Selective toxicity of some pesticides to Pullus mediterraneus Fabr. (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), a predator of Saissetia oleae Bern. (Homoptera: Coccoideae)

• 1 To contribute to the development of IPM strategies in olive groves, the selectivity of several insecticides to Pullus mediterraneus Fabr. (Coleoptera: coccinellidae) was investigated in the laboratory. The study assessed the toxicity of seven chemical pesticides and one bacteriological insecticide to adult P. mediterraneus.
• 2 The LC₅₀ was estimated by applying the pesticides on the dorsal side of adults. Lambda‐cyhalothrin, methomyl and cypermethrin resulted in the highest toxicity followed, in decreasing order of toxicity, by malathion, fenthion and dimethoate. Parathion had the least effect on the coccinellid.
• 3 Consumption of Bacillus thuringiensis bacteria (applied as a commercial formulation), over a period of 10 consecutive days, resulted in low mortality of adult P. mediterraneus.
• 4 The results of these laboratory experiments indicate that the most widely used chemical pesticides were toxic to P. mediterraneus. Their use in olive groves must take account of the activity period of this predator. In contrast, B. thuringiensis seemed to be a suitable candidate to be included in pest management systems.

     

Coverage rate of opportunistic and organised breast cancer screening in France: Department-level estimation

ObjectiveIn France, the national breast cancer screening programme (NBCSP), targeting women aged 50–74 years was rolled out nationwide in 2004. It aims at reducing breast cancer mortality. In addition to the NBCSP, the use of opportunistic screening is permitted in France. The objective of this study is to estimate both opportunistic use and overall coverage rates of breast cancer screening, among women 40–84 years of age, in France.MethodsThe French medico-administrative health data system (SNDS) was used to identify women performing an opportunistic or organised mammography screening in France in 2016–2017.ResultsThe two-yearly opportunistic mammography screening is 18 % among women aged 40–84; it is 11 % among women aged 50–74, i.e., the target age range for organised screening, 36 % among women aged 40–49 and 13 % among women aged 75–84. The overall two-yearly screening coverage is 48 % for all women aged 40–84; it is 60 % among women aged 50–74, 36 % among women 40–49 and 16 % for those aged 75–84. Geographical variations in screening are lessened when the two screening strategies are considered, as they balance each other.ConclusionAlthough coverage in the NBCSP is around 50 % in France, more than one third of the women make use of opportunistic screening within and outside the target age range. Organized screening appears to improve equity of access to mammography screening service. The lack of data on opportunistic screening practices hinders the evaluation of French screening practices as a whole.     

Paternity testing using the poisonous sting in captive white‐spotted eagle rays Aetobatus narinari: a non‐invasive tool for captive sustainability programmes

A group of captive white‐spotted eagle rays Aetobatus narinari produced 20 offspring, with an unknown father. Part of the poisonous sting was removed from each fish and DNA was extracted from the epidermis for paternity research using eight microsatellite markers of which four were from another species Aetobatus flagellum. This non‐invasive sampling technique can be applied on all members of Myliobatiformes.     

Non‐specificity of ethylene inhibitors: ‘double‐edged’ tools to find out new targets involved in the root morphogenetic programme

In the last decade, genetic and pharmacological approaches have been used to explore ethylene biosynthesis and perception in order to study the role of ethylene and ethylene/auxin interaction in root architecture development. However, recent findings with pharmacological approaches highlight the non‐specificity of commonly used inhibitors. This suggests that caution is required for interpreting these studies and that the use of pharmacological agents is a ‘double‐edged’ tool. On one hand, non‐specific effects make interpretation difficult unless other experiments, such as with different mutants or with multiple diversely acting chemicals, are conducted. On the other hand, the non‐specificity of inhibitors opens up the possibility of uncovering some ligands or modulators of new receptors such as plant glutamate‐like receptors and importance of some metabolic hubs in carbon and nitrogen metabolism such as the pyridoxal phosphate biosynthesis involved in the regulation of the root morphogenetic programme. Identification of such targets is a critical issue to improve the efficiency of absorption of macronutrients in relation to root the morphogenetic programme.     

