High species richness in the lichen genus Peltigera (Ascomycota, Lecanoromycetes): 34 species in the dolichorhizoid and scabrosoid clades of section Polydactylon, including 24 new to science.

Applying molecular methods to fungi establishing lichenized associations with green algae or cyanobacteria has repeatedly revealed the existence of numerous phylogenetic taxa overlooked by classical taxonomic approaches. Here, we report taxonomical conclusions based on multiple species delimitation and validation analyses performed on an eight-locus dataset that includes world-wide representatives of the dolichorhizoid and scabrosoid clades in section Polydactylon of the genus Peltigera. Following the recommendations resulting from a consensus species delimitation approach and additional species validation analysis (BPP) performed in this study, we present a total of 25 species in the dolichorhizoid clade and nine in the scabrosoid clade, including respectively 18 and six species that are new to science and formally described. Additionally, one combination and three varieties (including two new to science) are proposed in the dolichorhizoid clade. The following 24 new species are described: P. appalachiensis, P. asiatica, P. borealis, P. borinquensis, P. chabanenkoae, P. clathrata, P. elixii, P. esslingeri, P. flabellae, P. gallowayi, P. hawaiiensis, P. holtanhartwigii, P. itatiaiae, P. hokkaidoensis, P. kukwae, P. massonii, P. mikado, P. nigriventris, P. orientalis, P. rangiferina, P. sipmanii, P. stanleyensis, P. vitikainenii and P. willdenowii; the following new varieties are introduced: P. kukwae var. phyllidiata and P. truculenta var. austroscabrosa; and the following new combination is introduced: P. hymenina var. dissecta. Each species from the dolichorhizoid and scabrosoid clades is morphologically and chemically described, illustrated, and characterised with ITS sequences. Identification keys are provided for the main biogeographic regions where species from the two clades occur. Morphological and chemical characters that are commonly used for species identification in the genus Peltigera cannot be applied to unambiguously recognise most molecularly circumscribed species, due to high variation of thalli formed by individuals within a fungal species, including the presence of distinct morphs in some cases, or low interspecific variation in others. The four commonly recognised morphospecies: P. dolichorhiza, P. neopolydactyla, P. pulverulenta and P. scabrosa in the dolichorhizoid and scabrosoid clades represent species complexes spread across multiple and often phylogenetically distantly related lineages. Geographic origin of specimens is often helpful for species recognition; however, ITS sequences are frequently required for a reliable identification. Citation: Magain N, Miadlikowska J, Goffinet B, et al. 2023. High species richness in the lichen genus Peltigera (Ascomycota, Lecanoromycetes): 34 species in the dolichorhizoid and scabrosoid clades of section Polydactylon, including 24 new to science. Persoonia 51: 1-88. doi: 10.3767/persoonia.2023.51.01.

Analysis of the 22 kbp long psbD-psbC gene cluster of Euglena gracilis chloroplast DNA: evidence for overlapping transcription units undergoing differential processing.

The clustered genes psbD and psbC covering together close to 22,000 nucleotides contain ten and eleven exons, respectively. The corresponding translation products, i.e, Photosystem II core 34 kDa (D2) protein and the CP43 chlorophyll binding protein are highly conserved. Introns vary in length from 305 to 4144 nucleotides. The two genes have about 900 nucleotides in common including an intron. To obtain stable mRNAs of about 1400 (psbD) and 1500 (psbC) nucleotides the pre-transcripts must undergo differential processing and/or splicing events within the overlapping region.

Cloning and sequencing of a soybean nuclear gene coding for a chloroplast translation elongation factor EF-G.

A plant nuclear gene coding for a chloroplast specific translation elongation factor EF-G (cEF-G) was cloned and sequenced for the first time. We screened two partial soybean genomic libraries with a short PCR amplified pea DNA probe constructed according to the N-terminal peptide sequence of pea chloroplast EF-G. The gene is three times split, codes for a chloroplast type transit peptide and a protein very similar to bacterial translation elongation factor EF-G. The gene is expressed as evidenced by Northern hybridisations.

