Hwiccewyrm trispiculum gen. et sp. nov., a new leptopleuronine procolophonid from the Late Triassic of southwest England

The fissure fill localities of southwest England and South Wales are well-known for preserving rich assemblages of predominantly small-bodied Late Triassic to Early Jurassic tetrapods, but many aspects of these assemblages remain contentious. The age of the Late Triassic fissures is disputed, with some lines of argument suggesting a latest Triassic (Rhaetian) age, whereas other evidence suggests they may be as old as Carnian. The fissures have been hypothesized by some workers to have formed on an archipelago, with island effects invoked to explain aspects of the assemblages such as the abundance of small-bodied species. Procolophonids were a successful group of Triassic parareptiles, best known from Early to early Late Triassic assemblages, but have only recently been described from one of the fissure fill sites (Ruthin) based upon fragmentary remains. Here, we describe new procolophonid specimens from another fissure (Cromhall) that represent at least six individuals of different sizes, with much of the skeleton represented including well-preserved skull material. The Cromhall procolophonid shows strong similarities to Late Triassic procolophonids from Scotland, Brazil and North America, but both autapomorphies and a unique character combination demonstrate that it represents a new species, which we name as Hwiccewyrm trispiculum gen. et sp. nov. Phylogenetic analysis places Hwiccewyrm in a derived clade within Leptopleuroninae, together with Leptopleuron, Hypsognathus, and Soturnia. The largest specimens of Hwiccewyrm demonstrate a body size that is similar to Leptopleuron and Hypsognathus, supporting other recent work that has questioned the insular dwarfism hypothesis for the fissure fill assemblages.

Comparison of sedation with dexmedetomidine/atipamezole administered subcutaneously at GV20 acupuncture point with usual routes of administration in dogs presented for orthopaedic radiographs

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the efficacy of subcutaneous administration of dexmedetomidine/atipamezole at the Governing Vessel 20 (GV20) acupuncture point compared with other administration routes (intramuscular and intravenous) in dogs presented for orthopaedic radiographs.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Prospective, randomised, blinded, controlled clinical study. Sixty-four client-owned dogs were randomly injected with 200 μg/m2 of dexmedetomidine intramuscular (lumbar muscles) (n=20), intravenous (n=23) or subcutaneous at the GV20 point (n=21). Following radiographs, dogs received 2000 μg/m2 of atipamezole intramuscular (n=31), or subcutaneous at the GV20 point (n=27). Degree and time to sedation and recovery were assessed using a sedation scale and a Dynamic and Interactive Visual Analog Scale (DIVAS). Clinical physiological variables and adverse events were used. Statistical linear mixed-effect models (analysis of variance) and Cox models were performed. Significance was set at P-value <0.05.

RESULTS

Sedation was insufficient to perform orthopaedic radiographs in six dogs in the intramuscular group. The time to sedation was significantly longer, and sedation scale and DIVAS scores were significantly lower in the intramuscular group. The intravenous group had significantly higher sedation scale and DIVAS scores than the GV20 group. No significant differences were observed between the intramuscular and GV20 recovery groups, although the time effect was significantly more pronounced in the GV20 recovery group.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Subcutaneous administration of dexmedetomidine and atipamezole at GV20 provided effective sedation and recovery in dogs undergoing orthopaedic radiographic studies. GV20 administration provided a clinically similar level of sedation to the intravenous route, and greater and faster sedation and similar recovery to intramuscular.

^{133}In: A Rosetta Stone for Decays of r-Process Nuclei

The β decays from both the ground state and a long-lived isomer of ^{133}In were studied at the ISOLDE Decay Station (IDS). With a hybrid detection system sensitive to β, γ, and neutron spectroscopy, the comparative partial half-lives (logft) have been measured for all their dominant β-decay channels for the first time, including a low-energy Gamow-Teller transition and several first-forbidden (FF) transitions. Uniquely for such a heavy neutron-rich nucleus, their β decays selectively populate only a few isolated neutron unbound states in ^{133}Sn. Precise energy and branching-ratio measurements of those resonances allow us to benchmark β-decay theories at an unprecedented level in this region of the nuclear chart. The results show good agreement with the newly developed large-scale shell model (LSSM) calculations. The experimental findings establish an archetype for the β decay of neutron-rich nuclei southeast of ^{132}Sn and will serve as a guide for future theoretical development aiming to describe accurately the key β decays in the rapid-neutron capture (r-) process.

