Morphological identification of Glyptothrips species (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae).

Glyptothrips is a New World genus with 14 species of fungivorous Phlaeothripidae found in leaf litter. Identification of species in this genus is difficult due to limited collections of specimens, outdated descriptions, and a lack of keys and images. Here we start addressing these limitations by providing illustrations for each of these species, together with a table of diagnostic characters, and a key to nine species recorded in South America.

Tiny insects, big troubles: a review of BOLD's COI database for Thysanoptera (Insecta).

DNA Barcoding is an important tool for disciplines such as taxonomy, phylogenetics and phylogeography, with Barcode of Life Data System (BOLD) being the largest database of partial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) sequences. We provide the first extensive revision of the information available in this database for the insect order Thysanoptera, to assess: how many COI sequences are available; how representative these sequences are for the order; and the current potential of BOLD as a reference library for specimen identification and species delimitation. The COI database at BOLD currently represents only about 5% of the over 6400 valid thrips species, with a heavy bias towards a few species of economic importance.

Distribution patterns of Triatominae (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) in the Americas: an analysis based on networks and endemicity.

Triatominae, commonly known as kissing bugs, are a group of approximately 150 species of hematophagous reduviids, some of which are vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent of the Chagas disease. Distributional patterns of triatomines have been studied based on macroecological and historical biogeographic approaches, but the definition of distributional patterns and areas of endemism are yet to be defined based on objective criteria. We used two methods to identify biogeographic units in the Triatominae: the endemicity analysis based on an optimality criterion (NDM/VNDM software) and a network approach aimed to simplify and highlight the underlying structure in species distributions (Infomap Bioregions).

A milestone for Pentatomoidea: Grazia emet al./em 2008-What do we know and where can we go?

Pentatomoidea is the third largest superfamily in Heteroptera. The internal systematics and classification of this superfamily have an intricate history. The paper by Grazia et al.

Holopothrips diversity-a Neotropical genus of gall-inducing insects (Thysanoptera, Phlaeothripidae).

The genus Holopothrips represents the main Neotropical group of thrips associated with plant galls, and several of the 36 currently described species are known to induce or invade galls of other organisms. The existence of several Holopothrips specimens in collections that do not belong to any of the already described species, allied to the absence of basic biological information for several species, such as host plants and habit, shows that the current knowledge on the genus is severely lacking. Here we start addressing these problems, by describing 24 new species: H.

Revision of the South American genus Xiphiola Bolívar, 1896 (Orthoptera: Acrididae: Ommatolampidinae: Abracrini).

The Neotropical genus Xiphiola Bolívar, 1896 is revised. It includes two valid species: Xiphiola borellii Giglio-Tos, 1900 and Xiphiola cyanoptera (Gerstaecker, 1889). The genus and the species are redescribed and diagnostic characters are provided along with illustrations of each species.

Comparative morphology of selected characters of the Pentatomidae foreleg (Hemiptera, Heteroptera).

Heteropteran legs are very diverse within and among taxa, and such variation is frequently correlated with life habits. Structural modifications are commonly present in the legs of the Pentatomoidea but are poorly studied. Using scanning electron microscopy, the tibia and pretarsal microstructure of 82 species of Pentatomidae (Heteroptera), three species of Scutelleridae, and ten species of Thyreocoridae were described, focusing on the pretarsal structure, the foretibial apparatus, and the foretibial comb.

Soy extract phytoestrogens with high dose of isoflavones for menopausal symptoms.

Aim: The aim of the present study was to assess the efficacy and safety of a standardized compound based on an extract of soy phytoestrogens, with high doses of isoflavones in the management of menopausal hot flushes.

Methods: A total of 180 women aged 40-65 years with a minimum of five moderate-to-severe hot flushes in the last 7 days at baseline and absence of menstruation for at least 6 months participated in a 12-week prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled multicenter trial. After a 2-week run-in period, women received one tablet a day of 80 mg isoflavones (corresponding to 60 mg of genistein) or a matching placebo.

Efficacy of myo-inositol in the treatment of cutaneous disorders in young women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine cause of hirsutism, acne and pattern alopecia, often characterised by ovulation disorders (usually manifested as oligo- or amenorrhea). In addition, 30-40% of women with PCOS have impaired glucose tolerance, and a defect in the insulin signalling pathway seems to be implicated in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance. For this reason, insulin-lowering medications represent novel approach in women with PCOS.

Isolated tubal torsion in pregnancy.

Adnexal torsion is an uncommon cause of acute abdomen in pregnancy and isolated fallopian tube twisting accounts for a very small number of these cases. These conditions, either in pregnancy or in non-gestational circumstances, are known to be due to both genital and non-genital causes and, in most cases, predisposing factors can be identified. We reviewed the literature and retrieved only 19 cases of isolated fallopian tube torsion in pregnancy treated surgically from 1936 to today, including one recently published case from our experience.

Extralesional detection and load of human papillomavirus DNA: a possible marker of preclinical tumor spread in cervical cancer.

Objective: Because the interaction between viral DNA products and cellular regulatory mechanisms is the first step leading to cancerous transformation, the detection of its presence in histologically negative lymph nodes may represent a very early biological step in cancer spread. The quantitative estimate may represent and an indirect sign of active cellular replication.

Materials And Methods: Cervical and lymph nodes tissues of 13 cases of invasive cervical cancer were analyzed for human papillomavirus (HPV)-DNA presence and viral load by HPV typing and quantification by real-time polymerase chain reaction.

