Toxicity of Pesticides Applied in European Vineyards on Anagyrus vladimiri and Trichogramma evanescens, Parasitoids of Planococcus ficus and Lobesia botrana

Risk assessments of chemical pesticides toward natural enemies are crucial for ensuring sustainable grapevine-integrated pest management. In this context, laboratory experiments were conducted to evaluate the toxicity of four insecticides (lambda-cyhalothrin, flupyradifurone, acetamiprid, and cyantraniliprole) and one fungicide (spiroxamine) commonly applied in German (European) vineyards on the pupae and adults of both Anagyrus vladimiri, a parasitoid of the vine mealybug Planococcus ficus, and Trichogramma evanescens, a parasitoid of the European grapevine moth, Lobesia botrana. The tested pesticides did not significantly affect the development of the pupal stage inside mealybug mummies or the emergence of the parasitoid A. vladimiri. The pesticides flupyradifurone, acetamiprid, and spiroxamine resulted in the highest mortality percentages for all emerged A. vladimiri parasitoids at 8 and 10 days after treatment compared with either in lambda-cyhalothrin or cyantraniliprole. However, all pesticides, except the diamide insecticide cyantraniliprole, significantly affected the development of the pupal stage and the emergence of the parasitoid T. evanescens. The percentages of T. evanescens emergence following the application of the fungicide spiroxamine or either lambda-cyhalothrin or flupyradifurone were significantly higher than those observed in the acetamiprid treatment. Regarding direct contact toxicity, the highest percentages (100%) of A. vladimiri adult parasitoid mortality were obtained in the flupyradifurone, acetamiprid, and spiroxamine treatments, while the lowest mortality percentages were observed in lambda-cyhalothrin, cyantraniliprole, and untreated control treatments. According to the IOBC classes of toxicity, flupyradifurone, acetamiprid, and spiroxamine were classified as harmful, while both lambda-cyhalothrin and cyantraniliprole were classified as slightly harmful to A. vladimiri adults. As such, all pesticides had a significant impact on the survival of exposed T. evanescens adults. The highest percentages of adult T. evanescens mortality were obtained in the flupyradifurone, acetamiprid, and spiroxamine treatments, with the fungicide spiroxamine resulting in significantly higher mortality percentages than either flupyradifurone or acetamiprid, while the lowest mortality percentages were found in the lambda-cyhalothrin and cyantraniliprole treatments. Therefore, applying the insecticides acetamiprid and/or flupyradifurone and the fungicide spiroxamine should be avoided when A. vladimiri and/or T. evanescens are naturally present or released in grapes. The insights gained from these two easy-to-rear parasitoid species allow analogous conclusions to be drawn for closely related species in vineyards belonging to either family Encyrtidae or Trichogrammatidae, which are not easy to rear. Interestingly, using the safer insecticides lambda-cyhalothrin and/or cyantraniliprole could be compatible with both parasitoid species, which could be sustainably exploited in either conservation or augmentative biological control in vineyards.

Analyzing and simulating heat transfer and designing a shell and tube heat exchanger for the pasteurization process of tomato paste: A CFD study

Pasteurization is a vital process to destroy harmful enzymes. This process is very critical to obtain quality tomato paste. In this study, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) has been used to design a shell and tube heat exchanger on an industrial scale and to simulate heat transfer in order to visualize this process and present it to the industry. In this research, a three-dimensional CFD model was simulated using ANSYS FLUENT commercial software. Also, using the Herschel-Bulkley model, the behavior of viscosity in the pasteurization process of tomato paste has been explained. In this stage of the production line, the tomato paste enters a shell and tube heat exchanger at 65 °C and reaches 80 °C at the outlet. Compared with the experimental data, the output temperature of tomato paste predicted by CFD simulation reached 79 °C. In addition, thermophysical properties of tomato paste were measured, and these exact values were used for simulation. Also, the evaluation of this heat exchanger with three hot water inlet mass flow rates has been done in order to provide the results to the factory to avoid spending more energy. And the simulation results showed that the output temperature of tomato paste at three different mass flow rates did not change less than the mass flow rates measured in the factory, and also the output visualizations from this research can be suitable for presenting to the industry and benefiting from them.

