Historical biogeography of the leopard (Panthera pardus) and its extinct Eurasian populations

Background: Resolving the historical biogeography of the leopard (Panthera pardus) is a complex issue, because patterns inferred from fossils and from molecular data lack congruence. Fossil evidence supports an African origin, and suggests that leopards were already present in Eurasia during the Early Pleistocene. Analysis of DNA sequences however, suggests a more recent, Middle Pleistocene shared ancestry of Asian and African leopards. These contrasting patterns led researchers to propose a two-stage hypothesis of leopard dispersal out of Africa: an initial Early Pleistocene colonisation of Asia and a subsequent replacement by a second colonisation wave during the Middle Pleistocene. The status of Late Pleistocene European leopards within this scenario is unclear: were these populations remnants of the first dispersal, or do the last surviving European leopards share more recent ancestry with their African counterparts? Results: In this study, we generate and analyse mitogenome sequences from historical samples that span the entire modern leopard distribution, as well as from Late Pleistocene remains. We find a deep bifurcation between African and Eurasian mitochondrial lineages (~ 710 Ka), with the European ancient samples as sister to all Asian lineages (~ 483 Ka). The modern and historical mainland Asian lineages share a relatively recent common ancestor (~ 122 Ka), and we find one Javan sample nested within these. Conclusions: The phylogenetic placement of the ancient European leopard as sister group to Asian leopards suggests that these populations originate from the same out-of-Africa dispersal which founded the Asian lineages. The coalescence time found for the mitochondrial lineages aligns well with the earliest undisputed fossils in Eurasia, and thus encourages a re-evaluation of the identification of the much older putative leopard fossils from the region. The relatively recent ancestry of all mainland Asian leopard lineages suggests that these populations underwent a severe population bottleneck during the Pleistocene. Finally, although only based on a single sample, the unexpected phylogenetic placement of the Javan leopard could be interpreted as evidence for exchange of mitochondrial lineages between Java and mainland Asia, calling for further investigation into the evolutionary history of this subspecies

Motive and right action

Some philosophers believe that a change in motive alone is sometimes sufficient to bring about a change in the deontic status (rightness or wrongness) of an action. I refer to this position as ‘weak motivism’, and distinguish it from ‘strong’ and ‘partial motivism’. I examine a number of cases where our intuitive judgements appear to support the weak motivist’s thesis, and argue that in each case an alternative explanation can be given for why a change in motive brings about (or, in some cases, appears to bring about) a change in deontic status

Facial electroneurography in Bell's palsy: variability in the early stage and comparison between interpretation methods Eletroneurografia do nervo facial na paralisia de Bell: variabilidade na fase aguda e comparação entre técnicas

To determine the variability of the abnormalities found in the electroneurography (ENG) of the facial nerve in cases of Bell's palsy during the initial two week period was one of the objectives of the authors. A second one was to investigate the value of ENG as a tool to determine an early prognosis of recovery utilizing two different methods. In the first one the amplitude of the compound muscular action potential (CMAP) obtained on the paralyzed side was compared to this potential on the opposite (normal) side. The second method compared the CMAP on the paralyzed side to normal standardized data from normal individuals. A group of 33 patients with Bell's palsy was followed until total recovery or for at least 4 months, if the recovery was not achieved earlier. It was observed that amplitude of the CMAP become stable towards the sixth day of palsy and this is a good time to establish the prognosis. Another conclusion is that both methods were equivalent to determine the prognosis in Bell's palsy.<br>O objetivo deste trabalho é determinar a variabilidade da eletroneurografia (ENG) do nervo facial na paralisia de Bell durante as primeiras duas semanas e investigar o valor da ENG na determinação de um prognóstico precoce utilizando-se dois métodos diferentes. O primeiro método compara a amplitude do potencial de ação muscular composto obtido no lado paralisado com o lado normal e o segundo método compara o potencial de ação muscular composto obtido no lado paralisado com valores normativos. Um grupo de 33 pacientes com paralisia de Bell foi seguido até a recuperação total ou pelo menos por quatro meses nos casos em que não houve recuperação. Observou-se que a amplitude do potencial de ação muscular composto estabiliza-se em torno do sexto dia e que este é um bom momento para se realizar o exame e se estabelecer um prognóstico. Outra conclusão é que ambos os métodos são equivalentes para determinação prognóstica

