Effect of Holothurin on Sarcoma 180 and B-16 Melanoma Tumors in Mice

Holothurin, a biotoxic principle from the Cuvierian glands of the Bahamian sea-cucumber, Actinopyga agassizi, was studied as an anti-tumor agent capable of retarding tumor growth and prolonging the life of tumor-bearing mice. White Swiss mice injected with Sarcoma 180 had a mean survival time of 18.1 days with an average weight gain representing tumor and ascites fluid accumulation amounting to 25.1 grams in 15 days. Of five white Swiss mice with Sarcoma 180 receiving 0.15 mg Holothurin every other day, one was alive at 57 days and the average weight gain of the group was 10.4 grams in 15 days. White Swiss mice with Sarcoma 180 which survived the lethal effects of slightly higher doses of Holothurin also had prolonged survival times and negligible tumor growth. C57-Bl-6J mice with B-16 melanoma tumors did not show increased survival time using the same doses of Holothurin that were effective in white Swiss mice. Toxicity tests indicated that the safe upper limit for intraperitoneal Holothurin injection in white Swiss mice was 0.10 mg/day, 0.15 mg given every other day, and up to 0.30 mg given in a single injection. Similar tests with C57 black mice showed survival with as much as 0.60 mg Holothurin in a single subcutaneous injection. Holothurin was found to be 250 to 500 times more effective in causing red blood cell hemolysis than saponin and thus appears to have some action on living cells in addition to its surfactant action

Hydrozoa

The European list was derived from URMO which was edited by W. Vervoort. S.D. Cairns provided the list of hydrocorals and P. Schuchert provided additions the list of hydroids

Improving Research Enrollment of Severe Burn Patients

Enrolling severely burn injured patients into prospective research studies poses specific challenges to investigators. The authors describe their experience of recruiting adults with ≥20% TBSA burns or inhalation injury admitted to a single academic burn unit into observational research with minimally invasive specimen collection. The authors outline iterative changes that they made to their recruitment processes in response to perceived weaknesses leading to delays in enrollment. The primary outcome was the change in days to consent for enrolled patients or cessation of recruitment for nonenrolled patients before and after the interventional modifications. The authors assessed change in overall enrollment as a secondary outcome. Study enrollment was approximately 70% in both 4-month study periods before and after the intervention. Following the intervention, time to consent by surrogate decision maker decreased from a median of 26.5 days (interquartile range [IQR] 14-41) to 3 days (IQR 3-6) (P =.004). Time to initial consent by patient changed from a median of 15 days (IQR 2-30) to 3 days (IQR 2-6) (P =.27). Time to decline for nonenrolled patients decreased from a median of 12 days (IQR 6.5-27) to 1.5 days (IQR 1-3.5) (P =.026). Both the findings of the study and a brief literature review suggest that careful design of the recruitment protocol, increased experience of the study team, and broad time windows for both approach and enrollment improve the efficiency of recruiting critically injured burn patients into research

The long-term impact of the leprosy post-exposure prophylaxis (Lpep) program on leprosy incidence:a modelling study

Background The Leprosy Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (LPEP) program explored the feasibility and impact of contact tracing and the provision of single dose rifampicin (SDR) to eligible contacts of newly diagnosed leprosy patients in Brazil, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Tanzania. As the impact of the programme is difficult to establish in the short term, we apply mathematical modelling to predict its long-term impact on the leprosy incidence. Methodology The individual-based model SIMCOLEP was calibrated and validated to the historic leprosy incidence data in the study areas. For each area, we assessed two scenarios: 1) continua-tion of existing routine activities as in 2014; and 2) routine activities combined with LPEP starting in 2015. The number of contacts per index patient screened varied from 1 to 36 between areas. Projections were made until 2040. Principal findings In all areas, the LPEP program increased the number of detected cases in the first year(s) of the programme as compared to the routine programme, followed by a faster reduction after-wards with increasing benefit over time. LPEP could accelerate the reduction of the leprosy incidence by up to six years as compared to the routine programme. The impact of LPEP varied by area due to differences in the number of contacts per index patient included and differences in leprosy epidemiology and routine control programme. Conclusions The LPEP program contributes significantly to the reduction of the leprosy incidence and could potentially accelerate the interruption of transmission. It would be advisable to include contact tracing/screening and SDR in routine leprosy programmes.</p

An unusual new gorgonian coral (Anthozoa: Octocorallia) from the Aleutian Islands, Alaska

Despite the abundance and ecological importance of octocorals in Alaskan waters, most of the species in this assemblage remain unidentified and/or undescribed. One of the largest and most abundant species from the Aleutian Islands found at depths ranging between 125 and 512 m is a new and very unusual gorgonian coral. It has stout upright colonies that are laterally branched, with thick, more or less clavate terminal branches. Its major distinguishing characteristic is its possession of tiny sclerites with stubby double heads, which occur in the outermost coenenchyme. Another significant character is its oval capstans with elaborate ornamentation. The gorgonian is described as Alaskagorgia aleutiana new genus and species (Cnidaria: Octocorallia: Holaxonia: Plexauridae). It is described and assigned to Plexauridae because of the affinity of DNA sequences (1337 bp mtDNA: ND2 and MSH1) of A. aleutiana with other plexaurid corals, even though the predominant coenenchymal sclerites are somewhat smaller and different than is usual in plexaurid genera