16 research outputs found
Gellergrimmellus fritzi Stuke 2019, spec. nov.
No full textGellergrimmellus fritzi spec. nov. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 2A744921-9129-4B6C-A0E5-163E0AE6AC7D (Figs 1−13) Holotype ♀: (1) „ China; Sichuan; Old Creek / field station; 17.viii.2016; / 32.484°N, 104.72°E; 1370 m; / Hand collecting; CJ Borkent; / FFP16CH089“; (2) „Holotypus / Gellergrimmellus fritzi / spec. nov. ♂ / det. Stuke 2018 “. Holotype is deposited in the collection of the California Academy of Sciences, USA, San Francisco, (CAS). The holotype was initially kept in alcohol and dried afterwards. It is glued on a card-point and otherwise in good condition (Fig. 1). 1 ♂, 1 ♀ paratypes: 1 ♂ same data as holotype; 1 ♀ same date as holotype but collected by M. Hauser and „FFP16CH088“. Paratypes are deposited in the collection of the author (Germany, Leer, PJHS). Description of holotype (♀): Length 4.9 mm. Winglength 4.3 mm. Head-height 1.2 mm. Antenna black to dark brown, with first flagellomere orange-brown ventrally and pedicel indistinctly orange-brown apically (Fig. 3). Frons broader than long, slightly concave, not projecting above eyes, smooth, with only some long black hardly-visible setulae laterally (Fig. 4). Frons and lunule black. Frons subshining. Face and gena light yellow to white. Parafacial, gena and antennal groove obviously silver dusted. Facial ridges only slightly dusted. Postcranium black in dorsal 2/3, clearly separated white in ventral 1/3. Adjacent to posterior margin of eye there is only an indistinct strip of grey dusting, the remaining postcranium slightly dusted to shining. Postcranium with black setulae. No setulae on a small area adjacent to eye margin but with scattered setulae on bottom portion of postcranium. Proboscis brown basally and whitish apically (Fig. 3). Frontoclypeal membrane small, hardly widened basally, light yellow and easy to distinguish from the darker clypeus. Thorax black to brown, without distinct colour contrast. Thorax microtomentose all over, with an indistinct grey dusted band extending from middle coxa to notopleuron (Fig. 1). Scutellum with 1 long apical seta and 2−3 lateral setae. Scutum with short black setulae. 1 notopleural seta, no postalar seta recognised. Postalar callus with 3 long black setae and no long setulae. 2−3 black setae posterodorsally on katepisternum, no seta ventrally. Wing hyaline to slightly brownish, lacking any distinct markings. All veins dark brown. Wing completely covered with microtrichia. Upper and lower calypters yellowish white, upper calypter with long white setulae on margin. Haltere white with a light brown base. Legs light brown, with basal half of tibiae and basal fore and middle tarsi white. Legs not dusted, and all with short, adpressed black setulae. Hind and middle coxae with 2−3 strong lateral setae. Pulvilli brownish white. Claws brown with distinct black tips. Empodium whitish yellow, about as long as pulvilli. Abdomen light brown. Tergite 2 with characteristic yellow lateral spots apically (Fig. 5). Abdomen covered with black setulae which are longer and more obvious from hind margin of tergite 3 to tip of abdomen. Abdomen subshining to shining. Maximum width of abdomen is at segments 4−6. Length: maximum width of tergite 2 = 2.1; length: maximum width of tergite 3 = 1.1. Theca slightly shorter than height of abdomen at segment 5 in side view (Figs 7, 12). Anterior surface of theca lacking