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The family Dysderidae is a highly diverse group of nocturnal ground‐dwelling and active‐hunter spiders. Dysderids are mostly restricted to the Western Palearctic, and particularly rich and abundant around the Mediterranean region. Interestingly, the distribution of species richness among its 24 genera and three subfamilies is highly biased—80% of its 644 documented species belong to just two genera, Dysdera (326) and Harpactea (211). Dysderidae provides an excellent study case for evolutionary and ecological research. It includes cases of trophic specialization, which are uncommon among spiders, and exhibit other remarkable biological (e.g. holocentric chromosomes), behavioural (e.g. cryptic female choice), evolutionary (e.g. adaptive radiation) and ecological features (e.g. recurrent colonization of the subterranean environment). The lack of a quantitative hypothesis on its phylogenetic structure has hampered its potential as a testing ground for evolutionary, biogeographical and ecological hypotheses. Here, we present the results of a target, multi‐locus phylogenetic analysis, using mitochondrial (cox1, 16s and 12s) and nuclear genes (h3, 28s and 18s), of the most exhaustive taxonomic sample within Dysderidae (104 spp.) to date and across related families (Synspermiata) (83 spp.). We estimate divergence times using a combination of fossil and biogeographic node calibrations and use this timeline to identify shifts in diversification rates. Our results support the monophyly of the Dysderidae subfamilies Rhodinae and Dysderinae but reject Harpacteinae as currently defined. Moreover, the clades recovered within Harpacteinae do not support its current taxonomy. The origin of the family most likely post‐dated the break‐up of Pangea, and cave colonization may be older than previously considered. After correcting for the taxonomic artefacts, we identified a significant shift in diversification rates at the base of the genus Dysdera. Although the unique coexistence of specialist and generalist diets within the lineage could be suggested as the potential driver for the rate acceleration, further quantitative analyses would be necessary to test this hypothesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The advent of high‐throughput sequencing technologies (HTS) has generated an unprecedented amount of genomic and transcriptomic information. A vast amount of these data is not even used in targeted projects but is made available in public repositories. Previous studies have demonstrated that HTS data constitute a valuable resource to recover mitogenomic information, which is most relevant for studies of non‐model and undersampled taxa. The spider family Dysderidae exemplifies well this situation: It is a highly diverse group, exceptionally well‐suited for evolutionary and ecological research, but with a sparse mitogenomic record. In this study, we used public and in‐house HTS data to assemble and annotate at no cost 13 complete and 6 partial Dysderidae mitogenomes, as well as 34 partial mitogenomes belonging to other taxa within the Synspermiata clade, to which Dysderidae belongs. The mitogenomic information was further used to interrogate on a diverse array of evolutionary questions posed by the family. Phylogenetic inference clarified the evolutionary scenario of the colonization of the Canary Islands by the genus Dysdera, supporting two independent colonizations from the continent. Synteny analyses indicated that gene organization at the mitogenomic level is overall conserved within Dysderidae, the only exceptions being two cave‐dwelling species, each of them with a unique putative transposition not described before in spiders. Finally, tRNA secondary structure reconstruction confirmed that the extreme compaction of tRNA is conserved across the family, suggesting that its origin could be traced back to approximately 100 million years ago (Mya). Altogether, this study demonstrates the potential of publicly available HTS data to conduct low‐cost evolutionary research at different biological levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electrochemical characterization and determination of the antibiotic cefadroxil were carried out at multi‐walled carbon nanotube (CNT) and gold nanoparticle (AuNP) modified glassy carbon electrodes (GCE). Oxidation of the phenol moiety of cefadroxil occurred at slightly less‐positive potentials and with a higher current response than at bare GCE. Differential pulse voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy showed that the architecture combining CNT and AuNP surface modification is the best in pH 7 buffer solution. Scanning electron microscopy demonstrated good coverage of the AuNPs on the CNTs. The fixed potential amperometric determination of cefadroxil was carried out at +0.74 V vs Ag/AgCl with a limit of detection of 0.22 μM. Analysis of cefadroxil in commercial samples presented high recovery values and the amount of the pharmaceutical in each capsule was in excellent agreement with that measured by UV/Vis spectroscopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sulfasalazine (SSZ) is a pharmaceutical compound used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. The electrochemical oxidation of SSZ at a glassy carbon electrode was studied by cyclic, differential pulse and square wave voltammetry in a wide pH range. For electrolytes with pH<11.0, the oxidation is an irreversible, diffusion-control, pH-dependent