A new species of Nigrobaetis Novikova & Kluge, 1987 (Ephemeroptera, Baetidae) from Tamil Nadu, India

Nigrobaetis klugei sp. nov. is described based on nymphs from the Sastha falls of Western Ghats, Southern India. The nymph of Nigrobaetis klugei sp. nov. can be distinguished from other Oriental species of Nigrobaetis by the following combination of characters: (i) dorsal surface of the labrum with 1+3 long simple stout setae on the distal half; (ii) paraproct distally not expanded, with a reduced number of spines on distal margin (three large and two small spines); (iii) paraglossae slender, approximately as wide as glossae; (iv) absence of medioproximal spots in the abdominal tergites and (v) long and pointed triangular spines at the distal margin of abdominal tergites.

Acute Vascular Reactive Inflammatory Acral Skin Lesions and SARS-CoV-2

Introduction: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) predominantly affects the respiratory system, but there have been many reports of skin involvement. Several cutaneous manifestations associated with COVID-19 have been identified, including acral lesions (pernio-like), which we intend to better characterize in this study. Methods: Demographic, clinical and major histopathologic characteristics of acral skin lesions occurring during the acute infection stage of COVID-19 disease were evaluated in this survey conducted in the Dermatology Division of Santa Casa Hospital Complex, Federal University of Health Sciences, Porto Alegre, Brazil. Results: In the present study, we evaluated eight female patients with acute SARS-CoV-2 infection confirmed by PCR with acral skin lesions including pernio-like. The mean age was 43.6 and with no other acute disease, who had a good outcome with need for hospitalization only in 2 cases. Pernio-like lesions were observed under hot weather conditions in patients who denied any previous history of similar cutaneous manifestations. Some acral lesions resembled those of lupus erythematosus and of herpes simplex paronychia, but laboratory tests were negative for those conditions. Unusual nail involvement was present, characterized by half-moon shaped erythematous bands at the distal margin of the lunula. Conclusion: Recognition of these skin lesions is important in that they could be potential markers, aiding in the diagnosis and prognosis of COVID-19 disease.

Morphological observations and molecular confirmation of larvae of Levisquilla inermis (Crustacea: Stomatopoda) from the Seto Inland Sea

Mantis shrimps are commercially important crustaceans in many areas of the world. In contrast to the relatively common studies of adults, limited studies have been attempted of larvae because of a lack of identification keys. The objectives of this study were two-fold: (1) to link wild-caught larval specimens from the Seto Inland Sea to a certain species and (2) to present a detailed morphological description of the last larval stage. The resulting molecular phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences strongly implies that our larval specimens were linked to Levisquilla inermis, which was barcoded from a newly collected adult specimen with a morphological identification. K2P genetic divergence was found to be 0% among the larval and adult specimens. The congeneric species L. jurichi was the sister group of the L. inermis cluster, but the K2P distance between them was 3.4%, and it was considered a distinct species. Morphological observations provided five major distinguishing characteristics of the last-stage larva of L. inermis: (1) propodus of second maxilliped with three basal spines, (2) all five pleopods possessing an appendix interna with cincinnuli, (3) exopod of uropod longer than the endopod, (4) distal margin of the exopod of the uropod reaching the lateral tooth of telson, and (5) telson with nine intermediate denticles. Overall, our results reveal the importance of combining molecular and morphological analyses for solving stomatopod larval identification. This finding can be used to support and facilitate future research on the taxonomy and biodiversity of stomatopod larvae.

Regenerative Polarity of the Fin Ray in Zebrafish Caudal Fin and Related Tissue Formation on the Cut Surface

Zebrafish caudal fin rays are used as a model system for regeneration because of their high regenerative ability, but studies on the regeneration polarity of the fin ray are limited. To investigate this regeneration polarity, we made a hole to excise part of the fin ray and analyzed the regeneration process. We confirmed that the fin rays always regenerated from the proximal margin toward the distal margin, as previously reported; however, regeneration-related genes were expressed at both the proximal and distal edges of the hole in the early stage of regeneration, suggesting that the regenerative response also occurs at the distal edge. One difference between the proximal and distal margins is a sheet-like tissue that is formed on the apical side of the regenerated tissue at the proximal margin. This sheet-like tissue was not observed at the distal edge. To investigate whether the distal margin was also capable of forming this sheet-like tissue and subsequent regeneration, we kept the distal margin separated from the proximal margin by manipulation. Consequently, the sheet-like tissue was formed at the distal margin and regeneration of the fin ray was also induced. The regenerated fin rays from the distal margin protruded laterally from the caudal fin and then bent distally, and their ends showed the same characteristics as those of the normal fin rays. These results suggest that fin rays have an ability to regenerate in both directions; however, under normal conditions, regeneration is restricted to the proximal margin because the sheet-like tissue is preferentially formed on the apical side of the regenerating tissue from the proximal margin.

