Photography-based taxonomy is inadequate, unnecessary, and potentially harmful for biological sciences

The question whether taxonomic descriptions naming new animal species without type specimen(s) deposited in collections should be accepted for publication by scientific journals and allowed by the Code has already been discussed in Zootaxa (Dubois & Nemésio 2007; Donegan 2008, 2009; Nemésio 2009a–b; Dubois 2009; Gentile & Snell 2009; Minelli 2009; Cianferoni & Bartolozzi 2016; Amorim et al. 2016). This question was again raised in a letter supported by 35 signatories published in the journal Nature (Pape et al. 2016) on 15 September 2016. On 25 September 2016, the following rebuttal (strictly limited to 300 words as per the editorial rules of Nature) was submitted to Nature, which on 18 October 2016 refused to publish it. As we think this problem is a very important one for zoological taxonomy, this text is published here exactly as submitted to Nature, followed by the list of the 493 taxonomists and collection-based researchers who signed it in the short time span from 20 September to 6 October 2016

Mortality from gastrointestinal congenital anomalies at 264 hospitals in 74 low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries: a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study

Summary Background Congenital anomalies are the fifth leading cause of mortality in children younger than 5 years globally. Many gastrointestinal congenital anomalies are fatal without timely access to neonatal surgical care, but few studies have been done on these conditions in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared outcomes of the seven most common gastrointestinal congenital anomalies in low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries globally, and identified factors associated with mortality. Methods We did a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of patients younger than 16 years, presenting to hospital for the first time with oesophageal atresia, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, intestinal atresia, gastroschisis, exomphalos, anorectal malformation, and Hirschsprung’s disease. Recruitment was of consecutive patients for a minimum of 1 month between October, 2018, and April, 2019. We collected data on patient demographics, clinical status, interventions, and outcomes using the REDCap platform. Patients were followed up for 30 days after primary intervention, or 30 days after admission if they did not receive an intervention. The primary outcome was all-cause, in-hospital mortality for all conditions combined and each condition individually, stratified by country income status. We did a complete case analysis. Findings We included 3849 patients with 3975 study conditions (560 with oesophageal atresia, 448 with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, 681 with intestinal atresia, 453 with gastroschisis, 325 with exomphalos, 991 with anorectal malformation, and 517 with Hirschsprung’s disease) from 264 hospitals (89 in high-income countries, 166 in middleincome countries, and nine in low-income countries) in 74 countries. Of the 3849 patients, 2231 (58·0%) were male. Median gestational age at birth was 38 weeks (IQR 36–39) and median bodyweight at presentation was 2·8 kg (2·3–3·3). Mortality among all patients was 37 (39·8%) of 93 in low-income countries, 583 (20·4%) of 2860 in middle-income countries, and 50 (5·6%) of 896 in high-income countries (p<0·0001 between all country income groups). Gastroschisis had the greatest difference in mortality between country income strata (nine [90·0%] of ten in lowincome countries, 97 [31·9%] of 304 in middle-income countries, and two [1·4%] of 139 in high-income countries; p≤0·0001 between all country income groups). Factors significantly associated with higher mortality for all patients combined included country income status (low-income vs high-income countries, risk ratio 2·78 [95% CI 1·88–4·11], p<0·0001; middle-income vs high-income countries, 2·11 [1·59–2·79], p<0·0001), sepsis at presentation (1·20 [1·04–1·40], p=0·016), higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score at primary intervention (ASA 4–5 vs ASA 1–2, 1·82 [1·40–2·35], p<0·0001; ASA 3 vs ASA 1–2, 1·58, [1·30–1·92], p<0·0001]), surgical safety checklist not used (1·39 [1·02–1·90], p=0·035), and ventilation or parenteral nutrition unavailable when needed (ventilation 1·96, [1·41–2·71], p=0·0001; parenteral nutrition 1·35, [1·05–1·74], p=0·018). Administration of parenteral nutrition (0·61, [0·47–0·79], p=0·0002) and use of a peripherally inserted central catheter (0·65 [0·50–0·86], p=0·0024) or percutaneous central line (0·69 [0·48–1·00], p=0·049) were associated with lower mortality. Interpretation Unacceptable differences in mortality exist for gastrointestinal congenital anomalies between lowincome, middle-income, and high-income countries. Improving access to quality neonatal surgical care in LMICs will be vital to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 of ending preventable deaths in neonates and children younger than 5 years by 2030

