Tapping Culture Collections for Fungal Endophytes: First Genome Assemblies for Three Genera and Five Species in the Ascomycota.

The Ascomycota form the largest phylum in the fungal kingdom and show a wide diversity of lifestyles, some involving associations with plants. Genomic data are available for many ascomycetes that are pathogenic to plants, but endophytes, which are asymptomatic inhabitants of plants, are relatively understudied. Here, using short- and long-read technologies, we have sequenced and assembled genomes for 15 endophytic ascomycete strains from CABI's culture collections. We used phylogenetic analysis to refine the classification of taxa, which revealed that 7 of our 15 genome assemblies are the first for the genus and/or species. We also demonstrated that cytometric genome size estimates can act as a valuable metric for assessing assembly "completeness", which can easily be overestimated when using BUSCOs alone and has broader implications for genome assembly initiatives. In producing these new genome resources, we emphasise the value of mining existing culture collections to produce data that can help to address major research questions relating to plant-fungal interactions.

The UK Crop Microbiome Cryobank: a utility and model for supporting Phytobiomes research.

Plant microbiomes are the microbial communities essential to the functioning of the phytobiome-the system that consist of plants, their environment, and their associated communities of organisms. A healthy, functional phytobiome is critical to crop health, improved yields and quality food. However, crop microbiomes are relatively under-researched, and this is associated with a fundamental need to underpin phytobiome research through the provision of a supporting infrastructure. The UK Crop Microbiome Cryobank (UKCMC) project is developing a unique, integrated and open-access resource to enable the development of solutions to improve soil and crop health. Six economically important crops (Barley, Fava Bean, Oats, Oil Seed Rape, Sugar Beet and Wheat) are targeted, and the methods as well as data outputs will underpin research activity both in the UK and internationally. This manuscript describes the approaches being taken, from characterisation, cryopreservation and analysis of the crop microbiome through to potential applications. We believe that the model research framework proposed is transferable to different crop and soil systems, acting not only as a mechanism to conserve biodiversity, but as a potential facilitator of sustainable agriculture systems.

Early prediction of cardiac allograft vasculopathy and heart transplant failure.

Early risk-prediction is essential to prevent cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) and graft failure in heart transplant patients. We developed multivariate models to identify patients likely to experience CAV, severe CAV, and failure due to CAV, at 1, 5 and 10 years. A cohort of 172 patients was followed prospectively for 6.7 ± 3.9 years. Logistic regression models were developed and cross-validated using bootstrap resampling. Predictive markers of atherothrombosis (myocardial fibrin deposition, and loss of vascular antithrombin and tissue plasminogen activator) and arterial endothelial activation (intercellular adhesion molecule-1 expression) were measured in serial biopsies obtained within 3 months posttransplant. Most markers were univariately associated with outcome. Multivariate models showed that loss of tissue plasminogen activator was the dominant and, in most cases, only predictor of long-term CAV (p < 0.001), severe CAV (p < 0.001), and graft failure due to CAV (p < 0.001). The models discriminated patients having adverse outcomes, had particularly high negative predictive values (graft failure due to CAV: 99%, 99% and 95% at 1, 5 and 10 years) and predicted event incidence and time to event. Early absence of atherothrombotic risk identifies a patient subgroup that rarely develops CAV or graft failure, implying that this low-risk subgroup could possibly be followed with fewer invasive procedures.

[Setting up supportive care in oncology: reflexions and suggestions.]. / A propos de la mise en place des soins de support en cancérologie : pistes de réflexions et propositions.

A group of 19 health professionals implicated in supportive care wanted to suggest some reflexions for organization, setting and evaluation of the supportive care in institutions and health territories. The suggested organization must be applicable to any cancer patient and the place of the care whatever the age, the stage of the disease; in the future, must be applicable to any patient with serious chronic illness. This organization must allow to optimize the accompaniment and the care of the patients and their close relations by 1) precise and regular analysis of their needs; 2) the respect of the continuity of the health care; 3) the setting of collaborative practice and transversality in the care. It is not a new medical speciality but a coordination of competences for patients and their families.

Teflon granuloma with midbrain cysts after microvascular decompression of the trigeminal nerve.

Granuloma formation is a known complication after microvascular decompression using Teflon fibers. Such granulomas commonly present with recurrent neuralgia whereas other symptoms are exceedingly rare. We report the first case of a multicystic lesion due to a Teflon granuloma that is also uncommon for the lack of recurrent neuralgia.