Cloning and sequencing of a corn (Zea mays) nuclear gene coding for the chloroplast specific catalytic subunit of ferredoxin-thioredoxin reductase.

We determined the complete nucleotide sequence of a cDNA clone encoding the smaller, catalytic subunit of ferredoxin-thioredoxin reductase from corn chloroplasts. The translated protein sequence, representing a subunit of 12.9 kDa shows 80% identity with the protein sequence from spinach and contains seven Cys residues all at conserved positions.

[Antinomic horizontal deviations: esodeviation associated with exodeviation. Clinical features and surgery]. / Déviations horizontales antinomiques: association d'une exodéviation et d'une ésodéviation. Aspects cliniques et chirurgie.

INTRODUCTION: Antinomic deviations are defined as a basic exoposition of the eyes associated with innervational convergence excess leading to an esoposition. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-four patients with both exodeviation and esodeviation were studied. Surgery consisted in lateral recti (LR) recess with fadenoperation on the medial recti. RESULTS: Four types of antinomic deviations were found: 1- Primitive exodeviation with an excess of physiological accommodative vergences; 2- Consecutive exodeviation due to surgical overcorrection of an accommodative esotropia; 3- Infantile exodeviation with fixation in adduction, DHD +/- convergence excess; 4- Consecutive infantile exodeviation: overcorrection of a congenital esotropia. CONCLUSION: Although fadenoperation on the medial recti may seem paradoxical in exodeviations, it is the most logical procedure to deal with convergence excess and fixation in adduction prevalence. Adjustable sutures for the lateral recti recess appear safer and more predictible in these difficult cases.

orchard: Paternity program for autotetraploid species.

Advances in molecular marker technology have provided new opportunities to study the population genetics of polyploid taxa. Paternity analysis using microsatellite markers can be used in detection of gene flow between individuals and populations, in mating system analysis, to identify factors that influence fecundity and fertility, to identify behaviour of parent-offspring relationships and in the analysis of the reproductive success of different ecological groups. As there is no specific program for carrying out paternity analysis in tetraploid species, specialized software was designed for the assignment of paternity for autotetraploid species. orchard is a novel implementation of exclusion and likelihood statistics for carrying out paternity analysis of autotetraploids. First, the program performs an exclusion method, and then, a likelihood statistic is used with nonexcluded candidate fathers. Optional features include estimation of allele dosage of known mother trees and the estimation of pollen flow distances. orchard was tested using a data set of microsatellite data of Dipteryx odorata, a tetraploid Amazonian tree species.

Effects of otolithic vestibular stimulation on sleep.

This study evaluated the effects of otolithic vestibular stimulation in the form of a linearly accelerated parallel swing on nighttime sleep parameters and daytime sleep tendency in eight normal subjects. The protocol consisted of one adaptation night following by two motion nights, one adaptation night followed by two stationary nights, and two Multiple Sleep Latency Tests (MSLT), one motion and one stationary. On the motion nights, there was a decrease in stage 2 percentage as well as a facilitative effect on sleep latency on the last night. In addition, an increase in the number of rapid eye movements (REMs) per night was found without a significant alteration of REM sleep amount or latency. No significant differences were found between the motion and stationary MSLT days.

Visual field loss after vitrectomy for full-thickness macular holes.