Artroplastia de cadera con osteotomía de acortamiento femoral en cadera displásica Crowe IV

ObjectiveThe reconstruction of the anatomic center of rotation (COR) is one of the main purposes in Crowe grade IV developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH). Among the alternatives to achieve this reconstruction has emerged subtrochanteric shortening osteotomy (SSO). The aim of this paper is to analyze the clinical and radiological results as the complications obtained with this surgical technique.MaterialTen cases were evaluated in 8 patients with grade IV DHD who were performed SSO. All were female, 6 of them were unilateral and 2 bilateral. The average age was 42.2 years (range 36-55). Preoperative lower limb discrepancy was in average of 41 mm. All patients were operated through a posterolateral approach. In 7 cases uncemented stems were implanted with modular metaphyseal fixation (S-ROM) and in 3 cases we implanted polished cemented stems (2 Exeter and one C-Stem).ResultsAt an average follow-up of 38 months (range 12-63 months), all the cases showed radiological healed osteotomies. The postoperative COR was lowered an average of 42 mm (range 35-52 mm). Postoperative limb discrepancy was 6 mm (range 3-12 mm). Complications were: one aseptic femoral loosening, one subluxation due to excessive femoral anteversion, one dislocation, one acute infection and one acute femoral neuropraxia.ConclusionIn these series of patients with Crowe IV dysplastic hips, the SSO technique was associated with a high rate of consolidation, correction of the COR limb lenght compensation.Objetivo: La reconstrucción del centro de rotación (CDR) anatómico es uno de los propósitos principales en displasia del desarrollo de la cadera (DDC) grado IV de Crowe. Dentro de las alternativas para lograr esta reconstrucción ha surgido la osteotomía de acortamiento subtrocantérica (OAST). El objetivo de este trabajo es analizar los resultados clínicos, radiológicos y las complicaciones obtenidas con esta técnica quirúrgica.Material y métodos: Fueron evaluados 10 casos en 8 pacientes con DDC grado IV en los cuales se realizó OAST. Todos pertenecían al sexo femenino; 6 de ellos eran unilaterales y 2 bilaterales. La edad promedio fue 42 años (rango 36-55 años). La discrepancia de longitud de miembros inferiores preoperatoria era en promedio de 41 mm. En todos los casos se realizó abordaje posterolateral. En 7 casos se implantaron tallos no cementados modulares de fijación metafisaria (S-ROM) y en 3 casos tallos cementados pulido espejo (2 Exeter y 1 C-Stem). Resultados: A los 38 meses de seguimiento promedio (rango 12-63 meses), todas las osteotomías evidenciaron consolidación radiológica. El CDR postoperatorio descendió 42 mm promedio (rango 35-52 mm) con respecto al preoperatorio. La discrepancia de longitud de miembros inferiores promedio postoperatoria fue de 6 mm (rango 3-12). Las complicaciones fueron: un aflojamiento femoral aséptico, una subluxación por alteración de la anteversión femoral, una luxación, una infección aguda y una neuropraxia crural.Conclusión: En esta serie de pacientes con DDC grado IV de Crowe operados con la técnica de OAST observamos una alta tasa de consolidación, una implantación anatómica del CDR y una compensación de la discrepancia en la longitud de los miembros

Evaluacion a los 6 meses de fractura de cadera tratadas con clavo de osteosintesis cefalomedular

