Distribution and Regional Ecology of Californian Palm Oases Interpreted from Google Earth Images

The native fan palms of the Baja California peninsula (Mexico) and neighboring southern California (USA) comprise two species each in Washingtonia and Brahea. While these are among the most familiar ornamental palms in the world, many features of their taxonomy, distribution, and environmental relationships remain unresolved. We utilized Google Earth Digital Globe imagery (and limited surveys by air and land) to develop the first map detailing the geographic distribution of palm populations in the Peninsular Range Province (PRP) and used these data to formulate new hypotheses on their biotic and abiotic relationships. We inventoried 15,216 populations covering an area of 8533 ha, containing an estimated 1.31 million trees. Tree populations estimated by manual tallies from Google Earth images closely matched direct counts published by previous workers. We documented significant extensions in the distributions of both Washingtonia specìes, as well as 66 hitherto unreported W. robusta oases in the Sierra La Asamblea. We also recorded thousands of upland populations of dwarf B. armata. Google Earth imagery shows that native fan palms are widespread in remote mountains of the entire peninsula, but in Baja California Sur W. robusta is mostly restricted to a few highly altered agricultural landscapes associated with extensive wetlands. It has long been assumed that the center of W. robusta distribution is in the tropical southern peninsula. Our observations suggest it may have been dispersed there by indigenous peoples before European contact, and its center of genetic diversity may instead lie in the Central Desert (ca. latitude 28º-30º N)

Small animal disease surveillance: respiratory disease 2017

This report focuses on surveillance for respiratory disease in companion animals. It begins with an analysis of data from 392 veterinary practices contributing to the Small Animal Veterinary Surveillance Network (SAVSNET) between January and December 2017. The following section describes canine respiratory coronavirus infections in dogs, presenting results from laboratory-confirmed cases across the country between January 2010 and December 2017. This is followed by an update on the temporal trends of three important syndromes in companion animals, namely gastroenteritis, pruritus and respiratory disease, from 2014 to 2017. A fourth section presents a brief update on Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus in companion animals. The final section summarises some recent developments pertinent to companion animal health, namely eyeworm (Thelazzia callipaeda) infestations in dogs imported to the UK and canine influenza virus in the USA and Canada

Nefrite tubulointersticial associada à mesalazina

Inflammatory bowel disease and its various treatments may affect the kidney in several ways tubulointersticial nephritis is a rare but serious complication of longer-term mesalazine use. There are few cases reported in the literature. We report the first two cases of mesalazine-induced tubulointersticial nephritis, recently diagnosed in our department. The first one refers to a patient with ulcerous colitis and the second one to a patient with Crohn’s disease. Then the authors present a review of literature about the renal involvement in the inflammatory bowel disease. New cases of mesalazine nephrotoxicity should be reported to allow more accurate incidence estimation of this serious adverse effect. Routine monitoring of renal function is simple, inexpensive and allows an early diagnosis of this complicationA doença inflamatória intestinal e as terapêuticas que lhe estão associadas podem afetar o rim de várias formas. A nefrite tubulointersticial é uma complicação rara, mas potencialmente grave inerente à terapêutica com mesalazina. Há alguns casos descritos na literatura. Os autores descrevem os dois primeiros casos de nefrite tubulointersticial associados ao uso de mesalazina, recentemente diagnosticados no nosso Serviço; um deles num doente com colite ulcerosa, outro num doente com doença de Crohn. Apresentam uma revisão da literatura sobre o atingimento renal na doença inflamatória intestinal. Os casos de nefrotoxicidade associada à mesalazina devem continuar a ser descritos para permitir estabelecer uma incidência mais precisa desde efeito adverso. A monitorização da função renal durante o tratamento é simples, barata e pode ajudar a diagnosticar precocemente esta complicaçã

Urinary Biomarkers for Kidney Disease in ATTR Amyloidosis

Aim: The detection and prognosis of nephropathy in transthyretin amyloidosis depends on albuminuria and renal function. Knowing that urinary levels of alpha-1 microglobulin and beta-2 microglobulin reflect tubular dysfunction while urinary alpha-2 macroglobulin implies glomerular damage, we decide investigate the diagnostic value of these markers in the patients with transthyretin amyloidosis. Methods: Serum and urinary samples collected from 30 patients and 11 asymptomatic carriers were tested for alpha-1 microglobulin, beta-2 microglobulin, alpha-2 macroglobulin, albumin, creatinine and cystatin C. Results: Pathological urinary alpha-1 microglobulin was detected in 17 patients, beta-2 microglobulin in 6 and alpha-2 macroglobulin in 5; 5 patients had albuminuria (mg/g creatinine) 30-300 and in 20 patients values >300 were present. Asymptomatic carriers did not present pathological excretion of these biomarkers and albuminuria was >30 in 1 individual. The excretion rates of alpha-1 microglobulin and beta-2 microglobulin were positively correlated with albuminuria (P<0.001), serum creatinine (P<0.05) and cystatin C (P<0.001). Urinary alpha-2 macroglobulin was almost exclusively found in the presence of albuminuria, although their levels do not correlate. Conclusion: Urinary biomarkers emerge as a potential approach to detect renal disease but unexpectedly, urinary alpha-2 macroglobulin was not a marker of the severity of albuminuria

McArdle disease presenting with rhabdomyolisis and acute kidney injury

A doença de McArdle apresenta-se tipicamente por mialgias, intolerância aos esforços, cãibras e mioglobinúria na infância ou jovens adultos. A deficiência hereditária da enzima miofosforílase incapacita a degradação de glicogénio, com consequente acumulação no tecido muscular e défice energético. A rabdomiólise pode ocorrer e complicar-se de lesão renal aguda mas raramente, em cerca de 11% dos casos, é manifestação inicial da doença. Apresentamos um caso de Doença de McArdle num paciente de 38 anos de idade. Tinha antecedentes de mialgias, intolerância aos esforços e episódio isolado de mioglobinúria. A doença foi diagnosticada num episódio de rabdomiólise grave complicada de lesão renal aguda oligúrica, com necessidade de hemodiálise. A biópsia renal demonstrou necrose tubular aguda. Apesar da recuperação renal, os marcadores de lise muscular permaneceram elevados. Na suspeita de miopatia metabólica realizou biópsia muscular que revelou deposição subsarcolémica de glicogénio e ausência de atividade da miofosforilase. As miopatias metabólicas devem ser consideradas na abordagem de LRA associada a rabdomiólise severa