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BackgroundCertain factors have been linked to lateral skull base demineralisation or erosion, which may predispose to spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid leak. There are relatively few quantitative reports of skull base changes in patient populations.MethodA novel refined measurement algorithm for quantification of tegmen bone mineral density was developed, and bone mineral density between obese and non-obese patient groups was compared. Computed tomography scans were analysed by three blinded reviewers, and tegmen bone mineral densities were compared.ResultsThere were 23 patients in the obese group and 27 matched controls in the non-obese group. Inter-rater reliability was ‘strong’ to ‘near complete’ (κ = 0.75–0.86). No differences in tegmen bone mineral density were found between the groups (p = 0.64). The number of active blood pressure medications correlated positively with lateral skull base bone mineral density.ConclusionA novel, refined, quantitative measurement algorithm for the assessment of tegmen bone mineral density was developed and validated. Obesity was not found to significantly affect tegmen bone mineral density.

The genus Habetia Kirby, 1906 previously known from only four species or subspecies is revised based on unidentified specimens found in museum collections. H. multispinulosa Griffini, 1908 is given full species status, while H. pictifrons Karny, 1911 is removed from Habetia based on male and female characters and becomes the type species of the new genus Parahabetia gen. nov. Sixteen new species are described in Habetia, and one new species and two new subspecies in Parahabetia. The most significant characters for the differentiation of species of Habetia are male tenth abdominal tergite, cerci, subgenital plate, and male internal genitalia with the titillators that basically form a pair of roughly U-shaped sclerites that vary between species from simple, curved sclerites to modified structures with additional sclerotized branches and the sclerites can be connected with septa to form complex shapes. In contrast, males of Parahabetia have elongate titillators provided at end with a crest. In the larger species of Habetia the stridulatory file on the underside of the male left tegmen has a step in pre-apical area that is missing in the smaller species; one species with a weak step is intermediate between both groups. Unique modifications of single species in Habetia are an apical dorsal extension of the male subgenital plate in H. imitatrix Karny, 1912 and a hardened phallus sheath between phallus and subgenital plate in H. tuta sp. nov. Females of Habetia have straight ovipositors that vary in length and in the shape of the dorsal margin between species. Females can also be differentiated by species specific modifications of the subgenital plate. In Parahabetia the ovipositor is rather short and curved similar to the condition in the genus Philmontis Willemse, 1966 but has the apical area slightly recurved. Keys to the species of both genera are provided. Habetia species have been found throughout New Guinea except so far for Papua Barat; although they were mainly found in the North and the East. Parahabetia species are currently only known from the East of New Guinea. The following species and subspecies are described as new: Habetia bivittata sp. nov., H. curvata sp. nov., H. dentata sp. nov., H. elevata sp. nov., H. kondiu sp. nov., H. lalibu sp. nov., H. nigricauda sp. nov., H. pallida sp. nov., H. pedala sp. nov., H. pilleata sp. nov., H. pinnigera sp. nov., H. quatrispina sp. nov., H. simbai sp. nov., H. sororcula sp. nov., H. tuta sp. nov., H. wau sp. nov., Parahabetia bispinosa sp. nov., P. pictifrons obtusa ssp. nov., P. pictifrons acuta ssp. nov.

We described a new species of cockroach, Periplaneta gajajimana sp. nov., which was collected in Gajajima, Kagoshima-gun Toshimamura, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan, on November 2012. The new species is characterized by its reddish brown to blackish brown body, smooth surface pronotum, well developed compound eyes, dark brown head apex, dark reddish brown front face and small white ocelli connected to the antennal sockets. In male, the tegmen tip reach the abdomen end or are slightly shorter, while in the female, it does not reach the abdominal end and exposes the abdomen beyond the 7th abdominal plate. We confirmed the validity of this new species by breeding the specimens in our laboratory to demonstrate that the features of the progeny were maintained for several generations. For comparison and easy identification of this new species, the key to species identification of the genus Periplaneta that had been reported in Japan to date are also presented.

