Comparison of insecticidal paint and deltamethrin against Triatoma infestans (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) feeding and mortality in simulated natural conditions

The vector of Chagas disease, Triatoma infestans, is largely controlled by the household application of pyrethroid insecticides. Because effective, large‐scale insecticide application is costly and necessitates numerous trained personnel, alternative control techniques are badly needed. We compared the residual effect of organophosphate‐based insecticidal paint (Inesfly 5A IGR? (I5A)) to standard deltamethrin, and a negative control, against T. infestans in a simulated natural environment. We evaluated mortality, knockdown, and ability to take a blood meal among 5^th instar nymphs. I5A paint caused significantly greater mortality at time points up to nine months compared to deltamethrin (Fisher's Exact Test, p < 0.01 in all instances). A year following application, mortality among nymphs in the I5A was similar to those in the deltamethrin (χ2 = 0.76, df=1, p < 0.76). At months 0 and 1 after application, fewer nymphs exposed to deltamethrin took a blood meal compared to insects exposed to paint (Fisher's Exact Tests, p < 0.01 and p < 0.01, respectively). Insecticidal paint may provide an easily‐applied means of protection against vectors of Chagas disease.     

Only neutral polymorphisms found in the TIGR/myocilin gene of 45 Polish patients with primary open-angle glaucoma

The aim of the study was to identify mutations of the TIGR gene in Polish patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and to define possible genotype-phenotype correlations. The study included 45 patients with a verified diagnosis of POAG. The PCR amplification of all three exons of the TIGR gene and screening for the sequence changes by CSGE analysis was done for every patient. The probes with identified heteroduplexes were sequenced. Altogether 315 PCR products were obtained. The CSGE analysis detected 60 possible changes of the sequence in 28 patients. 34 heteroduplexes were chosen for sequencing, including 29 unique changes and 5 changes representative of identical heteroduplexes. Direct sequencing enabled detection of only four different changes in the TIGR gene sequence. Three of them: 5'UTR -83G-->A (in 14 patients), +227 exon 1 G-->A, Arg76Lys (in 14 patients) and +311 exon 3 T-->C, Tyr347Tyr (in 4 patients) have already been described in the literature as neutral polymorphisms of the gene. Only one change in the promoter, 5'UTR -126T-->C (in 2 patients), has not been described in the literature to date. However, this change does not alter directly the sequence of amino acids in myocilin, so it is difficult to conclude on its pathogenetic role. Thus our study showed only neutral polymorphisms of the TIGR gene. This suggests that the patients probably have mutations in other genes, so other loci that predispose to POAG must be analyzed.     

The Effect of Different Types of Musculoskeletal Injuries on Blood Concentration of Serum Amyloid A in Thoroughbred Racehorses

BackgroundTraining-induced muscle, skeletal and joint trauma may result in acute phase response reflected by the changes in the blood concentration of serum amyloid A (SAA) in racehorses. It remains yet unclear if such systemic reaction could be triggered by sport injuries and what is the impact of different types of musculoskeletal trauma on SAA concentrations in racehorses. This study aimed to determine changes in the SAA blood concentration in racehorses with different types of injuries of musculoskeletal system.ResultsMean SAA concentration within the first 4 days of the injury of muscle and tendon was significantly higher than in bone fractures, dorsal metacarpal disease, joint trauma or in the healthy horses (p<0,001). There were no significant differences between the other groups.ConclusionsStrain injuries of muscle and tendons can cause a moderate increase in SAA blood concentration in racehorses, reflecting the occurrence of the acute phase response. Similar reaction is not observed in the stress-related bone injuries.     

Bacterial aerosols in an urban nursery school in Gliwice,Poland: a case study

This work presents the results of the study of airborne bacteria in a kindergarten in Gliwice, Upper Silesia, Poland. In this study, the samples of bioaerosols were collected using six-stage Andersen cascade impactor (with aerodynamic cutoff diameters 7.0, 4.7, 3.3, 2.1, 1.1, and 0.65 μm). The level of culturable bacterial aerosols indoors was about 3000 CFU m^?3—six to eight times higher than outdoors. In the classrooms, respirable bacterial particles, <4.7 µm, contributed up to 85 % of the total number of culturable bacteria, increasing the possible adverse health effects due to their inhalation. The identification of the bacterial species showing the dominance of gram-positive cocci in the indoor environment and non-sporing gram-positive rods in the outdoor air indicates that most of the bacteria present in the studied kindergarten are human origin. Using the obtained data, the nursery school exposure dose (NSED) of bioaerosols was estimated for the children and personnel of this kindergarten (nursery school). The highest value of NSED was obtained for younger children (930 CFU kg^?1) compared to older children (about 600 CFU kg^?1) and to the kindergarten staff (about 300 CFU kg^?1). This result suggests the elevated risk of adverse health effects in younger children exposed to the bioaerosols in the kindergarten, including infections.     

The dawn phenomenon and the Somogyi effect - two phenomena of morning hyperglycaemia

Morning hyperglycaemia in diabetic subjects may be caused by the dawn phenomenon, or the Somogyi effect, or poor glycaemic control. The dawn phenomenon occurs when endogenous insulin secretion decreases or when the effect of the exogenous insulin administered to the patient the day before disappears, together with a physiological increase in insulin-antagonistic hormones. The Somogyi effect is present in the case of excessive amounts of exogenous insulin. The dawn phenomenon is more common than the Somogyi effect. To diagnose these phenomena, it is useful to measure plasma glucose levels for several nights between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m. or use a continuous glucose monitoring system. Although their treatment differs, the best way of preventing both the dawn phenomenon and the Somogyi effect is an optimal diabetes control with insulin therapy.