Life table parameters of the red palm mite Raoiella indica (Acari: Tenuipalpidae) at various temperatures and for sexual and asexual reproduction.

The red palm mite, Raoiella indica Hirst, is a threat to coconut, banana and native Arecaceae and Heliconiaceae in Brazil. This mite originated in the Eastern Hemisphere and was first reported in 2004 in the Americas, where the pest is spreading quickly and causing severe damage to its host plants. The objective of this work was to determine the life-history parameters of R. indica at constant temperatures, estimate its thermal requirements [threshold temperature (Tb) and thermal constant (K)] and also compare its life table parameters between sexual reproduction and parthenogenesis. The life tables were constructed on leaflets of Adonidia merrillii at 15, 20, 24, 27, 30 and 34 °C and 65% RH and a 12-h photoperiod. The longevity and the number of laid eggs of non-copulated adult females were evaluated at 27 °C. Raoiella indica had complete development, from egg to adult, only at 20, 24, 27 and 30 °C. At 15 °C, the eggs did not hatch, and at 34 °C, the mites survived only until the larval stage. For sexual reproduction, the optimal temperature was 27 °C, under which the reproductive parameters were higher. The reproductive parameters for sexual reproduction were higher than those for parthenogenesis. The Tb was 14.79 °C, and the thermal constant was 208.33 degree days. The life parameters estimated in this study can be used for modelling and predicting the population growth of R. indica in the field and consequently for improving their management strategies.

First record of the olive bud mite Oxycenus maxwelli (Keifer) (Acari: Eriophyidae) from Brazil.

The mite Oxycenus maxwelli (Keifer) (Eriophyidae) is reported for the first time in Brazil infesting olive trees, Olea europaea. Specimens were found on seedlings at Maria da Fé, state of Minas Gerais, in 2007. Although minor symptoms were not noticed, significant damage to plants were observed. There is no reliable evidence of when the mite could have been introduced. It is believed that the mite occurs since the first introductions of olive trees, around 1820, through vegetative propagating material, but the mite remained unnoticed due to the lack of studies with olive trees in Brazil.

First record of the olive bud mite Oxycenus maxwelli (Keifer) (Acari: Eriophyidae) from Brazil

The mite Oxycenus maxwelli (Keifer) (Eriophyidae) is reported for the first time in Brazil infesting olive trees, Olea europaea. Specimens were found on seedlings at Maria da Fé, state of Minas Gerais, in 2007. Although minor symptoms were not noticed, significant damage to plants were observed. There is no reliable evidence of when the mite could have been introduced. It is believed that the mite occurs since the first introductions of olive trees, around 1820, through vegetative propagating material, but the mite remained unnoticed due to the lack of studies with olive trees in Brazil.

First report of the red palm mite, Raoiella indica Hirst (Acari: Tenuipalpidae), in Brazil.

The presence of the red palm mite, Raoiella indica Hirst, is reported for the first time in Brazil. This invasive mite was found in July 2009 infesting coconut palms and bananas in urban areas of Boa Vista, State of Roraima, in northern Brazil. Comments on the possible pathways of R. indica into the country, present and potential impact of its introduction and mitigating measures to prevent or to delay the mite spread in Brazil are presented.

First report of the red palm mite, Raoiella indica Hirst (Acari: Tenuipalpidae), in Brazil

The presence of the red palm mite, Raoiella indica Hirst, is reported for the first time in Brazil. This invasive mite was found in July 2009 infesting coconut palms and bananas in urban areas of Boa Vista, State of Roraima, in northern Brazil. Comments on the possible pathways of R. indica into the country, present and potential impact of its introduction and mitigating measures to prevent or to delay the mite spread in Brazil are presented.

