Managed honeybees and South American bumblebees exhibit complementary foraging patterns in highbush blueberry.

Despite Apis mellifera being the most widely managed pollinator to enhance crop production, they are not the most suitable species for highbush blueberries, which possess restrictive floral morphology and require buzz-pollination. Thus, the South American bumblebee Bombus pauloensis is increasingly managed as an alternative species in this crop alongside honeybees. Herein, we evaluated the foraging patterns of the two species, concerning the potential pollen transfer between two blueberry co-blooming cultivars grown under open high tunnels during two seasons considering different colony densities.

Evaluating the Impact of Post-Emergence Weed Control in Honeybee Colonies Located in Different Agricultural Surroundings.

The honeybee is exposed to agricultural intensification, which leads to an improved reliance upon pesticide use and the reduction of floral diversity. In the present study, we assess the changes in the colony activity and the expression profile of genes involved in xenobiotic detoxification in larvae and adult honeybees from three apiaries located in agricultural environments that differ in their proportion of the crop/wild flora. We evaluated these variables before and after the administration of a mixture of three herbicides during the summer season.

Appetitive behavior of the honey bee in response to phenolic compounds naturally found in nectars.

The honey bee is the most frequently used species in pollination services for diverse crops. In onion crops (), however, bees avoid visiting certain varieties, being attracted differently to male sterile (MS) and fertile (OP) lines. These differences might be based on the phenolic profiles of the cultivars' nectars.

A successful approach to reducing bloodstream infections based on a disinfection device for intravenous needleless connector hubs.

When central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) spiked in an oncology unit of an acute care hospital in Philadelphia from October 2009 to March 2010, noncompliance with intravenous needleless connector disinfection was suspected as a factor. The hospital implemented a disinfection cap, a device designed to address compliance/variance issues with connector disinfection protocols. However, the incidence of CLABSIs increased again in 1 unit, apparently as the result of poor compliance with cap use.

Genistein effects on quality of life and depression symptoms in osteopenic postmenopausal women: a 2-year randomized, double-blind, controlled study.

Summary: Postmenopausal estrogen decline is implicated in several age-related physical and psychological changes in women, including decreases in perceived quality of life. The phytoestrogen genistein at a dose of 54 mg daily in osteopenic postmenopausal women after 2 years implies an improvement on quality of life and depression symptoms.

Introduction: Postmenopausal estrogen decline is implicated in several age-related physical and psychological changes in women, including decreases in perceived quality of life (QoL).

Recognition of early myocardial infarction by immunohistochemical staining with cardiac troponin-I and complement C9.

The diagnosis of early myocardial infarction (MI) after death, especially in the first few hours (c. 6 h) after the onset of MI, poses a challenge to the forensic pathologists. During this time, the damaged myocardium does not show grossly identifiable morphological changes and may not be recognized even with routine histological microscopic examination.

Bone mineral density, quantitative ultrasound parameters and bone metabolism in postmenopausal women with depression.

Low bone mineral density, which increases the risk of stress fragility fractures, is a frequent, often persistent finding in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). The clinical association between major depressive disorder and osteopenia is still unclear, although several factors are associated with a loss of bone mass. The aim of our study, therefore, was to evaluate bone mineral density and bone metabolism in patients with MDD.

Role of genetic pattern on bone mineral density in thalassemic patients.

Objectives: To evaluate the role of genetic background in osteoporosis/osteopenia development in beta-Thalassemia Major patients.

Design And Methods: The influence of VDR (FokI, BsmI) as well as COLIA1 (Sp1) gene polymorphisms on BMD was investigated in 40 patients.

Results: Although the examined gene polymorphisms did not significantly affect BMD variations in our population, BsmI was found to display beneficial effects on patient response to alendronate therapy.

Genistein effects on quantitative ultrasound parameters and bone mineral density in osteopenic postmenopausal women.

Unlabelled: This study aimed at evaluating the effects of genistein (54 mg/die) on calcaneus and phalanges ultrasound (QUS) parameters and bone mineral density in osteopenic postmenopausal women. We concluded that genistein prevented bone loss in the osteopenic postmenopausal women and improves QUS parameters at the calcaneus and phalanges.

Introduction: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effects of genistein (54 mg/die) on quantitative ultrasound (QUS) parameters of the calcaneus and hand phalange and on bone mineral density (BMD) in osteopenic postmenopausal women.

