Dimethyl fumarate in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 (RECOVERY): a randomised, controlled, open-label, platform trial

Dimethyl fumarate (DMF) inhibits inflammasome-mediated inflammation and has been proposed as a treatment for patients hospitalised with COVID-19. This randomised, controlled, open-label platform trial (Randomised Evaluation of COVID-19 Therapy [RECOVERY]), is assessing multiple treatments in patients hospitalised for COVID-19 (NCT04381936, ISRCTN50189673). In this assessment of DMF performed at 27 UK hospitals, adults were randomly allocated (1:1) to either usual standard of care alone or usual standard of care plus DMF. The primary outcome was clinical status on day 5 measured on a seven-point ordinal scale. Secondary outcomes were time to sustained improvement in clinical status, time to discharge, day 5 peripheral blood oxygenation, day 5 C-reactive protein, and improvement in day 10 clinical status. Between 2 March 2021 and 18 November 2021, 713 patients were enroled in the DMF evaluation, of whom 356 were randomly allocated to receive usual care plus DMF, and 357 to usual care alone. 95% of patients received corticosteroids as part of routine care. There was no evidence of a beneficial effect of DMF on clinical status at day 5 (common odds ratio of unfavourable outcome 1.12; 95% CI 0.86-1.47; p = 0.40). There was no significant effect of DMF on any secondary outcome

Dimethyl fumarate in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 (RECOVERY): a randomised, controlled, open-label, platform trial

Dimethyl fumarate (DMF) inhibits inflammasome-mediated inflammation and has been proposed as a treatment for patients hospitalised with COVID-19. This randomised, controlled, open-label platform trial (Randomised Evaluation of COVID-19 Therapy [RECOVERY]), is assessing multiple treatments in patients hospitalised for COVID-19 (NCT04381936, ISRCTN50189673). In this assessment of DMF performed at 27 UK hospitals, adults were randomly allocated (1:1) to either usual standard of care alone or usual standard of care plus DMF. The primary outcome was clinical status on day 5 measured on a seven-point ordinal scale. Secondary outcomes were time to sustained improvement in clinical status, time to discharge, day 5 peripheral blood oxygenation, day 5 C-reactive protein, and improvement in day 10 clinical status. Between 2 March 2021 and 18 November 2021, 713 patients were enroled in the DMF evaluation, of whom 356 were randomly allocated to receive usual care plus DMF, and 357 to usual care alone. 95% of patients received corticosteroids as part of routine care. There was no evidence of a beneficial effect of DMF on clinical status at day 5 (common odds ratio of unfavourable outcome 1.12; 95% CI 0.86-1.47; p = 0.40). There was no significant effect of DMF on any secondary outcome

Data from: Dragons in our midst: phyloforensics of illegally traded Southeast Asian monitor lizards

We provide a phylogenetic and population genetic evaluation of the illegal pet and bush meat trade of monitor lizards in the Philippines. We use a molecular dataset assembled from vouchered samples with known localities throughout the country, as a reference for statistical phylogenetic, population genetic, and DNA barcoding analyses of genetic material obtained during a three year survey of the Manila pet trade. Our results provide the first genetic evaluation of a major Southeast Asian city’s illegal trade in monitors and allow us to establish several important conclusions regarding actual, versus reported, origins of Manila’s black market Varanus. Monitor lizards are clearly transported throughout the archipelago for trade; we identified genotypes from areas surrounding Manila, the distinct Bicol faunal subregion of Luzon, Mindanao Island, the Visayan islands, islands of the Romblon Province, the Babuyan islands, and Mindoro Island. Numerous species are involved, including multiple endemic Philippine taxa, the threatened Gray’s monitor (Varanus olivaceus), and the presumably non-Philippine rough-neck monitor (Varanus rudicollis). Our results suggest that traders frequently and deliberately misrepresent the provenance of traded animals, in an apparent effort to increase their perceived market value

Integrative taxonomy and phylogeny-based species delimitation of Philippine water monitor lizards (Varanus salvator Complex) with descriptions of two new cryptic species

Welton, Luke J., Travers, Scott L., Siler, Cameron D., Brown, Rafe M. (2014): Integrative taxonomy and phylogeny-based species delimitation of Philippine water monitor lizards (Varanus salvator Complex) with descriptions of two new cryptic species. Zootaxa 3881 (3): 201-227, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3881.3.

