Description of a new flower fly species of the Copestylum vagum group (Diptera: Syrphidae) from pristine Amazonian rainforests of Colombia and Suriname

The adult stage of a new flower fly species, Copestylum enriquei sp. nov. (Diptera: Syrphidae) is described based on a single male collected in pristine rainforest in the Amazonian region of Colombia (type-locality: Florencia, Caquetá) and two females from a conserved forest in Suriname (Para and Brokopondo). Copestylum enriquei sp. nov. belongs to the C. vagum species group and is similar in appearance to Copestylum vagum (Wiedemann), C. musicanum (Curran), C. tenorium Ricarte & Rotheray, and C. chapadensis (Curran) from which it differs by the gena and face separated by a very broad brown vitta; scutum orange except for the wide medial vitta, which is dark and metallic, ending before the prescutellar region, with the apical margin M-shaped; tibiae dark-brown, except yellow on basal 1/4. The male genitalia of C. enriquei sp. nov. are unique and striking among the C. vagum species group, characterized by the epandrium and cercus black, contrasting with the colour of hypandrium and surstylus, which are orange; epandrium with a dorsal extension, a novel character among this species group, in addition to the L-shaped surstylus, with two pairs of rounded ridges in the dorsal edge, similar to a small deer antler in velvet. Images of type material, including photographs of male genitalia are provided. A comparison of the diagnostic characters is provided as well as modifications to the previous keys to distinguish C. enriquei sp. nov. from the other species of the C. vagum group. The species Copestylum araceorum Ricarte & Rotheray and C. tenorium Ricarte & Rotheray are recorded for the first time in the Amazonian rainforest in Colombia.

A new species of nine-spined stickleback, Pungitius modestus (Gasterosteiformes, Gasterosteidae), from northern Honshu, Japan

A new species of nine-spined stickleback, Pungitius modestus, is described based on the holotype and 17 paratypes (38.7–51.7 mm standard length) collected from the inland area of Yamagata Prefecture, northern Honshu, Japan. The new species is distinguished from the other species of Pungitius by the following combination of characters: 30–32 small unconnected lateral plates; dorsal-fin rays VIII–X (usually IX)+9–11; anal-fin rays 7–10 (usually 8); pectoral-fin rays 10; a short spiny dorsal fin base (26.5%–29.8% SL); the first spiny dorsal fin spine behind the pectoral-fin base; a long pre-anal fin (59.9%–67.4% SL); the anal-fin spine below the 1st–3rd dorsal-fin rays; a short pelvic-fin spine (6.3%–9.1% SL); a short anal-fin spine (4.1%–6.0% SL); a long caudal peduncle (14.3%–19.7% SL); no body markings; membranes of the dorsal-fin spines dark brown with black pigments; the entire male body, and soft dorsal and anal fins, becoming black in the breeding season; the anteroventral process of the ectocoracoid present; and the dorsal extension of the ascending process of the pelvis level with the dorsal-most actinost.

The microcephaly gene Donson is essential for progenitors of cortical glutamatergic and GABAergic neurons

Biallelic mutations in DONSON, an essential gene encoding for a replication fork protection factor, were linked to skeletal abnormalities and microcephaly. To better understand DONSON function in corticogenesis, we characterized Donson expression and consequences of conditional Donson deletion in the mouse telencephalon. Donson was widely expressed in the proliferation and differentiation zones of the embryonic dorsal and ventral telencephalon, which was followed by a postnatal expression decrease. Emx1-Cre-mediated Donson deletion in progenitors of cortical glutamatergic neurons caused extensive apoptosis in the early dorsomedial neuroepithelium, thus preventing formation of the neocortex and hippocampus. At the place of the missing lateral neocortex, these mutants exhibited a dorsal extension of an early-generated paleocortex. Targeting cortical neurons at the intermediate progenitor stage using Tbr2-Cre evoked no apparent malformations, whereas Nkx2.1-Cre-mediated Donson deletion in subpallial progenitors ablated 75% of Nkx2.1-derived cortical GABAergic neurons. Thus, the early telencephalic neuroepithelium depends critically on Donson function. Our findings help explain why the neocortex is most severely affected in individuals with DONSON mutations and suggest that DONSON-dependent microcephaly might be associated with so far unrecognized defects in cortical GABAergic neurons. Targeting Donson using an appropriate recombinase is proposed as a feasible strategy to ablate proliferating and nascent cells in experimental research.