setulae. Posterior surface of theca with closeset, short, blunt pallisade groups of spicules, arranged in 9 close-set horizontal lines (Fig. 12). Sternite 5 anteriorly lacking an elongation. Sternite 6 almost completely covered with short, blunt spicules which are arranged in 6−7 horizontal lines (Fig. 11). Female abdomen of holotype not macerated and therefore several characters could not be examined. Based on examination of a paratype, however, sternite 7 is slightly longer than broad, anteriorly rounded and with several scattered setae only at the posterior. Description of ♂: abdomen subshining to shining. Sternite 4 longer than broad, minute and not clearly delimited from membrane, with 3 black setae. Epandrium not fused behind cerci but with a slightly sclerotised connection at both sides of the epandrium (Fig. 8). Posterior margin of epandrium with long black setulae but no projecting tooth (Fig. 8). Epandrium distinctly dented-in laterally. Distiphallus shorter than epandrium but distinct, with dense black setae distally. Distiphallus basally with almost equal large flattened lateral evaginations (Fig. 9: edp). Each of these evaginations has a plate-like sclerotisation. Variability: There is a yellow brown marking beneath the vertex in the ♀ paratype. Thorax of the paratypes less dusted and therefore the dusting stripe from middle coxa to notopleuron is more distinct. Legs and abdomen dark brown in paratypes. ♂ paratype has black facial ridges. Diagnosis: As described for the monotypic genus. Etymology: The species epithet „fritzi“ is derived from the given name of Fritz Geller-Grimm. Distribution: As described for the whole genus.Published as part of Stuke, Jens-Hermann, 2019, Two new genera and two new species of Conopidae (Diptera) from China, pp. 301-317 in Contributions to Entomology 69 (2) on pages 307-308, DOI: 10.21248/contrib.entomol.69.2.301-317, http://zenodo.org/record/371321
Hauserimyia martini Stuke 2019, spec. nov.
No full textHauserimyia martini spec. nov. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 73C2ED04-9AB4-4DF6-82D1-A1F8EC0BAF75 (Figs 14−24) Holotype ♂: (1) „ China; Sichuan; Old Creek / field station; 17.viii.2016; / 32.484°N, 104.72°E; 1370 m; / Light trap; M. Hauser; / FFP16CH091 “; (2) „Holotypus / Hauserimyia martini / spec. nov. ♂ / det. Stuke 2018 “. Holotype is deposited in the collection of the California Academy of Sciences, USA, San Francisco, (CAS). The holotype was initially kept in alcohol and dried afterwards. It is complete and in a very good condition (Fig. 14). 9 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀ paratypes: 4 ♂♂ same data as holotype but collected with Malaise trap 17.−20.viii.2016, leg. M. Hauser, C. J. Borkent, T. Zhang, FFP16 CH 080; 1 ♂ same data as holotype but hand collected, FFP16 CH 088; 2 ♂♂ same data as holotype but hand collected at 18.viii.2016, FFP16 CH 094; 1 ♀ China, Sichuan, Old Creek field station along stream beside field station, 19.viii.2016, hand collected, leg. M. Hauser, FFP16 CH 100; 2 ♂♂ 2 ♀♀ China, Sichuan, Old Creek field station, 32.494°N 104.723°E, 1430 m, Malaise trap 17.