Amputation du gland après circoncision

Introduction

Circumcision is still the most commonly performed surgery in our society. It??s often performed by an unlicensed paramedic or even by a traditional practitioner outside the hospital under the non sterile conditions. Although, not technically difficult, circumcision may have serious complications that can endanger the sexuality or even the life of male children. The aim of this study is to emphasize the important problem of glandular amputation after circumcision.

Patients and methods

We report 8 cases of glandular amputation after circumcision performed outside the hospital within traditional methods.

Results

The mean age of these patients was 6 years (3 to 8 years). Glandular amputation occurred during circumcision in 4 cases including that 2 cases with total glandular amputation. On the other cases it was about glandular necrosis caused by inadequate use of electric lancet. An urgent reparation of glans was performed on only 3 cases. On the forth the amputed glans was unrepairable. We noticed only one case on wich glans revascularization succeeded. In case of glandular necrosis, patients consulted after 3 days. The treatment consisted of meatoplasty.

Conclusion

Glandular amputation is a rare but very severe complication of circumcision because it endangers the future sexuality of the child. So, the operation should be performed by educated and experienced personnel.     

Qualité du gamète testiculaire

The combination of testicular sperm extraction (TESE) and ICSI has constituted a breakthrough in the treatment of men with nonobstructive azoospermia. However, impaired spermatogenesis raises the question of the quality of testicular spermatozoa obtained by testicular biopsy, when considering the male gamete as the product of a sequential and programmed spermatogenic process. The aim of this paper is: 1) To briefly recall the successive events of sperm protein synthesis; 2) To define the characteristics of sperm cells retrieved from the testis and 3) To evaluate the effect of nuclear anomalies on the outcome of ICSI.     

Monogènes Dactylogyridae parasites de Cyprinidae du genreBarbus d'Afrique du Nord

Resumé Quinze nouvelles espèces de Monogènes Dactylogyridae sont décrites chez quinze espèces deBarbus (Teleostei, Cyprinidae) appartenant aux sous-genresB. (Barbus) etB. (Labeobarbus) en Afrique du Nord. Les barbeaux examinés proviennent des différents bassins hydrographiques du Maroc et d'une localité nommée Hamman Bourgiba en Tunisie. Dans cette dernière région, le genreBarbus n'est représenté que par une seule espèce:Barbus (B.) callensis. Au Maroc, on en dénombre actuellement quatorze dont quatre appartiennent au sous-genreLabeobarbus: il s'agit deBarbus (L.) fritschii; B. (L.) harteti; B. (L.) paytonii etB. (L.) reinii. Les dix espèces appartenant au sous-genreBarbus sont:Barbus (B.) figuiensis; B. (B.) ksibi; B. (B.) lepineyi; B. (B.) magniatlantis; B. (B.) massaensis; B. (B.) moulouyensis; B. (B.) nasus; B. (B.) pallaryi; B. (B.) setivemensis etB. (B.) issenensis.Chaque sous-genre possède son propre pool parasitaire, à l'exception deDactylogyrus marocanus n. sp., recontré sur des espèces appartenant aux deux sous-genres (B. (L.) fritschii, B. (L.) paytonii, B. (L.) harteti, B. (L.) reinii, B. (L.) nasus, B. (B.) setivimensis, B. (B.) ksibi). Sur les cinqDactylogyrus parasitant lesLabeobarbus, trois présentent une spécificité stricte vis à vis de leur hôte. Il s'agit deDactylogyrus reinii n. sp. surB. (L.) reinii; D. volutus n. sp. etD. zatensis n. sp. surB. (L.) fritschii. Les espècesD. oumiensis n. sp. etD. kulindrii n. sp. présentent une spécifité stenoxène et parasitent respectivementB. (L.) harteti, B. (L.) paytonii, B. (L.) reinii etB. (L.) fritschii, B. (L.) reinii.Nous avons recontré neufDactylogyrus chez les poisson-hôtes appartenent au sous-genreBarbus. Six d'entre eux ont une spécificité oïoxène; ce sont:D. guirensis n. sp.,D. atlasensis n. sp. etD. draaensis n. sp. surB. (B.) pallaryi; D. borjensis n. sp. surB. (B.) nasus etD. heteromorphus n. sp. etD. tunisiensis n. sp. surB. (B.) callensis. Les trois autres parasites ont un spectre d'hôtes plus large. Il s'agit deD. ksibii n. sp. recontré chezB. (B.) ksibi, B. (B.) setivimensis etB. (B.) magniatlantis; D. ksibioïdes n. sp. recontré chezB. (B.) setivimensis etB. (B.) moulouyensis. L'espèceD. fimbriphallus n. sp. stenoxène, se recontre chez les poisson-hôtes du versant Sud de l'Atlas et de la façade méditerranéenne à savoir:B. (B.) figuiensis, B. (B.) lepineyi, B. (B.) massaensis, B. (B.) moulouyensis, B. (B.) pallaryi etB. (B.) issenensis.Le rôle des Dactylogyridae en tant que marqueurs biogéographiques, phylogénétiques et taxonomiques est discuté à partir de la composition spécifique des communautés de Monogènes rencontrés et de leurs différents types morphologiques.

