926 research outputs found
Caecum morgan Vannozzi & Pizzini & Raines 2015, sp. n.
No full textCaecum morgan sp. n. Figs 2A–F, 3, 22D, E, 23D, E, 26J, K Etymology: Derived from the type locality (Cape Morgan) and used as a noun in apposition. Description:Tube small, subcylindrical, proportionally thick, whitish, smooth.Aperture slightly oblique toward the ventral side, showing a well-developed swelling followed by a contraction and finally by a very small ring. Surface smooth, dull, without microsculpture. Septum opaque, slightly protruding over the cutting plane, with a sharp, nail-like mucro directed toward the right side, giving a dome-shaped outline to the septum when viewed from the side. Early stages and operculum unknown. Length: 1.6–1.8 mm. Type locality: SOUTH AFRICA: Eastern Cape: Agulhas Bank, off Cape Morgan Lighthouse, - 100 m. Holotype (Figs 2A–C, 22D, 23D): SOUTH AFRICA: Eastern Cape: sh, Agulhas Bank, off Cape Morgan Lighthouse, - 100 m, broken coral + shell, don. A. Connell, 1977, (NMSA B7132 / T3377), length 1.66 mm, min. diam. (posterior end) 0.22 mm, diam. in the middle of the tube 0.30 mm, max. diam. (apertural end) 0.34 mm. Paratypes: 6 sh, same data as holotype (NMSA W9676 / T3378). Comparative material examined: C. campanulatum Raines & Pizzini, 2005, holotype (LACM 3027); C. chinense de Folin, 1868, lectotype (MNHN-IM-2000-24905); C.dakuwaqa Pizzini, Raines & Vannozzi, 2013, holotype (MNHN-IM-2000-24843); C. subquadratum Carpenter, 1859, lectotype (NHMUK 1858.12.9.13, Fig. 21E); C. fijiense Pizzini, Raines & Vannozzi, 2013, holotype (MNHN-IM-2000-24857). Distribution: Currently known only from the type locality, Cape Morgan, north of East London (Fig. 3). Remarks: Caecum morgan sp. n. strongly resembles C. subquadratum due to the lack of both sculpture and microsculpture, as well as a similar shape of the mucro. It can however be separated by the distinctly subcylindrical and more curved shape of the tube, and by the presence of a conspicuous swelling above the aperture, barely visible in C. subquadratum. In C. morgan sp. n. the septum is only somewhat emerging above the cutting plane. Conversely, in C. subquadratum the septum is more protruding, on the whole giving the mamillate-ungulate appearance pointed out by Carpenter (1859). Caecum morgan sp. n. resembles C. gofasi Pizzini & Nofroni, 2001 in general aspect, but the latter has a dorsal spatulate mucro and shows a distinct worm-like microsculpture absent in the new species. Moreover, C. morgan sp. n. is also similar to C. campanulatum Raines & Pizzini 2005, C. dakuwaqa, and C. fijiense (both Pizzini, Raines & Vannozzi, 2013), having the same bell-shaped aperture, but in these species the septum is domeshaped without any mucro. Additionally, C. morgan sp. n. differs from C. dakuwaqa by the lack of the exasperate torsion of the tube occurring in the latter. Caecum morgan is also similar to C. musorstomi Pizzini, Raines & Vannozzi, 2013, from which it can be separated by the smooth surface without sculpture, and microsculpture and by a different orientation and shape of the mucro.Published as part of Vannozzi, Angelo, Pizzini, Mauro & Raines, Bret, 2015, Revision of South African Caecidae (Mollusca: Gastropoda), pp. 99 in African Invertebrates 56 (1) on pages 104-105, DOI: 10.5733/afin.056.0109, http://zenodo.org/record/766186
Caecum leilae Vannozzi & Pizzini & Raines 2015, sp. n.
