Adverse life events and coping skills in panic disorder

Research literature and clinical experience shows that panic patients are often able to identify stressors that preceded the onset of their first attacks. In this study we investigated the relation between life events, coping skills, and panic disorder. METHODS: Forty-tree panic patients were compared with 29 control subjects regarding the occurrence and the impact of stressful life events in a 1-year period preceding the onset of panic attacks using the Social Readjustment Rating Scale and London Life Event and Difficulty Schedule. Coping skills were measured using the Ways of Coping Questionnaire. RESULTS: No differences were observed between panic patients and controls regarding the number of reported stressful life events in the previous year. Panic patients compared to controls reported loss of social support as the most meaningful class of events significantly more often. In response to stressful situations, panic patients more often used coping skills judged as ineffective. CONCLUSIONS: The present study suggests that the type of life event and the coping skills used in response to them, more than the occurrence of stressful events itself, may be associated with the onset of panic disorder.

The Simaba guianensis complex in northers South America

With additional data from specimens not studied by previous workers, the confusing Simaba guianensis compex was re-analized. Simaba polyphylla is recognized as a distinct species and two subspecies of S. guianensis are maintained. Simaba polyphylla, S. guianensis ssp. guianensis, and S. guianensis ssp. ecaudata are keyed, described, and illustrated and specimens examined are cited for each. Specimens of S. guianensis ssp. ecaudata show great morphological diversity but can be separeted into three groups. Further collecting may provide information that shows these groups to be worthy of separate taxonomic status.

Taxonomy of the Oenocarpus-Jessenia (Palmae) complex in Brazil

Two genera, Oenocarpus and Jessenia are recognized in this complex of Neotropical palms. They are well represented in Brasil, Oenocarpus with seven species (O. distinchus, O. discolar, O. tarampabo, O. bacaba, O. macrocalyx, O. mapora and O. minor, and Jessenia with one species, J. bataua). Many of these taza are poorly know and under-represented in herbaria, both in Brazil and elsewhere. A great deal of fieldwork is needed to betther undestand the basic biology and extent of variation in the populations of these palms.

Developmental morphology of mouthparts and foregut of the larvae and postlarvae of Lepidophthalmus siriboia Felder & Rodrigues, 1993 (Decapoda: Callianassidae)

In this study, the gross morphology of the mouthparts and foregut of the ghost shrimp Lepidophthalmus siriboia were investigated from larvae and postlarvae reared in the laboratory. The mouthparts (maxillae and maxillipeds) of the zoeae have a reduced number of setae and spines (or is absent in some individuals), and the foregut, under developed, have few minute setae in the cardiac and pyloric chambers. In contrast, after the metamorphosis into megalopa stage, all feeding appendages have many setae and, the foregut shows a well-developed gastric mill with strong lateral teeth. In the juvenile stage occurs an increase of setae and spines in the mouthparts and the foregut becomes more specialized. These observations strongly suggest that a lecithotrophic development occurs during all zoeal stages but the megalopa and juvenile stages are feeding animals. The functional morphology of the feeding structures of L. siriboia and other decapods will be briefly discussed.