Species interactions within and between the inquiline larval fauna of Sarracenia purpurea L.: competition or commensalism?

Species interactions such as commensalism and competition greatly affect community structure and composition. The small and diverse communities present in the northern pitcher-plant Sarracenia purpurea L. (Sarraceniaceae) are ideal for the study of species interactions. This study investigated the relationships within and between the inquiline populations of the mosquito Wyeomyia smithii and the midge Metriocnemus knabi contained within the leaves of S. purpurea. Samples of pitcher-plant leaf contents were taken from Waldron Fen, Emmet County, Michigan. The larvae present in each sample were identified, counted and measured. Average densities and larval lengths per unit volume were calculated by species type and dipteran association (i.e., cohabitation with other fly species). The data indicated that both interspecific competition and intraspecific competition may be present in the larval populations of Metriocnemus knabi and Wyeomyia smithii. The co-habitation of M. knabi and W. smithii resulted in reduced M. knabi mean larval length per unit volume when compared with the mean larval length per unit volume of M. knabi found alone, indicating the presence of interspecific competition (1.35 +- 0.15 vs. 2.64 +- 0.40, U=747.5, p<0.05, n=59). The singly-occurring average length of W. smithii decreased with increasing density, indicating the presence of intraspecific competition within the population of W. smithii (Spearman's = -0.302, p<0.05).http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/54844/1/3285.pd

Adult Pancreatic Hemangioma: Case Report and Literature Review

We report an adult pancreatic hemangioma diagnosed on pathological specimen review following pylorus preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy for a symptomatic cystic mass in the head of the pancreas. Eight cases of adult pancreatic hemangioma have been reported in literature since 1939. Presenting symptoms, radiographic diagnosis, pathologic characteristics, and treatment of adult pancreatic hemagiomas are discussed following review of all published cases

Microsurgical Engineering: Bilateral Deep Inferior Epigastric Artery Perforator Flap with Flow-Through Intraflap Anastomosis

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the head and neck affects a significant number of people around the world every year. Treatment generally entails surgical resection, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or some combination of the three. Following resection, microsurgical reconstruction can provide definitive coverage, replace many tissue types simultaneously, and bring healthy tissue to irradiated wound beds. Microsurgical engineering, the manipulation and reorganization of native vascular tissue, can further augment the adaptability of free tissue transfer to complex, compromised wound beds. We present one such case. The patient described in the following report was treated for a recurrent SCC of the left face, which required extensive resection resulting in a complex, composite tissue defect with compromised vascular supply. Using the principals of microsurgical engineering, definitive coverage of the defect, with accept- able aesthetic result, was achieved via bipedicle, DIEP flap with flow-through intraflap anastomosis