Exploring market-available pheromone lures and traps for monitoring Anthonomus testaceosquamosus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae).

The hibiscus bud weevil (HBW), Anthonomus testaceosquamosus Linell (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), is a significant threat to tropical hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) in Florida, USA, since its invasion in 2017. As a regulated pest in the state, early detection is crucial. Based on the success of pheromone-based monitoring programs for other weevil pests, such as the boll weevil, cranberry weevil, and pepper weevil, this study explores the potential use of these pheromone lures for early detection of HBW. To account for differences in efficacy based on trap color, height, and design, different pheromone lure sizes (4 mm, 10 mm, full-size), trap types (Yellow sticky trap, Japanese beetle trap, Boll weevil trap), and heights (0 m, 1.1 m) were also tested in this study. In laboratory assays, males and females exhibited higher attraction to full-size cranberry weevil lure discs than other lure size-type combinations. In semi-field trials, yellow sticky traps baited with cranberry weevil lures captured more weevils than Japanese beetle or boll weevil traps baited with cranberry weevil lures, while trap height did not influence HBW capture. In semi-field, 4-choice bioassays, yellow sticky traps baited with cranberry weevil lures captured more HBW compared to yellow sticky traps baited with pepper weevil, boll weevil, or unbaited traps. Further research is required to thoroughly evaluate the cranberry weevil lure's efficacy in capturing HBW. Our study suggests the potential for utilizing yellow sticky traps baited with lures for early HBW detection and highlights the importance of selecting the appropriate lure, trap type, and height for optimal efficacy.

Efficacy of Conventional and Biorational Insecticides against the Invasive Pest Thrips parvispinus (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) under Containment Conditions.

In 2020, the invasive Thrips parvispinus (Karny) was first detected in Florida, United States. In response to the implemented regulatory restrictions, we conducted laboratory experiments under containment conditions. Thrips larvae and adults were exposed to 32 products (conventional and biorational insecticides) either directly or indirectly. Direct exposure was performed using a Spray Potter Tower, while indirect exposure was conducted by evaluating residue toxicity against the thrips. Water served as a control. We assessed mortality and leaf-feeding damage 48 h post-treatment. Among the conventional insecticides, chlorfenapyr, sulfoxaflor-spinetoram, and spinosad caused high mortality across all stages in both direct and residue toxicity assays. Pyridalyl, acetamiprid, tolfenpyrad, cyclaniliprole-flonicamid, acephate, novaluron, abamectin, cyantraniliprole, imidacloprid, cyclaniliprole, spirotetramat, and carbaryl displayed moderate toxicity, affecting at least two stages in either exposure route. Additionally, chlorfenapyr, spinosad, sulfoxaflor-spinetoram, pyridalyl, acetamiprid, cyclaniliprole, cyclaniliprole-flonicamid, abamectin, and acephate inhibited larvae and adult's leaf-feeding damage in both direct and residue toxicity assays. Regarding biorational insecticides, mineral oil (3%) and sesame oil caused the highest mortality and lowest leaf-feeding damage. Greenhouse evaluations of spinosad, chlorfenapyr, sulfoxaflor-spinetoram, and pyridalyl are recommended. Also, a rotation program incorporating these products, while considering different modes of action, is advised for ornamental growers to avoid resistance and to comply with regulations.

Development of a bioassay method to test activity of cry insecticidal proteins against Diatraea spp. (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) sugarcane stem borers.

The genus Diatraea (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) includes stem borers representing the most critical sugarcane pests in the Americas. Colombia's most widely distributed and damaging Diatraea species include Diatraea saccharalis, D. indigenella, D. busckella, and D. tabernella. The reduced efficacy of biological tools commonly used in controlling several species highlights the importance of evaluating alternative management strategies, such as transgenic plants expressing insecticidal proteins from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). The selection of optimal Bt insecticidal proteins for Diatraea control depends on bioassays with purified Bt proteins. Because there is no described artificial diet for borer species other than D. saccharalis and availability of most purified Bt toxins is restricted, this study aimed at developing a bioassay method using fresh corn tissue and providing proof of concept by testing susceptibility to the Cry1Ac insecticidal protein from Bt. Toxicity was evaluated with a single Cry1Ac dose applied directly to corn discs. Stem borer mortality after seven days was higher than 90% for all four tested Diatraea species, while control mortality was below 8%. In addition, we observed that Cry1Ac caused more than 90% weight inhibition in all survivors and delayed development. These results validate the use of this method to determine mortality and growth inhibition due to the consumption of the Cry1Ac protein in each of the Diatraea species. Furthermore, this method could be used to assess other entomopathogenic substances to control these insect pests.

