Otolith-temperature estimates in Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) from the Mediterranean Sea: Insights from clumped isotope measurements

The subpopulation and/or contingent structure of Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) within the Mediterranean Sea is undefined, leading to uncertainty regarding the best strategy for an effective assessment and management of this highly exploited stock. This study aimed to reconstruct temperatures experienced by Atlantic bluefin tuna during the early life period (<3.5 months) using clumped isotope temperature proxy, an innovative geothermometer for carbonates, that does not require previous knowledge of other environmental parameters such as water oxygen composition. We examined otolith chemistry in fish captured from 3 different areas of the Mediterranean Sea and adjacent waters. We found that mean seasonal temperature estimates from clumped isotopes did not differ significantly from satellite derived and otolith oxygen stable isotopic ratios derived temperatures, except for the central Mediterranean Sea, were clumped isotopes derived temperatures were significantly higher than satellite derived temperatures. However, the sensitivity of the clumped isotope thermometer was found to be lower than that based on oxygen fractionation equation, with high variance observed in the clumped isotopes derived temperature estimates. We also observed that clumped isotope derived temperatures were undistinguishable among bluefin tuna captured in the Gibraltar Strait, the central, and eastern Mediterranean Sea. In this paper, we discuss the major sources of uncertainty in temperature reconstructions using bluefin tuna otoliths.

Application of cone-beam computed tomography angiography in a uterine fibroid embolization procedure: A case report

One of the main causes of failure in uterine fibroid embolization procedures is incomplete infarction of the fibroid due to alternate vascular supply to the fibroid which was not identified by the operator. Cone-beam computed tomography angiography was used in this case to avoid nontarget embolization via a uterine artery, as well as identify incomplete embolization of the fibroid. This prompted a search for variant vascular supply to the fibroid, which was found to be originating from the right ovarian artery. Therefore, the use of cone-beam computed tomography angiography led to a successful outcome, which otherwise may not have been achieved.

Incidental findings detected on emergency abdominal CT scans: a 1-year review

INTRODUCTION

In recent years, there has been a substantial rise in the use of computed tomography (CT) in the emergency medicine setting. Accordingly, with increased CT usage there has been an upsurge in incidental pathology detection.

METHODS

A retrospective review of all emergency CT abdominal scans performed at a university teaching hospital was examined. The frequency of incidental findings, their clinical significance and workload effect for the radiology department was assessed.

RESULTS

1155 patients had an emergency abdominal CT scan of which 700 had incidental findings detected. Of the incidental findings, 143 were deemed indeterminate requiring urgent investigations. Twenty-four occult neoplasms were confirmed subsequently. Additionally, 259 patients were recommended for additional diagnostics. The cumulative effect of the initial emergency abdominal CT was 15,015 relative value units (RVU). Subsequent imaging of incidental findings resulted in another 1674 RVU workload for radiology.

CONCLUSION

Incidental findings cause considerable debate and concern over which patients require significant follow-up, investigations, and/or surveillance. This exerts significant pressures on sub-specialties for their expert input, with increased workload and implications on healthcare service provision.

The timing of early life events and growth rate estimates of age-0 year group brill Scophthalmus rhombus along the west coast of Ireland

The timing of spawning and hatching, larval durations and growth exhibited by juvenile brill Scophthalmus rhombus captured along the Irish west coast were estimated using otolith microstructure analysis. Scophthalmus rhombus were estimated to have hatched between February and May, with fish settling onto nursery grounds between March and June. Fish collected later on in the season exhibited higher otolith growth rates in comparison to earlier collected fish. This is the first study to describe the early life history of a commercially valuable but understudied flatfish species.

The feeding ecology of 0 year-group turbot Scophthalmus maximus and brill Scophthalmus rhombus on Irish west coast nursery grounds

On sandy beach nursery grounds along the west coast of Ireland, 0 year-group turbot Scophthalmus maximus were found to consume six types of crustaceans, in addition to polychaetes. The 0 year-group brill Scophthalmus rhombus fed almost exclusively on mysids, even though nine taxonomic prey groups were identified in the sediment across the investigated beaches. Both species avoided non-motile organisms such as gastropods and bivalves, which were present in high abundances in the sediment and their growth and condition was not significantly related to the quantity or type of prey consumed, temperature or salinity. A high incidence of feeding was detected for both species over the duration of the study, suggesting that food was not limiting on west of Ireland nursery grounds. Temporal partitioning of settlement was detected between S. maximus and S. rhombus, indicating that inter-specific competition for food does not occur between these two flatfish species on west of Ireland nursery grounds.

