New records of some of sarcophagid flies with distribution of all known flesh flies (Diptera:Sarcophagidae) of Saudi Arabia

The Sarcophagidae (Flesh) of Saudi Arabia are reviewed based on collections of adult flies. Ten species of sarcophagid flies were recorded of which five are considered to be new record in Saudi Arabia. Checklist and information are given for each species concerning its geographical distributions and other observations.     

Mediation of deet repellency in mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) by species, age, and parity

Diabetes insipidus (DI) is an uncommon but important complication in the neurosurgical population. This retrospective study aimed to determine the incidence, profile and outcome of patients admitted to an 18-bedded neurosurgical intensive care unit who developed DI. The overall incidence was 3.7% (29/792 admissions). Aetiologies included subarachnoid haemorrhage (12/29), severe head injury (11/29), post-surgical excision of craniopharyngioma or pituitary adenoma (5/29) and acute haemorrhagic stroke (1/29). All patients were treated with a regime of fluid replacement, electrolyte correction, parenteral or intranasal desmopressin (DDAVP), or parenteral pitressin. Overall mortality was 72.4%. There were no deaths in the patients who underwent excision of tumours. Complications included acute pulmonary oedema, hypernatremia and hypokalaemia. The development of DI was found to be associated with impending brain death and mortality in the majority of patients with subarachnoid haemorrhage and severe head injury. However, careful diagnosis and management of DI after hypothalamo-neurohypophyseal surgery did not result in any permanent neurological sequelae.     

小足倒毛摇蚊的再描述(双翅目:摇蚊科)

对摇蚊科(Chironomidea)倒毛摇蚊属(Microtendipes Kieffer),1915小足倒毛摇蚊[M.pedellus(De Geer,1776)]进行再描述,并附主要特征图.     

Time of host-seeking by Culex tarsalis (Diptera:Culicidae) in California

The translocation (6;9)(p23;q34) is a rare cytogenetic aberration found in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The clinical, morphologic, and immunophenotypic findings of eight t(6;9) acute leukemias are described. The patients included six men and two women with a mean age of 38.5 years. The leukemias were classified in the French-American-British (FAB) system as AML FAB M2 in four cases and as FAB M4 in four cases. Underlying myelodysplasia was evident in six cases. Bone marrow basophilia was found at presentation in six of the seven cases studied. In two cases with basophilia, darkly stained granules were also present in many eosinophils. In one case, initial basophilia was absent, but was present at relapse, as were eosinophils containing darkly stained granules. Iron stains were available in five cases; four showed increased incorporation and three had ringed sideroblasts. All cases studied by flow cytometry (six at presentation and three at relapse) expressed CD13, CD33, and human leukocyte antigen-DR. At presentation, five cases were CD34 negative. In one case at presentation, a subset of blasts (18%) weakly expressed CD34. Three cases studied at relapse were positive for CD34. Two of seven cases studied were terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase positive. The t(6;9)(p23;q34) was the only cytogenetic abnormality in five cases. Trisomy 8 was found in two cases, and ring 12 was present in one case. Three patients are living with refractory leukemia 6 weeks to 6 months after initial diagnosis, and three patients died of complications of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. Only one patient is alive without evidence of disease 3 years after bone marrow transplantation. t(6;9) leukemia is an unusual type of AML that is associated with poor prognosis, early age of onset, basophilia, myelodysplasia with frequent ringed sideroblasts, and a CD34-negative initial phenotype.     

Mechanical transport of rotavirus by the legs and wings of Musca domestica (Diptera: Muscidae)

BACKGROUND: Whether or not tumor response to chemotherapy-sensitized radiation therapy (CTRT) for head and neck cancer leads to an improved outcome is unknown. METHODS: Forty patients who received preoperative cisplatin plus simultaneous radiotherapy for operable stage III and IV head and neck cancer were reviewed retrospectively regarding clinical demographics, staging, and survival status. RESULTS: Twenty-one (57%) patients had a histologic complete response (HCR) and 16 (43%) had a partial (PR) (9) or clinical complete (7) response (CCR). Tumor response of N1 versus N2-3 nodal disease showed 6 (75%) HCR and 4 (25%). Five-year disease-free survival overall was 82% for HCR versus 38% for PR/CCR (P <0.05). Disease-specific 5-year survival was 100% for HCR versus 27% for PR/CCR (P <0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Histologic complete response to CTRT for head and neck cancer is associated with increased survival and encouraging disease-free status. Response to CTRT is inversely proportional to lymphatic tumor load.     

