We found that sexual differentiation of all the nymphal stages of Pycnoscelus indicus (Fabricius) was possible by observing the developmental features of their posterior abdominal segments. Using this observation, the sex of even the 1st stage instar nymph could be determined. The female of the 1st to 6th stage instar nymph possess a V-shaped notch at the middle of the posterior edge of the 9th sternite. This notch is not seen in the male nymph. In the female 7th stage (final stage) instar nymph, the styli were not apparent and, the 8th and 9th sternites became degenerated and were covered over by the profoundly developed 7th sternite. In contrast, all stages of the male nymph showed the presence of styli. Thus, it is possible to differentiate the sex of all the stages, from 1st to 7th, of the nymph of P. indicus taxonomically. Moreover, it is also possible to identify the various specimens as to which stage the nymphal instar belong to, by counting the number of cercal segments from the ventral view.

A survey of cockroach fauna was carried out on the 3 inhabited islands of the Ogasawara chain island of Japan, namely, Chichijima island, Hahajima island and Iwo island. Seven species, namely, Periplaneta americana (Linnaeus, 1758), Periplaneta australasiae (Fabricius, 1775), Blattella lituricollis (Walker, 1868), Onychostylus vilis (Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1865), Supella longipalpa (Fabricius, 1798), Pycnoscelus surinamensis (Linnaeus, 1758) and Opisthoplatia orientalis (Burmeister, 1838), were collected on Chichijima island. Four species, namely, P. americana, P. australasiae, O. vilis and P. surinamensis were collected on Hahajima island and 6 species, namely, P. americana, P. australasiae, B. lituricollis, O. vilis, P. surinamensis and Neostylopyga rhombifolia were collected on Iwo island. This is the first record of N. rhombifolia and Onychostylus orientalis on the Ogasawara chain islands. Our study increases the recorded taxon of cockroaches on the Ogasawara from 3 families, 5 genera 10 species to 4 families, 7 genera, 12 species. A list of the cockroach species on Ogasawara islands reported to date as well as a key for their identification is also presented. Periplaneta americana and P. australasiae, being the dominant species, together with S. longipalpa, were collected mostly in the indoor environment, indicating their preference for this habitat. Pycnoscelus surinamensis, which is considered as an outdoor insect has been found in semi-household environments such as greenhouse and shed, indicating their new adaptation to the changing environment.

An overview of the epidemiological, biological, and clinical studies of Taenia and taeniasis in Taiwan for the past century is presented. The phenomenal observations that led to the discovery of Taenia asiatica as a new species, which differ from Taenia solium and Taenia saginata, are described. Parasitological surveys of the aborigines in Taiwan revealed a high prevalence of taeniasis, which might be due to the culture of eating raw liver of hunted wild boars. Chemotherapeutic deworming trials involving many patients with taeniasis were discussed. Praziquantel was found to be very effective, but sometimes complete worms could not be recovered from the feces after treatment, probably due to the dissolution of the proglottids. Atabrine, despite some side effects, can still be used, in properly controlled dosages, as the drug of choice for human T. asiatica infection if we need to recover the expelled worms for morphological examinations. Research results on the infection of T. asiatica eggs from Taiwan aborigines in experimental animals were also noted. Since the pig serve as the natural intermediate host of T. asiatica and the predilection site is the liver, a differential comparison of other parasitic pathogens that might cause apparently similar lesions is also presented.
Animals ; Anthelmintics/therapeutic use ; Biomedical Research/history ; History, 20th Century ; History, 21st Century ; Humans ; Taenia/*classification/*isolation & purification ; Taeniasis/drug therapy/*epidemiology/history ; Taiwan/epidemiology

Background: Many smokers have undiagnosed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD), and yet screening for COPD is not recommended. Smokers who know that they haveairflow limitation are more likely to quit smoking. This study aims to identify the prevalence andpredictors of airflow limitation among smokers in primary care.Methods: Current smokers ≥ 40 years old who were asymptomatic clinic attendees in aprimary care setting were recruited consecutively for two months. We used a two-step strategy.Step 1: participants filled in a questionnaire. Step 2: Assessment of airflow limitation using apocket spirometer. Multiple logistic regression was utilised to determine the best risk predictorsfor airflow limitation.Results: Three hundred participants were recruited. Mean age was 58.35 (SD 10.30) yearsold and mean smoking history was 34.56 pack-years (SD 25.23). One in two smokers were found tohave airflow limitation; the predictors were Indian ethnicity, prolonged smoking pack-year historyand Lung Function Questionnaire score ≤ 18. Readiness to quit smoking and the awareness ofCOPD were low.Conclusions: The high prevalence of airflow limitation and low readiness to quit smokingimply urgency with helping smokers to quit smoking. Identifying airflow limitation as an additionalmotivator for smoking cessation intervention may be considered. A two-step case-finding methodis potentially feasible.