Lectotype designations in Tetratomidae, Melandryidae, Boridae and Mycteridae, based on material in the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University (Coleoptera: Tenebrionoidea)

Lectotypes are designated for the following species-level taxa, based on specimens in the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University: Tetratomidae (Hallomenus scapularis Melsheimer, 1846; Hallomenus serricornis LeConte, 1878); Melandryidae (Hypulus bicinctus Horn, 1888; Dircaea liturata LeConte, 1866; Dircaea fusca LeConte, 1878; Dircaea prona LeConte, 1878; Dircaea riversi LeConte, 1884; Hypulus trifasciatus Melsheimer, 1846; Microtonus sericans LeConte, 1862; Scraptia flavicollis Haldeman, 1848; Scraptia rugosa Haldeman, 1848; Melandrya maculata LeConte, 1850; Melandrya striata var. bicolor Melsheimer, 1846; Melandrya striata var. thoracica Melsheimer, 1846; Hypulus fulminans LeConte, 1859; Microscapha arctica Horn, 1893; Microscapha clavicornis LeConte, 1866; Orchesia castanea Melsheimer, 1846; Orchesia gracilis Melsheimer, 1846; Orchesia ornata Horn, 1888; Amblyctis praeses LeConte, 1879; Dircaea sericea Haldeman, 1848; Serropalpus obsoletus Haldeman, 1848; Serropalpus substriatus Haldeman, 1848; Carebara longula LeConte, 1866; Hallomenus quadripustulata Melsheimer, 1846); Mycteridae (Mycterus canescens Horn, 1879; Mycterus quadricollis Horn, 1874); and Boridae (Crymodes discicollis LeConte, 1850)

Description of the late- or last-instar larva of Ischyomius Chevrolat, with comments on the family placement of the genus (Coleoptera: Tenebrionoidea: Pythidae)

Study of recently collected larvae of two species of Ischyomius Chevrolat, 1871 from Napo and Pichincha, Ecuador, tentatively identified as I. denticollis Champion, 1916 and I. singularis Chevrolat, 1871 confirm the classification of the genus Ischyomius within the family Pythidae. Salient larval characters which solidify this placement are: 5 stemmata arranged into an anterior column of 3 and posterior column of 2, parabasal ridges along anterior margins of abdominal tergites, prominent urogomphi with inner urogomphal teeth and various dorsal tubercles, and transverse row of dentiform asperities along anterior margin of sternite 9. Important features of the larva are illustrated with photographs. A key to larvae of world genera of Pythidae is provided as well as natural history information on Ischyomius

Beetles (Coleoptera) of Peru: A Survey of the Families. Pythidae Solier, 1834

The diversity of the family Pythidae (Coleoptera) is summarized for Peru. One genus (Ischyomius Chevrolat) and two species are recorded. Comments are given on classification and distribution of the family, as well as known biology and natural history, the latter based primarily on larval stages. Based on label data from previously examined specimens and from newly collected material, species of Ischyomius appear to be closely associated with several monocot plant families within order Zingerberales. Ischyomius singularis Chevrolat is recorded from Huánuco and Lima, while I. bicolor Champion is known from Loreto and Madre de Dios; specific collection localities are given

Rheumatoid arthritis - clinical aspects: 134. Predictors of Joint Damage in South Africans with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) causes progressive joint damage and functional disability. Studies on factors affecting joint damage as clinical outcome are lacking in Africa. The aim of the present study was to identify predictors of joint damage in adult South Africans with established RA. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 100 black patients with RA of >5 years were assessed for joint damage using a validated clinical method, the RA articular damage (RAAD) score. Potential predictors of joint damage that were documented included socio-demographics, smoking, body mass index (BMI), disease duration, delay in disease modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) initiation, global disease activity as measured by the disease activity score (DAS28), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C reactive protein (CRP), and autoantibody status. The predictive value of variables was assessed by univariate and stepwise multivariate regression analyses. A p value <0.05 was considered significant. Results: The mean (SD) age was 56 (9.8) years, disease duration 17.5 (8.5) years, educational level 7.5 (3.5) years and DMARD lag was 9 (8.8) years. Female to male ratio was 10:1. The mean (SD) DAS28 was 4.9 (1.5) and total RAAD score was 28.3 (12.8). The mean (SD) BMI was 27.2 kg/m2 (6.2) and 93% of patients were rheumatoid factor (RF) positive. More than 90% of patients received between 2 to 3 DMARDs. Significant univariate predictors of a poor RAAD score were increasing age (p = 0.001), lower education level (p = 0.019), longer disease duration (p < 0.001), longer DMARD lag (p = 0.014), lower BMI (p = 0.025), high RF titre (p < 0.001) and high ESR (p = 0.008). The multivariate regression analysis showed that the only independent significant predictors of a higher mean RAAD score were older age at disease onset (p = 0.04), disease duration (p < 0.001) and RF titre (p < 0.001). There was also a negative association between BMI and the mean total RAAD score (p = 0.049). Conclusions: Patients with longstanding established RA have more severe irreversible joint damage as measured by the clinical RAAD score, contrary to other studies in Africa. This is largely reflected by a delay in the initiation of early effective treatment. Independent of disease duration, older age at disease onset and a higher RF titre are strongly associated with more joint damage. The inverse association between BMI and articular damage in RA has been observed in several studies using radiographic damage scores. The mechanisms underlying this paradoxical association are still widely unknown but adipokines have recently been suggested to play a role. Disclosure statement: C.I. has received a research grant from the Connective Tissue Diseases Research Fund, University of the Witwatersrand. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interes

