“Neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) normally form in the centr


“Neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) normally form in the central region of developing muscle. In this process, agrin released from motor neurons has been considered to initiate the formation of synaptic acetylcholine receptor ( AChR) clusters (neurocentric model). However, in muscle developing in the absence of nerves and thus of agrin, AChR clusters still form in the muscle center. This raises the possibility that the region of NMJ formation is determined by muscle-derived cues that spatially restrict the nerve to form synapses from aneural AChR clusters,

e. g., by patterned expression of the agrin receptor MuSK ( muscle-specific kinase) (myocentric model). Here we examine at initial stages of synaptogenesis whether the responsiveness

of myotubes to agrin is spatially restricted, whether the regions of NMJ formation in wild-type muscle and of aneural AChR cluster formation in agrin-deficient animals correlate, and whether AChR cluster growth depends EGFR targets on the presence of agrin. We show that primary myotubes form AChR clusters in response to exogenous agrin in their central region only, a pattern that can spatially restrict NMJ formation. However, the nerve also HDAC activation makes synapses in regions in which aneural AChR clusters do not form, and agrin promotes synaptic cluster growth from the first stages of neuromuscular contact formation. These data indicate that aneural AChR clusters per se are not required for NMJ formation. A model is proposed that explains either the neurocentric or the myocentric mode of NMJ formation depending on a balance between the levels of MuSK expression and the availability of nerve-released agrin.”
“The purpose of this study was to examine the induction profiles (as judged by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase Nepicastat chain reaction (qRT-PCR)) of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) alpha, beta, gamma subtypes and major PPAR-target genes bearing a functional peroxisome

proliferator responsive element (PPRE) in HepG2 cell model upon feeding with cis-9,trans-11-octadecadienoic acid (9-CLA) or trans-10,cis-12-octadecadienoic acid (10-CLA) or their precursor fatty acids (FAs). HepG2 cells were treated with 100 mu mol/L 9-CLA or 10-CLA or their precursor FAs, viz., oleic, linoleic, and trans-11-vaccenic acids against bezafibrate control to evaluate the induction/expression profiles of PPAR alpha, beta, gamma subtypes and major PPAR-target genes bearing a functional PPRE, i.e., fatty acid transporter (FAT), glucose transporter-2 (GLUT-2), liver-type FA binding protein (L-FABP), acyl CoA oxidase-1 (ACOX-1), and peroxisomal bifunctional enzyme (PBE) with reference to beta-actin as house keeping gene. Of the three housekeeping genes (glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), beta-actin, and ubiquitin), beta-actin was found to be stable. Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), the common solubilizer of agonists, showed a significantly higher induction of genes analyzed.

nov , and D makirum sp nov ), the D prionilix group (D prioni

nov., and D. makirum sp. nov.), the D. prionilix group (D. prionilix sp. nov., and D. crusilix sp. nov.), and the D. trochanteratum group (D. trochanteratum, D. melachrosatum sp. nov., D. petiolatum sp. nov., D. nivatum sp. nov., D. curtuvenatum sp. nov., D. labeculatum sp. nov., and D. xanthochrosatum sp. nov.). Debilos frater sp. nov. and D. indistinctum sp. nov. are also described but not included in these groups. All species are illustrated and their distributions are mapped.”
“BACKGROUND

AND OBJECTIVES: Peer teaching engages students as teachers and is widely used in K-12 education, many universities, and increasingly in medical schools. It draws on the social and cognitive congruence between learner and teacher and can selleck kinase inhibitor be attractive to medical schools faced with a growing number of learners but a static faculty size. Peer teachers can give lectures on assigned topics, lead problem-based learning sessions, and provide one on one support to classmates in the form of tutoring. METHODS: We undertook a narrative review of research on peer BAY 73-4506 in vitro teachers in medical school, specifically investigating how medical students are impacted by being peer teachers and how having a peer teacher impacts learners. RESULTS: Studies have shown that peer teaching has a primarily positive impact on both the peer teacher and the learners. In the setting of problem-based learning courses or clinical skills instruction,

medical students’ performance on tests of knowledge or skills is similar whether they have faculty instructors Vorinostat supplier or peer teachers. There is also strong evidence that being a peer teacher enhances the learning of the peer teacher relative to the content being taught. It is common for peer teachers to lack confidence in their abilities to successfully teach, and they appreciate receiving training related to their teaching role. CONCLUSIONS: We find evidence

