La forêt alluviale du mont-dieu

Sans résuméReçu par la rédaction le 15.XII.1958.Etude subventionnée par le Fonds National de la Recherche Scientifique de Belgique, dans le cadre des Recherches sur les migrations des Flores et des Végétations dans le Bassin de la Meuse.     

Hyostragulum simplex n. sp. (Incertae sedis) du dévonien du massif armoricain intérêt paléobiogéographique et systématique

In the western part of the “Synclinorium median armoricain (Rade de Brest), the presence of Hyostragulum simplex n. sp. in the lower part of the Troaon formation (Upper Emsian) is a supplementary element of hercynian fauna in Brittany during lower devonian time.For the new species, characterised by the lack of a septum on the base of the corallite, a fibrous microstructure, perhaps trabecular, is shown. The systematic position of the genus is discussed but ends up with a suggestion to let it remain incertae sedis..     

L'intérêt chorologique de quelques groupements forestiérs du Morvan,France

Because of its geographical position the Morvan region has certain peculiar climatological conditions which, despite the distance from the sea, permit the development of a characteristic Atlantic vegetation. Forest communities of Quercion robori-petraeae and Carpinion betuli are described and compared with the associations already distinguished for France. A chorological synthesis of the Quercion robori-petraeae and Carpinion betuli communities is made for a considerable part of France and the phytogeographical importance of the Morvan region is revealed.

Nomenclature des espèces d'après Flora Europaea, par Tutin et al. (1964–1980); nomenclature syntaxonomique d'après Rameau (1981) et Oberdorfer (1978).     

Intérêt du dosage de la testostérone biodisponible dans les dysérections

Is serum non-sex hormone binding globulin-bound (non-SHBG-bound) testosterone more sensitive than total testosterone (T) in men presenting érectile dysfonction? Non-SHBG-bound testosterone level has been shown to undergo decrease whereas SHBG level increases in middle-aged men without érectile dysfonction. Serum SHBG increase has been found in secondary organic etiology of érectile dysfonction. The aim of this work was to study hormonal status in men presenting érectile dysfonction. Serum SHBG, T, bioavailable T, luteinizing hormone (LH) and folliculin stimulating hormone (FSH) levels were measured in 40 men presenting érectile dysfonction. They were divided into four groups according to their etiology: psychogenic, vasculogenic, iatrogenic, and unknown etiologies. In order to consider the effect of the age, each group was compared with age-related healthy controls without any érectile dysfonction. Non-SHBG-bound-T decreased with age and SHBG increased, while serum T was similar in young and elderly control subjects. In the vasculogenic subjects, SHBG was higher than in the controls, but not significantly. In the patients with érectile dysfonction of unknown etiologies, non-SHBG-bound-T was lower than in the controls without increase of SHBG. In the psychogenic patients, SHBG was higher than in the controls while total T was similar in both groups. This study allowed to investigate androgen status of men suffering of érectile dysfonction according to their etiology. The following step would be to study the rate of success of appropriate hormonal therapy in patients in which peripheral hypogonadism occurs.     

Densités de primates en forêt guyanaise. Test d'une méthode d'estimation par transect

The results of a classical transect method designed to evaluate primate density are compared with estimates obtained from long-term studies on three species within a community inhabiting an undisturbed rain forest (French Guiana). Combining results of both methods, the total density of the primate community, which includes six species, is about 70 individuals per square kilometre. The concordance of data noted in Alouatta seniculus, Cebus apella and Saguinus midas, makes the transect method a reliable approach to low primate densities overall. However, it requires that long cumulative distances are walked and does not guarantee that rare species will not be missed. The predominance of Alouatta within the community, as observed in numerous Amazonian communities, is interpreted in relation to the nutritional quality of its environment and weak feeding competition between primate species.     

Intérêt du dosage des peptides natriurétiques en urgence dans la dyspnée aiguë

Acute dyspnea often leads to an emergency room visit. B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and its N-terminal fragment (NT-proBNP) are natriuretic peptide factors secreted by ventricular myocytes when pressure is exerted on the ventricular wall. BNP fights against the activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, while NT-proBNP exhibits no activity in this regard. Elevated blood levels of these factors correlate with a variety of functional indices for left-sided heart failure. Several studies have demonstrated their usefulness as markers of left-sided heart failure, the main cause of acute dyspnea seen in emergency rooms. The diagnostic performance of BNP and NT-proBNP appears to be identical; it is, however, greater than that of the emergency room physician. BNP and NT-proBNP have high sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of acute heart failure. Briefly, when BNP is less than 100 pg/ml, heart failure is very unlikely (NT-proBNP <500 pg/ml); when it is greater than 400 pg/ml (NT-proBNP >2000 pg/ml); when it is greater than 400 pg/ml (NT-proBNP >2000 pg/ml), it is very likely. The early measurement of BNP in emergency room situations improves the care of patients presenting with acute dyspnea and makes it possible to reduce hospitalisation costs.     

