Les dysfonctions érectiles chez le diabétique: Rôle des facteurs neurologiques

Objective

To assess the etiological factors of erectile dysfunction in male diabetics.

Material and methods

We have performed a prospective evaluation including 69 diabetic patients suffering from erectile dysfunction. Studied parameters including age, type and duration of diabetes, complications, treatments and associated risk factors were analysed. Comparison was done with a control group of 138 diabetic patients without erectile dysfunction.

Results

There was a significant difference between the diabetic with neurologic complications and the others without neuropathy (p=0.0004). The duration of the diabete was was another risk factor of erectile dysfunction (p=0.049)

Conclusion

We confirm various authors who demonstrated that diabetic impotence seems to be mainly neuropathic in etiology even though it was a multifactorial discomfort.     

La TEP au 18F-FDG dans le diagnostic et le suivi évolutif des plasmocytomes solitaires

AimTo assess the role of [¹⁸F]FDG-PET in solitary plasmacytoma with regards to staging, therapeutic follow-up and monitoring.Patients and methodsTwenty consecutive patients were included in the present study when following conditions were met: (i) solitary plasmacytoma histologically confirmed (bone, n = 16; extramedullary, n = 4); (ii) [¹⁸F]FDG-PET scan from July 2004 to April 2009. The clinical follow-up was over than 2 years for 13 patients. Ten patients underwent a post-therapy PET scan. PET scans were visually analysed.ResultsPET scan enabled confirmation of all main lesions (sensitivity: 100%) and also detected infra-clinical lesions in eight cases. Follow-up for more than 2 years showed a progression disease into myeloma in five from six cases (83%) with infraclinical lesions at the baseline PET scan. Among 10 patients who underwent post-therapeutic PET scan, six experienced a complete response at the main lesion site and four experienced a partial response.ConclusionFDG-PET may play an important role in plasmacytoma staging and enables detection of smaller lesions (otherwise undetected).     

Hypothèse : le modèle du lieu de rencontre pour la maladie des prions

Prions are responsible for spongiform diseases such as scrapie and bovine spongiform encephalopathy. It is now generally accepted that the disease mechanism involves the conversion from the normal form, PrP^C, to the pathogenic form, PrP^Sc, and that this isoform is infectious. In the case of scrapie, 15 different forms of the disease have been described and some of these different phenotypes can be conferred by infectious prions that are themselves encoded by normal genes. We propose here that a prion with an altered structure has a correspondingly altered preference for lipids; this altered preference creates a proteolipid domain containing different lipids and other factors such as chaperonins and enzymes responsible for post-translational modifications. Normal prions associated with this abnormal domain adopt the conformation dictated by its lipidic composition (and by the other factors present) and so acquire the lipidic preference of the original pathogenic prions. These transformed prions could then create new proteolipid domains. This process may be considered as semi-conservative replication in which prion and lipids are analogous to the Watson and Crick strands and the proteolipid domain to the double helix itself.     

Analyse des courbes de survie de nématodes phytoparasites selon le modèle de Teissier

Four survival curves of plant parasitic nematodes are analysed with Teissier's model. The model is based upon the assumption of an exponential decrease with time of the life expectancy, E(t) = E₀ exp(−αt), with E₀ the life expectancy at time 0 and α a decay coefficient. By integrating this formula we obtain an expression for the number of survivors at time t, S(t), as a function of the time, t, and S₀, the number of individuals at time 0, and the parameters E₀ and α: S(t) = S₀exp[αt −(exp(αt) −1)/αE₀. S₀ is a scaling parameter, related to the initial number of individuals in the population, thus the form of the curve depends only on the parameters E₀ and α, which are readily understandable in a biological model. These parameters E₀ and α are estimated by fitting the model to experimental data using a non-linear regression based on a least squares procedure. The results show a highly significant fit of the model to the data indicating the ability of the model to describe the plant parasitic nematodes survival curve. Results are discussed and the hypothesis of Teissier is compared with other related hypotheses.     

Observations et discussions sur le développement embryonnaire des Phoronida

Resume La fécondation est généralement interne chez les phoronidiens. La segmentation des ceufs est totale, egale (parfois légèrement inégale) et de type radiaire (avec quelquefois une apparence fortuite de segmentation spirale). La gastrula est formée par embolie. La bouehe derive de la zone blastoporale sans formation d'un vrai stomodeum. L'anus est mis en place par perforation de l'ectodersme et représente une néo-formation indépendante du blastopore. Le mesoderme est issu par proliferation cellulaire des regions antérieure et laterales de l'archentéron. Le protoccele est forme par des cellules mésodermiques se disposant le long de la paroi du lobe préoral. Le métaccele est issu probablement suivant les espèces d'une ou deux masses. La formation du mesoderme correspond á une variation de la méthode entéroccelique typique. Les phoronidiens doivent être considérés comme des deutérostomiens, d'après l'ensemble de nos résultats (voir aussi Emig, 1973).

