Ongoing declines for the world's amphibians in the face of emerging threats.

Systematic assessments of species extinction risk at regular intervals are necessary for informing conservation action1,2. Ongoing developments in taxonomy, threatening processes and research further underscore the need for reassessment3,4. Here we report the findings of the second Global Amphibian Assessment, evaluating 8,011 species for the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species. We find that amphibians are the most threatened vertebrate class (40.7% of species are globally threatened). The updated Red List Index shows that the status of amphibians is deteriorating globally, particularly for salamanders and in the Neotropics. Disease and habitat loss drove 91% of status deteriorations between 1980 and 2004. Ongoing and projected climate change effects are now of increasing concern, driving 39% of status deteriorations since 2004, followed by habitat loss (37%). Although signs of species recoveries incentivize immediate conservation action, scaled-up investment is urgently needed to reverse the current trends.

Identification and characterization of sperm motility-initiating substance-2 gene in internally fertilizing Cynops species.

Sperm motility-initiating substance (SMIS) is an oviductal protein critical for internal fertilization in urodeles. It contributes to the establishment of various reproductive modes in amphibians and is thus a unique research model for the gene evolution of gamete-recognizing ligands that have diversified among animal species. In this study, a paralogous SMIS gene, smis2, was identified via the RNA sequencing of the oviduct of the newt, Cynops pyrrhogaster. The base sequence of the smis2 gene was homologous (˃90%) to that of the original smis gene (smis1), and deduced amino acid sequences of both genes conserved six cysteine residues essential for the cysteine knot motif. Furthermore, smis2 complementary DNA was identified in the oviduct of Cynops ensicauda, and the base substitution patterns also suggested that the smis gene was duplicated in the Salamandridae. Nonsynonymous/synonymous substitution ratios of smis1 and smis2 genes were 0.79 and 2.6, respectively, suggesting that smis2 gene evolution was independently driven by positive selection. Amino acid substitutions were concentrated in the cysteine knot motif of SMIS2. The smis2 gene was expressed in some organs in addition to the oviduct; in contrast, SMIS1 was only expressed in the oviduct. The SMIS2 protein was suggested to be produced and secreted at least in the oviduct and redundantly act in sperm. These results suggest that smis1 plays the original role in the oviduct, whereas smis2 may undergo neofunctionalization, which rarely occurs in gene evolution.

Optic tract edema in craniopharyngioma as a predictor of BRAFV600E mutation presence.

OBJECTIVE: the advent of BRAF inhibitors for preoperative treatment of craniopharyngioma has necessitated the identification of BRAFV600E status. Hence, we investigated predictors of BRAFV600E mutation in craniopharyngiomas. METHODS: this retrospective study utilized data from 30 patients who were newly diagnosed with craniopharyngioma between 2011 and 2021. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography were performed within 1 week prior to surgery. Genetic analysis for BRAF mutation was performed using the Oncomine next-generation sequencing panel or Sanger sequencing. The relationship between BRAF mutation and demographic data, endocrinological function and tumour characteristics on imaging was assessed. RESULTS: tumour tissue carried the BRAFV600E mutation in nine patients. There was no significant difference in age, sex, or presence of hormonal dysfunction amongst patients with and without the BRAFV600E mutation in the tumour. Most tumours with the BRAFV600E mutation were histologically categorized as papillary craniopharyngioma (P = 0.0005), and were solid (P = 0.0002) and supra-diaphragmatic (P = 0.0033) on MRI. BRAFV600E tumours were more frequently associated with optic tract edema than wild-type tumour s (55.6 vs. 0%, P = 0.0009) and all tumour s with optic tract edema carried the BRAFV600E mutation. Optic tract edema was not associated with tumour volume, cysts, or preoperative pituitary function. CONCLUSIONS: in craniopharyngiomas, the presence of optic tract edema can predict the presence of BRAFV600E mutation with a positive predictive value of 100%. The finding should be verified in larger prospective cohorts and multivariate regression analysis.