No full textCaecum leilae sp. n. Figs 10A–N, 11, 22P, Q, 23P, Q, 24E, F, 26M–P Etymology: Named after the late Leila Zitelli, second author’s mother. Description: Tube rather large, cylindrical, colourless and glossy, semitransparent, evenly arched, sculptured by very fine, slightly oblique rings, more evident in the abapical half, separated by narrower interspaces. Aperture simple, contracted, slightly oblique toward the ventral side. Surface grooved by gross, shallow, worm-like incisions visible at low magnifications especially in the adapical half. Septum domeshaped, opaque, smooth, very protruding. Mucro ear-like, of variable height with respect to the septum, positioned at a variable angle between the dorsal and the right side. Surface of the septum with orange-peel aspect. Sparse, irregular grooves arranged like waves coming from the mucro are often visible on the septum. Macula small, heart-shaped, hardly visible, transparent, slightly displaced to the left side. Periostracum light brown, dull, easily lost, sculptured by fine longitudinal wormlike grooves. Juveniles quite similar to the adults, having the same morphology of the aperture, sculpture and microsculpture and are distinguished by the smaller diameter, the more curved tube, the less defined rings and by the slightly less protruding septum. Larval stage unknown. Operculum thin, corneous, circular, multispiral, composed by a small central nucleus surrounded by an initially tight spiral of 7–8 whorls. External side slightly concave, internal side with a slightly convex nucleus. Length: 2.5–3.2 mm. Type locality: SOUTH AFRICA: Eastern Cape: Mzamba. Holotype (Figs 10A–C, 22P, 23P): SOUTH AFRICA: Eastern Cape: sh, Mzamba, beach drift, leg. R. Kilburn & D. Herbert 12–30.v.1986 (NMSA D3032 /T3374), length 3.1 mm, min. diam. (posterior end) 0.51 mm, diam. in the middle of the tube 0.6 mm, max. diam. (apertural end) 0.62 mm. Paratypes: SOUTH AFRICA: Eastern Cape: 7 lv and 26 sh, Mzamba, near Natal border, vii.1976 (JPM 2119); 2 lv and 6 sh, same data as holotype (NMSA W9674 /T3375); 1 lv, Mbotyi, beach drift, leg. R. Kilburn, D. Herbert v-vi.1985 (NMSA C8454 /T3885); KwaZulu-Natal: 2 lv, Mapelane, S of St. Lucia, iv.1981 (JPM 2116); 1 lv, off Richards bay, shallow dredgings, viii.1986 (JPM); 2 sh, off Durban Bluff, 18–22 m, fine sand, leg. RK, RF 1983 (NMSA E981 /T3883); 1 lv and 3 sh (1 broken), Mission Rocks, N of St. Lucia, v.1989 (JPM); 1 lv and 2 sh (1 broken, 1 with two attached growth stages), Mapelane, leg J. Marais iv.1981 (NMSA B4607 /T3882); 1 lv, Umtamvuna R. mouth, beach-drift, leg. J.P. Marais vi.1996 (NMSA V3999 /T3884). Comparative material examined: C. inflatum de Folin, 1869, lectotype (MNHN-IM-2000-24915) selected by Pizzini et al. (2013: 30, fig. 12P–R); C. attenuatum de Folin, 1880, lectotype (NHMUK 1887.2.9.2315) selected by Pizzini et al. (2013: 3, fig. 9O, P); C. cooki Pizzini & Raines, 2011, holotype (MNHNIM-2000-23124); C. incisum sp. n.; C. inhacaense Albano & Pizzini, 2011, holotype (MZB 15000). Distribution: Eastern coast of South Africa from Mbotyi (south of Port Edward) to St. Lucia (Fig. 11). Remarks: Caecum leilae resembles C. inflatum de Folin, 1869 and C. attenuatum de Folin, 1880 which show a similar annulated sculpture, but the septum is different, with a larger and illdefined mucro in C. inflatum and with a triangular outline in C. attenuatum. Caecum leilae can also be compared with the IndoWest Pacific species C. cooki Pizzini & Raines, 2011 with which it shares the shape of the ear-like mucro, but shows no sculpture and a different shape of the aperture as well. Juveniles of C. leilae can be confused with C. incisum and C. inhacaense. However, C. leilae can be distinguished by the different sculpture (obsolete rings in leilae, incised collabral grooves defining flat rings in incisum) and by the mucro (broader in C. incisum and by the presence of the longitudinal microsculpture, while the latter shows a different shape of the mucro and lacks the regular annular sculpture crossed by the longitudinal microsculpture occurring throughout the tube that is typical of C. leilae). Moreover, the maculae in C. leilae and C. inhacaense are different in both shape and colour (heartshaped and transparent in the former, roundish to chevron-shaped and opaque white in the latter) (Fig. 24E–G).Published as part of Vannozzi, Angelo, Pizzini, Mauro & Raines, Bret, 2015, Revision of South African Caecidae (Mollusca: Gastropoda), pp. 99 in African Invertebrates 56 (1) on pages 112-114, DOI: 10.5733/afin.056.0109, http://zenodo.org/record/766186
Caecum inhacaense Albano & Pizzini 2011, sp. n.
