Epidémiologie,diagnostic et pronostic du cancer de la prostate

Prostate cancer is the most frequent of cancers and represents the third leading cause of death by cancer, for men over 50 years, in France and Europe. The incidence decreases since about ten years. Mass screening is not recommended. Individual early diagnosis is based on a yearly exam including Prostate Specific Antigene (PSA) blood test and a digital rectal exam. The target for this diagnostic approach are men from 50 to 75 years with more than 10 years of life expectancy. A series of prostatic biopsy are carried out in case of clinical and/or biological prostate cancer suspicion. The additional examinations recommended in the assessment of extension of prostate cancer with intermediate and high risk are: MRI, bones scintigraphy, scan CAP (metastatic stage), and sometimes Choline PET-CT. Curative treatments are proposed to men with a probability of survival over 10 years, suffering from localized or locally advanced cancer. Gold standard treatments are: active surveillance, radical prostatectomy, brachytherapy, radiotherapy alone or with surgery and/or hormone therapy. Experimental treatments of localized tumors are: focal treatments (phototherapy dynamic, high intensity focused ultrasound). For the more advanced forms, the interest of early chemotherapy is extensively studied.     

Effets du rubidium et du césium sur la croissance et la nutrition minerale des characees

Résumé Le rubidium et le césium introduits à l'état de chlorure dans le milieu de culture ont à faible dose un effet stimulant sur la croissance de Chara fragilis et de Chara vulgaris. La résistance de ces végétaux à l'action toxique des deux ions est accrue par l'addition de potassium au milieu.Les analyses chimiques confirment que le rubidium et le césium sont antagonistes vis-à-vis du potassium et du sodium alors qu'ils ne modifient pas de manière significative le taux de calcium.

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Chara fragilis and Chara vulgaris were cultivated in a natural medium containing rubidium and caesium as chloride.The growth of Characeae was increased after culture in the solutions containing Rb and Cs in small amount. The resistance to the toxic effects of these two ions is enhanced if potassium chloride is added to the medium.Quantitative analyses indicate that Rb and Cs decrease the rate of Na and K but have no significative influence on the rate of Ca.

Université de Dijon, Laboratoire de Nutrition minérale des Végétaux     

Aspects toxiques du cuivre sur la biomasse et la productivité du phytoplancton de la rivière du Saguenay,Québec

In 1979 and 1980, batch culture experiments were conducted to observe the inhibitory effect of copper ion (concentrations of 10, 50, 100, 200 and 400 µg Cu · l^–1) on the standing crops and photosynthesis of phytoplankton of the Saguenay River (for 124 hours) and in Chlorella vulgaris (for 8 days). These algal assays were carried out using the surface water of the Saguenay River. In natural populatoins of phytoplankton, it was found that photosynthesis was more sensitive than growth: at the lowest concentrations, such as 10 µg Cu · 1^–1, copper seemed to increase the chlorophyll concentrations whereas the rates of primary production show a decrease of 60% with respect to the control. At higher concentrations of copper, the effect is weak in chlorophyll concentrations and more pronounced in the rates of primary production (decrease of 86 to 90%). The pennate diatoms are dominant (in all the samples) and these organisms are known as relatively resistant to copper. In Chlorella vulgaris, it was observed that with 100 µg Cu · 1^–1, chlorophyll concentrations and rates of photosynthesis respectively decrease by 63 and 99% with respect to the control. At higher concentrations of copper, a maximum decrease of 70% and 99% respectively for chlorophyll concentrations and rates of primaryproduction are observed.

     

Action du CCC et du B 995 sur la mise à fleur d'une plante bisannuelle,l'Œnothera biennis

Summary Oenothera biennis L. is a typical biennial plant with an absolute cold requirement for subsequent floral initiation under long-day conditions. Flowering of vernalized Oe. biennis is associated with transition from a rosette habit to the formation of a long flower-bearing stem. Vernalization in Oe. biennis consists of two consecutive stages: (1) preparation for flowering; (2) preparation of stem elongation. At the end of the second stage, the level of endogenous gibberellin-like substances is sufficient to allow the stem elongation which is requisite for subsequent floral development.Applications of (2-chloroethyl)trimethylammonium chloride (CCC) via the roots, when made after the cold treatment, have no effect on internodal elongation and subsequent flowering of vernalized Oe. biennis. Relatively small amounts of CCC applied onto the apical bud of the rosette promote stem growth. However, 750 g of CCC act as a growth inhibitor and delay the beginning of stem elongation but this retardant has no effect on the number of flower buds.In contrast, N-dimethylaminosuccinamic acid (B 995), when applied after a cold treatment, delays the beginning of stem growth, this delay increasing with greater amounts of applied B 995. However, with relatively small amounts of B 995, the rate of later stem growth increases rapidly so that treated plants flower at the same time as controls.If gibberellic acid (GA₃) is applied on the apical bud just at the same time as B 995, it reverses the effects of the growth retardant, even when the amount of B 995, applied by itself, is sufficient to inhibit entirely stem elongation and flowering.B 995 is particularly effective if the preceding cold treatment was just sufficient for effective vernalization. If the cold treatment was extended beyond this time, a greater amount of retardant was required to obtain the same degree of stem growth inhibition.B 995 probably acts by interference with the metabolism of endogenous gibberellin-like substances. The delay of floral initiation in vernalized Oe. biennis by B 995 is a consequence of the retarded internode elongation; if this retardation exceeds a certain limit, the plant is devernalized and exhibits a cold requirement identical with the original one.     