Morphological, molecular, and chromosomal discrimination of cryptic Anopheles (Nyssorhynchus) (Diptera: Culicidae) from South America

Based on similarity of male genitalia, the malaria vector Anopheles trinkae Faran from the eastern Andean piedmont of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia was determined by Peyton (1993) to be a junior synonym of An. dunhami Causey, then known from a single locality in Amazonian Brazil. Following an appraisal of molecular, chromosomal, and morphological characters, we conclude herein that the 2 taxa are specifically distinct and remove An. trinkae from synonymy with An. dunhami. Eggs of the 2 species are distinguished easily by the anterior crown, long floats, and closed deck that occur only in An. trinkae. The X chromosome of larval polytenes is divisible into R and L arms in An. dunhami, but not in An. trinkae. A phenogram based on banding pattern scores from 18 random amplified polymorphic DNA primers separated with 100% resolution An. dunhami, An. trinkae, Anopheles nuneztovari Gabaldón and Anopheles darlingi Root. In the ITS2 region of rDNA, 25% of base sites distinguished An. trinkae from An. dunhami and 21% from the related An. nuneztovari; males of these 3 species had accessory glands of significantly different sizes. Preliminary isoenzyme screening indicated that 3 of 11 loci were diagnostic for separating An. trinkae from An. dunhami. The results indicate that An. dunhami is related more closely to An. nuneztovari than to An. trinkae and illustrate the merits of a multidisciplinary approach to mosquito systematics.     

Ultrastructure of the eggs of Culicoides circumscriptus, Culicoides gejgelensis, and Culicoides imicola (Diptera:Ceratopogonidae)

PURPOSE: To describe a newly identified clinical entity tentatively named white dot fovea. METHODS: We examined by scanning laser ophthalmoscopy 58 eyes of 30 patients (mean age, 64 years) who had white dots in the fovea (anatomically defined as the foveola) simulating macular hole. In addition, the retinal surfaces of 30 autopsy eyes from donors aged 70 years or older were observed by scanning electron microscopy. RESULTS: White dot fovea was bilateral in 28 of 30 patients (93%). It was characterized by the presence of numerous white dots on the foveal surface distributed either diffusely or along the foveal margin, forming a gray ring. There was no subjective symptom or visual disturbance. The condition was best seen by a scanning laser ophthalmoscope using argon blue laser as the light source. The white dots numbered from 100 to 300 per eye. Each dot was approximately 5 microns in diameter. Scanning electron microscopy showed foveal granules simulating the white dots in five of 30 autopsy eyes (17%). The granules had multiple protrusions with cilia-like structures resembling glial cells. This glia-like structure seemed to be a counterpart of clinically observed white dot fovea. CONCLUSION: White dot fovea is a new, frequent, and apparently innocuous clinical entity. It merits due attention in the differential diagnosis of macular holes.     

Skin lesions in dogs, horses and calves caused by the stable fly Stomoxys calcitrans (L.) (Diptera: Muscidae)

Specific skin lesions caused by Stomoxys calcitrans on the feeding sites of different species are described. Skin lesions appeared on dogs, horses and calves following bites of stable flies. Necrotic dermatitis was observed in 32 dogs of various breeds at the tip of the ears. Exudative dermatitis appeared on the legs of 45 adult horses and dermatitis was diagnosed in the "hair whirlpools" on the backs of 18 white calves.     

Bioecology in Haiti of Anopheles albimanus Wiedemann, 1820 (Diptera:Culicidae)

The association of prostate cancer mortality and testicular cancer mortality with environmental exposure to the anti-androgen dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) derivative p,p'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (p,p'-DDE) in the USA was explored in the period 1971-1994 using multiple linear regression analysis. Environmental p,p'-DDE contamination by state was estimated by p,p'-DDE concentrations in the subcutaneous fat of population samples and by measurements of p,p'-DDE in tree bark. On average, African Americans had adipose p,p'-DDE levels 74% higher than Whites (8.49 vs. 4.88 microg/g; p < 0.001). Neither prostate cancer mortality nor testicular cancer mortality showed a positive association with either indicator of p,p'-DDE environmental contamination. On the contrary, the regression coefficient for prostate cancer was constantly inverse for adipose p,p'-DDE along the period of study, although it approached statistical significance only for African Americans in 1981-1985 (P=-0.755; 0.10 > p > 0.05). This ecologic study does not provide support to the hypothesis of a link between environmental exposure to DDT derivatives and cancer of the male reproductive tract.     

