Efficient Mass-Trapping Method As an Alternative Tactic for Suppressing Populations of Leopard Moth (Lepidoptera: Cossidae)

The leopard moth, Zeuzera pyrina (L.) (Lepidoptera: Cossidae), is a xylophagous species that has become a serious pest in the olive (Olea spp.) orchards in Egypt. Both chemical and biological control have scored poorly against this pest and additional methods are needed. A simple, but efficient UV-light-pheromone sticky trap (“Hegazi model”) was devised for leopard moth mass trapping. Activity of leopard moth and efficiency of pheromone-baited, light, and pheromone and light traps were evaluated. The combination of light and sex pheromone was optimally attractive to leopard moth populations in olive orchards. A comparison between light traps baited with sex pheromone in mass-trapping method and conventional controls (insecticidal and physical removal of larvae) in heavily infested plots was carried out between 2002 and 2005. Leopard moths have long flight period, starting in mid-May and lasting until early November. Females of leopard moths were rarely trapped, but all had eggs. In mass-trapping plot, the seasonal captures and active galleries diminished from one year to the next, which may indicate the effectiveness of the method. From May 2003 to October 2005 greater reduction in total counts of active galleries was observed in mass-trapping plot compared with those recorded in the control field, in which chemical sprays and manual killing were performed. Yield from trees in mass-trapping field was significantly increased in comparison to control trees. The study strongly recommends the use of mass-trapping method instead of pesticides against the leopard moths, not only to control them but also to mass trap and monitor other lepidopterous pests of olive trees.

Fibrinolytische Aktivität im Plasma vor und nach Tumorresektion

Bei 50 Kontroilpatienten und 50 Patienten mit einem Tumor im Abdominalbereich wurde die fibrinolytische Aktivität mittels hochgereinigtem Testfibrinogen, welches frei von Plasminogen war, vor und nach der Operation bestimmt. Dabei wurde das Testfibrinogen in einer 1 %igen Lösung in Petrischalen gefüllt und mit 0,375 IU Thrombin zum Gerinnen gebracht. Auf diese Fibrinplatten wurden 0,01 ml des zu testenden Plasmas appliziert und der Lysehof nach 24 Stunden abgelesen. Zusätzlich wurden Fibrinogen, Fibrinogenspaltprodukte X und Y, α2-Makroglobulin, der Faktor V, der Quickwert, die partielle Thromboplastinzeit und die Plasma-Thrombinzeit mit üblichen Labormethoden bestimmt. Während bei den Kontroilpatienten die fibrinolytische Aktivität hoch ist und durch die Operation unbeeinflußt bleibt, liegt sie bei Tumorpatienten um 40% niedriger und wird durch die Entfernung des Tumors signifikant aktiviert. Die Konzentration des Fibrinogens steigt postoperativ sowohl bei Tumorals auch bei Kontroilpatienten an. Die Fibrinogenspaltprodukte X und Y, welche mittels Thrombinkoagulase gebildet werden, sind bei Tumorpatienten signifikant erhöht und steigen postoperativ um 60% an. Bei Kontroilpatienten bleiben sie durch die Operation unbeeinflußt. Bei allen übrigen gemessenen Parametern konnten keine Unterschiede zwischen Tumor- und Kontroilpatienten festgestellt werden. Die Bestimmung der fibrinolytischen Aktivität könnte somit als zusätzliche Information für das Vorhandensein von malignen Tumoren eingesetzt werden oder auch für das Auftreten von Tumorrezidiven. Darüber .hinaus können daraus Rückschlüsse für eine notwendige Antikoagulanzientherapie gezogen werden.

Efficacy of standard glucose-based and reduced-osmolarity maltodextrin-based oral rehydration solutions: effect of sugar malabsorption

Previously we reported that standard oral rehydration salts (ORS) solution is not as effective as a reduced-osmolarity glucose-based ORS for the treatment of children with acute noncholera diarrhoea: with standard ORS the diarrhoea lasts longer, stool output is greater, serum sodium is higher, and there is more need for supplemental intravenous infusion. We studied a reduced-osmolarity maltodextrin (MD)-based ORS to determine whether it had similar benefits, and also the effect of sugar malabsorption on the efficacy of standard and MD-based ORS. A total of 90 boys aged 3-24 months with acute noncholera diarrhoea and moderate dehydration were randomly assigned to either standard ORS (glucose 20 g/l, osmolarity 311 mmol/l) or MD-ORS (MD 50 g/l, osmolarity 227 mmol/l). There were no differences in treatment results. Some 46% of subjects had a high total stool output (> 300 g/kg), which was unrelated to the type of ORS given. High stool output was significantly associated with a longer duration of diarrhoea (33 vs. 15 hours; P < 0.001), a persistently elevated serum sodium (149 vs. 144 mmol/l at 24 h; P < 0.02), the need for intravenous infusion (11/41 vs. 0/48; P < 0.002), and an increase in faecal reducing substances (10.8 vs. 3.4 g/l at 24 h; P < 0.001). We conclude that some children given standard ORS develop osmotic diarrhoea owing to the combined effect of transient sugar malabsorption and slight hypertonicity of the ORS. Earlier studies show that this adverse outcome can largely be avoided when extra water is given in reduced-osmolarity glucose-based ORS. Reduced osmolarity has no benefit, however, when glucose is replaced by maltodextrin, probably because the sugars released by hydrolysis of MD, when malabsorbed, raise the intraluminal osmolarity to equal or exceed that of standard ORS. Thus, reduced-osmolarity glucose-based ORS is superior to both standard ORS and reduced-osmolarity solutions based on maltodextrin and probably other complex carbohydrates. Studies are in progress to define the optimal formulation of reduced-osmolarity glucose-based ORS.

Controlled clinical trial on the efficacy of rice powder-based oral rehydration solution on the outcome of acute diarrhea in infants

We report a controlled clinical trial of rice powder-based oral rehydration solution (ORS) versus glucose ORS on the outcome of acute diarrhea in infants. The rice ORS group (n = 30) received ORS containing 50 g rice powder instead of standard WHO solution (20 g glucose, n = 30). Formula-fed male infants were enrolled to enable calculation of milk intake and excretion of urine. Patient allocation to either group depended on the method of random permuted blocks. Both groups were comparable regarding age (4-18 months), duration of diarrhea, number of bowel movements or vomiting per 24 h, rectal temperature, dehydration score, and nutritional status. Results revealed that the rice ORS group had a shorter duration of diarrhea (28.4 +/- 5.1 vs 34.3 +/- 2.3 h) and greater mean weight gain in the first 24 h as percentage of recovery weight (5.7 +/- 0.5% vs 4.1 +/- 0.6%). Furthermore, the mean amount of ORS intake, mean stool output, and mean number of episodes of vomiting were lower in the rice-ORS group as compared with the glucose ORS group. All differences were statistically significant. Due to its observed superiority and low cost, the widespread use of rice ORS should be considered for treatment of acute diarrhea.