Social Structure Predicts Genital Morphology in African Mole-Rats

BACKGROUND:African mole-rats (Bathyergidae, Rodentia) exhibit a wide range of social structures, from solitary to eusocial. We previously found a lack of sex differences in the external genitalia and morphology of the perineal muscles associated with the phallus in the eusocial naked mole-rat. This was quite surprising, as the external genitalia and perineal muscles are sexually dimorphic in all other mammals examined. We hypothesized that the lack of sex differences in naked mole-rats might be related to their unusual social structure. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS:We compared the genitalia and perineal muscles in three African mole-rat species: the naked mole-rat, the solitary silvery mole-rat, and the Damaraland mole-rat, a species considered to be eusocial, but with less reproductive skew than naked mole-rats. Our findings support a relationship between social structure, mating system, and sexual differentiation. Naked mole-rats lack sex differences in genitalia and perineal morphology, silvery mole-rats exhibit sex differences, and Damaraland mole-rats are intermediate. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE:The lack of sex differences in naked mole-rats is not an attribute of all African mole-rats, but appears to have evolved in relation to their unusual social structure and reproductive biology

Die stadsbeplanner se betrokkenheid by die bekamping van besoedeling deur doeltreffende beplanning

Werkstuk (M.A.) -- Universiteit van Stellenbosch, 1992.Full text to be digitised and attached to bibliographic record

The analgesic efficacy of bilateral combined superficial and deep cervical plexus block administered before thyroid surgery under general anesthesia.

In this study we evaluated the analgesic efficacy of combined deep and superficial cervical plexus block in patients undergoing thyroidectomy under general anesthesia. For this purpose, 39 patients undergoing elective thyroid surgery were randomized to receive a bilateral combined deep and superficial cervical block (14 mL per side) with saline (Group 1; n = 13), ropivacaine 0.5% (Group 2; n = 13), or ropivacaine 0.5% plus clonidine 7.5 microg/mL (Group 3; n = 13). Deep cervical plexus block was performed with a single injection (8 mL) at the C3 level. Superficial cervical plexus block consisted of a subcutaneous injection (6 mL) behind the lateral border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle. During surgery, the number of additional alfentanil boluses was significantly reduced in Groups 2 and 3 compared with Group 1 (1.3 +/- 1.0 and 1.1 +/- 1.0 vs 2.6 +/- 1.0; P < 0.05). After surgery, the opioid and non-opioid analgesic requirements were also significantly reduced in Groups 2 and 3 (P < 0.05) during the first 24 h. Except for one patient in Group 3, who experienced transient anesthesia of the brachial plexus, no side effect was noted in any group. We conclude that combined deep and superficial cervical plexus block is an effective technique to alleviate pain during and immediately after thyroidectomy. IMPLICATIONS: Combined deep and superficial cervical plexus block is an effective technique to reduce opioid requirements during and after thyroid surgery

Geschlechtergerechtes Betriebsklima

Kutzner E, Kock K. Geschlechtergerechtes Betriebsklima. In: Weg M, Stolz-Willig B, eds. Agenda Gute Arbeit: geschlechtergerecht!. Hamburg: VSA; 2014: 93-108

Geschlechtergerechtes Betriebsklima

Kutzner E, Kock K. Geschlechtergerechtes Betriebsklima. In: Weg M, Stolz-Willig B, eds. Agenda Gute Arbeit: geschlechtergerecht!. Hamburg: VSA; 2014: 93-108

Plerotes anchietae (Seabra, 1900) in Malawi, Central Africa (Mammalia: Chiroptera)

Volume: 63Start Page: 114End Page: 11

The effects of intraoperative intravenous clonidine on fluid requirements, hemodynamic variables, and support during liver transplantation: a prospective, randomized study.

In this prospective, nonblind study, we report the use of clonidine during orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). Twenty adult patients in a stable medical condition were studied. General anesthesia consisted of isoflurane in air/oxygen and sufentanil. Patients in the clonidine group received a slow i.v. infusion (15 min) of 4 microg/kg clonidine during induction. The other patients were used as controls. I.v. fluid requirements were determined as follows: albumin (4% solution) was administered to maintain filling pressures to a pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) of more than 12 mm Hg. Packed red blood cells were transfused to maintain a hemoglobin level of 8-9 g/dL. Circulatory stability was evaluated using: systolic and diastolic arterial blood pressure and heart rate recorded at 2-min intervals; and the vasopressor/inotropic support required to maintain adequate hemodynamic variables after reperfusion. Intraoperative albumin and packed red blood cell requirements were significantly reduced in patients in the clonidine group (1644 +/- 140 and 50 +/- 50 mL vs 2867 +/- 226 mL and 1350 +/- 443 mL; P < 0.05). Heart rate was significantly slower in patients of the clonidine group. There were no differences in systolic arterial blood pressure. After reperfusion, patients in the control group showed significantly lower diastolic arterial blood pressure, required more vasopressor/inotropic support, and were more acidotic than patients in the clonidine group. We conclude that the administration of 4 microg/kg clonidine during induction of OLT significantly reduced the intraoperative requirements of i.v. fluids and blood products without compromising circulatory stability. Improvement in immediate reperfusion-induced disturbances was observed. IMPLICATIONS: The administration of 4 microg/kg clonidine during induction of liver transplantation significantly reduced the intraoperative requirements for i.v. fluids and blood products without compromising the circulatory stability. Improvement in immediate reperfusion-induced disturbances was also observed

Metabolomics and traditional indicators unveil stress of a seagrass (Cymodocea nodosa) meadow at intermediate distance from a fish farm

Seasonal variation of structural, physiological and growth indicators and the metabolome of the seagrass Cymodocea nodosa, as well as biogeochemical conditions of underlying sediment were studied in two meadows growing at increasing distance downstream from a fish farm in the Aegean Sea in order to assess seagrass performance under stress. Horizontal rhizome production decreased significantly with proximity to the fish farm (0.67 and 1.57 g DW m−2 d−1 close and far from the fish-farm, respectively). This coincided with observed effects on ecophyiological indicators, such as rhizome nitrogen, leaf carbon and leaf δ13C, which were elevated with proximity to the fish-farm. Seasonality was shown by some indicators being elevated in either in the warm (C of all tissues and leaf δ34S) or the cold period (N of all tissues). Growth promoting metabolites (sucrose, fructose, myo-inositol, heptacosane, tetracosane, stigmasterol, catechin and alpha-tocopherol) were lower close to the zone, whereas metabolites involved with stress-response (alanine, serine, proline, putrescine, ornithine, 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid and cinnamic acid) were higher. We found that growth-promoting metabolites were positively correlated with horizontal rhizome production, whereas the metabolites related to stress were negatively correlated. Metabolomic fingerprinting of seagrass provides opportunities for early detection of environmental degradation in marine ecological studies

Anesthetic Considerations in Progressive Familial Intrahepatic Cholestasis (bylers Disease)

Progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis (PFIC) or Byler's disease is one of the most common forms of intrahepatic cholestasis of metabolic and genetic origin Affected children progress to terminal cirrhosis before adulthood and at present the only curative treatment of PFIC is orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). We present a retrospective review of 40 general anaesthetics administered in our hospital to 22 patients with PFIC undergoing various procedures. The clinical features of PFIC and the anaesthetic implications of chronic cholestasis in children (malnutrition, cirrhosis, portal hypertension, chronic hypoxaemia) are reviewed