1. Embryonic development, larval growth and fecundity of Mediterranean field crickets, Gryllus bimaculatus, were determined at various constant, daily alternating and quickly oscillating temperature regimes. 2. At constant temperatures ranging from 20° to 34° C embryonic development follows the rule of sum of hourdegrees above zero point. In variable temperature regimes some acceleration in the rate of egg development is present. However, compared with mean constant temperatures a higher amount of hour-degrees is necessary to complete egg development. 3. No larval development was possible at constant 20° C, whereas complete larval development is observed at diurnally alternating LTD conditions, corresponding to a mean constant temperature of 20° C. Quickly changing temperatures, oscillating around the same mean value of 20° C, further accelerate larval development. 4. Females housed at 26°:14° C/2:2 h, 7:7 h or 8:8 h produced higher numbers of eggs than those at any of the constant temperature regimes. 5. The decision as to which temperature regime is the most favorable for the development, reproduction, and survival of G. bimaculatus is based on the net reproduction oer generation (R ) and the capacity for increase (r).A maximum in R is observed in the 2:2 h temperature regime, whereas the capacity for increase is maximal at constant 27° to 34° C. 6. The probable mechanisms for increased rates of development and reproduction under variable temperature regimes and the ecological significance of the results are discussed.

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Extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) using UVA irradiation of enriched lymphocytes in the presence of 8-methoxypsoralen as a photoactivatable substrate was originally introduced as a therapeutic regimen for cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL). Whereas ECP has previously been reported to be useful primarily for erythrodermic lymphoma, our purpose was to obtain data on safety and efficacy of ECP in patients suffering from different stages of CTCL. We report on 17 patients, 3 with erythroderma and 14 with plaque or tumor stages. In contrast to other studies our patients were treated predominantly with ECP alone; only a few patients received concomitant therapy. These data have not been published previously, except for preliminary data on four patients. Of the 17 patients, 12 (70%) responded to ECP. In seven patients at least 50% of skin lesions disappeared (defined as partial response) and in five patients at least 25% of skin lesions disappeared (defined as minor response). In two patients the disease remained stable and in three patients the disease progressed under the ECP treatment. No complete remission was observed. Partial responses were achieved not only in patients with early CTCL (stage Ib) but also in those with far progressed tumours (stage IVa). After treatment for 6 months partial responders showed an increase in the number of NK cells in their peripheral blood (P < 0.01). We cannot confirm a relationship between this treatment and CD8 cell counts, as reported by others. Overall, our results indicate that ECP is a safe and effective regimen for the treatment of all stages of CTCL.

ABSTRACT. Ecdysteroid titres were determined in testes, fat body, muscles, haemolymph, carcass tissue, spermatophores, and faeces of males of the Mediterranean field cricket, Gryllus bimaculatus de Geer, throughout its adult life span. Considerable amounts of free ecdysteroids are concentrated in the testes and the fat body. The ecdysteroid titres were only slightly influenced by environmental temperature. In all tissues except the fat body, ecdysone and 20‐hydroxyecdysone were the predominant ecdysteroids present. In faeces, highest ecdysteroid concentrations were found at the time of lowest levels in tissues.

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