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[Objectives] To assess the effectiveness of Harmonia axyridis Pallas, reared on Ephestia kuehniella Zeller eggs, as a biological control for adult bean aphids, Aphis craccivora Koch, and determine the optimum H. axyridis release density required for effective biological control of this aphid. [Methods] The predatory efficiency of H. axyridis reared on either E. kuehniella eggs or aphids, on adult bean aphids, A. craccivora, was assessed in a laboratory. [Results] Predation by newly emerged H. axyridis adults on A. craccivora was of the Holling- II type. The theoretical maximum predation rates of H. axyridis reared on fresh eggs, UV-killed eggs, frozen eggs, frozen eggs with honey, or aphids, were 88.20, 97.73, 78.64, 101.81, 107.70 prey ⋅ d-1, respectively, and there was no significant difference between these 5 treatments in average predation rate on aphids. At the same prey density, the search efficiency of H. axyridis reared on these five different diets was also very similar. After fitting the new Holling functional response model, the highest possible H. axyridis density without inter-specific competition, 31.89, was the best for biological control of aphids. [Conclusion] H. axyridis adults raised on E. kuehniella eggs could control aphids as well as those raised on aphids and the predatory functional response model of both groups was of the Holling- II type. The parameters of the predation function of H. axyridis fed on frozen eggs with honey were most similar to those of the control. Therefore, in terms of predation efficiency, frozen eggs with honey are the best diet for H. axyridis. Frozen eggs are easy to preserve and therefore suitable for the large-scale production of H. axyridis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Bdella tropica is a predatory mite of potential importance in biological control of spider mites. Therefore, we conducted this experiment to understand its biology. The laboratory experiments showed that Bdella tropica Atyeo failed to develop at temperatures of 15 ± 1°C and 35 ± 1°C, but its development was normal at temperatures of 17 ± 1°C, 21 ± 1°C, 25 ± 1°C, 29 ± 1°C, and 33°C ± 1°C, although it could not oviposit at 17 ± 1°C. The results showed that the development of B. tropica was the longest (115.3 days) at 17 ± 1°C and shortest (37.4 days) at 33 ± 1°C, and shortened with increasing temperature within the range of 17–33°C. The survivorship of B. tropica increased with increasing temperature from 15 to 29°C and decreased with increasing temperature within the range from 29 to 35°C. The developmental threshold of temperature of the immature stage was 11.3°C, and the effective thermal summation of immature stage was 843.2 degree-days. The relationships between development and temperature were approximately linear within the range of 17–33°C. These results will help to evaluate the potential of B. tropica as a biological control agent against spider mites. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Objective: To explore the etiopathogenesis, therapy and incidence of pulmonary infection in kidney transplantation recipients taking new immunosuppressant., Methods: The clinical data from 752 kidney transplant recipients were retrospectively analyzed, who were divided into 3 groups according to the immunosuppressants administered, namely group A (CsA+MMF+Pred, n=226), group B (FK506+MMF+Pred, n=386) and group C (FK506+Rap+Pred, n=140). The incidence and mortality of pulmonary infection were recorded and the analysis of etiopathogenesis, diagnosis and therapy of pulmonary infection were carried out in the 3 groups., Results: Fifty-three patients acquired post-transplant pulmonary infection. The incidence of pulmonary infection was 7.08% (16/226) in group A, 7.25% (28/386) in group B and 6.43% (9/140) in group C. One patient died in group A and 2 in group B. Among the 53 patients, 24 had simple bacterial infection, 9 had cytomegalovirus infection, 1 had mycotic infection, 17 had combined infection, and 2 had unidentified pathogen infection. Of the pathogenic bacteria detected, 68.35% were Gram-negative., Conclusion: Gram-negative bacteria are most likely responsible for pulmonary infection after kidney transplantation, which most possibly occurs within 6 months after kidney transplantation. Early diagnosis and early treatment are critical for decreasing the mortality of severe pneumonia and for improving the survival rate of the patients and grafts.

Objective: To compare the long-term effect and safety of tacrolimus (FK506) and cyclosporine (CsA) in kidney transplant (KT) recipients carrying hepatitis B Virus(HBV)., Methods: A total of 109 patients with HBV were randomized into FK506 group (52 cases) and CsA group (57 cases) after KT, and a 2-year-long follow-up of the patients was conducted to record the patient and graft survival, incidence of acute graft rejection and postoperative liver function., Results: The 2-year patient/graft survival was 86.0%/73.7% and 94.2%/90.3% in CsA and FK506 groups, respectively (P<0.05), with incidence of acute rejection of 10.5% and 9.6% (P>0.05), and rate of abnormal liver function of 26.3% and 15.4% (P<0.05), respectively. Eight patients (14.4%) in CsA group required a drug conversion but none in FK506 group. The drug conversion resulted in significant reduction of ALT/AST level from 255.13+/-31.38/201.88+/-21.25 U/L to 31.25+/-11.50/25.13+/-9.68 U/L (P<0.01)., Conclusion: For HBV-carrying renal transplant recipients, FK506 as the primary choice of immunosuppressant can be more effective and safer than CsA.