Exploration of the altar painting “Sacra Conversazione” by Bernardino Licinio from the church of St. Francis in Krk

Slika Sacra Conversazione Bernardina Licinija iz crkve Sv. Franje Asiškog u Krku izrađena je tehnikom masne tempere na dasci. Velike dimenzije slike u kombinaciji sa smještajem na visini uz teška oštećenja nosioca i slikanih slojeva, zahtijevala su izvođenje konzervatorsko-restauratorskih istraživanja in situ. Tom je prilikom prvi put u Hrvatskoj izvan radionice, na terenu, primijenjena vizualizacija oltarne pale velikog formata računalnom radiografjom. Omogućila je uvid u stanje nosioca i slikanih slojeva, smanjila rizik demontaže i transporta te usmjerila daljnje konzervatorsko-restauratorske radove.The altar pala Sacra Conversazione, by Bernardino Licinio (Venice, 1485/1489–c. 1550), is located on the main altar of the Church of St. Francis in the town of Krk. It was painted in 1531 in tempera grassa on board. In contrast to the later Venetian Sacra Conversazione by the same artist, painted in 1535, the Krk pala is almost completely unknown in professional literature; it is mentioned only in some older literature, with a short iconographic description. Due to the painting’s large dimensions (280x195 cm) and weight, its location high on the main altar, and the significant damage to the painted layers, its wooden base and the support system, the conservation-restoration explorations were carried out in situ, at the church altar. This significantly reduced the possibility of additional damage being incurred during dismantling and transport. The artefact was filmed in the visible, UV and IR parts of the spectrum, and under slanted light. Samples of pigment and binding material were analysed in a laboratory, and the order of layers was established. A particularly interesting phase of the conservation-restoration exploration was the visualization of the artefact by computer radiography. This method, created and developed for medical purposes, is being applied ever more often in restoration for exploring and documenting artefacts. Prior to this occasion, it had not been used in Croatia for in situ explorations. The visualization of the Krk pala by computer radiography made it possible to assess the condition of the original painted layer, wooden base and support system, which is normally hidden by the large wall at the back of the altar. The computer radiography uncovered grave and extensive damage to the painting base and the painted layers, but which can be remedied and reconstructed. Exploratory attempts to remove the “secondary” coats from the surface of the original painted layer suggested that several interventions had already been made on the artefact, two of them rather substantial, and they included reduction of the altar painting’s format. The explorations carried out thus far have provided the basic information on this artefact, which will be supplemented by further restoration procedures, and archival and art-historical research

Integrating International Consensus Guidelines for Anticancer Drug Dosing in Kidney Dysfunction (ADDIKD) into everyday practice

Part 2 of the International Consensus Guideline on Anticancer Drug Dosing in Kidney Dysfunction (ADDIKD) offers drug-specific consensus recommendations based on both evidence and practical experience. These recommendations build upon the kidney function assessment and classification guidelines established in Part 1 of ADDIKD. Here we illustrate how dosing recommendations differ between ADDIKD and existing guidance for four commonly used drugs: methotrexate, cisplatin, carboplatin and nivolumab. We then describe how the recommendations can be distilled into practice points for methotrexate and cisplatin. While ADDIKD is a significant improvement from previous guidelines, adoption of this new guideline requires further endorsement from key external stakeholders, ‘change championing’ by clinicians locally and encouraging its integration into existing reference sources, clinical trial protocols and electronic prescribing systems

