Activity of bifenthrin, chlorfenapyr, fipronil, and thiamethoxam against red imported fire ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae).

Bifenthrin, chlorfenapyr, fipronil, and thiamethoxam were evaluated for activity against the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Mobility impairment and lethal times were determined after topical treatments. Both immobilization and mortality occurred most quickly with bifenthrin, followed by thiamethoxam, chlorfenapyr, and fipronil. Mortality due to horizontal exposure was evaluated at 10, 20, or 30 degrees C, with three ratios of topically treated donor ant corpses to live recipients (5, 10, or 20% donors). Bifenthrin had the greatest horizontal activity of the chemicals tested. For chlorfenapyr, the only treatments having higher mortality than controls were the highest percentage donors at either 10 or 30 degrees C. Horizontal activity of fipronil was temperature dependent only with the highest proportion of donors and was lower than that ofbifenthrin but higher than that of chlorfenapyr or thiamethoxam. Mean mortality due to thiamethoxam was similar to that with chlorfenapyr. Significant mortality occurred in all of the 20 and 30 degrees C thiamethoxam treatments, but none of the 10 degrees C treatments. Effectiveness as a barrier was evaluated by providing a choice between bridges treated with insecticide or water. Although bifenthrin did not provide an impenetrable barrier, it was the only treatment having fewer ants than its paired control bridge. Mortality data suggest that a reduction in recruitment rather than repellency account for this result.

Activity of bifenthrin, chlorfenapyr, fipronil, and thiamethoxam against Argentine ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae).

Bifenthrin, chlorfenapyr, fipronil, and thiamethoxam were evaluated for activity against the Argentine ant, Linepithema humile (Mayr) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Mobility impairment and lethal times were determined after topical treatments. Ants were immobilized most quickly by bifenthrin, followed by chlorfenapyr and thiamethoxam. After 2 h, the number of fipronil-treated ants unable to walk out of test arenas did not differ from control ants. Median lethal time (LT50) after topical treatment was lowest in the bifenthrin treatment, followed by thiamethoxam, chlorfenapyr, and then fipronil. Mortality due to horizontal exposure was evaluated at 10, 20, or 30 degrees C, with topically treated ant corpses serving as donors. There was low to moderate horizontal activity in bifenthrin and chlorfenapyr treatments, with no temperature effect in bifenthrin treatments and a positive temperature effect in chlorfenapyr treatments. Mortality in the fipronil treatments was highest and was positively correlated with temperature. Thiamethoxam treatments did not differ from controls at 10 degrees C, but mortality increased with temperature. To evaluate contact activity, either all of 20% of the ants in a cohort were exposed to insecticide-treated pine needles. In both tests, mortality was highest in fipronil and bifenthrin treatments, followed by thiamethoxam, with lowest mortality in chlorfenapyr treatments. Effectiveness as a barrier was evaluated by providing a choice between bridges treated with insecticide or water. Although bifenthrin did not provide an impenetrable barrier, it was the only treatment having fewer ants than its paired control. Mortality data suggest that lack of recruitment rather than repellency account for this result.

Seasonal Population Dynamics of Megacopta cribraria (Hemiptera: Plataspidae) in Kudzu and Soybean, and Implication for Insecticidal Management in Soybean.

Megacopta cribraria (F.), an invasive species introduced from Asia in 2009, is now prolific in the southeastern United States. Megacopta cribraria develops primarily on kudzu and soybean completing two generations. It is not well understood how this economic pest is affected by changes in geographic distribution in the United States or how population levels have changed since its establishment. The effect of insecticide application timing on field populations of M. cribraria is not well documented. These studies seek to understand how population dynamics of M. cribraria vary with geographic regions in Georgia. Effect of application timing on populations throughout the growing season was also examined. Weekly from 2012 to 2013, all life stages were enumerated from kudzu and soybean environments at several locations throughout Georgia from sweeps samples and flight intercept captures. Coordinates were recorded for locations, and classified as belonging to the Piedmont or Coastal Plain region of the state. Single spray trials were conducted from 2011-2014, and applications were made to soybean at intervals throughout the season. From 2012 to 2015, two kudzu patches near Griffin, GA, were monitored to detect population changes. Differences in population dynamics from locations around the state were found, but no clear effect of latitude, longitude, or region was observed. Insecticide applications applied in July suppressed nymph populations significantly better than treatments made earlier or later. Megacopta cribraria populations declined in 2014 and 2015 compared with 2012 and 2013. These studies provide the critical information for M. cribraria management in soybean in the southeastern United States.

