Studies on Batoids Diversity off Rameswaram Island, Tamil Nadu

Gulf of Mannar (GoM) and Palk Bay (PB) are two biodiversity rich ecosystems in the east coast of India as it occupies vast coral reefs, seagrass meadows, sandy and muddy bottoms. Rameswaram Island covers both GoM and PB in its south and north vicinities respectively. Month and season wise species diversity of batoids off the Rameswaram Island analysed. Based on the cyclic phenomena of meteorological events, three seasons are broadly indicated as month wise and they are (1) Pre –Monsoon (PRM) (June to September) (2) Monsoon (M) (October to January) (3) Post-Monsoon (POM) (February-May). The diversity indices calculated using the PRIMER package. In the Rameswaram Island waters, the number of batoid species recorded in various seasons was in the range of 11–40. While the maximum number of species was found in PRM (35), the minimum was found in POM (11). Totally, 40 species of batoids were recorded in the area. These included 21 species belonging to family Dasyatidae, 5 to family Rhinobatidae, 6 to family Mobulidae, 2 each to Rhinopteridae, and Aetobatidae 1 species to families Glaucostegidae, Rhinidae, Gymnuridae and Myliobatidae. Neotrygon indica, was the most dominant species followed by Aetobatus ocellatus., R. javanica, Gymnura poecilura, Brevitrygon imbricata, Himantura uarnak, H. tutul, H. leopard, Maculabatis gerrardi, Taeniurops meyeni, Pateobatis bleekeri and Pastinachus ater were observed in all seasons. The Shannon diversity was more in July (4.60) followed by August (4.45) and June (4.40). The Margalef species richness showed remarkable differences between July (6.12) and April (1.11). The evenness was comparatively more in February (0.97) than July (0.95). Highest Shannon diversity (4.75) and species richness (6.82) was observed in PRM. Species evenness was more in POM (0.94) and least during PRM (0.92). The variation in taxonomic distinctness index was more between PRM and POM (0.962 - 0.912). All three diversity indices in M were intermediate between PRM and POM. PRM and M formed a group with highest similarity percentage of 64.31 to which POM got linked at 32.86

Status Update and Interim Results from the Asymptomatic Carotid Surgery Trial-2 (ACST-2)

Objectives: ACST-2 is currently the largest trial ever conducted to compare carotid artery stenting (CAS) with carotid endarterectomy (CEA) in patients with severe asymptomatic carotid stenosis requiring revascularization. Methods: Patients are entered into ACST-2 when revascularization is felt to be clearly indicated, when CEA and CAS are both possible, but where there is substantial uncertainty as to which is most appropriate. Trial surgeons and interventionalists are expected to use their usual techniques and CE-approved devices. We report baseline characteristics and blinded combined interim results for 30-day mortality and major morbidity for 986 patients in the ongoing trial up to September 2012. Results: A total of 986 patients (687 men, 299 women), mean age 68.7 years (SD ± 8.1) were randomized equally to CEA or CAS. Most (96%) had ipsilateral stenosis of 70-99% (median 80%) with contralateral stenoses of 50-99% in 30% and contralateral occlusion in 8%. Patients were on appropriate medical treatment. For 691 patients undergoing intervention with at least 1-month follow-up and Rankin scoring at 6 months for any stroke, the overall serious cardiovascular event rate of periprocedural (within 30 days) disabling stroke, fatal myocardial infarction, and death at 30 days was 1.0%. Conclusions: Early ACST-2 results suggest contemporary carotid intervention for asymptomatic stenosis has a low risk of serious morbidity and mortality, on par with other recent trials. The trial continues to recruit, to monitor periprocedural events and all types of stroke, aiming to randomize up to 5,000 patients to determine any differential outcomes between interventions. Clinical trial: ISRCTN21144362. © 2013 European Society for Vascular Surgery. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Second asymptomatic carotid surgery trial (ACST-2): a randomised comparison of carotid artery stenting versus carotid endarterectomy

Background: Among asymptomatic patients with severe carotid artery stenosis but no recent stroke or transient cerebral ischaemia, either carotid artery stenting (CAS) or carotid endarterectomy (CEA) can restore patency and reduce long-term stroke risks. However, from recent national registry data, each option causes about 1% procedural risk of disabling stroke or death. Comparison of their long-term protective effects requires large-scale randomised evidence. Methods: ACST-2 is an international multicentre randomised trial of CAS versus CEA among asymptomatic patients with severe stenosis thought to require intervention, interpreted with all other relevant trials. Patients were eligible if they had severe unilateral or bilateral carotid artery stenosis and both doctor and patient agreed that a carotid procedure should be undertaken, but they were substantially uncertain which one to choose. Patients were randomly allocated to CAS or CEA and followed up at 1 month and then annually, for a mean 5 years. Procedural events were those within 30 days of the intervention. Intention-to-treat analyses are provided. Analyses including procedural hazards use tabular methods. Analyses and meta-analyses of non-procedural strokes use Kaplan-Meier and log-rank methods. The trial is registered with the ISRCTN registry, ISRCTN21144362. Findings: Between Jan 15, 2008, and Dec 31, 2020, 3625 patients in 130 centres were randomly allocated, 1811 to CAS and 1814 to CEA, with good compliance, good medical therapy and a mean 5 years of follow-up. Overall, 1% had disabling stroke or death procedurally (15 allocated to CAS and 18 to CEA) and 2% had non-disabling procedural stroke (48 allocated to CAS and 29 to CEA). Kaplan-Meier estimates of 5-year non-procedural stroke were 2·5% in each group for fatal or disabling stroke, and 5·3% with CAS versus 4·5% with CEA for any stroke (rate ratio [RR] 1·16, 95% CI 0·86–1·57; p=0·33). Combining RRs for any non-procedural stroke in all CAS versus CEA trials, the RR was similar in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients (overall RR 1·11, 95% CI 0·91–1·32; p=0·21). Interpretation: Serious complications are similarly uncommon after competent CAS and CEA, and the long-term effects of these two carotid artery procedures on fatal or disabling stroke are comparable. Funding: UK Medical Research Council and Health Technology Assessment Programme

Note on range extension of guitarfish Acroteriobatus variegatus in Indian seas

The stripenose guitarfish Acroteriobatus variegatus (Nair and Lal Mohan, 1973) has been listed as a Critically Endangered (CR) in the IUCN redlist for elasmobranchs. It belongs to the family Rhinobatidae (Rhinopristiformes) and among the 10 species of Acroteriobatus found in the western Indian Ocean, is the only endemic guitarfish with a very restricted distribution range, being known only from southern India and Sri Lanka

Understanding variable disease severity in X-linked retinoschisis: Does RS1 secretory mechanism determine disease severity?

10.1371/journal.pone.0198086PLoS ONE135e019808