Recovery of Durvillaea antarctica (Durvilleales) inside and outside Las Cruces Marine Reserve, Chile.

We present the results for over two decades of monitoring on intertidal food-gatherers and the population of the low rocky shore dweller kelp Durvillaea antarctica, a short-distance disperser, inside and outside the no-take marine reserve, Estacion Costera de Investigaciones Marinas (ECIM), at Las Cruces, central Chile. It was hypothesized that protection of an initially extremely depleted population would recover by recolonizing first the no-take area and then adjacent non-protected (exploited) areas. We found that recovery of D. antarctica occurred slowly inside ECIM, with increase in density and biomass, of up to three orders of magnitude as compared to an adjacent non-protected area, which showed approximately 2-yr delay. These results suggest that the kelp population inside ECIM was likely regulated via intraspecific competition, which did not occur outside. Results showed no evidence for juvenile vs. adult density dependence other than a weak relationship for the central area of ECIM. These findings also suggest that the population recovery and cross-boundary seeding subsides affected the population dynamics. Understanding these dynamics may enhance management and conservation policies. Our work highlights the critical value of baseline and long-term comparative studies in marine no-take protected and non-protected areas for understanding how population processes respond to human and conservation practices.

Recent introduction of the dominant tunicate, Pyura praeputialis (Urochordata, Pyuridae) to Antofagasta, Chile.

The large sessile tunicate Pyura stolonifera (Pleurogona: Stolibranchiata: Pyuridae), has been regarded as a complex taxon with disjointed distributions, including Australia (Pyura stolonifera praeputialis), South Africa (Pyura stolonifera stolonifera) and South America (Chile, Antofagasta: Pyura sp., the 'piure de Antofagasta'), and has been cited under at least five taxonomic combinations. The 'piure de Antofagasta' is a competitively dominant species in rocky intertidal habitats and shows a limited geographical range (60-70 km) exclusively inside the Bay of Antofagasta. Using cytochrome oxidase I (COI) mitochondrial sequence data from Pyura specimens of the three taxa we tested whether the Chilean taxon represents: (i) a Gondwana relict; (ii) a more recently divergent species; or (iii) a recently introduced species. The results suggest that the Chilean taxon is a recent introduction to Chile from Australian populations and that Pyura stolonifera praeputialis, from Australia, and the 'piure de Antofagasta' are geographical populations of a single species: Pyura praeputialis; whereas the South African taxon represents a second species: Pyura stolonifera.

Temporal variation in the diversity and cover of sessile species in rocky intertidal communities affected by copper mine tailings in northern Chile.

Several coastal rocky shores in the northern Chile have been affected by the discharges of copper mine tailings. In spite of this, the temporal and spatial variation on the diversity and composition of their intertidal benthic communities has scarcely been studied. The objectives of the present study were to analyse and to compare quantitatively the temporal variation on the diversity, cover and composition of sessile species in rocky intertidal benthic communities of the northern Chilean coast, in relation to the presence of copper mine tailings. The results show that the drastic reduction on the sessile species diversity and the monopolization of the substrate exerted by the green algae Enteromorpha compressa, are common and permanent features of the intertidal rocky shores affected by copper mine tailings. Such spatial (between sites) and temporal (seasonal) variation of these changes has been associated with the relative concentrations of trace metals and inorganic particles of the mining wastes. Our results suggest that the mechanical effects of resuspended and settling tailings are a more likely cause.

An assessment of the potential use of the nematode to copepod ratio in the monitoring of metals pollution. The Chañaral case.

We discuss the use of the nematode to copepod ratio in relation to determining the extent of metals impact using the Chañaral area of northern Chile, where the dumping of copper mine tailings has taken place for many years, as an example. Data were collected from 12 beaches in the area on eight occasions between January 1997 and October 1998. We find that the ratio is not a good predictor of pollution due to the generally low densities of meiofauna on impacted beaches and the absence of harpacticoid copepods from those beaches. We suggest that in the case of metal pollution the mean number of Harpacticoida per site may be a better indicator of impact stress. We rule out the use of the nematode to copepod ratio as an indicator in biomonitoring studies where metal enrichment is thought to occur.