Intelligent Model of Nursing Shift in Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

BACKGROUND

Nurses play a key role in increasing the efficiency of healthcare systems. Given the 24-hour performance of hospitals and the small number of nurses in the field of treatment, it is quintessential to re-shift them in the hospital. This study set out to achieve coherence in nursing shift planning and justice in the order of shifts in hospital.

METHODS

This applied and a developmental study was performed from 2019 to 2020. We used genetic algorithm to provide operational solutions and define flexible shifts and plan nurses' working hours in Yas Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences Hospital, Tehran, Iran.

RESULTS

Based on the selection of each nurse and determining the approved shifts of each ward, the possibility of appropriate planning was provided to determine the required shifts per month and to estimate the needs of each department.

CONCLUSION

Using genetic algorithm and nursing shift in office automation console provides useful tools for managers at all organizational levels, according to which a good balance between the hospital's need for nurse and nurses' demands in different time periods.

Glioblastoma: exosome and microRNA as novel diagnosis biomarkers

Glioblastoma (GBM) is known as a tumor type, which arises from astrocytes. Several studies indicated that GBM tumor cells are malignant. This is because of the fact that they consist of different cell types, which are reproducing very quickly and are also supported by a large network of blood vessels. The correct identification of various stages of GBM could help to better treat the patients with this disease. Therefore, new biomarkers such as exosomes and microRNAs (miRNAs) may help us to learn more about GBM and they may also lead to a more effective treatment for patients with GBM. Exosomes have emerged as biological vehicles, which can perform various tasks in carcinogenesis pathways such as PI3K/AKT, SOX2, PTEN, ERK, and STAT3. The miRNAs are known as small noncoding RNAs that are involved in several GBM pathogenic events. These molecules have key roles in various biological processes such as angiogenesis, metastasis and tumor growth. In this study, we highlighted various exosomes and miRNAs that could be used for diagnosis and/or prognosis biomarkers in patients with GBM.

Innovation Network Development Model in Telemedicine: A Change in Participation

Objectives

This paper introduces a telemedicine innovation network and reports its implementation in Tehran University of Medical Sciences. The required conditions for the development of future projects in the field of telemedicine are also discussed; such projects should be based on the common needs and opportunities in the areas of healthcare, education, and technology.

Methods

The development of the telemedicine innovation network in Tehran University of Medical Sciences was carried out in two phases: identifying the beneficiaries of telemedicine, and codification of the innovation network memorandum; and brainstorming of three workgroup members, and completion and clustering ideas. The present study employed a qualitative survey by using brain storming method. Thus, the ideas of the innovation network members were gathered, and by using Freeplane software, all of them were clustered and innovation projects were defined.

Results

In the services workgroup, 87 and 25 ideas were confirmed in phase 1 and phase 2, respectively. In the education workgroup, 8 new programs in the areas of telemedicine, tele-education and teleconsultation were codified. In the technology workgroup, 101 and 11 ideas were registered in phase 1 and phase 2, respectively.

Conclusions

Today, innovation is considered a major infrastructural element of any change or progress. Thus, the successful implementation of a telemedicine project not only needs funding, human resources, and full equipment. It also requires the use of innovation models to cover several different aspects of change and progress. The results of the study can provide a basis for the implementation of future telemedicine projects using new participatory, creative, and innovative models.

Hemoglobin fructation promotes heme degradation through the generation of endogenous reactive oxygen species

Protein glycation is a cascade of nonenzymatic reactions between reducing sugars and amino groups of proteins. It is referred to as fructation when the reducing monosaccharide is fructose. Some potential mechanisms have been suggested for the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by protein glycation reactions in the presence of glucose. In this state, glucose autoxidation, ketoamine, and oxidative advance glycation end products (AGEs) formation are considered as major sources of ROS and perhaps heme degradation during hemoglobin glycation. However, whether fructose mediated glycation produces ROS and heme degradation is unknown. Here we report that ROS (H2O2) production occurred during hemoglobin fructation in vitro using chemiluminescence methods. The enhanced heme exposure and degradation were determined using UV-Vis and fluorescence spectrophotometry. Following accumulation of ROS, heme degradation products were accumulated reaching a plateau along with the detected ROS. Thus, fructose may make a significant contribution to the production of ROS, glycation of proteins, and heme degradation during diabetes.

