Notas nomenclaturales sobre anfibios actuales y fósiles

A review of extinct and living amphibians known from fossils (Allocaudata, Anura and Caudata) has revealed several cases that require nomenclatural changes in order to stabilize the taxonomy of the group. Nomenclatural changes include homonym replacements, corrections of spelling variants and authorships, name availabilities, and in particular, the proposal of new combinations. These changes will allow the incorporation of some palaeontological taxa to the current evolutionary models of relationship of modern forms based on molecular phylogenies. Rana cadurcorum for Rana plicata Filhol, 1877, Rana auscitana for Rana pygmaea Lartet, 1851, and Rana sendoa for Rana robusta Brunner, 1956. Anchylorana Taylor, 1942 is considered a new synonym of Lithobates Fitzinger, 1843. New combinations proposed are: Anaxyrus defensor for Bufo defensor Meylan, 2005; Anaxyrus hibbardi for Bufo hibbardi Taylor, 1937; Anaxyrus pliocompactilis for Bufo pliocompactilis Wilson, 1968; Anaxyrus repentinus for Bufo repentinus Tihen, 1962; Anaxyrus rexroadensis for Bufo rexroadensis Tihen, 1962; Anaxyrus spongifrons for Bufo spongifrons Tihen, 1962; Anaxyrus suspectus for Bufo suspectus Tihen, 1962; Anaxyrus tiheni for Bufo tiheni Auffenberg, 1957; Anaxyrus valentinensis for Bufo valentinensis Estes et Tihen, 1964; Ichthyosaura wintershofi for Triturus wintershofi Lunau, 1950; Incilius praevius for Bufo praevius Tihen, 1951; Lithobates bucella for Rana bucella Holman, 1965; Lithobates dubitus for Anchylorana dubita Taylor, 1942; Lithobates fayeae for Rana fayeae Taylor, 1942; Lithobates miocenicus for Rana miocenica Holman, 1965; Lithobates moorei for Anchylorana moorei Taylor, 1942; Lithobates parvissimus for Rana parvissima Taylor, 1942; Lithobates rexroadensis for Rana rexroadensis Taylor, 1942; Lithobates robustocondylus for Anchylorana robustocondyla Taylor, 1942; Ommatotriton roehrsi for Triturus roehrsi Herre, 1955; Pelophylax barani for Rana barani Rückert-Ülkumen, 1980; Pelophylax meriani for Rana meriani Meyer, 1853; Pelophylax pueyoi for Rana pueyoi Navás, 1922a; Pelophylax quellenbergi for Rana quellenbergi Navás, 1922; Philoria borealis for Kyarranus borealis Tyler, 1991; Pseudepidalea belogorica for Bufo belogoricus Ratnikov, 1993; Pseudepidalea plana for Bufo planus Ratnikov, 1993; Pseudepidalea prisca for Bufo priscus Spinar, Klembara et Meszáros, 1993, and Pseudepidalea stranensis for Bufo stranensis Nemec, 1972. The names Geyeriellinae Brame, 1958, Palaeurodelidae Brame, 1958, Prosalamandridae Stefano, 1903, Lipelucidae Huene, 1956, Rana temporaria fossilis Stefanov, 1951, Salteniidae Kuhn, 1962, Vieraellidae Reig, 1961, and Voigtiellinae Brame, 1958 are nomenclaturally deemed unavailable. The family name based on Scapherpeton Cope, 1876 is Scapherpetidae and not Scapherpetonidae nor Scapherpetontidae.Una revisión de anfibios extintos y actuales en estado fósil (Allocaudata, Anura y Caudata) ha permitido detectar diversos casos que precisan cambios nomenclaturales a fin de estabilizar la taxonomía del grupo. Los cambios nomenclaturales incluyen homonimias, correcciones de variantes gramaticales y autorías, disponibilidad de nombres, y en especial la propuesta de nuevas combinaciones, necesarias para ajustar algunos taxones paleontológicos a los modelos de relaciones evolutivas entre formas vivientes, fundamentados en filogenias moleculares. Las nuevas combinaciones que se proponen son: Anaxyrus defensor para Bufo defensor Meylan, 2005; Anaxyrus hibbardi para Bufo hibbardi Taylor, 1937; Anaxyrus pliocompactilis para Bufo pliocompactilis Wilson, 1968; Anaxyrus repentinus para Bufo repentinus Tihen, 1962; Anaxyrus rexroadensis para Bufo rexroadensis Tihen, 1962; Anaxyrus spongifrons para Bufo spongifrons Tihen, 1962; Anaxyrus suspectus para Bufo suspectus Tihen, 1962; Anaxyrus tiheni para Bufo tiheni Auffenberg, 1957; Anaxyrus valentinensis para Bufo valentinensis Estes et Tihen, 1964; Ichthyosaura wintershofi para Triturus wintershofi Lunau, 1950; Incilius praevius para Bufo praevius Tihen, 1951; Lithobates bucella para Rana bucella Holman, 1965; Lithobates dubitus para Anchylorana dubita Taylor, 1942; Lithobates fayeae para Rana fayeae Taylor, 1942; Lithobates miocenicus para Rana miocenica Holman, 1965; Lithobates moorei para Anchylorana moorei Taylor, 1942; Lithobates parvissimus para Rana parvissima Taylor, 1942; Lithobates rexroadensis para Rana rexroadensis Taylor, 1942; Lithobates robustocondylus para Anchylorana robustocondyla Taylor, 1942; Ommatotriton roehrsi para Triturus roehrsi Herre, 1955; Pelophylax barani para Rana barani Rückert-Ülkumen, 1980; Pelophylax meriani para Rana meriani Meyer, 1853; Pelophylax pueyoi para Rana pueyoi Navás, 1922a; Pelophylax quellenbergi para Rana quellenbergi Navás, 1922; Philoria borealis para Kyarranus borealis Tyler, 1991; Pseudepidalea belogorica para Bufo belogoricus Ratnikov, 1993; Pseudepidalea plana para Bufo planus Ratnikov, 1993; Pseudepidalea prisca para Bufo priscus Spinar, Klembara et Meszáros, 1993, y Pseudepidalea stranensis para Bufo stranensis Nemec, 1972. Los nombres Geyeriellinae Brame, 1958, Palaeurodelidae Brame, 1958, Prosalamandridae Stefano, 1903, Lipelucidae Huene, 1956, Rana temporaria fossilis Stefanov, 1951, Salteniidae Kuhn, 1962, Vieraellidae Reig, 1961, y Voigtiellinae Brame, 1958 se consideran nomenclaturalmente no disponibles. El nombre de familia basado en Scapherpeton Cope, 1876 es Scapherpetidae y no Scapherpetonidae ni Scapherpetontidae

