[Humour therapy, laughter and the intervention of clowns in gerontology]. / La thérapie par l'humour, le rire et l'intervention de clowns en gérontologie.

Confronted with the growing incidence of age-related pathologies and the limits of so-called traditional medicine oriented towards the prescribing of medicines, non-pharmacological approaches have grown considerably in the geriatric community. A literature review focused on the therapeutic benefit of humour, laughter and the use of clowns on the physical and psychological health of elderly people.

Detection and distribution of Wolbachia endobacteria in Culex quinquefasciatus populations (Diptera : Culicidae) from Metropolitan Manila, Philippines.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Culex quinquefasciatus is a peridomestic mosquito known for its ability to transmit pathogenic diseases such as filariasis and Japanese encephalitis. The development and use of novel and innovative vector control measures such as the utilization of Wolbachia, along with the existing ones, are necessary to prevent the transmission of these diseases. Studies exploring the diversity of Wolbachia, particularly in Cx. quinquefasciatus are very limited in the Philippines. Thus, the aim of the study was to detect the presence, distribution, and phylogenetic relationship of Wolbachia infections in Cx. quinquefasciatus in Metropolitan Manila, Philippines. METHODS: Adult Cx. quinquefasciatus mosquitoes were collected using a commercially available light-trap from May 2014-January 2015. Based on their sampling grids (n = 51), the adult mosquito abdomens were pooled and subjected to Wolbachia surface protein (wsp) gene amplification assay. Five selected wsp-positive samples were then sequenced and further analyzed to infer their phylogenetic relationship with known Wolbachia strains. RESULTS: A total of 1090 adult Cx. quinquefasciatus mosquitoes were collected. Pooled abdomens (n = 53) were then sorted based on their sampling grids for subsequent screening of wsp gene. Wolbachia infection rate was 59% (31/53). These infections were located at 29 (57%) sampling grids, and were observed to be widely distributed in the study area. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the sample sequences were Wolbachia pipientis isolated from known hosts, Cx. pipiens and Cx. quinquefasciatus belonging to supergroup B clade. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: The study was able to demonstrate the prevalence and distribution of Wolbachia in Cx. quinquefasciatus in Metropolitan Manila, Philippines. The findings of this study are geared towards proposing a vector control program that utilizes the potential of Wolbachia as a biological control agent in preventing the transmission of Culex-borne diseases.

Prior hormonal treatment, but not sexual experience, reduces the negative effects of restraint on female sexual behavior.

These experiments were designed to determine if prior sexual experience reduced the negative effect of mild stress on female sexual behavior. In the first experiment, ovariectomized rats were hormonally primed with estradiol benzoate and progesterone for 3 consecutive weeks during which they received six mating experiences in a male's home cage or received no sexual experience. The next week, females were primed with 10 µg estradiol benzoate two days before a 5 min restraint. Both groups were resistant to the negative effects of the stressor. In the second experiment, females received 0, 1, 2, or 3 weeks of 10 µg estradiol benzoate and were restrained on the fourth week after priming with 10 µg estradiol benzoate. Rats without prior hormonal priming showed a decline in lordosis behavior after restraint but prior priming with estradiol benzoate reduced this effect. In the third experiment, rats received 3 weeks of hormonal priming with estradiol benzoate and progesterone with or without sexual experience. An additional group received no sexual experience or hormonal priming. Females were then given a 3-week hormone vacation before testing in the restraint paradigm. All groups showed a decline in lordosis behavior after restraint. The fourth experiment was identical to the third except that sexual experience in the male's cage and in a pacing apparatus were compared. There was no effect of either type of sexual experience on the response to restraint. Possible mechanisms responsible for effects of prior hormonal priming are presented and the absence of an effect of sexual experience is discussed in comparison to findings in male rats.