Risk factors for lymphedema after breast surgery: A prospective cohort study in the era of sentinel lymph node biopsy.

INTRODUCTION: The Objective was to investigate the incidence of lymphedema after breast cancer treatment and to analyze the risk factors involved in a tertiary level hospital. METHODS: Prospective longitudinal observational study over 3 years post-breast surgery. 232 patients undergoing surgery for breast cancer at our institution between September 2013 and February 2018. Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) or axillary lymphadenectomy (ALND) were mandatory in this cohort. In total, 201 patients met the inclusion criteria and had a median follow-up of 31 months (range, 1-54 months). Lymphedema was diagnosed by circumferential measurements and truncated cone calculations. Patients and tumor characteristics, shoulder range of motion limitation and local and systemic therapies were analyzed as possible risk factors for lymphedema. RESULTS: Most cases of lymphedema appeared in the first 2 years. 13.9% of patients developed lymphedema: 31% after ALND and 4.6% after SLNB (p < 0.01), and 46.7% after mastectomy and 11.3% after breast-conserving surgery (p < 0.01). The lymphedema rate increased when axillary radiotherapy (RT) was added to radical surgery: 4.3% for SLNB alone, 6.7% for SLNB + RT, 17.6% for ALND alone, and 35.2% for ALND + RT (p < 0.01). In the multivariate analysis, the only risk factors associated with the development of lymphedema were ALND and mastectomy, which had hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) of 7.28 (2.92-18.16) and 3.9 (1.60-9.49) respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The main risk factors for lymphedema were the more radical surgeries (ALND and mastectomy). The risk associated with these procedures appeared to be worsened by the addition of axillary radiotherapy. A follow-up protocol in patients with ALND lasting at least two years, in which special attention is paid to these risk factors, is necessary to guarantee a comprehensive control of lymphedema that provides early detection and treatment.

Efficacy of ultramicronised diclofenac in patients with osteoarthritis - systematic review with network meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: This systematic review with network meta-analysis was performed to compare the effectiveness of oral anti-inflammatory drugs used in Brazil for osteoarthritis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Randomized clinical trials evaluating ultramicronised diclofenac, diclofenac, celecoxib, etodolac and placebo in patients with osteoarthritis were identified. A search was conducted in May 2021 through PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science databases. A network meta-analysis was developed for efficacy outcome related to analgesia measured by the pain subscale of the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities tool. In addition, surface under the cumulative ranking was performed to rank the drugs in relation to this outcome. RESULTS: Twelve randomized clinical trials were included. Overall, ultramicronised diclofenac 105 mg/day (UD105) was better than all the others, including ultramicronised diclofenac 70 mg/day (UD70). In addition, surface under the cumulative ranking resulted in the following order: 1) ultramicronised diclofenac 105 mg/day (100%), 2) ultramicronised diclofenac 70 mg/day (80%), 3) celecoxib 200 mg/day (49%), 4) diclofenac 100 mg/day (48%), 5) placebo (19%) and 6) diclofenac 150 mg/day (6%). CONCLUSIONS: Ultramicronised diclofenac demonstrated superior efficacy compared to other conventional anti-inflammatory drugs and placebo in relieving osteoarthritis pain.

Prediction of fatty acid composition using milk spectral data and its associations with various mid-infrared spectral regions in Michigan Holsteins.

Fatty acid composition in milk is not only reflective of nutritional quality but also potentially predictive of other attributes (e. g. including the cow's energy balance and its relative output of methane emissions). Furthermore, a higher ratio of long-chain to short-chain fatty acids or mean carbon number has been associated with negative energy balance in dairy cows, whereas enhanced nutritional properties have been generally associated with higher levels of unsaturation. We set out to directly compare Bayesian regression strategies with partial least squares for the prediction of various milk fatty acids using Fourier-transform infrared spectrum data on 777 milk samples taken from 579 cows on 4 Michigan dairy herds between 5 and 90 d in milk. We also set out to identify those spectral regions that might be associated with fatty acids and whether carbon number or level of unsaturation might contribute to the strength of these associations. These associations were based on adaptively clustered windows of wavenumbers to mitigate the distorting effects of severe multicollinearity on marginal associations involving individual wavenumbers. In general, Bayesian regression methods, particularly the variable selection method BayesB, outperformed partial least squares regression for cross-validation prediction accuracy for both individual fatty acids and fatty acid groups. Strong signals for wavenumber associations using BayesB were well distributed throughout the mid-infrared spectrum, particularly between 910 and 3,998 cm-1. Carbon number appeared to be linearly related to strength of wavenumber associations for 38 moderately to highly predicted fatty acids within the spectral regions of 2,286 to 2,376 and 2,984 to 3,100 cm-1, whereas nonlinear associations were determined within 1,141 to 1,205; 1,570 to 1,630; and 1,727 to 1,768 cm-1. However, no such associations were detected with level of unsaturation. Spectral regions where there were significant relationships between strength of association and carbon number may be useful targets for inferring the relative proportion of long-chain to short-chain fatty acids, and hence energy balance.

