Exposure to essential oils and ethanol vapors affect fecundity and survival of two frugivorous fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) pest species.

Plant-derived compounds can be an environmentally friendly alternative to synthetic pesticide use for pest management. Essential oils (EOs) in several plant families have been found to be toxic to various pest species of insects through topical application, ingestion, and as fumigants. Previous studies revealed that, among various environmentally friendly insecticides, the EOs of Baccharis dracunculifolia and Pinus elliottii and an ethanol extract of Solanum granulosoleprosum plus Ricinus communis, were toxic to Ceratitis capitata and Anastrepha fraterculus (Diptera: Tephritidae) when applied topically to pupae or when ingested by adults. Here, we aimed to examine the potentially toxic effects of these plant-derived compounds when these two pestiferous fruit fly species were exposed to their vapors. We also examined their fumigant effect on female fecundity and fertility and compared it with water and ethanol controls. Exposure of C. capitata and A. fraterculus sexually mature adults to volatiles and vapors of both B. dracunculifolia and P. elliottii EOs resulted in lower longevity (half-life), survivorship, and female fecundity than the water vapor control. Toxicity of C. capitata was greater for P. elliottii than for B. dracunculifolia while the reverse was true for A. fraterculus. Exposure to vapors of S. granulosoleprosum + R. communis (S + R) had no effect on longevity but reduced survivorship of adults of both species. Interestingly, exposure to vapors of S + R, 50% (v/v) and pure ethanol resulted in greater fecundity of females of both frugivorous fly species than the water control. By contrast, fertility (% egg hatch) was in all cases high (>85%) and not different than the water control. Exposure to ethanol vapors appears to have similar effects on frugivorous tephritids as those reported on saprophagous and frugivorous species of Drosophila, a novel finding that may have important practical implications.

[Surgical treatment of multinodular goiter at the Instituto Nacional de la Nutrición Salvador Zubirán]. / Tratamiento quirúrgico de bocio multinodular en el Instituto Nacional de la Nutrición Salvador Zubirán.

BACKGROUND: Surgical treatment is the first option for patients with obstructive multinodular goiter. The extent of the resection and the use of postoperative hormonal therapy are, on the other hand, still under debate. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the results of surgical treatment in 101 patient with multinodular goiter seen from 1980 to 1995. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The clinical/pathologic charts of all patients were reviewed with emphasis to the clinical diagnosis, extent of resection, final histology, type and number of complications, and long-term follow-up. The mean follow-up was three years (range 0.5-12). RESULTS: Ten males and 91 females with a mean age of 46 years were included. Surgery was recommended for a nodule suspicious of malignancy in 60 patients, for airway compression in 33, and for cosmetic reasons in eight. Unilateral lobectomy was performed in 30, bilateral subtotal thyroidectomy in 55 and total thyroidectomy in 16. Postoperative hormone therapy was administrated to 83 patients. Surgical complications occurred in six patients. Four developed permanent hypoparathyroidism and two vocal cord paralysis. There was no operative mortality. A final diagnosis of multinodular goiter was established in 89 whereas 12 had cancer. There were three asymptomatic recurrences in the group with benign lesions (they had undergone unilateral lobectomy followed by hormonal therapy). CONCLUSION: Bilateral subtotal thyroidectomy was the best treatment for multinodular goiter in our series. This procedure had few complications and there was no recurrence of the disease.

[Anaplastic carcinoma of the thyroid at the Instituto Nacional de la Nutrición Salvador Zubirán]. / Carcinoma anaplásico de tiroides en el Instituto Nacional de la Nutrición Salvador Zubirán.

BACKGROUND: Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is a highly aggressive tumor with a median survival rate of 6 months. AIM: To analyze presentation, treatment, morphology, immunohistochemistry, and nuclear DNA analysis of a cohort of patients with ATC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twelve patients with ATC (11 female) with a mean age of 65 years were seen at our hospital from 1970-1995. The data were obtained from the clinical records and the morphology, immunohistochemic studies and DNA pattern were performed in slides obtained from archival specimens. RESULTS: Previous or coexisting thyroide disease was documented in 10 patients (9 multinodular goiters and one Grave's). The most frequent presentation was a rapidly growing tumor associated with dysphagia, cervical pain, hoarseness and dyspnea. A cold thyroid nodule was detected by thyroid scan in 10 patients. The most frequent subtype was the spindle cell variety. Papillary thyroid carcinoma coexisted in eight cases, two of them corresponded to the tall cell variant. Reactivity for S-100 protein and vimentin was studied in six patients: all were positive for S-100 protein and vimentin, 5/6 for epithelial membrane antigen, half for carcinoembriogenic antigen, 2/6 for thyroglobulin and calcitonin, and one for neuronal specific enolase. These six tumors showed a diploid DNA pattern. Tumor resection was achieved in 2/11 and none survived six years after diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: ATC is a highly aggressive tumor coexisting with thyroid pathologies. Spindle cell variant is the most frequent with positive reactivity for S-100 protein, vimentin and epithelial membrane antigen. Most tumors have a diploid DNA content.

[Efficacy and tolerance to acarbose in non-insulin-dependent diabetics]. / Eficacia y tolerancia de acarbose en pacientes diabéticos no dependientes de insulina.

Oral acarbose, a competitive inhibitor of alpha-glucosidase, has been shown to be effective in decreasing the postprandial rise in blood glucose and insulin. A double blind, cross-over, placebo controlled, randomized study in poorly controlled, non-insulin dependent diabetic patients under treatment with sulfonylureas was carried out. The patients continued receiving sulfonylureas throughout the study period and were randomly allocated into two sequences. In sequence A they received 100 mg tablets tid during 12 weeks; placebo tid during 2 weeks (wash-out period) and finally they were crossed over to placebo tid during 12 weeks. In sequence B, they received placebo tid 12 weeks, placebo tid during 2 weeks and finally acarbose 100 mg tid during 12 weeks. Sixteen patients were included in each sequence; three were excluded from sequence A, one because of side effects, one because of severe neuropathy and one because of change of address. One was excluded from sequence B because of failure to take the sulfonylurea. A slight but statistically significant decrease in weight was observed with acarbose as compared with placebo in both sequences. Significant reductions in postprandial glucose were observed in both sequences with acarbose. Significant reductions in fasting blood glucose were also observed in some visits. Although lower mean values of triglycerides and HbA1c were observed with acarbose, they were not statistically significant. Acarbose had side effects almost in all patients, but decreased on continued therapy. Only one patient had to be excluded for this cause. Acarbose is a useful therapeutic resource in poorly controlled non-insulin dependent diabetic patients in combination with sulfonylureas.