Female Vulva Research Articles

Phenome-Wide Association of APOE Alleles in the All of Us Research Program.

Genetic variation in APOE is associated with altered lipid metabolism, as well as cardiovascular and neurodegenerative disease risk. However, prior studies are largely limited to European ancestry populations and differential risk by sex and ancestry has not been widely evaluated. We utilized a phenome-wide association study (PheWAS) approach to explore APOE-associated phenotypes in the All of Us Research Program. We determined APOE alleles for 181,880 All of Us participants with whole genome sequencing and electronic health record (EHR) data, representing seven gnomAD ancestry groups. We tested association of APOE variants, ordered based on Alzheimer's disease risk hierarchy (ε2/ε2<ε2/ε3<ε3/ε3<ε2/ε4<ε3/ε4<ε4/ε4), with 2,318 EHR-derived phenotypes. Bonferroni-adjusted analyses were performed overall, by ancestry, by sex, and with adjustment for social determinants of health (SDOH). In the overall cohort, PheWAS identified 17 significant associations, including an increased odds of hyperlipidemia (OR 1.15 [1.14-1.16] per APOE genotype group; P=1.8×10-129), dementia, and Alzheimer's disease (OR 1.55 [1.40-1.70]; P=5×10-19), and a reduced odds of fatty liver disease (OR 0.93 [0.90-0.95]; P=1.6×10-9) and chronic liver disease. ORs were similar after SDOH adjustment and by sex, except for an increased number of cardiovascular associations in males, and decreased odds of noninflammatory disorders of vulva and perineum in females (OR 0.89 [0.84-0.94]; P=1.1×10-5). Significant heterogeneity was observed for hyperlipidemia and mild cognitive impairment across ancestry. Unique associations by ancestry included transient retinal arterial occlusion in the European ancestry group, and first-degree atrioventricular block in the American Admixed/Latino ancestry group. We replicate extensive phenotypic associations with APOE alleles in a large, diverse cohort, despite limitations in accuracy for EHR-derived phenotypes. We provide a comprehensive catalog of APOE-associated phenotypes and present evidence of unique phenotypic associations by sex and ancestry, as well as heterogeneity in effect size across ancestry.

A review of the varunid crab genusParapyxidognathusWard, 1941 (Decapoda: Brachyura: Varunidae), with descriptions of two new species

AbstractSpecies of Parapyxidognathus Ward, 1941 are distributed across tropical Indo-West Pacific to temperate downstream rivers and in estuaries. The genus previously included only one species, Parapyxidognathus deianira (De Man, 1888). We examined specimens from Parapyxidognathus and its closely related genus, Pyxidognathus A. Milne-Edwards, 1879 from the eastern Indian Ocean and western Pacific, focusing on their morphological characters. The results also support the reclassification of Pyxidognathus fluviatilis Alcock, 1900 into Parapyxidognathus, as well as the establishment of two new species from the western Pacific, Pa. tshiansuesp. nov. and Pa. ongiasp. nov. The identity of the species is supported by evidence from mitochondrial 16S rDNA and cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COI) genes. There are now four species in Parapyxidognathus distinguishable by the characters of the anterolateral teeth of the carapace, the pleon, and the first gonopods of the male, and the female vulvae.

Bursaphelenchus glaucae n. sp. isolated from larval faeces of a longhorn beetle, Aeolesthes chrysothrix chrysothrix (Bates), in its pupal chamber constructed in the dead wood of Quercus glauca Thunb. from Japan

