Mycobacterium abscessus peritonitis and ventriculitis associated with ventriculoperitoneal shunt

Mycobacterium abscessus, like most nontuberculous mycobacteria, is a pervasive organism. It frequently presents as a healthcare-associated infection. Mycobacterium abscessus infections are notoriously difficult to treat, requiring multidrug regimens and a prolonged treatment course. The patient is a 39 year old hispanic female with a history of pseudotumor cerebri with ventriculoperitoneal shunt which had recently been removed due to concern for infection. She presented with complaints of headaches, blurry vision, nausea, vomiting, slowed speech, inability to void and difficulty with memory. One month into this hospitalization, a new shunt was placed for symptomatic hydrocephalus. She began to exhibit signs of clinical worsening with confusion and echolalia, so her shunt was removed. Intraoperatively the peritoneal catheter of the shunt was noted to have a viscous secretion around it. Cultures of this fluid and samples from the cerebrospinal fluid grew Mycobacterium abscessus. Shunt-associated central nervous system infections with Mycobacterium abscessus are rare and difficult to treat. Treatment of M. abscessus is complicated by inducible macrolide resistance and some inherent resistance to many antibiotics.

The poor health of deep-water species in the context of fishing activity and a warming climate: will populations of Molva species rebuild or collapse?

Many deep-water fish populations, being K-selected species, have little resilience to overexploitation and may be at serious risk of depletion as a consequence. Sea warming represents an additional threat. In this study, the condition, or health, of several populations of common ling (Molva molva), blue ling (Molva dypterygia) and Mediterranean or Spanish ling (Molva macrophthalma) inhabiting different areas in the North Atlantic and the Mediterranean was evaluated, to shed light on the challenges these deep-water species are facing in the context of fishing activity and a warming climate. The data on the condition of Molva populations which are analysed here have been complemented with data on abundance and, for the southernmost species (Mediterranean ling), with two other health indicators (parasitism and hepato-somatic index). Despite some exceptions (e.g., common ling in Icelandic waters), this study shows that the condition of many populations of Molva species in the northeastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea has worsened, a trend which, in recent decades, has usually been found to be accompanied by a decline in their abundance. In addition, the poor health status of most populations of common ling, blue ling and Mediterranean ling considered in this analysis points to a lower sustainability of these populations in the future. Overall, the health status and abundance of Molva populations in the northeastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean suggest that only some populations located in the North Atlantic may be able to rebuild, whereas the populations in southern North Atlantic and the Mediterranean, which are probably most at risk from sea warming, are facing serious difficulties in doing so. In the context of fisheries and global warming, this study's results strongly indicate that management bodies need to consider the health status of many of the populations of Molva species, particularly in southern European waters, before implementing their decisions.

New insights in oocyte dynamics shed light on the complexities associated with fish reproductive strategies

Information on temporal variations in stock reproductive potential (SRP) is essential in fisheries management. Despite this relevance, fundamental understanding of egg production variability remains largely unclear due to difficulties in tracking the underlying complex fluctuations in early oocyte recruitment that determines fecundity. We applied advanced oocyte packing density theory to get in-depth, quantitative insights across oocyte stages and seasons, selecting the commercially valuable European hake (Merluccius merluccius) as a case study. Our work evidenced sophisticated seasonal oocyte recruitment dynamics and patterns, mostly driven by a low-cost predefinition of fecundity as a function of fish body size, likely influenced also by environmental cues. Fecundity seems to be defined at a much earlier stage of oocyte development than previously thought, implying a quasi-determinate – rather than indeterminate – fecundity type in hake. These results imply a major change in the conceptual approach to reproductive strategies in teleosts. These findings not only question the current binary classification of fecundity as either determinate or indeterminate, but also suggest that current practices regarding potential fecundity estimation in fishes should be complemented with studies on primary oocyte dynamics. Accordingly, the methodology and approach adopted in this study may be profitably applied for unravelling some of the complexities associated with oocyte recruitment and thereby SRP variability.

Trade-offs between life-history traits in a coldwater fish in the Mediterranean Sea: the case of blue whiting Micromesistius poutassou

A combination of traditional and emerging methodologies was used to assess the trade-offs between several life-history traits (linked to reproduction and condition) and parasitism in a commercially-exploited cold-water species, blue whiting Micromesistius poutassou, in the Mediterranean Sea. The use of histological and gravimetric methods revealed conflicting evidence as to the fecundity type (indeterminate or determinate) of this species. Moreover, there seem to be condition-mediated compensations between egg quality and egg quantity. The effects of parasitism on reproduction and condition are species-specific and occur mainly at high intensities of infection; they include a lower batch fecundity (affecting reproductive potential), a higher hepatosomatic index and a higher spleen-somatic index. Considering the fact that larger fish spawn more eggs and that the minimum landing size is lower than the size at maturity, these results may have implications for the future management of M. poutassou stocks in the Mediterranean Sea. Local environmental conditions may account for geographical differences regarding infection in M. poutassou. Altogether, the results support the idea that the complex trade-offs between parasitism, reproduction and condition need to be considered in order to understand the status of cold-water species such as M. poutassou.

Environmental factors influencing butterfly abundance after a severe wildfire in Mediterranean vegetation

Despite the attention given to the ecology of butterflies, little is known about their community response to wildfires in the Mediterranean region. Here, we evaluated the butterfly assemblage two years after a severe, 13,000 ha wildfire in Catalonia (NE Spain) in relation to the surrounding unburned habitat. Using visual transect censuses we assessed community parameters such as abundance, diversity, species richness and equitability in burned and unburned areas. Correspondence analysis was used to analyse specific composition and relative abundance of species in the community. The influence of environmental variables on the abundance of some common species was analysed using generalized linear mixed models, taking spatial effects into account. No significant differences were found between areas for any of the community parameters, and no dominance was detected in the burned area. The structure of the vegetation and the geographical distribution of transects influenced the ordination of species and transects on the correspondence analysis plot. Generalized linear mixed models (GLMM) results underscored the role of nectar availability, fire and vegetation structure on the abundance of most species studied.

Isolated unilateral temporalis muscle hypertrophy. A case report

A case of isolated unilateral temporalis muscle hypertrophy is presented. A review of the literature revealed only one report of temporalis hypertrophy, probably caused by psychogenic muscle hyperactivity. The temporalis muscle hypertrophy in the patient described was idiopathic and its management was surgical.

Gender verification in sports by PCR amplification of SRY and DYZ1 Y chromosome specific sequences: presence of DYZ1 repeat in female athletes

OBJECTIVE

To perform genetic sex typing during the Barcelona Olympic Games using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of Y chromosome specific sequences.

METHODS

The assay consisted of the amplification of a specific sequence corresponding to the repeat DYZ1 element from buccal smears samples of 2406 female competitors. Positive samples were reanalysed for the presence of another Y chromosome specific gene, SRY.

RESULTS

The expression of these two elements did not always correlate; six samples were found where the presence of DYZ1 but not SRY was detected. This presence of DYZ1 sequence in female athletes is higher than in unselected females, where no DYZ1 amplification was observed in any of the 1629 samples analysed.

CONCLUSIONS

Amplification of DYZ1 repeat should not be used as the only index for determining genetic sex, at least in sporting events.