ABSTRACT Cyantraniliprole has a broader insecticidal spectrum than the previously developed diamides. Because cyantraniliprole also targets hemipteran pests, it could provide an alternative to neonicotinoids like imidacloprid. However, there is limited information concerning how its broad-spectrum activity affects biological control agents. Toxicity of cyantraniliprole and imidacloprid to green peach aphid (Myzus persicae [Sulzer, 1776]), cabbage aphid (Brevicoryne brassicae [Linnaeus, 1758]) and greenhouse whitefly (Trialeurodes vaporariorum [Westwood, 1856]) nymphs was determined using both systemic and direct spray exposure. In addition, the direct spray activity of cyantraniliprole and imidacloprid on larvae of green lacewing, Chrysoperla defreitasi Brooks, 1994, was studied. Estimated LC50 values indicated that M. persicae, B. brassicae and T. vaporariorum were more susceptible to the systemic exposure to cyantraniliprole than to direct spray (0.148 vs. 24.284, 0.004 vs. 11.004, and 0.268 vs. 30.832 mg L-1, respectively). Similarly, susceptibility of M. persicae, B. brassicae and T. vaporariorum to imidacloprid was more pronounced when exposed systemically than through direct contact (0.018 vs. 1.149, 0.006 vs. 0.514, and 0.249 vs. 6.419 mg L-1, respectively). Hence, the population of B. brassicae was 40-fold more susceptible to cyantraniliprole than M. persicae when exposed to its systemic activity, and 2.2-fold more susceptible to cyantraniliprole’s direct spray activity than M. persicae. Interestingly, T. vaporariorum was less susceptible to the direct spray activities of cyantraniliprole compared to that of imidacloprid by 4.8-fold, but both insecticides were equally toxic for this species after systemic exposure. Crysoperla larvae were less susceptible to direct exposure to cyantranaliprole in comparison with imidacloprid (640.295 vs. 26.974 mg L-1). In comparison to imidacloprid, direct spray insecticidal activity of cyantraniliprole was less toxic to these hemipteran pests and to chrysoperla larvae. This suggests that the selectivity of cyantraniliprole towards C. defreitasi, as measured by direct spray only, could decline if its concentration is increased to target these hemipteran pests by foliar sprays.

Abstract Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) produces bitter-tasting triterpene saponins that must be removed prior to consumption, significantly adding to production costs. Breeders have therefore prioritized the development of low-saponin “sweet” cultivars with little concern for the ecological benefits these compounds may confer. Quinoa saponins are thought to provide protection against herbivores and microbial pathogens, although there is very little data to support these assumptions. Here we begin to address the question of whether biologically relevant concentrations of saponins exert negative effects against insects and pathogens that attack quinoa, as well as against species not associated with quinoa. Using bran of the coastal genotype Cáhuil as the source of saponins, we conducted feeding assays with larvae of 3 noctuid insect species. Antifungal activity against 8 species was assayed using bran extract incorporated into PDA media. Quinoa bran showed insecticidal activity against only the non-quinoa feeder Pseudaletia impuncta, while the quinoa feeders Trichoplusia ni and Feltia subterranea were not affected. The bran extract inhibited fungal colony growth of Alternaria arborescens, Botrytis cinerea, and Phytophthora cinnamomi by approximately 50% but had less growth inhibitory effect on Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cepae, Pestalotiopsis clavispora, Penicillium digitatum, Geotrichum sp., and the quinoa pathogen Phoma sp. The relatively higher inhibitory activity against some pathogen species did not necessarily correlate with their expected pathogenicity against quinoa. The results of this study suggest that, while the quinoa saponins present in bran and bran extracts may provide some protection against certain insects and phytopathogens, species-specific responses need further exploration.

Resumen La quínoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) produce saponinas triterpénicas de sabor amargo que deben eliminarse antes del consumo, lo que aumenta significativamente los costos de producción. Por lo tanto, los fitomejoradores han priorizado el desarrollo de cultivares “dulces” bajos en saponina con poca consideración por los beneficios ecológicos que estos compuestos pueden conferir. Se cree que las saponinas de quínoa brindan protección contra herbívoros y fitopatógenos microbianos, aunque existen muy pocos datos que respalden estos supuestos. En este estudio comenzamos a abordar la pregunta de si concentraciones biológicamente relevantes de saponinas ejercen efectos negativos contra los insectos y patógenos que atacan a la quínoa, así como también contra especies no asociadas con la quínoa. Utilizando el salvado del genotipo costero Cáhuil como fuente de saponinas, realizamos ensayos de alimentación con larvas de 3 especies de insectos lepidópteros de la familia Noctuidae. La actividad antifúngica se ensayó contra 8 especies fitopatogénicas usando extracto de salvado incorporado en medios PDA. El salvado de quinua mostró actividad insecticida solo contra la especie de insecto que no afecta quínoa Pseudaletia impuncta, mientras que los insectos que son plaga de quínoa Trichoplusia ni y Feltia subterranea no se vieron afectados. El extracto de salvado inhibió el crecimiento de colonias de los fitopatógenos Alternaria arborescens, Botrytis cinerea y Phytophthora cinnamomi en aproximadamente un 50%, pero tuvo un menor efecto inhibidor del crecimiento sobre Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cepae, Pestalotiopsis clavispora, Penicillium digitatum, Geotrichum sp. y el patógeno de la quínoa Phoma sp. La actividad inhibidora relativamente mayor contra algunas especies de patógenos no se correlaciona necesariamente con su patogenicidad esperada contra la quínoa. Los resultados de este estudio sugieren que, si bien las saponinas de quínoa presentes en el salvado y los extractos de salvado pueden proporcionar cierta protección contra ciertos insectos y fitopatógenos, las respuestas específicas de las especies necesitan una mayor exploración.