Summary A Bursaphelenchus species belonging to the hofmanni group (corneolus subgroup) was isolated from a small piece of larval faeces of the longhorn beetle Aeolesthes chrysothrix chrysothrix in its pupal chamber. The chamber was constructed in a dead wood section of Quercus glauca obtained from a live tree. The material was obtained during a management procedure of a garden tree to remove the dead part from live tree. The species is typologically characterised by its three-lined lateral field, the position of its secretory-excretory pore overlapping with the metacorpus anterior half, a very small spicule with distinctive broad and rounded condyles, a flattened trapezoid-shaped rostrum and small flattened cucullus, the presence of seven (P1, P2 and P3 papilliform and P5 gland) male genital papillae, a female vulva with a side flap and female tail forming an elongate conoid with a strongly ventrally curved posterior half and narrowly rounded or digitate tip. The species is typologically close to B. corneolus, sharing a small cucullus and female tail shape, but can be distinguished from the other species by the position of the secretory-excretory pore and the spicule rostrum shape. Phylogenetically, the new species forms a well-supported clade with B. corneolus, but can be distinguished by its clearly separable phylogenetic status inferred from SSU and D2-D3 LSU sequences and the difference in the ITS sequence. The new species is described as B. glaucae n. sp. Although the nematode was isolated from the larval faeces of A. c. chrysothrix, it has not been directly isolated from the insect body to date, thus, the carrier insect of the nematode has not been determined.

NTR-1′s essential contribution to asymmetric mating between two sibling nematode Species: Bursaphelenchus xylophilus and B. Mucronatus

The pine-wood invasive species nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus causes great forestry damage globally, particularly in Eurasia. B. xylophilus can hybridize with its native sibling, Bursaphelenchus mucronatus, with whom it shares an interestingly asymmetric mating behavior. However, the molecular mechanism underlying interspecific asymmetric mating has yet to be clarified. ntr-1, a nematocin receptor gene, is involved in an oxytocin/vasopressin-like signaling system that can regulate reproduction. Structural analysis using bioinformatics revealed that both Bxy- and Bmu-ntr-1 encode 7TM-GPCR, a conserved sequence. In situ hybridization and qPCR showed that both Bxy- and Bmu-ntr-1 were highly expressed in adult nematodes. Specifically, Bxy-ntr-1 was expressed in the vulva of females and caudal gonad of males, whereas Bmu-ntr-1 was expressed in the postal vulva and uterus of females and the whole gonads of males. Furthermore, RNAi of ntr-1 further demonstrated the biological function of interspecific mating: ntr-1 can regulate mating behavior, lead to male–female specificity, and ultimately result in interspecific differences. In B. mucronatus, ntr-1 influenced male mating more than female mating success, while downregulation of ntr-1 in B. xylophilus resulted in a significant decline in the female mating rate. Competitive tests revealed that the mating rate of the cross significantly declined after downregulation of Bxy♀- and Bmu♂-ntr-1, but no obvious change occurred in the reciprocal cross. Thus, we speculate that ntr-1 may be the key factor behind interspecific asymmetric mating. The current study (1) demonstrated the regulatory function of ntr-1 on mating behavior and (2) theoretically revealed the molecular basis of interspecific asymmetric mating.

Clinical observation of laser combined with 5-aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy for female vulva condyloma acuminatum.

Condylomata acuminata, or genital warts (GW), are exceedingly prevalent, with human papilloma virus infection accounting for 90% of cases. It can be treated in a variety of methods, but the high recurrence rate and cervical scars make it difficult to choose the best treatment option. Hence, the study aims to find the effect of laser combined with 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) photodynamic therapy for condyloma acuminata in the vulva, vagina, and cervix. A total of 106 female patients with GW of the vulva, vagina, and cervical condyloma acuminata were treated in the Dermatology Department of Subei People's Hospital in Yangzhou from May 2020 to July 2021. All these patients were treated with laser combined with 5-ALA photodynamic therapy to observe the therapeutic effect. About 84.9% of patients responded to the first session of ALA-photodynamic treatment. Five patients relapsed in the 2nd week, two patients relapsed in the 4th week, one relapsed in the 8th week, one relapsed in the 12th week, and the relapsed patients were given 1-3 times of photodynamic therapy again, and no recurrence was seen in the 24th week. After four courses of treatment in 106 patients, the wart clearance rate was 100%. Laser combined with 5-ALA photodynamic therapy for female vulva, vagina, and cervix condyloma acuminata has a reliable curative effect, low recurrence rate, few adverse reactions, and less pain. It is worth promoting in female vulva, vagina, and cervical condyloma acuminata.