Primeiro registro no Brasil de Erythrina velutina Willd. como hospedeira de Tetranychus neocaledonicus (Acari: Tetranychidae) / First Brazilian report of Erythrina velutina Willd. as host of Tetranychus neocaledonicus (Acari: Tetranychidae)

Os ácaros tetraniquídeos representam importantes pragas para diversas culturas agrícolas em todo o mundo. Durante a prospecção em mudas de Erytrina velutina no distrito de São Cristovão, Estado de Sergipe, Brasil, a ocorrência destes foi observada em 15 por cento das mudas que foram levadas ao laboratório para a caracterização dos danos. As mudas apresentavam sintomas de redução e encarquilhamento do limbo. Foram coletados 100 indivíduos destas plantas, os quais foram montados em lâminas de microscopia para a identificação taxonômica. Os ácaros foram identificados como pertencentes à espécie Tetranychus neocaledonicus (Acari: Tetranychidae). Este é o primeiro relato em E. velutina, como hospedeira para T. neocaledonicus no Brasil.

Spider mites are important pests to several crops worldwide. During prospecting in Erytrina velutina specimens from São Cristovão District, Sergipe State, Brazil, their occurrence was observed in 15 percent seedlings, which were taken to the laboratory for description of damages. The seedlings presented leaf blade reduction and crumpling symptoms. One hundred mites were collected from these seedlings and mounted on microscope slides for taxonomic identification. The identified mites belonged to the species Tetranychus neocaledonicus (Acari: Tetranychidae). This is the first report of E. velutina as host for T. neocaledonicus in Brazil.

Geographic pattern of morphological variation of the coconut mite, Aceria guerreronis Keifer (Acari: Eriophyidae), using multivariate morphometry.

The coconut mite, Aceria guerreronis Keifer, has become one of the most important pests of coconut in the Americas and Africa and recently in Southeast Asia. Despite the great economic importance of this mite, there is a lack of information on its origin and invasion history that are important to guide the search of biological control agents as well as the adoption of quarantine procedures. This study evaluates morphometric variation among A. guerreronis populations throughout its occurrence area, relates this variation with historical sequence of records, looking for information on its biogeography. Samples of 27 populations from the Americas, Africa and Asia were analysed using Principal Component Analysis and Canonical Discriminant Analysis. Results showed significant morphometric variability of A. uerreronis throughout its distribution area, with a high variability among American populations and otherwise a high similarity among African and Asian populations. The geographic pattern of variation of mite populations observed supports the hypothesis that A. guerreronis originated in the Americas and was introduced into Africa and Asia. Some inferences related to taxonomy of Eriophyoidea mites were included.

Geographic pattern of morphological variation of the coconut mite, Aceria guerreronis Keifer (Acari: Eriophyidae), using multivariate morphometry / Padrão geográfico de variação morfológica do ácaro do coqueiro, Aceria guerreronis Keifer (Acari: Eriophyidae), utilizando morfometria multivariada

The coconut mite, Aceria guerreronis Keifer, has become one of the most important pests of coconut in the Americas and Africa and recently in Southeast Asia. Despite the great economic importance of this mite, there is a lack of information on its origin and invasion history that are important to guide the search of biological control agents as well as the adoption of quarantine procedures. This study evaluates morphometric variation among A. guerreronis populations throughout its occurrence area, relates this variation with historical sequence of records, looking for information on its biogeography. Samples of 27 populations from the Americas, Africa and Asia were analysed using Principal Component Analysis and Canonical Discriminant Analysis. Results showed significant morphometric variability of A. uerreronis throughout its distribution area, with a high variability among American populations and otherwise a high similarity among African and Asian populations. The geographic pattern of variation of mite populations observed supports the hypothesis that A. guerreronis originated in the Americas and was introduced into Africa and Asia. Some inferences related to taxonomy of Eriophyoidea mites were included.