Differences in invasiveness and recurrence rate among nonfunctioning pituitary neuroendocrine tumors depending on tumor subtype.

PURPOSE: To clarify the invasiveness to surrounding structures and recurrence rate of each subtype of nonfunctioning pituitary neuroendocrine tumor (Pit-NETs) according to the WHO 2022 classification. METHODS: This retrospective study utilized data from 292 patients with nonfunctioning Pit-NETs treated with initial transsphenoidal surgery. Recurrence was evaluated on 113 patients who were available for a magnetic resonance imaging follow-up ≥ 60 months. All tumors were assessed by immunohistochemical staining for Pit-1, T-PIT, and GATA3. Invasiveness to surrounding structures was evaluated based on intraoperative findings. RESULTS: Cavernous sinus invasion was found in 47.5% of null cell tumors, 50.0% of Pit-1 lineage tumors, 31.8% of corticotroph tumors, and 18.3% of gonadotroph tumors. Dura mater defects in the floor of sellar turcica, indicating dural invasion, were found in 44.3% of null cell tumors, 36.4% of corticotroph tumors, 16.7% of Pit-1 lineage tumors, and 17.3% of gonadotroph tumors. In logistic regression analysis, Pit-1 (OR 5.90, 95% CI 1.71-20.4, P = 0.0050) and null tumors (OR 4.14, 95% CI 1.86-9.23, P = 0.0005) were associated with cavernous sinus invasion. Recurrence was found in 8 (4.9%) patients, but without significant differences between tumor subtypes. The presence of cavernous sinus invasion was correlated with recurrence (HR = 1.95, 95% CI 1.10-3.46, P = 0.0227). CONCLUSION: Among nonfunctioning Pit-NETs, Pit-1 lineage tumors tend to invade the cavernous sinus, corticotroph tumors may produce dura mater defects, and null cell tumors tend to cause both. Pit-NETs with cavernous sinus invasion require a careful attention to recurrence.

Predictive factors of postoperative diabetes insipidus in 333 patients undergoing transsphenoidal surgery for non-functioning pituitary adenoma.

PURPOSE: Diabetes insipidus (DI) following transsphenoidal surgery (TSS) is a common complication. Although postoperative DI often occurs in patients with craniopharyngioma and Rathke's cleft cyst, postoperative DI in patients with non-functioning pituitary adenoma (NFPA) has not been fully examined. We clarified the clinical characteristics and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings predicting postoperative DI in NFPAs. METHODS: A total of 333 patients undergoing initial TSS for NFPA were included in this retrospective study. Hyperintensity (HI) in the posterior pituitary lobe was evaluated on preoperative T1-weighted MRI. Based on the findings of HI patients were divided into three groups as follows: HI was not detected (Disappearance group), HI located intrasellarly (Intrasellar group), and HI located suprasellarly (Suprasellar group). RESULTS: The overall rate of DI was 21.9%, including permanent DI in 0.6%. DI occurred at postoperative day 1 (72.6%) or day 2 (19.2%) and improved within 7 days in most cases (87.7%). Univariable and multivariable analyses showed that the predictive factors of DI were a younger age (odds ratio [OR] 0.97, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.95-0.99, P = 0.0037) and larger tumor diameter (OR 1.04, 95% CI 1.01-1.08, P = 0.0155). The rate of DI was highest in the Disappearance group (43.8%) followed by the Intrasellar group (26.0%). The OR was 2.17 in the Intrasellar group compared with the Suprasellar group (95% CI 1.17-4.02, P = 0.0141). CONCLUSIONS: Factors predicting DI following TSS for NFPA were a younger age, larger tumor size, and the location of intrasellar HI on preoperative T1-weighted MRI.

Influence of growth hormone therapy on germinoma survivors.