−20.viii.2016, leg. M. Hauser, C. J. Borkent, T. Zhang, FFP16 CH 086. Paratypes are deposited in the collections of California Academy of Sciences (CAS) and the private collection of the author (Germany, Leer, PJHS). Description of holotype (♂): Length 9.2 mm.Wing-length 6.7 mm. Head-height 2.3 mm. Antenna orange-brown with pedicel and first flagellomere dorsally and arista black (Fig. 15). Frons (Fig. 16) broader than long, slightly concave, not projecting above eyes, smooth and lacking setulae. Frons brown with a black central stripe and a narrow black stripe laterally at eye margin which reaches anteriorly to a small black frontofacial spot. Lunule black. Frons with golden dusting in posterior half and along eye margin (in anterior view). Distinct rugose light yellow area between frons and ptilinal suture. Face yellow. Facial keel ventrally light brown. Gena yellow. Parafacial and antennal grooves obviously golden dusted, facial ridges and gena only slightly dusted. Postcranium yellow to yellow-brown, with a light brown area ventrally on bottom portion of postcranium. Adjacent to posterior margin of the eye there is an obvious stripe of golden dusting, remaining postcranium slightly dusted to shining. Postcranium with black setulae. No setulae on a small area adjacent to eye margin and bottom portion of postcranium. Proboscis light brown to yellow. Frontoclypeal membrane small, hardly widened basally, light yellow to light brown and easy to distinguish from the darker clypeus. Palp apically with two black setae. Thorax orange-brown with an almost completely black scutum (but with the margins of scutum orange-brown) and with dark brown spots on katepisternum and anepisternum. Distinct golden dusting on scutum, proepimeron and anatergite. Dusting stripe extending from middle coxa to notopleuron (Fig. 14). Scutum with short black setulae. Scutellum covered with short black setulae and with 2 scutellar setae. 1 notopleural seta and no postalar seta. Postalar callus with 2−3 long black setae and no long curved setulae. 1 black seta and 3 black setulae posterodorsally on katepisternum, no setae ventrally. Wing hyaline to slightly brownish, lacking any distinct marking (Fig. 21). Veins dark brown to yellowish brown. Subcosta contrasting light yellow. Basal medial-cubital crossvein bm-cu white. Wing mainly covered with microtrichia, but with no microtrichia at base of radial cell r 2+3 and basal radial cell br, basal medial cell bm and alula almost completely lacking microtrichia. Discal medial cell dm also basally lacking microtrichia. Upper and lower calypters yellowish white, upper calypter with long white setulae on margin. Haltere yellow to light brown with a slightly darker brown base. Legs yellowish brown. Hind femur slightly darker brown posterodorsally and hind tibia darker brown in apical half. Legs at most with inconspicuous golden to silver dusting. Legs all with short, adpressed black setulae. Hind coxa with 2 strong lateral setae. Pulvilli brownish white. Claws yellowish brown with distinct black tips. Empodium whitish yellow, about as long as pulvilli. Abdomen mainly black (Fig. 14). Tergites 2−5 with an orange-brown posterior margin. Tergites 1−2 laterally orange-brown. Protandrium and epandrium almost completely orange-brown. Abdomen with scattered short black setulae, except tergite 2 lacking setae. ♂ abdomen slightly to distinctly golden dusted in anterior view, with denser golden dusting at hind margins of tergites 2−5 and almost complete dense golden dusting on protandrium. Sternite 4 longer than broad, about 0.2 width of sternite 5, lacking any setulae. Description of ♂ postabdomen based on one dissected paratype: Epandrium as shown in Fig. 25. Epandrium not fused behind cerci but with a slightly sclerotised connection at both sides of