Reconstructing locomotor ecology of extinct avialans: a case study of Ichthyornis comparing sternum morphology and skeletal proportions

Avian skeletal morphology is associated with locomotor function, including flight style, swimming and terrestrial locomotion, and permits informed inferences on locomotion in extinct taxa. The fossil taxon Ichthyornis (Avialae: Ornithurae) has long been regarded as highly aerial, with flight similar to terns or gulls (Laridae), and skeletal features resembling foot-propelled diving adaptations. However, rigorous testing of locomotor hypotheses has yet to be performed on Ichthyornis, despite its notable phylogenetic position as one of the most crownward stem birds. We analysed separate datasets of three-dimensional sternal shape (geometric morphometrics) and skeletal proportions (linear measurements across the skeleton), to examine how well these data types predict locomotor traits in Neornithes. We then used this information to infer locomotor capabilities of Ichthyornis. We find strong support for both soaring and foot-propelled swimming capabilities in Ichthyornis. Further, sternal shape and skeletal proportions provide complementary information on avian locomotion: skeletal proportions allow better predictions of the capacity for flight, whereas sternal shape predicts variation in more specific locomotor abilities such as soaring, foot-propelled swimming and escape burst flight. These results have important implications for future studies of extinct avialan ecology and underscore the importance of closely considering sternum morphology in investigations of fossil bird locomotion.

Topology-Based Three-Dimensional Reconstruction of Delicate Skeletal Fossil Remains and the Quantification of Their Taphonomic Deformation

Taphonomic and diagenetic processes inevitably distort the original skeletal morphology of fossil vertebrate remains. Key aspects of palaeobiological datasets may be directly impacted by such morphological deformation, such as taxonomic diagnoses and phylogenetic hypotheses, interpretations of the shape and orientation of anatomical structures, and assessments of interspecific and intraspecific variation. In order to overcome these ubiquitous challenges we present a novel reconstruction workflow combining retopology and retrodeformation, allowing the original morphology of both symmetrically and asymmetrically damaged areas of fossils to be reconstructed. As case studies, we present idealised three-dimensional reconstructions of the sternum of the crownward stem-bird Ichthyornis dispar, and cervical vertebrae of the diplodocid sauropod Galeamopus pabsti. Multiple Ichthyornis sterna were combined into a single, idealised composite representation through superimposition and alignment of retopologised models, and this composite was subsequently retrodeformed. The Galeamopus vertebrae were individually retrodeformed and symmetrised. Our workflow enabled us to quantify deformation of individual specimens with respect to our reconstructions, and to characterise global and local taphonomic deformation. Our workflow can be integrated with geometric morphometric approaches to enable quantitative morphological comparisons among multiple specimens, as well as quantitative interpolation of “mediotypes” of serially homologous elements such as missing vertebrae, haemal arches, or ribs.

Forty new specimens of Ichthyornis provide unprecedented insight into the postcranial morphology of crownward stem group birds

Ichthyornis has long been recognized as a pivotally important fossil taxon for understanding the latest stages of the dinosaur-bird transition, but little significant new postcranial material has been brought to light since initial descriptions of partial skeletons in the 19^th Century. Here, we present new information on the postcranial morphology of Ichthyornis from 40 previously undescribed specimens, providing the most complete morphological assessment of the postcranial skeleton of Ichthyornis to date. The new material includes four partially complete skeletons and numerous well-preserved isolated elements, enabling new anatomical observations such as muscle attachments previously undescribed for Mesozoic euornitheans. Among the elements that were previously unknown or poorly represented for Ichthyornis, the new specimens include an almost-complete axial series, a hypocleideum-bearing furcula, radial carpal bones, fibulae, a complete tarsometatarsus bearing a rudimentary hypotarsus, and one of the first-known nearly complete three-dimensional sterna from a Mesozoic avialan. Several pedal phalanges are preserved, revealing a remarkably enlarged pes presumably related to foot-propelled swimming. Although diagnosable as Ichthyornis, the new specimens exhibit a substantial degree of morphological variation, some of which may relate to ontogenetic changes. Phylogenetic analyses incorporating our new data and employing alternative morphological datasets recover Ichthyornis stemward of Hesperornithes and Iaceornis, in line with some recent hypotheses regarding the topology of the crownward-most portion of the avian stem group, and we establish phylogenetically-defined clade names for relevant avialan subclades to help facilitate consistent discourse in future work. The new information provided by these specimens improves our understanding of morphological evolution among the crownward-most non-neornithine avialans immediately preceding the origin of crown group birds.

