Fatty acid composition indicating diverse habitat use in coral reef fishes in the Malaysian South China Sea

BACKGROUND: In order to understand feeding ecology and habitat use of coral reef fish, fatty acid composition was examined in five coral reef fishes, Thalassoma lunare, Lutjanus lutjanus, Abudefduf bengalensis, Scarus rivulatus and Scolopsis affinis collected in the Bidong Island of Malaysian South China Sea. RESULTS: Proportions of saturated fatty acids (SAFA) ranged 57.2% 74.2%, with the highest proportions in fatty acids, the second highest was monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) ranged from 21.4% to 39.0% and the proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) was the lowest ranged from 2.8% to 14.1%. Each fatty acid composition differed among fishes, suggesting diverse feeding ecology, habitat use and migration during the fishes' life history in the coral reef habitats. CONCLUSIONS: Diets of the coral fish species might vary among species in spite of that each species are living sympatrically. Differences in fatty acid profiles might not just be considered with respect to the diets, but might be based on the habitat and migration.

Conducta alimentaria de poblaciones de Triatoma dimidiata (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Triatominae) en una zona endémica y sus implicaciones epidemiológicas / Triatoma dimidiata populations' (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Triatominae) feeding behaviour in an endemic zone and related epidemiological implications

Objetivo Determinar la conducta alimentaria de Triatoma dimidiata en hábitats domiciliarios y extradomiciliarios en una zona endémica de Santander, Colombia. Materiales y métodos Mediante la técnica de ELISA, se procesaron 367 contenidos intestinales de insectos capturados en zonas rurales de los municipios de Capitanejo y Macaravita. Estos fueron procesados por medio de la técnica de ELISA, con 12 antisueros policlonales anti-especie animal específicos. Los hospederos de T. dimidiata fueron determinados por la reactividad ante cada antisuero; se establecieron las proporciones de hospederos. Resultados El 42,2 por ciento de los contenidos intestinales procesados fueron reactivos en el ELISA para proteínas sanguíneas de uno o más de 10 hospederos. En la totalidad de los insectos reactivos de intradomicilio y peridomicilio se identificaron proteínas de animales domésticos, con mayor frecuencia la sangre de gallina, seguida de caprino, canino y humano; en los insectos silvestres también se detectó sangre de animales domésticos como cabra, gallina y equino. En los insectos intradomésticos, sangre de animales como fara y armadillo. El hospedero humano fue identificado en domicilio y peridomicilio en el 11 por ciento de los insectos. Conclusiones Se determinó el carácter ecléctico del vector en hábitats domiciliarios y extradomiciliarios, por la identificación de sangre humana, de animales silvestres y domésticos. Se evidenció movilidad de las poblaciones silvestres hacia el domicilio y peridomicilio por el hallazgo de sangre de animales domésticos en éstos y de animales silvestres en los insectos domésticos y peridomésticos. Estos resultados contribuyen a la comprensión de los ciclos de transmisión de T. cruzi.

Objective Determining Triatoma dimidiata's feeding behaviour in domiciliary and extra-domiciliary habitats in an endemic area of the Santander department in Colombia. Materials and methods The ELISA technique was used for processing the intestinal contents of 367 insects captured in rural areas around the municipalities of Capitanejo and Macaravita. 12 anti-animal species specific polyclonal anti-sera were used in ELISA. T. dimidiata hosts were determined by reactivity to each anti-serum; host percentages were established. Results 42.2 percent of the intestinal content processed by ELISA was reactive for blood proteins from one or more than 10 hosts. Domestic animal proteins were identified in all reactive intra-domiciliary and peridomestic insects, most often chicken blood, followed by that from goats, canines and humans. Blood from domestic animals like goats, chicken and horses was also detected in wild insects. Blood from animals such as armadillo and fara were identified in intra-domiciliary insects. Human host protein was found in 11 percent of intra-domiciliary and peri-domiciliary insects. Conclusions The vector's eclectic nature in domiciliary and extra-domiciliary habitats was determined by identifying human blood in wild and domestic animals. The wild populations' mobility towards domiciliary and peri-domiciliary areas was demonstrated by finding domestic animals' blood in them and wild animals' blood in domestic and peri-domestic insects. These results contribute towards understanding Trypanosoma cruzi transmission-cycles.

