Marine benthic algae new to South Africa

Twenty species of Rhodophyta that have not previously been recorded for South Africa have been found on the coast of Natal. All but six species are new to the East African region, but have been recorded from other distant regions of the world. It is particularly noteworthy that fifteen of the twenty species were previously known to occur in Australia, six of the fifteen not having been found anywhere but in Australia before this time. An additional species, Dasyclonium incisum, has been known to occur only in Australia and New Zealand before this report. Two species, Anotrichium tenue and Wrangelia argus, are probably pan-tropical to subtropical species and a few others such as Halymenia dilatata, Sebdenia polydactyla, Symphyocladia marchantioides and Pterosiphonia spinifera may eventually be shown to belong in a similar category.Twintig Rhodophyta spesies wat nie voorheen in Suid-Afrika aangeteken is nie, is aan die Natalse kus aangetref. Veertien hiervan is nuut vir die Oos-Afrikaanse gebied, maar is bekend in ander afgeleë gebiede van die wêreld. Dit is veral betekenisvol dat vyftien van die twintig spesies voorheen reeds in Australië gevind is. Sewe van dié vyftien kom nêrens anders voor as slegs in Australië en Suid-Afrika nie en ’n addisionele spesie, Dasyclonium incisum, kom slegs in Australië en Nieu-Seeland voor, sowel as in Suid-Afrika. Twee spesies, Anotrichium tenue en Wrangelia argus, is waarskynlik pan-tropiese tot subtropiese soorte en dit mag moontlik later blyk dat ’n aantal ander, soos Halymenia dilatata, Sebdenia polydactyla, Symphyocladia marchantioides en Pterosiphonia spinifera, ook tot hierdie kategorie behoort

Apical control of growth in a filamentous red alga (Ceramiaceae, Rhodophyta)

The undescribed ceramiacean red alga used in this work is closely related to Ceramium. The alga is pseudodichotomously branched with alternate axes being dominant. Removal of the apical tip from the primary indeterminate axis increased the production of adventitious branches from pericentral cells behind the apex. This effect was not reversed with the addition of exogenous IAA to the growth medium in a concentration range of 10−9 M to 10−4 M. Removal of the apical tip from the subordinate axis did not influence adventitious branch production

Hand function is already reduced before RA development and reflects subclinical tenosynovitis

Background Clinically suspect arthralgia (CSA) is characterised by arthralgia of small joints and considered a risk stage for development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, it remains unknown if the function of the hands is already affected and what mechanisms underlie impaired hand-function in CSA. Methods We studied various measures of hand function in two CSA populations. CSA patients in the TREAT EARLIER-trial (n=236) were evaluated at baseline for: grip strength on a dynamometer (GS), patient-reported difficulties in the grip domain of the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) questionnaire and incomplete fist closure at physical examination. Findings were validated in an independent CSA cohort (n=600) where hand function was measured as: GS evaluated by squeezing the examiner's fingers, grip domain of the HAQ questionnaire and fist closure. Contrast-enhanced MRI of the hands measured synovitis, tenosynovitis and bone marrow oedema (summed as subclinical inflammation) in both cohorts. Results GS (on a dynamometer) was reduced in 75% compared with reference values in healthy controls, 60% reported grip difficulties and 13% had incomplete fist closure. Reduced GS was associated with subclinical inflammation (-0.38 kg/point inflammation, 95% CI -0.68 to -0.08). Studying separate MRI features, GS reduction was independently associated with tenosynovitis, decreasing with -2.63 kg (95% CI -2.26 to -0.33)/point tenosynovitis (range observed tenosynovitis scores: 0-20). Similar relations with tenosynovitis were seen for patient-reported grip difficulties (OR 1.12/point, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.42) and incomplete fist closure (OR 1.36/point, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.79). In the validation cohort, 36% had decreased examiner-assessed GS, 51% reported grip difficulties and 14% incomplete fist closure: all were associated with tenosynovitis. Decreased dynamometer-measured GS was most sensitive for detecting tenosynovitis (75%), while incomplete fist closure was most specific (88%-90%). Conclusion Hand function is already often affected before RA development. These limitations are related to subclinical inflammation and tenosynovitis in particular