Contribution of contrast-enhanced ultrasound in the diagnosis of adnexal torsion (AGATA): protocol for a prospective comparative study.

INTRODUCTION: Adnexal torsion is a surgical emergency and its prognosis depends on the time elapsed prior to treatment. The diagnosis relies on pelvic ultrasound in which sensitivity remains low and may lead to misdiagnosis.The primary objective is to evaluate the diagnostic performance of contrast-enhanced ultrasound for the diagnosis of adnexal torsion in women with suspected adnexal torsion. The secondary objectives are: (1) to describe the perfusion parameters of the ovaries by contrast-enhanced ultrasound, (2) to compare diagnostic performance of contrast ultrasound with bidimensional (2D) Doppler for the detection of adnexal torsion, (3) to describe the perfusion parameters of the ovarian as a function of the degree of adnexal torsion, (4) to compare perfusion parameters before and after ovarian detorsion and (5) to describe perfusion parameters of the ovarian by using MicroVascular Flow technique. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This is a monocentric, prospective comparative, non-randomised, open and interventional study. We hypothesise to include 30 women: 20 positive cases compared with 10 control cases. Women are informed and recruited in the emergency ward, over a period of 36 months.The primary endpoint is the signal intensity measurement to assess sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of contrast-enhanced ultrasound for detection of adnexal torsion in women with suspected adnexal torsion. The presence or absence of adnexal torsion is confirmed during the surgical intervention. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The study was approved by the French Ethics Committee, the CPP (Comité de Protection des Personnes) OUEST I on 3 July 2020 with reference number 2020T1-16. The results of this study will be published in a peer-reviewed journal and will be presented at relevant conferences. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ClinicalTrials.gov registry (NCT04522219); EudraCT registry (2020-000993-27).

A star is born again: Methods for larval rearing of an emerging model organism, the False clownfish Amphiprion ocellaris.

As interest increases in ecological, evolutionary, and developmental biology (Eco-Evo-Devo), wild species are increasingly used as experimental models. However, we are still lacking a suitable model for marine fish species, as well as coral reef fishes that can be reared at laboratory scales. Extensive knowledge of the life cycle of anemonefishes, and the peculiarities of their biology, make them relevant marine fish models for developmental biology, ecology, and evolutionary sciences. Here, we present standard methods to maintain breeding pairs of the anemonefish Amphiprion ocellaris in captivity, obtain regular good quality spawning, and protocols to ensure larval survival throughout rearing. We provide a detailed description of the anemonefish husbandry system and life prey culturing protocols. Finally, a "low-volume" rearing protocol useful for the pharmacological treatment of larvae is presented. Such methods are important as strict requirements for large volumes in rearing tanks often inhibit continuous treatments with expensive or rare compounds.

Metabolomics Reveal That Octocrylene Accumulates in Pocillopora damicornis Tissues as Fatty Acid Conjugates and Triggers Coral Cell Mitochondrial Dysfunction.

Octocrylene (OC) is an ingredient used in many sunscreens and cosmetics worldwide. Our group evaluated the toxicity of OC in corals. Adult Pocillopora damicornis coral was treated with OC at concentrations of 5, 50, 300, and 1000 µg/L. Most polyps were closed at concentrations of 300 µg/L and higher. Further, metabolomic profiling provided crucial information regarding OC accumulation in coral tissues and OC toxicity. First, we demonstrated that OC was transformed into fatty acid conjugates via oxidation of the ethylhexyl chain, yielding very lipophilic OC analogues that accumulate in coral tissues. Second, the differential analysis of coral profiles revealed higher levels of 15 acylcarnitines, suggesting abnormal fatty acid metabolism related to mitochondrial dysfunction. The formation of OC analogues suggests that OC concentrations measured in the environment, and organisms may have been largely underestimated. Overall, these results call for an in-depth evaluation of OC toxicity and the reevaluation of the actual OC accumulation rate in the ocean's food chain, including OC-fatty acid conjugates.