Solute transport across lipidic membranes is a fundamental process for both living organisms and drug delivery. In order to establish the mechanism of solute passive transport through lipidic membranes, we determined the effect of temperature upon the rate of glucose transport (as hydrophilic solute model) through dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine large unilamellar liposomes and compare the results to those obtained for a variety of fluorescent probes (pyrene, PRODAN, diphenylhexatriene, diphenylhexatriene-TMA). All these probes, independent of their localization in the liposomes, report a monotonous change in the micro-properties sensed with temperature, with a maximum rate of change at the main transition temperature of the bilayer. These results contrast with those obtained for the rate of glucose influx, were it is observed a clear maximum rate of intake at the transition temperature. These contrasting results imply that the microviscosity (common factor for used probes) is not the property of the bilayer that controls the rate off solute transport which, at least in the vicinity of the main transition temperature, is regulated by formation of transient pores, particularly at the transition temperature (Tm). This would indicate that, at least near Tm, glucose and other hydrophilic solutes diffuses through transient pores formed in the bilayer. Interestingly, the presence of these pores does not affect the fluorescence characteristics of the probes.

Estudios realizados en Santiago han determinado que la anemia al inicio del embarazo es un problema de salud pública. No se conoce la situación en el resto del país. El propósito de este estudio fue establecer la prevalencia de anemia en mujeres embarazadas de la provincia de Concepción y evaluar su asociación con su estado nutricional y el crecimiento fetal de sus recién nacidos. Cumplieron con los requisitos de ingreso 1782 mujeres que iniciaron el año 2004 control prenatal en los centros de atención primaria del sistema de salud público de Concepción. La anemia se determinó con los criterios de la OMS (Hb < 11g / dl) y del Center for Disease Control de los Estados Unidos de América (CDC) (Hb < percentilo 5 para cada semana de gestación). Se comparó la presencia o ausencia de anemia con las variables independientes antropométricas maternoinfantiles, la prematurez y el puntaje Apgar del recién nacido, además de la edad, paridad, morbilidad y hábito tabáquico de la madre. Se realizó un análisis multivariado con regresión logística del posible efecto de la anemia en el crecimiento fetal. La prevalencia de anemia fue de 10,9% y de 14,5% según los criterios OMS y CDC, respectivamente. El estado nutricional de la madre se asoció significativamente con la anemia. Sin embargo, la anemia según OMS y CDC al inicio del embarazo no se asoció con el crecimiento fetal en el análisis multivariado. La anemia materna y es algo superior a la del estudio más reciente de Santiago.

Maternal anemia in Concepción province, Chile: association with maternal nutritional status and fetal growth. Previous studies in Santiago, Chile have established that anemia in the earliest stages of pregnancy is a public health issue. The situation in other parts of the country is unknown. The purpose of this study is to establish the prevalence of anemia in pregnant women in the province of Concepcion and evaluate its association with maternal nutricional status and fetal growth. The study included 1782 women with singleton pregnancies who began prenatal check-ups in 2004 at the public primary health care centers. Anemia was established using the following criteria: from WHO (Hb < 11g / dl) and from the USA Center for Disease Control (CDC) (Hb < percentile 5 for each gestational week). Anemia prevalence was compared in relation to independent study variables: maternal age, parity, morbidity and smoking habit, and mother and child anthropometry. A multivariable logistic regression model studied the possible effect of anemia on fetal growth. The prevalence of anemia was 10.9% and 14.5% using the WHO and CDC criteria, respectively. The mother’s nutritional status was significantly associated with anemia. However, anemia according to WHO and CDC criteria at the beginning of pregnancy was not significantly associated to fetal growth in the univariate and multivariate analyses. The prevalence of anemia in the province of Concepcion constitutes a public health problem that needs to be addressed and it is slightly higher to that recently observed in the county of Puente Alto, Santiago.

Valproate and carbamazepine (CAR) have been proposed as adjunct alternatives for the control of aggression in psychiatric patients, although no definite conclusions have been reached. We examined the effects of these drugs on food competition offensive aggression and other behaviors in high- and low-aggression food-restricted pigeons. These were divided into pairs containing previously ranked high-aggression (N = 10 pairs) and low-aggression females (N = 10 pairs). In Experiment 1, a pigeon in each pair of high- and low-aggression subjects was treated daily with an oral dose of sodium valproate (50 mg kg-1 mL saline-1) for 15 days. The other animal received the vehicle. On days 1, 7, and 15, food competition trials (10 min) were performed 60 min after treatment. In Experiment 2, one pigeon in each pair was treated daily with an oral dose of CAR (20 mg kg-1 mL saline-1) for 15 days. Each pair was submitted to a food competition trial on days 1, 7, and 15 of treatment. Valproate (15 days of treatment) selectively decreased the time spent in offensive aggression (control: 102.7 ± 9.3 vs valproate: 32.7 ± 9.2 s; P < 0.001, ANOVA-2-TAU) of high-aggression pigeons. This was also the case for 7 and 15 days of CAR treatment (control: 131.5 ± 8.9 vs CAR: 60.4 ± 5.3, P < 0.01, and control: 122.7 ± 7.1 vs CAR: 39.1 ± 5.2; P < 0.001, ANOVA-2-TAU, respectively). Thus, the two anticonvulsive drugs have a similar effect on food competition aggression in pigeons.