PURPOSE: Due to the effectiveness of growth hormone therapy (GHT), the number of cancer survivors receiving GHT has increased. Previous studies had indicated that GHT was not associated with the increasing risks of tumor recurrence and development with second neoplasm (SN) in cancer survivors. However, to date, research on those risks in germinoma survivors is still limited. The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of GHT in relation to tumor recurrence and development with SN in pure germinoma survivors. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study was approved by the Ethical Committee for Epidemiology of our institution. Seventy-three consecutive patients who underwent a biopsy of the lesion and were diagnosed with pure germinoma were retrospectively studied. They (median age, 15.0 years) were followed up more than 1 year after biopsy (median follow-up period, 14.3 years). The following data was obtained from the medical records of the patients: age, sex, preoperative magnetic resonance imaging findings, hormonal replacement, and events including tumor recurrence and/or SN. RESULTS: In our patient series, 16 patients (21.9%) who were more likely to have neurohypophysial lesion and receive multiple hormonal therapies had received GHT. No significant differences in the rates of tumor recurrence and development with SN were observed between the patients who had and had not received GHT. Moreover, the recurrence-free survival and overall survival rates were not different between the patients who had and had not received GHT. CONCLUSIONS: GHT did not increase the risks of tumor recurrence and development with SN in pure germinoma survivors.

Usefulness of critical flicker fusion frequency measurement and its laterality for evaluating compressive optic neuropathy due to pituitary neuroendocrine tumors.

Critical flicker fusion frequency (CFF) is a short but sensitive method for evaluating optic nerve function. We measured CFF in patients with pituitary neuroendocrine tumors (Pit-NETs) to assess its usefulness. Data from 184 patients with nonfunctioning Pit-NETs, who had been treated with transsphenoidal surgery and had no medical history of eye diseases, was used in this retrospective study. Visual acuity decline (VAD) was defined as > 0.10 reduction in logMAR visual acuity and CFF decline (CFD) was defined as CFF value < 35 Hz. Visual field defect (VFD) was evaluated by automated perimetry on a Humphrey visual field analyzer. Potential associations between abnormal test results and tumor height from the suprasellar were analyzed. Contact between the optic nerve or chiasma and the tumor was present and absent in 161 and 23 patients, respectively. In patients showing contact, the difference in CFF between the left and right eyes was larger (p = 0.0008), and the optimal cutoff value using the receiver operating characteristic curve was 3 Hz. Therefore, ≥ 3 Hz was considered positive for CFF laterality (CFL), the most prevalent condition. Tumor height was lower in patients with CFL positivity compared to those with VAD or VFD (p < 0.01). The prevalence of test abnormalities was the highest for small tumors compared to those of other tests. Changes in CFL permit early detection of Pit-NETs. Our results indicate that CFF laterality can be seen in the early stages of compressive optic neuropathy due to Pit-NET.

Differences of Extracellular Cues and Ca2+ Permeable Channels in the Signaling Pathways for Inducing Amphibian Sperm Motility.

Low osmolality of freshwater and/or sperm motility-initiating substance (SMIS) induce amphibian sperm motility through increases in intracellular Ca2+. In the internally fertilizing newt Cynops pyrrhogaster, the sperm motility-initiating substance engages T type voltage-dependent Ca2 + channels and N-methyl D-aspartate-type glutamate receptors to initiate sperm motility and L type voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels to enhance motility. In the present study, differences in the usages of SMIS and Ca2+ permeable channels for sperm motility regulation were examined in amphibians that undergo different reproductive modes. Proteins of 14-17 kDa were detected by antibody against the active site peptide of SMIS in the oviduct secretion of internal fertilizers (C. pyrrhogaster, Cynops ensicauda, and Ambystoma mexicanum) and arboreal fertilizers (Rhacophorus arboreus and Rhacophorus schlegelii), but not in Buergeria japonica, an external fertilizer in freshwater. In the pharmacological study, a blocker of some transient receptor potential channels (RN1734) additionally suppressed enhancement of sperm motility in C. pyrrhogaster. In R. schlegelii, blockers of four types of channels differently suppressed sperm motility induced by low osmolality with or without the active site peptide of SMIS. Notably, blockers of L type voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels (nifedipine) and N-methyl D-aspartate-type glutamate receptors (MK801) suppressed sperm motility in the presence and the absence of the peptide, respectively. Low osmolality-induced sperm motility was suppressed by RN1734 and MK801 in B. japonica, but not in Xenopus laevis. These results reveal complex differences in the signaling pathways for inducing sperm motility that may be partly related to reproductive modes in amphibians.