Notas históricas e índices generales (1943-1994) de la revista zoológica española “Graellsia”

A brief historical introduction of the Spanish zoological journal “Graellsia”, and the general thematic indexes for its first 50 volumes (1943-1994) are presented. The indexes that have been compiled include exhaustive lists of the authors, genera, families, new taxa, Spanish and Portugese provinces, islands, and political countries, as mentioned in the 821 published articles. More than 6.800 genera, including synonyms, have been indexed, and represent a large fraction of the known Spanish fauna.Se presentan, junto a una breve introducción histórica, los índices temáticos de los primeros 50 volúmenes de la revista zoológica española “Graellsia”, correspondientes al periodo 1943-1994. Los índices incluyen una relación exhaustiva de los autores, géneros, familias, nuevos taxones, provincias (españolas y portuguesas), islas y países mencionados en los 821 artículos publicados. Los más de 6.800 géneros indexados, incluyendo sinónimos, abarcan una parte considerable de la fauna española conocida

Descripción de nuevas especies animales de la Península Ibérica e islas Baleares (1978-1994): tendencias taxonómicas y listado sistemático

During the period 1978-1994 about 2.000 new animal species have been described in the Iberian Peninsula and the Balearic Islands. A complete list of these new species for 1978-1993, taxonomically arranged, and their bibliographic references is given in an appendix. Global trends in this process of biodiversity inventory demostrate a moderate but continuous increment in the number of taxa descriptions, as well as a higher contribution of Spanish authors. The number of articles published in journals listed by the Science Citation Index, and the use of the English language, are clearly growing. Most of the different phyla, classes or orders show an extreme variation in the number of described species per year, probably due to the small absolute number of publications. Insects clearly are the most studied group, but a certain decrease in its relative importance can be observed, related to the increase of studies on poorly known groups, such as nematodes.Durante el periodo 1978-1994 se han descrito cerca de 2.000 especies animales nuevas para la ciencia en territorio ibérico-balear. Se presenta como apéndice un listado completo de las especies (1978-1993), ordenadas taxonómicamente, así como de sus referencias bibliográficas. Como tendencias generales en este proceso de inventario de la biodiversidad se aprecia un incremento moderado y sostenido en el número de taxones descritos, junto a una cada vez mayor contribución de los autores españoles. Es cada vez mayor el número de especies publicadas en revistas que aparecen en el Science Citation Index, así como el uso del idioma inglés. La mayoría de los phyla, clases u órdenes muestran gran variación en la cantidad de especies descritas cada año, dado el pequeño número absoluto de publicaciones. Los insectos son claramente el colectivo más estudiado, pero se aprecia una disminución en su importancia relativa, asociada al incremento de estudios en grupos poco conocidos como los nematodos

Geology and paleontology of Tresjuncos (Cuenca, Spain), a new diatomaceous deposit with Konservat-Lagerstätte characteristics from the European late Miocene.

