Search

While offspring size is a widely studied concept in evolutionary ecology, mechanisms affecting offspring phenotype in species with postzygotic parental care are incompletely understood. We examined the impact of sibling fusion on ontogenetic shifts in offspring size in the brooding sea anemone Urticina felina. Fusion occurred among brood-protected embryos in U. felina, whereas it occurred postrelease among settlers of corals studied here and previously. Two fusion products were evidenced: morphologically aberrant offspring and large homogeneous offspring coined "megalarvae." The frequent occurrence (∼77%) of megalarvae identifies them as the primary fusion product, which drove an increase in offspring size and within-clutch size variation before release. Lipid signatures suggest that morphologically aberrant juveniles represent by-products that do not reach adulthood. Not only were occurrences of megalarvae common in the populations studied, they increased with maternal fecundity, suggesting that sibling fusion may be a form of kin cooperation integral to the reproductive success of U. felina, warranting investigation in other live-bearing invertebrate taxa.

Summary Cross-fertilization experiments were conducted using two species of asteroids, one echinoid, one holothuroid and two species of mollusks to dertermine whether gametes from members of different classes, and even different phyla, are naturally able to fertilize one another. All but one of the crosses were successful, showing variable success, 58–99% lower than for intraspecific fertilization. Although most were not viable and showed anarchic cleavage, some resulting embryos could be reared to the blastula stage. Furthermore, these experiments led to the first case of intergeneric hybridization among asteroids, resulting in viable post-metamorphic sea stars. The hybrids of Leptasterias polaris (spermatozoa) and Asterias vulgaris (oocytes) showed a developmental kinetic, a survival rate and an external phenotype similar to those observed after normal intraspecific fertilization in A. vulgaris. In natural conditions a temporal barrier appears to be the key in preventing such hybridization, as these two...

This work presents the description of an intracoelomic parasite of the genus Dendrogaster (Crustacea: Ascothoracida), the largest ever reported, collected for the first time from the starfish Hippasteria phrygiana in the deep waters of the St Lawrence Estuary (eastern Canada). The parasite bears a close resemblance to only one previously described species, D. arbusculus from the west American coast, suggesting a bicoastal and possibly circumpolar distribution. Female growth is concurrent with embryo development and the parasite may have a negative impact on host starfish densities through gonad atrophy. This research also demystifies the old and persistent description of a supposed parasite in H. phrygiana 70 years ago, Laocoön paradoxus, and finally concludes that this parasite never existed and in fact represents the water vascular system found in all starfish.

The sea star Leptasterias polaris , an important predator in the benthic community of the St. Lawrence Estuary (eastern Canada), was used in assessing the degradation potential and toxicological implications of tributyltin (TBT) ingested with food. TBT was chosen as a representative of the organotins, a group of wide-spread chemicals used as biocides and plastic stabilizers. Male and female individuals were fed daily with TBT-contaminated mussels for a 53-day period. Their digestive system showed a relatively constant TBT concentration (0.26 ± 0.10 μg / g wet mass) throughout the experiment. Sequential debutylation occurred within 2 weeks, first yielding dibutyltin (DBT) which seemed to accumulate more readily in the caeca (up to 1.10 μg/g), and then monobutyltin (MBT) which appeared only in few individuals at low concentrations (below 0.35 μg/g). Although the total amount of TBT ingested from food continuously increased throughout the experiment (mean of 657 μg for a starfish fed over 53 d), the total amount of tin traced in the analyzed starfish tissues remained below 80 μg, suggesting an excretion system and/or a storage of tin in an undetectable form. All species of the contaminant remained barely detectable in the gonads. Nevertheless, a histological study revealed smaller mature oocytes and thinner epithelium in the gonads of the contaminated individuals compared to control organisms. These results show that sea stars and possibly other echinoderms, avoid immediate accumulation of TBT by dealkylating the toxicant to less harmful metabolites. However, this natural defense process was only partly effective and subtle effects on reproductive organs were induced by disturbing reserve acquisition in growing gametes.

The concept of intraorganismal genetic heterogeneity resulting from allogeneic fusion (i.e. chimerism) has almost exclusively been explored in modular organisms that have the capacity to reproduce asexually, such as colonial ascidians and corals. Apart from medical conditions in mammals, the natural development of chimeras across ontogenetic stages has not been investigated in any unitary organism incapable of asexual propagation. Furthermore, chimerism was mainly studied among gregarious settlers to show that clustering of genetically similar individuals upon settlement promotes the occurrence of multi-chimeras exhibiting greater fitness. The possible occurrence of chimeric embryos and larvae prior to settlement has not received any attention. Here we document for the first time the presence of natural chimeras in brooded embryos and larvae of a unitary cnidarian, the sea anemone Urticina felina . Rates of visible bi- and multi-chimerism of up to 3.13 per cent were measured in the broods of 16 females. Apart from these sectorial chimeras, monitored fusion events also yielded homogeneous chimeric entities (mega-larvae) suggesting that the actual rates of natural chimerism in U. felina are greater than predicted by visual assessment. In support of this assumption, the broods of certain individuals comprised a dominant proportion (to 90%) of inexplicably large embryos and larvae (relative to oocyte size). Findings of fusion and chimerism in a unitary organism add a novel dimension to the framework within which the mechanisms and evolutionary significance of genetic heterogeneity in animal taxa can be explored.

