Changes in zooplankton community, and seston and zooplankton fatty acid profiles at the freshwater/saltwater interface of the Chowan River, North Carolina

The variability in zooplankton fatty acid composition may be an indicator of larval fish habitat quality as fatty acids are linked to fish larval growth and survival. We sampled an anadromous fish nursery, the Chowan River, during spring of 2013 in order to determine how the seston fatty acid composition varied in comparison with the zooplankton community composition and fatty acid composition during the period of anadromous larval fish residency. The seston fatty acid profiles showed no distinct pattern in relation to sampling time or location. The mesozooplankton community composition varied spatially and the fatty acid profiles were typical of freshwater species in April. The Chowan River experienced a saltwater intrusion event during May, which resulted in brackish water species dominating the zooplankton community and the fatty acid profile showed an increase in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), in particular eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). The saltwater intrusion event was followed by an influx of freshwater due to high precipitation levels in June. The zooplankton community composition once again became dominated by freshwater species and the fatty acid profiles shifted to reflect this change; however, EPA levels remained high, particularly in the lower river. We found correlations between the seston, microzooplankton and mesozooplankton fatty acid compositions. Salinity was the main factor correlated to the observed pattern in species composition, and fatty acid changes in the mesozooplankton. These data suggest that anadromous fish nursery habitat likely experiences considerable spatial variability in fatty acid profiles of zooplankton prey and that are correlated to seston community composition and hydrodynamic changes. Our results also suggest that sufficient prey density as well as a diverse fatty acid composition is present in the Chowan River to support larval fish production

Borneo coral reefs subject to high sediment loads show evidence of resilience to various environmental stressors

Copyright © 2019 Browne et al. For reefs in South East Asia the synergistic effects of rapid land development, insufficient environmental policies and a lack of enforcement has led to poor water quality and compromised coral health from increased sediment and pollution. Those inshore turbid coral reefs, subject to significant sediment inputs, may also inherit some resilience to the effects of thermal stress and coral bleaching. We studied the inshore turbid reefs near Miri, in northwest Borneo through a comprehensive assessment of coral cover and health in addition to quantifying sediment-related parameters. Although Miri's Reefs had comparatively low coral species diversity, dominated by massive and encrusting forms of Diploastrea, Porites, Montipora, Favites, Dipsastrea and Pachyseris, they were characterized by a healthy cover ranging from 22 to 39%. We found a strong inshore to offshore gradient in hard coral cover, diversity and community composition as a direct result of spatial differences in sediment at distances <10 km. As well as distance to shore, we included other environmental variables like reef depth and sediment trap accumulation and particle size that explained 62.5% of variation in benthic composition among sites. Miri's reefs showed little evidence of coral disease and relatively low prevalence of compromised health signs including bleaching (6.7%), bioerosion (6.6%), pigmentation response (2.2%), scars (1.1%) and excessive mucus production (0.5%). Tagged colonies of Diploastrea and Pachyseris suffering partial bleaching in 2016 had fully (90-100%) recovered the following year. There were, however, seasonal differences in bioerosion rates, which increased five-fold after the 2017 wet season. Differences in measures of coral physiology, like that of symbiont density and chlorophyll a for Montipora, Pachyseris and Acropora, were not detected among sites. We conclude that Miri's reefs may be in a temporally stable state given minimal recently dead coral and a limited decline in coral cover over the last two decades. This study provides further evidence that turbid coral reefs exposed to seasonally elevated sediment loads can exhibit relatively high coral cover and be resilient to disease and elevated sea surface temperatures

SRSF1 Haploinsufficiency Is Responsible for a Syndromic Developmental Disorder Associated with Intellectual Disability