Spatial distribution of Brazilian bovine taurine breeds associated with climatic, physical and socioeconomic variables / [Distribuição espacial de raças taurinas bovinas brasileiras associada a variáveis climáticas, físicas e socioeconômicas]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the spatial distribution of purebred Bos taurus taurus bovine breeds raised in Brazil in association with climatic, physical and socioeconomic variables. The breeds Aberdeen Angus, Ayrshire, Braford, Brangus, Charolais, Devon, Flemish, Hereford, Pinzgauer, Shorthorn and Simental were classified according to their aptitude (milk, meat or dual-purpose). They were spatialized according to their aptitude using state and municipal information. The milk breeds were found in the states of Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina, while the dual-purpose breeds were found in Minas Gerais and Rio Grande do Sul states and the beef breeds were concentrated in the southern region. Only the Aberdeen Angus meat breed showed higher dispersion in other regions. Meat and dual-purpose breeds tended to be raised in regions with lower maximum temperature, average temperature, thermal amplitude and temperature-humidity index. Dual-purpose breeds were found in municipalities with high humidity and altitude, but with a low gross domestic product, little technical guidance received from cooperatives and the government, low control of diseases and parasites, as well as low use of pasture rotation systems. The spatial distribution of Brazilian bovine taurine breeds, regardless of aptitude, was related to climatic, physical and socioeconomic factors.(AU)

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a distribuição espacial de raças bovinas puras Bos taurus taurus criadas no Brasil, associadas a variáveis climáticas, físicas e socioeconômicas. As raças Aberdeen Angus, Ayrshire, Braford, Brangus, Charolês, Devon, Flamenga, Hereford, Pinzgauer, Shorthorn e Simental foram classificadas de acordo com sua aptidão (leite, carne ou duplo-propósito). Elas foram espacializadas de acordo com sua aptidão a partir de informações estaduais e municipais. As raças leiteiras foram encontradas nos estados do Rio Grande do Sul e de Santa Catarina, enquanto as raças de duplo-propósito foram encontradas nos estados de Minas Gerais e Rio Grande do Sul, e as raças de carne concentraram-se na região Sul. Apenas a raça de carne Aberdeen Angus apresentou maior dispersão nas demais regiões. As raças de carne e de duplo-propósito tendem a ser criadas em regiões com menores temperatura máxima, temperatura média, amplitude térmica e índice de temperatura e umidade. As raças de duplo-propósito foram encontradas em municípios com alta umidade e altitude, mas com baixo produto interno bruto, pouca orientação técnica recebida de cooperativas e do governo, baixo controle de doenças e de parasitas e baixo uso de sistema de rotação de pastagens. A distribuição espacial das raças taurinas bovinas brasileiras, independentemente da aptidão, foi relacionada a fatores climáticos, físicos e socioeconômicos.(AU)

Association between days open and milk spectral data in dairy cows.