from several different educational settings that peer teaching benefits both the peer teachers and the learners. This suggests that peer teaching is a valuable methodology for medical schools to engage learners as teachers.”
“BACKGROUND: To identify predisposing factors that can result in the onset of takotsubo syndrome, we performed an international, collaborative systematic review focusing on clinical characteristics and comorbidities of patients with takotsubo syndrome. METHODS: We searched and reviewed cited references up to August 2013 to identify relevant studies. Corresponding authors of selected studies were contacted and asked to provide additional quantitative details. Data from each study were extracted by 2 independent reviewers. The cumulative prevalence of presenting features and comorbidities was assessed. Nineteen studies whose authors sent the requested information were included in the systematic review, with a total of 1109 patients (951 women; mean age, 59-76 years).

05) However, seafood was not found to be contributing as an expo

05). However, seafood was not found to be contributing as an exposure source. Among these risk factors, smoking (>30 pack years) and occupational exposure

(>20 years) presented the most significant association with HNC (OR = 10.22 and 10.38, respectively, p < 0.001). Cd level in blood sample of cases that are BIIB057 in vivo occupationally exposed/tobacco users (smokers and chewers) were higher than that of non-occupationally exposed/nontobacco users (p < 0.001). The logistic regression model illustrated that HNC (LC + NPC) was significantly associated with blood levels of As (OR = 2.41, p < 0.001) and Cd (OR = 4.95, p < 0.001).”
“BACKGROUND\n\nWe aimed to identify the role of computerized tomography (CT) in the differential diagnosis of acute appendicitis in patients with a low Alvarado score and negative ultrasonography findings.\n\nMETHODS\n\nFifty-two cases who underwent appendectomy (December 2004-September 2008) were included. All patients had an Alvarado score of 4-6 together with negative ultrasonography findings; preoperative abdominal CT examination results were available

in all patients. CT results were compared with intraoperative and pathological findings.\n\nRESULTS\n\nThe mean age of the cases was 31 +/- 4 years (range 11 to 71 years). The mean Alvarado score was 4.9. CT results were in favor of acute appendicitis in 34 of 52 cases. Of these 34 patients, acute appendicitis was Rigosertib price confirmed by pathological findings in 31, whereas acute MK-4827 appendicitis could not be confirmed in the remaining three cases (8.2%). In 15 of 18 cases without CT findings of appendicitis, intraoperative and pathological findings were also in agreement; however, the remaining three cases had acute appendicitis. Based on

the results of the recent studies, sensitivity and specificity of CT in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis were 91.2% and 83.3%, respectively.\n\nCONCLUSION\n\nTo avoid unnecessary appendectomies in suspected acute appendicitis cases with a low Alvarado score and negative ultrasonography findings, CT may be used as a complementary diagnostic tool.”
“Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is one of the most critical causes of healthcare-related or community-related infections. Resistance to most beta-lactam antibiotics makes MRSA a big threat to clinical treatment. Utilization of low efficiency antibiotics such as vancomycin and teicoplanin makes new choices for therapies. Recently, much researchhas shed light on relevance between genetic mutations of MRSA and clinical characteristics such as antibiotic resistance, and virulence. These findings could contribute to development of novel antibiotics and vaccines.”
“The elderly population with severe aortic stenosis (AS) requiring aortic valve replacement (AVR) is increasing. The optimal timing of AVR in these patients has been under discussion.

Analysis of variance was the test of choice, PLINK, SNPTEST, and

Analysis of variance was the test of choice, PLINK, SNPTEST, and GTOOL were used in the analysis.ResultsTwo SNPs (rs7912580 and rs2412459) were associated with response in both samples, respectively, located in an intergenic region between the AT-rich interactive domain 5B (ARID5B, MRF1-like) gene and rhotekin 2 (RTKN2) gene, an intronic Mocetinostat Epigenetics inhibitor region located in the eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 kinase 4 (EIF2AK4) gene (P=1.358e-06 and 0.015 for the Positive and Negative Symptom Scale % total score decrease in the

investigation and replication samples, respectively). The direction of association was opposite in the two samples, a finding that is sometimes reported as a flip-flop association.ConclusionHeterozygosis for the ancestral allele was associated with the best improvement in the investigation sample and with poorer outcome in the replication sample. This discrepancy can be because of differences in the

