Phylogénie de champignons responsables des charbons des végétaux à partir de l'analyse des séquences ITS

Phylogenetic relationships among fungi belonging to the family of Ustilaginaceae (genera Microbotryum, Sphacelotheca, Ustilago, Sporisorium) are inferred from a parsimony analysis using the ITS sequences of nuclear ribosomal genes. The introduction in the phylogeny of sequences from species of Suillus, Puccinia and Taphrina as outgroup shows the polyphyletism of this family. These results support the division of this taxon into two groups: Ustilaginaceae s. str. formed only by the pathogens of Poaceae, and Microbotryaceae constituted by the pathogens of Dicotyledons. Furthermore, we proposed to extend the host plant spectrum of Ustilaginaceae s. str. to all the Monocotyledons. Several discriminating characteristics are listed to support this distinction.     

Classification des stades de sommeil par des réseaux de neurones artificiels hiérarchiques

The goal of our work is to provide an automatic analysis and decision tool for sleep stages classification based on an artificial neural networks (ANN). The first difficulty lies in choosing the physiological signals representation and in particular the electroencephalogram (EEG). Once the representation adopted, the next step is to design the optimal neural network determined by a learning and validation process of data from a set of sleep records. We studied several configurations of conventional ANN giving results varying from 62 to 71 %, then we proposed a new hierarchical configuration, which gives a rate of 74 % correct classification for six stages. These results lead us to further explore this issue at the representation and design of ANNs to improve the performance of our tool.     

Principes de préparation et de congélation des spermatozoïdes testiculaires humains

The advantages and feasibility of human testicular spermatozoa cryoconservation for intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) have now been clearly demonstrated. However, the freezing protocol is based on empirical knowledge obtained from freezing of ejaculated spermatozoa. Testicular spermatozoa may not be fully mature gametes and may also be retrieved in only limited quantities. Little research has been conducted to determine whether they have the same cryobiological requirements as ejaculated spermatozoa. A better understanding of their cryobiological features and assessment of possible subcellular changes after thawing would help to optimize testicular preparations for cryopreservation (whole biopsies, seminiferous tubules, shredded suspension, single spermatozoa, etc.), freezing-thawing procedure, freezing media, and storage. Finally, there is a growing need for welldefined criteria (nuclear quality, etc.) to evaluate the tolerance of testicular spermatozoa to freezing-thawing procedure for ICSI     

Différenciation ultrastructurale des jonctions intercellulaires de l'endothélium des capillaires télencéphaliques chez l'embryon de poulet

Résumé Au cours du développement embryonnaire du Poulet, les cellules endothéliales des bourgeons vasculaires et des capillaires néo-formés du télencéphale sont unies par des jonctions transitoires au niveau desquelles les feuillets externes des membranes plasmiques n'ont pas fusionné et sont séparés par un espace intercellulaire mesurable. Des points de fusion de ces feuillets externes apparaissent peu à peu et au hasard dans la zone du contact intercellulaire. Entre ces points persistent des espaces intercellulaires qui assurent encore la communication entre la lumière du capillaire et l'espace extracellulaire du tissu nerveux. L'adjonction de nouveaux points de fusion, entre ceux existant déjà, conduit à la disparition progressive de l'espace intercellulaire et à la formation de véritables zonulae occludentes.

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Ultrastructural differentiation of intercellular junctions in the endothelium of capillaries in the embryonic telencephalon of the chicken

Summary During the embryonic development of the chick, the endothelial cells of the vascular sprouts and of the newly-formed capillaries in the telencephalon are linked by transitory junctions at the level of which the external leaflets of the plasma membrane are not fused and are separated by a measurable intercellular space. Some points of fusion of these external leaflets gradually appear at random in the area of the intercellular contact. Between these points of fusion, some intercellular spaces persist which still allow the communication between the capillary lumen and the extracellular space in the nervous tissue. The adjunction of new points of fusion between the preexisting ones, leads progressively to the disappearance of these intercellular spaces and to the formation of true zonulae occludentes.

L'auteur remercie les Professeurs J. Gayet et G. Grignon de leurs conseils lors de la préparation du manuscrit. Ces recherches ont bénéficié de subventions du Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (E.R.A. n° 331) et de la Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale Française.     