While lunar rhythms are commonly documented in plants and animals living in terrestrial and shallow-water environments, deep-sea organisms have essentially been overlooked in that respect. This report describes evidence of lunar periodicity in the reproduction of 6 deep-sea species belonging to 2 phyla. Occurrences of gamete release in free spawners and larval release in brooders exhibited significant peaks around the new and full moons, respectively. The exact nature of this lunar period (endogenous or exogenous rhythm) and its adaptive significance in the deep sea remain elusive. Current knowledge suggests that proxies of moon phases at depth may include fluxes in particulate matter deposition, cyclic currents, and moonlight for species living in the disphotic zone.

International audience; Objective: Despite its screening interest, the ankle-brachial pressure index (ABPI) remains uncommon in general practice, because it needs training and specific devices as Doppler. Easier methods such as the use of automated oscillometric devices may facilitate the peripheral arterial diseases (PADs) screening. We wanted to assess the reliability of the automated oscillometric measurement of the ABPI, compared with the gold standard Doppler ultrasound measurement. Patients and Method: In 287 patients aged 65 years or older without diagnosed PAD, we performed ABPI measurements with oscillometric and Doppler devices. Reproducibility was assessed by the intraclass correlation coefficient of agreement (R) and the Bland and Altman method. Results: The intermethod reliability was bad (R = .346, 95% CI = (0.268-0.420)), with a large confidence interval of the individual differences between the 2 methods: 95% CI = (—0.183-0.346). Conclusion: Automatic oscillometric devices cannot be recommended as reliable methods for ABPI measurement.

International audience; BACKGROUND: Few data are available on the long-term outcome of noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) for obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS). This study was designed to determine long-term survival, treatment adherence, and prognostic factors in patients with OHS in whom NPPV was initiated in an acute setting vs under stable clinical conditions.METHODS: One hundred thirty consecutive patients with OHS (56 women) who started NPPV between January 1995 and December 2006 either under stable conditions (stable group, n = 92) or during ICU management of acute hypercapnic exacerbation (acute group, n = 38) were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: Arterial blood gases and the Epworth sleepiness scale were both significantly improved after 6 months of NPPV. With a mean follow-up of 4.1 +/- 2.9 years, 24 (18.5%) patients died and 24 (18.5%) discontinued NPPV. On Kaplan-Meier analysis, 1-, 2-, 3-, and 5-year survival probabilities were 97.5%, 93%, 88.3%, and 77.3%, respectively. Mortality was lower than that described in a previous series of patients with untreated OHS. Supplemental oxygen therapy was the only independent predictor of mortality. The probability of continuing NPPV was 80% at 3 years with a high rate of daily use ( > 7 h). Female sex was predictive of lower long-term adherence to NPPV. The acute and stable groups did not differ in terms of arterial blood gases and Epworth sleepiness scale at 6 months, long-term survival, and treatment adherence. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study support long-term NPPV as an effective and well-tolerated treatment of OHS whether initiated in the acute or chronic setting.