epandrium. Posterior margin of epandrium laterally with long black setulae and a distinctly projecting and strongly sclerotised submedial tooth (Fig. 25: tep). Epandrium distinctly dented-in laterally. No hypoproct evident. Distiphallus shorter than epandrium but distinct, covered with dense microtrichia basally and with two fields of dense black setae distally (Fig. 27). Distiphallus basally with two lateral evaginations of different sizes (Fig. 27: edp), one finger-like, the other one larger and flat. Both are densely covered in microtrichia. Description of ♀: Abdomen subshining to shining, only tergites 2−5 with an inconspicuously dusted hind margin (Figs 17−18). Maximum width of abdomen is at segment 4. Length: maximum width of tergite 2 = 1.3; length: maximum width of tergite 3 = 1.2. Shape of theca as shown in Figs 20, 22. Anterior surface of theca with long black setulae. Apical half of posterior surface of theca with scattered short blunt spicules, those in the central area in short horizontal pallisade groups but not markedly arranged in long horizontal lines (Fig. 22). Sternite 5 anteriorly lacking an elongation. Sternite 6 almost completely covered with short blunt spicules which are also in short horizontal pallisade groups towards the centre but not arranged in horizontal lines (Fig. 23). Sternite 7 slightly longer than broad, anteriorly rounded and with a line of black setae at posterior margin only. Variability: Wing length 5.9−7.4 mm. Facial keel can be completely yellow or completely light brown. Postcranium can be completely yellow. Mediotergite can be almost completely black. One female paratype has an almost completely orange-brown scutum with only two black spots. Variable setation: there can be only 1 scutellar seta or scutellar setae may not be separable from setulae on scutellum. There can be 2 notopleural setae, and postalar setae can occur. Subcosta can be less conspicuously lighter than adjacent veins. Basal medialcubital crossvein bm-cu can be brownish. The female abdomen can be almost completely orange-brown. Diagnosis: As described for the monotypic genus. Etymology: The species epithet „martini“ is derived from the given name of Martin Hauser. Distribution: As described for the whole genus.Published as part of Stuke, Jens-Hermann, 2019, Two new genera and two new species of Conopidae (Diptera) from China, pp. 301-317 in Contributions to Entomology 69 (2) on pages 310-315, DOI: 10.21248/contrib.entomol.69.2.301-317, http://zenodo.org/record/371321
Ptilomyia angustigenis
No full textPtilomyia angustigenis (Becker, 1926) Atissa angustigenis Becker 1926: 26; type-locality: “bei Novi am Strande der Adria” [Croatia]; holotype ♀ probably lost (see Remarks below). Ptilomyia angustigenis. (Papp 1975, generic combination). = Ptilomyia orsovana auct., nec. Enderlein, 1922. Material examined: CROATIA: 1♀, 14.vii.2018, Čikola 1.2 km wsw Gradac [43.817°N 16.268°E]; 1♂ 1♀, 5.vii.2018, Čikola 1.4 km se Ključ [43.838°N 16.049°E]; 1♀, 14.vii.2018, Čikola 1.9 km wnw Cavoglave [43.791°N 16.315°E]; 1♂ 1♀, 14.vii.2018, Čikola 2 km w Otavice [43.841°N 16.239°E]; 2♂♂ 2♀♀, 5.vii.2018, Čikola 2.5 km ssw Drniš [43.845°N 16.178°E]; 1♂ 2♀♀, 13.vii.2018, Čikola 2.5 km ssw Drniš [43.845°N 16.178°E]; 1♀, 5.vii.2018, Čikola 2.8 km ese Drniš [43.852°N 16.120°E]; 1♂ 1♀, 14.vii.2018, Čikola in Drniš [43.857°N 16.160°E]; 2♂♂ 4♀♀, 25.vi.2017, Ðuračica 5 km s Magić Mala [45.133°N 17.596°E]; 1♀, 25.vi.2017, fishponds 2 km s