Benthic marine litter in shallow fishing grounds in the NW Mediterranean Sea.

Fisheries are one of the main economic sectors affected by marine litter, which can damage gear, reduce catch, and require time to repair or clean nets. This study aims to evaluate the type and density of marine litter in two shallow fishing grounds in the NW Mediterranean Sea, both belonging to the Natura 2000 network. Moreover, it quantifies the fraction of marine litter within the total catch to help understand the potential influence of marine litter on fisheries. Two study areas were selected, one in the vicinity of urban populated areas and high navigational traffic and one in a rural site off an agricultural area. The urban area had more benthic marine litter (393 to 198 kg km-2) including clinker (residue from coal-burning steamships), fabric, plastics, and processed wood and accounting for up to 38% of the total catch. The rural area had far less marine litter (34-56 kg km-2), accounting for only 5% of the total catch. Marine litter may have potential negative effects on fisheries; thus we propose that government credit trading programs could be promoted to help recover litter from fishing catches, to reduce fishing costs and hazards to marine ecosystems.

Identifying sagittal otoliths of Mediterranean Sea gobies: variability among phylogenetic lineages.

In this study, we describe and analyse the morphology of the sagitta, the largest otolith, of 25 species of Gobiidae inhabiting the Adriatic and north-western Mediterranean seas. Our goal was to test the usefulness and efficiency of sagittal otoliths for species identification. Our analysis of otolith contours was based on mathematical descriptors called wavelets, which are related to multi-scale decompositions of contours. Two methods of classification were used: an iterative system based on 10 wavelets that searches the Anàlisi de Formes d'Otòlits (AFORO) database and a discriminant method based only on the fifth wavelet. With the exception of paedomorphic species, the results showed that otolith anatomy and morphometry can be used as diagnostic characters distinguishing the three Mediterranean phylogenetic goby lineages (Pomatoschistus or sand-goby lineage, Aphia lineage and Gobius lineage). The main anatomical differences were related to overall shape (square to rhomboid), the development and shape of the postero-dorsal and antero-ventral lobes and the degree of convexity of dorsal and ventral margins. Iterative classifications and discriminant analysis of otolith contour provided very similar results. In both cases, more than 70% of specimens were correctly classified to species and more than 80% to genus. Iterations in the larger AFORO database (including 216 families of teleosts) attained a 100% correct classification at the family level.

Relationships between otolith and fish size from Mediterranean and north-eastern Atlantic species to be used in predator-prey studies.

Regressions between fish length and otolith size are provided for 40 species from the north-eastern Atlantic Ocean and 142 species from the Mediterranean Sea. Regressions were also estimated at genus level. Most of the regressions (c. 84%) explained a high percentage of the deviance (>75%).

Otolith shape lends support to the sensory drive hypothesis in rockfishes.

The sensory drive hypothesis proposes that environmental factors affect both signalling dynamics and the evolution of signals and receivers. Sound detection and equilibrium in marine fishes are senses dependent on the sagittae otoliths, whose morphological variability appears intrinsically linked to the environment. The aim of this study was to understand if and which environmental factors could be conditioning the evolution of this sensory structure, therefore lending support to the sensory drive hypothesis. Thus, we analysed the otolith shape of 42 rockfish species (Sebastes spp.) to test the potential associations with the phylogeny, biological (age), ecological (feeding habit and depth distribution) and biogeographical factors. The results showed strong differences in the otolith shapes of some species, noticeably influenced by ecological and biogeographical factors. Moreover, otolith shape was clearly conditioned by phylogeny, but with a strong environmental effect, cautioning about the use of this structure for the systematics of rockfishes or other marine fishes. However, our most relevant finding is that the data supported the sensory drive hypothesis as a force promoting the radiation of the genus Sebastes. This hypothesis holds that adaptive divergence in communication has significant influence relative to other life history traits. It has already been established in Sebastes for visual characters and organs; our results showed that it applies to otolith transformations as well (despite the clear influence of feeding and depth), expanding the scope of the hypothesis to other sensory structures.

[Polyarthralgia as an initial symptom of sarcoidosis]. / Poliartralgia como primer síntoma de sarcoidosis.

A 39 year-old patient consulted his family doctor due to migratory polyarthralgia, with C-reactive protein 7.99mg/dl, ESR 89mm and normal anti-streptolysin O (ASO). A sample was taken for analysis in the Rheumatology Clinic: ACE 72 IU, with normal rheumatoid factor, C-reactive protein and ASO; HLA non-specific. Chest X-ray showed an increased pulmonary interstitial pattern, and his chest-CT showed multiple bilateral pulmonary nodules and mediastinal lymph nodes. A differential diagnosis of lymphoproliferative process was considered. A gallium scintigraphy was performed with no relevant findings. The patient was referred to Thoracic Surgery for a lymph node biopsy by mediastinoscopy, which showed a non-necrotizing granulomatous lymphadenitis consistent with a sarcoidosis. Treatment with prednisone and anti-osteoporosis drugs was started and the patient was evaluated at four months with a new chest X-ray. There was a clinical and radiological remission therefore it was decided to gradually reduce the corticosteroid therapy.