Comparison of thoracic kyphosis in two groups of elite Greco-Roman and freestyle wrestlers and a group of non-athletic participants

BACKGROUND

Freestyle and Greco-Roman are two types of wrestling that place the spine of athletes in different positions. Theoretically, it can be argued that this can lead to adverse effects on the spine and might be an important factor associated with changes in the degree of kyphosis.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to investigate whether the extent of thoracic kyphosis differs in two groups of elite wrestlers and a group of non-athletic participants.

METHODS

Sixty elite Iranian male wrestlers including 30 freestyle (mean (SD) age 23.5 (2.8) years, height 176 (7.1) cm and weight 77.8 (16.1) kg) and 30 Greco-Roman (age 23.9 (2.9) years, height 176 (4) cm and weight 80.1 (11.1) kg) wrestlers and 30 male non-athletes (age 23.3 (2.1) years, height 175 (8) cm and weight 75.2 (6.7) kg) were recruited. All wrestlers competed at international level with the Iranian national team or Iranian student national team. Each selected wrestler had to meet a minimum criterion of 5 years' wrestling. The degree of kyphosis was measured using a modified electrogoniometer.

RESULTS

Mean (SD) kyphosis was 30 degrees (3.8), 24.3 degrees (3.7) and 27.4 degrees (3.2) for the freestyle, Greco-Roman style and non-athlete groups, respectively. A significant difference was found in mean kyphosis between all groups (p<0.05) with freestyle being the highest and Greco-Roman the lowest.

CONCLUSIONS

The degree of kyphosis was highest in freestyle wrestling, followed by non-athletes and then Greco-Roman wrestlers. The extent of kyphosis was not influenced by years of training or age of starting wrestling.

Survey of the natural occurrence of zearalenone in maize from northern Iran by thin-layer chromatography densitometry

During September 2000, forty samples of preharvest maize from the province of Mazandaran, north Iran, were randomly collected. Samples were analysed for zearalenone (ZEA) by a thin-layer chromatography (TLC) method (AOAC Official Method). ZEA was extracted with chloroform, purified through a chromatographic column containing silica gel, separated on a TLC plate and quantified by densitometry. The analytical method was validated and was adequately reliable and sensitive. The mean recovery rate of ZEA from spiked samples was 92%. The absolute amount of ZEA standard detectable on a TLC plate was 20 ng, giving a limit of detection (LOD) of 100 ng g(-1). In some samples, it was shown that aflatoxins interfere with ZEA. Therefore, to remove this interference, the TLC mobile phase was changed. Data revealed that three of 40 (7.5%) maize samples contained ZEA in the range 100-212 ng g(-1), with a mean of 141+/-51 ng g(-1). This study, which is the first report of ZEA occurrence in Iranian maize, showed that the ZEA level in maize of Mazandaran province was lower than maximum limit for this mycotoxin in Iran.

The effect of large-dose intrathecal opioids on the autonomic nervous system

Decreases in blood pressure after the spinal injection of opioids suggest that intrathecal (IT) opioids may have a sympatholytic effect similar to that of local anesthetic drugs. We compared two groups of patients aged 10-16 yr (n = 10 in each group). Group One (IT group) received IT opioids. Group Two (Epidural group) received 0.5% bupivacaine epidurally. The sympathetic effects of IT opioids and epidural bupivacaine were monitored by the changes in toe relative to calf temperature and by the changes in pulse wave gradients with digital plethysmography. Changes in temperature gradients comparing calf to toe and increases in pulse amplitude indicate vasodilatation caused by sympathetic blockade in this model. Calf to toe temperature gradients (Deltacalf-Deltatoe) were evaluated by subtracting the two measurements. Pulse wave plethysmography was recorded before and after spinal and epidural injection at intervals of 10 min for 40 min. All patients demonstrated changes in their calf to toe gradients after IT and epidural injections (-3.2 +/- 1.6). Systolic blood pressure decreased from a mean of 70 +/- 15 mm Hg to 55 +/- 10 mm Hg. Pulse wave plethysmography amplitude increased after the intrathecal opioid and epidural bupivacaine injection similarly. We conclude that the increases in pulse wave amplitude and decreases in calf-toe gradients indicate a sympatholytic effect after IT opioids similar to that of local anesthetics.

