Effets de l’Oxygenation du Milieu d’Incubation des Cotyledons de Ricin sur les Flux de Protons et sur l’Absorption du Saccharose

Some of the effects of oxygen concentration in the external medium bathing castor bean cotyledons were investigated. At 700 μM O₂, the sucrose-dependent proton influx was dependent on external pH while sucrose influx was independent of pH between 4,5 and 6; proton influx and sucrose influx were both dependent on external sucrose concentration; both were saturated above 50 mM sucrose. The stoichiometry H+/S decreased with increasing pH and sucrose concentration. These data were consistent with the results obtained in stirred or aerated external medium. Oxygen consumption, acidification of the medium, sucrose-dependent proton influx and sucrose uptake increased with increasing oxygen concentration up to 700 μM where saturation was reached. Bubbling with air (O₂, 160 μM) resulted in the same increase despite lower oxygen concentration. It is suggested that not only O₂ concentration but also CO₂ concentration act on O₂ consumption, and proton and sucrose fluxes.

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Incidences de la restriction calorique et du Nickel sur l’aromatase testiculaire du rat

This study was designed to determine whether intermittent fasting induces malnutrition that, according to many authors, accentuates the cytotoxic effects of environmental pollutants, or caloric restriction that reduces these effects. Ninety six male Wistar rats (180g) were divided into two groups: one group was fed daily (N) and the other group was fed every second day (J) for one month. At the end of one month, each group was then divided into two subgroups, one subgroup received an injection of 0.9% NaCI (groups NO and JO), the other subgroup received an injection of 4 mg/kg NiCI^b2 (groups NNi and JNi). Intermittent fasting was continued in parallel to treatment for 1, 3, 5 and 10 days. Under these experimental conditions, nickel increased testicular aromatase activity and altered total RNA, while no alteration of these biomarkers was observed with intermittent fasting. The combination of these two factors, nickel and intermittent fasting, did not amplify these effects. In contrast, protection of RNA by intermittent fasting was observed, especially overexpression of aromatase mRNA.     

Aspects du care et de « l’éthique du care » en psychiatrie

The debate about care and its different forms has developed a lot in social sciences and in moral philosophy, since Carol Gilligan, arguing in a feminist perspective against the prejudices of moral development psychology, has defined an “ethics of care” and claimed that it should be recognized as of the same value as the dominant ethics (Kantian or utilitarian). Following this claim, a variety of researches have been carried out concerning the activity of caring that goes beyond the field of medical practice. However, in the medical field, in which “care” has to be distinguished from “cure,” the development of a theory of care has a strong impact on the conception of treatment (of its organization, its assessment, and the way it is taught). We will focus particularly on what is implied in psychiatry by such a characterization of care.     

Influence de l’action combinee du P.A.S. et de l’hydrazide isonicotinique (INH) sur l’augmentation de la resistance de bacilles tuberculeux in vitro

Résumé Un examen comparatif in vitro fait ressortir que l’augmentation de la résistance des bacilles tuberculeux vis-à-vis d’un mélange d’INH et de P.A.S. ne se présente pas ou seulement lentement après des ensemencements successifs sur des milieux qui contiennent ce mélange. Ceci à l’opposé de bacilles exposés a l’influence de ces deux éléments isolés. Les bacilles qui subissent l’influence du mélange font voir également une légère augmentation de la résistance à l’égard des composants isolés. Les travaux de recherches furent supportés en partie par Riker Laboratories Inc., Los Angeles, California.     

Traitement psychopharmacologique du trouble obsessionnel compulsif de l’enfant et de l’adolescent

The present report review available literature on psychopharmacological treatment of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) in children and adolescents. There is now clear evidence that drugs that are potent serotonin reuptake inhibitors (clomipramine and SSRIs) induce a clinically substantial reduction of OC symptoms for most children and adolescents with the disorder. However, improvement is often incomplete, few patients become asymptomatic, and long-term maintenance treatment may be required. Cognitive behavioural treatment, based on graded exposure with response prevention, might have more durable benefits, and is considered as the first line treatment in mild non comorbid OCD. Because OCD frequently occurs in the context of other psychopathology and adaptative difficulties, additional individual and family psychotherapy, pharmacological associations and educational interventions are often necessary.     