Cancer du testicule: BEP et spermatogenèse

The sperm characteristics of 44 men treated with two or more courses of BEP chemotherapy for non seminomatous germ cell testicular tumours were investigated before and 25.2 ± 19.4 months after chemotherapy. Before treatment, 54.5% of patients were oligozoospermic. The mean sperm characteristics did not differ before and after chemotherapy. However, following chemotherapy, the recovery of initial sperm count was more frequent after one year than before. During the first year, recovery was more frequent in patients treated with two than in those treated with more than two BEP cycles. In patients with good pre-treatment sperm count, sperm production was reduced by half after chemotherapy. In a subgroup of men who provided two sperm samples after chemotherapy, sperm production was better in the second sample than in the first. Our data suggest that sperm recovery is related to testicular function prior to therapy, to the time elapsed after chemotherapy and in the first year to the number of chemotherapy cycles. In conclusion, our study is reassuring concerning the long-term male reproductive toxicity of BEP. However, further studies are required to analyse the possible effects on sperm genetic material during the recovery period.     

Isolement du vernodalin et du vernolepin a partir de Vernonia guineensis: Authenticité du squelette elemane

The isolation of vernoladin and vernolepin is reported. The authenticity of the occurrence of the elemane skeleton in nature is discussed, and a biosynthetic scheme concerning the genus Vernonia is proposed.     

Ultrastructure du mucus (cellules caliciformes du côlon) et des granulations des mastocytes du côlon

Résumé Les auteurs ont étudié la biréfringence du mucus du côlon chez le rat, le cobaye et le lapin, au moyen des colorations métachromatiques au bleu de toluidine et aux acridines. Ils démontrent une biréfringence positive du mucus extracellulaire. Les granulations des mastocytes, dans le même matériel, sont anisotropes. L'anisotropie du mucus et des granulations des mastocytes est présente après fixation-coloration simultanée au bleu Alcian et au vert Alcian. La biréfringence du mucus extracellulaire reste également positive avec les phtalocyanines. En microscopie électronique, les auteurs démontrent, à l'aide du bleu Alcian, une structure filamenteuse parallèle du mucus s'échappant de la cellule. Un aspect hétérogène des granulations des mastocytes est aussi mis en évidence par cette méthode. Ils discutent l'aspect de la réaction métachromatique en fonction de l'anisotropie d'une structure.

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Ultrastructure of mucus in goblet cells and of granules of mastocytes in colonAnisotropy, metachromasia and electron microscopy

Summary The authors have investigated the birefringence of the colic mucus in the guinea pig, the rat and the rabbit before and after of metachromatical staining with toluidine blue and with acridines. They demonstrate a positive birefringence of the extracellular mucus. The granulations of the mast cells in the same animals are anisotropic. The anisotropy can be seen in the mucus and in the granulations of the mast cells after a combined fixation and staining with a mixture of glutaraldehyde and Alcian blue or Alcian green. The birefringence of the extracellular mucus also remains positive with these phtalocyanin dyes. Using the electron microscope, the authors demonstrate, by means of Alcian blue, a filamentous structure with a parallel orientation in the mucus while it flows out of the cells. The same method allows the vizualisation of a heterogenous aspect in the granulations of the mast cells. They discuss the theoretical aspects of the metachromatical reaction in relation with the anisotropy of a structure.

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Nous remercions vivement le Prof. G. Romhányi de l'Université de Pecs (Hongrie) d'avoir bien voulu examiner nos préparations et de nous avoir conseillé dans l'élaboration de ce travail.Nous remercions sincèrement le Dr. J. E. Scott du Canadian Red Cross Memorial Hospital, Taplow, Maidenhead, Berks (Angleterre) d'avoir examiné nos courbes spectrophotométriques du bleu Alcian-héparine et de nous avoir donné son avis.Ce travail a été partiellement réalisé grâce au crédit no 3. 141. 69 du Fonds National Suisse pour le Développement de la Recherche Scientifique.     