Preoperative and long-term efficacy and safety of lanreotide autogel in patients with thyrotropin-secreting pituitary adenoma: a multicenter, single-arm, phase 3 study in Japan.

Somatostatin analogs are recommended for pharmacotherapy of TSH-secreting pituitary adenoma (TSHoma). A multicenter clinical trial was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of lanreotide autogel treatment for TSHoma. A total of 13 Japanese patients with TSHoma were enrolled from February to December 2018 and treated with lanreotide autogel 90 mg every 4 weeks, with dose adjustments to 60 mg or 120 mg. Analysis was performed on data from patients receiving preoperative treatment (n = 6) up to 24 weeks and from those receiving primary or postoperative treatment (n = 7) up to 52 weeks. The primary efficacy endpoints were serum concentrations of TSH, free triiodothyronine (FT3), and free thyroxine (FT4). The secondary efficacy endpoints were pituitary tumor size and clinical symptoms. The serum concentrations of TSH, FT3, and FT4 decreased with treatment, and euthyroid status was maintained until final assessment. FT4 at final assessment was within reference ranges in 10/13 patients. The median (interquartile range) percent change in pituitary tumor size from baseline at final assessment was -23.8% (-38.1, -19.8). The clinical symptoms were also improved. The patients receiving preoperative treatment did not develop perioperative thyroid storm. Regarding safety, adverse events were observed in 12/13 patients, but none discontinued treatment. The common adverse events were gastrointestinal disorders (12/13 patients) and administration site reactions (5/13 patients). Lanreotide autogel may be effective for controlling thyroid function and reducing the pituitary tumor size, and is tolerable in patients with TSHoma (Japic Clinical Trials Information; JapicCTI-173772).

[Congenital Dermal Sinus with Dermoid Cyst Complicated by Brain Abscess: A Case Report].

Congenital dermal sinus(CDS)is a rare entity of spinal dysraphism, caused by the focal failure of disjunction leading to adhesion between the cutaneous and neural ectoderm. Some reports found that tumors, such as dermoid and epidermoid cysts, meningitis and subdural abscess are often complicated by CDS. A 1-year-old girl was referred to our department for CDS with a dermoid cyst complicated by brain and subdural abscesses. Diffusion weighted imaging and gadolinium-diethylenetriamine penta-aceticacid administration revealed ring-enhancing lesions, suggesting brain abscess, in the left temporal lobe, and subdural abscesses on the bilateral middle cranial bases. T1-and T2-weighted lumbar magnetic resonance imaging revealed CDS. With a preoperative diagnosis of CDS with brain and subdural abscesses, resection of CDS was performed after draining the brain abscess twice. The CDS extended into the spinal canal and it was completely exercised. We then performed sub-total resection of the dermoid cyst in the subdural space. Recent reports showed that dermoid cysts are related to CDS infection and deterioration of the infection, as seen in this case. Complication of dermoid cysts is an important consideration during CDS treatment. While the mechanism of the development of brain abscess in CDS patients has been unclear, this rare but important case revealed the mechanism to be the direct spread of inflammation via CDS.

Genomic Displacement and Shift of the Hybrid Zone in the Japanese Fire-Bellied Newt.