Lethal and Sublethal Effects of Contact Insecticides and Horticultural Oils on the Hibiscus Bud Weevil, Anthonomus testaceosquamosus Linell (Coleoptera: Curculionidae).

In 2017, the hibiscus bud weevil (HBW), Anthonomus testaceosquamosus Linell (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), was found outside of its native range of Mexico and Texas, infesting hibiscus plants in Florida. Therefore, we selected 21 different insecticide and horticultural oil products to evaluate their effects on the reproductive rate, feeding, and oviposition behavior of the HBW. In laboratory experiments, significant mortality was observed in adult weevils exposed to diflubenzuron-treated hibiscus leaves and buds, and hibiscus buds treated with diflubenzuron contained the fewest number of eggs and feeding/oviposition holes. Among horticultural oil products, significant mortality was only observed in experiments in which adult weevils were directly sprayed (direct experiments). Pyrethrins and spinetoram plus sulfoxaflor reduced the oviposition rate and caused significant mortality in direct experiments. Diflubenzuron, pyrethrins, spinetoram plus sulfoxaflor, and spirotetramat were further tested via contact toxicity experiments and greenhouse experiments. Contact toxicity experiments demonstrated that the tested insecticides (except diflubenzuron) were highly toxic to HBW adults. In greenhouse experiments, only those hibiscus plants treated with pyrethrins had significantly fewer feeding/oviposition holes and larvae within their flower buds when compared to control (water-treated) plants. These results constitute an important first step in the identification of effective chemical control options for the HBW.

Resistance to Diatraea (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) stem borers in sugarcane is independent of species.

Evaluation of host-plant resistance on sugarcane to the sugarcane stem borers of Diatraea spp. is normally conducted in Colombia under field conditions, where environmental variations make the study of the insect-plant relationships difficult. Additionally, several species (i.e., D. saccharalis, D. indigenella, D. tabernella, and D. busckella), which are predominant in Colombia, can overlap in their distribution, raising the question of whether different varieties have the same responses to different pest species. The present study conducted evaluations of host-plant resistance under screen house conditions using two contrasting varieties (CC 93-3895, resistant, and CC 93-3826, susceptible) that were infested with the above-mentioned borer species. Observations of pest injury were conducted on internodes, leaves, and spindles. Survival and size (body mass) of the individuals recovered were analyzed and a Damage Survival Ratio (DSR) was proposed. The resistant CC 93-3895 exhibited less stalk injury, less emergence holes on internodes, and lower DSR; additionally, recovery of pest individuals was lower in comparison with CC 93-3826, independent of the borer species. Insect-plant interactions are discussed, as no previous information was available for three of the species tested (i.e., D. tabernella, D. indigenella, and D. busckella). This screen house protocol is proposed to characterize host-plant resistance among several cultivars from the Colombian sugarcane germplasm bank, using CC 93-3826 and CC 93-3895 as contrasting controls and D. saccharalis as the species model.

Conservation Biological Control as an Important Tool in the Neotropical Region.

The history and recent developments of conservation biological control (CBC) in the context of industrialized and small-scale agriculture are discussed from theoretical framework available in the Neotropical region. A historical perspective is presented in terms of the transition of the way pests have been controlled since ancestral times, while some of these techniques persist in some areas cultivated on a small-scale agriculture. The context of industrialized agriculture sets the stage for the transition from chemical pesticides promoted in the green revolution to the more modern concept of IPM and finds in conservation biological an important strategy in relation to more sustainable pest management options meeting new consumer demands for cleaner products and services. However, it also noted that conservation, considered within a more integrative approach, establishes its foundations on an overall increase in floral biodiversity, that is, transversal to both small-scale and industrialized areas. In the latter case, we present examples where industrialized agriculture is implementing valuable efforts in the direction of conservation and new technologies are envisioned within more sustainable plant production systems and organizational commitment having that conservation biological control has become instrumental to environmental management plans. In addition, a metanalysis on the principal organisms associated with conservation efforts is presented. Here, we found that hymenopteran parasitoids resulted in the most studied group, followed by predators, where arachnids constitute a well-represented group, while predatory vertebrates are neglected in terms of reports on CBC. Our final remarks describe new avenues of research needed and highlight the need of cooperation networks to propose research, public outreach, and adoption as strategic to educate costumers and participants on the importance of conservation as main tool in sustainable pest management.