Purpose A new Iberian Konservat-Lagersta¨tte discovered in Tresjuncos (Cuenca, Spain) is described and interpreted based on geological and paleontological information. Methods The samples were studied using conventional mineralogical (powder X-ray diffraction), petrographic (optical and scanning electron microscopy) and geochemical (X-ray energy-dispersive spectrometry) techniques. Results Based upon geological context, stratigraphy, lithology, sedimentology and origin of the rocks, we describe and interpret the new fossil site as originated in a lacustrine environment. The micromammals found in the Tresjuncos 1 outcrop suggest that the main site is Turolian in age (uppermost Miocene), continental chronological unit MN13. The fossils are preserved in laminates comprising rhythmic, millimeterscale alternations of diatomites and calcareous diatomites. An analysis of the lake paleobiota includes amphibians, crustaceans, insects, plants, and diatoms. The diatoms are dominated by Cyclotella iris. The whole assemblage is indicative of a planktic community developed in somewhat alkaline waters. An extremely well preserved premetamorphic Pelobates (Pelobatidae) tadpole was discovered; it is remarkable because of its gigantic size. Its digestive tract predominantly contains the rare diatom Navicula halionata var directa, likely associated with the shore vegetation in which it presumably lived and fed. The arthropods form a typical lacustrine aquatic assemblage, lacking fish. This assemblage is made up of small filtering crustaceans and of both predator and nonpredator insects of diverse sizes. Conclusions The available evidence on Tresjuncos shows the extraordinary potential for paleontological information that can be expected from this new Konservat-Lagersta¨tte, which constitutes a significant finding that improves our understanding of continental late Miocene Mediterranean environments

La fauna del pleistoceno inferior de la sierra de Quibas (Abanilla, Murcia)

El yacimiento kárstico cuaternario de la Sierra de Quibas (Abanilla, Murcia) ha proporcionado una amplia lista faunística constituida por 53 especies repartidas entre gasterópodos, miriápodos, anfibios, reptiles, aves y mamíferos. En el conjunto de los gasterópodos destaca Palaeoglandina, un género que se extingue en el resto de Europa durante el Plioceno y que se mantiene como relicto en el Pleistoceno de la Península Ibérica. Dos de las especies de aves determinadas, Gypaetus barbatus y Gerontieus eremita, y una de las serpientes, Elaphe cf. E. sealaris, apenas se hallan representadas en el registro fósil. Hay además varias especies de aves cuya aparición en Quibas supone la primera cita en el Pleistoceno inferior de la Península Ibérica. Entre los mamíferos posee una especial relevancia la presencia del cercopitécido Macaca sylvanus. La asociación de los taxones Arvieola deuealíon, Castillomys rivas rivas, Elíomys intermedius, Equus altidens y Capra sp. aff. C. alba permite la correlación con Plines 1, Orce 3 y Venta Micena, entre otros. El yacimiento de Quibas puede situarse, por tanto, antes del final del Pleistoceno inferior, con una antigüedad entre 1.3 y 1 Ma. Por lo que se refiere a las condiciones paleoclimáticas, podemos inferir a partir de la asociación faunística un régimen xerófilo, muy semejante al actual en el área geográfica, aunque quizás con valores de humedad y temperatura algo superiores. El entorno de la cavidad kárstica estaba formado por roquedo calcáreo con áreas abiertas de matorral, pero en las proximidades se desarrollaron humedales y zonas arboladas, como así lo atestigua la presencia de aves y micromamíferos típicos de estos hábitats.The Quaternary karstic site of Sierra de Quibas (Abanilla, Murcia, Spain) has provided a wide faunallist with 53 species distributed among gastropods, myriapods, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. Especially interesting among the gastropods is Palaeoglandina that became extinct in Europe during the Pliocene. It remains as a relict genus in the Pleistocene of the Iberian Peninsula. Two of the birds, Gypaetus barbatus and Geronticus eremita, and a snake, Elaphe cf. E. sealaris, are scarcely represented in the fossil record. For several birds, it is the first record in the Lower Pleistocene of the Iberian Peninsula. Among the mammals, the presence of the Cercopithecine Macaca sylvanus is especially relevant. The assemblage of the taxa Arvicola deucalion, Castillomys rivas rivas, Eliomys intermedius, Equus altidens and Capra sp. aff. C. alba allows the correlation with Plines 1, Orce 3 and Venta Micena, among other sites. Therefore Quibas can be clated before the end of Lower Pleistocene, between 1.3 and 1 Ma. A dry paleoclimatic regime, very similar to the current climate in the geographical area, though perhaps slightly wetter and warmer, can be inferred from the faunal assemblage. The environment of the karstic cavity was a rocky place with open brushwood areas, but in the proximities there were wetlands and woodlands, as can be inferred from the presence of birds and micromammals characteristic of these [email protected] [email protected]