Cryptorchidie: influence sur la fertilité de l’âge au moment de l’orchidopexie, du siège et de la taille du testicule et de l’existence d’anomalies épididymaires

Despite surgical treatment, cryptorchidism is the most common cause of infertility. Through a literature review, the authors report current data on the influence of age at the time of orchidopexy, testicular size, the position of the testis, and the existence of epididymal anomalies on fertility.     

Influence du muscle deltoïde sur la courbure du corps de l’humérus chez les hommes modernes et les Néandertaliens

When observed in medial view, the humeral diaphysis shows two main types of curvature. It can be either more or less regularly distributed along the bone, or distally deported. Both types are about equally represented among modern humans, while the “regular” type largely prevails in Neandertals. Our hypothesis is that the distal curvature is the resultant of the action of the triceps brachial that “pulls” the bone in the posterior direction and of the deltoid that, in some cases, would be powerful enough to “straighten” the superior part of the diaphysis. Our results indicate that, in modern humans, bones with a distal curvature are indeed more frequent in males and on the right side and that their deltoid tuberosity is on average wider, more developed and more prominent as compared to bones with a regular curvature. This suggests a stronger solicitation of the deltoid muscle associated to this morphology. The high percentage of humeri showing a regular curvature observed in Neandertals would therefore be explainable by the fact that their deltoid tuberosity is averagely narrow, poorly developed and forming a weak prominence which likely attests of a moderate activity of this muscle in most of them.     

L’apport de la scintigraphie dans la pathologie de l’appareil locomoteur de l’enfant et de l’adolescent. Regards croisés du clinicien et du scintigraphiste

This paper summarizes and clarifies the clinician's reasoning in front of a lesion of the musculoskeletal system and his appeal to the examinations of imaging and to his choices. It proposes an analysis of the criteria of choice of bone scanning in this arsenal of exploration. It details the keys of the dialogue between the clinician and the nuclear physician: firstly, the clinician determines the elements of his request and its areas of doubt and uncertainty, and his diagnosis of probability and, secondly, the nuclear physician adapts the nature of the examination according to the problem posed.     

Le principe de l’anonymat du don de sperme: remarques sur son histoire et son application

Introduction

This article, based on sociological research on the activity of donor insemination and semen cryopreservation, addresses four questions concerning the present policy of donor anonymity: What is the principle of anonymous semen donation? Where does it come from? What is its purpose in the organization of donor insemination (DI)? How is the anonymity principle applied in daily practice?

Material and methods

Analysis of the origins and transformations of this policy is based on documents, published in the 70s and the 80s, which provide a history of the practice of donor insemination, in particular within the framework of rules devised by Centre for the Study and Cryopreservation of Semen (Cecos).

Results

This history shows that donor anonymity has been a de facto policy for over two centuries, whereas the notion of an anonymity principle is relatively recent.

Conclusion

Present challenges to this principle have brought to the fore long-standing queries about what establishes fatherhood in cases where paternity is dissociated from impregnation.     

Prise en charge de l’infécondité dans les troubles de l’éjaculation: avis conjoints de l’andrologue, du biologiste et du gynécologue

It is estimated that eighty percent of men who present ejaculatory disorders would like to procreate but only 5–10% from them can do it. Ejaculation can be achieved by assisted-techniques used in association with pharmacological treatment. In cases of failure of ejaculation and azoospermia, epididymal and testicular chirurgical sperm extraction allows obtaining spermatozoa. Less numerous than those obtained in ejaculated sperm, these chirurgical spermatozoa offer the advantage to be not infected by bacteria and by seminal plasma. The quality of sperm is evaluated by conventional spermiologic methods and it is important to analyze presence of spermatozoa in the urine together with that in ejaculated sperm. In ejaculatory disorders, the quality of sperm is often impaired and the mobility and vitality of spermatozoa are abnormal. Numerous bacteria and leucocytes are also present. These changes seem to be related to many factors located in the seminal plasma rather than central and testicular damages. As in fertile and infertile man, cryopreservation causes a decrease in conventional variables. However, taking into account the difficulty to obtain sperm, all patients with ejaculatory disorders would benefit from semen cryopreservation. In order to achieved successful pregnancy, several fertility treatment are available: home insemination with semen obtained by vibroejaculation, intrauterine insemination, in vitro fecondation, or intracytoplasmic sperm injection. Counselling couples undergoing such treatment program needs coordinated efforts of different specialities, which may involve andrology, biology and gynaecology.     