SRSF1 (also known as ASF/SF2) is a non-small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (non-snRNP) that belongs to the arginine/serine (R/S) domain family. It recognizes and binds to mRNA, regulating both constitutive and alternative splicing. The complete loss of this proto-oncogene in mice is embryonically lethal. Through international data sharing, we identified 17 individuals (10 females and 7 males) with a neurodevelopmental disorder (NDD) with heterozygous germline SRSF1 variants, mostly de novo, including three frameshift variants, three nonsense variants, seven missense variants, and two microdeletions within region 17q22 encompassing SRSF1. Only in one family, the de novo origin could not be established. All individuals featured a recurrent phenotype including developmental delay and intellectual disability (DD/ID), hypotonia, neurobehavioral problems, with variable skeletal (66.7%) and cardiac (46%) anomalies. To investigate the functional consequences of SRSF1 variants, we performed in silico structural modeling, developed an in vivo splicing assay in Drosophila, and carried out episignature analysis in blood-derived DNA from affected individuals. We found that all loss-of-function and 5 out of 7 missense variants were pathogenic, leading to a loss of SRSF1 splicing activity in Drosophila, correlating with a detectable and specific DNA methylation episignature. In addition, our orthogonal in silico, in vivo, and epigenetics analyses enabled the separation of clearly pathogenic missense variants from those with uncertain significance. Overall, these results indicated that haploinsufficiency of SRSF1 is responsible for a syndromic NDD with ID due to a partial loss of SRSF1-mediated splicing activity

SRSF1 Haploinsufficiency Is Responsible for a Syndromic Developmental Disorder Associated With Intellectual Disability

SRSF1 (also known as ASF/SF2) is a non-small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (non-snRNP) that belongs to the arginine/serine (R/S) domain family. It recognizes and binds to mRNA, regulating both constitutive and alternative splicing. The complete loss of this proto-oncogene in mice is embryonically lethal. Through international data sharing, we identified 17 individuals (10 females and 7 males) with a neurodevelopmental disorder (NDD) with heterozygous germline SRSF1 variants, mostly de novo, including three frameshift variants, three nonsense variants, seven missense variants, and two microdeletions within region 17q22 encompassing SRSF1. Only in one family, the de novo origin could not be established. All individuals featured a recurrent phenotype including developmental delay and intellectual disability (DD/ID), hypotonia, neurobehavioral problems, with variable skeletal (66.7%) and cardiac (46%) anomalies. To investigate the functional consequences of SRSF1 variants, we performed in silico structural modeling, developed an in vivo splicing assay in Drosophila, and carried out episignature analysis in blood-derived DNA from affected individuals. We found that all loss-of-function and 5 out of 7 missense variants were pathogenic, leading to a loss of SRSF1 splicing activity in Drosophila, correlating with a detectable and specific DNA methylation episignature. In addition, our orthogonal in silico, in vivo, and epigenetics analyses enabled the separation of clearly pathogenic missense variants from those with uncertain significance. Overall, these results indicated that haploinsufficiency of SRSF1 is responsible for a syndromic NDD with ID due to a partial loss of SRSF1-mediated splicing activity

