A new species of the genus Trichopagurus de Saint Laurent, 1968 (Crustacea: Decapoda: Anomura: Paguridae) from a semi-submerged marine cave in Okinawa Island, southwestern Japan.

A new hermit crab species of Paguridae, Trichopagurus spinibrachium n. sp., is described on the basis of a single male specimen collected from the anchialine environment of a semi-submerged marine cave in Okinawa Island, Ryukyu Islands, southwestern Japan. It is morphologically similar to T. macrochela Komai & Osawa, 2005 and T. tenuidactylus Komai, 2013, but differs in the shape and armature of the ocular, antennular and antennal peduncles, chelipeds, and ambulatory legs. The new species may be distinguished from all known congeners by the stronger armature of the carpi and meri of both chelipeds. Trichopagurus spinibrachium n. sp. is the third species of the genus recorded from submarine caves, although it may also occur on nearby coral reefs as does T. macrochela and T. trichophthalmus (Forest, 1954).

New records of the squat lobster genus Munidopsis Whiteaves, 1874 (Crustacea, Decapoda, Munidopsidae) from the deep sea off Taiwan.

Two species of the squat lobster family Munidopsidae, Munidopsisalbatrossae Pequegnat & Pequegnat, 1973 and M.pycnopoda Baba, 2005, are reported from Taiwan for the first time based on specimens collected from lower bathyal depths. The Taiwanese material of M.pycnopoda also represents the first record of the species from the Pacific Ocean and greatly extends this species' geographical range from the western Indian Ocean to western Pacific. The giant Munidopsis specimen from Taiwan is identified as M.albatrossae mainly by DNA barcoding even though M.albatrossae and M.aries (A. Milne-Edwards, 1880) are both morphologically and genetically extremely similar.

Therapeutic Potential of the Prolyl Hydroxylase Inhibitor Roxadustat in a Mouse Hindlimb Lymphedema Model.

Background: Lymphedema is an intractable disease with no curative treatment available. Conservative treatment is the mainstay, and new drug treatment options are strongly needed. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of roxadustat, a prolyl-4-hydroxylase inhibitor, on lymphangiogenesis and its therapeutic effect on lymphedema in a radiation-free mouse hindlimb lymphedema model. Methods and Results: Male C57BL/6N mice (8-10 weeks old) were used for the lymphedema model. Mice were randomized to an experimental group receiving roxadustat or a control group. The circumferential ratio of the hindlimbs was evaluated, and lymphatic flow of the hindlimbs was compared by fluorescent lymphography up to 28 days postoperatively. The roxadustat group showed an early improvement in hindlimb circumference and stasis of lymphatic flow. The number and area of lymphatic vessels on postoperative day 7 were significantly larger and smaller, respectively, in the roxadustat group compared with the control group. Skin thickness and macrophage infiltration on postoperative day 7 were significantly reduced in the roxadustat group compared with the control group. The relative mRNA expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (Hif-1α), vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-3 (VEGFR-3), vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C), and Prospero homeobox 1 (Prox1) on postoperative day 4 was significantly higher in the roxadustat group compared with the control group. Conclusions: Roxadustat demonstrated a therapeutic effect in a murine model of hindlimb lymphedema through promotion of lymphangiogenesis through the activation of HIF-1α, VEGF-C, VEGFR-3, and Prox1, suggesting the potential of roxadustat as a therapeutic option in lymphedema.

Sentinel node restoration by vascularized lymph node transfer in mice.