Sialic acid-specific lectin from Tritrichomonas foetus.

A novel sialic acid-specific lectin (TFL) was isolated from Tritrichomonas foetus culture supernatant and purified by erythrocyte adsorption followed by fetuin-agarose affinity chromatography. According to gel filtration TFL is a protein of 728 kDa, different from the two sialidases of 853 and 254 kDa, secreted by T. foetus into the medium. The lectin is formed by multimeric complexes of 66 kDa subunit according to SDS-PAGE under reducing conditions. TFL is glycosylated with 4.2% of carbohydrates, half of which is represented by glucose. The lectin reacts equally with N-acetyl and N-glycolyl neuraminic acid, free, in alpha2,3- or alpha2,6-linkage. TFL has 7-fold weaker affinity to alpha2,8-linked N-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac) in colominic acid. Horse erythrocytes containing 4-O-acetyl Neu5Ac are agglutinated equally as compared to the human cells. TFL affinity to 9-O-acetyl Neu5Ac is 4-fold weaker as documented by hemagglutination inhibition with de-O-acetylated bovine submaxillary mucin, and ovine submaxillary mucin. A panel of mono- and oligosaccharides other than Neu5Ac do not inhibit TFL activity at 200 mM. The lectin does not require bivalent cations for activity, shows optimal reactivity at neutral pH and is stable at 4 degrees C. Anti-TFL antibodies identify membrane positivity on T. foetus, suggesting that the lectin functions in adhesion of the parasites. These findings, together with good stability and immunogenicity, make TFL a prospective candidate for further studies, especially in searching for efficient diagnostics and prevention of bovine trichomoniasis.

Intraprostatic spermatozoa.

Spermatozoa have not previously been described within the prostate gland. Nine of one hundred prostates of nonhospitalized males obtained from autopsy during the course of medicolegal death investigation were found to contain spermatozoa. The potential role of spermatozoa in the pathogenesis of corpora amylacea/calculi formation, granulomatous inflammation, local antigenic stimulation, and carcinogenesis is considered.

Histochemical localization of sialylated glycoconjugates with Tritrichomonas mobilensis lectin (TLM).

A new sialic acid-specific lectin from the colonic parasite of squirrel monkeys Tritrichomonas mobilensis (TML) was tested on human and mouse tissues for histochemical staining properties. There were no substantial differences in reactivity between frozen and formalin fixed paraffin sections. TML staining was blocked by preincubation with sialic acid or by sialidase digestion. TML/anti-TML antibody histochemistry was identical with the TML-gold technique. The staining pattern was not blood group dependent. TML stained strongly the luminal membranes of normal vascular endothelium as well as endothelial neoplasms. Lymphatic vessels and capillaries of kidney glomeruli and lung alveolar septi were negative or only slightly positive. In parenchymatous organs luminal membrane positivity was dominant, preferably of cells lining ducts. Weak fine-granular cytoplasmic and basolateral membrane staining was also observed. Umbrella cells in transitional epithelium and basal layers of squamous epithelia showed strong reactivity with cell membranes. Mucin in respiratory epithelium was positive whereas gastrointestinal mucins failed to stain uniformly. Erythrocytes and most white blood cell types showed distinct membrane positivity. Acetylation or alkaline O-deacetylation of tissue sections did not substantially change TML reactivity. Oxidation, however, completely blocked TML staining except for respiratory epithelium and colonic mucin.

Adenosquamous carcinoma of prostate.

A case is reported of metastatic adenosquamous carcinoma that developed in a patient one year after diagnosis of adenocarcinoma of the prostate by transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). Prostatic origin of the neoplasm was proved by immunoperoxidase staining for prostatic acid phosphatase in the metastases as well as demonstration of both glandular and squamous differentiation in tumor within the prostate on repeat TURP. This change in tumor differentiation occurred despite the fact that the patient had received no estrogen or radiation. The metastases showed remarkable response when the patient later began diethylstilbestrol (DES) therapy.

Teaching laboratory medicine. The clinical laboratory experience.

