Integrative taxonomy of New Caledonian beetles: species delimitation and definition of the [i]Uloma isoceroides[/i] species group (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae, Ulomini), with the description of four new species

New Caledonia is an important biodiversity hotspot with much undocumented biodiversity, especially in many insect groups. Here we used an integrative approach to explore species diversity in the tenebrionid genus Uloma (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae, Ulomini), which encompasses about 150 species, of which 22 are known from New Caledonia. To do so, we focused on a morphologically homogeneous group by comparing museum specimens with material collected during several recent field trips. We also conducted molecular phylogenetic analyses based on a concatenated matrix of four mitochondrial and three nuclear genes for 46 specimens. The morphological study allowed us to discover and describe four new species that belong to the group of interest, the Uloma isoceroides group. Molecular analyses confirmed the species boundaries of several of the previously described species and established the validity of the four new species. The phylogenetic analyses also provided additional information on the evolutionary history of the group, highlighting that a species that was thought to be unrelated to the group was in fact a member of the same evolutionary lineage. Molecular species delimitation confirmed the status of the sampled species of the group and also suggested some hidden (cryptic) biodiversity for at least two species of the group. Altogether this integrative taxonomic approach has allowed us to better define the boundaries of the Uloma isoceroides species group, which comprises at least 10 species: Uloma isoceroides (Fauvel, 1904), Uloma opacipennis (Fauvel, 1904), Uloma caledonica Kaszab, 1982, Uloma paniei Kaszab, 1982, Uloma monteithi Kaszab, 1986, Uloma robusta Kaszab, 1986, Uloma clamensae sp. n., Uloma condaminei sp. n., Uloma jourdani sp. n., and Uloma kergoati sp. n. We advocate more studies on other New Caledonian groups, as we expect that much undocumented biodiversity can be unveiled through the use of similar approache

A call for policy guidance on psychometric testing in doping control in sport.

One of the fundamental challenges in anti-doping is identifying athletes who use, or are at risk of using, prohibited performance enhancing substances. The growing trend to employ a forensic approach to doping control aims to integrate information from social sciences (e.g., psychology of doping) into organised intelligence to accelerate the pursuit of clean sport. Beyond the foreseeable consequences of a positive identification as a doping user, this task is further complicated by the discrepancy between what constitutes a doping offence in the World Anti-Doping Code and operationalized in doping research. Whilst psychology plays an important role in developing our understanding of doping behaviour in order to inform intervention and prevention, its contribution to the array of doping diagnostic tools is still in its infancy. At the same time, we must acknowledge that socially desirable responding confounds self-reported psychometric test results. Further, the cognitive complexity surrounding test performance means that the response-time based measures and the lie detector tests for revealing concealed life-events (e.g., doping use) are prone to produce false or non-interpretable outcomes in field settings. Differences in social-cognitive characteristics of doping behaviour that are tested at group level (doping users vs. non-users) cannot be extrapolated to individuals; nor these psychometric measures used for individual diagnostics. In this paper, we present a position statement calling for policy guidance on appropriate use of psychometric assessments in the pursuit of clean sport. We argue that both self-reported and response-time based psychometric tests for doping have been designed, tested and validated to explore how athletes feel and think about doping in order to develop a better understanding of doping behaviour, not to establish evidence for doping. A false 'positive' psychological profile for doping (or even failing to produce a definite negative profile) affects not only the individual ‘clean’ athlete but also their entourage, their organisation and sport itself. The proposed policy guidance aims to protect the global athletic community against social, ethical and legal consequences from potential misuse of psychological tests, including applications as forensic diagnostic tools in both practice and research

DMTs and Covid-19 severity in MS: a pooled analysis from Italy and France

We evaluated the effect of DMTs on Covid-19 severity in patients with MS, with a pooled-analysis of two large cohorts from Italy and France. The association of baseline characteristics and DMTs with Covid-19 severity was assessed by multivariate ordinal-logistic models and pooled by a fixed-effect meta-analysis. 1066 patients with MS from Italy and 721 from France were included. In the multivariate model, anti-CD20 therapies were significantly associated (OR = 2.05, 95%CI = 1.39–3.02, p < 0.001) with Covid-19 severity, whereas interferon indicated a decreased risk (OR = 0.42, 95%CI = 0.18–0.99, p = 0.047). This pooled-analysis confirms an increased risk of severe Covid-19 in patients on anti-CD20 therapies and supports the protective role of interferon