A new genus and species of the extinct hemipteran family Granulidae, Sinogranulus qishuiheensis gen. et sp. nov., is established on the basis of a tegmen specimen collected from the Middle Triassic...

A planthopper originally assigned to the genus Boreocixius in Surijokocixiidae (Surijokocixioidea, Fulgoromorpha) from the Ladinian (Middle Triassic) of Tongchuan in Shaanxi, northwestern China is described as Boreocixius tongchuanensis Zhang et al. sp. nov. As the third species ascribed to the genus, it differs from its congeners in having the much larger tegmen with postnodal veinlets and pigmented bands, providing new morphological information for Boreocixius. The establishment of the new species further increases the diversity of Boreocixius and Surijokocixiidae as well.

Objective Conductive hearing loss (CHL) commonly arises in patients with spontaneous dehiscence of the tegmen of the temporal bone with meningoencephalocele (SME). The aim of this study was to further investigate 1) the potential mechanisms for CHL in this setting; 2) hearing outcomes following surgery to address SME, and 3) the possible causes of persistent CHL following surgery. Study design Retrospective case review. Setting Tertiary referral center. Patients and intervention Seven patients (six female; nine ears) who underwent middle cranial fossa repair of SME and were found to have a tegmen tympani dehiscence from October 2010 to September 2014 were included in the study. Main outcome measures Pre- and postoperative pure-tone audiometry. Results Eight of nine ears (89%) had audiometric hearing loss at presentation. Seven ears (78%) had an air bone gap of ≥15 dB; all of these had an encephalocele traversing the tegmen tympani defect, four had a middle ear effusion, and three had a simultaneous superior semicircular canal dehiscence (SSCCD). The CHL resolved postoperatively in four of seven ears. Two of the three ears with persistent CHL had SSCCD. Attic ossicular fixation was identified in the other patient and the CHL resolved after ossiculoplasty. Conclusions CHL associated with SME can be attributed preoperatively to ossicular chain fixation and synchronous SSCCD as well as the more commonly cited cerebrospinal fluid effusion and prolapse of meningoencephalocele onto the ossicular chain. Persistent postoperative CHL can also occur due to SSCCD and ossicular fixation by adhesions.

Objectives To review the outcomes of repairing tegmen dehiscence using the middle cranial fossa approach with a self-setting bone cement. Study design Retrospective case series. Setting Two academic tertiary hospitals. Patients All patients presenting for surgical repair of tegmen dehiscence and with postoperative follow-up for at least 6 months between October 2015 and July 2019. Intervention Surgical repair using a middle cranial fossa approach using a layered reconstruction with temporalis fascia and self-setting calcium phosphate bone cement. Main outcome measures Perioperative complications, recurrence of presenting symptoms/disease, hearing, and facial nerve grade. Results The cohort consisted of 22 patients with 23 tegmen dehiscence repairs (1 sequential bilateral repair). There were 16 males and 6 females with an average age at operation of 52.6 years. Repairs were left sided in 9, right sided in 12 patients, and bilateral in 1 patient. No patients had recurrence of presenting symptoms or disease at most recent follow-up. Preoperative hearing was maintained in all patients. Two patients (9% of repairs) experienced delayed partial temporary facial nerve weakness House-Brackman grade 2 and 4 which had recovered by 8 weeks postoperative. Conclusion We demonstrate a technique for repairing tegmen dehiscence of the middle cranial fossa floor that has excellent postoperative outcomes. We highlight potential technical challenges in this approach as well as the need for counseling for potential partial transient facial nerve dysfunction.

