Regional ecological risk assessment for the introduction of Gambusia affinis (western mosquitofish) into Montana watersheds

Qualitative risk assessment methodologies were used to assess the risk of establishment and consequent impacts on native minnows and species of concern (SOC) associated with the intentional or unintentional introduction of the mosquito biological control agent, Gambusia affinis, to various Montana watersheds. Gambusia affinis introductions for mosquito control have been made throughout the world; some introductions have resulted in deleterious effects on native species. We used average January water temperatures, the presence of dams, and the presence of native minnows and SOC to define endpoints for our assessment. Our results suggest that a section of the Missouri River running between Wolf Creek and Landusky had the highest overall risk score, which corresponds to the highest likelihood of establishment and effects on native minnows and SOC. We also demonstrate how rivers with the highest temperatures are not necessarily at the highest risk of having deleterious effects on minnows and SOC; conversely, these rivers were found to be at highest risk of a population of G. affinis establishing.     

Biology and host specificity of Rhinusa pilosa,a recommended biological control agent of Linaria vulgaris

Linaria vulgaris Mill. (Plantaginaceae), common or yellow toadflax, is a Eurasian short-lived perennial forb invasive throughout temperate North America. Rhinusa pilosa (Gyllenhal) (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) is a univoltine shoot-galling weevil found exclusively on L. vulgaris in Europe. Under no-choice test conditions, 13 non-native Linaria species exposed to R. pilosa were accepted for oviposition and most were found to be suitable, to varying degrees, for gall and larval development. Adult feeding and survival was minimal on native North American species in the plant tribe Antirrhineae which includes the target plant. In no-choice tests with 63 native North American species and 24 other non-target species outside Linaria, oviposition was limited to four native North American species. Only three larvae developed to the adult stage on Sairocarpus virga (A. Gray) D.A. Sutton, with no negative impact on plant growth. Risks to native flora from the release of R. pilosa are therefore expected to be minimal. The Technical Advisory Group for the Biological Control of Weeds (TAG—BCW) has recommended release of R. pilosa in September 2013.     

Immunological responses of breast cancer patients to behavioral interventions

This article reports the results of an 18-month study of immune system and psychological changes in stage 1 breast cancer patients provided with relaxation, guided imagery, and biofeedback training. Thirteen lymph node negative patients who had recovered from a modified radical mastectomy were randomly assigned to either an immediate treatment or a delayed treatment control group. Multiple pre-post psychological measures were performed. Significant effects were found in natural killer cell (NK) activity (p<.017), mixed lymphocyte responsiveness (MLR) (p<.001), concanavalin A (Con-A) responsiveness (p<.001), and the number of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) (p<.01). No significant psychological changes were detected; however, reductions were seen in psychological inventory scales measuring anxiety. The results show that behavioral interventions can be correlated with immune system measures, thereby replicating the results of an earlier pilot study from our Center. Discussion is provided on differential T-cell and B-cell responsiveness to behavioral interventions.We wish to thank Douglas B. Coulson, Ph.D. for his expertise on the statistical analysis of the data. We would also like to thank Clay Steiner, M.D.; Janelle Oliver, M.S.; Maureen O'Grady, Ph.D.; and Rena Goetz, Ph.D., for their contribution to the performance of the assays. Finally, we thank both Sandy Bangham, R. N., and the medical laboratory staff at The Washington Clinic, Washington, D.C. for their services in performing phlebotomy.     

Glucocorticoid signaling in pancreatic islets modulates gene regulatory programs and genetic risk of type 2 diabetes

Glucocorticoids are key regulators of glucose homeostasis and pancreatic islet function, but the gene regulatory programs driving responses to glucocorticoid signaling in islets and the contribution of these programs to diabetes risk are unknown. In this study we used ATAC-seq and RNA-seq to map chromatin accessibility and gene expression from eleven primary human islet samples cultured in vitro with the glucocorticoid dexamethasone at multiple doses and durations. We identified thousands of accessible chromatin sites and genes with significant changes in activity in response to glucocorticoids. Chromatin sites up-regulated in glucocorticoid signaling were prominently enriched for glucocorticoid receptor binding sites and up-regulated genes were enriched for ion transport and lipid metabolism, whereas down-regulated chromatin sites and genes were enriched for inflammatory, stress response and proliferative processes. Genetic variants associated with glucose levels and T2D risk were enriched in glucocorticoid-responsive chromatin sites, including fine-mapped variants at 51 known signals. Among fine-mapped variants in glucocorticoid-responsive chromatin, a likely casual variant at the 2p21 locus had glucocorticoid-dependent allelic effects on beta cell enhancer activity and affected SIX2 and SIX3 expression. Our results provide a comprehensive map of islet regulatory programs in response to glucocorticoids through which we uncover a role for islet glucocorticoid signaling in mediating genetic risk of T2D.     

