Worldwide host plants of the highly polyphagous, invasive Epiphyas postvittana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae).

The light brown apple moth, Epiphyas postvittana (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), is a highly successful biological invader. It was accidentally introduced to several countries including New Zealand, Hawaii, England, and California. Light brown apple moth attacks a wide range of crop plants and other woody and herbaceous plants, but a more comprehensive analysis of its host range is needed for risk assessments, to evaluate the likely economic and environmental impacts, and to enable targeting of particular plant species for detection surveys and treatments. We reviewed and synthesized the host range and host selection behavior of light brown apple moth by using information from Australia and invaded countries. The host range of light brown apple moth is determined by the behavior of both adult females and larvae. Females use visual, chemical and physical cues to choose host plants. Larvae are capable of limited active dispersal by walking and longer range dispersal by ballooning on silken strands; therefore, larvae also may need to select host plants. We review larval performance indicators across a range of plants. Based on our review, there are at least 545 plant species in 363 genera from 121 families that have been reported as hosts of light brown apple moth. Some plants were reported only once and need verification. Nevertheless, many host plant species and their wide phylogenetic range (from ferns to higher dicotyledons) indicates that light brown apple moth is one of the most polyphagous insects known. This information and our categorization of frequency of host use are valuable for incursion response and pest management activities.

Convergent evolution of pain-inducing defensive venom components in spitting cobras.

Convergent evolution provides insights into the selective drivers underlying evolutionary change. Snake venoms, with a direct genetic basis and clearly defined functional phenotype, provide a model system for exploring the repeated evolution of adaptations. While snakes use venom primarily for predation, and venom composition often reflects diet specificity, three lineages of cobras have independently evolved the ability to spit venom at adversaries. Using gene, protein, and functional analyses, we show that the three spitting lineages possess venoms characterized by an up-regulation of phospholipase A2 (PLA2) toxins, which potentiate the action of preexisting venom cytotoxins to activate mammalian sensory neurons and cause enhanced pain. These repeated independent changes provide a fascinating example of convergent evolution across multiple phenotypic levels driven by selection for defense.

Transcriptomic meta-signatures identified in Anopheles gambiae populations reveal previously undetected insecticide resistance mechanisms.

Increasing insecticide resistance in malaria-transmitting vectors represents a public health threat, but underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Here, a data integration approach is used to analyse transcriptomic data from comparisons of insecticide resistant and susceptible Anopheles populations from disparate geographical regions across the African continent. An unbiased, integrated analysis of this data confirms previously described resistance candidates but also identifies multiple novel genes involving alternative resistance mechanisms, including sequestration, and transcription factors regulating multiple downstream effector genes, which are validated by gene silencing. The integrated datasets can be interrogated with a bespoke Shiny R script, deployed as an interactive web-based application, that maps the expression of resistance candidates and identifies co-regulated transcripts that may give clues to the function of novel resistance-associated genes.

Isolation and characterization of renin-like aspartic-proteases from Echis ocellatus venom.

Three aspartic proteases (SVAPs) have been isolated from venom of the saw-scaled viper, Echis ocellatus. In confirmation of prior transcriptomic predictions, all three forms match to sequences of either of the two SVAP transcripts (EOC00051 and EOC00123), have a molecular weight of 42 kDa and possess a single N-glycan. The SVAPs act in a renin-like manner, specifically cleaving human and porcine angiotensinogen into angiotensin-1 and possess no general protease activity. Their activity is completely inhibited by the aspartyl protease inhibitor Pepstatin A.

Paraganglioma: the role of genetic counselling and radiological screening.

Paragangliomas are rare tumours of the autonomic nervous system that occur in both sporadic and hereditary forms. They are usually benign tumours with low mortality, but can cause significant morbidity related to mass effect. Genetic predisposition to develop paraganglioma can occur within known tumour syndromes and familial tumours tend to present at a younger age and at multiple sites compared to sporadic tumours. Tumours should be diagnosed and excised as early as possible, as studies have shown morbidity to be directly related to tumour size. We present a case of a 14-year-old boy with multiple paraganglioma and a strong family history of paraganglioma. He suffered significant morbidity at resection of an extra-adrenal retroperitoneal tumour due to late diagnosis and was later unable to undergo excision of a head and neck paraganglioma due to its size and relation to neurovascular structures in the neck. We review the current literature on suggested genetic counselling (psychological counselling and DNA analysis) and radiological screening guidelines and recommend that genetic counselling should be offered to all patients with a family history of paraganglioma from the age of 5 years. Those positive for paternal paraganglioma locus gene should then undergo regular radiological screening with MRI.

Expression of Schwann cell-specific proteins and low-molecular-weight neurofilament protein during regeneration of sciatic nerve treated with neurotrophin-4.