Phase II study of gemcitabine, 5-fluorouracil, and leucovorin in patients with pancreatic cancer.

The primary goal of this phase II study was to determine the efficacy of gemcitabine (Gemzar; Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, IN) plus 5-fluorouracil in patients with pancreatic cancer. Eligibility criteria included nonresectable locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma and measurable disease. Gemcitabine at 1,000 mg/m(2) and leucovorin at 20 mg/m(2) were administered intravenously 30 minutes before 5-fluorouracil 600 mg/m(2), weekly for 3 of every 4 weeks. Twenty nine patients were enrolled. The overall response rate was 21% (95% confidence interval: 8% to 40%), consisting of one complete response and five partial responses; 16 patients (55%) had stable disease. Median survival was 8.4 months (95% confidence interval: 2.6 to 14.2), and actuarial 1-year survival was 36%. Neutropenia (grade 3 only) was reported in 3.4% of patients, but was generally of short duration. No thrombocytopenia or evidence of cumulative myelosuppression was observed. The only significant nonhematologic events were grade 3 diarrhea and alopecia (both 3.4%). Gemcitabine plus 5-fluorouracil is active and well tolerated compared with results reported for each of these single agents. Thus, this combination justifies future comparative clinical trials. Semin Oncol 28 (suppl 10):44-49.

[Gonadal, hormonal and spermatic function in patients treated for cryptorchidism]. / Función gonadal hormonal y espermática en pacientes tratados por criptorquidia.

This paper studies the gonadal-hormonal and spermatic function of 48 adults (over 18 years old) who were treated in childhood for cryptorchidism by medical, surgical or both treatments. We measure plasmatic levels of FSH, LH, testosterone and prolactin of 34 patients and sperm samples of 31 patients. The testicular hormonal function was not disturbed except in four patients with high levels of prolactin (> 20 ng/ml) without symptoms. The spermatic function was disturbed in bilateral cryptorchidism mainly. The better sperm quality and testicular volume were at patients treated with hormonal treatment before surgical treatment.

Copper mine tailing disposal in northern Chile rocky shores: Enteromorpha compressa (Chlorophyta) as a sentinel species.

The study assesses the ecological impact caused by the El Salvador untreated (1975-1990) and treated (1991-1994) copper mine tailings on rocky intertidal communities in and around the dumping site at Caleta Palito, northern Chile. Ecological changes are monitored for 16 years in polluted and unpolluted sites within a geographical area of 90 km. Copper concentration levels in water and the intertidal Chlorophyta E. compressa are presented. The results confirm a notorious reduction in the number of species and significant differences between polluted and unpolluted intertidal communities. At polluted sites, following the initiation of the disposal, all species of invertebrates and algae disappeared and primary space (rock) was partially or completely dominated by E. compressa along more than a decade. Its persistence in these sites supports the view that this taxon is a sentinel species resisting high levels of copper pollution. During the past four years, following the steps given to treat the tailings, at polluted sites there are preliminary indications showing increases in the number of species of algae and invertebrate. The need for future monitoring to elucidate ecosystem restoration processes is discussed.

Dermatitis de contacto alergica por colorantes en calcetines. / Alergic contact dermatitis to dyes in socks

La dermatitis de contacto alergica por colorantes en calcetines, constituye un problema cronico e incapacitante, su diagnostico no siempre es sencillo y a menudo se confunde con otras dermatosis que afectan los pies.Los agentes etiologicos principales son los colorantes azoicos derivados del aminoazobenceno y otros colorantes de tipo antraquinonico que pueden jugar tambien un papel importante. El diagnostico preciso puede efectuarse unicamente por medio de pruebas epicutaneas con los colorantes utilizados en la tincion de acetato, nylon y poliester, asi como con fragmentos de las prendas sospechosas, lo cual permite identificarlas, facilitando las alternativas adecuadas para el uso de calcetines que pueden ser tolerados por el paciente. Es importante completar el estudio inmunologico con otras substancias que pueden originar dermatitis de contacto en los pies como son materiales del calzado y medicamentos topicos