Too cold for invasions? Contrasting patterns of native and introduced ascidians in subantarctic and temperate Chile

10 páginas, 1 tabla, 2 figuras.We analysed the biodiversity of ascidians in two areas located in southern and northern Chile: Punta Arenas in the Strait of Magellan (53º latitude, subantarctic) and Coquimbo (29º latitude, temperate). The oceanographic features of the two zones are markedly different, with influence of the Humboldt Current in the north, and the Cape Horn Current System, together with freshwater influxes, in the Magellanic zone. Both regions were surveyed twice during 2013 by SCUBA diving and pulling ropes and aquaculture cages. Both artificial structures and natural communities were sampled. A total of 22 species were identified, three of them reported for the first time in Chilean waters: Lissoclinum perforatum, Synoicum georgianum, and Polyzoa minor. The first is an introduced species found here for the first time in the Pacific. No species occurred in both regions, highlighting the very different environmental conditions of subantarctic vs. temperate waters. In spite of exhaustive searches in aquaculture facilities and on artificial structures such as harbour docks and piers, no introduced species were found in the Punta Arenas area. Conversely, 5 out of 11 (45%) species found in northern Chile were introduced. The Coquimbo area has a history of ship traffic dating back at least 150 years, and cultures of native (e.g. scallop) as well as exotic species (e.g. abalone) have been deployed for ca. 35 years. Some of the introduced species, such as Ciona robusta (formerly C. intestinalis sp. A), constitute pests for scallop culture facilities in the area, causing serious losses to local farmers. It is surprising that the Punta Arenas zone, with a history of ship traffic dating back ca. 500 years and over 25 years of sustained mussel and salmon aquaculture activity, is apparently free from introduced species. The ascidian cover on artificial structures is high, but it is made up of native species such as Paramolgula sp., Cnemidocarpa verrucosa, or Polyzoa opuntia. It is hypothesized that cold waters (5 to 11ºC) are the determining factor hindering the development of introduced ascidians, which tend to be temperate-warm water species. The ongoing warming in the Southern Cone may change this picture and continued monitoring is strongly advised.This research was funded by CONICYT Chile (Grant 80122006). Additional funding was obtained by XT from the Spanish Government (project CHALLENGEN CTM2013-48163) and by JIC from University of Magallanes - UMAG/DI&P Grant PR-F2-01CRN- 12, CIMAR 18 & CIMAR 20 Fjords Chilean Navy, and GAIAAntarctic Project (MINEDUC-UMAG). RMR received a research grant from CNPq–National Counsel of Technological and Scientific Development (304768/2010-3).Peer reviewe

Ascidian fauna (Tunicata, Ascidiacea) of subantarctic and temperate regions of Chile

30 páginas, 15 figuras, 2 tablasWe studied the ascidian fauna from two zones located in subantarctic (Punta Arenas, latitude 53º) and temperate Chile (Coquimbo, latitude 29º). The different oceanographic features of the two zones, with influence of the Humboldt Current in the north and the Cape Horn Current System and freshwater inputs in the south, led to markedly different ascidian faunas. A total of 22 species were recorded, with no shared species across the two areas (11 species each). The new species Polyzoa iosune is described, Lissoclinum perforatum is found for the first time in the Pacific Ocean, and Synoicum georgianum and Polyzoa minor are new to the Chilean fauna. The populations of Ciona in the Coquimbo area (formerly attributed to Ciona intestinalis) correspond to the species Ciona robusta. A total of 35 Cytochrome oxidase (COI) sequences of the standard barcode region have been obtained for 17 of the 22 species reported.This research was funded by CONICYT Chile (Grant 80122006). Additional funding was obtained by XT from the Spanish Government (project CHALLENGEN CTM2013-48163) and by JIC from University of Magallanes: UMAG/DI&P Grant PR-F2-01CRN-12, CIMAR 18 & CIMAR 20 Fjords Chilean Navy, and GAIA-Antarctic Project (MINEDUC-UMAG). RMR received a research grant from CNPq–National Counsel of Technological and Scientific Development (304768/2010-3).Peer reviewe