BACKGROUND: Recent reports have indicated that vascularized lymph node transfer (VLNT) may improve the impaired immunity in lymphedema but there has been no report concerning anti-cancer immunity. In the early tumor immune response, dendritic cells (DCs) participate in tumor recognition and antigen presentation in local lymphatics. Here, we investigated the impact of VLNT on DC dynamics against cancer in mouse models. METHODS: Forty-seven 8-week-old C57BL/6 N male mice were divided into three surgical groups: a VLNT model in which a vascularized inguinal lymph node (LN) flap was transferred into the ipsilateral fossa after a popliteal LN was removed; a LN dissection (LND) model in which the popliteal LN was dissected; and a control model in which a skin incision was made at the popliteal fossa and an ipsilateral inguinal LN was removed. Postoperative lymphatic flows were observed by indocyanine green lymphography and B16-F10-luc2 mouse melanoma were implanted into the ipsilateral footpad. The proportion of DCs in the transplanted nodes was measured by CD11c immunohistochemistry using digital imaging analysis 4 days after cancer implantation. Metastases to the lungs and LNs were quantitatively evaluated by luciferase assay 4 weeks after cancer implantation. RESULTS: After VLNT, lymphatic reconnection was observed in 59.2% of mice. The proportion of DCs was significantly higher in the VLNT group with lymphatic reconnection (8.6% ± 1.0%) than in the naïve LN (4.3% ± 0.4%) (p < .001). The tumor burden of lung metastases was significantly less in the VLNT group with lymphatic reconnection compared with the LND group (p = .049). CONCLUSIONS: Metastasis decreased in mice with reconnected lymphatics after VLNT. A possible explanation was that lymphatic restoration may have contributed to the tumor immune response by allowing DC migration to LNs.

An annotated checklist of anomuran species (Crustacea: Decapoda) of India.

An annotated checklist of the anomuran crustaceans recorded from Indian waters is compiled from available published literature. A total of 231 species belonging to 58 genera, 15 families and five superfamilies are listed. The highest number of species was seen in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Ecoregion (114 species, 37 genera, 14 families), followed by the South India Ecoregion (111 species, 41 genera, 14 families), West India Ecoregion (93 species, 36 genera, 14 families), Eastern India Ecoregion (76 species, 29 genera, 12 families), Maldives Ecoregion (34 species, 15 genera, 10 families) and Northern Bay of Bengal Ecoregion (22 species, nine genera, five families). Notes on the questionable identifications and records of some anomuran crabs are also provided.

A new infaunal species of the genus Enosteoides Johnson, 1970 (Crustacea: Decapoda: Anomura: Porcellanidae) from Okinawa, southwestern Japan.

A new porcellanid species of the genus Enosteoides Johnson, 1970 is described on the basis of a single specimen collected from the burrow of an unidentified snapping shrimp of the genus Alpheus Fabricius, 1798, on the subtidal coarse sediment in Okinawa Island, Ryukyu Islands, southwestern Japan. Enosteoides lapis n. sp. is similar to E. melissa (Miyake, 1942) and E. philippinensis Dolorosa Werding, 2014 in the general morphology of the frontal region of the carapace, third thoracic sternite, and ambulatory legs, but is distinguished from both by the dorsal surface of the carapace being more strongly uneven, as well as by the absence of dense plumose setae on the lateral margins of the carapace, anterodorsal surfaces of the chelae, and anterior and posterior margins of the ambulatory meri.

A new species of the ghost shrimp genus Callianassa Leach, 1814 (Decapoda: Axiidea: Callianassidae) from Wakasa Bay, western Japan: the first representative of the genus from the Pacific region.

The ghost shrimp genus Callianassa Leach, 1814 is currently represented by six taxa, of which five are known from the eastern Atlantic and only C. persica Sakai, 2005 from the Persian Gulf. In this study, a new species of Callianassa is described and illustrated on the basis of material from the subtidal soft sediments (at 2628 m depth) in Wakasa Bay, western Japanese coast of the Sea of Japan. Callianassa ogurai n. sp. is the first species of the genus from the Pacific region. This study discusses characters differentiating the new species and other five congeneric species. Molecular phylogenetic analysis using the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene supports the close relationship between the new species and C. subterranea (Montagu, 1808), warranting the generic assignment of the new species to Callianassa sensu stricto. We also explore the contentious taxonomic status of C. timiris (Sakai, Trkay, Beck Freiwald, 2015).