Angular momentum generation in nuclear fission

When a heavy atomic nucleus splits (fission), the resulting fragments are observed to emerge spinning¹; this phenomenon has been a mystery in nuclear physics for over 40 years^2,3. The internal generation of typically six or seven units of angular momentum in each fragment is particularly puzzling for systems that start with zero, or almost zero, spin. There are currently no experimental observations that enable decisive discrimination between the many competing theories for the mechanism that generates the angular momentum^4-12. Nevertheless, the consensus is that excitation of collective vibrational modes generates the intrinsic spin before the nucleus splits (pre-scission). Here we show that there is no significant correlation between the spins of the fragment partners, which leads us to conclude that angular momentum in fission is actually generated after the nucleus splits (post-scission). We present comprehensive data showing that the average spin is strongly mass-dependent, varying in saw-tooth distributions. We observe no notable dependence of fragment spin on the mass or charge of the partner nucleus, confirming the uncorrelated post-scission nature of the spin mechanism. To explain these observations, we propose that the collective motion of nucleons in the ruptured neck of the fissioning system generates two independent torques, analogous to the snapping of an elastic band. A parameterization based on occupation of angular momentum states according to statistical theory describes the full range of experimental data well. This insight into the role of spin in nuclear fission is not only important for the fundamental understanding and theoretical description of fission, but also has consequences for the γ-ray heating problem in nuclear reactors^13,14, for the study of the structure of neutron-rich isotopes^15,16, and for the synthesis and stability of super-heavy elements^17,18.

Late Cretaceous neornithine from Europe illuminates the origins of crown birds

Our understanding of the earliest stages of crown bird evolution is hindered by an exceedingly sparse avian fossil record from the Mesozoic era. The most ancient phylogenetic divergences among crown birds are known to have occurred in the Cretaceous period^1-3, but stem-lineage representatives of the deepest subclades of crown birds-Palaeognathae (ostriches and kin), Galloanserae (landfowl and waterfowl) and Neoaves (all other extant birds)-are unknown from the Mesozoic era. As a result, key questions related to the ecology^4,5, biogeography^3,6,7 and divergence times^1,8-10 of ancestral crown birds remain unanswered. Here we report a new Mesozoic fossil that occupies a position close to the last common ancestor of Galloanserae and fills a key phylogenetic gap in the early evolutionary history of crown birds^10,11. Asteriornis maastrichtensis, gen. et sp. nov., from the Maastrichtian age of Belgium (66.8-66.7 million years ago), is represented by a nearly complete, three-dimensionally preserved skull and associated postcranial elements. The fossil represents one of the only well-supported crown birds from the Mesozoic era¹², and is the first Mesozoic crown bird with well-represented cranial remains. Asteriornis maastrichtensis exhibits a previously undocumented combination of galliform (landfowl)-like and anseriform (waterfowl)-like features, and its presence alongside a previously reported Ichthyornis-like taxon from the same locality¹³ provides direct evidence of the co-occurrence of crown birds and avialan stem birds. Its occurrence in the Northern Hemisphere challenges biogeographical hypotheses of a Gondwanan origin of crown birds³, and its relatively small size and possible littoral ecology may corroborate proposed ecological filters^4,5,9 that influenced the persistence of crown birds through the end-Cretaceous mass extinction.

Intraperitoneal and incisional analgesia in small animals: simple, cost-effective techniques

The World Small Animal Veterinary Association Global Pain Council (WSAVA-GPC) has recently published its first "capsule review" by Monteiro et al. These are short articles that present a brief assessment of the scientific evidence and practical recommendations on important, and sometimes controversial, subjects in pain management. The capsules will be published regularly in the Journal of Small Animal Practice, the official journal of the WSAVA. This second article discusses the use of intraperitoneal and incisional analgesia in small animal practice, including their limitations and recommendations by the authors.

A new clinical score to identify children at low risk for appendicitis

BACKGROUND

Besides clinical signs and imaging, in recent years, biomarkers have proven to be a viable diagnostic resource for acute appendicitis (AA).