Apoptosis induced by Drosophila reaper and grim in a human system. Attenuation by inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (cIAPs)

Previous genetic studies have established Reaper and Grim as central regulators of apoptosis in Drosophila melanogaster. Reaper and Grim induce extensive apoptosis in Drosophila, yet share no homology to known vertebrate proteins. In this study, we show for the first time that ectopic expression of Reaper or Grim induced substantial apoptosis in mammalian cells. Reaper- or Grim-induced apoptosis was inhibited by a broad range of caspase inhibitors and by human inhibitor of apoptosis proteins cIAP1 and cIAP2. Additionally, in vivo binding studies demonstrated that both Reaper and Grim physically interacted with human IAPs through a homologous 15-amino acid N-terminal segment. Deletion of this segment from either Reaper or Grim abolished binding to cIAPs. In vitro binding experiments indicated that Reaper and Grim bound specifically to the BIR domain-containing region of cIAPs as deletion of this region resulted in loss of binding. The physical interaction was further confirmed by immunolocalization. When co-expressed, Reaper or Grim co-localized with cIAP1. However, deletion of the N-terminal 15 amino acids of Reaper or Grim abolished co-localization with cIAP1, suggesting that this homologous region can serve as a protein-protein interacting domain in regulating cell death. Moreover, by virtue of this interaction, we demonstrate that cIAPs can regulate Reaper and Grim by abrogating their ability to activate caspases and thereby inhibit apoptosis. This is the first function attributed to this 15-amino acid N-terminal domain that is the only region having significant homology between these Drosophila death inducers.     

Effect of a poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor on DNA breakage and cytotoxicity induced by hydrogen peroxide and gamma-radiation

Thirty-six outpatients aged 20 to 51 with RDC primary major depressive disorder (MDD) completed a 5-week trial of desipramine following a week of single-blind placebo. Five had a past history of hypomanic disorder. For all but one patient, daily dosage at bedtime was constant for the final 4 weeks, with a mean (S.D.) of 168.1 (46.5) mg. Plasma samples drawn at the three final weekly visits were assayed by high-performance liquid chromatography for 2-hydroxydesipramine (2-OH-DMI) and desipramine. Mean (S.D.) plasma levels were 59.8 (30.0) ng/ml for 2-OH-DMI and 142.9 (138.6) ng/ml for desipramine. Thirteen patients (36%) had a final 17-item Hamilton depression rating < and = 6 and were classified as responders. According to receiver operating characteristics analysis, patients with plasma 2-OH-DMI levels > and = 58 and < 92 ng/ml had a greater likelihood of responding than those with lower or higher levels (p = 0.005, Fisher's exact test), while patients with plasma desipramine levels > and = 64 ng/ml were more likely to respond than those with lower levels (p = 0.032, Fisher's exact test). Results using an alternate response criterion were similar. These findings suggest that in desipramine-treated outpatients with primary MDD the relationship between therapeutic response and plasma levels is curvilinear for 2-OH-DMI and linear for desipramine.     

Hydrogen peroxide induced impairment of post-ischemic ventricular function is prevented by the sodium-hydrogen exchange inhibitor HOE 642 (cariporide)

Using highly degenerate, serine-protease-specific PCR primers on a midgut-specific cDNA library it was estimated that a minimum of 24 independent serine proteases were expressed in the midgut of Stomoxys calcitrans. The relative abundance of these 24 independent serine proteases has been estimated by restriction analysis of PCR products, showing that 69% fall into six almost equally abundant groups. Two highly abundant serine protease cDNAs (Ssp1 and Ssp2) were isolated and sequenced. They encode preproenzymes of 272 amino acids (Mr 28521) and 255 amino acids (Mr 27097) with putative signal peptides of 17 amino acids and 16 amino acids, putative activation peptides of 15 amino acids and 10 amino acids and mature enzymes of 239 amino acids (Mr 25322; pI 4.89) and 228 amino acids (Mr 24182; pI 7.59), respectively. Both deduced amino acid sequences contain the Asp/His/Ser catalytic triad and the highly conserved sequences surrounding it. Ssp2 also has the aspartate and two glycine residues in the specificity pocket, marking this as a typical trypsin. The positioning of the residues in the specificity pocket of Sspl is unusual; aspartate and glycine residues are present, which is typical of trypsin, but both are separated from surrounding conserved residues by additional amino acids; the second glycine found in the specificity pocket of trypsin is replaced by a serine, which is typical of chymotrypsin. Although a serine protease, the precise substrate specificity of Sspl remains to be determined. Northern analysis shows that both serine proteases are expressed constitutively with only a 20% change in the levels of expression of Ssp1 and Ssp2 through the digestive cycle, and that expression occurs predominantly in the opaque region of the midgut, the region responsible for secretion of digestive enzymes.     

