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INTRODUCTION: Birmingham Hip Resurfacing (BHR) has emerged as a compelling and innovative alternative to total hip arthroplasty (THA), especially among young, active patients. However, the Minimal Clinically Important Difference (MCID) and the Patient Acceptable Symptom State (PASS) thresholds have not yet been determined for patients undergoing BHR. Therefore, the current study aimed to (1) determine the MCID and PASS thresholds for both the Hip disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (HOOS)-Pain and HOOS physical function shortform (PS), for patients who underwent BHR; and (2) identify factors influencing the achievement of MCID and PASS for HOOS-Pain and HOOS-PS. METHODS: Prospectively collected data from patients undergoing BHR was analyzed. Patients with osteoarthritis and completed preoperative and 1-year postoperative PROMs were included. Distribution-based and anchored-based approaches were used to estimate MCID and PASS, respectively. The optimal cut-off point for PASS thresholds was calculated using the Youden index. RESULTS: MCID for HOOS-Pain and PS were calculated to be 9.2 and 9.3, respectively. The PASS threshold for HOOS-Pain and PS were ≥ 77.7 and ≥ 87.3, respectively. The current study identified several factors affecting postoperative achievement of thresholds. Baseline Mental Component Summary (MCS) scores were a predictor for achieving MCID for postoperative HOOS-Pain, achieving MCID for postoperative HOOS-PS, achieving PASS for postoperative HOOS-Pain, and achieving PASS for postoperative HOOS-PS. Furthermore, baseline HOOS-Pain was a significant predictor for achieving MCID for postoperative HOOS-PS, achieving PASS for postoperative HOOS-Pain, and achieving PASS for postoperative HOOS-PS. CONCLUSIONS: MCID and PASS thresholds were established for HOOS-Pain and PS domains following BHR with most patients achieving these clinically meaningful benchmarks. Additionally, several factors affecting achievement of MCID and PASS were identified, including modifiable risk factors that may allow clinicians to implement optimization strategies and further improve outcomes.
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PURPOSE: Obesity has been identified as a risk factor for postoperative complications in patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA). This study aimed to investigate patient-reported outcomes, pain, and satisfaction as a function of body mass index (BMI) class in patients undergoing THA. METHODS: 1736 patients within a prospective observational study were categorized into BMI classes. Pre- and postoperative Hip disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score for Joint Replacement (HOOS JR), satisfaction, and pain scores were compared by BMI class using one-way ANOVA. RESULTS: Healthy weight patients reported the highest preoperative HOOS JR (56.66 ± 13.35) compared to 45.51 ± 14.45 in Class III subjects. Healthy weight and Class III patients reported the lowest (5.65 ± 2.01) and highest (7.06 ± 1.98, p < 0.0001) preoperative pain, respectively. Changes in HOOS JR scores from baseline suggest larger improvements with increasing BMI class, where Class III patients reported an increase of 33.7 ± 15.6 points at 90 days compared to 26.1 ± 17.1 in healthy weight individuals (p = 0.002). Fewer healthy weight patients achieved the minimal clinically important difference (87.4%) for HOOS JR compared to Class II (96.5%) and III (94.7%) obesity groups at 90 days postoperatively. Changes in satisfaction and pain scores were largest in the Class III patients. Overall, no functional outcomes varied by BMI class postoperatively. CONCLUSION: Patients of higher BMI class reported greater improvements following THA. While risk/benefit shared decision-making remains a personalized requirement of THA, this study highlights that utilization of BMI cutoff may not be warranted based on pain and functional improvement.