PURPOSE: To report the results of a prospective study of the incidence of peripheral visual field loss after macular hole surgery. METHODS: Prospectively, 30 eyes of 30 consecutive patients with full-thickness macular holes operated on between December 1995 and April 1996 had preoperative and postoperative Goldmann visual field tests. The surgical procedure consisted of three-port pars plana vitrectomy, posterior hyaloid removal, nonexpansile fluid-hexafluoroethane (C2F6) exchange, and, in 19 of 30 patients, autologous platelet injection, followed by face-down positioning. RESULTS: Twenty-nine of these 30 cases were considered to be anatomic successes. Comparison of preoperative and postoperative visual fields disclosed that four patients (13%) had a peripheral scotoma, including one patient with stage 4 macular hole. Three other patients (10%) had a postoperative relative arcuate defect. Mean postoperative intraocular pressure was higher in the latter group. None of the patients complained of peripheral scotoma. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, seven of 30 patients (23%) had a postoperative visual field defect. Two categories of scotomas were observed: peripheral and relative arcuate. The cause of peripheral visual field loss is unclear. Increased intraocular pressure may be the cause of relative arcuate scotomas.

Late reopening of successfully treated macular holes.

BACKGROUND: Most idiopathic macular holes can be closed by a surgical procedure combining vitrectomy, posterior hyaloid ablation, and fluid-gas exchange followed by postoperative positioning. Reopening of closed macular holes has been reported, but its frequency is not known. Here the incidence of reopening after successful macular hole surgery is reported. METHODS: 77 consecutive cases of idiopathic macular holes operated with autologous platelet injection between July 1993 and October 1995 were reviewed. The procedure consisted of three port vitrectomy, posterior hyaloid removal, nonexpansile fluid-gas exchange, and autologous platelet injection followed by face down positioning. The incidence of reopening was analysed in the cohort of the 72 anatomical successes. RESULTS: Mean follow up was 12.3 months. The macular hole reopened in five eyes of five patients (five out of 72 patients, 6.9%), in four cases after cataract extraction. In four cases too, an epiretinal membrane was noted, either clinically or during reoperation, and fluorescein leakage in the macular area was present in two cases. Three of the five cases of reopening were reoperated and all three were anatomical successes. CONCLUSION: Late macular hole reopening occurred in five out of 72 patient, and in four cases after cataract surgery. The presence of an epiretinal membrane around the hole in four of them suggested that tractional forces were responsible for the reopening. Reoperation, performed in three cases, again closed the macular holes.

[Fetal heart. Present investigative means]. / Fetal heart. Present investigative means.

Non invasive exploration of the fetal heart has been greatly facilitated by utilisation of high resolution echography using pulsed Doppler combined with B-scan. Investigation of the fetal heart in human medicine opens three important fields of interest. Better knowledge of fetal hemodynamics. Measurement of fetal heart function. Recognition of congenital heart disease. Acquisition of some fundamental knowledge is required for an ultrasonic approach to fetal echocardiography. Embryogenetic data lead to an understanding of the periods of vulnerability for each cardiac segment, whereas an understanding of physiology of the fetal circulation helps to explain the consequences of fetal congenital heart diseases and the methods used to evaluate fetal cardiac function. One section is devoted to the etiology of congenital heart disease. The most important cardiopathies encountered in cases of chromosomal anomalies and genetic disease as well as those due to environmental causes are presented so that the echographist may relate the examination to the clinical picture. In most instances the diagnosis of congenital heart disease is made by routine morphologic scanning of the fetal heart. Indications are given for the best orientation of the scans. All echographists should have precise knowledge of the echographic semeiology of the normal heart. When a cardiopathy or an anomaly of cardiac rhythm are recognized or suspected, the examination should be repeated with help of a cardiopediatrician so as to make an exact diagnosis and take the right decision. Study of fetal heart function is the most recent field for progress and covers in addition to the evaluation of congenital heart disease the development of new parameters allowing recognition of fetal jeopardy. Pulsed Doppler has already allowed the acquisition of interesting facts and certainly is one of the most exciting new inroads for progress in the field of fetal cardiology.

Clinical rationale for manifest congenital nystagmus surgery.

