Biological performance of the predatory mite Neoseiulus idaeus (Phytoseiidae): a candidate for the control of tetranychid mites in Brazilian soybean crops / Desempenho biológico do ácaro predador Neoseiulus idaeus (Phytoseiidae): um candidato no controle de ácaros tetraniquídeos em soja brasileira

Abstract The soybean (Glycine max (L.): Fabaceae) is considered the most important agricultural crop in Brazil. Phytophagous tetranychid mites as Mononychellus planki McGregor, Tetranychus ludeni Zacher and T. urticae Koch have been considered pest in soybean crops. Neoseiulus idaeus Denmark & Muma (Phytoseiidae) is a predatory mite of T. ludeni and T. urticae. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the biological performance of N. idaeus when fed on T. urticae, T. ludeni and M. planki, coming from the Northwest region of Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil. The study was conducted in the laboratory with individual predators supplied with different preys. The mean duration (days) of N. idaeus egg-adult development was similar independently of supplied prey (T. ludeni - 5.29±0.03; M. planki - 5.34±0.05 and T. urticae - 5.23±0.03 days). Female viability was 90% when fed on M. planki and 100% when fed on T. ludeni and T. urticae. Mean fecundity of N. idaeus was lower when fed on M. planki (4.6±1.58 eggs/female) and higher when fed on T. ludeni (21.8±3.22) and T. urticae (26.2±2.41). The mean generation time (T) was lower when N. idaeus fed on M. planki than when fed on T. ludeni and T. urticae. The net reproductive rate (Ro) was 4.42±0.49 on M. planki, 17.77±0.55 on T. ludeni and 20.59±0.48 on T. urticae. The innate capacity for increase (rm) was lower when N. idaeus was fed on M. planki (0.09) and higher when such predator was fed on T. ludeni (0.20) and T. urticae (0.22 females/females/day). These results demonstrated that N. idaeus is able to reach the complete development feeding on all the three tetranychid species. Mononychellus planki demonstrated to provide a sub-optimal diet if compared to T. ludeni and T. urticae.

Resumo Soja (Glycine max (L.): Fabaceae) é a mais importante cultura agrícola brasileira. Tetraniquídeos fitófagos são pragas na cultura, Mononychellus planki McGregor, Tetranychus ludeni Zacher e T. urticae Koch. Neoseiulus idaeus Denmark & Muma (Phytoseiidae) é o ácaro predador de T. ludeni e T. urticae. Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar o desempenho biológico de N. idaeus quando alimentado com T. urticae, T. ludeni e M. planki da região noroeste do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. O estudo foi realizado em laboratório com predadores individualizados com diferentes presas. A duração média (dias) de N. idaeus desenvolvimento ovo-adulto foi semelhante independentemente da presa fornecida (T. ludeni - 5.29 ± 0.03; M. planki - 5.34 ± 0.05 e T. urticae - 5.23 ± 0.03 dias). Viabilidade feminina foi de 90% quando alimentados com M. planki e 100% em T. ludeni e T. urticae. Fecundidade de N. idaeus foi menor com M. planki (4.6 ± 1.58 ovos / fêmea) e maior com T. ludeni e T. urticae, 21.8 ± 3.22 e 26.2 ± 2.41, respectivamente. O tempo médio de uma geração (T) foi menor quando N. idaeus alimentados com M. planki do que quando em T. ludeni e T. urticae. A taxa líquida de reprodução (Ro) foi de 4.42 ± 0.49 em M. planki, 17.77 ± 0.55 em T. ludeni e 20.59 ± 0.48 no T. urticae. A capacidade inata de aumento (rm) foi menor em M. planki (0.09) e maior quando alimentados com T. ludeni (0.20) e T. urticae (0.22 fêmeas / fêmea / dia). Estes resultados demonstraram que N. idaeus é capaz de utilizar e desenvolver em todas as três espécies de tetraniquídeos. Mononychellus planki demonstrou ser a presa menos adequada para este predador do que T. urticae e T. ludeni.

Biological performance of the predatory mite Neoseiulus idaeus (Phytoseiidae): a candidate for the control of tetranychid mites in Brazilian soybean crops.