Les modalités du percher dans un assemblage de Scarabaeinae de la forêt de Guyane française

Le percher est un comportement répandu chez les espèces d’un assemblage de Scarabaeinae d’une forêt non perturbée de Guyane française. Quarante-trois espèces de percheurs ont été répertoriées sur 7 ans d’échantillonnage. Les fouisseurs diurnes de petite taille (moyenne 7,0 mm) dominaient sur les feuilles isolées et autour des défécations de Singes hurleurs ou des fèces humaines, avec une hauteur moyenne de percher de 62,8 cm. Les hauteurs étaient positivement corrélées aux tailles des insectes excepté pour cinq grandes espèces dont trois possédaient une défense chimique contre les prédateurs. Deux complexes mimétiques ont été identifiés. L’agrégation en dehors de la présence de ressource a été montrée. Les défécations de singes provoquaient une concentration d’insectes dont des Canthon (Glaphyrocanthon) arboricoles qui formaient leurs pilules sur les feuilles. D’autres espèces perchaient en attente de rencontrer au sol un partenaire ou de se livrer au kleptoparasitisme. Les signaux olfactifs pourraient jouer un rôle dans diverses modalités du percher. Compétition et prédation semblent être les principales contraintes auxquelles le percher répond.     

Intérêt du dosage de la chromogranine A sérique dans le suivi des phéochromocytomes

This study aimed at comparing the role of serum chromogranine A (CGA) over 24-h urinary total normetanephrine (NTU) and plasma concentration total normetanephrine (NTP) in the recurrence of phaeochromocytomas. A new approach focusing on the increase rate over time of CGA was studied on 24 patients with abdominal phaeochromocytoma after surgery. In the first group, 15 had a benign sporadic disease without any sign of recurrence during follow-up. In the second group, nine had recurrence from a benign or a malignant, intra- or extra-adrenal phaeochromocytoma. The evolution of CGA rates was significantly different within the two groups during follow-up (p = 0.025). A new approach of the CGA values, based on its evolution over time, showed an excellent ability to identify recurrence with an excellent accuracy. This new parameter enabled to correctly diagnose all patients with recurrence, whereas NTU and NTP failed in four patients. Finally, CGA, but above all its increase rate, may be an early marker of recurrence. CGA should be associated to NTU and NTP during follow-up as its assay is less prone to interference and easier to perform.     

Intérêt de l’introduction à la nomenclature du test de détection des HPV

Le cancer du col de l’utérus reste un problème de santé publique puisque 900 000 nouveaux cas sont diagnostiqués chaque année de par le monde [Luthra] et il est responsable en France de plus de 1600 décès par an. Pourtant, depuis plus de 40 ans, le dépistage de masse des précurseurs du cancer invasif est tout à fait réalisable et le traitement des anomalies cervicales pré-invasives amène généralement à la guérison.     

Études du Paléolithique du Japon à partir des téphras

Many studies and discussions have been made on the problem of when the earliest human beings appeared in Japan. In general, hominid fossils in the latest Pleistocene are not preserved except for coralline limestone sequence in Ryukyu islands, but earlier Paleolithic tools were excavated from volcanic ash soil with a ¹⁴C age of about 30,000–35,000 yr. BP or younger at several archeological sites in almost all Japan. Recent studies, however, show a need for revision and refinement of these ages because calibration techniques have progressed from conventional to calendar ages and high-resolution oxygen isotope chronology has given a global standard sequence. Aïra-Tn tephra (AT), the most important time-marker of the Paleolithic age in Japan, was formerly dated at 21,000–22,000 yr ¹⁴C BP by conventional radiocarbon methods but was dated again at ca. 24,500 yr ¹⁴C BP by accelerated mass spectrometry radiocarbon methods. However, it has been further calibrated to a high-resolution calendar age of 30,000 cal yr. by varve chronology of lake sediments of Suigetsu of central Japan, well matched with combined date between oxygen isotope dates based and calibration from AMS radiocarbon dates. As the earliest Paleolithic tools in south Kanto are found in volcanic ash soil significantly below AT ash and above Sambe-Ikeda ash (SI, ca.46 ka), just above the oxygen isotopic stage 3.3, they are estimated to be dated slightly older than 40 ka. Palaeo-environment at that time is estimated mild to cool climate and relatively low sea level after the oxygen isotope stage 3.3. Sill land bridges between Japan islands and continents have not been formed at major straits. We have not yet obtained useful data for calibration older than ca. 45 ka. Also, correlation of oxygen isotopic fluctuation with the terrestrial sequences is incomplete in Stage 3.     

