An Uncommon Presentation of Adrenal Cyst with Subclinical Cushing's Syndrome: A Diagnosis Dilemma.

Adrenal cysts are a rare entity that is usually nonfunctional and asymptomatic. Their association with adrenal neoplasms was rarely described in the literature. We report a unique case of a 40 -year-old woman who was referred for evaluation of a left adrenal incidentaloma with subclinical Cushing's syndrome. The tumor was suspicious for malignancy regarding computed tomography scan (CT scan) features. Therefore, a laparoscopic left partial adrenalectomy was performed. Pathology examination showed multilocular spaces lined by endothelial cells which are compatible with endothelial adrenal cyst, associated to an adrenocortical adenoma. We further discuss the management of adrenal cyst with review of the literature.

Assessment of interspecific interactions between the invasive red-claw crayfish (Cherax quadricarinatus) and the Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) / Avaliação das interações interespecíficas entre o lagostim invasivo de garra vermelha (Cherax quadricarinatus) e a tilapia de Moçambique (Oreochromis mossambicus)

Abstract The Australian red-claw crayfish, Cherax quadricarinatus, has been introduced for aquaculture purposes worldwide and consequently colonized natural environments, where it might cause ecosystem services losses or adversely affect native species and the local environment. This species was first found in Pequenos Libombos Reservoir in Maputo Province, Southern Mozambique in the late 2009 and is linked to reduction in tilapia fisheries. This study, conducted in 2015 under controlled conditions, aimed to assess the interspecific relationships between the Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) and the alien crayfish. For both species, no significant differences in growth and survival rates were found between animals reared in the presence versus the absence of heterospecifics, indicating no direct deleterious interspecific effects. Behavioural observations revealed that fish and crayfish competed for shelter and food. Both species reduced the foraging in the presence of heterospecifics during feeding period, in the daytime. Crayfish seemed to have an advantage in competition for shelter, suggesting that they may interfere with tilapia sheltering activity and make tilapia vulnerable to predators in natural habitats.

Resumo O lagostim australiano, Cherax quadricarinatus, tem sido introduzido para fins de aquicultura em todo o mundo e, consequentemente, colonizado ambientes naturais, onde pode coexistir com a biota local sem causar perdas nos serviços dos ecossistemas ou afetar negativamente as espécies nativas e o meio ambiente local. Esta espécie foi encontrada pela primeira vez na Albufeira dos Pequenos Libombos, na Província de Maputo, sul de Moçambique, no final de 2009 e foi relacionada à redução da pesca de tilápias registrada na mesma localidade. Este estudo, conduzido em 2015 sob condições controladas, teve como objetivo avaliar as relações interespecíficas entre a tilápia de Moçambique (Oreochromis mossambicus) e o lagostim invasor (C. quadricarinatus). Para ambas espécies, não foram encontradas diferenças significativas nas taxas de crescimento e sobrevivência entre animais criados na presença versus ausência de heteroespecíficos, indicando ausência de efeitos deletérios interespecíficos diretos. Observações comportamentais revelaram que peixes e lagostins competiam por abrigo e comida. Ambas espécies reduziram o forrageamento na presença de heteroespecíficos durante o período de alimentação, no período diurno. O lagostim parece ter uma vantagem na competição por abrigos, sugerindo que, em habitats naturais eles podem provocar o deslocamento de tilápias de seus abrigos, e deste modo tornar as tilápias vulneráveis aos predadores.

Assessment of interspecific interactions between the invasive red-claw crayfish (Cherax quadricarinatus) and the Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus).

The Australian red-claw crayfish, Cherax quadricarinatus, has been introduced for aquaculture purposes worldwide and consequently colonized natural environments, where it might cause ecosystem services losses or adversely affect native species and the local environment. This species was first found in Pequenos Libombos Reservoir in Maputo Province, Southern Mozambique in the late 2009 and is linked to reduction in tilapia fisheries. This study, conducted in 2015 under controlled conditions, aimed to assess the interspecific relationships between the Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) and the alien crayfish. For both species, no significant differences in growth and survival rates were found between animals reared in the presence versus the absence of heterospecifics, indicating no direct deleterious interspecific effects. Behavioural observations revealed that fish and crayfish competed for shelter and food. Both species reduced the foraging in the presence of heterospecifics during feeding period, in the daytime. Crayfish seemed to have an advantage in competition for shelter, suggesting that they may interfere with tilapia sheltering activity and make tilapia vulnerable to predators in natural habitats.