The traditional verification and validation (VandV) process can produce sufficiently safe and reliable systems in the demanding aerospace field. But this comes at great cost and effort, with the necessary simulation of all possible operational conditions for increasingly complex control systems involving substantial autonomy. It is of interest to go beyond the statistical confidence of traditional Monte Carlo methods. New VandV methods need to cope with a large number of mission parameters and mode transitions. They must identify the worst combinations of perturbations, uncertainties and failures. Two classes of frameworks are investigated in the VVAF project: integrated VandV frameworks (IVVF) supported by simulation based analysis techniques, either integrated or with local analysis techniques to establish the global system properties; and enhanced VandV frameworks (EVVF), based on mathematical proof. Two EVVF techniques are explored: Barrier-construction and Reachability-set analysis. These guarantee fulfillment of globally exact safe operation, by the construction of barrier certificates considering nonlinearities, uncertainties and constraints. In addition, two IVVF techniques are developed: Analytical-based (AIVV) and Optimization-based (OIVV). AIVV consists of integrating and embedding frequency domain LFT-based mu-analysis techniques to exclude regions with guaranteed performance and/or identify the most critical areas, within a Monte Carlo simulation based VandV. With as few runs as possible of the non linear time simulator, local analyses can steer the global search towards the worst case. OIVV uses optimization techniques, also linked to the simulator, to identify and characterize the system worst case. Several heuristic techniques are evaluated for global parameters search, which is then refined using local optimization techniques to locate and characterize the worst case. The AIVV can also aid the OIVV by identifying search regions and promising initialization points. The capabilities and features of the developed frameworks are demonstrated using the challenging problem of VandV for the complex GNC system of the critical terminal rendezvous and capture phase of the Mars Sample Return (MSR) mission. The HARVD high fidelity non linear GNC simulator creates realistic environmental conditions for the generation of the measurements by the sensors, as well as actuations. It includes all the physical effects having an impact on GNC system performances, permitting evaluation of performances in an environment close to real operations. In this paper, simplified proof-of-concept models are used to demonstrate the feasibility of the various methods, together with an initial comparative assessment. Promising results are obtained with respect to traditional Monte Carlo methods in terms of cost, effort and confidence. Copyright © 2010 by GMV.

Samples of Echinarachnius parma (Lamarck), collected during summer 1988 from three sites along the eastern coast of Canada (the northern Gulf of St. Lawrence, Chaleur Bay and the Bay of Fundy), showed sexual dimorphism in the shape of the oral surface in addition to marked changes in the camber of the aboral surface related to the strength of wave and current activity. The oral surface is more concave in males than in females. The dimorphism develops as individuals become sexually mature and is pronounced for individuals measuring >4 cm in diameter. Associated with this shape difference, the volume of females is greater than for males, and this corresponds to the larger size attained by the ovaries compared to the testis. Shape differences between males and females are rare in echinoderms, and E. parma is the first species for which the sexes can be separated with a high degree of accuracy (>80%) on the basis of shape.

Most echinoderms display seasonal or other temporal cycles of reproduction that presumably result from the complex interplay of endogenous and exogenous signals. Various environmental, chemical and hormonal factors, acting directly or indirectly, individually or in combination, have been proposed to cue, favour or modulate a suite of reproductive functions from the onset of gametogenesis to gamete release. From as early as the nineteenth century, an astonishing array of studies has been published on topics related to the control of reproduction in echinoderms, ranging from fortuitous behavioural observations to complex experimental demonstrations and molecular analyses. Although the exact pathways involved in the perception of external signals and their transduction into coordinated spawning events remain obscure for most species, significant advances have been made that shed new light on the information gathered over decades of research. By compiling the existing literature (over 1000 references), interpreting the main results, critically assessing the methodologies used and reviewing the emerging hypotheses, we endeavour to draw a clearer picture of the existing knowledge and to provide a framework for future investigation of the mechanisms that underlie reproductive strategies in echinoderms and, by extension, in other marine invertebrates.

Publisher Summary This chapter presents several methodological considerations that are useful in determining reproductive periodicity. The oldest and most widely used quantitative method for estimating the reproductive activity is the gonad index (GI), also termed gonadosomatic index (GSI). Although not precise, the technique is particularly suitable for routinely handling large numbers of samples. The GI is calculated in several ways, but is usually defined as the ratio of the gonad wet weight to the wet weight of the body wall, test, or whole animal expressed as a percentage. Gonadal smears and/or histological sections of the gonads are widely used to estimate the reproductive status. Such data are not quantitative when the developmental cycle is merely divided into a series of maturity stages in a manner that may differ from that used by other investigators. The long-term rearing and monitoring of animals in the laboratory provides another way of assessing reproductive processes and spawning periodicities. However, compiling the data on gamete release in the laboratory constitutes a powerful tool only when the holding conditions simulate those of the natural environment.

Publisher Summary An individual gametogenic cycle usually includes the accumulation of the nutrients to be utilized during gametogenesis, the proliferation of gonial cells and their differentiation into gametes, and a reproductively quiescent or spent period when residual gametes are absorbed or the adult dies. There is often little activity in the gonads following the release of the gametes, a period sometimes termed the resting phase. The two main hypotheses have been proposed to explain the control of the gametogenic cycle within individuals: (1) it may be intrinsic, its timing being regulated by endogenous (internal) factors, and (2) it may be extrinsic or under exogenous (external) control. Gametogenesis may be staggered among different individuals during the year, so that reproduction appears to occur continuously throughout the year for the entire population. The overall length of the reproductive cycle can be regarded as a function of the rate of growth, development, and maturation of gonadal tissues ending in a spawning or series of spawnings, followed by a period of germinal redevelopment.