Hybridizations on a secondary contact zone between 2 diverged lineages can have various evolutionary consequences, including the genetic replacement of one lineage by another. We detected such a case between 2 lineages (the Central and Western lineages) of the Japanese fire-bellied newt, Cynops pyrrhogaster in the Chugoku district of western Japan. We genotyped 269 individuals from 30 localities using the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene and 11 microsatellite loci. The mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analysis revealed that the 2 lineages were mostly distributed parapatrically to each other but co-occurred around the contact zone, whereas the microsatellite analyses indicated the presence of a hybrid zone. Geographic cline analysis revealed that the cline width of mtDNA is wider than the width of the microsatellite loci. The migration rate estimation and the NewHybrids analysis revealed that the Central lineage has expanded their range into the range of the hybrid zone, suggesting the possibility of range displacement of the 2 lineages as a consequence of the shift of their hybrid zone. We explored the process of asymmetric gene flow associated with the invasion of the Central lineage to explain this pattern.

Taxonomic Relationships of Hynobius stejnegeri and H. yatsui, with Description of the Amber-Colored Salamander from Kyushu, Japan (Amphibia: Caudata).

Examination of the holotype of Hynobius stejnegeri Dunn, 1923 revealed that the species is identical with H. yatsui Oyama, 1947 , recently resurrected from H. naevius (Temminck and Schlegel, 1838). The name H. yatsui is therefore relegated to a subjective junior synonym of H. stejnegeri. The latter name, however, has been widely applied to an amber-colored or tortoise-shell salamander from Kyushu, southwestern Japan, which now requires a new name. We, thus, describe the ambercolored salamander as a new species Hynobius ikioi. The new species is phylogenetically very close to H. amakusaensis Nishikawa and Matsui, 2014 and H. osumiensis Nishikawa and Matsui, 2014 , both also from Kyushu, but is easily distinguished from them by its uniquely bi-colored dorsum.

Historical Demography of an Endangered Salamander, Ranodon sibiricus (Amphibia, Urodela, Hynobiidae): A Reassessment.

Chinese populations of the endangered Siberian salamander Ranodon sibiricus are reported to have diverged only about 120 years ago, and to have the lowest genetic diversity of any amphibian. However, these conclusions require verification, as the main range of the species is in Kazakhstan. Moreover, the generation time used for estimating divergence time has a weak ground. In order to clarify these problems, we investigated the molecular phylogenetic relationship and historical demography of the species covering its whole distribution range using the mitochondrial DNA region reported for Chinese population (1072 bp sequences of the control region), while conducting skeletochronological analysis to estimate accurate generation time. As a result, the range expansion was estimated at 88,000-50,000 YA, based on the generation time of 6-10 years. Degree of intraspecific genetic differentiation is actually very small, but, as a single species, is not so small as had been reported for Chinese population alone.

Solitary Langerhans cell histiocytosis located in the neurohypophysis with a positive titer HCG-ß in the cerebrospinal fluid.

INTRODUCTION: Beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG-ß) is considered to be a useful tumor marker for germ cell tumors (GCTs); however, various tumors other than GCTs, including cystic pituitary adenomas, Rathke's cleft cysts, and craniopharyngiomas, were reported to express HCG-ß. CASE REPORT: We herein present the case of a 5-year-old boy who presented with polyuria and had a solitary lesion in the neurohypophysis with a positive HCG-ß titer in the cerebrospinal fluid. Under a preoperative diagnosis of germinoma, a biopsy was performed from the posterior pituitary lobe via the transsphenoidal endoscopic approach and the histological diagnosis was revealed to be Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH). CONCLUSIONS: The finding of a slightly positive HCG-ß titer in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cannot exclude the possibility of LCH, and we strongly recommend a histological diagnosis for the diagnosis of a solitary neurohypophysial lesion.

Clinical features and natural course of acromegaly in patients with discordance in the nadir GH level on the oral glucose test and the IGF-1 value at 3 months after adenomectomy.