Dreams in obsessive-compulsive disorder: an analysis of semantic and emotional content compared to controls.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to investigate the content of the dreams of obsessive-compulsive outpatients in the light of the following postulate: if dreams play a role in the processing of information and mental storage of events of the day, the dream recollections of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) patients should present evidence of diurnal obsessive or ritual themes. METHOD: On seven successive mornings, immediately after awakening in their home environment, 10 nondepressed OCD patients and 11 controls recorded their recollections of the night's dreams on an audiotape. After randomization of dreams, two judges were asked to carry out a blind evaluation of the emotional characteristics perceptible in these dreams and the presence of obsessive or ritual themes. RESULTS: 47 dreams were collected in the OCD group and 55 in the control group. No differences were found between the two groups regarding anxiety, sadness, the theme of failure, or the presence of obsessive or ritual themes. About 60% of OCD patients and 73% of the control group recounted dreams expressing anxiety, sadness, or failure. Most surprisingly, in the control group as well as in the OCD group, about one-third of subjects presented obsessive or ritual themes in their dreams. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that there is no evident link between diurnal mental activity and the morning recollection of nocturnal dreams regarding anxiety, failure, sadness, and obsessive-compulsive themes.

Effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on hydroxyapatite orbital implant vascularization in rabbits.

PURPOSE: To deterrmine if hyperbaric oxygen therapy affects the rate of hydroxyapatite orbital implant vascularization in normal rabbit orbits. METHODS: We performed a randomized comparative experimental pilot study involving 6 rabbits. All rabbits were enucleated and implanted with hydroxyapatite orbital spheres. The animals were randomized for enucleation of the right or left eye and for treatment or nontreatment (control) with hyperbaric oxygen. The implants were removed after 3 weeks of treatment and histologically examined for fibrovascular ingrowth, inflammation, and multinucleated giant cells. Each parameter was graded on a numeric scale and analyzed. RESULTS: Hyperbaric oxygen therapy did not increase implant vascularization compared with nontreatment implants. Although treated implants had less central fibrovascular maturity compared with control implants, the difference was not statistically significant (p < 0.055). There was no significant difference in inflammation or the number of multinucleated giant cells between treated and control implants. CONCLUSIONS: In this pilot study, hyperbaric oxygen therapy did not increase hydroxyapatite vascular ingrowth and possibly delayed fibrovascular maturation in normal sockets. Further studies with more subject numbers are needed to confirm these conclusions. The effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in vascularly compromised sockets also needs to be determined.

[Predictive factors of suicide? an 8-year-long prospective longitudinal study of 200 psychiatric inpatients]. / Les facteurs prédictifs du suicide: étude prospective sur 8 ans de 200 patients hospitalisés en psychiatrie.

Suicide is the most dramatic complication of psychiatric disorders. Certain risk factors are generally accepted by practitioners. Mental disorders increase (tenfold) suicidal risk. However, this "statistically rare event" renders very difficult the definition of predictive factors. A personal prospective longitudinal study of 200 psychiatric inpatients followed up during an 8-year period found 5% of deaths by suicide. Amongst the various risk factors reputed predictive for suicide, only 2 were found statistically more frequent in the suicidal group: familial antecedents (1st degree relatives) of suicide and hospitalization in psychiatry. Impulsivity was also more frequent but could be imputed to the younger age of the suicide victims. Therefore, it was impossible to find determinants of suicide. This makes difficult preventive measures, excepted that psychiatric patients are at a much greater risk and should be diagnosed and correctly treated. There are also increasing legal aspects of responsibility for psychiatrists and psychiatric institutions in charge of these patients.

p73-deficient mice have neurological, pheromonal and inflammatory defects but lack spontaneous tumours.

p73 (ref. 1) has high homology with the tumour suppressor p53 (refs 2-4), as well as with p63, a gene implicated in the maintenance of epithelial stem cells. Despite the localization of the p73 gene to chromosome 1p36.3, a region of frequent aberration in a wide range of human cancers, and the ability of p73 to transactivate p53 target genes, it is unclear whether p73 functions as a tumour suppressor. Here we show that mice functionally deficient for all p73 isoforms exhibit profound defects, including hippocampal dysgenesis, hydrocephalus, chronic infections and inflammation, as well as abnormalities in pheromone sensory pathways. In contrast to p53-deficient mice, however, those lacking p73 show no increased susceptibility to spontaneous tumorigenesis. We report the mechanistic basis of the hippocampal dysgenesis and the loss of pheromone responses, and show that new, potentially dominant-negative, p73 variants are the predominant expression products of this gene in developing and adult tissues. Our data suggest that there is a marked divergence in the physiological functions of the p53 family members, and reveal unique roles for p73 in neurogenesis, sensory pathways and homeostatic control.

Polydiaxonon prevents adhesions in the rabbit model: a pilot report.

PURPOSE: Restrictive strabismus is a common and difficult problem confronted by strabismologists. Several materials have been used to minimize the formation of adhesions after strabismus surgery with varying degrees of success. Polydiaxonon (PDS, Ethicon) is an absorbable, nontoxic, nonporous material. We used it as 25 and 50 microm thick sleeves to study its effectiveness in the prevention of adhesions. METHOD: Eight eyes of four adult New Zealand White rabbits were used. To simulate the adhesions, a raw scleral bed was created under the superior rectus insertion in study animals and the muscle capsule facing the sclera was opened. Four study eyes had PDS sleeves inserted around the superior rectus; the other four served as controls. After 4 months the animals were killed. The surgical sites were inspected for adhesions. Light microscopy was also performed. RESULTS: Virtually no adhesion formation was noted in the study eyes. In the control group, however, dense adhesions were seen. Light microscopy confirmed these results. No significant amount of foreign material was found. There was no toxicity resulting from PDS. CONCLUSIONS: This demonstrated nearly complete prevention of adhesions in the rabbit model. PDS sleeves appear to have potential in surgery for restrictive strabismus.

