The beet armyworm Spodoptera exigua (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is difficult to control using chemical insecticides because of the development of insecticide resistance. Several pest control agents are used to control the beet armyworm. Entomopathogenic fungi are one of the candidates for eco-friendly pest control instead of chemical control agents. In this study, among various entomopathogenic fungal strains isolated from soil two isolates were selected as high virulence pathogens against larva of beet armyworm. Control efficacy of fungal conidia was influenced by conidia concentration, temperature, and relative humidity (RH). The isolates Metarhizium anisopliae FT83 showed 100% cumulative mortality against second instar larvae of S. exigua 3 days after treatment at 1 x 10(7) conidia/mL and Paecilomyces fumosoroseus FG340 caused 100% mortality 6 days after treatment at 1 x 10(4) conidia/mL. Both M. anisopliae FT83 and P. fumosoroseus FG340 effectively controlled the moth at 20~30degrees C. M. anisopliae FT83 was significantly affected mortality by RH: mortality was 86.7% at 85% RH and 13.4% at 45% RH. P. fumosoroseus FG340 showed high mortality as 90% at 45% RH and 100% at 75% RH 6 days after conidia treatments. These results suggest that P. fumosoroseus FG340 and M. anisopliae FT83 have high potential to develop as a biocontrol agent against the beet armyworm.
Beta vulgaris ; Fungi* ; Humidity ; Insecticide Resistance ; Insecticides ; Larva ; Metarhizium* ; Mortality ; Moths ; Paecilomyces* ; Pest Control ; Soil ; Spodoptera* ; Spores, Fungal ; Virulence*

PURPOSE: This study evaluated powdered burn wound dressing materials from wild silkworm fibroin in an animal model. METHODS: Fifteen rats were used in this experiment. Full-thickness 2x2 cm burn wounds were created on the back of rats under anesthesia. In the two experimental groups, the wounds were treated with two different dressing materials made from silkworm fibroin. In the Control Group, natural healing without any dressing material was set as control. The wound surface area was measured at five days, seven days and 14 days. Wound healing was evaluated by histologic analysis. RESULTS: By gross observation, there were no infections or severe inflammations through 14 days post-injury. The differences among groups were statistically significant at seven days and 14 days, postoperatively (P<0.037 and 0.001, respectively). By post hoc test, the defect size was significantly smaller in experimental Group 1 compared with the Control Group and experimental Group 2 at seven days postoperatively (P=0.022 and 0.029, respectively). The difference between Group 1 and Group 2 was statistically significant at 14 days postoperatively (P<0.001). Group 1 and control also differed significantly (P=0.002). Group 1 showed a smaller residual scar than the Control Group and Group 2 at 14 days post-injury. Histologic analysis showed more re-epithelization in Groups 1 and 2 than in the Control Groups. CONCLUSION: Burn wound healing was accelerated with silk fibroin spun by wild silkworm Antheraea pernyi. There was no atypical inflammation with silk dressing materials. In conclusion, silk dressing materials can be used for treatment of burn wound.
Anesthesia ; Animals ; Bandages* ; Bombyx* ; Burns* ; Cicatrix ; Fibroins* ; Inflammation ; Models, Animal ; Moths* ; Rats* ; Silk* ; Wound Healing ; Wounds and Injuries*

Transmembrane emp24 domain (TMED) gene is closely related to immune response, signal transduction, growth and disease development in mammals. However, only the Drosophila TMED gene has been reported on insects. We identified the TMED family genes of silkworm, Tribolium castaneum, tobacco moth and Italian bee from their genomes, and found that the TMED family gene composition patterns of one α-class, one β-class, one δ-class and several γ-classes arose in the common ancestor of pre-divergent Hymenoptera insects, while the composition of Drosophila TMED family members has evolved in a unique pattern. Insect TMED family γ-class genes have evolved rapidly, diverging into three separate subclasses, TMED6-like, TMED5-like and TMED3-like. The TMED5-like gene was lost in Hymenoptera, duplicated in the ancestors of Lepidoptera and duplicated in Drosophila. Insect TMED protein not only has typical structural characteristics of TMED, but also has obvious signal peptide. There are seven TMED genes in silkworm, distributed in six chromosomes. One of seven is single exon and others are multi-exons. The complete open reading frame (ORF) sequences of seven TMED genes of silkworm were cloned from larval tissues and registered in GenBank database. BmTMED1, BmTMED2 and BmTMED6 were expressed in all stages and tissues of the silkworm, and all genes were expressed in the 4th and 5th instar and silk gland of the silkworm. The present study revealed the composition pattern of TMED family members, their γ class differentiation and their evolutionary history, providing a basis for further studies on TMED genes in silkworm and other insects.
Animals ; Bombyx/metabolism* ; Genes, Insect/genetics* ; Moths/metabolism* ; Insecta/metabolism* ; Drosophila ; Insect Proteins/metabolism* ; Phylogeny ; Mammals/genetics*

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the antifeedant, insecticidal and growth inhibition activities of Solanum pseudocapsicum (S. pseudocapsicum) seed extracts against Spodoptera litura (S. litura) and Helicoverpa armigera (H. armigera).

METHODSHexane, diethyl ether, dichloromethane and ethyl acetate seed extracts were prepared and tested for antifeedant, insecticidal and growth inhibitory activities against fourth instar larvae of S. litura and H. armigera.

RESULTSEthyl acetate extract showed promising antifeedant and insecticidal activities against S. litura and H. armigera. Percentage of deformed larvae, pupae and adults were maximum in treatment of ethyl acetate extract. Percentage of successful adult emergence was deteriorated by seeds on extract treated larvae.