Finishing the euchromatic sequence of the human genome

The sequence of the human genome encodes the genetic instructions for human physiology, as well as rich information about human evolution. In 2001, the International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium reported a draft sequence of the euchromatic portion of the human genome. Since then, the international collaboration has worked to convert this draft into a genome sequence with high accuracy and nearly complete coverage. Here, we report the result of this finishing process. The current genome sequence (Build 35) contains 2.85 billion nucleotides interrupted by only 341 gaps. It covers ∼99% of the euchromatic genome and is accurate to an error rate of ∼1 event per 100,000 bases. Many of the remaining euchromatic gaps are associated with segmental duplications and will require focused work with new methods. The near-complete sequence, the first for a vertebrate, greatly improves the precision of biological analyses of the human genome including studies of gene number, birth and death. Notably, the human enome seems to encode only 20,000-25,000 protein-coding genes. The genome sequence reported here should serve as a firm foundation for biomedical research in the decades ahead

Rôle des déterminants nutritionnels et génétiques du cycle des folates dans la carcinogenèse hépatique

La métyl-tétrahydrofolate réductase est une enzyme clé du métabolisme des folates. Elle intervient dans la synthèse des nucléotides et indirectement dans la méthylation de l'ADN. L'implication du polymorphisme du gène de la MTHFR a été étudiée dans le cancer du colon. La mutation 677TT a un rôle protecteur dans cette pathologie, mais ce bénéfice disparaît en cas de carence en folates ou de consommation excessive d'alcool. Le but de cette étude est de rechercher un lien entre les déterminants nutritionnels (vitamine B9 et B12), les polymorphismes 677 et 1298 du gène de la MTHFR et le risque de CHC chez des patients cirrhotiques. 185 patients cirrhotiques ont été inclus dont 122 présentaient un hépatocarcinome, 79 développés sur une cirrhose éthylique et 43 sur une cirrhose virale. Le génotype 677CC était moins fréquent pour les patients avec un CHC sur une cirrhose d'étiologie éthylique comparés à l'étiologie virale (p=0.008) et aux témoins (p=0.06). Par contre le génotype 677CC semblait plus fréquent parmi les patients avec un CHC sur une cirrhose virale comparés aux témoins (p=0.07). Il n'y avait aucune corrélation entre le taux de vitamine B9, B12, d'homocystéine et les mutations recherchées. Ce résultat suggère que la MTHFR n'est pas impliquée dans la carcinogenèse hépatique.NANCY1-SCD Medecine (545472101) / SudocPARIS-BIUM (751062103) / SudocSudocFranceF

Cytokine patterns in autoinflammation and autoimmunity

Our knowledge of the role of cytokines in pathologic conditions has increased considerably with the emergence of molecular and genetic studies, particularly in the case of autoinflammatory monogenic diseases. Many rare disorders, considered orphan until recently, are directly related to abnormal gene regulation, and the treatment with biologic agents (biologics) targeting cytokine receptors, intracellular signaling or specific cytokines improve the symptoms of an increasing number of chronic inflammatory diseases. As it is currently impossible to systematically conduct genetic studies for all patients with autoinflammatory and autoimmune diseases, the evaluation of cytokines can be seen as a simple, less time consuming, and less expensive alternative. This approach could be especially useful when the diagnosis of syndromes of diseases of unknown etiology remains problematic. The evaluation of cytokines could also help avoid the current trial-and-error approach, which has the disadvantages of exposing patients to ineffective drugs with possible unnecessary side effects and permanent organ damages. In this review, we discuss the various possibilities, as well as the limitations of evaluating the cytokine profiles of patients suffering from autoinflammatory and autoimmune diseases, with methods such as direct detection of cytokines in the plasma/serum or following ex vivo stimulation of PBMCs leading to the production of their cytokine secretome. The patients' secretome, combined with biomarkers ranging from genetic and epigenetic analyses to immunologic biomarkers, may help not only the diagnosis but also guide the choice of biologics for more efficient and rapid treatments