process that involves the transfer of one electron and one proton from the hydroxyl group of the salicylic moiety. For pH>11.0 the oxidation is pH-independent, and a p Ka≈11 was determined. The formation of a quinone-like oxidation product that undergoes two electrons and two protons reversible redox reaction was observed. Also, UV-vis spectra of SSZ were recorded as a function of supporting electrolytes pH. An electrochemical oxidation mechanism was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Supraclavicular brachial plexus blocks are not common in children because of risk of pneumothorax. However, infraclavicular brachial plexus blocks have been described in paediatric patients both with nerve stimulation and ultrasound (US)-guidance. US-guidance reduces the risk of complications in supraclavicular brachial plexus blocks in adults. Objective: To compare the success rate, complications and time of performance of US-guided supraclavicular vs infraclavicular brachial plexus blocks in children. Material and methods: Eighty children, 5–15 years old, scheduled for upper limb surgery were divided into two randomized groups: group S (supraclavicular), n = 40, and group I (infraclavicular), n = 40. All blocks performed were exclusively US-guided, by a senior anaesthesiologist with at least 6 months of experience in US-guided blocks. For supraclavicular blocks the probe was placed in coronal-oblique-plane in the supraclavicular fossa and the puncture was in-plane (IP) from lateral to medial. For infraclavicular blocks the probe was placed parallel and below the clavicle and the puncture was out-of-plane. Ropivacaine 0.5% was administered up to a maximum of 0.5 ml·kg−1 until appropriate US-guided-spread was achieved. Block duration and volumes of ropivacaine used (mean±1SD) in the supraclavicular approach were recorded. Success rate (mean ± 1 SD, 95%confidence interval), complications rate and time to perform the block (two-tailed Student′s test) were recorded both for supraclavicular and infraclavicular approaches. Results: In the US-guided supraclavicular brachial plexus blocks, the duration of the sensory block was 6.5 ± 2 h and of the motor block was 4 ± 1 h. The volume of ropivacaine used in this group was 6 ± 2 ml. In group I, 88% of blocks achieved surgical anaesthesia without any supplemental analgesia compared with 95% in group S ( P = 0.39; difference=7%; 95% CI: −10% to 24%). Failures in group I were because of arterial puncture and insufficient ulnar or radial sensory block. Failures in group S were because of insufficient ulnar sensory block. No pneumothorax or Horner’s syndrome was recorded in either group. The mean time (SD) to perform the block was in group I: 13 min (range 5–16) and in group S: 9 min (range 7–12); the 95% CI for this difference was 2–6 min and was statistically significant ( P < 0.05). Conclusions: (i) Ultrasound-guided supraclavicular and infraclavicular brachial plexus blocks are effective in children. (ii) There has been no pneumothorax in 40 US-guided supraclavicular brachial plexus blocks performed by anaesthesiologists already trained in US-guided regional anaesthesia using an IP technique in children ≥5 years old. (iii) In this study, the supraclavicular approach of the brachial plexus was faster to perform than the infraclavicular one. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Methods Results Conclusions Delabelling pathways offer confirmatory diagnosis and can prevent unnecessary second‐line therapies or drug desensitization procedures after chemotherapeutic hypersensitivity reactions (CHT‐HSRs). However, these pathways rely on risky in vivo tests. Data on whether in vitro tests could be helpful are scarce. We assessed the role of basophil activation test (BAT) in the diagnosis of HSRs to platin salts (PSs) and taxanes (TXs) in a well‐defined population featuring varied endophenotypes and severities of HSRs.We conducted a 3‐year‐long multicentric, prospective study with 121 suspected‐immediate CHT‐HSR patients. The allergy workup included clinical history (initial reaction based on Type I, cytokine release syndrome, and mixed phenotype's symptoms and if unable to fit in any of these, as “indeterminate”), skin testing (ST), and drug provocation testing (DPT), provided risk assessment was favorable. Final diagnosis classified patients as “hypersensitive,” “non‐hypersensitive,” or “inconclusive.” We performed BAT using CD63 and CD203c as activation markers in patients and controls. Patients underwent DPT regardless of BAT results to prevent bias.ST positivity significantly correlated with skin involvement, Type I phenotype, cancer recurrence, and lifetime exposures before reactions. DPTs were negative in all indeterminate phenotype patients (p = .02) and those considered low‐risk, whereas they were negative in 62% moderate‐risk patients. 55% were confirmed as hypersensitive (mainly Type I reactions, p < .0001), 24% as non‐hypersensitive (mainly TXs and indeterminate phenotypes), and 21% as inconclusive. BAT showed 79% sensitivity in Type I IgE‐mediated reactions to PSs with a high correlation to ST.BAT is a promising tool for delabelling and endotyping CHT‐HSRs, especially Type I reactions to PSs, possibly identifying patients at risk of positive DPT. ST seems useful in confirming CHT‐HSRs, especially PS‐induced reactions, and DPT remains the gold standard, being essential even in moderate‐risk patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]