A mitochondrial genome assembly of the opal chimaera, Chimaera opalescens Luchetti, Iglésias et Sellos 2011, using PacBio HiFi long reads

Chondrichthyans (sharks, rays and chimeras) are a fascinating and highly vulnerable group of early branching gnathostomes. However, they remain comparatively poorly sampled from the point of view of molecular resources, with deep water taxa being particularly data deficient. The development of long-read sequencing technologies enables the analysis of phylogenetic relationships through a precise and reliable assembly of complete mtDNA genomes. The sequencing and characterization of the complete mitogenome of the opal chimera Chimera opalescens Luchetti, Iglésias et Sellos 2011, using the long-read technique PacBio HiFi is presented. The entire mitogenome was 23,411 bp long and shows the same overall content, i.e. 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA and 2 ribosomal RNA genes, as all other examined Chondrichthyan mitogenomes. Phylogenetic reconstructions using all available Chondrichthyan mitogenomes, including 11 Holocephali (chimeras and ratfishes), places C. opalescens within the Chimaeridae family. Furthermore, the results reinforce previous findings, showing the genus Chimera as paraphyletic and thus highlighting the need to expand molecular approaches in this group of cartilaginous fishes

Shedding light on the Holocephali taxonomy, the mitogenome of Chimaera opalescens

Cartilaginous fish (Chondrichthyes), i.e. sharks, rays, and chimaeras, are extremely interesting from a biological perspective as they represent one of the oldest and most ecologically diverse groups of jawed vertebrates. Their K-selective reproductive traits, make them vulnerable to overfishing. Chimaerid are also a frequent by-catch of deep-water fisheries. Holocephalans comprise a single surviving order, the Chimaeriformes, and are allocated into three different families: Callorhinchidae, Rhinochimaeridae and Chimaeridae (Weigmann 2016). Furthermore, the family Chimaeridae only includes two genera: Chimera and Hydrolagus. Recently, several new species have been described (Iglesias et al., 2022), including Chimera opalescens from deep-sea assemblages (Luchetti et al., 2011). However, previous records of C. opalescens were erroneously classified as Chimera monstrosa (Luchetti et al., 2011; Catarino et al., 2020), due to the similar morphology (Luchetti et al., 2011), which highlights the critical importance of molecular approaches to support species identification. Mitogenomes have been a powerful tool used to elucidate phylogenetic relationships, both at deep and at shallow evolutionary nodes. The development of long-read sequencing technologies a precise and reliable assembly of complete mtDNA genomes. The sequencing and characterization of the complete mitogenome of the opal chimera Chimera opalescens (Luchetti, Iglesias et al., 2011) was carried out, using the long-read technique PacBio HiFi. The entire mitogenome was 23,411 bp long and shows the same overall content, i.e. 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA and 2 ribosomal RNA genes, as all other examined chondrichthyan mitogenomes. Phylogenetic reconstructions using all available Chondrichthyan mitogenomes, including 11 Holocephali (chimeras and ratfishes), places C. opalescens within the Chimaeridae family. Furthermore, the results reinforce previous findings, showing the genus Chimera as paraphyletic and thus highlighting the need to expand molecular approaches in this group of cartilaginous fishes

Syritta pipiens (Diptera: Syrphidae), a new species associated with human cadavers

The analyses of necrophagous insects feeding on a corpse can be successfully used to estimate the minimum time since death. A minimum time frame is sometimes an underestimate, but it is actually the only method that can provide such information when decomposed remains are found at a crime scene. Many insects are known to be colonisers of a corpse, but because there is an endless spectrum of crime scene environments, the development data bases for necrophagous insects is incomplete. The two cases detailed in this paper show different entomological patterns due to the different environments (well and burial) and locations (south and central Italy) where the two cadavers were found. Common to both of these cases? was the discovery of the corpse in the same period of the year (January) and the presence of Syritta pipiens (Diptera: Syrphidae), a species that has never been associated with deceased humans. The ecological information concerning this insect was used in combination with the more typical entomofauna found on the corpse to provide a minimum post mortem interval

Range extension: records of Anarhichas denticulatus (Perciformes: Anarhichadidae) caught in the southern Bay of Biscay (NE Atlantic)