Abstract:&nbsp; Introduction Hip fractures occur more frequently in patients over 65 years of age, predominantly in females. Although there are multiple classifications of these fractures, the main concept of them is related to the irrigation of the proximal femoral epiphysis; medial or intracapsular ones affect circumflex vessels and future cephalic viability; lateral or extracapsular fractures would not compromise the terminal circulation of the femoral head. The surgical treatment of reduction and osteosynthesis is indicated in lateral fractures, in this way, the patient preserves his native joint; and this is different from arthroplasty, where a joint replacement is performed. Objective Determine the healing time of lateral hip fractures, surgically treated with a Gamma-type cephalomedullary osteosynthesis nail. Material and methods A series of cases was studied, which included patients who underwent surgery for lateral hip fracture, treated with Gamma-type cephalomedullary osteosynthesis. Those procedures performed during the year 2020 (January to December) were evaluated. An orthopedic and radiological follow-up was carried out, recording the time of consolidation of the fracture and rehabilitation to achieve gait. Results 36 patients were included, 25 female and 11 male, with a mean age of 71 years (range 65 - 95 years). Regarding bone consolidation assessed by radiographic controls, it was obtained in 19 patients (52%) in the first four months after surgery, 5 cases (13%) had delayed union, which resolved with orthopedic treatment. 31% (12 patients) could not be assessed due to death or loss of follow-up. The recovery period that patients needed to return to their previous ambulation was 4.8 months on average. No patient was reoperated during follow-up. Conclusions Lateral hip fractures are surgically treated with a cephalomedullary nail, they achieve consolidation in adequate time, in more than half of the patients studied, allowing them to return to their ambulatory activity prior to surgery.Resumen:&nbsp; Tiempo de consolidación de fracturas laterales de cadera , tratadas quirurgicamente con clavo de osteosintesis cefalomedular tipo Gamma Introducción&nbsp; Las fracturas de cadera se presentan con mayor frecuencia en pacientes mayores de 65 años, predominando en sexo femenino. Aunque existen múltiples clasificaciones de estas fracturas, el concepto principal de ellas se relaciona con la irrigación de la epífisis femoral proximal; por su lado las mediales o intracapsulares afectan vasos circunflejos y la futura viabilidad cefálica ; las fracturas laterales o extracapsulares no comprometerían la circulación terminal de la cabeza femoral. El tratamiento quirúrgico de reducción y osteosíntesis es el indicado en fractura laterales, de esta forma, el paciente preserva su articulación nativa; y esto la diferencia de la artroplastia, donde se realiza un reemplazo articular.&nbsp; Objetivo Determinar el tiempo de consolidación de fracturas laterales de caderas, tratadas quirúrgicamente con clavo de osteosíntesis cefalomedular tipo Gamma. Material y Métodos Se estudio una serie de casos , que incluyo a pacientes intervenidos quirúrgicamente por fractura lateral de cadera, tratados con osteosíntesis cefalomedular tipo Gamma. Se valoraron aquellos procedimiento realizados durante el año 2020 (enero a diciembre). Se realizo un seguimiento ortopédico y radiológico, consignando el tiempo de consolidación de la fractura y de rehabilitación para lograr la marcha.&nbsp; Resultados Se incluyen 36 pacientes, 25 de sexo femenino y 11 masculinos, con una edad promedio de 71 años (rango 65 - 95 años). Con respecto a la consolidación ósea valorada mediante controles radiográficos se obtuvo en 19 pacientes (52 %) en los primeros cuatro meses postquirúrgico, 5 casos (13 %) tuvieron retardo de consolidación, que resolvió con tratamiento ortopédico. Un 31 % (12 pacientes) no pudieron ser valorados por causas de óbito o pérdida de seguimiento. El periodo de recuperación que necesitaron los pacientes para regresar a su deambulación previa fue de 4,8 meses en promedio. Ningún paciente fue reintervenido durante el seguimiento.&nbsp; Conclusiones Las fracturas latetales de cadera tratas quirurgicamente con clavo cefalomedular , logran una consolidacion en tiempo adecuado , en mas de la mitad de los pacientes estudiados , permitiendo retornar a su actividad deambulatoria previa a la cirugia

Artroplastia de cadera con osteotomía de acortamiento femoral en cadera displásica Crowe IV. [Hip arthroplasty with femoral shortening osteotomy in dysplastic hip Crowe IV.]