replication and investigation sample including the drugs used and the severity at baseline. Nevertheless, this finding is in line with two relevant hypothesis of schizophrenia, related to alterations in the immunological system (RTKN2) and in the neurodevelopment of the central nervous system (EIF2AK4). More studies are warranted to further investigate these associations.”
“BackgroundAntitumour necrosis factor (anti-TNF)- agents can be used successfully to treat patients with psoriasis and other inflammatory diseases. However, signaling pathway Autophagy inhibitors very few studies have examined the relationship between TNF- polymorphisms

and the response to anti-TNF- agents.\n\nObjectivesTo study the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the TNF- promoter and IL12B/IL23R genes with the response to anti-TNF- in patients with psoriasis.\n\nMethodsSNPs for the TNF- promoter and IL12B/IL23R genes, and the presence of the HLA-Cw6 haplotype were genotyped for 109 patients. We studied the association between these SNPs and the efficacy of treatment at 3 and 6months [Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) and body surface area (BSA)].\n\nResultsPatients with the TNF–238GG genotype more frequently achieved a PASI75 at 6months (825% vs. 588%, P=0049). At 6months, patients with the TNF–857CT/TT genotypes showed greater improvements in PASI score and BSA (831% vs. 927%, P=0004; 827% vs. 926%, P=0009) and more frequently achieved PASI75 (714% vs. 963%, P=0006). More patients with the TNF–1031TT genotype achieved PASI75 at 3months (908 vs. 757, P=0047) and 6months (855% vs. 657%, P=0038) and demonstrated superior improvements in PASI at 6months (899% vs. 787%, P=0041). Patients with the IL23R-GG genotype (rs11209026) achieved PASI90 at 6months more frequently (663% vs. 0, P=0006) and the improvement of the PASI score was also greater (868% vs. 678%, P=0013). Patients with the HLA-Cw6 haplotype showed poorer response than those without this haplotype.

Results: Detected somatic mutations included RAS (KRAS/NRAS) in 3

Results: Detected somatic mutations included RAS (KRAS/NRAS) in 34 (18%), PIK3CA in 13 (7%), and BRAF in 2 (1%) patients. At a median follow-up of 33 months, 3-year overall survival (OS) rates were 81% in patients with wild-type versus 52.2% in patients with mutant RAS (P = 0.002); 3-year recurrence-free survival (RFS) rates were 33.5% with wild-type LCL161 in vitro versus 13.5% with mutant RAS (P = 0.001). Liver and lung recurrences were observed in 89 and 83 patients, respectively. Patients with RAS mutation

had a lower 3-year lung RFS rate (34.6% vs 59.3%, P smaller than 0.001) but not a lower 3-year liver RFS rate (43.8% vs 50.2%, P = 0.181). In multivariate analyses, RAS mutation predicted worse OS [hazard ratio (HR) = 2.3, P = 0.002), overall RFS (HR = 1.9, P = 0.005), and lung RFS (HR = 2.0, P = 0.01), but not liver RFS (P = 0.181). Conclusions: RAS mutation predicts early lung recurrence and worse survival after curative resection of CLM. This information may be used to individualize systemic and local tumor-directed therapies and follow-up strategies.”
“Clinical implementation of adaptive radiotherapy strategies could benefit from extended tools for plan evaluation and selection. For this purpose we investigated the feasibility of image-based tumour control probability (TCP) modelling using the bladder as example of a tumour site with potential

benefit from adaptive strategies. JIB-04 molecular weight Material and methods. Epoxomicin purchase Two bladder cancer patients that underwent planning CT and daily cone beam CT (CBCT) imaging during the treatment course were included. The bladder was outlined in every image series. Following a previously published procedure, various adaptive planning target volumes (PTVs) were generated from the inter-fractional bladder variation observed during the first four CBCT sessions. Intensity modulated treatment plans delivering 60 Gy to a given PTV were generated. In addition, simultaneous integrated boost (SIB) plans giving a 10 Gy boost to the tumour were created. Using the daily CBCT images

and polynomial warping, the dose in each bladder volume element was tracked fraction by fraction. TCP calculations employing the tracked accumulated dose distributions, together with radiosensitivity parameters estimated from published data on local control of bladder cancer were performed. The dependence of TCP on the simulated clonogenic cell distribution was also explored. Results. For a uniform clonogenic cell density in the whole bladder, TCP varied between 53% and 58% for the 60 Gy plans, while it was between 51% and 64% for the SIB plans. The lowest values were found when using the smallest PTVs, as they did not geometrically enclose the clinical target volume in all fractions. When increasing the clonogenic cell density in the tumour relative to that in the remaining bladder, the TCP saturated at approximately 75% for the SIB plans. Conclusion.