Subject(s)
Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip , Body Mass Index , Osteoarthritis, Hip , Patient Reported Outcome Measures , Patient Satisfaction , Humans , Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip/adverse effects , Male , Female , Middle Aged , Prospective Studies , Aged , Osteoarthritis, Hip/surgery , Obesity/complications , Pain, Postoperative/etiology , Pain MeasurementABSTRACT
¼ Bone health optimization (BHO) has become an increasingly important consideration in orthopaedic surgery because deterioration of bone tissue and low bone density are associated with poor outcomes after orthopaedic surgeries.¼ Management of patients with compromised bone health requires numerous healthcare professionals including orthopaedic surgeons, primary care physicians, nutritionists, and metabolic bone specialists in endocrinology, rheumatology, or obstetrics and gynecology. Therefore, achieving optimal bone health before orthopaedic surgery necessitates a collaborative and synchronized effort among healthcare professionals.¼ Patients with poor bone health are often asymptomatic and may present to the orthopaedic surgeon for reasons other than poor bone health. Therefore, it is imperative to recognize risk factors such as old age, female sex, and low body mass index, which predispose to decreased bone density.¼ Workup of suspected poor bone health entails bone density evaluation. For patients without dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scan results within the past 2 years, perform DXA scan in all women aged 65 years and older, all men aged 70 years and older, and women younger than 65 years or men younger than 70 years with concurrent risk factors for poor bone health. All women and men presenting with a fracture secondary to low-energy trauma should receive DXA scan and bone health workup; for fractures secondary to high-energy trauma, perform DXA scan and further workup in women aged 65 years and older and men aged 70 years and older.¼ Failure to recognize and treat poor bone health can result in poor surgical outcomes including implant failure, periprosthetic infection, and nonunion after fracture fixation. However, collaborative healthcare teams can create personalized care plans involving nutritional supplements, antiresorptive or anabolic treatment, and weight-bearing exercise programs, resulting in BHO before surgery. Ultimately, this coordinated approach can enhance the success rate of surgical interventions, minimize complications, and improve patients' overall quality of life.
Subject(s)
Fractures, Bone , Orthopedic Procedures , Male , Humans , Female , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Bone Density , Quality of Life , Bone and BonesABSTRACT
CASE: This is a case of a 71-year-old female patient with recurrent instability and complex hip abductor deficiency after total hip arthroplasty (THA) who was treated successfully with an abductor reconstruction with gluteal transfer with mesh reconstruction. The patient returned to nonassisted ambulation with no further THA dislocations at the 1-year follow-up. CONCLUSION: Abductor deficiencies after THA are complex and have a high potential for long-term disability if not properly diagnosed and treated. A modified gluteal transfer with mesh reconstruction and distal fixation with cerclage cable allowed for sustained restoration of functional hip abduction and stability after revision THA.
Subject(s)
Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip , Joint Dislocations , Female , Humans , Aged , Surgical Mesh , Prostheses and Implants , ReoperationABSTRACT
PURPOSE: With the advent of practice changes surrounding preoperative patient optimization and postoperative protocols, a marked reduction has been reported in blood transfusion rates following total hip arthroplasty (THA). Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine differences in the prevalence of preoperative anemia, thrombocytopenia, elevated international normalized ratio (INR), bleeding disorders, and pre- and postoperative blood transfusions over the last decade. METHODS: From 2011 to 2018, the American College of Surgeons National Quality Improvement Program database was queried for all primary THA procedures (n = 208,796). The following continuous variables were examined using analysis of variance: preoperative hematocrit (HCT), platelet count, and INR. The following categorical variables were analyzed by chi-squared tests: anemia (HCT < 35.5% for females and < 38.5% for males), thrombocytopenia (platelet count < 150,000/µL), INR > 2.0, bleeding disorders, preoperative transfusions, and postoperative transfusions. RESULTS: There were decreases in preoperative anemia (2011: 16.2%; 2018: 11.4%, p < 0.001) and postoperative transfusions (2011: high = 22.2%; 2018: low = 1.3%, p < 0.001). Statistically significant but clinically irrelevant changes were observed in preoperative HCT (2011: low = 40.3, 2018: high = 41.1, p < 0.001), platelet count (2011: low = 248,700; 2018: high = 250,100, p < 0.001), thrombocytopenia (2011: high = 4.9%; 2018: low = 4.3%, p = 0.036), INR > 2.0 (2011: high = 1.1%; 2018: low = 0.7%, p = 0.001), bleeding disorders (2011: high = 2.9%; 2018: low = 2.0%, p < 0.001), and preoperative transfusions (2011: high = 0.2%; 2018: low = 0.1%, p = 0.007). CONCLUSION: Large decreases in the number of patients with preoperative anemia and those receiving postoperative blood transfusion were observed during the study period. Future investigation is needed to ascertain whether this is due to patient optimization, practice changes, "cherry-picking" of healthy patients, or a combination of these factors. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.