Cyrtodactylus jambangan Welton, Siler, Diesmos & Brown, 2010, sp. nov.

<i>Cyrtodactylus jambangan</i> sp. nov. <p>Figs. 3–5</p> <p> <b>Holotype.</b> PNM 9593 (formerly KU 314810, RMB Field No. 10,005), adult male, collected on the trunk of a sapling (20:00–23:00) in Pasonanca Natural Park, Barangay Baluno, Zamboanga City Province, Mindanao Island, Philippines (N: 07º 1.0554, E: 122º 1.731, WGS-84; 758 m above sea level), on 12 July, 2008 by L.</p> <p>Welton, R. Brown, C. Siler, J. Fernandez, M. and V. Yngente, and J. Phenix.</p> <p> <b>Paratopotypes.</b> Four males (KU 314813, 314815, 314825, and 314828), fourteen females (KU 314808, 314811, 314816–18, 314820, 3134822–24, 314826–27, and 314829–31), and five juveniles (KU 314809, 314812, 314814, 314819, and 314821) collected on the trunks of trees (18:00–23:00), 12–18 July 2008, other data identical to holotype.</p> <p> <b>Paratypes.</b> Four males (KU 314793–94 and 314796–97), two females (KU 314795 and 314798), and three juveniles (KU 314792, and 314833–34), collected 7 July 2008, in Pasonanca Natural Park, Tumaga River (N: 6º 35.174, E: 122º 2.426, 94m, WGS-84), by L. Welton, R. Brown, C. Siler, J. Fernandez, M. and V. Yngente, and J. Phenix; one male (KU 314835), one female (KU 314806), and one juvenile (KU 314799), collected 8 July 2008, in Pasonanca Natural Park, Tumaga River (N: 6º 58.624, E: 122º 3.043, 104m, WGS- 84), by the same collectors; two males (KU 314807 and 314836) collected 9–11 July 2008, in Pasonanca Natural Park, Tumaga River (N: 6º 59.534, E: 122º 3.626, 94m, WGS-84), by the same collectors; two males (KU 314803 and 314805), one female (KU 314804), and three juveniles (KU 314800–02), collected 9 July 2008, Pasonanca Natural Park, Tumaga River (N: 6º 58.624, E: 122º 4.043, 104m, WGS-84), by the same collectors; two males (KU 314781 and 314784), one female (KU 314780), and four juveniles (KU 314778–79 and 314782–83), collected 20–22 April 2008, in Pasonanca Natural Park, Barangay Pasonanca, Sitio Canucutan (N: 6º 59.534, E: 122º 3.626, 104m, WGS-84), by R. Brown and A. Diesmos; one male (KU 319654), one female (KU 319655), and one juvenile (KU 319652), collected 3–5 April 2009, in Pasonanca Natural Park, Barangay La Paz, Sitio Nancy (N: 7º 5.099, E: 122º 1.620, 1130m, WGS-84), by R. Brown, C. Infante, and A. Diesmos; two males (KU 319656 and 319657), collected 6–9 April 2009, in Pasonanca Natural Park, Barangay Tulosa, Sitio Santa Clara, Cabo Negros outpost (N: 7º 6.479, E: 122º 7.139, 620m, WGS-84), by the same collectors; three males (KU 319660–62), and one female (KU 319658), collected 11 April 2009, in Pasonanca Natural Park, Tumaga River (N: 6º 35.174, E: 122º 2.426, 94m, WGS-84), by the same collectors; twelve males (CAS 60195, 60197, 60199, 60203–205, 60208, 60212, 60217–18, 60221, and 60453), 15 females (CAS 60196, 60200–201, 60207, 60209–10, 60213–16, 60220, 60454–55, 60458, and 60460), and six juveniles (CAS 60222–24, 60456–57, and 60459) collected at Abung-Abung and Port Holland on Basilan Island, 5–25 October, 1921, by E. H. Taylor; two males (CAS 60622–23), three females (CAS 60619–21), and one juvenile (CAS 60624) collected on New Govenen Island, 5–25 October, 1920, by E. H. Taylor; one male (CAS 60669), four females (CAS 60670–72 and 60887), and two juveniles (CAS 60886 and 60888) collected on Bud Daho Mt. on Jolo Island, 25 October–17 November, 1920, by E. H. Taylor; two males (CAS 62020 and 62022), three females (CAS 62017, 62019, and 62021), and one juvenile (CAS 62018) collected in Zamboanga del Sur Province, 23 September–6 October, 1920, by E. H. Taylor.</p> <p> <b>Diagnosis.</b> The new species differs from most of Asia’s 115 <i>Cyrtodactylus</i> species by the same suite of character states that has facilitated the recognition and distinction of <i>C. annulatus</i>: (1) small body size; (2) light gray body, with dark transverse bands; (3) presence of a weak precloacal groove; (4) absence of enlarged femoral scales and pores; (5) moderately spinose tuberculation; (6) presence of forelimb tuberculation; (7) and absence of enlarged, median subcaudal scales (Taylor 1922; Brown & Alcala 1978; Manthey & Grossman 1997; Grismer 2005; Welton <i>et al.</i> 2009). Because the new species differs from non-Philippine congeners by characters that have distinguished <i>C. annulatus</i> (and have never been challenged; Taylor 1922a; Brown & Alcala 1978), we do not provide exhaustive comparisons to all those species (see Welton <i>et al.</i> 2009). Instead we focus on the comparisons relevant for the recognition of the new species: the closely related taxa within the <i>C. annulatus</i> complex and other <i>Cyrtodactylus</i> endemic to the Philippines.