Objetivo: La reconstrucción del centro de rotación (CDR) anatómico es uno de los propósitos principales en displasia del desarrollo de la cadera (DDC) grado IV de Crowe. Dentro de las alternativas para lograr esta reconstrucción ha surgido la osteotomía de acortamiento subtrocantérica (OAST). El objetivo de este trabajo es analizar los resultados clínicos, radiológicos y las complicaciones obtenidas con esta técnica quirúrgica. Material y métodos: Fueron evaluados 10 casos en 8 pacientes con DDC grado IV en los cuales se realizó OAST. Todos pertenecían al sexo femenino; 6 de ellos eran unilaterales y 2 bilaterales. La edad promedio fue 42 años (rango 36-55 años). La discrepancia de longitud de miembros inferiores preoperatoria era en promedio de 41 mm. En todos los casos se realizó abordaje posterolateral. En 7 casos se implantaron tallos no cementados modulares de fijación metafisaria (S-ROM) y en 3 casos tallos cementados pulido espejo (2 Exeter y 1 C-Stem). Resultados: A los 38 meses de seguimiento promedio (rango 12-63 meses), todas las osteotomías evidenciaron consolidación radiológica. El CDR postoperatorio descendió 42 mm promedio (rango 35-52 mm) con respecto al preoperatorio. La discrepancia de longitud de miembros inferiores promedio postoperatoria fue de 6 mm (rango 3-12). Las complicaciones fueron: un aflojamiento femoral aséptico, una subluxación por alteración de la anteversión femoral, una luxación, una infección aguda y una neuropraxia crural. Conclusión: En esta serie de pacientes con DDC grado IV de Crowe operados con la técnica de OAST observamos una alta tasa de consolidación, una implantación anatómica del CDR y una compensación de la discrepancia en la longitud de los miembros

Propuesta de obras hidráulicas para la mitigación de riesgos en las zonas vulnerables a inundaciones en el cantón Chilanguera causadas por el desbordamiento del río Chilanguera

RESUMEN: El desarrollo de una sociedad está íntimamente relacionado con el bienestar social que presenta la población; todo esto unido al trabajo familiar y muy especialmente a la seguridad en el hogar, es decir, el nivel existente de vulnerabilidad; por consiguiente, una familia con óptimas condiciones de vida, tendrá mayores oportunidades de hacer realidad los objetivos que se hayan planteado. En El Salvador han ocurrido desastres naturales como el Huracán Mitch (1998) que puso nuevamente en evidencia la vulnerabilidad económica, social y ambiental de nuestro país y particularmente de la población con escasos recursos económicos, entre la que se contó la mayoría de las víctimas. ABSTRACT: The development of a society is closely related to the social welfare of the population; all this together with family work and very especially with security at home, that is, the existing level of vulnerability; therefore, a family with optimal living conditions will have greater opportunities to make the objectives that have been set a reality. Natural disasters such as Hurricane Mitch (1998) have occurred in El Salvador, once again highlighting the economic, social and environmental vulnerability of our country and particularly of the population with limited economic resources, among whom the majority of the victims were counted

Determination of the minimum protective dose of a glycoprotein-G-deficient infectious laryngotracheitis virus vaccine delivered via eye-drop to week-old chickens.

Infectious laryngotracheitis (ILT) is an upper respiratory tract disease of chickens that is caused by infectious laryngotracheitis virus (ILTV), an alphaherpesvirus. This disease causes significant economic loses in poultry industries worldwide. Despite widespread use of commercial live attenuated vaccines, many poultry industries continue to experience outbreaks of disease caused by ILTV. Efforts to improve the control of this disease have resulted in the generation of new vaccine candidates, including ILTV mutants deficient in virulence factors. A glycoprotein G deletion mutant vaccine strain of ILTV (ΔgG ILTV), recently licenced as Vaxsafe ILT (Bioproperties Pty Ltd), has been extensively characterised in vitro and in vivo, but the minimum effective dose required to protect inoculated animals has not been determined. This study performed a vaccination and challenge experiment to determine the minimum dose of ΔgG ILTV that, when delivered by eye-drop to seven-day-old specific pathogen-free chickens, would protect the birds from a robust challenge with a virulent field strain of virus (class 9 ILTV). A dose of 10(3.8) plaque forming units was the lowest dose capable of providing a high level of protection against challenge, as measured by clinical signs of disease, tracheal pathology and virus replication after challenge. This study has shown that the ΔgG ILTV vaccine strain is capable of inducing a high level of protection against a virulent field virus at a commercially feasible dose. These results lay the foundations upon which a commercial vaccine can be developed, thereby offering the potential to provide producers with another important tool to help control ILTV