Signalements les plus méridionaux de Anarhichas denticulatus (Perciformes : Anarhichadidae) capturés dans le sud du golfe de Gascogne (NE Atlantique). Deux spécimens adultes d’Anarhichas denticulatus (Krøyer, 1845) ont été capturés pour la première fois dans la partie méridionale du golfe de Gascogne (Nord-Est Atlantique). Ces nouvelles occurrences permettent d’élargir considérablement vers le sud, l’aire de répartition de cette espèce et de fournir de plus amples informations sur certains aspects de sa biologie.Versión del editor0,404

Immature stages and breeding sites of some neotropical saprophagous syrphids (Diptera: Syrphidae)

The larva and/or puparium of the Neotropical syrphids Habromyia coeruleithorax Williston, 1888, Palpada furcata (Wiedemann, 1819), and six species of Meromacrus Rondani, 1848, are figured, described, and compared with other similar larvae. All of these larvae are similar in external form, having mouthparts adapted for filtering suspended items of food, retractile anterior spiracles, prolegs with crochets, and extended anal segments (=long-tailed larvae). Each species varied in the size and distribution of integumental setae and spicules and in the size and form of the pupal spiracles. Keys are provided to identify genera of Neotropical long-tailed syrphid larvae and to separate the six species of Meromacrus: M. acutus (Fabricius, 1805), M. currani Hull, 1942, M. draco Hull, 1942, M. laconicus (Walker, 1852), M. loewii (Williston, 1892), and M. obscurus Hine, 1924. Larvae of all these species were found in tree holes, except for M. draco, which was associated with decaying bananas, and P. furcata, which occurred in a waste heap of decaying coffee pulp

Prognostic implications of vitamin D deficiency in chronic kidney disease

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a highly prevalent disease, imposing high mortality rates worldwide, and it is closely related to cardiovascular events. Vitamin D deficiency is very prevalent in patients with CKD from the earliest stages of the disease, and it has been associated with higher mortality. In order to assess the prognostic implications of vitamin D deficiency in CKD, we undertook a literature review, searching different databases in October 2018 for publications related to vitamin D in patients with CKD and hypovitaminosis D, and not on dialysis. The main cause of death in these patients is cardiovascular disease. Vitamin D is one of the first parameters that CKD changes and has an important prognostic role in this entity. Deficient levels in blood are associated with increased cardiovascular risk and survival impacts, independently of cardiovascular disease. Treatment with paricalcitol appears to reduce this risk. However, the evidence analyzed is insufficient to establish an association between vitamin D levels and the progression of kidney disease.&nbsp

Clinical response to linaclotide at week 4 predicts sustained response in irritable bowel syndrome with constipation and improvements in digestive and extra-digestive symptoms

Background: Linaclotide is approved for the treatment of moderate-to-severe irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) with constipation (IBS-C) in adults. This study aimed to assess factors predictive of a clinical response and improvements in non-IBS symptoms with linaclotide treatment in a Spanish patient population. Methods: In this open-label phase IIIb study, patients with moderate-to-severe IBS-C received linaclotide 290 μg once daily for 12 weeks. The primary endpoint was clinical response at week 12, defined as >30% reduction in IBS symptom severity score (IBS-SSS) or IBS-SSS <75 plus self-reported response of feeling 'better' or 'much better' versus the baseline. Digestive nonintestinal and extra-digestive symptom scores were assessed. Baseline characteristics and week 4 clinical response were assessed as predictors of week 12 clinical response. Results: A total of 96 patients were eligible; 91 were female and the mean age was 47.4 years. Mean (SD) baseline IBS-SSS was 371 (72.5). In the intention-to-treat and per-protocol populations, 22.9% and 31.7% were clinical responders at week 4, respectively, and 25.0% and 36.7% were clinical responders at week 12. Digestive nonintestinal and extra-digestive symptom scores were significantly improved at weeks 4 and 12. Baseline characteristic was not associated with week 12 clinical response; however, clinical response at week 4 was predictive of response at week 12 (OR: 6.5; 95%IC: 2.1-19.8). The most common adverse event was diarrhea inclusive of loose or watery stools (35.4%). Conclusions: Linaclotide improves IBS-C symptoms, including digestive nonintestinal and extra-digestive symptoms. A clinical response at week 4 may predict response at week 12