Melanocitoma de corpo ciliar: relato de caso Melanocitoma of the ciliary body: case report

Os autores relatam os achados clínicos e histopatológicos de um caso raro de melanocitoma de corpo ciliar. O paciente, do sexo masculino, 40 anos, apresentou extensa lesão pigmentada de corpo ciliar que foi diagnosticada como melanoma. Submetido a enucleação, o exame histopatológico revelou um raro melanocitoma de corpo ciliar, o qual apresenta características peculiares, devendo ser considerado com diagnóstico diferencial de lesões pigmentadas do segmento anterior.<br>The authors report the clinical and histopathologic findings of a rare case of melanocytoma of the ciliary body. The pigmented ciliary body tumor was found in a 40-year-old man, with a clinical diagnosis of melanoma of the ciliary body. Histopathologic examination after enucleation showed typical features of melanocytoma. This case illustrates the pattern of ciliary body melanocytoma to help in the differential diagnosis of pigmented tumors of the ciliary body

Conservation implications of song divergence between source and translocated populations of the North Island Kōkako

1. Translocation of individuals from healthy source populations to newly colonize or recolonize suitable habitat is a vital tool for the conservation of a species. Demographic, genetic and landscape factors, but also acoustic signals and cultural factors, will all affect translocation success. 2. We investigated variation in song, and response to song, of the endangered North Island kōkako Callaeas wilsoni (Bonaparte 1850) in New Zealand in two translocated populations and their source population. 3. We found significant vocal variation between the source population and both translocated populations, the latter of which had reduced repertoire sizes and increased repertoire sharing, as well as structurally different song elements of higher frequency and shorter duration. 4. Despite the song divergence and clear variability in the nature and level of response among populations, we did not find any evidence for discrimination against nonlocal song in our reciprocal playback experiments. 5. Synthesis and applications. Vocal divergence and reduced variability in translocated populations suggest founder effects or reduced social interaction rates. The variation could be viewed as cultural erosion and may undermine translocation success. Persistence of response to playback, despite vocal divergence, suggested that social restrictions on gene flow require at least a few decades of separation after translocation. The decision to translocate individuals of threatened species is becoming a more common tool for species conservation world-wide. We argue that it is important to take vocal variation into account during such management decisions as it may affect success of establishment and persistence of translocated populations

Factors affecting post-release dispersal, mortality, and territory settlement of endangered kokako translocated from two distinct song neighborhoods

Animal translocation success rate is generally low, with the causes of failure poorly understood without comprehensive and protracted monitoring. Here we examine the outcome of a translocation of endangered North Island kokako (Callaeas wilsoni) from two adjacent song neighborhoods in New Zealand, each with individual vocal traditions (c. 75% of phrases unshared) to a single release site. We conducted detailed radio-telemetry to monitor post-release dispersal over 50 days during four serial releases of 20 birds while we broadcast neighborhood-specific song around the release site. The birds moved substantial distances after release, however overall short-term release site dispersal was not as great as predicted by a random walk model, suggesting an attraction to playback and/or a reluctance to explore areas away from the release site. This apparent attraction was not specific to a given song neighborhood, however. Although the post-release mortality rate (22% over 31 days) was relatively high in this translocation, we did not detect an effect of sex, age, source origin, or duration of captivity on mortality. We show that habitat use during this acclimation period was disproportionate to availability – the birds’ preferred habitat was similar to that at the capture site. At least four pairs formed, with two and three confirmed breeding in the first and second seasons post-release respectively. Mate choice was non-assortative with respect to song neighborhood, revealing that reduced phrase sharing rates found in adjoining neighborhoods are not a barrier to pair formation. We compare this example with other kokako translocations and make recommendations for future translocations

Tumor maligno indiferenciado disseminado. Diagnóstico ao exame oftalmológico: relato de um caso Metastatic undifferentiated malignant tumor: report of a case