The soybean (Glycine max (L.): Fabaceae) is considered the most important agricultural crop in Brazil. Phytophagous tetranychid mites as Mononychellus planki McGregor, Tetranychus ludeni Zacher and T. urticae Koch have been considered pest in soybean crops. Neoseiulus idaeus Denmark & Muma (Phytoseiidae) is a predatory mite of T. ludeni and T. urticae. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the biological performance of N. idaeus when fed on T. urticae, T. ludeni and M. planki, coming from the Northwest region of Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil. The study was conducted in the laboratory with individual predators supplied with different preys. The mean duration (days) of N. idaeus egg-adult development was similar independently of supplied prey (T. ludeni - 5.29±0.03; M. planki - 5.34±0.05 and T. urticae - 5.23±0.03 days). Female viability was 90% when fed on M. planki and 100% when fed on T. ludeni and T. urticae. Mean fecundity of N. idaeus was lower when fed on M. planki (4.6±1.58 eggs/female) and higher when fed on T. ludeni (21.8±3.22) and T. urticae (26.2±2.41). The mean generation time (T) was lower when N. idaeus fed on M. planki than when fed on T. ludeni and T. urticae. The net reproductive rate (Ro) was 4.42±0.49 on M. planki, 17.77±0.55 on T. ludeni and 20.59±0.48 on T. urticae. The innate capacity for increase (rm) was lower when N. idaeus was fed on M. planki (0.09) and higher when such predator was fed on T. ludeni (0.20) and T. urticae (0.22 females/females/day). These results demonstrated that N. idaeus is able to reach the complete development feeding on all the three tetranychid species. Mononychellus planki demonstrated to provide a sub-optimal diet if compared to T. ludeni and T. urticae.

Teens and tobacco in Minnesota. New findings from the Minnesota youth tobacco survey.

The Minnesota Youth Tobacco Survey (MYTS) was administered to 12,376 public school students in grades 6 through 12 to obtain baseline data at the start of the state's latest efforts to reduce tobacco use among youth. The sample is representative of public school students in the state. More than one-third of high school students (38.7%) and 12.6% of middle school students are current tobacco users, defined as use of tobacco on one or more days in the previous 30 days. Current use of cigarettes is 32.4% in high school and 9.1% in middle school. More than 90% of students, including most smokers, agree that tobacco use is addictive and harmful. More than three-fourths (78.4%) of current smokers report that two or more of their four closest friends are smokers. Students who live with a smoker are more likely to become current smokers than students who do not live with anyone who smokes (42.5% to 25.1% in high school). Most current smokers (61.0%) tried to quit smoking at least once in the past 12 months. Eighty-eight percent (88.4%) of current smokers in high school smoke one of the top three advertised brands: Marlboro, Camel, or Newport. Results of the MYTS illustrate some of the challenges facing the state's tobacco reduction efforts and some of the factors that must be considered as Minnesota tries to design and implement effective programs.

[Treatment of stress urinary incontinence with percutaneous colposuspension: unsatisfactory technique]. / Traitement de l'incontinence urinaire d'effort par colposuspension percutanée: une technique non satisfaisante.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the results of a percutaneous needle colposuspension technique with bone fixation (Vesica system) in the treatment of female urinary stress incontinence (USI) of the woman, with a minimum follow-up of one-year. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 34 women aged 35 to 86 years (mean: 62 years) were treated for USI due to bladder neck hypermobility according to the Vesica technique. All patients had a positive preoperative Bonney manoeuvre without sphincter incompetence on urethral pressure profile. RESULTS: Overall, 1 year postoperatively, 9 patients (26%) were completely dry and did not wear any protection, 19 (56%) were improved, but still presented occasional leaks and 6 (17%) were considered to be failures. Physical examination revealed postoperative leaks in 24 patients with recurrence of hypermobility and positive Bonney manoeuvre in every case. There was one subcutaneous abscess and 2 cases of persistent pain at the bone implant site. No cases of bone infection or screw explantation were observed. No cases of retention beyond the 3rd postoperative day were observed. CONCLUSION: The percutaneous colposuspension technique gives disappointing results at one year due to recurrence of urethral hypermobility in every case.

High dose bicalutamide for androgen independent prostate cancer: effect of prior hormonal therapy.

PURPOSE: A pilot study of the antiandrogen bicalutamide at 150 mg. a day for androgen independent prostate cancer was performed. This study was based on the possibility that androgen independent cases might display responses to additional hormonal agents. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 31 androgen independent cases with an increasing prostate specific antigen (PSA) and progressive disease. PSA measurements were used as the primary method of assessing response. However, PSA decline was also correlated with clinical status. RESULTS: Seven patients demonstrated PSA declines of greater than 50% for 2 months or more, for an overall response rate of 22.5%. Responses were observed almost exclusively in patients treated with long-term flutamide as part of a complete androgen blockade regimen (43% response rate) in contrast to patients treated with androgen deprivation without flutamide (6% response rate). Of the 7 PSA responding patients bicalutamide resulted in a significant improvement in performance status and a decrease in analgesic requirement in 4 and 3 remained asymptomatic. Bicalutamide at 150 mg. a day was well tolerated, with the most frequent side effect being mild exacerbation of hot flashes. CONCLUSIONS: Bicalutamide at this dose is modestly effective for some patients with androgen independent prostate cancer, particularly for those previously treated with long-term flutamide. This study indicates that previous antiandrogen therapy alters the response to subsequent hormonal agents.

