How false is Nereis falsa (Annelida, Phyllodocida, Nereididae)? / ¿Qué tan falsa es Nereis falsa (Annelida, Phyllodocida, Nereididae)?

Abstract: There are many taxonomic problems in polychaete species names and solving confusing or inadequate taxonomic procedures is both time-demanding and extremely important. Our objective in this contribution was to analyse what is the current taxonomic situation for Nereis falsa de Quatrefages, 1866; it was based upon Nereis pulsatoria? Rathke, 1837 from the Black Sea, and it is currently regarded as having a very wide distribution. The species has been collected from different benthic substrates and even can be found on floating objects or marine turtles. Nereis falsa has been recorded from the Mediterranean Sea, the Eastern Atlantic along Africa, the Western Atlantic (Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea, Brazil), and the Indian Ocean. However, despite the fact N. falsa was proposed as a species from the Black Sea, it has not yet been found there. How can we explain that a species is able to attain a very wide distribution and yet be missing from its type locality? After a careful study of previous publications and with our understanding of the systematics of nereidid polychaetes, we clarify the current situation by examining several related species and pointed out some nomenclatural issues. Our analysis indicates there is more than one species included under the same name, and in this contribution we propose some means to promote discussion and actions, and suggest some basic research for solving this issue. Rev. Biol. Trop. 65 (3): 847-857. Epub 2017 September 01.

Resumen: Entre los nombres de especies de poliquetos hay muchos problemas taxonómicos y resolver los procedimientos taxonómicos confusos o inadecuados consume mucho tiempo y es muy importante. Nuestro objetivo en esta contribución es analizar cuál es la situación para Nereis falsa de Quatrefages, 1866; fue basada en Nereis pulsatoria? Rathke, 1837 del Mar Negro, y se considera como una especie de amplia distribución. La especie se ha recolectado en diferentes sustratos bénticos e incluso puede hallarse en objetos flotantes o sobre tortugas marinas. Nereis falsa se ha registrado del Mar Mediterráneo, en el Atlántico oriental a lo largo del África, en el Atlántico occidental (Golfo de México, Mar Caribe, Brasil), y en el Índico. Sin embargo, a pesar de haber sido propuesta para una especie del Mar Negro no se ha vuelto a encontrar en el mismo. ¿Cómo conjugar que una especie pueda alcanzar una vasta distribución y faltar en su localidad tipo? Después de un estudio cuidadoso de las publicaciones sobre el tema y con nuestra comprensión de la sistemática de los poliquetos neréididos, clarificamos la situación prevalente al examinar varias especies relacionadas e indicamos algunas cuestiones nomenclaturales. Nuestro análisis indica que hay más de una especie bajo el mismo nombre y en esta contribución, nos enfocamos al problema, proponemos algunas formas para promover la discusión y la acción, y sugerimos algunas actividades de investigación para resolver el problema.

Study on the etiology of severe acute pancreatitis in Tibetan population at high altitude area / 中华消化杂志

Objective To study the etiology of severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) in Tibetan population at high altitude area.Methods Data of patients with acute pancreatitis (AP) from January 2013 to January 2016 were retrospectively collected.Tibetan and Han patients were selected.According to AP diagnosis criteria, the patients were divided into SAP and non-severe acute pancreatitis (NSAP).Chi square test and multiple Logistic regression analysis were used for data analysis.Results There were 53 Tibetan SAP patients, 98 Tibetan NSAP patients, and 47 Han SAP patients.The results of etiology analysis indicated that the ratios of biliary diseases caused pancreatitis in Tibetan SAP patients, Tibetan NSAP patients and Han SAP patients were 5.7% (3/53), 51.0% (50/98) and 6.4% (3/47), respectively;those alcohol caused pancreatitis were 39.6% (21/53), 10.2% (10/98) and 34.0% (16/47), respectively;those hyperlipidemia caused pancreatitis were 39.6% (21/53), 9.2% (9/98) and 40.4% (19/47), respectively;those drug caused pancreatitis were 1.9% (1/53), 2.0% (2/98) and 2.1% (1/47), respectively;those infection caused pancreatitis were 1.9%(1/53), 6.1%(6/98) and 2.1%(1/47), respectively;those trauma caused pancreatitis were 1.9%(1/53), 5.1%(5/98) and 2.1%(1/47), respectively;those other reasons were 3.8% (2/53), 13.3% (13/98) and 4.3% (2/47), respectively;and those unexplained pancreatitis were 5.7% (3/53), 3.1% (3/98) and 8.5% (4/47), respectively.The ratio of biliary diseases caused pancreatitis in Tibetan SAP patients was lower than that of Tibetan NSAP patients (5.7%, 3/53 vs 51.0%, 50/98), however the ratios of alcohol and hyperlipidemia higher than those of Tibetan NSAP patients (39.6%, 21/53 vs 10.2%, 10/98;39.6%,21/53 vs 9.2%, 9/98), and the differences were statistically significant (x2=31.069, 18.246 and 20.019, all P0.05).Conclusion The etiology of SAP in high altitude Tibetan people is different from that of NSAP, however there is no difference in etiology of SAP between Tibetan and Han in the same area.

