DERMATOLOGIC SURGERY, Issue 5 2008
YONG-KWANG TAY MD
BACKGROUND Atrophic scars are dermal depressions caused by collagen damage most commonly occurring after inflammatory acne vulgaris. There are little published data regarding the effectiveness and safety of minimally invasive lasers in the treatment of atrophic acne scars in darker skin types. OBJECTIVE The purpose was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a low-fluence 2,940-nm erbium:YAG laser in the treatment of atrophic acne scars in Asian patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS Nine patients aged 19 to 45 years with mild to moderate atrophic facial scars and Skin Types IV and V were treated with topical anesthesia and one to two passes with an erbium:YAG laser two times at 1-month intervals. Treatment parameters were 6-mm spot size, fluence of 400 mJ, pulse duration of 300 ,s, and repetition rate of 2 Hz. RESULTS At 2 months after the last treatment, mild to moderate clinical improvement was noted in all patients compared to baseline. Treatment was well tolerated. Side effects consisted of posttreatment erythema, peeling, and crusting, which resolved within 1 to 2 weeks. There was no postinflammatory hyper- or hypopigmentation, blistering, or hypertrophic scarring. CONCLUSION Low-fluence erbium:YAG facial resurfacing was effective and safe in patients with mild to moderately severe atrophic acne scarring. [source]

5-Aminolevulinic Acid Photodynamic Therapy: Where We Have Been and Where We Are Going

DERMATOLOGIC SURGERY, Issue 8 2004
Michael H. Gold MD
Background. Photodynamic therapy, utilizing the topical administration of 20% 5-aminolevulinic acid, has generated a great deal of interest in the dermatology community over the past several years. Objective. The purpose of this article is to review the history of photodynamic therapy in dermatology and to review recent new advances with this technology that will increase its appeal to all dermatologists. Methods. A literature review and results of new clinical trials with regards to photorejuvenation and acne vulgaris treatments with 5-aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy are presented. Results. Short-contact, full-face 5-aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy treatments with a variety of lasers and light sources have shown to be successful in treating all facets of photorejuvenation and the associated actinic keratoses as well as disorders of sebaceous glands, including acne vulgaris. The treatments are relatively pain-free, efficacious, and safe. They are also making already available laser/light source therapies work better for acne vulgaris and photorejuvenation. Conclusions. The use of 5-aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy with short-contact, full-face broad-application therapy is now able to bridge the world of medical and cosmetic dermatologic surgery. This therapy is available for all dermatologists to utilize in the care of their patients. [source]

Human Papillomavirus and Overexpression of P16INK4a in Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer

DERMATOLOGIC SURGERY, Issue 3 2004
Ingo Nindl PhD
Background. P16INK4a overexpression has been identified as a specific biomarker in high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV),infected cervical (pre)cancer lesions. Objective. To evaluate the overexpression of this cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor in skin tumors depending on HPV infections, we analyzed normal skin, benign skin disease, and skin cancer specimens. Methods. Biopsies of 23 patients with normal histology (3), psoriasis (2), verrucae vulgaris (2), actinic keratoses (5), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in situ (3), Bowen's carcinoma (1), and SCC (7) were analyzed. Specimens of 23 patients were immunostained using the monoclonal antibody E6H4 specific for p16INK4a. HPV status was assessed by a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) system to detect all currently known HPV types. MY (MY09/MY11 and MYN9/MYN10)-, CP (CP65/CP70 and CP66/CP69)-nested PCR, and three single PCR methods CN1, CN3, and CN4 were used in a first step, and HPV typing was performed by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. Only ,-globin,positive patients were included in this study. Results. HPV DNA was detected in all actinic keratoses, SCC in situ, Bowen's carcinoma, and SCC, in 50% (one of two) of verrucae vulgaris, in 66% (two of three) of normal skin, and in none of two psoriasis. P16INK4a expression was not detected in normal skin, psoriasis, and verrucae vulgares. Overexpression of p16INK4a was detected in a subset of dysplastic cells (10% to 80%) of all skin (pre)cancer lesions such as actinic keratoses, SCC in situ, Bowen's carcinoma, and SCC infected with HPV independent of sun exposure. Conclusion. P16INK4a appears to be overexpressed in a portion of dysplastic cells from actinic keratoses and SCC. Further studies to examine the association of HPV infection and the overexpression of p16INK4a are warranted. [source]

Hemorrhagic Bullae After Cryosurgery in a Patient With Hemophilia A

DERMATOLOGIC SURGERY, Issue 10 2003
John G. Hancox MD
BACKGROUND. A case of hemorrhagic bullae and blisters on the hand of a patient with hemophilia A after cryosurgery for verruca vulgaris is reported. OBJECTIVE. To discuss a hemorrhagic complication in a patient with hemophilia A after cutaneous cryosurgery. METHODS. This is an observatory case report. RESULTS. Even minimal cryosurgery can induce hemorrhagic bullae in patients with hemophilia A. CONCLUSION. The risks and benefits of cryosurgery should be weighed carefully in patients with bleeding disorders such as hemophilia. [source]