---

Observations and discussions on the embryonic Development in Phoronida

Summary Internal fertilization (in metaccelom) generally occurs in Phoronida. The eggs are extruded to the exterior through the nephridia, shed freely into the sea-water or retained in the lophophoral concavity. The cleavage of phoronid eggs is total, equal (or subequal) and radial (with sometimes fortuitous appearance of spiral cleavage patterns). The gastrula is formed by emboly. The mouth is derived from the anterior remnant of the blastopore without a true stomodeum. The anus arises by perforation, as an independent structure of the blastopore. The mesoderm formed by budding originates as isolated cells proliferated from the anterior and lateral surfaces of the archenteron. In the preoral hood appears a protoccel by mesodermal cells lining the walls of the blastoccel. The trunk clom (or metaccel) of Actinotrocha originates from one or two posterior masses of mesodermal cells. It is possible that the mode of formation of this coelom varies in respect to the different species. The mesoderm elaboration is considered as a modified enteroccelous method.The acceptance of Phoronida as deuterostomes is regarded as the logical consequence of the present considerations (see also Emig, 1973): radial cleavage, origin of mesoderm by a derived enteroccelous method, trimetamerous actinotrocha.

---

Abbréviations des figures a anus - lp lobe préoral - ar archentéron - b blastoccele - ma mésoderme de la région anterieure de l'archentéron - ml mésoderme des régions latérales de l'archentéron - bl blastopore - mes cellule mésodermique - bo bouche - n ebauche des - n éphridiesect mesderme - s sophage - end endoderme - p protocle - est estomac - t ebauche des tentacules - g ebauche du ganglion nerveux - te tentacule - gn glandes nidamentaire - v vestibule - i intestin     

Analyse des caryotypes métaphasiques méiotiques chez le mâle dePleurodeles waltlii (Amphibien,Urodèle) après coloration des chromosomes par l'argent ammoniacal

Analysis of metaphasic meiotic karyotypes in male of Pleurode les waltlii(Amphibia, Urodela) after silver ammoniacal staining of chromosomes. In the newtPleurodeles waltlii, the ammoniacal silver staining technique was applied to the male meiotic chromosomes at metaphase I and II. A specific staining of paracentromeric heterochromatin and of the centromere is observed on each chromosome of the complements. The two karyotypes are analysed and the homology between meiotic and mitotic chromosomes is established.

---

Analyse des caryotypes métaphasiques méiotiques chez le male dePleurodeles waltlii (Amphibien, Urodèle) après coloration des chromosomes par l'argent ammoniacal

     

Le modèle triadique des aspects neurobiologiques des comportements motivés à l’adolescence

Background

Risk-taking behavior is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in adolescence. In the context of decision theory and motivated (goal-directed) behavior, risk-taking reflects a pattern of decision-making that favors the selection of courses of action with uncertain and possibly harmful consequences. We present a triadic, neuroscience systems based model of adolescent decision-making.

Method

We review the functional role and neurodevelopmental findings of three key structures in the control of motivated behavior, i.e., amygdala, nucleus accumbens and medial/ventral prefrontal cortex. We adopt a cognitive neuroscience approach to motivated behavior that uses a temporal fragmentation of a generic motivated action. Predictions about the relative contributions of the triadic nodes to the three stages of a motivated action during adolescence are proposed.

Results

The propensity during adolescence for reward-novelty seeking in the face of uncertainty or potential harm might be explained by a strong reward system (nucleus accumbens), a weak harm avoidant system (amygdala) and/or an inefficient supervisory system (medial/ventral prefrontal cortex). Perturbations in these systems may contribute to the expression of psychopathology, illustrated here with depression and anxiety.

Conclusions

A triadic model, integrated in a temporally organized map of motivated behavior, can provide a helpful framework that suggests specific hypotheses of neural bases of typical and atypical adolescent behavior.     