Riesgo de enfermedad cardiovascular y cerebrovascular a largo plazo en mujeres con antecedente personal de abrupción placentaria

La salud materna y perinatal es una de las prioridades actuales de la salud global. La enfermedad cardiovascular y el accidente cerebrovascular son las principales causas de mortalidad materna. La abrupción placentaria sigue siendo una preocupación crítica para la morbilidad materna debido a que se ha asociado a enfermedad vascular a largo plazo. Sin embargo, no existe mucha literatura disponible en español ni evidencia reciente que haya dilucidado algunas interrogantes sobre este tópico. Entonces, el objetivo de esta revisión consiste en sintetizar evidencia reciente sobre el riesgo de enfermedad cardiovascular y cerebrovascular a largo plazo en mujeres con antecedente personal de abrupción placentaria. Se encontró que, a través de mecanismos fisiopatológicos complejos, que involucran la estructura y funcionalidad de la red vascular placentaria con posterior extensión de lesión vascular y producción de factores proinflamatorios y procoagulantes que permanecen después del parto, se precipita la aparición de eventos cardiovasculares mayores a mediano y largo plazo. Evidencia de alta calidad ha revelado que el riesgo de sufrir de complicaciones maternas en aquellas mujeres con abrupción placentaria es de 2,14, que se eleva aún más para aquellas con desprendimiento severo. A mediano y largo plazo, el riesgo de mortalidad por cardiopatía coronaria es de 2,64, y de 1,70 para desorden cerebrovascular, con igual riesgo tanto para el tipo isquémico como hemorrágico. Entonces, se puede concluir que el riesgo cardiovascular y cerebrovascular es inminente en mujeres con antecedente de abrupción placentaria, dado por numerosos mecanismos fisiopatológicos vasculares. No obstante, este riesgo se eleva considerablemente al asociarse con factores modificables tradicionales y no tradicionales.

Maternal and perinatal health is one of today's global health priorities. Cardiovascular disease and stroke are the leading causes of maternal mortality. Placental abruption remains a critical concern for maternal morbidity because it has been associated with long-term vascular disease. However, there is neither much literature available in Spanish nor recent evidence elucidating some questions on this topic. Thus, this review aims to synthesize recent evidence on the long-term risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease in women with a personal history of placental abruption. It was found that, through complex pathophysiological mechanisms involving the structure and functionality of the placental vascular network with subsequent extension of vascular injury and production of proinflammatory and procoagulant factors which remain after delivery, major cardiovascular events are precipitated in the medium and long term. High-quality evidence has shown that the risk of maternal complications in women with placental abruption accounts for 2.14, rising even higher for those with severe placental abruption. In the medium and long term, the mortality risk caused by coronary heart diseases is 2.64 and by cerebrovascular disorders is 1.70, with equal risk for both ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes. It can therefore be concluded that cardiovascular and cerebrovascular risk is imminent in women with a history of placental abruption due to a number of vascular pathophysiological mechanisms. However, this risk is considerably increased when associated with traditional and non-traditional modifiable factors.

Biology of the Most Widely Distributed Sugarcane Stem Borers, Diatraea spp. (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), in Colombia.

