Lizard testis volume measurements: are they always underpinned by the correct assumptions?

Two basic assumptions are frequently usd in the measurement of testis volume: 1) they are highly conserved and thus measures are frequently restricted to a measure of a single testis/individual, and 2) a prolate spheroid provides an adequate measure of volume.Based on the measurement of museum androad kill Pogona barbata (Eastern bearded dragon),we showed these assumptions did not hold and recommend that when considering testis volume, researchers measure both testes and the formula used should be informed by careful consideration of their shape (AU)

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Batrachomyia strigapes (Diptera) parasitism of Uperoleia laevigata (Anura).

To quantify the occurrence of the dipteran parasite Batrachomyia strigapes, the ground frog assemblage associated with a large ephemeral wetland in Western Sydney was sampled between January 1999 and April 2000. Parasite infection was restricted to Uperoleia laevigata (5.1%, n = 1,492). Parasites were found under the parotoid glands, most frequently on the left side. After correction for frog size, infection was shown to significantly reduce frog weight. Despite reduced individual fitness, because the level of infection was low in the population, it is unlikely to have a major effect on the anuran population under current environmental conditions.

Nectar versus honeydew as sources of sugar for male and female black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae).

Black flies were collected twice daily using a vehicle-mounted insect net on 8 sample days between 20 May and 9 July 1993. The contents of the crops and midguts of 160 male and 160 female Simulium venustum Say were analyzed individually by thin-layer chromatography. Fourteen different combinations were identified of the following sugars: fructose glucose sucrose/turanose, melezitose, raffinose, and stachyose. Presence of melezitose and stachyose indicated that black flies had fed on homopteran honeydew. Significantly more female (40.0%) than male flies (27.5%) fed on honeydew, and this difference was caused by a skewedness in the morning samples.

Autoantibodies in black South Africans with systemic lupus erythematosus: spectrum and clinical associations.

The clinical features and autoantibody profile of 111 black South Africans (103 females and 8 males) with systemic lupus erythematosus were retrospectively analysed. The mean age of the patients was 35.1 years and mean duration of disease 3.5 years. The commonest clinical and laboratory features noted were arthritis (62.2%), hypocomplementaemia (61.2%), haematological abnormalities (60.5%) and malar rash (55%). The serological abnormalities included antinuclear antibodies (98.2%), anti-dsDNA (66.2%), anti-Sm (44.2%), anti-RNP (65.5%), anti-Ro (60.5%), anti-La (28.4%) and rheumatoid factor (10.1%). Positive clinicoserological associations observed included: combination of anti-dsDNA antibodies and low C4 levels with renal disease; anti-dsDNA antibodies with cutaneous vasculitis; anti-Sm antibodies with psychosis; anti-RNP antibodies with Raynaud's phenomenon; anti-Ro antibodies with renal disease, psychosis and malar rash. Anti-La antibodies showed a weak negative association with serositis and Raynaud's phenomenon. Most of these clinical correlates are consistent with past studies. The high frequency of anti-Sm and anti-RNP antibodies is similar to the observations in African-Americans and Afro-Caribbeans.

IgG subclasses in previously healthy adult patients with acute community-acquired pneumonia.

OBJECTIVE: To measure IgG antibody subclasses in previously healthy adult patients with acute community-acquired pneumonia, and to assess any association between differences of subtype levels and severity of illness or prognosis. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: The intensive care unit (ICU) and general medical wards of Hillbrow Hospital, Johannesburg, an urban general hospital. PATIENTS: Sixty-six previously healthy adult patients with acute community-acquired pneumonia, of whom 47 were considered less severely ill, while 19 were admitted to an ICU. OUTCOME MEASURES: Measurement of IgG subclass levels and determination of any association between differences in subtype levels and various poor prognostic factors in pneumonia, need for ICU admission, complications of illness, and APACHE II score of ICU cases or outcome of patients. RESULTS: A number of statistically significant differences (P < 0.05) were noted between the two groups of patients (critically ill v. others) representing well-known negative prognostic factors in pneumonia. A greater degree of tachycardia and tachypnoea and extremes of white cell count, a higher serum urea concentration and multilobar pulmonary consolidation characterised the patients in the ICU. In addition, the mortality rate in the ICU patients was significantly greater (P < 0.0001). Similar findings were noted when survivors and non-survivors were compared. Few abnormalities of IgG subclass levels were noted in the various patient groups, which did not allow adequate analysis of their clinical significance. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated a small number of abnormalities in IgG subclass levels in previously healthy adult patients with acute community-acquired pneumonia.

Autoantibodies in black South Africans with systemic lupus erythematosus: spectrum and clinical associations.

The clinical features and autoantibody profile of 111 black South Africans (103 females and 8 males) with systemic lupus erythematosus was retrospectively analysed. The mean age of the patients was 35.1 years and mean duration of disease 3.5 years. The commonest clinical and laboratory features noted were arthritis (62.2%), hypocomplementaemia (61.2%), haematological abnormalities (60.5%) and malar rash (55%). The serological abnormalities included antinuclear antibodies (98.2%), anti-dsDNA (66.2%), anti-Sm (44.2%), anti-RNP (65.5%), anti-Ro (60.5%), anti-La (28.4%) and rheumatoid factor (10.1%). Positive clinicoserological associations observed included: combination of anti-dsDNA antibodies and low C4 levels with renal disease; anti-dsDNA antibodies with cutaneous vasculitis; anti-Sm antibodies with psychosis; anti-RNP antibodies with Raynaud's phenomenon; anti-Ro antibodies with renal disease, psychosis and malar rash. Anti-La antibodies showed a weak negative association with serositis and Raynaud's phenomenon. Most of these clinical correlates are consistent with past studies. The high frequency of anti-Sm and anti-RNP antibodies is similar to the observations in African-Americans and Afro-Caribbeans.

New techniques for rearing black flies from pupae (Diptera: Simuliidae).

Simple techniques are described for collecting black fly pupae from streams using plastic strips and for rearing large numbers of adult black flies in inexpensive enclosures made of chicken wire and cloth mesh netting, and 2 methods are described for rearing adult black flies individually from pupae. The first method of rearing individual black flies uses 1.5-ml microcentrifuge tubules and the second uses easy-to-construct rearing chambers that provide moisture for the developing pupa and water for the adult to imbibe. Instructions for assembly are provided. Specimens obtained using these rearing chambers are of museum quality.