Design of studyA pragmatic cluster randomised controlled

\n\nDesign of study\n\nA pragmatic cluster randomised controlled trial.\n\nSetting\n\nSeventy-one of 173 general practices in north-east England agreed to participate.\n\nMethod\n\nA total of 670 infertile couples presented to 33 intervention practices and 25 control practices over a 2-year period. Practices allocated to the intervention group

had access to HSG for those infertile women who fulfilled predefined eligibility criteria. The primary outcome measure was the interval between presentation to the GP and the couple receiving a diagnosis and management plan.\n\nResults\n\nAn annual incidence of 0.8 couples per 1000 total population equated to each GP seeing an average of one or two infertile couples each year. Open access HSG was used for 9% of all infertile women who presented to

the intervention practices during the study period. The time to reach a diagnosis and management MAPK inhibitor plan for all infertile couples presenting was not affected by the availability-of open access HSG (Cox regression hazard ratio = 0.9, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.7 to 1.1). For couples who reached a diagnosis and management plan, there was a non-significant difference in time to primary outcome SRT2104 for intervention versus control practices (32.5 weeks versus 30.5 weeks, mean difference 2.2 weeks, 95% CI = 1.6 to 6.1 weeks, P = 0.1). The intracluster correlation coefficient was 0.03 across all practices.\n\nConclusion\n\nProviding GPs with open access to HSG had no effect on the time taken to reach a diagnosis and management plan for couples with infertility.”
“Objective: Cervical or furcal root perforation is a serious clinical problem and one of its treatment modalities is perforation repair with composite resin. However, many cases still progress in inevitable extraction. When primary teeth are affected, early tooth loss can cause PXD101 inhibitor problems

related to the eruption space for the permanent successors. The aim of the present study was to evaluate a novel clinical treatment method for perforated teeth. Study design: Atelocollagen was applied to perforated furcal and cervical areas of 13 primary teeth in 13 children aged 4-9 years and 8 permanent teeth in 8 adults aged 35-69 years after debridement with an electric knife. Thereafter, the final restorations were performed after confirming good tooth conditions. Clinical evaluations were performed at follow-up examinations at approximately 3-month intervals. Results: None of the treated primary teeth showed any clinical problems throughout the observation period, with eruption of the permanent successors noted in 7 cases. In the permanent teeth, no clinical problems were identified in any of the cases during follow-up periods of 10-60 months. Conclusion: This novel method may enable preservation of perforated primary teeth for a longer duration.”
“A new record of Crambionella stuhlmanni is reported from the east coast of South Africa.

A deep chlorophyll maximum (DCM) occurred between 30 and 120 m, w

A deep chlorophyll maximum (DCM) occurred between 30 and 120 m, with the DCM depth significantly related to the unique density layer rho = 1023.6 (R-2 = 0.62). Particulate backscattering, b(bp), demonstrated multiple peaks throughout the water column, including from phytoplankton, deep scattering layers, and resuspension. The bio-optical relationship developed between b(bp) and chlorophyll (R-2 = 0.49) was compared learn more to a global relationship and could significantly improve regional ocean-color algorithms. Photooxidation and autochthonous production contributed to CDOM distributions

in the upper water column, whereas in deep water, CDOM behaved as a semi-conservative tracer of water masses, demonstrating a tight relationship with density (R-2 = 0.87). In the wake of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, this research lends support to the use of autonomous drifting profilers as a powerful tool for consideration in the design of an expanded and integrated observing network for the Gulf of Mexico.”
“This is a cross-sectional study that was carried out from 1st September 2012 to 31st December find protocol 2012, at Ibri Polyclinic, Oman To assess the relationship between glycemic control (as reflected by glycated hemoglobin; HbA1c) and serum lipid profile in type 2 diabetic

