Alcaloïdes chez les capparidaceae

Alkaloids were isolated from leaves of 33 of 36 species and l-stachydrine and l-3-hydroxystachydrine were the major components present. These alkaloids characterize the family Capparidaceae in the same way as do the glucosinolates.     

Sur les possibilités d'adaptation chez les insectes sociaux et spécialement chez l'abeille

Résumé On peut rendre horizontaux les rayons d'une ruche et verticaux ceux d'un nid de guêpes sans perturbations visibles pour l'élevage ou le comportement des ouvrières.Les abeilles réparent très facilement et immédiatement les trous creusés dans les cellules d'ouvrières ou de reines, elles posent sans difficulté un fond aux cellules d'ouvrières si on l'a enlevé. Elles tordent une lame de cire perpendiculaire aux rayons pour la mettre en position parallèle.Les abeilles peuvent déposer leur miel dans les trous d'une plaque de bois, dans des rayons de métal ou de plastique; elles peuvent élever leur couvain dans des rayons de plastique et leurs reines dans des cellules de verre ou de plastique. Les guêpes peuvent operculer avec du carton les rayons des abeilles. Les guêpes souterraines dont on vient de déterrer le nid le couvrent de terre et l'enterrent en creusant au-dessous. Si une plaque de métal glissée au-dessous s'y oppose, elles le reconstruisent peu à peu de manière à l'amener sur le bord de la plaque et à l'enterrer à nouveau.     

Traumatisme du testicule chez l’enfant

Introduction

The testicular trauma is uncommon in children and the literature about this topic is very poor. The aim was to investigate the testicular trauma in children from a retrospective study.

Materials and methods

All the French pediatric surgical departments were requested to send their cases of testicular trauma reported between 2000 and 2009. The analysis was performed from the data and the operative report. Isolated scrotal wounds, testicular torsions revealed by trauma, and incomplete files were excluded.

Results

Fifteen departments sent their data and 2 had no cases. From 60 cases, 15 were excluded and 45 selected. The mean age was 12.3 years (2 days–18 years). The circumstances of the trauma were 23 knocks (foot, knee, and fist), 13 falls, 4 motorcycle accidents, 4 unknown traumas, and 1 obstetrical trauma. There were 4 wounds and 41 without wound. A color Doppler sonography was performed in 34 cases (75.5%) with an accurate diagnosis in 30 cases; 2 testicular fractures and 1 intratesticular hematoma were not confirmed at surgery, and 1 epididymal hematoma was not seen on sonography. The lesions were testicular fractures (15), intratesticular hematomas (8), benign testicular blunt traumas (6), spermatic cord hematomas (6), epididymal hematomas (6), isolated hematoceles (3), and avulsion (1). Surgical treatment was done in 33 children and 12 had nonoperative treatment. Among the 15 testicular fractures, 13 were operated (8 sutures and 5 partial orchidectomies) and 2 were only observed. For the intratesticular hematomas, a surgical treatment was performed in 5 children and a nonoperative treatment in 3, with a good evolution. Only 20 children were controlled beyond 4 months, especially the testicular fractures and no secondary testicular atrophy was seen.

Conclusion

The testicular trauma in children is rare and the prognosis is rather good. The color Doppler sonography now allows a good diagnosis in most cases and the surgery can be often avoided in benign blunt trauma. In this situation, it is important to repeat sonography 24 or 48 hours after trauma to ensure there is no fracture or other lesion necessitating a surgical treatment.     