赣州市结核病防治规划实施情况分析

目的详细了解赣州市结核病防治规划实施情况,为今后结核病防治工作提供依据。方法由赣州市疾病预防控制中心执行卫生部统一制定下发的《全国结核病防治规划(2001-2010年)终期评估方案》和《终期评估调查表》,进行单位自查与市级组织检查验收。通过验收的《终期评估调查表》全部录入计算机,进行资料分析。结果《规划》期间全市投入用于结核病防治的各种费用总计4 517.04万元。登记活动性肺结核63 427例,其中涂阳患者33 339例(初阳27 621例、复阳5 718例),涂阴27 408例,完成初治涂阳任务指标平均达到99.64%,治愈率平均达到91.11%。结论经实施《全国结核病防治规划(2001-2010年)》,赣州市结核病的防控措施无论是软件还是硬件都得以完善,并且病人及时得到发现与有效治疗。     

Sex differentiation in seasonal distribution of the starry smooth-hound Mustelus asterias

This mark-recapture study of starry smooth-hound Mustelus asterias tagged during the summer months near the Dutch coast demonstrates a large-scale spatial sex differentiation in their circannual migration patterns and small-scale spatial sex differentiation during summer. Overwintering occurs in the North Sea, English Channel and Bay of Biscay, with significantly more males in the Northern North Sea and more females in the Bay of Biscay. During summer, sheltered sea arms off the Dutch coast were almost exclusively used by adult females. In subsequent summers post-release, both sexes were mostly confined to the Southern North Sea, suggesting philopatry.     

Evaluation of an oral function promotion programme for the independent elderly in Japan

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to provide an oral function promotion programme for the independent elderly and evaluate the changes in oral health status and oral function. Background: Few studies have scientifically analysed and evaluated the effectiveness of oral function promotion programmes provided for the independent elderly. Materials and methods: The subjects were independent elderly females (mean age: 74.6 ± 6.3) recruited from senior citizens’ centres in Tokyo. The intervention group (n = 79) received a 3‐month oral function promotion programme, which included facial muscle and tongue exercises and salivary gland massages. The control group (n = 62) did not receive this programme. Results: In the intervention group, the tongue coating scores decreased and the organoleptic score of oral malodour fell. The amount of food debris in the oral cavity decreased and the tongue dryness improved. Furthermore, the salivary flow rate increased. The length of time for maintaining the tongue in the forward position increased from 11.2 s to 18.7 s, and the number of times for moving the tip of the tongue in a clockwise circular motion, counter‐clockwise circular motion and side‐to‐side motion within 30 s, increased from 14.5 to 20.6, 14.5 to 20.2, and 17.2 to 23.3 respectively. The number of times for movement of the lips significantly improved from 23.0 to 28.8 and the pronunciation of words was observed to be clearer. Conclusion: An oral function promotion programme was effective in improving the oral health status and oral function of an independent elderly population.     

Langerhans cells in cutaneous tumours: immunohistochemistry study using a computer image analysis system

Immunohistochemistry, based on antibody anti-S100 protein, was used to evaluate the Langerhans cells (LC) in benign and malign skin neoplasias. These cells were quantitatively estimated using a computer image analysis (OPTIMAS software system, Version 6.1) in skin biopsies diagnosed as basal cell carcinoma (BCC), epidermoid carcinoma (EpC), trichoepithelioma (TE), keratoacanthoma (KA), seborreic keratosis (SK) and actinic keratosis (AK). The antibody anti-S100 protein recognized them. No significant variations were observed in the number of LC among malignant tumour (BCC = 23.25 ± 5.81 and EpC = 20.88 ± 4.24). Benign lesions (AK = 33.04 ± 7.11; TE = 55.74 ± 9.35; SK = 42.38 ± 9.92, and KA = 47.62 ± 10.4) presented a higher number of LC when they were compared among them and to malignant and normal tissues. No significant differences were observed in LC area and volume between benign and malign neoplasias. These results indicate possibly differences in the immunogenicity between benign and malign epidermic tumours. In conclusion, the experimental computer assessment method was reliable and consistent to morphometric analysis of tumoural tissues.