Data on 19,489 Brown Swiss cows reared in northeastern Italy were used to associate absorbances of individual wavenumbers within the mid-infrared range with days open (DO). Different postcalving days in milk (DIM) intervals were studied to determine the most informative milk sampling periods for predicting DO. Milk samples were analyzed using a MilkoScan (Foss Electric, Hillerød, Denmark) Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer for 1,060 wavenumbers (wn) ranging from 5,011 to 925 cm-1. To determine DO, we considered an insemination to lead to conception when there was no return of heat (i.e., no successive insemination) and the cow had a subsequent calving date whereby gestation length was required to be within ±30 d of 290 d. Only milk records within the first 90 DIM were considered. Associations were inferred by (1) fitting linear regression models between the DO and each individual wavenumber or milk component, and (2) fitting a Bayesian regression model that included the complete FTIR spectral data. The effects of including systematic effects (parity number, year-season, herd) in the model on these associations were also studied. These analyses were performed for the complete data (5-90 DIM) and for data stratified by DIM period (5 to 30, 31 to 60, and 61 to 90 DIM). Overall, regions of wavenumbers of the milk FTIR spectra that were associated with DO included wn 2,973 to 2,830 cm-1 [related to fat-B (C-H stretch)], wn 2,217 to 1,769 cm-1 [related to fat-A (C = O stretch)], wn 1,546 cm-1 (related to protein), wn 1,465 cm-1 (related to urea and fat), wn 1,399 to 1,245 cm-1 (related to acetone), and wn 1,110 cm-1 (related to lactose). Estimated effects depended on the DIM period, with milk samples drawn during DIM intervals 31 to 60 d and 61 to 90 d being most strongly associated with DO. These DIM intervals are also typically most associated with negative energy balance and peak lactation.

Improved function and strength in patients with knee osteoarthritis as a result of adding a two-day educational program to usual care. Prospective randomized trial.

Objective: The primary aim was to quantify the improvements on function and pain of patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA), short education and low income by a two-day self-management program. Secondary aims were verifying if the program improves clinically relevant measures of weight and strength. Design: A prospective randomized clinical trial was conducted in a tertiary hospital in Brazil with 191 patients with Kellgren & Lawrence grades II and III KOA who were allocated to two groups: control (usual care- CG) and intervention (usual care and two days of an OA self-management program with a multiprofessional team - IG). Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Index (WOMAC), weight, body mass index (BMI), Timed up and go (TUG) and five Times Sit to Stand Test (FTSST) were assessed at baseline, six, 12 and 24 months. Results: Groups were similar at baseline (p â€‹> â€‹0.05). Both groups exhibited improved WOMAC total and subsets scores throughout the study (p â€‹< â€‹0.001). However, only IG improved WOMAC total and subsets in all follow-ups above 20% (minimally clinically important difference), with differences in WOMAC pain, function and total scores (p â€‹= â€‹0.001, p â€‹< â€‹0.001, and p â€‹< â€‹0.001, respectively) and best effect sizes at 1 year (0.355, 0.651 and 0.770, respectively). IG group lost weight (p â€‹< â€‹0.001) and BMI (p â€‹< â€‹0.01). Both groups exhibited improvements in TUG and FTSST (p â€‹< â€‹0.001) that remained in all evaluations. FTSST results favored the IG, p â€‹= â€‹0.032. Conclusions: An educational program to patients with KOA, short schooling and low income improves clinically important measures of pain and function.

Effects of throat packs during orthognathic surgery: a double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial.

Throat packs are commonly used in maxillofacial surgeries. However, the evidence to support the benefits of their use is controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of throat packs in preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting, and their influence on the incidence of sore throat and dysphagia in patients undergoing orthognathic surgery. This was a prospective double-blind randomized study with 54 patients, who were randomized to two groups: with throat pack (n=27) and without throat pack (n=27). Fifty patients (25 in each group) were included in the analysis; 66% female and 34% male, mean age 29.44±8.53 years. Postoperative nausea and vomiting (Kortilla scale), sore throat (visual analogue scale), and dysphagia were evaluated. Statistically significant differences in favour of the without-pack group were found for the variables throat pain at 24hours (P=0.002) and dysphagia at 2 hours (P=0.007) and 24 hours (P<0.001). There was no difference between the groups regarding postoperative nausea and vomiting (P=1.00). The results of this study indicate that throat packs as utilized here do not prevent postoperative nausea and vomiting and are associated with worse sore throats and postoperative dysphagia.

Motociclista de urgência e emergência: reflexo dos desafios diários no atendimento pré-hospitalar / Urgency and emergency motorcyclist: a reflection of the daily challenges in prehospital care / Motociclista de emergencia y emergencia: reflejo de los desafíos diarios en la atención prehospitalaria

