Conditioning of Leaf Detritus Modulates Density-Dependent Growth of Aedes triseriatus Larvae (Diptera: Culicidae).

Ration of food per capita of larval population is widely thought to limit mosquito production from container habitats, directly reflecting resource limitation. In this study, the importance of density-dependent resource limitation on larval Aedes triseriatus (Say) (Diptera: Culicidae) depended on the degree of microbial conditioning of senescent leaf detritus in surrogate tree holes. Density and ration strongly affected emergence, total female mass, and mean female mass of populations grown on leaves that had conditioned for 3 d, but had less impact when larval populations were grown on leaves that had conditioned for 1 mo. Ration per capita was a stronger predictor (50-94% of the variance) of all growth parameters measured for populations grown on leaves conditioned for 3 d compared with 1 mo (2-66% of variance), with the exception of development time. Larvae grew faster and to a larger body size on leaves conditioned for 3 d at low densities of larvae and a higher ration per capita. However, populations grown on leaves conditioned for 1 mo produced equal or more total mass and individuals of higher average mass than when grown on leaves conditioned for 3 d in treatments with low ration per capita. Well-conditioned detritus, representing the degree of microbial colonization of the organic material, must reflect the typical condition in tree holes with unconditioned leaves atypical. Therefore, results of this study suggest that experiments using well-conditioned leaves better estimate growth responses, including moderated density dependence and less importance of ration per capita, than experiments using unconditioned detritus.

Fluticasone, azithromycin and montelukast therapy in reducing corticosteroid exposure in bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome after allogeneic hematopoietic SCT: a case series of eight patients.

Bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) is a devastating pulmonary complication affecting long-term survivors of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation. Treatment of BOS with prolonged courses of high dose corticosteroids is often associated with significant morbidity. Reducing the exposure to corticosteroids may reduce treatment-related morbidity. Our institution has recently begun to treat patients with emerging therapies in an effort to diminish corticosteroid exposure. We retrospectively reviewed the 6-month corticosteroid exposure, lung function and failure rates in eight patients with newly diagnosed BOS who were treated with a combination of fluticasone, azithromycin and montelukast (FAM) and a rapid corticosteroid taper. These patients were compared with 14 matched historical patients who received high-dose corticosteroids, followed by a standard taper. The median 6-month prednisone exposure in FAM-treated patients was 1819 mg (0-4036 mg) compared with 7163 mg (6551-7829 mg) in the control group (P=0.002). The median forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV(1)) change in FAM-treated patients was 2% (-3 to 4%] compared with 1% (-4 to 5%) in the control group (P=1.0). Prednisone exposure in FAM patients was one quarter that of a retrospective-matched group of patients, with minimal change in median FEV(1), suggesting that BOS may be spared of the morbidities associated with long-term corticosteroid use by using alternative agents with less side effects.

The effects of intraocular gases on rabbit blood-retinal barrier permeability.

The effects of intravitreal expansile gases, sulfur hexafluoride and octafluoropropane, as well as air and needle insertion alone were assessed by iris fluorescein angiography and blood-retinal barrier permeability determination. Iris angiography, at 3 days after injection, indicated no differences between experimental and paired control eyes. Vitreous fluorophotometry on day 1, day 4 and day 7 after gas or sham injection also showed no differences between paired control and experimental eyes regardless of which experimental condition was employed. The results indicate that these gases are non-toxic to the blood-retinal barrier over a 7 day time course.

Corneal endothelial permeability after anterior chamber silicone oil.

One of six silicone oils, differing in both viscosity and manufacture, was infused into the anterior chambers of rabbit eyes. Polydimethylsiloxane oil, 5000 cps, caused an increased corneal endothelial permeability to inulin and dextran at 24, 96, and 168 hours after placement into the eye. Intraocular pressures were slightly elevated in the experimental eyes, compared with contralateral controls, at 24 and 144 hours after infusion. The effects of five other oils on corneal endothelial permeability were examined 168 hours after infusion. All oils increased permeability and caused thinning of endothelial cells, together with the appearance of a retrocorneal membrane, except Dow Corning Medical Fluid 360. The results indicated that contact of most silicone oils with corneal endothelium rapidly induces physiologic and morphologic changes.

Intraocular gas effects on corneal endothelial permeability.

We examined the effects of intraocular gases on the permeability of the rabbit corneal endothelium to inulin and dextran. Volumes of air (0.16 ml), sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) (0.08 ml), and octafluoropentane (C3F8) (0.04 ml) were infused into the anterior chamber at constant intraocular pressure so that all volumes were equal after expansion. The inulin/dextran permeability was statistically decreased by infusion with Ringer, while air caused an 8.4% increase in dextran permeability but no effect on inulin flux. These small effects were of no biological significance. SF6 caused a 16% and 13% increase in inulin and dextran permeability, respectively, while C3F8 caused an 18% increase in both inulin and dextran permeability. Longevity of gas in the anterior chamber appears important in delineating the deleterious effects. The gases per se do not appear toxic but rather disrupt normal physiologic function through physical process.

Effects of silicone oils on corneal endothelial permeability.

Silicone oils, varying by viscosity and manufacturer, were infused into rabbit anterior chambers. Polydimethyl-siloxane oil, 5000 cps, increased corneal endothelial permeability to inulin (mw 5000) and dextran (mw 60000) when measured in vitro at 1, 4 and 7 days after ocular infusion. The effects of five other oils were measured at 7 days after infusion. Four of the oils increased endothelial permeability and induced similar morphological changes. Dow Corning Medical Fluid 360 had no effect on either permeability or morphology of the endothelium. These results show that contact of most silicone oils with corneal endothelium rapidly induces physiological and morphological changes. If these oils, when used as a retinal tamponade, gain access to the cornea they should be removed quickly to avoid the rapid initiation of physiologic changes.