Fifth contribution to the study of the Lithosiini of Gabon: two genera new for Gabon, with a description of two new species (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae).

Pusiola celida Bethune-Baker, 1911 and Novilema fluminale Durante Panzera, 2001b are recorded for the first time in Gabon; the synonymy of the subspecies P. celida celida Bethune-Baker, 1911 and P. unipunctana maior Durante Panzera, 2002a is revised; two species are described as new: Pusiola unicolor Durante new species and Novilema bifurcum Durante new species. The exclusion of Archilema triangulare Durante Panzera, 2001b from the genus Novilema Durante Panzera, 2001b is discussed together with criteria for assigning four species of the genus Archilema Birket-Smith, 1965 to the subgenera identified by Birket-Smith (1965). These species are as follows: Archilema (Archilema) lucens Durante Panzera, 2002c; Archilema (Archilema) subalba Durante Panzera, 2001b; Archilema (Palilema) quadrilobata Durante Panzera, 2001b; Archilema (Palilema) triangularis Durante Panzera, 2001b.

Sixth contribution to the study of the Lithosiini of Gabon: the genus Pseudopoliosia Krüger, 2015 (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae).

The genus Pseudopoliosia Krüger, 2015 is recorded for the first time in Gabon. Two new species are described, and a checklist and keys to the species are provided.

Cyana ebigane, a new species from Gabon (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae).

A new species of the genus Cyana Walker, 1854, Cyana ebigane sp. n. is described from Gabon. The new species belongs to the subgenus Strigivulpecula Karisch, 2013 and comparisons are made with its congeners C. nemasisha Roesler, 1990, C. rufeola Karisch DallAsta, 2010, C. klausruedigerbecki Karisch, 2005 and C. fasciata Karisch, 2013. Cyana nemasisha Roesler, 1990 is reported from Gabon for the first time. Adults and male genitalia of the new and the similar species discussed in the paper are illustrated.

Report on species of the genus Tumicla Wallengren, 1863 in Gabon (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae: Lithosiini).

The Tumicla species of Gabon are reviewed and eight new species described: Tumicla bongorum n. sp., Tumicla falcata n. sp., Tumicla globosa n. sp., Tumicla latipunctata n. sp., Tumicla minima n. sp., Tumicla pallida n. sp., Tumicla parvipunctata n. sp. and Tumicla whitensis n. sp. A key and an updated checklist of world Tumicla are also provided.

[Flexible cystoscope for the treatment of urinary stones in intestinal reservoirs.] / Cistoscopia flexible para el tratamiento de las litiasis urinarias en reservorios intestinales.

OBJECTIVE: Stones are common mid- and long-term complications in urinary diversions built with bowel. However the reservoir intestinal loops can lead to difficult endoscopic approach. METHODS: We report two challenging cases with unfavourable anatomy successfully treated by gently handling a flexible cystoscope in a low pressure system. RESULTS: One patient with stones in a continent pouch was cleaned up with a grasping basket through the efferent umbilical limb. Another patient with an orthotopic ileal neobladder not accessible by rigid cystoscope due to high pelvic floor was treated with holmiun laser lithotripsy. CONCLUSIONS: Urologists should consider the versatility of flexible cystoscope to obviate the need for percutaneous lithotripsy or open lithotomy.

OBJETIVO: La aparición de litiasis es una complicación común a medio y largo plazo en las derivaciones urinarias construidas con intestino. Sin embargo, las asas intestinales de los reservorios pueden tener un acceso endoscópico difícil. METODOS: Presentamos dos casos difíciles con anatomía desfavorable tratados con éxito utilizando cuidadosamente un cistoscopio flexible en un sistema de baja presión. RESULTADOS: Un paciente con litiasis en una neovejiga continente quedó libre de litiasis utilizando una cestilla a través del asa eferente umbilical. Otro paciente con una neovejiga ileal ortotópica no accesible por cistoscopio rígido debido a un suelo pélvico elevado, fue tratado con litotricia con láser de Holmio. CONCLUSIONES: Los urólogos deben considerar la versatilidad de la cistoscopia flexible para obviar la necesidad de litotricia percutánea o litotomía abierta.

