasciatus for 10 and seven hours respectively. INTERPRETAION AND CONCLUSION: Pine oil is effective against mosquito larvae at very higher doses which are not of any practical utility. However, Pine oil showed strong repellent action against An. culicifacies (malaria vector) and Cx. quinquefasciatus (pest mosquito). Thus its use could be popularised as mosquito repellent.

Larvicidal activity of Tagetes patula essential oil against three mosquito species.

Larvicidal activity of Tagetes patula essential oil was tested against the fourth instar larvae of Aedes aegypti, Anopheles stephensi, and Culex quinquefaciatus. Five different concentrations of essential oil were studied and the results were compared with that of synthetic insecticide, malathion. A. aegypti (LC(50) 13.57, LC(90) 37.91) was most susceptible followed by An. stephensi (LC(50) 12.08, LC(90) 57.62) and C. quinquefaciatus (LC(50) 22.33, LC(90) 71.89).

Effect of 50 Hz sinusoidal electromagnetic field on the kinetics of 14CO2 exhalation after [14C]-N-nitrosodiethylamine administration in mice.

N-Nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA) has been identified as a typical environmental carcinogen. Its metabolism was studied in mice under the influence of an electromagnetic field (EMF). After intraperitoneal administration of [14C]-NDEA, 0.2 microCi/100 g body weight resulted in 22.8% of the total radioactivity exhaled as 14CO2 within 1 h. Mice were exposed to a 50 Hz, 2 mT (rms) electromagnetic field, 8 h/day for 8 weeks. There was a significant increase in the metabolic turnover of [14C]-NDEA into 14CO2 at the end of both 6 and 8 weeks of field exposure, i.e., 26.9% and 37.4% respectively. The enhanced capacity of mice to metabolize NDEA after the exposure to EMF may result in animals with a smaller amount of the bioactive carcinogen burden, thereby indicating a protective role of 2 mT EMF in a whole animal study.

Efficacy of neem oil-water emulsion against mosquito immatures.

Neem oil-water emulsion was used in mosquito breeding habitats to find out its larvicidal effect on immatures of different mosquito species. Application of 5% neem oil-water emulsion @ 50 ml/sq m in pools and @ 100 ml/sq m in tanks resulted in 100% reduction of III and IV instar larvae of An. stephensi after 24 h while, against Cx. quinquefasciatus it was 51.6 and 91.2% reduction in the larval density after Day 1 and 14 respectively. Similarly, application of 10% emulsion in desert coolers against Aedes aegypti @ 40 to 80 ml per cooler resulted in complete inhibition of pupal production.

Transaxillary minithoracotomy for modified Blalock-Taussig shunt.

A technique that allows construction of a modified Blalock-Taussig shunt using a polytetrafluoroethylene graft in neonates and infants through an axillary vertical minimal access thoracotomy is described. It is a simple, safe, cosmetically acceptable, and efficient approach even when used during emergency situations. It was successfully performed in 5 neonates and infants.

Absent conal septum in tetralogy of Fallot. An angiographic study.

Absent conal septum in tetralogy of Fallot (TF) is usually noted intraoperatively when the ventricular septal defect (VSD) is found abutting the pulmonary valve, its superior rim being nearly inaccessible transatrially, and the posterior rim being separated from the tricuspid valve (TV) by a muscular ridge. The authors retrospectively analyzed angiograms of 208 consecutive patients with TF seen at their center from July 1989 to December 1995 for absence of the conal septum and the presence of an interval between the TV and the margin of the VSD in 30 degrees right anterior oblique view. In 13 (6%) patients, angiograms were inadequate or of poor quality for assessment and were excluded. Twenty-two of the remaining 195 (11%) patients had a large muscular interval between the tricuspid annulus and the margin of the VSD, which was associated with an absent conal septum in 14 (7.2%) and a diminutive septum in 8 (4%) patients. Nine of the 14 patients with an absent conal septum at angiography underwent surgery, and this finding was confirmed in all. The authors conclude that absent conal septum is not uncommon in TF and constitutes an important variation in its anatomy that can be identified preoperatively at angiography for optimal surgical management.

Failure of devices used for closure of atrial septal defects: mechanisms and management.

Various devices for transcatheter ASD closure are undergoing clinical trials. Each new device claims advantages in terms of safety and efficacy over earlier devices. We report three cases in which a new investigational device--the Das angel wings--failed. Emergency operations were necessary for device retrieval and defect closure. The possible mechanisms of the event and the options in management are discussed with a review of literature on all devices.

Anomalous origin of the left pulmonary artery from the aorta in an adult as an isolated anomaly: a case report.

The rare occurrence of anomalous origin of the left pulmonary artery in an adult as an isolated malformation and normal pressures in the pulmonary artery arising from the right ventricle are described. The possible implications of surgery are also discussed.

Early evidence of beneficial effects of chordal preservation in mitral valve replacement on left ventricular dimensions.

Earlier authors have shown the improved left ventricular (LV) function after chordae-preserving mitral valve replacement (MVR) in follow-up studies. Seventy-nine consecutive patients undergoing MVR were studied preoperatively and pre-discharge with M-mode and two-dimensional Color Doppler echocardiography for early LV morphometric changes. Conventional MVR was performed in 42 patients (Group 1) and the posterior leaflet-chordae-papillary muscle complex was preserved in 37 patients (Group 2). Both cohorts were similar in age, sex, preoperative NYHA class and valve pathology. Four St. Jude bioprostheses, 9 Medtronic and 66 Sorin prostheses were implanted. The intraoperative and perioperative management protocol was uniform for both groups. The median left atrial dimension in both groups decreased to better physiological levels (53 to 46 mm in group 1, 52.5 to 46 mm in group 2). The median LV enddiastolic dimension increased from 47 to 48 mm in group 1 while it decreased from 56.5 to 49 min in group 2. The median LV endsystolic dimension remained unchanged in group 1 but decreased in group 2 (37.6 to 36 mm). Echocardiographic documentation of such early changes in the LV dimensions after modified MVR indicates that the beneficial effects of chordal preservation become evident early in the postoperative period and may explain the improved perioperative LV function after modified MVR compared to conventional MVR.

Esophagitis: clinical and endoscopic assessment of sucralfate therapy.

Twenty patients with endoscopically proved reflux esophagitis were studied. Each patient was given 1 gm sucralfate 4 times a day for 6 weeks. Clinical and endoscopic assessment of the effects of sucralfate on reflux esophagitis was done. 50% patients became asymptomatic and 60% healed endoscopically. The drug was well tolerated. We conclude that sucralfate is an effective and well tolerated drug for treatment of reflux esophagitis.

A technique of right ventricular outflow tract patching with autogenous pericardium.

A simple, efficient method of right ventricular outflow tract patching, which reduces the need for assistance, is described.