Novel peeling skin condition in neonatal Pacific walruses, Saint Lawrence Island, Alaska, USA.

We describe here a novel peeling skin condition (PSC) in 2 neonatal Pacific walruses ( subsp. ). Macroscopically, calves had various degrees of peeling skin exacerbated by mechanical trauma.

Determinants of genetic variation across eco-evolutionary scales in pinnipeds.

The effective size of a population (N), which determines its level of neutral variability, is a key evolutionary parameter. N can substantially depart from census sizes of present-day breeding populations (N) as a result of past demographic changes, variation in life-history traits and selection at linked sites. Using genome-wide data we estimated the long-term coalescent N for 17 pinniped species represented by 36 population samples (total n = 458 individuals).

Nuclear and mtDNA phylogenetic analyses clarify the evolutionary history of two species of native Hawaiian bats and the taxonomy of Lasiurini (Mammalia: Chiroptera).

Previous studies on genetics of hoary bats produced differing conclusions on the timing of their colonization of the Hawaiian Islands and whether or not North American (Aeorestes cinereus) and Hawaiian (A. semotus) hoary bats are distinct species. One study, using mtDNA COI and nuclear Rag2 and CMA1, concluded that hoary bats colonized the Hawaiian Islands no more than 10,000 years ago based on indications of population expansion at that time using Extended Bayesian Skyline Plots.

Speciation by monobrachial centric fusions: a test of the model using nuclear DNA sequences from the bat genus Rhogeessa.

Members of Rhogeessa are hypothesized to have undergone speciation via chromosomal rearrangements in a model termed speciation by monobrachial centric fusions. Recently, mitochondrial cytochrome-b sequence data tentatively supported this hypothesis but could not explicitly test the model's expectations regarding interbreeding among karyotypic forms. These data showed potential evidence for hybridization or incomplete lineage sorting between the karyotypically distinct R.

Approval summary: azacitidine for treatment of myelodysplastic syndrome subtypes.

Purpose: This article summarizes data submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for marketing approval of azacitidine as injectable suspension (Vidaza, Pharmion Corporation, Boulder, CO) for treatment of patients with myelodysplastic syndrome.

United States Food and Drug Administration Drug Approval summary: Gefitinib (ZD1839; Iressa) tablets.

On May 5, 2003, gefitinib (Iressa; ZD1839) 250-mg tablets (AstraZeneca Inc.) received accelerated approval by the United States Food and Drug Administration as monotherapy for patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer after failure of both platinum-based and docetaxel chemotherapies. Information provided in this summary includes chemistry manufacturing and controls, clinical pharmacology, and clinical trial efficacy and safety results.

Fulvestrant in postmenopausal women with advanced breast cancer.

Purpose: Patients with hormone-sensitive breast cancer who have responded to tamoxifen (TAM) may receive additional benefit from a second endocrine agent after progression or relapse after TAM therapy. Fulvestrant (FVT; Faslodex; i.m.