Publisher Summary Spawning in most species involves multiple neuro-endocrine pathways that introduce a delay between the perception of the cue and the response to it. An extreme example is the entrainment of internal rhythms by environmental cycles that eventually culminate in spawning. The timing of spawning in invertebrates is independent of prior rhythmic reproductive physiology and that some type of independent stimulus is required to induce gamete release. It might sometimes be impossible to separate the stimuli for gamete production from the actual spawning cue, since the culmination of production may itself stimulate spawning. Indeed, the identification of spawning cues is a major challenge in that it requires three types of evidence: (1) that an environmental change coincides with spawning in the field or precedes it at a fixed interval, (2) that the same change provokes animals to spawn when other conditions are maintained constant, and (3) that other factors can be eliminated as possible spawning cues. The latter point is important because numerous environmental and oceanographic factors vary in parallel. A number of methods, such as gonad indices, histology and microscopic examination of the gonads, oocyte size frequency distributions have been used with various degrees of accuracy to determine the spawning periods of echinoderms, and different interpretations of the factors that control reproduction have been proposed with more or less certainty.

Most echinoderms display seasonal or other temporal cycles of reproduction that presumably result from the complex interplay of endogenous and exogenous signals. Various environmental, chemical and hormonal factors, acting directly or indirectly, individually or in combination, have been proposed to cue, favour or modulate a suite of reproductive functions from the onset of gametogenesis to gamete release. From as early as the nineteenth century, an astonishing array of studies has been published on topics related to the control of reproduction in echinoderms, ranging from fortuitous behavioural observations to complex experimental demonstrations and molecular analyses. Although the exact pathways involved in the perception of external signals and their transduction into coordinated spawning events remain obscure for most species, significant advances have been made that shed new light on the information gathered over decades of research. By compiling the existing literature (over 1000 references), interpreting the main results, critically assessing the methodologies used and reviewing the emerging hypotheses, we endeavour to draw a clearer picture of the existing knowledge and to provide a framework for future investigation of the mechanisms that underlie reproductive strategies in echinoderms and, by extension, in other marine invertebrates.

Unusual structures were detected on the visceral peritoneum of the ovarian tubules in about 5%-10% of female sea cucumbers (Cucumaria frondosa) collected off Newfoundland, eastern Canada. The condition varied from mild to severe, with localized castration observed in the most heavily affected tubule sections. Investigation of the structures using histology, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and gene analysis revealed that they were oocytes at different stages of development, growing singly or in groups of up to six. Their size and composition were consistent with those of oocytes found in the lumen of the ovaries, although "exogonadal" oocytes were devoid of a vitelline coat and presented few cortical granules. TEM sections suggest that the atypical oocytes emerged from the peritoneum and grew toward the coelomic cavity, and that they were not in direct contact with the basal lamina or the inner germinal layers. Similar masses have been observed in C. frondosa from the Gulf of St. Lawrence (Quebec, Canada) and the Barents Sea (Russia), and in C. japonica from Russia and Psolus fabricii from Canada. The possibility that exogonadal oogenesis is attributable to anthropogenic disturbances should be investigated even though some of the affected specimens originate from presumably pristine locations.