A distinctive new species of the genus Polyonyx Stimpson, 1858 (Crustacea: Decapoda: Anomura: Porcellanidae) from Okinawa, southwestern Japan.

The new porcellanid crab Polyonyx deezi n. sp. is described on the basis of two specimens from Okinawa Island, Ryukyu Islands, southwestern Japan. The new species belongs to the P. sinensis group and may be closest to P. socialis Werding Hiller, 2019 in the comparatively broad proportions of the carpi of the chelipeds and meri of the ambulatory legs. However, P. deezi n. sp. is immediately distinguished from all other congeners by the median branchial margins of the carapace being bluntly angular and produced laterally and the dorsal surfaces of the carapace and chelipeds with distinct protuberances. The occurrence of P. deezi n. sp. from coral reefs may be unusual in species of the P. sinensis group because many of the known species have been recorded from estuaries or coastal embayments. An identification key to the Indo-West Pacific species of the Polyonyx sinensis group is provided.

Two new species of the genus Galathea Fabricius, 1793 (Crustacea: Decapoda: Anomura: Galatheidae) from the Andaman Sea, India.

Two new species of the galatheid squat lobster genus Galathea Fabricius, 1793 are described from the Andaman Sea, India. Galathea nicobarica sp. nov. closely resembles G. rubromaculata Miyake & Baba, 1967a, but differs in the armature of the branchial carapace margin and shape of the dactylus of the third maxilliped. Galathea tirmiziae sp. nov. is allied to G. consobrina De Man, 1902 and G. tagaro Macpherson & Robainas-Barcia, 2015, but is distinguished by the merus of the third maxilliped lacking a disto-extensor spine and the proportionally more slender merus of the second pereopod.

A new species of the genus Eutrichopagurus Komai, 2015 (Crustacea: Decapoda: Anomura: Paguridae) from a submarine cave in the Ryukyu Islands, southwestern Japan.

A new hermit crab species of the family Paguridae is described on the basis of two male specimens from Hedo Dome, a submarine cave located on the north coast of Okinawa Island, Ryukyu Islands, southwestern Japan. The assignment of the new species to the genus Eutrichopagurus Komai, 2015 is based on the structure of the gills and right male sexual tube, the article 3 of the antennular peduncle with a prominent tuft of setae on the dorsodistal margin, and the posterior lateral margins of the telson each bearing a prominent tuft of setae. Among two known congeners, Eutrichopagurus crassoculus n. sp. may be closer to the type species of the genus, E. shirakawai Komai, 2015, in having greatly reduced corneas, basally bearing sparse setae, and no small corneous spines or spiniform setae on the dorsal surface of the meri of the ambulatory legs, but is distinguishable by the morphology of the ocular peduncles, ocular acicle, antennular peduncle, and chelipeds.

Objective evaluation of caudal deviation of the nasal septum and selection of the appropriate septoplasty technique.

OBJECTIVE: Several methods have been reported to correct caudal deviation of the nasal septum, including open septorhinoplasty (OSR) and septoplasty with Killian incision (KI). In general, OSR is applied instead of KI for caudal deviation. However, there is little objective evidence own on the effects of OSR and KI for caudal deviation. In this study, we compared surgical outcomes between OSR and KI by quantifying nasal septum deviation using two simple and objective parameters on routine paranasal sinus CT scans. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 18 patients who underwent OSR and 11 patients who underwent septoplasty with KI between April 2006 and October 2019. Caudal deviation was defined on the basis of the "Anterior-posterior Position of the most deviated point of the nasal septum (AP)," which was measured on computerized tomography. The deformation rate (DR) of the nasal septum was also calculated. Nasal airway resistance and visual analogue scale (VAS) score for nasal obstruction were examined. RESULTS: The AP was significantly correlated with the VAS score (r=-0.58, p=0.017). The DR in patients with caudal septal deviation was significantly decreased by OSR (0.14±0.06 to 0.03±0.03, p=0.004), but not by KI (0.09±0.08 to 0.04±0.03, p=0.25). OSR also improved nasal airway resistance (1.10±0.44 to 0.42±0.15, p=0.02), and the VAS score (79.11±14.74 to 5.78±7.89, p=0.004). CONCLUSION: Nasal obstruction is more severe in patients with the caudal deviation. OSR corrects caudal deviation of the nasal septum more effectively than does KI. The AP could be useful for the evaluation of the deviation of the nasal septum and help in selecting the appropriate septoplastic technique.