Assessment of interspecific interactions between the invasive red-claw crayfish (Cherax quadricarinatus) and the Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus)

Abstract The Australian red-claw crayfish, Cherax quadricarinatus, has been introduced for aquaculture purposes worldwide and consequently colonized natural environments, where it might cause ecosystem services losses or adversely affect native species and the local environment. This species was first found in Pequenos Libombos Reservoir in Maputo Province, Southern Mozambique in the late 2009 and is linked to reduction in tilapia fisheries. This study, conducted in 2015 under controlled conditions, aimed to assess the interspecific relationships between the Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) and the alien crayfish. For both species, no significant differences in growth and survival rates were found between animals reared in the presence versus the absence of heterospecifics, indicating no direct deleterious interspecific effects. Behavioural observations revealed that fish and crayfish competed for shelter and food. Both species reduced the foraging in the presence of heterospecifics during feeding period, in the daytime. Crayfish seemed to have an advantage in competition for shelter, suggesting that they may interfere with tilapia sheltering activity and make tilapia vulnerable to predators in natural habitats.

Resumo O lagostim australiano, Cherax quadricarinatus, tem sido introduzido para fins de aquicultura em todo o mundo e, consequentemente, colonizado ambientes naturais, onde pode coexistir com a biota local sem causar perdas nos serviços dos ecossistemas ou afetar negativamente as espécies nativas e o meio ambiente local. Esta espécie foi encontrada pela primeira vez na Albufeira dos Pequenos Libombos, na Província de Maputo, sul de Moçambique, no final de 2009 e foi relacionada à redução da pesca de tilápias registrada na mesma localidade. Este estudo, conduzido em 2015 sob condições controladas, teve como objetivo avaliar as relações interespecíficas entre a tilápia de Moçambique (Oreochromis mossambicus) e o lagostim invasor (C. quadricarinatus). Para ambas espécies, não foram encontradas diferenças significativas nas taxas de crescimento e sobrevivência entre animais criados na presença versus ausência de heteroespecíficos, indicando ausência de efeitos deletérios interespecíficos diretos. Observações comportamentais revelaram que peixes e lagostins competiam por abrigo e comida. Ambas espécies reduziram o forrageamento na presença de heteroespecíficos durante o período de alimentação, no período diurno. O lagostim parece ter uma vantagem na competição por abrigos, sugerindo que, em habitats naturais eles podem provocar o deslocamento de tilápias de seus abrigos, e deste modo tornar as tilápias vulneráveis aos predadores.

Diffraction and polarization effects in Earth radiation budget measurements.

Thermal radiation emitted and reflected from the Earth and viewed from near-Earth orbit may be characterized by its spectral distribution, its degree of coherence, and its state of polarization. The current generation of broadband Earth radiation budget instruments has been designed to minimize the effect of diffraction and polarization on science products. We used Monte Carlo ray-trace (MCRT) models that treat individual rays as quasi-monochromatic, polarized entities to explore the possibility of improving the performance of such instruments by including measures of diffraction and polarization during calibration and operation. We have demonstrated that diffraction and polarization sensitivity associated with typical Earth radiation budget instrument design features has a negligible effect on measurements.

Retention of acoustic conditioning in St Peter's fish Sarotherodon galilaeus.

Groups of St Peter's fish Sarotherodon galilaeus were trained during 28 days of classical conditioning to respond to an acoustic signal by approaching a feeder. Their ability to retain the acoustically conditioned behaviour was tested after eight different intervals ranging from 12 to 188 days from termination of training. Retention tests comprised 7 consecutive days of retraining and the fish response was compared with that of naive fish. Fish response drastically diminished with time. After 55 days, there was no apparent expression of memory on the first test day but fish response was restored on subsequent retraining days, indicating the existence of latent memory. Six months from the end of training, there was no indication of behavioural retention and the response completely vanished. The study was conducted in the context of sea ranching, with classical conditioning used to gain control over fish location. In light of the present results, it is suggested that periodic reinforcement of the acoustically conditioned behaviour should be used.

[Persistent Müllerian ducts syndrome]. / Syndrome de persistance des canaux de Müller.

Persistent Müllerian ducts syndrome is a rare form of internal male pseudohermaphroditism, characterized by the presence of the uterus, fallopian tubes and upper vagina in an otherwise normally virilised male with a 46 XY karyotype. It is the result of a deficiency in anti-Müllerian hormone or abnormality of this hormone receptor. Often, the diagnosis is made incidentally during surgical exploration for cryptorchidism or herniorrhaphy, and exceptionally during cancer of ectopic testis. We discuss a rare case of this syndrome revealed by a bilateral intra-abdominal gonadal tumor.

Hypereosinophilia associated with intrahepatic cholestasis in early infancy.

A male infant presented with intrahepatic cholestasis due to idiopathic eosinophilia damaging the biliary epithelium. No other etiological agent or cause could be identified. He responded well to prednisone therapy.

Congenital hydrocephalus due to aqueductal stenosis of probable autosomal recessive inheritance.

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Acute rheumatic fever in southern Saudi Arabia.