Most studies on insect biology and ecology of sugarcane borers have focused on Diatraea saccharalis (Fabricius), the most widely distributed species in the Americas. Little information is available on the biology of other borer species present in Colombia, such as D. indigenella Dyar & Heinrich, D. busckella Dyar & heinrich, and D. tabernella Dyar, that present greater expansion and damage in sugarcane-growing regions. The biology of all four species was accordingly studied under laboratory conditions. Diatraea saccharalis presented the shortest development time (39.4 days) and D. busckella the longest (58.2 days). Immature survival was higher for D. saccharalis (83%) and D. tabernella (77%), with the latter also presenting the highest pupal weight (256.6 mg). Observations on reproduction indicate that D. tabernella develops a larger number of egg masses per female (67.3) as compared with D. saccharalis (28.7). All three species spent more time in the pupal stage and resulted in greater pupal size than D. saccharalis; in particular, D. indigenella showed longer female longevity than D. saccharalis. High immature survival rate and greater reproductive success in D. tabernella could potentially generate a larger population in the field, whereas D. busckella takes longer to complete its development, thus increasing the chances of causing greater injury to sugarcane plants. Discussion on biology, ecology, and pest management of these little-known species is done using as model the better-known D. saccharalis.

Morphological and molecular characterization of Castniidae (Lepidoptera) associated to sugarcane in Colombia.

The giant sugarcane borer, Telchin licus, has been reported as an economically important sugarcane pest in Colombia; however, its taxonomic status has been scarcely investigated and previous reports offer an ambiguous characterization of both the immature and adult stages. The objective of this work is to identify Telchin species affecting sugarcane and alternative hosts in different departments of the country by integrating molecular analysis and conventional morphology. To date, T. licus has been found in the departments of Caquetá, Casanare, and Meta, while T. atymnius has been found in Antioquia, Caldas, Nariño, and Valle del Cauca. Sugarcane, Musaceae, and Heliconiaceae have been found to be hosts to both species. Additionally, the species T. cacica has also been registered in the department of Nariño, affecting heliconias and plantains. Genetic variation within the species allowed differentiation at the molecular level of subspecies of T. licus and T. atymnius, confirming that the subspecies present in Colombia are T. licus magdalena, T. atymnius humboldti, and T. atymnius atymnius. The haplotype diversity of populations is closely related to their geographical distribution, indicating low gene flow between populations and possible speciation inside the country. Analysis of genetic variance showed significant differences among and within T. atymnius populations, which may suggest a high genetic structure along the regions where it is found and the possible presence of additional subspecies to those previously reported. To understand the geographical and environmental conditions that determine the pest's distribution in Colombia, this information needs to be complemented with ecological considerations of possible geographical isolation and association of alternative hosts.

Population dynamics of sugarcane borers, Diatraea spp., under different climatic scenarios in Colombia.

Seasonal temperature and precipitation patterns on a global scale are main factors to which insects and plants adapt through natural selection, although periodic outbreaks in insect populations may occur in areas where they had not been previously reported, a phenomenon considered as a consequence of global warming. In this study, we estimate the distribution of sugarcane borers, Diatraea spp., under different climate scenarios (rcp26, rcp45, rcp60 and rcp85.) Insects were collected weekly in four sugarcane fields from four different towns in the department of Caldas (Colombia) during 2017, and also in several sugarcane fields in the Cauca River Valley (CRV) between 2010 and 2017. The influence of climatic variables on different agro-ecological zones of the CRV sugarcane fields was defined by climatic data between 2010 and 2017 (maximum and minimum daily temperatures, and accumulated precipitation). The estimate of an optimal niche for Diatraea spp. includes temperatures between 20°C and 23°C, accumulated annual rainfall between 1200 and 1500 mm, dry months with precipitations below 50 mm, slopes of less than 0.05 degrees, crop heterogeneity with an index of 0.2 and primary production values of 1.0. Data suggests Diatraea population is considerably influenced by adverse climate change effects, under the premise of an increase in local and global temperatures, reducing its population niches as well as the number of individuals.

Biology of Anthonomus testaceosquamosus Linell, 1897 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae): A New Pest of Tropical Hibiscus.

