Morphological characterization of dermal denticles of the Broadnose Sevengill Shark Notorynchus cepedianus (Elasmobranchii: Hexanchidae)

Shark skin is covered by small structures called dermal denticles whose functions are diverse, such as protection, bioluminescence, hydrodynamics, among other functions. These structures have a great variety of shapes and sizes, which can be a useful approach for specimen identification as diagnostic characters between species. The present study aims to describe the dermal denticles morphology of the broadnose seven-gill shark Notorynchus cepedianus, evaluating differences among life-stage (neonate, juvenile and adult), sex and body region (dorsal and ventral). For achieving it, 39 specimens were collected at six landing points along the Peruvian coast. The dermal denticles from two body regions(dorsal and ventral) were photographed, measured (length, width, angle and density), and described using a stereoscope. Dermal denticles measures showed significant morphological differences between body regions as well as stages of development, but not between sexes. The differences are: (1) Crown shape: as the individual grows, it can be seen that the cross shape is losing, (2) Crown cusps: cusps length varied according to the stage of each individual, it was also observed that the lateral cusps are larger in dorsal than ventral region, and (3) Union peduncle - crown: adult specimens and both body regions, the observed union was very dimly and it did not have a defined shape. On the whole, these reported variations in measured traits could be useful as diagnostic characters to identify the stage of development at which the landed and marketed specimens are found.

Reducing the manual length setting error of a passive Gough-Stewart platform for surgical template fabrication using a digital measurement system

As recently demonstrated, a passive Gough-Stewart platform (a.k.a. hexapod) can be used to create a personalized surgical template to achieve minimally invasive access to the cochlea. The legs of the hexapod are manually adjusted to the desired length, which must be read off an analog scale. Previous experiments have shown that manual length setting of the hexapod’s legs is error-prone because of the imprecise readability of the analog scale. The objective of this study is to determine if integration of a linear encoder and digitally displaying the measured length help reduce the length setting error. Two experiments were conducted where users set the leg length manually. In both experiments, the users were asked to set the leg length to 20 nominal values using the whole setting range from 0 mm to 10 mm. In the first experiment, users had to rely only on the analog scale; in the second experiment, the electronic display additionally showed the user the actual leg length. Results show that the mean length setting error without using the digital display and only relying on the analog scale was (0.036 ± 0.020) mm (max: 0.107 mm) in contrast to (0.001 ± 0.000) mm (max: 0.002 mm) for the experiment with the integrated digital measurement system. The results support integration of digital length measurement systems as a promising tool to increase the accuracy of surgical template fabrication and thereby patients’ safety. Future studies must be conducted to evaluate if integration of a linear encoder in each of the six legs is feasible.

DO SEEDS OF Anadenanthera macrocarpa AND Pityrocarpa moniliformis FORMED IN DIFFERENT LOCATIONS OF THE FRUIT HAVE SIMILAR PHYSIOLOGICAL QUALITY?

Trees of the Fabaceae family can produce seeds with contrasting size and germinative performance depending on the region where they were formed in the fruit. Such differences reduce the physiological quality of the seed lot. Thus, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the physiological quality of seeds formed in different seminal nucleus of the fruits of Anadenanthera macrocarpa and Pityrocarpa moniliformis and their implications for the final composition of the seed lot. The biometric characterization of the fruits was performed with four quantitative descriptors (length, width, thickness, and number of seeds per fruit). Then, seeds formed in seminal nucleus of the proximal, intermediate, and distal regions of the fruit were measured (length, width, and thickness) and evaluated using germination and vigor tests (germination speed, length, and dry weight of seedlings). Seeds from these species have biometric differences depending on their origin in the fruit, in which those formed in the seminal nucleus of the intermediate region of the fruit are larger than the other ones. The origin of the seeds of A. macrocarpa and P. moniliformis formed in different seminal nucleus of the fruit do not show differences in physiological quality. Therefore, the sorting of seeds originated in different regions of the fruit does not benefit the final quality of the seed lots of these species.

Measurement of Chromosomal Arms and FISH Reveal Complex Genome Architecture and Standardized Karyotype of Model Fish, Genus Carassius

The widely distributed ray-finned fish genus Carassius is very well known due to its unique biological characteristics such as polyploidy, clonality, and/or interspecies hybridization. These biological characteristics have enabled Carassius species to be successfully widespread over relatively short period of evolutionary time. Therefore, this fish model deserves to be the center of attention in the research field. Some studies have already described the Carassius karyotype, but results are inconsistent in the number of morphological categories for individual chromosomes. We investigated three focal species: Carassius auratus, C. carassius and C. gibelio with the aim to describe their standardized diploid karyotypes, and to study their evolutionary relationships using cytogenetic tools. We measured length (q+plength) of each chromosome and calculated centromeric index (i value). We found: (i) The relationship between q+plength and i value showed higher similarity of C. auratus and C. carassius. (ii) The variability of i value within each chromosome expressed by means of the first quartile (Q1) up to the third quartile (Q3) showed higher similarity of C. carassius and C. gibelio. (iii) The fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis revealed higher similarity of C. auratus and C. gibelio. (iv) Standardized karyotype formula described using median value (Q2) showed differentiation among all investigated species: C. auratus had 24 metacentric (m), 40 submetacentric (sm), 2 subtelocentric (st), 2 acrocentric (a) and 32 telocentric (T) chromosomes (24m+40sm+2st+2a+32T) ; C. carassius: 16m+34sm+8st+42T; and C. gibelio: 16m+22sm+10st+2a+50T. (v) We developed R scripts applicable for the description of standardized karyotype for any other species. The diverse results indicated unprecedented complex genomic and chromosomal architecture in the genus Carassius probably influenced by its unique biological characteristics which make the study of evolutionary relationships more difficult than it has been originally postulated.