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to develop a clinical score including clinical signs and a combination of biomarkers to identify children with abdominal pain at low risk of AA.

DESIGN/METHODS

We prospectively included children 2 to 14 years of age with abdominal pain suggestive of AA who presented to the emergency department between July 2016 and September 2017. A new score, the Pediatric Appendicitis Laboratory Score (PALabS) including clinical signs, leucocyte (WBC) and neutrophil (ANC) counts and plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) and calprotectin (CP) levels was developed and validated through secondary analyses of two distinct cohorts The validation sample included visits to a single pediatric emergency department from 2012 to 2013 and 2016 to 2017.

RESULTS

The derivation sample included 278 children, 35.9% of whom had AA and the validation sample included 255 children, 49% of whom had AA. Using logistic regression, we created a 6-part score that consisted of nausea (3 points), history of focal right lower quadrant pain (4 points), ANC of ≥7500/μL (7 points), WBC of ≥10,000/μL (4 points), CRP ≥ 10.0 mg/L (2 points) and CP ≥ 0.50 ≥ ng/mL (3 points). This score exhibited a high discriminatory power (area under the curve: 0.88; 95% confidence interval: 0.84 to 0.92) and outperformed the PAS and Kharbanda scores (area under the curve: 0.76; 95% confidence interval: 0.71 to 0.82 and 0.82; 95% confidence interval: 0.77 to 0.87, respectively). A PALabS ≤6 had a sensitivity of 99.2% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 95.6-99.9), negative predictive value of 97.6% (95% CI: 87.7-99.6), and negative likelihood ratio of 0.03 (95% CI: 0.00-0.18) in the validation set.

CONCLUSION

In our validation cohort of patients with acute abdominal pain, the new score can accurately predict which children are at low risk of appendicitis and could be safely managed with close observation.

Characterization of gene expression in naturally occurring feline degenerative joint disease-associated pain

•

Nervous system tissue from cats with painful degenerative joint disease (DJD) was analyzed.

•

Gene expression was determined to investigate the neurobiological signature of DJD pain.

•

There was decreased NGF and increased CX3CL1 expression in the spinal cord in DJD-affected cats compared to healthy controls.

•

There was increased expression of ATF3 and CX3CL1 in dorsal root ganglia, in DJD-affected cats compared to healthy controls.

•

Such studies have the potential to inform about relevant targets for the control of chronic feline pain.

Degenerative joint disease (DJD) associated-pain is a clinically relevant and common condition affecting domesticated cats and other species including humans. Identification of the neurobiological signature of pain is well developed in rodent pain models, however such information is lacking from animals or humans with naturally occurring painful conditions. In this study, identification of housekeeping genes (HKG) for neuronal tissue and expression levels of genes considered associated with chronic pain in rodent models were explored in cats with naturally occurring osteoarthritic pain. Fourteen adult cats were evaluated — seven without clinical signs of osteoarthritic pain, and seven with hind limb radiographic DJD and pain. Expression of an investigator-selected set of pain signaling genes (including ASIC3, ATF3, COX2, CX3CL1, NAV1.7, NAV1.8, NAV1.9, NGF, NK1R, TNFα, TRKA) in lumbar spinal cord dorsal horn and lumbar dorsal root ganglia tissues from clinically healthy cats and cats with DJD were studied using quantitative RT-PCR (qPCR).

HKG identified as the most stable across all tissue samples were many of the ribosomal protein genes, such as RPL30 and RPS19. qPCR results showed ATF3 and CX3CL1 up-regulated in DJD-affected dorsal root ganglia compared to clinically healthy controls. In spinal cord, CX3CL1 was up-regulated and NGF was down-regulated when DJD-affected samples were compared to healthy samples. Further work is needed to understand the neurobiology of pain in naturally occurring disease and what rodent models are predictive of these changes in more heterogeneous populations such as domestic cats.

Epidemiology of asthma exacerbations and their relation with environmental factors in the Basque Country

BACKGROUND

Asthma is a highly prevalent chronic inflammatory disease characterised by reversible airflow obstruction and hyperreactivity and inflammation of the airways. Factors that cause and/or trigger asthma attacks include host-related factors (genetic predisposition, obesity and sex) and environmental factors (allergens, infections, occupational sensitisation, smoking status, pollution and diet).