Originating in northeastern Mexico and southern Texas, the hibiscus bud weevil (HBW), Anthonomus testaceosquamosus Linell 1897, was discovered infesting China rose hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L.) in south Florida in May 2017. Although the biologies of the congeneric boll weevil, A. grandis Boheman 1843, and pepper weevil, A. eugenii Cano 1894 are well documented, no data are available regarding the biology of HBW. Here, we present a comprehensive study on the biology of this pest when reared at 10, 15, 27 and 34 °C and on different food sources. This weevil has three larval instars and its life cycle was completed only at 27 ± 1 °C. Weevil development was similar on an artificial diet when compared with a diet of hibiscus buds. Adult HBW could survive solely on pollen, but reproduction did not occur. Without water, HBW survived for ≈15 days; survival times reached nearly 30 days when water was accessible. Our results suggest that if left unmanaged, HBW has the potential to cause significant economic damage to the hibiscus industry. Given that a comprehensive understanding of a pest's biology is critical for development of effective integrated pest management, our results provide a foundation for future research endeavors to mitigate the impact of this weevil in south Florida.

Psychosocial and community assessment of relatives of victims of extra-judicial killings in Peru: Informing international courts.

INTRODUCTION: During the Peruvian internal armed conflict, fifteen members of the Santa Barbara community were collectively executed by state agents, and their relatives were made victims of persecution, torture, and imprisonment. The case, known as the Santa Barbara massacre, was brought to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. The documentation of individual, family and community impacts for the Court became a challenge due to the need to address cultural, geographical, political and community aspects. This paper aims to discuss the complexities of forensic documentation of human rights violations using a psychosocial and communitarian background. METHOD: The assessment included seven survivors from three different families. Both qualitative and quantitative instruments were used. A participative action research framework guided the design, documentation process, and discussion of outcomes with the survivors. Results/ discussion: The report included four levels of documentation exhibited in the Istanbul Protocol framework: clinical impacts from a western perspective, emic formulations and cultural idioms of distress, communitarian perspectives, and a proposal of reparation measures for the Court. Individual analysis revealed chronic mental health sequelae of forced displacement, imprisonment and torture. Local idioms of distress (in Quechuan, "pinsamientuwan," "llaki," "ñakary," "umananay" and "iquyay") deepened the understanding of the damage faced by the survivors. The analysis of the community uncovered three main areas of collective damage: broken social and cultural identity, lack of political participation, and loss of perspective on the future. Regarding reparations, survivors highlighted the pursuit for justice, the dignified remembrance of their loved ones, social re-inclusion of displaced persons into the community, education for offspring, and measures for the preservation of their community's identity and culture. CONCLUSIONS: Psycholegal accompaniment for victims through a participatory research approach is essential for the proper documentation of the consequences of violence in complex contexts. It is also essential in guaranteeing that the forensic documentation of the impact of political violence can be proposed as reparative for the survivors in itself.

Cartilage Allografts for Aesthetic Nose Surgery: A Viable Option.

BACKGROUND: Illusions in rhinoplasty are a powerful tool yet often overlooked. There are numerous examples of how a specific change in 1 part of the nose will influence the balance of the nose on the entire face. Although cartilage autograft remains the gold standard in structural reconstruction of the nose, for selected cases, allografts can be favored. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was performed on all patients who underwent cartilage allograft for aesthetic nose surgery from January 2012 to June 2017. All patients were informed of the therapeutic and experimental nature of the localized cartilage allograft use and then consented to the procedure orally and in writing. From January 2012 to June 2017, a total of 105 patients were operated on using cartilage allografts. RESULTS: Of these 105 patients, follow-up to a year was achieved in 97. CONCLUSION: The use of cartilage allograft in our practice has been a useful proven tool that can help manage a patient aesthetic outcome. This gives us the opportunity for cartilage banking and thus, using it, fewer incisions and scars on our patients.

Identification of Diatraea spp. (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) based on cytochrome oxidase II.

Diatraea spp. (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) are a group of insects that are agriculture pests in many economically relevant crops such as sugarcane, sorghum, corn and rice. Recognized species for this genus respond differentially to natural enemies used in their biological control, emphasizing the importance of species in a regional approach. Currently, identification is based on the male genitalia. However, the availability of specimens collected from field and subjectivity based on the character recognition can seriously hamper species identification, and therefore result in inadequate pest management. To overcome this, individuals of Diatraea spp. preliminarily classified male genitalia and obtained from reared conditions and the field (both derived from natural populations occurring in Colombia) were analyzed using genitalic morphometry and molecular biology specifically using a fragment of the cytochrome oxidase subunit II (CO II) mitochondrial gene. Although morphometric analysis did not show any overriding results regarding genitalia morphology, the bioinformatics analyses of CO II sequences resulted in an adequate classification of the individuals within the recognized species. It also, revealed that the occurrence of clades associated with geographical distribution may be associated with cryptic species. The latter was also confirmed by a Single-Strand Conformation Polymorphism (SSCP) methodology evaluating the same fragment of CO II. This experimental approach allows properly recognizing each species and in consequence is proposed as an effective tool in Diatraea species identification.

