The Application of 3D Imaging as an Appropriate Method of Wildlife Craniometry: Evaluation of Accuracy and Measurement Efficiency.

The suitability of CT and 3D scanners for craniometric proposes was tested using digital calipers when determining linear measurements, and a measuring cylinder was used for the accuracy of 3D printing of deer antlers obtained by the CT and 3D scanners. The resolution of digitized objects from a 3D scanner ranged from 0.008 mm to 0.122 mm. For mandibular dimensions, a positive deviation (p < 0.01) from the primary control measurement was recorded. The average antler volume measured with the cylinder was 60.47 cm3 at the first measurement, in the case of the CT scanner 61.62 cm3 and for the 3D scanner 64.76 cm3­both technologies exhibit a positive deviation from the primary measurement. Precise sensing and measurements can be used to evaluate the quality and evolution of wildlife populations, create digital museum collections, or to examine in detail certain traits such as antler and horn development or dentition.

A new species of Cintaroa from India and new records of Craspedophorus from Pakistan and the Philippines (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Panagaeini).

The second species of the orophilous apterous genus Cintaroa Kasahara, 1989 (Carabidae, Panagaeini), C. sikkimica sp. nov. from Sikkim (Northern India) is here described. Checklists of Panagaeini Bonelli, 1810 from Pakistan and the Philippines are provided, presenting new records and discussions.

A contribution to the knowledge of the subfamily Panagaeinae Hope, 1838 from Africa. Part 3. Revision of the Craspedophorus strachani and C. brevicollis groups (Coleoptera: Carabidae).

Revised are Afrotropical species of the Craspedophorus strachani and C. brevicollis groups. New taxa are C. dicranulothorax n. sp. (Cameroon), C. lemariei n. sp. (Gabon), C. phenacoides n. sp. (Cameroon), C. ruficroides n. sp. (Guinea), C. cuneatus rotundatus n. ssp. (Cameroon, central Africa), C. ruficroides thomsoni n. ssp. (Cameroon, central Africa, Gabon), C. strachani bamendanus n. ssp. (Cameroon), C. tetrastigma morettoi n. ssp. (west Africa) and C. brevicollis beninensis n. ssp. (Benin).   C. ruficrus (Laferté-Sénectere, 1851) and C. gabonicus (Thomson, 1858) are considered nomina dubia, because their original descriptions do not provide enough information to allow linking the names to any known specimens. To correct the situation, the authorship of C. ruficrus is ascribed to the first reviser, Chaudoir (1861) [as a valid name (sp. resurr.)], who designated a lectotype and provided an adequate redescription; the invalid name C. gabonicus (Thomson) sensu Chaudoir (1861) is synonymized with C. muata (Harold, 1883). The status of the following species is changed to subspecies: C. grossus (Hope, 1842) is demoted to ssp. of C. strachani (Hope, 1842), C. paromius Basilewsky, 1987 is demoted to ssp. of C. cuneatus (Alluaud, 1915) and C. milzi Duvivier, 1891 is demoted to ssp. of C. tetrastigma (Laferté). C. strachani depressus Burgeon, 1930 is synonymized with C. tetrastigma milzi Duvivier, 1891 and C. chevalieri jokoanus Basilewsky, 1987 is synonymized with C. chevalieri (Alluaud, 1915). C. strachani and C. brevicollis groups sensu Chaudoir 1879 are redefined. C. latemaculatus Alluaud, 1930 is removed from C. reflexus group Häckel 2016 and transferred to C. strachani group nov.

A contribution to the knowledge of the subfamily Panagaeinae Hope, 1838 from Africa. Part 2. Revision of the Craspedophorus leprieuri and C. regalis groups (Coleoptera: Carabidae).