Clinical and molecular aspects of CHARGE syndrome

Le syndrome CHARGE est une association malformative rare due à une mutation du gène CHD7 dans 60 à 90% des cas. L'objectif de ce travail était d'en décrire les éléments cliniques et moléculaires afin d'optimiser la prise en charge de patients atteints d'un handicap multisensoriel lourd.Le diagnostic anténatal en est difficile et l'étude de 40 fœtus a permis d'affiner la description du phénotype, de décrire de nouveaux éléments cliniques et finalement de proposer un ajustement des critères diagnostiques chez le fœtus.L'étude endocrinienne de 42 patients confirme la présence d'un hypogonadisme hypogonadotrope dans 97% des cas. Souvent méconnu et non traité il peut avoir des conséquences délétères sur la qualité de vie. Nous proposons qu'il soit reconnu comme critère majeur du syndrome.L'étude clinique d'une cohorte française de 119 patients a montré que la surdité et l'atteinte des canaux semi circulaires sont les éléments les plus fréquents du syndrome (suivis de l'atteinte hypophysaire, de l'arhinencéphalie et des anomalies de l'oreille externe), et les seuls significativement associés à la présence d'une mutation dans CHD7. Une étude approfondie des données issues de cette étude est en cours.Sur le plan moléculaire, alors que la plupart des mutations identifiées sont des mutations tronquantes privées apparues de novo, nous avons identifié 4 variants au niveau de l'intron 25, récurrents pour certains, dont l'interprétation était délicate. Leur étude in silico puis par une technique de minigène a permis de mettre en évidence une configuration particulière des séquences impliquées dans l'épissage de l'exon 26 (point de branchement distant) et de démontrer leur pathogénicité.CHARGE syndrome is a rare disorder of multiple congenital anomalies ascribed to a CHD7 gene mutation in 60% to 90% of cases. The aim of this study was to improve the knowledge regarding molecular and clinical aspects of the syndrome in order to optimize the management of these patients with severe disability. Antenatal diagnosis remains challenging in many instances and a detailed clinicopathological survey in a series of 40 fetuses allowed us to refine the clinical description of CHARGE syndrome in fetuses, describe some novel features and set up diagnostic criteria. An endocrinologic study of 42 patients showed a hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism in 97% of cases. For this reason, it should be considered as a major symptom of the syndrome. An early screening should lead to a hormonal replacement therapy which dramatically impacts the condition.A study of a French cohort of 119 patients found that deafness and semi-circular canals hypoplasia were the most frequent symptoms (followed by hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism, arhinencephaly and external ears anomalies) and the only features statistically associated with a mutation in the CHD7 gene. A detailed study of the data is still going on.The syndrome is mainly due to de novo and private truncating mutations of the CHD7 gene but we report an intriguing hot spot of intronic mutations located in IVS25. Combining computational in silico analysis and ex vivo minigene assays, we explained this mutation hot spot by a particular genomic context, including a distant branch point, and confirmed the pathogenicity of these mutations

Le Syndrome CHARGE (étude foetopathologique et moléculaire d'une série de 50 cas)

Le syndrome CHARGE est une association malformative rare, le plus souvent sporadique et due à une mutation du gène CHD7 dans 60% des cas. Bien que ce syndrome soit désormais bien connu chez l'enfant, seule une série de 10 foetus atteints de ce syndrome a été publiée jusqu'à présent et le diagnostic anténatal reste parfois difficile. Nous avons élargi l'étude précédente à 50 foetus/nouveau nés pour lesquels un examen foetopathologique a été réalisé et le diagnostic de syndrome CHARGE proposé. Une mutation dans le gène CHD7 a été identifiée chez 44 d'entre eux. Nous retiendrons notamment de l'étude de notre série le taux élevé de garçons par rapport aux filles (2,7/1), suggérant des formes plus sévères chez le garçon. Les signes les plus constants sont l'anomalie des oreilles externes, suivie de l'agénésie des canaux semi circulaires et de l'arhinencéphalie. Ces signes sont des éléments prédictifs puissants d'une mutation dans CHD7 dans notre série et ce d'autant plus qu'ils sont présents simultanément. En revanche aucun foetus ne présentait de retard de croissance intra utérin. L'un des foetus muté pour CHD7 de notre série, présentait un phénotype atypique qui avait tout d'abord fait évoquer le diagnostic de syndrome 3C, rappelant que le syndrome CHARGE peut avoir une présentation variable et partage un certain nombre d'éléments communs à d'autres syndromes qui seront discutés. A l'inverse quelques foetus répondant aux critères diagnostiques du syndrome CHARGE ne sont pas mutés pour CHD7 et la recherche de nouveaux gènes impliqués se poursuit. Enfin, à l'exception d'un cas, toutes les mutations identifiées dans notre série étaient des mutations tronquantes suggérant une corrélation phénotype/génotype. L'analyse clinique de notre série nous a permis d'affiner la description du phénotype du syndrome CHARGE chez le foetus, de décrire de nouveaux éléments cliniques et finalement de proposer un ajustement des critères diagnostiques chez le foetus afin d'aider au diagnostic de syndrome CHARGE au décours d'une interruption médicale de grossesse pour syndrome malformatif sévère.POITIERS-BU Médecine pharmacie (861942103) / SudocSudocFranceF