A medical student's introduction to the clinical laboratory often sets the tone for the relationship that will exist between him or her and the laboratory throughout medical practice. As part of the sophomore pathology and laboratory medicine course at the University of South Alabama, Mobile, groups of seven or eight medical students spend one hour in each of ten different areas of the clinical laboratory. This experience acquaints the students with laboratory personnel, organization, and procedure, and emphasizes the importance of communication between clinicians and the laboratory staff. Consequently, our students have greater awareness of the capabilities and limitations of laboratory testing. This has, in turn, resulted in more efficient use of laboratory resources by clinicians and fewer complaints about laboratory service. The relatively small size of the classes in our institution enables us to schedule these sessions effectively. However, schools with larger classes could use a similar system since many of these schools have access to laboratories at more than one hospital.

Immunocytochemical identification of trichomonads.

Trichomonas vaginalis is one of the more common pathogens of the genitourinary tract. Morphologic studies of trichomonal infections, however, have been hampered by the fragile nature of these thin-walled flagellates and the lack of specific histochemical procedures to identify the fragmented organisms found in tissue sections. These limitations have usually restricted positive identification to smears of freshly obtained specimens. In an attempt to overcome these limitations, a rabbit antiserum specific for Trichomonas organisms was produced by repeated subcutaneous injections of a documented strain of T vaginalis maintained in vitro. Using this antiserum, immunoperoxidase techniques have been modified so that trichomonads have been clearly identified both in smears and in paraffin-embedded tissue sections. This method seems to be useful in establishing the presence of these organisms in tissue and may subsequently contribute to the histopathologic definition of trichomoniasis in man.

Trichomonas vaginalis in the prostate gland.

Although the prostate gland is believed to serve as a parasite reservoir in trichomoniasis in men, and clinical association of trichomonads with prostatitis is common, there has been, to our knowledge, no unequivocal demonstration of Trichomonas vaginalis within the prostate gland. Using established immunoperoxidase procedures, we have positively identified trichomonads in the prostatic urethra, glandular lumina, submucosa, and stroma. Foci of nonspecific acute and chronic inflammation, as well as intraepithelial vacuolization, were associated with the infection. The finding of trichomonads within and beneath glandular epithelium necessitates reevaluation of the traditional view of T vaginalis as a strictly surface-dwelling organism.

Sialic acid expression in normal and diseased human kidney.

Three sialic acid-specific lectins, Tritrichomonas mobilensis (TML) (without linkage preference), Maackia amurensis leukoagglutinin (MAL) (alpha2,3) and Sambucus nigra agglutinin (alpha2,6 linkage-specific), were used for detection of sialylated glycoconjugates in normal and diseased human kidneys. Normal kidneys demonstrated strong podocyte positivity of alpha2,3 linked sialic acid and weaker sialic acid expression on capillary endothelium, which was alpha2,6 linked. Renal biopsies (45) representing a variety of diseases, e.g. minimal change disease, membranous, membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis, tubulointerstitial nephrosis or diabetic glomerulopathy showed increased sialic acid expression in glomerular capillaries, Bowman's capsule epithelium and on podocytes. In several different kidney diseases the glomerular endothelium expressed also alpha2,3 linked sialic acid along with increased TML-positivity of epithelial cells related to alpha2,6 linked sialic acid. No difference in sialic acid linkage expression was observed in the tubules, which expressed putative alpha2,6 linked sialic acid on the luminal surface of cells distal to the descending limb of Henle's loop. The study did not show changes characteristic of specific diseases. Rather, increased sialic acid expression on glomerular endothelium and podocytes was linked to a variety of pathological changes. It is assumed that changes in sialysation of glycoconjugates in the glomeruli represent nonspecific changes and do not reflect fundamental pathogenetic features of renal diseases.

Detection and cultivation of intestinal trichomonads of squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus).

Routine examinations of fecal samples from squirrel monkeys suggested that intestinal trichomonads might be common inhabitants of these animals. In pursuit of these observations, microscopic examination of fecal suspensions and cultures have demonstrated a 100% incidence of trichomonads in 30 arbitrarily selected animals from a colony of more than 300 housed in groups of ten. The most prominent species was Pentatrichomonas hominis. A not yet fully characterized tritrichomonad was also found on several occasions. The main obstacle in establishing individual strains in culture was the presence of bacterial and fungal flora in the samples. Nevertheless, abundant cultures were obtained from 28 animals by inoculation of fecal suspensions into tissue cultures with appropriately formulated medium and high concentration of antibiotics. In several unattended cultures maintained at room temperature, the flagellates retained motility for at least 4 months. This long survival may explain the widespread occurrence of the parasites within a confined animal community.

Pathogenicity of Tritrichomonas mobilensis: subcutaneous inoculation in mice.

