Effects of habitat perturbation on lizard assemblages in the center-west of the Arid Chaco region, Argentina.

Several human disturbances contribute to the decrease of vertebrate species' richness and abundance, altering the processes of an ecosystem. We evaluate richness, diversity and relative abundance of species for lizard assemblages at sites with different degrees of perturbation in the center-west of the Arid Chaco region in Argentina. Between 2015 and 2018, six lizard assemblages were sampled monthly -using pitfall traps- in three areas of the Chaco, with a perturbed and an unperturbed (control) replica at each of the areas: (1) Chaco Mountain plain, (2) Chaco Mountain slope, and (3) Chaco Plains, and habitat characteristics of each study site were recorded.

High reproductive effort in a vulnerable lizard from high altitudes in Argentina: Reproductive biology and sexual dimorphism in Phymaturus extrilidus.

Reproductive biology is fundamental to understanding the ecology and evolution of lizards which, in turn, is essential for the definition of the species´ conservation status. We studied life-history traits related to the reproduction of the Phymaturus extrilidus lizard, including the male and female reproductive cycles, litter size, mean annual reproductive output, reproductive effort, sexual maturity size and sexual dimorphism, body condition, and fat body cycles. We found sexual dimorphism in size and shape, supporting the hypotheses of sexual and fecundity selection.

Effect of temperature on the locomotor performance of species in a lizard assemblage in the Puna region of Argentina.

Locomotion is relevant to the ecology of reptiles because of its presumed influence on an organism's Darwinian fitness. Moreover, in ectothermic species, physiological performance capacity is affected by body temperature. We analyzed two components of locomotor performance in three species of lizards, Phymaturus extrilidus, Liolaemus parvus, and Liolaemus ruibali, in the Puna environment of Argentina.

Case for diagnosis. Palate perforation due to cocaine use.

We report a 42-year-old cocaine addicted female patient referred for evaluation of hard palate ulceration resulting in oro-sinus communication with difficulties in swallowing and phonation, an rhino-sinusitis. Acrylic and removable silicone prosthesis was prescribed to relieve severe functional disorders. It is essential that the patient permanently abandons cocaine use to perform surgical reconstruction.

Comparative analysis of intraocular lens power calculation methods after excimer laser surgery.

Many methods have been used in an attempt to more accurate predict the intraocular lens (IOL) power in the eyes undergoing refractive surgery, but none has proved most accurate. The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy and predictability of different IOL power calculation methods in eyes after excimer laser surgery. The outcomes of phacoemulsification and IOL implantation in 18 eyes of 16 patients with prior excimer laser keratectomy were documented.

Ultrasound findings in Terson's syndrome: two case reports.

Terson's syndrome describes the concurrence of intracranial hemorrhage, vitreous hemorrhage and juxtapapillary subinternal limiting membrane and retinal hemorrhage. In most cases, the retinal and vitreous hemorrhage will clear spontaneously. Vitrectomy was indicated by persistent hemorrhage in two cases.

Thermal biology of Phymaturus lizards: evolutionary constraints or lack of environmental variation?

Several aspects of the biology of Phymaturus lizards including their herbivorous diet, specialized microhabitat use, and viviparous reproductive mode are highly conserved within the group. Here, we explore two aspects of Phymaturus thermal biology and test for the co-evolution among aspects of the thermal biology in these lizards, such as thermal preferenda and critical temperatures. Secondly, we explore correlations among variation in thermal biology with elevation and latitude.