Spatial variation in the effects of size and age on reproductive dynamics of common coral trout Plectropomus leopardus.

The effects of size and age on reproductive dynamics of common coral trout Plectropomus leopardus populations were compared between coral reefs open or closed (no-take marine reserves) to fishing and among four geographic regions of the Great Barrier Reef (GBR), Australia. The specific reproductive metrics investigated were the sex ratio, the proportion of vitellogenic females and the spawning fraction of local populations. Sex ratios became increasingly male biased with length and age, as expected for a protogyne, but were more male biased in southern regions of the GBR (Mackay and Storm Cay) than in northern regions (Lizard Island and Townsville) across all lengths and ages. The proportion of vitellogenic females also increased with length and age. Female P. leopardus were capable of daily spawning during the spawning season, but on average spawned every 4·3 days. Mature females spawned most frequently on Townsville reserve reefs (every 2·3 days) and Lizard Island fished reefs (every 3·2 days). Females on Mackay reefs open to fishing showed no evidence of spawning over 4 years of sampling, while females on reserve reefs spawned only once every 2-3 months. No effect of length on spawning frequency was detected. Spawning frequency increased with age on Lizard Island fished reefs, declined with age on Storm Cay fished reefs, and declined with age on reserve reefs in all regions. It is hypothesized that the variation in P. leopardus sex ratios and spawning frequency among GBR regions is primarily driven by water temperature, while no-take management zones influence spawning frequency depending on the region in which the reserve is located. Male bias and lack of spawning activity on southern GBR, where densities of adult P. leopardus are highest, suggest that recruits may be supplied from central or northern GBR. Significant regional variation in reproductive traits suggests that a regional approach to management of P. leopardus is appropriate and highlights the need for considering spatial variation in reproduction where reserves are used as fishery or conservation management tools.

Vegetative fragment production as a means of propagule dispersal for tropical seagrass meadows.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Long distance dispersal (LDD) contributes to the replenishment and recovery of tropical seagrass habitats exposed to disturbance, such as cyclones and infrastructure development. However, our current knowledge regarding the physical attributes of seagrass fragments that influence LDD predominantly stems from temperate species and regions. The goal of this paper is to measure seagrass fragment density and viability in two tropical species, assessing various factors influencing their distribution. METHODS: We measured the density and viability of floating seagrass fragments for two tropical seagrass species (Zostera muelleri and Halodule uninervis) in two coastal seagrass meadows in the central Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, Australia. We assessed the effect of wind speed, wind direction, seagrass growing/senescent season, seagrass meadow density, meadow location and dugong foraging intensity on fragment density. We also measured seagrass fragment structure and fragment viability; i.e., potential to establish into a new plant. KEY RESULTS: We found that seagrass meadow density, season, wind direction and wind speed influenced total fragment density, while season and wind speed influenced the density of viable fragments. Dugong foraging intensity did not influence fragment density. Our results indicate that wave action from winds combined with high seagrass meadow density increases seagrass fragment creation, and that more fragments are produced during the growing than the senescent season. Seagrass fragments classified as viable for Z. muelleri and H. uninervis had significantly more shoots and leaves than non-viable fragments. We collected 0.63 (±0.08 SE) floating viable fragments 100 m-2 in the growing season, and 0.13 (±0.03 SE) viable fragments 100 m-2 in the senescent season. Over a third (38%) of all fragments collected were viable. CONCLUSION: There is likely to be a large number of viable seagrass fragments available for long distance dispersal. This study's outputs can inform dispersal and connectivity models that are used to direct seagrass ecosystem management and conservation strategies.

Increased accuracy of batch fecundity estimates using oocyte stage ratios in Plectropomus leopardus.

Using the ratio of the number of migratory nuclei to hydrated oocytes to estimate batch fecundity of common coral trout Plectropomus leopardus increases the time over which samples can be collected and, therefore, increases the sample size available and reduces biases in batch fecundity estimates.

Reproductive benefits of no-take marine reserves vary with region for an exploited coral reef fish.

