Mastigopterus imperator Smith and Radcliffe, 1913, a senior synonym of M. praetor Smith and Radcliffe, 1913 (Ophidiidae, Ophidiiformes)

 A rare deep-sea ophidiid genus Mastigopterus known to contain two species, M. imperator Smith and Radcliffe, 1913 and M. praetor Smith and Radcliffe, 1913, was reviewed on the basis of six specimens including the holotypes of both species. Dorsal and anal fin ray counts and the size of cephalic sensory pores previously thought to be diagnostic characteristics to discriminate the two species did not suggest the presence of two forms, the large (M. imperator) and the small species (M. praetor), in the genus. Apparently the genus is represented by a single species, M. imperator, known from off Madagascar, the East and South China Seas and Papua New Guinea. Received: September 7, 1999 / Revised: July 9, 2001 / Accepted: November 13, 2001     

The epidemiology of cryptorchidism. John Radcliffe Hospital Cryptorchidism Research Group

A total of 3,559 boys were examined for cryptorchidism over a 2-year period. At birth, 5.9% (210/3,534) had one or both testes undescended and at 3 months of age 1.61% (57/3,534) still had an undescended testis. These figures represent an increase in undescended testis of 40% at birth and 68% at 3 months when compared with figures collected in a similar study in the late 1950s. This increase in cryptorchidism still does not account for the increased number of orchiopexies being performed. Low birthweight was also found to be a risk factor for the presence of an undescended testis.