Neither insects nor wind: ambophily in dioecious Chamaedorea palms (Arecaceae).

Pollination of Neotropical dioecious trees is commonly related to generalist insects. Similar data for non-tree species with separated genders are inconclusive. Recent studies on pollination of dioecious Chamaedorea palms (Arecaceae) suggest that species are either insect- or wind-pollinated. However, the wide variety of inflorescence and floral attributes within the genus suggests mixed pollination mode involving entomophily and anemophily. To evaluate this hypothesis, we studied the pollination of Chamaedorea costaricana, C. macrospadix, C. pinnatifrons and C. tepejilote in two montane forests in Costa Rica. A complementary morphological analysis of floral traits was carried out to distinguish species groups within the genus according to their most probable pollination mechanism. We conducted pollinator exclusion experiments, field observations on visitors to pistillate and staminate inflorescences, and trapped airborne pollen. A cluster analysis using 18 floral traits selected for their association with wind and insect pollination syndromes was carried out using 52 Chamaedorea species. Exclusion experiments showed that both wind and insects, mostly thrips (Thysanoptera), pollinated the studied species. Thrips used staminate inflorescences as brood sites and pollinated pistillate flowers by deception. Insects caught on pistillate inflorescences transported pollen, while traps proved that pollen is wind-borne. Our empirical findings clearly suggest that pollination of dioecious Chamaedorea palms is likely to involve both insects and wind. A cluster analysis showed that the majority of studied species have a combination of floral traits that allow for both pollination modes. Our pollination experiments and morphological analysis both suggest that while some species may be completely entomophilous or anemophilous, ambophily might be a common condition within Chamaedorea. Our results propose a higher diversity of pollination mechanisms of Neotropical dioecious species than previously suggested.

[Significantly shorter anesthesia time for surgery of the lumbar spine : process analytical comparison of spinal anesthesia and intubation narcosis]. / Signifikant kürzere Anästhesiezeit bei lumbaler Wirbelsäulenchirurgie : Prozessanalytischer Vergleich von Spinalanästhesie und Intubationsnarkose.

INTRODUCTION: Most surgery of the lumbar spine is performed with the patient under general anesthesia (GA); however, qualitative benefits of spinal anesthesia (SA) have been reported. The goal of this study was to compare time efficiency between these two anesthesia methods in lumbar spine surgery. To test the hypothesis that the use of SA leads to significant time saving compared to GA for lumbar spine surgery, key points in the preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative anesthesiology care times were analyzed. The focus was on anesthesia time excluding surgery time. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Electronically based data of 473 anesthesia procedures (368 SA, 105 GA) for lumbar spine interventions performed in the prone position (i. e. decompression, discectomy and transpedicular instrumentation) were analyzed retrospectively. Patient population data including gender, age, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification and body mass index (BMI) were analyzed. The focus was on the documented perioperative key time points which are defined as follows: (1) induction, (2) positioning (turning into prone position), (3) scrubbing and covering, (4) surgery time (knife to skin closure), (5) closing (end of surgery until leaving operating room) and (6) handing over to recovery. Differences in the amount of time for each perioperative period were calculated for SA and GA. RESULTS: In 7 out of the 368 SA patients SA failed and had to be converted to GA. There were no significant differences in BMI, ASA prevalence and gender between SA and GA patients but SA patients were significantly older (median 61.7 ± 15.4 years) than GA patients (median 56.1 ± 14.6 years). However, SA required significantly less time for induction (SA: 17.7 ± 7.0 min, GA: 21.6 ± 7.2 min), preoperative preparation (SA: 9.7 ± 3.6 min, GA: 13.3 ± 5.4 min) and closing period (SA: 4.9 ± 1.1 min, GA: 15.3 ± 5.7 min) compared to GA. Total anesthesia time with exclusion of the surgery time revealed a significant time reduction using SA of 19 min (95 % confidence interval: range 13.6-24.4 min, median in SA: 56.7 min, median in GA: 75.7 min, p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that in lumbar spine surgery 19 min of anesthesia time can be saved using SA compared to GA which could have an impact on economic aspects. Gender, BMI and ASA had no statistically detectable influence on the choice between the two anesthesia methods. The fact that time-intensive complex instrumentation is mainly performed in younger patients may explain why GA patients were younger than SA patients.

First Report of Multiple Species of the Botryosphaeriaceae Causing Bot Canker Disease of Indian Laurel-Leaf Fig in California.

