Morphological and phylogenetic data do not support the split of Alexandrium into four genera.

A recently published study analyzed the phylogenetic relationship between the genera Centrodinium and Alexandrium, confirming an earlier publication showing the genus Alexandrium as paraphyletic. This most recent manuscript retained the genus Alexandrium, introduced a new genus Episemicolon, resurrected two genera, Gessnerium and Protogonyaulax, and stated that: "The polyphyly [sic] of Alexandrium is solved with the split into four genera". However, these reintroduced taxa were not based on monophyletic groups. Therefore this work, if accepted, would result in replacing a single paraphyletic taxon with several non-monophyletic ones. The morphological data presented for genus characterization also do not convincingly support taxa delimitations. The combination of weak molecular phylogenetics and the lack of diagnostic traits (i.e., autapomorphies) render the applicability of the concept of limited use. The proposal to split the genus Alexandrium on the basis of our current knowledge is rejected herein. The aim here is not to present an alternative analysis and revision, but to maintain Alexandrium. A better constructed and more phylogenetically accurate revision can and should wait until more complete evidence becomes available and there is a strong reason to revise the genus Alexandrium. The reasons are explained in detail by a review of the available molecular and morphological data for species of the genera Alexandrium and Centrodinium. In addition, cyst morphology and chemotaxonomy are discussed, and the need for integrative taxonomy is highlighted.

[A Pediatric Case of Intractable Cerebrospinal Fluid Leakage after Implantation of an Intrathecal Baclofen Pump].

Intrathecal baclofen(ITB)infusion can offer a useful treatment for severe spasticity;however, numerous complications have been reported. We report a pediatric case in which intractable cerebrospinal fluid(CSF)leakage associated with several inconvenient symptoms arose after implantation of the ITB pump system. A 10-year-old girl with spastic quadriparesis and athetoid cerebral palsy underwent implantation of an ITB delivery system. After discharge, she presented with fluid collection surrounding the pump in the abdomen. The volume of fluid increased and was percutaneously aspirated every other week. However, conservative management failed to relieve fluid collection, which was suspected to be due to CSF leakage. She underwent additional purse-string suture of the point inserted catheter insertion in the back, epidural blood patch, and subfascial implantation of an anchor. However, none of these therapies proved effective. Progressive enlargement of the accumulated fluid was observed. Furthermore, symptoms of ITB withdrawal appeared. Lumbar-peritoneal shunting was performed, and the subcutaneous fluid collection was relieved postoperatively. The course after shunting was uneventful;hence, the dose of baclofen was stabilized. No recurrence of fluid collection was encountered for two years. Intractable CSF leakage was thought to be caused by wasting, occult hydrocephalus, and twisted movements. This case indicates that care is required in the management of CSF leakage after ITB pump implantation.

Epilepsy in RAS/MAPK syndrome: two cases of cardio-facio-cutaneous syndrome with epileptic encephalopathy and a literature review.

We report two individual cases of cardio-facio-cutaneous (CFC) syndrome with severe neurological impairment consisting of infantile spasms with hypsarrhythmia and refractory epilepsy with multifocal epileptic paroxysms such as modified hypsarrhythmia. Both cases shared diffuse brain atrophy and severely delayed myelination on neuroimaging. Genetic analysis revealed individual heterozygous mutations in the KRAS (phenotype of CFC/Noonan syndrome) and BRAF genes (phenotype of CFC syndrome). Neurological impairment in cases with mutations in the RAS/MAPK (mitogen activated protein kinase) signal pathway may be more severe, and could be linked to some forms of refractory epilepsy, especially epileptic encephalopathy that includes infantile spasms.

[Case of a Japanese female presenting severe achondroplasia with developmental delay and acanthosis nigricans (SADDAN) syndrome with a K650M mutation in the fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 gene].

We diagnosed a Japanese female as having severe achondroplasia with developmental delay and acanthosis nigricans (SADDAN) syndrome. Genetic analysis revealed a K650M point mutation in the fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) gene, described in only six other individuals in the world. The medical history of the present case includes severe skeletal dysplasia at birth, progressive acanthosis nigricans in infancy, and severe central nervous system structural abnormalities, consisting of the absence of right cerebral hemisphere (hydranencephaly), ventricular dilatation, both indicating congenital brain malformation, and porencephaly indicating destructive brain damages. The patient is severely retarded and has suffered from intractable seizures. This is the first report of a Japanese patient and the seventh case of SADDAN syndrome confirmed genetically.

Jannaschia cystaugens sp. nov., an Alexandrium (Dinophyceae) cyst formation-promoting bacterium from Hiroshima Bay, Japan.

Heterotrophic bacteria isolated from water samples taken from Hiroshima Bay, Japan, and referred to as Alexandrium (Dinophyceae) cyst formation-promoting bacteria, were assigned to the Roseobacter-Sulfitobacter-Silicibacter group within the alpha-Proteobacteria on the basis of nearly complete 16S rRNA gene sequences. Phylogenetic analyses showed that two strains, CFPB-A9T and CFPB-A5, are closely related to each other and that their closest relative was Jannaschia helgolandensis (95.9 % sequence similarity). These strains were Gram-negative, motile, obligately aerobic rods that required sodium ions and 2-7 % sea salts for growth and did not produce bacteriochlorophyll a. Their optimal growth temperature was 25-30 degrees C. The strains had Q-10 as the dominant respiratory quinone. Primary cellular fatty acid in both strains was 18 : 1omega7c. The DNA G + C contents of strains CFPB-A9T and CFPB-A5 were 59.1 and 59.2 mol%, respectively. Based on physiological, biological, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic data, the strains are considered to represent a novel species, Jannaschia cystaugens sp. nov., with type strain CFPB-A9T (= LMG 22015T = NBRC 100362T).

Population structure of Alexandrium (Dinophyceae) cyst formation-promoting bacteria in Hiroshima Bay, Japan.

A total of 31 bacterial isolates that have potential Alexandrium cyst formation-promoting activity (Alex-CFPB) were isolated from Hiroshima Bay (Japan), which is characterized by seasonal blooms of the toxic dinoflagellate Alexandrium tamarense. The population structure of Alex-CFPB was analyzed by means of restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of the 16S rRNA genes (16S rDNA). Fourteen ribotypes, A to N, were observed among the 31 isolates of Alex-CFPB by using four restriction enzymes, MboI, HhaI, RsaI and BstUI. Among them, seven isolates, which were obtained from the seawater samples taken during the peak and termination periods of the A. tamarense bloom in 1998, belonged to ribotype A. This result suggests that bacterial strains of ribotype A may be dominant in the Alex-CFPB assemblages during these periods. The partial 16S rDNA-based phylogenetic tree of 10 ribotypes studied showed that nine of them fell into the Rhodobacter group of the alpha subclass of the Proteobacteria: Eight of nine ribotypes of the Rhodobacter group fell into the lineage of the Roseobacter subgroup, and one fell into the Rhodobacter subgroup. The non-Rhodobacter group type fell into the Marinobacterium-Neptunomonas-Pseudomonas group of the gamma-Proteobacteria: Isolates of Alex-CFPB ribotypes A and C do not have clear growth-promoting activities but have strong cyst formation-promoting activities (CFPAs) under our laboratory conditions. These results show that the Alex-CFPB assemblage may consist of various bacteria that belong mainly to the Roseobacter group and have strong CFPAs. These results suggest that not only the Alexandrium cyst formation-inhibiting bacteria (Alex-CFIB) reported previously but also Alex-CFPB, especially bacteria of ribotype A, may play significant roles in the process of encystment and bloom dynamics of Alexandrium in the natural environment.