The geographic distribution of Costa Rican velvet worms (Onychophora: Peripatidae)

Abstract:Velvet worms, "peripatus" or onychophorans, are "living fossils" that were geographically widespread in Cambrian seas but now occur exclusively on terrestrial habitats. The only extant species studied in some detail are those from Costa Rica, but their real geographic distribution was in urgent need of revision. To solve this problem we visited the localities mentioned in all the original taxonomic descriptions and redescriptions. These visits covered a 25 year period (1988-2014) and included interviews with local residents. We also examined all Costa Rican collections, and checked the information in old maps and books. Here we critically review geographic data, correct errors, assign neotype localities, report on the survival of populations after heavy volcanic eruptions or urbanization, and present the correct geographical distribution for the seven currently described Costa Rican species. Rev. Biol. Trop. 64 (4): 1401-1414. Epub 2016 December 01.

Resumen:Los gusanos aterciopelados, también llamados onicóforos o peripatos son "fósiles vivientes" de amplia distribución en los mares cámbricos pero que actualmente sólo viven en hábitats terrestres. Las únicas especies estudiadas en algún detalle son las de Costa Rica, pero su distribución geográfica real necesitaba una revisión urgente. Para resolver este problema visitamos las localidades mencionadas en las descripciones taxonómicas originales y en las redescripciones. Estas visitas cubren un periodo de 25 años (1988-2014) e incluyen entrevistas a residentes. También examinamos todas las colecciones costarricenses (INBio, UNA y UCR); la información recopilada en mapas y libros viejos en las bibliotecas universitarias, y consultamos a expertos. Aquí revisamos críticamente la información geográfica, corregimos errores, designamos localidades de neotipo, y ubicamos poblaciones sobrevivientes después de fuertes erupciones volcánicas y procesos de urbanización de sus hábitats naturales, ofreciendo a futuros investigadores la distribución correcta geográfica de las siete especies de onicóforos descritas en Costa Rica.

Grado de cobertura del muestreo de escarabajos coprófagos (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) en Colombia / Estimation of the sampling cover for dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeinae) in Colombia

The promotion of biodiversity conservation strategies must address the lack of information and the difficulty of identifying knowledge gaps that may facilitate our knowledge of different taxonomic groups. Dung beetles constitute one of those groups, despite having been proposed as an efficient bioindicator of environmental disturbance processes. In this work, we aimed to prepare a diagnosis on the state of knowledge of the subfamily Scarabaeinae, focusing on the cover sampling degree of this group in Colombia, with the purpose of identifying high-priority areas that will allow the completion of a national inventory. The work consisted of a bibliographical compilation using 12 referential databases and the examination of specimens deposited in 26 national collections. A total of 16 940 individuals were examined, finding registers for 232 species from 386 localities. The respective distribution cover maps were presented, and the cover at a national level was 10.62%. A historical analysis demonstrated a proliferation in the number of studies for the last three decades; nevertheless, a great proportion of unpublished works persists, resulting in only 64 sampled localities with published records. The localities with the greatest sampling efforts were RN La Planada, Lloro, AUN Los Estoraques, PNN Tinigua and Mariquita. Registries for all departments were available, and the best sampled ones were Cundinamarca, Antioquia, Valle del Cauca and Boyaca. The ecosystems with the greatest number of publications are the Andean pre mountain humid forest, followed by the Andean mountain humid forest and the Pacific humid forest. Other ecosystems with few studies included mangroves, desert zones, natural savannahs, palm swamps, paramos, flooding forests and agroforestry systems. The biogeographic region with the greatest number of localities was the Andean region, followed by Choco-Magdalenense and Amazonia. Our results showed that high levels of subsampling persist and that some zones lack registries, as in the case of some parks of the national system of protected areas. It is imperative that the sampling cover is extended at a national level, focusing all possible efforts on collecting in those subsampled regions that have high conservation importance, with the main goal of completing the listing of species and their distribution. Rev. Biol. Trop. 63 (1): 97-125. Epub 2015 March 01.