Background : Most non-del 5q lower risk MDS patients (pts) are first treated with ESA, with about 50% (generally transient) responses, and second line treatments (TX) including hypomethylating agent (HMA), Lenalidomide (LEN) and investigational drugs are then often proposed, but their effect on overall survival (OS) is unknown. In a previous work on 253 such pts, we found worse OS with early failure to ESA, i.e. primary resistance (RES) or relapse (REL) < 6 months after ESA onset (Kelaidi, Leukemia, 2013), but only few pts had received, after ESA failure, TX other than RBC transfusions. In the present study, we gathered non-del 5q lower risk MDS treated with ESA from several EU MDS cooperative groups, and analyzed their outcome after ESA failure, and the effect of second line TX on survival. Methods : 1611 IPSS low and int-1 (lower risk) non del 5q MDS pts included in the French (GFM), Italian (FISM), Spanish (GESMD), Greek, Düsseldorf and Munich registries between 1997 and 2014, and treated by ESA were studied. Survival was assessed from failure of ESA (i.e. from primary failure evaluated after 12 to 24 weeks of ESA treatment, or from relapse after a response). Progression at ESA failure was defined upon progression to a higher IPSS-R class at ESA failure as compared with ESA onset. Results : At ESA onset, the 1611 pts were reclassified by IPSS-R in 16% very low, 54% low, 13% int, 6% high, 1% very high and 10% ND. HI-E (using IWG 2006 criteria) to ESA treatment was 66.9%, and the median duration of response was 15 months. The cohort of 1038 pts with ESA failure included 521 RES and 517 REL. Median OS was 4.2 years in REL and 3.7 years in RES pts (p=0.56), and no significant difference was seen, even after restricting the analysis to very low and low IPSS-R pts (p=0.81), or when analyzing "early" vs "late" failures, with cut-off points at 6 or 12 months, as we previously reported (Kelaidi, Leukemia, 2013). 336 (32%) pts received second line treatment (TX2) other than RBC transfusions, including HMA in 88 pts, LEN in 169 pts, and other TX (OT) in 79 pts (including 11 chemotherapy, 17 thalidomide, 11 immunosuppressors (ATG, cyclosporine), or investigational drugs), with response rates of 46%, 39% and 33% respectively (p=0.4). 87 pts had a third line TX (mostly a new drug, but also 7 pts who received HMA after LEN, and 33 pts LEN after HMA). Pts treated with LEN as TX2 were younger (median age 70 vs 75 for BSC, and 70 for HMA p Median OS for pts receiving BSC, LEN, HMA and OT as TX 2 was 4.3y, 3.7y (HR 1.1 [0.81-1.50] p=0.5), 2.1y (HR 1.59 [1.12-2.72], p=0.01) and 2.2y (HR1.17 [0.81-1.68], p=0.41) respectively (Figure). However, in a multivariate analysis adjusted on age, gender, and IPSS-R progression at ESA failure, OS difference became not significant. Analysis of AML progression in the different TX2 groups is currently being finalized. C onclusion: In this large multicenter retrospective cohort of non-del 5q lower risk MDS pts having failed ESA treatment, OS from failure was similar in RES and REL pts, contrary to our previous smaller experience. About 1/3 of the pts received second line treatments other than RBC transfusion, mainly LEN or HMA. However, none of those treatments was able to improve OS compared to BSC. Newer treatments are required in this situation, possibly including allogeneic SCT in younger pts. Figure 1. OS since ESA failure according to TX2 (Simon-Makuch method). Figure 1. OS since ESA failure according to TX2 (Simon-Makuch method). Disclosures Park: Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Hospira: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding. Off Label Use: Lenalidomide in non del 5q MDS. Santini:celgene, Janssen, Novartis, Onconova: Honoraria, Research Funding. Cony-Makhoul:BMS: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. Cheze:Novartis: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Wattel:PIERRE FABRE MEDICAMENTS: Research Funding; CELGENE: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; NOVARTIS: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; AMGEN: Consultancy, Research Funding. Vey:Celgene: Honoraria; Roche: Honoraria; Janssen: Honoraria. Fenaux:Amgen: Honoraria, Research Funding; Celgene Corporation: Honoraria, Research Funding; Janssen: Honoraria, Research Funding; Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding.

Pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE) is a rare autosomal recessive disease of the connective tissue which primarily affects the skin, the retina and the cardiovascular system.1 PXE is characterised by mineralisation and fragmentation of elastic fibres. Eye involvement results from calcification and breaks in the Bruch’s membrane (BM), causing a variety of ocular fundus changes (figure 1).1 ,2 Among them, angioid streaks can be complicated by choroidal neovascularisation and/or macular atrophy resulting in central visual loss.1 Although central visual loss in PXE profoundly impacts quality of life,1 little is known about other risk factors for visual impairment. The aim of our study was to determine if visual impairment related to maculopathy in PXE may be associated with age and other specific retinal features. Figure 1 Retinal features of pseudoxanthoma elasticum. (1) Angioids streaks and optic nerve drusen (red-free imaging). (2) Peripheral ‘comet tails’ lesions (red-free imaging). (3) Macular atrophy …

International audience

Pycnogonids (Pigrogromitus timsanus) were discovered among a population of sea anemones (Bartholomea annulata) collected from the east coast of Florida. The predatory behavior of these sea spiders was investigated in the laboratory and its effects on the health of the sea anemones was detailed. In comparison with a reference group of noninfested sea anemones, the deterioration of the infested individuals was characterized by abundant mucus secretion, retraction of the tentacles, and difficulty in attaching to the substrate, eventually leading to death. As for the predators, they seemed undisturbed by the acontial filaments and nematocysts discharged by their prey. This is the first evidence of possible deleterious effects inflicted on actiniarians by pycnogonid predators.