Parure,pigment et art mobilier du Paléolithique supérieur au Japon

In the Japanese Archipelago, Upper Palaeolithic Accessories, Pigment and Portable Art are discovered, but very few. We introduce the Palaeolithic Art in Japan including new discoveries. The majority of accessories is discovered in Hokkaido, for example the sites of Yunosato 4, Pirika 1, Kashiwadai1 and Obarubetsu 2, but very few in Honshu, the largest island of Japan: Togeyamabokujo 1 in Iwate and Fujiishi in Shizuoka. A lot of pigments are discovered in Hokkaido like Kawanishi C, Kashiwadai 1, Marukoyama and Kiusu 5, without those of Deguchi-Kanezuka in Chiba in Honshu. Kashiwadai 1 in Hokkaido and Kamihikikiri in Chiba are the sites with portable art. In Ehime in Shikoku, one of four large islands of Japan, engraved pebbles called “Kamikuroiwa Venus”, of the Incipient Jomon followed after the Upper Palaeolithic period, before about 14,500 years, are researched again recently. The Palaeolithic art in Japan has a strong relation with Northeast Asia's art, because the lithic materials of Palaeolithic accessories in Hokkaido came from the Continent, and the engraved pebbles have some characters common with Siberian figurines, but also there are accessories and pigment of which the stones are native of the region from the beginning of the Upper Palaeolithic period.     

Incidences de la restriction calorique et du Nickel sur l’aromatase testiculaire du rat

This study was designed to determine whether intermittent fasting induces malnutrition that, according to many authors, accentuates the cytotoxic effects of environmental pollutants, or caloric restriction that reduces these effects. Ninety six male Wistar rats (180g) were divided into two groups: one group was fed daily (N) and the other group was fed every second day (J) for one month. At the end of one month, each group was then divided into two subgroups, one subgroup received an injection of 0.9% NaCI (groups NO and JO), the other subgroup received an injection of 4 mg/kg NiCI^b2 (groups NNi and JNi). Intermittent fasting was continued in parallel to treatment for 1, 3, 5 and 10 days. Under these experimental conditions, nickel increased testicular aromatase activity and altered total RNA, while no alteration of these biomarkers was observed with intermittent fasting. The combination of these two factors, nickel and intermittent fasting, did not amplify these effects. In contrast, protection of RNA by intermittent fasting was observed, especially overexpression of aromatase mRNA.     

Ostracodes du bathonien moyen et supérieur des grands-causses,sud de la France. Associations et paléoenvironnements

This work describes new species of ostracodes collected in the Middle and Upper Bathonian outcrops of the Grands-Causses, Southern France: Kirtonella vignesensis n. sp., Marslatourella bathonica n. sp., Micropneumatocythere montmejeaneansis n. sp., Praeschuleridea alzonensis n. sp., and illustrates the predominating species in the assemblages: Limnocythere larzacensis, Theriosynoecum aveyronensis et Fastigatocythere juglandiformis.Ostracode assemblages are characteristic of lacustrine to polyhaline and inner marine environments, and they vary according to changes in salinity, oxygen and trophic level.     

Les sites acheuléens des grottes la Terrasse et du Coupe-Gorge, à Montmaurin,Haute Garonne,France

The huge karstic network of Montmaurin is located at the western end of the chain of the Petites Pyrenées, and contained several caves escavated by Louis Méroc and his team to 1946 at 1961. Among the eight caves that have escaped the exploitation of quarrymen the richest in stone industry and fauna are the caves la Terrasse and le Coupe-Gorge which are Acheulean sites. The techno-typological and petro-archaeological study conducted during this research shows the specificities inherent to the Montmaurin caves. The lithological procession is composed of pebbles quartzite lydian quartz etc. that come from the tributaries of the Garonne and pre-Pyrenean flint. The acquisition territories of mineral resources are more or less vast, from a hundred meters to about 80 kilometers. The techno-typological characteristics of the Montmaurin cave's industries testify a technical and economic behavior oriented towards production and consumption activities in situ. Differential management of lithic resources is observed, which echoes both the technical requirements imposed by the debitage methods employed and the knapping skills.     