Afrotropical species of the Craspedophorus leprieuri and Craspedophorus regalis groups are revised. C. clasispilus (Alluaud, 1915) and C. guineensis Basilewsky, 1987 are considered as subspecies of C. leprieuri (Laporte de Castelnau, 1835); the synonymized C. peringueyi Csiki, 1929 (=laticollis Péringuey, 1904) is restated as subspecies of C. leprieuri, and it is described C. leprieuri zambianus (DR Congo: Katanga Province; Zambia); C. pseudofestivus Burgeon, 1930 is considered subspecies of C. merus Péringuey, 1904, and it is described C. merus lundanus (Angola, DR Congo: Kasai-Oriental and Katanga Provinces); C. bouvieri imperialis Burgeon, 1930 is considered to be a separate species of C. bouvieri (Rousseau, 1905), and C. bouvieri dux Basilewsky, 1951 is transferred to C. imperialis. The synonymized C. sayersii (Hope, 1842) is considered to be a good subspecies of C. regalis. C. bouvieri crampeli (Alluaud, 1915) is removed from C. bouvieri, and transferred to C. reflexus (Fabricius, 1781) in the C. reflexus species group (Häckel 2016). In this group C. uelensis Burgeon, 1930 is considered to be a subspecies of C. reflexus; and C. bozasi Alluaud, 1930 is synonymized with C. reflexus uelensis Burgeon, 1930. C. arnosti Häckel 2016 is synonymized with C. reflexus crampeli (Alluaud, 1915), C. ethmoides Alluaud, 1930 is synonymized with C. impictus (Boheman, 1848), and C. lebaudyi Alluaud, 1932 is synonymized with C. stanleyi Alluaud, 1930.

Calosoma aethiops (Jeannel, 1940) as a new synonym of Calosoma imbricatum hottentotum Chaudoir, 1852, a new status of Calosoma roeschkei Breuning, 1927, and a revision of the Calosoma senegalense group sensu Häckel, 2012 (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Carabini).

Calosoma aethiops (Jeannel, 1940) as a new synonym of Calosoma imbricatum hottentotum Chaudoir, 1852, a new status of Calosoma roeschkei Breuning, 1927, and a revision of the Calosoma senegalense group sensu Häckel, 2012 (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Carabini). Conducted is a taxonomic revision of the Calosoma senegalense group sensu Häckel, 2012. Placed in the group sensu stricto are four species: Calosoma planicolle Chaudoir, 1869, Calosoma scabrosum Chaudoir, 1843, Calosoma senegalense Dejean, 1831, and Ctenosta strandi Breuning, 1934. Calosoma aethiops Jeannel, 1940 is synonymized with Calosoma imbricatum hottentotum Chaudoir, 1852, and Calosoma roeschkei Breuning, 1927 is newly regarded as a subspecies of Calosoma scabrosum. The taxonomic conclusions are based on morphometry of the holotypes and 10 male and 10 female specimens of each taxon, and on morphology of the aedeagus including inflated endophalus.

A contribution to the knowledge of the subfamily Panagaeinae Hope, 1838 from Africa. Part 1. Revision of the Craspedophorus reflexus group (Coleoptera: Carabidae).

Afrotropical species of the Craspedophorus reflexus group are revised. C. arnosti sp. n. (Central Africa), C. ruvumanus sp. n. (Ruvuma Region, Tanzania) and C. reflexus megamacula ssp. n. (Senegambia) are described. Craspedophorus reflexus group sensu Chaudoir, 1879 is redefined and C. savagei (Hope, 1842) is synonymized with C. reflexus (Fabricius, 1781).

Two new species of Microcosmodes Strand (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Panagaenini) from Oman and Iran.

Two new species of the genus Microcosmodes Strand, M. arabicus from Oman and M. persicus from Iran, are described, compared with related taxa, and their affinities are discussed. The species are very similar and belong to the same species group.

Pseudotetracha timberensis: a new species from the Northern Territory, Australia (Coleoptera: Carabidae, Cicindelinae, Megacephalini) and considerations on the taxonomy of Pseudotetracha.