Vertical gastric plication versus Nissen fundoplication in the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux in children with cerebral palsy.

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: Association between neurological lesions and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in children is very common. When surgical treatment is indicated, the consensus favors the fundoplication technique recommended by Nissen, despite its high morbidity and relapse rates. Vertical gastric plication is a procedure that may have advantages over Nissen fundoplication, since it is less aggressive and more adequately meets anatomical principles. The authors proposed to compare the results from the Nissen and vertical gastric plication techniques. DESIGN AND SETTING: Randomized prospective study within the Postgraduate Surgery and Experimentation Program of UNIFESP-EPM, at Hospital do Servidor Público Estadual (IAMSPE) and Hospital Municipal Infantil Menino Jesus. METHODS: Fourteen consecutive children with cerebral palsy attended between November 2003 and July 2004 were randomized into two groups for surgical treatment of GERD: NF, Nissen fundoplication (n = 7); and VGP, vertical gastric plication (n = 7). These were clinically assessed by scoring for signs and symptoms, evaluation of esophageal pH measurements, duration of the operation, intra and postoperative complications, mortality and length of hospital stay. RESULTS: The mean follow-up was 5.2 months; symptoms were reduced by 42.8% (NF) (p = 0.001) and 57.1% (VGP) (p = 0.006). The Boix-Ochoa score was favorable for both groups: NF (p < 0.001) and VGP (p < 0.042). The overall mortality was 14.28% in both groups and was due to causes unrelated to the surgical treatment. CONCLUSION: The two operative procedures were shown to be efficient and efficacious for the treatment of GERD in neuropathic patients, over the study period.

Review of subgenus Daphaenisca Kiriakoff, 1953 (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae: Synthomini: Thyretina), with identification keys, and description of three new species.

We reviewed the subgenus Daphaenisca Kiriakoff, 1953 created for the single species Pseudapiconoma daphaena Hampson, 1898, in order to separate it from the other species included in the genus Pseudapiconoma Aurivillius, 1881. However, Kiriakoff's diagnosis was entirely based on the differences in the shape of the uncus among the subgenera Daphaenisca, Pseudapiconoma and Balacra Hampson, 1914. This study provides new, more accurate descriptions of the group, taking into account the differential characters and possible synapomorphies within the subgenus Daphaenisca. Our findings are supported by three new species recently discovered in Gabon and Ghana, belonging to the subgenus Daphaenisca: Balacra (Daphaenisca) inexpectata sp. n.; Balacra (Daphaenisca) magnoloi sp. n.; Balacra (Daphaenisca) flava sp. n.

Apparent sympatry of Stiphrornis pyrrholaemus Schmidt & Angehr, 2008 and S. xanthogaster Sharpe, 1903 (Passeriformes: Muscicapidae) in Gabon, and taxonomic implications.

We report the occurrence of the recently-described Stiphrornis pyrrholaemus in the Makokou area, northeastern Gabon, more than 600 kilometers NE from its type locality, in areas covered by dense primary to secondary forest. The previous records of Stiphrornis from the same area were referred to S. xanthogaster. We confirm this attribution on the basis of museum specimens. Although several recent sources treat all Stiphrornis as a single species, our findings strongly suggest the sympatric coexistence of two Stiphrornis species and thus that they should be treated as separate species under the Biological Species Concept.

[Prognostic value of lymphatic vessel and neural invasion in colorectal carcinoma]. / Importância da invasão neural e linfática no prognóstico do adenocarcinoma colorretal.