L'adaptation à la vie arboricole chez les fourmis

Arboreal ants constitute one of the largest animal groups in the tropical forest canopy not just in terms of their individual number and overall biomass, but also in terms of diversity. Because the arboreal habitat has particular characteristics which clearly differentiate it from the ground, the ants' ecological success depends on developing adaptations designed to overcome the constraints peculiar to this environment in order to best exploit its resources. Although it is not always possible to identify all of the characteristics common to all arboreal ants species, those species said to be ‘dominant’ share morphological, physiological and behavioural traits which differentiate them from other ants. The most important difference is the type of food sources exploited. These dominant species feed principally on the nectar of the extra-floral nectaries of plants or on the honeydew of Homoptera. These products are extremely rich in sugary substances and low in nitrogen. The exploitation of these food sources has, then, repercussions on the growth and reproduction of ant colonies, given the importance of nitrogen as a limiting factor. Obtaining the necessary amount of nitrogen involves exploiting large volumes of liquid. From a purely morphological point of view, it is interesting to note that the digestive system of most of the dominant ant species has a modified proventriculus and a thin cuticle which means less need for proteins. These modifications permit individual foragers to transport large volumes of liquid by holding them in their crops in order to distribute them to the rest of the colony. The venom of many of these species also differs from that of other ants in that it lacks nitrogen. Dominant species have, thus, developed adaptations related to their feeding habits, lowering the need for nitrogen in individuals and, in this way, permitting the greater development of the colony. The exploitation of this type of food source is also facilitated by the type of nests constructed by the ants. Indeed, the elaboration of a nest independently of any structure provided by the plant offers numerous advantages, despite the important energetic costs involved. These types of nests allow the ant to (1) ‘choose’ the nest site and thus to install the nest on plants providing the best resources (extra-floral nectaries or Homoptera attendance) and (2) exploit a greater number of resources with lower energy costs by placing parts of the colonies near food sources. In addition, even if part of the sugary food substances are destined for the synthesis of molecules necessary to the survival and proper functioning of individuals, there is a large surplus. This surplus might indirectly reinforce these species' defensive systems on both an inter- as well as intraspecific level by serving as an energy source enabling individuals to have high level of activity and aggressiveness. The remaining arboreal species, which — in terms of diversity — make up the majority, do not share common traits which permit them to be clearly differentiated from terricolous species. Nevertheless, comparisons conducted within a genus show that certain arboreal species have developed adaptations to their way of life, and not only those species living in the domatia of ant plants, but also other, strictly arboreal species. As is the case for dominant species, the modifications observed originate especially in response to the two principal limiting factors in the arboreal habitat: available food resources and a limited number of nest sites.     

La division nucléaire chez Schizosaccharomyces pombe

Summary A study of mitosis and meiosis in Schizosaccharomyces pombe Lindner has been carried out with the Giemsa procedure.The pattern of mitosis in the vegetative cells of S. pombe does not differ in its main features from that of other fungi, in that it appears to be accomplished without the help of a spindle apparatus and without formation of typical metaphase plates. However, there is good evidence for the presence of centrosomes which may exert some pulling effect at the ana-telophase stages.Meiosis in the ascogenous cells is characterized by a leptotene, bar-like stage followed by a tetrad formation revealing at least 3 bivalents.

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Travail achevé à l'Institut de Botanique générale de l'Université de Genève, en hommage posthume au Prof. W. H. Schopfer.     

Chirurgie cardiaque chez le nouveau-né et le nourrisson

During the past five years, 127 newborn infants with marked anoxia, severe cardiac failure or respiratory problems secondary to a cardiac lesion were operated upon at l''Hôpital Ste-Justine, Montreal, Quebec.Infants in cardiorespiratory distress from a cardiac lesion for which the surgical treatment is well established, such as complicated coarctation of the aorta, were either cured or improved in 78% of cases. The fatal outcome following medical treatment of patients suffering from lesions for which the surgical treatment is not yet well established, e.g. interruption of the aortic arch, led us to operate upon these infants with the hope of salvaging some of them despite the high surgical risk.The decision to operate was usually based on clinical grounds; however, cine-angiocardiography was at times required to establish the exact diagnosis. Light anesthesia was essential to the success of the operation. Postoperative care was facilitated by a team of nurses well experienced in the treatment of newborn subjects with heart lesions. Fluids were administered in a minimum quantity of 700 c.c./m.² for 24 hours, and potassium was the only electrolyte added to the replacement fluids. Respiratory problems were reduced to a minimum by active physiotherapy. However, intubation with aspiration of tracheobronchial secretions was carried out when necessary.     

Évolution et radiations adaptatives chez les échinides

Evolution and adaptative radiations in echinoids. Echinoids (sea urchins) originated in the Early Paleozoic and, after a first period of diversification during that era, participated in an intense evolutionary radiation during the Mesozoic and Cenozoic. In the context of a reconsideration of homologies for echinoderm body regions, we present several major aspects of echinoid evolution: the origins of irregularity and bilateral symmetry; a model of radiation exemplified by the spatangoids; the diversification of modes of echinoid reproduction. These examples allow us to understand the extent of and capacity for innovation demonstrated by sea urchins during their post-Paleozoic radiation.     

