Morphological character changes through decapodid-stage larva and juveniles in the ghost shrimp Nihonotrypaea harmandi from western Kyushu, Japan: Clues for inferring pre- and post-settlement states and processes

Some decapod crustaceans release larvae from estuarine or coastal shores to coastal oceans. Decapodids (last-stage larvae) return home, settle, and metamorphose into juveniles I, which go through further instars. Several morphological characters degenerate or develop in response to lifestyle transitions. Using a burrow-dwelling callianassid shrimp, Nihonotrypaea harmandi, inhabiting an intertidal sandflat in a coastal boundary layer adjacent to coastal ocean, this study described morphological changes and drew inferences about states and processes in its early life history. Decapodid and juveniles were differentiated by linea thalassinica on carapace. In the laboratory, the decapodid stage lasted 3-6d. Given choice between sandy sediments from coastal ocean bed and adult habitat, decapodids exhibited no preference, suggesting broad receptiveness. The shortest durations of the juvenile-I, -II, and -III were estimated at 6d each. Starved decapodids normally metamorphosed into juveniles I, showing secondary lecithotrophy. The non-feeding state could be extended through the juvenile I (and possibly juvenile II), where the mean total lengths of shrimps reared in groups with food (diatoms) remained about 4.6mm. Post-settlement decapodids reared individually resumed feeding. The rostrum lengths in decapodids were ≥0.36mm on the initial two dates (Days 0 and 1), after which the mean values rapidly reduced to 0.30-0.36mm on Day 2 and below 0.30mm thereafter. The pereiopod exopods disappeared through the decapodid stage from four pairs to almost zero by Day 4. In the coastal ocean, no juveniles occurred, and almost all decapodids had rostrum lengths ≥0.30mm and 3 or 4 pereiopod exopods, suggesting their pre-settlement state. Of the smallest shrimps collected on the sandflat for their subsequent rearing there, 74% were estimated to be Day-0 or -1 decapodids based on their rostrum lengths. This and the laboratory experimental results suggest (1) the acquisition of competence for settlement by newly-metamorphosed decapodids while in the coastal ocean, which was nevertheless realized there and (2) their rapid transport by flood tidal currents from coastal ocean to sandflat. The newly-settled decapodids grew steadily at 0.2mmd-1 in total length. The reared juveniles reached the smallest adult size in 80d. The uropod expod changed from elliptical to sub-circular in shape markedly around the termination of the juvenile II or III, suggesting the acquisition of ventilating function for benthic life. Overall, the post-settlement shrimps can be staged by total-length ranges as 4-5.5mm for decapodids, 5.5-10mm for juveniles, and 10-20mm for sub-adults. •Decapodid and juveniles of a callianassid shrimp were reared in laboratory and field.•Ontogenetic morphological change and growth in decapodid and juveniles were given.•Feeding mode, substratum selectivity, and duration for decapodid stage were examined•Two degenerating characters gave clues to infer states in field-collected decapodids.•One developing character in juveniles was related with burrow-dwelling lifestyle

A new portable monitor for measuring odorous compounds in oral, exhaled and nasal air

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The B/B Checker^®, a new portable device for detecting odorous compounds in oral, exhaled, and nasal air, is now available. As a single unit, this device is capable of detecting several kinds of gases mixed with volatile sulfur compounds (VSC) in addition to other odorous gasses. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the B/B Checker^®for detecting the malodor level of oral, exhaled, and nasal air.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A total of 30 healthy, non-smoking volunteers (16 males and 14 females) participated in this study. The malodor levels in oral, exhaled, and nasal air were measured using the B/B Checker^®and by organoleptic test (OT) scores. The VSCs in each air were also measured by gas chromatography (GC). Associations among B/B Checker^®measurements, OT scores and VSC levels were analyzed using Spearman correlation coefficients. In order to determine the appropriate B/B Checker^®level for screening subjects with malodor, sensitivity and specificity were calculated using OT scores as an identifier for diagnosing oral malodor.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In oral and nasal air, the total VSC levels measured by GC significantly correlated to that measured by the B/B Checker^®. Significant correlation was observed between the results of OT scores and the B/B Checker^®measurements in oral (r = 0.892, p < 0.001), exhaled (r = 0.748, p < 0.001) and nasal air (r = 0.534, p < 0.001). The correlation between the OT scores and VSC levels was significant only for oral air (r = 0.790, p < 0.001) and nasal air (r = 0.431, p = 0.002); not for exhaled air (r = 0.310, p = 0.096). When the screening level of the B/B Checker^®was set to 50.0 for oral air, the sensitivity and specificity were 1.00 and 0.90, respectively. On the other hand, the screening level of the B/B Checker^®was set to 60.0 for exhaled air, the sensitivity and specificity were 0.82 and 1.00, respectively.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The B/B Checker^®is useful for objective evaluation of malodor in oral, exhaled and nasal air and for screening subjects with halitosis.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>ClinicalTrials.gov: <a href="http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01139073">NCT01139073</a></p

814-2 Responses of Internal Mammary Artery to Local Administration of Acetylcholine

Internal mammary arteries (IMA) are widely used for coronary artery bypass grafting, and being reported to have a much higher long-term patency rate than that of saphenous veins. Therefore, we hypothesized that the endothelial function of IMA is better preserved compared with that of coronary arteries. To evaluate the endothelial function of IMA, acetylcholine (ACh) was selectively injected into IMA and both coronary arteries in 7 male and 4 female patients (mean age; 61±11 (SD) years) with atypical chest pain and normal coronary arteriograms. Angiography was repeated before and after the selective injection of various doses of ACh and 1mg of isosorbide dinitrate (ISDN). Injection of ACh into coronary arteries provoked neither chest pain nor ST-segment shifts. The diameter of IMA and both coronary arteries was measured with a computer-assisted analysis system. Arterial pressures and heart rates remained unchanged despite the selective injection of ACh and ISDN. Diameters (mm) were:ControlAChISDN25/μg50/μg100/μgRCA2.04±0.491.87±0.40**1.62±0.41**–2.44±0.63**LCA2.06±0.501.92±0.50*1.80±0.49**1.69±0.46**2.37±0.54**IMA2.02±0.532.22±0.56**2.36±0.57**–2.43±0.50***p&lt;0.05**p&lt;0.01 vs. control values by ANOVAThe diameters of both coronary arteries were decreased by ACh in a dosedependent manner, whereas IMA showed a dose-dependent dilation with ACh. These findings indicate that the endothelial function of IMA is well preserved, because ACh-induced endothelium-derived relaxing factors could counteract the contraction of vascular smooth muscle cells induced by ACh