Peptide-nucleic acid-mediated enriched polymerase chain reaction as a key point for non-invasive prenatal diagnosis of beta-thalassemia.

The presence of fetal DNA in maternal plasma can be exploited to develop new procedures for non-invasive prenatal diagnosis. Tests to detect 7 frequent beta-globin gene mutations in people of Mediterranean origin were applied to the analysis of maternal plasma in couples where parents carried different mutations. A mutant enrichment amplification protocol was optimized by using peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) to clamp maternal wild-type alleles.

IFN-gamma produced by human papilloma virus-18 E6-specific CD4+ T cells predicts the clinical outcome after surgery in patients with high-grade cervical lesions.

Cervical neoplastic lesions are associated with infection by high-risk human papilloma viruses (HPVs). HPV-16 and HPV-18 are the most common genotypes. It has been proposed that development of HPV-16-positive cervical lesions is associated with impaired CD4(+) T cell immunity against early Ags.

Myo-inositol in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome: a novel method for ovulation induction.

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is often characterized by chronic oligo- or anovulation (usually manifested as oligo- or amenorrhea), and hyperandrogenism. In addition, 30-40% of PCOS women have impaired glucose tolerance, and a defect in the insulin signaling pathway (inositol-containing phosphoglycan mediators) seems to be implicated in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance. PCOS patients are subfertile as a consequence of such ovulatory disorders and often need drugs, such as clomiphene citrate or follicle-stimulating hormone, for ovulation induction, which increases the risk of multiple pregnancy and ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome.

Different approaches for noninvasive prenatal diagnosis of genetic diseases based on PNA-mediated enriched PCR.

The aim of this work was to develop advanced and accessible protocols for noninvasive prenatal diagnosis of genetic diseases. We are evaluating different technologies for mutation detection, based on fluorescent probe hybridization of the amplified product and pyrosequencing, a technique that relies on the incorporation of nucleotides in a primer-directed polymerase extension reaction. In a previous investigation, we have already proven that these approaches are sufficiently sensitive to detect a few copies of a minority-mutated allele in the presence of an excess of wild-type DNA, In this work, in order to further enhance the sensitivity, we have employed a mutant enrichment amplification strategy based on the use of peptide nucleic acids (PNAs).

Natural cycle as first approach in aged patients with elevated follicle-stimulating hormone undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection: a pilot study.

Background: Poor ovarian response to standard in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) protocols or different regimens of treatment, as consequence of a diminished ovarian reserve, correlates strictly with patient age, elevated follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and reduced antral follicle count. The aim of the present pilot study was to evaluate the outcome of patients with poor prognostic features undergoing IVF-ET with natural cycles as a first approach and not as a consequence of a previous failure treatment.

Materials And Methods: Eighteen aged patients (mean +/- standard deviation 40.

Correlation of fetal DNA levels in maternal plasma with Doppler status in pathological pregnancies.

Objectives: To evaluate whether intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) as seen in preeclampsia is associated with high levels of fetal DNA in maternal circulation, and whether fetal DNA is related to altered uterine and/or umbilical artery Doppler velocimetry.

Methods: Fetal DNA quantification was performed by real-time PCR on SRY sequences in 64 male-bearing pregnant women with IUGR and/or preeclampsia and 89 controls.

Results: Fetal DNA content was significantly elevated in IUGR pregnancies similar to preeclampsia and correlated with altered umbilical Doppler velocimetry, while no correlation was found with uterine Doppler status.

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist and metformin for treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome patients undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer.

Aim: The combination of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist and gonadotropin represents a valid alternative to the classical protocol with GnRH agonist for ovulation induction in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The use of metformin is of benefit to women with PCOS. The aim of the present study was to compare the stimulation characteristics and in vitro fertilization (IVF)-embryo transfer (ET) outcomes of the standard short GnRH antagonist protocol for ovarian stimulation with or without metformin.

Psychological assessment of the effects of treatment with phytoestrogens on postmenopausal women: a randomized, double-blind, crossover, placebo-controlled study.

Objective: To investigate the effects of soy isoflavones on mood and cognitive function in postmenopausal women.

Design: Randomized, double-blind, cross-over, placebo-controlled trial.

Setting: University Hospital, Milan, Italy; A.

Pathologic findings in hysteroscopy before in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET).

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate hysteroscopy routinely performed prior to in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET).

Methods: We analyzed in a prospective study 300 patients who underwent hysteroscopy before the first IVF-ET cycle. We analyzed then in a retrospective manner 300 patients who did not perform hysteroscopy.

Consecutive cycles in in vitro fertilization--embryo transfer.

Background: The decline of female fertility with advancing age is well documented. The aim of this study was to compare the ovarian performance after repeated ovarian stimulation cycles in women of different ages.

Methods: Four hundred patients who started at least three in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles during the 5-year period between 1998 and 2002 were identified.

Fetal DNA detection in maternal plasma throughout gestation.

The presence of fetal DNA in maternal plasma may represent a source of genetic material which can be obtained noninvasively. We wanted to assess whether fetal DNA is detectable in all pregnant women, to define the range and distribution of fetal DNA concentration at different gestational ages, to identify the optimal period to obtain a maternal blood sample yielding an adequate amount of fetal DNA for prenatal diagnosis, and to evaluate accuracy and predictive values of this approach. This information is crucial to develop safe and reliable non-invasive genetic testing in early pregnancy and monitoring of pregnancy complications in late gestation.