Objetivo: analisar e discutir as dificuldades, os riscos ocupacionais e os possíveis desafios e frustrações dos motociclistas que atuam no atendimento pré-hospitalar no serviço de urgência e emergência do Distrito Federal. Método: estudo descritivo e exploratório, de abordagem quantitativa, mediado por pesquisa de campo. Resultados: foram investigados dois grupos - A, com 33 profissionais, e B, com 18 profissionais. No grupo A, são 26 técnicos em enfermagem e 5 enfermeiros, com média de atuação de 10,6 anos, visto serem servidores estatutários, com idade média de 38 anos e tempo de motolância de 5,4 anos. No grupo B, todos são militares de carreira e combatentes, com média de 34,9 anos de idade, 11,2 anos de tempo de militar e de 5,1 anos de serviço de motorresgate. Conclusão: é visível que as atividades desempenhadas pelas equipes são divergentes do ponto de vista operacional e técnico. A formação do enfermeiro colaborador e educador torna-se relevante para a educação continuada dos profissionais que atuam no atendimento pré-hospitalar, sendo assim, é necessário refletir sobre as dificuldades vivenciadas no dia a dia desses profissionais e estratégias e ações precisam ser elaboradas para auxiliar no suporte de enfrentamento de seus desafios diários vivenciados

Objective: to analyze and discuss the difficulties, occupational risks and the possible challenges and frustrations of motorcyclists who work in pre-hospital care in the urgency and emergency service of the Federal District. Method: descriptive and exploratory study, with a quantitative approach, mediated by field research. Results: two groups were investigated - A, with 33 professionals, and B, with 18 professionals. In group A, there are 26 nursing technicians and 5 nurses, with an average of 10.6 years of experience, as they are statutory servants, with an average age of 38 years and a motorcycle driving time of 5.4 years. In group B, all are career soldiers and combatants, with an average of 34.9 years of age, 11.2 years of military experience and 5.1 years of motor-rescue service. Conclusion: it is visible that the activities performed by the teams are divergent from an operational and technical point of view. The training of collaborative nurses and educators becomes relevant for the continuing education of professionals working in pre-hospital care, therefore, it is necessary to reflect on the difficulties experienced in the daily lives of these professionals, also strategies and actions need to be developed to help in support of coping with their experienced daily challenges.

Objetivo: analizar y discutir las dificultades, riesgos laborales y los posibles desafíos y frustraciones de los motociclistas que laboran en la atención prehospitalaria en el servicio de urgencia y emergencia del Distrito Federal. Método: estudio descriptivo y exploratorio, con enfoque cuantitativo, mediado por investigación de campo. Resultados: se investigaron dos grupos: A, con 33 profesionales, y B, con 18 profesionales. En el grupo A, hay 26 técnicos de enfermería y 5 enfermeros, con una media de 10,6 años de experiencia, por ser servidores estatutarios, con una edad media de 38 años y un tiempo de conducción en motocicleta de 5,4 años. En el grupo B, todos son soldados y combatientes de carrera, con un promedio de 34,9 años de edad, 11,2 años de experiencia militar y 5,1 años de servicio de rescate motorizado. Conclusión: es visible que las actividades realizadas por los equipos son divergentes desde el punto de vista operativo y técnico. La formación de enfermeros y educadores colaborativos cobra relevancia para la formación continua de los profesionales que laboran en la atención prehospitalaria, por ello, es necesario reflexionar sobre las dificultades que viven en el día a día de estos profesionales, además de desarrollar estrategias y acciones para ayuda en apoyo para hacer frente a sus experimentados desafíos diarios.

Genetic parameters for fertility traits assessed in herds divergent in milk energy output in Holstein-Friesian, Brown Swiss, and Simmental cattle.