patients attending a primary care polyclinic, Oman, and included 123 type 2 diabetic patients (64 males and 59 females). The mean +/-SD of age was 50.8 +/- 11.5 years for males and 54.3 +/- 10.1 years for females. During their regular visits to the clinic for clinical follow up, venous blood samples were collected from all subjects after at least 8 hours fasting. Blood

specimens were collected into EDTA tubes for HbA1c and in Serum Separator Tube for fasting glucose (FSG) and lipid profile measurement. The data were evaluated by SPSS statistical package version 16. The results were analyzed using independent samples t-test (2-tailed), Pearson’s correlation. There were no significant differences in the mean values of the different parameters between males and females except the significantly lower mean HbA1c and higher mean HDL-C in females. This may reflect better adherence Roscovitine price to diabetic management by females as well as the known higher HDL-C in females due to gender effect particularly estrogen effect during reproductive age. Also, the glycemic state and lipid profile were better in those aged bigger than 50 year than those aged smaller than 50 year. Meanwhile, hypercholesterolemia was found in 45 (36.6%) patients, hypertriglyceriemia was found in 20 (16.3%) patients, decreased HDL-C was found in 29 (23.6%), and increased LDL-C was found in 58 (47.2%) patients, Forty-one (33.3%) patients had no abnormal lipid profile parameters, 25 (20.3%) patients had only one abnormal lipid profile parameters, 26 (21.

This risk is mainly due to blood donations collected during the w

This risk is mainly due to blood donations collected during the window period. A precise estimate of the transfusion risk of viral infection will help to determine the effect of new and current safety measures and to prioritize and allocate limited resources. Therefore, we estimated the risk of transfusion-transmitted https://www.selleckchem.com/products/H-89-dihydrochloride.html viral infection in blood donations collected in Korea from 2000 to 2010.\n\nMethods: Blood donations collected

at 16 blood centers were tested for HIV, HCV, and HBV to estimate the residual risk of transfusion-transmitted viral infection. The residual risk was calculated in two-year periods using the incidence/window model. The incidence rates for HIV/HCV and the confirmed positive rate AZD8055 for HIV/HCV in first-time and repeat donors were compared.\n\nResults: The residual risks for HIV in 2004/2005 and 2009/2010 were 1 in 1,080,244 and 1 in 1,356,547, respectively. The risks for HCV in 2000/2001 and 2009/2010 were 1 in 81,431 and 1 in 2,984,415, and the risks for HBV in 2000/2001 and 2009/2010 were 1 in 45,891 and 1 in 43,666. These estimates indicate that the residual risks for HCV in Korea have

declined 36.6-fold, and those for HIV and HBV have not improved significantly, compared to previous estimates. The odds ratios for HCV and HBV positivity in first-time donors compared to repeat donors

were 11.8 and 19.6, respectively.\n\nConclusions: The residual risk of HCV declined over the last decade due to improved screening reagents, implementation of the nucleic acid amplification test, and tight application of strict donor selection procedures. Current residual risk estimates for HIV and HCV in Korea are extremely low, but the risk for HBV is still high; therefore, urgent measures should focus on decreasing the residual risk of HBV. Despite the introduction BIIB057 ic50 of more sensitive assays in blood screening, several other factors may influence the actual residual risk of transfusion-transmitted infection. A continuous monitoring of residual risk of transfusion-transmitted infection is crucial in managing blood safety.”
“Background\n\nDemographic changes are leading to an increase in the number of older drivers: as dementia is an age-related disease, there is also an increase in the numbers of drivers with dementia. Dementia can impact on both the mobility and safety of drivers, and the impact of formal assessment of driving is unknown in terms of either mobility or safety. Those involved in assessment of older drivers need to be aware of the evidence of positive and negative effects of driving assessment.

