Grand challenges in entomology: Priorities for action in the coming decades.

Entomology is key to understanding terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems at a time of unprecedented anthropogenic environmental change and offers substantial untapped potential to benefit humanity in a variety of ways, from improving agricultural practices to managing vector-borne diseases and inspiring technological advances.We identified high priority challenges for entomology using an inclusive, open, and democratic four-stage prioritisation approach, conducted among the membership and affiliates (hereafter 'members') of the UK-based Royal Entomological Society (RES).A list of 710 challenges was gathered from 189 RES members.

Intratumoral drug-releasing microdevices allow in situ high-throughput pharmaco phenotyping in patients with gliomas.

The lack of reliable predictive biomarkers to guide effective therapy is a major obstacle to the advancement of therapy for high-grade gliomas, particularly glioblastoma (GBM), one of the few cancers whose prognosis has not improved over the past several decades. With this pilot clinical trial (number NCT04135807), we provide first-in-human evidence that drug-releasing intratumoral microdevices (IMDs) can be safely and effectively used to obtain patient-specific, high-throughput molecular and histopathological drug response profiling. These data can complement other strategies to inform the selection of drugs based on their observed antitumor effect in situ.

Inhibition of Anti-Inflammatory Macrophage Phenotype Reduces Tumour Growth in Mouse Models of Brain Metastasis.

Breast cancer brain metastasis is a significant clinical problem and carries a poor prognosis. Although it is well-established that macrophages are a primary component of the brain metastasis microenvironment, the role of blood-derived macrophages (BDM) and brain-resident microglia in the progression of brain metastases remains uncertain. The aim of this study, therefore, was to determine the role, specifically, of pro- and anti-inflammatory BDM and microglial phenotypes on metastasis progression.

Selective blood-brain barrier permeabilization of brain metastases by a type 1 receptor-selective tumor necrosis factor mutein.

Background: Metastasis to the brain is a major challenge with poor prognosis. The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a significant impediment to effective treatment, being intact during the early stages of tumor development and heterogeneously permeable at later stages. Intravenous injection of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) selectively induces BBB permeabilization at sites of brain micrometastasis, in a TNF type 1 receptor (TNFR1)-dependent manner.

Imaging of translocator protein upregulation is selective for pro-inflammatory polarized astrocytes and microglia.

Translocator protein (TSPO) expression is increased in activated glia, and has been used as a marker of neuroinflammation in PET imaging. However, the extent to which TSPO upregulation reflects a pro- or anti-inflammatory phenotype remains unclear. Our aim was to determine whether TSPO upregulation in astrocytes and microglia/macrophages is limited to a specific inflammatory phenotype.

Understanding and managing intimate partner violence in the pediatric primary care setting: a review.

Purpose Of Review: To highlight the impact of intimate partner violence (IPV), also known as domestic violence, on children and families and to provide a framework for pediatricians in managing IPV-affected families.

Recent Findings: Children living with a victim of IPV are at a much higher risk of being physically abused themselves. Exposure to IPV places children at high risk for multiple adverse childhood experiences, long-term health morbidity, and increased chance of intergenerational transmission of child abuse and future IPV.

Functionalized carbon nanotube adsorption interfaces for electron transfer studies of galactose oxidase.

Modified electrodes featuring specific adsorption platforms able to access the electrochemistry of the copper containing enzyme galactose oxidase (GaOx) were explored, including interfaces featuring nanomaterials such as nanoparticles and carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Electrodes modified with various self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) including those with attached nanoparticles or amide-coupled functionalized CNTs were examined for their ability to effectively immobilize GaOx and study the redox activity related to its copper core. While stable GaOx electrochemistry has been notoriously difficult to achieve at modified electrodes, strategically designed functionalized CNT-based interfaces, cysteamine SAM-modified electrode subsequently amide-coupled to carboxylic acid functionalized single wall CNTs, were significantly more effective with high GaOx surface adsorption along with well-defined, more reversible, stable (≥ 8 days) voltammetry and an average ET rate constant of 0.

Dural Sinus (Cerebral Venous) Thrombosis in a Pediatric Trauma Patient: A Rare Complication After Closed Head Injury.

Objective: Closed head injury rarely predisposes patients, particularly children, to the development of dural sinus thrombosis. In addition, most cases of sinus thrombosis are subacute in nature. The following is a case report of a precipitous course of dural sinus thrombosis after closed head injury in a pediatric trauma patient.