In this study, we aimed to investigate differences in the genetics of fertility traits (heritability of traits and correlations between traits in divergent environments) in dairy cows of different production levels defined on the basis of the herd-average daily milk energy output (herd-dMEO). Data were obtained from Holstein-Friesian (n = 37,359 for fertility traits, 381,334 for dMEO), Brown Swiss (n = 79,638 for fertility traits, 665,697 for dMEO), and Simmental cows (n = 63,048 for fertility traits, 448,445 for dMEO) reared in northeastern Italy. Fertility traits under study were interval from calving to first service, interval from first service to conception, days open, calving interval, calving rate, and nonreturn rate at d 56. We classified herds into low and high productivity based on the herd-average dMEO (inferred using mixed effects models). We estimated genetic parameters using Bayesian bivariate animal models, where expressions of a phenotype in the low and high dMEO herds were taken as being different-albeit correlated-traits. Fertility traits were more favorable in Simmental than in Holstein-Friesian cows, whereas for all traits, Holstein-Friesian had the highest estimates of intraherd heritability [ranging from 0.021 (0.006-0.038) to 0.126 (0.10-0.15)] and Simmental the lowest [ranging from 0.008 (0.001-0.017) to 0.101 (0.08-0.12)]. The genetic correlations between fertility traits and dMEO were moderate and unfavorable, ranging, in absolute values, from 0.527 (0.37-0.68) to 0.619 (0.50-0.73) in Holstein-Friesian; from 0.339 (0.20-0.47) to 0.556 (0.45-0.66) in Brown Swiss; and from 0.340 (0.10-0.60) to 0.475 (0.33-0.61) in Simmental cattle. The only exception was the nonreturn rate at d 56, which had weak genetic correlations with dMEO in all 3 breeds. The herd correlations between fertility and dMEO tended to be modest and favorable and the residual correlations modest and variable. The heritability of fertility traits tended to be greater in the low dMEO than in the high dMEO herds in the case of the Holstein-Friesians, but not in the case of the Brown Swiss or Simmentals. The additive genetic correlations between fertility traits in the low and high dMEO herds were always lower than 1 [0.329 (-0.17 to 0.85) to 0.934 (0.86 to 0.99)] for all traits considered in all breeds. The correlation was particularly low for the threshold characters and the interval from first service to conception in Holstein-Friesian, suggesting that the relative performances of genotypes vary significantly between herds of different dMEO levels. Although there was large variability in the estimates, results might support making separate genetic evaluations of fertility in the different herd production groups. Our results also indicate that Simmental, a dual-purpose breed, has higher fertility and lower environmental sensitivity than Holstein-Friesian, with Brown Swiss being intermediate.

Trichodinids (Ciliophora: Trichodinidae) on Rocky-tidal Fishes from the Baja California Peninsula, Mexico.

Information regarding trichodinid ectoparasites on marine fishes of North America is relatively scarce. In this study, 5 ciliate species from the family Trichodinidae were found associated with 8 fish hosts from the rocky intertidal zone of the western coast of the Baja California Peninsula (BCP), Mexico. All of the host-parasite relationships recorded here are new. Furthermore, 3 of the trichodinid species found are recorded for the first time for Mexico. Trichodinids taxa do not show a noticeable distributional gradient along the BCP, which suggests a wide-continuous distribution of the species throughout the study area.

Association of spontaneous abortion and Ureaplasma parvum detected in placental tissue.

Spontaneous abortion is considered a public health problem having several causes, including infections. Among the infectious agents, bacteria of the vaginal microbiota and Ureaplasma parvum have been associated with abortion, but their participation needs to be further elucidated. This study aims to evaluate the influence of Mollicutes on the development of spontaneous abortion. Women who underwent spontaneous abortion and those with normal birth (control) were studied. Samples of cervical mucus (CM) and placental tissue were collected to identify Mollicutes using the quantitative polymerase chain reaction methodology. Eighty-nine women who had a miscarriage and 20 women with normal pregnancies were studied. The presence of Mollicutes in placental tissue increased the chance of developing miscarriage sevenfold. The prevalence of U. parvum in women who experienced spontaneous abortion was 66.3% in placental tissue. A positive association was observed between the detection of U. parvum in samples of placental tissue and abortion. There was a significant increase in microbial load in placental tissue for M. hominis, U. urealyticum and U. parvum compared to the control group. Detection of U. parvum in CM in pregnant women can ascend to the region of the placental tissue and trigger a spontaneous abortion.

Genotoxicity in fishes environmentally exposed to As, Se, Hg, Pb, Cr and toxaphene in the lower Colorado River basin, at Mexicali valley, Baja California, México.

The environmental exposure to As, Se, Hg, Pb, Cr and toxaphene was assessed for 11 freshwater fish species in irrigation channels, agricultural return flow drains, a drain collecting lagoon and sections of the Colorado River at the Mexicali valley in Baja California, México, during August 2015-April 2016. Arsenic (2.90 ng ml-1) and Se (1.41 ng ml-1) in water had the highest concentrations in the return flow drains (Hardy River and Xochimilco Lagoon, respectively). However, fish axial muscle tissue had the highest concentration of Se (8.3 µg g-1) and Hg (0.36 µg g-1) in Colorado River fresh water, while As (1.7 µg g-1) in Hardy River fish was highest. Selenium concentrations in all fishes and toxaphene in Cyprinus carpio and Ameiurus natalis are above the safe levels for human consumption (0.3 µg g-1 and 180 ng g-1 respectively). Toxaphene was detected in the fish axial tissue, having the highest concentrations in Poecilia latipinna (690 ng g-1) in the Colorado River. The low proportion of the 8-Cl toxaphene congeners in fish suggests degradation of this pollutant. Tilapia. sp. cf. zillii had the most genotoxic damage with 7.4 micronucleated erythrocytes per 10,000 erythrocytes in Xochimilco Lagoon and 2 in Hardy River. The genotoxicity in all the fish species studied was significantly correlated to the concentrations of As and Se in water.

