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Journal of Insect Physiology Apr 2009The term 'idiobiont' refers to those parasitoid species that permanently paralyse their hosts during parasitism, causing the cessation of host growth and development....
The term 'idiobiont' refers to those parasitoid species that permanently paralyse their hosts during parasitism, causing the cessation of host growth and development. This is in contrast to koinobiont parasitoids, which allow their hosts to continue developing after being parasitized. While no koinobiont species induce permanent paralysis in their hosts, a minority of koinobionts induce a temporary paralysis that does not interfere with overall host growth and development. We characterized transient paralysis induction in two koinobiont aphid parasitoids in the genus Binodoxys (Hymenoptera: Aphidiinae). Both Binodoxys species induced transient paralysis in Aphis glycines, with paralysis time ranging between 4.5 and 8 min (depending upon parasitoid species and host instar). In a separate experiment, B. communis was capable of inducing transient paralysis in nine aphid species. We addressed two hypotheses potentially explaining the adaptive value of temporary host paralysis in experiments using A. nerii, which is readily accepted but engages in strong defensive behaviour. The first hypothesis is that paralysis increases oviposition success by interfering with host defences and the second is that it aids in the avoidance of self-superparasitism. Paralysed aphids were more likely to be rejected by B. communis than were aphids that had never been stung or that had recovered from paralysis. This result supports the avoidance-of-self-superparasitism hypothesis and is inconsistent with the hypothesis that transient paralysis increases oviposition success of B. communis.
Topics: Animals; Aphids; Behavior, Animal; Host-Parasite Interactions; Paralysis
PubMed: 19162033
DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2008.12.009 -
Archives of Ophthalmology (Chicago,... Dec 1986In 270 patients with superior oblique paralyses treated between 1973 and 1984, congenital and traumatic causes were most frequent, and one fourth of all traumatic cases...
In 270 patients with superior oblique paralyses treated between 1973 and 1984, congenital and traumatic causes were most frequent, and one fourth of all traumatic cases had bilateral involvement. Among the diagnostic features distinguishing bilateral from unilateral paralysis were a right hypertropia in left gaze and left hypertropia in right gaze, and a positive Bielschowsky test on tilting the head toward either shoulder. However, absence of either sign did not exclude bilateral paralysis. Large excyclotropia and a V-pattern esotropia are suggestive of but not diagnostic for bilateral paralysis. Complaints about cyclotropia are limited to acquired paralysis. Cyclotropia in the normal eye, head tilt toward the involved side, or absence of any abnormal head posture limits the diagnostic value of these associated signs. Overshoot of the contralateral superior oblique occurred in 19% of the patients and is thought to be caused by contracture of the ipsilateral superior rectus muscle. Surgical treatment in 112 patients resulted in an 85% cure rate with an average of 1.45 operations per patient.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Animals; Child; Child, Preschool; Female; Head; Humans; Infant; Male; Middle Aged; Ophthalmoplegia; Posture
PubMed: 3789976
DOI: 10.1001/archopht.1986.01050240045037 -
Italian Journal of Pediatrics Jul 2022Hypokalemic periodic paralysis is a rare neuromuscular genetic disorder due to defect of ion channels and subsequent function impairment. It belongs to a periodic...
BACKGROUND
Hypokalemic periodic paralysis is a rare neuromuscular genetic disorder due to defect of ion channels and subsequent function impairment. It belongs to a periodic paralyses group including hyperkalemic periodic paralysis (HEKPP), hypokalemic periodic paralysis (HOKPP) and Andersen-Tawil syndrome (ATS). Clinical presentations are mostly characterized by episodes of flaccid generalized weakness with transient hypo- or hyperkalemia.
CASE PRESENTATION
A teenage boy presented to Emergency Department (ED) for acute weakness and no story of neurological disease, during the anamnestic interview he revealed that he had a carbohydrates-rich meal the previous evening. Through a focused diagnostic work-up the most frequent and dangerous causes of paralysis were excluded, but low serum potassium concentration and positive family history for periodic paralyses raised the diagnostic suspicion of HOKPP. After the acute management in ED, he was admitted to Pediatric Department where a potassium integration was started and the patient was counselled about avoiding daily life triggers. He was discharged in few days. Unfortunately, he presented again because of a new paralytic attack due to a sugar-rich food binge the previous evening. Again, he was admitted and treated by potassium integration. This time he was strongly made aware of the risks he may face in case of poor adherence to therapy or behavioral rules. Currently, after 15 months, the boy is fine and no new flare-ups are reported.
CONCLUSION
HOKPP is a rare disease but symptoms can have a remarkable impact on patients' quality of life and can interfere with employment and educational opportunities. The treatment aims to minimize the paralysis attacks by restoring normal potassium level in order to reduce muscle excitability but it seems clear that a strong education of the patient about identification and avoidance triggering factors is essential to guarantee a benign clinical course. In our work we discuss the typical clinical presentation of these patients focusing on the key points of the diagnosis and on the challenges of therapeutic management especially in adolescence. A brief discussion of the most recent knowledge regarding this clinical condition follows.