The γ-ray afterglows of tidal disruption events.

A star wandering too close to a supermassive black hole (SMBH) will be tidally disrupted. Previous studies of such 'tidal disruption event' (TDE) mostly focus on the stellar debris that are bound to the system, because they give rise to luminous flares. On the other hand, half of the stellar debris in principle are unbound and can stream to a great distance, but so far there is no clear evidence that this 'unbound debris stream' (UDS) exists. Motivated by the fact that the circum-nuclear region around SMBHs is usually filled with dense molecular clouds (MCs), here we investigate the observational signatures resulting from the collision between an UDS and an MC, which is likely to happen hundreds of years after a TDE. We focus on γ-ray emission (0.1-105 GeV), which comes from the encounter of shock-accelerated cosmic rays with background protons and, more importantly, is not subject to extinction. We show that because of the high proton density inside an MC, the peak γ-ray luminosity, about 1039 erg s-1, is at least 100 times greater than that in the case without an MC (only with a smooth interstellar medium). The luminosity decays on a time-scale of decades, depending on the distance of the MC, and about a dozen of these 'TDE afterglows' could be detected within a distance of about 16 Mpc by the future Cherenkov Telescope Array. Without careful discrimination, these sources potentially could contaminate the searches for starburst galaxies, galactic nuclei containing millisecond pulsars or dark matter annihilation signals.

Effect of interference from hemolysis, icterus and lipemia on routine pediatric clinical chemistry assays.

BACKGROUND: Clinical laboratory assays can be affected by interferents like hemoglobin (Hb), lipids and bilirubin. We evaluated the effect of these interferences on pediatric samples for different chemistry assays. Further we established cut-off indices above which these interferences confound sample results. METHODS: Three separate serum pools were spiked with increasing concentrations of hemolysate or intralipid or bilirubin and different analytes were analyzed. The Hemolysis-(H), Lipemia-(T) and Icterus-(I) indices were measured on Vitros 5600. Analytes affected by lipemia were treated with LipoClear ® and re-analyzed. All the measured analytes were compromised by gross hemolysis (H-Index >1000). RESULTS: Except lipase and magnesium (Mg(++)), all other analytes were affected by moderate (H-Index >250) and significant hemolysis (H-Index >500). Low estradiol levels showed a significant effect at severe icterus (I-Index >20.0). C3, C4, Ceruloplasmin, Haptoglobin, Immunoglobulins (Ig) and Vitamin D were significantly affected by moderate (T-Index >100) and severe (T-Index >500) lipemia. LipoClear ® treatment significantly attenuated the lipemic interference on the above analytes except for C3, C4, and IgG. CONCLUSIONS: Accurate reporting of pediatric samples for the analytes affected by common interferences will lead to better clinical interpretation.

Modo de adquisición de plaguicidas y medicamentos en pacientes intoxicados atendidos en emergencias del Hospital Clínico Viedma / Acquisition mode pesticides and drugs in intoxicated patients treated in emergency Hospital Clínico Viedma