OBJECTIVE Temporal bone spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid (sCSF) leaks are characterized by defects in the tegmen along with calvarial thinning without associated thinning of the extracranial zygoma. The authors sought to determine the effect of age and race on calvarial, tegmen, and zygoma thickness. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective cohort study. SETTING Tertiary Referral Center. PATIENTS A total of 446 patients with high-resolution head computer tomography (CT) imaging from 2003 to 2018.Intervention(s): Calvarial, tegmen, and zygoma thicknesses were measured using 3D slicer.Main Outcome Measure(s): Effects of age and race on calvarium, tegmen, zygoma thickness. RESULTS Among all patients, increased age was associated with increased thickness of the calvarium [95% CI, 0.0002 to 0.007 mm/year, P

Mimarachnidae is an extinct planthopper family of the superfamily Fulgoroidea, with ten genera from the Cretaceous of Eurasia. Here, we describe a new genus, Cretodorus gen. nov. and two new species, Cretodorus granulatus sp. nov. and C. angustus sp. nov., on the basis of four specimens from the mid-Cretaceous amber of northern Myanmar. This remarkable genus can be separated from all other mimarachnids as follows: moderately elongate head, anteriorly protruded pronotum with straight lateral carinae, and unbranched MP of tegmen. Additionally, a new species of Burmissus Shcherbakov, 2017, Burmissus latimaculatus sp. nov., is described from the same Burmese amber, and the morphological characters of Burmissus szwedoi Luo, Jiang, Wang & Xiao, 2020 are supplemented for pronotum, clypeus, rostrum, and legs. These new discoveries enrich the palaeodiversity of mimarachnid planthoppers to fifteen species, ten of which are described from the mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber, suggesting that this extinct family remained highly diverse during this period.

Pneumocephalus is usually induced by trauma, infections, tumors of the skull base, and surgical interventions. Spontaneous pneumocephalus occurs due to a defect in the temporal bone with no obvious cause. Few cases have been reported with spontaneous otogenic pneumocephalus. However, delayed postoperative pneumocephalus is rarely reported in the literature. Here, we present a case of otogenic pneumocephalus through Eustachian tube (ET) preceded by nose blowing 10 days after surgical treatment of meningoencephalocele of the right middle ear (ME) cleft and reconstruction of tegmen and dural defects. Pneumocephalus was provoked by decreased intracranial pressure (ICP) secondary to placement of lumbar drain, which caused direct communication between unsutured dural defect and the defective posterior wall of external auditory canal skin. A revision surgery of combined transmastoid/middle cranial fossa approach was performed for intracranial decompression followed by appropriate closure by suturing the dura, obliterating the ET and ME.

To evaluate the use of commercially available allogenic dural graft materials made of fetal bovine collagen, we present an analysis of our case series with use of autologous and allogenic graft materials. Patients who underwent surgical repair of a tegmen tympani defect associated with ipsilateral conductive hearing loss and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) otorrhea using a middle cranial fossa (MCF) approach from 2004 to 2018 at Loyola University Medical Center were included. Resolution of CSF otorrhea, audiologic outcomes, facial nerve preservation, and surgical complications was analyzed. Thirty-three patients with an average age of 55.3 years (range: 21-78, standard deviation [SD]: 12.9) and body mass index of 34.4 (range: 22-51, SD: 7.4) underwent an MCF repair of a tegmen and dural defect. All patients presented with CSF otorrhea and conductive hearing loss ipsilateral to the defect. Repairs were made with combinations of allograft and autograft in 17 cases, allograft only in 15 cases, and autograft only in 5 cases. Improvement in hearing was noted in 33 cases, and resolution of CSF otorrhea was noted in 36 cases; one patient required repeat surgery which resolved CSF otorrhea. Three patients had minor complications; all these were in the autograft group. The MCF approach coupled with the use of fetal bovine collagen grafts is a safe and viable method to repair tegmen tympani and associated dural defects with salutary outcomes and low morbidity.