OBJECTIVES: The paradoxical evolution of approximately one third of patients with colorectal cancer cataloged in Dukes stages B and C demonstrates the necessity of make useful other prognostic criteria. The presence of neural and lymphatic invasion of tumor cells was correlated with the prognosis of patients submitted to radical operation. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study on 320 patients with colo-rectal carcinoma, with mean age 58 years and 199 (62.2%) females. Neural invasion was assessed as positive if cancer cells infiltration into the perineurium or neural fasciculus was detected at the leading point. Lymphatic invasion was defined by cancer cells infiltration into a space limited by endothelium without muscular or elastic fibers. Those variable were associated to the original classification of Dukes. RESULTS: Lymphatic and neural invasion was demonstrated in 14.1% and 15% of 320 operation specimens respectively. The most frequent site of lymphatic and neural invasion was the rectum. The overall survival was 25% in the presence of neural invasion and 64% without neural invasion (p<.01). At the presence of lymphatic invasion, the overall survivals were 26.7% and 63.3%, respectively (p <0.01). The overall survival was always worse in the presence of the invasion neural, independently of the compromising or not of the lymphonodes. In patients of free lymphonodes, the lymphatic invasion identified sub-groups of sick with worse prognosis. The presence of these variable it identified in patients with tumors Dukes B, sub-group of worse prognosis. CONCLUSION: Neural and lymphatic invasion are important ways of spread of colorectal cancer and the presence of both is associated with worse prognosis.

Membracidae of Gabon: the genus Hamma Buckton, 1905 (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha) with description of three new species.

Specimens of Membracidae belonging to the genus Hamma collected in several surveys conducted between 2009 and 2012 in Gabon were examined. They represent six species, of which three are described as new to science: Hamma boulardi n. sp., Hamma carlini n. sp., Hamma franciscae n. sp.

Italian natural history museums on the verge of collapse?

The Italian natural history museums are facing a critical situation, due to the progressive loss of scientific relevance, decreasing economic investments, and scarcity of personnel. This is extremely alarming, especially for ensuring the long-term preservation of the precious collections they host. Moreover, a commitment in fieldwork to increase scientific collections and concurrent taxonomic research are rarely considered priorities, while most of the activities are addressed to public events with political payoffs, such as exhibits, didactic meetings, expositions, and talks. This is possibly due to the absence of a national museum that would have better steered research activities and overall concepts for collection management. We here propose that Italian natural history museums collaborate to instate a "metamuseum", by establishing a reciprocal interaction network aimed at sharing budgetary and technical resources, which would assure better coordination of common long-term goals and scientific activities.

Refluxo gastroesofágico na infância / Gastroesophageal reflux in childhood

O trabalho destaca inicialmente a diferença entre "refluxo gastroesofágico"e "doença do refluxo gastroesofágico", passando a analisar sua fisiopatologia, o quadro clínico e o dignóstico. Este deve ser essencialmente clínico, complementado por um ou mais métodos instrumentais, cujas indicações são revisadas pelo autor, que passa a estudar o tratamento da doença, compreendendo abordagem conservadora, medicamentosa ou cirúrgica.

Vertical gastric plication versus Nissen fundoplication in the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux in children with cerebral palsy

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: Association between neurological lesions and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in children is very common. When surgical treatment is indicated, the consensus favors the fundoplication technique recommended by Nissen, despite its high morbidity and relapse rates. Vertical gastric plication is a procedure that may have advantages over Nissen fundoplication, since it is less aggressive and more adequately meets anatomical principles. The authors proposed to compare the results from the Nissen and vertical gastric plication techniques. DESIGN AND SETTING: Randomized prospective study within the Postgraduate Surgery and Experimentation Program of Unifesp-EPM, at Hospital do Servidor Público Estadual (IAMSPE) and Hospital Municipal Infantil Menino Jesus. METHODS: Fourteen consecutive children with cerebral palsy attended between November 2003 and July 2004 were randomized into two groups for surgical treatment of GERD: NF, Nissen fundoplication (n = 7); and VGP, vertical gastric plication (n = 7). These were clinically assessed by scoring for signs and symptoms, evaluation of esophageal pH measurements, duration of the operation, intra and postoperative complications, mortality and length of hospital stay. RESULTS: The mean follow-up was 5.2 months; symptoms were reduced by 42.8 percent (NF) (p = 0.001) and 57.1 percent (VGP) (p = 0.006). The Boix-Ochoa score was favorable for both groups: NF (p < 0.001) and VGP (p < 0.042). The overall mortality was 14.28 percent in both groups and was due to causes unrelated to the surgical treatment. CONCLUSION: The two operative procedures were shown to be efficient and efficacious for the treatment of GERD in neuropathic patients, over the study period.