Oriovac [45.147°N 17.747°E]; 1♀, 24.vi.2017, fishponds nw Hrastovac [45.561°N 16.973°E]; 2♀♀, 27.vi.2017, floodplain Danube 1 km se Tikveš [45.668°N 18.853°E]; 1♀, 27.vi.2017, floodplain Danube 1.5 km ne Kopačevo [45.612°N 18.800°E]; 1♂, 27.vi.2017, floodplain Danube 2.5 km n Batina [45.864°N 18.837°E]; 6♂♂ 4♀♀, 28.vi.2017, floodplain Danube 3.5 km ne Sarvaš [45.551°N 18.862°E]; 1♂ 1♀, 29.vi.2017, floodplain Danube 4.3 km ese Vukovar [45.337°N 19.059°E]; 2♂♂ 1♀, 28.vi.2017, floodplain Danube n Aljmaš [45.531°N 18.946°E]; 1♀, 28.vi.2017, floodplain Danube n Bijelo Brdo [45.524°N 18.874°E]; 1♂ 1♀, 29.vi.2017, floodplain Danube n Borovo [45.432°N 18.984°E]; 1♀, 28.vi.2017, floodplain Danube n Erdut [45.528°N 19.067°E]; 1♂ 1♀, 29.vi.2017, floodplain Danube n Ilok [45.230°N 19.380°E]; 1♂, 28.vi.2017, floodplain Drava n Kopačevo [45.608°N 18.789°E]; 2♀♀, 23.vi.2017, floodplain Sava 2 km e Sonja [45.365°N 16.726°E]; 1♀, 25.vi.2017, floodplain Sava s Davor [45.109°N 17.518°E]; 1♀, 25.vi.2017, floodplain Sava s Pričac [45.134°N 17.672°E]; 1♂, 23.vi.2017, floodplain Sava s Suvoj [45.372°N 16.687°E]; 1♂, 19.vii.2018, Krka 3.9 km nw Ljubotić [44.009°N 16.036°E]; 1♂ 3♀♀, 4.vii.2018, Krka n Lozovac [43.802°N 15.966°E]; 2♂♂, 8.vii.2018, Lake Vrana, lakeside n Pakoštane [43.924°N 15.506°E]; 3♀♀, 8.vii.2018, Lake Vrana, marsh 3.4 km n Pakoštane [43.939°N 15.516°E]; 2♂♂ 1♀, 10.vii.2018, Lake Vrana, marsh 4 km nne Pakoštane [43.945°N 15.527°E]; 2♂♂ 5♀♀, 10.vii.2018, Lake Vrana, marsh 4.5 km nne Pakoštane [43.939°N 15.548°E]; 1♀, 23.vi.2017, oxbow lake between Plesmo and Krapje [45.306°N 16.836°E]; 1♀, 22.vi.2017, river valley between Piljenice and Ilova [45.442°N 16.840°E]; 1♂ 1♀, 19.vii.2018, Šarena Jezero near Knin [44.027°N 16.223°E]; 2♂♂ 4♀♀, 6.vii.2018, small marsh 2 km sw Bićine [43.820°N 15.887°E]; CYPRUS: 1♂ 1♀, 29.vi.2016, creek e Goudi [34.993°N 32.445°E]; CZECH REPUBLIC: 1♂ 1♀, 29.vii.1993, Duchcov, 2 km E, deciduous wood [50.36°N 13.43°E], 220 m, det. as P. orsovana by Zatwarnicki, leg. M. Barták; FRANCE: 1♂ 2♀♀, 1.viii.2019, Etang de Gruissan [43.117°N 3.082°E]; 2♀♀, 30.vii.2019, L´Aude, 3 km w Roubia [43.249°N 2.758°E]; 1♀, 30.vii.2019, La Cesse, Cabezac [43.298°N 2.871°E]; 1♀, 1.viii.2019, rice field 4 km w Gruissan [43.113°N 3.038°E]; 1♂, 3.viii.2019, river nw Lagrasse [43.096°N 2.605°E]; 1♂ 4♀♀, 3.viii.2019, Ruisseau de Saint-Felix, Montséret [43.112°N 2.808°E]; 1♀, 1.viii.2019, salt swamp 4 km nwn Gruissan [43.129°N 3.047°E]; 3♂♂ 2♀♀, 25.vii.2019, wetland 1.5 km nw Périès [43.282°N 3.059°E]; 2♂♂ 2♀♀, 30.vii.2019, wetland s Salleles d´Aude [43.248°N 2.955°E]; GEORGIA: 1♀, 7.vii.2019, Aragvi River ne Zhinvali [42.112°N 44.778°E]; 2♂♂ 6♀♀, 30.vi.2019, Debeda River e Kirach-Mughanlo [41.334°N 45.068°E]; 1♂, 30.vi.2019, Debeda River n Khanji-Gazlo [41.357°N 45.005°E]; 1♂, 2.vii.2019, Jandara reservoir 2.8 km se Mzianeti [41.451°N 45.212°E]; 1♀, 2.vii.2019, Jandara reservoir 4.7 km se Mzianeti [41.440°N 45.228°E]; 1♂ 1♀, 29.vi.2019, Kura River 2 km s Karajalari [41.599°N 44.960°E]; 1♀, 8.vii.2019, Kura River n Akhalsheni [42.005°N 43.723°E]; 3♀♀, 8.vii.2019, Kura River nw Akhalsopeli [42.013°N 43.765°E]; 3♂♂ 2♀♀, 7.vii.2019, Kura River nw Dzegvi [41.850°N 44.599°E]; 1♂, 9.vii.2019, Kura River se Gori [41.971°N 44.121°E]; 1♂, 29.vi.2019, Kura River. Rustawi [41.551°N 45,010°E]; 3♂♂ 3♀♀, 29.vi.2019, Kura valley se Rustawi [41.520°N 45.023°E]; 1♀, 2.vii.2019, Mariini Canal 3.4 km n Jandari [41.473°N 45.167°E]; 1♂ 1♀, 