Effets d’une exposition à la Vinclozoline et à la Génistéine de la gestation à l’âge adulte sur la fonction de reproduction du ratWistar mâle: protocole et résultats préliminaires

Current evidence indicates that endocrine disrupters (EDs) can induce adverse effects on the male reproductive tract in various mammalian species. Recent reports indicate deterioration in male reproductive health in several human populations, but the evidence for a causal link with endocrine disruption is still weak. In addition, the experimental conditions of most of the reportedin vivo studies are not representative of environmental exposures (for example, high doses, short-term exposure, a single ED) and the mechanisms by which EDs disrupt the reproductive system are poorly understood. The objective of the present study is to develop an animal model to assess the reproductive effects and study the putative cellular and molecular mechanisms involved after exposure to genistein (phytoestrogen) and vinclozolin (fungicide with a known antiandrogenic potential) alone or in combination. The study will be performed in male Wistar rats, with administration of low and high doses of the compounds from conception to adulthood and a subset of the males in each treatment group will be mated with unexposed females. We plan to assess the level of sperm production, histology of the reproductive organs, motility and morphometry of spermatozoa and hormone levels, as well as DNA fragmentation of spermatozoa and determination of the number of germ cells, Sertoli cells and the diameters of seminiferous tubules. Estrogen, androgen, progesterone and FSH receptors will be detected and quantified and the level of testicular apoptosis and several apoptosis pathways will be studied to determine the putative cellular and molecular mechanisms involved. The preliminary results confirmed the developmental effects previously reported for high doses of vinclozolin. More interestingly, they indicated a number of deleterious effects for male rats exposed to low dosages alone or mixtures of low and high dosages compared to controls and rats exposed to high dosages alone. For example, a number of developmental anomalies of the genitalia were observed and a significant decrease of sperm motility and motion and fertilizing ability were observed. These preliminary results provide evidence that chronic exposure to environmental levels of EDs or mixtures of EDs have a detrimental impact on the male reproductive tract. The next step involves assessment of the anatomical disorders and the study of some of the cellular and molecular mechanisms possibly involved.     

Apport de la TEP/TDM au 18FDG dans la stadification initiale et l’évaluation précoce de la réponse thérapeutique des rhabdomyosarcomes pédiatriques

PurposeThe objective of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the impact of positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) using fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG), in comparison with conventional imaging modalities (CIM), for initial staging and early therapy assessment in paediatric rhabdomyosarcoma.Patients and methodsPrior to treatment, 18 patients (age range, 9 months to 18 years) with histologically proven rhabdomyosarcoma underwent FDG PET/CT in addition to CIM (magnetic resonance imaging of primary site, whole body CT and bone scintigraphy). After three courses of chemotherapy, 12 patients underwent FDG PET/CT in addition to CIM. RECIST criteria and visual analysis of FDG uptake were used for assessment of response. The standard of reference was determined by an interdisciplinary tumor board based on imaging material, histopathology and follow-up data (median = 5 years).ResultsPET/CT sensitivity was superior to CIM's concerning lymph node involvement (100% versus 83%, respectively) and metastases detection (100% versus 50%, respectively). PET/CT results changed therapeutic management in 11% of cases. After three courses of chemotherapy, the rate of complete response was 66% with PET/CT versus 8% with CIM. Five percent of patients relapsed during follow-up (median = 5 years).ConclusionThis study confirms that PET/CT depicts important additional information in initial staging of paediatric rhabdomyosarcomas and suggests a superior prognostic value of PET/CT in early response to chemotherapy assessment.     

Arrachement du scrotum par morsure humaine: présentation d’un cas et revue de la littérature

Human bites of male external genitalia are rare. We report a case of scrotal wound caused by human bite during a sexual dispute. Lesion was recent wound caused by tearing off the summit of scrotal skin without any testicular injury. The wound was successfully treated by antibiotics, surgical debridement and suture. The patient was immunized against tetanus.     

Automation et robotique préanalytique points forts et zones sensibles d’un nouveau développement

Cet article est la première partie d’un dossier relatif à l’Automation et à la Robotique. Elle est plus théorique. Elle sera suivie d’une deuxième partie pratique, réalisée en lien avec des installations effectives.     