Analysis of alcohol mass concentration in corpse blood / 法医学杂志

The blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is an important evidence to determine the alcohol level at the time of death. But due to the postmortem synthesis and diffusion of alcohol, the cadaveric BAC can not always represent the original BAC at the time of death. It is a crucial problem to determine the original level in corpse. The article reviewed the following points: the distribution in corpse, and how to sample, the influences on the diffusion of alcohol and putrefaction, the discussion about alcohol mass concentration measure methods.

Heavy metal accumulation in certain marine animals along the East Coast of Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.

Heavy metals disposed through anthropogenic activities find their way into the oceans and seas through the rivers or through direct fall out from factory effluents. These heavy metals resuspend back into the water column along with the sediments and are known to affect the marine animals. Marine animals like fish, prawn, crab and mussel were collected along the East Coast (off Pulicat lake to Chennai Harbour) to evaluate trace metal concentrations in various tissues. The above specimens accumulated heavy metals such as Zn, Pb, Cu, Co, Cr, Ni and Cd. Fish, prawn, crab and mussel revealed higher concentration of heavy metals such as Zn, Pb, Cr Co, Cu and Ni and Cd in low levels. The results revealed that the heavy metal concentrations in the marine animals are below the threshold levels associated with the toxicological effects and the regulatory limits. The bioconcentration factors revealed that the animals have accumulated heavy metals along the food chain rather than from the water column and sediment.

Hábitos alimentarios de los peces Lutjanus peru y Lutjanus guttatus (Pisces: Lutjanidae) en Guerrero, México / Feeding habits of the fishes Lutjanus peru and Lutjanus guttatus (Pisces: Lutjanidae) of Guerrero, México

Se analiza la composición de la dieta del huachinango (Lutjanus peru )y del flamenco (Lutjanus guttatus ) en la costa de Guerrero,México.Los ejemplares se obtuvieron mensualmente de las capturas comerciales en tres regiones de pesca y presentaron intervalos de talla comprendidos entre 130 y 684 mm de longitud horquilla (LH)para el caso de L.peru ,y de 120 a 550 mm para L. guttatus .A partir del número y del peso de los distintos componentes alimentarios,identificados hasta el taxon más bajo posible,se calcularon los porcentajes numéricos (%N),gravimétricos (%P)y de frecuencia de ocurrencia (%FO)que fueron sintetizados como valores de importancia relativa.En los estómagos de L.peru se identificaron 68 ítems alimentarios dentro de los cuales predominan los peces (%P =50.9),los crustáceos (%P =35.6)y los moluscos (%P =7.2)mientras que el espectro alimentario de L.guttatus estuvo integrado por 88 componentes que incluyeron principalmente peces (%P =50.8)y crustáceos (%P =43.4).Ambas especies son depredadoras generalistas,con un amplio espectro de presas.Los valores de los índices de traslape de las dietas de estas especies sugieren que no existe un alto grado de competencia intraespecífica por el alimento.Con el fin de encontrar similitudes en la dieta de estos lutjánidos en varias localidades de México y Costa Rica,se realizó un análisis de conglomerados con los valores de importancia relativa de las presas,publicados en varios trabajos.Se encontró más afinidad en la dieta de aquellas especies que habitan en una misma localidad, que entre organismos de la misma especie distribuidos en diferentes zonas.Se infiere que la disponibilidad de las presas,más que la selectividad por el alimento,determina la dieta de estas especies

Feeding habits of the fishes Lutjanus peru and Lutjanus guttatus (Pisces:Lutjanidae)of Guerrero, México.Diet composition of the Pacific snapper (Lutjanus peru )130-684 mm fork length (FL)and the spotted snapper (Lutjanus guttatus )120-550 mm FL,was analyzed.Monthly samples were obtained from commercial landings in three regions off the coast of Guerrero,Mexico.Percentage by number (%N),percentage by weight (%W),and percentage of occurrence (%O)were calculated for each prey and summarized as the index of relative importance.Both species are polyphagous predators feeding on a variety of prey:Sixty-eight prey items,mainly fish (%W =50.9),crustaceans (%W =35.6),and mollusks (%W =7.2),were found in the stomach contents of L.peru ,while 88 components were identified in the diet of L.guttatus ,the most important prey being fish (%W =50.8)and crustaceans (%W =43.4).Diet overlap between species is not significant (p<0.05),indicating that competition for food is unlikely.Based on published values of the relative importance index,the diets of these Lutjanidae were analyzed considering different regions of the Pacific coast of Mexico and Costa Rica,and similarities among sites and species were discussed.The cluster analysis showed that similarities among species inhabiting in the same area are more important than within organisms of the same species living in different zones.Results suggest that prey availability rather than food selectivity, conditions the feeding behavior of these fish species