Forty six attacks of acute rheumatic fever (ARF) in forty patients were diagnosed between November 1987 and August 1995. Thirty four were initial attacks and 12 were recurrences. Arthritis was the commonest feature, 84.8%. Carditis occurred in 65.2% of the group, 67.6% of the initial attacks and 58.3% of the recurrences; however, the frequency of moderate/severe carditis was higher in recurrences, 25% versus 11.8%. Of those with carditis, mitral regurgitation occurred in 93.3%, aortic regurgitation in 16.7% and significant tricuspid regurgitation in 6.7%. Mitral stenosis was not encountered. No mortality occurred during ARF. Chorea, erythema marginatum and subcutaneous nodules were infrequent. These data are similar with those from a previous study which demonstrated the mild nature of ARF in Saudi Arabia, but showed higher frequency of carditis and suggested the frequency of carditis was not significantly higher during recurrences as compared to frequency of moderate/severe carditis.

Neonatal deaths in the Asir Region of Saudi Arabia: Experience in a Referral Neonatal Intesive Care Unit.

We reviewed a total of 169 deaths among 969 infants referred from various health institutions in the Asir Region to the neonatal intensive care unit of Asir Central Hospital, Abha, Saudi Arabia, during a four-year period (January 1992 to December 1995). The results showed that the major causes of neonatal mortality in the region were low birth weight (LBW) (45%), congenital malformations (CM) (30.8%), infection (13.6%), and birth asphyxia (7.7%). The majority of the LBW infants died from respiratory insufficiency, sepsis, and necrotizing enterocolitis. The alimentary, central nervous and cardiovascular systems were the parts most commonly involved in CM, with cardiac defect accounting for the highest fatality rate due to lack of facilities for cardiac surgery in the region, and delay in effecting a transfer. Klebsiella, Serratia and E. coli are the predominant organisms causing neonatal sepsis, in contrast with the group B streptococcus dominating in America and the United Kingdom. Generally, factors causing neonatal deaths in the Asir region are similar to those reported in other tertiary hospitals in Saudi Arabia, and tally closely with observations in America and Europe, where the standard of health care is excellent. Nevertheless, the study indicates the need for upgrading of facilities, as well as for more trained personnel for obstetric and neonatal care in Asir region. It may be necessary to consider the need for the establishment of a regional cardiac surgery center in the region.

Infantile hydrocephalus in southern saudi arabia.

OBJECTIVE: To study the prevalence and causes of infantile hydrocephalus. METHODOLOGY: Retrospective study of cases of infantile hydrocephalus comparing results with regional and international trends. RESULTS: Infantile hydrocephalus (IH) affected 62 infants from among 87,127 registered total live births giving an overall incidence of 0.71/1000. Eighteen cases (29%) with spinal dysraphism, 15 cases (24%) with acqueductal stenosis, 9 (14.5%) post meningitis, 6 (9.7%) post haemorrhagic, 6 (9.7%) with structural Central Nervous System (CNS) anomalies (holoprosencephaly 2, hemispheric cysts 2, brain dysgenesis 1, and vascular anomaly 1), 3 (4.9%) congenital idiopathic, 2 (3.2%) Dandy-Walker malformation, 2 (3.2%) toxoplasmosis and one case (1.6%) achondroplasia. Prenatal factors accounted for 46 cases (74.2%) of this series, while postnatal factors accounted for 16 cases (25,8%). Of the latter group, 9 (14.5%) were due to meningitis while 6 (9.7%) were post haemorrhagic. Of the postnatal group there were 8 preterm babies (4.7% of the total series and 53.3% of the postnatal group). CONCLUSION: While the incidence of infantile hydrocephalus in this region remains statistically unchanged, new characteristics have emerged. It is interesting to notice the increased number of premature babies in the postnatal group. More associated CNS malformations have been noticed in the prenatal group. Still prenatal causes form the bulk of all cases.

Intersex Red Claw Crayfish, Cherax quadricarinatus (von Martens): Functional Males with Pre-vitellogenic Ovaries.

Intersex individuals, possessing both male and female genital openings, were assessed in two groups-7 and 19 months old-of Australian red claw crayfish (Cherax quadricarinatus). All intersex individuals investigated were functional males, as suggested by their malelike morphology and the presence of testes, sperm ducts, androgenic glands, and viable spermatozoa. When an ovary was present in an intersex individual from either group, the gonadosomatic index, the diameter of the oocytes, and the ovarian cytosolic polypeptide profile were similar to those of immature, pre-vitellogenic females. We conclude that intersexuality in C. quadricarinatus does not indicate a case of protandric sequential hermaphroditism, as previously suggested. The case of intersexuality described here presents a unique model for the study of the role of the androgenic gland in the regulation of sex differentiation in crustaceans.