The morphology of the visceral mass and the ability to eviscerate and regenerate internal organs were studied in 15 species of feather stars belonging to the superfamilies Himerometroidea and Comatuloidea. It was shown that members of various families differ in the structure of the visceral mass, mode and strength of its attachment to the calyx, presence or absence of autotomy, and rate of regeneration. In all the studied species of Himerometroidea, the secondary body cavity is divided into subintestinal and aboral coeloms. The gut is separated from the calyx by a connective tissue layer that forms the aboral wall of the subintestinal coelom. The Himerometroidea exhibit the ability to autotomise and rapidly regenerate the visceral mass. They form a new digestive system, including mouth and anal cone, within 4 days after damage. All the studied species of Comatuloidea have a different visceral mass structure and lack the ability to autotomise internal organs. In this superfamily, species differ in tegmen thickness, which probably affects the ease of visceral mass removal. New gut formation in Comatuloidea is slower than in Himerometroidea and takes from 10 to 25 days depending on species. This can probably be explained by the greater damage to the calyx surface during removal of the visceral mass and by differences in regeneration mechanisms. In all the studied species of feather stars, juxtaligamental cells were found in the septa of the intestinal coelom and tegmen. The morphology and distribution pattern of these cells are species specific. It is suggested that the differences in the number, localization, and innervation of the juxtaligamental cells correlate with the presence or absence of the ability to autotomise the visceral mass and the means of regeneration.

Objective To evaluate the surgical results and complications in a cohort of patients operated on to repair a tegmen bony defect using either transmastoid approach with obliteration using S53P4 bioactive glass granules (TMA-O), or the classic middle cranial fossa approach (MCFA). Study design A retrospective monocentric study. Methods Twenty-five cases (24 patients) were included. Data regarding patient demographics, etiology, intraoperative findings, complications, recurrences, audiometric data, and follow-up were analyzed. Results Seven patients were operated with MCFA and 17 patients with TMA-O. One patient was operated on using a combined approach (MCFA + TMA-O). In the preoperative HRCT scan, the size of the defect was estimated to be 6 ± 3.8 mm in the TMA-O group and 6 ± 3.5 mm in the MCFA group (P = .969). Intraoperatively, in the MCFA group, the location of the defect was mostly anterior (86%) with an intact ossicular chain (86%). A discontinuous chain was observed in 15 patients (88%) in the TMA-O group. The mean follow-up time was 22 ± 14 months in the TMA-O group and 24 ± 15 months in the MCFA group (P = .762). In both groups, there were no early postoperative complications or recurrences during follow-up. Conclusion Repair of a tegmen bony defect with S53P4 bioactive glass granules seems to be safe and effective, limiting the use of the middle cranial fossa approach to cases with epitympanic defects and with an intact ossicular chain, and it could be used whatever the size of the defect and/or the presence of meningoencephalocele. Level of evidence 4.

Jurocercopis grandis Wang & Zhang, 2009 is confined to the Middle-Upper Jurassic Daohugou beds, Inner Mongolia, NE China. The main diagnostic characters of Jurocercopis were based only on tegmen, but lacked some crucial information such as basal cell, vein Pc+CP and A1. A very diverse palaeoentomofauna has been discovered lately from the Yangshuzhuang Formation of Jiyuan, Henan Province, northern China, from which we identify J. grandis. Herein, Jurocercopis is emended and provided with detailed morphological characters on the basis of nine specimens from the Jiyuan and Daohugou beds. The new discovery expands the geographic distribution of Jurocercopis to the Jiyuan Basin, northern China, and indicates a stratigraphic correlation between the Yangshuzhuang Formation at Jiyuan and the Haifanggou Formation of the Daohugou beds. These two units host the early assemblage of Yanliao biota, further proving that the Yanliao biota is widely distributed in northern China.