O ácaro do coqueiro, Aceria guerreronis Keifer, se tornou uma das pragas mais importantes do coqueiro nas Américas e África e, recentemente, no sudeste da Ásia. Apesar da importância econômica deste ácaro, faltam informações sobre sua origem e seu histórico de invasão, o que é importante para orientar a busca de agentes de controle biológico assim como a adoção de medidas quarentenárias. Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a variação morfométrica entre populações de A. guerreronis ao longo de sua área de ocorrência, relacionar esta variação com a sequência histórica de registros, buscando informações sobre sua biogeografia. Amostras de 27 populações das Américas, África e Ásia foram analisadas utilizando-se Análise dos Componentes Principais e Análise Discriminante Canônica. Os resultados mostraram uma significante variabilidade de A. guerreronis ao longo de sua área de distribuição, com uma alta variabilidade entre as populações americanas e, por outro lado, uma alta similaridade entre populações africanas e asiáticas. O padrão geográfico de variação de populações do ácaro observado suporta a hipótese de que A. guerreronis é originário da América e foi introduzido na África e Ásia. Algumas inferências relacionadas à taxonomia de ácaros Eriophyoidea foram incluídas.

Reunión clínica interhospitales / Diagnosis of mixed connective tissue disease

Se presenta el caso clínico de una paciente de 18 años, catalogado inicialmente como LES, con presencia de Ac antiRNP( +) y otras características que hacían planteable la posibilidad de enfermedad mixta del tejido conectivo (EMTC), quien evoluciona con cuadro de hipertensión arterial severa, llegando a emergencia hipertensiva, en relación a dos episodios de crisis convulsiva tónico-clónicas, no presentando deterioro de función renal. Su cuadro hipertensivo se manejó con uso de inhibidor de enzima convertidora de angiotensina (lECA) logrando normalización de cifras tensionales y desaparición de síntomas neurológicos, sin otros parámetros de enfermedad activa, lo que hizo pensar en la posibilidad de un cuadro similar a la crisis renal esclerodérmica, pero en el contexto de esta paciente con probable EMTC. Apoyaría lo anterior el hecho de la excelente evolución sin necesidad de aumentar la terapia esteroidal, ni de asociar otro inmunosupresor en ese momento.

We present the case of a 18-year-old woman, initially diagnosed with SLE. Laboratory exams were positive for anti RNP antibodies. This and some other characterisitics led to the diagnosis of mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD). She evolved into severe arterial hypertension, reaching hypertensive emergency related to two episodes of convulsive tonic-clonic crisis, without kidney failure. Her hypertension was managed with an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACE inhibitor), achieving normal tension parameters and disappearance of the neurologic symptoms, without other parameters of active disease, which made us think of a clinical case similar to scleroderma renal crisis, but in the context of this patient with probable MCTD. This is sustained by the fact that the evolution was excellent without the need to in crease steroidal therapy, nor to associate another immune suppressor at that time.

The invasive coconut mite Aceria guerreronis (Acari: Eriophyidae): origin and invasion sources inferred from mitochondrial (16S) and nuclear (ITS) sequences.

Over the past 30 years the coconut mite Aceria guerreronis Keifer has emerged as one of the most important pests of coconut and has recently spread to most coconut production areas worldwide. The mite has not been recorded in the Indo-Pacific region, the area of origin of coconut, suggesting that it has infested coconut only recently. To investigate the geographical origin, ancestral host associations, and colonization history of the mite, DNA sequence data from two mitochondrial and one nuclear region were obtained from samples of 29 populations from the Americas, Africa and the Indo-ocean region. Mitochondrial DNA 16S ribosomal sequences were most diverse in Brazil, which contained six of a total of seven haplotypes. A single haplotype was shared by non-American mites. Patterns of nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) variation were similar, again with the highest nucleotide diversity found in Brazil. These results suggest an American origin of the mite and lend evidence to a previous hypothesis that the original host of the mite is a non-coconut palm. In contrast to the diversity in the Americas, all samples from Africa and Asia were identical or very similar, consistent with the hypothesis that the mite invaded these regions recently from a common source. Although the invasion routes of this mite are still only partially reconstructed, the study rules out coconut as the ancestral host of A. guerreronis, thus prompting a reassessment of efforts using quarantine and biological control to check the spread of the pest.

Syphilitic aortitis.