Méthodologie d’évaluation de l’impact d’une formation sur la qualité de l’utilisation d’une nouvelle technologie

For health care professionals, training is critical to assure the patient safety. This paper is interested in the nurses training when a new technology is introduced in their work environment, and more particularly in the impact of the type of training on the quality of the new device use. This means that both the learned knowledge and their integration in the work environment have to be evaluated. Two types of training were compared through qualitative and quantitative indicators of the device used in the work situation. The results highlight a better satisfaction of learners and more effective results on the practice with one of the two trainings.     

Tumeurs du grêle et du côlon : importance de l’anatomie en coupes

The aim of this article is to describe the anatomic specificities of each different digestive tumors in CT imaging and to show the interest of contrast-enhanced CT and bowel opacification. Some specific points about lymph nodes of the abdomen and peritoneum anatomy will be discussed.     

Aspects cliniques et biologiques de l’azoospermie chez l’homme infertile en Tunisie

Objective

It is now very important to investigate azoospermia because the introduction of the intracytoplasmic sperm injection technique during the last decade has allowed many infertile men to achieve their dreams of fatherhood. The purpose of this study was to define the characteristics of infertile men with azoospermia, and to analyse the clinical and laboratory features and the causes of infertility in Tunisia. The authors also discuss various aspects that they consider to be very important in the diagnosis of male fertility.

Material and Methods

This retrospective study analysed the parameters of physical examination, laboratory tests, semen analysis, radiographic examinations, testicular biopsy, karyotype and AZF microdeletions.

Results

Based on the results of endocrinological and cytogenetic examinations, the aetiology of azoospermia was considered to be secretory in 43 cases of azoospermia. Physical examination revealed a high percentage of hypotrophic/atrophic testes (43.9%). Serum follicle stimulating hormone levels were high in 58.5% of cases. The overall incidence of chromosomal abnormalities was 31.4%. The most frequent anomaly was Klinefelter syndrome (9 cases). Seven out of 28 patients (25%) with nonobstructive azoospermia had AZF deletions. None of the patients with excretory azoospermia and severe oligospermia had an abnormal karyotype or AZF microdeletions. 48.8% of patients presented a varicocele, 13.9% had cryptorchidism and 13.0% had a history of genital tract infection.

Conclusion

In line with the literature, genetic abmormalities are the main causes of severe forms of impaired spermatogenesis in the Tunisian population.     

Quantification automatisée de la transmuralité de l’infarctus du myocarde sur des images de rehaussement tardif en IRM

MRI is an important technique to follow up myocardial infarction, allowing studying in only one examination the contraction and the viability through delayed enhancement (DE). This study proposes to automate the segmentation of the myocardium on images prior to the estimation of the extent of infarcted tissue. Indeed the segmentation of the myocardium was performed using cine contraction images which present a high contrast between cavity and myocardium before reporting resulting segmentation on DE images. After the segmentation, the segmental transmurality is estimated on a conventional five point scale, using the fuzzy k-mean classification algorithm. A head-to-head comparison was performed between visual and quantitative analysis of the infarct transmural extent on DE-MR imaging. Results on nine patients showed an absolute agreement of 80% and a relative agreement (with one point difference) of 97%.     

Influence de la durée de l'éclairement sur la croissance du thalle de quelques algues (trois chaetophorales et une rhodophycee)

Thallus growth of some algae as a function of the light period (fluorescent white light about 1000 lux) shows that continuous light, or better 18 h of light, are the most effective; however short (1 or 2 h) and long dark periods inhibit growth. Except for Caespitella pascheri, monochromatic irradiations of 6 or 12 h (in addition to the 18 or 12 h of white light) inhibit the growth of algae. On the contrary, after 23 h of white light, monochromatic radiations stimulate growth and the more effective wavelengths are: 443, 475, 575 and 675 nm. With incandescent light (rich in near far-red and poor in blue light), the growth is low.