Bursaphelenchus ogawanus n. sp. isolated from bark material of Fagus japonica Maxim. from Japan

Summary A Bursaphelenchus species belonging to the abietinus group was isolated from a bark sample of Fagus japonica infested by an unidentified Dryocoetes bark beetle. The species is typologically characterised by its two-lined lateral field, mitten-shaped spicule possessing a well-developed and dorsally truncate condylus, narrow triangular rostrum and a distinct cucullus, the presence of seven (P1, P2, P3 papilliform and P5 gland-opening-like) male genital papillae, female vulva with side flap and the long, smoothly tapering and ventrally recurved female tail with strongly ventrally recurved distal part. The species is typologically close to B. irokophilus and B. rainulfi but can be distinguished from these two species by the shape of spicule rostrum, which is narrower in the new species. Phylogenetically, the new species forms a well-supported clade with B. rainulfi but can be distinguished from them by the differences in the SSU and D2-D3 LSU sequences. The new species is described as Bursaphelenchus ogawanus n. sp.

A new species of Pseudopoda (Araneae, Sparassidae) from China, with the description of different and distinctive internal ducts of the female vulva.

One new species of the genus Pseudopoda Jäger, 2000, Pseudopodadeformis Gong & Zhong, sp. nov. (♂, ♀), is described and documented with digital images from Shennongjia Forestry District, Hubei Province, China, based on morphology and DNA barcodes. This new species is separated from other Pseudopoda species by the unique type of internal ducts of the female vulva that are curved longitudinally, forming a narrow triangle or trapezoidal shape. In addition, DNA barcodes for this species are provided.

MicroCT analysis unveils the role of inflatable female genitalia and male tibial complex in the genital coupling in the spider genus Aysha (Anyphaenidae, Araneae).

Sperm transfer in spiders is achieved by copulatory organs on the male pedipalps (i.e., copulatory bulbs), which can be simple or a complex set of sclerites and membranes. During copulation, these sclerites can be used to anchor in corresponding structures in the female genitalia by means of hydraulic pressure. In the most diverse group of Entelegynae spiders, the retrolateral tibial apophysis clade, the female role in the coupling of genitalia is considered rather passive, as conformational changes of the female genital plate (i.e., the epigyne) during copulation are scarce. Here, we reconstruct the genital mechanics of two closely related species belonging to the Aysha prospera group (Anyphaenidae) that bear a membranous, wrinkled epigyne and male pedipalps with complex tibial structures. By using microcomputed tomography dataof a cryofixed mating pair, we reveal that most of the epigyne remains greatly inflated during genital coupling, and that the male tibial structures are coupled to the epigyne by the inflation of a tibial hematodocha. We propose that a turgent female vulva is a prerequisite for the genital coupling, which could implicate a female control device, and that the structures from the male copulatory bulb have been functionally replaced by tibial structures in these species. Furthermore, we show that the conspicuous median apophysis is maintained in spite of being functionally redundant, posing a puzzling situation.

Multigene Phylogenies of the Estuarine Sesarmid Parasesarma bidens Species Complex (Decapoda: Brachyura: Sesarmidae), with Description of Three New Species.

S Parasesarma bidens (De Haan, 1835) is a common intertidal sesarmid crab that inhabits the estuarine and mangrove regions of East Asia, as well as Vietnam and the Philippines. Previous studies have suggested that P. bidens is a species complex composed of several species. Our findings indicated that the P. bidens species complex is monophyletic with six clades, as shown by reconstructed phylogenies based on mitochondrial 16S rDNA and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I, as well as nuclear 28S rDNA. Specimens of each clade exhibited different characters, including the morphology of the cheliped, anterior carapace, male gonopod 1, and female vulvae, as well as the coloration. Three species in this complex have been previously described: P. bidens (De Haan, 1835), P. cricotum (Rahayu & Davie, 2002), and P. sanguimanus Li, Shih & Ng, 2019. Here, we describe three additional species: P. continentale n. sp., P. insulare n. sp., and P. chiahsiang n. sp. Biogeographically, the range of P. bidens includes the southern margin of Korea, the main islands of Japan, and the Ryukyus, with a comparatively northern distribution. P. continentale is widely distributed from the continental coasts of southeastern and southern China (including northern Hainan Island) to southern Vietnam and is occasionally found in Penghu, Taiwan. Parasesarma insulare is an insular species distributed from Taiwan main island, the central Philippines, to northern Borneo. Finally, P. chiahsiang is mainly limited to the Penghu Islands (Pescadores) but is also sometimes found in Taiwan main island and the offshore Gueishan Island.

