Paleoecology of Upper Eifelian and Lower Givetian coral limestones in the northwestern Sauerland (Devonian; Rhenish Massif)

Summary The prevailing sandy/silty lower part of the Middle Devonian in the northwestern Sauerland includes two coral limestone horizons, which contain a rich fauna of corals, stromatoporoids, and calcareous algae. The Ihmert-Formation is subdvided into three parts. The older coral limestone horizon is the Grünewiese-Member of the Ihmert-Formation (uppermost Eifelian), the younger is in the Bredenbruch-Member of the Unterhonsel-Formation (lower Lower Givetian). Conclusions about the environmental constraints are drawn from the sedimentology and the fossil content of the coral limestones. Predominant biostromes are built between storm wave base and normal wave base. Only the few bioherms grew above the normal wave base. These coral limestones were deposited in a tropical or subtropical normal marine environment in the shallow euphotic zone. Among the reef-builders epoecism is very frequent, and until now this phenomenon has not been investigated in detail. Fragile rugose and tabulate corals lived as commensals with stromatoporoids. Some other aspects of paleoecology are concisely presented.     

Isorthid AE (Brachiopoda) du dévonien inférieur du massif armoricain

Three species of Isorthidae are described in the Lower Devonian of the Armorican Massif. Two of them were hitherto badly known, being never adequately described nor figured: Isorthis (Protocortezorthis) miloni from the Gahard Formation (Gedinnian) and Isorthis (Protocortezorthis) trigeri from the Saint-Céneré Formation (Gedinnian-Siegenian). Isorthis oehlertiSolle, 1976 is considered as a synonym of Isorthis (Protocortezorthis) trigeri. The geographic distribution of these species allows to corroborate that until the top of the Lower Devonian (top of Le Faou Formation), two provinces with different faunal associations exist in the Armorican Massif.     

Réflexions critiques sur l'écologieet la systématique des Lingules actuelles et fossiles

New topics on ecology and systematics of recent and fossil Lingulids lead to an obvious revision of our knowledges on this zoological group. At first, the recent species need systematics and taxonomy on the bases of new described specific criteria (as, morphology of deltidial areas, muscle disposition); the results are briefly indicated. But, in fossil species, disorder and disparity of used characteristics are emphasized.The general conceiving on ecology of Lingulids are reviewed and discussed, especially on bathymetry and salinity; sediment and oxygenation conditions; taphocoenosis and lingulid «communities. On recent species, all these points are also studied, especially some ecological requirements (salinity, bathymetry, grain size), and mechanism of burrowing ability, burrow living positions in the sediments, as shell preservations after death and fossilization, to facilitate the paleobiotope interpretations. Recent animals are euryhalin, surviving at salinities from about 13 to 42‰; they could be considered as well adapted to waters with strong salinity fluctuations. They show preference to fine sand bottoms (lowest particle size about 40–60 μm). Their bathymetric distribution occurs between 0 and about 500 m (Lingula especially between 5–50 m; Glottidia 15–70 m). The isotherms 8–10°C seem to restrict their geographical and bathymetric distribution.Therefore, some post-palaeozoic lingulid bedsare studied or redescribed on the bases of the above discussed characteristics, and new interpretations on the environmental situation are given (Trias of Vosges Mountains; Oligocene from Japan; Eocene of London Basin). More caution must be used in study of fossil Lingulids that are not especially animals living in infralittoral bottoms with low salinity and deficient oxygenation, as generally accepted.     

The muscle scar in cavellinids and its importance for the phylogeny of platycope ostracodes

The adductor muscle scars of cavellinids from the Visean (in one case from the Upper Devonian) of the European part of the RSFSR have revealed a significant diversity in their morphology. Aggregate, multiserial with up to five series, bi- to triserial and nearly biserial muscle scars existed simultaneously. The verticaliserial muscle scars were initiated by a biserial larval group which in the course of evolution may have passed, due to neoteny, into the adult stage. Together with Cytherella sp. from Syria, the new data show that the genus Cytherella appeared not in Triassic nor Jurassic time, hut originated among cavellinids possibly in the Early Carboniferous. A new genus is Borovitchella , with the type species B. egorovi n. sp.     

Transient Iron-Overload with Bleomycin-Detectable Iron Present During Cardiopulmonary Bypass Surgery

Extracorporeal circulation of blood during cardiopulmonary bypass surgery exposes cells to non-physiological surfaces and shear stress which can activate several regulatory cascades, and neutrophils to release superoxide and hydrogen peroxide. Shear stresses generated by pumps and suction systems cause lysis of red blood cells and the release of haemoglobin. Together the release of reactive forms of oxygen and haemoglobin can lead to the appearance of low molecular mass chelatable iron (bleomycin-detectable iron). All patients undergoing open heart surgery appear to release iron to plasma transferrin, increasing its iron saturation. In 13% of patients, however, the transferrin became fully iron-saturated, and by the end of open-heart surgery we could detect bleomycin-chelatable iron in the plasma. Saturation of transferrin with iron eliminates its iron-binding antioxidant properties, which can result in a stimulation of iron-dependent radical damage to selected detector molecules.     