Subject(s)
Anemia , Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip , Thrombocytopenia , Male , Female , Humans , Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip/adverse effects , Blood Transfusion , Anemia/epidemiology , Hematocrit , Retrospective Studies , Risk FactorsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Decreased cost associated with same-day discharge (SDD) total knee arthroplasty (TKA) has led to an increased interest in this topic. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether there is a population of TKA patients in which SDD has similar rates of 30-day complications compared to patients discharged on postoperative day 1 or 2. METHODS: Using the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database from 2012 to 2018, 6,327 TKA patients who had a SDD (length of stay [LOS] = 0) were matched to TKA patients who had an LOS of 1 or 2 days. All SDD patients were successfully matched 1:1 using the morbidity probability variable (a composite variable of demographics, comorbidities, and laboratory values). Patients were divided into quartiles based on their morbidity probability. Bivariate logistic regressions were then used to compare any complication and major complication rates in the SDD quartiles to the corresponding quartiles with an LOS of 1 or 2 days. RESULTS: When comparing the 1st quartiles (healthiest), there was no difference between the cohorts in any complication (odds ratio [OR] = 0.960, 95% CI 0.552-1.670, P = .866) and major complications (OR = 0.999, 95% CI = 0.448-2.231, P = .999). The same was observed in quartile 2 (any complications: OR = 1.161, 95% CI = 0.720-1.874, P = .540). Comparing the third quartiles, there was an increase in all complications with SDD (OR = 1.784, 95% CI = 1.125-2.829, P = .014), but no difference in major complications (OR = 1.635, 95% CI = 0.874-3.061, P = .124). Comparing the fourth quartiles (least healthy), there was an increase in all complications (OR = 1.384, 95% CI = 1.013-1.892, P = .042) and major complications (OR = 1.711, 95% CI = 1.048-2.793, P = .032) with SDD. CONCLUSION: The unhealthiest 50% of patients in this study who underwent SDD TKA were at an increased risk of having any complication, calling into question the current state of patient selection for SDD TKA. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.
Subject(s)
Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip , Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee , Humans , Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee/adverse effects , Patient Discharge , Postoperative Complications/epidemiology , Postoperative Complications/etiology , Patients , Comorbidity , Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip/adverse effects , Length of Stay , Patient Readmission , Risk Factors , Retrospective StudiesABSTRACT
â¢: Periprosthetic acetabular fractures are uncommon and infrequently the focus of studies. â¢: Acetabular fractures are occasionally recognized postoperatively when patients report unremitting groin pain weeks after surgery. â¢: The widespread use of cementless acetabular cups might lead to a higher number of fractures than are clinically detectable. â¢: Appropriate recognition, including mindfulness of preoperative patient and surgical risk factors, is critical to the successful management of acetabular complications.
Subject(s)
Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip , Hip Fractures , Hip Prosthesis , Periprosthetic Fractures , Spinal Fractures , Acetabulum/injuries , Acetabulum/surgery , Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip/adverse effects , Hip Fractures/surgery , Hip Prosthesis/adverse effects , Humans , Periprosthetic Fractures/etiology , Periprosthetic Fractures/surgery , Reoperation/adverse effects , Spinal Fractures/surgeryABSTRACT
Wildfire dynamics are changing around the world and understanding their effects on ecological communities and landscapes is urgent and important. We report detailed food webs for unburned, low-to-moderate and high severity burned habitats three years post-fire in the Eldorado National Forest, California. The cumulative cross-habitat food web contains 3,084 ontogenetic stages (nodes) or plant parts comprising 849 species (including 107 primary producers, 634 invertebrates, 94 vertebrates). There were 178,655 trophic interactions between these nodes. We provide information on taxonomy, body size, biomass density and trophic interactions under each of the three burn conditions. We detail 19 sampling methods deployed across 27 sites (nine in each burn condition) used to estimate the richness, body size, abundance and biomass density estimates in the node lists. We provide the R code and raw data to estimate summarized node densities and assign trophic links.
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BACKGROUND: The multifaceted effects of socioeconomic status on healthcare outcomes can be difficult to quantify. The Area Deprivation Index (ADI) quantifies a socioeconomic disadvantage with higher scores indicating more disadvantaged groups. The present study aimed to describe the ADI distribution for primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) patients stratified by patient demographics and to characterize the association of ADI with healthcare utilization (discharge disposition and length of stay [LOS]), 90-day emergency department (ED) visits, and 90-day all cause readmissions. METHODS: Two thousand three hundred and ninety one patients who underwent primary elective THA over a 13-month period were included. A multivariable binary logistic regression analysis with outcomes of nonhome discharge, prolonged LOS (>3 days), 90-day ED visits, and 90-day readmission were performed using predictors of ADI, gender, race, smoking status, body mass index, insurance status, and Charlson comorbidity index. Plots of restricted cubic splines were used to graph associations between ADI as a continuous variable and the outcomes of interest using odds ratios. RESULTS: In the multivariable regression model, there were statistically significant higher odds of nonhome discharge (OR, 1.82; 95% CI, 1.19-2.77, P = .005) for individuals in the 61-80 ADI quintile as compared to the reference group of 21-40. Individuals in the highest ADI quintile, 81-100, had the greatest odds of nonhome discharge (OR, 2.20; 95% CI, 1.39-3.49, P < .001) and prolonged LOS (OR, 1.91, 95% CI, 1.28-2.84, P = .001). CONCLUSIONS: Higher ADI is associated with an increased healthcare utilization within 90 days of THA.
