Un nouveau genre de Sélacien (Batomorphii,Myliobatiformes)de l'Yprésien des Ouled Abdoun,Maroc

Ouledia sigei nov. gen. nov. sp. from the Upper Ypresian of Morocco is described. Despite its very specialized and derived dental morphology, this genus can be tentatively referred to the Gymnuridae. To date, Ouledia sigei nov. gen. nov. sp. is confined to the Upper Ypresian of Ouled Abdoun basin.     

Valeur de la TEP-FDG dans la détection précoce des métastases osseuses : étude d’une série de 20 cas

FDG-PET is useful for metabolic analysis of metastatic cells. Based on a retrospective study relating to 20 cases of osseous metastases (MO), and a literature review, we will try to specify the main characteristics of bone metastases detected with FDG-PET. In our study, the primary malignant findings included lymphoma (n = 7), lung cancer (n = 5), breast cancer (n = 4), colon cancer (n = 2), melanoma (n = 1), and nasopharyngeal cancer (n = 1). On FDG-PET, 4 patients had a solitary metastatic focus (20%), 1 patient had two metastatic focuses (5%) and 15 patients had multiple lesions (75%). Most of the lesions showed intense abnormal uptake with SUVmax > 4.0 (14 patients, 70%); 6 patients had both intense and moderate FDG uptake with SUVmax > 2.1. Only 6 patients had MO diagnosed with standard diagnostic procedures (SDP) before FDG-PET. However, FDG-PET consistently revealed more metastatic foci missed by SDP. We conclude that FDG-PET is better than SDP in detecting all bone metastases at all sites of the skeleton according to the data of the literature.     

Simulation d'un plan d'expérience en océanographie: Effets de la dispersion des organismes sur l'erreur d'échantillonnage

Seven spatial dispersions of organisms, reflecting some constraints of various physical and biological factors of the pelagic environment were simulated on computer. The relationships between the sampling methods (tow length, net size), the pelagic population dispersion patterns, and the sampling error were investigated by computer simulation. Two categories of dispersions were identified: 1) random or relatively uniform dispersions of organisms (including Poisson, gradient, and negative contagous dispersions), characterized by an index of dispersion $\text{s}{}^2\text{m}\text{< 1.5}$; and 2) overdispersed distributions of swarming or clustering organisms (including positive contagion and centric aggregation dispersions), characterized by a value of $\text{s}{}^2\text{m}\text{> 1.5}$.The origin and size of the sampling errors as deduced from the analysis of variance change, considerably from one group of dispersions to the other. In the first case, the net size was dominant, whereas in the second case the tow length and patch size effects are more critical. In general, the precision of estimations decreases as the over-dispersion of organisms increases. The confidence limits, for a simple estimation of abundance, vary considerably with the spatial dispersion, ranging from narrow values for the relatively uniform dispersions to very large values for the overdispersed distributions. There is an increasing imprecision in the estimate of population abundance as the dispersion coefficient $\text{s}{}^2\text{m}$ increases.Analysis of coefficients of variation indicates that more precise estimates of abundance may be obtained if a practical sampling procedure is applied to a group of specific organisms. Furthermore, it is suggested that a simulated approach, performed prior to ocean sampling, permits the establishment of the optimal sampling procedure for the species under study.     

Cancer de la prostate : les niveaux de preuve des biomarqueurs de la détection précoce

As part of an overall review on the role of PSA and other emerging biomarkers in the detection, diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer, we present here a part of a review of the literature made by the working group Biologie de la Prostate (AFU, CNBH, SFBC, SFMN) on the use of PSA and other biomarkers in the early detection of prostate cancer with an assessment of the level of evidence.     

Alcide d’Orbigny,un précurseur dans l’étude de la faune du Danien du bassin de Paris

One of the major contributions of Alcide d’Orbigny to palaeontology is his work on the Danian of the Paris Basin. The Danian material includes well-preserved external imprints of Invertebrates. By making casting of these imprints, Alcide d’Orbigny inaugurated an original technique, which enabled him to describe more than 40 species. The question of the age of the Danian localities has long been debated since that time. It was settled once and for all in the seventies by micropalaeontologists.     

Découverte de charophytes et ostracodes de l’Yprésien inférieur dans les Monts des Ksour (Algérie) : biostratigraphie et paléoécologie

A stratigraphic, palaeontological and sedimentological study was carried out in the red beds cropping out on the left side of Oued Tafarahit, south-east of the Ksour Mountains (Algeria). The studied succession consists of a non-marine fining-upward detrital formation, including microconglomerate, sandstone and clay beds, which were previously attributed to the Cenozoic sensu lato, since no palaeontological evidence was available. Sedimentology suggests deposition in a fluvial environment. The clayey levels yielded the assemblage formed by the charophytes Peckichara atlasensis, Maedleriella cristellata, Nitellopsis (Tectochara) thaleri, Grovesichara sp., and Lamprothamnium papulosum and the ostracods Neocyprideis meguerchiensis, Herpetocypris? sp. and Cyprinotus? sp. This assemblage allows constraining the age of the detrital series from Oued Tafarahit to the Ypresian. Ostracods are typical of freshwater to euryhaline environments. The freshwater taxa (Herpetocypris? sp. and Cyprinotus? sp.) would indicate phases of desalinisation during periods of flood. However, the brackish water species (Neocyprideis meguerchiensis) is characteristic of saline phases related to low water table periods. Moreover the charophyte and ostracod assemblage confirms a close palaeobiogeographic relationship between North Africa and Southern Europe during the Lower Eocene.     

