Do Temporal and Spatial Parameters or Lifestyle of the Pacific Oyster Crasssostrea gigas Affect Pollutant Bioaccumulation, Offspring Development, and Tolerance to Pollutants?

International audienceThis study evaluated the vulnerability of early life stages of native oysters (Crassostrea gigas) from the Arcachon Bay (SW, France) to pollutants at risk in the lagoon in particular copper and S-metolachlor. Developmental abnormalities in wild and cultivated oyster D-larvae were investigated during 2 breeding-seasons (2013 and 2014) at different sampling sites and dates. In addition, copper, and metolachlor concentrations were determined both in seawater and in mature oysters. Bioaccumulation of Cu was observed at higher levels in wild than in farmed specimens. Metolachlor was accumulated at much lower levels. After 24 h exposure, significant increases of the percentage of abnormal D-larvae were observed when exposed at 1 μg L−1 of copper or 10 ng L−1 of metolachlor in comparison with the controls whatever the date, the site, and rearing conditions of the genitors. The current study demonstrates that environmental concentrations of copper and metolachlor can induce a significant increase of developmental abnormalities in farmed and wild populations of oysters. However, no significant differences of sensitivity were observed according to temporal, spatial parameters, and lifestyle of genitors. In addition, oyster larvae obtained from the hatchery displayed the same sensitivity to pollutants as larvae from the field, demonstrating their suitability for toxicity assays and water quality monitoring

Chain and conformation stability of solid-state DNA: implications for room temperature storage

There is currently wide interest in room temperature storage of dehydrated DNA. However, there is insufficient knowledge about its chemical and structural stability. Here, we show that solid-state DNA degradation is greatly affected by atmospheric water and oxygen at room temperature. In these conditions DNA can even be lost by aggregation. These are major concerns since laboratory plastic ware is not airtight. Chain-breaking rates measured between 70°C and 140°C seemed to follow Arrhenius’ law. Extrapolation to 25°C gave a degradation rate of about 1–40 cuts/105 nucleotides/century. However, these figures are to be taken as very tentative since they depend on the validity of the extrapolation and the positive or negative effect of contaminants, buffers or additives. Regarding the secondary structure, denaturation experiments showed that DNA secondary structure could be preserved or fully restored upon rehydration, except possibly for small fragments. Indeed, below about 500 bp, DNA fragments underwent a very slow evolution (almost suppressed in the presence of trehalose) which could end in an irreversible denaturation. Thus, this work validates using room temperature for storage of DNA if completely protected from water and oxygen

The ANTENATAL multicentre study to predict postnatal renal outcome in fetuses with posterior urethral valves: objectives and design

Abstract Background Posterior urethral valves (PUV) account for 17% of paediatric end-stage renal disease. A major issue in the management of PUV is prenatal prediction of postnatal renal function. Fetal ultrasound and fetal urine biochemistry are currently employed for this prediction, but clearly lack precision. We previously developed a fetal urine peptide signature that predicted in utero with high precision postnatal renal function in fetuses with PUV. We describe here the objectives and design of the prospective international multicentre ANTENATAL (multicentre validation of a fetal urine peptidome-based classifier to predict postnatal renal function in posterior urethral valves) study, set up to validate this fetal urine peptide signature. Methods Participants will be PUV pregnancies enrolled from 2017 to 2021 and followed up until 2023 in >30 European centres endorsed and supported by European reference networks for rare urological disorders (ERN eUROGEN) and rare kidney diseases (ERN ERKNet). The endpoint will be renal/patient survival at 2 years postnatally. Assuming α = 0.05, 1–β = 0.8 and a mean prevalence of severe renal outcome in PUV individuals of 0.35, 400 patients need to be enrolled to validate the previously reported sensitivity and specificity of the peptide signature. Results In this largest multicentre study of antenatally detected PUV, we anticipate bringing a novel tool to the clinic. Based on urinary peptides and potentially amended in the future with additional omics traits, this tool will be able to precisely quantify postnatal renal survival in PUV pregnancies. The main limitation of the employed approach is the need for specialized equipment. Conclusions Accurate risk assessment in the prenatal period should strongly improve the management of fetuses with PUV

A Solve-RD ClinVar-based reanalysis of 1522 index cases from ERN-ITHACA reveals common pitfalls and misinterpretations in exome sequencing

Purpose Within the Solve-RD project (https://solve-rd.eu/), the European Reference Network for Intellectual disability, TeleHealth, Autism and Congenital Anomalies aimed to investigate whether a reanalysis of exomes from unsolved cases based on ClinVar annotations could establish additional diagnoses. We present the results of the “ClinVar low-hanging fruit” reanalysis, reasons for the failure of previous analyses, and lessons learned. Methods Data from the first 3576 exomes (1522 probands and 2054 relatives) collected from European Reference Network for Intellectual disability, TeleHealth, Autism and Congenital Anomalies was reanalyzed by the Solve-RD consortium by evaluating for the presence of single-nucleotide variant, and small insertions and deletions already reported as (likely) pathogenic in ClinVar. Variants were filtered according to frequency, genotype, and mode of inheritance and reinterpreted. Results We identified causal variants in 59 cases (3.9%), 50 of them also raised by other approaches and 9 leading to new diagnoses, highlighting interpretation challenges: variants in genes not known to be involved in human disease at the time of the first analysis, misleading genotypes, or variants undetected by local pipelines (variants in off-target regions, low quality filters, low allelic balance, or high frequency). Conclusion The “ClinVar low-hanging fruit” analysis represents an effective, fast, and easy approach to recover causal variants from exome sequencing data, herewith contributing to the reduction of the diagnostic deadlock

