Hypoplasia of the Posterior Leaflet as a Rare Cause of Congenital Mitral Insufficiency

A bstract A rare case of congenital mitral insufficiency characterized by the hypoplasia of the posterior leaflet is reported. At operation, the mitral valve was successfully repaired by a ring annuloplasty, which created a satisfactory surface of coaptation between the anterior leaflet and the bulky posterior muscular structure. The presence of this posterior muscular structure represents a developmental arrest at the stage of conversion from muscular chordae and leaflets to thin connective structures.     

Development and Evaluation of an Interactive CD-ROM Refusal Skills Program to Prevent Youth Substance Use: “Refuse to Use”

An interactive CD-ROM program designed to reduce adolescent substance use was developed and evaluated. The program uses video vignettes to teach refusal skills and socially acceptable responses to substance use situations, specifically offers of marijuana. In a randomized pretest-to-posttest experiment with 74 public school students from six classes in three high schools, significant changes were observed at posttest on (1) the adolescent's personal efficacy to refuse the offer of marijuana, (2) the adolescent's intention to refuse marijuana if offered, and (3) the adolescent's perceptions of the social norms associated with substance use and the importance of respecting another's decision to refuse a drug offer. In addition, adolescents in the treatment condition were able to recall approximately 50% of the portrayed refusal strategies. Findings are discussed with regard to the potential benefits of an interactive multimedia approach for conducting substance use interventions.     

Biomechanics and Classification of the Cartilaginous Structures to Project the Nasal Tip

The present paper is the long-term conclusion of our preliminary presentation at the 1992 ISAPS Congress (Guadalajara, Mexico). This is the result of 29 cadaver dissections of different ages and both sexes. We have observed that length, thickness, and resistance correlate with the possibility to project the nasal tip with the mere structure of the alar cartilage and its medial crurae. We also demonstrated the existence and antagonistic action of Pitanguy's ligament as well as the depressing ligament to project the nasal tip. In this study, besides focusing on classifying the medial crus according to its thickness, length, and resistance, which is already different from any previous classification, we also focused on its surgical utility, and its interaction with other anatomic elements, to achieve the desired projection. Clinically, we present a 12-year experience with 1653 cases operated under this premise.     

Serologic evidence of West Nile virus and St. Louis encephalitis virus infections in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) from New Jersey, 2001

Serum samples from 689 hunter-killed white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) collected during the 2001 fall hunting season in New Jersey were tested for neutralizing antibodies to West Nile virus (WNV) and St. Louis encephalitis virus (SLEV) by plaque-reduction neutralization tests. WNV-neutralizing antibodies were detected in six (0.9%) of the samples, and SLEV-neutralizing antibodies were found in 11 (1.6%) of the samples. We provide the first report of WNV infection in white-tailed deer.     

A Study in First-Episode Psychosis Patients: Does Angiotensin I-Converting Enzyme Activity Associated With Genotype Predict Symptom Severity Reductions After Treatment With Atypical Antipsychotic Risperidone?

BackgroundOur previous studies showed increased angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) activity in chronic schizophrenia patients compared with healthy control (HC) volunteers, and the relevance of combining ACE genotype and activity for predicting schizophrenia was suggested.MethodsACE activity was measured in plasma of ACE insertion/deletion (I/D) genotyped HC volunteers (n = 53) and antipsychotic-naïve first-episode psychosis (FEP) patients (n = 45) assessed at baseline (FEB-B) and also after 2 months (FEP-2M) of treatment with the atypical antipsychotic risperidone.ResultsACE activity measurements showed significant differences among HC, FEP-B, and FEP-2M groups (F = 5.356, df = 2, P = .005) as well as between HC and FEP-2M (post-hoc Tukey’s multiple comparisons test, P = .004). No correlation was observed for ACE activity increases and symptom severity reductions in FEP as assessed by total Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (r = −0.131, P = .434). FEP subgrouped by ACE I/D genotype showed significant ACE activity increases, mainly in the DD genotype subgroup. No correlation between ACE activity and age was observed in FEP or HC groups separately (r = 0.210, P = .392), but ACE activity level differences observed between these groups were influenced by age.ConclusionsThe importance of measuring the ACE activity in blood plasma, associated with ACE I/D genotyping to support the follow-up of FEP patients, did not show correlation with general symptom amelioration in the present study. However, new insights into the influence of age and I/D genotype for ACE activity changes in FEP individuals upon treatment was demonstrated.     

Larval Competition Extends Developmental Time and Decreases Adult Size of wMelPop Wolbachia-Infected Aedes aegypti

The intracellular endosymbiont Wolbachia has been artificially transinfected into the dengue vector Aedes aegypti, where it is being investigated as a potential dengue biological control agent. Invasion of Wolbachia in natural populations depends upon the fitness of Wolbachia-infected Ae. aegypti relative to uninfected competitors. Although Wolbachia infections impose fitness costs on the adult host, effects at the immature stages are less clear, particularly in competitive situations. We look for effects of two Wolbachia infections, wMel and wMelPop, on intra-strain and inter-strain larval competition in Ae. aegypti. Development of Wolbachia-infected larvae is delayed in mixed cohorts with uninfected larvae under crowded-rearing conditions. Slow developing wMelPop-infected larvae have reduced adult size compared with uninfected larvae, and larvae with the wMel infection are somewhat larger and have greater viability relative to uninfected larvae when in mixed cohorts. Implications for successful invasion by these Wolbachia infections under field conditions are considered.     

Differences in male–female ratios of Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) following ultra-low volume adulticide applications

Suppression of Aedes albopictus populations is a substantial challenge for mosquito control programs globally because juveniles of this species are found in numerous kinds of domestic artificial containers that are difficult to detect, access, and eliminate. We conducted a multi-year assessment of the effect of different interventions to control Ae. albopictus near the northernmost geographic boundary of the species in temperate North America and deployed an array of BG-Sentinel traps for adult surveillance. Here we present the results of a comparative examination of adult sex ratios in urban and suburban areas, shifts in sex ratios after control interventions, and a discussion of the critical drivers of population dynamics of Ae. albopictus in our area. We collected significantly more male mosquitoes in urban as compared to suburban areas in June through September, but not in May (p < 0.001). The higher number of male mosquitoes in urban areas could be attributed to a higher number of larval habitats within a closer proximity of the surveillance traps and the lower flight dispersal of males. Following application of adulticides in urban areas, Ae. albopictus male populations were reduced by 88% on average, which was higher than the 69% reduction in female populations. The higher reduction of male mosquitoes could be attributed to the smaller body mass of the males and their higher susceptibility to adulticides. The results of this study are directly relevant to the development of suitable control strategies that depend on manipulation of males, such as the sterile insect technique. The results could also be used to refine mosquito abatement by providing more accurate methods to determine the need and timing of vector control.