Correlation between QTc interval duration and left ventricular systolic dysfunction in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

QTc interval and left ventricular regional wall motion abnormality score (WMS) were assessed in 61 consecutive patients with 4-day-old acute myocardial infarction (AMI). There were 45 men and 16 women, aged 60.6 +/- 8.7 years; 24 had anterior wall AMI and 37 had inferior wall AMI. Twenty-nine patients received thrombolytic treatment, which was presumably successful in 19. The longest QTc interval from a standard 12-lead electrocardiogram, corrected by Bazett's formula, was considered for the study. The WMS was evaluated echocardiographically. The authors found a statistically significant correlation between WMS and QTc interval duration; the correlation was stronger in patients with anterior AMI (r = .9, P < .001) than in those with inferior AMI (r = .66, P < .001). The WMS and QTc values were significantly lower in patients with successful thrombolytic treatment compared to those with unsuccessful thrombolysis (P < .003 and P < .002, respectively). The authors could demonstrate no significant correlation between serum potassium concentration and the QTc interval. In patients with anterior AMI, QTc interval duration might represent an additional marker of left ventricular systolic dysfunction. It could also be used as an additional noninvasive criterion of coronary artery reperfusion in patients with AMI.

Value of signal averaged electrocardiogram for prediction of successful coronary artery thrombolysis.

In 60 patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) treated with brief i.v. infusion of streptokinase, signal averaged surface ECG as well as 24-hour ECG were recorded within the first 6 hours after admission and 5 to 10 days later. Results obtained from a group with presumed reperfusion (early plasma creatine kinase activity peak, cessation of pain, decrease in ST segment elevations, the appearance of "reperfusion arrhythmias"), were compared to those from patients with no reperfusion. The first recording showed a higher incidence of ventricular late potentials (VLP) in the group with reperfusion (77% vs. 44%, p less than 0.01), and a smaller difference in the incidence of complex ventricular arrhythmias (89% vs. 68%, p = 0.06). In the period between the two recordings, the incidence of VLP decreased in higher proportion in the same group (p less than 0.025). The incidence of complex ventricular arrhythmias was similar in both groups in the second recording. The authors conclude that complex ventricular arrhythmias following successful thrombolytic therapy occur together with "reperfusion VLPs", which are a better marker for successful thrombolysis in patients with AMI than a high grade of ventricular ectopic activity.

Romano-Ward syndrome: case report, family study and signal averaged electrocardiogram.

A family with the Romano-Ward syndrome is described. A 28-year-old woman had episodes of syncope due to self-terminating ventricular tachycardia torsades de pointes. During lidocaine treatment she developed a sustained ventricular tachycardia and cardiopulmonary resuscitation was necessary. Propranolol reduced ventricular ectopic activity, but the QTc interval remained prolonged. A "threshold" in QT duration for the generation of complex ventricular arrhythmias was observed in the patient. There were no late ventricular potentials noted in the signal averaged ECG in the patient and in members of her family.

Barriers and motivators to prenatal care among low-income women.

Substantial evidence exists which links prenatal care to improved birth outcomes. However, low-income and nonwhite women in the United States, who are at greatest risk for poor birth outcomes, continue to receive the poorest prenatal care. The purpose of this study was to identify and compare barriers and motivators to prenatal care among women who lived in low-income census tracts. The stratified sample included recently delivered white, black and American Indian women who received adequate, intermediate, and inadequate prenatal care. Interviews were conducted which focused primarily on the women's perceptions of problems in obtaining prenatal care and getting to appointments. Results indicated that women with inadequate care identified a greater number of barriers and perceived them as more severe. Psychosocial, structural, and socio-demographic factors were the major barriers, while the mother's beliefs and support from others were important motivators. The predictive power of selected barrier variables was examined by a regression analysis. These variables accounted for 50% of the variance in prenatal care use. The results affirm the complexity of prenatal care participation behavior among low-income women and the dominant influence of psychosocial factors. Comprehensive, coordinated and multidisciplinary outreach and services which address psychosocial and structural barriers are needed to improve prenatal care for low-income women.

[Treatment of femur shaft fractures in children with Ender nails]. / Die Behandlung von Femurschaftfrakturen beim Kind mit Endernägeln.

Ender-nailing is a proved method in the treatment of sub- and pertrochanteric fractures in old people. In special cases Ender-nailing can be useful in the treatment of other types of fractures. 3 cases of Ender-nailing of femoral shaft fractures in childhood are reported.