Indian laurel-leaf fig (Ficus microcarpa L.) is a commonly used indoor and outdoor ornamental tree. F. microcarpa is most frequently encountered as lining city streets, especially in warmer southern California climates. A disease known as 'Sooty Canker,' caused by the fungus Nattrassia mangiferae (Syd. & P. Syd) B. Sutton & Dyko, is particularly devastating on F. microcarpa. Disease symptoms are characterized by branch dieback, crown thinning, and if the disease progresses to the trunk, eventual tree death (2). Recent taxonomic revisions have renamed Nattrassia mangiferae as Neofusicoccum mangiferae (Syd. & P. Syd.) Crous, Slippers & A. J. L. Phillips (1). An initial survey conducted during the spring of 2011 across four cities in Los Angeles County included, Culver City, Lakewood, Santa Monica, and Whittier. Five symptomatic branches per city were collected from trees showing branch cankers and dieback. Pieces of symptomatic tissue (2 mm2) were plated onto one-half-strength potato dextrose agar. Most isolates initially identified by morphological characteristics, such as growth pattern, speed of growth, and colony color, resembled those in the Botryosphaeriaceae (4). Two representative isolates from each site location were sequenced. Sequences obtained from amplification of the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS1-5.8rDNA-ITS2) and the ß-tubulin gene were compared in a BLAST search in GenBank. Results identified isolates as Botryosphaeria dothidea (identity of 99% to EF638767 and 100% to JN183856.1 for ITS and ß-tubulin, respectively); Neofusicoccum luteum (100% to EU650669 and 100% to HQ392752); N. mediterraneum (100% to HM443605 and 99% to GU251836); and N. parvum (100% to GU188010 and 100% to HQ392766) and have been deposited in GenBank with the following accession numbers: JN543668 to JN543671 (ITS) and JQ080549 to JQ080552 (ß-tubulin). Pathogenicity tests were conducted in the greenhouse on 6-month-old F. microcarpa with one isolate from each previously listed fungal species. Five plants per isolate were stem-wound inoculated with mycelial plugs and wrapped with Parafilm. Uncolonized agar plugs were used as a control. Inoculations were later repeated a second time in the same manner for a total of 10 plants per isolate. Plants were observed for 6 weeks and destructively sampled to measure vascular lesion lengths. Mean vascular lesion lengths were 26, 22, 54, and 46 mm for B. dothidea, N. luteum, N. mediterraneum, and N. parvum, respectively. The mean lesion lengths for all isolates were significantly different (P = 0.05) from the control. Each species was consistently recovered from inoculated plants, except the control, thus fulfilling Koch's postulates. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the pathogenicity of multiple Botryosphaeriaceae species causing branch canker and dieback on F. microcarpa in California. These results are significant since trees along sidewalks in southern California are often crowded and undergo extensive root and branch pruning and some Botryosphaeriaceae spp. are known to enter its host through wounds caused by pruning or mechanical injury (2,3). Further sampling is imperative to better assess the distribution of these canker-causing fungal pathogens on F. microcarpa. References: (1) P. W. Crous et al. Stud. Mycol. 55:235, 2006. (2) D. R. Hodel et al. West. Arborist 35:28, 2009. (3) V. McDonald et al. Plant Dis. 93:967, 2009. (4) B. Slippers et al. Fungal Biol. Rev. 21:90, 2007.

[Postpartum neurologic complications following delivery with peridural analgesia. Case report with literature review]. / Neurologische postpartale Komplikationen nach geburtshilflicher Periduralanalgesie. Fallbericht und Literaturübersicht.

Regional analgesia provides effective pain relief during delivery. Postpartal neurological deficits may be due to pressure of the fetal head on nerve structures at the pelvic rim or may be a complication of epidural analgesia. Nerve injuries due to spontaneous delivery and instrumental delivery are much more common than neurological deficits from epidural analgesia such as epidural hematoma or epidural abscess. The pattern of nerve damage is usually unilateral and non segmental. This case report describes the differential diagnosis of neurological deficit after spontaneous delivery under epidural analgesia and a discussion of the recent literature. Finally recommendations for the treatment of neurological deficits after delivery under epidural analgesia are presented.

FDA reform floated in DC. Food and Drug Administration.

AIDS: Legislative proposals to reform the mandate of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are underway in Washington. An ad hoc coalition has been formed by many leading AIDS groups to participate in the debate. The group is drafting principles for evaluating FDA reform proposals from the standpoint of people with life-threatening disease. Items under discussion for the reform include shifting more efficacy studies to a post-marketing setting. This would enable drugs to reach the market much faster; however, the risks are greater because more people will be taking the drugs with less data about hazards. Another measure would utilize local Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) to review proposals for the early human testing (phase I clinical trials) on drugs. In addition, a measure was proposed that would privatize certain drug safety reviews, by relegating them to independent testing or accrediting institutions. Another measure would permit the promotion of FDA-approved drugs for off-label uses. A measure to impose statutory time limits on FDA review is also under discussion. Finally, the possible removal of export barriers for non-FDA-approved drugs is under review.^ieng

Washington watch: the sharp right turn.

AIDS: Since the Republicans have taken over Congress, there is considerable apprehension on the part of AIDS activists that important funding will dwindle in many areas. Thus far the new majority is attempting to reduce AIDS prevention funding by $23 million, and funding for the AIDS housing programs were totally eliminated. Just as alarming is the new leadership in the House of Representatives filling critical committee seats with members whose positions are mostly anti-AIDS.^ieng

Emergency care. Texas hospitals to the rescue.

An average of 17 Texans die every day as a result of accidental injuries. Our ability to respond to trauma in Texas will be a high priority issue in the upcoming Legislative session. In the meantime, metropolitan areas and remote rural locations across Texas have had to come up with ways to handle what is often a trauma crisis. Efforts are also underway to reduce the number of accidents and injuries in the first place. This month, HealthTexas takes a look at these trauma issues.

Effect of positioning on the breathing pattern of preterm infants.

Respiration, as judged by gas exchange and pulmonary function, is improved in preterm infants kept in the prone rather than the supine position. The influence of position on the breathing pattern as documented by the pneumogram was studied in 14 stable preterm infants with recent clinical apnoea. Ten of the infants had oximetry and nasal flow studies simultaneously with the impedance pneumogram. Each infant had consecutive nocturnal pneumograms, one in the prone, one in the supine position. The infants were kept for more than six hours in the assigned position. A significant increase in apnoea density and in periodic breathing was found in the supine v the prone position (mean (SE) 4.5 (0.7)% v 2.5 (0.5)%, and 13.6 (3.2)% v 7.7 (2.2)%, respectively). There was no positional difference in the incidence of bradycardia and prolonged apnoea. The examination of obstructive apnoea, mixed apnoea, and cyanotic spells did not reveal a consistent disparity between the two positions. These findings indicate an increase in central apnoea in preterm infants kept predominantly in the supine position. Possible relations of positional changes to lung mechanics are discussed. When evaluating pneumograms, attention must be given to the position in which they were performed.