Metabolisme du γ-aminobutyrate chez Agaricus bisporus Lge.

Summary Transamination between -aminobutyrate and -ketoglutarate provides a pathway for the utilization of -aminobutyrate in fruit-bodies of Agaricus bisporus Lge. This reaction leads to the formation of succinic semialdehyde, a metabolic intermediate in the metabolism of -aminobutyrate to succinate in the cell. -aminobutyrate: -ketoglutarate aminotransferase (E.C. 2.6.1.19) was sonically extracted from the mitochondrial fraction and partially purified by DEAE-cellulose column chromatography. Aminotransferase had a pH optimum between 8.1 and 8.5 and did not require pyridoxal-phosphate in vitro; however, the enzyme was inhibited by carbonyl-trapping reagents such as pyridoxal-phosphate activated enzymes. The Km values for -aminobutyrate and -ketoglutarate calculated from Lineweaver-Burk plots were 2.2×10^-4 M and 2.5×10^-3 M, respectively. The transaminase was specific for -ketoglutarate but not for -aminobutyrate; aspartate, -alanine and -aminovalerianate also functioned as amino-group donors. Activity of the enzyme was not influenced by the addition of carboxylic acids of the Krebs cycle. The reversal of the transamination reaction showed optimal rates at pH 9.0–9.3. Some considerations on the physiological significance of these results are given.

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Abréviations DEAE diéthylaminoéthyl - EDTA éthylène diamine tétraacétate - DCIP 2,6-dichlorophénol-indophénol - GABA acide -aminobutyrique - GABA-T -aminobutyrate: -cétoglutarate aminotransférase - GAD L-glutamate décarboxylase - Glu acide glutamique - -KG -cétoglutarate - MBTH 3-méthyl-2-benzothiazolinone hydrazone - PLP pyridoxal-5-phosphate - PMS phénazine méthosulfate - SSA acide semialdéhyde succinique - TCA acide trichloracétique - Tris 2-amino-2-(hydroxyméthyl)-1,3-propanediol     

Ejaculation provoquée chez le paraplégique

90% of spinal cord injury patients cannot have an ejaculation during either sexual intercourse or masturbation From 1987 to 1993: 52 patients were treated by vibratory stimulation, 21 by electrostimulation, 4 by Physostigmine. Overall success rate during vibratory stimulation is of 65% and 83% if one considers only patients with a sublesional syndrome below T10. We obtained 15 successes among 21 tetraplegic patients and 19 successes among 20 paraplegic patients. Ejaculation was always obtained within three minutes. We did not obtain any success in paraplegic patients group whose lesional level was T12, L1, L2. After having trained the couple for the technique, we realised on two occasions, during ovulation (twelfth to sixteenth day before next menstruation date), intravaginal autoinseminations with a syringe for a minimal duration of one year, necessary time to improve semen quality before treating procreation as a medical issue. Among these 52 patients treated by vibratory stimulation, only 12 couples came to take our advice in order to procreate. Out of the 12 followed up couples, we obtained 3 births and 1 current pregnancy. 16 patients out of the 21 treated by electrostimulation have an ejaculation. Out of the 30 realised ejaculations, 11 were retrograde. Semen volume and quality are much lower to what we obtained by vibratory stimulation. Actually, this technique has not allowed a pregnancy. 2 out of the 4 patients having had a treatment by Physostigmine had an ejaculation. Ejaculation by vibratory stimulation is the easiest technique and it must be proposed as a first purpose. In a second time, proposed intrarectal electrostimulation allows nearly always to get semen if a sufficient number of sympathetic thoracolumbar fibres are preserved.     

Une rickettsiose chez une Cétoine de Madagascar

Résumé Des larves de Cétoines non encore déterminées se sont révélées atteintes d'une rickettsiose dans une localité du nord-est de Madagascar. L'agent pathogène, de 730 mμ×240 mμ, se développe dans le cytoplasme du tissu adipeux, de l;hypoderme et des œnocytes et est accompagné par les cristaux déjà observés dans la plupart des rickettsioses d'insectes.Rickettsiellen cetonidarum est proposé comme dénomination.

