Fecundity of the spider crab Mithraculus forceps (Decapoda, Mithracidae) from the northeastern coast of the state of São Paulo, Brazil

Fecundity is one of the most important parameters in studying the reproductive output of Pleocyemata decapods, especially because of its relationship to the efficiency of population replacement. Knowledge of fecundity provides basic elements for understanding the reproductive strategies, dynamics, and evolution of a given population. The present investigation provides informations on fecundity, egg size, egg loss, and the relationship between fecundity and selected environmental features, for the spider crab Mithraculus forceps (A. Milne Edwards, 1875). Ovigerous crabs were collected each month during 2000, by SCUBA diving, at Couves Island (23º25'25"S, 44º52'03"W) on the northeastern coast of the state of São Paulo, Brazil. A total of 40 ovigerous females with egg in early development (initial stage) and 28 final stage eggs were obtained and analyzed. Mean fecundity, from eggs of the initial stage, was 402.8 ± 240.1 eggs, ranging from 60 to 1,123 eggs. Sizes of females ranged from 9.4 to 14.0 mm carapace width. Mean egg size was 0.56 ± 0.06 mm diameter. A 20.33% rate of egg loss was estimated by comparing the fecundities of batches of eggs in early and late development (40 initial batches and 28 final stages batches). There were no significant relationships between the water temperature or salinity and variations in fecundity. As in most brachyuran species, M. forceps showed a strong conservative relationship between fecundity and body size.

Trends in the modes of delivery and their impact on perinatal mortality rates

OBJECTIVE: To determine changes in the incidence of vaginal deliveries, cesarean sections, and forceps deliveries and their potential association with fetal, early neonatal, and perinatal mortality rates over time. METHODS: A retrospective study was carried out and the occurrence of deliveries supervised by university services between January 1991 and December 2000 was determined. Data regarding fetal, early neonatal, and perinatal deaths were assessed using obstetric and pediatric records and autopsy reports. RESULTS: Of a total of 33,360 deliveries, the incidence of vaginal deliveries, cesarean sections, and forceps deliveries was relatively steady (around 60, 30, and 10%, respectively) while, at the same time, there was a marked reduction in fetal mortality (from 33.3 to 13.0‰), early neonatal mortality (from 30.6 to 9.0‰), and perinatal mortality (from 56.4 to 19.3‰). CONCLUSIONS: The marked reduction in perinatal mortality rates seen during the study period without an increase in cesarean sections indicates that the decrease in perinatal mortality was not impacted by cesarean section rates. The plausible hypothesis seems to be that the reduction in perinatal mortality of deliveries performed under the supervision of university services was more likely to be associated with better neonatal care rather than the mode of delivery.

Estudos sôbre o quiabeiro II: efeitos da autofecundação e do cruzamento

The present work deals with the study of the effects of selfing and crossing in pures lines of okra inbred for five generations and the methods of breeding in this plant. This work is party of a large program of this Dept. to study heterosis in plants naturally self pollinated. The technic of selfing consists of tying with a string the floral bud before anthesis. To make controlled crosses, it is necessary to emasculate the flowers removing the anthers with small forceps, and to cover the flowers with a bag and wait for 1 or 2 days until the blooming. Also, the male parents are covered with paper bags prior to flowering. Finally, the pollen is brushed lightly over the stigma of the emasculated flowers and the females unit rebagged. The authors have tried without sucess the technic of soda fountain straw used for cotton. The treatments were: I) Fl of the cross pure-line x foreign variety (not improved by breeding). II) Fl of the cross pure-line x parental variety and III) pure-line 5 generations inbred. In order to compare the production of these three treatments, a randomized blocks with 4 replications was designed; since we had 6 families in each treatment, the total number was: 4 replications x 3 treatments x 6 families: = 72. Each familiy was planted in lines of 10 plants. Owing to the design devised, the present experiment corresponds to a split-plot. The analysis of variance of the number and the weight of the pods is given in tables 2 and 4, and shows the following: 1) The production expressed in both numbers and weights of the cross, - pure lines x foreign variety - was statistically smaller than the others treatments, i, e., the cross of pure-lines x parental variety and the pure-lines; 2) The production of the treatments pure-lines x parental variety and selfed purelines was the same. It was proved that the selfing do not produce harmful effects in okra, it was benefical, since after 5 inbred generations the production was the same when compared with Fl of the parental variety. Also, the methods of pure-lines are indicated to improve varieties of okra.

Descrição dos adultos de Camelobaetidius billi (Ephemeroptera, Baetidae)

The adults of Camelobaetidius billi Thomas & Dominique, 2000 are described for the first time. They can be distinguished from the other known adults of the genus by the following combination of characters: in males, turbinate portion of the compound eyes orange, abdominal color pattern, and the shape and relative length of the forceps articles; in females by the abdominal color pattern. The specimens were collected at Presidente Figueiredo, State of Amazonas, Brazil, and represent the first report of the species in Brazil.

Three new species of Mesabolivar (Aranea, Pholcidae) from leaf litter in urban environments in the city of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

In this study we describe three new litter inhabiting species of Mesabolivar González-Sponga, 1998 from nine urban forest remnants in the metropolitan region of the city of São Paulo, Brazil: M. forceps, M. mairyara and M. cavicelatus. In three of these remnants, we conduced a three year sampling using pitfall traps. Mesabolivar forceps sp. nov. was the most abundant pholcid (n=273 adults), always present in the samples, but with highest numbers in spring and summer. Mesabolivar mairyara sp. nov. was the second most abundant species (n=32), but the majority of individuals were collected in March 2001. Only three individuals of M. cavicelatus sp. nov. were collected.

