Census of Cnidaria (Medusozoa) and Ctenophora from South American marine waters.

We have compiled available records in the literature for medusozoan cnidarians and ctenophores of South America. New records of species are also included. Each entry (i.e., identified species or still as yet not determined species referred to as "sp." in the literature) includes a synonymy list for South America, taxonomical remarks, notes on habit, and information on geographical occurrence. We have listed 800 unique determined species, in 958 morphotype entries: 5 cubozoans, 905 hydrozoans, 25 scyphozoans, 3 staurozoans, and 20 ctenophores. Concerning nomenclatural and taxonomical decisions, two authors of this census (Miranda, T.P. & Marques, A.C.) propose Podocoryna quitus as a nomen novum for the junior homonym Hydractinia reticulata (Fraser, 1938a); Euphysa monotentaculata Zamponi, 1983b as a new junior synonym of Euphysa aurata Forbes, 1848; and Plumularia spiralis Milstein, 1976 as a new junior synonym of Plumularia setacea (Linnaeus, 1758). Finally, we also reassign Plumularia oligopyxis Kirchenpauer, 1876 as Kirchenpaueria oligopyxis (Kirchenpauer, 1876) and Sertularella margaritacea Allman, 1885 as Symplectoscyphus margaritaceus (Allman, 1885).

Timeless standards for species delimitation.

Recently a new species of bombyliid fly, Marleyimyia xylocopae, was described by Marshall & Evenhuis (2015) based on two photographs taken during fieldwork in the Republic of South Africa. This species has no preserved holotype. The paper generated some buzz, especially among dipterists, because in most cases photographs taken in the field provide insufficient information for properly diagnosing and documenting species of Diptera.

Phylogenetic analysis of the genus Lensia (Cnidaria, Hydrozoa, Siphonophora), based on the species morphology.

Siphonophores are poorly studied despite their abundance and ecological importance in marine ecosystems. The genus Lensia Totton, 1932 contains the highest number of species within Siphonophora, but systematic studies of these organisms are scarce in the literature. This study presents a phylogenetic analysis for fifteen species of Lensia based on morphological data. The material for this study was obtained during two oceanographic campaigns made along the southeastern Brazilian coast. A total of twenty two characters of the anterior nectophore morphology were scored. The shortest trees were searched using parsimony (under different weighting regimes). All analyses provided the same topology: (M. kochi (D. dispar + D. bojani) (L. leloupi (L. havock (L. conoidea (L. subtilis; L. meteori; L. hardy; L. fowleri; (L. subtiloides (L. hotspur; L. cossack; L. campanella)); (L. multicristata (L. hunter (L. lelouveteau + L. grimaldii))). The monophyly of the genus Lensia is supported by the hydroecium measuring up to 1/4 the height of the nectosac.

Nemopsis mianzani n. sp. (Hydrozoa, Bougainvilliidae), a new hydromedusa from central Chile.

The genus Nemopsis, a bougainvillid hydrozoan with a dominant medusa phase, currently includes three species (Nemopsis bachei, N. dofleini and N. hexacanalis), all characterized by the presence of a pair of club-shaped tentacles in the median portion of the marginal bulbs. In this paper, we describe a fourth species, based on the medusa collected off Dichato, central Chilean coast.

Ctenophores from the Oaxaca coast, including a checklist of species from the Pacific coast of Mexico.

Ctenophores are poorly known in the tropical eastern Pacific, including the southern coast of Mexico. Previous records of ctenophores along the Pacific coast have been provided mainly from northern waters. For the coast of Oaxaca state, their occurrence has only been mentioned before at phylum level. In this paper, we provide the first three records of ctenophores for the Oaxacan coast, which represent new records of Beroe forskalii and Bolinopsis vitrea as well as the first record of Ocyropsis maculata in the tropical eastern Pacific. Descriptions of these three species, as well as a checklist of the ctenophores from the west coast of Mexico are provided.

Beroe gracilis (Ctenophora) from the Humboldt Current System: first occurrence of this species in the southern hemisphere.

Beroe gracilis Künne, 1939 is a small neritic ctenophore, previously recorded only from cold waters of the northern hemisphere. The present study provides the first record of the species in the southern hemisphere, found in the surface layer of the Humboldt Current System off the central Chilean coast (32°-36.5° S). A complete description of this material is provided.

First occurrence of Beroe forskalii (Ctenophora) in South American Atlantic coastal waters, with notes on the use of macrociliary patterns for beroid identification.