Novel Surgical Technique for Correction of Incomplete Median Cleft Lip Deformity in Oral-Facial-Digital Syndrome Type II.

ABSTRACT: Oral-facial-digital syndromes (OFDSs) represent a heterogenous group of embryonic development disorders characterized by malformations of the face, oral cavity, and extremities. Oral-facial-digital syndrome type II is an autosomal recessive disease characterized by median cleft lip, gingival frenula, cleft lobulated tongue, and polydactyly. There are few reports on surgical techniques for correction of incomplete median cleft lip. Here we describe a novel surgical method that we used to correct an incomplete median cleft lip in a 5-year-old girl with oral-facial-digital syndrome type II. She had previously undergone surgery for congenital heart disease, oral anomalies, and polydactyly. Cheiloplasty was performed at 5 years and 8 months using a surgical approach that focused on repair of the median tubercle using lateral labial elements. A reasonably good Cupid's bow and median tubercle were achieved. Our technique for surgical correction of moderate incomplete median cleft lip provides adequate philtral height, vermillion fullness, and a good-shaped Cupid's bow.

Combined internal and external negative pressure wound therapy: breakthrough treatment for lymphocutaneous intractable fistula.

PURPOSE: Lymphocutaneous fistula after lymph node dissection is intractable, yet there is no established treatment strategy. This study demonstrates the wound closure time achieved by a new method of combined internal and external negative pressure wound therapy (CIEN) in patients with lymphocutaneous fistula. METHODS: The subjects of this study were six consecutive patients with lymphocutaneous fistula after lymphatic surgery, who were treated with CIEN between 2018 and 2020. The CIEN technique can be summarized as follows: first, internal foam is inserted into the fistula from the opening of the fenestration. Next, a slightly larger area of external foam is applied above the fistula flap outside the external margin of the foam-filled fistula. After bridging the internal foam and external foam, negative-pressure wound therapy is carried out on this bridging foam block. RESULTS: CIEN led to rapid and complete wound healing in all six patients. Fistula flap margin ischemia developed in one patient, but adjusting the mode and pressure settings resulted in improvement. Three patients suffered contact dermatitis. There were no signs of tumor or fistula recurrence in any patients after at least 3 months of follow-up. CONCLUSION: CIEN is an effective and less invasive treatment modality than the conventional method of managing lymphocutaneous fistula.

Topical Application of Conditioned Medium from Hypoxically Cultured Amnion-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Promotes Wound Healing in Diabetic Mice.