Stomach content analyses of Simulium perflavum Roubaud 1906 (Diptera: Simuliidae) larvae from streams in Central Amazônia, Brazil

Stomach contents of Simulium perflavum Roubaud larvae were analyzed and compared with plankton and periphyton collected in five streams, in Central Amazonia (Manaus and Presidente Figueiredo counties), in Sep./Oct.1996 (dry season) and Feb./Mar. 1997 (rainy season). A total of 1,400 last-instar larvae were dissected; the stomach contents were analyzed using different methods: fresh and after oxidation. A total of 87 taxa (algae, diatoms and rotifers) were found in the stomach contents. In each stream, qualitative samples of plankton and periphyton were collected; these were mounted between slides and cover slips. A total of 94 taxa of plankton and 54 taxa of periphyton were collected. One species of Rotifera was present in the stomach contents, plankton and periphyton. Cluster analysis based on species composition of the organisms present in the stomach contents grouped the streams into two major groups, each belonging to a different drainage area. Correlations based on presence/absence of species of microalgae in the stomach contents, plankton and periphyton indicated significant associations (p<0.05) between stomach contents and plankton and between plankton and periphyton (z test); the Sorensen coefficient and cluster analysis corroborate the same associations

Subordination induced decrease in 5-hydroxytryptamine and dopamine levels in the frontal cortex--a study using worker-parasite relationship in rats as a model.

Competition for a limited resource appears to be an important factor in natural selection. Such competition when elicited experimentally, leads to the establishment of dominant-subordinate (D-S) relationship between the competitors. The present study was carried out to analyse the effect of D-S relationship on the levels of monoamines, namely, dopamine (DA), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and norepinephrine (NE) in various brain regions. The model of D-S relationship selected for this work was a modified worker-parasite paradigm in adult male Wistar rats. The levels of monoamines were estimated in the frontal cortex, the entorhinal cortex, the hippocampus and the septum of the two competitors and a non-competitor control, using high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). Levels of DA and 5-HT, but not NE, were found to be lower (P < 0.05) only in the frontal cortex of the subordinate as compared to that of the dominant or the control. These findings are comparable with similar neurochemical changes reported to be caused by some of the known stressors.

Medición del volumen y determinación de pH del contenido gástrico en niños con ingesta de liquídos claros hasta 2.5 hrs antes de la inducción anestésica / Gastric fluid volume and pH determination in childrens with ingestion of liquids 2.5 hrs before anesthesia induction

Se realizó un estudio para comparar el volumen del contenido gástrico y el pH en dos grupso de niños de 4 a 6 años de edad, uno de los cuales (grupo 1) guardó 8 horas de ayuno preoperatorio y el otro (grupo 2) se le administró por vía oral 3 ml por kg. de peso de jugo de manzana hasta 2.5 horas antes de la inducción de la anestesia. Los resultados obtenidos fueron: En el grupo que guardó las 8 horas de ayuno se encontró un volumen de contenido gástrico mayor y un pH más ácido en relación al grupo que tomó jugo de manzana. Con este estudio se confirma que los niños que va a ser intervenidos quirúrgicamente, no necesariamente deben tener un tiempo de ayuno prolongado, sino por lo contrario. el administrarles un pequeño volumen de líquido claros hasta 2.5 horas antes de que sean sometidos a un procedimiento anestésico, resulta satisfactorio ya que disminuye el volumen de contenido gástrico y el pH se encuentra en un grado de acidez menor, lo que hace que las complicaciones pulmonares sean menores si se llegara a presentar la aspiración pulmonar.

