Molecular phylogeny of the Notostraca

We used a combined analysis of one nuclear (28S rDNA) and three mitochondrial markers (COI, 12S rDNA, 16S rDNA) to infer the molecular phylogeny of the Notostraca, represented by samples from the six continents that are inhabited by this group of branchiopod crustaceans. Our results confirm the monophyly of both extant notostracan genera Triops and Lepidurus with good support in model based and maximum parsimony analyses. We used branchiopod fossils as a calibration to infer divergence times among notostracan lineages and accounted for rate heterogeneity among lineages by applying relaxed-clock models. Our divergence date estimates indicate an initial diversification into the genera Triops and Lepidurus in the Mesozoic, most likely at a minimum age of 152.3–233.5 Ma, i.e., in the Triassic or Jurassic. Implications for the interpretation of fossils and the evolution of notostracan morphology are discussed. We further use the divergence date estimates to formulate a biogeographic hypothesis that explains distributions of extant lineages predominantly by overland dispersal routes. We identified an additional hitherto unrecognised highly diverged lineage within Lepidurus apus lubbocki and three additional previously unknown major lineages within Triops. Within T. granarius we found deep differentiation, with representatives distributed among three major phylogenetic lineages. One of these major lineages comprises T. cancriformis, the T. mauritanicus species group and two hitherto unrecognised T. granarius lineages. Samples that were morphologically identified as T. granarius diverged from the most basal nodes within this major lineage, and divergence dates suggested an approximate age of 23.7– 49.6 Ma for T. cancriformis, indicating the need for a taxonomic revision of Triassic and Permian fossils that are currently attributed to the extant T. cancriformis.We thus elevate T. cancriformis minor to full species status as Triops minor Trusheim, 1938 and include in this species the additional Upper Triassic samples that were attributed to T. cancriformis. We further elevate T. cancriformis permiensis to full species status as Triops permiensis Gand et al., 1997

The efficacy of time-based short-course acyclovir therapy in treatment of post-herpetic pain

Introduction: Various treatments have been used to manage post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN). Safe and effective therapies to prevent PHN are needed. Methodology: A clinical trial involving 152 patients diagnosed with acute herpes Zoster (HZ) was conducted to determine whether short-course acyclovir therapy (800 mg five times a day for four days) can alleviate HZ-associated pain and prevent post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN). The patients were divided into two groups: Group 1 had a rash with a duration of less than 72 hours and Group 2 had a rash with a duration of more than 72 hours. To assess PHN, the patients categorized and assessed the severity of their symptoms using a four-point verbal rating scale (VRS). Results: By the fourth week, 134 out of 152 patients (88.2) had complete pain response (CPR). Of these, 68 patients (89.5) were from Group 1 and 66 from Group 2 (86.8). After four weeks, the mean VRS scores had changed significantly in both groups compared to the scores at the beginning of study (p = 0.001), but there was no difference between the two groups (0.88 ± 0.66 Vs. 0.94 ± 0.72; p = 0.66) After three months no differences were observed in the treatment results between the two groups (0.51 ± 0.13 Vs.0.54 ± 0.19; p = 0.77). Conclusion: Short-course acyclovir therapy is an effective treatment for zoster and its efficacy in patients with a rash duration of more than 72 hours is similar to that in patients with rash duration of less than 72 hours. © 2010 Rasi et al

Nectin-4: a new prognostic biomarker for efficient therapeutic targeting of primary and metastatic triple-negative breast cancer

International audienceBackground: Triple-negative breast cancers (TNBCs) are associated with a poor prognosis. In contrast to other molecular sub-types, they have no identified specific target and chemotherapy remains the only available systemic treatment. The adhesion molecule nectin-4 represents a new potential therapeutic target in different cancer models. Here, we have tested the prognos-tic value of nectin-4 expression and assessed the therapeutic efficiency of an anti-nectin 4 antibody drug conjugate (ADC) on localised and metastatic TNBC in vitro and in vivo. Materials and methods: We analysed nectin-4/PVRL4 mRNA expression in 5673 invasive breast cancers and searched for correlations with clinicopathological features including metastasis-free survival (MFS). Immunohistochemistry was carried out in 61 TNBCs and in samples of primary TNBC Patient-Derived Xenografts (PDXs). An anti-nectin-4 antibody eligible for ADC was produced and tested in vitro and in vivo in localised and metastatic TNBC PDXs. Results: High nectin-4/PVRL4 mRNA expression was associated with poor-prognosis features including the TN and basal sub-types. High PVRL4 mRNA expression showed independent negative prognostic value for MFS in multivariate analysis in TNBCs. Nectin-4 protein expression was not detected in adult healthy tissues including mammary tissue. Membranous protein expression was found in 62% of TNBCs, with strong correlation with mRNA expression. We developed an ADC (N41mab-vcMMAE) comprising a human anti-nectin-4 monoclonal antibody conjugated to monomethyl auristatin-E (MMAE). In vitro, this ADC bound to nectin-4 with high affinity and specificity and induced its internalisation as well as dose-dependent cytotoxicity on nectin-4-expressing breast cancer cell lines. In vivo, this ADC induced rapid, complete and durable responses on nectin-4-positive xenograft TNBC samples including primary tumours, metastatic lesions, and local relapses; efficiency was dependent on both the dose and the nectin-4 tumour expression level. Conclusion: Nectin-4 is both a new promising prognostic biomarker and specific therapeutic target for ADC in the very limited armamentarium against TNBC

