Follow-up of patients with systemic immunological diseases undergoing fatty-degenerative osteolysis of the jawbone surgery and treated with RANTES 27CH.

Regulated-on-activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted (also called RANTES, CCL5 or R/C) is a chemotactic cytokine that plays a key role in recruiting immune cells to inflammatory sites. R/C is involved in the pathogenesis of many systemic immune-mediated diseases (SIDs) and is upregulated in fatty-degenerative osteolysis jawbone (FDOJ) cavitations. Surgical cleaning of degenerative areas reduces the source of chronic R/C but might not be sufficient to re-establish the altered immunological patterns. The aim of the present study was to collect clinical data from patients suffering from sids who underwent dental surgery of FDOJ areas (n=46), by measuring R/C serum levels at the first visit (V0) prior to surgery, and at the second visit (V1). The majority of patients (n=41) were treated one month with ultra-low dose RANTES (27CH), a medicine used in micro-immunotherapy, while five patients were not. Mean and standard deviation of R/C serum levels at V0 in treated and untreated patients were respectively 48.5±25.8ng/ml and 42.48±22.22ng/ ml. Untreated patients had a tendency towards higher R/C levels at V1 (68.36±30.7ng/ml; p=0.062), while an opposite tendency was observed in treated patients (40.9±20.3ng/ml; p=0.129). Investigators observed that a cut-off set at 40ng/ml at V0 seemed to be predictive of the efficacy of the dental surgery/treatment (p=0.0013, n=26) and that gender could influence R/C levels and patient's responsiveness. The Authors, being aware that this is a preliminary follow-up, wanted to lay the basis for forthcoming studies, in which a larger cohort of patients and well-defined inclusion/exclusion criteria will be established.

Modeling Environmental Influences in the Psyllaephagus bliteus (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae)-Glycaspis brimblecombei (Hemiptera: Aphalaridae) Parasitoid-Host System.

Glycaspis brimblecombei Moore (Hemiptera: Aphalaridae) is an invasive psyllid introduced into the Mediterranean area, where it affects several species of Eucalyptus. Psyllaephagus bliteus Riek (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) is a specialized parasitoid of this psyllid that was accidentally introduced into Italy in 2011. We developed a model of this host-parasitoid system that accounts for the influence of environmental conditions on the G. brimblecombei population dynamics and P. bliteus parasitism rates in the natural ecosystem. The Lotka-Volterra-based model predicts non-constant host growth and parasitoid mortality rates in association with variation in environmental conditions. The model was tested by analyzing sampling data collected in Naples in 2011 (before the parasitoid was present) and defining several environmental patterns, termed Temperature-Rain or T-R patterns, which correspond to the host growth rate. A mean value of the host growth rate was assigned to each T-R pattern, as well as a variation of the parasitoid mortality rate based on temperature thresholds. The proposed model was applied in simulation tests related to T-R patterns carried out with a data series sampled between June 2014 and July 2015 in five Italian sites located in Campania, Lazio, Sicily, and Sardinia regions. The simulation results showed that the proposed model provides an accurate approximation of population trends, although oscillation details may not be apparent. Results predict a 64% reduction in G. brimblecombei population density owing to P. bliteus parasitoid activity. Our results are discussed with respect to features of the host-parasitoid interaction that could be exploited in future biological control programs.

Administration of Brevibacillus laterosporus spores as a poultry feed additive to inhibit house fly development in feces: a new eco-sustainable concept.

The success of a microbial pesticide application against house flies developing in manure should accomplish the uniform mixing of active ingredients with this breeding medium, thus enhancing residual effects. The oral administration of the entomopathogenic bacterium Brevibacillus laterosporus to caged poultry species allows the homogeneous incorporation of its active ingredients with fly breeding media. Feces from treated broilers or hens show toxicity against exposed fly adults and larvae. Insecticidal effects are concentration-dependent with a lethal median concentration (LC50) value of 1.34 × 10(8) and 0.61 × 10(8) spores/g of feces for adults and larvae, respectively. Manure toxicity against flies was maintained as long as chickens were fed a diet containing adequate concentrations of B. laterosporus spores. Toxicity significantly decreased after spore administration to birds was interrupted. When poultry diet contained 10(10) spores/g, mortality of flies reared on feces exceeded 80%. The use of B. lateroporus spores as a feed additive in poultry production systems fostering a more integrated approach to farming is discussed.

Comparative applications of azadirachtin- and Brevibacillus laterosporus-based formulations for house fly management experiments in dairy farms.

The potential of two bioinsecticidal formulations containing Brevibacillus laterosporus spores and azadirachtin, respectively, was assayed in laboratory and in comparative field treatments for the management of immature house flies on dairy farms. As already known for B. laterosporus, preliminary laboratory experiments with azadirachtin evidenced a concentration-dependent effect. Azadirachtin median lethal concentration (LC50) value determined for second instar larvae was 24.5 microg/g diet. Applications in dairy farms were performed at dosages and concentrations predetermined in laboratory experiments, to employ the two formulations at an equal insecticidal potential. Repeated applications on the cow pen caused a significant fly development depression in areas treated with azadirachtin (63%) and B. laterosporus (46%), compared with the control. Formulations were applied at a dosage of 3 liters/m2, and concentrations of 2 x 10(8) B. laterosporus spores/ml and 25 microg azadirachtin/ml, respectively.