OBJECTIVE

To describe the epidemiology of asthma exacerbations (AEs) in the Basque Country and to explore its relationship with potentially associated environmental variables. We studied a total of 31,579 emergency department (ED) visits and 28,189 hospitalisations due to asthma. We describe the trends, incidence, seasonality and the influence of age and sex, as well as of exposure to NO2 , CO, PM, O3 , and pollen, temperature, relative humidity and flu status. We calculated the Pearson's R correlation coefficient for the study variables.

RESULTS

The incidence was 486 and 88.9 cases per 100,000 people for ED visits and hospitalisations, respectively. Slightly over half (53.5%) of the ED cases were male, while females represented 62.6% of the hospital admissions. Hospitalisations are tending to decrease in children and increase in over 64-year-olds. Peaks in cases occur at the beginning of autumn in children and in winter in adults. AEs were correlated positively with exposure to NO2 , CO and to the influenza virus and negatively with temperature and exposure to O3 . These relationships vary, however, with age and season.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Rates of hospitalisation for AEs and trends in these rates over time are different in adults and children with the patterns varying by sex, season and environmental conditions.

Motor and gait improvement in patients with incomplete spinal cord injury induced by high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation

OBJECTIVE

To assess the effect of high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on lower extremities motor score (LEMS) and gait in patients with motor incomplete spinal cord injury (SCI).

METHOD

The prospective longitudinal randomized, double-blind study assessed 17 SCI patients ASIA D. We assessed LEMS, modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), 10-m walking test (10MWT), Walking Index for SCI (WISCI II) scale, step length, cadence, and Timed Up and Go (TUG) test at baseline, after the last of 15 daily sessions of rTMS and 2 weeks later. Patients were randomized to active rTMS or sham stimulation. Three patients from the initial group of 10 randomized to sham stimulation entered the active rTMS group after a 3-week washout period. Therefore a total of 10 patients completed each study condition. Both groups were homogeneous for age, gender, time since injury, etiology, and ASIA scale. Active rTMS consisted of 15 days of daily sessions of 20 trains of 40 pulses at 20 Hz and an intensity of 90% of resting motor threshold. rTMS was applied with a double cone coil to the leg motor area.

RESULTS

There was a significant improvement in LEMS in the active group (28.4 at baseline and 33.2 after stimulation; P = .004) but not in the sham group (29.6 at baseline, and 30.9 after stimulation; P = .6). The active group also showed significant improvements in the MAS, 10MWT, cadence, step length, and TUG, and these improvements were maintained 2 weeks later. Following sham stimulation, significant improvement was found only for step length and TUG. No significant changes were observed in the WISCI II scale in either group.

CONCLUSION

High-frequency rTMS over the leg motor area can improve LEMS, spasticity, and gait in patients with motor incomplete SCI.

Paediatric community-acquired septic shock: results from the REPEM network study

INTRODUCTION AND PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: With this study we aimed to describe a "true world" picture of severe paediatric 'community-acquired' septic shock and establish the feasibility of a future prospective trial on early goal-directed therapy in children. During a 6-month to 1-year retrospective screening period in 16 emergency departments (ED) in 12 different countries, all children with severe sepsis and signs of decreased perfusion were included.

RESULTS

A 270,461 paediatric ED consultations were screened, and 176 cases were identified. Significant comorbidity was present in 35.8 % of these cases. Intensive care admission was deemed necessary in 65.7 %, mechanical ventilation in 25.9 % and vasoactive medications in 42.9 %. The median amount of fluid given in the first 6 h was 30 ml/kg. The overall mortality in this sample was 4.5 %. Only 1.2 % of the survivors showed a substantial decrease in Paediatric Overall Performance Category (POPC). 'Severe' outcome (death or a decrease ≥2 in POPC) was significantly related (p < 0.01) to: any desaturation below 90 %, the amount of fluid given in the first 6 h, the need for and length of mechanical ventilation or vasoactive support, the use of dobutamine and a higher lactate or lower base excess but not to any variables of predisposition, infection or host response (as in the PIRO (Predisposition, Infection, Response, Organ dysfunction) concept).