Although electronystagmography is most useful, especially in furthering our knowledge of nystagmus, simple clinical study is the first step to any understanding of nystagmus. Ophthalmologists should be aware that they may understand a good deal about nystagmus merely by studying visual acuity in their surgery. Testing visual acuity at distance with both eyes open will lead to the qualitative and quantitative diagnosis of compensatory abnormal head postures. Testing at distance with 1 eye covered will help to distinguish between the concordant head turn, one eye fixing in abduction and the other fixing in adduction (ABD + ADD) as manifest congenital nystagmus, and the discordant head turn in which each eye fixes in adduction (ADD + ADD), as is seen in manifest latent nystagmus, for which surgery is totally different. Pseudolatent nystagmus found in congenital nystagmus with exophoria can be differentiated from latent nystagmus. This illustrates de visu (with the naked eye) the "beauty" of the movement of blocking fusional convergence and the nature of the involved mechanisms with artificial divergence surgery. Testing at near will bring out the existence of blocking convergence. Depending on the results, the clinical rationale for surgery is thus made clear: horizontal, vertical, rotatory Kestenbaum-like surgery should be used in cases of abnormal head posture, whereas artificial divergence surgery is our most satisfactory armamentarium in cases of blocking convergence.

[Cyclotorsions]. / Les cyclotorsions.

Cyclotorsions are movements of cyclorotation of the eyes (in- or ex-cycloversions or vergences) and positions of cyclotorsion (in- or ex-cyclotorsion or cyclodeviation). Torsion is absent when the vertical meridian 0 traversing the cornea center is parallel to a plumbline. In a state of intorsion, the nasal end of the horizontal meridian is higher than the temporal part: the optic disk is lower than the fovea. Conversely the optic disk is higher in cases of excyclotorsion. Fundus observation is the only objective test in cases of torsion. Cyclodeviations are peripheral in nature (ex: SO palsy orbital strabismus) or linked to fixation (ex: congenital nystagmus, incyclo, and DTDs in infantile strabismus). All the facias and the orbits play a role in cyclorotations. The anterior fibers of the oblique muscles are responsible for torsion. Dissociated surgery and shift of the insertion follow. In a situation of cyclotorsion, the recti act differently (Weiss): the medial rectus becomes an elevator and is less an adducto, the superior rectus is less an elevator, etc. The consequences are alphabetic deviations, tilt of the coordimeter and synoptometer charts, displacement surgery of the recti insertions. Surgery of the facias must not be ignored. The study of torsions is currently evoluing.

[Botulinum toxin in infantile estropia: long-term results]. / La toxine botulique dans les ésotropies précoces.

PURPOSE: To evaluate long term results of botulinum toxin in infantile esotropia. METHODS: Nineteen infants between 6 and 13 Months of age were treated with botulinum toxin injected into the medial recti. The amount of deviation, the different symptoms of infantile esotropia, and the need for surgery were studied. RESULTS: Esotropia reappears frequently with time. Dissociated vertical deviation and manifest/latent nystagmus are only partially improved. Surgery is usually mandatory over the long term. CONCLUSION: Despite some good results, a single botulinum toxin injection is less effective than incisional surgery in treating the different symptoms of infantile esotropia.

[Progression of subjective refraction after artificial divergence surgery and its relation to a possible myopic spasm]. / Evolution de la réfraction subjective après mise en divergence artificielle et ses rapports avec un éventuel spasme myopique.

PURPOSE: To study the effect on subjective refraction of artificial divergence surgery in congenital nystagmus with blocking convergence. METHODS: Retrospective study on 139 cases, with a study of visual acuity and optical correction with habitual glasses 1-5 years after operation, according to age and ocular alignment (orthophoria or exophoria). RESULTS: Increased myopia with glasses of approximatively 1 diopter, but likely to be due to eye growth in this young population (mean age, 14 years). This myopic shift is higher in the exophoric population, but there is a tendency to prescribe a stronger correction to help control the phoria. A few rare cases of true myopic spasm were noted. CONCLUSION: After artificial divergence surgery, true cases of increased myopia were rare. Tonic vergence is stronger than accommodative vergence.

