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Copyright of Builder (1896-0642) is the property of PWB MEDIA Zdzieblowski sp.j. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Most stink bugs (Pentatomidae) are polyphagous and feed on an array of cultivated and non-cultivated plants. Among the last, weed plants play an important role in their bioecology and pest status, particularly in the Neotropics, in where stink bugs are active during most of the year. In spite of this, the weeds role is, in general, underestimated. In this review article we present and discuss the importance of weed plants present in row crops and pasture lands, affecting stink bugs pests of major commodities in the Neotropics. We surveyed the literature and other sources (unpublished records) on the presence of stink bugs on weed plants. These plants were ranked as hosts (allowing nymph development and/or adult reproduction) or as associated plants (providing some nutrients/water/shelter, but not allowing nymph and/or adult performance). The following stink bug pest species were covered: The green-bellied stink bugs, Diceraeus furcatus (F.) and D. melacanthus Dallas; the Neotropical brown sink bug, Euschistus heros (F.); the brown-winged stink bug, Edessa meditabunda (F.); the southern green stink bug, Nezara viridula (L.); the rice stink bugs, Oebalus poecilus (Dallas) and O. ypsilongriseus (De Geer); the red-banded stink bug, Piezodorus guildinii (Westwood); the rice stalk stink bug, Tibraca limbativentris Stål; and the red-shouldered stink bug, Thyanta perditor (F.). The survey showed plants from 16 different families interacting with the 10 species of pest pentatomids analyzed, with the greater number of species of Fabaceae (16+), Poaceae (14+), and Asteraceae (7). Data demonstrated that, in the modern landscape scenario of agricultural areas in the Neotropics, highly polyphagous species, such as N. viridula, tend to suffer greater impact, while the oligophagous species, E. heros, D. furcatus, and D. melacanthus, in contrast, tend to be favored. The management of weed plants through the increase use of herbicides, multiple cropping, and the non-tillage cultivation systems seems to be the major factors influencing the interactions of stink bugs and weeds, changing the population dynamics of pest stink bugs in the Neotropics, and, consequently their pest status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cross-Sectional Studies, Disease Progression, Humans, Phenotype, Leukoencephalopathies diagnostic imaging, and Leukoencephalopathies genetics

Purpose: Recent reports of individuals with cytoplasmic transfer RNA (tRNA) synthetase-related disorders have identified cases with phenotypic variability from the index presentations. We sought to assess phenotypic variability in individuals with AARS1-related disease.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey was performed on individuals with biallelic variants in AARS1. Clinical data, neuroimaging, and genetic testing results were reviewed. Alanyl tRNA synthetase (AlaRS) activity was measured in available fibroblasts.
Results: We identified 11 affected individuals. Two phenotypic presentations emerged, one with early infantile-onset disease resembling the index cases of AARS1-related epileptic encephalopathy with deficient myelination (n = 7). The second (n = 4) was a later-onset disorder, where disease onset occurred after the first year of life and was characterized on neuroimaging by a progressive posterior predominant leukoencephalopathy evolving to include the frontal white matter. AlaRS activity was significantly reduced in five affected individuals with both early infantile-onset and late-onset phenotypes.
Conclusion: We suggest that variants in AARS1 result in a broader clinical spectrum than previously appreciated. The predominant form results in early infantile-onset disease with epileptic encephalopathy and deficient myelination. However, a subgroup of affected individuals manifests with late-onset disease and similarly rapid progressive clinical decline. Longitudinal imaging and clinical follow-up will be valuable in understanding factors affecting disease progression and outcome.
(© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics.)

BROWN marmorated stink bug, STINKBUGS, HEMIPTERA, GREENHOUSES, ADULTS, and COWPEA

Brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB), Halyomorpha halys (Stål) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), is a pest of concern that must be controlled for market access of host material and regulated articles to certain countries. This work outlines a rearing system for BMSB on live cowpea plants, Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. (Fabales: Fabaceae), including methods to induce adults to both enter and exit diapause. This scalable system affords continuous access to >600 specimens per week of each life stage and/or age group, which is particularly advantageous when developing treatment efficacy data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anti-Bacterial Agents pharmacology, Geography, Medical, History, 21st Century, Humans, Microbial Sensitivity Tests, Multilocus Sequence Typing, Netherlands epidemiology, Phylogeny, Pilot Projects, Pseudomonas Infections history, Pseudomonas aeruginosa classification, Pseudomonas aeruginosa drug effects, Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolation purification, Public Health Surveillance, beta-Lactam Resistance, beta-Lactamases biosynthesis, Disease Outbreaks, Pseudomonas Infections epidemiology, Pseudomonas Infections microbiology, Pseudomonas aeruginosa genetics, and beta-Lactamases genetics

Verona Integron-encoded Metallo-beta-lactamase (VIM) is the most frequently-encountered carbapenemase in the healthcare-related pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In the Netherlands, a low-endemic country for antibiotic-resistant bacteria, no national surveillance data on the prevalence of carbapenemase-producing P. aeruginosa (CPPA) was available. Therefore, in 2016, a national surveillance pilot study was initiated to investigate the occurrence, molecular epidemiology, genetic characterization, and resistomes of CPPA among P. aeruginosa isolates submitted by medical microbiology laboratories (MMLs) throughout the country. From 1221 isolates included in the study, 124 (10%) produced carbapenemase (CIM-positive); of these, the majority (95, 77%) were positive for the bla VIM gene using PCR. Sequencing was performed on 112 CIM-positive and 56 CIM-negative isolates (n = 168), and genetic clustering revealed that 75/168 (45%) isolates were highly similar. This genetic cluster, designated Group 1, comprised isolates that belonged to high-risk sequence type ST111/serotype O12, had similar resistomes, and all but two carried the bla VIM-2 allele on an identical class 1 integron. Additionally, Group 1 isolates originated from around the country (i.e. seven provinces) and from multiple MMLs. In conclusion, the Netherlands had experienced a nationwide, inter-institutional, clonal outbreak of VIM-2-producing P. aeruginosa for at least three years, which this pilot study was crucial in identifying. A structured, national surveillance program is strongly advised to monitor the spread of Group 1 CPPA, to identify emerging clones/carbapenemase genes, and to detect transmission in and especially between hospitals in order to control current and future outbreaks.
(© 2021. The Author(s).)

