Search

This report details the second phase of biological sampling and associated analysis undertaken as part of an international swordfish biology program. The program was established in 2018 and sampling was conducted for swordfish in the North and South Atlantic and Mediterranean. Fish were sampled for size, sex, and maturity. Anal fin spine samples and tissues were obtained for ageing and growth and genetic analyses. These data will be used to inform ICCAT assessment and the ongoing management strategy evaluation process. In this report we examine sampling representativeness relative to spatial and temporal patterns in recent catch data. Samples were obtained from a broad temporal and spatial range, however, some improvements are required in spatial-temporal coverage.

Since there are no reports comparing hand and custom-made cranioplastics, a retrospective study was performed in order to detect those variables statistically associated to clinical failures. From January 2007 to December 2010, 67 patients (31M/36F; age range 17-82) operated at the Neurosurgery Unit of the Arcispedale S. Anna of the University Hospital of Ferrara, Italy were eligible for this retrospective study. The causes of primary operation were 34 (50.7%) cerebral hemorrhages, 24 (35.8%) traumas, 8 (11.9%) tumors and 1 (1.5%) infection, respectively. Hypertension was a co-morbidity factor in 23 (34.3%) patients. Hypertension was a co-morbidity factor in 23 (34.3%) patients. Cranial vault reconstruction was performed after a mean period of 7 months. The variables analyzed were causes of craniotomy (hemorrhages, traumas, tumors and infections), co-morbidity factor (i.e. hypertension), sites (3 frontal, 12 fronto-temporal, 42 fronto-temporo-parietal, 3 temporo-parietal and 3 temporo-occipito-parietal) and dimension of the defect (maximum diameter smaller than 9 cm, 9

Leopardi, Carlos, Carnevali, Germán, Romero-González, Gustavo A. (2012): Amoana (Orchidaceae, Laeliinae), a new genus and species from Mexico. Phytotaxa 65 (1): 23-35, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.65.1.3, URL: http://biotaxa.org/Phytotaxa/article/view/phytotaxa.65.1.3

Orofacial clefts (OFC) are common birth defects of complex aetiology resulting in disruptions of normal facial structure. They represent one of the most usual birth defects and occur in 1 per 500 to 2,500 births depending on ancestry, geographic residential location, maternal age and prenatal exposures, and socioeconomic status. Aim of this retrospective study is to assess the clinical outcome in a series of patients affected cleft lip and palate and discuss the pertinent literature. In the period between January 2001 and December 2010, 56 patients underwent to cleft lip and/ or palate correction at the Pediatric Surgery Unit, S. Anna Hospital, Ferrara, Italy. Patients included 25 females and 23 males. There were 7 cleft lip, 24 cleft palate and 17 cleft lip and palate. All patients were surgically corrected under general anesthesia. Millard and Skoog techniques were used for cleft lip anomalies, whereas Langebeck, Vidmayer- Perko and Furlow techniques were used for cleft palate defects. In our series a multidisciplinary approach was used and several surgical techniques were performed. Functional and aesthetic results were satisfactory in most cases. The need of a specific dedicated team is mandatory for treating this group of patients.

Nevi represent benign melanocytic neoplasms that have importance as facultative precursors and predictors of cutaneous melanoma. In daily clinical practice high nevus counts help to identify person at risk. In the period between January 2008 and December 2010, 141 patients underwent to nevi excision at the Pediatric Surgery Unit, S Anna Hospital, Ferrara, Italy. Patients included 64 (45.4%) females and 77 (54,6%) males. Age ranged from 1.5 to 18 years with a mean value of 12.4 years at the time of admission. 29, 46, 75 and 19 nevi where located in arms, legs, trunk and head and neck, respectively. 19, 121 and 29 nevi were junctional, compound and dermal nevi, respectively. Nevi were treated with surgical excision: 35 under general anesthesia, 4 under sedation and the remaining under local anesthesia. Melanocytic nevi during the past have been treated with several techniques such as cauterization with carbon dioxide, snow, a heated platinum loop and even by x-ray. Most of these treatments result unsatisfactory because these cause scars whereas leaving few intact melanocytes in the derma. Surgical excision is the method of choice. If the lesion has been injured or infected antibiotic treatment could facilitate healing.