No-take marine reserves (NTMRs) are expected to benefit fisheries via the net export of eggs and larvae (recruitment subsidy) from reserves to adjacent fished areas. Quantifying egg production is the first step in evaluating recruitment subsidy potential. We calculated annual egg production per unit area (EPUA) from 2004 to 2013 for the commercially important common coral trout, Plectropomus leopardus, on fished and NTMR reefs throughout the Great Barrier Reef (GBR), Australia. Geographic region, NTMR status, fish size, and population density were all found to affect EPUA. The interactions among these factors were such that, EPUA on NTMR reefs compared to reefs open to fishing was 21% greater in the southern GBR, 152% greater in the central GBR, but 56% less in the northern GBR. The results show that while NTMRs can potentially provide a substantial recruitment subsidy (central GBR reefs), they may provide a far smaller subsidy (southern GBR), or serve as recruitment sinks (northern GBR) for the same species in nearby locations where demographic rates differ. This study highlights the importance of considering spatial variation in EPUA when assessing locations of NTMRs if recruitment subsidy is expected from them.

Twenty-four hour survival in a canine model of cardiac arrest comparing three methods of manual cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Two new modifications of manual cardiopulmonary resuscitation, high impulse compression at a rate of 120/min and interposed abdominal compression at a rate of 60/min, have been reported to produce better hemodynamic responses than standard cardiopulmonary resuscitation at 60/min. However, the effect of these two new methods on initial resuscitation success and 24 hour survival is unknown. In this study, 30 mongrel dogs were divided into three equal groups, each treated with one of three types of manual cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Ventricular fibrillation was induced electrically in morphinized, endotracheally intubated dogs emerging from halothane anesthesia. After 3 minutes of circulatory arrest without intervention, one of the three techniques of manual cardiopulmonary resuscitation was begun, and continued for 17 minutes. Defibrillation was performed at 20 minutes. Successful resuscitation was defined as a mean arterial blood pressure of at least 60 mm Hg, without chest compressions, 10 minutes after the initial defibrillation attempt. Intensive care was provided for 2 hours, including hemodynamic and respiratory monitoring, and drug intervention when required. Twenty-four hour survival and neurologic deficit were used as critical measures of outcome. Ten of 30 animals survived 24 hours with a mean neurologic deficit score of 5% (normal = 0, brain dead = 100). There was no difference in initial resuscitation success, 24 hour survival or neurologic deficit of the survivors among the three manual cardiopulmonary resuscitation methods. Aortic diastolic and calculated coronary perfusion pressures were similar for all three methods. Well performed standard manual cardiopulmonary resuscitation is as effective as these modified versions (high impulse compression and interposed abdominal compression) when compared in the same animal model.

The effect of cryopreservation of lymphocytes on E rosetting ability: a study in lung cancer patients and controls.

Two methods of measuring total T cell percentages have been used to assess the effect of freezing and storage on the ability of lymphocytes to form rosettes in blood transfusion donors, laboratory staff, patients awaiting surgery for non-malignant conditions and 48 preoperative lung cancer patients. A significant reduction in rosetting ability after freezing was found for the surgical patients group but not for the other groups. With frozen lymphocytes we have found the same significant decrease in the percentage of T cells seen with fresh lymphocytes when lung cancer patients are compared with the blood donor group. A significant difference in the percentage of T cells detected by the two assays with frozen lymphocytes was found in the control groups.

Massive pleural effusion in diffuse granulomatous disease.

Although recurrent, massive pleural effusions frequently are associated with malignancy, they rarely occur in granulomatous diseases of the lung. We report the case of a 50-year-old man with a recurrent, massive pleural effusion and a diffuse granulomatous disease that involved the lung, the lymphatics, and bone marrow. The cause of the effusion and granulomatous disease is not entirely clear; however, the effusion did resolve with antifungal therapy and a brief course of corticosteroids.

Reticulocyte counting using flow cytometry.