CONCLUSION

The outcome in our sample was very good. Many children received treatment early in their disease course, so avoiding subsequent intensive care. While certain variables predispose children to become septic and shocked, in our sample, only measures of organ dysfunction and concomitant treatment proved to be significantly related with outcome. We argue why future studies should rather be large multinational prospective observational trials and not necessarily randomised controlled trials.

[Infectious pathology: vulvovaginitis, sexually transmitted diseases, pelvic inflammatory disease, tubo-ovarian abscesses]

Sexually transmitted diseases are those where the principal path of infection is through intimate contact. Numerous patients attend Accidents and emergencies for this reason, both because of the clinical features and because of social implications. The most frequent symptoms are lower abdominal pain, vaginal bleeding or excessive or troubling vaginal flow. Vulvovaginites are one of the principal problems in the everyday clinical practice of gynaecology. A genital ulcer whose principal aetiology is herpes, followed by syphilis and chancroid, increases the risk of contracting HIV infection and alters the course of other sexually transmitted diseases. Inflammatory pelvic disease encompasses infections of the upper female genital tract. The importance of early diagnosis and suitable treatment is both due to the complications in its acute phase and to its sequels, which include chronic pain and sterility.

[Pneumomediastinum and extensive subcutaneous emphysema after normal labor]

Spontaneous pneumomediastinum associated with subcutaneous emphysema is a rare, though life-threatening, complication of late pregnancy and labor. We report the case of a primipara who, after undergoing normal labor and delivery of a normal-weight baby, developed pneumomediastinum and extensive subcutaneous emphysema with significant symptoms within minutes of delivery. This peripartum complication is usually self-limiting when the aggravating factors are no louguer present. Management includes strict monitoring of the patient and conservative treatment of symptoms.

Transcriptional feedback loop regulation, function, and ontogeny in Drosophila

The Drosophila circadian oscillator is composed of interlocked period/timeless (per/tim) and Clock (Clk) transcriptional feedback loops. These feedback loops drive rhythmic transcription having peaks at dawn and dusk during the daily cycle and function in the brain and a variety of peripheral tissues. To understand how the circadian oscillator keeps time and controls metabolic, physiological, and behavioral rhythms, we must determine how these feedback loops regulate rhythmic transcription, determine the relative importance of the per/tim and Clk feedback loops with regard to circadian oscillator function, and determine how these feedback loops come to be expressed in only certain tissues. Substantial insight into each of these issues has been gained from experiments performed in our lab and others and is summarized here.

Cerebral hemorrhage due to autonomic dysreflexia in a spinal cord injury patient

STUDY DESIGN

Case report.

OBJECTIVE

To report an uncommon case of cerebral hemorrhage due to autonomic dysreflexia (AD) in a spinal cord injury (SCI) patient.

SETTING

Institut Guttmann, Neurorehabilitation Hospital in Barcelona, Spain.

CASE REPORT

An SCI patient developed AD due to urinary tract infection after surgery for a pressure sore. The hypertension was difficult to control and the case progressed to hypertensive encephalopathy. MRI of the brain was performed showing a hemorrhagic lesion on the left occipital area. The hypertension was finally controlled and the neurological status improved although with some cognitive deficits.

CONCLUSION

This is an uncommon case of cerebral hemorrhage due to AD, showing the importance of an adequate diagnosis and treatment of AD to avoid this life-threatening complication.

Determination of quinolones in water samples by solid-phase extraction and liquid chromatography with fluorimetric detection

A method is reported for the determination, in water samples, of 10 quinolones which are used as veterinary drugs. Analytes are isolated from samples by solid-phase extraction (SPE) and analysed by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography using fluorimetric detection. A solid-phase extraction procedure based on retention on HBL OASIS cartridges and elution with a mixture of acetonitrile-water in basic medium is suitable for pre-concentration of the analytes. Pre-concentration factors up to 250 can be obtained. The quinolones are separated with an octyl silica-based column and mobile phases consisting of aqueous oxalic acid solutions and acetonitrile mixtures. The attained detection limits of the whole process are in the ng l(-1) level when 250 ml of water sample is processed. Recovery rates, from natural water samples spiked at 2060 ng l(-1) level, range from 70 to 100% and common standard deviation are about 6-12%.

