Thandarum hernandezi, a new genus and new species of sea cucumber family Sclerodactylidae (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea: Dendrochirotida) from the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean

A new genus and a new species of dendrochirotid, Thandarum hernandezi gen. et sp. nov., is described from Buenos Aires coast in the Southwestern Atlantic. For this species is quite significant the body U shape, up to 14.08 mm (along the trivium), with double row of podia restricted to the ambulacra. Other features are ossicles from body wall with buttons and 4 pillar tables, tube feet with rods and end plate star-shaped; the introvert with rosettes and tentacles with rods. These characteristics require the recognition of a new genus, and the new species and represents the first sclerodactylid reported in Argentinean waters.Fil: Martinez, Mariano Ignacio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales “Bernardino Rivadavia”; ArgentinaFil: Brogger, Martin Ignacio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales “Bernardino Rivadavia”; Argentin

Echinoderms diversity in the Southwestern Atlantic

Studies of biodiversity of echinoderms from South America have increased in recent years. Here we summarize sampling done on three expeditions along the Argentinean coast (35º - 55º S) and near the Antarctic Peninsula. The first campaign, Mejillón II (M-II; 2009), was carried out between 35º - 39º S and covered a depth range between 10 to 140 m. The second was part of the Summer Antarctic Campaign 2011 (CAV-III; 2011) that took place around the Antarctic Peninsula, South Shetland and South Orkney Islands (depth range between 67 to 754 m). The last cruise was the final stretch of the Summer Antarctic Campaign 2011 (CAV-IV; 2011), from 39º - 55º S and between 30 - 140 m depth. As result, 74 stations have been studied, of which 68 had at least one echinoderm specimen. From the total number of stations, the occurrence percentages for each class were Asteroidea (68 %), Echinoidea (64 %), Ophiuroidea (55 %), Holothuroidea (51 %) and Crinoidea (20 %). In the M-II campaign, echinoderms were presented in 94 % of the sampled stations, with Echinoidea most frequent (74 %). In the CAV-III campaign echinoderms were presented in all the stations; Ophiuroidea were found in all stations. The lowest occurrence of echinoderms was found in the CAV-IV campaign (82 %), where Asteroidea was present in the 73 % of the samples, and crinoids were absent.Fil: Martinez, Mariano Ignacio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia"; ArgentinaFil: Arribas, Lorena Pilar. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia"; ArgentinaFil: Berecoechea, Juan José. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia"; ArgentinaFil: Brogger, Martin Ignacio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Nacional Patagónico; ArgentinaFil: Penchaszadeh, Pablo Enrique. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia"; Argentin

Infaunal mollusks as main prey for two sand bottoms sea stars off Puerto Quequén (Argentina)

In order to characterize the diet of Astropecten brasiliensis and Luidia ludwigi scotti, the stomach content of both starfish species was analyzed. Starfishes were sampled for two years off Puerto Quequén coast in the Buenos Aires province (Argentina), at a depth between 40 and 60 m. The main prey items were analyzed in relation to the starfish’s sizes and identified to the lowest possible taxonomic category. A. brasiliensis showed the most diversified diet, comprising a total of twenty eight different prey species; bivalves and gastropods predominated. In contrast, L. ludwigi scotti only showed eight prey species with bivalves, foraminiferans and ophiuroids as the most frequently found groups. There were differences among the prey groups eaten by each sea star species, and prey in common differed by size. We found different prey species distribution according with L. ludwigi scotti sizes. There may be competition for food resources, and diet differences may allow the coexistence of A. brasiliensis and L. ludwigi scotti in the area.Fil: Brogger, Martin Ignacio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Centro Nacional Patagónico. Instituto de Biología de Organismos Marinos; ArgentinaFil: Penchaszadeh, Pablo Enrique. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia"; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentin

Revision of some ophiuroid records (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) from Argentina

The taxonomy of some ophiuroids reported from off Argentina, western Antarctica and the SW Atlantic Ocean is reviewed. The species Amphilepis sanmatiensis, known only from the small holotype, is a synonym of Amphioplus lucyae. This synonymy removes the only reported endemic ophiuroid from Argentina. The species name ?Ophiacantha ingrata Koehler, 1923? used for specimens from South Georgia is invalid; the specimens are likely to belong to one of two cryptic species within the O. vivipara complex. Specimens of Amphiura joubini reported from Argentina are re-identified as Amphiura princeps, and specimens of Ophiactis amator from the Antarctic Peninsula are re-identified as Ophiactis asperula.Fil: Brogger, Martin Ignacio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales; ArgentinaFil: O'hara, Timothy D.. Museum Victoria; Australi

Syndesmis patagonica n. sp. (Rhabdocoela: Umagillidae) from the sea urchin Arbacia dufresnii (Echinodermata: Echinoidea) in Patagonia, Argentina