A flow cytometric method for the quantitation of reticulocytes was refined for routine laboratory use. Blood (2 microliters) is added to 2 ml of 0.4 microM thiazole orange in phosphate buffered saline, incubated at room temperature for 90 minutes, and analysed on a Coulter EPICS Profile flow cytometer, with gating for red cells on the basis of forward and right angled light scatter. Blood (2 microliters) is also incubated with phosphate buffered saline alone as an unstained control. The adult reference range (mean +/- 2 SD), established from 30 laboratory personnel, is 19.4-59.2 x 10(9)/l (0.2-1.6%). Comparison of this technique was made on 39 selected patient samples with visual counting of cells stained with brilliant cresyl blue. The correlation between the two methods was 0.99 with slope 0.96 and intercept 0.02. The precision of the automated technique in three subjects with reticulocyte counts of 0.12%, 1.84%, and 14.3% was 33.3%, 7.3%, and 1.4%, respectively (coefficient of variations). In three patients studied serially after intensive chemotherapy, in whom the reticulocyte count quantitated by routine visual methods approached zero (0-0.1%) for eight to 18 days, the automated counts varied between 0 and 0.5%. Flow cytometric reticulocyte counting is thus a simple and highly reliable methodology for the quantitation of normal and raised reticulocyte counts but cannot be reliably used to quantitate a subnormal level.

Detection of important abnormalities of the differential count using the Coulter STKR blood counter.

An assessment of the three part differential provided by the Coulter STKR blood counter showed good correlation when compared with an 800 cell manual differential. Satisfactory flagging of eosinophilia, basophilia, and the presence of immature cells was found. The use of variables derived from the STKR in conjunction with interpretive reporting and user-defined flagging enabled this department to reduce considerably the numbers of films requiring manual differential counts.

Therapy for ventilator-associated pneumonia.

Pneumonia is a serious complication of mechanical ventilation. Pneumonia occurs despite the best efforts at prevention. Multiple methods available to prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia are reviewed, and ventilation-associated pneumonia (VAP) is divided into early versus late onset. The authors discuss the organisms associated with each of these situations, the empiric antibiotic choices, and specific issues related to antibiotic therapy such as resistance, pharmcodynamics, tissue penetration, and types of modifications necessary in empiric choice when the cause of VAP is identified.

Choroid plexus carcinoma presenting as an intraparenchymal mass.

A 6-year-old girl with a history of a nondisplaced skull fracture diagnosed with computerized tomography (CT) scanning 3 years previously presented with a 6-week history of headaches and decreased use of her right side. On admission CT scans, a large cystic mass was identified in the left frontal lobe region of the brain. A connection between the mass and the ventricular system was not seen on radiological examination or during surgery. Gross-total resection of the mass was achieved. The histological and immunohistochemical findings in the resected tissue confirmed a diagnosis of choroid plexus carcinoma (ChPC). This is the first reported case of a ChPC arising in an extraventricular location not associated with the choroid plexus.

Oral manifestations of pediatric vertical HIV infection.

To assess the prevalence and prognostic significance of the history of oral manifestations in children with human immunodeficiency virus infection (HIV), a cohort study of 73 children with vertical HIV infection was conducted. The study subjects were examined every 6 months for oral manifestations. The period prevalence of oral manifestations ranged from a low of 1% for submandibular enlargement and 3% for hairy leukoplakia to a high of 36% for xerostomia and 51% for cervical lymphadenopathy. The occurrence of oral manifestations did not change significantly over time from 1995 to 1998. Finally, the odds of occurrence of cervical lymphadenopathy, xerostomia, and oral candidiasis were greater among children in whom these manifestations had been diagnosed in the preceding 6-18 months than in children without prior diagnosis. Oral manifestations are significant clinical outcomes in pediatric vertical HIV infection, particularly for children diagnosed previously with an oral manifestation.

Effects of dietary sodium intake on blood pressure measurements in partially nephrectomized dogs.

Systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial blood pressure were measured by femoral artery puncture every other day in 2 groups (n = 4) of partially nephrectomized (approx 75%) dogs fed 2 concentrations of dietary sodium beginning 9 weeks after partial nephrectomy was completed. In a double crossover design, dogs were fed a low-sodium (0.18% sodium on a dry-weight basis) or high-sodium (1.3% sodium on a dry-weight basis) diet in 2 sequences (L/H/L or H/L/H) for 3 consecutive 4-week observation periods. Significant effect of sequence was found in dogs fed the L/H/L sequence, compared with those fed the H/L/H sequence. Systolic blood pressure was significantly (P < 0.05) increased in dogs fed the L/H/L sequence (175 +/- 16 mm of Hg), compared with dogs fed the H/L/H sequence (156 +/- 14 mm of Hg). Mean arterial blood pressure was higher, but not significantly different, for the L/H/L sequence (116 +/- 8 mm of Hg) vs the H/L/H sequence (109 +/- 6 mm of Hg). Significant difference in diastolic pressure was not observed between the L/H/L (86 +/- 10 mm of Hg) and H/L/H (86 +/- 10 mm of Hg) sequences. Restricted sodium intake (0.18% sodium on a dry-weight basis) was associated with moderate systolic hypertension in dogs with experimentally induced chronic renal disease. Acute fluctuations in dietary sodium intake had no apparent immediate effect on blood pressure in dogs with this mild to moderate degree of renal dysfunction.

Indirect auscultatory systolic and diastolic pressures in the anesthetized dog.

The auscultatory method was used to obtain indirect systolic and diastolic pressures in 13 dogs anesthetized with either halothane or sodium pentobarbital (30 mg/kg of body weight). Korotkoff sounds were obtained, using a 1-cm (diameter) piezoelectric element cemented to the inner surface of a pediatric cuff (width 5.5 cm) which was placed on a shaved thoracic limb (membrum thoracicum). The signal from the piezoelement was amplified by a differential amplifier (30 to 200 Hz) and a commercially available audio amplifier. Indirect pressure (I) was compared with direct pressure (D) in the brachial, femoral, or carotid artery. The linear regression lines and correlation coefficients (r) for the data were as follows: systolic, I = 0.94 (D) + 1.1, r = 0.98; diastolic, I = 0.99 (D) + 3.2, r = 0.99. The quality of the Korotkoff sounds and the accuracy of the determinations were best in the halothane-anesthetized dogs. These results indicate that indirect auscultatory systolic and diastolic pressures are in excellent agreement with the directly measured pressures.

Effect of dietary sodium intake on glomerular filtration rate in partially nephrectomized dogs.

Exogenous creatinine clearance rate was determined in 8 partially (approx 75%) nephrectomized dogs fed 2 concentrations of dietary sodium, beginning 9 weeks after partial nephrectomy was performed. In a double crossover design, dogs were then fed low-sodium diet (0.18% sodium on a dry-weight basis) or high-sodium diet (1.3% sodium on a dry-weight basis) in 2 sequences (L/H/L or H/L/H) for 3 consecutive 4-week observation periods. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was measured by exogenous creatinine clearance before and after partial nephrectomy, and every 2 weeks during the experimental diet periods. Initial mean +/- SD GFR (3.76 +/- 0.78 ml/min/kg of body weight) decreased precipitously after nephrectomy (1.25 +/- 0.45 ml/min/kg); however, during the postnephrectomy and experimental diet periods, GFR gradually increased in all dogs to nearly half the prenephrectomy values (1.87 +/- 0.22 ml/min/kg). Significant differences in GFR were not observed when dogs were fed the L/H/L or the H/L/H sequence. Therefore, it was concluded that abrupt changes from high dietary sodium (1.3%) to restricted dietary sodium (0.18%), or vice versa, does not cause deterioration of renal function in dogs with moderate renal impairment. However, caution should be used in extrapolating these findings to dogs with clinically evident (azotemia, isosthenuria) renal failure.

