Food spectrum and dietary preferences of the Indian anchovy Stolephorus indicus (van Hasselt, 1823) from Thiruvananthapuram coast, Kerala

The food preferences of the Indian anchovy Stolephorus indicus (van Hasselt, 1823) along the Thiruvananthapuram coast of Kerala was studied for a period of one year from June 2013 to May 2014, dividing the entire period into three seasons as pre-monsoon, monsoon and post-monsoon. A total of 141 samples were collected and the gut contents were analysed. The principal food item was the crustaceans which included copepods, lucifers, mysids, Acetes and amphipods. The other preferred prey items were molluscs (bivalves and gastropods), small fishes, tintinnids and dinoflagellates. The gastrosomatic and stomach fullness indices revealed almost uniform feeding preferences with copepods being the preferred food item throughout the three seasons. Analysis of variance showed significant (p0.05) seasonal variation was observed in the gut contents of S. indicus. Analyses of the different prey indices [prey diversity index (H), niche width indices (B) and prey evenness indices (e)] of S. indicus for the three seasons indicated an almost uniform distribution of prey species throughout the study period which directly indicate the abundance of the prey items and indirectly indicate a stable potential fishery and ecosystem

Impact of Splenic Artery Embolization on the Success Rate of Nonoperative Management for Blunt Splenic Injury

Introduction Nonoperative management (NOM) has become the treatment of choice for hemodynamically stable patients with blunt splenic injury. Results of outcome after NOM are predominantly based on large-volume studies from level 1 trauma centers in the United States. This study was designed to assess the results of NOM in a relatively low-volume Dutch level 1 trauma center. Methods An analysis of a prospective trauma registry was performed for a 6-year period before (period 1) and after the introduction and implementation of splenic artery embolization (SAE) (period 2). Primary outcome was the failure rate of initial treatment. Results A total of 151 patients were reviewed. An increased use of SAE and a reduction of splenic operations during the second period was observed. Compared with period 1, the failure rate after observation in period 2 decreased from 25% to 10%. The failure rate after SAE in period 2 was 18%. The splenic salvage rate (SSR) after observation increased from 79% in the first period to 100% in the second period. During the second period, all patients with failure after observation were successfully treated with SAE. The SSR after SAE in periods 1 and 2 was respectively 100% and 86%. Conclusions SAE of patients with blunt splenic injuries is associated with a reduction in splenic operations. The failure and splenic salvage rates in this current study were comparable with the results from large-volume studies of level 1 trauma centers. Nonoperative management also is feasible in a relatively low-volume level 1 trauma center outside the United State

Foramen arcuale: a rare morphological variation located in atlas vertebrae

To investigate the incidence of foramen arcuale in dry atlas vertebrae which may cause clinical problems