No full textCaecum inhacaense sp. n. <p>Figs 3A–C, E</p> <p>Etymology: From Ilha da Inhaca, southern Mozambique, the type locality.</p> <p>Description:</p> <p> <b>7XEH F\OLQGULFDO, VPRRWK, FURVVHG RQO\ E\ ¿QH JURZWK VWULDWLRQ. 6HSWXP PXFURQDWH,</b> turned to right side by about 30° and protruding over the cutting plane. Mucro (Fig.3C) <b>KDV WKH IRUP RI D VPDOO ÀDWWHQHG EDOO, DOPRVW REVROHWH LQ MXYHQLOH VSHFLPHQV. 'RUVDO PDUJLQ RI PXFUR VWURQJO\ FRQYH[, ZKLOH LWV YHQWUDO PDUJLQ VOLJKWO\ 6‒VKDSHG DQG LQÀDWHG</b> near the cutting plane.Aperture circular, weakly ringed and slightly contracted. Juveniles (Fig. 3E) have more slender shell, and aperture lip thin and fragile. Colour whitish.</p> <p>Operculum and soft parts morphology unknown.</p> <p>Holotype dimensions: length 1.4 mm, diameter 0.3 mm.</p> <p>Holotype (Figs 3A–C): Loc. 2035; gold coated for SEM photography (MZB 15000).</p> <p> Paratypes:A (juvenile) from the type locality(Fig.3E), gold coated for SEM photography (MZB 15001). B from Loc. 2036 (MNHN 23121). C from Loc. 2036 (NMSA L8452 /T2659).D from Loc. 2036 (BMNH 20100510). Comparative material examined: <i>C</i>. <i>amputatum</i> Hedley, 1899 holotype AMS C68589 (Fig. 3D). Type locality: Cabbage Tree Bay, near Manly, in shell-sand, New South Wales (Australia).</p> <p>Distribution: Inhaca Island, Mozambique.</p> <p> Comparison:The new species is closely related to <i>C</i>. <i>amputatum</i> Hedley, 1899 (Fig. 3D), described from New South Wales, Australia. The greatest difference is in the septum, which in <i>C</i>. <i>amputatum</i> is “… well exerted, surrounded by a crown of the truncated tube, apex placed on the side of convex aperture” (Hedley 1899: 504). The position of the mucro (the “apex” in Hedley’s description) is dorsal in <i>C</i>. <i>inhacaense</i> and ventral in <i>C</i>. <i>amputatum</i>. Moreover, there is a wide geographical distance between the two type localities since no similar species have been found by the second author while studying <b>WKH KXJH FROOHFWLRQV RI WKH 01+1 LQ WKH 7URSLFDO,QGR‒3DFL¿F.</b></p> <p> The new species can be compared to the endemic Mediterranean species <i>C</i>. <i>auriculatum</i> Folin, 1868 due to the overall form of the tube. Neither has any sculpture but has a ringed aperture. However, the form of the septum is markedly different: it has <b>WKH VKDSH RI D VPDOO, ÀDWWHQHG EDOO LQ</b> <i>inhacaense</i>, while it is hemispheric with ear-like right-oriented mucro in <i>auriculatum</i>. Moreover, the distribution is greatly disjunct.</p>Published as part of <i>Albano, Paolo G. & Pizzini, Mauro, 2011, Notes on Caecidae (Mollusca: Gastropoda) from southern Mozambique, with the description of a new species, pp. 1 in African Invertebrates 52 (1)</i> on pages 5-6, DOI: 10.5733/afin.052.0101, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/7913825">http://zenodo.org/record/7913825</a>
Nuovo Dizionario di Psicologia - Psichiatria, Psicoanalisi, Neuroscienze.
No full textQuesto Dizionario si articola in quattromila voci relative a quattro ambiti disciplinari: la psicologia propriamente detta, la psicoanalisi, la psichiatria e le neuroscienze
Caecum maraisi Vannozzi & Pizzini & Raines 2015, sp. n.
