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Biomedical subjects

T Toma

Publications and source records attributed to T Toma.

47 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Laboratory evaluation of Toxorhynchites splendens (Diptera: Culicidae) for predation of Aedes albopictus mosquito larvae.

Biology of the mosquito Toxorhynchites splendens (Wiedemann) was studied in the laboratory to provide baseline data for using the predatory larvae of this species against those of Aedes albopictus (Skuse) in a biological control programme. The mean incubation time of Tx.splendens eggs was 43.8 h and the time required for newly-hatched larvae to initiate predation was 2.5 h. Mean numbers of prey larvae consumed and killed by each Tx.splendens larva totalled 389 and 345 respectively. The larval period of Tx.splendens was not significantly different for rearing individually or in groups of nine, with equal prey density, and duration of larval development was proportional to prey density. In mass rearing, larval cannibalism was usually observed during days 1-3 post-eclosion. The incidence of cannibalism decreased sharply on the fourth day after hatching when some larvae became fourth-instar. Adult female Tx.splendens usually commenced oviposition on day 4 after emergence. The number of eggs laid daily increased on day 7 and the peak oviposition of 6.3 eggs/female/day occurred on day 11. When oviposition containers were provided only intermittently, gravid females of Tx.splendens scattered most of their eggs on the dry floor of the cage. Viability of eggs laid by females aged 4-14 days was high (60-90%) but decreased to less than 40% as the females aged.

Aedes↗
PubMed1992

Biological control of container-breeding mosquitoes, Aedes albopictus and Culex quinquefasciatus, in a Japanese island by release of Toxorhynchites splendens adults.

To control container-breeding mosquitoes in the small island of Minnajima (0.56 km2), northern Okinawa, Japan, laboratory-reared adults (aged 7-10 days) of Toxorhynchites splendens (Palawan strain), a mosquito with predatory larvae, were released repeatedly during 1984, 1986 and 1987. Thirteen species of mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) occurred in artificial containers, ground pools or crab-holes on the island, the predominant species being Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus and Culex (Culex) quinquefasciatus. Predatory mosquito larvae of Culex (Lutzia) fuscanus and Cx (Lt.) halifaxii were found commonly in wet containers. In the first year of study, during a period of 54 days from 13 May to 5 July 1984, totals of 879 female and 806 male adults of Tx.splendens were released on six occasions. Similarly, between 29 April and 30 August 1986, totals of 2920 female and 2878 male adult Tx.splendens were released. In the third study year, totals of 2041 female and 1783 male Tx.splendens were released on eight occasions during 199 days from 23 April to 7 November 1987. After adult releases at two sites, the immature stages of Tx.splendens were found in 164 out of 502 traps in 1984, 421 out of 933 traps in 1986, and 151 out of 502 traps in 1987. The number of immatures of Tx.splendens present in each trap varied from 1 to 40 in 1984, 1 to 29 in 1986 and 1 to 9 in 1987. Numbers of immatures of the target species found in the traps during August-September averaged 71.9/trap/month in 1984, 114.7/trap/month in 1986 and 36.0/trap/month in 1987, significantly less in the traps with Tx.splendens than in those without them. The present field studies indicated that, in this small island, approximately 250 adult female and 200 male Tx.splendens per month should be released from April to November, and the releases should be carried out every year, in order to control effectively the target mosquitoes Ae.albopictus and Cx quinquefasciatus breeding in artificial containers in Minnajima.

Aedes↗
PubMed1992

Epidemiological study of malaria in north Sulawesi, Indonesia by fluorescence and Giemsa staining.