BACKGROUND: Mesenchymal stem cells or their conditioned medium improve chronic wound healing, and their effect is enhanced by hypoxia. Diabetic foot ulcers are chronic wounds characterized by abnormal and delayed healing, which frequently require amputation. The authors evaluated the effect of topical application of conditioned medium from hypoxically cultured amnion-derived mesenchymal stem cells on wound healing in diabetic mice. METHODS: Amnion-derived mesenchymal stem cells were cultured under 21% oxygen to prepare normoxic conditioned medium and under 1% oxygen to prepare hypoxic conditioned medium. Hydrogels containing standard medium, normoxic conditioned medium, or hypoxic conditioned medium were topically applied to excisional wounds of mice with streptozotocin-induced diabetes. Ulcer tissues were harvested on day 9; immunohistochemical and quantitative polymerase chain reaction analyses were performed to analyze angiogenesis, inflammatory cell infiltration, and expression levels of inflammation-related genes. RESULTS: Hypoxic conditioned medium significantly enhanced wound closure, increased capillary density and epithelization, and reduced macrophage infiltration. It also tended to reduce the infiltration of neutrophils and enhance the infiltration of regulatory T cells; it showed a tendency to downregulate the expression of the inflammation-related genes interleukin-1ß, interleukin-6, chemokine ligand 1, and chemokine ligand 2. Normoxic conditioned medium exhibited similar effects, although they were of lesser magnitude than those of hypoxic conditioned medium. CONCLUSIONS: Hydrogels containing hypoxically cultured, amnion-derived mesenchymal stem cell conditioned medium accelerated wound healing in diabetic mice by enhancing angiogenesis, accelerating epithelization, and suppressing inflammation. Therefore, topical application of amnion mesenchymal stem cell-derived hypoxic conditioned medium could be a novel treatment for diabetic foot ulcers.

Maggot debridement therapy in critical limb ischaemia: a case study.

OBJECTIVE: In critical limb ischaemia (CLI), first-line therapy is revascularisation, but alternative treatment options are needed in certain cases. Maggot debridement therapy (MDT) is historically considered to be contraindicated in ischaemic ulcers. Wound care in patients with CLI is becoming increasingly diverse with the development of novel revascularisation strategies; therefore, CLI now needs to be reconsidered as an indication for MDT. METHOD: We retrospectively reviewed five legs with CLI (five male, one female) treated with MDT between January 2013 and December 2017. Changes in skin perfusion pressure (SPP) around the ulcer before and after MDT were evaluated. One or two cycles of MDT were performed (eight in total). We also evaluated the proportion of necrotic tissue in the ulcer and the presence of exposed necrotic bone. The proportion of necrotic tissue in the ulcer was classified as NT 1+ (<25%), NT 2+ (25-50%), NT 3+ (50-75%) or NT 4+ (>75%). RESULTS: When the proportion of necrotic tissue was >50%, with no exposed necrotic bone in the wound, an increase in SPP was observed after five (62.5%) of eight cycles of MDT. And with a proportion of necrotic tissue of <25% and/or exposed necrotic bone in the wound, a decrease in SPP was observed after three (37.5%) of eight cycles. Wound healing was accelerated in the presence of increased SPP. CONCLUSION: Effective MDT with increased SPP requires an ulcerative state of necrotic tissue grade > NT 3+, with no exposed necrotic bone.

A Comparison of Outcomes After Palatoplasty in Patients With Non-Syndromic Pierre Robin Sequence Versus Patients With Non-Syndromic Isolated Cleft Palate.

The purpose of this retrospective study was to compare outcomes of cleft palate repair in patients with non-syndromic Pierre Robin sequence (NS-PRS) versus those with non-syndromic isolated cleft palate (NS-ICP). Pierre Robin sequence (PRS) was defined as a diagnosis of the triad of microretrognathia, glossoptosis, and cleft palate, and the severity of PRS was assessed based on the presence of respiratory and feeding problems. All patients underwent palatoplasty between January 2000 and December 2011. The authors examined age at palatoplasty, type of cleft palate, fistula rate, velopharyngeal (VP) function, nasal emission, hypernasality, and need for secondary speech surgery, in addition to PRS severity in the NS-PRS patients. A total of 15 NS-PRS patients and 40 NS-ICP patients were reviewed. The incidence of VP dysfunction, nasal emission, hypernasality, and secondary speech surgery was not significantly different between the NS-PRS patients and NS-ICP patients. Age at palatoplasty was significantly different between the 2 groups (P = 0.012) but type of CP was not (P = 1.00). Only 2 NS-PRS patients were classified as category III (severe), and all of the NS-PRS patients who had VP insufficiency were classified as PRS severity category I (not severe). The findings of this study indicate that NS-PRS patients may not have worse outcomes than NS-ICP patients.