The metrological stakes of the european water framework directive

International audienceWith the new Water Directive the European Union has given a new dimension to environmental monitoring. It is now necessary to follow and account for the ecological and chemical status of aquatic ecosystems. This status should improve with the objective of "good status" in 2015 for all waters of Member States. Such a regulation will lead to an intensification of chemical contaminants control and has important metrological implications. In order to ensure the comparability of data, it appears necessary to develop internationally validated standard methods and to organise intercomparison exercises for analytical laboratories

Prévalence du portage nasal de staphyloccocus aureus meticilline résistant dans un service de gérontologie (intérêt d'un traitement local par mupirocine)

PARIS5-BU Méd.Cochin (751142101) / SudocPARIS-BIUM (751062103) / SudocCentre Technique Livre Ens. Sup. (774682301) / SudocSudocFranceF

Présentation générale

Perrot Anne, Reynaud Bénédicte, Morin Pierre. Présentation générale. In: Économie & prévision, n°92-93, 1990-1-2. La formation des salaires : de la "loi du marché" aux stratégies des acteurs. pp. 1-8

Présentation générale

Perrot Anne, Reynaud Bénédicte, Morin Pierre. Présentation générale. In: Économie & prévision, n°92-93, 1990-1-2. La formation des salaires : de la "loi du marché" aux stratégies des acteurs. pp. 1-8

Impact des opérations de prélèvements en plan d'eau sur la variabilité des résultats d'analyses des pesticides

La qualité et la maîtrise des données acquises dans le cadre de la directive 2000/60/CE [1] ont une importance capitale non seulement pour comparer des résultats à des valeurs seuils mais également pour identifier avec un degré de confiance suffisant les tendances à la hausse des concentrations en polluants. Les notions de comparabilité des données et d'estimation des incertitudes de mesure sont maintenant assez largement abordées par les laboratoires à travers notamment la participation aux campagnes d'essais d'aptitude. De telles campagnes prenant en compte les aspects liés au prélèvement sont pour l'instant encore rares. Un essai a été organisé le 22 et 23 juin 2010, sur le lac de Paladru (Isère), dans le cadre du programme de travail AQUAREF. Il s'agit d'un essai collaboratif sur l'échantillonnage en plan d'eau. Les paramètres chimiques de l'essai étaient les anions et les cations majeurs, deux pesticides (atrazine et terbutylazine) et leurs métabolites (désethylatrazine, désethylterbutylazine). 10 équipes de préleveurs ont participé à cet essai. Ils ont été sélectionnés en partenariat avec les agences de l'eau, en donnant priorité aux préleveurs travaillant dans le cadre du réseau de surveillance des plans d'eau. Durant les deux jours de l'essai, ils ont réalisé, selon leur procédure habituelle, des prélèvements en double en vue d'analyser les paramètres chimiques ci-dessus. Les effets liés au flaconnage, au transport, à la conservation et à l'analyse ont été minimisés (opérateur unique : INERIS) afin de mieux caractériser les effets liés au "terrain". Les échantillons ont été analysés par injection en direct sur extraction phase solide en ligne couplée à une chromatographie liquide avec un détecteur de spectrométrie de masse/masse (LC/SPE on line/MS/MS), marque Waters TQD. Dans le cadre de cet essai, les valeurs quantifiées en désethylatrazine et en désethylterbutylazine sont très faibles et voisines des limites de quantification. Par contre l'atrazine et la terbutylazine n'ont pas été détectés dans les échantillons. L'incertitude globale (échantillonnage + analyse) pour la désethylatrazine est relativement faible, de l'ordre de 20%, quelque soit le type de prélèvement réalisé. Par contre, pour la désethylterbutylazine elle est plus importante pour le prélèvement intégré (39,2%). Pour ces deux substances, la part de l'incertitude " échantillonnage " est prépondérante par rapport à celle de l'incertitude analytique pour le prélèvement intégré. Il apparaît nécessaire d'élaborer des prescriptions techniques synthétisant les bonnes pratiques à mettre en place pour les opérations de prélèvement afin d'harmoniser les pratiques et d'améliorer la comparabilité des données au niveau national sur ces paramètres

Metrological aspects of collaborative field trials, including coping with unexpected events

International audienceWith the support of the French River Basin Agencies (RBAs), and the French Ministry of Ecology and its local offices, the French National Institute for Industrial Environment and Risks organized a collaborative field trial in June 2007 on a minor tributary of the River Seine near Paris. After sampling errors were recognized in the context of ISO 17025 as an important factor affecting the quality of an analytical result, the needs for consistency of data arising from the European Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC rendered enhancement of metrological knowledge in this step of the measurement chain more significant. This trial was the first national attempt to improve knowledge of the effect in natural river waters of sampling activity undertaken as part of regulatory monitoring. Of the 14 sampling teams that took part in the trial, all selected by the RBAs, three were not linked to an analytical team. The Epone sampling spot was selected because of its central location, because its rural characteristics are representative of the majority of the RBA sampling stations, and because it enabled more than 40 people to be brought together in a secure environment. The monitoring parameters selected were : pH, oxygen, temperature and conductivity (field parameters); and, suspended particulate matter (SPM), nitrites, orthophosphates, barium, di(ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), and one organic halogenated volatile (OHV) substance, tetrachloroethylene (parameters to be analyzed in a laboratory, also called non-field parameters). The aim of this study was to evaluate several sampling procedures, including standardized, to determine the variability induced by sampling operations in subsequent analytical processes. "Sampling activities" included sampling performance and external inputs (e.g., weather). individual field observations were also performed in order to understand the reasons for reference methods not being rigorously followed and to propose improvements that will make these methods more acceptable to sampling staff, and thus more reliable. This article focuses on the results obtained for non-field parameters and on the solutions that we developed to overcome the difficulties caused by a storm the day before the trial