In younger patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), standard intensive induction chemotherapy combines anthracyclins and cytarabine (Ara-C). While dosage is usually determined according to body-surface area (BSA), various chemotherapy adjustments are empirically performed in patients with high BSA from full dose administration to capping doses. The aim of the present study is to determine the outcome of younger AML patients with high BSA at diagnosis. Between November 2001 and April 2005, the prospective GOELAMS 2001 trial enrolled patients between 18 and 60 affected with non promyelocytic AML.1,2 Briefly, patients randomly received either daunorubicin or idarubicin in association with standard dose Ara-C during induction therapy. Height, weight and induction chemotherapy doses were registered at diagnosis. BSA was evaluated using the formula of Dubois and Dubois. BSA was categorized in low (BSA ≤1.5m2), intermediate (1.5 823 patients were eligible to induction therapy. 43 (5%), 638 (77%), 91 (11%) and 51 (6%) patients displayed low, intermediate, high or very high BSA at diagnosis, respectively. Median age, performance status, karyotype group were similar in all BSA groups. On the contrary, male gender was enriched in high and very high BSA groups (86% and 88%, respectively). During induction therapy, 20 patients (39%) with very high BSA were administered reduced dose (decrease of > 10% in anthracyclin or Ara-C dosing compared to full dose) versus 8%, 4% and 7% in low, intermediate or high BSA subgroups (p Compared to patients with intermediate BSA, patients with a low or high BSA displayed a similar OS and EFS. On the contrary, patients with a very high BSA displayed a decreased 5-year OS (27% (95% CI, 18-43) vs 47% (95% CI, 44-51), p= 0.006, figure 1A) and LFS (22% (95% CI, 13-36) vs 41% (95% CI, 37-45), p=0.004). Non-relapse mortality was similar in the very high or intermediate BSA groups, suggesting that intensive therapy was similarly tolerated in intermediate or very high BSA patients. Meanwhile, relapse incidence was increased in patients with a very high BSA compared to intermediate BSA patients (61% (95% CI, 46-73) vs 44% (95% CI, 40-48), p = 0.02, figure 1B). Conclusion: patients with a very high BSA display an adverse outcome, due to an increased relapse incidence. Meanwhile, non-relapse mortality is not significantly increased in very high BSA patients. These data suggest that patients with very high BSA should receive full dose induction chemotherapy. Bibliography; 1. Recher C , Bene MC, Lioure B et al. Leukemia, Long-term results of a randomized phase 3 trial comparing idarubicin and daunorubicin in younger patients with acute myeloid leukaemia. Leukemia 2014; 28:440-3. 2. Lioure B, Bene MC, Pigneux A et al. Early matched sibling hematopoietic cell transplantation for adult AML in first remission using an age-adapted strategy: long-term results of a prospective GOELAMS study. Blood 2012; 119: 2943–2948. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

One of the most intensively studied holothurians, Holothuria scabra has been discussed in the literature since 1833. The species is important for several reasons: (1) it is abundant and widely distributed in shallow soft-bottom habitats throughout the Indo-Pacific; (2) it has a high value on the Asian markets, where it is mainly sold as beche-de-mer; and (3) it is the only tropical holothurian species that can currently be mass produced in hatcheries. Research on H. scabra continues but because of commercial exploitation, wild stocks are declining. This review compiles data from 14 these and 352 technical reports and scientific papers pertaining to the biology, ecology, aquaculture and fisheries of H. scabra . Although several references are likely to have been missed by our investigation, we present the most complete reference list to date, including obscure material published by local institutions and/or in foreign languages. Our main aim was to summarize and critically discuss the abundant literature on this species, making it more readily accessible to all those wishing to conduct fundamental research, or aquaculture and stock enhancement programmes, on H. scabra across its entire geographic range.

Settlement and post-settlement processes of the sea cucumber Holothuria scabra Jaeger were studied in the laboratory. Independent and paired choice experiments revealed that several substrates could induce metamorphosis into pentactulae, but that specific substrates favoured settlement. Leaves of seagrass Thalassia hemprichii, with or without their natural bio-film, yielded the highest settlement rates (4.8-10.5%). T. hemprichii was preferred as a settlement substrate over sand, crushed coral, several other plant species and artificial seagrass leaves with or without a bio-film. Only settlement on the seagrass, Enhalus acoroides, was similar to that recorded for T. hemprichii. In the absence of a substrate, the larvae delayed settlement for nearly 96 h and survival was less than 0.5%. Sand and crushed coral, either alone or together, induced settlement from1.5% of the available larvae. The pentactulae found on sand, coral and in bare containers were 10-35% smaller than those on T. hemprichii leaves. Soluble extracts from T. hemprichii and E. acoroides successfully induced metamorphosis and settlement on clean plastic surfaces. Newly settled juveniles remained on the seagrass leaves for 4-5 weeks before migrating to sand at around 6 mm in length. Prior to this, the juveniles spent 4-5 days moving on and off the leaves. Once on the sand, the juveniles became deposit-feeders, but did not show the typical burrowing behaviour of older specimens until they reached around 11 mm in length. The larvae of H. scabra appear to actively select seagrass leaves, possibly through chemical detection. We hypothesise that larvae settling on seagrass have an increased chance of growth and survival because they are provided with a suitable substrate on which to grow, and a bridge to sand substrates as they become deposit-feeders.

