The Influence of Habitat and Environment on Smallmouth Bass (\u3ci\u3eMicropterus dolomieu\u3c/i\u3e) Nest Sites and Nest Success in Northern Lake Michigan

Information on smallmouth bass nesting ecology is lacking in northern Lake Michigan, despite available information for other Great Lakes ecosystems. Our objectives were to identify factors that influenced nesting sites and nest success in a smallmouth bass population in northern Lake Michigan. Temperature, substrate firmness, and lake bottom rugosity were measured and related to the number of smallmouth bass nests in four bays. We also investigated the role of temperature, effective fetch, and storms to explain nest success. Temperature appeared to be most important in explaining the number of nests and nest success; transects that experienced the greatest number of cumulative degree days above 15 °C during nesting contained more nests and increased nest success. Our results suggest that warmer areas during spawning in northern latitude lentic systems should be protected from anthropogenic disturbances because these areas may be important for future recruitment of smallmouth bass

Movement of Smallmouth Bass within the Beaver Island Archipelago, Northern Lake Michigan.

Fish movement may vary across a wide array of aquatic ecosystems and may be related to the overall size of the system inhabited. We investigated movement of smallmouth bass in Lake Michigan because this information is lacking for larger systems. A total of 16 smallmouth bass were surgically implanted with ultrasonic transmitters within the Beaver Archipelago, northern Lake Michigan. During 2007–2008, a maximum of one location per individual was recorded daily during three specific tracking periods – pre-spawn, spawning, and post-spawn – to determine diurnal movement patterns. Movement was evaluated as site fidelity, minimum displacement rate,maximumexcursion rate, and distance from shore. Smallmouth bass exhibited greatermaximum excursion rates during the spawn period compared to pre-spawn. Movement rates did not differ between tracking periods; however, movement rates were greater during the spawn period in 2007 than 2008. Both sexes moved further offshore to deeper water during post-spawn, but females were located further offshore than males during this period. Annual site fidelity was more evident during post-spawn than during spawning for both sexes. Two smallmouth bass emigrated outside of the Archipelago, suggesting this population may be more “open” in terms of individuals moving throughout northern Lake Michigan than previously thought. These results indicate smallmouth bass may move greater distances in larger aquatic systems and therefore larger management units (in terms of total area) should be established in Lake Michigan to account for these greater excursion distances

Movement of Smallmouth Bass within the Beaver Island Archipelago, Northern Lake Michigan.

Fish movement may vary across a wide array of aquatic ecosystems and may be related to the overall size of the system inhabited. We investigated movement of smallmouth bass in Lake Michigan because this information is lacking for larger systems. A total of 16 smallmouth bass were surgically implanted with ultrasonic transmitters within the Beaver Archipelago, northern Lake Michigan. During 2007–2008, a maximum of one location per individual was recorded daily during three specific tracking periods – pre-spawn, spawning, and post-spawn – to determine diurnal movement patterns. Movement was evaluated as site fidelity, minimum displacement rate,maximumexcursion rate, and distance from shore. Smallmouth bass exhibited greatermaximum excursion rates during the spawn period compared to pre-spawn. Movement rates did not differ between tracking periods; however, movement rates were greater during the spawn period in 2007 than 2008. Both sexes moved further offshore to deeper water during post-spawn, but females were located further offshore than males during this period. Annual site fidelity was more evident during post-spawn than during spawning for both sexes. Two smallmouth bass emigrated outside of the Archipelago, suggesting this population may be more “open” in terms of individuals moving throughout northern Lake Michigan than previously thought. These results indicate smallmouth bass may move greater distances in larger aquatic systems and therefore larger management units (in terms of total area) should be established in Lake Michigan to account for these greater excursion distances

Fish Assemblage Shifts and Population Dynamics of Smallmouth Bass (Micropterus dolomieu) in the Beaver Archipelago, Northern Lake Michigan: A Comparison Between Historical and Recent Time Periods Amidst Ecosystem Changes.

