Aim The aim was to compare the pathological complete response (pCR) rate at 8 compared to 12 weeks’ interval between completion of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) and surgery in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer. Method This was a randomized trial which included a total of 330 patients from two institutions. Patients with locally advanced (T3‐4N0M0, TxN+M0) rectal cancer were randomized into 8‐ and 12‐week interval groups. All the patients received long‐course CRT (45 Gy in 1.8 Gy fractions and concomitant oral capecitabine or 5‐fluorouracil infusion). Surgery was performed at either 8 or 12 weeks after CRT. The primary end‐point was pCR. Secondary end‐points were sphincter preservation, postoperative morbidity and mortality. Results Two‐hundred and fifty‐two patients (n = 125 in the 8‐week group, n = 127 in the 12‐week group) were included. Demographic and clinical characteristics were similar between groups. The overall pCR rate was 17.9% (n = 45): 12% (n = 15) in the 8‐week group and 23.6% (n = 30) in the 12‐week group (P = 0.021). Sphincter‐preserving surgery was performed in 107 (85.6%) patients which was significantly higher than the 94 (74%) patients in the 12‐week group (P = 0.016). Postoperative mortality was seen in three (1.2%) patients overall and was not different between groups (1.6% in 8 weeks vs 0.8% in 12 weeks, P = 0.494). Groups were similar in anastomotic leak (10.8% in 8 weeks vs 4.5% in 12 weeks, P = 0.088) and morbidity (30.4% in 8 weeks and 20.1% in 12 weeks, P = 0.083). Conclusion Extending the interval between CRT and surgery from 8 to 12 weeks resulted in a 2‐fold increase in pCR rate without any difference in mortality and morbidity.

Stigmaeus erzincanus sp. nov. collected from soil and litter under Pinus sylvestris, Erzincan, Turkey is described and illustrated here. This species can clearly be distinguished by having apodemal marking, eyes and pob absent, one pair of extra and non-setose dorsal shields, suranal shield entire, genual setal formula 5(+1κ)-5-2-2, terminal eupathidion on palpal tarsus trident, IVω present.http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:958FBE0C-859A-45C9-B730-998F65506FD7

In this study, asymmetric variations in dorsal and ventral body setae in some adult females in three species of the genus Raphignathus Dugès; R. gracilis (Rack), R. hecmatanaensis Khanjani & Ueckermann and R. kuznetzovi Doğan & Ayyıldız were given and photographed. Records on asymmetric variations in Raphignathus species found in the literature were also reviewed.

Based on the mite specimens collected within the scope of a study on Erzincan (Turkey) mite biodiversity, two species of the genus Stigmaeus are described and illustrated here: S. bifurcus sp. nov. as new to science and S. miandoabiensis Bagheri & Zarei, 2012 as a new record for Turkey. Some morphological abnormalities in the new species are noted. The deutonymph of S. miandoabiensis is described for the first time in this study. Discovery of this stage from soil and litter under Pinus sylvestris in Turkey adds more data to our knowledge of the species.

Redescription of Stigmaeus solidus Kuznetsov (Acari, Stigmaeidae) was given based on the specimens collected from Turkey and The Netherlands, its original figures were illustrated, and distribution in the world of the species was emphasized. Some structural variations on setae h2 in the female were observed. Male and deutonymph of this species were included for the first time in this study. S. solidus was given before from the type locality, Russia, and reported previously from Kelkit Valley in Turkey. It is determined that this was newly recorded species for the Dutch mite fauna and for the second time from Harşit Valley with this study.

Although the family Stigmaeidae is one of the most studied mite groups because of its economically important members, data on their morphological variations are very limited and still rather poorly studied. In the present study, asymmetric and numerical variations in the body setae occurring in some adult females and males are provided. The known data on morphological variations based on literature data are also provided.

A new species of the genus Zetzellia Oudemans, Z. erzincanica sp. nov. (Stigmaeidae) collected from Erzincan, Turkey, is described. This is a species between the genera Zetzellia Oudemans and Agistemus Summers. The new species has characteristic features of Zetzellia, but some paratypes resemble Agistemus in that setae d2 are partly or completely situated on the central hysterosomal shield. Some variations and abnormalities were observed in this species.

Diagnosis and description of a new mite species Saniosulus deliquus sp. nov. (Acari: Eupalopsellidae) are presented with illustrations based on specimens collected from Erzincan and Pülümür Valley, Turkey. An updated key to Saniosulus species is provided.