Neurotrophin-4 acts as a potent survival factor for subpopulations of motoneurons. To investigate its effect on Schwann cell sheath and axonal proteins during peripheral nerve regeneration, sciatic nerves in adult rats were transected and repaired, and fibrin glue containing neurotrophin-4 injected around the repair site. At 5, 15, 30 and 60 days after repair, 5-mm nerve segments distal to the repair were collected, and western blotting was used to measure myelin-associated glycoprotein, myelin basic protein and low-molecular-weight neurofilament protein. In control groups these dramatically declined at 5 and 15 days then increased from 30 and 60 days. However, in the neurotrophin-4 group there was a significant increase (to several times basal values) in myelin-associated glycoprotein and myelin basic protein at 5-15 days. The relatively small increases (<7%) in Schwann cell numbers suggest that this is mainly due to increased synthesis per cell. The neurotrophin-4 group also showed a small but significant increase at 15 days in low-molecular-weight neurofilament protein, which however remained much lower than basal. We conclude that neurotrophin-4 regulates the expression of myelin-associated glycoprotein, myelin basic protein, and to a lesser extent low-molecular-weight neurofilament protein, during peripheral nerve regeneration.

Can falls on stairs result in small intestine perforations?

OBJECTIVE: Abusive parents often report that a fall on stairs resulted in their children's injuries. This review explores whether there is any evidence in the medical literature that a fall on stairs could be a plausible explanation for a small intestine perforation. METHODOLOGY: The English-language medical literature was searched by Medline, for a 29-year period (1970-1998), for reports of the types of injuries sustained in falls on stairs and for reports of the types of blunt abdominal trauma that result in small intestine perforations. Articles that exclusively focused on infant walker injuries or the elderly were excluded. Duodenal, jejunal, and ileal perforations were included, whereas intestinal hematomas and undescribed intestinal injuries were excluded. All types of injuries to the stomach, colon, and rectum were excluded. RESULTS: Falls on stairs were not reported to be a cause for any of the 312 cases of small intestine perforations reviewed. There were no reports of any intraabdominal injuries, including small intestine perforations, in any of the 677 cases of falls on stairs reviewed. Falls on stairs rarely resulted in any type of truncal injury. CONCLUSIONS: Although falls on stairs have been reported to be the most common cause of injury in childhood, no evidence was found to support the contention that an unobstructed fall on stairs could be consistent with perforation of the small intestine.

PACAP-induced plasma extravasation in rat skin.

The effects of pituitary adenylate cyclase activating peptide (PACAP) 38, PACAP 27 and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) on plasma extravasation were investigated in vivo in rat skin. PACAP 38, PACAP 27 and VIP, caused concentration-dependent extravasation in rat skin. The order of potency was PACAP 38 > PACAP 27 = VIP, whereas the order of maximal induced extravasation was PACAP 38 = PACAP 27 > VIP, suggesting that PACAP 38 might be the most powerful inducer of plasma extravasation of the three tested members of the secretin-glucagon-VIP family. Substance P (SP) was about 5 times more potent than PACAP 38 and 15 times more potent than PACAP 27. These data indicate that PACAP 38 induced plasma extravasation in concentrations roughly equimolar to SP. Pyrilamine (H1 receptor antagonist) reduced the PACAP 38-induced plasma extravasation more than 50%; cimetidine (H2 receptor antagonist) was without effect. To investigate whether a cAMP-mediated process is involved in the induction of plasma extravasation, the synthetic adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP), dibutyryl adenosine cyclic monophosphate (DBcAMP) and the cAMP-inducing drug, salbutamol, were each injected in the skin; neither of these drugs caused extravasation. We conclude that PACAP 38 and PACAP 27 cause potent plasma extravasation which, at least in part, involves histamine release.

Functional and morphological response of the stria vascularis following a sensorineural hearing loss.

Cochlear endolymph is maintained at a potential of (+)80 mV by an active transport mechanism involving the stria vascularis (SV). This so-called endocochlear potential (EP) is integral to hair cell transduction. We compared the EP with changes in SV area and Na(+),K(+)-ATPase expression following a sensorineural hearing loss. Guinea pigs were deafened using kanamycin and a loop diuretic, and the EP was measured at two, 14, 56, 112 or 224 days following deafening. Auditory brainstem responses were used to confirm that each animal had a severe-profound hearing loss. There was a significant reduction in EP following two days of deafness (normal, 73.5 mV S.E.M.=2.4; deaf, 42.1 mV, S.E.M.=2.8; P<0.0001, t-test). In animals deafened for 14 days the EP had partially recovered (65.2 mV, S.E.M.=5.08), while animals deafened for longer periods exhibited a complete recovery (56 days 80.5 mV, S.E.M.=5.36; 112 days 75.7 mV, S.E.M.=2.71; 224 days 81.0 mV; S.E.M.=6.0). Despite this recovery, there was a systematic reduction in SV area with duration of deafness over the first 112 days of deafness. Significant reductions were localised to the basal turn in animals deafened for two days, but had extended to all turns in animals deafened for 112 days. While there was a significant reduction in strial area, the optical density of Na(+),K(+)-ATPase within the remaining SV was normal. Since the treated animals exhibited essentially a complete elimination of all hair cells, the total K(+) leakage current from the scala media would be expected to be significantly reduced. The large reduction in the extent of the SV after deafening suggests that a reduced strial volume is capable of maintaining a normal EP under conditions of reduced K(+) leakage current.