Personal Construct Therapy vs Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in the Treatment of Depression in Women with Fibromyalgia: Study Protocol for a Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Fibromyalgia (FM) is a debilitating syndrome, more prevalent in women, which is aggravated by the presence of depressive symptoms. In the last decade, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has demonstrated to reduce such depressive symptoms and pain in these patients, but there are still a considerable number of them who do not respond to interventions. The complexity of the disorder requires the consideration of the unique psychological characteristics of each patient to attain good outcomes. One approach that could accomplish this goal might be personal construct therapy (PCT), an idiographic approach that considers identity features and interpersonal meanings as their main target of intervention. Then, the aim of the study is to test the efficacy of PCT as compared to a well-established treatment in the reduction of depressive symptoms in women with fibromyalgia. Methods and Analysis: This is a multicenter randomized controlled trial. In each condition participants will attend up to eighteen 1-hr weekly therapy sessions and up to three 1-hr booster sessions during the following 3- 5 months after the end of treatment. The depression subscale of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-D) will be the primary outcome measure and it will be assessed at baseline, at the end of therapy, and at 6-month follow-up. Other secondary measures will be applied following the same schedule. Participants will be 18- to 70-years-old women with a diagnosis of FM, presenting depressive symptoms evinced by scores above seven in depression items of the HADS-D. Intention-to-treat and complete case analyses will be performed for the main statistical tests. Linear mixed models will be used to analyze and to compare the treatment effects of both conditions

Rebleeding prophylaxis improves outcomes in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. A multicenter case-control study

Outcome of variceal bleeding (VB) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is unknown. We compared outcomes after VB in patients with and without HCC. All patients with HCC and esophageal VB admitted between 2007 and 2010 were included. Follow-up was prolonged until death, transplantation, or June 2011. For each patient with HCC, a patient without HCC matched by age and Child-Pugh class was selected. A total of 292 patients were included, 146 with HCC (Barcelona Classification of Liver Cancer class 0-3 patients, A [in 25], B [in 29], C [in 45], and D [in 41]) and 146 without HCC. No differences were observed regarding previous use of prophylaxis, clinical presentation, endoscopic findings, and initial endoscopic treatment. Five-day failure was similar (25% in HCC versus 18% in non-HCC; P = 0.257). HCC patients had greater 6-week rebleeding rate (16 versus 7%, respectively; P = 0.025) and 6-week mortality (30% versus 15%; P = 0.003). Fewer patients with HCC received secondary prophylaxis after bleeding (77% versus 89%; P = 0.009), and standard combination therapy was used less frequently (58% versus 70%; P = 0.079). Secondary prophylaxis failure was more frequent (50% versus 31%; P = 0.001) and survival significantly shorter in patients with HCC (median survival: 5 months versus greater than 38 months in patients without HCC; P < 0.001). Lack of prophylaxis increased rebleeding and mortality. On multivariate analysis Child-Pugh score, presence of HCC, portal vein thrombosis, and lack of secondary prophylaxis were predictors of death. Conclusions: Patients with HCC and VB have worse prognosis than patients with VB without HCC. Secondary prophylaxis offers survival benefit in HCC patient

Heterogeneous contributions of change in population distribution of body mass index to change in obesity and underweight NCD Risk Factor Collaboration (NCD-RisC)

From 1985 to 2016, the prevalence of underweight decreased, and that of obesity and severe obesity increased, in most regions, with significant variation in the magnitude of these changes across regions. We investigated how much change in mean body mass index (BMI) explains changes in the prevalence of underweight, obesity, and severe obesity in different regions using data from 2896 population-based studies with 187 million participants. Changes in the prevalence of underweight and total obesity, and to a lesser extent severe obesity, are largely driven by shifts in the distribution of BMI, with smaller contributions from changes in the shape of the distribution. In East and Southeast Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, the underweight tail of the BMI distribution was left behind as the distribution shifted. There is a need for policies that address all forms of malnutrition by making healthy foods accessible and affordable, while restricting unhealthy foods through fiscal and regulatory restrictions

Presencia de Cistenides Elhersi Hessle, 1917 (Polychaeta Perctinariidae) en aguas someras magallánicas habitadas por praderas de Ruppia Filifolia: Evidencia de Euribatia, Eurihalididad y Euritermia?