Subject(s)
Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip , Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip/adverse effects , Delivery of Health Care , Humans , Length of Stay , Patient Acceptance of Health Care , Patient Discharge , Patient Readmission , Postoperative Complications/etiology , Retrospective Studies , Risk Factors , Social ClassABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Evaluating trends and drivers of baseline patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) is critical to understanding when patients and providers elect to undergo surgery. We aimed to assess the following: (1) 5-year trends in baseline PROMs pre-THA (total hip arthroplasty) stratified by patient determinants; (2) patient factor associated with poor preoperative hip pain/function; (3) phenotypes of combined pain/function PROMs at baseline; and (4) intersurgeon variability in PROM thresholds at surgery. METHODS: A prospective cohort of 6,902 primary THAs was enrolled (January 2016 to December 2020). Patient/surgeon details and PROMs were collected at point of care preoperatively. Outcomes included trends (5 years; 20 quarters) in Hip disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (HOOS)-Pain and HOOS-PS (Physical Function Short-Form), stratified by patient demographics. Patients were further classified into phenotype categories of above or equal to median pain/function (P+PS+); below median pain/function (P-PS-); above or equal to median pain but below median function (P+PS-); and below median pain but above or equal to median function (P-PS+). RESULTS: Baseline HOOS-Pain was consistent across the study period (P-trend = .166), while HOOS-PS demonstrated increasing function (P-trend = .015). Such trends were appreciable in males, females, and White (P-trend < .001, each) but not Black patients (P-trend = .67). Higher odds ratio (OR) of low baseline HOOS-Pain and HOOS-PS were detected among females (HOOS-Pain: OR 1.75, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.55-1.98, P < .001; HOOS-PS: OR 1.56, 95% CI 1.38-1.77, P < .001), Black patients (HOOS-Pain: OR 1.64, 95% CI 1.35-2.82, P < .001; HOOS-PS: OR 1.59, 95% CI 1.34-1.89, P < .001), and smokers (HOOS-Pain: OR 1.56, 95% CI 1.29-1.89, P < .001; HOOS-PS: OR 1.52, 95% CI 1.25-1.85, P < .001). The P-PS- cohort (32.4%) had lowest age (65.2 ± 11.1 years), highest body mass index (31.6 ± 6.9 kg/m2), females (64.8%), Black (15.8%), and current smokers (12.2%). There was significant intersurgeon preoperative PROM variation in HOOS-Pain and HOOS-PS (P < .001, each). CONCLUSION: In contrast to the general population, Black patients have consistently received THA at lower functional levels throughout the 5-year period. Females, smokers, and Black patients were more likely to have poorer pain and function at THA. PROMs assessment as combined pain-function phenotypes may provide a more comprehensive interpretation of patient status preoperatively.