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Summary Larvae ofCetonidae not yet determined were found affected with a rickettsial disease in a biotop in the North East of Madagascar. The pathogenic agent measuring 730 mμ×240 mμ develops in the cytoplasm of the fat body, the hypoderm and the oenocysts; it involves formation of accompanying crystals previously observed in most of the insect rickettsioses. Rickettsiella cetonidarum is suggested as a denomination of the pathogenic agent.

     

L’irradiation des spermatozoïdes au Laser HeNe à faible énergie chez la souris et chez l’homme

Introduction

The effects of low energy He?Ne 630 laser (LEL) irradiation on various aspects of cell metabolism, including proliferation, respiration, ATP synthesis and Ca²⁺ uptake, have been recently recognized in somatic cells, animal spermatozoa and embryonic cells.

Objectives

1- To analyze thein vitro effects of LEL irradiation on the mouse IVF model. 2- To assess the effects of experimental LEL irradiation on human spermatozoa in the sperm-zona free hamster egg penetration (SPA) model.

Material & Methods

1- In a mouse IVF model, pooled oocytes were incubated for 24 h. with LEL-irradiated and non-irradiated epididymal mouse spermatozoa. The percentage of fertilized eggs, intracellular Ca²⁺ and Ca²⁺ uptake as well as the effects of reactive oxygen scavengers were compared in the two groups. 2- In the enhanced SPA model, with overnight TEST-Yolk preincubation, LEL-irradiated and non-irradiated ejaculated spermatozoa from 43 infertile men were incubated for 3 h with fresh zona-free hamster eggs. The percentage of eggs penetrated (SPA%) by irradiated or control sperm was compared. Acrosome reaction (AR) and Hemizona Assay (HZA) were also performed on the same ejaculates.

Results

1- In mice, brief LEL irradiation enhanced intracellular Ca²⁺ influx and increased thein vitro fertilization capacity of spermatozoa. Mitochondrial Ca²⁺ transport mechanisms and H₂O₂ appeared to be involved in these LEL effects. 2- In the 43 male patients, AR and SPA were correlated, while SPA and HZA were poorly correlated. In the whole group, the mean SPA% of LEL-irradiated and control sperm were not significantly different: 49.8±39.9 and 51.0±34.9, respectively. No significant change was observed in 50% of cases. Following irradiation, SPA% increased in 25% of cases and decreased in 25% of cases. However, classifying all cases according to the SPA cut-off point of 30% as poor and good sperm in this enhanced SPA model, showed that LEL irradiation significantly increased SPA% only in the poor sperm subgroup (n=16) from 5.5.±8.9 to 23.1±25.2 (p<0.0001). This increase was observed in 50% of these patients. In the good sperm category (n=27), no improvement of SPA% was observed. On the contrary, LEL irradiation decreased SPA% from 76.1±24.4 to 67.6±28.

Conclusion

In a mouse IVF model, LEL irradiation of spermatozoa improved intracellular Ca²⁺influx and egg fertilization. H₂O₂ seems to participate in the biochemical cascade transforming light signals into a biological response. In man, using the SPA model, LEL sperm irradiation might improve the penetration capacity only in the case of poor quality sperm, by increasing sperm egg penetration in one half of cases, otherwise LEL is ineffective. Further studies are required to confirm these results, but LEL should not be considered for clinical use until its safety has been proven. (Supported by grants from the Chief Scientist Office, Ministry of Health)     

Reactivite thermique de la peau scrotale chez l’homme

Although the existence of heat exchange between the testicular artery and the adjacent veins is well known, it may be insufficient to maintain the lower temperature of the testis. In order to investigate the role of the scrotum in testicular thermoregulation, the dynamics of scrotal and other skin temperatures was studied in relation to thermal stress. The results of this study revealed that the scrotal skin exhibited a greater thermal inertia than did other skin areas. This finding may be due to modifications in scrotal blood flow patterns as temperature increased, as well as changes in the scrotal surface area. Other possible thermoregulatory factors may include the evaporation of sweat from the scrotum. In conclusion, there seems to be a complex collection of mechanisms, rather than a single specific mechanism, regulating testicular temperature.     