Establishment of a new genus for Parastenocaris itica (Copepoda, Harpacticoida) from El Salvador, Central America, with discussion of the Parastenocaris fontinalis and P. proserpina groups

A new genus of Parastenocarididae is described from the Neotropical region. Iticocaris gen. nov. is established to include Parastenocaris itica Noodt, 1962. Iticocaris gen. nov. is defined by the following characters: 1) male leg 3 with 2-segmented exopod; 2) first exopodal segment short and rectangular; 3) thumb hypertrophic, longer than the second exopodal segment and inserted on the distal edge of exopod segment 1, occupying the whole distal margin; 4) exopod 2 or apophysis strongly sclerotized, articulated with the exopod segment 1 on its inner margin and curved against the thumb, forming a strong forceps; 5) leg 4 endopod without dimorphism in shape and size vs. minor dimorphism in ornamentation; 6) leg 5 with three setae and 7) lack of the anterolateral furcal seta II. The new genus is monotypic, represented by Iticocaris itica (Noodt, 1962) comb. nov., from El Salvador, Central America. A close relationship is hypothesized between I. itica and the genus Brasilibathynellocaris Jakobi, 1972, the males of which both share the forceps-like elongated apophysis.

Leiomiomas do esôfago removidos por vídeo-toracoscopia

This report describes three cases of esophageal leiomyomas successfully resected by thoracoscopy. Surgical enucleation through minimally invasive surgery is the treatment of choice for esophageal leiomyoma. The conventional approach through a formal thoracotomy has the potential of causing excessive pain and patient discomfort. Moreover, the hospital stay and the recovery period are prolonged. Indications for surgery were based mainly on the size of the mass (<4 cm) and the presence of dysphagia. In one case there was a clear suspicion of malignancy. The tumour was located in the lower thoracic esophagus (case 1), in the middle thoracic esophagus (case 2) and in the upper esophagus (case 3). The CT was useful in identifying the relationship between the lesion and the organs of the mediastinum. The barium swallow study was able to locate the lesion along the esophagus. The endosonography determined the boundaries of the lesions. A right thoracoscopic approach was undertaken. Dissection of the esophagus around its entire perimeter was never necessary because all tumours were anterior or right sided. The tumours were better grasped with a traction suture than with forceps. The hidrodissection was very helpful. The water-soluble contrast swallow, performed on the fourth postoperative day, was normal. Clinical results were satisfactory in all patients. Biopsies should never be performed when the mucosa overlying is normal.

Assessment of pelvic floor by three-dimensional-ultrasound in primiparous women according to delivery mode: initial experience from a single reference service in Brazil

PURPOSE: To evaluate changes to the pelvic floor of primiparous women with different delivery modes, using three-dimensional ultrasound. METHODS: A prospective cross-sectional study on 35 primiparae divided into groups according to the delivery mode: elective cesarean delivery (n=10), vaginal delivery (n=16), and forceps delivery (n=9). Three-dimensional ultrasound on the pelvic floor was performed on the second postpartum day with the patient in a resting position. A convex volumetric transducer (RAB4-8L) was used, in contact with the large labia, with the patient in the gynecological position. Biometric measurements of the urogenital hiatus were taken in the axial plane on images in the rendering mode, in order to assess the area, anteroposterior and transverse diameters, average thickness, and avulsion of the levator ani muscle. Differences between groups were evaluated by determining the mean differences and their respective 95% confidence intervals. The proportions of levator ani muscle avulsion were compared between elective cesarean section and vaginal birth using Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: The mean areas of the urogenital hiatus in the cases of vaginal and forceps deliveries were 17.0 and 20.1 cm², respectively, versus 12.4 cm² in the Control Group (elective cesarean). Avulsion of the levator ani muscle was observed in women who underwent vaginal delivery (3/25), however there was no statistically significant difference between cesarean section and vaginal delivery groups (p=0.5). CONCLUSION: Transperineal three-dimensional ultrasound was useful for assessing the pelvic floor of primiparous women, by allowing pelvic morphological changes to be differentiated according to the delivery mode.

Celioscopic liver biopsy in silver catfish (Rhamdia quelen)

Endosurgery has been used for assessment of fish celomatic cavity, as well as for obtaining biopsies for organic analysis. Such minimally invasive access may also be used for the analysis of environmental impact on biomarkers of pollution. In Brazil, studies and literature regarding the use of celioscopy in fish are sparse. The purpose of the current study was to develop a two-port celioscopy technique to obtain liver biopsy in silver catfish (Rhamdia quelen). Six adult female silver catfish were used. The animals were anesthetized and the inspection of the celomatic cavity were performed using a telescope and celioscopic-guided liver biopsy were taken using laparoscopic Kelly forceps. On the early postoperative period, the animals were released in a confined water reservoir where mortality could be checked. The liver samples were sent for histological assessment. There were no complications during surgery on early postoperative period. It was possible to visualize meticulously several organs (liver, spleen, stomach, pancreas, swim bladder, ovaries, bowel and transverse septum). In conclusion, the surgical technique and the anesthetic protocol proposed were suitable to perform liver biopsies in silver catfish and provided low morbidity.