Prognostic implications of surgical specimen quality on the oncological outcomes of open and laparoscopic surgery in mid and low rectal cancer

Purpose Determine differences in pathologic outcomes between laparoscopic (LAP) and open surgery (OPEN) for mid and low rectal cancer and its influence in long-term oncological outcomes. Methods Retrospective case matched study at a tertiary institution. Adults with rectal cancer below 12 cm from the anal verge operated between January 2005 and September 2018 were included. Primary outcomes were quality of specimen, overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), and local recurrence (LR). Results The study included 311 patients, LAP = 108 (34.7%), OPEN = 203 (65,3%). A successful resection was accomplished in 81% of the LAP group and in 84.5% of the OPEN (p = 0.505). No differences in free distal margin (LAP = 100%, OPEN = 97.5%; p = 0.156) or circumferential resection margin (LAP = 95.2%, OPEN = 93.2%; p = 0.603) were observed. However, mesorectum quality was incomplete in 16.2% for LAP and in 8.1% for OPEN (p = 0.048). OS was 91.1% for LAP and 81.1% for OPEN (p = 0.360). DFS was 81.4% for LAP and 77.5% for OPEN (p = 0.923). Overall, LR was 2.3% without differences between groups. Conclusions Laparoscopic approach could affect the quality of surgical specimen due to technical aspects. However, if principles of surgical oncology are respected, minor pathologic differences in the quality of the mesorectum may not influence on the long-term oncologic outcomes.

Interesting interstitial Paramesochridae (Copepoda: Harpacticoida): Maliithipon wellsi gen. et sp. nov. from the Philippines, M. aberrans (Mielke, 1984) comb. nov. from Panama, and M. cf. aberrans (Mielke, 1984) from the Azores

We propose and describe a new genus of interstitial Paramesochridae, Maliithipon gen. nov., to accommodate three species. Maliithipon wellsi sp. nov., type species of the genus, is described based on specimens collected in two sandy beaches in Isla Verde, the Philippines. Apodopsyllus aberrans Mielke, 1984a described from Panama, is allocated to the herein erected genus as Maliithipon aberrans (Mielke, 1984a) comb. nov. Maliithipon cf. aberrans is described, based on specimens collected in the Azores and previously identified as Apodopsyllus aberrans. The new genus is characterized by several distinct morphological features: mandible with uniramous, 2-segmented palp and gnathobase with thin and pointed teeth; maxillule with reduced armature, lacking endopod and exopod; maxilla large, with three syncoxal endites and endopod with reduced setal number; P5 very reduced in both sexes; caudal rami with six setae, two of which (setae III and VI) transformed; pseudoperculum well-developed, with four-lobed distal margin. The new genus is included in the subfamily Paramesochrinae Lang, 1944 and in the genus-group Scottopsyllus (sensu Huys, 1987). It has strong affinities with Leptopsyllus (Leptopsyllus) platyspinosus Mielke, 1984b and Wellsopsyllus (Intermediopsyllus) smirnovi (Kunz, 1992), which are considered as species inquirendae in this paper. Some remarks on the ecology and geonemy of the three studied species are provided. We also list the accompanying Paramesochridae obtained from the two new collecting sites of the genus, and all the genera of Paramesochridae recorded from other sites in the Philippines during the same survey.

Clinical Efficacy of Different Approaches for Laparoscopic Intersphincteric Resection of Low Rectal Cancer: A Comparison Study

Background: The operative results of different approaches for the laparoscopic intersphincteric resection (LAISR) of low rectal cancer vary, and the patient characteristics associated with the best outcomes for each procedure have not been reported. We compared the efficacy of different approaches for LAISR of low rectal cancer and discussed the surgical indications for each approach.Methods: We retrospectively reviewed data from 235 patients with low rectal cancer treated via LAISR from October 2010 to September 2016. Patients underwent either the transabdominal approach for ISR (TAISR, n=142), the transabdominal perineal approach for ISR (TPAISR, n=57), or the transanal pull-through approach for ISR (PAISR, n=36).Results: The PAISR and TAISR groups exhibited shorter operation times and less intraoperative blood loss than the TPAISR group. The anastomotic distance was shorter in the PAISR and TPAISR groups than in the TAISR group. No differences in the ability to perform radical resection, overall complications, postoperative recovery, Wexner score recorded 12 months after ostomy closure, three-year disease-free survival, local recurrence-free survival, distant metastasis-free survival, or overall survival (OS) were observed among the three groups.Conclusions: TAISR, TPAISR, and PAISR have unique advantages and do not differ in terms of operation safety, patient outcomes, or anal function. TPAISR requires a longer time to complete and is associated with more bleeding and a slower recovery of anal function. PAISR should be considered when TAISR cannot ensure a negative distal margin and the tumor and BMI are relatively small; otherwise, TPAISR is required.