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Fifteen new species of the Dactylogyridae (Monogenea) parasitic on fifteen species of barbels (Barbus) from North Africa (Teleostei, Cyprinidae) are described. The fishes studied belong to two subgenera,B. (Labeobarbus) andB. (Barbus), collected from various hydrographical basins of Morocco and from the Hamman Bourgiba locality in Tunisia. In the latter area, the genusBarbus is represented by onlyBarbus (Barbus) callensis. In Morocco, fourteen species are listed, four of which belong to the subgenusLabeobarbus; these areBarbus (L.) fritschii; B. (L.) harteti; B. (L.) paytonii andB. (L.) reinii. The other ten species belong to the subgenusBarbus: these areBarbus (B.) figuiensis; B. (B.) ksibi; B. (B.) lepineyi; B. (B.) magniatlantis; B. (B.) massaensis; B. (B.) moulouyensis; B. (B.) nasus; B. (B.) pallaryi; B. (B.) setivimensis andB. (B.) issenensis. Each of the two subgenera has its unique parasitic fauna, except forDactylogyrus marocanus n. sp. collected on species belonging to both subgenera (B. (L.) fritschii, B. (L.) paytonii, B. (L.) harteti, B. (L.) reinii, B. (B.) nasus, B. (B.) setivimensis andB. (B.) ksibi). Of the five monogeneans found onLabeobarbus, three appear to be specific to one host: they areDactylogyrus reinii n. sp. onB. (L.) reinii, andD. volutus n. sp. andD. zatensis n. sp. onB. (L.) fritschii. D. kulindrii n. sp. parasitisedB. (L.) reinii andB. (L.) fritschii; andD. oumiensis n. sp. occurred onB. (L.) reinii, B. (L.) paytonii andB. (L.) harteti. NineDactylogyrus species were found in fishes belonging to the subgenusBarbus. Six of them have an oïoxenous specificity: these areD. guirensis n. sp.,D. atlasensis n. sp. andD. draaensis n. sp. onB. (B.) pallaryi; D. borjensis n. sp. onB. (B.) nasus andD. heteromorphus n. sp. andD. tunisiensis n. sp. on(B.) callensis. These other three have a wider range of hosts: they areD. ksibii n. sp. collected fromB. (B.) ksibi, B. (B.) setivimensis andB. (B.) magniatlantis, andD. ksibioïdes n. sp. found onB. (B.) setivimensis andB. (B.) moulouyensis. D. fimbriphallus n. sp. is a characteristic parasite of fishes from the southern side of the Atlas mountains and the Mediterranean coast (B. (B.) figuiensis, B. (B.) lepineyi, B. (B.) massaensis, B. (B.) moulouyensis, B. (B.) pallaryi andB. (B.) issenensis).The role of dactylogyrids as biogeographical phylogenetic and taxonomic indicators is discussed in relation to the specific structure of the monogenean communities and the different morphological types found.

     

Fertilité après cancer du testicule

Objectives

To study the fertility of patients treated for testicular cancer and to identify predictive factors of infertility after treatment.

Material and Methods

314 men with germ cell tumor, followed by the CECOS Midi-Pyrénées center between 1978 and 1998, were included in the study. They were evaluated retrospectively and interviewed by a mailed questionnaire concerning their reproductive history. If they failed to respond to the questionnaire, they were contacted twice by mail, and once by telephone. The response rate was 92%.

Results

The reproductive history of 277 men was known: 138 men had tried to have a child. 91 (66%) succeeded and 47 (34%) failed to achieve a “spontaneous” pregnancy. Age greater than 25 (p<0.004), a history of undescended testis, and a sperm count lower than 10 million per ml were inversely correlated with fertility (p<0.004, p<0.01, p<0.0001, respectively). However, no relationship was found between radiotherapy or chemotherapy and fertility after treatment.

Conclusion

Men treated for testicular cancer are at high risk of infertility. We identified various prognostic factors for fertility after treatment for testicular cancer: radiotherapy and chemotherapy had no significant effect on fertility.     

Effet toxique du champignon ascomycèteCordyceps militaris sur les cellules du diptèreAedes albopictus cultivéesin vitro

Résumé Le filtrat de cultures du champignon entomopathogèneCordyceps militaris L. Link) est toxique pour les cellules d'Aedes albopictus (Skuse) Singh cultivéesin vitro. Cette toxicité se traduit par des altérations nucléaires marquées et une destruction rapide du tapis cellulaire après désintégration du cytoplasme.

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Summary The culture of the fungusCordyceps militaris L. (Link) produces a cytopathic effect onin vitro cultivated cells ofAedes albopictus (Skuse) Singh. The toxicity consists of several alterations in the nucleus and destruction of the cells after a cytoplasmic desintegration.

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Travail subventionné par le Conseil National de Recherches du Canada. Les auteurs remercient Mlle ColetteTrudel pour son excellente assistance.     

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.

     

Origines du peuplement mammalien en Afrique du Nord durant le miocène terminal

The late Miocene North African mammalianassemblage is considered here from three viewpoints: survivals, extinctions, and immigrations. The Eurasiatic affinities of the large mammals slightly prevail over the Ethiopian affinities. Amongst the North African large mammals, 4 to 8 taxa are Eurasiatic immigrants, while 4 to 6 are of Subsaharian origin. Contrarily, the micromammalian fauna is highly endemic, with only one species, a murid (Paraethomys miocaenicus), considered here as being related to an Asiatic form (Karnimata darwini). Our study of Eurasian and African Miocene faunas reveals that during the late Astaracian-early Turolian interval, the Saharo-Arabic belt permitted very little latitudinal faunal exchanges. However, during the middle and late Turolian such faunal exchanges became frequent. The micromammal record unequivocally indicates that a brief period of faunal exchange occurred between Africa and western Europe at the end of the Miocene, corresponding with the Messinian Salinity Crisis. The increased intercontinental faunal exchange between Africa and Eurasia during the late Miocene coincides with, and counterbalances the extinction of more than 10 taxa at the Mio/Pliocene boundary.     

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.     