A case of syphilitic aortitis, complicated by bilateral coronary ostial stenosis, in a 40-year-old man is described. Treatment included coronary artery bypass grafting and a drug regimen of penicillin. At 3-month follow-up, an exercise stress test revealed no signs of ischemia.

Endoscopic saphenous vein harvesting: initial experience and learning curve.

BACKGROUND: Saphenous vein remains an elective conduit for up to 85% of coronary bypass operations. It is obtained through one or numerous skin incisions, with a reported morbidity varying from 5% to 25%. The endoscopic vein harvesting (EVH) technique was developed to minimize this morbidity and to improve clinical outcomes. The aim of this study was to review the feasibility of this method, its learning curve, and changing results in a group without previous experience in this procedure. METHODS: Between July 1998 and October 1999, 179 patients for coronary artery bypass grafting underwent EVH (Vasoview Guidant, USA "double access" and Uniport), by two operators. Results were reported based on time of harvesting, length of conduits, technical details, and clinical outcomes, and divided into six groups of 30 consecutive patients each. RESULTS: Patient demographics were as follows: 86.03% were male, aged 64.3+/-9.12 years (range, 43 to 92 years), with diabetes mellitus in 28.49%, obesity in 18.43%, and vascular disease in 11.17%. The EVH method was limited to the thigh in 77.65% of cases and extended to the leg in 22.35%. Patients received an average of 2.45+/-0.58 incisions and obtained conduits had a mean length of 34.96+/-9.65 cm (range, 15 to 70 cm). The number of venous bypasses per patient was 1.30+/-0.59. Mean time of EVH was 47.24+/-19.84 minutes (range, 15 to 120), with a length-time index of 0.85+/-0.36. Primary success was achieved in 95.54%, with crossover to open technique in 4.46%. General morbidity was 8.9%, with hematoma in 1.11%, skin necrosis in 1.11%, infection in 6.7%, and readmission in 1.11%. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic vein harvesting is a feasible and reproducible method, with a typical learning curve, acceptable morbidity, and unquestionable benefits for coronary artery bypass graft patients.

[Vasodilators in isolated human radial arteries]. / Vasodilatadores en arterias radiales humanas aisladas.

This paper was designed to evaluate the effectivity of several vasodilators, applied topically, to attenuate the hyperreactivity of radial arteries (RA) implanted as aorto-coronary bypass. Remnant segments of the RA were obtained from 20 operations, and each of the segments was divided into 4 rings. The rings were incubated for 30 minutes in control conditions (n = 20) or in presence of 30 microM of Diltiazem (DILT, n = 6), 30 microM of mibefradil (MIBE, n = 4) or a mixture of 30 microM of verapamil + 30 microM of nitroglycerin (VP-NTG, n = 6). A subsequent exposure to KCl 80 mM (in absence of vasodilators) evoked a sustained contraction in control rings, which was attenuated by 35 +/- 9% by DILT, 48 +/- 13% by VP-NTG and by 69 +/- 20% by MIBE (p < 0.05). Preincubation with vasodilators also attenuated the rate and intensity of rhythmic contractions of the RA. In rings that were cold-stored during 24 hs and then restimulated with KCl 80 mM the depressing effect was still evident: DILT 53 +/- 6%, VP-NTG 46 +/- 14% and MIBE 61 +/- 9% (p < 0.05). The effect of MIBE was more intense and persistent than that of DILT or VP-NTG, even at concentrations eliciting a similar initial depression of contraction. It is concluded that the exposure to vasodilators during a period equivalent to the duration of the surgical preparation of the RA produces an attenuation of the arterial reactivity that might provide an additional protection against RA spasm during the immediate postoperative period.