Squamous cell carcinoma of the temporal bone.

Squamous cell carcinoma of the temporal bone is a rare, highly malignant, aggressive disease in an extremely difficult anatomic site with a very poor prognosis. The development of an evidence base for the efficacy of its treatment has been hampered by its rarity. This article reviews current opinion based on the recent literature.

Pediatric hospitalists in Canada and the United States: a survey of pediatric academic department chairs.

OBJECTIVES: To document the prevalence and practice patterns of pediatric hospitalists in academic centers in Canada and the United States; to characterize academic pediatric department chairs' definition of the term hospitalist; and to characterize pediatric department chairs' views of the training requirements for pediatric hospitalists. METHODS: A 14-item questionnaire was sent to all 145 pediatric department chairs from Canada and the United States during the fall of 1998. We defined hospitalists as physicians spending at least 25% of their time in inpatient care. RESULTS: Of the 145 eligible pediatric chairs, 128 (89%) responded (United States, 111/126; Canada, 14/16; Puerto Rico, 3/3). Ninety-nine (77%) of 128 pediatric chairs either have (64/128) or are planning to have (35/128) hospitalists in their institutions. Within academic programs with hospitalists, 82% of hospitalists currently work on general pediatric wards. Two thirds of hospitalists teach, 50% provide outpatient care, 50% have administrative duties, and 44% conduct research. One hundred eight (84%) of 128 believe that hospitalists should spend at least 50% of their time in inpatient care. Less than one third (30%) of pediatric chairs believe that hospitalists require training not currently provided in residency. CONCLUSIONS: A large proportion of academic pediatric centers either employed or planned to employ hospitalists in 1998. Pediatric academic department chairs do not see a need for training beyond residency for hospitalists. Further studies should address how pediatric hospitalists affect quality of care, cost, and patient satisfaction.

Classification of cochlear implant failures and explantation: the Melbourne experience, 1982-2006.

The definition and categorization of reasons for cochlear implant (CI) failure have recently been standardized following the publication of the European Consensus Statement on Cochlear Implant Failures and Explantation (ECSCIFE) (2005). The aim of this study was to review the Melbourne experience with cochlear implant failure and reimplantation, applying ECSCIFE guidelines for categorization and assessing hearing outcomes. A retrospective review was carried out of Melbourne CI clinic's records to identify all cases of implant failure and categorize them using ECSCIFE guidelines. Comparison was made of pre- and post-reimplantation hearing levels for those patients who had undergone ipsilateral reimplantation. Between September 1982 and October 2006 the Melbourne clinic conducted 1164 CIs with 62 implant failures and explantation (5.3%). Reasons included device failure, (ECSCIFE category C, n = 35, 3.0%), medical complication (ECSCIFE category D, n = 19), characteristics decrement (ECSCIFE category B1, n = 2) and performance decrement (ECSCIFE category B2 n = 6). Forty-nine patients underwent ipsilateral explantation/reimplantation. Auditory performance with the second implant was comparable to the first implant levels. The ECSCIFE provides an easy-to-use classification system for international reporting of CI device failures and explantations, however, detailed information of each implant failure may be lost in the final category, however. Cochlear explantation/reimplantation in Melbourne is a safe and effective procedure to restore patients to their pre-operative best auditory function levels.

Arterial homografts--a possible solution to an infective dilemma.

Seven patients with infected arterial conduits (six with prosthetic bypass grafts and one autogenous vein anastomosis) with ten limbs at risk (three patients with bilateral groin infection) are reported. The most common site for infection was the groin and the most frequent organism cultured was Staphylococcus aureus. These patients were selected for arterial homograft implantation through infected fields as they were unsuitable for extra-anatomical prosthetic bypass or had inadequate autogenous tissue available for use as a bypass conduit, i.e. the alternative to homograft insertion was arterial ligation and potential limb sacrifice. The arterial homografts were obtained form brain-dead organ donors (human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B- and hepatitis C-negative) and stored at -80 degrees C until ready for use. All seven patients had initial success with their homograft procedures in terms of graft patency, limb salvage and control of infection, although two required early reoperation for haemorrhage. During the follow-up period (mean 24.5, range 6-52 months) three homografts have occluded at 6, 13 and 29 months resulting in limb loss. Two patients have died at 48 and 52 months from causes unrelated to their homograft procedures with functioning homografts and limb salvage. Two further patients remain alive with patent homografts at 7 and 20 months. The authors' experience suggests that arterial homografts have a role in overcoming arterial bypass infection, achieving wound healing and maintaining limb viability rather than resorting to arterial ligation and accepting major limb amputation.