Métabolomique et imagerie TEP-FDG des cancers du sein

Cancer metabolism is an essential aspect of tumorogenesis, as cancer cells have increased energy requirements in comparison to normal cells. Metabolomic techniques can provide quantitative data for a large number of small molecules in tissues and enable the analysis of multiple intricate metabolic pathways. Positron emission tomography (PET) using ¹⁸F-Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) enables in vivo analysis of glycolysis and is widely used in oncology. High tumor FDG uptake is a prognostic factor in breast cancer and has been associated with tumor aggressively. Seventy breast cancer samples obtained from untreated patients who had underwent FDG-PET imagery were analyzed through an untargeted metabolomic approach using liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy (LC-MS) to study possible correlations between metabolomic data and FDG uptake. Tumors were split into two groups depending on avidity for FDG as measured with PET. The Compound Discoverer 4.0 software enabled identification of 854 metabolites. PLSDA based models predicted FDG uptake with an accuracy ranging from 0,73 to 0,77. Selected metabolites varied depending on the use of scaling or log transformation. Metabolites correlated with tumor FDG uptake were, among others, glutathione, amino-acids such as glutamate, proline or tyrosine, L-acetyl-carnitine, metabolites from the kynurenine pathway such as L-kynurenine or formyl-kynurenine and polyamines such as N1,N12-diacetylspermine or N1-acetylspermine. These metabolites have been previously shown to reflect cancer aggressivity. The correlation between the glycolytic pathway activation and tumor FDG uptake could not be directly assessed but indirect signs showed a higher glycolytic activity in tumours presenting a higher FDG uptake. Studying new metabolites identified through this process could enable a better understanding of tumor metabolism and identification of new biomarkers.     

Implantation du genêt à balais,précédent cultural et dynamique du sol dans les friches (Bretagne,France)

The soil dynamics of old-fields, characterized by the early establishment of broom (Cytisus scoparius L.), is analysed in the Breton bocage. The role of former land use practices is estimated by comparing two similar plant successions, post cultivation and post pasture. Different variables (organic matter, mineral N content, microbial biomass, total microbial activity and mineralization) are measured within the soil layer disturbed by farming (between –5 and –25 cm). One year after abandonment, the parameters taken into account show similar values for both series. After 8 years, in broom thickets, the two soil series are characterized by an increase in microbial activity, organic matter and mineral N contents. However, the post cultivation thicket differed by higher N content and mineralization rate than the post pasture thicket, but also by a smaller microbial biomass. It appears that, if the development of similar vegetational communities promotes the same kind of soil dynamics, the former land use practices significantly modify this evolution, for at least the first 8 years following abandonment.     

Fertilité et cancer du testicule. Impact des traitements

Objectives

To study the fertility of patients with testicular cancer.

Population and Method

The fertility of a consecutive series of 489 men treated for germ cell tumour of the testis in the Midi-Pyrénées region, between 1978 and 1998, was investigated by means of a questionnaire sent by mail to the patients. A participation rate of 95% was obtained.

Results

Information concerning fertility was obtained for 446 men. 90.1% of patients who had tried to have children prior to their testicular cancer had succeeded, but only 61.8% of men were able to have a child after treatment of their cancer. Radiotherapy and surgery of residual masses appear to be more harmful to fertility than BOE chemotherapy.

Conclusion

The population of men treated for testicular cancer present a high risk of infertility, as the fertility of these men decreases by about 30% after treatment.     

Effets du chlorure de sodium sur la croissancein vitro,l'infectivité et l'efficience deRhizobium meliloti

Résumé La tolérance au chlorure de sodium de trois souches deRhizobium meliloti dont deux isolées de nodules de luzernes poussant en sols salins a été étudiée. Pour deux souches, la croissance est ralentie par 600 mmol/l de NaCl et inhibée par 750 mmol/l mais les bactéries restent vivantes. Une des souches isolées de sol salin se développe encore en présence de 750 mmol/l de NaCl. Avec 900 mmol/l de NaCl la croissance est inhibée et la viabilité altérée. Le sodium et le potassium intra-cellulaires ont été dosés. Les trois souches accumulent du K en présence de NaCl. La souche la plus tolérante au NaCl contient plus de Na et accumule moins de K que les autres souches. La germination des graines de deux luzernes (européenne et marocaine) est inhibée à partir de 0.5% et totale à 1.4% de NaCl pour la première, et à partir de 0.9% et totale à 2% de NaCl pour la seconde. Les trois souches deR. meliloti infectent de jeunes plantes de luzerne en présence de 1.5% de NaCl et les nodules formés contiennent des bactéroïdes d'aspect normal. Cependant les nodules restent blancs à partir de 1% de NaCl et les plantes sont moins développées. L'activité nitrogénasique mesurée sur ces plantes nodulées en présence de NaCl est ralentie à partir de 0.4% de NaCl, très faible avec 1% et totalement inhibée avec 1.5%. La plante-hôte et par suite l'activité fixatrice symbiotique semblent ainsi plus sensibles au NaCl que la bactérie elle-même.