Objetivo: Demonstrar a importância da anamnese e do exame físico geral nas afecções orbitárias, como orientadores do diagnóstico e do tratamento adequados. Métodos: Anamnese, exame físico geral e oftalmológico e exames complementares: radiografia de tórax, ultra-sonografia abdominal e pélvica, tomografia computadorizada de órbita; e procedimentos de biópsia punção aspirativa de massa orbitária, biópsia excisional de nódulo esternal e respectivos exames de citologia, histologia e imuno-histoquímico. Resultados: A ultra-sonografia pélvica demonstrou a presença de grande massa em anexo, provavelmente o foco primário. A radiografia de tórax revelou massas provavelmente metastáticas. O resultado do exame histopatológico das biópsias de massa retrobulbar e nódulo esternal foi compatível com neoplasia maligna indiferenciada. Conclusões: Este relato ressalta a importância da anamnese e do exame físico geral nas afecções orbitarias, orientando o diagnóstico e o tratamento adequado, pois embora a paciente apresentasse múltiplas metástases, foram os sinais oftalmológicos que a conduziram ao médico.<br>Purpose: To demonstrate the importance of clinical history and general physical examination in orbital affections as guides for correction of and early diagnosis allowing adequate treatment. Methods: Clinical history, ophthalmologic and general physical examination and complementary examinations: Chest X-ray, pelvic and abdominal ultrasonography, orbital computerized tomography; fine needle aspiration biopsy of tumor, orbitary procedures, excisional biopsy of sternal nodule and retrospective cytologic, histologic and imunohistochenical examinations. Results: Pelvic ultrasonography demonstrated the presence of a large tumor in anexus, probably the primary focus. In the chest X-ray there is evidence of metastatic mass. The histopathological findings of both retrobulbar mass and sternal nodule were compatible with undifferentiated malignant neoplasm. Conclusions: This paper reports the importance of clinical history and general physical examination in the orbital affections guiding the physician to correct diagnosis and apply adequate treatment in a case in which the patient presenting multiple metastases, the ophthalmologic signs were the ones that led him to medical visit

Songbird cheaters pay a retaliation cost: evidence for auditory conventional signals.

Conventional signals impose costs on senders through receiver retaliation rather than through investment in signal production. While several visual conventional signals have been described (mainly 'badges of status'), acoustic examples are rare; however, several aspects of repertoire use in songbirds are potential candidates. We performed interactive playback experiments to determine whether song-type matches (responding to a song with the same song type), repertoire matches (responding to a song with a different song type, but one in the repertoires of both singers) and unshared song types serve as conventional signals during male-male territorial interactions in banded wrens, Thryothorus pleurostictus. Our results demonstrate that these three signals incite varying levels of receiver aggression: song-type matches induce faster approach than do repertoire matches, and repertoire matches induce faster approach than do unshared song types. Production costs do not differ, while the receiver response does. Because territorial banded wrens approach opponents who signal aggressively, such opponents risk attack. This system will punish and prevent cheaters, as weak males signalling aggression will be subject to escalation by stronger or more-motivated opponents

Song matching, overlapping, and switching in the banded wren: the sender's perspective

Interpreting receiver responses to on-territory playback of aggressive signals is problematic. One solution is to combine such receiver-perspective experiments with a sender-perspective experiment that allows subjects to demonstrate how their choice of singing strategies is associated with their approach behavior. Here we report the results of a sender-perspective study on the banded wren (Thryothorus pleurostictus) and combine information on context and results of previous receiver-perspective experiments to clarify function. Territorial males were presented with a 5-min playback consisting of song types present in their repertoire. We assessed the degree to which the subjects' song-matching rate, overlapping rate, and song-type versatility were correlated with their approach latency, closeness of approach, latency to first retreat, and time spent close to the speaker. Male age, breeding stage, and features of the playback stimuli were also considered. Song matching was associated with rapid and close approach, consistent with the receiver-perspective interpretation of type matching as a conventional signal of aggressive motivation. Overlapping was associated with earlier retreat and together with the aversive receiver response to our previous overlapping playback experiment suggests that overlapping is a defensive withdrawal signal. High versatility was associated with slower first retreat from the speaker and high levels of reciprocal matching between subject and playback. Males with fledglings sang with particularly low versatility and approached the speaker aggressively, whereas males with nestlings overlapped more and retreated quickly. Finally, older males matched more but overlapped less. Copyright 2007, Oxford University Press.