Surgical and Molecular Evaluation of Pediatric Hydatid Cyst Cases in Eastern Turkey

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) caused by Echinococcus granulosus is a major public health problem worldwide, including Turkey. The aim of the current study was to identify the strains and to estimate the potential risk factors of E. granulosus in operated pediatric cases in eastern Turkey. Ten pediatric patients (7 boys and 3 girls) living in rural areas, with ages ranging from 3 to 15 years old and various clinical histories, were included in this study. Eight patients had only liver hydatid cyst, while 1 patient had liver and lung hydatid cyst and the other liver, lung, and spleen, together. There were 2 ruptured liver cysts. After surgery, during follow-up, no increase was observed in hemagglutination levels, there were no mortalities, and there was no evidence of recurrence at 2 years post operation in all patients. Molecular analysis was performed on hydatid cyst samples obtained from the 10 pediatric cases. According to mt-12S rRNA PCR results, all cases were found to be G1/G3 cluster of E. granulosus sensu stricto.     

Discovery of the oldest known Pterygota in the Lower Carboniferous of the Upper Silesian Basin in the Czech Republic (Insecta: Archaeorthoptera)

The earliest pterygote (winged insect), dated from the Lower Carboniferous (Namurian A/E1, circa 324 millions years ago) is described from the Upper Silesian Basin in the Czech Republic. On the basis of its wing venation, it is attributed to the Archaeorthoptera Béthoux and Nel, 2002, crown group of the “Orthoptera”. Besides Apterygota (Collembola and Archaeognatha) known from the Lower Devonian, extremely rare pterygote insects are known from Lower Carboniferous deposits when they first appeared. The present discovery supports the hypothesis of the presence of the ancestor lineage of the orthopteroid in the Lower Carboniferous ecosystems.     

What is the best age to circumcise? A medical and ethical analysis

Circumcision is often claimed to be simpler, safer and more cost-effective when performed in the neonatal period as opposed to later in life, with a greater benefit-to-risk ratio. In the first part of this paper, we critically examine the evidence base for these claims, and find that it is not as robust as is commonly assumed. In the second part, we demonstrate that, even if one simply grants these claims for the sake of argument, it still does not follow that neonatal circumcision is ethically permissible absent urgent medical necessity. Based on a careful consideration of the relevant evidence, arguments and counterarguments, we conclude that medically unnecessary penile circumcision—like other medically unnecessary genital procedures, such as ‘cosmetic’ labiaplasty—should not be performed on individuals who are too young (or otherwise unable) to provide meaningful consent to the procedure.     

喉罩通气下七氟醚全凭吸入麻醉在小儿先天性心脏病介入手术的临床麻醉效果

目的:探讨喉罩通气下七氟醚全凭吸入麻醉在小儿先天性心脏病介入手术的临床麻醉效果。方法:选取2017年4月～2019年5月期间我院收治的行先天性心脏病介入手术患儿98例,根据随机数字表法将其分为对照组(n=49)和研究组(n=49)。对照组给予氯胺酮诱导,全凭丙泊酚维持,面罩吸氧;研究组给予全凭七氟醚诱导、维持,喉罩通气。比较两组患儿麻醉前(T0)、切皮前(T1)、切皮后1 min(T2)、切皮后30 min(T3)、术后(T4)的血流动力学指标[平均动脉压(MAP)、心率(HR)]及应激反应指标[血糖、皮质醇],记录两组患儿手术时间、麻醉诱导时间、术后苏醒时间等围术期指标情况。记录两组围术期不良反应发生情况。结果:研究组手术时间、麻醉诱导时间、术后苏醒时间均短于对照组(P0.05)。两组T0时间点血糖、MAP、皮质醇、HR比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05);对照组T1～T4时间点MAP、血糖、皮质醇、HR均较T0升高(P0.05);研究组T1～T4时间点血糖、MAP、皮质醇、HR与T0时间点比较无差异(P0.05);研究组T1～T4时间点血糖、MAP、皮质醇、HR低于对照组(P0.05)。两组不良反应发生率比较无差异(P0.05)。结论:小儿先天性心脏病介入手术中应用喉罩通气下七氟醚全凭吸入麻醉,诱导迅速且安全、术后苏醒快、手术时间短,可有效维持血流动力学稳定,减少应激反应。