No full textCaecum maraisi sp. n. Figs 9A–F, 11, 22N, O, 23N, O, 26E, F Etymology: Named after Johan Marais (South Africa), who with the large amount of collected specimens greatly contributed to the knowledge of South African Caecidae. Description: Tube small, slightly subcylindical, more arched toward the aperture. Both tube and septum are semitransparent, colourless and glossy.The surface shows a microsculpture composed of shallow worm-like grooves interrupted by irregularly-set growth lines.At higher magnification, the microsculpture is composed of very small pits with a diameter of about 1 µm arranged in longitudinal rows. Septum vitreous, smooth, domeshaped, very protruding, with an indistinct mucro directed toward the right side. The septum shows some more or less parallel grooves arranged like waves coming from the tip of the mucro. Juveniles quite similar to the adults, and are distinguished by the more tapered shape, the smaller diameter and the less protruding septum. Larval stage and operculum unknown. Length: 1.6 mm. Type locality: SOUTH AFRICA: Western Cape: Knysna, Gericke Point, Sedgefield. Holotype (Figs 9A–C, 22N, 23N, 26E): SOUTH AFRICA: Western Cape: sh, Knysna, Gericke Point, Sedgefield (NMSAW9765/T3376), length 1.64 mm, min. diam. (posterior end) 0.26 mm, diam. in the middle of the tube 0.32 mm, max. diam. (apertural end) 0.32 mm. Paratype: SOUTH AFRICA: Eastern Cape: sh (juv), Fish R. mouth (between Port Alfred and East London), iv.1978 (JPM 2117). Comparative material examined: C. incisum sp. n. Distribution: Only known from the type locality and from Fish River mouth (between Port Alfred and East London) (Fig. 11). Remarks: This species strongly resembles C. incisum sp. n. which is found in sympatry and with which it is easily confused. It can be distinguished by the slenderness of the tube, the absence of ring-like growth lines, the presence of longitudinal microsculpture and by the different shape of the septum, which is more protruded and with a parabolic outline.Published as part of Vannozzi, Angelo, Pizzini, Mauro & Raines, Bret, 2015, Revision of South African Caecidae (Mollusca: Gastropoda), pp. 99 in African Invertebrates 56 (1) on pages 111-112, DOI: 10.5733/afin.056.0109, http://zenodo.org/record/766186
Processes affecting the distribution of PCBs in the Southern Ocean
No full textPolychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are a broad class of globally distributed persistent pollutants that differ in their degree of chlorination and, thereby, in their volatility and are subject to long-range atmospheric transport (LRAT). Although their industrial production was discontinued in the early nineties, some PCB congeners are still released into the environment as unintentional by-products of dye manufacturing and other chemical productions. Among them, 3,3’-dichlorobiphenyl (PCB-11) has been detected at concentrations often higher than those of the other technical congeners (i.e. legacy Aroclor PCBs) in almost all the environmental compartments, even in polar areas (Choi et al., 2008).
It is known that the atmosphere plays a key role in transport and distribution of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) towards polar areas, through successive phases of volatilization and deposition that occur at the air/water interface. The low temperatures of the polar areas promote this partition between the atmosphere and the seawater surface via the cold trapping mechanism (Wania and MacKay, 1996). However, this process is reversible, so the partition of POPs moves in one direction or in the opposite one depending on the volatility of the molecules involved, their relative concentration in air and water, and changes in temperature (Galbán-Malagón et al., 2013).
As the surface water temperature decreases, lighter congeners, more prone to volatilization, tend instead to settle in the water surface layers. Indeed, in the Southern Ocean, where the temperature of surface water is reduced to values close to that of the air, a particularly high concentration of PCB-11 compared to that of other less volatile PCB congeners have been reported (Choi et al., 2008; Pizzini et al., 2017). Instead, PCBs with a higher degree of chlorination are less prone to volatilization in temperate areas and, consequently, they would be preferentially transferred to the Southern Ocean through Modified Circumpolar Deep waters (Fuoco et al., 2009) rather than via LRAT. Against this background, it can be assumed that more processes are involved in the transport of PCBs towards the Southern Ocean, depending on the characteristics of the investigated molecules and, primarily, their volatility.
In this work, the results of analyses of water samples collected along a transect from the Southern Pacific Ocean to the Ross Sea will be presented. Preliminary outcomes confirmed the hypothesis that more volatile PCBs reach the Southern Ocean preferentially through a cold condensation process, differently from heavier ones. Di- and Tri-chlorinated PCBs reached particularly high concentrations in water surface layers where there is a sharp decrease in temperature, in the Antarctic convergence zone, while this effect is much more limited for the less volatile investigated congeners.
Choi, S.-D., Baek, S.-Y., Chang, Y.-S., Wania, F., Ikonomou, M.G., Yoon, Y.-J., Park, B.-K., Hong, S., 2008. Passive Air Sampling of Polychlorinated Biphenyls and Organochlorine Pesticides at the Korean Arctic and Antarctic Research Stations: Implications for Long-Range Transport and Local Pollution. Environmental Science & Technology 42, 7125-7131. https://doi.org/10.1021/es801004p.