A objeto de analizar los impactos potenciales que podrían tener los gradientes de salinidad, así como los distintos regímenes térmicos sobre la distribución batimétrica de la fauna bentónica estuarina en la zona austral de Chile, se desarrolló una revisión bibliográfica sobre los hallazgos del poliqueto Cistenides elhersi recolectados en diferentes cruceros Cimar Fiordo. Se consideraron las características oceanográficas de las estaciones con profundidades mayores a 50 m, y se adicionaron datos nuevos obtenidos en un sector de baja salinidad (25 psu) y somero del Seno Skyring (52°33&#8217;16" S, 71°51&#8217;34" W; 0,3 a 2 m profundidad), Región de Magallanes, donde predomina una pradera del pasto acuático ruppia flifolia. Los datos analizados en forma conjunta permiten proponer que C. elhersi muestra eurihalinidad, euritermia y euribatía. Se proporcionan antecedentes complementarios sobre la abundancia del poliqueto, tamaño y ubicación dentro de la matriz del pasto. Se destaca la necesidad de desarrollar nuevos estudios para identificar otro tipo servicios ecológicos prestados por esta pradera de r. flifolia

New record and first description including SEM and μCT of the rare priapulid Acanthopriapulus horridus (Priapulida, Scalidophora)

We report a specimen of the rare priapulid Acanthopriapulus horridus from the Magellan Strait in Chile. This species, characterized by a conspicuous spine-covered caudal appendage, is distributed along the South American coast from Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) to the Magellan Strait, but only six specimens have been reported so far. This is the first documentation using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and μCT. Our investigation confirms and extends most reported results from previous publications. We show that the scalids on the introvert, although more loosely arranged than in other priapulids, occur in repeated series of decreasing size. Scalids and the different papillae on the trunk are sensory structures with apical tube-like openings. The spines on the caudal appendage have an apical opening, but pores instead of tube-like receptor openings. Pharyngeal teeth appear to be of two types in different regions of the pharynx. The caudal appendage is a strongly muscular organ, but its function remains unclear

Proposición de un índice de vigilancia ambiental basado en la variabilidad temporal de la abundancia de dos especies de poliquetos bentónicos de bahía Quintero, Chile

An Environmental Monitoring Index based on the temporal variations in the abundance of two benthic polychaetes (Nepthys impressa Baird, 1871 and Prionospio peruana Hartmann-Schröder 1962a) is proposed. Three replicated samples were collected in four subtidal stations at Quintero Bay (32º45' S, 71º29' W; 6 to 13 m deep), central Chile, with a Van Veen grab 0,1 m-2; the sampling campaigns were carried out in March and November 1995 and 1996, April, August and November 1997 and March 1998. This study allowed to evaluate the use of population parameters of the benthic component in environmental impact programs according to the technical requirements of DGTM and MM (Chilean Navy). Nepthys impressa (Ni) is a common species whose abundance (N) varied in one order of magnitude and occurred in sediments with low percentage of organic matter, MO ( 3). The use of this index in other Chilean bays is discussed. Other eighteen species of benthic polychaetes were collected in the shallow sandy bottom in the study area.Se propone un índice de vigilancia ambiental (IVA) basado en la variación temporal de la abundancia de dos especies de poliquetos (Nepthys impressa Baird, 1871 y Prionospio peruana Hartmann-Schröder 1962a). Muestras en triplicado se recolectaron en cuatro estaciones submareales en bahía Quintero (32º 45' S, 71º 29' O; 6 a 13 m de profundidad), Chile central, utilizando una draga Van Veen de 0,1 m²; las campañas de muestreo se efectuaron en marzo y noviembre de 1995 y 1996, abril, agosto y noviembre de 1997, y en marzo de 1998. Este estudio permitió evaluar el uso de aspectos poblacionales de la componente bentónica de estudios de impacto ambiental según los requerimientos técnicos solicitados por la DGTM y MM (Armada de Chile). Nepthys impressa (Ni) es una especie frecuente cuya abundancia (N) fluctuó en un orden de magnitud y fue característica en sedimentos con bajo porcentaje de materia orgánica, MO ( 3). Se discute el uso de este índice para otras bahías de Chile. También se recolectaron otras dieciocho especies de poliquetos que habitan en los sedimentos de esta área de estudio