Electrophysiologic cardiac effects of the new local anesthetic IQB-9302 and of bupivacaine in the anesthetised dog

BACKGROUND

Local anesthetics are not free from potentially fatal complications. Therefore every new local anesthetic should be tested to demonstrate a lower, or at least similar, degree of toxicity over clinically used analogs. Most toxic effects from local anesthetics affect the cardiac electrophysiologic function, so the aim of this study was to characterize the electrophysiologic effects of a new long-acting local anesthetic (IQB-9302, Ciprocaine), and compare them with those of bupivacaine in the anesthetized dog.

METHODS

Eight Beagle dogs received three increasing infusion doses of either IQB-9302 or bupivacaine. Under isoflurane anesthesia, dogs were instrumented to monitor cardiovascular (cardiac output, arterial and venous blood pressures) and cardiac electrophysiologic data (sinus and atrioventricular (AV) node function, atrial, nodal and ventricular conduction times, and refractoriness).

RESULTS

Only the highest dose of both drugs induced hemodynamic or electrophysiologic alterations: cardiac output and heart rate were reduced while blood pressures remained unchanged. Atrial and intranodal conduction times and atrial refractoriness increased similarly with both anesthetics, but to a slightly lesser extent with IQB-9302. Significant increases in His-Purkinje and intraventricular conduction times were the most severe noxious effects and occurred only with large doses of either drug. IQB-9302 was slightly less toxic than bupivacaine and, unlike this latter drug, potentially fatal arrhythmias were not induced.

CONCLUSION

IQB-9302 has hemodynamic and cardiac electrophysiologic effects similar to those caused by bupivacaine. Nevertheless, slightly less toxic effects were derived from IQB-9302 administration than with bupivacaine, and, unlike the latter, the former might be less proarrhytmogenic. The new long-acting local anesthetic IQB-9302 may offer clinical advantages compared with bupivacaine.

The genome sequence of Schizosaccharomyces pombe

We have sequenced and annotated the genome of fission yeast (Schizosaccharomyces pombe), which contains the smallest number of protein-coding genes yet recorded for a eukaryote: 4,824. The centromeres are between 35 and 110 kilobases (kb) and contain related repeats including a highly conserved 1.8-kb element. Regions upstream of genes are longer than in budding yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), possibly reflecting more-extended control regions. Some 43% of the genes contain introns, of which there are 4,730. Fifty genes have significant similarity with human disease genes; half of these are cancer related. We identify highly conserved genes important for eukaryotic cell organization including those required for the cytoskeleton, compartmentation, cell-cycle control, proteolysis, protein phosphorylation and RNA splicing. These genes may have originated with the appearance of eukaryotic life. Few similarly conserved genes that are important for multicellular organization were identified, suggesting that the transition from prokaryotes to eukaryotes required more new genes than did the transition from unicellular to multicellular organization.

[Oat-cell carcinoma of the tongue: report of a case]

We present a case of oat cell carcinoma of tongue in a 76 year old man with a squamous carcinoma of lung.

Cuticular structures and epidermal glands of Echinoderes cantabricus and E. hispanicus (Kinorhyncha, Cyclorhagida) with special reference to their taxonomic value

The body wall of two species of kinorhynchs, Echinoderes cantabricus and E. hispanicus, was examined with transmission and scanning electron microscopy, to determine accurately the nature, arrangement, and consistency of characters used for taxonomic purposes. Structural details of cuticular hairs, pectinate fringes, spines, tubules, and different cuticular scars are described and discussed. Two kinds of epidermal glands, types 1 and 2, are characterized according to the nature of their secretory products, their exact location and distribution in the trunk segments, and their possible value as taxonomic characters. The generally assumed function of tubules for the release of secretory product is analyzed and finally rejected in light of the different distribution of tubules and glands along the trunk and because of the absence of a clear anatomic relation between both structures. The cuticular features studied can be useful for taxonomic purposes because of their consistency, but some of them are difficult to access and evaluate and therefore must be used with caution.

Identification of genes that modify ataxin-1-induced neurodegeneration

A growing number of human neurodegenerative diseases result from the expansion of a glutamine repeat in the protein that causes the disease. Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) is one such disease-caused by expansion of a polyglutamine tract in the protein ataxin-1. To elucidate the genetic pathways and molecular mechanisms underlying neuronal degeneration in this group of diseases, we have created a model system for SCA1 by expressing the full-length human SCA1 gene in Drosophila. Here we show that high levels of wild-type ataxin-1 can cause degenerative phenotypes similar to those caused by the expanded protein. We conducted genetic screens to identify genes that modify SCA1-induced neurodegeneration. Several modifiers highlight the role of protein folding and protein clearance in the development of SCA1. Furthermore, new mechanisms of polyglutamine pathogenesis were revealed by the discovery of modifiers that are involved in RNA processing, transcriptional regulation and cellular detoxification. These findings may be relevant to the treatment of polyglutamine diseases and, perhaps, to other neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.