The genus Stammericaris Jakobi (Copepoda: Harpacticoida: Parastenocarididae) in the Nearctic subregion: description of Stammericaris remotaepatriae sp. nov., proposal of Stammericaris palmerae (Reid 1992) comb. nov., and remarks on other North American Parastenocarididae

We describe a new harpacticoid, Stammericaris remotaepatriae sp. nov., collected from the hyporheic habitat of a stream in Nantucket, MA, USA. The new species is characterized by the size of the caudal rami of both sexes, which are shorter than the anal somite, by the morphology and armature of the P3 and, mainly, by the P4 endopod of males, represented by a curved plate with a strongly bifid tip, the distal proximal outgrowth of the distal margin spiniform and denticled, the proximal outgrowth missing. The study of the new species allowed us to review the systematic position of Parastenocaris palmerae Reid, 1992, which we transferred to Stammericaris Jakobi, 1972 as Stammericaris palmerae (Reid, 1992) comb. nov., based mainly on the structure of the male P4 endopod complex and the setation of the caudal rami. We also discussed the taxonomic position and affinities of Parastenocaris trichelata Reid, 1955, suggesting that this species is related to the two former ones for a set of diagnostic features, but can not be attributed to the genus due to the peculiar morphology of the male P4 endopod complex; P. trichelata is therefore considered species inquirenda. We also discussed Parastenocaris sp. 1 and Parastenocaris sp. 3, two taxa only partially described and drawn in Strayer (1988). In fact, Parastenocaris sp. 1 can be related to Stammericaris and might represent a third species of the genus in the Nearctic region. Remarkably, the structure of the male P4 endopod of Parastenocaris sp. 3 is typical of Proserpinicaris Jakobi, 1972; this hypothetical assignment of the species to Proserpinicaris, if confirmed, would be of relevant taxonomic and biogeographic value. Finally, we provide an updated distribution map of the genus Stammericaris and brief remarks on the faunistic and ecological characteristics of the taxa presented and discussed in this paper.

New species of flea of the genus Dactylopsylla Jordan (Insecta: Siphonaptera) from the Flora and Fauna Protection Area Médanos de Samalayuca, Chihuahua, Mexico

A new species of Dactylopsylla Jordan, parasites of Geomyidae rodents from Chihuahua, is described and illustrated as D. samalayucae n. sp. This species is compared with their morphologically closest relatives. Males are characterized by the shape of the upper lobe of the inmovable and movable process, the shape and chaetotaxy of the distal arm of sternum IX and the shape of the crochet; and females by the contour of the distal margin of sternum VII. The geographical distribution of Dactylopsylla is extended to the Chihuahuan desert in Mexico as D. samalayucae n. sp. is reported from south of the Natural Protected Area Médanos de Samalayuca (MS). A recent key to Dactylopsylla species is updated with inclusion of the new species.

490 COLONIC INTERPOSITION FOR ESOPHAGEAL REPLACEMENT AFTER ESOPHAGECTOMY FOR CANCER—A SINGLE CENTER EXPERIENCE

The standard esophageal replacement after esophagectomy for cancer treatment is a gastric conduit, as it is a simpler technique than the other options available, requiring only one anastomosis. However, when the stomach is not available, a left- or right colon graft interposition can be performed. The purpose of this study was to review our experience with colon interposition following esophagectomy for cancer and assess the surgical outcomes. Methods The clinical data and surgical outcomes form patients who underwent esophagectomy with colon interposition for cancer treatment, in a single institution, between January 1990 and December 2017. The results were compared with cases with gastric reconstruction. Results From January 1990 and December 2017, 25 cases of transhiatal esophagectomy with colon interposition were identified. In the same period, 97 cases of transhiatal esophagectomy with gastric pull-up were also performed. The patient’s clinical data and surgical outcomes are presented in Table 1. The indication for performing a colon interposition was positive distal margin in 87% of cases, gastric conduit ischemia in 8,7% and prior gastric surgery in 4,3%. The most common pull-up route was the posterior mediastinum (87%). Conclusion Our results are in line with the literature and demonstrate that colon interposition after esophagectomy is feasible and, despite having a significant morbimortality, appears to be a valuable alternative for the challenging situation where the stomach is not available.