[Oculomotor risk after trans-palpebral bony decompression for thyroid-related orbitopathy]. / Le risque oculomoteur des décompressions osseuses transpalpébrales pour orbitopathie thyroïdienne.

PURPOSE: To study oculomotor disorders after transpalpebral bony orbital decompression (TPBOD) for dysthyroid orbitopathy. Pathophysiology, risk factors, preventive and therapeutic care were examined. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty-four patients were included in this retrospective study (76 orbits). Thirteen patients underwent surgery for severe orbital inflammation or optic neuropathy and 31 for cosmetic rehabilitation. 21 previously had orbital radiotherapy. Class IV of NOSPECS classification, primary position of gaze, diplopia and Lancaster coordimetry were studied comparatively pre and postoperatively. RESULTS: Diplopia appeared in 23.6% of the cases without deviation before surgery (tropia or phoria-tropia). Predictive factors were age and amblyopia whereas amount of retrodisplacement of the globe and radiotherapy were not. Lack of oculomotor restriction did not prevent from diplopia but may decrease its incidence. Unilateral decompression is more likely to create a vertical disorder. Pathophysiology is discussed. CONCLUSION: Oculomotor disorders can be explained by several mechanisms. Some of them can be prevented. Each patient should be aware of the risk of diplopia.

[Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome: anatomo-clinical and evolutive concepts]. / Syndrome de Melkersson-Rosenthal. Concepts anatomo-cliniques et évolutifs.

PURPOSE: To inform ophthalmologists about the Melkersson-Rosenthal Syndrome. A new clinical classification is suggested. METHODS: Commented observation and review of the litterature. RESULTS: The presented case is characterized by an exclusive involvement of orbital sphere, due to inflammation of palpebral and orbital fat. CONCLUSION: Melkersson-Rosenthal Syndrome can be divided into type 1 characterized by perioral lesions and type 2 characterized by periocular lesions, with preferential involvement of fat and evolution towards fibrosis.

[Papilledema and POEMS syndrome. Apropos of a case]. / OEdème papillaire et syndrome POEMS. A propos d'une observation.

The POEMS syndrome (Polyneuropathy, Organomegaly, Endocrinopathy, Monoclonal protein, Skin Changes) is often unrecognized by ophthalmologists. We report the case of a 51-year-old female suffering from a POEMS syndrome with a bilateral optic disc edema.

[Complications of transpalpebral osseous orbital decompressions in thyroid orbitopathies]. / Complications des décompressions orbitaires osseuses transpalpébrales pour orbitopathie thyroïdienne.

INTRODUCTION: Complications of bony orbital decompression (BOD) are rather unreported and often neglected. The aim of this study was to assess the risks of this surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 44 patients (76 orbits) were studied. There were 19 malignant orbitopathies and 57 cosmetic rehabilitations. All side-effects and true complications were reported. A questionnaire was send to the patient and to his ophthalmologist. RESULTS: Infra-orbital hypoesthesia, oculomotor disorders, entropion, changes of lid position were the most frequent complications. A case of hypoglobus, a case of lacrimal stenosis, a case of decreased visual acuity were reported. DISCUSSION: Side-effects of BOD are frequent. Higher rates are even found in the literature. These effects tend to decrease spontaneously or can be treated by adequate medical or surgical care. Some measures are proposed to perform surgery safer. CONCLUSION: More precise information should be given to the patients before surgery and a better prevention can be afforded.

[Massive bone destruction: an atypical sign of orbital lymphoma]. / Destruction osseuse massive: un signe atypique de lymphome orbitaire.

A case of lacrimal sac malignant lymphoma with frank bony distruction visible on computed tomography is described. This is an unusual radiologic finding which does not rule out lymphoma. Biopsy is mandatory to complete the diagnosis.

[An unusual death caused by strangulation]. / Ein ungewöhnlicher Todesfall durch Strangulation.

An accidental case of strangulation is reported in which the victim caught his head in the gap of a wooden shed. Before passing into unconsciousness rescue was attempted.