Anemochory of diapausing stages of microinvertebrates in North American drylands.

1. Dry, ephemeral, desert wetlands are major sources of windblown sediment, as well as repositories for diapausing stages (propagules) of aquatic invertebrates. Zooplankton propagules are of the same size range as sand and dust grains. They can be deflated and transported in windstorm events. This study provides the evidence that dust storms aid in dispersal of microinvertebrate propagules via anemochory (aeolian transport). 2. We monitored 91 windstorms at six sites in the southwestern U.S. over a 17-year period. The primary study site was located in El Paso, Texas in the northern Chihuahuan Desert. Additional samples were collected from the Southern High Plains region. Dust carried by these events was collected and rehydrated to hatch viable propagules transported with it. 3. Using samples collected over a six-year period, 21 m above the ground which included 59 storm events, we tested the hypothesis that transport of propagules is correlated with storm intensity by monitoring meteorological conditions such as storm duration, wind direction, wind speed, and PM10 (fine dust concentration). An air quality monitoring site located adjacent to the dust samplers provided quantitative hourly measurements. 4. Rehydration results from all events showed that ciliates were found in 92% of the samples, rotifers in 81%, branchiopods in 29%, ostracods in 4%, nematodes in 13%, gastrotrichs in 16%, and tardigrades in 3%. Overall, four bdelloid and 11 monogonont rotifer species were identified from rehydrated windblown dust samples. 5. PCA results indicated gastrotrichs, branchiopods, nematodes, tardigrades, and monogonont rotifer occurrence positively correlated with PM10 and dust event duration. Bdelloid rotifers were correlated with amount of sediment deposited. NMDS showed a significant relationship between PM10 and occurrence of some taxa. Zero-inflated, general linear models with mixed-effects indicated significant relationships with bdelloid and nematode transport and PM10. 6. Thus, windstorms with high particulate matter concentration and long duration are more likely to transport microinvertebrate diapausing stages in drylands.

Evidence for regional aeolian transport of freshwater micrometazoans in arid regions.

While separated by large expanses of dry terrain unsuitable for aquatic biota, aridland waters possess high biodiversity. How aquatic micrometazoans disperse to, and colonize, these isolated ephemeral habitats are not well understood. We used a multi-faceted approach including wind tunnel and rehydration experiments, and next-generation sequencing to assess potential movement of diapausing propagules of aquatic invertebrates by anemochory across regional scales (102-105 km). Wind tunnel experiments using dry playa sediments with added micrometazoan propagules demonstrated that after entrainment by saltation and downwind transport were subsequently recoverable as viable animals when rehydrated. Further, rehydration of fallen natural dust yielded micrometazoans, including rotifers, gastrotrichs, microcrustaceans, and nematodes. Using conserved DNA primers, we identified >3,300 eukaryotic Operational Taxonomic Units (excluding fungi) in the dust including some taxa found in rehydration experiments. Thus, we provide strong evidence that anemochory can disperse micrometazoans among isolated, ephemeral ecosystems in North American deserts and likely elsewhere.

Development and psychometric validation of a brief comprehensive health status assessment scale in older patients with hematological malignancies: The GAH Scale.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to develop a new brief, comprehensive geriatric assessment scale for older patients diagnosed with different hematological malignancies, the Geriatric Assessment in Hematology (GAH scale), and to determine its psychometric properties. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The 30-item GAH scale was designed through a multi-step process to cover 8 relevant dimensions. This is an observational study conducted in 363 patients aged≥65years, newly diagnosed with different hematological malignancies (myelodysplasic syndrome/acute myeloblastic leukemia, multiple myeloma, or chronic lymphocytic leukemia), and treatment-naïve. The scale psychometric validation process included the analyses of feasibility, floor and ceiling effect, validity and reliability criteria. RESULTS: Mean time taken to complete the GAH scale was 11.9±4.7min that improved through a learning-curve effect. Almost 90% of patients completed all items, and no floor or ceiling effects were identified. Criterion validity was supported by reasonable correlations between the GAH scale dimensions and three contrast variables (global health visual analogue scale, ECOG and Karnofsky), except for comorbidities. Factor analysis (supported by the scree plot) revealed nine factors that explained almost 60% of the total variance. Moderate internal consistency reliability was found (Cronbach's α: 0.610), and test-retest was excellent (ICC coefficients, 0.695-0.928). CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that the GAH scale is a valid, internally reliable and a consistent tool to assess health status in older patients with different hematological malignancies. Future large studies should confirm whether the GAH scale may be a tool to improve clinical decision-making in older patients with hematological malignancies.

Towards a consensus on a hearing preservation classification system.