Subject(s)
Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip , Osteoarthritis, Hip , Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip/adverse effects , Demography , Female , Humans , Male , Osteoarthritis, Hip/etiology , Osteoarthritis, Hip/surgery , Pain/surgery , Patient Reported Outcome Measures , Prospective Studies , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
Native forests on tropical islands have been displaced by non-native species, leading to calls for their transformation. Simultaneously, there is increasing recognition that tropical forests can help sequester carbon that would otherwise enter the atmosphere. However, it is unclear if native forests sequester more or less carbon than human-altered landscapes. At Palmyra Atoll, efforts are underway to transform the rainforest composition from coconut palm (Cocos nucifera) dominated to native mixed-species. To better understand how this landscape-level change will alter the atoll's carbon dynamics, we used field sampling, remote sensing, and parameter estimates from the literature to model the total carbon accumulation potential of Palmyra's forest before and after transformation. The model predicted that replacing the C. nucifera plantation with native species would reduce aboveground biomass from 692.6 to 433.3 Mg C. However, expansion of the native Pisonia grandis and Heliotropium foertherianum forest community projected an increase in soil carbon to at least 13,590.8 Mg C, thereby increasing the atoll's overall terrestrial carbon storage potential by 11.6%. Nearshore sites adjacent to C. nucifera canopy had a higher dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration (110.0 µMC) than sites adjacent to native forest (81.5 µMC), suggesting that, in conjunction with an increase in terrestrial carbon storage, replacing C. nucifera with native forest will reduce the DOC exported from the forest into in nearshore marine habitats. Lower DOC levels have potential benefits for corals and coral dependent communities. For tropical islands like Palmyra, reverting from C. nucifera dominance to native tree dominance could buffer projected climate change impacts by increasing carbon storage and reducing coral disease.
Subject(s)
Carbon Sequestration , Conservation of Natural Resources , Coral Reefs , Trees , Biomass , Conservation of Natural Resources/methods , Pacific Islands , RainforestABSTRACT
Both advances in perioperative blood management, anesthesia, and surgical technique have improved transfusion rates following primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA), and have driven substantial change in preoperative blood ordering protocols. Therefore, blood management in TKA has seen substantial changes with the implementation of preoperative screening, patient optimization, and intra- and postoperative advances. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine changes in blood management in primary TKA, a nationwide sample, to assess gaps and opportunities. The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database was used to identify TKA (n = 337,160) cases from 2011 to 2018. The following variables examined, such as preoperative hematocrit (HCT), anemia (HCT <35.5% for females and <38.5% for males), platelet count, thrombocytopenia (platelet count < 150,000/µL), international normalized ration (INR), INR > 2.0, bleeding disorders, preoperative, and postoperative transfusions. Analysis of variances were used to examine changes in continuous variables, and Chi-squared tests were used for categorical variables. There was a substantial decrease in postoperative transfusions from high of 18.3% in 2011 to a low of 1.0% in 2018, (p < 0.001), as well as in preoperative anemia from a high of 13.3% in 2011 to a low of 9.5% in 2016 to 2017 (p < 0.001). There were statistically significant, but clinically irrelevant changes in the other variables examined. There was a HCT high of 41.2 in 2016 and a low of 40.4 in 2011 to 2012 (p < 0.001). There was platelet count high of 247,400 in 2018 and a low of 242,700 in 201 (p < 0.001). There was a high incidence of thrombocytopenia of 5.2% in 2017 and a low of low of 4.4% in 2018 (p < 0.001). There was a high INR of 1.037 in 2011 and a low of 1.021 in 2013 (p < 0.001). There was a high incidence of INR >2.0 of 1.0% in 2012 to 2015 and a low of 0.8% in 2016 to 2018 (p = 0.027). There was a high incidence of bleeding disorders of 2.9% in 2013 and a low of 1.8% in 2017 to 2018 (p < 0.001). There was a high incidence of preoperative transfusions of 0.1% in 2011 to 2014 and a low of <0.1% in 2015 to 2018 (p = 0.021). From 2011 to 2018, there has been substantial decreases in patients receiving postoperative transfusions after primary TKA. Similarly, although a decrease in patients with anemia was seen, there remains 1 out 10 patients with preoperative anemia, highlighting the opportunity to further improve and address this potentially modifiable risk factor before surgery. These findings may reflect changes during TKA patient selection, optimization, or management, and emphasizes the need to further advance multimodal approaches for perioperative blood management of TKA patients. This is a Level III study.
