Sexually dimorphic gall structures correspond to differential phytohormone contents in male and female wasp larvae

Sexually dimorphic galls are rare among gall‐inducing insects and the reason for their occurrence is unknown. The pteromalid wasp Trichilogaster acaciaelongifoliae, which induces galls on Acacia longifolia, is one such species. In the present study, the anatomical and physiological attributes of male and female galls of T. acaciaelongifoliae are examined and compared. Histological preparations are used to characterize anatomical differences between male and female gall chambers. Bioassays, high‐performance liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry and an enzyme immunoassay are used to measure concentrations of auxin and cytokinin in normal buds, galled tissues, and larvae of both sexes. Female chambers are found to be 3.3‐fold larger, and are associated with 1.5‐fold more storage tissue and 3.5‐fold more vascular tissues than male chambers. Tissues from female chambers induce stronger cytokinin‐like bioactivity than tissues from male chambers. Female larvae have considerably higher concentrations of cytokinin free bases, ribosides, glucosides and monophosphates than male larvae; higher auxin‐like bioactivity than in normal or galled plant tissues; and almost twice the concentration of auxin than male larvae. Both male and female larvae contain much higher auxin concentrations than either galled or normal plant tissues. These findings suggest that differing levels of phytohormones are involved in the development of sexual dimorphism of gall structures in this species.     

A contribution to the knowledge of Agathidinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) from Iran with description of a new species

The subfamily Agathidinae was studied in parts of northern Iran. Six species were collected and identified. Among them, Cremnops desertor (L., 1758) is recorded for the first time from Iran. Lytopylus persicus Farahani & Talebi sp. n. is described and illustrated. A key to the West Palaearctic species of the genus Lytopylus Förster and an updated checklist of Iranian Agathidinae are provided.     

Revision of the genus Parasapyga Turner (Hymenoptera,Sapygidae), with the description of two new species

Two new species, Parasapyga boschi sp. n. from Vietnam and P. yvonnae sp. n. from Indonesia are described. Parasapyga walshae van der Vecht, 1940, is treated as a valid species instead of a subspecies of P. moelleri Turner, 1910. A key to the species of the genus is added and all species are illustrated.     

First discovery of Stephanus Jurine (Hymenoptera: Stephanidae) in Japan,with description of a new species from Anijima Island of Ogasawara Islands

The genus Stephanus Jurine (in Panzer) is newly recorded from Japan and is represented by a new species. S. anijimensis sp. nov. from Anijima Island of the Ogasawara Islands. This species resembles S. tridentatus van Achterberg & Yang from the Oriental part of China, but can be distinguished by the combination of following characters: pronotum with a cavity under pronotal fold (cavity absent in S. tridentatus); hind femur comparatively slender, 4.8–5.1 times as long as maximum width (about 4.1 times in S. tridentatus); apical 0.5 of hind femur black or blackish‐brown (more or less yellowish in S. tridentatus). This new species was not found from other islands of the Ogasawara Islands, in which fauna is being severely endangered mainly due to predation by the introduced green anoles. Recently, it was introduced into Anijima Island in March 2013 and thus the extinction risk of this species is very high on this island.     

A new species of Megischus Brullé (Hymenoptera, Stephanidae) from China, with a key to the Chinese species

A new species of Megischus Brullé from China, Megischus aplicatussp. n.,is described and illustrated. A key to the Chinese species of Megischus is added. The holotype is deposited in the Parasitic Hymenoptera Collection of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou.     

Laparoscopic hysterectomy with or without pelvic lymphadenectomy or sampling in a high-risk series of patients with endometrial cancer

Background

The purpose of the study was to determine the outcome of all patients with endometrial adenocarcinoma cancer treated by laparoscopic hysterectomy at our institution, many of whom were high-risk for surgery.

Methods

Data was collected by a retrospective search of the case notes and Electronic Patient Records of the thirty eight patients who underwent laparoscopic hysterectomy for endometrial cancer at our institutions.