The ecological and economic importance of Great Lakes nearshore areas and the paucity of information on nearshore Lake Michigan fish assemblages prompted us to document changes that occurred from a historical time period (1969–1972, 1975, 1977, and 1984) to a recent period (2005–2008) in a nearshore northern Lake Michigan (Beaver Archipelago) fish assemblage, with an emphasis on smallmouth bass Micropterus dolomieu. From historical to recent periods, the Beaver Archipelago fish assemblage shifted from predominantly brown bullheads Ameiurus nebulosus to predominantly smallmouth bass. Relative abundance of brown bullheads and white suckers Catostomus commersonii declined from historical to recent time periods, as did overall species richness. The relative abundance, recruitment variability, and mortality rates of smallmouth bass have not significantly changed since the historical time period, whereas both condition (ages 5–7) and growth (ages 2–7) of this species have significantly increased. Our results suggest that the smallmouth bass population in the Beaver Archipelago area has not been negatively affected by recent ecological changes (i.e., declining primary productivity, increasing benthic invertebrate densities, increasing numbers of double-crested cormorants Phalacrocorax auritus, and increasing introductions of nonnative species). The smallmouth bass is currently the dominant nearshore species and remains a critical component of the nearshore fish assemblage in northern Lake Michigan

Vertical transmission of HPV in pregnancy. A prospective clinical study of HPV-positive pregnant women

Introduction: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection. Data reporting vertical transmission of HPV from the mother to the fetus are inconsistent and scant. Vertical transmission may occur by hematogenic route (transplacental), or by ascending contamination, or through the birth canal, which may result in the dreaded and rare laryngeal papillomatosis. Infected sperm at fertilization is a potential route of infection, too. Objective: The objective of the study was to evaluate the rate of vertical transmission of HPV in HPV-positive pregnant women to their newborn infants, as well as the risk factors of HPV vertical transmission. Material and methods: The clinical material was provided by 136 pregnant women, aged 18-45 years. Out of this group, 30 (22.05%) women with abnormal Pap test and positive DNA HPV test were prospectively observed. Neonatal status, i.e. DNA HPV from the nasopharyngeal smear, was recorded in all infants during the perinatal period. The conventional Pap test was performed with the cervix brush in all women. The Bethesda 2011 classification system was applied. Results: An average C Reactive Protein (CRP) concentration in the studied pregnant women was 11.6083 (Std Dev – 12.93). The most frequent cytological findings in the cervical smears from the examined women were ASCUS, n=13 (43.3%), then – LSIL, n=10 (33.3%), HSIL- n=5 (16.7%) and AGC- n=2 (6.7%). In the neonates, the presence of LR HPV DNA was detected in 9 cases (30.0%) and HR HPV DNA in 7 cases (23.3%). Fourteen neonates (46.7%) tested HPV DNA negative in the perinatal period. Conclusions: HPV infection (incidental or chronic) is observed in approximately 22% of pregnant women from the Małopolska province. Neonatal HPV infection in HPV-positive women was observed in 53.3% of the subjects. CRP concentration > 10 mg/dl in the serum of pregnant women statistically significantly (p 0.001) reduces the risk of vertical transmission of HPV from the mother to the fetus

Malignant melanoma of the vulva with metastases to the urethra in a 64-year-old female patient : case report