Paralisia facial periférica idiopática de Bell: a propósito de 180 pacientes Idiopathic facial paralysis (Bell´s palsy): a study of 180 patients

O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar aspectos clínicos, epidemiológicos e evolutivos da paralisia facial periférica idiopática em 180 pacientes. Houve ligeiro predomínio do sexo feminino (66,7%). Quanto à faixa etária mais acometida, foram observados dois picos de incidência um nas terceira e quarta décadas, e o outro na sexta década de vida. Nos 180 pacientes houve 198 episódios de paralisia facial periférica, sendo 17 recorrências e em um paciente a paralisia foi de instalação inicial bilateral. Em 15 pacientes (8,3%) houve recidiva da paralisia facial, em dois casos a paralisia se repetindo por mais duas vezes. Em 12 casos (70,6%) a recidiva ocorreu no mesmo lado da paralisia anterior. O lado esquerdo da face estava envolvido em 55,6% dos casos. Em oito pacientes a paralisia aconteceu na gestação (n=5) ou no pós-parto (n=3). Quatro das pacientes grávidas apresentaram paralisia de Bell no terceiro trimestre. Uma paciente com 18 anos de idade desenvolveu paralisia facial do lado direito no sétimo mês da gravidez, havendo recidiva da paralisia no mesmo lado aos 23 anos de idade, no 15º dia pós-parto. Como condicões associadas encontramos hipertensão arterial sistêmica (11,7%), diabete mélito (11,1%), gravidez ou pós-parto imediato (4,4%; 6,7% nas mulheres) e neurocisticercose (1,1%). Em 72,8% dos casos não encontramos associação com outras afecções. Em 22,8% dos pacientes observou-se uma das seguintes sequelas: espasmo hemifacial (12,8%), recuperação parcial do déficit motor (10,6%), síndrome das lágrimas do crocodilo (3,3%), contrações sincinéticas (2,8%), lacrimejamento (1,1%) e fenômeno de Marcus Gunn invertido (1,1%). Concluíndo, no estudo foi demonstrado que a paralisia facial periférica idiopática pode provocar sequelas importantes, cosméticas ou funcionais, em mais de 20% dos pacientes.<br>The objective of this study was to analyze some clinical and epidemiologic aspects, as well as the follow up of 180 patients with Bell´s palsy. In the study population there was a predominance of female (66.7%). Two peaks of incidence in the age distribution were identified: third-fourth and sixth decades of life. In the group of 180 patients there were 198 events of facial paralysis, 17 recurrences and in one patient the paralysis was bilateral at the onset. In 15 patients (8.3%) there were recurrences of the facial paralysis, in 12 cases (70.6%) the recurrences were ipsilateral. The left side of the face was involved in 55.6% of the cases. In eight patients the paralysis ocurred during pregnancy (n=5) or puerperium (n=3). As associated conditions we found: arterial hypertension (11.7%), diabetes mellitus (11.1%), pregnancy or puerperium (4.4%; 6.7% in the women), and neurocysticercosis (1.1%). In 72.8% of the cases no association with such conditions was found. In 22.8% of the patients some kind of sequelae were identified: hemifacial spasm (12.8%), partial recovery of the motor deficit (10.6%), syndrome of the crocodile tears (3.3%), sincinetic contration (2.8%), and the Marcus Gunn inverse phenomenon (1.1%). In conclusion, this study shows that the idiopathic facial paralysis may lead to important sequelae in more than 20% of the patients