Subject(s)
Anemia , Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee , Thrombocytopenia , Anemia/epidemiology , Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee/adverse effects , Blood Transfusion , Female , Hematocrit , Humans , Male , Postoperative Complications/epidemiology , Retrospective Studies , Risk Factors , Thrombocytopenia/complicationsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: In revision total knee arthroplasty (TKA), information regarding perioperative mortality risk is essential for careful decision-making. This study aimed to elucidate the (1) overall 30-day mortality rate and (2) 30-day mortality rate stratified by age, comorbidity, and septic vs aseptic failure after revision TKA. METHODS: The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program was reviewed for all patients undergoing revision TKA from 2011 to 2019. A total of 32,354 patients who underwent TKA were identified and categorized as mortality (n = 115) or mortality-free (n = 32,239). Patient characteristics were compared between cohorts and further stratified by septic and aseptic failure. RESULTS: The overall 30-day mortality rate was 0.36%. The percentage of deaths per age group (normalized per 1000) was 0% (18-29 years), 0% (30-39 years), 0.18% (40-49 years), 0.13% (50-59 years), 0.14% (60-69 years), 0.40% (70-79 years), 1.25% (80-89 years), and 6.93% (90+ years). The percentage of deaths per American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class was 0.30% (ASA 1), 0.06% (ASA 2), 0.39% (ASA 3), 2.41% (ASA 4), and 14.29% (ASA 5). Septic revision (P < .001), general anesthesia (P < .001), body mass index ≤ 24.9 (P < .001), and insulin-dependent diabetes (P = .039) were associated with an increased risk of mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Increasing age, greater comorbidity burden, underweight or normal body mass index, insulin-dependent diabetes, septic revision, and general anesthesia were all associated with an increased risk of mortality after revision TKA. Notably, 1 in 80 patients aged 80-89 years died after revision TKA compared to 1 in 720 patients aged 60-69 years. Patients who underwent septic revision had a 4-fold increase in mortality compared to aseptic revision. Our stratified assessment of mortality provides a more individualized estimation of risk that can be used for patient counseling in revision TKA.
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¼: Dressing choice following lower-extremity total joint arthroplasty has substantial ramifications for postoperative outcomes and should be carefully made to prevent complications such as periprosthetic joint infection. ¼: Patient risk factors are essential components in the selection of wound dressings in total joint arthroplasty. ¼: Traditional dressings are inexpensive per unit; nevertheless, the associated higher complication profile in patients at a high risk for poor wound healing and sequelae-associated costs may outweigh the up-front savings. ¼: Modern dressings have the potential to yield better safety outcomes and increased patient satisfaction; however, there is a paucity of evidence regarding the ideal interactive dressing. ¼: Active dressings, such as silver-ion dressings and closed-incisional negative-pressure wound therapy, have shown promising results to reduce surgical site and periprosthetic joint infection, especially in patients at a high risk for poor wound healing following hip and knee total joint arthroplasty.
Subject(s)
Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip , Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee , Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy , Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip/adverse effects , Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee/adverse effects , Bandages , Humans , Wound HealingABSTRACT
Human-driven threats are changing biodiversity, impacting ecosystem services. The loss of one species can trigger secondary extinctions of additional species, because species interact-yet the consequences of these secondary extinctions for services remain underexplored. Herein, we compare robustness of food webs and the ecosystem services (hereafter 'services') they provide; and investigate factors determining service responses to secondary extinctions. Simulating twelve extinction scenarios for estuarine food webs with seven services, we find that food web and service robustness are highly correlated, but that robustness varies across services depending on their trophic level and redundancy. Further, we find that species providing services do not play a critical role in stabilizing food webs - whereas species playing supporting roles in services through interactions are critical to the robustness of both food webs and services. Together, our results reveal indirect risks to services through secondary species losses and predictable differences in vulnerability across services.
Subject(s)
Ecosystem , Extinction, Biological , Food Chain , Animals , Biodiversity , Birds , Climate Change/statistics & numerical data , Fishes , Humans , Models, BiologicalABSTRACT
At Palmyra Atoll, the environmental DNA (eDNA) signal on tidal sand flats was associated with fish biomass density and captured 98%-100% of the expected species diversity there. Although eDNA spilled over across habitats, species associated with reef habitat contributed more eDNA to reef sites than to sand-flat sites, and species associated with sand-flat habitat contributed more eDNA to sand-flat sites than to reef sites. Tides did not disrupt the sand-flat habitat signal. At least 25 samples give a coverage >97.5% at this diverse, tropical, marine system.
