Effects of selected fertilizers on the life history of Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) biotype B.

We tested the effects among a purportedly sustainable water-soluble fertilizer, a conventional water-soluble fertilizer, an alternation of these, a controlled-release fertilizer, and a clear water control on the life-history traits of sweetpotato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae; =Bemisia argentifolii Bellows & Perring) biotype B reared on poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima Willdenow ex Klotzch). Free amino acids in petioles were measured to estimate plant nutrient assimilation and phloem nutritional quality for B. tabaci biotype B. The sustainable fertilizer produced plants with the highest concentration of amino acids. In contrast, fecundity of whiteflies was lowest in plants treated with the sustainable fertilizer and the water control. The relationship between total amino acids in phloem and survival was significantly quadratic, with the highest survival at intermediate levels. Fecundity, however, was negatively correlated with total amino acid content of the maternal host plant. Variation in total amino acid concentration in petioles of plants treated within fertilizer treatments makes it difficult to predict whether a particular fertilizer will produce plants with enough amino acids to deleteriously affect both survivorship and fecundity and yet yield a plant of good quality. Despite this limitation, we can conclude that the use of this sustainable fertilizer will not cause increases in whitefly populations relative to plants fertilized with water-soluble and slow-release fertilizers that deliver the same level of nitrogen to the plant.

Hypotension and acute pulmonary insufficiency following transfusion of autologous red blood cells during surgery: a case report and review of the literature.

Transfusion of autologous blood is associated with fewer complications, although all untoward events of transfusion may not be negated with this strategy. We report a case of acute pulmonary insufficiency and hypotension following transfusion of autologous packed red blood cells (PRBCs) in a patient, who was undergoing major surgery. Anti-HLA class-I and class-II and anti-granulocyte antibodies were measured in the unit and in the recipient. Neutrophil (PMN)-priming activity was measured as the augmentation of the formyl-Met-Leu-Phe-activated respiratory burst. No immunoglobulins were identified; however, significant lipid-priming activity was present in the implicated, autologous PRBC unit that primed PMNs from both healthy people and the recipient. In addition, lipids, identical to those that accumulate during PRBC storage, caused significant hypotension when infused into rats at similar concentrations found in stored PRBCs. We conclude that the observed transfusion-related acute lung injury reaction with significant hypotension may be the result of two independent events: the first is related to inherent host factors, in this case major surgery, and the second is the infusion of lipids that accumulate during the routine storage of PRBCs.

VEGF induces airway epithelial cell proliferation in human fetal lung in vitro.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a potent endothelial cell mitogen involved in normal and abnormal angiogenesis. VEGF mRNA and protein are abundant in distal epithelium of midtrimester human fetal lung. In the present study, we identified immunoreactivity for KDR, a major VEGF-specific receptor, in distal lung epithelial cells of human fetal lung tissue, suggesting a possible autocrine or paracrine regulatory role for VEGF in pulmonary epithelial cell growth and differentiation. Addition of exogenous VEGF to human fetal lung explants resulted in increased epithelium volume density and lumen volume density in the tissues, both morphometric parameters of tissue differentiation. Cellular proliferation demonstrated by bromodeoxyuridine uptake was prominent in distal airway epithelial cells and increased in the VEGF-treated explants. VEGF-treated explants also demonstrated increased surfactant protein (SP) A mRNA, SP-C mRNA, and SP-A protein levels compared with controls. However, SP-B mRNA levels were unaffected by VEGF treatment. [(3)H]choline incorporation into total phosphatidylcholine was increased by VEGF treatment, but incorporation into disaturated phosphatidylcholine was not affected by exogenous VEGF. Based on these observations, we conclude that VEGF may be an important autocrine growth factor for distal airway epithelial cells in the developing human lung.

A somatic component to myocardial infarction.

Sixty two patients were randomised to be seen by osteopathic physicians for palpation of the thoracic paravertebral soft tissue, T1-T8. Twenty five patients had clinically confirmed acute myocardial infarction. Of the remainder, 22 without known cardiovascular disease served as controls and 15 were placed in an excluded group because of diagnosed cardiovascular disease other than myocardial infarction. Observations were described in predetermined standard terminology. The control group was found to have a low incidence of palpable changes throughout the thoracic dorsum, and these changes were uniformly distributed from T1 to T8. Examination of the group with myocardial infarction disclosed a significantly higher incidence of soft tissue changes (increased firmness, warmth, ropiness, oedematous changes, heavy musculature), confined almost entirely to the upper four thoracic levels. The 15 patients who were excluded from the experimental group because they had various cardiovascular diseases other than myocardial infarction also showed significantly different changes on palpation compared with the group with myocardial infarction. These findings suggest that myocardial infarction is accompanied by characteristic paravertebral soft tissue changes which are readily detected by palpation.