Robust estimation of bacterial cell count from optical density

Optical density (OD) is widely used to estimate the density of cells in liquid culture, but cannot be compared between instruments without a standardized calibration protocol and is challenging to relate to actual cell count. We address this with an interlaboratory study comparing three simple, low-cost, and highly accessible OD calibration protocols across 244 laboratories, applied to eight strains of constitutive GFP-expressing E. coli. Based on our results, we recommend calibrating OD to estimated cell count using serial dilution of silica microspheres, which produces highly precise calibration (95.5% of residuals <1.2-fold), is easily assessed for quality control, also assesses instrument effective linear range, and can be combined with fluorescence calibration to obtain units of Molecules of Equivalent Fluorescein (MEFL) per cell, allowing direct comparison and data fusion with flow cytometry measurements: in our study, fluorescence per cell measurements showed only a 1.07-fold mean difference between plate reader and flow cytometry data

Isolation and Characterization of 15 Polymorphic Microsatellite Loci for the Barau’s Petrel (Pterodroma baraui), an Endangered Endemic of Réunion Island (Indian Ocean)

International audienceFifteen polymorphic microsatellite loci were isolated from the endangered Barau’s Petrel (Pterodroma baraui), endemic to Réunion Island, Indian Ocean, France, facilitating population studies for conservation. In 148 samples from two colonies, the total number of alleles per loci ranged from three to eight, observed heterozygosity ranged between 0.11 and 0.86, and null allele frequency ranged between 0.000 and 0.093. An observed similarity in annealing temperatures across loci and the wide range of fragment sizes facilitated polymerase chain reaction multiplexing and rapid multilocus genotyping. These results will enable further investigation into the genetic diversity, effective population size, and small-scale geographical relationships among populations of this endangered species, encouraging additional conservation initiatives. Received 24 May 2016, accepted 19 August 2016

Isolation and Characterization of 15 Polymorphic Microsatellite Loci for the Barau’s Petrel (Pterodroma baraui), an Endangered Endemic of Réunion Island (Indian Ocean)

International audienceFifteen polymorphic microsatellite loci were isolated from the endangered Barau’s Petrel (Pterodroma baraui), endemic to Réunion Island, Indian Ocean, France, facilitating population studies for conservation. In 148 samples from two colonies, the total number of alleles per loci ranged from three to eight, observed heterozygosity ranged between 0.11 and 0.86, and null allele frequency ranged between 0.000 and 0.093. An observed similarity in annealing temperatures across loci and the wide range of fragment sizes facilitated polymerase chain reaction multiplexing and rapid multilocus genotyping. These results will enable further investigation into the genetic diversity, effective population size, and small-scale geographical relationships among populations of this endangered species, encouraging additional conservation initiatives. Received 24 May 2016, accepted 19 August 2016

Isatuximab plus pomalidomide and dexamethasone in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma in real-world: The retrospective IMAGE study

International audienceBACKGROUND: IMAGE is a retrospective cohort study of patients enrolled in early access programs (EAPs) in France with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) receiving isatuximab with pomalidomide and dexamethasone (Isa-Pd).METHODS: Patients aged ≥18 years with RRMM who received ≥1 dose of Isa under the EAPs between July 29, 2019 and August 30, 2020 were included. Effectiveness endpoints included progression-free survival (PFS) and response rates. Verbatim terms for adverse events (AEs) were coded using the Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities and not graded for severity.RESULTS: A total of 294 and 299 patients were included in the effectiveness and safety populations, respectively. IMAGE included patients who received one prior line of treatment (10.2%) and were daratumumab-refractory (19.1%). At median follow-up of 14.2 months, median PFS in the effectiveness population was 12.4 months (95% CI 9.0-15.0). Overall response and very good partial response rates were 46.3% and 27.9%, respectively. Subgroup analyses reflected similar results. In the safety population, 26.4% of patients reported at least one AE; the most common any-grade AE was neutropenia (9.4%).CONCLUSION: IMAGE demonstrated Isa-Pd had meaningful effectiveness in median PFS and depth of response and no new safety signals in a real-world context, consistent with clinical trial results

Programme Collectif de Recherche "Espaces et subsistance au Paléolithique moyen dans le sud du Massif central".

Ce PCR regroupait en première année de fonctionnement 47 chercheurs professionnels et bénévoles, plusieurs collaborateurs occssionnels et un prestataire privé pour analyses spécialisées, autour de la thématique « espaces et subsistances » dans le sud-est du Massif central, entre moyenne montagne et couloir rhodanien. Les travaux conduits s’appuient sur les résultats mutualisés de fouilles programmées de longue durée menées tant en Ardèche qu’en Haute-Loire, mais ausi sur les matériaux provenant de fouilles anciennes revisitées. Ils s’attachent au terrain (prospections, sondages,reprises de stratigraphies), aux études de matières premières (pétroarchéologie) et d’outillages lithiques (technologie, typologie, fonctionnalités), aux ressources carnées (archéozoologie) et à leur exploitation comparée (taphonomie), aux caractéristiques intimes des témoins archéologiques par une panoplie analytique diversifiée à haute résolution(isotopes, mico-traces, tracéologie et résidus, combustions...), à la chronologie révisée des occupations humaines par des méthodes de datation croisées (AMS, TL, OSL, RPE, U/Th), à la modélisation des niches éco-culturelles concernées et à la facilitation des échanges entre acteurs concernés (missions et réunions).Les résultats obtenus avant 2014 ont fait l’objet de synthèses et ont été principalement publiées ou soumises à des revues expertisées : Quaternary International, ERAUL, Comptes Rendus Palévol, L’Anthropologie, RST, Society of American Archaeology, Société préhistorique française, PlosOne

Mapping European Association of Urology Guideline Practice Across Europe: An Audit of Androgen Deprivation Therapy Use Before Prostate Cancer Surgery in 6598 Cases in 187 Hospitals Across 31 European Countries

Peer reviewe