Objective The middle fossa craniotomy for tegmen defect repair provides wide access. This approach often requires temporal lobe manipulation, lumbar drain placement, and longer recovery. We describe a keyhole middle fossa approach with a simple titanium skull base repair that allows for wide access with no temporal lobe manipulation and does not require lumbar drain placement, which results in a dramatic reduction in hospital length of stay. Methods A retrospective review was performed on 14 consecutive patients with spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) otorrhea. Each patient underwent a keyhole middle fossa approach followed by multilayer dural repair with titanium mesh “gull wing” skull base reconstruction. Postoperative measures included operative time, length of hospital stay, CSF leak recurrence, and surgical complications (seizures, hemorrhage, aphasia, infection). Results The average age of the patients was 60.7 ± 12.7 years old, and average body mass index was 32.8 ± 7.9 kg/m2. Nine of the patients were female. The average operative time was 103 ± 32.8 minutes. The average hospital length of stay was 1.4 days. There were no cases of postoperative CSF otorrhea, meningitis, aphasia, or seizures. There were no recurrences over a mean follow-up of 20.3 months (range: 5–48 months). Conclusions A minimally invasive keyhole middle fossa approach with a multilayer dural reconstruction including titanium mesh “gull wing” skull base repair provides a quick, effective treatment for a broad spectrum of tegmen defects and meningoencephaloceles. This exposure and reconstruction technique do not require the use of a lumbar drain and result in minimal hospitalization.

Lygistorrhina (Probolaeus) acahuizotla sp. nov., es descrita e ilustrada basada en adultos procedentes de la localidad de Acahuizotla, en el estado de Guerrero, México. Esta especie está relacionada a Lygistorrhina (Probolaeus) alexi Huerta & Ibáñez-Bernal. El macho se distingue principalmente de otras especies congenéres por la presencia de un par de sedas preapicales en el mediotergito, coxa anterior pálida amarilla con pigmentación parda medialmente y tegmen en forma de “U”. Nuevos registros de Lygistorrhina (Probolaeus) alexi Huerta & Ibáñez-Bernal de Tecpan de Galeana, para el estado de Guerrero y para la Estación Biológica de Chamela, en el estado de Jalisco, ambos registros son incluidos al occidente de México. Se proporciona una clave para las especies de Lygistorrhina de México.

Abstract: The authors present a case report of a patient who was treated conservatively for a non-specific headache for more than a decade, while an arachnoidal cyst in the middle cranial fossa, over the temporal bone tegmen was diagnosed, but ruled out as the cause of the headache. The patient was referred to our ENT department with left, purulent ear discharge. Besides a chronic purulent otitis media, a cholesterol granuloma occupying the antrum, eroding the tegmen of the pyramid bone and penetrating into the middle cranial fossa was diagnosed. Case presentation of a patient with cholesterol granuloma, surgical options, differential diagnostic problems, and a literature review are presented. Tympanoplasty with cortical mastoidectomy was carried out to treat the chronic purulent otitis media, and the cholesterol granuloma was removed during transmastoid craniotomy. The iatrogenic temporal meningo-encephalic tissue herniation was repaired and the bone defect of the tegmen was reconstructed with septal cartilage. The patient’s headache diminished immediately after the surgery. The chronic ear discharge stopped, the cholesterol granuloma was excised completely and the cerebral herniation was repaired successfully. Neither CSF leak, nor further herniation or meningitis were noticed. Two years after the operation the patient is asymptomatic. A large cholesterol granuloma, eroding into the middle cranial fossa can cause serious complications, and needs a high level of attention besides individualized surgical treatment based on the surgeon’s abilities and skills. Orv Hetil. 2019; 160(52): 2067–2072.

Male field crickets (Orthoptera: Gryllidae) produce acoustic signals by wing stridulation, attracting females for mating. A plectrum on the left forewing’s (or tegmen) anal margin rapidly strikes along a serrated vein (stridulatory file) on the opposite tegmen as they close, producing vibrations ending in a tonal sound. The tooth strike rate of the plectrum across file teeth is equal to the sound frequency produced by the cricket (i.e., ~5k teeth/s for ~5 kHz in field crickets) and is specific to the forewing’s resonant frequency. It is subsequently amplified using specialised wing cells. Anatomically, the forewings appear to mirror each other: a file and plectrum exist on both tegmina; however, most cricket species stridulate using right-over-left wing overlap making the stridulatory mechanism directionally asymmetrical by default, rendering the left tegmen’s file unused. Therefore, we hypothesise structural differences between the functional and unfunctional files. Three-dimensional images were used to accurately measure the stridulatory file structure in Gryllus bimaculatus wings. It was found that the left file shows significantly greater variation in inter-tooth distance than the right file, both over the entire file and especially the first sixty teeth (the functional part). Advantages of this modern method over scanning electron microscopy are discussed.