Field studies of the sea cucumber Holothuria scabra conducted in Kogu Veke, Solomon Islands, showed monthly recruitment of newly-settled juveniles on seagrass and indicated that size distribution was a function of substratum type and depth. Adults >250 mm body length were found mainly on sand, with 1–3 m. Individuals >10–250 mm were found mostly in 30–120 cm of water, on mud and muddy sand with OM content between 5 and 10%. Specimens >40–150 mm were also found in the intertidal zone, sometimes burrowed on exposed sandflats at low tide. Holothuria scabra avoided substrata of fine silt or shell and coral pebbles, and sediment with an organic content ≤30%. Juveniles ≥100 mm burrowed at sunrise and surfaced at sunset, whereas individuals >100 mm burrowed and surfaced a few hours earlier. Holothuria scabra tended to burrow when salinity decreased, whereas increased water temperatures reduced normal burrowing behaviour. Spatial distribution, observed during tank experiments, suggested that adult H. scabra aggregated prior to spawning and in response to the lunar cycle. The formation of pairs, trios or larger groups increased during the new moon and was most common just before the full moon. Newly-settled juveniles up to ca. 9 mm were found on seagrass leaves. Typically, maximum densities and smallest recruits were observed a couple of weeks after the full moon, lower densities and slightly larger recruits were found a few days later. Juveniles with a mean length around 65 mm released on sand moved less and grew faster than juveniles released in seagrass beds or on substrata of shells and crushed coral.

Introduction Forensic doctors are frequently asked by magistrates when dealing principally with knife wounds, about the depth of the blade which may have penetrated the victim's body. Without the use of imaging, it is often difficult to respond to this question, even in an approximate way. Knowledge of the various distances between organs and the skin wall would allow an assessment to be made of the minimum blade length required to obtain the injuries observed. The objective of this study is thus to determine average distances between the vital organs of the thorax and abdomen, and the skin wall, taking into account the person's body mass index (BMI). Materials and methods This is a prospective single-center study, carried out over a 2-month period at University Hospital in Angers. A sample of 200 people was studied. The inclusion criteria were as follows: all patients coming to the radiology department and the emergency department for an abdominal, thoracic or thoraco-abdominal scan with injection. The exclusion criteria included patients presenting a large lymphoma, a large abdominal or retroperitoneal tumor, a tumor in one of the organs targeted by our study and patients presenting ascites. The organs focused on were: the pericardium, pleura, aorta, liver, spleen, kidneys, abdominal aorta and femoral arteries. The shortest distance between the organ and the skin wall was noted. Median distances were calculated according to gender, abdominal diameter and BMI. Results We associated these values to propose an indicative chart which may be used by doctors in connection with their forensic activities. Discussion The problem of the depth of a wound is frequently exposed to the expert. Without a reliable tool, it is difficult to value and a personal interpretation is often done. Even if, in current days, tomodensitometry is frequently done in vivo or after death, measurement can be difficult because of the local conditions. We classified values according to the different factors of fat repartition (BMI, abdominal diameter, gender). These tables, collectively used, permit evaluation of the distance between wall and thoracic or abdominal vital organs. Conclusion We suggest an indicative chart designed for forensic doctors in their professional life to help determine the minimum penetration length for a knife, which may wound a vital organ.

L'Exode est une figure récurrente du discours des écrivains français de la seconde moitié du vingtième siècle qui se sont intéressés aux rapports entre la littérature et la politique. Présente chez Jean-Paul Sartre dès les années 1940, reprise par Roland Barthes dans les années 1950 et 1960, déplacée par Maurice Blanchot au seuil des années 1980, la séquence de la sortie d'Égypte hante aussi certains textes de Pierre Michon et d’Olivier Rolin. Cette figure permet à ces écrivains contemporains d'esquisser les traits caractéristiques d'une génération littéraire née des paradoxes de Mai 68 et de réaffirmer une conception prophétique de la modernité littéraire.AbstractExodus is a recurring figure of speech in many texts of the second half of the twentieth century in France that were concerned with the relationship between literature and politics. Present in Jean-Paul Sartre's writings in the forties, picked up by Roland Barthes in the fifties and sixties, transformed by Maurice Blanchot at the beginning of the eighties, the biblical sequence also haunts some texts by Pierre Michon and Olivier Rolin. This figure allows them to outline the characteristics of a literary generation born of the paradoxes of May 68 and to reaffirm a prophetic conception of literary modernism.