</p> <p> C <i>yrtodactylus jambangan</i> differs from all other species of Philippine <i>Cyrtodactylus</i> (i.e., <i>C. agusanensis, C. philippinicus, C. redimiculus,</i> and <i>C. tautbatorum</i>; Table 2) by the following combination of characters: (1) small body size (2) dorsum darkly marbled lavender and brown or brown with indistinct wavy lavender blotches; (3) presence of bright yellow superciliaries, canthal stripe, and dorsal tubercles; (4) low dorsal scale counts (as measured by midbody dorsal and paravertebral scales; Table 2); (5) moderate numbers of midbody dorsal tubercle rows (Table 2); (6) absence of femoral pores in both sexes; (7) presence of precloacal pores in males and similarly enlarged, dimpled, scales in females, arranged in an inverted “V”-shaped configuration; (8) moderately depressed precloacal groove; (9) scales anterior to precloacal region undifferentiated; (10) lamellae under Finger III 17–22; (11) lamellae under Toe IV 20–24 (12) supralabials to beneath eye 8–11; (13) infralabials to beneath the eye 6–8; (14) absence of stripes connecting the lateral margins of transverse bands on trunk; and (15) midbody ventral scales 48–63. Comparisons with additional Southeast Asian species are provided in Table 3.</p> <p> The critical comparison for the recognition of the new species is the diagnosis of the Zamboanga and Sulu populations from true <i>C. annulatus</i> (type locality from the Municipality of Bunawan, Agusan Del Sur Province, Mindanao Island), and newly designated <i>C. annulatus</i> neotype locality (Welton <i>et al</i>. 2009) of Mt. Hilonghilong, Diwata Mountains, Agusan Del Norte Province, Mindanao Island. Although morphologically similar to <i>C. annulatus</i> from throughout its range, <i>C. jambangan</i> has bright yellow canthal stripes, superciliaries, dorsal tubercles, and moderate-sized dorsolateral body tubercles, fewer precloacal pores, undifferentiated precloacals, and strongly spinose (versus moderate, domed) dorsal tuberculation. The new species is separated from <i>C. annulatus</i> by 7.9–9.5% (mean = 8.6%) uncorrected sequence divergence (Table 4) in the ND2 protein-coding mitochondrial gene region (see Table 3 for complete univariate morphometric data for <i>C. annulatus</i> and <i>C. jambangan</i>). The new species differs from all remaining Philippine species by a variety of morphological and color pattern characters (Table 2; Brown and Alcala 1978).</p> <p> <b>Description of holotype.</b> Adult male, snout–vent length 67.7 mm; head moderately long, distinct from neck, 30.3% SVL; head width 64.7% and height 41.7% head length; head triangular in dorsal aspect; lores concave; snout elongate, 41.7% head length, anterior tip rounded; eye diameter 20.6% head length, 76.3% eye–ear distance; auricular opening ovoid, longest axis 9.5% head length.</p> <p>Dorsal head scalation heterogenous, scales small and granular, with tubercle density sparse medially, tubercles increasing in size and density posteriorly and laterally; superciliaries increasing in size (laterally elongated) anteriorly, with largest scales at anterodorsal margin of orbit; rostral taller than wide, divided dorsally by inverted “Y” shaped crease; rostral bordered by large, anterior internasal and smaller, paired posterior internasals, supranasals, and first supralabials; internarial distance 2.2 mm; nostrils bordered by supranasals, rostral, 2 postnasals, and first supralabials; supralabials rectangular, decreasing in size posteriorly (left/right): 9/10 to midpoint of eye, 12/12 total; infralabials 7/7 to midpoint of eye, 11/10 total; supralabials bordered dorsally by secondary, slightly differentiated row of scales, extending to anterior margin of orbit; infralabials bordered ventrally by similar row, extending to anterior margin of orbit.</p> <p>Ventral head scalation heterogenous; mental bordered by first infralabials, and paired postmentals, with triangular projection posteriorly; 7 differentiated gular scales posterior to postmentals; first infralabial in contact with postmental and single differentiated gular; remaining gulars heterogenous, small and granular, increasing in size in nuchal region.</p> <p>Body elongate, axilla–groin distance 44.5% snout–vent length, lacking distinct ventrolateral folds; dorsal scalation granular, heterogenous, with semi-regular rows of rounded, posteriorly-oriented tubercles, increasing in protuberance (from convex to conical) and size posterior to hind limb insertions; tubercles in 17 longitudinal midbody and 27 paravertebral rows; paravertebral scales 164; transverse midbody dorsal and ventral scales 91 and 54 respectively, between lateral tubercle rows; ventral scales imbricate, slightly larger than dorsals and increasing in size medially; differentiated precloacals 4, arranged in an inverted “V” configuration pierced with enlarged pores, surrounding shallow and longitudinally short precloacal groove; two patches of enlarged scales anterolateral to precloacals (14 left, 13 right); two rows of slightly enlarged scales anterior to precloacals; three slightly enlarged scales posterior to precloacals.