Recovery of Arapaima sp. populations by community-based management in floodplains of the Purus River, Amazon.

In the present study a unique dataset on population abundance in various community-based management (CBM) and non-CBM areas is analysed to address the question of whether CBM can recover overexploited populations of Arapaima sp. in river-floodplain ecosystems. All non-CBM areas possessed depleted Arapaima sp. populations with a mean density of 0·01 individuals ha(-1) . Arapaima sp. population densities in all CBM areas changed over time from depleted to overexploited or well managed status, with a mean rate of increase of 77% year(-1) . Rates of Arapaima sp. population recovery in CBM areas differed, probably reflecting differences in ecosystem productivity and compliance with management regulations. These results indicate that CBM schemes can be effective tools for the recovery and conservation of fish populations with non-migratory life cycles in tropical river-floodplain ecosystems.

Familial versus sporadic cavernous malformations: differences in developmental venous anomaly association and lesion phenotype.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: CCMs are commonly associated with DVAs, but the incidence of association in familial CCM is unknown. The presence of a DVA significantly complicates surgical management of a CCM because of the risk of compromised venous drainage. In this investigation, we compared the incidence of a DVA in the presence of a CCM in sporadic and familial CCM cases comprising predominantly familial CCM with the Southwestern US common Hispanic mutation (or Q455X mutation) of CCM1. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective review was performed of 112 patients identified with CCM. MR imaging review included the presence or absence of a DVA and number, location, size, and signal-intensity characteristics of CCMs. Record review included patient and family history and documented genetic mutations. Statistical analysis was performed by using the Fisher exact and 2-sample t tests. RESULTS: Eighty-one cases were familial, 18 were sporadic, and 13 were indeterminate. There were a total of 2212 CCMs: 2176, 21, and 15 in the familial, sporadic, and indeterminate groups, respectively. There was a close association of CCM and DVA (an apparent combined vascular lesion) in 8 of 18 (44%) sporadic cases and only 1 possible such association in the familial cases. The difference was highly statistically significant (P < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: Familial CCMs are unlikely to be associated with DVAs, and sporadic CCMs have a high rate of association with DVA. This difference in imaging features of familial and sporadic CCMs suggests the possibility of a different developmental mechanism.

Liver glycogen and plasma insulin and glucagon levels in food- and water-deprived black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus).

1. Liver glycogen levels and plasma levels of insulin and glucagon were measured in fed and in food- and water-deprived prairie dogs. 2. Liver glycogen values decreased from 45.5 to 12.4 mg/g (73%) after 21 days of food and water deprivation, while a 24-hr fast resulted in a liver glycogen value of 47.5 mg/g. 3. Rat liver glycogen values decreased from 45.6 to 2.3 mg/g (95%) after a 24-hr fast. 4. Prairie dog plasma insulin values were 69.2, 15.8 and 25.4 microU/ml in fed, and in 24-hr and 32-day food- and water-deprived animals, respectively. 5. Prairie dog plasma glucagon levels were 57.0 and 38.4 microU/ml in fed and in 32-day food- and water-deprived animals. 6. Plasma values for glucose, urea nitrogen, acetone and triglyceride agreed with previously published results. 7. We conclude that it is possible that the maintenance of liver glycogen levels in food- and water-deprived prairie dogs may be correlated with a smaller decrease in plasma insulin levels, relative to other species, and with a decrease in plasma glucagon levels.