The efficacy of nicotinamide gel 4% as an adjuvant therapy in the treatment of cutaneous erosions of pemphigus vulgaris

DERMATOLOGIC THERAPY, Issue 3 2010
Fariba Iraji
ABSTRACT The high rate of morbidity and mortality resulting from long-term use of corticosteroids in pemphigus vulgaris (PV) warrants discovery of a new treatment strategy. Based on the pathophysiology of PV, nicotinamide can block the process of blister formation through its anti-inflammatory properties. This study was conducted to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of nicotinamide gel in the treatment of skin lesions of PV. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study, eight PV patients with a total of 60 skin lesions were treated by either nicotinamide or placebo gel. After 30 days of treatment, epithelialization index of the two groups was compared. The mean of the epithelialization index in skin lesions that received nicotinamide was significantly higher than that of the placebo group (26 vs. ,5.8, p < 0.001). Our results were suggestive that nicotinamide gel can effectively be used as an adjunctive treatment for PV lesions. [source]

New and emerging treatments in dermatology: acne

DERMATOLOGIC THERAPY, Issue 2 2008
A. Katsambas
ABSTRACT:, Topical retinoids, benzoyl peroxide, azelaic acid, and topical and oral antibiotics remain the milestone of treatment for mild to moderate acne vulgaris. Oral isotretinoin is useful for the treatment of severe nodular acne, treatment-resistant acne, and acne with a risk of physical or psychological scarring. Hormonal treatment in female acne is useful in resistant or late-onset acne. With increasing concerns regarding teratogenicity of isotretinoin and increasing antibiotic resistance, there is a clear need for therapeutic alternatives to these long-used treatments. Research in the pathogenesis of acne has allowed for new therapies and future perspectives regarding acne to evolve. They include low-dose long-term isotretinoin regimens, insulin-sensitizing agents, 5,-reductase type 1 inhibitors, topical photodynamic therapy, new combination formulations, dietary interventions, and antiinflammatory agents such as lipoxygenase inhibitors. [source]

Acne vulgaris in richly pigmented patients

DERMATOLOGIC THERAPY, Issue 3 2007
Article first published online: 30 AUG 200
First page of article [source]

Photoperiodic differences in a forebrain nucleus involved in vocal plasticity: Enkephalin immunoreactivity reveals volumetric variation in song nucleus lMAN but not NIf in male European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris)

DEVELOPMENTAL NEUROBIOLOGY, Issue 11 2010
Tyler J. Stevenson
Abstract Seasonal variation in the volume of various song control nuclei in many passerine species remains one of the best examples of naturally occurring adult neuroplasticity among vertebrates. The lateral portion of the magnocellular nucleus of the anterior nidopallium (lMAN) is a song nucleus that is important for song learning and seems to be critical for inducing variability in the song structure that is later pruned via a feedback process to produce adult crystallized song. To date, lMAN has not been shown to exhibit seasonal changes in volume, probably because it is difficult to resolve the boundaries of lMAN when employing histological methods based on Nissl staining. Here, lMANcore volumes were examined in intact photostimulated (i.e., breeding), castrated photostimulated and photorefractory (i.e., nonbreeding) male starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) to investigate the degree of seasonal variation in brain morphology. We present data demonstrating that the volumes of the total MAN and lMANcore delineated by enkephalin immunoreactivity are greater in photostimulated male starlings as compared to photorefractory males. Moreover, two other regions associated with the song system that have not been investigated previously in the context of seasonal plasticity namely (i) the medial portion of MAN (mMAN), and (ii) the nucleus interfacialis (NIf) did not display significant volumetric variation. We propose that greater lMANcore volumes are associated with the increase in vocal plasticity that is generally observed prior to production of stereotyped song. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 70: 751,763, 2010 [source]

Starling foraging success in relation to agricultural land-use

ECOGRAPHY, Issue 3 2002
Ola Olsson
Changes in agricultural land-use have been suggested to contribute to the decline of several bird species through negative effects on their food supply during breeding. One important change in land-use has been loss of pastures, especially permanent pastures. In this study we investigated how different forms of agricultural land-use affected foraging success of a declining bird species, the European starling Sturnus vulgaris. We let caged starlings forage in different forms of agricultural fields and determined time spent foraging and foraging success. The starlings' activity level (time spent actively foraging) as well as the number of prey caught per time unit was strongly related to the abundance of prey in soil samples. Also the body mass change during the experiment was positively related to activity level and prey capture rate. We found consistent differences in foraging variables between habitats. In spring sown grain starlings were least active and found fewer prey items at a lower rate than in any other habitat. The other three habitats differed less, but in general mowed hay fields appeared slightly more valuable than the cultivated and natural pastures. We did not find any differences between natural and cultivated pastures in foraging variables. Thus, starling foraging success is higher in grass-covered fields than in cultivated fields, but the management of the grass-covered fields mattered less. The results are consistent with starlings having higher population densities and breeding success in areas with higher availability of pasture. We suggest that the physical structure of the habitat (sward height) and moisture may be additional variables that need to be taken into account to explain starling breeding density and success in the agricultural landscape. [source]