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Effect of sodium chloride on in vitro growth, infectivity and effectiveness of Rhizobium meliloti

Summary The tolerance to sodium chloride shown by three strains ofRhizobium meliloti, two of them isolated from nodules of lucerne cultivated in a saline soil, was studied. The growth of two strains is slowed by NaCl at 600 mmol/l and inhibited at 750 mmol/l, but the bacteria remain visible. One of the strains isolated from saline soil grows in the presence of 750 mmol/l NaCl. With NaCl at 900 mmol/l the growth is inhibited and viability impaired. The intracellular concentrations of Na and K has been determined. All three strains accumulate K in the presence of NaCl. The most tolerant strain contains more Na and accumulates less K than the other two. The germination of seeds of two varieties of lucerne (European and Moroccan) is inhibited at 0.5% and suppressed completely at 1.5% NaCl for the first variety, and inhibited at 0.9% and suppressed at 2% NaCl for the second. In the presence of 1.5% NaCl the threeR. meliloti strains infect the young lucerne plants and the nodules formed certain morphologically normal bacteroids. With 1% NaCl, however, the nodules are colourless and the plants are less well developed. Nitrogenase activity measured on plants nodulated in the presence of NaCl is decreased at 0.4%, very weak at 1% and inhibited completely at 1.5% NaCl. Therefore, the host plant and the symbiotic nitrogen fixation process appear to be more sensitive to NaCl than are the bacteria themselves.

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Efecyo del cloruro sodico en el crecimiento in vitro, la infectividady la eficacia de Rhizobium meliloti

Resumen Se ha estudiado la tolerancia al cloruro sódico de très cepas deRhizobium meliloti, dos de ellas aisladas de nodulos de alfalfa cultivada en suelos salinos. La presencia de NaCl a concentración de 600 mmol/l disminuye la velocidad de crecimiento de dos de las cepas, quedando este totalmente inhibido en 700 mmol/1. La bacteria, permanece, sin embargo, viable. Una de las cepas aisladas del suelo salino crece incluso en presencia de 750 mmol/1 de NaCl y su crecimiento no se inhibe hasta llegar a una concentración de 900 mmol/l quedando noobstante disminuida la viabilidad de la bacteria. Se han determinado las concentraciones intracelulares de Na y K observandose que las tres cepas acumulan K en presencia de NaCl. La cepa m tolerante a la salinidad contiene más Na y acumula menos K que las otras dos. Se ha estudiado la germinación de dos variedades de semillas de alfalfa: europea y marroquí. La germinación de la variedad europea es inhibida parcialmente a 0.5% NaCl y completamente a 1.5%. En la variedad marroquí la inhibición parcial occure a 0.9% y la supresión de la germinación a 2% de NaCl. En presencia de 1.5% de NaCl las tres cepas deR. meliloti infectan las plantulas de alfalfa formando nódulos que contienen bacteroides morfologicamente normales. A pesar de ello in 1% de Na Cl los nódulos son incoloros y las plantas no se desarrollan tan bien. En plantas que han nodulado en presencia de NaCl la actividad nitrogenasa disminuye a 0.4%, es muy debil a 1% y esta inhibida totalmente a 1.5% de NaCl. De todo ello podemos concluir que la planta húesped y el proceso de fijación simbiótico de nitrógeno parecen ser más sensibles al cloruro sódico de lo que lo son las bacterias por sí mismas.

     

Action du CCC et de l'Amo 1618 sur la germination,la croissance et les activités AIA-oxydasique,peroxydasique, catalasique in vitro et in vivo de la racine de la Lentille

Summary Amo 1618 inhibits germination and root growth of Lentil seedlings in the dark and in the light, with some symptoms of toxicity; CCC has no effect.Both CCC and Amo 1618 inhibit the catalase activity of a lentil root extract.Increasing concentrations of Amo 1618 progressively increase the activity of peroxidase and IAA-oxidase in vivo; the catalase activity remains unchanged.The effect of Amo 1618 on root growth can thus be explained by a diminished auxin level mediated by an increased auxin catabolism.The effect of Amo 1618 and that of kinetin on root growth and enzymes are parallet. Gibberellic acid has an opposite effect on auxin catabolism.

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Une partie de ce travail a fait l'objet du mémoire de Licence de J. L. et a été réalisée au Laboratoire de Biochimie végétale de l'Institut de Botanique de Liège.