An unusual case of suprascapular nerve neuropathy: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Suprascapular nerve neuropathy constitutes an unusual cause of shoulder weakness, with the most common etiology being nerve compression from a ganglion cyst at the suprascapular or spinoglenoid notch. We present a puzzling case of a man with suprascapular nerve neuropathy that may have been associated with an appendectomy. The case was attributed to nerve injury as the most likely cause that may have occurred during improper post-operative patient mobilization.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>A 23-year-old Caucasian man presented to an orthopedic surgeon with a history of left shoulder weakness of several weeks' duration. The patient complained of pain and inability to lift minimal weight, such as a glass of water, following an appendectomy. His orthopedic clinical examination revealed obvious atrophy of the supraspinatus and infraspinatus muscles and 2 of 5 muscle strength scores on flexion resistance and external rotation resistance. Magnetic resonance imaging showed diffuse high signal intensity within the supraspinatus and infraspinatus muscles and early signs of minimal fatty infiltration consistent with denervation changes. No compression of the suprascapular nerve in the suprascapular or spinoglenoid notch was noted. Electromyographic studies showed active denervation effects in the supraspinatus muscle and more prominent in the left infraspinatus muscle. The findings were compatible with damage to the suprascapular nerve, especially the part supplying the infraspinatus muscle. On the basis of the patient's history, clinical examination, and imaging studies, the diagnosis was suspected to be associated with a possible traction injury of the suprascapular nerve that could have occurred during the patient's transfer from the operating table following an appendectomy.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our case report may provide important insight into patient transfer techniques used by hospital personnel, may elucidate the clinical significance of careful movement of patients following general anesthesia, and may have important implications for patient safety techniques, including those outlined in the World Health Organization Surgical Safety Checklist program.</p

Beta lomatogona, a new addition to the flora of Cyprus

Beta lomatogona is recorded in Cyprus for the first time. A morphological description and information on its taxonomy, distribution and ecology, as well as floristic status are provided. It should be characterised as "Critically Endangered"

The rediscovery of Ophioglossum vulgatum in Cyprus after 78 years

Ophioglossum vulgatum recorded from Cyprus in 1905 and in 1939 was rediscovered in 2017. Although in the Red Data Book of the Flora of Cyprus it is classified as Regionally Extinct, based on recent data it should be characterised as Critically Endangered

Solenopsis annua comb. nov., a new taxon for Cyprus

Solenopsis annua, formerly thought to be a Greek endemic, is recorded in Cyprus for the first time. A morphological description and information on its taxonomy, distribution and habitat, as well as its floristic status are provided. It is recommended to treat it at species rank following the currently prevailing trend of a micro-species concept in Solenopsis. Regarding its future Red Data Book status in Cyprus it should be characterised as "Endangered"

Updated numbers of the vascular flora of Cyprus including the endemism rate

This inventory intends to provide updated numbers of vascular plants occurring in Cyprus. Currently, 1649 indigenous taxa (species and subspecies) are known to occur in Cyprus. In addition 254 taxa belong to various categories of neophytes. The endemism rate of the indigenous flora amounts to 8.55 %, i. e. 141 taxa, while 33 species and subspecies belong to the category of near-endemic for which Cyprus bears significant responsibility for their conservation

Fig. 4. – A in Phelipanche chionistrae (Orobanchaceae): a new holoparasitic species from Cyprus

Fig. 4. – A. Phelipanche olbiensis (Coss.) Carlón et al. on Helichrysum L. in Crete, Greece; B. Phelipanche rosmarina (Beck) Banfi et al., Serra dos Candeeiros in Portugal. [Photos: A: A. Jagel & T. Schmitt; B: P. Pinho]Published as part of Rätzel, Stefan, Hand, Ralf, Christodoulou, Charalambos S. & Uhlich, Holger, 2021, Phelipanche chionistrae (Orobanchaceae): a new holoparasitic species from Cyprus, pp. 77-82 in Candollea 76 (1) on page 81, DOI: 10.15553/c2021v761a7, http://zenodo.org/record/568383

Management Implications at a Protected, Peri-Urban, Salt Lake Ecosystem: The Case of Larnaca’s Salt Lakes (Cyprus)

Larnaca’s salt lakes constitute one of the most important protected areas in Cyprus and in the southeast Mediterranean. It is in continuity with the urban area of Larnaca city, being the major green infrastructure in the area, supporting (among others) biodiversity, recreation, culture, and food production. The present study aims to provide an overview of the area’s ecosystem types and their potential to provide ecosystem services, focusing on assessing the water ecosystem condition and drafting the relevant baseline accounts. The results of the study include an ecosystem type map of the area, followed by potential supply maps of ecosystem services, for the three major categories (i.e., provisioning, regulating and maintenance, and cultural) and the estimation and assessment of ecosystem condition variables for wetlands, as proposed by the EU-wide methodology to map and assess the ecosystem condition, in line with the System of Environmental Economic Accounting—Ecosystem Accounting (SEEA EA). A critical exceedance (over 10%) of the imperviousness and the increase in the soil moisture deficit within the wider salt lakes area have been identified and can constitute useful variables associated with the anthropogenic, climatic, and other effects on the condition of the salt lakes. Discussion for integrating this information to existing knowledge is provided toward supporting scientifically informed decision and policymaking for the sustainable development of protected areas

Genome-wide nucleotide diversity and associations with geography, ploidy level and glucosinolate profiles in Aethionema arabicum (Brassicaceae)

The genus Aethionema is sister to the core Brassicaceae (including Arabidopsis thaliana) and thus has an important evolutionary position for comparative analyses. Aethionema arabicum (Brassicaceae) is emerging as a model to understand the evolution of various traits. We generated transcriptome data for seven Ae. arabicum genotypes across the species range including Cyprus, Iran and Turkey. Combined flow cytometry and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analyses identified distinct tetraploid (Iranian) and diploid populations (Turkish/Cypriot). The Turkish and Cypriot lines had a higher genome-wide genetic diversity than the Iranian lines. However, one genomic region contained genes with a higher diversity in the Iranian than the Turkish/Cypriot lines. Sixteen percent of the genes in this region were chaperonins involved in protein folding.Additionally, an analysis of glucosinolate profiles, chemical defence compounds of the Brassicaceae, showed a difference in diversity of indolic glucosinolates between the Iranian and Turkish/Cypriot lines. We showed that different Ae. arabicumindividuals have different ploidy levels depending on their location (Iranian versus Turkish/Cypriot). Moreover, these differences between the populations are also shown in their defence compounds

A Common Approach to the Conservation of Threatened Island Vascular Plants: First Results in the Mediterranean Basin

The Mediterranean islands represent a center of vascular plant diversity featuring a high rate of endemic richness. Such richness is highly threatened, however, with many plants facing the risk of extinction and in need of urgent protection measures. The CARE-MEDIFLORA project promoted the use of ex situ collections to experiment with in situ active actions for threatened plants. Based on common criteria, a priority list of target plant species was elaborated, and germplasm conservation, curation and storage in seed banks was carried out. Accessions were duplicated in the seed banks of the partners or other institutions. Germination experiments were carried out on a selected group of threatened species. A total of 740 accessions from 429 vascular plants were stored in seed banks, and 410 seed germination experiments for 283 plants species were completed; a total of 63 in situ conservation actions were implemented, adopting different methodological protocols. For each conservation program, a specific monitoring protocol was implemented in collaboration with local and regional authorities. This project represents the first attempt to develop common strategies and an opportunity to join methods and methodologies focused on the conservation of threatened plants in unique natural laboratories such as the Mediterranean islands