A re-description of <i>Hensodon spinosus</i>, a remarkable coccodontid fish (Actinopterygii, †Pycnodontiformes) from the Cenomanian (Late Cretaceous) of Haqel, Lebanon

Hensodon spinosus, a rare and very peculiar pycnodontiform fish from the Upper Cenomanian limestone of the Haqel fossils quarry (Lebanon) is re-described on the basis of four new specimens. It is the only species assigned to the genus. It shares with the family Coccodontidae (sensu Poyato-Ariza & Wenz, 2002) almost all its synapomorphies but is also characterized by several unique autapomorphies. The species exhibits a rounded general shape of the body, an enormous head, an extremely reduced snout with a minute mouth gash, a horny frontal showing modifications that we interpret as dimorphic sexual differences, styliform teeth, a giant occipital process with many spines on its margins and formed by the dermosupraoccipital, the parietal and the supratemporal, a prefrontal, an edentulous, unornamented, elongated rhomboid maxilla, a very massive spiny cleithrum, a big spiny post-coelomic bone, and a few elongated bar scales. All those characters award a unique impressive aspect to the fish. Remains of the original colour pattern add information about the external aspect of this remarkable fish

Evaluation of knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to osteoporosis and correlates of perceived high risk among people living in two main districts of Lebanon

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of osteoporosis is increasing in Lebanon. AIM: We evaluated the knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to osteoporosis and correlates of its perceived high risk among people living in Beirut and Mount Lebanon districts of Lebanon. METHODS: This study is a cross-sectional study which consisted of 376 participants that were selected from the two districts within two or three households after two geographical areas were randomly selected from each stratum classified by education and altitude. They were then asked to fill a KAP survey on osteoporosis and provide information on factors likely related to its perceived high risk. RESULTS: The majority of participants had a low (20.2%) and moderate (65.4%) knowledge of osteoporosis, with a higher knowledge in females than in males. A higher percentage of young people perceived it as a serious health risk than that of older people. In contrast, 85.9% participants reported drinking caffeinated beverages and 51.6% participants reported that they do not exercise. Glucose intolerance due to epigenetic and genetic factors, female sex, and older age were risk factors of a perceived high risk of osteoporosis, while any physical exercise, abstention from caffeine for 48 to 72 hours, and higher education were protective factors. CONCLUSION: A nationwide KAP study should be conducted; likewise, awareness campaigns should be adopted

Paradoxical Worsening of Ocular Symptoms after Spontaneous Closure of a Carotid Cavernous Fistula: Case Report

We report an interesting case of a spontaneous occlusion of a carotid cavernous fistula (CCF) causing a paradoxical worsening of orbital symptoms. A 59-year-old woman presented to our institution with conjunctival injection, raised intraocular pressures (IOP) and mild exophthalmos of her left eye. A digital subtraction angiography (DSA) demonstrated a Type-D CCF draining into the left superior ophthalmic vein (SOV). The patient declined endovascular treatment. She presented 15 months later with acute exacerbation of her orbital signs and symptoms. A DSA showed no evidence of arteriovenous fistula, and a brain MRI was consistent with spontaneous thrombosis of the SOV. At her 2-week clinical assessment, the patient showed clinical improvement and her IOP were within normal limits. Spontaneous thrombosis of the SOV can trigger the obliteration of a CCF with possible paradoxical worsening of orbital symptoms. DSA is the gold standard of diagnosis and management is directed toward decreasing IOP. Introduction We present an interesting case of a type-D carotid cavernous fistula (CCF) that closed spontaneously with a paradoxical worsening of the symptoms due to thrombosis of the superior ophthalmic vein (SOV). The authors also give directives for the management of these extremely rare cases

Failure of the Pipeline Embolization Device in Posterior Communicating Artery Aneurysms Associated with a Fetal Posterior Cerebral Artery

The pipeline embolization device has emerged as an important endovascular option. This is in part due to safety, efficacy, and possibly the ability to shorten the operative time considerably. With this new technology, some limitations are emerging as experience accumulates. We report three cases of posterior communicating (PCOM) artery aneurysms associated with fetal posterior cerebral artery where pipeline embolization was unsuccessful in obliterating the aneurysms. PCOM artery aneurysms associated with a fetal PCA should be managed either by microsurgical clipping or coiling when feasible