Measures of functional ability (disability) in arthritis in relation to impairment of range of joint movement.

In the World Health Organisation's supplementary classification of the consequences of disease a distinction is made between impairments, such as are related to the site and nature of joint involvement, and any disabilities in everyday activities to which these may give rise. This paper considers the application of these ideas to people with arthritis by examining the extent of graded relationship between individual impairments, reflected by limitations in the range of joint movement, and the number or type of disabilities. Ninety-five people with three different types of arthritis were studied. A 41-item disability questionnaire was completed. Most of the variation was described by only 24 of the latter items. These fell into five broad functional groups--predominantly concerned with mobility, bending down, manual dexterity, bending the arm, and reaching above the head. The constituent activities could be scaled in order of difficulty of accomplishment. Aggregated scores for each of the functional groups were correlated with observed ranges of motion in relevant joints, and the ordering of difficulty was related to decreasing ranges of movement. These findings shed light on the genesis of disability and have implications for the development of more sensitive, specific, and simple methods of assessment in rheumatology. Appreciation of how disability relates to the localisation of disease manifestations provides a means for evaluating current methods of functional assessment and exposes potential biases in such appraisals.

Verbal pain descriptors used by patients with arthritis.

Eighty patients with a diagnosis of either rheumatoid arthritis, localised osteoarthritis, or generalised osteoarthritis were asked to describe their pain by selecting words from a standardised list of pain descriptors. Words on this list were taken from the sensory class of pain descriptors found in the McGill pain questionnaire. Discriminant analysis was used to identify distinctive characteristics for each of these pain syndromes. On the basis of this analysis verbal responses for each patient were classified into one of the three diagnostic categories. Correct classification occurred in 65% of cases. An estimate of the technique's performance in prospective validation was derived by a split sample approach.

Hip arthroplasty: patient satisfaction.

A total of 1074 patients, the survivors of a multicentre sample of 1085 who, 9-15 months earlier, had undergone total hip replacement, were asked to complete a questionnaire about their satisfaction with the outcome of surgery. Of 1027 (96%) who responded, 90% were satisfied, 5% were unsure and 3% were dissatisfied with the result--2% failed to answer the question about satisfaction. The highest satisfaction rate was found amongst patients who had undergone bilateral hip replacement (96%) and those with a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (94%). Dissatisfaction was associated with previous surgery to the index hip and additional surgery following total hip replacement. In all but five of the 98 patients who did not express satisfaction an adequate reason could be found either in the case notes or from questionnaire responses.

Classification, origins, and patterns of diversification in New ZealandCarmichaelinae (Fabaceae).

Analysis of ITS sequences provides support for a clade that includes Carmichaelia, Clianthus, Montigena, and Swainsona. We provide a node-based definition and recommend that this clade be called Carmichaelinae. Results suggest that Carmichaelinae are derived from northern hemisphere Astragalinae. The clade has extensively radiated in Australia, and two independent lineages have diversified in New Zealand. The New Zealand lineages differ in species richness. One lineage consists of 24 species placed in Carmichaelia and Clianthus, while the other corresponds to the monotypic genus Montigena. The pattern of relationships inferred from ITS sequences suggests that the New Zealand radiation was recent and possibly accompanied episodes of mountain-building and glaciation.

A CD36-binding peptide from thrombospondin-1 can stimulate resorption by osteoclasts in vitro.

Thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1), purified from platelets, stimulates resorption by avian osteoclasts in an in vitro resorption assay. TSP-1 binds to a number of different cellular receptors via different domains of the molecule and several short receptor-binding sequences have been identified within the TSP-1 molecule. In this study, we have used synthetic peptides representing these various sequences in order to identify the cellular receptor and TSP domain responsible for stimulation of resorption. We show that one peptide CSVTCG, which represents the CD36-binding region of TSP-1, stimulates resorption in a fashion similar to the intact molecule, while the peptides RGDS, RFYVVMWK, and RFYVVM, representing other cell-binding domains of TSP, have no effect on resorption. Using RT-PCR and immunoblotting, we further demonstrate expression of CD36 in human osteoclastoma (giant cell tumour), primary human bone derived cells, and clonal osteoblastic cells. These studies suggest that CD36 is involved in regulation of resorption by osteoclasts and is the receptor responsible for the resorption-promoting effects of TSP-1.