8.vii.2019, Soramula River 1.7 km ene Agara [42.047°N 43.841°E]; GERMANY: 1♂ 1♀, 1.viii.2013, Brandenburg, floodplain Oder, Reitwein [52.499°N 14.630°E]; 1♀, 17.v.2020, Lower Saxony, floodplain Elbe ö Wussegel [53.136°N 11.080°E]; 1♀, 17.vi.2020, Lower Saxony, Wymeerster Hammrich n Olldiek [53.164°N 7.226°E]; 1♂, 28.vi.2010, Sachsen-Anhalt, Salziger See, Teufe [51.470°N 11.673°E]; GREECE: 1♀, 24.x.2011, Lesbos, floodplain above Apothika [39.126°N 26.0853°E]; 1♂, 24.x.2011, Lesbos, Lake Metochi [39.226°N 26.189°E]; 2♀♀, 26.x.2011, Lesbos, Voulgaris e von Gavathas [39.281°N 26.0138°E]; ITALY: 1♂ 1♀, 31.viii.2004, Latina, Circeo, Sabaudia, Selva del Circeo, mixed forest pond [41.21°N 13.01°E], 10 m, det. as P. angustigenis by Zatwarnicki 2007, leg. Merz, Ceretti, Nadi. Remarks. Mathis & Zatwarnicki (1995) stated that the holotype of P. angustigenis is in Berlin, but it could not be found recently and was probably never actually deposited there (J. Pohl in corresp., May 2021). Becker (1926) noted that Kertész originally collected the type specimen and contrary to the other species described in the same work, did not state that the specimen was deposited in “Meine Sammlung” (“my – i.e. Becker’s – collection”). Therefore it is assumed that Becker sent the specimen back to Kertész, whose collection was deposited in Hungarian Natural History Museum in Budapest where it may have been destroyed in the 1956 revolution which saw the bombing of the main building of the museum (Evenhuis 1997), although it is possible that it may have survived within an acalyptrate collection which was being held elsewhere at the time (Földvári & Papp 2007). If the latter, however, it has not come to light since. At the locus typicus in Croatia P. angustigenis is common and is seemingly the only Ptilomyia species recorded in that country to date. Ptilomyia angustigenis was misidentified as P. orsovana by Beschovski (2009) and Papp (1975), and probably also by numerous subsequent authors. Published records standing under the name ” P. orsovana ” refer at least partly to P. angustigenis, including all of the records previously published by the present author. On the other hand, some of the published records of P. angustigenis may actually be of P. kairensis. Where the criteria used in the identification of species in past papers were not specified in detail it is extremely difficult to reliably interpret the published records. Based on the material presented here, however, P. angustigenis is widely distributed in Europe and is the only species known to occur in Central Europe. This minute species is easily overlooked, and this may explain gaps in the known distribution. Ptilomyia angustigenis has not so far been recorded from Scandinavia, European Russia, the British Isles or the Benelux region, however, which may indicate a northern (and probably eastern) distributional limit, with the most northerly records known to date being from north Germany at about 53°N. Ptilomyia angustigenis has mainly been recorded from freshwater wetland vegetation in standing waters or rivers. In Germany almost all specimens have been swept from Phragmites stands. At least regionally P. angustigenis appears to be a common species. Distribution. Palearctic: Bulgaria (Beschovski 2009, as orsovana auct., [?] Zatwarnick 1996 as orsovana auct.), Croatia (original material, Becker, 1926), Cyprus (original material), Czech Republic (original material, [?] Zatwarnick 1996 as