L’échographie doppler dans la prévention des amputations des membres inférieurs du diabétique en Côte d’Ivoire

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to demonstrate the role of the Doppler ultrasound examination in the management of diabetic feet and particularly in the prevention of the diabetic's amputation.Patients and methodIt is about a retrospective study carried out over a 4-year period at Yopougon University Hospital (Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire). It consisted in the analysis of the records of 78 patients hospitalized for diabetic foot and in whom was performed a Doppler ultrasound examination of the lower limbs vessels. The analysis of patients’ records helped to bring out the epidemiological, clinical, radiographic, biologic, therapeutic and evolutional elements.ResultsPatients’ mean age was 57.6 years. The sex ratio was 1.05. Adult diabetes accounted for 93.5% of cases and had been developing for 11.49 years on average. On the Doppler ultrasound scan of the lower limbs arterial anomalies of these limbs were found in 70 cases. They were associated with a venous anomaly in four cases. Arterial anomalies were represented by stenosis (34 cases), occlusions (10 cases), medialarterosclerosis (four cases), small arteries (six cases) and the associations of several elementary lesions (nine cases). In three cases, the arterial abnormality was not indicated. A medical treatment was instituted for all the patients. The outcome was favorable for 61 patients, 13 were amputated and four deaths were recorded.ConclusionColor Doppler ultrasound examination of lower limbs vessels helped to bring out a vascular anomaly in 89.7% of patients with diabetic foot whose treatment helped to keep the lower limb in 78.2%. We recommend the systematic request of this examination in the African diabetic with adult diabetes which has been developing for more than 10 years before the onset of diabetic foot.     

Étude de la cohorte nord-finlandaise de 1966: facteurs prédictifs et conséquences de la schizophrénie

Subtle motor, emotional, cognitive and behavioural abnormalities are often present in apparently healthy children and adolescents who later develop schizophrenia. This suggests that some aspects of causation are established long before psychosis becomes manifest. We aim to assess the factors contributing to the development of schizophrenia focusing mainly on genetic factors, pregnancy and delivery complications, early development and scholastic performance, as well as later educational, social and health consequences. This is done by reviewing the Northern Finland 1966 Birth Cohort, its scientific activities, publications and work in progress.     

Le sujet cérébral: une esquisse historique et conceptuelle

Since the middle of the 20th century, numerous discourses and practices, both within and outside scientific and philosophical disciplines, have manifested the development of the notion of the human being as acerebral subject. The brain appears to be the only organ of the body that we need, and that has to be exclusively ours, in order for each individual to be himself or herself. Sincepersonhood is the quality or condition of being an individual person,brainhood is thus the quality or condition of being a brain. This property defines the cerebral subject. The anthropology ofbrainhood may seem a natural consequence of progress in the neurosciences. However, it is rooted in 17th-century developments in the philosophies of matter and personal identity. The neurosciences confirm and reinforce this perspective. The author outlines the historical narrative concerning the development of the cerebral subject as well as some contemporary issues arising from the neurosciences.     

Délocalisation de la biologie d’urgence et Assurance Qualité

La biologie délocalisée prend une importance croissante dans le fonctionnement des services traitant les urgences à l’h?pital. Elle devrait représenter une réele évolution pour la prise en charge du patient tout en améliorant l’organisation interne des unités de soins. Le biologiste occupe un r?le clé pour mener un tel projet et la mise en place d’un système d’assurance qualité adapté à cette pratique est indispensable.     

L’espèce entre résilience et sérendipité

This paper is a personal reflection rather than a demonstration. It discusses the relationship between two properties of species: resilience, which allows species to resist perturbations, and serendipity, which allows them to change even under weak perturbations. Among the great problems raised by the transformation of species, the most astonishing fact is that species are extraordinarily stable. This stability, to which we hardly pay attention, is part of our everyday life, up to the point that it forms the basis of our deepest thought, the eternal Ideas of Plato and the substance of Aristotle. This suspected stability has also been used to support doctrines of the loathed creationists. All the definitions of species, even the arbitrary boundaries and nominalist conventions, bear the embarrassing sign of resilience, which contradicts the idea of evolution.