IMPLICATIONS

The sympatholytic effects of neuraxial opioids were compared with those of local anesthetics. Two groups of patients were assigned to receive a neuraxial opioid or bupivacaine. Our results demonstrate that opioids cause hypotension and peripheral vasodilatation similar to bupivacaine. This finding suggests that neuraxial opioids have a sympatholytic effect comparable to that of local anesthetic drugs.

Comparison of epidural morphine, hydromorphone and fentanyl for postoperative pain control in children undergoing orthopaedic surgery

The safety and side-effects profile of epidural administration of a hydrophilic (morphine), highly lipophilic (fentanyl) and a drug with intermediate hydrophilic and lipophilic activity (hydromorphone) were compared in 90 children undergoing orthopaedic procedures. Ninety patients were randomly assigned (30 in each group) to receive epidural morphine, hydromorphone, or fentanyl for postoperative analgesia. Respiratory effects, nausea, somnolence, urinary retention, pruritus and visual pain scales were evaluated and compared during a 30-h period following surgery. In the morphine group, 25% showed respiratory depression with oxygen saturation below 90% but there was no incidence of respiratory depression in the fentanyl or hydromorphone groups. Somnolence was prominent in some of the patients in all the groups, but was more prolonged in the morphine group. Statistically, there was no significant difference in nausea between the groups, but pruritus was more severe and frequent in the morphine group. The incidence of urinary retention in the morphine group was higher compared with the fentanyl and hydromorphone groups. In conclusion, epidural hydromorphone, demonstrating less side-effects, is preferable to morphine and fentanyl for epidural analgesia in children.

A double blind comparison of droperidol and ondansetron for prevention of emesis in children undergoing orthopaedic surgery

Emesis is common in the postoperative period following epidural opioid and general anaesthesia. Eighty patients ages two to 14 years scheduled for major orthopaedic surgery were enrolled in a randomized, double-blind study to compare the prophylactic effects of ondansetron, droperidol and a placebo for the prevention of postoperative emesis. Each child was assigned at random to one of the four treatment groups: ondansetron 100 micrograms.kg-1, ondansetron 50 micrograms.kg-1, droperidol 60 micrograms.kg-1 and saline control. Drugs were administered intravenously after the induction of anaesthesia. Anaesthesia was supplemented with epidural fentanyl, given as an infusion of 1 microgram.kg-1 and continued for postoperative pain control. The incidence of vomiting in the immediate postoperative period was 25% with ondansetron (100 micrograms.kg-1), 40% with ondansetron (50 micrograms.kg-1) and droperidol and 70% with the control group. In the next 48 h the incidence of emesis increased to 30% for ondansetron (100 micrograms.kg-1), 55% with ondansetron (50 micrograms.kg-1), 65% with droperidol and 85% for the control group. Those patients who had multiple emesis necessitating a second dose of the same drug treatment showed no difference in the incidence of emesis relative to the control group. Ondansetron (50 micrograms.kg-1) and droperidol groups had lower incidence of PONV compared to the control group. The ondansetron (100 micrograms.kg-1) group had a significant decrease in the incidence of emesis. We conclude that the prophylactic administration of ondansetron (100 micrograms.kg-1) is more effective than droperidol and ondansetron (50 micrograms.kg-1) and superior to saline (P < 0.02) for the prevention of emesis before epidural opioid and general anaesthesia.