Étude de l'action deBacillus thuringiensis chez le scorpionButhus occitanus

Le scorpionButhus occitanus (Amoreux) infectéper os élimineBacillus thuringiensis (Berliner) dans ses déjections d'une manière progressive et en relation avec la prise de nourriture. Après inoculation dans l'hémocoele les germes peuvent persister longtemps dans l'hémolymphe sans que les animaux présentent des symptômes pathologiques. Seules les doses très élevécs conduisent à une septicémie. La DL 50, supérieure à 2,5 millions de bactéries, montre la très grande résistance de ces Arachnides à cette infection bactérienne.     

Une phéromone d''agrégation chez Forficula auricularia

Résumé Un comportement d'agrégation est fréquemment observé chez les larves et les adultes de Forficula auricularia L. L'hypothése d'un contrôle phéromonal de ce comportement est confirmée expérimentalement par un test biologique qui, en condition de choix, met en évidence le regroupement des forficules dans des abris déjà visités par d'autres individus de l'espèce, préférentiellement aux abris témoins. Une interattractivité existe entre tous les stades de développement et la phéromone intervient également pendant la phase de soins maternels: les traces de larves du premier stade encore confinées dans le terrier maternel, ainsi que de femelles en période de soins, provoquent l'agrégation de larves âgées. La comparaison de l'attractivité de différents extraits par l'hexane (traces, fractions de corps, feces) indique la localisation de la sécrétion phéromonale au niveau des pattes, et désigne les glandes tibiales comme organes sécréteurs.     

Cryoconservation du tissue testiculaire chez l’enfant: comment préserver la fertilité chez le jeune garçon?

Survival rates for almost all types of childhood cancer have improved over the last 30 years. Estimates suggest that, in 2010, 1 out of 715 adolescents and young adults will be a long-term survivor of childhood cancer. With current therapy, 70% of children are cured. The increased number of survivors has focused attention on the many long-term or late sequelae of treatment. Most of the effects cannot be detected at the end of therapy, but only become apparent with puberty, growth and the normal aging process. Among the various sequelae, gonadal dysfunction is observed and the degree of gonadal damage depends on the type and total doses of chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. The male gonald is also more sensitive to cancer therapy than the female gonad. Cryopreservation of ejaculated spermatozoa should be proposed for sexually mature boys. However, when ejaculated semen samples cannot be collected, or in the case of prepubertal boys who are not yet able to produce spermatozoa, another strategy must be used: testicular biopsy associated with cryopreservation of (i) testicular tissue, or (ii) isolated testicular spermatozoa or (iii) immature germ cells. The future use of immature testicular tissue will depend on the development of novel technologies in humans such as germ cellin vitro maturation, or autologous or xenogeneic germ cell transplantation.     

Hybridation ADN-ADN chez quelques espèces du genre Hansenula

The genus Hansenula was considered a long time ago as a good pattern for phylogenetic research. In 1969, Wickerham proposed an evolutive scheme based upon morphological, physiological and ecological criteria. Recently, relatedness among yeasts were analysed by DNA-DNA hybridization in liquid medium. H. anomala var. anomala (G + C content: 37,1%) was compared with H. anomala var. schneggii (37.6%), H. subpelliculosa (33,8%), H. ciferrii (33,1%), H. holstii (37%) belonging to the same line 2, and also with H. beckii (38,3%) line 3, H. sydowiorum (40,1%) and H. muscicola (37,1%).These results showed little relatedness between H. anomala var. anomala /H. ciferrii and H. anomala var. anomala/ H. subpelliculosa. On the other hand, H. anomala var. schneggii shared 89,5% of its nucleotide sequences with H. anomala var. anomala. These 2 strains were considered to represent the same species. H. holstii showed 67.1% complementarity with H. anomala var. anomala: this strain is considered to represent valid species, different from H. anomala var. anomala, but H. muscicola with 72.5% relatedness to H. anomala var. anomala could be considered as a limit species. An unexpected finding was that H. beckii was closely related to H. anomala var. anomala (84.8%). These data suggested the inadequacy of current criteria used to establish the phylogenetic lines in genus Hansenula.