A study of aluminium phosphide poisoning with special reference to its spot diagnosis by silver nitrate test.

A total of 45 cases of Aluminium phosphide poisoning were studied from December 1989 to November 1990. Silver nitrate (AgNO3) test was positive in gastric aspirate in all cases (100%) who took fresh tablets and negative in those who took exposed tablets. The test was also positive in breath but had a lower sensitivity. Majority of patients revealed ECG abnormalities.

Um novo método para a quantificaçäo do refluxo duodenogastrico no rato / A new method for the quantification of duodenogastric reflux in rats

Varios metodos tem sido empregados para a quantificacao do refluxo duodenograstrico(RDG). Muitos deles baseiam-se na excrecao biliar do 99mTC-DISIDA. Apos a injecao do radiotracador, o suco gastrico e aspirado por tres horas. Este metodo e de utilizacao dificil no animal de experimentacao, por exigir aspiracao por periodo de tempo prolongado. O metodo, cuja descricao e o objetivo do presente relato, contorna estas dificuldades. Para validacao do metodo, 36 ratos machos foram divididos em dois grupos: grupo C(controle) (n=27) e grupo G (n=9) submetidos a gastroenterostomia. Os animais foram anestesiados e receberam uma injecao intravenosa de 37 MBq de 99mTc-DISIDA e, em seguida, submetidos a laparotomia. A extremidade de uma sonda orogastrica foi posicionada nointerior do estomago e, apos 30 e 60 minutos (conforme o subgrupo estudado),doisml de NaCl a 0,9% foram injetados no estomago e o conteudo gastrico aspirado. Determinou-se a radiatividade do aspirado e, por comparacao com o total injetado, o indice de refluxo duodenogastrico(IRDG). O IRDG foi significativamente maior no grup G (30 minutos: mediana= 18,4%, extremos= 11,8%-21,9%; 60 minutos: mediana= 16,3%, extremos = 9,11%-22,7%) do que no grupo C (30 minutos: mediana = 0,42%, extremos = 0,04%-5,1%, 60 minutos: mediana = 0,65%, extremos= 0,07-3,27%) (p<0,02). Os resultados obtidos sugerem que o metodo e simples e acurado, podendo ser empregado na mensuracao do RDG.

Densidad óptica de contenido gástrico en la valoración rápida de la madurez pulmonar del recién nacido / Optic density of gastric content in rapid assessment of pulmonary maturity of the newborn

Se estudio la correlación entre la densidad óptica a 650 nm (DO650) en 50 muestras pareadas de líquido amniótico (LA) y contenido gástrico (CG) de recién nacido (RN) provenientes de igual número de embarazadas y respectivos RN. Las muestras de LA fueron obtenidas durante operación cesárea inmediatamente antes del nacimiento y las de CG en los primeros minutos de vida. Se encontró buena correlación entre ambas muestras (r = 0,92), lo que demuestra que la lectura de la DO650 en CG es un método igualmente confiable que la realizada en LA para estudiar la madurez pulmonar. Este método es especialmente útil en aquellos RN con alto riesgo de presentar síndrome de dificultad respiratoria (SDR) en los que no se cuenta con estudio prenatal y como parte del estudio en el diagnóstico diferencial de estos cuadros. Ninguno de los 37 RN con lecturas maduras (DO650 * 0,10) y 6 de los 13 RN con lecturas inmaduras (DO650 < 0,10 presentaron SDR

Prueba de Clements en contenido gástrico de recién nacidos en la predicción de madurez pulmonar / Clements' test in gastric aspirate of newborn infant inb the prediction of pulmonary maturity

Se estudió la madurez pulmonar neonatal mediante la prueba rápida de Clements para surfactante en 52 muestras de contenido gástrico de recién nacidos por intervención cesárea, obtenidas en los primeros minutos de vida. El aspecto físico, el grado de acidez, la citología y la prueba de Clements dieron resultados similares en estas muestras que en otras de líquido amniótico tomadas precozmente durante la cesárea. En el período neonatal ninguno de los 47 recién nacidos con prueba de Clements positiva en el contenido gástrico sufrió síndrome de dificultad respiratoria en contraste con 4 de 5, con resultados intermedios o negativos