The advantages of intrathecal opioids for spinal fusion in children

Two groups of 40 homogeneous patients (ASA physical status (1-2)) with idiopathic scoliosis undergoing spinal fusion with CD instrumentation were studied prospectively. Group A (intrathecal) received a mixture of morphine and sufentanil administered intrathecally at the level of L3-L4 after the induction of anaesthesia. Group B (control) had inhalation and intravenous narcotic anaesthesia. The use of intrathecal opioids resulted in a significant reduction of blood pressure without the use of any hypotensive agents and produced prolonged postoperative analgesia. There was no adverse effect on somatosensory evoked potentials. The dose requirement for the anaesthetic agents was significantly reduced and the blood loss was 27% of their blood volume compared with 53% in the control group. No long or short term impairment of cerebral or spinal function was observed. The use of intrathecal opioids supplemented with other anaesthetic agents is an alternative method with multiple benefits for any major surgery such as spinal fusion.

Does sympathetic blockade prevent the physiologic changes associated with tourniquet use in children?

This study investigated a means of controlling the altered physiologic effects that occur when tourniquet inflation time is > or = 50 min during orthopaedic surgery in children. Forty patients were assigned randomly, 20 in each group. Both groups received inhalational anesthesia for induction. The control group had nitrous/narcotic with inhalation anesthesia for maintenance. The other group received a sympathetic blockade with 0.5% epidural bupivacaine, which was confirmed with the use of thermography technique and supplemented with 0.5-1% isoflurane. Duration of surgery and length of tourniquet inflation time were equal in the two groups. There was a significant difference in physiologic changes related to the tourniquet inflation time. The group with sympathetic blockade had only minor changes in blood pressure, pulse rate, and temperature compared with the control group.

Effect of intrathecal opioids on somatosensory-evoked potentials during spinal fusion in children

STUDY DESIGN

Intraoperative recording of somatosensory-evoked potentials is useful for monitoring spinal cord tolerance during spinal fusion with instrumentation. Volatile anesthetic agents are known to have prominent suppressive effects on somatosensory-evoked potentials. This study evaluates the effect of intrathecal administration of opioid, consisting of morphine sulfate and sufentanil, on somatosensory-evoked potential monitoring.

OBJECTIVES

To study the effect of different anesthesia techniques on somatosensory-evoked potentials during spinal fusion.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

The effect of intravenous narcotic administration on somatosensory-evoked potentials has been well studied and reported. This study shows the effect of intrathecal opioids on somatosensory-evoked potentials.

METHODS

Ten patients scheduled for spinal fusion with Cotrel-Dubousset instrumentation were induced with thiopental and maintained with intrathecal morphine sulfate (20 micrograms/kg) and sufentanil 50 micrograms, supplemented with isoflurane 0.5% air and oxygen. Routine monitoring was done, including arterial line and continuous somatosensory-evoked potentials. Anesthesia was maintained constant, with a mean blood pressure of 55 mm Hg. Normocarbia and normothermia were maintained. Baseline somatosensory-evoked potentials were recorded using bilateral posterior tibial nerve stimulation, with constant somatosensory-evoked potential monitoring after the induction of anesthesia.

RESULTS

There were no significant changes in either latencies or amplitudes in cortical somatosensory-evoked potentials after opioid injection at any time during the surgical procedures.

CONCLUSIONS

Somatosensory-evoked potential monitoring was possible in all patients undergoing extensive spinal surgery. Intrathecal opioid anesthesia with low concentrations of isoflurane in air and oxygen seems to have no effects on somatosensory-evoked potentials.

The effect of perioperative and postoperative caudal block on pain control in children

Ten paediatric patients (ASA status 1) who had bilateral club foot deformities and underwent bilateral posterior medio-lateral release within a two week interval (one foot operated each time) were assigned to one of two groups in a double-blind manner. Group one received caudal bupivicaine (0.25%) 2 mg.kg-1 before the surgical incision, followed by caudal normal saline infused at the same volume after the surgical incision. Group two received caudal saline before surgical incision followed by caudal bupivicaine (0.25%) infused 15 min after the surgical incision. No additional analgesic was used before or during the operation. Patients were selected in a manner that allowed each patient to be assigned to either group one or two during the first or second surgical episodes. Anaesthesia was induced with halothane and maintained with nitrous oxide and isoflurane. The anaesthesiologist following the patient for postoperative pain control and analgesic requirement was blinded to the regional technique. Postoperative pain was rated on a paediatric pain scale. Children received a morphine suppository at the appropriate dose related to the body weight for postoperative pain control. There was no significant difference in the cumulative postoperative analgesic requirements within the first 48 h, nor in the time to the first postoperative analgesic administration between the two groups.