Czerniak sromu stanowi ok. 3-4% wszystkich czerniaków u kobiet. Niezmiernie rzadko pojawia się przed 50. r.ż. Należy do grupy rzadkich guzów w tej lokalizacji, stanowiąc 8-10% nowotworów sromu, a szacowana częstość występowania to 0,10/100 000 kobietolat. Wśród czynników mogących predysponować do zachorowania na czerniaka sromu znajdują się przewlekłe choroby zapalne, zakażenia wirusowe - w tym wirusem brodawczaka ludzkiego (human papillomavirus - HPV), czynniki powodujące podrażnienie sromu oraz podatność genetyczna. Większość czerniaków sromu rozwija się de novo, ale mogą również powstawać na bazie istniejących wcześniej znamion barwnikowych. Najczęściej w badaniu fizykalnym stwierdza się pigmentowaną zmianę w obrębie sromu, jednak w ok. 30% przypadków czerniak nie ma cech pigmentacji. Głębokość naciekania (inwazji) jest najistotniejszym histologicznym czynnikiem prognostycznym. Leczenie opiera się na postępowaniu chirurgicznym, którego rozległość zależy od stopnia zaawansowania nowotworu. Leczenie uzupełniające wdraża się z wykorzystaniem interleukiny 2, interferonu alfa, dakarbazyny czy paklitakselu z cysplatyną lub karboplatyną. Poniżej przedstawiono przypadek 64-letniej pacjentki z czerniakiem okolicy sromu, u której pomimo wdrożonego leczenia operacyjnego, polegającego na połowicznym wycięciu sromu wraz z węzłami chłonnymi i zachowaniu marginesów zdrowych tkanek oraz uzupełniającej terapii interferonem alfa, po roku wykryto wznowę w obrębie dystalnej części cewki moczowej. Kontynuacja leczenia polegała na operacyjnym wycięciu przedniej części sromu wraz z dystalnym odcinkiem cewki moczowej oraz adjuwantowym włączeniem chemioterapii wg schematu Docetaxel/Carboplatin.Melanoma of the vulva comprises around 3-4% of all melanoma cases in women, very rarely appearing before the age of 50. It belongs to the group of rare tumours in this location, comprising 8-10% of vulva tumours, and the estimated frequency of vulvar melanoma occurrence is 0.10/100 000 women-years. Among the factors that can predispose to developing melanoma of the vulva, we can distinguish chronic inflammatory diseases, virus infections (including HPV virus), factors causing vulva irritation and genetic susceptibility. The majority of melanomas of the vulva develop "de novo", but they can also develop on the basis of previously existing pigmentary birthmarks. Most frequently, during physical examination pigmentary changes in the area of the vulva are found. However, in around 30% of cases melanoma does not have pigmentary traits. The depth of infiltration (invasion) is the crucial prognostic histological factor in melanoma. The treatment is based on surgery, the extent of which depends on the stage of tumour advancement. Supplemental treatment makes use of interleukin-2, interferon alpha, dacarbazine or paclitaxel with cisplatin or carboplatin. The case of a 64-year-old female patient with melanoma of the vulva area, who despite surgical treatment based on partial excision of the vulva with lymph glands and keeping a margin of healthy tissues, as well as supplemental therapy with interferon alpha, and who after a year was diagnosed with reoccurrence of the tumour in the area of the distal part of the urethra, is presented below. Continuation of the treatment is based on surgical excision of the front part of the vulva together with the distal part of the urethra and adjuvant chemotherapy treatment according to the docetaxel/carboplatin combination

Intraneural pseudocyst (so-called ganglion) in an unusual retroperitoneal periadnexal location?

A case of an unusual unilocular cystic lesion of diameter 7 cm located retroperitoneally in the pelvis in close connection to the right adnexa of a 61 year-old woman is presented. Macroscopically, the lesion had a smooth outer and inner surface and was filled with translucent fluid. Histological examination revealed a fibrous and hyalinized wall which lacked a specific lining. Numerous nerve bundles in the cyst wall constituted the most conspicuous element of its histology possibly with some contribution of perineurial and/or mesothelial components. The morphology and immunohistochemistry speak for an intraneural pseudocyst sometimes called intraneural ganglion cyst which is rare in this location

Behavioural syndrome in a solitary predator is independent of body size and growth rate.

Models explaining behavioural syndromes often focus on state-dependency, linking behavioural variation to individual differences in other phenotypic features. Empirical studies are, however, rare. Here, we tested for a size and growth-dependent stable behavioural syndrome in the juvenile-stages of a solitary apex predator (pike, Esox lucius), shown as repeatable foraging behaviour across risk. Pike swimming activity, latency to prey attack, number of successful and unsuccessful prey attacks was measured during the presence/absence of visual contact with a competitor or predator. Foraging behaviour across risks was considered an appropriate indicator of boldness in this solitary predator where a trade-off between foraging behaviour and threat avoidance has been reported. Support was found for a behavioural syndrome, where the rank order differences in the foraging behaviour between individuals were maintained across time and risk situation. However, individual behaviour was independent of body size and growth in conditions of high food availability, showing no evidence to support the state-dependent personality hypothesis. The importance of a combination of spatial and temporal environmental variation for generating growth differences is highlighted