The Nursehound Scyliorhinus stellaris Mitochondrial Genome-Phylogeny, Relationships among Scyliorhinidae and Variability in Waters of the Balearic Islands.

The complete mitochondrial DNA sequence of the Nursehound Scyliorhinus stellaris has been determined for the first time and compared with congeneric species. The mitogenome sequence was 16,684 bp in length. The mitogenome is composed of 13 PCGs, 2 rRNAs, 22 transfer RNA genes and non-coding regions. The gene order of the newly sequenced mitogenome is analogous to the organization described in other vertebrate genomes. The typical conservative blocks in the control region were indicated. The phylogenetic analysis revealed a monophyletic origin of the Scyliorhininae subfamily, and within it, two subclades were identified. A significant divergence of Scyliorhinus spp. together with Poroderna patherinum in relation to the group of Cephaloscyllium spp. was observed, except for Scyliorhinus torazame, more related to this last cited clade. A hypothesis of a divergent evolution consequent to a selective pressure in different geographic areas, which lead to a global latitudinal diversity gradient, has been suggested to explain this phylogenetic reconstruction. However, convergent evolution on mitochondrial genes could also involve different species in some areas of the world.

CD8-positive cutaneous lymphoproliferation associated with large granular lymphocyte leukemia in a patient with X-linked agammaglobulinemia.

Patients with primary immunodeficiency are at increased risk for malignancy, especially hematologic neoplasms. This paper reports a unique case of a 47-year-old man with X-linked agammaglobulinemia who presented with progressive asymptomatic violaceous papules and plaques on his face, hands, and trunk for 1 year. Skin biopsies revealed deep, nodular infiltrates of histiocytes and CD8-positive lymphocytes, with a CD4:CD8 ratio of 1:10. Laboratory studies showed cytopenias. Flow cytometry in the skin, blood, and bone marrow (BM) showed a CD3+/CD8+/CD57+ large granular lymphocyte population. BM biopsy showed 30% involvement with these atypical T-cells. T-cell gene rearrangement studies of skin, blood, and BM revealed identical T-cell clones. He was diagnosed with T-large granular lymphocyte leukemia (T-LGLL) with an associated CD8+ cutaneous lymphoproliferation. Skin involvement was suspected to represent infiltration by T-LGLL. However, co-existence of two lymphoproliferative disorders (LPDs), T-LGLL and CD8+ granulomatous LPD, remains a possibility. In general, cutaneous infiltrates associated with LGLL are rare and poorly understood. It has been suggested that they are markers of poor prognosis. Our case report describes skin, blood, and BM findings in an immunosuppressed patient with T-LGLL in detail. These findings have not yet been reported and their significance requires further investigation.

Assessing relative post-release mortality for the transparent goby fishery: Environmental drivers and the utility of vitality metrics.

The target species (Aphia minuta and Pseudaphya ferreri) of the transparent goby fishery on Mallorca Island (Balearic Islands, western Mediterranean) are currently discarded when the maximum daily catch is exceeded or when the sorting process is unworkable. The mortality suffered by this discarded fraction remains unknown, although it may be important for resource management. Accordingly, the aims of this study were to (1) assess the environmental drivers of the relative post-release survival of the discarded target species and (2) test the correlations between post-release survival and two behavior-related variables (swimming speed and its increase after a stimulus, assessed via video recording). To do so, mortality of the target species from 47 hauls sampled under normal fishing boat operations was monitored when the gear was onboard and after a few hours. At the reference level (an average depth of 25.7 m and temperature of 15.7 ºC), the immediate survival was 99.9% (95% CI: 97.9 to 100%), but the estimated post-release survival decreased to 47.2% (33.8 to 65.8%). Relative post-release mortality doubled when the water temperature increased by 2.8 ºC or when the fishing depth increased up to 32 m. Furthermore, the swimming speed of the target species was significantly correlated with the estimated post-release survival; thus, this vitality metric may offer a promising strategy for more easily estimating post-release mortality in other fisheries.

New record of a sharpnose sevengill shark Heptranchias perlo (Elasmobranchii, Hexanchidae) from the Balearic Sea, western Mediterranean Sea.

In March 2018, an immature female sharpnose sevengill shark Heptranchias perlo was caught by a commercial bottom trawler in the Ibiza Channel. This represents the first substantiated record of the species around the Balearic Islands (GSA05) and the second record from off the Spanish Levantine coasts. This paper includes a review of the records of H. perlo in the Mediterranean as an aid to future conservation assessments.