Fuoco, R., Giannarelli, S., Wei, Y., Ceccarini, A., Abete, C., Francesconi, S., Termine, M., 2009. Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) at Ross Sea (Antarctica). Microchemical Journal 92(1), 44-48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.microc.2008.11.004.
Galbán-Malagón, C. J., Del Vento, S., Cabrerizo, A., Dachs, J., 2013. Factors affecting the atmospheric occurrence and deposition of polychlorinated biphenyls in the Southern Ocean. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics 13, 12029-12041. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-13-12029-2013.
Pizzini, S., Sbicego, C., Corami, F., Grotti, M., Magi, E., Bonato, T., Cozzi, G., Barbante, C., Piazza, R., 2017. 3,3’-dichlorobiphenyl (non-Aroclor PCB-11) as a marker of non-legacy PCB contamination in marine species: comparison between Antarctic and Mediterranean bivalves. Chemosphere 175, 28-35. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.02.023.
Wania, F., MacKay, D., 1996. Tracking the Distribution of Persistent Organic Pollutants. Environmental Science & Technology 30(9), 390A-396A. https://doi.org/10.1021/es962399q
Caecum incisum Vannozzi & Pizzini & Raines 2015, sp. n.
No full text<i>Caecum incisum</i> sp. n. <p>Figs 8A–F, 11, 22L, M, 23L, M, 26C, D</p> <p> Etymology: From the Latin adjective <i>incisus</i> (incised) due to the presence of collabral incisions that are observed throughout the tube.</p> <p>Description: Tube cylindrical, evenly arched, smooth without sculpture. Both tube and septum are semitransparent, colourless and glossy.Aperture simple, without any swelling or varix, even and not oblique. Microsculpture comprised of collabral incisions which define flat rings. These incisions, spaced by about 2–3 µm apart and rather regular in young specimens, tend to become irregular in adults.This feature causes the appearance of the shells, glossy and shining in the former, to become milky and opaque in the latter. Septum smooth, dome-shaped, with an ear-like mucro rotated toward the right by about 45°.The septum shows some more or less parallel grooves arranged like waves coming from the tip of the mucro. In terms of both curvature of the tube and shape of the aperture juveniles are quite similar to the adults, and are distinguished by the smaller diameter and the more regular microsculpture. Periostracum colourless, dull. Larval stage and operculum unknown.</p> <p>Length: 1.6–1.8 mm.</p> <p> Type locality: SOUTH AFRICA: <i>Western Cape</i>: Knysna, Gericke Point, Sedgefield.</p> <p> Holotype (Figs 8A–C, 22L, 23L): SOUTH AFRICA: <i>Western Cape</i>: sh, Walker’s Point, W of Knysna, leg. J.P. Marais iii.1991 (NMSA S3728 / T3355), length 1.69 mm, min. diam. (posterior end) 0.29 mm, diam. in the middle of the tube 0.33 mm, max. diam. (apertural end) 0.36 mm.</p> <p> Paratypes: SOUTH AFRICA: <i>Western Cape</i>: 4 sh, same data as holotype (NMSA W9660 / T3356); 8 sh, Knysna, Gericke Point, Sedgefield (NMSA W9661 / T3357); <i>KwaZulu-Natal</i>: 1 sh, Aliwal Shoal, - 9–18 m, dived D. Herbert 21.xii.1986 (NMSA D5269 / T3881); 1 sh (juv), Aliwal Shoal, off Umkomaas area, - 27 m, SCUBA, i.1988 (JPM).</p> <p> Additional material examined: SOUTH AFRICA: <i>Eastern Cape</i>: 2 sh (1 broken), Mzamba, near Natal border, vii.1976 (JPM 2119); <i>KwaZulu-Natal</i>: 1 sh (lost), Aliwal Shoal (off Umkomaas), - 27 m, silt from between rocks (NMSA E1670); 1 lv, Landers Reef, off Scottburgh Area, - 45 m, SCUBA, iv.1988 (JPM).</p> <p> Comparative material examined: <i>C. sinuatum</i> de Folin, 1879, BORNEO, syntype (MNHN-IM-2000-27585); <i>C. inhacaense</i> Albano & Pizzini, 2011, MOZAMBIQUE: Inhaca I., holotype (MZB 15000).</p> <p>Distribution: Southern and eastern coasts of South Africa from Knysna to Aliwal Shoal (Fig. 11).