Encephale

Objectifs : La dysmorphie musculaire (DM) est un trouble qui touche principalement les hommes et qui se caractérise par une insatisfaction importante à l’égard des muscles. L’idée que la DM puisse représenter une addiction a été théoriquement discutée, mais aucune donnée empirique n’est disponible. Sur la base du cadre de Foster et al. (2015), l’inventaire de l’addiction à l’image corporelle (IAIC) a été développé. Cette étude a pour but de valider l’IAIC et d’évaluer sa capacité à saisir la sévérité de la DM. Méthodes : Un premier échantillon communautaire de 466 participants a été recruté et a rempli l’IAIC et des questionnaires sur la DM et l’estime corporelle. Un second échantillon de 47 hommes présentant un risque de DM a été recruté principalement dans les salles d’entraînement et a rempli l’IAIC et des questionnaires sur la DM, les symptômes alimentaires et les symptômes psychologiques. Résultats : Avec l’échantillon communautaire, les résultats ont montré que l’IAIC avait une structure factorielle valide, une bonne cohérence interne et une bonne validité convergente. Avec l’échantillon d’hommes à risque de DM, les résultats ont montré que l’IAIC avait une bonne validité convergente avec la DM et les symptômes alimentaires, mais pas avec les symptômes psychologiques. Les résultats d’un modèle de régression ont montré que l’IAIC expliquait 12 % de la variance de la DM. Conclusions : Cette étude apporte la première mesure d’addiction à l’image corporelle et suggère que la DM doit être comprise comme un phénomène complexe incluant des symptômes alimentaires et des tendances addictives.OBJECTIVES: Muscle dysmorphia (MD) is a disorder affecting mainly men and is characterized by significant dissatisfaction with muscles. The idea that MD could represent an addiction has been theoretically discussed, but no empirical data are available. Based on Foster et al. (2015) framework, the Addiction to Body Image Inventory (ABII) was developed. This study aims to validate the ABII and to evaluate its capacity to capture MD severity. METHODS: A first community sample of 466 participants was recruited and completed the ABII and questionnaires on MD and body esteem. A second sample of 47 men at risk of MD was recruited mostly in gyms and completed the ABII and questionnaires on MD, eating and psychological symptoms. RESULTS: With the community sample, the results showed that the ABII had a valid factorial structure, good internal consistency, and good convergent validity. With the sample of men at risk of MD, the results showed that the ABII had good convergent validity with MD and eating symptoms but not with psychological symptoms. The results of a regression model showed that the ABII explained 12% of the MD variance. CONCLUSIONS: This study brings the first measure of addiction to body image and suggests that MD must be understood as a complex phenomenon including eating symptoms and addictive tendencies

Local injection of methotrexate ultrasound guided-transvaginal

International audienceNon-tubal ectopic pregnancies can be located in the uterine portion of the tube (interstitial or cornual), in the cervix (cervical), in a cesarian scar, in the ovary, or intra-abdominally. Even though they are rare, they are associated with a high mortality. Invasive surgeries such as cornuectomy and hysterectomy were common to treat them in case of hemorrhage. Thanks to recent advances in imaging techniques, diagnosis of non-tubal ectopic pregnancy is made earlier and conservative management has been developed in order to respect fertility of patients. Beyond these treatments, systemic or local injection of Methotrexate shows very good success.In the article, we aimed to describe the technics of vaginal injection of in situ methotrexate with ultrasound guidance