</p> <p>Forelimbs slender, forearm and upper arm 14.3% and 12.4% snout–vent length respectively; scalation on dorsal surfaces of forelimbs heterogenous, scales larger than ventrals; tubercles absent on upper arm, sparse on forearm, less spinose than dorsal trunk tubercles; ventral scalation homogenous, lacking tubercles; fingers well developed; Fingers I and III 37.4% and 62.2% forearm length, respectively; lamellae enlarged and slightly raised, lamellae proximal to inflection larger than those distal to inflection, slight increase in size from inflection to claw; finger number followed by subdigital lamellae (in parentheses): I (11), II (14), III (20), IV (18), V (15); all fingers clawed; claws well developed, sheathed by single dorsal and ventral scale.</p> <p>Hind limbs relatively robust, limb diameter at insertion twice that of forelimb; femur long, 16.8% snout– vent length; dorsal hindlimb scalation heterogenous, scales increasing in size distally, with tubercles regularly distributed, increasing in size and becoming more spinose distally; ventral scalation heterogenous, increasing in size distally, lacking tubercles; right limb with two conspicuous patches dorsally, lacking scales or tubercles (possibly resulting from injury); enlarged femoral scales (and pores) absent; toes well developed, relatively longer than those on manus; Toes I and IV 31.2% and 85.4% tibia length, respectively; lamellae enlarged and slightly raised, lamellae proximal to inflection larger than those distal to inflection, slight increase in size from inflection to claw; toe number followed by subdigital lamellae (in parentheses): I (12), II (16), III (20), IV (23), V (22); all toes clawed; claws well developed, sheathed by single dorsal and ventral scale.</p> <p>Tail original, length 78.2 mm, width and height 5.6 and 4.8 mm at base respectively, tapering abruptly posterior to hemipenal bulge, then gradually to terminus; 7 annuli discernable dorsally through lateral margins, posterior to which whorls cannot be distinguished, owing to absence of differentiated scales associated with annuli; tubercles smaller and less spinose than those of trunk; enlarged medial subcaudal scales absent; 1 enlarged post-cloacal tubercle present on each side of cloaca; anterior margin of hemipenal bulge with paired, laterally expanded, postcloacal glandular openings.</p> <p> <b>Measurements of holotype (in mm).</b> Snout–vent length 67.7; lamellae under Finger III 20; lamellae under Toe IV 23; Finger I length 3.6; Finger III length 6.0; Toe I length 3.3; Toe IV length 9.0; eye-narial distance 6.5; eye–ear distance 5.6; interorbital distance 2.6; snout length 8.6; internarial distance 2.2; eye diameter 4.2; upper arm length 8.4; upper arm length 9.7; femur length 11.4; tibia length 10.5; hand length 9.1; foot length 10.9; axilla–groin distance 10.1; tail length 84.6.</p> <p> <b>Coloration of holotype in preservative.</b> Dorsal ground coloration (of head, neck, body, limbs, and tail) dark brown, with irregularly shaped dark gray to lavender transverse dorsal bands, varying from irregular dark gray blotches anteriorly, to a single medial blotch followed posteriorly by a “V-shaped” marking in the nuchal region, to three conspicuous, “butterfly-shaped” patterns interspersed with three irregularly shaped transverse blotches throughout the trunk, and becoming less-defined laterally; supralabials with four conspicuous light tan to white blotches (left and right) irregularly distributed between the second and twelfth scales; light gray band bordered by dark brown extends from posterior margin of eye to auricular opening; trunk tubercles primarily light tan to cream; limbs mottled, with dark gray and dark brown, lacking distinct bands; digits with light tan to cream blotches at joints; tail more conspicuously banded than trunk, with dark brown ground coloration fading to white at the terminus of tail, overlain with 10 dark gray to black bands.</p> <p>Ventral portions of head, trunk, and limbs tan, darkening at margins of ventrolateral tubercle row; hands and feet tan, fingers and toes slightly darker; subcaudal coloration cream with increased dark speckling through anterior third; seven discernable white bands posteriorly.</p> <p> <b>Color Variation.