évaluation des pratiques professionnelles dans le cadre de l’accréditation des établissements psychiatriques

As regards evaluation of professionnal practices (EPP), Formep’s has decided to stay in the limits of psychiatric institutions, for reason of experience. Every medical doctor working in these institutions is concerned by evaluation, but also institutions in the specific framework of V2 44, 45 and 46 references. The EPP is multidisciplinary and involves everybody who takes part of patient caring. Formep’s is adviser, training agent, and partner. Follow-up takes place both on-site and off-site all along the EPP, by a team including psychiatrists, medical practitioners, quality and risk management engineers. They are all experienced to work in psychiatric institutions. Formep’s program includes preliminary and definitive choice of themes, putting methology is place, work of teams, initial analysis of results and deviations, further work of teams, final analysis, which purpose is to improve practices and therefore medical benefit.     

La TEP des tumeurs neuroendocrines de l’intestin grêle

This article focuses on the indication and the choice of tracer for PET/CT in case of neuroendocrine tumours (NET) of the small intestine, which are the most common digestive NETs. PET/CT can be used to search for the primary NET in case of detection of a metastasis, for staging and determination of resectability, for restaging, for optimising and determining the efficacy of therapeutic modalities in extended or recurrent forms. Currently, three types of PET tracers are routinely used: FDG can be useful in the case of aggressive NET especially the duodenum and proximal jejunum, FDOPA is the best tracer in the case of NET of distal jejunum or of ileum, the labeled somatostatin analogues ⁶⁸Ga in the case of well-differentiated NET from the duodenum or proximal jejunum, or irrespective of the location of primary NET if treatment with somatostatin analogue is intended, to confirm the overexpression of somatostatin receptors by lesions.     

L’effet des rayons x sur le protoplasme,le noyau et le chondriome de la cellule végétale d'après les observations sur le vivant

Sans résumé Avec planches I et II     

En France, la majorité des donneurs de spermatozoïdes souhaite le maintien de leur anonymat

So far in France, sperm donor anonymity, which was a fundamental principle and has been twice confirmed in the law in 1994 and 2004, is debated nowadays. In this context, the Cecos wanted to know the donors opinion on anonymity. In 2006, 193 semen donors recruited in 14 Cecos answered anonymously a questionnaire: 73% were in agreement with the principle of anonymity and less than 30% agreed that the future law should change to allow the children to know the donor identity. In case of anonymity disclosure, 60% would give up their sperm donation. The same proportion of donors would accept that non identifying information on them could be given on request to the parents and the child.     

Dépression à long-terme des synapses excitatrices dans le cortex et l'hippocampe

The efficacy of excitatory synapses terminating on cortical and hippocampal pyramidal cells may be persistently depressed as well as potentiated. Homosynaptic long-term depression (LTD) seems to be triggered by an entry of calcium into a post-synaptic cell less than that needed to initiate long-term potentiation (LTP). Theoretical work predicted, and experimental studies confirmed, that moderate elevations of calcium initiate LTD via a cascade of biochemical interactions involving calcium-dependent phosphatases. Genetically modified animals confirmed the prediction of a sliding threshold that defines the limit between LTD and LTP. While mechanisms for the initiation of LTD are quite well established, it remains unclear whether pre- or postsynaptic mechanisms, or both, are involved in its maintenance. A role for LTD in processes of learning and forgetting in the adult animal remains to be firmly established. It seems probable, however, that a persistent reduction in synaptic weight is a basic process used in the establishment and refinement of neuronal circuirs during development.     

Identification des cellules hypophysaires sécrétant l'ACTH chez le rat

Résumé Dans le but d'identifier la cellule hypophysaire responsable de la sécrétion d'ACTH chez le rat, des études morphologiques, en microscopie optique et électronique, furent entreprises chez des animaux surrénalectomisés, c'est-à-dire dans des conditions où la sécrétion d'ACTH est spécifiquement augmentée. Le prélèvement des hypophyses fut effectué à des intervalles allant de 1 à 21 jours après surrénalectomie. Des hypophyses d'animaux surrénalectomisés et traités par la dexaméthasone, un inhibiteur de la secrétion d'ACTH, furent également étudiées. Il découle de ces expériences qu'un type cellulaire est stimulé en même temps que la sécrétion d'ACTH augmente. Cette cellule, hypertrophiée après surrénalectomie, possède une forme irrégulière et est très souvent en contact avec les cellules somatotropes; son ergastoplasme peu développé contraste avec un appareil de Golgi très important. Les granules secrétoires corticotropes ont un diamètre d'environ 200 m, sont peu abondants et disposés le long de la membrane cellulaire. Ces granules n'ont cependant pas été caractérisés en microscopie optique. L'administration de dexaméthasone provoque une régression spécifique de la cellule corticotrope ainsi qu'une accumulation des granules sécrétoires dans le cytoplasme. Chez l'animal intact, il devient possible d'identifier la cellule corticotrope qui possède les caractéristiques générales de la cellule stimulée, mais dont le cytoplasme et l'appareil de Golgi sont peu importants.