Bisphosphonates in the treatment of thalassemia-associated osteoporosis.

Thalassemia major is a common cause of skeletal morbidity, as shown by the increased fracture risk in thalassemic patients. The etiology of this bone disease is multifactorial and culminates in a state of increased bone turnover with excessive bone resorption and remodeling. Despite hormonal replacement therapy, calcium and vitamin D administration, effective iron chelation, and normalization of hemoglobin levels, patients with thalassemia major continue to lose bone mass.

Effect of long-term treatment with raloxifene on mammary density in postmenopausal women.

Objective: To evaluate in a group of postmenopausal women the effects of long-term raloxifene treatment on breast density using a digitized analysis of mammograms and on insulinlike growth factor-1 (IGF-1), insulinlike growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3), and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) plasma levels.

Design: Seventy healthy postmenopausal women with normal body weight were enrolled in this study and were divided into two groups based on their bone status, evaluated by dual-energy x-ray at the lumbar spine (L2-4). Fifty women (chronological age 52.

Effects of a peer led intervention program on smoking prevention: a case example in Greece.

This pilot study evaluates the effects of a peer developed, smoking prevention program on the smoking behavior, intent to smoke, knowledge, and attitudes toward smoking of high school students. An experimental group of 237 first and second grade high school students (mean ages 12.2 and 13.

[Effects of short-term administration of ibopamine on hemodynamic parameters].

Ibopamine was administered in a dose of 100 mg every 8 hours for three days to 18 hospitalised heart patients of NYHA class I and II. ECHO examination, polygraphic examination, rheographic examination and carotid CW Doppler were carried out under basal conditions and at the end of treatment. B.

[Mid-term effects of 1-carnitine on the lipidogram of rabbits with surgically denervated heart].

L-Carnitine induces reversibility upon the lipid-graph of a rabbit with a surgically denerved heart after 90 days since it reduces the percentage of stearic acid but also increases thoroughly linoleic acid that notoriously has a plastic and regulatory effect on the heart.

Human alpha atrial natriuretic peptide inhibits angiotensin stimulated aldosterone biosynthesis in bovine adrenal glands.

The behaviour of aldosterone output was evaluated in isolated and superfused bovine adrenal glands during superfusion with human alpha atrial natriuretic peptide on its own or with angiotensin II or a antagonist dopaminergic drug: metoclopramide. H alpha-ANP even in high concentrations did not reduce the basal amount of aldosterone released from bovine adrenal glands, nor did it modify aldosterone response to metoclopramide, but it partially inhibited aldosterone stimulation by angiotensin II. These data suggest that atrial natriuretic factor may affect sodium secretion through the modulation of aldosterone secretion.

Schizophrenia in children: a review of European research.

European literature on childhood schizophrenia is divergent and vast. The topic itself is controversial and complex. The article reviews selected European literature on childhood schizophrenia and presents the most important trends of research from the literature.

On the role of dopamine receptors in aldosterone secretion.

We studied the effects of infusion of dopamine (4 microgram/kg/min for 120 min) alone or with domperidone infusion (235 microgram/min for 120 min) on aldosterone secretion before and after stimulation by ACTH (0,5 mg i.v.) in normal subjects.

[Saralasin in subjects with low renin arterial hypertension].

The Authors have studied, in a group of hypertensive subjects with low renin, the behavior of arterial blood pressure, PRA, plasma aldosterone, plasma K and Na, after intravenous load of Saralasin before and after treatment with Furosmide (40 mg orally given for 4 days). In such conditions we evidenced an agonist effect of Saralasin mainly on plasma aldosterone and less on arterial pressure. The Authors conclude that Saralasin, in given conditions (free receptor sites), can exhibit on agonist effect on aldosterone secretion; such agonist effect can be augmented by dopaminergic deficit, that sometimes in present is essential arterial hypertension.

[Production of corticosterone in vitro: role of PGE2].

The Authors have studied corticosteron output and tissue levels of cAMP during superfusion with ACTH and/or PGE2 before and after preincubation with indometacin (2 microgram/ml) in beef adrenal glands isolated and superfused with Ringer solution. The Authors on the basis of Mieir studies, conclude that PGE2 can be considered as fixed intermediares of the corticosteroidogenetic action of ACTH.