Development of molecular diagnostic protocols for simultaneous identification of common bed bugs (Cimex lectularius) and tropical bed bugs (Cimex hemipterus).

Background: The resurgence of two bed bug species, the common bed bug (Cimex lectularius Linnaeus, 1758) and tropical bed bug (Cimex hemipterus Fabricius, 1803), in the same geographical regions has been frequently reported recently. Consequently, the rapid identification of these species is crucial for implementing targeted capture traps and tailored pyrethroid resistance diagnosis, due to differences in genetic and physiological traits.

Methods: To develop molecular diagnostic methods, distinct protocols were established for multiplex PCR and loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) using species-specific primers based on species-specific segments of internal transcribed spacer 2 sequences.

Species identification and pyrethroid resistance genotyping of recently resurgent Cimex lectularius and Cimex hemipterus in Korea.

The global resurgence of bed bug infestations, exacerbated by increasing international travel, trade, and insecticide resistance, has significantly impacted Korea. This study identified the bed bug species and performed pyrethroid resistance genotyping of recently resurgent bed bugs in Korea. Thirty-one regional bed bug samples were collected from 5 administrative regions: Gyeonggi-do (n=14), Seoul (n=13), Busan (n=2), Jeonllanam-do (n=1), and Chungcheongbuk-do (n=1).

Establishment and application of bioassay- and molecular marker-based methods for monitoring fluvalinate resistance of Varroa mites.

The Varroa mite, Varroa destructor, is an ectoparasite that infests honey bees. The extensive use of acaricides, including fluvalinate, has led to the emergence of resistance in Varroa mite populations worldwide. This study's objective is to monitor fluvalinate resistance in field populations of Varroa mites in Korea through both bioassay-based and molecular marker-based methods.

Planning for Your Advance Care Needs (PLAN): A Communication Intervention to Improve Advance Care Planning among Latino Patients with Advanced Cancer.

Background: The goal of this study was to develop and optimize an intervention designed to address barriers to engagement in advance care planning (ACP) among Latino patients with advanced cancer. The resulting intervention, titled Planning Your Advance Care Needs (PLAN), is grounded in theoretical models of communication competence and sociocultural theory.

Materials And Methods: An initial version of the PLAN manual was developed based on a prior intervention, Ca-HELP, that was designed to improve communication around pain among cancer patients.

The first recent case of Cimex hemipterus (Hemiptera: Cimicidae) with super-kdr mutations in the Republic of Korea.

With the increase in international travel and trade, in conjunction with the development of insecticide resistance, infestations of Cimex lectularius (L.) and Cimex hemipterus (F.) (Hemiptera: Cimicidae) have resurged globally in the last 2 decades.

Molecular and kinetic properties of three acetylcholinesterases in the Varroa mite, Varroa destructor.

The Varroa mite, Varroa destructor, poses one of the most serious threats to honey bees worldwide. Although coumaphos, an anticholinesterase pesticide, is widely used for varroa mite control, little information is available on the properties of Varroa mite acetylcholinesterases (VdAChEs). In this study, three putative VdAChEs were annotated and named VdAChE1, VdAChE2, and VdAChE3.

Usability and acceptability of the electronic self-assessment and care (eSAC) program in advanced ovarian cancer: A mixed methods study.

Objective: To determine usability and acceptability of the electronic self-assessment and care (eSAC) web-based, patient reported outcome (PRO) program for people with advanced ovarian cancer.

Methods: Patient participants recruited from a single ambulatory site were prompted by email to answer symptom/quality of life items prior to each clinic visit. Patient participant acceptability was measured with the Acceptability E-Scale Score (AES).

Determination of the optimal maturation temperature for adult honey bee toxicity testing.

Honey bees are exposed to various pesticides through pollinating and in-hive Varroa mite control. The most basic method for evaluating pesticide toxicity is the indoor bioassay using worker bees, in which newly emerged adults are matured in incubators for conditioning before use. However, little information is available on the optimum maturation temperature from a toxicological point of view, even though it can affect honey bee responses to pesticides.

Chronic exposure to field-realistic doses of imidacloprid resulted in biphasic negative effects on honey bee physiology.

There have been many investigations on the negative effects of imidacloprid (IMD) on honey bees. IMD is known to disrupt honey bee physiology and colony health at a relatively low concentration compared to other pesticides. In this study, honey bee colonies were chronically exposed to field-realistic concentrations (5, 20, and 100 ppb) of IMD, and the body weight, flight performance, carbohydrate reserve, and lipid contents of forager bees analyzed.

Molecular and kinetic characterization of two acetylcholinesterases with particular focus on the roles of two amino acid substitutions (Y390N and F392W) in Bemisia tabaci.

Two acetylcholinesterases (AChEs) are present in Bemisia tabaci (BtAChE1 and BtAChE2). A conserved AChE mutation conferring organophosphate (OP) resistance (F392W in BtAChE1) is saturated in field populations despite its potential fitness cost, and a highly conserved amino acid residue forming the backdoor of AChE is substituted with a unique amino acid (Y390N in BtAChE1) in B. tabaci.

Reactions to COVID-19, information and technology use, and social connectedness among older adults with pre-frailty and frailty.

The emergence of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and social distancing measures has serious implications, particularly those age 65 and older. We performed a qualitative analysis of online discussion data generated by older adults with pre-frailty and frailty while subject to a state stay-at-home order. We provided participants with prompts relating to the public health emergency, collected 60 posts, and analyzed them using a general inductive analytic method.

Monitoring of Pyrethroid Resistance Allele Frequency in the Common Bed Bug (Cimex lectularius) in the Republic of Korea.

Two-point mutations (V419L and L925I) on the voltage-sensitive sodium channel of bed bugs (Cimex lectularius) are known to confer pyrethroid resistance. To determine the status of pyrethroid resistance in bed bugs in Korea, resistance allele frequencies of bed bug strains collected from several US military installations in Korea and Mokpo, Jeollanamdo, from 2009-2019 were monitored using a quantitative sequencing. Most bed bugs were determined to have both of the point mutations except a few specimens, collected in 2009, 2012 and 2014, having only a single point mutation (L925I).

Technology-Supported Interventions for Pregnant Women: A Systematic Review.

Technology is deeply embedded in daily life; thus, more pregnant women seek information through the Internet and incorporate the use of technological devices during their pregnancies. This systematic review aimed to examine to what extent and how technology-supported interventions were developed and delivered to pregnant women, as well as intervention effects on the targeted outcomes. Electronic data were collected from MEDLINE, CINAHL, and Scopus.