Contrasting seasonal dynamics in fleas of the Siberian flying squirrel (Pteromys volans) in Finland

ECOLOGICAL ENTOMOLOGY, Issue 4 2007
VOITTO HAUKISALMI
Abstract 1.,The seasonal and spatial variation of the adult flea fauna (Siphonaptera) was examined in connection with live-trapping studies of the Siberian flying squirrel (Pteromys volans) in three study areas in southern Finland between 1997 and 2005. 2.,The numerically dominant flea species of the Siberian flying squirrel were Tarsopsylla octodecimdentata octodecimdentata and Ceratophyllus (Monopsyllus) indages indages (Ceratophyllidae); the latter being a host specialist of the Siberian flying squirrel. Tarsopsylla octodecimdentata, which also commonly occurs on the red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris), infected a large proportion of the host population throughout the winter, whereas C. indages occurred predominantly during the summer and autumn, being practically the only flea species in nests during the flying squirrels' breeding season and on juveniles still inhabiting their natal nest. 3.,The use of nest boxes by flying squirrels did not have any positive effects on flea populations, but it may have had a negative impact on T. octodecimdentata. 4.,The potentially vulnerable C. i. indages is a predictable, widespread component in the flea fauna of the Siberian flying squirrel at various spatial scales, and it is likely to occur in most of the permanent flying squirrel populations in Finland. [source]

Host shifting by Operophtera brumata into novel environments leads to population differentiation in life-history traits

ECOLOGICAL ENTOMOLOGY, Issue 5 2003
Adam J. Vanbergen
Abstract., 1. Operophtera brumata L. (Lepidoptera: Geometridae), a polyphagous herbivore usually associated with deciduous trees such as oak Quercus robur L., has expanded its host range to include the evergreen species heather Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hull and, most recently, Sitka spruce Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carrière. 2. Phenology, morphology, and survival of O. brumata were measured at several life-history stages in populations from the three different host plant communities sampled from a range of geographical locations. The data were used to test for population differences, reflecting the marked differences in host-plant secondary chemistry, growth form, and site factors such as climate. The hypothesis that spruce-feeding populations originated from populations feeding on moorland, commonly sites of coniferous afforestation, was also tested. 3. Altitude, not host plant species, was the major influence on the timing of adult emergence. An effect of insect population independent of altitude was found, implying that additional unidentified factors contribute to this phenological variation. Larval survival and adult size varied between populations reared on different host plant species. Survival of larvae was affected negatively when reared on the novel host plant, Sitka spruce, versus the natal plant (oak or heather) but oak and heather-sourced insects did not differ in survivorship on Sitka spruce. 4. Host range extension into novel environments has resulted in population differentiation to the local climate, demonstrating that host shifts pose challenges to the herbivore population greater than those offered by the host plant alone. The hypothesis that Sitka spruce feeding populations have arisen predominantly from moorland feeding populations was not supported. [source]

Changes in abundance of Vespula germanica and V. vulgaris in England

ECOLOGICAL ENTOMOLOGY, Issue 1 2001
Michael E. Archer
Summary 1. Thirteen time series, varying from 17 to 27 years, of the abundance of Vespula germanica and V. vulgaris from lowland England are examined. The time series depend on either spring queens and workers taken in Malaise or suction traps, or collected colonies. 2. During the late 1970s and early 1980s, the abundance of V. germanica declined abruptly but that of V. vulgaris did not. 3. During the early 1980s, the 2-year cycle of annual abundance of V. vulgaris changed to a nearly perfectly damped pattern of annual abundances. 4. The most likely factor causing these population changes was the increased use of pesticides acting directly by killing the wasps and indirectly by reducing their food resources. 5. The difference in response of the two species to increased pesticide use may be related to a difference in foraging ability. [source]

Amperometric Algal Chlorella vulgaris Cell Biosensors Based on Alginate and Polypyrrole-Alginate Gels

ELECTROANALYSIS, Issue 11 2006
Rodica
Abstract The successful development and analytical performances of two biosensor configurations based on the entrapment of algal cells of Chlorella vulgaris into either a regular alginate gel or a newly synthesized pyrrole-alginate matrix are reported. These biosensors were compared in terms of their amperometric current measurements to p -nitrophenyl phosphate when used as substrate for the detection of an algal alkaline phosphatase activity. The high stability of the pyrrole-alginate gel when compared to that of the alginate coating is herein demonstrated. [source]