Vulvovaginal candidiasis in patients attending the Buea Regional Hospital-Cameroon: Prevalence and risk factors

Introduction: Infection of the female vulva and vagina due to Candida species results in Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC). Indiscriminate drug use causing drug resistance and varying lifestyle factors have led to increased spread of the infection. If early laboratory identification and confirmation is not done, this may evolve to serious genital abnormalities and the main reason for increase hospital consultations. Objective: To determine the prevalence of VVC in reproductive age women at Buea regional hospital and possible predisposing factors for its cause. Materials and Methods: We carried out a cross-sectional descriptive study from February to May 2023 in women between the ages 15-45 years attending the Buea Regional Hospital. Sterile vaginal swabs were employed to collect samples and then culture was done using Sabouraud Dextrose Agar. Gram staining and microscopy were conducted to isolate Candida. CHROMagar differential agar and germ tube tests, were used to differentiate the various species of Candida. Pre-tested questionnaires were used to collect socio-demographic and clinical data. Management and analyses of data were done using the SPSS version 22.0 and a significant relationship among variables was obtained when P&lt;0.05. Results: Out of a total of 190 samples analyzed from symptomatic cases of VVC, Candida species were present in 102 (54%) and all the positive cases of VVC were due to Candida albicans. The average age of study participants was 30 years and VVC was mostly frequent in patients &gt;35 years (77.8%). Participants who were single, married and students, had a prevalence of 63.2%, 39.5%, 67.5%, respectively (P&lt;0.05). Clinical presentation, such as, burning sensation while urinating and itches were significantly (P&lt;0.05) associated to high prevalence of VVC (46.1% and 53.9% respectively). Laboratory-confirmed VVC showed significant association to the practice of douching (OR: 3.71, 95%CI: 1.2-14.01, P&lt;0.05) and sexually active (OR: 2.87, 95%CI: 1.3-12.46, P &lt;0.05). Conclusion: Vulvovaginal candidiasis occurred more in women above 35 years, single and who presented with abnormal discharges. The use of antiseptic soap during douching and being sexually active were significantly associated to VVC. Women, especially those of child bearing age should be sensitized on the importance of practicing and maintaining good personal hygiene, safe sex, which will help to prevent and curb the prevalence of vulvovaginal candidiasis.

MORPHOLOGICAL AND GENETIC CHARACTERIZATION OF DIDELPHONEMA LONGISPICULATA (NEMATODA: SPIRUROIDEA) IN THE BLACK-EARED OPOSSUM DIDELPHIS MARSUPIALIS.

Didelphonema longispiculata (Hill, 1939), a gastric nematode parasite of the black-eared opossum, Didelphis marsupialis Linnaeus, 1758, collected from 2 municipalities of Mato Grosso state, Brazil, in the ecotone region of the Amazon and Cerrado biomes was analyzed with integrative taxonomy using light and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for morphological studies and sequencing of the 18S small subunit ribosomal RNA for phylogenetic inference through maximum likelihood and Bayesian phylogenetic inference. Here details of the helminth surface, oral aperture with octagonal border, pseudo- and inter-labia, amphids, external cephalic papillae, 2 dorsal and ventral internal plates distally indented, and stoma with strongly chitinized wall are presented. Caudal male papillae, spicules, female vulva, anus, and caudal tip were detailed using SEM. Morphological characteristics and phylogenetic data corroborated the taxonomic placement of the genus Didelphonema within the subfamily Ascaropsinae.