Polyzoa iosune Turon & Lopez-Legentil

&lt;i&gt;Polyzoa iosune&lt;/i&gt; Turon &amp; L&oacute;pez-Legentil &lt;p&gt;Fig. 10&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Localities: 6N.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Holotype: a colony has been designated as the holotype and deposited in the Museo Nacional de Historia Natural de Chile (code MNHNCL TUN-15001). Two other colonies (paratypes) are kept at the Biological Collections Room of the Universidad Cat&oacute;lica del Norte (SCBUCN3962).&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Several colonies of this new species have been found in the lower intertidal in the Coquimbo area. They form thick carpets by the union side by side of elongated zooids, reaching 17 mm in height. A single colony may cover hundreds of square centimetres. The tunic is of a clear brownish colour, and the siphons are pigmented in red. Small zooids appear in between larger ones, attached to their tunics. Thick stolons are found at the basis of the colony.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;The tunic is thin but firm. The zooids have a weekly muscular body wall that allows the observation of some internal features. There is an inner oral velum and about 16 tentacles (big and medium size). The aperture of the neural gland is oval-vertical. There are 7 longitudinal vessels to the right and 4 (sometimes 5) to the left. Parastigmatic vessels cut the stigmata (up to 10 per mesh). Sometimes there are 2 and even 3 parastigmatic vessels between two consecutive transverse vessels. The digestive system forms an open primary loop, with a long and straight intestine reaching anteriorly towards the atrial siphon and ending in a smooth anus. The stomach has 12&ndash;16 folds and a pyloric caecum.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;There are several endocarps (6&ndash;8) attached to the body wall at each side, round or elongated. Up to 18 gonads can be found on the right hand side, forming a row adjacent to the endostyle. The gonads are hermaphrodite and elongated. The male portion is basal and forms most of the gonad, and the female portion lies distally and apically. There is a short and wide oviduct opening distally with a scalloped aperture, and a long and thin subterminal spermduct. To the left there are only 5&ndash;7 hermaphrodite gonads between the endostyle and the ascending intestine. Some zooids brood larvae in the peribranchial cavity. The larval trunk length is up to 0.65 mm. When mature, the larvae feature a ring of tubular anterior ampullae (6&ndash;7 pairs), three conical adhesive papillae, and a single pigmented spot.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Remarks.&lt;/b&gt; Monniot (1970) established a tabular key for the known species of &lt;i&gt;Polyzoa&lt;/i&gt;. None matches the characters observed in the Chilean specimens. In particular, the number of longitudinal vessels falls within the variability of &lt;i&gt;P. minor&lt;/i&gt; alone (Monniot 1973), a different species in terms of size, colony form, number of gonads and larval morphology. The only species featuring zooids joined together and of the size found here is &lt;i&gt;P. opuntia&lt;/i&gt;, but it has consistently 8 longitudinal vessels per side, among other differences. On the other hand, and based on the COI sequences obtained here, &lt;i&gt;P. iosune&lt;/i&gt; forms a well-suported clade (Neighbour Joining tree, results not shown), sister to the clade of &lt;i&gt;P. opuntia&lt;/i&gt; sequences, with which it features 8&ndash;9% sequence differentiation. Species described more recently such as &lt;i&gt;P. e xi g ua&lt;/i&gt; and &lt;i&gt;P. nodosa&lt;/i&gt; (Kott 1990), or &lt;i&gt;P. atlantica&lt;/i&gt; (Sanamyan &lt;i&gt;et al.&lt;/i&gt; 2009) are all clearly different in colony and zooid size and shape, as well as in internal features.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;i&gt;Derivatio nominis&lt;/i&gt;: this species is dedicated to Mar&iacute;a Jes&uacute;s Uriz, colleague, friend, and great sponge specialist. Iosune (Mar&iacute;a Jes&uacute;s in basc language) is here used as substantive in apposition.&lt;/p&gt;Published as part of &lt;i&gt;Turon, Xavier, Cañete, Juan I., Sellanes, Javier, Rocha, Rosana M. &amp; López-Legentil, Susanna, 2016, Ascidian fauna (Tunicata, Ascidiacea) of subantarctic and temperate regions of Chile, pp. 151-180 in Zootaxa 4093 (2)&lt;/i&gt; on pages 168-169, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4093.2.1, &lt;a href="http://zenodo.org/record/267667"&gt;http://zenodo.org/record/267667&lt;/a&gt