Hyoscine butylbromide versus acetaminophen for nonspecific colicky abdominal pain in children: a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND:Less than two-thirds of children with abdominal pain in the emergency department receive analgesia. We sought to determine whether hyoscine butylbromide was superior to acetaminophen for children with nonspecific colicky abdominal pain.METHODS:We randomly allocated children aged 8–17 years with nonspecific colicky abdominal pain who presented to the pediatric emergency department of London Health Sciences Centre, London, Ontario to receive hyoscine butylbromide, 10 mg given orally, or acetaminophen, 15 mg/kg given orally (maximum 975 mg). We considered the minimal clinically important difference for the primary outcome (self-reported pain at 80 min) to be 13 mm on a 100 mm visual analogue scale. Secondary outcomes included administration of rescue analgesia, adverse effects and pain score less than 30 mm at 80 minutes.RESULTS:A total of 236 participants (120 in the hyoscine butylbromide group and 116 in the acetaminophen group) were included in the trial. The mean visual analogue scale scores at 80 minutes were 29 mm (standard deviation [SD] 26 mm) and 30 mm (SD 29 mm) with hyoscine butylbromide and acetaminophen, respectively (adjusted difference 1, 95% confidence interval −7 to 7). Rescue analgesia was administered to 4 participants (3.3%) in the hyoscine butylbromide group and 1 participant (0.9%) in the acetaminophen groups (p = 0.2). We found no significant differences in rates of adverse effects between hyoscine butylbromide (32/116 [27.6%]) and acetaminophen (28/115 [24.3]) (p = 0.5); no serious adverse effects were observed. The proportion with a pain score less than 30 mm at 80 minutes was 66 (55.0%) with hyoscine butylbromide and 63 (54.3%) with acetaminophen (p = 0.9).INTERPRETATION:Hyoscine butylbromide was not superior to acetaminophen in this setting. Both agents were associated with clinically important pain reduction, and either can be considered for children presenting to the emergency department with nonspecific colicky abdominal pain. Trial registration: Clinicaltrials.gov, no. {"type":"clinical-trial","attrs":{"text":"NCT02582307","term_id":"NCT02582307"}}NCT02582307

Abdominal pain is reported by a third of school-aged children¹ and accounts for several visits daily in most emergency departments.^2–5 Although the use of analgesia to treat acute abdominal pain is well-supported,^6,7 there is little evidence to guide the management of nonspecific abdominal pain in the emergency department,⁸ which accounts for two-thirds of cases of abdominal pain presenting to the emergency department.^8,9 Acetaminophen is the most commonly used World Health Organization Step 1 analgesic.¹⁰ In children, it is effective for many painful conditions,^11,12 but data supporting its use for abdominal pain are lacking.^13,14 Despite strong advocacy by the American Academy of Pediatrics¹⁵ for adequate pain management, less than two-thirds of children with abdominal pain in the emergency department receive analgesia,^16,17 and roughly half experience ongoing pain after discharge. ¹⁸ Children with nonspecific abdominal pain are less likely than those with a specific cause to receive analgesia.⁵ Available analgesic options for children with nonspecific abdominal pain in the emergency department may result in greater adherence to the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations.Hyoscine butylbromide is orally administered and available in most Canadian emergency departments. We surmised that it may be effective for colicky abdominal pain owing to its antispasmodic properties.¹⁹ Ten placebo-controlled studies involving 3699 adults with functional abdominal pain showed hyoscine butylbromide to be beneficial, without serious adverse effects.^20–29 In the only pediatric study, hyoscine butylbromide, 10 mg given orally, was found to be beneficial compared to a homeopathic preparation in 204 children, with no serious adverse effects.³⁰ We sought to determine whether hyoscine butylbromide was superior to acetaminophen in relieving pain among children presenting to the emergency department with nonspecific colicky abdominal pain.     

A retrospective analysis of known and potential risks associated with exotic toadflax-feeding insects

To date, eight exotic toadflax-feeding insect species have been accidentally or intentionally introduced to North America. Reports on their establishment and impact have been recorded for more than 60 years. Environmental risks linked to biological control of toadflax were identified in terms of host resources and undesirable impacts on the target species through the critical review of this record. Data gaps revealed during this retrospective analysis are addressed through suggestions for future research and associated experimental methodologies. Known and potential impacts of toadflax-feeding insects on both invasive toadflax and non-target species are examined. Recent programmatic demands for demonstrated agent efficacy and stringent host selectivity during the prerelease screening process clearly illustrate that classical biological control of invasive toadflax in North America is progressing beyond the so-called lottery approach.