CONTEXTO E OBJETIVO: A associação de crianças portadoras de lesão neurológica com doença do refluxo gastroesofágico (DRGE) é muito freqüente. Quando indicado o tratamento operatório, o consenso é pela técnica de fundoplicatura preconizada por Nissen, porém com alta taxa de morbidade e recidiva. A técnica de plicatura gástrica vertical é um procedimento que tem eventuais vantagens sobre a técnica consensual por ser menos agressiva e atender mais adequadamente aos princípios anatômicos. Os autores se propõem a comparar os resultados da técnica à Nissen com a de plicatura gástrica vertical. TIPO DE ESTUDO E LOCAL: Estudo prospectivo randomizado do Programa de Pós-graduação em Cirurgia e Experimentação da Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP-EPM), Hospital do Servidor Público Estadual-Iamspe e Hospital Municipal Infantil Menino Jesus. MÉTODOS: 14 crianças consecutivamente internadas com paralisia cerebral no período de novembro de 2003 a julho de 2004 foram randomizadas em dois grupos para o tratamento cirúrgico da DRGE: Grupo FN (n = 7), fundoplicatura a Nissen, e Grupo PGV (n = 7), plicatura gástrica vertical. Foram avaliados clinicamente através de um escore de sinais e sintomas, a avaliação da pHmetria esofágica, o tempo operatório, complicações intra e pós-operatórias, mortalidade e a permanência hospitalar. RESULTADOS: O acompanhamento médio foi de 5,2 meses; redução dos sintomas em 42,8 por cento (G-FN) (p = 0,001) e 57,1 por cento (G-PGV) (p = 0,006). Escore de Boix-Ochoa foi favorável nos dois grupos G-FN (p < 0,001) e G-PGV (p < 0,042). A mortalidade global foi de 14,28 por cento nos dois grupos e deveu-se a causas estranhas ao tratamento cirúrgico. CONCLUSÃO: Os dois procedimentos operatórios mostraram-se efetivos no tratamento da DRGE em pacientes neuropatas, no período de tempo estudado.

Importância da invasão neural e linfática no prognóstico do adenocarcinoma colorretal / Prognostic value of lymphatic vessel and neural invasion in colorectal carcinoma

OBJETIVOS: A evolução paradoxal de um terço dos doentes com neoplasias colorretais catalogadas no estádio B e C de Dukes mostra ser desejável a adição de outras variáveis prognósticas. O principal objetivo deste trabalho foi o de estudar o papel prognóstico da invasão linfática e neural em uma série de doentes submetidos à cirurgia curativa e acompanhados por longo período. MÉTODOS: Foram estudados 320 doentes com câncer colorretal submetidos à extirpação curativa, com idade mediana de 58 anos, sendo 199 (62,8 por cento) do sexo feminino. A invasão neural foi caracterizada pela presença de células cancerosas, infiltrando o perineuro e/ou o fascículo neural. A linfática, pela presença de células neoplásicas no interior de espaço limitado por endotélio, desprovido de fibras musculares e elásticas. Essas variáveis foram associadas à classificação original de Dukes. RESULTADOS: A invasão neural foi observada em 15 por cento das peças extirpadas e a linfática em 14,1 por cento. Os índices de invasão cresceram do ceco ao reto, local preferencial das mesmas. A sobrevida de cinco anos dos portadores de neoplasias com invasão neural foi de 25 por cento em oposição a 64 por cento daqueles sem invasão (p<0,01). Para os com invasão linfática, a sobrevida foi de 26,7 por cento e 63,3 por cento, respectivamente (p<0,01). Independentemente do comprometimento ou não dos linfonodos, a sobrevida foi sempre pior na presença da invasão neural. Em portadores de linfonodos livres, a invasão linfática identificou subgrupo de doentes com pior prognóstico. A presença destas variáveis identificou nos portadores de tumores Dukes B, subgrupo de pior prognóstico. CONCLUSAO: A presença de invasão neural e linfática no adenocarcinoma colorretal está associada a prognóstico desfavorável de seus portadores.