Subject(s)
DNA, Environmental/analysis , Ecosystem , Fishes/genetics , Animals , Biodiversity , Coral Reefs , DNA, Environmental/genetics , Population Dynamics , Water MovementsABSTRACT
The Schistosomiasis Consortium for Operational Research and Evaluation (SCORE) was created in 2008 to answer questions of importance to program managers working to reduce the burden of schistosomiasis in Africa. In the past, intermediate host snail monitoring and control was an important part of integrated schistosomiasis control. However, in Africa, efforts to control snails have declined dramatically over the last 30 years. A resurgence of interest in the control of snails has been prompted by the realization, backed by a World Health Assembly resolution (WHA65.21), that mass drug administration alone may be insufficient to achieve schistosomiasis elimination. SCORE has supported work on snail identification and mapping and investigated how xenomonitoring techniques can aid in the identification of infected snails and thereby identify potential transmission areas. Focal mollusciciding with niclosamide was undertaken in Zanzibar and Côte d'Ivoire as a part of elimination studies. Two studies involving biological control of snails were conducted: one explored the association of freshwater riverine prawns and snail hosts in Côte d'Ivoire and the other assessed the current distribution of Procambarus clarkii, the invasive Louisiana red swamp crayfish, in Kenya and its association with snail hosts and schistosomiasis transmission. SCORE also supported modeling studies on the importance of snail control in achieving elimination and a meta-analysis of the impact of molluscicide-based snail control programs on human schistosomiasis prevalence and incidence. SCORE's snail control studies contributed to increased investment in building capacity, and specimens collected during SCORE research deposited in the Schistosomiasis Collections at the Natural History Museum (SCAN) will provide a valuable resource for the years to come.
Subject(s)
Disease Reservoirs/parasitology , Molluscacides/pharmacology , Schistosomiasis/transmission , Snails/parasitology , Animals , Astacoidea , Biological Control Agents , Biological Monitoring , Cote d'Ivoire/epidemiology , Decapoda , Fresh Water/parasitology , Humans , Incidence , Kenya/epidemiology , Models, Theoretical , Niclosamide/pharmacokinetics , Prevalence , Program Evaluation , Schistosoma/isolation & purification , Schistosoma/parasitology , Schistosomiasis/parasitology , Snails/drug effects , Tanzania/epidemiologyABSTRACT
Here, we present the results of a taxonomic survey of the nematodes parasitizing fishes from the lagoon flats of Palmyra Atoll, Eastern Indo-Pacific. We performed quantitative parasitological surveys of 653 individual fish from each of the 44 species using the intertidal sand flats that border the atoll's lagoon. We provide morphological descriptions, prevalence, and mean intensities of the recovered seven species of adult nematode (Pulchrascaris chiloscyllii, Capillariidae gen. sp., Cucullanus bourdini, Cucullanus oceaniensis, Pseudascarophis sp., Spinitectus (Paraspinitectus) palmyraensissp. nov., Philometra pellucida) and three larval stages (Pulchrascaris sp., Hysterothylacium sp., Cucullanus sp.). We recorded: Pulchrascaris chiloscyllii from Carcharhinus melanopterus; Capillariidae gen. sp. from Chaetodon lunula, Lutjanus fulvus, and Ellochelon vaigiensis; Cucullanus bourdini from Arothron hispidus; Cucullanus oceaniensis from Abudefduf sordidus; Pseudascarophis sp. from Chaetodon auriga, Chaetodon lunula, and Mulloidichthys flavolineatus; Spinitectus (Paraspinitectus) palmyraensissp. nov. from Albula glossodonta; Philometra pellucida from Arothron hispidus; and three larval forms, Pulchrascaris sp. from Acanthurus triostegus, Acanthurus xanthopterus, Rhinecanthus aculeatus, Platybelone argalus, Carangoides ferdau, Carangoides orthogrammus, Caranx ignobilis, Caranx melampygus, Caranx papuensis, Chaetodon auriga, Chanos chanos, Amblygobius phalaena, Asterropteryx semipunctata, Valencienea sexguttata, Kyphosus cinerascens, Lutjanus fulvus, Lutjanus monostigma, Ellochelon vaigiensis, Mulloidichthys flavolineatus, Upeneus taeniopterus, Gymnothorax pictus, Abudefduf septemfasciatus, Abudefduf sordidus, and Stegastes nigricans; Hysterothylacium sp. type MD from Acanthurus triostegus, Carangoides ferdau, Chaetodon lunula, Chanos chanos, Kyphosus cinerascens, Abudefduf sordidus, and Arothron hispidus; and Cucullanus sp. from Caranx ignobilis. Spinitectus (Paraspinitectus) palmyraensissp. nov. (Cystidicolidae) is described from the intestine of roundjaw bonefish Albula glossodonta. All the nematode species reported in this study represent new geographical records. We discuss how our survey findings compare to other areas of the Indo-Pacific, and the way the relatively numerical dominance of trophically transmitted larval stages likely reflect the intact food web of Palmyra Atoll, which includes a large biomass of large-bodied top predator sharks and ray-finned fishes.