Comparaison de techniques de débruitage des images scintigraphiques

Scintigraphic images are strongly affected by Poisson noise. This article presents the results of a comparison between denoising methods for Poisson noise according to different criteria: the gain in signal-to-noise ratio, the preservation of resolution and contrast, and the visual quality. The wavelet techniques recently developed to denoise Poisson noise limited images are divided into two groups based on: (1) the Haar representation, (2) the transformation of Poisson noise into white Gaussian noise by the Haar–Fisz transform followed by a denoising. In this study, three variants of the first group and three variants of the second, including the adaptative Wiener filter, four types of wavelet thresholdings and the Bayesian method of Pizurica were compared to Metz and Hanning filters and to Shine, a systematic noise elimination process. All these methods, except Shine, are parametric. For each of them, ranges of optimal values for the parameters were highlighted as a function of the aforementioned criteria. The intersection of ranges for the wavelet methods without thresholding was empty, and these methods were therefore not further compared quantitatively. The thresholding techniques and Shine gave the best results in resolution and contrast. The largest improvement in signal-to-noise ratio was obtained by the filters. Ideally, these filters should be accurately defined for each image. This is difficult in the clinical context. Moreover, they generate oscillation artefacts. In addition, the wavelet techniques did not bring significant improvements, and are rather slow. Therefore, Shine, which is fast and works automatically, appears to be an interesting alternative.     

Techniques de recherche des polymorphismes génétiques

Sequencing the human genome has allowed the discovery of millions of DNA sequence variants. Sequence variations in human DNA are mainly present asSingle Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs); this common form of variation is found about once every 1,000 bases in the human genome and 1.8 million SNPs have now been identified and located. The accessibility of databases of SNPs opens the possibility of studying the influence of these polymorphisms on disease risks as well as on drug responses. Numerous approaches have been set up for the identification of SNPs. In this review we describe the main techniques used for the identification of these polymorphisms. They rely on two major consequences of sequence variations: the apparition or the disappearance of restriction enzyme sites or the alteration of DNA strand hybridization due to the presence of a mismatch. Southern blotting and restriction endonucleases have allowed the development of the technique ofrestriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs), now performed on PCR products. Several other approaches such as denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography or real-time PCR can detect allele differences upon re-hybridization and heteroduplex formation. However, DNA sequencing remains the obligate step for the positive identification of known or unknown SNPs. At last, the development of high-throughput methods allows a large increase in the rate of discovery of SNPs likely.     

Etagement des algues et des invertébrés sessiles dans l'Archipel de Glénan

The Glénan Archipelago was investigated, from the surface to a depth of 60 m, byScuba diving. Four distinct communities (“peuplements”) have been determined that fit into the system of zonation defined by the Genoa Symposium (1957). The results are compared with observations made in the English Channel (Cabioch 1968) and in the Atlantic Ocean (Glemarec 1971). Since illumination depends upon the angle of the rocky face, photophilic species exhibit a maximum range when the rock surfaces are horizontal. The sublittoral zone is dominated by laminarians. They form two distinct communities with the animal and vegetal species they overshadow. The upper community is characterized byLaminaria digitata (Linné)Lamouroux (horizontal rocky face from 0 to 6 m; vertical rocky face from +0.5 to ?3 m). The lower cummunity, characterized byL. hyperborea (Gunner)Foslie has a greater vertical extension (horizontal: ?6 m to ?26 m; vertical: ?3 to ?30 m). The circalittoral zone is colonized by several animal species growing in a ramified manner: the upper community is characterized by Axinellidae (?30 m), the lower byDendrophyllia cornigera (Lamarck) (?55 to ?60 m). Upright algae disappear somewhere between ?40 and ?47 m.     

Changements de l'epithélium médian des bourgeons palatins de souris au stade de préfusion

Résumé Avant d'entrer en contact, les surfaces de fusion des processus palatins subissent des modifications. Certaines cellules épithéliales superficielles deviennent turgescentes, alors que d'autres conservent un aspect dense et aplati, elles se lysent et éclatent. Des noyaux semblables à ceux des assises profondes se retrouvent en surface, paraissant migrer vers le bourgeon antagoniste. Des projections filamenteuses apparaissent, quelques unes établissant un contact avec l'épithélium opposé, d'autres restant seulement sous forme d'expansion. Ces observations sont concordantes en microscopie photonique et en microscopie électronique à balayage.