Corpos estranhos nas vias aéreas / Foreign bodies in airways

Discorre-se sobre o problema de corpos estranhos nas vias aéreas, em Pediatria, abordando sua incidência, o diagnóstico clínico e radiológico e localizaçäo do corpo estranho nas vias aéreas. Com relaçäo ao tratamento, säo analisados aspectos gerais, a drenagem postural com inalaçäo, broncoscopia - isoladamente ou associada à traqueostomia - e cirurgia, bem como o prognóstico e a evoluçäo desses casos

A pHmetria esofágica prolongada (24 horas na avaliaçäo da patologia do refluxo gastroesofágico em crianças / The delayed esophageal pHmetry (24 hours) in evaluation of patology of gastroesophageal reflux in children

O refluxo gastroesofágico (RGE) tem sido reconhecido como um fenômeno comum em lactentes e crianças. O diagnóstico do RGE depende muito da anamnese e do exame clínico do paciente. A pHmetria esofágica prolongada (24 horas) é considerada como método de escolha para o diagnóstico de RGE em lactentes e crianças. Este estudo descreve nossa experiência no diagnóstico de 59 pacientes pediátricos, avaliados entre fevereiro de 1994 e agosto de 1995 no Serviço de Cirurgia Pediátrica do Hospital Professor Edmundo Vasconcelos. Foi utilizado o DPS - 100 Diagnosis pHmeter System com Software, de acordo com a metodologia sugerida por Jolley e Johnson. Oito pacientes tiveram um estudo tecnicamente inadequado e foram excluídos. Dos 51 pacientes analisados, na faixa etária de 1 mês a 8 anos e 3 meses, 32 (62 porcento) tiveram resultado positivo e 19 (38 porcento) resultado negativo. Os percentuais dos cinco parâmetros usados säo apresentados no trabalho. O objetivo deste trabalho é avaliar a pHmetria como teste diagnóstico na patologia do RGE.

O valor do estudo baritado comparado com a monitoraçäo prolongada do pH esofágico no diagnóstico do refluxo gastroesofágico em crianças / The value of the barium tests comparated with the extended esophageal pH monitoring in the diagnoses of gastroesophageal reflux

O refluxo gastroesofágico (RGE) é um dos problemas mais comuns encontrados no grupo etário pediátrico. O diagnóstico depende muito da anamnese e do exame clínico do paciente. A falta de um procedimento simples e confiável para detectar o RGE é evidenciada pelo arsenal de procedimentos investigativos que têm sido aventados. A monitorizaçäo por 24 horas do pH esofágico é amplamente aceita como o teste diagnóstico mais confiável para detectar RGE, mas a técnica é cara nem sempre acessível. Os estudos baritados säo mais acessíveis, bem tolerados e menos dispendiosos, mas têm sido criticados por sua falta de sensibilidade na detecçäo do RGE. Baseando-se nesses dados, o propósito deste estudo prospectivo é correlacionar a eficiência e os resultados destes dois métodos em crianças com sintomas de refluxo gastroesofágico.