An epidemiological study of malaria infection was conducted in the Likupang District, Minahasa Regency, North Sulawesi Province, Indonesia, during August 2-15, 1991. In this study, 510 people of six villages, representing ages between 1 month to 84 years cooperated voluntarily. Blood smears stained with Giemsa and acridine orange (AO), revealed 33 and 83 malaria parasite positives respectively. This significant difference was due particularly to the fact that AO staining examined under either a daylight- or halogen-illuminated microscope equipped with interference filters was sensitive to detect low-density parasitemia in many subjects previously diagnosed negative by Giemsa staining in the field. The low malaria prevalence obtained by Giemsa staining may have been attributable to the lack of standard-quality diagnostic tools in the field or inadequate observation of the slides. In both staining methods, Plasmodium falciparum was found to be the predominant species, while the remainings were P. vivax or a mixture of both. Subjects infected with P. vivax revealed higher density of parasitemia and gametocytemia than those with P. falciparum.

Acridine Orange↗
PubMed1992

Intestinal parasitic infections in Likupang, North Sulawesi, Indonesia.

A parasitological survey was conducted on the inhabitants of 6 villages of Likupang, Minahasa Peninsula, North Sulawesi, Indonesia, in August 1991. A total of 419 fecal samples were examined by using direct smear, flotation, formalin ether concentration, Harada-Mori culture and agar-plate culture techniques. Five nematode and 7 protozoan parasites were detected, while trematode and cestode infection was not observed. Soil-transmitted nematode infections were predominant. Among the younger inhabitants aged less than 15, positive rates of Ascaris, Trichuris and hookworm infections were almost same, namely 45.7, 45.3 and 47.7%, respectively. Among the elder people aged 15 or more, positive rate of hookworm infection (89.4%) was much higher than Ascaris and Trichuris infections (19.3 and 26.1%, respectively). Village to village differences in parasite prevalence, probably due to socio-economic and sanitary-environmental differences were observed. Both Necator americanus and Ancylostoma duodenale were detected. The agar-plate culture was proved to be an efficient method for detection of hookworm as well as Strongyloides stercoralis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Seasonal appearance and size of egg rafts of Culex halifaxii and Culex fuscanus in Okinawajima, the Ryukyu Archipelago, Japan.

The seasonal chronology of eggs of Culex halifaxii, Cx. fuscanus and their cohabitant Cx. quinquefasciatus were observed from March 1984 to early May 1985 in Okinawa prefecture, Japan. In Okinawajima, egg rafts of Cx. halifaxii and Cx. quinquefasciatus were found throughout the year. The greatest peak in eggs of Cx. halifaxii were observed in early June. The egg rafts of Cx. fuscanus were first collected on June 15, with the greatest peak of oviposition in early November. The egg raft of Cx. fuscanus was larger and both the maximum and mean numbers of eggs per raft were approximately two times greater than those of Cx. halifaxii.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Efficacy and safety of mianserin in the treatment of depression of women with cancer.

Depression is a major complication of cancer. The efficacy and safety of mianserin were evaluated in a randomized placebo-controlled trial of 73 depressed women with cancer. According to RDC diagnosis, all patients showed situational major depression. Both groups were well matched for cancer localization, clinical stages, Karnofsky scores, duration of depression, baseline values on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (ZSRDS), and Clinical Global Impression of Illness Severity (CGI-S), and for type of depression, whether dominantly depressive or depressive-anxious. Between days 7-21, there were significantly fewer dropouts with mianserin (7) than with placebo (15). When compared with placebo, there were significant improvements for mianserin for HDRS on days 7, 21 and 28, for ZSRDS on days 7 and 28, and for CGI-S on days 7, 14, 21 and 28. According to Clinical Global Impression of Illness Improvement (CGI-I) there were significantly more responders with mianserin (28) than with placebo (18). The efficacy index for mianserin was significantly greater than for placebo on days 21 and 28. At the end of the trial the scores for HDRS sleep disturbance factor and HDRS anxiety-somatization factor were significantly reduced for mianserin than for placebo. There were no significant differences in side-effects between treatment groups. It is concluded that mianserin is superior to placebo in reducing the severity and duration of depression which is present especially in patients with advanced cancer.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