Radioprotectors and Mitigators of Radiation-Induced Normal Tissue Injury

The article reviews agents in clinical use or in development as radioprotectors and mitigators of radiation-induced normal tissue injury

Multicenter study of lumen-apposing metal stents with or without pigtail in endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage for malignant obstruction - BAMPI TRIAL: an open-label, randomized controlled trial protocol

Background It is unclear whether the insertion of an axis-orienting double-pigtail plastic stent (DPS) through biliary lumen-apposing meal stent (LAMS) in EUS-guided choledochoduodenostomy (CDS) improves the stent patency. The aim of this study is to determine whether this technical variant offers a clinical benefit in EUS-guided biliary drainage (BD) for the management of distal malignant biliary obstruction. Methods/design This is a multicenter open-label, randomized controlled trial with two parallel groups. Eighty-four patients with malignant biliary obstruction will undergo EUS-BD (CDS type) using LAMS in 7 tertiary hospitals in Spain and will be randomized to the LAMS and LAMS plus DPS groups. The primary endpoint is the rate of recurrent biliary obstruction, as a stent dysfunction parameter, detected during follow-up. Secondary endpoints: technical and clinical success (reduction in bilirubin > 50% within 14 days of stent placement), safety, and others (number of reinterventions, time to biliary obstruction, prognostic factors, survival rate). Discussion The BAMPI trial has been designed to determine whether the addition of a coaxial axis-orienting DPS through LAMS is superior to LAMS alone to prevent stent dysfunction

A meta-analysis of hyperfractionated and accelerated radiotherapy and combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy regimens in unresected locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

BACKGROUND: Former meta-analyses have shown a survival benefit for the addition of chemotherapy (CHX) to radiotherapy (RT) and to some extent also for the use of hyperfractionated radiation therapy (HFRT) and accelerated radiation therapy (AFRT) in locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the head and neck. However, the publication of new studies and the fact that many older studies that were included in these former meta-analyses used obsolete radiation doses, CHX schedules or study designs prompted us to carry out a new analysis using strict inclusion criteria. METHODS: Randomised trials testing curatively intended RT (≥60 Gy in >4 weeks/>50 Gy in <4 weeks) on SCC of the oral cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx, and larynx published as full paper or in abstract form between 1975 and 2003 were eligible. Trials comparing RT alone with concurrent or alternating chemoradiation (5-fluorouracil (5-FU), cisplatin, carboplatin, mitomycin C) were analyzed according to the employed radiation schedule and the used CHX regimen. Studies comparing conventionally fractionated radiotherapy (CFRT) with either HFRT or AFRT without CHX were separately examined. End point of the meta-analysis was overall survival. RESULTS: Thirty-two trials with a total of 10 225 patients were included into the meta-analysis. An overall survival benefit of 12.0 months was observed for the addition of simultaneous CHX to either CFRT or HFRT/AFRT (p < 0.001). Separate analyses by cytostatic drug indicate a prolongation of survival of 24.0 months, 16.8 months, 6.7 months, and 4.0 months, respectively, for the simultaneous administration of 5-FU, cisplatin-based, carboplatin-based, and mitomycin C-based CHX to RT (each p < 0.01). Whereas no significant gain in overall survival was observed for AFRT in comparison to CFRT, a substantial prolongation of median survival (14.2 months, p < 0.001) was seen for HFRT compared to CFRT (both without CHX). CONCLUSION: RT combined with simultaneous 5-FU, cisplatin, carboplatin, and mitomycin C as single drug or combinations of 5-FU with one of the other drugs results in a large survival advantage irrespective the employed radiation schedule. If radiation therapy is used as single modality, hyperfractionation leads to a significant improvement of overall survival. Accelerated radiation therapy alone, especially when given as split course radiation schedule or extremely accelerated treatments with decreased total dose, does not increase overall survival