Dans la perspective d’une histoire culturelle des formes et des théories de l’engagement, cet article reconstitue la politique de la littérature défendue par le Comité d’action étudiants-écrivains, de sa fondation en mai 1968 à sa dissolution moins d’un an plus tard, en regard du répertoire des discours et des pratiques de l’agitation culturelle à la disposition des contestataires. Le thème de « l’absence de livre », présent dans l’oeuvre critique de Maurice Blanchot, trouve là une extension politique, voire insurrectionnelle. D’une part, le Comité se porte à la défense d’un espace public oppositionnel, alimenté par la production militante des tracts, des affiches et des bulletins, au sein duquel le livre, emblématique de la culture bourgeoise, apparaît comme un instrument de répression au service du pouvoir. D’autre part, au nom d’une exigence radicale de pluralité, et conformément à l’esprit antiautoritaire des événements, le Comité conteste la littérature comme discours d’exception et refuse le prestige symbolique rattaché au statut d’écrivain, rejetant ainsi l’idée même d’une oeuvre d’art révolutionnaire. D’où le paradoxe d’un Comité d’action constitué d’écrivains qui, pendant plusieurs mois, par fidélité au soulèvement, prend la décision de littéralement faire grève de la littérature., In the context of a cultural history of forms and theories of commitment, this article reconstitutes the politics of the literature defended by the Comité d’action étudiants-écrivains, from its founding in May 1968 to its dissolution less than a year later, focusing on the participants’ discourses and cultural agitation practices. The theme “Absence of the Book” present in Maurice Blanchot’s critical work exemplified a political, even insurrectional, extension. On the one hand, the Comité came to the defence of an oppositional public space fomented by the militant production of tracts, posters and newsletters, and wherein the book, emblematic of bourgeois culture, appeared as a repressive instrument in the service of power. On the other hand, touting a radical demand for plurality and attuned to the anti-authoritarian spirit of events, the Comité disputed literature as a discourse of exclusion and refused the symbolic prestige attached to the status of writer, thereby rejecting the very notion of a revolutionary work of art. Whence the paradox of a Comité d’action made up of writers who, over the course of several months through their loyalty to the uprisings, made the decision to literally be on strike against literature.

À partir du mythe de l’enfant-poète légué par Emile Nelligan à la littérature québécoise, qui trouve son expression tant dans le poème « Le berceau de la muse » que dans la célèbre préface de Louis Dantin à ses Poésies, mythe qui enfin se voit repris dans la première trilogie romanesque de Réjean Ducharme et, plus récemment, dans La petite fille qui aimait trop les allumettes de Gaétan Soucy, cet essai vise à comprendre comment une telle figure, relevant d’une prosopopée où l’enfant - l’infans, ce qui ne parle pas - dit ou écrit son hypermnésie, donne voix à un certain rapport historique, éminemment paradoxal, de la littérature québécoise à sa mémoire. Au fil de mélancoliques figurations d’une enfance impossible et d’une mémoire toujours dépossédée de l’expérience des premières fois, il s’agira d’esquisser comment s’est formé un véritable lieu de mémoire à même la reprise, d’auteur en auteur, de cette singulière prosopopée. La figuration de l’enfance dans la littérature québécoise se révèle ainsi une représentation marginale, sans postulat d’homogénéité, des cadres identitaires collectifs et le signe d’une interrogation à propos des possibles inscriptions de soi dans la durée., Starting with the myth of the child-poet that Emile Nelligan bequeathed to Quebec literature, which is manifested as much in the poem "Le berceau de la muse" as it is in Louis Dantin's famous preface to the Poésies, a myth which is finally taken up again in Réjean Ducharme s first novel trilogy and, more recently, in La petite fille qui aimait trop les allumettes, by Gaétan Soucy, this essay aims to understand how such a figure, arising from a prosopopeia in which the child — the infans, who does not speak — says or writes down his hypermnesia, gives a voice to a certain historical and eminently paradoxical relationship between Quebec literature and memory. Passing by melancholic figurations of an impossible childhood and a memory constantly deprived of the experience of first times, we reach a point at which we must trace how a true place of memory was formed straight from the renewal, from author to author, of this unique prosopopeia. The figuration of childhood in Quebec literature is therefore revealed as a marginal representation of collective selves, and as a constant interrogation of self-inscription in time.

Barbiturate is a therapeutic option for the treatment of elevated intracranial pressure (eICP) in Traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients. It is used in 20% of the patients in a recent European cohort [[1]]. But, barbiturate may induce an immunosuppression. Indeed, barbiturate have been shown to induce a decrease in white blood cells in old reports [[2]] and to be associated to early ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) [[3]]).