Una de las principales limitantes para generar estrategias para la conservación, es la falta de información y la dificultad para identificar vacíos de conocimiento, que faciliten el entendimiento de un grupo taxonómico. En este trabajo desarrollamos el diagnóstico sobre el grado de cobertura del muestreo de escarabajos coprófagos en Colombia. Se recopiló la bibliografía, utilizando 12 bases de datos y se revisaron 16 940 especímenes depositados en 26 colecciones. Se encontraron 232 especies, en 386 localidades, con un porcentaje de cobertura del 10.62%. Se evidencia en los últimos años un incremento en el número de estudios, sin embargo solo 64 localidades tienen publicaciones. Se encontraron registros para todos los departamentos, siendo los mejor muestreados: Cundinamarca, Antioquia, Valle del Cauca y Boyacá. Los ecosistemas con mayor número de publicaciones son el bosque húmedo premontano Andino, el bosque húmedo montano Andino y el bosque húmedo del Pacífico. Sin embargo, existen muchos ecosistemas con muy pocos estudios como los manglares, zonas desérticas, savanas naturales, morichales, páramos, bosques inundables y sistemas agrícolas. La región biogeográfica con mayor número de localidades es la Andina, seguida del Chocó-Magdalenense y la Amazonía. A nivel general, persiste un alto nivel de submuestreo. Se evidencia la necesidad de ampliar la cobertura del muestreo a nivel nacional, enfocando los esfuerzos en aquellas áreas submuestreadas con importancia a nivel de conservación.

Situación epidemiologica de la malaria en Venezuela: Año 2009 / Epidemiological situation of malaria in Venezuela, in 2009

La malaria es la enfermedad parasitaria tropical más importante en el mundo, y la enfermedad contagiosa que más muertes causa a excepción de la tuberculosis. En el año 2009 en Venezuela fueron diagnosticados 36.448 casos, 35.725 originados en el país y 723 importados del exterior, lo cual representó un aumento en la transmisión de 11,5 % (3.688) casos, respecto al registro de 2008, terminando en situación de "alarma" dentro del área de la curva de casos de la enfermedad. Bolívar, Amazonas, Anzoátegui, Sucre, Delta Amacuro y Monagas, fueron los estados de mayor incidencia. En Bolívar, 25 localidades aportan 10.502 casos (34,5% de la incidencia del estado y 29,4% del país). En Amazonas se produce en los menores de 10 años: 32,3% de la incidencia de Plasmodium vivax, 41,6% de Plasmodium falciparum, 78,9% de Plasmodium malariae y 57,1% de infecciones mixtas. Se hace necesario definir el norte del Programa antimalárico, y plantear los objetivos, tomando como base los lineamientos de la OMS/OPS, sea de "control" o de "eliminación". El problema malárico en Venezuela es superable con voluntad política, coordinación entre las autoridades de los niveles Central, Estadal y Local, y la participación de la comunidad. Para ello es imprescindible contar con los recursos: humanos, materiales y económicos necesarios, a fin de realizar una labor eficaz y sostenible en el tiempo, que garantice el éxito de los objetivos planteados.

Malaria is the most important tropical parasitic disease in the world and a contagious disease that causes more deaths than tuberculosis. In the year 2009 in Venezuela 36,448 cases were diagnosed, 35,725 of which originated in the country and 723 imported from abroad. This represents an increase of transmission of 11.5% (3688) cases in relation to that reported of 2008, ending in situation of "alarm" in the area of the curve of cases of the disease. In Bolívar state, 25 sites provided 10,502 cases (34.5% in the incidence of state and 29.4% of the country). In Amazonas state the disease occurred in children under 10 years: 32.3% of the incidence due to Plasmodium vivax, 41.6% to P. falciparum, 78.9% to P. malariae and 57.1% to mixed infections. It is necessary to define the northern malaria program, and raise the objectives, based on the guidelines of the WHO/PAHO, ie., is the program "control" or "elimination." The malaria problem in Venezuela is overcome with political will and lack of coordination between authorities at central, state and local, and community involvement. This requires having the resources: human, material and financial resources, to undertake an effective and sustainable control and elimination program over time, to ensure the success of the objectives.

Study of Poria in different parts and different localities / 中成药

AIM: The contents of pachymic acid in Poria in different parts and in different localities were measured and compared. METHODS: 9 samples were measured with HPLC. RESULTS: The content of pachymic acid in Fushen is the highest in different parts and the content of pachymic acid in Guangxi province is the highest in five localities. CONCLUSION: The content of pachymic acid was obviously variable in different parts and this result made the basis of the application of with the different parts of Poria. The content of pachymic acid wasn't obviously variable in different localities.