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Maize crop ranks the first place in Romania as cultivated area, representing 2.3-2.5 million ha annually, this being subjected to the attack of several pests. Various researches conducted in different locations of Romania indicated that pests (Tanymecus dilaticollis, Agriotes spp. Helicoverpa armigera, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera, Ostrinia nubilalis) can caused up to 100% losses in maize crops, especially because of those pests attacking in the first stages of vegetation. Recently, other very damaging pests have been reported to the maize crop as new threats or/and quarantine pests, which can cause major damages in the future, for example: Spodoptera frugiperda, Elasmopalpus lignosellus, Tylenchorhynchus claytoni, Chilo partellus. These new pests have established themselves in Europe, therefore the risk of spreading is very high. The data from literature were analysed on the pest short description, the damages produced to maize plants and the most effective control strategies through chemical, biological and cultural operations in the maize growing regions in Romania. It is important for growers to recognize all stages of these insects that attack maize crops, to making the correct decision by Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and/or other effective control methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maize leaf weevil (Tanymecus dilaticollis Gyll) is one of Romania's most harmful pests of maize crops. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the different control methods of the maize leaf weevil in conditions of the high pest pressure from a commercial farm, located in one of the most favorable areas for this weevils species, in the southeast of Romania (Mihail Kogălniceanu, Ialomița County). This study has tested foliar treatment with acetamiprid and lambda-cyhalothrin active ingredients, seeds treatment with imidacloprid and cyantraniliprole active ingredients, and granules application with the lambda-cyhalothrin active ingredient. In the spring of 2021, at the experimental site, it has registered a high pest density (15-20 weevils/m2). As a result of the weather's unfavorable conditions for weevils activity on the ground, the pest attack was moderate when maize was in early vegetation stages. At the control (untreated) variant, most of the maize plants had leaves chaffed in the proportion of 50-75%, but the majority of the plants survived after the attack. In this study, lower weevils attack has registered in the case of the variants with seeds treated with imidacloprid and cyantraniliprole active ingredients. From all experimental variants, higher maize yield was recorded in the case of the variant with seeds treated with imidacloprid active ingredient (12501 kg/ha). This study, effectuated in conditions of high pest pressure, in commercial farm conditions, demonstrates that seed treatment with systemic insecticides adequately protects the maize plants in early vegetation stages (BBCH 10-BBCH 14) against maize leaf weevil attack. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We document and make available to the scholarly community a uniquely detailed database of 20,680 observations of wages for men, women, and children and 30,000 observations of prices from eighteenth-century rural Denmark. These microlevel data were originally collected by the Danish Price History Project but have not previously been released. To illustrate the usefulness of such data, we discuss possible applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Acromegaly is a rare progressive chronic disease characterized by hypersecretion of growth hormone (GH) and elevated levels of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), primarily caused by a GH-secreting pituitary adenoma. Patients suffering from this disease frequently have an impaired Quality of Life (QoL) which may persist despite biochemical control on the IGF-1. The Acromegaly Quality of Life Questionnaire (AcroQoL) is a useful tool to asses QoL in these patients. Objective: We aimed to present the QoL evolution in a complex case of aggressive acromegaly which required multiple interventions (2 surgeries, radiotherapy and multimodal pharmacological treatment) to achieve biochemical control. Material and methods: We present a 33-year-old male patient with a history of active acromegaly with an aggressive GH-secreting pituitary macroadenoma operated twice, with significant tumor remnant that required gamma-knife radiotherapy. The patient is currently on combined treatment with Pegvisomant and Cabergoline maximum dose due to resistance to first generation somatostatin analogs. Biochemical control was achieved after a long history of poor control. We applied the AcroQoL questionnaire at two different times during the patients evolution. Results: In the prior investigation, the patient exhibited a QoL score of 97,72p, with minimal physical compromise (93,75p), while other facets remained unaltered. He was partially biochemically controlled at that time. However, in the current examination, despite the achievement of biochemical control, his QoL score declined to 87,5p. Notably, physical well-being decreased to 87,5p, alongside a decrease in psychological and appearance- dimensions. Conclusions: Through effective treatment and meticulous control of the disease after a long history of multiple therapies, this patient's quality of life remained altered and decreased in comparison to the previous evaluation, revealing the difficulties in successfully managing an aggressive case of GH producing pituitary macroadenoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: An important cause of recurrent hypoglycemia related to endogenous hyperinsulinism is represented by insulinoma, a rare tumor with a low incidence, impacting 1-4 individuals per million of the general population. The hallmark of this condition is an autonomous hypersecretion of insulin, which occurs independently of the normal glycemic control mechanisms. Typically, it results in non-specific neuroglycopenic symptoms and increased sympathoadrenal activity during the hypoglycemic episodes, posing a challenge in diagnosis. Case Report: This report describes the case of a 66-year-old female patient with recurrent episodes of hypoglycemia, accompanied by various comorbidities including chronic autoimmune thyroiditis, hypertension, dyslipidemia and grade 1 obesity. The patient had been experiencing recurrent episodes of malaise associated with low blood glucose levels (<40 mg/dL) since 2021, with occasional loss of consciousness due to severe hypoglycemia. Initially misdiagnosed as diabetes mellitus type 2, based on a flat oral glucose tolerance test curve, she was treated with Metformin, but discontinued treatment due to persistent symptomatic hypoglycemic episodes. Through meticulous dietary adaptations, the patient achieved control of her early-onset symptoms by unrestricted intake of glucose-rich liquids and foods. Subsequently, the patient was diagnosed with endogenous hyperinsulinism (glucose level of 21 mg/dl during the fasting test, unsuppressed insulin and C-peptide). Abdominal MRI revealed the presence of a cephalic pancreatic nodule, later confirmed to be an insulinoma upon biopsy. The patient underwent surgical intervention for the removal of the tumor and symptomatic episodes improved thereafter. Discussions : The patient's condition illustrates a typical case of severe hyperinsulinism, that was diagnosed after several years of symptomatic evolution. The patient tolerated the hypoglycemic episodes unexpectedly well, explained by the chronic adaptation of the autonomic nervous system to low glucose levels. Ultimately, the patient was diagnosed with endogenous hyperinsulinism associated with a pancreatic tumor, which was successfully surgically removed. The case also highlights how the possibility of a deceptive appearance, such as a flat OGTT curve in this condition, is misleadingly implying the presence of diabetes mellitus. Conclusions: Increased awareness to symptoms of hypoglycemia should lead to a prompt evaluation for endogenous hyperinsulinism, which is attributed to a pancreatic tumor in the majority of cases. This condition, if unifocal and surgically accessible, as revealed in our case, can be effectively managed through surgical intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]