CONCLUSIONSEthyl acetate extracts of S. pseudocapsicum, showed higher efficiency of antifeedant, insecticidal and growth inhibition activities. Hence, it can be used to controll agricultural insect pests, S. litura and H. armigera.

Animals ; Humans ; Insecticides ; pharmacology ; Larva ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Lethal Dose 50 ; Moths ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Pest Control ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Solanaceae ; chemistry ; Spodoptera ; drug effects ; growth & development

Dyschromatosis universalis hereditaria is a rare pigmentary disorder characterized by widespread mothed hyperpigmentation and hypopigmentation. We report a 40-year-old male patient with numerous hyperpigmenter, and hypopigmented macules all over the body except on the palms and soles. The family history revealed similar pigmentary changes in 5 other members through 4 generations, and we could guess the hereditary pattern of the disease of this family to be autosomal dominant inheritance.
Adult ; Family Characteristics ; Humans ; Hyperpigmentation ; Hypopigmentation ; Male ; Moths ; Wills

Foramen magnum tumors are uncommon. We experienced two cases of foramen magnum tumor. One case was meningioma, the other neurinoma. Metrizamide computerized tomography scanning and pantopaque myelography have been the radiographic test most commonly used to evaluate the foramen magnum. Moth cases underwent suboccipital craniectomy and total laminectomy in C1 & C2 with total removal of tumor mass. Postoperatively, both cases showed improvement without neurological sequelae. Both cases are discussed, and a review of literature is presented.
Foramen Magnum* ; Iophendylate ; Laminectomy ; Meningioma ; Metrizamide ; Moths ; Myelography ; Neurilemmoma

The yellow-tail moth Euproctis similis, belongs to the genus Euproctis (Lymantriidae) and has a wide distribution within Korea, Japan, China and Europe. Contact with the 'urticating hairs' of the Euproctis similis caterpillar induces dermatitis due to the combination of mechanical and chemical mechanisms. Clinically, patients with caterpillar dermatitis show wheals in the early stage and/or erythematous papules in the late stage after contact with the spicules. We report 5 young soldiers who developed pruritic wheals and erythematous papules on their upper back after contact with the hairs of the Euproctis similis caterpillar.
China ; Dermatitis* ; Europe ; Hair ; Humans ; Japan ; Korea ; Military Personnel ; Moths

The macroscopic characteristics, tissue, caterpillar body wall and powder of Ophiocordyceps xuefengensis in different batch numbers were observed and researched by the macroscopic and microscopic identification methods. The result shows that the morphology, size, abdominal annulations of caterpillar, etc. of 0. xuefengensis are the macroscopic identification characteristics, the caterpillar body surface mycelium, body wall sculpture and crochets on abdominal legs are the microscopic identification characteristics. These characters are stable and regular discriminant features, which are proved to be the identification basis of O. xuefengensis. In addition, The characters such as crochets on abdominal legs arrange in two parallel ellipse rings, the inner crochets are long strip, and the external toes are unciform, are specific.
Animals ; Hypocreales ; cytology ; Moths ; anatomy & histology ; cytology ; microbiology

The bioactivity of the aqueous extracts of the leaf and stem bark of the medicinal plant, Alstonia boonei De Wild (Apocyanaceae), against the pink stalk borer, Sesamia calamistis Hampson (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) was studied in a laboratory bioassay. The extracts were incorporated into artificial diet at a rate of 0.0% (control), 1.0%, 2.5%, 5.0%, and 10.0% (w/w). Both extracts significantly (P<0.01) reduced larval survival and weight in a dose dependent manner. The concentrations that killed 50% of the larvae (LC(50)) for the stem bark extract were 2.8% and 2.1% at 10 and 20 DAI (days after introduction), respectively, while those for the leaves extract were 5.6% and 3.5%. The weights of the larvae also varied significantly (P<0.05) between the treatments in a dose dependent manner. We conclude that both leaf and stem bark extracts of A. boonei are toxic, used as growth inhibitors to S. calamistis larvae, and hold good promise for use as alternative crop protectants against S. calamistis.
Alstonia ; chemistry ; Animals ; Insecticides ; Moths ; Plant Extracts ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry

BACKGROUND/AIMS: This study was conducted to determine the effect of novel long-term maintenance treatment with lamivudine by gradual lengthening of the medication interval in patients with chronic active viral hepatitis B. METHOD: All patients were non-responder, relapsed or intolerable patients to previous interferon therapy. Patients were divided into a drug-interval changing study and a daily continual medication control group. Drug-interval changing protocol with gradual lengthening of the medication interval after conversion to undetectable HBV-DNA in serum and reduction of serum aminotransferase to normal level was monitored monthly. RESULTS: Before treatment, 15 patients of the drug-interval change group and 11 patients of the daily medication group were similar in laboratory and pathologic findings. Mean follow-up periods were 12.8 moths and 11.4 months respectively. HBeAg seroconversion rate was higher in patients in the daily medication group (86.7% vs. 40.0%, p<0.05). The odds of loss of HBeAg, development of anti-HBe, and suppression of HBV-DNA are about 11 times, 7 times, and 8 times higher in the drug-interval change group compared with the daily medication group, respectively (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Drug-interval lengthening method was effective in long-term suppression of viral replication with low cost.
Follow-Up Studies ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; Hepatitis B* ; Hepatitis* ; Humans ; Interferons ; Lamivudine* ; Moths