A replicated climate change field experiment reveals rapid evolutionary response in an ecologically important soil invertebrate

Whether species can respond evolutionarily to current climate change is crucial for the persistence of many species. Yet, very few studies have examined genetic responses to climate change in manipulated experiments carried out in natural field conditions. We examined the evolutionary response to climate change in a common annelid worm using a controlled replicated experiment where climatic conditions were manipulated in a natural setting. Analyzing the transcribed genome of 15 local populations, we found that about 12% of the genetic polymorphisms exhibit differences in allele frequencies associated to changes in soil temperature and soil moisture. This shows an evolutionary response to realistic climate change happening over short-time scale, and calls for incorporating evolution into models predicting future response of species to climate change. It also shows that designed climate change experiments coupled with genome sequencing offer great potential to test for the occurrence (or lack) of an evolutionary response.

Limits to sustained energy intake XXIV: impact of suckling behaviour on the body temperatures of lactating female mice

The objective of this study was to investigate the potential causes of high body temperature (Tb) during lactation in mice as a putative limit on energy intake. In particular we explored whether or not offspring contributed to heat retention in mothers while suckling. Tb and physical activity were monitored in 26 female MF1 mice using intraperitoneally implanted transmitters. In addition, maternal behaviour was scored each minute for 8 h d(-1) throughout lactation. Mothers that raised larger litters tended to have higher Tb while nursing inside nests (P < 0.05), suggesting that nursing offspring may have influenced heat retention. However, Tb during nursing was not higher than that recorded during other behaviours. In addition, the highest Tb during the observation period was not measured during nursing behaviour. Finally, there was no indication that mothers discontinued suckling because of a progressive rise in their Tb while suckling. Tb throughout lactation was correlated with daily increases in energy intake. Chronic hyperthermia during lactation was not caused by increased heat retention due to surrounding offspring. Other factors, like metabolic heat produced as a by-product of milk production or energy intake may be more important factors. Heat dissipation limits are probably not a phenomenon restricted to lactation.

[Surgery for pulmonary metastases from colorectal cancer: Predictive factors for survival]

INTRODUCTION

Colorectal cancer is the 3rd commonest cause of death from cancer: 5% of patients will develop lung metastases. The management of oligometastatic disease is based on the objective of optimal local control.

STATE OF THE ART

To date, no results from randomized control trials support the resection of pulmonary metastases in oligometastastic colorectal cancer patients. However, numerous series, mainly retrospective, report long-term survival for highly selected patients, with 5-year survival ranging from 45 to 65% in the most recent series. The consensual predictive factors of a good prognosis are: a disease free-interval>36 months, a number of metastases≤3, a normal level of carcino-embryonic antigen and the absence of hilar or mediastinal lymph node involvement.

PERSPECTIVES

Around 20 to 40% of patients will develop recurrence, probably linked to the presence of undetectable micrometastases. Therefore, experimental work is being undertaken to develop new treatment techniques such as isolated lung perfusion, radiofrequency ablation and stereotactic radiation therapy.

CONCLUSION

Highly selected patients suffering from colorectal cancer lung metastases could benefit from resection with improved survival and disease-control.

Emergency and elective pulmonary surgical resection in haematological patients with invasive fungal infections: a report of 50 cases in a single centre

Invasive fungal infections (IFI) remain life-threatening complications in haematological patients. The aim of the study was to present the experience of a single centre in the surgical treatment of pulmonary IFI. Between 1992 and 2014, 50 haematological patients with IFI underwent pulmonary resection. In 27 cases it was an emergency procedure to avoid haemoptysis (if the lesion threatened pulmonary vessels). The remaining 23 patients underwent elective surgery before new chemotherapy or stem-cell transplantation. Among these patients (median age: 54 years; range: 5-70 years), 92% had acute leukaemia and 68% were on haematological first-line therapy (receiving induction or consolidation chemotherapies). Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis and pulmonary mucormycosis were diagnosed in 37 and 12 patients, respectively. One patient had IFI due to Trichoderma longibrachiatum. All of the patients received antifungal agents. In the month preceding IFI diagnosis, 94% of patients had been neutropenic. At the time of surgery, 30% of patients were still neutropenic and 54% required platelet transfusions. Lobectomy or segmentectomy were performed in 80% and 20% of cases, respectively. Mortality at 30 and 90 days post-surgery was 6% and 10%, respectively. After surgery, median overall survival was 21 months; median overall survival was similar between patients with emergency or elective surgery and between the types of IFI (invasive pulmonary aspergillosis or pulmonary mucormycosis). However, overall survival was far better in haematological first-line patients or in those achieving a haematological complete response than in other patients (p <0.001). In pulmonary IFI, lung resection could be an effective complement to medical treatment in selected haematological patients.

Comparison of the airtraq laryngoscope to the direct laryngoscopy in the pediatric airway

Direct laryngoscopy (DL) is the most commonly used technique for tracheal intubation, but there is ongoing interest in new devices that have high success rates and are easily learned. The pediatric Airtraq (AT) is a recently developed intubation device that allows visualization of the glottis and intubation of the trachea without alignment of the oral, pharyngeal and tracheal axes. We studied the efficacy of the AT compared to the DL for laryngoscopy of young children with normal airway anatomy. In this prospective study, 49 children (5 yr and younger) scheduled for elective surgery under general anesthesia were randomized into two groups: intubation using direct laryngoscopy (DL group) and laryngoscopy using the Airtraq (AT group). Time to best view, time to intubate, first attempt success rate (FASR), and percentage of glottic opening seen (percentage of glottis opening score) were recorded. Data are presented as median and interquartile range. Time to best view was five (4, 7) sec in DL and five (4, 7.5) sec in AT. Time to intubate was 18 (14.7, 21) sec in DL and 22.5 (19.5, 25.5) sec in AT (P = 0.002). FASR was 100% in the DL and 83% in the AT. The percentage of glottis opening score was 80% (range 60-100%) in the DL and 100% (range 100-100%) in the AT (P < 0.001). In young children with normal airway anatomy, the AT provides a better view of the glottis than the standard laryngoscope, but it takes longer to intubate the trachea and the FASR is lower.