Vasodilatadores en arterias radiales humanas aisladas. / [Vasodilators in isolated human radial arteries]

This paper was designed to evaluate the effectivity of several vasodilators, applied topically, to attenuate the hyperreactivity of radial arteries (RA) implanted as aorto-coronary bypass. Remnant segments of the RA were obtained from 20 operations, and each of the segments was divided into 4 rings. The rings were incubated for 30 minutes in control conditions (n = 20) or in presence of 30 microM of Diltiazem (DILT, n = 6), 30 microM of mibefradil (MIBE, n = 4) or a mixture of 30 microM of verapamil + 30 microM of nitroglycerin (VP-NTG, n = 6). A subsequent exposure to KCl 80 mM (in absence of vasodilators) evoked a sustained contraction in control rings, which was attenuated by 35 +/- 9

by DILT, 48 +/- 13

by VP-NTG and by 69 +/- 20

by MIBE (p < 0.05). Preincubation with vasodilators also attenuated the rate and intensity of rhythmic contractions of the RA. In rings that were cold-stored during 24 hs and then restimulated with KCl 80 mM the depressing effect was still evident: DILT 53 +/- 6

, VP-NTG 46 +/- 14

and MIBE 61 +/- 9

(p < 0.05). The effect of MIBE was more intense and persistent than that of DILT or VP-NTG, even at concentrations eliciting a similar initial depression of contraction. It is concluded that the exposure to vasodilators during a period equivalent to the duration of the surgical preparation of the RA produces an attenuation of the arterial reactivity that might provide an additional protection against RA spasm during the immediate postoperative period.

Coronary reoperation: results of adding an internal mammary artery graft to a stenotic vein graft.

Although it is desirable at coronary reoperation to replace a stenotic vein graft to the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) with an internal mammary artery (IMA) graft, previous reports have shown that if the stenotic vein graft is removed, that strategy can be complicated by severe hemodynamic deterioration and increased perioperative mortality. We report the results for 90 patients in whom an IMA was used to graft a completely obstructed LAD with the stenotic vein graft left intact. For 10 patients, reoperation involved only an IMA-LAD graft, and in 80 patients, a second IMA, veins, or both were used to graft other vessels. There were no hospital deaths. One patient had a perioperative myocardial infarction. Follow-up at a mean postoperative interval of 58 months documented 11 late deaths (eight cardiac related) and actuarial 5-year survival of 88%. Twenty-two patients underwent coronary angiography at a mean postoperative interval of 48 months. The IMA-LAD graft was found to be perfectly patent in 20 and obstructed in 2. The strategy of adding an IMA graft to the LAD and leaving a stenotic vein graft intact has been associated with a low risk of perioperative myocardial infarction, the late clinical results are favorable, and repeat angiography indicates that serious competitive flow from the stenotic vein graft is uncommon.

Is the internal thoracic artery the conduit of choice to replace a stenotic vein graft?

Reoperative coronary artery bypass grafting secondary to saphenous vein graft (SVG) stenosis is a mushrooming problem. The internal thoracic artery graft (ITA) provides superior long-term patency, but its flow is limited and may be inadequate to meet large myocardial demands. To evaluate the efficacy of the ITA as a replacement conduit for a stenotic SVG, 387 consecutive patients undergoing reoperative bypass grafting from 1985 to 1990 with a stenotic SVG to a totally obstructed left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) were analyzed. The patients were divided into four groups according to the management of the previously placed SVG. Group I (n = 155) underwent graft replacement with a new SVG. Group II (n = 90) received an ITA with the old SVG left intact. In group III (n = 37), an ITA was placed to the LAD with an SVG to the diagonal (old graft interrupted). Group IV (n = 104) had an ITA only to the LAD (old graft interrupted). There were 14 deaths (3.6%). Mortality rate was 7.9% for group IV and 2.1% for groups I through III (p = 0.01). Multivariate analyses identified advancing age (p = 0.001), ITA only (p = 0.001), and female sex (p = 0.04) as independent predictors of operative mortality. Evidence of hypoperfusion in the distribution of the LAD was present in 19 patients, all of whom were in group IV (18.9%). Predictors of hypoperfusion were moderate/severe left ventricular function (p = 0.02) and ITA to the LAD with interruption of the old graft (p = 0.0001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)