Discordant GH and IGF-1 levels after adenomectomy are well recognized in acromegalics. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical features and natural course of postoperative acromegaly associated with discordant GH and IGF-1 levels over a postoperative period. A total of 69 acromegalics underwent surgery with at least 1 year of follow-up and received 75-g oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTTs) at 3 months postoperatively. The patients were categorized into four groups according to the postoperative nadir GH levels and IGF-1 levels: controlled group (normal GH and normal IGF-1), high-IGF-1 group (normal GH and high IGF-1), high-GH group (high GH and normal IGF-1), and uncontrolled group (high GH and high IGF-1). The incidence of discordant GH and IGF-1 levels was 27.5%: high-IGF-1 group = 10.1% (n = 7) and high-GH group = 17.4% (n = 12). All patients in the high-IGF-1 group exhibited a decline in the IGF-1 level after surgery, with normalization observed in 71.4% of the patients without additional treatment (median 23 months). These subjects had preoperatively high IGF-1 levels despite not demonstrating higher GH levels than the patients in the controlled group. On the other hand, four patients in the high-GH group exhibited an elevated nadir GH level higher than 1.0 µg/L on repeated OGTTs after 3 months, and one patient experienced a recurrence of acromegaly. Patients in the high-IGF-1 group require no additional treatments, and their IGF-1 levels are likely to normalize within a few years. However, patients in the high-GH group should be carefully followed due to the possibility of recurrence.

Diffusion-weighted imaging and the apparent diffusion coefficient on 3T MR imaging in the differentiation of craniopharyngiomas and germ cell tumors.

The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) on diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) plays an important role in diagnosing intracranial tumors and predicting the histopathological grade of the tumor. However, the differences in the ADC values between craniopharyngiomas and germ cell tumors (GCTs) have not been clarified. We therefore evaluated the DWI and ADC values at b = 1000 and b = 4000 s/mm(2) on 3T magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and assessed the possibility of differentiating between craniopharyngiomas and GCTs. We retrospectively reviewed 19 patients with craniopharyngioma and 24 patients with GCT who underwent surgery and received a histopathological diagnosis. Thirty-four patients underwent DWI with b = 1000 and b = 4000 s/mm(2) and nine patients underwent periodically rotated overlapping parallel lines with enhanced reconstruction (PROPELLER) DWI with b = 1000 s/mm(2). The ADC was determined by manually placing regions of interests (ROIs) in the respective tumor regions on the ADC maps and is expressed as the minimum (ADC(MIN)), mean (ADC(MEAN)), and maximum (ADC(MAX)) absolute values. The craniopharyngiomas showed lower intensity on DWI at b = 1000 and b = 4000 s/mm(2) than the GCTs. Furthermore, the craniopharyngiomas demonstrated significantly high ADC values (ADC(MIN), ADC(MEAN), and ADC(MAX)) in comparison with the GCTs on DWI at b = 1000 and b = 4000 s/mm(2). The logistic discriminant analysis clarified the advantage of ADC(MIN) at b = 4000 s/mm(2) in differentiating between craniopharyngiomas and GCTs compared with the other ADC values. DWI and the ADC values may help clinicians to differentiate between craniopharyngiomas and GCTs. The ADC(MIN) at b = 4000 s/mm(2) is particularly useful for differentiation.

Phylogeny and Differentiation of Wide-Ranging Ryukyu Kajika Frog Buergeria japonica (Amphibia: Rhacophoridae): Geographic Genetic Pattern Not Simply Explained by Vicariance Through Strait Formation.