Dynamics of Campylobacter colonization of a natural host, Sturnus vulgaris (European Starling)

ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 1 2009
F. M. Colles
Summary Wild European Starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) shed Campylobacter at high rates, suggesting that they may be a source of human and farm animal infection. A survey of Campylobacter shedding of 957 wild starlings was undertaken by culture of faecal specimens and genetic analysis of the campylobacters isolated: shedding rates were 30.6% for Campylobacter jejuni, 0.6% for C. coli and 6.3% for C. lari. Genotyping by multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and antigen sequence typing established that these bacteria were distinct from poultry or human disease isolates with the ST-177 and ST-682 clonal complexes possibly representing starling-adapted genotypes. There was seasonal variation in both shedding rate and genotypic diversity, both exhibiting a maximum during the late spring/early summer. Host age also affected Campylobacter shedding, which was higher in younger birds, and turnover was rapid with no evidence of cross-immunity among Campylobacter species or genotypes. In nestlings, C. jejuni shedding was evident from 9 days of age but siblings were not readily co-infected. The dynamics of Campylobacter infection of starlings differed from that observed in commercial poultry and consequently there was no evidence that wild starlings represent a major source of Campylobacter infections of food animals or humans. [source]

Effects of amendments of N, P, Fe on phytoextraction of Cd, Pb, Cu, and Zn in soil of Zhangshi by mustard, cabbage, and sugar beet

ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY, Issue 6 2007
Lina Sun
Abstract Soil contaminated with Cd, Pb, Cu, and Zn in the Zhangshi irrigation area is very hard to be remediated. Phytoextraction is considered as an efficient method to remove these toxic metals from soil. In the present study, three vegetables including sugar beet (Beta vulgaris), mustard (Brassica juncea L.), and cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata Linn.) were used to bioaccumulate heavy metals in soil through pots experiment for 90 days; and nutrient elements were applied to stimulate the phytoextraction of metals. Results of bioconcentration factors (BCF) and translocation factors (TF) from this study showed that these plants could phytoextract heavy metals, but the accumulation and translocation of metals differed with species of plants, categories of heavy metals, and some environmental conditions (e.g. nutrients). Meanwhile, the addition of nutrient elements, such as N, P, and Fe, could affect the phytoremediation of heavy metals via promoting the normal metabolism of vegetables or changing forms of metals. Results of this study could provide some available information for in-site bioremediation of soil from Zhangshi irrigation area. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 22: 565,571, 2007. [source]

The acute and chronic toxicity of cadmium and zinc to two hydra species

ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY, Issue 6 2001
Douglas A. Holdway
Abstract The potential of two hydra species, Hydra vulgaris (pink) and Hydra viridissima (green), for use as invertebrate models for toxicity testing of waterborne metals was investigated. The acute and subchronic toxicities of cadmium (a nonessential metal) and zinc (an essential metal) were determined. Results showed that both the hydra species were more sensitive to cadmium than to zinc, and that green hydra were more sensitive than pink hydra. The mean (SE) 96 h LC50 values of cadmium and zinc for pink hydra were 83 (8.5) and 2300 (150) ,g/L, respectively. For green hydra, the respective 96 h LC50 values for cadmium and zinc were 3.0 (0.0) and 935 (46.5) ,g/L. The respective 7-day no-observed-effect-concentrations (NOEC) and lowest-observed-effect-concentrations (LOEC) for pink hydra were <13 and 13 ,g/L for cadmium, and <250 and 250 ,g/L for zinc. The respective 7-day NOEC and LOEC values for green hydra were 0.4 and 0.8, ,g/L for cadmium, and 38 and 75 ,g/L for zinc. Neither 1, 2, or 3 × 90-min pulse-exposures to 0.4, 0.8, or 1.5 ,g/L of cadmium had any significant deleterious effect on total green hydra numbers after seven days in clean water. Green hydra appeared to be excellent freshwater invertebrate models for testing dissolved metals based on their sensitivity and the ability to rapidly assess population reproduction in the laboratory. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Environ Toxicol 16: 557,565, 2001 [source]

Effects of the organophosphorus insecticide fenitrothion on growth in five freshwater species of phytoplankton

ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY, Issue 4 2001
Consuelo Sabater
Abstract The acute toxicity of the insecticide fenitrothion was measured using four freshwater algae (Chlorella saccharophila, Chlorella vulgaris, Scenedesmus acutus, and Scenedesmus subspicatus) and one cyanobacteria (Pseudanabaena galeata). Insecticide concentrations eliciting 50% growth reduction over 96 hr (EC50) ranged from 0.84 to 11.9 mg/L. Fenitrothion was more toxic than other pesticides studied with the same algal species such as chlorsulfuron, molinate, and pyridaphenthion. The transformation of effective concentrations of fenitrothion and other pesticides obtained from toxicity measurements into percent of the saturation level in water is used as a first evaluation of potential hazard to aquatic systems. The insecticides fenitrothion and pyridaphenthion were less hazardous than the herbicides atrazine, benthiocarb, cinosulfuron, chlorsulfuron, methyl-bensulfuron, and molinate. The two species of Chlorella and the cyanobacterium Pseudanabaena were more tolerant to fenitrothion than the two species of Scenedesmus. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Environ Toxicol 16: 314,320, 2001 [source]

