Allegheny Valley Hospital

Abstract There is a long history of using birds as indicators of pervasive environmental threats. In the High Andes, birds face potential threats from global climate change, and from the impacts of land use changes associated with logging, grazing, fire, and agricultural expansion. We use an 11-yr constant effort, avian mist-netting dataset from 2 protected areas in the High Andes of Azuay province, Ecuador, to explore how environmental change is affecting resident bird species in high elevation habitats. We estimated a statistically significant mean decrease of 2.8% in capture rate across years for the full species assemblage and across all habitats. Species-specific capture rates across habitats declined for 29 of the 38 species that met our inclusion criteria. When species were grouped by diet, body size, primary habitat occupied, or habitat breadth, capture rates did not change differently among ecological groups of birds. Although we cannot identify the mechanisms behind the decline, the broad nature of the decline suggests that human-induced environmental changes, including warming, altered rainfall patterns, and intensification of land-use, could be acting in combination, resulting in a decline in the populations of many bird species in the region’s protected areas. This study highlights how events occurring outside of protected areas may affect resident bird species in these high elevation habitats.

White-crested Laughingthrushes have historically experienced high chick/fledgling mortality when breeding in human care. Over two breeding seasons at the National Aviary, we provided supplemental food to parent-reared White-crested Laughingthrush chicks to simulate the contributions of conspecific nest-helpers, which are known to assist with White-crested Laughingthrush chick-rearing in the wild. Chick survival increased when we provided this nest-helping assistance. In zoos where conspecific nest-helpers are not available, we recommend human assistance be provided in a manner similar to that described here, to ensure long-term sustainability of the species in human care. This technique may also be useful for enhancing captive assurance populations of other cooperatively breeding Asian songbird species.

El ecosistema de páramo alberga una alta concentración de especies de aves de rango restringido y amenazadas. Sin embargo, las modificaciones humanas al paisaje altoandino han generado pérdida y fragmentación de hábitat en todo este ecosistema. Por lo tanto, las áreas protegidas en esta región son prioritarias para la conservación de la biodiversidad. Las zonas de amortiguamiento en los alrededores de las áreas protegidas tienen por objeto reducir las perturbaciones en éstas; sin embargo, no están exentas de fuentes de estrés. La abundancia y la diversidad de aves, registradas en transectas, se usó para comparar la composición de la comunidad entre áreas protegidas y zonas de amortiguamiento en un hotspot de diversidad y endemismo: la Reserva de la Biósfera del Macizo del Cajas, en los altos Andes del sur del Ecuador. La comunidad de aves no varió en su composición entre las áreas protegidas y las zonas de amortiguamiento. No obstante, las características del hábitat sí explicaron diferencias en la presencia y abundancia de grupos tróficos. En particular, el incremento en la heterogeneidad del páramo, con mayor cobertura de plantas leñosas y menos intervención, explicó una mayor presencia y abundancia de gremios tróficos especializados, tales como nectarívoros en arbustos e insectívoros aéreos en árboles y arbustos. En conclusión, hay hábitats heterogéneos de páramo, en zonas de amortiguamiento, que deben considerarse en una planificación de conservación más formal para mantener la diversidad de aves especialistas y, por lo tanto, la funcionalidad del ecosistema de páramo herbáceo.

Since Menetrier's classic description of giant hypertrophic gastritis (GHG) in 1888 there have been a number of reports concerning pathological and radiological patterns of this illness (Jeffries, 1978; Chusid et al., 1964). Clinically it has been established that hypoproteinaemia can occur in these patients because of excessive intraluminal losses of plasma protein (Schindler, 1963; Citrin et al., 1957; Overholt and Jeffries, 1970). Patients with GHG may present with epigastric pain, vomiting, fluid retention or even gastrointestinal bleeding. Carcinoma has been reported as appearing in the follow up of cases of GHG (Chusid et al.., 1964; Rubin and Fink, 1967). Although the enlarged mucosal folds can be demonstrated at upper gastrointestinal studies, and the findings are very suggestive of GHG, only a full thickness surgical biopsy will confirm the diagnosis (Schindler, 1963). The angiographic pattern of GHG has not been described, so far, and we think that angiography may be useful in the diagnosis and follow-up of this disease. The present case illustrates the angiographic aspect of an enlarged gastric mucosa because of GHG without malignant changes in the hope of facilitating early diagnosis and follow up. A 60-year-old man was admitted with a three-year history of epigastric pain, nausea, vomiting and episodic haematemesis and melaena. A radiological examination of the upper gastrointestinal tract, three years before, reportedly had shown a non-specific enlargement of gastric mucosal folds. Admission clinical examination revealed a tender abdomen and slight peripheral oedema. Vital signs were stable. Laboratory tests showed slight anaemia and hypoproteinaemia.

A new controllable guide adjustable for use in all intravascular catheters has been constructed. The purpose has been to simplify the approach in most catheterization procedures, allowing complete catheter control and ultimately decreasing the necessity for large thick walled catheters for the selective vessel examinations.