The umagillid Syndesmis patagonica n. sp. is described from the intestinal tract of the sea urchin Arbacia dufresnii, which represents a new host record for the genus. The hosts were collected from the coast of Patagonia (Argentina), and S. patagonica n. sp. is the first species of Syndesmis reported from South America. Syndesmis patagonica n. sp. can be distinguished from all other species in the genus by the possession of a stylet that is extremely short (less than 50 µm long), and a combination of other characters including the position of the testes, body size, body color and host. An updated overview of the distribution of all species of Syndesmis is also presented.Fil: Brogger, Martin Ignacio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia"; ArgentinaFil: Ivanov, Veronica Adriana. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Cs.exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental. Laboratorio de Helmintologia; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Histological after arm tip amputation in the brittle star Ophioplocus januarii (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea)

Echinodermata present a high regenerative potential expressed at different anatomical levels in bothadults and larvae. Wound healing in the arm tip after amputation in the brittle star Ophioplocus januarii wasexamined in San José gulf, Argentina, to observe histological and morphological changes. The process of woundhealing is described and compared with other brittle stars species. This process in O. januarii involves the closureof the wound, the repair of the tissue damage and posterior formation of a presumptive stalked blastema byundifferentiated cells, sclerocytes and presumptive blastemic cells. The sclerocytes are the more abundant celltype due to this cells are crucial to the future skeleton regeneration. The results found in this study supports theresuls found in others brittle starsFil: Di Giorgio, Gisele Vanesa. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Nacional Patagónico; ArgentinaFil: Rubilar Panasiuk, Cynthia Tamara. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Nacional Patagónico; ArgentinaFil: Brogger, Martin Ignacio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales; Argentin

Tooth microstructure and feeding biology of the brittle star <i>Ophioplocus januarii</i> (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) from northern Patagonia, Argentina

Ophioplocus januarii is a common brittle star on soft and hard substrates along the Argentinian and Brazilian coasts. Based on stomach contents, tooth microstructure and field observations we identified its food. Opposed to previous suggestions, O. januarii appears to be a microphagous species feeding on macroalgal fragments (found in 60.0 % of the analyzed stomachs with content), plant debris (28.0 %), animal cuticle structures (13.0 %), and unidentifiable material (30.7 %). Less frequent items found were foraminiferans, ostracods, an amphipod, a juvenile bivalve, and other crustaceans. Electronic microscope revealed digested material, diatoms and small crustacean appendices. Thus, O. januarii is an omnivorous species, feeding mainly on algae, complemented opportunistically with other items. Suspension feeding was observed in the field. It has an fenestrated arrangement intermediate between the previously described uniform and compound teeth.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y MuseoInstituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de La PlataConsejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnica

Admission C – reactive protein after acute ischemic stroke is associated with stroke severity and mortality: The 'Bergen stroke study'

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>There is growing evidence that inflammation plays an important role in atherogenesis. Previous studies show that C-reactive protein (CRP), an inflammatory marker, is associated with stroke outcomes and future vascular events. It is not clear whether this is due a direct dose-response effect or rather an epiphenomenon. We studied the effect of CRP measured within 24 hours after stroke onset on functional outcome, mortality and future vascular events.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We prospectively studied 498 patients with ischemic stroke who were admitted within 24 hours after the onset of symptoms. CRP and NIH stroke scale (NIHSS) were measured at the time of admission. Short-term functional outcome was measured by modified Rankin scale (mRS) and Barthel ADL index (BI) 7 days after admission. Patients were followed for up to 2.5 years for long-term mortality and future vascular events data.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The median CRP at admission was 3 mg/L. High CRP was associated with high NIHSS (p = 0.01) and high long-term mortality (p < 0.0001). After adjusting for confounding variables, high CRP remained to be associated with high NIHSS (p = 0.02) and high long-term mortality (p = 0.002). High CRP was associated with poor short-term functional outcomes (mRS > 3; BI < 95) (p = 0.01; p = 0.03). However, the association was not significant after adjusting for confounding variables including stroke severity (p = 0.98; p = 0.88). High CRP was not associated with future vascular events (p = 0.98).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Admission CRP is associated with stroke severity and long-term mortality when measured at least 24 hours after onset. There is a crude association between high CRP and short-term functional outcome which is likely secondary to stroke severity. CRP is an independent predictor of long-term mortality after ischemic stroke.</p

Tooth microstructure and feeding biology of the brittle star <i>Ophioplocus januarii</i> (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) from northern Patagonia, Argentina

Ophioplocus januarii is a common brittle star on soft and hard substrates along the Argentinian and Brazilian coasts. Based on stomach contents, tooth microstructure and field observations we identified its food. Opposed to previous suggestions, O. januarii appears to be a microphagous species feeding on macroalgal fragments (found in 60.0 % of the analyzed stomachs with content), plant debris (28.0 %), animal cuticle structures (13.0 %), and unidentifiable material (30.7 %). Less frequent items found were foraminiferans, ostracods, an amphipod, a juvenile bivalve, and other crustaceans. Electronic microscope revealed digested material, diatoms and small crustacean appendices. Thus, O. januarii is an omnivorous species, feeding mainly on algae, complemented opportunistically with other items. Suspension feeding was observed in the field. It has an fenestrated arrangement intermediate between the previously described uniform and compound teeth.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y MuseoInstituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de La PlataConsejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnica