Développement d’un dispositif expérimental ultrasonore pour le largage ciblé et contrôlé d’une chimiothérapie encapsulée

Applying ultrasound on drug-loaded sonosensitive liposomes offers new possibilities for treating cancer. In vitro experiments were performed in the present study to define an index of inertial cavitation which could be used to monitor the delivery of drugs. This index could also be used to assess the sonosensitivity of new formulations of liposomes. Experiments were then carried out in rats bearing subcutaneous abdominal tumors. Based on pharmacokinetic and biodistribution studies, a period of 48 hours was chosen between the injection of the liposomes and the exposure to ultrasound. At the injected doses, liposomes slowed down significantly the tumor development. Ultrasound combined with liposomes seemed to contribute to the tumor control. However, the important efficacy of liposomes alone and the eventual weak interactions with ultrasound prevent to guarantee that the effect of ultrasound is significant.     

Etude d’un modèle expérimental d’infection de l’appareil génital mâle

Injection of uropathogenic E. coli into the rat cauda epididymidis results in chronic epididymitis in 74.2% of cases, accompanied by necrotic orchitis (16.1% of cases) or non-infectious testicular lesions (45.2% of cases). Injection of killed bacteria caused the same noninfectious testicular lesions, most probably due to toxic damage. Injection of bacteria into the seminal vesicles caused a vesiculitis which regressed after seven days and disappeared progressively. Simultaneously, the prostate was invaded by polymorphonuclear leucocytes, an infection which persisted for more than three months. E. coli injection in association with bilateral castration gave rise to the formation of chronic vesicular abscesses. Examination of the male genital tract lymphatic system allowed explanation of the spread of infection from the epididymis to the testis, and from the seminal vesicle to the prostate. The epididymis is an organ with poor defense against against infection whereas the seminal vesicle is able, owing to the activity of its epithelium, to fight infection. On the other hand, prostatitis secondary to vesiculitis is immediately chronic.     

Réponses d'une lande atlantique au piétinement expérimental

Trampling responses of an Atlantic heathland dominated by furzes were experimentally determined. They concerned two levels of biological systems: the vegetal community level (community scale) and the species level (intracommunity scale). Two trampling experiments were conducted: the first one was carried out in summer and the second one in winter. Heathland was trampled over 4 months, at differents intensities: 10, 30 and 90 persons a day. Whether trampling was conducted in the summer or in the winter, immediate responses of heathland (community scale) were similar: resistance of this vegetal community did not vary with the trampling season. Responses also showed that there is no linear relationship between vegetation degradation and trampling intensity. Deferred vegetation responses were similar, but within the community heathland (intracommunity scale) responses of a taxonomic group can depend on the trampling season. For example, resilience of furzes trampled in winter was greater than resilience of furzes trampled in summer. All these results should be considered in order to establish management orientations of trampled heathlands.     

Constructions dans l’analyse: le transfert comme construction d’un espace porteur et comme reconstruction

The author argues that Binswanger’s daseinsanalyse is far from contradicting what Freud established in the field of analytical therapy. On the contrary, it enriches psychotherapy by making explicit what it is capable of constructing. This paper focuses on the transferential aspect of this construction. Übertragung, or transference, calls upon the world of the patient, its emotional space inhabited by the patient’s body and the bodies of others. This world, along with its underlying dramatics, not only requires recognition, but also carriage (Tragung) to the analyst’s side, at least if the analyst is to succeed in revealing the unconscious part of this world to foster its transformation rather than repetitions of the mechanisms that freeze it. The author reflects on the “gestation” and “carriage” metaphors to show how therapeutically effective the “carrier-experienced space” can be.     

La collection d’Invertébrés fossiles d’Alcide d’Orbigny et la salle d’Orbigny

Fossil invertebrates collected or received by Alcide d’Orbigny, all his life long, have been brought together in a renowned collection that is very rich in terms of both species and specimens. The collection has resulted from a huge palaeontological work. Study of faunas from numerous French sites led Alcide d’Orbigny to do biostratigraphical comparisons and to erect geological stages, the definitions of which rest on their stratotypes. His wide knowledge of European fossil faunas was strengthened by a more global palaeobiogeographical view derived from his travel in South America. The d’Orbigny collection is housed in the ‘Muséum’ of Paris and is often visited by experts.     

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.     

Nouvelles données sur l'écologie et le comportement entomopathogène expérimental de l'entomophthoraleConidiobolus coronatus (Zygomycètes)

Résumé Quelle que soit l'origine de la souche (sol, arthropodes, lésions humaines), les conidies de l'EntomophthoraleConidiobolus coronatus sont capables d'infecter le puceronAcyrthosiphon pisum (Hémiptères, Aphididae) et les chenilles deGalleria mellonella (Lépidoptères, Pyralidae). De plus, les filtrats, de culture en milieu liquide agité des huit souches éprouvées sont toxiques par inoculation à l'égard de ces derniers insectes; cette toxicité se traduit d'abord par une hémorragie au trou de pip?re, qui peut durer plusiers heures, puis par un noircissement du corps de l'insecte et enfin par la mort de celui-ci. L'effet anticoagulant de substances produites par une Entomophthorale est ici signalé pour la première fois. Les deux souches les plus virulentes à l'égard deAcyrthosiphon pisum, parmi lesquelles se trouve celle isolée de lésions humaines, sont également les plus toxinogènes. L'étude de la vitesse de croissancein vitro du champignon à des températures comprises entre 4 et 37°C révèle une adaptation des souches aux conditions thermiques en relation avec la région d'origine de l'isolat. Notamment, les souches d'origine tropicale se développent plus, rapidement à 26–29°C que les souches originaires de France. La vitesse maximale de croissance est constatée à 29°C pour les différentes souches, sauf pour celle isolée de lésions humaines qui se développe le plus rapidement à 37°C. Cette température est létale pour les autres souches sauf pour une souche isolée d'un myriapode de l'?le de la Réunion. C'est la première fois que l'aptitude à cro?tre à cette température est reconnue chez un isolat deConidiobolus coronatus provenant d'un arthropode.

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Summary Whatever the substrate of origin of the strain (soil, arthropods, human phycomycosis), conidia ofConidiobolus coronatus (Zygomycotina, Entomophthorales) are able to infect the pea aphid,Acyrthosiphon pisum (Hemiptera, Aphididae) and the greater wax moth,Galleria mellonella (Lepidoptera, Pyralidae). Moreover, intrahemocoelic injections of filtrates from shake cultures of all the 8 strains tested proved to be toxic for the later insect; the symptoms are successively haemorrhage, which could last for a few hours, blackening of the blood and at last death. This is the first mention of an anti-coagulant effect of metabolic products from any Entomophthorale. The strain isolated from an human phycomycosis is both the most virulent against the pea aphid and the most effective with regard to toxicity. Comparison of fungal growthin vitro at different temperatures, ranging from 4 to 37°C, revealed a certain relation between the temperature for the optimal growth and the locality of origin of a strain. In particular, strains from tropical areas were growing at 26–29°C faster than those from temperate regions. The higher growth rate was noticed at 29°C for all the 8 tested strains, except for the strain from human phycomycosis, for which the optimum temperature was 37°C. This temperature was lethal for the other strains, but for a strain isolated from a myriapod from the Reunion Island. It is the first time that the ability of a strain ofC. coronatus isolated from an arthropod to growth at 37°C is ascertained.