Catálogo Taxonômico da Fauna do Brasil: Setting the baseline knowledge on the animal diversity in Brazil

The limited temporal completeness and taxonomic accuracy of species lists, made available in a traditional manner in scientific publications, has always represented a problem. These lists are invariably limited to a few taxonomic groups and do not represent up-to-date knowledge of all species and classifications. In this context, the Brazilian megadiverse fauna is no exception, and the Catálogo Taxonômico da Fauna do Brasil (CTFB) (http://fauna.jbrj.gov.br/), made public in 2015, represents a database on biodiversity anchored on a list of valid and expertly recognized scientific names of animals in Brazil. The CTFB is updated in near real time by a team of more than 800 specialists. By January 1, 2024, the CTFB compiled 133,691 nominal species, with 125,138 that were considered valid. Most of the valid species were arthropods (82.3%, with more than 102,000 species) and chordates (7.69%, with over 11,000 species). These taxa were followed by a cluster composed of Mollusca (3,567 species), Platyhelminthes (2,292 species), Annelida (1,833 species), and Nematoda (1,447 species). All remaining groups had less than 1,000 species reported in Brazil, with Cnidaria (831 species), Porifera (628 species), Rotifera (606 species), and Bryozoa (520 species) representing those with more than 500 species. Analysis of the CTFB database can facilitate and direct efforts towards the discovery of new species in Brazil, but it is also fundamental in providing the best available list of valid nominal species to users, including those in science, health, conservation efforts, and any initiative involving animals. The importance of the CTFB is evidenced by the elevated number of citations in the scientific literature in diverse areas of biology, law, anthropology, education, forensic science, and veterinary science, among others

International genome-wide meta-analysis identifies new primary biliary cirrhosis risk loci and targetable pathogenic pathways

Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is a classical autoimmune liver disease for which effective immunomodulatory therapy is lacking. Here we perform meta-analyses of discovery data sets from genome-wide association studies of European subjects (n1⁄42,764 cases and 10,475 controls) followed by validation genotyping in an independent cohort (n1⁄43,716 cases and 4,261 controls). We discover and validate six previously unknown risk loci for PBC (Pcombinedo5108) and used pathway analysis to identify JAK-STAT/IL12/IL27 signalling and cytokine–cytokine pathways, for which relevant therapies exist

Canagliflozin and renal outcomes in type 2 diabetes and nephropathy

BACKGROUND Type 2 diabetes mellitus is the leading cause of kidney failure worldwide, but few effective long-term treatments are available. In cardiovascular trials of inhibitors of sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2), exploratory results have suggested that such drugs may improve renal outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS In this double-blind, randomized trial, we assigned patients with type 2 diabetes and albuminuric chronic kidney disease to receive canagliflozin, an oral SGLT2 inhibitor, at a dose of 100 mg daily or placebo. All the patients had an estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of 30 to &lt;90 ml per minute per 1.73 m2 of body-surface area and albuminuria (ratio of albumin [mg] to creatinine [g], &gt;300 to 5000) and were treated with renin–angiotensin system blockade. The primary outcome was a composite of end-stage kidney disease (dialysis, transplantation, or a sustained estimated GFR of &lt;15 ml per minute per 1.73 m2), a doubling of the serum creatinine level, or death from renal or cardiovascular causes. Prespecified secondary outcomes were tested hierarchically. RESULTS The trial was stopped early after a planned interim analysis on the recommendation of the data and safety monitoring committee. At that time, 4401 patients had undergone randomization, with a median follow-up of 2.62 years. The relative risk of the primary outcome was 30% lower in the canagliflozin group than in the placebo group, with event rates of 43.2 and 61.2 per 1000 patient-years, respectively (hazard ratio, 0.70; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.59 to 0.82; P=0.00001). The relative risk of the renal-specific composite of end-stage kidney disease, a doubling of the creatinine level, or death from renal causes was lower by 34% (hazard ratio, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.53 to 0.81; P&lt;0.001), and the relative risk of end-stage kidney disease was lower by 32% (hazard ratio, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.54 to 0.86; P=0.002). The canagliflozin group also had a lower risk of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or stroke (hazard ratio, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.67 to 0.95; P=0.01) and hospitalization for heart failure (hazard ratio, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.47 to 0.80; P&lt;0.001). There were no significant differences in rates of amputation or fracture. CONCLUSIONS In patients with type 2 diabetes and kidney disease, the risk of kidney failure and cardiovascular events was lower in the canagliflozin group than in the placebo group at a median follow-up of 2.62 years