Two New Species of Free-Living Marine Nematode of the Genus Anticyathus Cobb, 1920 (Linhomoeidae) from Mangroves Sediment of Shenzhen and Shantou, China

Two new species belonging to the genus Anticyathus were discovered during an ecological investigation of mangrove sediment in China. Anticyathus shenzhensis sp. nov. and Anticyathus communis sp. nov. are both characterized by: annulated cuticles; ten cephalic setae in a circle; buccal cavity lined with six longitudinal reinforcements; amphids in broken circles or cryptic spirals, located at the very anterior of the head; pharynx with anterior cuticularized, gradually enlarging in posterior portion but without bulb; conical tail; arcuate spicules, the distal ends pointed, gradually broadening towards the proximal; gubernaculum has a dorsal–caudal apophysis; female with two opposed, outstretched ovaries. Anticyathus shenzhensis sp. nov. can be distinguished by ten cephalic setae of length about 2–4 µm; amphids diameter about 20–29% of corresponding body diameter; pharynx occupy 0.07–0.10 times of body length; cardia length about 25 µm; tail length 2.5–3.4 times of anal body diameter (abd) in males and 3.4–4.7 abd in females; spicules length 51–59 µm as arc and 0.71–1.04 abd; apophysis length 18–19 µm; female vulva at 52–56% of body length. Anticyathus communis sp. nov. is identified by ten cephalic setae length about 3–5 µm; amphids diameter about 20–32% of corresponding body diameter; cardia 17–27 µm long; tail length 3.6–4.5 abd in male, 5.3–5.5 abd in female; spicules proximal with distinctly cephalated, 0.74–0.96 abd; gubernaculum shape of “L”, consisting of sleeves around spicule and dorsal–caudal apophysis; five to seven pre-anal and seven to ten post-anal almost invisible papilla or papillae-like setae occur on each ventrally submedian line on the posterior body part of male; the tip of male tail with three slight elevation; female vulva at 52% of body length. A dichotomous key for the genus Anticyathus is given and 39 sequences of 18S rRNA gene from ten individuals of Anticyathus shenzhensis sp. nov. are provided in Genbank database.

Description of Ruehmaphelenchus americanum n. sp. (Nematoda: Aphelenchoididae) found in Loblolly pine from the USA

Summary Ruehmaphelenchus americanum n. sp., isolated from southern yellow pine (Pinus taedae L.) from the USA is described and figured. It is characterised by a relatively stout body (a = 30 for females and males), three lines in the lateral field, both oocytes and spermatocytes arranged in two rows, male spicules relatively small (14-18 μm) with weakly developed condylus and rostrum, short tail with a bluntly pointed tip, seven papilliform genital papillae present, female vulva positioned at ca 82% of body length, vulval lips slightly protruding, post-uterine branch extending two-thirds of vulva to anus distance, tail cylindrical, ca two anal body diam. long, terminus forming a spike-like projection or mucron, 7.6-12.2 μm long, with pointed tip. The new species can be separated from 11 known species (except R. thailandae) by male genital papillae arrangement (the second and third pair adjacent vs separated). Detailed phylogenetic analysis based on 18S and 28S D2-D3 region ribosomal RNA (rRNA) sequences has confirmed the status of this nematode as a new species.

Comparative Study of the Sedative and Anti-nociceptive Effects of Sacrococcygeal Epidural Administration of Romifidine, Lidocaine, and Romifidine/Lidocaine in the Dromedary Camel

In a randomized prospective study, comparative sedative and anti-nociceptive effects of epidural administration of romifidine (RO), lidocaine (LD), and a combination of romifidine-lidocaine (ROLD) in camel were evaluated. Eighteen healthy adult dromedary camels were assigned randomly to three treatment groups (n = 6), each receiving 50 μg/kg of RO, 0.30 mg/kg of LD, or a combination of both RO and LD. All treatments were expanded in 0.9% sterile normal saline solution to a final dose volume of 20 ml and administered directly into the sacrococcygeal space. After epidural injection of each treatment, the onset time, duration, anatomical extension of anti-nociception, and sedation were documented. Anti-nociception was tested at different areas using a pinprick test and artery forceps pinching at the perineum and inguinal area. RO and ROLD treatments resulted in mild to severe sedation and complete bilateral analgesia with loss of sensation in the tail, perineum, scrotum in males, vulva in females, the caudal aspect skin of the upper hind limb, and inguinal region (udder in females and the prepuce in males). The anatomic extent of anti-nociception reached the chest cranially and the footpad distally. Camels who received LD showed the shortest duration (P < 0.001) to the onset of perineal anti-nociception (3.67 ± 0.33 min) followed by those who received RO LD (4.00 ± 0.37 min) and RO (6.67 ± 0.33 min), respectively. RO and ROLD resulted in significantly (P < 0.001) longer periods of analgesia (158.33 ± 4.01 min and 165 ± 3.87 min, respectively) than LD (75.83 ± 3.27). An epidural RO and ROLD would appear to produce a very effective and acceptable anti-nociceptive effect in the perineal and inguinal regions of camels.