Cell cycle-independent death of prostate adenocarcinoma is induced by the trk tyrosine kinase inhibitor CEP-751 (KT6587)

Advanced prostate cancer remains largely incurable, primarily because the very low growth fraction present in these tumors makes them generally resistant to treatment with standard chemotherapeutic agents that target cell division. Effective therapies should therefore induce death of prostate cancer cells, independent of their growth rate. trkA, the high-affinity tyrosine kinase-linked receptor for nerve growth factor, has been implicated in prostatic cancer growth and may represent a molecular target for therapeutic agents. At low mg/kg doses, the trk tyrosine kinase inhibitor CEP-751 (KT6587) inhibits prostatic cancer growth in nine different animal models independent of the tumor growth rate, androgen sensitivity, metastatic ability, or state of tumor differentiation. CEP-751 is selective for cancerous versus normal prostate cells and affects the growth of only a limited number of nonprostate tumors. Importantly, CEP-751 induces cell death of prostate cancer cells in a cell cycle-independent fashion and, therefore, represents a novel therapeutic approach to the management of both hormone-dependent and hormone-independent prostate cancer.     

Myocardial protection by the leukotriene synthesis inhibitor BAY X1005: importance of transcellular biosynthesis of cysteinyl-leukotrienes

Perfusion of the isolated rabbit heart with 5 x 10(6) human polymorphonuclear leukocytes, under recirculating conditions (50 ml), and challenge with A-23187 (0.5 microM) caused an increase in coronary perfusion pressure (from a prechallenge value of 46 +/- 1.1 to 176.2 +/- 29.7 mm Hg, 30 min after challenge, n = 6-4), which was linearly correlated (P < .006) with formation of cysteinyl leukotrienes (29.7 +/- 7.3 pmol/ml, 30 min after challenge). Pretreatment with the leukotriene synthesis inhibitor BAY X1005 (1 microM) (n = 6) resulted in significant protection against the increase in coronary perfusion pressure (76.7 +/- 12.8 mm Hg, 30 min after challenge) and in almost complete inhibition of sulfidopeptide leukotriene synthesis (3.2 +/- 1.7 pmol/ml, 30 min after challenge). In in vivo experiments, ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery in the rabbit (n = 10) resulted in acute myocardial infarction marked by a mortality rate of 60% compared with sham-operated animals (n = 10). Intravenous treatment of the rabbits with BAY X1005 (10 mg/kg/h, for 2 h) (n = 10) markedly reduced the mortality rate (20%), protected the rabbits against the marked electrocardiogram derangement and abolished the significant increase in plasma creatine phosphokinase activity and cardiac tissue myeloperoxidase activity induced by coronary artery ligation. BAY X1005 exerts a significant cardioprotection and suggests that specific leukotriene synthesis inhibitors may lead to innovative therapy in myocardial ischemia.     

1st isolation of Aedes (Ochlerotatus) sticticus (Diptera, Culicidae) in the Po-Venetian valley

Aedes sticticus is recorded for the first time in northern Italy. The species was collected in some relict woods mainly at sea level in the Po-Venetian valley (Northern-Italy). Larval growth took place in residual puddles originated by rain or river floods. The most abundant adult emergence was observed in April or May. Minor earlier or later adult emergencies were observed depending from egg submersion and temperature. Data on larval chetotaxy are presented.     

Mitotic and polytene chromosome analyses in the Queensland fruit fly, Bactrocera tryoni (Diptera: Tephritidae)

The Queensland fruit fly, Bactrocera tryoni, like the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata, has a diploid complement of 12 chromosomes, including five pairs of autosomes and a XX/XY sex chromosome pair. Characteristic features of each chromosome are described. Chromosomal homology between B. tryoni and C. capitata has been determined by comparing chromosome banding pattern and in situ hybridisation of cloned genes to polytene chromosomes. Although the evidence indicates that a number of chromosomal inversions have occurred since the separation of the two species, synteny of the chromosomes appears to have been maintained.     

Breeding structure of screwworm fly populations (Diptera: Calliphoridae) in Colima, Mexico

Starch gel electrophoresis was used to resolve gene frequencies among populations of screwworm, Cochliomyia hominivorax (Coquerel). The loci examined coded for alpha-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase, octanol dehydrogenase, and phosphoglucomutase. Flies were sampled by traps widely distributed in Colima Province, southwestern Mexico. Gene frequencies at Odh differed significantly among the 11 populations. Alleles segregating at Pgm and alpha-Gpdh were homogeneous among populations. There were significant departures from random mating within populations, but no genetic differentiation among populations was detected. The data suggest unrestricted gene flow among populations. Departures from random mating within populations were explained by the pooling of samples from separate breeding units.