Poliartralgia como primer síntoma de sarcoidosis / Polyarthralgia as an initial symptom of sarcoidosis

Varón de 39 años que acude a la consulta de Atención Primaria por un cuadro de poliartralgia migratoria, con proteína C reactiva de 7,99 mg/dl, velocidad de sedimentación globular (VSG) de 89 mm y valores de antiestreptolisina O (ASTO) normales. En la consulta de reumatología se le realiza analítica: enzima conversora de la angiotensina (ECA), 72 U/I; factor reumatoide, proteína C reactiva y ASTO, normales, y HLA inespecífico. La radiografía de tórax muestra aumento de la trama intersticial pulmonar. En la TC torácica aparecen nódulos pulmonares bilaterales y adenopatías mediastínicas múltiples. Se plantea el diagnóstico diferencial de proceso linfoproliferativo mediastínico, realizándose gammagrafía con galio sin hallazgos. El paciente se deriva a Cirugía Torácica para realizar una biopsia de adenopatía por mediastinoscopia, con resultado de linfadenitis granulomatosa no necrosante compatible con sarcoidosis. Se comienza tratamiento con prednisona y terapia antiosteoporótica, evaluándose al paciente en 4 meses con nueva radiografía de tórax. Se observa remisión clínica y radiológica y se pauta la reducción progresiva de la corticoterapia (AU)

A 39 year-old patient consulted his family doctor due to migratory polyarthralgia, with C-reactive protein 7.99 mg/dl, ESR 89 mm and normal anti-streptolysin O (ASO). A sample was taken for analysis in the Rheumatology Clinic: ACE 72 IU, with normal rheumatoid factor, C-reactive protein and ASO; HLA non-specific. Chest X-ray showed an increased pulmonary interstitial pattern, and his chest-CT showed multiple bilateral pulmonary nodules and mediastinal lymph nodes. A differential diagnosis of lymphoproliferative process was considered. A gallium scintigraphy was performed with no relevant findings. The patient was referred to Thoracic Surgery for a lymph node biopsy by mediastinoscopy, which showed a non-necrotizing granulomatous lymphadenitis consistent with a sarcoidosis. Treatment with prednisone and anti-osteoporosis drugs was started and the patient was evaluated at four months with a new chest X-ray. There was a clinical and radiological remission therefore it was decided to gradually reduce the corticosteroid therapy (AU)

Application of otolith mass and shape for discriminating scabbardfishes Aphanopus spp. in the north-eastern Atlantic Ocean.

The otolith was used to investigate the variability between Aphanopus carbo and Aphanopus intermedius inhabiting the north-eastern Atlantic Ocean. The results indicate a high degree of morphological affinity between species and areas; a noticeable metabolic change in the otolith shape was noted in the specimens of A. carbo, which may be related to migrations of individuals from shallow water (closer to the continental coast) to deeper water (archipelagos of Madeira and the Canary Islands). The results suggest a single population for both species in the north-eastern Atlantic Ocean, although not conclusively.

Fish otolith asymmetry: morphometry and modeling.

Mathematical modeling suggests that relatively large values of otolith mass asymmetry in fishes can alter acoustic functionality and may be responsible for abnormal fish behavior when subjected to weightlessness during parabolic or space flight [D.V. Lychakov, Y.T. Rebane, Otolith mass asymmetry in 18 species of fish and pigeon, J. Grav. Physiol. 11 (3) (2004) 17-34; D.V. Lychakov, Y.T. Rebane, Fish otolith mass asymmetry: morphometry and influence on acoustic functionality, Hear. Res. 201 (2005) 55-69]. The results of morphometric studies of otolith mass asymmetry suppose that the absolute value and the sign of the otolith mass asymmetry can change many times during the growth of individual fish within the range +/-20% [D.V. Lychakov, Y.T. Rebane, Otolith mass asymmetry in 18 species of fish and pigeon, J. Grav. Physiol. 11 (3) (2004) 17-34; D.V. Lychakov, Y.T. Rebane, Fish otolith mass asymmetry: morphometry and influence on acoustic functionality, Hear. Res. 201 (2005) 55-69]. This implies that the adverse effects of otolith asymmetry on acoustic and vestibular functionality could change during the lifetime of an individual fish. The aims of the present article were to examine the nature of otolith mass asymmetry fluctuation and to quantify otolith mass asymmetry in a large number of teleost fishes to verify our previous measurements. A dimensionless measure of otolith mass asymmetry, chi, was calculated as the difference between the masses of the right and left paired otoliths divided by average otolith mass. Saccular otolith mass asymmetry was studied in 59 Mediterranean teleost species (395 otolith pairs), 14 Black Sea teleost species (42 otolith pairs), red drum (196 otolith pairs) and guppy (30 otolith pairs). Utricular otolith mass asymmetry was studied in carp (103 otolith pairs) and goldfish (45 otolith pairs). In accordance with our previous results the value of chi did not depend on fish size (length or mass), systematic or ecological position of the fish, or otolith growth rate. In the great majority of the fishes studied, the saccular otolith chi was small /chi/ <0.05 (or <5%). Mathematical modeling indicates that values of chi vary among individual fish, but that the value is probably stable during a fish's lifetime.