A new material on the Eugryllacris from China is considered. One new synonym and two new species are proposed based on the specimens from Yunnan and Hainan provinces viz. Eugryllacris binotata Liu & Bian, 2021 syn. nov., Eugryllacris nigriabdominis Bin & Bian sp. nov. and Eugryllacris hainanensis Bin & Bian sp. nov.. Besides, a supplementary description of tegmen of Eugryllacris fanjingshanensis Bian & Shi, 2016 is made. All the materials are deposited in the Guangxi Normal University.

Pomegranate produces fruit with high nutritional value. Of particular interest is the woody part of the seed, which influences consumer acceptability and is rich in bioactive components. The aim of this study was to morphoanatomically and biochemically characterize the tegmen of local and commercial pomegranates grown in Italy. SEM and a texturometer were used for morphoanatomical and hardness analysis, respectively, and gravimetric and Soxhlet extraction, as well as a GS-MS instrument, were used for chemical analysis. In addition to the classic morphometric parameters, we described, for the first time, the bundles on pomegranate tegmen, identifying four forms (FAN, TREE, COMB and RAMIFIED); local cultivars showed a higher variability compared to the commercial cultivars. Lignin content showed no correlation with seed strength. We developed a new hierarchical model in which geometric parameters and the resistant volume of the lignified tissue can explain the variability in hardness observed in the tests. Quantitative differences were observed in total lipids and unsaponifiable fractions; in particular, all oils were rich in unsaturated fatty acids. We propose that bundles form as a novel trait for characterization and a new hierarchical model to evaluate the hardness of seeds. The content of fatty acids and other biocompounds in pomegranate seeds can promote their valorization as a resource rather than a waste product.

Cockroach specimens of the genus, Squamoptera were collected from the Iriomote island of Okinawa prefecture, Japan. The morphological features of the specimens were characterized as having a white band on the dorsal surface of its thorax, its tegmen reduced into a tiny scale-like structure and the hindwing was absent. Ocelli was also absent and the small compound eyes not extending to apex of the head nor to the frontal face but extend further lower than the base of the antennae. When the specimens were reared in the laboratory, besides the short wing form, the long wing form began to appear in the rearing colony. In our reproductive biological study, we observed that hatching of the ootheca from the short wing female takes about 30 days, with an average of 6.6 nymphs being hatched from one ootheca. The male to female ratio of the offspring was 36:30. However, the frequency appearance of the offspring from the ootheca of the short wing female was 98.5% short wing and 1.5% long wing form. Our specimens occasionally show body polymorphism in the form of individuals having long wings instead of the usual short one. The long wing form does not show the white band on the dorsal surface of its thorax.