orsovana auct.), France (original material, [?] Martinez 2002), Georgia (original material), Germany (original material, Stuke 2011 as orsovana auct., Stuke & Bährmann 2013 as orsovana auct.), Greece (original material, Stuke 2014 as orsovana auct.), Hungary (Papp 1975, as orsovana auct.), Italy (original material, ([?] Canzoneri & Orlandini 1991, [?] Raffone 2001, [?] Rossi & Cesari Rossi 1979, [?] Zatwarnicki 2012), [?] Malta ([?] Gatt & Ebejer 2003), [?] Morocco ([?] Vitte 1988, 1991), [?] Poland ([?] Zatwarnick 1996 as orsovana auct.), [?] Portugal ([?] Rossi et al. 2013 as orsovana auct.), [?] Romania ([?] Zatwarnick 1996 as orsovana auct.), [?] Slovakia ([?] Zatwarnick 1996 as orsovana auct.), [?] Spain ([?] Canzoneri & Rallo 1996, [?] Ebejer et al. 2006, [?] Zatwarnicki & Blasco-Zumeta 2004), [?] Tunisia ([?] Pârvu & Zaharia 2007 as orsovana auct., [?] Popescu-Mirceni 2011 as orsovana auct.).Published as part of Stuke, Jens-Hermann, 2021, Taxonomic and faunistic remarks on European Ptilomyia Coquillett (Diptera Ephydridae), pp. 579-586 in Zootaxa 5068 (4) on pages 581-582, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5068.4.7, http://zenodo.org/record/570965
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Bug Juice and Chest Tubes: Are Prophylactic Antibiotics Needed for Tube Thoracostomy Placement?
No full textIntroduction: Chest tube placement for pneumothorax or hemothorax is common in trauma patients. These are often associated with associated risk of empyema and pneumonia. The use of prophylactic antibiotics prior to tube thoracostomy for traumatic thoracic injuries is controversial. Previous authors have shown decreased incidence of empyema and pneumonia with presumptive use of antibiotics in patients undergoing tube thoracostomy for trauma. Other authors, however, have shown no benefit and even increased risk of antibiotic resistance and complications related to antibiotic use. The purpose of this study is to determine if prophylactic use of antibiotics for tube thoracostomy following trauma was associated with reduced rates of infection.
Methods: This study is a retrospective chart review of adult patients at a Level 1 Trauma Center from July 1, 2012-January 31, 2022 with thoracic injuries requiring tube thoracostomy. We identified 827 patients who underwent placement of a single chest tube. Of these patients, 36% received antibiotics prior to chest tube placement and 64% did not. We evaluated rates of infection and other complications. Pneumonia was defined by positive sputum cultures in conjunction with radiographic evidence. Empyema was defined based on positive pleural cultures.
Results: There was no significant difference in the rate of empyema (4.3% vs 4.2%, p=1.0) or pneumonia (17% vs 14.2% p=0.31) between the group that received antibiotics prior to tube thoracostomy and the group that did not receive antibiotics. There were significantly more patients with C. diff colitis in the antibiotics group (1.3% vs 0%, p=0.02). This group also had a significantly higher injury severity score, (20.7 vs 17, p=0.0001). Patients in the antibiotics group had significantly higher rates of sepsis (10.7% vs 5.1%, p=0.005), ICU admission (78.3% vs 46.1%, p=0.0001), intubation (29% vs 16.1%, p=0.0001), and longer hospital (16.5 vs 6.9, p=0.0001) and ICU length of stay (8.3 vs 6.7, p=0.006). However, the group that did not receive antibiotics had higher in-hospital mortality (33.2% vs 22.7%, p=0.002).