Ulcerated Infantile Hemangioma of the Hard Palate: Diagnostic Treatment With Oral Propranolol.

Infantile hemangiomas arising in the palate are rare. The authors describe a case of ulcerated infantile hemangioma of the hard palate with feeding difficulty. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of immunohistochemically diagnosed palatal infantile hemangioma successfully treated using oral propranolol.

Submarine cave hermit crabs (Crustacea: Decapoda: Anomura: Paguroidea) from three islands of the Ryukyu Islands, southwestern Japan.

Hermit crab species are reported on the basis of specimens collected by recent faunal surveys in submarine caves of three islands (Ie, Okinawa, and Shimoji Islands) of the Ryukyu Islands, southwestern Japan. The material includes three species in three genera of Diogenidae and 11 species in four genera of Paguridae. Catapaguroides longior Komai, Yamada Shirakawa, 2010 and Pylopaguropsis granulata Asakura, 2000, each previously known only from the holotype, are recorded with intraspecific morphological variation observed in the present specimens. Color and morphological variations of Pagurixus nomurai Komai Asakura, 1995 are also discussed. The present specimens of Catapaguroides foresti McLaughlin, 2002, C. longior, and Pylopaguropsis granulata suggest that the three species prefer the sandy or silty substrate in the deeper inner sites of submarine caves rather than other cryptic habitats in coral or rocky reefs.

Oculo-Auriculo-Fronto-Nasal Syndrome With Duane Retraction Syndrome and Dysplastic Bony Structure in the Midline of Nose.

Oculo-auriculo-fronto-nasal syndrome (OAFNS) is a rare anomaly characterized by features overlapping those of frontonasal dysplasia (FND) and the oculo-auriculo-vertebral spectrum (OAVS). The FND features malformation of frontonasal process-derived structures, characterized by anomalies in the central portion of the face. The OAVS is characterized by developmental anomalies of the first and second pharyngeal arches. The OAFNS is a condition with clinical features of both FND and OAVS.Here, the authors present the case of a male with OAFNS who not only exhibited typical OAFNS symptoms but also a dysplastic bony structure that bridged the anterior nasal spine and inferior nasal bones, and unilateral type 3 Duane retraction syndrome (absence of right-eye abduction). Abnormal nasal bones are characteristic of OAFNS; such abnormalities are absent from FND and OAVS. The authors reduced the dysplastic nasal bony structure via open external rhinoplasty, followed by lateral nasal osteotomy when he was 16 years of age. The nasal dorsum appeared natural after surgery and he was satisfied with the result.

Advancement Flap Using Excess Skin for Upper Eyelid Full-Thickness Defects.

Reconstruction of upper eyelid defects should aim for a moveable lid with perfect corneal protection and good aesthetic quality. Numerous procedures to reconstruct large upper eyelid defects have been reported, but these methods require 2-stage procedures. A new method for reconstructing full-thickness upper eyelid defects after tumor excision in a single stage was presented in this study. The preferred technique uses excess skin as an advancement flap together with an ear cartilage graft for the lining. Reconstruction was performed with an advancement flap using excess skin and ear cartilage for full-thickness defects after upper eyelid tumor excision. The rectangular flap was outlined on the excess skin of the upper eyelid. After tumor resection of the full-thickness defect, the ear cartilage was sutured to the remaining tarsus. The residual levator aponeurosis and posterior lamellar were connected to the transplanted ear cartilage. The outer layer was reconstructed with an advancement rectangular flap. The authors performed this technique for 4 patients, aged 62 to 88 years, for upper eyelid reconstruction. Good functional and aesthetic results were achieved for all patients. Our method involves a single-stage reconstruction, which is simpler and less invasive than other techniques.