Results

The median body mass index was 30 (range 19–67). Comorbidities were present in 76% (29 patients); 40% (15 patients) had a single comorbid condition, whilst 18% (7 patients) had two, and a further 18% (7 patients) had more than two. Lymphadenectomy was performed in 45% (17 patients), and lymph node sampling in 21% (8 patients). Median operating time was 210 minutes (range 70–360 minutes). Median estimated blood loss was 200 ml (range 50–1000 ml). There were no intraoperative complications. Post-operative complications were seen in 21% (2 major, 6 minor). Blood transfusion was required in 5% (2 patients). The median stay was 4 post-operative nights (range 1–25 nights). In those patients undergoing lymphadenectomy, the mean number of nodes taken was fifteen (range 8–26 nodes). The pathological staging was FIGO stage I 76% (29 patients), stage II 8% (3 patients), stage III 16% (6 patients). The pathological grade was G1 31% (16 patients), G2 45% (17 patients), G3 24% (8 patients).

Conclusion

Laparoscopic hysterectomy can be safely carried out in patients at high risk for surgery, with no compromise in terms of outcomes, whilst providing all the benefits inherent in minimal access surgery.

     

Unexpected photobleaching of Alexa 488 in a fixed bacterial sample during 2-photon excitation

A sample of fixed bacterial cells was examined by immunofluorescence microscopy using an Alexa 488 conjugated secondary antibody for visualization. Excitation using visible light confirmed the expected photostability of this fluorophore; however, when using 2-photon excitation, Alexa 488 was rapidly and substantially photobleached. The unexpected instability of Alexa 488 under certain conditions may have deleterious consequences if not anticipated and accommodated in experimental protocols.     

PRODUCTION OF PHYTOCHELATINS AND GLUTATHIONE BY MARINE PHYTOPLANKTON IN RESPONSE TO METAL STRESS1

Phytoplankton deal with metal toxicity using a variety of biochemical strategies. One of the strategies involves glutathione (GSH) and phytochelatins (PCs), which are metal‐binding thiol peptides produced by eukaryotes and these compounds have been related to several intracellular functions, including metal detoxification, homeostasis, metal resistance and protection against oxidative stress. This paper assesses our state of knowledge on the production of PCs and GSH by marine phytoplankton in laboratory and field conditions and the possible applications of PCs for environmental purposes. Good relationships have been observed between metal exposure and PC production in phytoplankton in the laboratory with Cd, Pb, and Zn showing the greatest efficacy, thereby indicating that PCs have a potential for application as a biomarker. Fewer studies on PC distributions in particulate material have been undertaken in the field. These studies show that free Cu has a strong relationship with the levels of PC in the particulate material. The reason for this could be because Cu is a common contaminant in coastal waters. However it could also be due to the lack of measurements of other metals and their speciation. GSH shows a more complex relationship to metal levels both in the laboratory and in the field. This is most likely due to its multifunctionality. However, there is evidence that phytoplankton act as an important source of dissolved GSH in marine waters, which may form part of the strong organic ligands that control metal speciation, and hence metal toxicity.     

Rhodnius prolixus and Rhodnius robustus–like (Hemiptera, Reduviidae) wing asymmetry under controlled conditions of population density and feeding frequency

Habitat change in Rhodnius spp may represent an environmental challenge for the development of the species, particularly when feeding frequency and population density vary in nature. To estimate the effect of these variables in stability on development, the degree of directional asymmetry (DA) and fluctuating asymmetry (FA) in the wing size and shape of R. prolixus and R. robustus–like were measured under laboratory controlled conditions. DA and FA in wing size and shape were significant in both species, but their variation patterns showed both inter-specific and sexual dimorphic differences in FA of wing size and shape induced by nutrition stress. These results suggest different abilities of the genotypes and sexes of two sylvatic and domestic genotypes of Rhodnius to buffer these stress conditions. However, both species showed non-significant differences in the levels of FA between treatments that simulated sylvan vs domestic conditions, indicating that the developmental noise did not explain the variation in wing size and shape found in previous studies. Thus, this result confirm that the variation in wing size and shape in response to treatments constitute a plastic response of these genotypes to population density and feeding frequency.