Development of a prediction model for postoperative pneumonia A multicentre prospective observational study

BACKGROUND Postoperative pneumonia is associated with increased morbidity, mortality and costs. Prediction models of pneumonia that are currently available are based on retrospectively collected data and administrative coding systems. OBJECTIVE To identify independent variables associated with the occurrence of postoperative pneumonia. DESIGN A prospective observational study of a multicentre cohort (Prospective Evaluation of a RIsk Score for postoperative pulmonary COmPlications in Europe database). SETTING Sixty-three hospitals in Europe. PATIENTS Patients undergoing surgery under general and/or regional anaesthesia during a 7-day recruitment period. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE The primary outcome was postoperative pneumonia. Definition: the need for treatment with antibiotics for a respiratory infection and at least one of the following criteria: new or changed sputum; new or changed lung opacities on a clinically indicated chest radiograph; temperature more than 38.3 degrees C; leucocyte count more than 12 000 mu l(-1). RESULTS Postoperative pneumonia occurred in 120 out of 5094 patients (2.4%). Eighty-two of the 120 (68.3%) patients with pneumonia required ICU admission, compared with 399 of the 4974 (8.0%) without pneumonia (P < 0.001). We identified five variables independently associated with postoperative pneumonia: functional status [odds ratio (OR) 2.28, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.58 to 3.12], pre-operative SpO(2) values while breathing room air (OR 0.83, 95% CI 0.78 to 0.84), intra-operative colloid administration (OR 2.97, 95% CI 1.94 to 3.99), intra-operative blood transfusion (OR 2.19, 95% CI 1.41 to 4.71) and surgical site (open upper abdominal surgery OR 3.98, 95% CI 2.19 to 7.59). The model had good discrimination (c-statistic 0.89) and calibration (Hosmer-Lemeshow P = 0.572). CONCLUSION We identified five variables independently associated with postoperative pneumonia. The model performed well and after external validation may be used for risk stratification and management of patients at risk of postoperative pneumonia

Delayed colorectal cancer care during covid-19 pandemic (decor-19). Global perspective from an international survey

Background The widespread nature of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been unprecedented. We sought to analyze its global impact with a survey on colorectal cancer (CRC) care during the pandemic. Methods The impact of COVID-19 on preoperative assessment, elective surgery, and postoperative management of CRC patients was explored by a 35-item survey, which was distributed worldwide to members of surgical societies with an interest in CRC care. Respondents were divided into two comparator groups: 1) ‘delay’ group: CRC care affected by the pandemic; 2) ‘no delay’ group: unaltered CRC practice. Results A total of 1,051 respondents from 84 countries completed the survey. No substantial differences in demographics were found between the ‘delay’ (745, 70.9%) and ‘no delay’ (306, 29.1%) groups. Suspension of multidisciplinary team meetings, staff members quarantined or relocated to COVID-19 units, units fully dedicated to COVID-19 care, personal protective equipment not readily available were factors significantly associated to delays in endoscopy, radiology, surgery, histopathology and prolonged chemoradiation therapy-to-surgery intervals. In the ‘delay’ group, 48.9% of respondents reported a change in the initial surgical plan and 26.3% reported a shift from elective to urgent operations. Recovery of CRC care was associated with the status of the outbreak. Practicing in COVID-free units, no change in operative slots and staff members not relocated to COVID-19 units were statistically associated with unaltered CRC care in the ‘no delay’ group, while the geographical distribution was not. Conclusions Global changes in diagnostic and therapeutic CRC practices were evident. Changes were associated with differences in health-care delivery systems, hospital’s preparedness, resources availability, and local COVID-19 prevalence rather than geographical factors. Strategic planning is required to optimize CRC care