Ultrastructure of the midgut and hindgut of Derocheilocaris remanei (Crustacea, Mystacocarida)

Ultrastructural features and structure of the midgut and hindgut of Derocheilocaris remanei were studied. The large endodermal midgut is differentiated into an anterior midgut and a posterior midgut separated by a conspicuous constriction. Both circular and longitudinal striated muscle bands surround the midgut, while the hindgut only presents longitudinal muscles. The limit between the midgut and the cuticle-lined hindgut is marked by a rectal valve. In cross-section, the short hindgut is triradiate and has a distinct Y-shaped lumen. The hindgut cuticular lining appears interrupted at the tip of every branch of the Y. Three different cell types are found in the midgut epithelium: basally located undifferentiated cells that give rise to the other two specialized cell types; secretory zymogen-like cells responsible for extracellular digestion and located mainly in the anterior midgut; and vacuolated cells, distributed all along the midgut and appearing to have several functions, including absorption, intracellular digestion, and nutrient transport. A single basic cell type forms the hindgut epithelium. The suggested function for the hindgut is the transport and ejection of waste products.

[Cemented fibroma of the maxillary sinus]

Cementifying fibroma is a benign fibro-osseous lesion with dental origin. We describe a case of cementifying fibroma of the maxillary sinus, an unusual location for this tumor.

[Round Table: Urticaria in relation to infections]

OBJECTIVES

1) To study the clinical and analytic features of infectious disease associated to urticaria in children. 2) To look into the probable etiology of the infectious disease. 3) To determine atopic predisposition and previous urticarial episodes and to rule out the involvement of antibiotics.

DESIGN

Transversal and observational study.

SETTING

Pediatric Allergy Outpatient Clinic of a tertiary Hospital.

PATIENTS

Forty-four children, aged 1 to 12 years with acute urticaria associated to clinically infectious or febrile illness attending an Emergency Pediatric Department.

INTERVENTION

Symptoms evaluation and physical examination in the seventh first days and follow over 3-6 weeks by the same physician.

MEASUREMENTS

Clinical features of urticaria (duration, angioedema associated); Clinic diagnosis of illness infectious (acute respiratory infection, gastroenteritis, febrile syndrome); white blood cells count, C-reactive protein, aminotransferases (AST, ALT), L-Y-glutamyl transferase; viral culture and antigen detection: enterovirus (EV), adenovirus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), parainfluenza 1, 2 and 3, influenza A y B and cytomegalovirus (CMV); serological assay: CMV, enterovirus, mycoplasma pneumoniae, Epstein-Barr, parvovirus B19.

RESULT

22 children (50%) are between 1-2 years old. 40 patients (90,9%) had symptoms of respiratory tract infection and only four patients had a pneumonia. The other 4 children had a gastroenteritis. The analytic was suggestive of viral infection in 35 (79.5%) and unknown on seven patients. In 20 children (45.4%) was identified a probable infection. The viral detection was positive in 3 patients: CMV, herpes simplex 1 and influenza A. Twenty microbiological findings for seventeen patients was found by serological criterion of probable infection: enterovirus (10); parvovirus B19 (4); Epstein-Barr (3) y mycoplasma (3). Evidence of a double serologic infection was found in three patients. In comparison with a serological control group encountered that acute urticaria during a infectious disease is significantly associated (p = 0.0054) to high titer to enterovirus by complement-fixation. The urticaria was associated with angioedema in 38.6% and 9 children (20.4%) related an previous similar episode. Twenty-one (47.7%) had been treated with antibiotics before development the urticaria. All patients was given the suspected antibiotic and no patient developed any adverse reaction.

CONCLUSIONS

The clinically infectious associated to urticarial rash in children, usually is a viral respiratory infections. Is more frequent at infant. In spite of antibiotic therapy is often related to development the urticaria, the subsequent challenge with the same antibiotic is good tolerated.