A new species of Pseudotetracha from Northern Territory, Australia, is described and compared with Pseudotetracha marginicollis (Sloane, 1906). The position of the species in the genus and the subgeneric classification of Pseudotetracha Fleutiaux, 1894 are discussed. It is proposed that the genus would be divided into the following species groups: "australasiae", "australis", "blackburni", "crucigera", "cylindrica", "greyana" and "marginicollis".

Two new Craspedophorus species (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Panagaeini) from the Philippines.

Two new species of the genus Craspedophorus Hope, 1838 from the Philippine Islands namely, C.luzonensis sp. nov. and C. kirschenhoferi sp. nov. are described and their affinities are discussed, illustrated and compared with related taxa. Craspedophorus luzonensis sp. nov., from Luzon, belongs to the "obscurus species group, whereas C. kirschenhoferi sp. nov., from Mindanao, stands isolated in the genus.

Postoperative epidural fibrosis.

BACKGROUND: Epidural fibrosis (EF) is defined as nonphysiologic scar formation, usually at the site of neurosurgical access into the spinal canal, in intimate vicinity to and around the origin of the radicular sheath. From the very onset, EF behaves as a reparative inflammation causing, as a rule, clinical problems of characteristic nature and dynamism (pain). Treatment for EF, the role and mode of application of corticosteroids for EF management are, to this day, a moot point in algesiologic literature. The authors conducted a prospective study designed to obtain new data for assessing the anti-inflammatory effects of corticosteroids with special regard to the part played by steroids in the development of EF. The study also aimed at rating EF in terms of its effects on the intensity and character of the patient's symptoms after surgery for herniated intervertebral disc in the lumbar region. METHOD: A double-blind prospective study was conducted to investigate a cohort of 200 patients requiring surgical treatment for intervertebral disc hernia (hernia disci intervertebralis). The patients were randomly and blindly divided into 2 groups, one on peroperatively applied local doses of a mix containing corticosteroids, the other without such medication. All the requirements of a double-blind study, including statistical assessment of the results, were observed throughout the diagnostic and therapeutical processes. The results were processed relative to the: clinical finding, subjective intensity of symptoms rated on a visual analog scale, radiographic finding (magnetic resonance imaging: plain and after contrast medium application). RESULTS: A statistical comparison of the clinical picture in the 2 surgically treated groups failed to reach statistical significance. Nevertheless, a trend toward better clinical picture in the steroid mix group was observed. Paradoxically, when statistically compared, the rate of EF build-up was found greater in the steroid-treated group. A 5% statistical significance was established in the correlation between the presence of EF and the patients' subjective rating (difference between input and output visual analog scale).

The epidural steroids in the prevention of epidural fibrosis: MRI and clinical findings.

BACKGROUND: Epidural fibrosis (EF) represents a frequent and poorly manageable complication of lumbar disk surgery. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the influence of perioperative Epidural Steroid (ES) application on the development of EF. METHODS: One hundred and seventy eight patients underwent L4/5 or L5/S1 discectomy. The study group receiving ES comprised of eighty five patients, and a further control group comprising eighty two patients received a placebo. At a 12 month follow-up, all subjects underwent contrast magnet resonance imaging of the lumbosacral spine. One hundred and sixty seven patients filled in a predetermined questionnaire containing the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS; pain scale) during the first postoperative days and 12 months after. Intergroup differences were analysed and a correlation between the extent of EF and VAS was examined. RESULTS: The groups did not differ regarding the extent of EF. There was a statistically significant correlation between the degree of fibrosis and VAS (P<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in subjective pain assessment between both groups 12 months postoperatively. The application of ES did not influence their return to work. Patients receiving ES experienced less pain on the first and third days after surgery. The average hospital stay after surgery was shorter in the steroid treated group (4.5 days) compared to 5.2 days in the control group (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The application of ES did not prove to be useful in the prevention of Failed Back Surgery Syndrome and epidural scar formation. Postoperative pain was decreased in the steroid treated group during the first postoperative week, but not 12 months postoperatively.