Preliminary Exploration of a New Clitoral Hood Classification System and Treatment Strategy.

Increasing attention has been given to clitoral hoods in recent years, but few studies have been conducted on the classification and treatment strategies of clitoral hood hypertrophy. The purpose of this article is to introduce a new system of clitoral hood classification based on relevant anatomy and make recommendations for clitoral hood reduction. The clitoral hood region is divided into the central zone (zone C) and the lateral zone (zone L). According to the anatomical characteristics of each zone, patients can be divided into 5 types: standard form, central hypertrophy, lateral hypertrophy, composite hypertrophy and special type. Central hypertrophy is further divided into wide and long clitoral hoods, and horizontal and vertical redundancy are addressed using bilateral clitoral hood triangular skin resection and inverted horizontal V-shaped skin resection, respectively. Lateral hypertrophy can be treated with vertically oriented excision. Composite hypertrophy is corrected by combining these methods to remove redundant tissue depending on the situation. 1135 patients were classified according to the new classification system and 789 participants were given corresponding treatment measures. Thirty-four patients (4.3%) experienced complications, and 15 (1.9%) underwent revision surgery. Six months after the procedure, clitoral hood images improved significantly without paresthesia, and the overall satisfaction rate of the patients regarding clitoral hood reduction was 95.7%. The clitoral prepuce is an important part of the aesthetic unit of female vulva. The new clitoral hood classification strategy systematically summarizes the anatomical characteristics of the clitoral hood and clearly makes recommendations for surgical options. This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

When is a lipoma not a lipoma? Case report presenting a lipoblastoma-like tumor of the gluteal cleft in an older gentleman with literature review.

Introduction and importanceLipoblastoma-like tumors are rare tumors that can be confused with lipoblastomas and liposarcomas but have distinct characteristics. This tumor has previously been identified in the vulva of females, and recently in isolated cases of young males. Given its rarity, we present an instance of this tumor in an older man, demonstrating that this pathology is not limited to a specific age or sex, and surgeons and pathologists must be aware of it in their differential.Case presentationA 58-year-old male presented for evaluation of an enlarging mass in his right gluteal cleft. Prior to referral for surgical evaluation, the patient underwent an ultrasound-guided biopsy of the mass. Histologically, the tumor was a low-grade cellular spindle cell neoplasm in a fibrous to myxoid stroma. Immunohistochemical and molecular workup ruled out several malignant mesenchymal neoplasms, including myxoid liposarcoma, dedifferentiated liposarcoma, melanoma, low-grade fibromyxoid sarcoma, and sarcomatoid carcinoma. The patient initially declined surgery, but the mass continued to grow, and excision was chosen given the uncertain pathology. The tumor was resected with negative margins and histologically characterized as a “lipoblastoma-like lesion”, with features of a myxoid liposarcoma and spindle cell lipoma. Seven months post-resection, there were no signs of recurrence or metastasis.Clinical discussionDespite radiologic and pathologic similarities to malignant lipomatous tumors, lipoblastoma-like tumors are benign and have a good prognosis.ConclusionsClinicians should be aware of this entity despite its rarity as resection with negative margins is curative and may be needed to rule out more aggressive tumors.

First Record of the Genus Pseudohelice Sakai, Türkay & Yang, 2006 from India and Description of a New Pseudocryptic Species (Crustacea: Brachyura: Varunidae).