Peripheral osteoma of the mandibular crest: a short case study

Introduction: Osteoma is a benign slow-growing osteogenic neoplasm characterized by the proliferation of cancellous and/or cortical bone. Jaw bones are seldom affected. Observation: We observed a rare case of a patient with a peripheral mandibular osteoma, which was surgically removed. Comments: Frequently asymptomatic, a peripheral osteoma looks like a bony swelling that may be sessile or pedunculated. Imaging examinations show a well-circumscribed radio-opaque mass. Symptomatic osteomas must be surgically excised and submitted for histological evaluation. Conclusion: Excessive osseous healing following a tooth extraction may explain this rare form of osteoma

Benign myoepithelioma of the hard palate: a clinical and histological diagnostic challenge. Case report and literature review

Introduction: Myoepithelioma (ME) is a rare salivary gland tumor. Constructed aroung a clinical case, this article aims to gather up up-to-date epidemiological, clinical and histological data about myoeptihelioma with emphasis on the diagnostic approach and differential diagnoses, paraclinical exams and the main histological features reported for its characterization. Observation: A 41-year-old female, presenting a 1-year slowly enlarging palatine nodule was referred to the Oral Pathology Consultation. Clinical data and paraclinic examination were non-specific. A thorough histological examination, comparing clinical data with cyto-architectural and immunostaining profile of the tumor allowed a positive diagnosis of ME. Discussion: The clinical aspect of ME is close from other more frequent tumors within the same areas. Accordingly, its discovery is often incidental and its diagnosis histological. ME display variable architecture and composition, requiring full tumor examination for proper diagnosis. When benign, ME act as mixed tumor regarding local extension, prognosis and recurrence. Malignant ME behaves as a low-grade malignant tumor with metastatic potential. Conclusion: Despite its rarity, ME should be hypothesized in front of a palatine nodule. Clinician and pathologist should be particularly cautious regarding nature, malignancy and follow-up of this tumor, since few data are up-to-now available

Chronic persistent HHV-6B infection after sulfasalazine-induced DRESS with demonstration of HHV-6 encoded small noncoding RNAs (sncRNAs) in Crohn's-like colitis: Case report

International audienceA sulfasalazine-induced DRESS (Drug Reactivation with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms) was complicated by a Crohn's-like colitis. We demonstrated HHV-6 reactivation with presence of HHV-6 DNA and small noncoding RNA in colonic lesions. This observation confirms the major role of HHV-6 reactivation in DRESS manifestations and the importance of looking for HHV-6 reactivation in DRESS

Biogeochemical Cycle of Lanthanides in a Light Rare Earth Element-Enriched Geological Area (Quebec, Canada)

International audienceThis work investigated a rare earth element (REE) natural biogeochemical cycle in an area with a light rare earth element (LREE)-rich ferrocarbonatite intrusion. An REE determination in this geological environment allowed us to trace REE natural transfers in order to better manage future REE mining exploitations. Our findings suggest that although REE concentrations in abiotic compartments (soil and freshwater systems) and biotic samples (terrestrial and aquatic plants) were low, the LREE fractionation observed in the parent material was maintained along compartments. Additionally, Nd anomalies observed in the sediment pore water suggest a potential different biogeochemical cycle of this element in aquatic systems. According to the potential bioaccumulation of REEs in the organisms of two studied plants belonging to terrestrial and aquatic compartments, Equisetum arvense L. and Typha latifolia L. (respectively), we observed that REEs were not accumulated and that they showed limited REE transfer inside plants, but with an increased uptake of Eu relative to the other REEs. Our results indicated a low mobility and transfer of REEs from REE-rich bedrocks in a natural area toward terrestrial and freshwater systems, but also pointed to a dilution of the REE content in the different compartments, maintaining the LREE fractionation. Our findings provide new knowledge about the REE biochemical cycle in a natural area (from rocks to plants) and represent a starting point for an environmentally friendly exploitation of future REE mining areas