Effects of dietborne copper and silver on reproduction by Ceriodaphnia dubia,

ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 1 2009
Jason M. Kolts
Abstract Recent studies have indicated the potential for dietborne metals as an important exposure pathway for metal toxicity in freshwater organisms. We conducted a study in which freshwater cladocerans (Ceriodaphnia dubia) were fed green algae (either Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata or Chlorella vulgaris) that were grown in Ag- or Cu-contaminated media. In one series of toxicity tests patterned after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's three-brood C. dubia chronic toxicity test, we exposed C. dubia to waterborne Ag or Cu while feeding them normal amounts of uncontaminated yeast,Cerophyll®,trout chow (YCT) slurry and either algae grown in standard media or algae grown in standard media supplemented with Ag or Cu (added as AgNO3 or CuSO4·5H2O). These parallel tests demonstrated that dietborne metal did not contribute to survival or reproduction effects beyond the effects caused by waterborne metal alone. We also conducted dietborne-only toxicity tests patterned after two other recently published experimental designs in which 1) C. dubia were fed only metal-contaminated algae for 4 h, transferred to fresh water, and fed uncontaminated algae and YCT slurry for the duration of the three-brood test or 2) C. dubia were fed standard amounts of metal-contaminated algae and uncontaminated YCT slurry for the entire three-brood test. In contrast to previous studies, we did not find consistent dietborne metal toxicity or standard concentration,response relationships in those two experiments. Instead, among-experiment variation in intracellular partitioning of metals in the algae fed to the C. dubia, among-laboratory differences in experimental procedures, selective feeding by C. dubia to avoid metal-contaminated algae, an interaction between reproductive status of the C. dubia and dietborne metal concentration, or a combination of these might help explain the apparently inconsistent results. [source]

Response of the freshwater alga Chlorella vulgaris to trichloroisocyanuric acid and ciprofloxacin,

ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 1 2008
Xiangping Nie
Abstract The effects of trichloroisocyanuric acid (TCCA) and ciprofloxacin (CPFX) on the freshwater alga Chlorella vulgaris were assessed by toxicity bioassays and by the values of biomarkers in phase I and phase II. The biomarkers included growth rate, concentration of chlorophyll a, activities of 7-ethoxyresorufin- O -dealkylases (EROD), glutathione S -transferase (GST), catalase (CAT), and total glutathione (GSH). Ciprofloxacin was a weaker growth inhibitor than TCCA but, at a concentration of greater than 12.5 mg/L, decreased the growth of C. vulgaris. Concentration of chlorophyll a showed a similar trend. The 96-h median effective concentration (EC50; i.e., 50% reduction in growth relative to the control) of CPFX was 20.6 mg/L. Trichloroisocyanuric acid was a strong growth inhibitor and, at concentrations of greater than 0.80 mg/L, caused 100% inhibition on 24-h exposure. The 96-h EC50 of TCCA was 0.313 mg/L. Ciprofloxacin and TCCA affected the phase I and phase II enzyme activities differently. On exposure to CPFX, both EROD and GSH decreased at low CPFX concentrations (<5.0 mg/L) and increased at high CPFX concentrations (>12.5 mg/L), and CAT and GST exhibited induction at low concentrations and inhibition at high concentrations. In TCCA exposure, GST activity was significantly stimulated, and GSH concentration was increased. Catalase activity increased only at TCCA concentrations of greater than 0.12 mg/L, and no change in EROD activity was observed. [source]

Acute toxicity of para -nonylphenol to saltwater animals,

ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 3 2000
Suzanne M. Lussier
Abstract para -Nonylphenol (PNP), a mixture of alkylphenols used in producing nonionic surfactants, is distributed widely in surface waters and aquatic sediments, where it can affect saltwater species. This article describes a database for acute toxicity of PNP derived for calculating a national saltwater quality criterion. Using a flow-through exposure system with measured concentrations, we tested early life stages of four species of saltwater invertebrates and two species of fish. Static 96-h tests were also conducted on zoeal Homarus americanus, embryo-larval Mulinia lateralis, and larval Pleuronectes americanus. The number of organisms surviving the flow-through test was measured at 2, 4, 8, and 12 h and daily through day 7. Mortality for most species plateaued by 96 h. The ranked sensitivities (96-h 50% lethal concentrations, measured in micrograms per liter) for the species tested were 17 for Pleuronectes americanus, 37.9 (48-h 50% effective concentration) for Mulinia lateralis, 59.4 for Paleomonetes vulgaris, 60.6 for Americamysis bahia (formerly Mysidopsis bahia), 61.6 for Leptocheirus plumulosos, 70 for Menidia beryllina, 71 for Homarus americanus, 142 for Cyprinodon variegatus, and > 195 for Dyspanopius sayii. Values for the seven most sensitive of these species ranged over a factor of only 4.2. The narrow range of responses for PNP implies that exceeding a threshold concentration would endanger a large proportion of the aquatic community. [source]