Treatment of the displaced femoral neck fractures: indications and limits of osteosynthesis.

PURPOSE: Opinions about the optimal treatment of displaced femoral neck fractures in the elderly are still divided. The two main options are internal fixation and arthroplasty. The aim of our study was to determine the most adequate surgical procedure for displaced, Garden type III-IV femoral neck fractures: which patients should undergo an osteosynthesis or primary arthroplasty, with the least prospect of complications? METHODS: We analyzed 489 femoral neck fractures treated by percutaneous osteosynthesis. We also compared the results of displaced fractures treated with primary arthroplasty versus secondary arthroplasty performed due to the failure of primary osteosynthesis. RESULTS: The rate of redisplacement in the Garden type III group was 7.6%, and in the Garden type IV group, it was 25.5%, mainly in the case of subcapital fractures. Also, walking ability was examined 4 months after injury. In the ASA score II-III group, most of the patients were able to walk with or without walking aids, but in the case of ASA score IV, most of them were immobile or died during the hospital or posthospital phase. Our research also proved that, in cases of femoral neck fractures treated with primary arthroplasty, the complication rate is lower than after secondary arthroplasty due to failure of the primary osteosynthesis. CONCLUSIONS: Based on our results, we recommend osteosynthesis in the case of Garden type III femoral neck fractures and, in turn, arthroplasty with respect to the high rate of early redisplacement in the case of Garden type IV fractures, especially in the case of subcapital fractures. For patients confined to a bed and in poor general condition (ASA score IV), the first choice treatment option is the minimally invasive percutaneous osteosynthesis.

Social isolation-induced changes in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in the rat.

Social isolation of rats both reduces the cerebrocortical and plasma concentrations of 3a-hydroxy-5a-pregnan-20-one (3a,5a-TH PROG) and 3a,5a-tetrahydrodeoxycorticosterone and potentiates the positive effects of acute stress and ethanol on the concentrations of these neuroactive steroids. We now show that social isolation decreased the plasma level of adrenocorticotropin (ACTH), moreover, intracerebroventricular administration of corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) induced a marked increase in the plasma corticosterone level in both isolated and group-housed rats, but this effect was significantly greater in the isolated rats (+121%) than in the group-housed rats (+86%). In addition, in isolated rats, a low dose of dexamethasone had no effect on the plasma corticosterone concentration, whereas, a high dose significantly reduced it; both doses of dexamethasone reduced plasma corticosterone in group-housed rats. Furthermore, the corticosterone level after injection of dexamethasone at the high dose was significantly greater in the isolated animals than in the group-housed rats. These results suggest that social isolation increased sensitivity of the pituitary to CRF and impaired negative feedback regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis.

Persistence and effectiveness of pyrethroids in plastic strips against Varroa jacobsoni (Acari: Varroidae) and mite resistance in a Mediterranean area.

An apiary trial was conducted in 1997 in Sardinia, Italy, to verify the effectiveness of fluvalinate in polyvinyl chloride strips and flumethrin in polyethylene strips against Varroa jacobsoni Oudemans. Two indices to evaluate the efficacy of the treatments were adopted: percentage change in mite infestation of worker-sealed brood cells considering only treated hives and percentage change in mite mortality, and the natural variation in mite populations recorded in control hives during the trial. All acaricide treatments reduced the level of mite infestation of both sealed brood and adult bees. However, their effectiveness was slightly reduced in comparison to previous studies because of mite resistance phenomena. Portions of polyethylene strips of flumethrin from treated hives were sampled weekly to determine acaricide persistence using gas chromatography. After 4 wk, a slight reduction (approximately 9%) of the active ingredient content was observed. A laboratory bioassay also was performed to establish the resistance of adult female mites to fluvalinate. Mites were sampled from the experimental apiary and from various Sardinian apiaries which had primarily been subjected to fluvalinate applications in plastic strips or wood inserts for years. Mite resistance varied from 0 to 96%, depending on the acaricide management adopted. The lowest resistance level occurred in an apiary where pyrethroids had never been used, whereas the highest level occurred in an apiary, with intensive use of fluvalinate in wood inserts.

Homogentisic acid: a phenolic acid as a marker of strawberry-tree (Arbutus unedo) honey.

Analysis of organic acids in strawberry-tree (Arbutus unedo) honey showed the presence of an unknown acid as the main constituent. This compound was isolated and identified as homogentisic acid (2, 5-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid) by MS and NMR techniques. Its average content in honey was 378 +/- 92 mg/kg. Analysis of nectar confirmed the floral origin of the compound found in honey. Since this acid was not detected in any of the different monofloral honeys, it could be used as a marker of strawberry-tree (A. unedo) honey.