Considérations sur la présence du Microsporon cookei — Ajello 1959, dans le sol roumain; ses propriétés immuno-biologiques

Resumé Les auteurs ont réussi à isoler du sol roumain deux souches deMicrosporon cookei —Ajello 1959, dont l'une a été trouvée dans une forêt de sapins près d'une station alpine et l'autre dans un jardin public de Bucarest. Les inoculations expérimentales n'ont pas réussi. Les propriétés immuno-biologiques des 2 couches se sont montrées semblables à celles de tous les dermatophytes communs. Plus précisément, la valeur thérapeutique et diagnostique de la trichophytine préparée à partir de leurs cultures n'a été guère inférieure à celle de la trichophytine standard.

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Summary The authors were able to isolate from Rumanian soils two strains ofMicrosporon cookei, viz. one from a fir forest in the mountains and the other from a public garden in Bucharest. The cultures of these isolates yielded a trichophytin, the antigenic properties of which were those of the standard trichophytin, proved by cutaneous reactions and therapeutical value.

     

Donnees nouvelles sur l'age des formations lacustres des bassins de Narbonne — Sigean et de leucate (aude) a l'aide des micromammiferes

Discovery of fossil rodents of oligocene and lower miocene age (Aquitanian) in the Narbonne — Sigean basin, and of pliocene age at the Leucate plateau and cliff.     

Les Agriotheriinae (Mammalia,Carnivora) néogènesde l'Ancien Monde présence du genre Indarctos dans la faune de Menacer (Ex-Marceau), Algérie

Newly recognized specimens reveal the occurrenceof an agriotherine ursid, Indartos aff. arctoides, in the Late Miocene fauna of Menacer (ex-Marceau), Algeria). The identification of these specimens and their chronological and biogeographical significances are established by comparison with other agriotheres in the Old World. The major features of the agriotherine radiation in Eurasia and Africa are defined.     

Une riche faune de Sélaciens dans le bassin à phosphatede Kpogamé-Hahotoé (Éocène moyen du Togo): Note préliminaire et précisions sur la structure et l'âge du gisement

The study of the phosphate-bearing series of Kpogame-Hahotoe permits to identify four successive fossiliferous levels which yielded a rich Middle Eocene selachian fauna. The field observations and the sequence of faunal associations lead to revise the interpretation and age of the phosphate deposit.     

A propos de l'intervention des aéroions dans les processus de régulation de la lipémie et de la cholestérolémie

Resume Les expériences ont porté sur des lapins repartis en deux groupes parallèles — un groupe étant traité avec des aéroions négatifs en concentrations moderées (n^– = 10 – 40.000; n⁺ = 1.000) et l'autre sans aéroionothérapie (témoins). Par rapport aux animaux témoins (pas exposés aux aéroions),on a enregistré,sous l'influence de l'aéroionothérapie, que: (1)il y a une tendence de normalisation de la motilité spontanée, deprimée par une alimentation contenant un excès de cholestérol(0,3 g/kg/jour); (2) la lipémie et la cholestérolémie sont restées à un niveau plus bas chez les animaux alimentés au cholestérol; (3) la lipémie et la cholestérolémie, de même que l'iode thyroïdien, sont restées aux valeurs voisines de celles normales,chez les animaux nourris avec un excès (20 mg/kg/jour), de substances antithyroïdiennes naturelles (provenant du chou).

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Groups of rabbits were exposed to negative air ions of moderate concentrations (n^– = 10 – 40,000; n⁺ = 1,000) while others served as controls. (1) When rabbits were fed a cholesterol-rich diet (0.3 g/kg/day)causing reduction of motility in the control animals, their motility was normalized under air ion treatment. (2) The blood cholesterol and lipid levels of rabbits on a cholesterol-rich diet were lower with air ion treatment than in controls.(3) When rabbits were fed a diet with thyroid blocking agents from cabbage the blood cholesterol and lipid levels and the thyroid iodine content remained unchanged with air ion treatment.

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Zusammenfassung Gruppen Kaninchen wurden mit negativen Luftionen in mässigen Konzentrationen (n^– = 100 000 – 40 000; n⁺ = 1 000) behandelt, während andere als Kontrollen dienten. (1) Die durch Fütterung von cholesterinreicher Diät (0,3 g/kg/Tag) verminderte Motilität der Tiere wurde unter der Luftionenbehandlung normalisiert. (2) Der durch Fütterung von cholesterinreicher Diät erhöhte Blutcholesterin- und-fettspiegel fiel durch Luftionenbehandlung ab. (3) Der durch Fütterung von strumipriven Substanzen aus Kohl erhöhte Cholesterin- und Fettspiegel im Blut und verminderte Jodgehalt der Schilddrüse wurde durch Luftionenbehandlung nicht beeinflusst.