An evidence-based approach to equine parasite control: It ain't the 60s anymore

EQUINE VETERINARY EDUCATION, Issue 6 2010
R. M. Kaplan
Summary Most veterinarians continue to recommend anthelmintic treatment programmes for horses that derive from knowledge and concepts more than 40 years old. However, much has changed since these recommendations were first introduced and current approaches routinely fail to provide optimal or even adequate levels of parasite control. There are many reasons for this. Recent studies demonstrate that anthelmintic resistance in equine parasites is highly prevalent and multiple-drug resistance is common in some countries, but few veterinarians take this into account when making treatment decisions or when recommending rotation of anthelmintics. Furthermore, the current approach of treating all horses at frequent intervals was designed specifically to control the highly pathogenic large strongyle, Strongylus vulgaris. But this parasite is now quite uncommon in managed horses in most of the world. Presently, the cyathostomins (small strongyles) are the principal parasitic pathogens of mature horses. The biology and pathogenesis of cyathostomins and S. vulgaris are very different and therefore require an entirely different approach. Furthermore, it is known that parasites are highly over-dispersed in hosts, such that a small percentage of hosts harbour most of the parasites. The common practices of recommending the same treatment programme for all horses despite great differences in parasite burdens, recommending prophylactic treatment of all horses without indication of parasitic disease or knowing what species of parasites are infecting the horses, recommending use of drugs without knowledge of their efficacy and failing to perform diagnostic (faecal egg count) surveillance for estimating parasite burdens and determining treatment efficacy, are all incompatible with current standards of veterinary practice. Consequently, it is necessary that attitudes and approaches to parasite control in horses undergo a complete overhaul. This is best achieved by following an evidence-based approach that takes into account all of these issues and is based on science, not tradition. [source]

Lysosomal storage disease in Sida carpinifolia toxicosis: an induced mannosidosis in horses

EQUINE VETERINARY JOURNAL, Issue 5 2003
A. P. LORETTI
Summary Reasons for performing study: This study reports a neurological disease unrecognised until now in ponies in southern Brazil. Hypothesis: Epidemiological data strongly suggests that the ingestion of Sida carpinifolia is involved in the aetiology. We tested the hypothesis that it is an acquired lyosomal storage disease. Methods: Following the death of 3 ponies, all ponies from the premises were closely monitored; epidemiological data and clinical findings carefully recorded. Fragments of several organs, including CNS, were fixed in neutral formalin and embedded in paraffin-wax. Sections were stained with haematoxylin and eosin. Representative sections of the cerebellum and trigeminal ganglia were submitted to lectin histochemical procedures. Results: The neurological disorder, characterised by stiff gait, muscle tremors, abdominal pain and death, was observed on a farm with 3 hectares of pasture. Three of 11 ponies died 15,20 days after they had been introduced into a new paddock heavily infested by the plant Sida carpinifolia. No significant gross lesions were observed. The main histological findings included multiple cytoplasmatic vacuoles in swollen neurones in the brain, cerebellum, spinal cord, autonomic ganglia (trigeminal and celiac ganglia), and submucosal and myenteric plexus of the intestines. In the kidneys, there was marked vacuolation of the proximal convoluted tubular cells. Sections of cerebellum and trigeminal ganglion were submitted to lectin histochemistry. The vacuoles in different cerebellar and ganglion cells reacted strongly to the following lectins: Concanavalia ensiformis, Triticum vulgaris and succinylated- Triticum vulgaris. Conclusions: The pattern of staining coincides with that of both swainsonine toxicosis and inherited mannosidosis reports. The histopathological changes were similar to those described in S. carpinifolia spontaneous and experimental poisoning in goats. This disease seems to be similar to Swainsona, Oxytropis and Astragalus toxicosis. Potential relevance: S. carpinifolia should be evaluated as a possible cause in the diagnosis of equine neuropathies. [source]

A Quantified Ethogram for Oviposition in Triturus Newts: Description and Comparison of T. helveticus and T. vulgaris