</b> Our sample of 36 males, 52 females, and 26 juveniles exhibits minimal color variation. Four adult males (KU 314794, 314796, 314813, and 314825) and four adult females (KU 314804, 314823– 24, and 314831) are darker, with dorsal bands through the axilla-groin region of higher contrast to the lighter ground color. One adult male (KU 314815) and two adult females (KU 314822, and 314827) are lighter, with distinct dorsal banding, and light brown to light gray ground color overlaid by medium to dark gray band. One adult male (KU 314805) and one adult female (KU 314795) lack a defined “V-shaped” blotch spanning the posterior dorsum of the head and nuchal region. Three adult males (KU 314794, 314805, and 314835) lack the conspicuous blotch medially in the nuchal region. All other specimens have color and patterning consistent with the holotype. Additionally, nine adult males (KU 314781, 314784–85, 314789, 314791, 314797, 314803, 314812, and 314836), 19 adult females (KU 314778–80, 314787–88, 314790, 314792, 314798, 314808–09, 314816–19, 314820–21, 314829, 314832, and 314834), and 10 juveniles (KU 314782– 83, 314883, 314799–802, 314807, 314786, and 314814) show similar trends in variation, with one adult male (KU 314797), two adult females (KU 314816 and 314832), and two juveniles (KU 314814 and 314833) with a darker overall coloration and more highly defined dorsal banding. Four adult males (KU 314781, 314784, 314789, and 314803) and 13 adult females (KU 314734, 314779–80, 314790, 314792, 314798, 314809, 314817–21, and 314829) have a light gray ground color with dark gray, well-defined dorsal banding. Regenerated tails have highly variable dark speckling overlaying a medium gray ground color, to a completely dark brown dorsal coloration.</p> <p>Generally, a greater level of definition in dorsal banding is present in female and juveniles; these specimens have greater contrast in dorsal banding; a few individuals nearly lack dorsal bands all together (KU 314799, 314801, and 314802). Ventral coloration is less variable except on the tail. Original tails are similarly colored with speckling increasing from the anterior margin of the tail to the terminus, with the tail tip being nearly black. Dorsal, light-colored bands extend through venter, becoming lighter in color and more defined towards terminus of tail. One adult male (KU 314825) has speckling at the base and the tip of the tail, a cream ground color throughout, and lacks dark patterning in between. All others exhibit increasing amounts of dark speckling over a light to medium gray ground color from the anterior margin of the tail to the terminus.</p> <p> <b>Morphological variation.</b> Summaries of univariate morphological variation in the series are presented in Table 3. Our series shows minimal morphological variation between males and females. However, females are generally larger and more robust (the largest specimen, KU 314831, is female with SVL = 81.5).</p> <p> <b>Color in life.</b> <i>Cyrtodactylus jambangan</i> has light yellow to gold dorsal tubercles through the axilla–groin region, a yellow canthal stripe, bright yellow superciliaries, and a variable dorsal banding pattern. All three characters are in contrast to observations of true <i>C. annulatus</i>, which has regular, distinct, and brightly contrasting dorsal bands through the axilla-groin region, more pattern variation, and also lacks bright yellow canthal stripe and superciliaries (see Fig. 5).</p> <p> <b>Ecology and natural history.</b> The new species is found at low and mid-elevations in riparian habitats (gallery forests) along streams. We encountered <i>C. jambangan</i> specimens on trunks of trees, rocks, and overhanging exposed root masses on the banks of rivers and streams.</p> <p> <b>Distribution.</b> The distribution of the new species includes Pasonanca Natural Park, Zamboanga Peninsula, extreme western Mindanao Island, and adjacent Sulu Archipelago islands to the southwest (Fig. 1). Other localities in the Sulu Archipelago where Taylor (1922a) observed this species include Basilan, Great Santa Cruz, Teipono, Tamuk, Cancuman, Dipolod, Bitinan, Jolo, Tulian, Tawitawi, Papahag, Bongao, Buban Islands of the Tapiantana and Taipan Island Groups.</p> <p> <b>Etymology.</b> The specific epithet is derived from the term <i>Jambangan</i> —the ancient name for the Zamboanga City area. Sulu and Zamboanga folklore suggest that the name was bestowed upon the Zamboanga City area by the immigrant Subanons (“People of the River”) who arrived in western Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago in approximately 1200 A.D., after traveling by boat through the Sulu Archipelago, from what is now Indonesia. <i>Jambangan</i> means “The Land of Flowers,” a name presumably used in reference to the natural beauty of the area surrounding Zamboanga City.</p>Published as part of <i>Welton, Luke J., Siler, Cameron D., Diesmos, Arvin C. & Brown, Rafe M., 2010, Phylogeny-based species delimitation of southern Philippines bent-toed geckos and a new species of Cyrtodactylus (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from western Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago, pp. 49-68 in Zootaxa 2390</i> on pages 54-63, DOI: <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/193859">10.5281/zenodo.193859</a&gt