</p> <p> Remarks: The microsculpture exhibited by <i>C. incisum</i> is unique among South African <i>Caecum</i> species. This kind of microsculpture is shown by <i>C. sinuatum</i> de Folin, 1867 described from Borneo. However, de Folin’s species is quite different from <i>C. incisum</i>, showing a very slender and slightly arched tube, a different shape of the septum and a strong constriction before the aperture. <i>Caecum incisum</i> occurs sympatrically with <i>C. austrafricanum</i> sp. n., <i>C. intortum</i> sp. n. and <i>C. inhacaense</i>, from which it can be distinguished by the even curvature of the tube, the lack of apertural swelling, the presence of incised growth lines defining flat rings throughout the tube, the lack of the macula and the different shape of the mucro.</p>Published as part of <i>Vannozzi, Angelo, Pizzini, Mauro & Raines, Bret, 2015, Revision of South African Caecidae (Mollusca: Gastropoda), pp. 99 in African Invertebrates 56 (1)</i> on pages 109-111, DOI: 10.5733/afin.056.0109, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/7661863">http://zenodo.org/record/7661863</a>
Fig. 6 in Revision of South African Caecidae (Mollusca: Gastropoda)
No full textFig. 6. Caecum intortum sp. n., South Africa, Walker's Point, W of Knysna: (A–C) holotype (NMSA W9668/ T3358) — (A) right side, (B) ventral side, (C) microsculpture; (D–F) paratype (NMSA W9669/ T3360) — (D) right side, (E) ventral side, (F) operculum (inner side). Scale bar = 1 mm (A, B, D, E); 250 µm (C); 200 µm (F).Published as part of Vannozzi, Angelo, Pizzini, Mauro & Raines, Bret, 2015, Revision of South African Caecidae (Mollusca: Gastropoda), pp. 99 in African Invertebrates 56 (1) on page 109, DOI: 10.5733/afin.056.0109, http://zenodo.org/record/766186
Fig. 1. Caecum subquadratum Carpenter, 1859 in Revision of South African Caecidae (Mollusca: Gastropoda)
No full textFig. 1. Caecum subquadratum Carpenter, 1859, South Africa: (A–C) Walker's Point, W of Knysna (NMSA S3729) — (A) right side, (B) ventral side, (C) operculum (inner side); (D–F) Walker's Point, W of Knysna (NMSA S3729) — (D) right side, (E) ventral side, (F) microsculpture; (G–I) juvenile, Langebaan Lagoon, Saldanha Bay (JPM) — (G) right side, (H) ventral side, (I) microsculpture. Scale bar = 1 mm (A, B, D, E, G, H); 100 µm (C); 50 µm (F, I).Published as part of Vannozzi, Angelo, Pizzini, Mauro & Raines, Bret, 2015, Revision of South African Caecidae (Mollusca: Gastropoda), pp. 99 in African Invertebrates 56 (1) on page 103, DOI: 10.5733/afin.056.0109, http://zenodo.org/record/766186
MRI performed after intratympanic gadolinium administration in patients with Ménière's disease: correlation with symptoms and signs.
No full textThe objective of the study was to compare the outcomes of a series of diagnostic parameters in Ménière's disease (MD) patients with the extent of endolymphatic hydrops (EH) as shown by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) performed after intra-tympanic gadolinium administration using 18 patients (13 males and 5 females, age 25-78 years, median age 54.3 years) with definite MD. A 0.6-ml solution of Gadobutrol (1 mmol/ml) diluted 1:7 in saline was injected through the inferior-posterior quadrant of the tympanic membrane, using a 22-gauge spinal needle. The patient was kept with the head rotated 45° contralaterally for 30 min after the injection. Twenty-four hours later, three-dimensional fluid-attenuated inversion recovery MRI, using a 3-Tesla unit, was performed. Prevalence and extension of EH in MD patients was evaluated and correlated with age, duration and stage of the disease, frequency of attacks, time interval from the last attack, functional level scale, tinnitus, aural fullness, caloric stimulation, electrocochleography, and vestibular evoked myogenic potentials. All patients showed impaired enhancement of the inner ear of variable degree with the vestibular portion of the labyrinth more frequently involved than the cochlea. Abnormal vestibular evoked myogenic potentials, duration, and stage of the disease were significantly correlated to the number of inner ear sites involved. Modern imaging makes possible the identification of the endolymphatic hydrops in MD patients, improving diagnostic accuracy. The role of hydrops in the clinical manifestations and its correlation with most of the diagnostic parameters remain, however, not completely clear
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