Mechanical Thrombectomy in Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients Greater than 90 years of age experience in 26 patients in a Large Tertiary Care Center: Outcome comparison with younger patients

Introduction: Several independent randomized control trials have shown the superior efficacy of mechanical thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke (AIS). However, the elderly has been underrepresented or excluded in these trials. In this study, we investigated the feasibility and safety of mechanical thrombectomy in patients with AIS aged 90 years or greater. Methods: A retrospective review of patients age 90 years or older presenting with AIS who underwent mechanical thrombectomy between 2010 and 2018. Results: Of total 453 patients with AIS, 5.74 % (26) were aged 90 or older, and 69.32 % (314) ranged from 60-89 years of age. Of all baseline characteristics between both groups, there is a significant difference in age, gender, body mass index (BMI), smoking, hyperlipidemia (HLD), atrial fibrillation, and diabetes mellitus. The mean NIHSS upon admission was higher in the nonagenarians (17 vs. 15). Similar proportions of both groups received tPA (57.69%, 15 vs. 42.68%, 134, p=0.14). There was no difference in peri & post-procedural complications, good TICI score (88.46%, 23 vs. 87.58%, 275, p=1.00), “good” mRS scores (34.62%, 4 vs. 49.36%, 155, p=0.40), and mortality (11.54%, 3 vs. 13.06%, 41, p= 0.82). Discussion: Age is one of the factors that affect functional outcome following mechanical thrombectomy. Advancements in catheter techniques, technical experience, and great outcomes with mechanical thrombectomy allow for pushing the envelope to deal with age as one of the factors, rather, than an exclusion criterion. Our results show that mechanical thrombectomy is safe and feasible in nonagenarians

Toxic gas removal – metal–organic frameworks for the capture and degradation of toxic gases and vapours

The release of anthropogenic toxic pollutants into the atmosphere is a worldwide threat of growing concern. In this regard, it is possible to take advantage of the high versatility of MOFs materials in order to develop new technologies for environmental remediation purposes. Consequently, one of the main scientific challenges to be achieved in the field of MOF research should be to maximize the performance of these solids towards the sensing, capture and catalytic degradation of harmful gases and vapors by means of a rational control of size and reactivity of the pore walls that are directly accessible to guest molecules.The authors are grateful for the generous support by the Spanish Ministries of Economy (project: CTQ2011-22787) and Defense (COINCIDENTE Program) as well as Junta de Andalucia (P09-FQM-4981)

Identification of Methanoculleus spp. as active methanogens during anoxic incubations of swine manure storage tank samples

Methane emissions represent a major environmental concern associated with manure management in the livestock industry. A more thorough understanding of how microbial communities function in manure storage tanks is a prerequisite for mitigating methane emissions. Identifying the microorganisms that are metabolically active is an important first step. Methanogenic archaea are major contributors to methanogenesis in stored swine manure, and we investigated active methanogenic populations by DNA stable isotope probing (DNA-SIP). Following a preincubation of manure samples under anoxic conditions to induce substrate starvation, [U-¹³C] acetate was added as a labeled substrate. Fingerprint analysis of density-fractionated DNA, using length-heterogeneity analysis of PCR-amplified mcrA genes (encoding the alpha subunit of methyl coenzyme M reductase), showed that the incorporation of ¹³C into DNA was detectable at in situ acetate concentrations (~7g/liter). Fingerprints of DNA retrieved from heavy fractions of the ¹³C treatment were primarily enriched in a 483-bp amplicon and, to a lesser extent, in a 481-bp amplicon. Analyses based on clone libraries of the mcrA and 16S rRNA genes revealed that both of these heavy DNA amplicons corresponded to Methanoculleus spp. Our results demonstrate that uncultivated methanogenic archaea related to Methanoculleus spp. were major contributors to acetate-C assimilation during the anoxic incubation of swine manure storage tank samples. Carbon assimilation and dissimilation rate estimations suggested that Methanoculleus spp. were also major contributors to methane emissions and that the hydrogenotrophic pathway predominated during methanogenesis