Distribution pattern of taste buds along hyoidal barbels of Mullus barbatus and M. surmuletus.

The external taste buds of bony fishes are differentiated and grouped throughout the body epithelium, concentrating in the buccopharyngeal cavity or in certain external organs such as the lips, barbels or fins. The family Mullidae (goatfishes) is characterized by having barbels covered with taste buds (TBs). However, It is not known how the TBs are distributed and how their characteristics vary along the barbels. To obtain answers to these questions, the morphological variability in taste bud density (deltaTB), pore area (A(P)) and taste bud area (A(TB)) was studied in Mullus barbatus (L., 1758) (red mullet) and M. surmuletus (L., 1758) (striped red mullet), for fish ranging in size from 58 to 227 and from 56 to 287 mm in total length (L(T)), respectively. Assuming that larger fish are older, in both species the pore area (A(P)) and taste bud area (A(TB)) increased with ontogenic development. Also, in both species clear differences were observed along the barbel. The delta(TB) increased from the basal area to the apical area, whereas both the A(P) and A(TB) had an inverse pattern.

[Users-physicians: in search of new ways of detecting problems of quality]. / Usuarios-médicos: a la búsqueda de nuevas técnicas de detección de problemas de calidad.

OBJECTIVE: 1) To develop experimentally a method of detecting quality problems in primary care, based on the patient's analysis of his/her overall health-care experience. 2) To perceive and assimilate, from the point of view of the providers, aspects of care related to patients' expectations. DESIGN: A descriptive concurrent study in which "user-doctors" visit their general practitioners as patients. SETTING: Health centres, located in Aragón and Rioja. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty-two doctors doing a doctorate. INTERVENTION: Filling-out of a semi-structured questionnaire and individual elaboration of a report analysing the different care stages: appointment, waiting, visit and referrals. Main variables of the study: accessibility, waiting time, comfort, doctor's interest, quality of information, satisfaction, treatment received. For each stage, in line with prior expectations, the detection of problems, the search for positive aspects and the analysis of the care situation with corrective measures were proposed. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Problems detected: difficulty of telephone contact, uncomfortable and lengthy wait, health staff smoking, scant interest from the doctor, no greeting on entry, interruptions during the visit, insufficient information. Positive aspects: facilities in choice of appointment, cordiality of treatment, personal call by the doctor, punctuality. CONCLUSIONS: The method is simple, economical, sensitive in detecting problems felt by the users, and feasible as a complement to other systems used in our ambit.

Quantitative analyses of postembryonic hair cell addition in the otolithic endorgans of the inner ear of the European hake, Merluccius merluccius (Gadiformes, Teleostei).

Bony fishes add sensory hair cells to the saccule and lagena of the ear for at least several years after hatching. However, it is not known whether hair cell proliferation occurs for the whole lifetime of an animal, whether proliferation occurs in all endorgans of the ear, or whether the rate of proliferation is the same in all of the endorgans. To obtain answers to these questions, the extent of postembryonic hair-cell proliferation was determined in the saccule, lagena, and utricle of the ear in the European hake, Merluccius merluccius, for fish ranging from 7 to 75 cm in total length (6 months to 9 years of age). Results demonstrated that hair-cell addition continued throughout this period in all three otic endorgans, although endorgan size was proportionally greatest in smaller animals. Of the three endorgans, cell addition was greatest in the saccule. Moreover, far more cells were added to the caudal end of the saccule than to the rostral end. Each saccule of the largest hake had over 900,000 hair cells. It is estimated that each saccule adds approximately 110,000 new hair cells each year (or 302 cells/day) over the life span of the fish studied. A significant number of small ciliary bundles, thought to represent newly proliferated hair cells, was found throughout each endorgan, and the number of such bundles declined as the rate of hair cell proliferation decreased. The results demonstrate that extensive proliferation occurs in all three otolithic endorgans of the ears in a fish and that such proliferation continues for virtually the whole life of the animal. The functional significance of this addition is not known.

Damage and regeneration of hair cell ciliary bundles in a fish ear following treatment with gentamicin.

Sensory hair cells in the striolar regions of the utricle and lagena of a teleost fish, the oscar (Astronotus ocellatus), were damaged following intramuscular injections of gentamicin sulfate. In order to determine whether fish can regenerate hair cells, the time course of damage and recovery was followed over a period of four weeks by scanning electron microscopy. Maximum loss of ciliary bundles occurred at about day 10 after the first of four daily injections of gentamicin (20 mg/kg) in 4-6 cm long fish. The striolar regions were almost totally denuded of ciliary bundles, and there was evidence of considerable hair cell loss. The time course for damage was longer in larger fish, but the recovery of the ciliary bundles appeared to be complete about 10 days after maximal damage was seen in both the smaller and larger fish. These data indicate that Astronotus is able to repair damage to hair cells for an extended period of time post-embryonically.