Topics: Adolescent; Child; Humans; Hypokalemic Periodic Paralysis; Male; Paralysis; Paralysis, Hyperkalemic Periodic; Potassium; Quality of Life
PubMed: 35841048
DOI: 10.1186/s13052-022-01315-5 -
Nature Jul 1991Female mites of the species Pyemotes tritici inject an extremely potent venom into their insect prey that causes muscle-contraction and paralysis. These mites are able...
Female mites of the species Pyemotes tritici inject an extremely potent venom into their insect prey that causes muscle-contraction and paralysis. These mites are able to paralyse insects 150,000 times their size and their venom is effective in a broad range of insect species. A toxin (TxP-I) associated with the mite venom apparatus causes immediate muscle-contractive paralysis when injected into insects but not mice. In this report, we describe the cloning, sequencing and expression of a complementary DNA (Tox-34) encoding TxP-I. Insect cells infected with a recombinant baculovirus (vEV-Tox34) expressing Tox-34 secrete three polypeptides related to TxP-I which cause paralysis on injection. Larvae infected with vEV-Tox34 become paralysed during infection, thus reflecting the potential application of this toxin gene in insect biocontrol methods. The toxin gene expression system will also allow further exploration of the neurophysiological basis of its insect-specific effects.
Topics: Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; Baculoviridae; Base Sequence; Female; Gene Expression; Insecta; Mites; Molecular Sequence Data; Neurotoxins; Paralysis; Pest Control, Biological
PubMed: 1840646
DOI: 10.1038/352082a0 -
Australasian Annals of Medicine Aug 1954
Topics: Extremities; Humans; Hyperthyroidism; Paralyses, Familial Periodic; Paralysis; Thyroid Diseases
PubMed: 13198772
DOI: 10.1111/imj.1954.3.3.182 -
Tidsskrift For Den Norske Laegeforening... Apr 1971
Topics: Hyperkalemia; Hypokalemia; Paralyses, Familial Periodic; Paralysis; Potassium
PubMed: 5089802
DOI: No ID Found -
Belgisch Tijdschrift Voor Geneeskunde Feb 1957
Topics: Diagnosis, Differential; Humans; Paralysis
PubMed: 13403856
DOI: No ID Found -
Nordisk Medicin Oct 1952
Topics: Humans; Paralyses, Familial Periodic; Paralysis; Potassium
PubMed: 13025809
DOI: No ID Found -
American Heart Journal Jun 1949
Topics: Electrocardiography; Extremities; Humans; Paralyses, Familial Periodic; Paralysis
PubMed: 18149971
DOI: 10.1016/0002-8703(49)91014-5 -
The British Journal of Oral &... Dec 2015Unilateral facial paralysis is a common condition: 1 in every 60 people will experience Bell's palsy during the course of their life, and the residual deficits are... (Review)
Review
Unilateral facial paralysis is a common condition: 1 in every 60 people will experience Bell's palsy during the course of their life, and the residual deficits are particularly problematic for those who do not spontaneously recover the function of the facial nerve. Functionally the most relevant defect is lack of corneal lubrication because of inability to close the eyelid or blink. Morphologically, this presents as obvious ptosis caused by absence of the muscle tone at rest. "Restitutio ad integrum" of a paralysed face by operation is currently impossible, but realistic targets are improvement of facial symmetry and partial recovery of closure of the eyelids and smiling. Movements of the forehead and lower lip tend to be neglected targets for intervention because they are of less functional importance. Recent paralyses are those in which the mimetic musculature may be reactivated by provision of neural input, and the time limit is generally 18-24 months. Electromyography helps to detect it by assessing the presence of muscular fibrillations. If those are not detectable paralyses are considered to be long-standing, and new musculature must be transferred into the face, generally by transplantation of a muscular free flap or of the temporalis muscle in several different ways. When the facial nerve has been severed by trauma or during operation, immediate reconstruction must be considered and the simplest and most efficient is direct neurorrhaphy. If an appreciable part of the nerve is missing and the proximal and distal nerve stumps do not meet, an interpositional nerve graft must be placed to guarantee neural continuity. When reconstruction of the total extracranial branch of the facial nerve is required, the thoracodorsal nerve has proved to be highly effective. In case immediate reconstruction cannot be accomplished and the trunk of the facial nerve is not available as a donor nerve, mimetic musculature may be reactivated by provision of new neural input. Strong inputs from the masseteric or hypoglossus nerves may be mixed with those that arise from branches of the contralateral facial nerve after 2 cross-face nerve grafts have been placed, and good functional recovery is generally obtained. Several ancillary procedures are required to improve the end results in most cases.
Topics: Facial Muscles; Facial Nerve; Facial Paralysis; Humans; Nerve Transfer; Plastic Surgery Procedures
PubMed: 26188934
DOI: 10.1016/j.bjoms.2015.06.023