Malformations of the external ear can involve orientation, position, size and relief pattern of the pinna, anotia may also occur. To make a classification of ear malformations must be considered: size of auricle, shape of the ear and position of the ear. Aim of this retrospective study is to assess the clinical outcome in a series of patients affected by ear defects and discusses the pertinent literature. In the period between January 2001 and December 2010, 35 patients underwent to surgical correction of external ear malformations at the Pediatric Surgery Unit, S Anna Hospital, Ferrara, Italy. Patients included 23 (66%) females and 12 (34%) males. Age ranged from 1 months to 14.5 years with a mean value of 2.6 years at the time of admission. All cases were surgically corrected under general anesthesia. Successful correction of prominent ears and of all others kind of ear malformations requires a precise understanding of the normal anatomy and relationships of the external ear with the face. The surgeon should be familiar with the normal anatomy of the cartilaginous skeleton and the soft tissue features of the external ear. Abnormalities in ear dimensions will reveal themselves at an early age. The rapid development of the ear to approximately 90% of adult dimensions by age 3 years allows for early surgical intervention for auricular anomalies. Many surgeons recommend performing surgical correction of prominent ears when children are aged 3 to 6 years, before the start of school. The goal is to minimize the malformation before the period of socialization to avoid ridicule by other children.

Congenital “lop ears” are a deformity include varying degrees of turning down (lidding) of the helix, reduction in the fossa triangularis, scapha compression, reduction of the superior crus of the antihelix and an associated reduction in vertical height of the external ear. Aim of this retrospective study is to assess the clinical outcome in a series of patients affected lop ears and discuss the pertinent literature. In the period between January 2003 and December 2009, 32 patients underwent to lop ears correction at the Pediatric Surgery Unit, S Anna Hospital, Ferrara, Italy. Patients included 4 (33.3%) females and 8 (66.6%) males. Age ranged from 5.6 to 18 years with a mean value of 11 at the time of admission. Lop ears were treated with Mustarde’ surgical technique under general anesthesia. No complications were detected in the follow-up period. The goal standard of surgery treatment for prominent ears is to obtain symmetrical and natural ears with not sign of being operated. More than 200 surgical techniques have been described for its correction indicating the lack of an ideal technique. These techniques can be classiied into two categories: with conservation of cartilage and with cartilage section. Section methods attend to eliminate the inherent memory of the cartilage so that the shape of the ear can be modiied. These techniques may leave signiicant asymmetries. In contrast, methods which shape the cartilage are based on the Mustardé technique, which consists of placing 3 or 4 horizontal mattress sutures with permanent suture material along the ridge of the helix, to create an antihelix fold. Our clinical results are similar to those reported in the English literature.

Branchial anomalies are masses located in children’ neck. They are composed of an heterogeneous group of congenital malformations mainly fistulae, cysts, sinus tracts and cartilaginous remnants. Females and males are affected equally and many lesions are diagnosed before child reaches adulthood. Aim of this retrospective study is to asses the clinical outcome in a series of patients affected by branchial anomalies and discuss the pertinent literature. In the period between January 2001 and December 2010, 31 patients underwent to surgical correction of branchial anomalies at the Pediatric Surgery Unit, S Anna Hospital, Ferrara, Italy. Patients included 15 (48.4%) females and 16 (51.6%) males. Age ranged from 5 months to 15.6 years with a mean value of 5.1 years at the time of admission. There were 16 fistulae 5 cysts and 10 branchial remnants All cases were surgically corrected under general anesthesia. Cervical cysts occur in children and adolescents as a mass situated anterior to the sterno-cleid muscle and near the angle of the mandible. Cervical symptoms may consist of drainage from a pit –like depression at the angle of mandible. The definitive treatment of all branchial anomalies is the surgical for a complete excision. Complete surgical resection through a wide transverse cervicotomy results in good prognosis. Identification during operation, of the internal and external carotid arteries and of the vagus, hypoglossal, glossopharingeal and superior laryngeal nerves will avoid injury of these structures.