ETHOLOGY, Issue 4 2005
Karen M. Norris
Female newts of the genus Triturus deposit and wrap their eggs individually in the submerged leaves of aquatic macrophytes. Although this behaviour has previously been described, the different elements of the oviposition process have not been fully characterized nor any attempt made to quantify the behavioural elements. The study examined the oviposition behaviour of the two similarly sized species, Triturus helveticus and T. vulgaris on a standardized substrate macrophyte, Rorippa nasturtium,aquaticum. Continuous focal sampling was used to develop a baseline of discrete behavioural elements enabling quantification and comparison of oviposition behaviour between the two species. The results showed that the same pattern of elements was followed for each egg laid and the same key elements of the process were present in each newt species. Although these are broadly similar in size, there were striking differences in certain aspects of the oviposition sequence between the two species. Key findings were that leaf sniffing and leaf flexing and a measure of the duration of ovipositing were all significantly greater in females of T. helveticus and females of T. vulgaris laid significantly more eggs than those of T. helveticus in a standard observation period. The work presented here defines a baseline ethogram and shows how it can be used to reveal quantifiable differences in closely related species. This demonstrates its value in furthering our understanding of oviposition , a key aspect of female behaviour currently understudied in Triturus behavioural ecology, despite its intrinsic interest and value in understanding recruitment and maintenance of populations. [source]

Innate and Learned Components of Defence by Flickers Against a Novel Nest Competitor, the European Starling

ETHOLOGY, Issue 10 2004
Karen L. Wiebe
Defence against predators is an important component of fitness in wild birds but the first step of defence, predator recognition, is not well understood. Anti-predator behaviour may innate, in which case the individual responds without prior contact with that predator, and/or there may be a learned component that develops only after direct experience. In the wild, the development of anti-predator behaviour is studied by exposing naive individuals to novel predators. I studied responses of 71 naive and experienced northern flickers Colaptes auratus, to a novel nest predator and competitor, the European starling Sturnus vulgaris that was introduced to North America. Naive individuals responded more intensely to the model starling than to the control model suggesting an innate component to recognition. However, there was also a learned component to defence because flickers nesting near to starlings reacted more aggressively than naive individuals far from starlings. Consistent with theory on life histories and optimal defence levels, no significant differences in aggression were found between the sexes or between age classes. Selection should favour more intense, and possibly innate, defence against the introduced starling. Variation in responses of naive individuals suggests that there may already be some alleles in the population associated with higher defence, but that these may not be uniform within the population. [source]

Role of the complement-lectin pathway in anaphylactoid reaction induced with lipopolysaccharide in mice

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 10 2003
wierzko
Abstract We show that Proteus vulgaris,O25 (PO25) lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced an anaphylactoid reaction not only in wild-type and in lipid,A non-responding mice but also in recombinase-activating gene-2-deficient (RAG-2,/,) and in mast cell-deficient (W/Wv) animals. Western blot analysis indicated that PO25 LPS bound to Ra-reactive factor (RaRF), the complex of mannan-binding lectins (MBL) and MBL-associated serine proteases. Binding of RaRF to PO25 LPS led to the activation of C4 component without participation of either C1 or Ig, via the lectin pathway. Relative concentration of RaRF and hemolytic activity in mouse serum decreased rapidly during the process of anaphylactoid reaction. A significant drop of MBL-A, but not MBL-C level was observed. Administrationwith antiserum to RaRF prevented animals from death as a consequence of the inhibition of interaction of RaRF with the carbohydrate target and complement activation. These results indicate that complement-lectin pathway activation is responsible for the anaphylactoid reaction induced with LPS in muramyldipeptide-primed mice. RaRF also activated fibrinogen in vitro suggesting the involvement of the coagulation system in the process investigated. [source]

Fatty acid composition of selected roes from some marine species

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF LIPID SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, Issue 9 2009
Miguel Ángel Rincón-Cervera
Abstract Fifteen roes from different marine fish species available in Spain were analyzed in order to determine their fatty acid (FA) composition, especially the eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5n -3, EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n -3, DHA) contents. Roes from Atlantic bonito (Sarda sarda), European squid (Loligo vulgaris), cuttlefish (Sepia spp.), lumpfish (Cyclopterus lumpus), European hake (Merluccius merluccius), Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and gonads of male Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus) reached EPA + DHA amounts higher than 30% of the total FA, and among them, roes from lumpfish, European hake and salmon provide different FA type ratios that could make them adequate as dietary sources of EPA and DHA. [source]

AMPA/kainate and NMDA-like glutamate receptors at the chromatophore neuromuscular junction of the squid: role in synaptic transmission and skin patterning

