Despite its low prevalence, the potential diagnosis of catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT) should be at the forefront of a paediatric cardiologists mind in children with syncope during exercise or emotions. Over the years, the number of children with a genetic diagnosis of CPVT due to a (likely) pathogenic RYR2 variant early in life and prior to the onset of symptoms has increased due to cascade screening programmes. Limited guidance for this group of patients is currently available. Therefore, we aimed to summarise currently available literature for asymptomatic patients with a (likely) pathogenic RYR2 variant, particularly the history of CPVT and its genetic architecture, the currently available diagnostic tests and their limitations, and the development of a CPVT phenotype – both electrocardiographically and symptomatic – of affected family members. Their risk of arrhythmic events is presumably low and a phenotype seems to develop in the first two decades of life. Future research should focus on this group in particular, to better understand the development of a phenotype over time, and therefore, to be able to better guide clinical management – including the frequency of diagnostic tests, the timing of the initiation of drug therapy, and lifestyle recommendations.

Prebiotics, probiotics and synbiotics are dietary ingredients with the potential to influence health and mucosal and systemic immune function by altering the composition of the gut microbiota. In the present study, a candidate prebiotic (xylo-oligosaccharide, XOS, 8 g/d), probiotic (Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis Bi-07, 109 colony-forming units (CFU)/d) or synbiotic (8 g XOS+109 CFU Bi-07/d) was given to healthy adults (25–65 years) for 21 d. The aim was to identify the effect of the supplements on bowel habits, self-reported mood, composition of the gut microbiota, blood lipid concentrations and immune function. XOS supplementation increased mean bowel movements per d (P= 0·009), but did not alter the symptoms of bloating, abdominal pain or flatulence or the incidence of any reported adverse events compared with maltodextrin supplementation. XOS supplementation significantly increased participant-reported vitality (P= 0·003) and happiness (P= 0·034). Lowest reported use of analgesics was observed during the XOS+Bi-07 supplementation period (P= 0·004). XOS supplementation significantly increased faecal bifidobacterial counts (P= 0·008) and fasting plasma HDL concentrations (P= 0·005). Bi-07 supplementation significantly increased faecal B. lactis content (P= 0·007), lowered lipopolysaccharide-stimulated IL-4 secretion in whole-blood cultures (P= 0·035) and salivary IgA content (P= 0·040) and increased IL-6 secretion (P= 0·009). XOS supplementation resulted in lower expression of CD16/56 on natural killer T cells (P= 0·027) and lower IL-10 secretion (P= 0·049), while XOS and Bi-07 supplementation reduced the expression of CD19 on B cells (XOS × Bi-07, P= 0·009). The present study demonstrates that XOS induce bifidogenesis, improve aspects of the plasma lipid profile and modulate the markers of immune function in healthy adults. The provision of XOS+Bi-07 as a synbiotic may confer further benefits due to the discrete effects of Bi-07 on the gut microbiota and markers of immune function.

Since the apperarance of a paper in the May and June, 1903, numbers of the Canadian Entomologist, the writer has received for study either eggs or larvæ of several species of Apantesis, information as to the earlier stages of each of which was limited. The past three seasons in Canada have not been remarkable as to the abundance of material to collect, and Arctians, like many other kinds of moths, have been very scarce. Consequently not as many species have been received for study as had been hoped.

In the December number, 1900, of this journal, page 369, the writer published the life-history of the above Arctian. During the past summer, through the kindness of Mr. A. Kwiat, of Chicago, in forwarding eggs of A. phalerata (laid 18th June), I have had the opportunity of still further studying this species, and, as these larvæ varied considerably fromthose described in 1900, the following notes were made :

In the larval stages i, ii and iii those bred in 1901 answered well to my former descriptions. In stage iv the larvæ were not so black as the specimens reared the previous year, but many of them showed the dorsal stripe. This stripe was also present in stage v, besides which 40 of the larvæ possessed a series of pale orange spots on sides between tubercles ii and iii, and iii and iv, and the skin of the body in a line with the upper spots(between tubercles ii and iii) was slightly grayish, not black like the rest of the skin; this and the spots gave the appearance of a faint lateral band, distinguishable on all segments but 2 and 13. In stage v in 1900 none of the larvæ showed the dorsal stripe.

The larvæ of Phlyctœnia ferrugalis, Hbn., have been since 1897 the cause of some loss to roses in the large houses of Mr J. H. Dunlop, Toronto. References to this occurrence will be found in the Reports of the Entomologist and Botanist to the Dominion Experimental Farms for 1899 and 1900.

On the 12th November, 1900, a visit was paid to the above houses by Mr. Gibson, and specimens of the mature larvæ found feeding both on violets and chrysanthemums were secured, as also some larvæ in other stages of development. These all changed to pupæ and in due course the moths appeared, the pupal state lasting from 17 to 20 days.

The larvæ of this Noctuid moth were again found at Ottawa the past season, in beds of Irises, on the grounds of the Central Experimental Farm. They were not, however, at all numerous, and did not do any appreciable harm this years. Two larvæ were collected on July 28, one of which was inflated; the other pupated on Aug. 1, the moth emerging on Sept. 7. Another larva was found on Aug. 4, the moth appearing on Sept. 15. The pupa of the former specimen was much larger than any of those obtained in 1903, an account of which appeared in the last Annual Report of the Entomological Society of Ontario. This pupa measured 30 mm. in length and 7.5 in width.

In Dr. Dyar's “Preliminary Notes on the Larvæ of the Genus Arcta” (Jour. N.Y. Ent. Soc., March, 1900), some interesting remarks are made in reference to the larvæ of Arctia virgo, as to the stage in which the larvæ hibernate, and if they ever posses a dorsal stripe.

Through the kindness of the late Mr. T.G. Priddey, of Toronto, we received on the 10th April, 1901, three larvæ of A.virgo, collected by him on the 5th April. Writing under date of the 8th April to Dr. Fletcher, Mr. Priddey says: “I shall probably get more larvæ, but even now the bank under the grass where they hibernate is quite solid ice.” The three specimens only moulted once before maturity, viz., on the 26th April, 30th April, and 8th May, respectively; so these, at any rate, hibernated in the penultimate stage. Mr. Dwight Brainerd tells me that “ at Montreal, A. virgo generally hibernates in its second to las skin; that is, it sheds its skin twice in the spring before going into pupation.” He also states that he has found specimens in the fallin the penultimate stage. In the Annual Report of the Entomological Society of Ontario for 1869, on page 13, Dr. Fyles mentions that in the spring of 1891 he collected larvæ of this species at South Quebec, which moulted on the 4th May and again on the 20th May, the moths emerging on the 10th July.

On May 19, 1904, Mr. W. Metcalfe found some green Geometrid larvæ, at Hull, Que., feeding on the common Juniper (Juniperus communis, L). These were handed to the writers, who succeeded in bringing them to maturity. Three of the bred moths were sent to the Rev. G. W. Taylor, of Wellington B.C. for identification.