Aspectos ecológicos do cavalo-marinho Hippocampus reidi no estuário Camurupim/Cardoso, Piauí, Brasil, fornecendo subsídios para a criação de uma Área de Proteção Integral / Ecological aspects of the seahorse Hippocampus reidi in the Camurupim/Cardoso estuary, Piauí State, Brazil, as subsidies for the implementation of an Environmental Protection Area

Em 2005, um conjunto de entidades iniciou formalmente um processo através do Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente e dos Recursos Renováveis (IBAMA) para a criação de uma unidade de conservação de proteção integral englobando os estuários Camurupim/Cardoso e Timonha/Ubatuba, no Estado do Piauí. Entre as espécies-bandeira capazes de angariar apoio para a proteção dos referidos estuários, encontra-se o cavalo-marinho Hippocampus reidi, foco do presente trabalho. Os resultados do nosso estudo de um ano, na área em questão, mostraram a existência de uma população residente de H. reidi, encontrada em 19 habitats e com uma das mais altas densidades já reportadas para a espécie (0,04 ind/m²). Esta informação reforça a importância crucial de apoio adicional à proteção daqueles ambientes, que além de abrigar H. reidi, uma espécie listada como Deficiente de Dados pela União Internacional para a Conservação da Natureza (IUCN), é local de ocorrência da tataruga-de-couro (Dermochelys coriacea), espécie considerada Criticamente Ameaçada e o peixe-boi-marinho (Trichechus manatus manatus) uma espécie Vulnerável, de acordo com a Lista Vermelha das espécies ameaçadas da IUCN - 2008.

In 2005 a pool of institutions formally initiated a process via the Brazilian Environmental Agency (IBAMA) to create a full protection conservation unit encompassing the Camurupim/Cardoso and Timonha/Ubatuba estuaries, state of Piauí, NE Brazil. Among the flagship species to generate support for the protection of those estuaries is the seahorse Hippocampus reidi, focus of the present study. The results of our one-year survey in that area revealed the occurrence of resident population of H. reidi, found in 19 distinct habitats and with one of the highest densities already reported for the species (0.04 ind/m²). This information highlights the crucial need to further support the protection of that area, which aside from housing H. reidi, a species listed as Data Deficient by the World Conservation Union (IUCN), is also an area of occurrence of the Leatherback Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea), species considered as Critically Endangered, and the American Manatee (Trichechus manatus manatus) a Vulnerable species, according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2008.

Holostephanus metorchis (Digenea: Cyathocotylidae) from Chicks Experimentally Infected with Metacercariae from a Fish, Pseudorasbora parva, in the Republic of Korea

Holostephanus metorchis (Digenea: Cyathocotylidae) is a patrrasite of birds, transmitted by freshwater fishes. H. metorchis adults were recovered from chicks experimentally infected with metacercariae collected from freshwater fishes, Pseudorasbora parva. The metacercariae were oval, surrounded with thick fibrous capsules. In adult flukes, the holdfast organ occupied the ventral concavity, and the anterior testis did not reach the level of the ventral sucker. Based on these morphological characteristics, these flukes were identified as H. metorchis.

Endoscopic release of distal holdfast fibers of the flexor retinaculum for carpal tunnel syndrome / 中国微创外科杂志

Objective To investigate the necessity of releasing the distal holdfast fibers of the flexor retinaculum(DHFFR) during endoscopic carpal tunnel release(ECTR).Methods The Experiment Group included 16 cases.The operation was conducted under brachial plexus anesthesia without the use of tourniquet.A 1 cm skin incision was made.The USE system(Universal Subcutaneous Endoscope System) was employed.Both flexor retinaculum(FR) and distal holdfast fibers of the flexor retinaculum were cut off.Postoperative outcomes were compared with another 16 cases of flexor retinaculum release only(Control Group).Results Follow-up evaluation was carried out at 6 postoperative months.According to the Kelly's criteria,there were 13 cases of excellent results and 3 cases of good results in the Experiment Group,and 8 cases of excellent,5 cases of good,and 3 cases of fair results in the Control Group.Significant difference was obser red in flameda Ⅱ or Ⅲ grade patients between the two groups in carative effects(?~2=6.278,P=0.043).No serious complications or postoperative recurrence occurred.Conclusions Flexor retinaculum is not the only structure existing in the carpal canal to be released.More attention should be paid to complete decompression of both flexor retinaculum and distal holdfast fibers of the flexor retinaculum,especially in those who have serious symptoms.