The standard "subcutaneous mouse assay" was used to investigate the inherent pathogenicity of Tritrichomonas mobilensis, an intestinal parasite of squirrel monkeys. C57B1/6 mice given subcutaneous bilateral inocula of T. mobilensis died by day 4 postinoculation with lesions too small to be measured. Control mice similarly inoculated with pathogenic and nonpathogenic strains of Trichomonas vaginalis survived the challenge and produced lesions on day 6 with mean volumes in agreement with previous reports. CD1 mice similarly inoculated with standard and double doses of trichomonads (T. mobilensis) again produced small lesions. CD1 mice inoculated at double dosage were moribund or dead on days 5 and 6, respectively, postinoculation. Necropsies were performed on dead and sacrificed mice. Tissues were obtained from internal organs for histology and culture. Unexpectedly, trichomonads were cultured from liver and lung of C57B1/6 mice at the standard level of inoculation and liver, lung, and spleen of CD1 mice at the higher level of inoculation. Although trichomonads are normally considered surface-dwelling noninvasive organisms, the penetration of trichomonads to deep tissues is not without precedent. Tritrichomonas foetus and Trichomonas gallinae are known to invade tissues of their respective hosts. Trichomonas vaginalis has been demonstrated in subepithelial areas of both the prostate gland and cervix of humans. The ability of several species of trichomonads to invade tissues and/or migrate to other sites in their hosts suggests a need for revision of the concept of trichomonads as strictly lumen or surface-dwelling parasites.

Subepithelial organisms in trichomonal cervicitis.

Trichomonas vaginalis is usually described as a surface-dwelling, noninvasive organism. Most studies of the pathogenicity of this organism have been derived from cytologic studies of uterine cervical epithelium. We employed specific immunoperoxidase techniques that allow the identification of organisms in cytologic and histologic specimens. In a case of trichomonal cervicitis these organisms were demonstrated both on the epithelial surface and in subepithelial tissues. Interpretations and implications of these findings are discussed.

Clinical evaluation of hydroxyapatite-coated titanium plasma-sprayed and titanium plasma-sprayed cylinder dental implants: a preliminary report.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this article was to present the preliminary results of a prospective clinical trial comparing titanium plasma-sprayed versus hydroxyapatite-coated titanium plasma-sprayed cylinder (press fit) implants in different regions of the mouth. STUDY DESIGN: Sixty-five subjects met the inclusion requirements. Surgery was done in two phases by four experienced surgeons. Implant placement and abutment connection were separated by 3 to 4 months in the mandible, 6 to 7 months in the maxilla. Patients were assigned to either titanium plasma-sprayed or hydroxyapatite-coated implants on the day of surgery. Implant placement was not stratified for the region of the jaws. Outcome assessment was failure (loss) of an implant before or within 3 months of second phase surgery. RESULTS: Three hundred fifty-two implants equally distributed between titanium plasma-sprayed and hydroxyapatite-coated titanium plasma-sprayed implants were placed in four different sites; anterior maxilla, posterior maxilla, anterior mandible, and posterior mandible. There were a total of 15 failures (4.26%). Overall, titanium plasma-sprayed implants showed a higher but not significant failure rate compared with hydroxyapatite-coated implants (p = 0.06). Although not statistically significant, we believe that a smoking history played an important role in the failure of implants. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that an hydroxyapatite-coating of an implant allows superior initial integration when compared with a titanium plasma-sprayed surface.

Immunoperoxidase staining of trichomonas vaginalis in cytologic material.

In the course of studies on the histopathology and pathogenesis of trichomonal infections, specific antisera to Trichomonas vaginalis were produced. Using these antisera, conventional immunocytochemical techniques were modified and applied to a variety of cytologic specimens. With this methodology, trichomonal organisms were identified in specimens from usual and unexpected locations. These findings plus the potential applications of similar methodologies to other areas of cytopathology are reported.

Effect of environmental stress and surface treatment on resin-to-metal bonding.

