Microconchids of the species Microconchus valvatus (Munster in Goldfuss, 1831) from the Upper Muschelkalk (Middle Triassic) of Germany

In the present paper, the commonly mentioned but poorly recognised microconchid species Microconchus valvatus (Münster in Goldfuss, 1831) is redescribed on the basis of material from the Upper Muschelkalk of Germany. ESEM studies of the microconchid tubes with clear morphological and microstructural characters were compared to the existing known Triassic species. Microconchus valvatus is characterised by fine growth lines and transverse riblets. ESEM analysis shows that tubes which appear smooth under the binocular microscope are in fact abraded. Thus, taphonomy must be taken into account and scanning microscopy must be used during studies of microconchid tubes. Quantitative ecology shows that particular microconchid populations developed various size ranges punctuated by some gaps, have non-normal distributions as expected in time-averaged assemblages, and suggests that differences among populations may reflect distinct hydrologic settings. This study provides a multidimensional investigation of microconchids and offers compelling evidence that microconchids were an important faunal group during the post-recovery Middle Triassic interval

Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Derived Left Ventricular Eccentricity Index and Right Ventricular Mass Measurements Predict Outcome in Children with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is associated with increased right ventricular (RV) afterload, affecting RV remodeling and RV performance, a major determinant of outcome in PAH-patients. In children with PAH, treatment strategy is guided by risk stratification where noninvasive prognosticators are highly needed. The prognostic value of RV characteristics derived by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) has been scarcely studied in pediatric PAH. We aimed to identify CMR-derived morphometric and functional RV characteristics prognostic for outcome in children with PAH. From the Dutch National cohort, thirty-eight children with either idiopathic/heritable PAH (IPAH/HPAH) or PAH associated with congenital heart disease (PAH-CHD), who underwent CMR, were included (median (interquartile range) [IQR] age 13.0 years (10.8–15.0), 66% females). Patients had severe PAH, characterized by their World Health Organization Functional Class, increased N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide and high pulmonary arterial pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance index at time of CMR. RV-ejection fraction (RVEF), indexed RV-mass (RVMi), the ratio between RV and LV mass (RVM/LVM-ratio) and left ventricular eccentricity index (LVEI) all correlated with transplant-free survival from time of CMR. These correlations could not be confirmed in the PAH-CHD group. This study shows that CMR-derived measures reflecting RV function and remodeling (LVEI, RVMi, RVM/LVM-ratio, RVEF) predict transplant-free survival in children with IPAH/HPAH and may be included in risk stratification scores in pediatric PAH.</p

The St. Anne’s Mountain Geopark : "The King Wanderer" is back on his throne!

Due to numerous geological phenomena on a virtually small territory, the St. Anne's Mountain and its areas has an excellent chance to become one of the most significant geotouristic regions in Poland. The designed geopark, apart from its main goal which is to promote the earth education, will also affect the tourism and economy growth within the region. The area will enable us to look into the future of our planet through the prism of processes, which created its environment in the past. Discovering the earth mysteries, acquainting oneself with the contents of drafted plates, and close contact to geology will encourage people, especially the younger generation, to explore the adjacent surroundings and the whole world. The St. Anne's Mountain was given national status by the Ministry of the Environment on the basis of the review, made by the Polish Geological Institute - National Research Institute Upper Silesian Branch in Sosnowiec, entitled: The St. Anne's Mountain Geopark - the documentation and suggestions on its protection. Research along with observation results on the field and laboratory works between 2008 and 2010 were included in the above mentioned review

Sex differences in patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot support a tailored approach for males and females:a cardiac magnetic resonance study

Purpose Substantial differences between sexes exist with respect to cardiovascular diseases, including congenital heart disease. Nevertheless, clinical decisions in the long-term follow-up of patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot (rTOF) are currently based on unisex thresholds for cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) measurements. This study aimed to assess whether sex differences exist in cardiac adaptation to hemodynamic loading conditions in patients with rTOF. Methods and Results This cross-sectional, two-center, combined pediatric and adult cohort included 320 rTOF patients (163 males, 51%) who underwent routine CMR. Despite similar age (median and interquartile range [m + IQR] 23.4 [15.2-34.4] years), surgical history, and hemodynamic loading, males with rTOF demonstrated higher biventricular CMR-derived volumes and masses, indexed for body surface area, compared to females (e.g. m + IQR right ventricular (RV) end-diastolic volume: males 123 [100-151] mL/m2, females 114 [94-131] mL/m2, P = 0.007). Sex-specific Z-scores of biventricular volumes and masses were similar for males and females. RV volumes and masses correlated with hemodynamic loading, but these relations did not differ between sexes. Biventricular ejection fraction (EF) appeared to be lower in male patients, compared to female patients (e.g. m + IQR RVEF: males 48 [43-54]%, females 52 [46-57]%, P < 0.001). Conclusion Indexed ventricular volumes and masses are higher in males with rTOF, compared to females, similar to the healthy population. RV hypertrophy and dilatation correlated to loading conditions similarly for both sexes. However, under comparable loading conditions, males demonstrated more severe functional impairment. These results indicate that sex-differences should no longer be ignored in treatment strategies, including timing of pulmonary valve replacement

Aszulcicrinus, a new genus of the Triassic crinoid family Dadocrinidae (Articulata; Encrinida) from Poland

The new genus and species Aszulcicrinus pentebrachiatus of the family Dadocrinidae from the ear-ly Middle Triassic Lower Gogolin Formation of Upper Silesia Upland is described. In contrast to Dadocrinus, the second primibrachial of Aszulcicrinus is not axillary for articulation with two arms but articulates with a third primibrachial and the first pinnule. This character results in five unbranched arms, which is unique in the order Encrinida. The significance of this character is discussed and paedomorphic or ecophenotypic explanations are excluded. The presence of only five unbranched arms predominates through the ontogeneny of Aszulcicrinus from early postlarval to adult stage. Within the family Dadocrinidae (Aszulcicrinus - Dadocrinus - Carnallicrinus), a phylogenetic trend towards size increase coincident with increasing arm number and denser pinnulation is inter-preted as an improvement in filter-feeding efficiency. The sedimentological and taphonomic setting of the obru-tional conservation lagerstätte of the type locality is described