Expression in vitro du gène de l'aromatase dans les cellules testiculaires du rat

The ability of the male gonad to convert androgens into estrogens is well known ; the microsomal enzymatic complex involved in this transformation is named aromatase and is composed of a specific cytochrome P450 aromatase (P450arom) and a ubiquitous reductase. Using a highly specific RT-PCR method we have measured the amount of P450arom mRNA in purified Leydig and Sertoli cells prepared from 20, 40 and 70–80 day-old rats. The amount of P450arom mRNA in the Leydig cells is independent of age (40 × 10⁻³ attomoles/μg of total RNA); in contrast, in the immature rat Sertoli cells, after 5 days of culture the amount of P450arom mRNA is 20-fold lower when compared to that of 20-day-old rat Sertoli cells (71 × 10⁻³ attomoles/μg of total RNA). Nevertheless, irrespective of the age, the addition of either FSH or dbcAMP for 6 h increases the level of P450arom mRNA in the rat Sertoli cell preparations. Therefore, we evidenced that during testicular maturation not only the Leydig cells but also the Sertoli cells of the rat have the capacity to express the gene for cytochrome P450 aromatase.     

Deux fougères fertiles du Stéphanien du Massif Central (France)

Two fertile ferns from the Stephanian of the Massif Central (France) are described in detail. One has been found in the Blanzy basin and is assigned to Oligocarpia (Sphenopteris) leptophylla (Bunbury) nov. comb., according to the morphology of the sterile pinnae and of the fructifications. Its spores agree with the «sporae dispersae Granulatisporites parvus (Ibr.) Potonié and Kremp. The other fern has been collected in the St Etienne basin and is assigned to Senftenbergia plumosa (Artis) Radforth var. ligerensis nov. var. Its spores agree with the morphographic genus Raistrickia (S., W. and B.) Potonié and Kremp but do not look like any described species; therefore the new species name R. polymorpha nov. sp. has been given to that spore.     

Synthèse biostratigraphique du plio-pléistocène de Guadix-Baza (Province de Granada,Sud-Est de l'Espagne)

In the Guadix-Baza basin, a continental sequence 0214 ranging from the Upper Miocene (Upper Turolian) to the Middle Pleistocene (Cromerian) has been established. An essay of biozonation by means of the Rodent succession is proposed, based on the following biozones: Trilophomys castroi, Mimomys occitanus, Mimomys cappetai, Mimomys cf. reidi, Mimomys ostramosensis, Allophaiomys pliocaenicus, Mimomys savini and Arvicola cantiana.     

Bovidae (Mammalia) du Pliocène final d’Ahl al Oughlam, Casablanca, Maroc

Only seven bovid species are present at Ahl al Oughlam: aTragelaphus (rare), a Bovine close toPelorovis ? praeafricanus but mostly known by teeth, a new species of kob (perhaps of an endemic lineage), aParmularius slightly more primitive than at Olduvai,Beatragus (mentioned for the first time in North Africa),Gazella thomasi, and a new species of gazelle noticeable by its nasal region. The Ahl al Oughlam bovids are in good agreement with an age of 2.5 Ma. They point towards an open and probably rather unfavourable, perhaps cold, environment.     

Suoidea du Miocène inférieur de Laugnac (Lot-et-Garonne, France)

The fossil vertebrate locality of Laugnac is the type locality of the Neogene mammalian zone MN2b. It has yielded many remains of Suoidea belonging to two different genera.Xenohyus venitor is characterized by its large size and especially its large central upper incisors, I1/ and I2/. It is quite difficult to know its phyletic relationships because the material is not abundant.Hyotherium cf.meisneri is more abundant with a quite good skull, pieces of skull, jaws and isolated teeth. It belongs to a peculiar lineage different from that ofH. major from Saint Gérand-le-Puy, France. It has some similarities withAureliachoerus aurelianensis from later geological levels (MN3-MN5).     

L'ultrastructure du foie humain lors d'ictères idiopathiques chroniques

Summary Ultrastructural examination of the liver in a case of Rotor's syndrome reveals the presence of unidentified pigment in the hepatocytes and fibrillary degeneration of approximately half of the observed mitochondria.

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Travail subventionné par le Fonds National Suisse de la Recherche Scientifique et par la fondation Fritz-Hoffmann-La Roche-Stiftung zur Förderung wissenschaftlicher Arbeitsgemeinschaften in der Schweiz.