Conclusion: Prophylactic use of antibiotics prior to chest tube placement is not associated with decreased rates of infectious complications such as empyema or pneumonia and can have deleterious effects associated with their use such as increased risk of C. diff infections
8p23.1 duplication syndrome differentiated from copy number variation of the defensin cluster at prenatal diagnosis in four new families
No full textBackground: the 8p23.1 duplication syndrome and copy number variation of the 8p23.1 defensin gene cluster are cytogenetically indistinguishable but distinct at the molecular level. To our knowledge, the 8p23.1 duplication syndrome has been described at prenatal diagnosis only once and we report our experience with four further apparent duplications ascertained at prenatal diagnosis.Methods: additional material at band 8p23.1 was detected using conventional G-banded cytogenetics in each case. Multiplex Ligation-dependent Probe Amplification (MLPA) or Fluorescence In Situ Hybridisation (FISH) were used depending on whether only DNA (Cases 1 and 4) or cytogenetic preparations (Cases 2 and 3) were available from the laboratory of origin. The extent of the duplication in Case 1 was retrospectively determined using array Comparative Genomic Hybridisation (array CGH).Results: three cases of 8p23.1 duplication syndrome were found (Cases 1 to 3). Two were de novo and continued to term and the third, a paternally transmitted duplication, was terminated because of a previous child with psychomotor delay and 8p23.1 duplication syndrome. Case 1 was ascertained with a hypoplastic left heart but the ventricular septal and interventricular defects, in Cases 2 and 3 respectively, were found after ascertainment for advanced maternal age. By contrast, case 4 was a maternally transmitted copy number variation of the defensin cluster with normal outcome.Conclusions: our data underline the need to differentiate 8p23.1 duplications from copy number variation of the defensin cluster using FISH, MLPA or array CGH. Cardiac defects were ascertained by ultrasound in only one of the three duplication 8p23.1 pregnancies but were visible in two of the three at 21 to 22 weeks gestation. Our results provide further evidence that both deletion and duplication of the GATA4 transcription factor can give rise to a variety of conotruncal heart defects with variable penetrance and expressivit
Establishment of a self-propagating population of the African malaria vector Anopheles arabiensis under semi-field conditions
No full textBackground: The successful control of insect disease vectors relies on a thorough understanding of their ecology and behaviour. However, knowledge of the ecology of many human disease vectors lags behind that of agricultural pests. This is partially due to the paucity of experimental tools for investigating their ecology under natural conditions without risk of exposure to disease. Assessment of vector life-history and demographic traits under natural conditions has also been hindered by the inherent difficulty of sampling these seasonally and temporally varying populations with the limited range of currently available tools. Consequently much of our knowledge of vector biology comes from studies of laboratory colonies, which may not accurately represent the genetic and behavioural diversity of natural populations. Contained semi-field systems (SFS) have been proposed as more appropriate tools for the study of vector ecology. SFS are relatively large, netting-enclosed, mesocosms in which vectors can fly freely, feed on natural plant and vertebrate host sources, and access realistic resting and oviposition sites.
Methods: A self-replicating population of the malaria vector Anopheles arabiensis was established within a large field cage (21 x 9.1 x 7.1 m) at the Ifakara Health Institute, Tanzania that mimics the natural habitat features of the rural village environments where these vectors naturally occur. Offspring from wild females were used to establish this population whose life-history, behaviour and demography under semi-field conditions was monitored over 24 generations.
Results: This study reports the first successful establishment and maintenance of an African malaria vector population under SFS conditions for multiple generations (> 24). The host-seeking behaviour, time from blood feeding to oviposition, larval development, adult resting and swarming behaviour exhibited by An. arabiensis under SFS conditions were similar to those seen in nature.
Conclusions: This study presents proof-of-principle that populations of important African malaria vectors can be established within environmentally realistic, contained semi-field settings. Such SFS will be valuable tools for the experimental study of vector ecology and assessment of their short-term ecological and longer-term evolutionary responses to existing and new vector control interventions
Correction: Vu et al. Specific Changes in Arabidopsis thaliana Rosette Lipids during Freezing Can Be Associated with Freezing Tolerance. Metabolites 2022, 12, 385
No full textThere was an error in the original publication [...
Specific Changes in Arabidopsis thaliana Rosette Lipids during Freezing Can Be Associated with Freezing Tolerance
No full textThis article explores the ability of Arabidopsis thaliana to recover after exposure to freezing temperatures