Determination of Kamlet–Taft parameters for selected solvate ionic liquids

The normalised polarity E and Kamlet-Taft parameters of recently described solvate ionic liquids, composed of lithium bis(trifluoromethyl)sulfonimide (LiTFSI) in tri- () or tetraglyme () have been determined and compared to the parent glyme ( and ). We show that these solvate ionic liquids have a high polarity (, (E) = 1.03; , (E) = 1.03) and display very high electron pair accepting characteristics (, α = 1.32; , α = 1.35). Molecular dynamics simulations suggest that the chelated lithium cation is responsible for this observation. The relatively small hydrogen bond acceptor (β) values for these systems (, β = 0.41; , β = 0.37) are thought to be due primarily to the TFSI anion, which is supplemented slightly by the glyme oxygen atom. In addition, these solvate ionic liquids are found to have a high polarisability (, π* = 0.94; , π* = 0.90)

FIGURE 4. A in A new species of Trachylepis (Squamata: Scincidae) from Central Africa and a key to the Trachylepis of West and Central Africa

FIGURE 4. A map of the sampling of Trachylepis gonwouoi sp. nov. Red indicates samples that were collected in 2014 and designated as the type specimens with circles representing paratypes and the red star representing the holotype. Blue indicates localities of additional, non-type samples of T. gonwouoi sp. nov

*BEAST xml 6

6 of 6 xml files for *BEAST analyse