Human impacts on marine ecosystems

Marine Ecosystems and Global Change provides a detailed synthesis of the work conducted under the auspices of the Global Ocean Ecosystems Dynamics (GLOBEC) programme. This research spans two decades, and represents the largest, multi-disciplinary, international effort focused on understanding the impacts of external forcing on the structure and dynamics of global marine ecosystems

Infective endocarditis in intravenous drug abusers: an update

Infective endocarditis despite advances in diagnosis remains a common cause of hospitalization, with high morbidity and mortality rates. Through literature review it is possible to conclude that polymicrobial endocarditis occurs mainly in intravenous drug abusers with predominance in the right side of the heart, often with tricuspid valve involvement. This fact can be associated with the type of drug used by the patients; therefore, knowledge of the patient's history is critical for adjustment of the therapy. It is also important to emphasize that the most common combinations of organisms in polymicrobial infective endocarditis are: Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumonia and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, as well as mixed cultures of Candida spp. and bacteria. A better understanding of the epidemiology and associated risk factors are required in order to develop an efficient therapy, although PE studies are difficult to perform due to the rarity of cases and lack of prospective cohorts.This work was supported by Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) through the grants SFRH/BPD/47693/2008, SFRH/BPD/20987/2004 and SFRH/BPD/72632/2010 attributed to Claudia Sousa, Claudia Botelho and Diana Rodrigues, respectively

Characterization of Optic Neuropathy in Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease

Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, also known as hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy (HMSN), is an inherited, progressive disease of the nerves resulting in weakness and numbness more pronounced in the legs than the arms. There are several sub-types of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease based on myelin or axonal abnormalities and patterns of inheritance. Optic neuropathy has been described to some extent in some sub-types, including HMSN I and HMSN VI. To better characterize optic neuropathy in Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, we evaluated retinal nerve fiber layer and ganglion cell layer complex thicknesses, visual evoked potentials and pattern electroretinograms in four patients

Multimodal Imaging in Acute Macular Neuroretinopathy

A 44-year-old woman noticed bilateral irregular scotomata associated with photopsias of 6-month duration. Ophthalmoscopic examination demonstrated multiple bilateral, pericentral, hypopigmented, petaloid, macular lesions evident on Amsler grid associated with paracentral hyperreflective lesions on optical coherence tomography in the outer plexiform and nuclear layers. Indocyanine green angiography revealed patches of choroidal ischemia consistent with acute macular neuroretinopathy

Multimodal Imaging in Acute Macular Neuroretinopathy

A 44-year-old woman noticed bilateral irregular scotomata associated with photopsias of 6-month duration. Ophthalmoscopic examination demonstrated multiple bilateral, pericentral, hypopigmented, petaloid, macular lesions evident on Amsler grid associated with paracentral hyperreflective lesions on optical coherence tomography in the outer plexiform and nuclear layers. Indocyanine green angiography revealed patches of choroidal ischemia consistent with acute macular neuroretinopathy

Characterization of Charcot-Marie-Tooth optic neuropathy

Varying degrees of optic neuropathy can be seen in patients with Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease. To define and characterize the extent of optic neuropathy in patients with CMT2A and CMT1A, two patients from both sub-classifications were evaluated. All patients underwent complete neuro-ophthalmic examinations, and optical coherence (OCT) measurements of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and ganglion cell layer complex (GCC) were obtained, along with pattern visual evoked potential (VEP) and pattern electroretinogram (ERG) recordings. RNFL thickness measurements were decreased in both patients with CMT2A, and normal in both patients with CMT1A. GCC measurements were decreased in both patients with CMT2A, mildly decreased in one patient with CMT1A and normal in the second CMT1A patient. VEP latencies were delayed in one patient with CMT2A and one patient with CMT1A. VEP latencies were immeasurable in the other CMT2A patient and not obtained in the second CMT1A patient. Pattern ERG P50-N95 amplitudes were decreased in both patients with CMT2A and normal in one patient with CMT1A. The pattern ERG was immeasurable in the second patient with CMT1A. The pattern of RNFL and GCC thinning in CMT2A with optic neuropathy, a subset of HMSN VI, closely resembles that seen in other mitochondrial optic neuropathies

Appendix A. A summary table of studies included in the meta-analyses of the effects of protection in marine reserves on fish community structure.

A summary table of studies included in the meta-analyses of the effects of protection in marine reserves on fish community structure