Objetivo: identificar el lugar y el modo de obtención de plaguicidas y medicamentos además de las características socio-demográficas de pacientes con intoxicación aguda por estas sustancias, atendidos en emergencias del Hospital Viedma en Cochabamba de febrero a julio de 2011. Método: el estudio es cuantitativo, descriptivo, transversal de período, con recolección prospectiva de la información, incluyó a 122 pacientes internados por intoxicación aguda por plaguicidas y medicamentos en el Hospital Clínico Viedma de Cochabamba de febrero a julio de 2011, en quienes se realizaron encuestas. Resultados: el 61% de los pacientes intoxicados corresponden al sexo femenino , 34% entre 14 y 18 años y 22% jóvenes entre 19 y 23 años; la mayor parte de estos pacientes son solteros (60%), estudiantes (47%), procedentes del área urbana (39%) y periurbana (37%); la causa de intoxicación fue predominantemente intencional (96%); el plaguicida más empleado fue raticida (52%) que en su mayoría fue obtenido en sobres cerrados de vendedores ambulantes (38%) y en puestos fijos de mercados de la ciudad de Cochabamba y algunas de sus provincias (32%); los medicamentos más ingeridos fueron desconocidos obtenidos en los domicilios de los pacientes (59%) y en farmacias sin receta aun siendo medicamentos controlados. Conclusiones: la mayor parte de los plaguicidas y en menor proporción los medicamentos empleados por los pacientes atendidos por intoxicaciones agudas del estudio son de acceso relativamente fácil, siendo uno de los factores determinantes del intento suicida, sobretodo de adolescentes y jóvenes, por lo que se recomienda mayor control en la aplicación de las normas de comercialización de estas sustancias y difusión entre la población sobre el uso apropiado y almacenamiento o eliminación de plaguicidas y medicamentos en las viviendas una vez empleados en su objetivo.

Objective: identify where and how to obtain drugs and pesticides beside the socio-demographic characteristics of patients with acute poisoning by these substances treated in emergency Viedma Hospital in Cochabamba from February to July 2011. Method: a quantitative, descriptive, transversal study period, with prospective data collection, included 122 patients hospitalized for acute pesticide poisoning and drugs in the Hospital Clinico Viedma in Cochabamba from February to July 2011 in those surveys were conducted. Results: 61% of poisoned patients were females, 34% between 14 and 18 years and 22% aged 19 to 23 years; most of these patients were single (60%), students (47%) from the urban area (39%) and peri-urban (37%); poisoning caused intentionally was predominantly (96%); was the most used pesticide rodenticide (52%) which mostly was obtained in sealed envelopes from street vendors (38%) and fixed market stalls of the city of Cochabamba and some provinces (32%); the drugs were ingested unknown obtained in the homes of the patients (59%) and in pharmacies without prescription medications while being controlled. Conclusions: most pesticides and to a lesser extent the drugs used by patients treated by acute intoxication of the study are relatively accessible, being one of the determinants of suicide attempts, particularly in adolescents and young adults, so it is more recommended control in the application of the marketing standards for these substances and dissemination to the public regarding the proper use, storage or disposal of pesticides and drugs in houses once used in its objective.

Performance of a parallel diagnostic algorithm for HIV diagnosis in low risk pediatric and obstetric patient populations.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the clinical performance of the 2010 APHL/CDC Western-blot independent HIV testing algorithm in low risk pediatric and obstetric patients. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the performance of an alternate Western-blot independent algorithm and the individual algorithm components in diagnosing HIV infections in low risk pediatric and obstetric patients. STUDY DESIGN: 6242 specimens from pediatric and obstetric patients were tested by the Bio-Rad Multispot HIV-1/HIV-2 (MS) and VITROS Anti HIV 1+2 (VITROS) assays. 913 specimens were also tested by the ARCHITECT HIV Ag/Ab Combo assay (ARCHITECT). Discordant specimens were tested by the APTIMA HIV-1 RNA qualitative assay (RNA Qual). RESULTS: Twenty-eight specimens tested positive for HIV-1 by both MS and VITROS, 4 of these 28 specimens were also tested by and positive by ARCHITECT; all 28 positives identified by the algorithm were positive by viral load analysis. MS identified 164 preliminary positives, which were not confirmed as true positives, representing a specificity of 97.4%. This specificity varied between patient populations (96.1% in the pediatric population and 99.1% in the obstetric population). The specificities of VITROS and ARCHITECT were 99.2% and 99.4% for pediatric patients; 99.7% and 99.8% for obstetric patients, respectively. CONCLUSION: Our results highlight suboptimal specificity of MS in pediatric patients, and a lower specificity in both pediatric and obstetric patients relative to either VITROS or ARCHITECT. Additionally, parallel testing with both a third and fourth generation EIA in a low risk patient population provides a potential alternative to Western-blot dependent algorithms for confirmation.