CONCLUSION: The comprehensive Hearing Preservation classification system presented in this paper is suitable for use for all cochlear implant users with measurable pre-operative residual hearing. If adopted as a universal reporting standard, as it was designed to be, it should prove highly beneficial by enabling future studies to quickly and easily compare the results of previous studies and meta-analyze their data. OBJECTIVES: To develop a comprehensive Hearing Preservation classification system suitable for use for all cochlear implant users with measurable pre-operative residual hearing. METHODS: The HEARRING group discussed and reviewed a number of different propositions of a HP classification systems and reviewed critical appraisals to develop a qualitative system in accordance with the prerequisites. RESULTS: The Hearing Preservation Classification System proposed herein fulfills the following necessary criteria: 1) classification is independent from users' initial hearing, 2) it is appropriate for all cochlear implant users with measurable pre-operative residual hearing, 3) it covers the whole range of pure tone average from 0 to 120 dB; 4) it is easy to use and easy to understand.

Waldenström macroglobulinaemia: presenting features and outcome in a series with 217 cases.

In this report we analyse the presenting features of a series of patients diagnosed with Waldenström macroglobulinaemia (WM) in Spain over the last 10 years. Criteria for diagnosis required a serum monoclonal IgM protein > or = 30 g/l and > 20% bone marrow lymphocytes. Two hundred and seventeen patients were included in the study, with a median age of 69 years and male/female ratio of 2:1. The most common symptoms at diagnosis were anaemia (38%), hyperviscosity (31%), B symptoms (23%), bleeding (23%) and neurological symptoms (22%). Sixty-one patients (27%) were asymptomatic at diagnosis and, to date, 32 of them have not received chemotherapy. Variables predicting a shorter survival free of therapy were haemoglobin < 12.5 g/dl and high beta2microglobulin (beta2M). The 83% of patients who did receive treatment were distributed as follows: chlorambucil/prednisone (43%), intermittent chlorambucil (11%), continuous chlorambucil (26%), cyclophosphamide/vincristine/prednisone (COP, 13.5%) and other (6.5%). Response to therapy was complete in 2%, partial in 48% and minor in 10%. Finally, 28% and 13% of patients presented stable and progressive disease, respectively, which was more common among patients treated with COP. Progression-free survival was 43% at 5 years, with three independent predictors for shorter progression-free survival (PFS): COP treatment, age > 65 and B symptoms at diagnosis. The 10-year projected overall survival (OS) was 55%. The two most frequent causes of death were development of second malignancies (31%), or infections (19%). The two main variables predicting a poor OS were hyperviscosity and high beta2M. In summary, this study favours the use of chlorambucil-based therapy as the standard treatment for WM, and describes a subset of patients who should be considered as suffering a smouldering form and who therefore do not require treatment for a long period of time.

Combined vestibular neurectomy and endolymphatic sac shunt via the retrosigmoid approach in the treatment of Ménière's disease.

The nature of surgical treatment for Ménière's disease has evolved from destructive to conservative in the interest of preserving hearing. We have performed a combined procedure that involves a vestibular neurectomy to control vertigo, which is followed by an endolymphatic sac shunt to control hydrops in 26 patients. Both procedures are performed via the retrosigmoid approach during the same surgical step. We believe this combination procedure is a worthwhile option to consider in order to achieve good control of vertigo and endolymphatic hydrops and to preserve hearing in patients with Ménière's disease.

La rehabilitación en implante coclear: una aproximación natural / Cochlear implant rehabilitation: a natural approach

La experiencia en el área de rehabilitación del Programa de Implante Coclear (PIC) del Centro Médico Otológico y la Clínica José A. Rivas Ltda., ha permitido realizar un cambio de concepción significativo en cuanto al abordaje del trabajo con niños y adolescentes usuarios de implante coclear. Desde 1994 los profesionales del PIC se han puesto en la tarea de propiciar las condiciones óptimas para que los niños tengan acceso al mundo de los sonidos y realicen una apropiación real de la lengua oral. Esto ha sido posible gracias a los permanentes procesos de formación y a la continua búsqueda de los resultados obtenidos con los diversos enfoques de trabajo usados alrededor del mundo, lo cual a su vez ha conducido a que, en la actualidad, se desarrolle un trabajo basado en la rehabilitación del PIC, con enfoque auditivo-oral. Esta filosofía, le ha permitido al PIC, acorde con las políticas del programa, encontrar un espacio donde los profesionales, la familia y el colegio forman parte de un equipo que tiene como prioridad el mejoramiento de la calidad de vida de nuestros niños

[Hemangioma of the spermatic cord. Presentation of a case with review of the literature]. / Hemangioma de cordón espemático. Aportación de un caso y revisión de la literatura.

OBJECTIVE: To describe a rare variety of spermatic cord tumor, with special reference to the differential diagnosis. The literature is briefly reviewed. METHODS: The clinical and pathological features of a tumor located in the right inguino-scrotal region of a 27-year-old male patient are described. RESULTS: The preoperative evaluation disclosed an irregular mass in the right hemiscrotum that was unconnected to the testis. The patient underwent orchidectomy and resection of the tumor. Pathological analysis of the surgical specimen revealed a hemangioma of the spermatic cord. CONCLUSIONS: Hemangioma of the spermatic cord is a very uncommon tumor, it is a slow growing, indolent, benign scrotal lesion that must be distinguished from other paratesticular masses or tumors with similar clinical features. Ultrasound and other diagnostic imaging techniques are not useful in making the preoperative differential diagnosis.