Sociability increases survival of adult female giraffes

Studies increasingly show that social connectedness plays a key role in determining survival, in addition to natural and anthropogenic environmental factors. Few studies, however, integrated social, non-social and demographic data to elucidate what components of an animal's socio-ecological environment are most important to their survival. Female giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis) form structured societies with highly dynamic group membership but stable long-term associations. We examined the relative contributions of sociability (relationship strength, gregariousness and betweenness), together with those of the natural (food sources and vegetation types) and anthropogenic environment (distance from human settlements), to adult female giraffe survival. We tested predictions about the influence of sociability and natural and human factors at two social levels: the individual and the social community. Survival was primarily driven by individual- rather than community-level social factors. Gregariousness (the number of other females each individual was observed with on average) was most important in explaining variation in female adult survival, more than other social traits and any natural or anthropogenic environmental factors. For adult female giraffes, grouping with more other females, even as group membership frequently changes, is correlated with better survival, and this sociability appears to be more important than several attributes of their non-social environment.

Effect of time series length and resolution on abundance- and trait-based early warning signals of population declines

Natural populations are increasingly threatened with collapse at the hands of anthropogenic effects. Predicting population collapse with the help of generic early warning signals (EWS) may provide a prospective tool for identifying species or populations at highest risk. However, pattern-to-process methods such as EWS have a multitude of challenges to overcome to be useful, including the low signal-to-noise ratio of ecological systems and the need for high quality time series data. The inclusion of trait dynamics with EWS has been proposed as a more robust tool to predict population collapse. However, the length and resolution of available time series are highly variable from one system to another, especially when generation time is considered. As yet, it remains unknown how this variability with regards to generation time will alter the efficacy of EWS. Here we take both a simulation- and experimental-based approach to assess the impacts of relative time series length and resolution on the forecasting ability of EWS. We show that EWS' performance decreases with decreasing time-series length. However, there was no evident decrease in EWS performance as resolution decreased. Our simulations suggest a relative time series length between 10 and five generations as a minimum requirement for accurate forecasting by abundance-based EWS. However, when trait information is included alongside abundance-based EWS, we find positive signals at lengths one-half of what was required without them. We suggest that, in systems where specific traits are known to affect demography, trait data should be monitored and included alongside abundance data to improve forecasting reliability.

Dorsal vein rupture after practice of taqaandan, necrotising cavernositis, penile reconstruction, urethroplasty and penile prosthesis implantation

Penile fracture is an uncommon and emergent urologic condition defined as traumatic rupture of the corpus cavernosum secondary to a blunt trauma of the erect penis. Tunica albuginea is thinned and stretched in the erect state, and a transverse tear in the corpus cavernosums may occur by a buckling force. However, penile dorsal vein tears may mimic penile fracture. Also, corporeal infection and purulent cavernositis are associated with trauma, cavernosography, priapism, intracavernosal injection therapy and penile prosthesis.

Treatment of multiloculated empyema thoracis using minimally invasive methods

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this study was to investigate the results of minimally invasive treatment modalities in early stage multiloculated empyema thoracis.

METHODS

The minimally invasive treatment modalities of 114 patients with Class 5 thoracic empyema were retrospectively reviewed. The patients' demographics, symptoms, diagnostic studies, treatment options and complications were evaluated.

RESULTS

A total of 47 patients underwent tube thoracostomy, 23 patients underwent fibrinolytic therapy with streptokinase and 44 patients underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) deloculation and debridement. No statistical differences were found in the patients' age, gender, Gram stain and antibiotherapy before intervention among the groups. Illness days before intervention was significantly longer in the tube thoracostomy group than in the others. The VATS group had a shorter drainage time and hospital stay than the others. The VATS and fibrinolytic therapy groups had lower complication rates and less open decortication requirements than the tube thoracostomy group. Success rates were 66, 95 and 100 percent in the tube thoracostomy, fibrinolytic therapy and VATS groups, respectively. In total, there were 35 patients with complications. The most frequent complication was air space. Two inhospital mortalities occurred.

CONCLUSION

In patients with early stage multiloculated empyema, VATS deloculation and debridement is superior to tube thoracostomy alone and fibrinolitic therapy in reducing drainage time and hospital stay. It has a relatively high success rate without significant morbidity. Therefore, VATS decortication may be recommended as a first-line therapy in early stage multiloculated empyema thoracis.

Poncet's disease (tuberculous rheumatism): two case reports and review of the literature

We report two human leukocyte antigen (HLA) B27-positive cases of urogenital tuberculosis (TB) with asymmetric polyarthritis. Stained smears with Ehrlich Ziehl-Neelsen and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests for Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC) of the ejaculate were positive in both cases, despite negative cultures. Stained smear, culture and PCR results of the synovial fluid for mycobacteria were negative. The patients were diagnosed with Poncet's disease. Polyarthritis was resolved rapidly with anti-tuberculosis treatment. We suggest that in cases with unexplained arthritis and non-articular TB, Poncet's disease should be considered. PCR can be used in the routine diagnostic algorithm when conventional methods fail to identify MTC.