1463 One Urology Unit’s Experience With Holmium Laser Enucleation Of The Prostate(Holep)

Introduction Holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) is a minimally invasive procedure for the management of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia and Bladder Outlet Obstruction. The European Associations of Urologists (EAU) recommend HoLEP should be offered to patients with prostates measuring >30cc or who are anticoagulated Aim To review the outcomes of one-unit HoLEP procedures. Comparing the first third of patients to the final third of patients in a 183-patient cohort. Method We collected data retrospectively over 44-month period from 183 patients using electronic patient records. Outcomes measured; length of stay (los), length of time for catheter. Length of time of procedure. comparing the 1st 61 patient with the last 61 patients and reviewed rates of complications from HoLEP using the Clavien-Dindo classification Results The mean size of prostate was 83cc. 149 (81%) of patients had a LOS of £ 1 day. The mean length of catheter time 3.44 days. Mean length of operating time – 71 minutes. Length of time for the 1st 61 patients was 70.2 minutes compared with 73.1 minutes for last 61 patients. With regards to complications, 8 patient had Grade 3 however 0 patients had grade 4 or 5. Conclusions Patients undergo HoLEP procedure with Prostate size in keeping with EAU. This unit has a short length of stay post-op with low complication rate. HoLEP has a short post op catheter time.

Assessment of conformity of actual thoraco-lumbar pedicle screw dimensions to manufacturers’ specifications

Although correct selection of pedicle screw dimensions is indispensable to achieving optimum results, manufacturer-specified or intended dimensions may differ from actual dimensions. Here we analyzed the reliability of specifications made by various manufacturers by comparing them to the actual lengths and diameters of pedicle screws in a standardized experimental setup. We analyzed the actual length and diameter of pedicle screws of five different manufacturers. Four different screw lengths and for each length two different diameters were measured. Measurements were performed with the pedicle screws attached to a rod, with the length determined from the bottom of the tulip to the tip of the screw and the diameters determined at the proximal and distal threads. Differences in length of > 1 mm were found between the manufacturers’ specifications and our actual measurements in 24 different pedicle screws. The highest deviation of the measured length from the manufacturers’ specification was 3.2 mm. The difference in length between the shortest and longest screw with identical specifications was 3.4 mm. The highest deviation of the measured proximal thread diameters and the manufacturer’s specifications was 0.5 mm. The diameter of the distal thread depends on the shape of the pedicle screw and hence varies between manufacturers in conical screws. We found clear differences in the length of pedicle screws with identical manufacturer specifications. Since differences between the actual dimensions and the dimensions indicated by the manufacturer may vary, this needs to be taken into account during the planning of spine instrumentation.

CT definition of the surgical apex in the orbit

The orbital apex is an undefined but well understood concept of Orbital Surgeons. We sought to determine the surgical apex area specifically where the volume ratio decreases significantly impacting on the optic nerve. A retrospective analysis using PACS program processing, measured the right retrobulbar space volume changes in 100 randomly selected cases without orbital pathology where CT was performed for non-ophthalmic indications. Volume of the retrobulbar space was measured between two recognizable landmarks. The first landmark being the point of exit of the optic nerve from the eye and the second landmark the optic nerve's point of exit from the orbit. The measured length between these two points was divided into five equal segments, V1-V5. The volumes of all 5 segments were compared and the most significant area of volume depletion was established. The mean numeric value of measured orbital volumes was compared. A ratio difference of V1/V2 was less than 2, V2/V3 was 2.32 (± 0.27), V3/4 was 3.24 (± 0.39), and V4/V5 was 5.67 (± 1.66). The most remarkable difference in ratio was between V4 and V5 (mean 5.67 ± 1.66 with p < .0001). The V3 segment (the posterior 3/5 of the retrobulbar space volume) is the location where decrease in orbital volume impacts, and measured ratios are statistically significant. We defined the surgical apex as the posterior 3/5 of the retro-bulbar orbital space. It is consequently the area of higher risk for optic nerve compression. This definition could be routinely utilized by ophthalmologists and neuroradiologists when evaluating masses affecting the orbit.

The effectiveness of kinesio taping in edema-reducing treatment for fractures of the lower jaw

Aim. To assess the effect of Kinesio taping on edema reduction among the patients with fractures of the mandible (lower jaw) in the early postsurgical period of osteosynthesis. Methods. Patients with unilateral mandibular angle fractures with displacement of fragments (49 men at the age of 1850 years), divided into 2 groups: the main group 26 patients (with the inclusion of Kinesio taping in the complex of treatment) and the control group 23 patients (the traditional complex of treatment). All patients underwent splinting of the jaw and miniplate osteosynthesis. Kinesio tapes were applied the next day after surgery to the skin above and below the surgical wound. Three out of five standard landmarks were used to measure edema on the 1st and 5th days after osteosynthesis. Data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics and Student's test. In all cases, the level of statistical significance was 5% (p 0.05). Results. On the day after osteosynthesis, the patients of the main group showed a statistically significant (р 0.003) increase in the measured length for all three landmarks compared with the intact side due to pronounced postoperative edema. On the 5th day after the inclusion of Kinesio taping in the complex of treatment, there was a reduction in edema the indicators of the fractured and intact sides did not differ significantly from each other (р 0.05). In patients of the comparison group, the decrease in the parameters of postoperative edema on the 5th day of observation was negligible and insignificant in all measurements (р 0.05). Conclusion. The results indicate the effectiveness of using Kinesio taping for mandibular fractures in the early postoperative period of osteosynthesis, which makes it possible to achieve a significant reduction in postoperative edema; Kinesio taping is a promising, easy-to-perform method that can be used to reduce inflammatory edema in fractures of the mandible.