Macrobenthic prey availability and the potential for food competition between 0 year group Pleuronectes platessa and Limanda limanda

This study describes the feeding habits of plaice Pleuronectes platessa and dab Limanda limanda during early juvenile development and relates differences between nursery grounds and sampling years to spatial and temporal variabilities in macrobenthic prey availability. The main prey taxa of both species were copepods, bivalves, amphipods, polychaetes and oligochaetes and size-related variation in diet was found. Despite considerable similarity in the prey items, differences in food composition between the two species were observed and spatial variability in diet confirmed their opportunistic feeding behaviour. A high degree of dietary overlap was found in June and decreased steadily throughout the season. The prey composition in the guts of both species largely reflected the composition of the main macrobenthic taxa in the sediment. The overall data suggest that resources were not limiting in the littoral sandy nursery areas in the west of Ireland and no indications were found that exploitative competitive forces upon the benthic prey assemblages occurred between P. platessa and L. limanda. Feeding success, Fulton's K condition and dietary overlap, however, showed spatial and temporal variations, and were probably affected by the availability and density of macrobenthic prey.

Acute aortic occlusion in a patient with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia treated by thrombectomy

INTRODUCTION

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia syndrome (HITS) is an infrequent complication of heparin anticoagulation.

CASE REPORT

We present the case of a 44-year-old male who was admitted with acute ischaemia of his right lower limb. He was initially treated with unfractionated heparin and thrombolysis, but subsequently developed acute aortic thrombosis 8 days following initiation of heparin therapy. This was treated with bilateral per-femoral thrombectomy with curative result.

CONCLUSION

This case report draws the attention of surgeons to the difficulties in diagnosing HITS and highlights the multidisciplinary management of a complicated case of acute ischaemia.

Combined iliac angioplasty and infrainguinal revascularization surgery are effective in diabetic patients with multilevel arterial disease

The success of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) in the treatment of common and external iliac atherosclerotic lesions has been established for the general population. However, several studies have suggested that the presence of diabetes may reduce the effectiveness of iliac angioplasty, particularly in the setting of limb-threatening ischemia requiring concomitant lower extremity revascularization. This study compared the results of iliac artery PTA performed in conjunction with infrainguinal bypass for limb-threatening ischemia for diabetic (DM) and nondiabetic (non-DM) patients. Between 1991 and 2000, 159 PTA were performed in 126 patients (DM = 99/79%, non-DM = 27/21%) in conjunction with subsequent infrainguinal bypass for limb-threatening ischemia (gangrene = 42%, ulcer = 36%, rest pain = 22%). These patients were followed prospectively using a computerized vascular registry. Stents were placed in 34 (21.4%) cases for suboptimal angioplasty results. In this study the combined use of standard surgical and endoluminal modalities for the treatment of multilevel arterial occlusive disease resulted in excellent cumulative patency and limb salvage rates. The presence of diabetes did not alter these favorable results. Multimodal vascular therapy may be used effectively in diabetic patients with limb-threatening ischemia due to multiple levels of arterial occlusion.

Do alpha-blockers have a role in lower urinary tract dysfunction in multiple sclerosis?

Lower urinary tract dysfunction is a major cause of morbidity in patients with multiple sclerosis. alpha 1-Adrenergic receptors are present at the bladder neck, where increased tone may be responsible for urinary retention and diminished flow rates. A randomized placebo controlled study was designed to test the hypothesis that blockade of these receptors using the selective alpha 1-adrenergic receptor antagonist indoramin would improve bladder emptying in patients with multiple sclerosis. Peak and mean urinary flow rates, residual volume and symptom score were evaluated at trial entry and again after 4 weeks in 18 men with multiple sclerosis. There was a mean 41% improvement in peak flow rate in the actively treated group compared with a 7.4% deterioration in the placebo group (p < 0.05). Residual volume improved in both groups. Patients taking indoramin reported a greater improvement in urinary symptoms. Modulation of the alpha 1-receptor may have a role in the management of lower urinary tract dysfunction in multiple sclerosis.

Acute tubular necrosis after renal transplantation

We evaluated the influence of dialysis requiring acute tubular necrosis on patient survival, and kidney survival and function in all 182 patients who needed dialysis immediately after transplantation at the University of Minnesota Hospitals. When compared to matched control patients not requiring dialysis, there was no difference at any point in patient survival. At 1 month there were more kidneys lost in the patients who developed acute tubular necrosis, but this difference was not present at 3 months or later. Acute tubular necrosis is a relatively innocent complication of renal transplantation and, if one avoids assaulting patients with invasive diagnostic procedures, does not give rise to an increased mortality nor, in the long run, to an increased loss of kidneys. Therefore, kidneys should not be discarded because of fear they might develop this complication.