Ankle Distraction Arthroplasty combined with PRP injection for Post-traumatic Ankle Arthritis

Category: Ankle Arthritis Introduction/Purpose: To summarize and evaluate the surgical technique and clinical outcome of ankle distraction arthroplasty with PRP injection for post-traumatic ankle arthritis. Methods: Totally 21 patients of post-traumatic ankle arthritis were treated at the department of orthopaedic surgery, Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital. They were 13 males and 8 females with an average age of 32.5±6.2 years. The average course of disease were 14.0±2.8 months. After the failure of conservative management for at least 6 months, ankle distraction arthroplasty with PRP injection was performed in all patients. American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle and hindfoot score system and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) system were used to evaluate the final overall outcome. The range of motion (ROM) of ankle joint and complications were also recorded. Results: Pin tract infection was occurred in two patients, who were cured by alcohol care. 18 patients were followed for an average 36 months. The post-operative AOFAS ankle and hindfoot score was improved from 46.2±7.7 to 79.2±11.6 (t=-14.58, P ＜0.05), while the VAS score was decreased from 6.6±1.1 to 1.8±2.0 (t=16.424, P＜0.0001). The dorsal extension of ankle joint was increased from 1.3±9.3° to 8.1±5.5° (t=-4.675, P＜0.0001) and the plantar flexion was improved from 14.4±6.8° to 26.9±7.3°(t=-7.919, P＜0.05). The radiograph manifested the progressive course of ankle arthritis in four patients, two of which were cured by a salvage ankle arthrodesis by consequence of a failure of conservative treatment for persistent pain and functional limitation. Conclusion: The ankle distraction arthroplasty is an effective ankle preserving surgery, which could relieve symptoms, improve functions and delay the course of post-traumatic ankle arthritis

A new stonefly species (Plecoptera, Perlidae) from the Interior Highlands USA, with morphological and molecular comparison to other congeneric species

Thirty-one species of Nearctic Perlesta Banks, 1906 (Plecoptera: Perlidae) are recognized. A new species is described from western Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma, USA, Perlestasublobata South & DeWalt, sp. nov., from the adult male, adult female, and egg. Perlestasublobata males are differentiated from other congeners by a combination of a prominent ventral caecum and a distinct dorsal extension of the lateral sclerites of the aedeagus. A preliminary molecular phylogenetic hypothesis is proposed for Perlesta based on 17 congeners and three outgroup taxa using partial mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I sequence data. Illustrations, stereomicroscope images, and scanning electron micrographs support the description and comparison to other Perlesta.

New species of Thraulodes Ulmer, 1920 (Ephemeroptera: Leptophlebiidae: Atalophlebiinae) from Northeastern Brazil

Two new species of the genus Thraulodes Ulmer are described from the Brazilian Atlantic rainforest and Caatinga biomes from the state of Bahia, northeastern Brazil. Thraulodes catoles sp. nov. is described based on the male imago and can be distinguished from all other congeners by possessing the forewings with three cross veins basal to bullae; a reddish band on the apex of the foreleg femora; styliger plate with digitiform dorsal extension and penes with an apicolateral “ear”, long spines, lapel on inner margin and lateral pouch present. Thraulodes calori sp. nov. is described based on male and female imagos and can be diagnosed by the three weak cross veins basal to bullae on forewings; the apex of styliger plate rounded without medial projection with lateral margins acuminated; and the penes short, wide and without lateral pouch. The key to Thraulodes from Brazil was updated to include the new species described for the genus.

Treatment of Chronic Bony Mallet Fingers by Dorsal Extension Block Pinning with Percutaneous Curettage

Dorsal extension block pinning is a commonly performed surgical technique for acute bony mallet fingers. However, the treatment of chronic bony mallet finger remains controversial. We investigated the use of dorsal extension block pinning with percutaneous curettage for chronic bony mallet fingers. Seven patients with chronic bony mallet fingers were treated by dorsal extension block pinning with percutaneous curettage. The average age was 17 (range, 12–23) years, and the average time from injury to surgery was 20 (range, 7–49) weeks. Bone union was achieved in all patients. None of the patients experienced pain after bone union. The average loss of distal interphalangeal joint extension was 6 (range, 5–20) degrees, and the average flexion was 59 (range, 40–80) degrees. The Crawford functional score was excellent in three patients, good in two, and fair in two. Dorsal extension block pinning with percutaneous curettage could be a useful treatment for chronic bony mallet fingers.

Tricorythodes macuira (Ephemeroptera: Leptohyphidae), new species from Colombia

Tricorythodes macuira sp n. is described and illustrated based on nymphs of both sexes and eggs from Colombia. This species can be recognized by the following combination of characters: maxillary palp 2-segmented and small, pronotum with rounded anterolateral projection, pronotum and mesonotum with thick and long setae on margins, femora I and II with transverse row of long setae at dorsum, tarsal claws with marginal row of 5–8 denticles and subdistal double row of 4-2 + 1-2 submarginal denticles, subtriangular operculate gills shaded black on a basal stripe, ventralmost lamellae of gills III–V with dorsal extension very well developed, abdominal segments VII–IX with small posterolateral spines. Eggs with one polar cap, polygonal chorionic plates with elevated margins and long adhesive filaments near the uncapped pole.