We report the first detection of Trissolcus mitsukurii in France. More than 1860 sentinel egg masses of Halyomorpha halys (BMSB) were exposed in the field during the 2018-2020 period, and 12 specimens of T. mitsukurii emerged from one egg mass. Their taxonomic identification was confirmed both by morphological and molecular analysis. Trissolcus mitsukurii , similar to T. japonicus , is an egg parasitoid of BMSB in its area of origin in Asia, and both species are considered to be candidates for a classical biological control strategy against BMSB. Trissolcus mitsukurii was previously recorded in Italy where it is well established and widespread, and this may be the source of the French population. Possible permanent establishment and dispersion of T. mitsukurii in France should be monitored with emphasis on its potential effect on BMSB populations.

STINKBUGS, BROWN marmorated stink bug, PREDATION, HEMIPTERA, SPECIES, and LANDSCAPES

This study evaluated parasitism and predation on sentinel egg masses of three stink bug species, the spined soldier bug, Podisus maculiventris (Say), the brown stink bug, Euschistus servus (Say), and the invasive brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB), Halyomorpha halys (Stål), in ornamental landscapes composed of either native or exotic plants. This study also compared the species composition of parasitoids attacking two native stink bug species (P. maculiventris and E. servus) with those attacking the invasive BMSB on the same tree species in the same habitat. Overall, egg parasitism and predation were much higher on the two native stink bug species compared with BMSB, with an average parasitism rate of 20.6% for E. servus , 12.7% for P. maculiventris , and only 4.2% for H. halys and an average predation rate of 8.2% for E. servus, 17.7% for P. maculiventris, and 2.3% for H. halys. Egg predation was also significantly higher on P. maculiventris than on E. servus eggs. Eight parasitoid species attacked sentinel stink bug eggs in the ornamental landscaped plots. Trissolcus euschisti (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) was the predominant parasitoid for all three stink bug species. There were no significant differences in parasitism and predation rates on any of the stink bug species between native and exotic plots. Therefore, there is no evidence that ornamental landscapes composed of native plants increased parasitism or predation rates of sentinel egg masses of two native stink bug species or the invasive BMSB, compared with those composed entirely of exotic plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Amylases blood, Biopsy, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 complications, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 drug therapy, Dose-Response Relationship, Drug, Double-Blind Method, Female, Glucagon-Like Peptides adverse effects, Humans, Injections, Subcutaneous, Lipase blood, Liver pathology, Liver Cirrhosis drug therapy, Liver Cirrhosis etiology, Liver Cirrhosis pathology, Male, Middle Aged, Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease blood, Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease complications, Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease pathology, Young Adult, Glucagon-Like Peptides administration dosage, and Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease drug therapy

Background: Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a common disease that is associated with increased morbidity and mortality, but treatment options are limited. The efficacy and safety of the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist semaglutide in patients with NASH is not known.
Methods: We conducted a 72-week, double-blind phase 2 trial involving patients with biopsy-confirmed NASH and liver fibrosis of stage F1, F2, or F3. Patients were randomly assigned, in a 3:3:3:1:1:1 ratio, to receive once-daily subcutaneous semaglutide at a dose of 0.1, 0.2, or 0.4 mg or corresponding placebo. The primary end point was resolution of NASH with no worsening of fibrosis. The confirmatory secondary end point was an improvement of at least one fibrosis stage with no worsening of NASH. The analyses of these end points were performed only in patients with stage F2 or F3 fibrosis; other analyses were performed in all the patients.
Results: In total, 320 patients (of whom 230 had stage F2 or F3 fibrosis) were randomly assigned to receive semaglutide at a dose of 0.1 mg (80 patients), 0.2 mg (78 patients), or 0.4 mg (82 patients) or to receive placebo (80 patients). The percentage of patients in whom NASH resolution was achieved with no worsening of fibrosis was 40% in the 0.1-mg group, 36% in the 0.2-mg group, 59% in the 0.4-mg group, and 17% in the placebo group (P<0.001 for semaglutide 0.4 mg vs. placebo). An improvement in fibrosis stage occurred in 43% of the patients in the 0.4-mg group and in 33% of the patients in the placebo group (P = 0.48). The mean percent weight loss was 13% in the 0.4-mg group and 1% in the placebo group. The incidence of nausea, constipation, and vomiting was higher in the 0.4-mg group than in the placebo group (nausea, 42% vs. 11%; constipation, 22% vs. 12%; and vomiting, 15% vs. 2%). Malignant neoplasms were reported in 3 patients who received semaglutide (1%) and in no patients who received placebo. Overall, neoplasms (benign, malignant, or unspecified) were reported in 15% of the patients in the semaglutide groups and in 8% in the placebo group; no pattern of occurrence in specific organs was observed.
Conclusions: This phase 2 trial involving patients with NASH showed that treatment with semaglutide resulted in a significantly higher percentage of patients with NASH resolution than placebo. However, the trial did not show a significant between-group difference in the percentage of patients with an improvement in fibrosis stage. (Funded by Novo Nordisk; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02970942.).
(Copyright © 2020 Massachusetts Medical Society.)