Epidural versus patient-controlled analgesia with morphine for postoperative pain after orthopaedic procedures in children

We compared epidural and patient-controlled analgesia using morphine for pain relief during the first 30 h after orthopaedic surgery to examine whether intermittent epidural morphine (EM) offered a clinical advantage over patient-controlled analgesia in children. Forty patients were assigned randomly to receive either EM or morphine by the patient-controlled analgesia technique. In the special care unit, trained observers evaluated the patient's level of postoperative pain with a standardized objective pain scale. The differences in pain scores among the groups were compared. The two groups were not significantly different in age, weight, duration of operation, or anesthesia. There was no significant difference in quality of pain relief except for the amount of medicine required to control postoperative pain and the incidence of side effects between the two groups.

Physiologic changes during tourniquet use in children

The hemodynamic and metabolic effects of unilateral tourniquet use were assessed in 30 children. Intraoperative hyperthermia, tachycardia, endtidal CO2, and lactic acid concentration were measured before and after tourniquet inflation. Maximum changes in temperature and pulse rate occurred in patients who had tourniquet application time lasting greater than 75 min. Lactate and endtidal CO2 levels were also significantly increased in the same group of patients.

Comparison of oral pentazocine, oral diazepam and intramuscular pentazocine for paediatric premedication

Oral pentazocine-atropine, oral diazepam-atropine and IM pentazocine-atropine were compared as preoperative medication in children. Observations in 300 children ages 1-14 years included the emotional state at time of induction of anaesthesia, smoothness of induction, dryness of oral mucosa and tongue, incidence of vomiting, and emotional state and length of stay in the recovery room. The incidence of a calm state at the time of induction and smoothness of induction of anaesthesia was the same following oral and IM premedication. There was satisfactory drying of salivary secretions. The incidence of vomiting in the recovery room was the same following oral and IM premedication. However, children in age groups 1-4 and 5-9 years who received diazepam-atropine were more restless in the recovery room than those who received oral or IM pentazocine-atropine. More children in groups 1-4 and 5-9 years who received IM pentazocine-atropine stayed longer in the recovery room. We conclude that oral diazepam-atropine and oral pentazocine-atropine are comparable as to preoperative medication IM pentazocine-atropine and that they can be given as an alternate to intramuscular injection.

Effect of low dose droperidol on postoperative vomiting in children

This double-blind study assessed the effect of low dose droperidol (0.005 mg x kg-1) on the incidence of postoperative vomiting in 200 children in ASA classification I and II, ranging from one to 15 years of age. The results showed that the dose of droperidol used in this study was very effective in reducing vomiting in children 11 to 15 years of age. The duration of stay in the post-anaesthetic care unit was not prolonged and no extrapyramidal symptoms related to the drug were observed. In our opinion the administration of droperidol 0.005 mg x kg-1 before the end of the operation will reduce the possibility of vomiting within 24 hours of operation in children in 11-15 year age group who are expected to have a high incidence of postoperative vomiting.

Comparison of the calming and sedative effects of nalbuphine and pentazocine for paediatric premedication

Nalbuphine (EN2234A) is an agonist-antagonist analgesic. It is structurally related to the narcotic analgesic oxymorphone and to the narcotic antagonist naloxone. A double blind study was carried out in 400 children in ASA classification I, ranging from 10 months to 14 years of age, to compare nalbuphine, pentazocine and placebo for paediatric premedication. Our results showed that nalbuphine is comparable to pentazocine as a premedicating agent and superior to placebo, in the doses used, and that premedication is an important adjunct to anaesthesia in children. Following premedication with nalbuphine or pentazocine, there were fewer apprehensive children at the time of induction of anaesthesia and in the recovery room when compared to those receiving placebo injections.