Bone grafting an ulna defect with a free autologous rib transplant.

This is a report on findings of an ulna defect in a small girl, due to a haematogenous infection in her right arm, which was successfully treated and healed with a bone graft using a portion of the 6th rib. The last x-ray examination, three years after the operation, showed a definite consolidation of the rib ulna transplantation and clinically good mobility of the elbow joint and underarm.

[Experiences with the RM isoelastic hip endoprosthesis]. / Erfahrungen mit der RM-isoelastischen Hüft-Endoprothese.

Since June 1979 we implant the RM isoelastic total hip endoprosthesis in younger patients (average age 53 years). Up to now 391 endoprostheses have been implanted. A follow-up examination of 60 operated hips in 55 patients 3 and 4 years after the implantation of the endoprosthesis was possible. In 46 hips there was no pain at all, in 12 hips a light or medium pain and in 2 hips a severe pain. 35 hips showed a range of motion of more than 90 degrees and between 30 degrees and 90 degrees. All patients were able to walk, 37 patients more than 1 hour. The patients declared the results of the operation in 50 hips to be very good or good, in 4 hips to be fair and in 6 hips to be poor. 5 times a potential loosening of the stem could be found.

[Dysontogenetic blockbuilding of the vertebrae at the lumbo dorsal junction]. / Dysontogenetische Blockwirbelbildung im lumbodorsalen Ubergang.

It is reported in two cases of synostosis of the vertebral which is related in the Medical literature as "Dysontogenetic blockbuilding of the Corpus Vertebrae". This condition could be seen in a 13 year old boy in the area of Th 9 to Th 12 and in a 13 year old girl from Th 11 to L1. The clinical and radiological findings of these two cases will be described and discussed. An attribution of these cases to the "Dysontogenetic blockbuilding" groups was based on a disturbance of the vertebral forming. A causal therapy is not possible.

Electrophysiological effects of ethmozin on sinus nodal function in patients with and without sinus node dysfunction.

The electrophysiological effects of intravenously administered ethmozin (1 mg kg-1) on sinus node function were examined in 32 patients. Based on their clinical data and the results of the initial study, patients were subdivided into group A (n = 12), those with sick sinus syndrome and sinus node recovery time (SNRT) greater than 1500 ms, and group B (n = 20), those without overt sinus node dysfunction and a normal SNRT. The mean sinus cycle length did not change significantly in either group after ethmozin . SNRT was prolonged by ethmozin in group A whereas in group B the increase of SNRT was not significant. Corrected SNRT increased after ethmozin in both subgroups but with a much more pronounced increase in group A. Sinoatrial conduction time was not significantly changed in any group. The lengthening of SNRT in the majority of patients with sick sinus syndrome implies that ethmozin might prolong post-tachycardia pauses in these patients. This drug should therefore be administered cautiously to persons with signs indicative of dysfunction of the sinus node.

Sotalol-induced torsade de pointes.

A case of sotalol-induced polymorphous ventricular tachycardia (torsade de pointes) is presented. The patient had moderately prolonged Q-T interval before medication with sotalol with further prolongation after application of this drug. Electrophysiological study during rechallenge with sotalol demonstrated a uniform ventricular tachycardia with a somewhat polymorphous onset; whether or not this tachycardia represented replication of the patient's spontaneous arrhythmia is questionable. Without antiarrhythmic drugs and during medication with pindolol ventricular tachycardia was not inducible.

Latent sinoatrial conduction disturbances in symptomatic patients with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome.

Sinoatrial conduction abnormalities were studied in fourteen patients with Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome and frequent attacks of supraventricular paroxysmal tachycardia. Sinoatrial conduction time (SACT), obtained by the method of constant atrial pacing, was prolonged in all but two patients. The mean value was 277 +/- 56 ms (mean +/- SD). SACT was measured in the same way in sixteen patients without signs of pre-excitation or sinoatrial disease; SACT was significantly shorter (p less than 0.001) than in the WPW group of patients. The prolongation of SACT in patients with WPW syndrome was confirmed by measuring SACT by the alternative method of programmed atrial stimulation. SACT was found to be prolonged in eight patients (mean +/- SD = 239 +/- 47 ms). Whether our results should be attributed to WPW syndrome or frequent supraventricular tachycardias--both being a characteristic feature of our patients--remains uncertain. The results of this study, however, indicate that in symptomatic patients with WPW syndrome and frequent episodes of supraventricular tachycardia, sinoatrial conduction is frequently impaired. Slackening of the sinoatrial conduction is a possible predisposing factor for initiation of tachycardias in the WPW syndrome.