Objective The main purpose of this article is to investigate the prevalence and features of posterior fossa defects (PFD) in spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid leaks (sCSFL). Design This is a retrospective case series. Setting Tertiary skull base center. Participants Consecutive adults undergoing lateral skull base repair of sCSFL between 2003 and 2018. Main Outcome Measures The following data were collected: demographics, comorbidities, radiology and intraoperative findings, and surgical outcomes including complications and need for revision surgery or shunt placement. Patients with incomplete data or leaks following skull base surgery, trauma, or chronic ear disease were excluded. Results Seventy-one patients (74% female, mean age 56.39 ± 11.50 years) underwent repair of spontaneous lateral skull base leaks. Eight ears (7 patients, 11.1%) had leaks involving the posterior fossa plate in addition to defects of the tegmen mastoideum (50%), tegmen tympani (25%), or both (25%). Patients with PFDs more often had bilateral tegmen thinning on imaging (75%, odds ratio [OR]: 10.71, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.20–54.35, p = 0.005) and symptomatic bilateral leaks (OR: 9.67, 95% CI: 2.22–40.17, p = 0.01. All PFD patients had arachnoid granulations adjacent to ipsilateral mastoid cell opacification. However, this finding was often subtle and rarely included on the radiology report. There was no significant difference in body mass index, age, presenting complaints, or operative success between the PFD and isolated tegmen defect sCSFL cohorts. Conclusion The posterior fossa is an uncommon location for sCSFL. Careful review of preoperative imaging is often suggestive and can inform surgical approach. PFD patients are similar to those with isolated tegmen-based defects in presentation, comorbidities, and outcomes.

OBJECTIVE Identify features on computed tomography (CT) that predict mastoidectomy conversion (MC) during transcanal endoscopic ear surgery (TEES). STUDY DESIGN Retrospective case-control. SETTING University otology practice. PATIENTS Consecutive patients with cholesteatoma. INTERVENTION TEES cholesteatoma dissection versus those requiring MC. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Antrum opacification, depth of scutum involvement, and erosion of the mastoid trabeculae, ossicular chain, and tegmen were evaluated. Univariable and multivariable regression analysis was performed. The Antrum-Malleus-Tegmen (AMT) score was created using receiver operating characteristic curves to assess feasibility of performing TEES for cholesteatoma dissection. RESULTS There were 39 TEES and 19 MC cases. Groups had similar age (median 28.5 yr), gender, laterality, and revision surgery status. Median surgical time for MC cases was longer than TEES (231 min vs. 171 min, p

The Mesozoic froghopper family Sinoalidae was reported from the uppermost Middle–lowermost Upper Jurassic Daohugou Biota and coeval strata of northeastern China, and mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber of northern Myanmar. Herein, a remarkably new sinoalid froghopper, Ornatiala amoena Chen, Wang and Zhang, gen. et sp. nov., is reported from Kachin amber. The new taxon is distinctly different from all known sinoalids in possessing the following characters: the head strongly produced anteriorly, slightly longer than wide; the pronotum relatively long, with length/width ratio about 0.6; the tegmen with post-claval margin beyond termination of CuP strongly convex, making tegmen widest near termination of CuA2, and a long stalk ScP+R+MP present. Additionally, this new remarkable sinoalid bears a novel prominent colouration pattern (probable disruptive colouration) on tegmina, further confirming that this froghopper group was likely to be undergoing high morphological and ecological diversification in the mid-Cretaceous.

A new tettigarctid, Hpanraais problematicus gen. et sp. nov. is described based on a forewing from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber. This new genus and species significantly differs from other fossil and extant tettigarctids in the details of tegmen venation. The fossil represents an enigmatic and very peculiar Tettigarctidae known from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber from Kachin province, and it not only enriches the knowledge of the diversity of Mesozoic Tettigarctidae but also provides some key morphological details of the forewing in this family.

Background Marfan syndrome (MFS) is a genetic disorder affecting connective tissue. The composition of the dura can change. Consequently, lumbo-sacral dural herniations and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks are encountered, however, they have yet to been described in the temporal bone. Aims/objectives To define the prevalence of temporal bone meningocele or encephalocele among patients with MFS. Materials and methods Reviewed medical records of all adult patients, diagnosed with MFS, who were treated between 1993 and 2018 at a single academic referral institute. Head targeted CT scans were analyzed. The presence of an anterior or lateral skull base defect was recorded. Results One-hundred and one patients diagnosed with MFS were identified. Twelve of which had suitable CT scans and were enrolled in the study. The median age of patients with defects was 65 years (range 41-71). Five of the twelve patients (41.6%) had tegmen defect. Of the seven defects found, the median size of the defects was 3 mm (range 2-5 mm). All defects were in the temporal bone, none in the anterior skull base. Conclusions and significance The prevalence of radiological evidence of a temporal bone defect among patients with MFS is high. This is a new, important, and potentially life-threatening association with the syndrome.