Pyura legumen Lesson 1830

&lt;i&gt;Pyura legumen&lt;/i&gt; (Lesson, 1830) &lt;p&gt;Fig. 14 C,D&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; References and synonymy: &lt;i&gt;Boltenia legumen&lt;/i&gt; Lesson (1830a) p. 149; Millar (1960) p. 119; &lt;i&gt;Pyura legumen&lt;/i&gt; Van Name (1945) p. 326; Kott (1969) p. 133; Monniot &amp; Monniot (1983) p. 88.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Localities: 1S, 2S&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;The individuals are ovoid, up to 6 cm in maximal dimension. The oral siphon is terminal and the atrial siphon is widely separated from it. The individuals are borne on a stalk that originates ventrally. The tunic is thin but firm, of brownish-pinkish tones, and is covered by branched spines (to 0.5 mm in length). The tunic of the inner side of the siphons is carpeted by minute (70&ndash;100 mm) pointed spines. There are ca. 12 well-developed branched tentacles with smaller ones in-between. The aperture of the neural gland is &ldquo;U&rdquo; shaped with horns rolled inward. There are seven folds on each side of the branchial sac. The stomach is long, and the intestine describes a narrow primary loop all along the ventral side, with almost no secondary curvature. There is one gonad on each side, the left one within the intestinal loop. The most prominent internal feature of this species is the presence of two big endocarplike elongated masses at each side of the body (dorsal to the gonads and digestive tube), and three rounded, smaller ones surrounding the aperture of the atrial siphon.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Remarks.&lt;/b&gt; This is a well-known species present in the Patagonian shelf and the Falkland Islands. Sanamyan &amp; Schories (2003) report its presence in the vicinity of Punta Arenas. Monniot &amp; Monniot (1983) discuss the morphological features of the stalked &lt;i&gt;Pyura&lt;/i&gt; species from the Antarctic and subantarctic waters.&lt;/p&gt;Published as part of &lt;i&gt;Turon, Xavier, Cañete, Juan I., Sellanes, Javier, Rocha, Rosana M. &amp; López-Legentil, Susanna, 2016, Ascidian fauna (Tunicata, Ascidiacea) of subantarctic and temperate regions of Chile, pp. 151-180 in Zootaxa 4093 (2)&lt;/i&gt; on pages 175-176, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4093.2.1, &lt;a href="http://zenodo.org/record/267667"&gt;http://zenodo.org/record/267667&lt;/a&gt