Ocular trauma score como predictor de agudeza visual en pacientes con trauma ocular grave: predictor de pronóstico visual en urgencia oftalmológica / Ocular trauma score as a predictor of visual acuity in patients with severe ocular trauma: visual prognosis in ophthalmological urgency

El objetivo de este trabajo fue determinar la relación entre el pronóstico visual según el Ocular Trauma Score (OTS) y la agudeza visual (AV) a los 6 meses de ocurrido el trauma ocular, en pacientes atendidos en la Unidad de Trauma Ocular del Hospital del Salvador, Santiago de Chile. Se hizo uso de un estudio descriptivo, longitudinal, retrospectivo. Se accedió a los registros clínicos de pacientes atendidos por trauma ocular grave entre el 1 de enero de 2014 al 15 de marzo 2015. 145 pacientes conformaron una muestra de 153 ojos. Se estableció la relación entre OTS obtenido y la AV a 6 meses del trauma mediante el coeficiente de correlación de Spearman. De los ojos estudiados, el grupo mayor N=68 (44,4%) calificó para OTS 3 y el menor N=16 (10,5%) para OTS 1. Se presentaron cinco categorías de visión, en un tiempo inicial la mayoría de los casos presentaron AV de luz, mala proyección-cuenta dedos (n=89). Tras seis meses dicha distribución se desplazó hacia la categoría 20/40 - 20/20 (n=68). Se encontró una fuerte asociación (r=0,711 p=0,000) entre el OTS calculado y la AV luego de seis meses de seguimiento. El OTS demostró poseer un gran valor predictivo y es una herramienta aplicable en nuestro medio, los datos obtenidos indican que existe un mejor pronóstico visual que los obtenidos en otro estudio. Cabe destacar que es la primera instancia en que se evalúa la aplicación del OTS en Chile.

This work aimed to determine the relationship between the visual prognosis according to the Ocular Trauma Score (OTS) and visual acuity (AV) 6 months after the ocular trauma in patients treated at the Eye Trauma Unit from the Hospital del Salvador, in Santiago, Chile. A descriptive, longitudinal and retrospective study was performed. We accessed registers of clinical patients attended for severe eye trauma from 1 January 2014 to 15 March 2015. 145 patients constitute a sample of 153 eyes. A connection was established between the OTS obtained and the AV 6 months after the trauma via the Spearman correlation coefficient. From the eyes studied, the greatest group N=68 (44.4%) qualified for OTS 3 and the smallest N=16 (10.5%) for OTS 1. Five eye categories were presented, in the beginning, most of the cases presented visual acuity with bad projection ­ hand motion (n=89). After six months of distribution, it moved to the category 20/40 ­ 20/20 (n=68). A strong relation (r=0,711 p=0,000) was found between the estimated OTS and the AV after six months of tracking. The OTS proved to have great predictive valor and is an applicable tool in our area, the data obtained showed that there is a better visual prognosis than the obtained in other studies. It is worth noting that this is the first stage where the application of OTS is assessed in Chile.

A New Species of Ascarophis (Nematoda: Cystidicolidae) Parasitizing Clinocottus analis (Pisces: Cottidae) from Baja California, Mexico.

A new species of nematode, Ascarophis morronei n. sp. (Cystidicolidae), is described from the stomach wall of the woolly sculpin Clinocottus analis (Cottidae) collected in the rocky intertidal from northwestern Baja California, Mexico. Collected nematodes were studied using both light and scanning electron microscopy. Sequence fragments for 18S rDNA molecular markers were obtained from the new nematode species, in order to test its position within the family Cystidicolidae under a phylogenetic context. Main characters distinguishing this new species include the reduced labia and the morphology of the eggs, distances of nerve ring and excretory pore from the anterior end, and left spicule of males. The new species described here is the second for the genus Ascarophis reported as adult in the Southern California Bight, and the first one recorded for the fish genus Clinocottus.