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, Issue 3 2003
Pedro A. Lima
Abstract Glutamate receptor types were examined at the chromatophore synapses of the squids Alloteuthis subulata and Loligo vulgaris, where nerve-induced muscle contraction causes chromatophore expansion. Immunoblotting with antibody raised against a squid AMPA receptor (sGluR) demonstrated that AMPA/kainate receptors are present in squid skin. Application of l -glutamate evoked chromatophore muscle contractions in both ventral and dorsal skins, while NMDA was only active on a subpopulation of dorsal chromatophores. In dorsal skin, neurotransmission was partly blocked by either AMPA/kainate receptor antagonists (CNQX and DNQX) or NMDA receptor antagonists (AP-5 and MK-801) or completely blocked by simultaneous application of both classes of antagonists. In isolated muscle fibres, ionophoretic application of l -glutamate evoked fast inward CNQX- and DNQX-sensitive currents with reversal potentials around +14 mV and a high conductance to Na+. In fibres from dorsal skin only, a slower outward glutamate-sensitive current appeared at positive holding potentials. At negative potentials, currents were potentiated by glycine or by removing external Mg2+ and were blocked by AP-5 and MK-801. Glutamate caused a fast, followed by a slow, transient increase in cytoplasmic Ca2+. The slow component was increased in amplitude and duration by glycine or by lowering external Mg2+ and decreased by AP-5 and MK-801. In cells from ventral skin, no ,NMDA-like responses' were detected. Thus, while AMPA/kainate receptors mediated fast excitatory synaptic transmission and rapid colour change over the whole skin, activation of both AMPA/kainate and NMDA-like receptors in a subpopulation of dorsal chromatophores prolonged the postsynaptically evoked Ca2+ elevation causing temporally extended colour displays with behavioural significance. [source]

Isofusidienols: Novel Chromone-3-oxepines Produced by the Endophytic Fungus Chalara sp.

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY, Issue 4 2008
Sandra Lösgen
Abstract Four novel metabolites, named isofusidienol A, B, C, and D (1,4), were produced by cultures of Chalara sp. (strain 6661), an endophytic fungus isolated from Artemisia vulgaris. The unprecedented chromone-3-oxepine structure of the compounds was established by detailed spectroscopic analysis and in the case of isofusidienol A (1) verified by an X-ray analysis. Additionally, two xanthones, known 5 and its 8-chloro derivative 6, were isolated. Presumably, 5 is the biosynthetic precursor of the isofusidienols. The isofusidienols exhibit antifungal activity against Candida albicans and antibacterial activity against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Inhibition of Bacillus subtilis could be achieved with less than 0.625 ,g of 1 on 6-mm filter disks in plate diffusion assays. (© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2008) [source]

EXPERIMENTAL EVIDENCE FOR FREQUENCY DEPENDENT SELF-FERTILIZATION IN THE GYNODIOECIOUS PLANT, SILENE VULGARIS

EVOLUTION, Issue 6 2009
Keiko Miyake
After over a half century of empirical and theoretical research regarding the evolution and maintenance of gynodioecy in plants, unexplored factors influencing the relative fitnesses of females and hermaphrodites remain. Theoretical studies suggest that hermaphrodite self-fertilization (selfing) rate influences the maintenance of gynodioecy and we hypothesized that population sex ratio may influence hermaphrodite selfing rate. An experimental test for frequency-dependent self-fertilization was conducted using replicated populations constructed with different sex ratios of the gynodioecious plant Silene vulgaris. We found that hermaphrodite selfing increased with decreased hermaphrodite frequency, whereas evidence for increased inbreeding depression was equivocal. We argue that incorporation of context dependent inbreeding into future models of the evolution of gynodioecy is likely to yield novel insights into sex ratio evolution. [source]

RIVER CAPTURE, RANGE EXPANSION, AND CLADOGENESIS: THE GENETIC SIGNATURE OF FRESHWATER VICARIANCE

EVOLUTION, Issue 5 2006
C. P. Burridge
Abstract River capture is potentially a key geomorphological driver of range expansion and cladogenesis in freshwater-limited taxa. While previous studies of freshwater fish, in particular, have indicated strong relationships between historical river connections and phylogeographic pattern, their analyses have been restricted to single taxa and geological hypotheses were typically constructed a posteriori. Here we assess the broader significance of river capture among taxa by testing multiple species for the genetic signature of a recent river capture event in New Zealand. During the Quaternary an upper tributary of the Clarence River system was diverted into the headwaters of the Wairau River catchment. Mitochondrial DNA (control region and cytochrome b) sequencing of two native galaxiid fishes (Galaxias vulgaris and Galaxias divergens) supports headwater exchange: populations from the Clarence and Wairau Rivers are closely related sister-groups, whereas samples from the geographically intermediate Awatere River are genetically divergent. The upland bully Gobiomorphus breviceps (Eleotridae), in contrast, lacks a genetic signature of the capture event. We hypothesize that there is an increased likelihood of observing genetic signatures from river capture events when they facilitate range expansion, as is inferred for the two galaxiid taxa studied here. When river capture merely translocates genetic lineages among established populations, by contrast, we suggest that the genetic signature of capture is less likely to be retained, as might be inferred for G. breviceps. Rates of molecular evolution calibrated against this recent event were elevated relative to traditional estimates, consistent with the contribution of polymorphisms to branch lengths at shallow phylogenetic levels prior to fixation by purifying selection and drift. [source]