---

Identification of the ACTH secreting cells in the rat pituitary

Summary In order to clarify the identity of the ACTH-secreting cells in the rat pituitary, morphological studies were performed in adrenalectomized rats which have a specific increase in ACTH secretion. Pituitaries were removed and fixed for both light and electron microscopy at different time intervals (1 to 21 days) after adrenalectomy. Pituitaries of adrenalectomized animals which received dexamethasone, a potent inhibitor of ACTH secretion, were also studied. In these experiments, it was found that a specific cell type was stimulated as ACTH secretion was increased. This cell, which became enlarged after adrenalectomy, is characterized by an irregular shape and frequent association with somatotropic cells. The rough endoplasmic reticulum was poorly developed in contrast to a prominent Golgi apparatus. The secretory granules of this corticotropic cell were about 200 m in diameter and located in a single row along the plasma membrane. By light microscopic examination, these secretory granules could not be clearly identified. Dexamethasone administration provoked a specific decrease in size of corticotrophic cells, as well as an accumulation of secretory granules. Identification of corticotrophic cells in control rats was facilitated by comparison with those of adrenalectomized rats. In both cases, the general appearance of this cell type was similar except for size difference. Also in the control animals the Golgi apparatus was less prominent than in adrenalectomized rats.

Boursier du Conseil de la Recherche Médicale du Québec.     

Existe-T-IL des chromosomes sexuels multiples chez le campagnol,Microtus arvalis pallas?

The conclusions ofRaicu, Kirillova & Hamar (1969), according to whichMicrotus arvalis has multiple sex chromosomes (X ₁ X ₂ Y ₁ Y ₂, X ₁ X ₁ X ₂ X ₂), are in contradiction to the earlier work ofRenaud (1938) andMatthey (1953) who have reported heterogamety of the XY, XX type for this species as is the situation in the majority of mammals. The mechanism proposed byRaicu and his coauthors in unknown in mammals where only cases of multiple sex-chromosome mechanisms XY ₁ Y ₂, XX and X ₁ X ₂ Y, X ₁ X ₁ X ₂ X ₂ have been described. It was necessary therefore to reexamine the situation in this vole. The author is of the opinion that the conclusions ofRaicu and his coauthors cannot be substantiated and that in this case we have indeed the common type of sex determination.     

Localisation ultimobranchiale et thyroidienne des cellules C (cellules à calcitonine) chez deux Columbidae: le pigeon et le tourtereau

Résumé Chez les deux Columbidae étudiés, les cellules C sont présentes à la fois dans les corps ultimobranchiaux et dans la thyroïde. Les corps ultimobranchiaux sont constitués de cordons renfermant des cellules glandulaires et des cellules bordantes. Dans certaines zones périphériques de la thyroïde, des cordons ultimobranchiaux typiques sont localisés dans les espaces interfolliculaires et sous-capsulaires. Des cellules C folliculaires basales analogues à celles de la thyroïde du mammifère sont rarement observées.Les caractères morphologiques des cellules C sont identiques quelle que soit leur localisation: ultimobranchiale, thyroidienne extrafolliculaire ou folliculaire basale. Les granules sécrétoires diffèrent légèrement par leur forme chez le pigeon et le tourtereau; leur diamètre moyen est plus variable d'une cellule à l'autre chez le pigeon.Des contacts neuroglandulaires existent au niveau des cordons glandulaires localisés dans les corps ultimobranchiaux et dans la thyroïde. Leur signification reste obscure.

---

Ultimobranchial and thyroidian localization of C cells in two Columbidae: the pigeon and the turtle-doveAn electron microscopic study

Summary In the two Columbidae we studied, C cells are present both in the ultimobranchial bodies and in the thyroid. Ultimobranchial bodies consist of cords which are made up of glandular cells and limiting cells. In certain peripheral regions of the thyroid, typical ultimobranchial cords are situated in the interiollicular and infracapsular spaces. Basal follicular C cells similar to those of the mammalian thyroid are rarely observed.The morphological characteristics of the C cells are identical whatever their situation may be: ultimobranchial or thyroidian, be it extrafollicular or basal follicular. The secretory granules differ slightly by their shape in the pigeon and the turtle-dove; their medium diameter varies more from one cell to another in the pigeon.Neuroglandular contacts exist at the level of the glandular cords situated in the ultimobranchial body and in the thyroid. Their signification is not clearly understood.