Molecular cloning of a levocabastine-sensitive neurotensin binding site.

A search for sequences homologous to the neurotensin receptor cDNA in a rat hypothalamic library has identified a novel neurotensin receptor (NTR-2). The 1539 bp cDNA encodes a 416 amino acid protein and shows highest homology to the previously cloned neurotensin receptor (NTR-1) (64% homology and 43% identity). Binding and pharmacological studies demonstrate that NTR-2 expressed in COS cells recognizes neurotensin (NT) with high affinity as well as several other agonists and antagonists. However, a fundamental difference was found; unlike NTR-1, NTR-2 recognizes, with high affinity, levocabastine, a histamine H1 receptor antagonist previously shown to compete with NT for low-affinity binding sites in brain.

Management of experimental globe perforation during strabismus surgery.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of potentially vision-threatening globe perforation during strabismus surgery is reportedly between less than 1% and 12% of cases. Optimal treatment of globe perforation is not known; however, traditionally it has been treated with cryotherapy at the time of surgery or observation without treatment. The indirect-ophthalmoscope-directed diode laser may provide a safe and effective alternative treatment. METHODS: We perforated the globes of six adult Dutch rabbits (12 eyes) and treated four eyes with cryotherapy and four with diode laser; the remaining four were not treated. RESULTS: Histologic examination of the untreated eyes revealed a cellular reaction around the polyglactin suture that formed a non-uniform chorioretinal adhesion. The cryotherapy eyes had a tenuous chorioretinal adhesion and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells in the vitreous on several sections. The laser-treated eyes had a firm, wide chorioretinal adhesion, with minimal tissue disruption and no release of RPE cells. No complications occurred. CONCLUSION: We conclude that indirect-ophthalmoscope-directed diode laser retinopexy was safe and efficacious for globe perforation during strabismus surgery on rabbits and could be expected to be useful in humans.

Ethylene oxide neurotoxicity: a cluster of 12 nurses with peripheral and central nervous system toxicity.

Ethylene oxide (EO) is commonly used to sterilize heat-sensitive products used by hospital patients and personnel. Ethylene chlorohydrin (EC), a by-product, is considered highly toxic. We report a cluster of 12 operating-room nurses and technicians who developed symptoms after a 5-month exposure to high levels of EO and EC in disposable surgical gowns. All patients reported a rash on the wrist where contact was made with the gowns, headaches, and hand numbness with weakness. Ten of 12 patients complained of memory loss. Neurologic evaluation revealed neuropathy on examination in nine of the 12 patients, elevated vibration threshold in four of nine, abnormal pressure threshold in 10 of 11, atrophy on head MRI in three of 10, and neuropathy on conduction studies in four of 10. Neuropsychological testing demonstrated mild cognitive impairment in four of six patients. Sural nerve biopsy in the most severely affected patient showed findings of axonal injury. Several patients in this group display signs of peripheral and CNS dysfunction following exposure to EO. Possible mechanisms of neurotoxicity include direct exposure of peripheral nerves through cutaneous absorption and central involvement through inhalation and vascular dissemination. The frequency of central and peripheral nervous system symptoms, supported by objective testing in these EO-exposed patients, suggests other healthcare personnel may be at similar risk.

Medulloblastomas in late middle age and the elderly: report of 2 cases.

Medulloblastomas may be difficult to recognize in late middle age and the elderly because of their rarity and their histological similarity, particularly in frozen sections, to common, poorly differentiated, metastatic tumors, notably the small cell carcinoma of lung. This report describes the occurrence of medulloblastomas in a 66-year-old male (case 1) and a 65-year-old female (case 2). Both tumors appeared radiologically as cystic cerebellar masses of irregular shape and variable intensity on magnetic resonance imaging; in each case microscopic examination revealed a primitive neuroectodermal tumor with focal astrocytic differentiation and desmoplasia. Case 1 died 23 months after surgery; an autopsy revealed extensive dissemination of the tumor to the bone marrow, small collections of malignant cells in the spinal subarachnoid space, and no evidence of local recurrence. Case 2 is well 29 months after her operation. The possibility of a medulloblastoma should be considered when a solitary cerebellar lesion is discovered in a middle-aged or elderly patient without a demonstrable extraneural primary site.

[A very significant case of allergy to celery cross-reacting with ragweed]. / Un cas très significatif d'allergie au céleri croisée avec Ambrosia.

We are reporting a case of allergy to celery, having brought on an urticaria-oedema-anaphylactic shock. It is an interesting case due to the chronology of the clinical manifestations and crossed reactions with parsley, carrot and ragweed and equally the participation of several organs: skin, alimentary tract, lungs.