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Modification of the medial epithelium of the palatal shelves of mice at the prefusion stage. A light and scanning electron microscopy study

Summary The fusion surfaces of the palatal processes are modified before coming into contact. Several superficial epithelial cells become hypertrophied, undergo lysis and burst, whereas others remain flattened and densely stained. Nuclei, similar to those localized in deeper layers are found on the surface and seem to migrate towards the opposite process. Filamentous projections appear and some establish a linkage with the opposite epithelium, whereas others expand freely from the surface. Light microscope observations agree with scanning electron microscopy findings.

     

Une méthode simple de prévision des tendances appliquée aux séries temporelles de qualité des eaux courantes

Missing values, non-regular sampling, censored data and departure from normality are common problems in the analysis of ecological or environmental time series. For over 20 years, in the scope of the National Basin Network in France, numerous water quality time series have been collected. A method is proposed for the regularization of the series, the detection of trend changes and short-term forecasting, on the basis of the last detected trend, using a non-parametric regression. The method is applied to phosphates and nitrogen concentrations measured on the Sambre river (northern France).     

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.

     

Anticorps anti-spermatozoïdes: techniques de dépistage et interprétation des résultats

Since the first publication on the detection of sperm-agglutinating antibodies in infertile men, multiple assays have been described. The most useful tests are able to detect antibodies bound to the sperm membrane of motile spermatozoa. The immunobeads test (IBT) is considered to be the most advantageous in terms of its sensitivity, the low incidence of false-positive results, and its ability to localize antibodies of different immunoglobulin classes on the sperm surface. The IBT assay can be used in parallel with the mixed antiglobulin reaction (MAR), to detect sperm-associated antibodies in the ejaculates of infertile men, the most rational way to test for antisperm antibodies (ASA) in males. In view of the high level of agreement between the two assays, MAR, the easier of the two, may be used as a first step in the detection of these antibodies. A positive MAR must be confirmed by IBT, as this assay is more specific for the detection of IgA antibodies. The clinical significance of sperm-associated antibodies is usually established according to the proportion of motile spermatozoa coated with immunobeads, its class and its localization on the sperm surface. However, binding of immunobeads does not provide any information about the antigens against which the antibodies are directed. As the functional effects of sperm-associated antibodies may vary as a function of their antigenic specificities, other assays, using purified fertilization related antigens, are necessary to establish, for each individual, the specific impact of the antibodies on the fertilization process. The indirect IBT assay has recently become the most widely used test to detect the various classes of ASA in serum and cervical mucus of infertile women and in the serum and seminal fluid of infertile men, in combination with the direct assay described above. However, in most laboratories, it is performed with only one dilution of the biological fluid tested, usually a low dilution, so that antibody levels of no significance for fertility could be detected. This may explain a recente debate (Human Reprod, 1999) on the significance of ASA as a cause of infertility. At present, and in the absence of standardized assays able to identify the antigens involved in each individual immune reaction, antibody assays, as detected by the IBT assay, in the serum and/or genital secretions of infertile subjects might provide useful clinical guidance.     

Fortes différences des ADN mitochonclriaux de populations de Sardinella aurita de la mer Méditerranée et de l'Atlantique Est

Digestion by restriction enzymes has been carried out on polymerase chain reaction products of the mitochondrial DNA control region of round sardine (Sardinella aurita) samples coming from the Eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea. The results show i) that, though the habitat is continuous, there is no gene flow between the two basins where two genetically differentiated groups can be recognized, ii) that each basin is genetically homogeneous and, iii) that the haplotypic diversity in the Mediterranean is between two and three times smaller than that observed in the Atlantic. These results can hardly be explained by a recent colonization from the Eastern Atlantic. This suggests that, for S. aurita and some other species, the Mediterranean Sea is genetically little influenced by the Eastern Atlantic.