A new pseudocryptic species of the varunid crab genus Pseudohelice Sakai, Türkay & Yang, 2006, is described from India based on morphological and molecular evidence. The new species was collected from higher intertidal zones in the Vellar River estuary, Tamil Nadu, southeastern India, in a habitat composed of muddy and sandy sediment. Pseudohelice annamalai n. sp. is similar to P. subquadrata (Dana, 1851) and P. latreillii (H. Milne Edwards, 1837) in general form, but can be distinguished from the congeners by the characters of the infraorbital ridges, male first gonopod, and female vulvae. In addition, the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I sequences also support the new species. The occurrence of Pseudohelice from India links the distribution gap between the western Indian Ocean and western Pacific Ocean. The new species provides additional evidence for the geographic isolation of the eastern Indian Ocean for some marine organisms.

Two new species of freshwater crab of the genus Aparapotamon Dai & Chen, 1985 (Crustacea, Brachyura, Potamidae) from Yunnan, China.

Two new species of freshwater crab of the genus Potamid Aparapotamon Dai & Chen, 1985 are described from Yunnan Province, southwest China. Morphological comparisons were made between the two new species and type materials of other 11 species of Aparapotamon. Aparapotamonbinchuanensesp. nov. and A.huizeensesp. nov. can be separated from their congeners by the shape of the epibranchial tooth, the frontal view of the cephalothorax, the male first gonopod, and the female vulvae. The molecular analyses based on partial mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene are also included. This study brings the number of Aparapotamon species to 13.

A clinico-epidemiological profile study of venereal genital dermatoses in a tertiary hospital in southern Nigeria: A 5-year review

Venereal genital dermatoses are cutaneous morbidities contracted and transmitted by sexual contact. They are caused by microorganisms that survive on the skin or mucous membranes, or that are transmitted via semen, vaginal secretions, or blood during sexual intercourse. Data on pattern of presentation and diagnoses of venereal genial dermatoses are limited in Nigeria. The aim of this study was to determine the pattern of presentation of venereal genital dermatoses over a 5-year period in the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. Information extracted from patients’ medical records included socio-demographic data, duration of symptom, distribution of lesions, symptomatology and diagnoses of the venereal genital dermatoses. There were 121 patients with venereal genital dermatoses amongst 1600 new cases seen over the 5-year period constituting a prevalence of 7.6%. The male:female ratio of the study population was 1.5:1 and their mean age was 26.2 ± 10.5 years. The predominant symptoms at presentation were abnormal genital growth in 108 (89.3%), genital ulcer in 12 (9.9%), and genital pain in 11 (9.1%). The common venereal genital dermatoses were anogenital warts in 108 (89.3%) and genital herpes in 11 (9.1%). Venereal genital dermatoses are a relatively common dermatological presentation in UBTH and anogenital wart was the most common type. Venereal genital dermatoses were more common in the young age group and males. The most predominant site of affectation was the vulva in females and penis in males.

Description of Bursaphelenchus microcarpae n. sp. isolated from Cryphalus abbreviatus emerged from Ficus microcarpa, with a report of B. carpini re-isolation

Summary Two Bursaphelenchus spp. belonging to the eggersi group (subgroup 3) were isolated from bark beetles (Cryphalus spp.). One species, isolated from Cryphalus sp. cf. carpini that emerged from a log of an unidentified broad-leaved tree (considered to be Carpinus sp.) collected in Sugadaira, Nagano, Japan, was identified molecularly and typologically as B. carpini. The other species, isolated from C. abbreviatus that emerged from a dead log of Ficus microcarpa collected in Okinawa, Japan, was differentiated molecularly from other eggersi group species. The new species is characterised by its three-lined lateral field, seven genital papillae with the posteriormost pair forming ‘glandpapillae’, short and stout male spicule with a strongly dorsally recurved and pointed condylus, small and rectangular male bursal flap with a variable terminus, female vulva with a ‘side flap’, broadly rounded female tail tip and molecular sequences of the ribosomal RNA region and partial mtCOI gene. The species is described and illustrated herein as B. microcarpae n. sp.