Fu, Y., & Huang, D., December 2018. New sinoalids (Insecta: Hemiptera: Cercopoidea) from Middle to Upper Jurassic strata at Daohugou, Inner Mongolia, China. Alcheringa 43, 246–256. ISSN 0311-5518.A new fossil genus with three species of Sinoalidae, Parasinoala daohugouensis gen. et sp. nov., Parasinoala minuta gen. et sp. nov., Parasinoala magnus gen. et sp. nov., from the Middle to Upper Jurassic Haifanggou Formation at Daohugou, Inner Mongolia, northeastern China, is described and illustrated. The new genus differs from other sinoalids by the tegmen with RA having 2–3 branches, MP with 3–4 branches and MP of hind wings with two branches, which indicates the terminal branches of RA and MP are highly variable within Sinoalidae. The new discovery greatly increases the palaeodiversity of sinoalids in the early assemblage of the Yanliao biota from the Daohugou beds.Yanzhe Fu [yzfu@nigpas.ac.cn] State Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Aca...

A new species of mole cricket, Gryllotalpa punana sp. nov., is described from Punana in Jaipur district of Rajasthan, India. The intra-specific morphological variation observed in body length and spacing of teeth on the stridulatory file on the tegmen, in the Oriental mole cricket Gryllotalpa gorkhana Ingrisch, collected from different locations of western India, is being reported for the first time with suitable line diagrams and plates.

The morphology and regeneration of the digestive system and tegmen after autotomy of the visceral mass in the crinoid Lamprometra palmata (Clark 1921) was studied. The gut has a five-lobed shape and is covered by a tegmen. The tegmen consists of epidermis and underlying connective tissue. The digestive tube can be divided into three parts: esophagus, intestine, and rectum. At 6 h post-autotomy, the calyx surface is covered by a layer of amoebocytes and juxtaligamental cells (JLCs). At 14–18 h, post-autotomy transdifferentiation of JLCs begins and give rise to the epidermis and cells of digestive system. On days 1–2 post-autotomy, JLCs undergo the mesenchymal–epithelial transition. Some JLCs turn into typical epidermal cells, while other JLCs form small closed epithelial structures that represent the gut anlage. On day 4 post-autotomy, the animals have a mouth opening and a small anal cone. On day 7 post-autotomy, the visceral mass and the digestive system become fully formed but are smaller than normal. A 24-h exposure of L. palmata individuals to a 10−7 M colchicine solution did not slow down regeneration, and the timing of gut formation was similar to that in the control animals. We conclude that JLCs are the major cell source for gut and epidermis regeneration in L. palmata. The main mechanisms of morphogenesis are cell migration, mesenchymal–epithelial transition, and transdifferentiation.

Objective: Report a series of cases in which patients have concomitant superior semicircular canal dehiscence (SSCD) and a dehiscent tegmen tympani with Dural contact to the malleus head (DCMH). Methods: An analysis of radiologic and audiologic data in 4 patients who presented with SSCD and DCMH at a tertiary care institution. A pertinent literature review was performed. Results: Four patients (5 ears) had SSCD and DCMH. In 3 patients with unilateral DCMH, the mean maximum air-bone gap was 15 dB in the ear with DCMH compared to 50 dB in the ear without DCMH. Of the 5 ears with DCMH, the mean air conduction threshold at 250 Hz was 17 dB compared to 42 dB in the 3 ears without DCMH. Conclusions: We report the findings of DCMH in a series of 4 patients with bilateral SSCD. This limited series suggests that ears with SSCD and DCMH have less of an air-bone gap than would be expected, as 1 would expect an additive effect of DCMH and SSCD on the air-bone gap.