Beroe forskalii Milne Edwards, 1841 is an oceanic ctenophore with a global distribution. The present study provides the first record of Beroe forskalii for the South American Atlantic coast, including a redescription of the species and a discussion on the utility of macrociliary patterns for the correct identification of at least some beroid species, exemplified by a comparison of the macrociliary patterns of Beroe forskalii and Beroe ovata (Chamisso & Eysenhardt, 1821).

[The combined application of enhanced external counterpulsation for the rehabilitation of the patients presenting with coronary heart disease].

We have studied the influence of enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) applied in the combination with gaseous carbon dioxide baths and infrared laser therapy on the dynamics of clinical and functional abnormalities in the patients presenting with coronary heart disease (CHD) including those after surgical myocardial revascularization. The study was conducted on 40 patients of whom 20 suffered from chronic coronary heart disease and FC II-III angina of effort and the remaining 20 ones presented with coronary artery disease following myocardial revascularization (including 5 patients six months after coronary bypass grafting (CBG) and 15 ones three months after translumbar angioplasty (TLAP) in the combination with stenting of the coronary arteries). The study demonstrated that EECP in the combination with gaseous carbon dioxide baths and infrared laser therapy produced anti-ischemic and antianginal effects, stimulated myocardial contractility, contributed to economization of the cardiac activity, increased exercise tolerance, myocardial and coronary reserves. These changes resulted in the improvement of both the psychological status and the quality of life of the patients.

[Statokinesitherapy in the patients presenting with coronary heart disease associated with arterial hypertension].

The introduction of statokinesitherapy with biological feedback into combined rehabilitative treatment of the patients presenting with coronary heart disease associated with arterial hypertension and clinical manifestations of dyscirculatory encephalopathy and/or vertebrobasilar insufficiency reduced the severity of clinical symptoms of cerebral syndromes. Specifically, it resulted in the decreased frequency of dizziness and shaky walk, improved coordination and sense of equilibrium, enhanced postural stability in the vertical position. The positive dynamics of clinical manifestations was confirmed by the results of stabilometry that suggested decreased deviation from the centre of pressure in the frontal and saggital directions and diminished total area of the statokinesiogram.

[Plasmacytosis and dengue fever: an underestimated abnormality?]. / Plasmocytose sanguine et dengue: une anomalie biologique sous-estimée?

INTRODUCTION: A significant peripheral blood plasmacytosis is a rare finding associated with viral infections. We reported five consecutive cases of dengue virus infection, with circulating plasma cells. CASE REPORTS: Three women and two men, aged 26 to 75 years, had returned from French West Indies less than one week before the onset of the symptoms (mean: 2.5 days). The transient blood plasmacytosis was variable in intensity (0.1 to 0.8 G/L) with a maximal level between the fourth and the seventh day following the onset of the symptoms, and was associated in four patients, with activated lymphocytes and lympho-plasma cells. CONCLUSION: Reactive plasmacytosis during dengue fever is common and probably underestimated because it is transient and only identified by careful microscopic examination of a blood smear. Plasmacytosis could be explained by the intensity of the immunological response and the production of large amount of interleukins.

[Electrical pulse therapy for the treatment of the patients with obliterative atherosclerosis of the vessels in the lower extremities].

The authors report the results of the application of electrical pulses to the region of lumbar ganglia for the treatment of patients with obliterative atherosclerosis of the blood vessels in the lower extremities. It was shown that the temporary blockade of sympathetic regulation of the lower limb arteries promotes reduction of vascular tone in the distal segments of the lower extremities, stimulates collateral blood flow, and improves microcirculation in ischemic tissues(specifically, following reconstructive surgery on the lower limb arteries).

[Current state-of-the-art of rehabilitative treatment of chronic obliterative arterial diseases of the lower extremities].

Up-to-date approaches and methods for balneotherapy of chronic obliterative arterial diseases of the lower extremities are discussed with special reference to their confirmed clinical efficiency. The necessity of differential application of physical agents to the treatment and rehabilitation of the patients with these diseases is substantiated.

[Efficacy of chromotherapy in patients with hypertension].

The article describes the technique of nonpharmacological treatment of hypertension with light. Chromotherapy can be used in outpatient clinics, hospitals, rehabilitation centers and sanatoria.

Finding ways to reduce violence in psychiatric hospitals.

Managers at Kino Community Hospital in Tucson, AZ, were growing concerned about patient violence and its effects. This worry resulted from an increasing number of injuries to staff caused by patients in addition to the escalating costs of workers' compensation claims. Managers theorized that staff injuries could be decreased by changing staffing patterns, practicing crisis intervention techniques more frequently, and establishing continuing education classes. The hospital therefore implemented a step-by-step violence prevention program for its inpatient psychiatric department, an action that led to markedly fewer staff injuries by the end of 1996. A detailed account of this program follows.