They expressed RORC and the IL-23 receptor and included subsets t

They expressed RORC and the IL-23 receptor and included subsets that secreted IL-22 and interferon-gamma. Th17 and Tc17 cells expressed high levels of C’XCR3 and CCR6, Tc17 cells also expressed CXCR6. Binding to human sinusoidal endothelium from flow was dependent on beta 1 arid beta 2 integrins, CXCR3, and, in the case of Th17 cells, VAP-1. Th17 recruitment via sinusoids in mice with liver inflammation was reduced by treatment with antibodies against CXCR3 ligands,

confirming the role of CXCR3 in Th17 recruitment in vivo. In human liver, IL-17(+) cells were detected in portal infiltrates close to inflamed bile ducts expressing the CCR6 ligand CCL20. Cytokine-treated human cholangiocytes secreted 3 MA CCL20 and induced CCR6-dependent migration of Th17 cells suggesting that local cholangiocyte chemokine secretion localises Th17 cells to bile ducts.\n\nConclusions: CXCR3 promotes recruitment of Th17 cells from the blood into the liver in both human and murine liver injury. Their subsequent positioning near bile ducts is dependent on cholangiocyte-secreted CCL20. (C) 2012 Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf click here of the European Association for the Study of the Liver.”
“We present a method for recording eye-head movements

with the magnetic search coil technique in a small external magnetic field Since magnetic fields are typically non-linear, except in a relative small region in the center small field frames have not been used for head-unrestrained experiments in oculomotor studies\n\nHere we present a method for recording 3D eye movements by accounting for the magnetic non-linearities using the Biot-Savart law We show that the AZD1208 mouse recording errors can be significantly reduced by monitoring current head position and thereby taking the location of the eye in the external magnetic field

into account. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd All rights reserved.”
“Fatty acids (FAs) are the main energy sources of living organisms and are the major components of cellular and organelle membranes. Their compositions also affect the flexibility/rigidity of cells and cell vitality. The Taenia solium metacestode (TsM) causes neurocysticercosis (NC), which is one of the most common helminthic infections of the central nerve system. We investigated the FA composition of the cyst fluid (CF) and parenchyma of the TsM, together with those of the granuloma and swine tissue surrounding the granuloma. The FA fractions of the TsM CF and swine tissue showed a composition and proportional contents comparable to each other, in which C18:0 (stearic acid), C18:1n9c (oleic acid), C20:4 (arachidonic acid) and C16:0 (palmitic acid) constituted the major fractions. However, the relative amount of individual FAs of the TsM parenchyma and granuloma differed from those of TsM CF and swine tissue, which contained enriched C16:0 and a lower amount of C20:4.

4) However, the indiscriminate

4). However, the indiscriminate find more sacrifice of asymptomatic dogs with positive diagnosis may jeopardize the effectiveness of the control program, if tests with low specificity are used, increasing the chance of generating

outrage in the population, and leading to lower adherence to the program. Therefore, culling must be planned accurately and implemented responsibly and never as a mechanical measure in large scale. In areas with higher transmission, culling alone is not an effective control strategy.”
“We report that the F-box/Kelch-repeat protein At2g44130 is specifically induced by the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita during the initial stages of the initiation and maintenance of the feeding site. In addition, we show that the expression of this gene promotes susceptibility of infection because knocking down the F-box gene (At2g44130) drastically reduces nematode attraction to and infection of roots. In contrast, F-box overexpressing (OE) lines had a hypersusceptible

phenotype, with an increase of 34% in nematode attraction and 67% in nematode infection when grown in soil. This hypersusceptibility might be the result learn more of an increased attraction of the second-stage juveniles toward root exudates of the F-box OE, which would suggest that the blend of compounds in the root exudates of the OE line was somewhat different from the ones present in the root exudates of the wild type and the F-box knockout and tilling lines. Although the function of the F-box/Kelch-repeat protein (At2g44130) is not known, we postulate that its activation by nematode effectors released during the infection process leads to the formation of SCF(At2g44130) (Skp1-Cullin1-F-box protein) complexes, which are involved in facilitating successful infection by the nematode through targeting specific proteins for degradation.”
“A smooth-hound shark, Mustelus Sapanisertib mustelus (Linnaeus, 1758) caught off northern Angola had eight normally

developed foetuses and one specimen with morphological abnormalities. This is the first teratologic embryonic deformation recorded for the species, presenting large scoliotic, lordotic and kyphotic bends in the vertebral column. All tins were present but malformed, and the eyes were well developed. The specimen had five pairs of gill slits and embryonic teeth on the mandible. Records of such abnormalities are rare, and the deformation ratio increases with environmental contamination. As the specimen was found in an extensive oil exploitation area the causality of the defects is discussed. Analyses of the toxic compounds in the sediments did not indicate pollution in the seabed, and selenium was the only compound found in relatively high levels (0.95 mu g/g) in the muscle tissue of the embryo.