Defining the importance of landscape metrics for large branchiopod biodiversity and conservation: the case of the Iberian Peninsula and Balearic Islands

The deficiency in the distributional data of invertebrate taxa is one of the major impediments acting on the bias towards the low awareness of its conservation status. The present study sets a basic framework to understand the large branchiopods distribution in the Iberian Peninsula and Balearic Islands. Since the extensive surveys performed in the late 1980s, no more studies existed updating the information for the whole studied area. The present study fills the gap, gathering together all available information on large branchiopods distribution since 1995, and analysing the effect of human population density and several landscape characteristics on their distribution, taking into consideration different spatial scales (100 m, 1 km and 10 km). In overall, 28 large branchiopod taxa (17 anostracans, 7 notostracans and 4 spinicaudatans) are known to occur in the area. Approximately 30% of the sites hosted multiple species, with a maximum of 6 species. Significant positive co-occurring species pairs were found clustered together, forming 4 different associations of large branchiopod species. In general, species clustered in the same group showed similar responses to analysed landscape characteristics, usually showing a better fit at higher spatial scales.Brazilian Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico-CNPq [401045/2014-5]Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport [FPU014/06783]info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Re-description of two spiny clam shrimps (Crustacea: Branchiopoda: Spinicaudata) of the Indian subcontinent from Daday de Dees's collection at MNHN with new insights on the validity of Eulimnadia compressa (Baird, 1860) and Eulimnadia chaperi (Simon, 1886)

Padhye, Sameer M., Rabet, Nicolas (2017): Re-description of two spiny clam shrimps (Crustacea: Branchiopoda: Spinicaudata) of the Indian subcontinent from Daday de Dees's collection at MNHN with new insights on the validity of Eulimnadia compressa (Baird, 1860) and Eulimnadia chaperi (Simon, 1886). Zootaxa 4294 (3): 349-360, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4294.3.

Facteurs endothéliaux et réactivité vasculaire pendant la gestation

STRASBOURG ILLKIRCH-Pharmacie (672182101) / SudocSudocFranceF

FIGURE 3 in Re-description of two spiny clam shrimps (Crustacea: Branchiopoda: Spinicaudata) of the Indian subcontinent from Daday de Dees's collection at MNHN with new insights on the validity of Eulimnadia compressa (Baird, 1860) and Eulimnadia chaperi (Simon, 1886)

FIGURE 3. Leptestheria sarsi (Daday, 1923). A, male head. B, female head. C, telson and cercopod (male). D, telson (female). E, dorsal armature. Scale bars: A & B: 0.5 mm; C & D: 0.75 mm; E: 0.05mm

Characteristics of mixed type basal cell carcinoma in comparison to other BCC subtypes

Background: There are limited data exploring the characteristics of mixed type basal cell carcinoma (BCC). Objectives: To explore different characteristics of mixed type BCC. Design: Cross sectional study. Materials and Methods: 825 patients with BCC enrolled in this study. Results: Among 825 patients, 512 (62%) were male. Three hundred and fifty five (43%) presented with nodular subtype, 267 (32.4%) with mixed subtype, 25 with superficial and the 178 remaining presented with other subtypes. Four hundred and eighty three (58.6%) of the lesions were on the face, 243 (29.5%) on scalp, 52 (6.3%) on ears, 20 (2.4%) on neck, 15 (1.8%) on trunk and 12 (1.4%) on extremities. Anatomic distribution of mixed type was as follows: 137 on face, (51.4%), 100 (37.3%) on scalp, 19 (7%) on ear, 6 (2.1%) on neck, 4 (1.5%) extremity and 1 (0.7%) on trunk, which the difference from non mixed types was statistically significant (P = 0.002). The mean diameter of the mixed types and non mixed type BCCs were significantly different (2.7 ± 2.1 cm vs. 2.2 ± 1.6 cm; P = 0.01. The prevalence of necrosis in mixed type BCC was two times higher than non mixed type BCCs (OR = 2.3, CI 95% 1.3-3.9, P = 0.001). The most frequent combined subtypes were nodular-infiltrative (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Mixed type BCC has differences with other BCC subtypes in anatomical distribution and tumor diameter. Indeed, mixed type BCCs are frequently composed of aggressive subtypes than nonaggressive subtypes