Dental caries in HIV-infected children: a longitudinal study.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this descriptive longitudinal clinical study was to determine primary and permanent dentition caries status in HIV-infected children, and to compare caries status with the CD4 percentage (CD4%) and immune suppression category. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 73 children up to 9 years of age with vertical HIV transmission were evaluated for caries in the primary dentition at baseline and at 6 month intervals over a 30 month period; while 19 HIV-infected children between 5 and 11 years of age had their permanent dentition evaluated for caries at baseline and at 6 month intervals over a 24 month period. Caries status was also compared with CDC CD4 percentage (> 25%, 15-24%, < 15%), and CDC immune suppression categories (immune suppression: none, moderate, severe). With primary dentition caries, comparisons were made among all children (2-9 yr-olds, N = 73), < 2 yr-olds (N = 28), 2 to 4 yr-olds (N = 20), and 5 to 9 yr-olds (N = 25), and compared with NHANES III data. Caries-free status was also determined. RESULTS: During the 30-month period, there was an almost two-fold increase in primary tooth surface caries for the 2 to 9 year-olds. Caries-free status in the primary dentition declined from 60% at baseline to 37% at the 30-month period. With 5 to 11 years-olds, DMFS and DMFT remained relatively stable, while the proportion of caries-free individuals declined from 72% at baseline to 50% at 18 months. Caries in the primary dentition was increased substantially for those in the low CDC CD4 percentage categories and CDC moderate to severe immune suppression categories. CONCLUSION: Primary dentition caries status in HIV-infected children is considerably greater than that for the US pediatric population, and increases with decreasing CD4 percentage and moderate to severe immune suppression. HIV-infected children with caries-free primary dentitions are less frequent than in the US pediatric population, and caries-free status decreases with age, lower CD4 percentage and moderate to severe immune suppression.

Detection of fungal organisms in saliva from HIV-infected children: a preliminary cytologic analysis.

PURPOSE: Fungal infections in HIV-infected individuals are associated with advancement of disease. In pediatric HIV infection, symptomatic children have a significantly higher incidence of clinical candidiasis and persistent drug-resistant candidiasis than do asymptomatic HIV-infected children. The purpose of this preliminary cytologic study was to determine the prevalence of fungal organisms in whole unstimulated saliva from children with vertically acquired HIV infection. METHODS: The subjects included 27 HIV-infected and 11 HIV-exposed, but uninfected, children. Whole unstimulated saliva was obtained for cytologic evaluation (hematoxylin and eosin, silver stains) with selected samples evaluated by electron microscopy. RESULTS: Yeast and hyphae were identified cytologically in 19% of HIV-infected (22% symptomatic HIV-infected, 11% asymptomatic HIV-infected) and 9% of HIV-exposed, but uninfected, children. Fungal organisms were found more frequently in HIV-infected with moderate (18%) and severe (27%) suppression. Fungi were more frequent with antiretroviral therapy (22%) vs no antiretroviral therapy (0%) and no antifungal therapy (20%) vs. antifungal therapy (7%). Yeast and hyphal fungal forms are more prevalent in symptomatic HIV-infection with moderate and severe suppression, and those receiving antiretroviral agents, but no antifungal medications. CONCLUSION: Fungal organisms in the saliva may reflect oral carriage or mucosal colonization, which may influence the development of clinically significant candidiasis in these immunocompromised children.

Mechanisms of action and medicinal applications of abscisic Acid.

Since its discovery in the early 1960's, abscisic acid (ABA) has received considerable attention as an important phytohormone, and more recently, as a candidate medicinal in humans. In plants it has been shown to regulate important physiological processes such as response to drought stress, and dormancy. The discovery of ABA synthesis in animal cells has generated interest in the possible parallels between its role in plant and animal systems. The importance of this molecule has prompted the development of several methods for the chemical synthesis of ABA, which differ significantly from the biosynthesis of ABA in plants through the mevalonic acid pathway. ABA recognition in plants has been shown to occur at both the intra- and extracellularly but little is known about the perception of ABA by animal cells. A few ABA molecular targets have been identified in vitro (e.g., calcium signaling, G protein-coupled receptors) in both plant and animal systems. A unique finding in mammalian systems, however, is that the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor, PPAR gamma, is upregulated by ABA in both in vitro and in vivo studies. Comparison of the human PPAR gamma gene network with Arabidopsis ABA-related genes reveal important orthologs between these groups. Also, ABA can ameliorate the symptoms of type II diabetes, targeting PPAR gamma in a similar manner as the thiazolidinediones class of anti-diabetic drugs. The use of ABA in the treatment of type II diabetes, offers encouragement for further studies concerning the biomedical applications of ABA.