To investigate geographic genetic structures and taxonomic relationships among isolated populations of Buergeria japonica, occurring very widely in various habitats of the Ryukyu Archipelago and Taiwan, we conducted phylogenetic and demographic analyses among individuals from various localities, representing their entire distributional ranges. Buergeria japonica is genetically greatly differentiated and comprises three major clades (the Southern Taiwan [ST] clade, the Northern Taiwan + Southern Ryukyu [NT/SR] clade, and the Central + Northern Ryukyu [CR/NR] clade), each of which seems to represent independent species. The first divergence in the species is estimated to have occurred in the middle to late Miocene in areas of current Taiwan, then eastern periphery of the Asian continent. Split of the ST and the remaining clades, and subsequent divergence between the NT/SR and the CR/NR clades in the latter, indicate consecutive south to north vicariant diversifications. However, these vicariances are not always associated with formation of significant barriers such as deep straits. Less but still prominently diverged subclades (the Amami + Tokara [AM/TK] and the Okinawa [ON] subclades) in the CR/NR clade were recognized in spite of the absence of an intervening deep strait. Contrariwise, individuals from Amami and Tokara Groups formed the AM/TK subclade in spite of the presence of the intervening Tokara Gap (a long-standing deep tectonic strait). Furthermore, in the AM/TK subclade, low but definite genetic divergence was found between the Northern Amami + Tokara (NAM/TK) lineage and the Southern Amami (SAM) lineage. Estimated divergence time and gene flow rate within the NAM/TK lineage indicate that this species reached northern Tokara from the south by overseas dispersal over the Tokara Gap long after its formation, but not by more recent artificial transportation. This overseas dispersal would have been facilitated by its more frequent occurrence around coastal habitats than other frogs.

The postirradiation incidence of cavernous angioma is higher in patients with childhood pineoblastoma or primitive neuroectodermal tumors than medulloblastoma.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to investigate the incidence of cavernous angioma (CVA) in long-term survivors of childhood embryonal tumors treated by cranial irradiation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between 1990 and 2012, we treated 25 patients (13 males, 12 females) with embryonal tumors (17 medulloblastomas, 5 primitive neuroectodermal tumors (PNET), 3 pineoblastomas) with craniospinal irradiation. Follow-up ranged from 15.5 to 289.9 months, the irradiation dose to the whole neural axis from 18 to 36 Gy, and the total local dose from 49.6 to 60 Gy. All patients underwent follow-up magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies at least once a year, and the diagnosis of posttreatment CVA was based solely on MRI findings. RESULTS: At the time of this writing, 18 were alive and free of the recurrence of the original disease or the development of secondary neoplasms other than CVA; another 2 were alive with medulloblastoma or diffuse astrocytoma. Posttreatment, 14 patients developed CVAs in the course of a median of 56.7 months; 13 of these presented with multiple CVAs. Patients who underwent radiation therapy (RT) at an age younger than 6 years developed multiple CVAs significantly earlier than those treated at a later age (p = 0.0110). Patients with PNET or pineoblastoma developed Zabramski type 1 and 2 CVA significantly earlier than did medulloblastoma patients (p = 0.0042). CONCLUSION: We attribute the high rate of post-RT CVA in our long-term follow-up study of pediatric patients to the delivery of cranial irradiation for embryonal tumors, especially PNET and pineoblastoma, and recommend the regular, long-term follow-up of patients whose embryonal tumors were treated by cranial irradiation.

Predicting the potential distribution of the amphibian pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in East and Southeast Asia.

Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) is the pathogen responsible for chytridiomycosis, a disease that is associated with a worldwide amphibian population decline. In this study, we predicted the potential distribution of Bd in East and Southeast Asia based on limited occurrence data. Our goal was to design an effective survey area where efforts to detect the pathogen can be focused. We generated ecological niche models using the maximum-entropy approach, with alleviation of multicollinearity and spatial autocorrelation. We applied eigenvector-based spatial filters as independent variables, in addition to environmental variables, to resolve spatial autocorrelation, and compared the model's accuracy and the degree of spatial autocorrelation with those of a model estimated using only environmental variables. We were able to identify areas of high suitability for Bd with accuracy. Among the environmental variables, factors related to temperature and precipitation were more effective in predicting the potential distribution of Bd than factors related to land use and cover type. Our study successfully predicted the potential distribution of Bd in East and Southeast Asia. This information should now be used to prioritize survey areas and generate a surveillance program to detect the pathogen.