Condilomatosis genital en embarazadas, experiencia del manejo y tratamiento en la Maternidad Mariana de Jesús / Genital condylomatosis in pregnants, experienceof handling and treatment in Maternity Mariana de Jesus

Introducción: La condilomatosisgenital o verruga genital es una de las manifestaciones clínicas más común de infección del virus del papiloma humano (VPH), predominantemente causadas por los genotipos VPH-6 y -11. Durante el embarazo, el incremento en los niveles de las hormonas esteroides modifica el sistema inmune de la madre contribuyendo a la "tolerancia" del feto, pero disminuye la capacidad de eliminar infecciones, incluido el VPH. El presente estudio plantea determinar el comportamiento de la condilomatosis genital en gestantes atendidas en la Maternidad Mariana de Jesús desde 2016 a 2017. Materiales y métodos: Es un estudio longitudinal, observacional, retrospectivo, en 84 gestantes que fueron atendidas entre el 1 de enero de 2016 al 30 de septiembre de 2017. Resultados: En las 84 gestantes analizadas se pudo observar quela mayoría de las pacientes con condilomas tiene de 20 a 25 años de edad; su primera relación sexual fue entre los 17 a 19 años; existiendo mayor número de gestantes multíparas, y que han tenido más de 2 parejassexuales.

Introduction: Genital condylomatosisor genital wart is one of the most common clinical manifestations of human papilloma virus (HPV) infection, predominantly caused by HPV-6 and -11 genotypes. During pregnancy, increased levels of steroid hormones modify the mother's immune system contributing to the "tolerance" of the fetus, but decrease the ability to eliminate infections, including HPV. The present study proposes to determine the behavior of genital condilomatosis in pregnant women attended in the Mariana de Jesus Maternity from 2016 to 2017. Materials and Methods: It is a longitudinal, observational, retrospective study in 84 pregnant women who were attended between January 1, 2016 to September 30, 2017. Results: In the 84 pregnant women analyzed it was possible to observe that the majority of patients with condylomas are between 20 and 25 years of age; her first sexual relationship was between 17 and 19 years old; There is a greater number of multiparous pregnant women, and they have had more than 2 sexual partners. The condylomas were presented individually, preferably being accumulated, predominantly in the second trimester of pregnancy. Conclusion: Although the greatest effort of studies is carried out in high-risk HPV, it is important to carry out studies that show the reality of the condylomas caused by low-risk HPV, mainly focusing on avoiding maternal-neonatal transmission.

Improving the Conservation of Mediterranean Chondrichthyans: The ELASMOMED DNA Barcode Reference Library.

Cartilaginous fish are particularly vulnerable to anthropogenic stressors and environmental change because of their K-selected reproductive strategy. Accurate data from scientific surveys and landings are essential to assess conservation status and to develop robust protection and management plans. Currently available data are often incomplete or incorrect as a result of inaccurate species identifications, due to a high level of morphological stasis, especially among closely related taxa. Moreover, several diagnostic characters clearly visible in adult specimens are less evident in juveniles. Here we present results generated by the ELASMOMED Consortium, a regional network aiming to sample and DNA-barcode the Mediterranean Chondrichthyans with the ultimate goal to provide a comprehensive DNA barcode reference library. This library will support and improve the molecular taxonomy of this group and the effectiveness of management and conservation measures. We successfully barcoded 882 individuals belonging to 42 species (17 sharks, 24 batoids and one chimaera), including four endemic and several threatened ones. Morphological misidentifications were found across most orders, further confirming the need for a comprehensive DNA barcoding library as a valuable tool for the reliable identification of specimens in support of taxonomist who are reviewing current identification keys. Despite low intraspecific variation among their barcode sequences and reduced samples size, five species showed preliminary evidence of phylogeographic structure. Overall, the ELASMOMED initiative further emphasizes the key role accurate DNA barcoding libraries play in establishing reliable diagnostic species specific features in otherwise taxonomically problematic groups for biodiversity management and conservation actions.

A low-cost ultrasound program leads to increased antenatal clinic visits and attended deliveries at a health care clinic in rural Uganda.

BACKGROUND: In June of 2010, an antenatal ultrasound program to perform basic screening for high-risk pregnancies was introduced at a community health care center in rural Uganda. Whether the addition of ultrasound scanning to antenatal visits at the health center would encourage or discourage potential patients was unknown. Our study sought to evaluate trends in the numbers of antenatal visits and deliveries at the clinic, pre- and post-introduction of antenatal ultrasound to determine what effect the presence of ultrasound at the clinic had on these metrics. METHODS AND FINDINGS: Records at Nawanyago clinic were reviewed to obtain the number of antenatal visits and deliveries for the 42 months preceding the introduction of ultrasound and the 23 months following. The monthly mean deliveries and antenatal visits by category (first visit through fourth return visit) were compared pre- and post- ultrasound using a Kruskal-Wallis one-way ANOVA. Following the introduction of ultrasound, significant increases were seen in the number of mean monthly deliveries and antenatal visits. The mean number of monthly deliveries at the clinic increased by 17.0 (13.3-20.6, 95% CI) from a pre-ultrasound average of 28.4 to a post-ultrasound monthly average of 45.4. The number of deliveries at a comparison clinic remained flat over this same time period. The monthly mean number of antenatal visits increased by 97.4 (83.3-111.5, 95% CI) from a baseline monthly average of 133.5 to a post-ultrasound monthly mean of 231.0, with increases seen in all categories of antenatal visits. CONCLUSIONS: The availability of a low-cost antenatal ultrasound program may assist progress towards Millennium Development Goal 5 by encouraging women in a rural environment to come to a health care facility for skilled antenatal care and delivery assistance instead of utilizing more traditional methods.