This study compares the bond strength and durability of three metal surface treatments subjected to two types of environmental stress for both short- and long-term exposures. The luting resins Panavia and Comspan were applied to alumina-blasted, non-beryllium, nickel-chromium alloy coupons. Metal surface treatments consisted of either microscopic roughening by electrochemical etching, or one of two types of adhesives: a silanated silica coating (Silicoating) or a phosphate ester monomer (a component in the Panavia liquid). Shear bond strength was determined following short- or long-term exposure to either thermocycling in 6-60 degrees C water (2,672 cycles/7 days or 10,584 cycles/42 days) or storage in 37 degrees C water (7 or 42 days). Three-way ANOVA showed that both the type of environmental stress and the exposure time affected the bond strength of electroetched surfaces, but that only exposure time affected the two chemical adhesives (P < 0.05), regardless of the environmental stress used. In the short-term, the silica/silane coated surfaces produced and maintained the higher shear bond strengths (15.9 +/- 2.3 MPa). However, after 42 days the silica/silane bonds decreased 30% (to 11.3 +/- 2.2 MPa), while the phosphate ester bonds were essentially unchanged (11.4 +/- 3.0 at 4 days, 10.4 +/- 2.2 MPa at 42 days). Electroetched bonds were the weakest and decreased by 18% between 7 and 42 days in water (8.8 +/- 1.2 to 7.2 +/- 3.0 MPa) and 27% after 42 days of thermocycling (7.2 +/- 2.8 to 5.3 +/- 1.8 MPa).

[Histochemistry of a new Tritrichomonas mobilensis lectin with sialic acid specificity]. / Histochémia nového lektínu Tritrichomonas mobilensis so specifictou pre kyselinu sialovú.

BACKGROUND: Histochemistry with lectins highly specific for one sugar represent a sensitive and accurate method for the localization of glycoproteins in tissues. OBJECTIVES: The paper evaluates the possibilities of histochemical applications of the novel lectin from Tritrichomonas mobilensis (TML) with specificity for sialic acid. METHODS: TML purified by affinity chromatography was used for anti-TML monoclonal antibody production and tested with the use of avidin-biotin peroxidase technique. RESULTS: In human biopsy material from different organs and tissues, TML showed strong membrane reactivity with vascular endothelium with the exception of glomerular and pulmonary capillaries and sinuses in the spleen and the bone marrow. Luminal membrane positivity dominated in glandular epithelia, especially in the lining of ducts. In squamous epithelia, the membrane positivity was present in cells of the basal layer, in transitional epithelium also in umbrella cells. Mucus in respiratory tract was positive, in gastrointestinal tract the positivity was irregular. Nerve tissue and endocrine glands were mostly negative. CONCLUSIONS: The lectin from tritrichomonas mobilensis can be considered a perspective reagent for identification of sialylated glycosubstances based on its high specificity for one sugar--the sialic acid and excellent results in histochemistry. (Fig. 7, Ref. 29.)

Aberrant expression of chromogranin A, miR-146a, and miR-146b-5p in prostate structures with focally disrupted basal cell layers: an early sign of invasion and hormone-refractory cancer?

Our recent studies have suggested that prostate tumor invasion is triggered by autoimmunoreactions induced focal basal cell layer disruptions (FBCLD) that selectively favor monoclonal proliferation of the overlying progenitors or of a biologically more aggressive cell clone. As circulating chromogranin-A (CgA) levels are found to correlate with tumor progression and the status of hormone refractoriness, our current study attempted to assess whether CgA-positive cells would be preferentially distributed in epithelial structures with FBCLD. Paraffin-embedded specimens from 50 patients with organ-confined prostate cancer were subjected to double immunohistochemical analysis with monoclonal antibodies to basal cells and CgA. From each case, 3-5 randomly selected fields were digitally photographed and the photos were magnified 400% and the numbers of CgA-positive cells in epithelial structures with non-disrupted, focally disrupted, and lost basal cell layer were separately counted. The averaged number of cell for each category was statistically compared with the Pearson's Chi-square test. In addition, morphologically similar structures with and without CgA-positive cell clusters were microdissected from four selected cases and subjected to a comparison of differential micro-RNA expression levels. Our study revealed that, although isolated CgA-positive cells were seen in both the basal cell layer and the luminal cell population in all cases, only 8 cases (16%) harbored large clusters of CgA-positive cells that were concentrated in a given area, in which all or nearly all cells appeared to share a similar morphological and immunohistochemical profile. Microdissected epithelial structures with CgA-positive cell clusters exhibited a more than 5- and 7-fold lower expression of miR-146a and miR-146b-5p than their CgA-negative counterparts. As focal basal cell layer disruptions and the reduction or loss of miR-146a and miR-146b-5p has been documented to correlate with prostate tumor invasion and hormone refractoriness, our findings suggest that aberrant CgA expression in epithelial structures with FBCLD may represent an early sign of these events.