Case Report: Ambergris coprolite and septicemia in a male sperm whale stranded in La Palma (Canary Islands).

On the 21st of May 2023, a dead adult male sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) of 13 m in length and estimated weight of around 18,000 kg was reportedly stranded at Playa Los Nogales, La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain. A necropsy was performed 48hpm. A 50 cm diameter and 9.5 kg coprolite was found obstructing the caudal colon-rectal lumen. Necro-hemorrhagic lesions were found in heart muscles and three different bacteria of intestinal origin were isolated and identified (Edwarsiella tarda, Hathewaya limosa and Clostridium perfringens). It is reported a lethal septicemia of intestinal origin associated with ambergris coprolite as cause of death in this sperm whale.

The "peel-away" technique for a ventriculoatrial shunt in a 6-month-old patient: A case report.

Background: A ventriculoatrial shunt (VAS) proves to be an excellent alternative in the treatment of hydrocephalus. Its usage is a viable option when ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) is contraindicated in any age of patients. Case Description: This report highlights a successful case involving a 6-month-old patient who underwent VAS catheter positioning. The child presented with hydrocephalus and biliary atresia, making him a candidate for a liver transplant. Notably, a VPS was considered a relative contraindication in this scenario. Conclusion: The VAS emerges as a viable option for patients in whom a VPS might be contraindicated. This case demonstrates the successful application of a VAS in a pediatric patient.

Spatial and temporal variation of methane emissions in the coastal Balearic Sea, Western Mediterranean.

Methane (CH4) gas is the most important GHG after carbon dioxide, with open ocean areas acting as discreet CH4 sources and coastal regions as intense but variable CH4 sources to the atmosphere. Here, we report CH4 concentrations and air-sea fluxes in the coastal area of the Balearic Islands Archipelago (Western Mediterranean Basin). CH4 levels and related biogeochemical variables were measured in three coastal sampling sites between 2018 and 2021, with two located close to the densely populated island of Mallorca and one in a pristine area in the Cabrera Archipelago National Park. CH4 concentrations in seawater during the study period ranged from 2.7 to 10.9 nM, without significant differences between the sampling sites. Averaged estimated CH4 fluxes during the sampling period for the three stations oscillated between 0.2 and 9.7 µmol m-2 d-1 according to a seasonal pattern and in general all sites behaved as weak CH4 sources throughout the sampling period.

Human urogenital myiasis caused by the 'rat-tailed' larvae of Palpada scutellaris (Fabricius, 1805) in Santander, eastern Colombia: A case report.

The Palpada genus, which belongs to the Diptera order (family, Syrphidae), has been rarely reported to cause accidental myiasis in humans. Herein, we report the first case of genitourinary myiasis caused by a larva of the Palpada genus in a 9-year-old girl from Colombia. The girl, who resided in a rural area in the municipality of Floridablanca, Santander, near Bucaramanga city, in eastern Colombia, presented with lower abdominal pain accompanied by oliguria, followed by the subsequent elimination of a larva through the urine. The next day, the patient visited a primary healthcare centre, and no signs or symptoms were observed on clinical examination. Haematological analysis showed high plateletcrit levels and platelet large cell counts. The results of the urine test revealed a decrease in specific gravity and a slight increase in bacterial content and mucus. DNA barcoding analyses showed that the etiological agent corresponded to a third instar larva of the Palpada scutellaris species. This is the first case to report genitourinary myiasis caused by larvae of the genus Palpada in humans. However, we believe that additional cases might be accurately detected if adequate tests are performed to confirm the clinical and molecular features associated with this infection.

Ventriculo-atrial shunt. Comparison of an ultrasound-guided peel-away technique versus conventional technique in the management of normal pressure hydrocephalus: A retrospective cohort.

BACKGROUND: Normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) is a common neurodegenerative syndrome among the elderly characterized by ventriculomegaly and the classic triad of symmetric gait disturbance, cognitive decline and urinary incontinence. To date, the only effective treatment is a cerebrospinal fluid shunting procedure that can either be ventriculo-atrial, ventriculo-peritoneal, or lumbo-peritoneal shunt. The conventional ventriculo-atrial shunt uses venodissection, whereas the peel-away is a percutaneous ultrasound (US)-guided technique that shows some advantages over conventional technique. We sought to compare perioperative complication rates, mean operating time and clinical outcomes for both techniques in NPH patients at our institution. METHODS: A retrospective cohort-type analytical study was conducted, using clinical record data of patients diagnosed with NPH and treated at our center from January 2009 to September 2019. Parameters to be compared include: Perioperative complication rates, intraoperative bleeding, mortality, and mean operating time. Perioperative complication rates are those device-related such as shunt infection, dysfunction, and those associated with the procedure. Complications are further classified in immediate (occurring during the first inpatient stay), early (within the first 30 days of surgery), and late (after day 30 of surgery). RESULTS: A total of 123 patients underwent ventriculo-atrial shunt. Eighty-two patients (67%) underwent conventional venodissection technique and 41 patients (33%) underwent a peel-away technique. Immediate complications were 3 (3.6%) and 0 for conventional and peel-away groups, respectively. Early complications were 0 and 1 (2.4%) for conventional and peel-away groups, respectively. Late complications were 5 (6.1%) and 2 (4.9%) for conventional and peel-away groups, respectively. Mean operating time was lower in the peel-away group (P = 0.0000) and mortality was 0 for both groups. CONCLUSION: Ventriculo-atrial shunt is an effective procedure for patients with NPH. When comparing the conventional venodissection technique with a percutaneous US-guided peel-away technique, the latter offers advantages such as shorter operating time and lower perioperative complication rates.

Severe acute hepatitis related to hydroxychloroquine in a woman with mixed connective tissue disease.

Antimalarial drugs are used for the control of mild manifestations of autoimmune diseases due to their low toxicity. Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), a alpha-hydroxylated derivative of chloroquine, is usually preferred because of its higher tolerability. Mild and unspecific gastrointestinal symptoms are the main secondary effects related to HCQ use. Less than 1% of subjects show liver enzyme increase, although the percentage can be as high as 50% in subjects with chronic liver disease. A woman with mixed connective tissue disease who developed a reversible acute hepatitis shortly after the initiation of low-dose HCQ is presented. Two previous cases of patients with acute liver failure have previously been published. All three cases have been reported in the absence of previous liver disease. It seems to be a dose-dependent, idiosyncratic, and molecule-specific toxic effect and must be considered, taking into account the potential bad prognosis.