Adoptive transfer of M2 macrophages reduces neuropathic pain via opioid peptides.

Background: During the inflammation which occurs following nerve damage, macrophages are recruited to the site of injury. Phenotypic diversity is a hallmark of the macrophage lineage and includes pro-inflammatory M1 and anti-inflammatory M2 populations. Our aim in this study was to investigate the ability of polarized M0, M1, and M2 macrophages to secrete opioid peptides and to examine their relative contribution to the modulation of neuropathic pain.

The subpopulation of microglia expressing functional muscarinic acetylcholine receptors expands in stroke and Alzheimer's disease.

Microglia undergo a process of activation in pathology which is controlled by many factors including neurotransmitters. We found that a subpopulation (11 %) of freshly isolated adult microglia respond to the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor agonist carbachol with a Ca(2+) increase and a subpopulation of similar size (16 %) was observed by FACS analysis using an antibody against the M3 receptor subtype. The carbachol-sensitive population increased in microglia/brain macrophages isolated from tissue of mouse models for stroke (60 %) and Alzheimer's disease (25 %), but not for glioma and multiple sclerosis.

The subpopulation of microglia sensitive to neurotransmitters/neurohormones is modulated by stimulation with LPS, interferon-γ, and IL-4.

Recently, neurotransmitters/neurohormones have been identified as factors controlling the function of microglia, the immune competent cells of the central nervous system. In this study, we compared the responsiveness of microglia to neurotransmitters/neurohormones. We freshly isolated microglia from healthy adult C57Bl/6 mice and found that only a small fraction (1-20%) responded to the application of endothelin, histamine, substance P, serotonin, galanin, somatostatin, angiotensin II, vasopressin, neurotensin, dopamine, or nicotine.

Detection systems for carbapenemase gene identification should include the SME serine carbapenemase.

Carbapenemase detection has become a major problem in hospitals that encounter outbreaks of infections caused by carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacteria. Rapid detection systems have been reported using multiplex PCR analyses and DNA microarray assays. Major carbapenemases that are detected by these systems include the KPC and OXA serine carbapenemases, and the IMP, VIM and NDM families of metallo-β-lactamases.

Transmitter- and hormone-activated Ca(2+) responses in adult microglia/brain macrophages in situ recorded after viral transduction of a recombinant Ca(2+) sensor.

In vitro studies show that microglia, the resident immune cells of the brain, express neurotransmitter and neuropeptide receptors which are linked to Ca(2+) signaling. Here we describe an approach to obtain Ca(2+) recordings from microglia in situ. We injected a retrovirus encoding a calcium sensor into the cortex of mice 2 days after stimulation of microglial proliferation by a stab wound injury.

Transmission of toxoplasmosis in two renal allograft recipients receiving an organ from the same donor.

Toxoplasma gondii is a ubiquitous protozoan parasite. After acute infection it continues to exist as cysts in the muscles and brain. Recipients of organ allografts are susceptible to the disease as a result of reactivation of quiescent infection either by transmission from the organ donor or by consumption of undercooked meat.

Death due to malathion poisoning.

Malathion is a commonly available insecticide with relatively low toxicity. A study was undertaken in South Australia over a 20-year period to assess the characteristic features of deaths associated with malathion. A total of 5 cases were found, in each of which exposure to malathion had been intentional.

Sigmoid volvulus and unexpected death in the elderly.

An 84-year-old female who was found unexpectedly dead at her home was shown at autopsy to have a massively dilated sigmoid colon with twisting of the lower colon on an unusually long mesentery. The volvulus had caused mechanical obstruction of the bowel with critical reduction of the blood supply resulting in intestinal infarction. Death was due to ischaemic necrosis of the lower large intestine with significant fluid and electrolyte sequestration within the bowel lumen, associated with disseminated sepsis.

A field evaluation of the predictive value of a hand-held drum pressure detection device.

According to Environmental Protection Agency estimates, 20% of hazardous waste drums currently managed in the 6500 known, uncontrolled Superfund removal or remediation sites contain some degree of elevated internal pressurization. This estimate increases to 90% during the summer months, and, overall, up to 5% of the drums stored in active treatment, storage, and disposal facilities may be pressurized. The ability to identify pressurized drums in real-time would enhance worker health and safety, reduce the potential for environmental contamination, and minimize property damage.