L'histophysiologie de l'adénohypophyse du triton crêté (Triturus cristatus carnifex Laur.)

Résumé Faisant appel à des techniques cytologiques et cytochemiques, les auteurs décrivent les cinq types de cellules qu'ils ont observés dans l'hypophyse de Triturus cristatus carnifex; deux de ces types sont acidophiles (I et II), les trois autres basophiles (I, II, III). Ces cinq types de cellules sont répartis, par tendance, dans les trois zones suivant lesquelles on peut subdiviser l'hypophyse. On observe les mêmes types de cellules distribuées de la même façon chez Salamandra atra. Se basant sur les variations d'ordre cytologique qu'ils ont observées à la suite de traitements experimentaux différents (castration, thyroïdectomie, administration de substances thiouréiques, de cortisole, d'aldostérone, de métopirone et de prolaetine), les auteurs supposent que les cellules basophiles du I^er type sont chargées d'élaborer l'hormone thyréotrope, celles du II^ème type l'FSH, celles du III^ème type l'LH; quant aux cellules acidophiles, celles du I^er type élaboreraient l'ACTH, et celles du II^ème type un agent hormonal (ou peut-être deux agents) qui exercerait une action somatotrope et une action du type prolactique.

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Summary By means of cytological and cytochemical methods the authors were able to demonstrate five cell types in the hypophysis of Triturus cristatus carnifex. Two acidophil (I and II) and three basophil (I, II, III) cell types are encountered. These five cell types are distributed over the three areas into which the hypophysis is usually subdivided. The same cell types, distributed in exactly the same way, are observed in Salamandra atra. Because of cytologie variations observed under different experimental conditions (castration, thyroidectomy, administration of thiouracils, cortisol, aldosterone, metopirone, and prolactine) it is supposed that type I basophil cells produce the thyreotropic hormone, while type II cells produce FSH and type III cells produce LH. As for the acidophil cells, type I cells seem to produce ACTH while type II cells seem to produce one or possibly two hormonal agents, which exert a somatotropic and prolactinic action.

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Recherche conduite et publiée avec une contribution de l'Impresa di Endocrinologia du Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (Gruppo di Endocrinologia Comparata). — Nous tenons à remercier ici M. Giuseppe Gendusa qui a bien voulu colaborer à la preparation du matériel photographique.     

Implantation du genêt à balais,précédent cultural et dynamique du sol dans les friches (Bretagne,France)

The soil dynamics of old-fields, characterized by the early establishment of broom (Cytisus scoparius L.), is analysed in the Breton bocage. The role of former land use practices is estimated by comparing two similar plant successions, post cultivation and post pasture. Different variables (organic matter, mineral N content, microbial biomass, total microbial activity and mineralization) are measured within the soil layer disturbed by farming (between –5 and –25 cm). One year after abandonment, the parameters taken into account show similar values for both series. After 8 years, in broom thickets, the two soil series are characterized by an increase in microbial activity, organic matter and mineral N contents. However, the post cultivation thicket differed by higher N content and mineralization rate than the post pasture thicket, but also by a smaller microbial biomass. It appears that, if the development of similar vegetational communities promotes the same kind of soil dynamics, the former land use practices significantly modify this evolution, for at least the first 8 years following abandonment.     

L’échec de fécondation en F.I.V.: intérêt d’un taux de récolte ovocytaire élevé et étude du taux de récidive

L’analyse de 1132 tentatives de FIV montre comment le taux de récolte détermine la fiabilité de l’estimation de l’échec de fécondation. L’étude de 64 couples ayant réalisé plusieurs tentatives dont une au moins s’est soldée par un échec de fécondation montre que 68,7% d’entre eux obtiennent des embryons lors d’une autre tentative. Les embryons replacés ont les mêmes aptitudes d’implantation et de développement que ceux obtenus par 130 couples ayant subi un premier échec d’implantation. Ces résultats sont mis en relation avec ceux obtenus par insémination subzonale après deux échecs de FIV.     

Les remplissages sédimentaires des coquilles de céphalopodes triasiques. Mécanismes et intérêt paléoécologique

Experiments have been carried out in laboratory onplastic cephalopod models in order to study most aspects of sedimentary shell filling of Ceratites and Nautilus from the German Upper Muschelkalk. In most cases the shells had a horizontal position when being filled by the sediment. The exception of filling in upright position has been observed mainly for Ceratites nodosus nodosus (Bruguière, 1792), Acanthoceratites spinosus (Philippi, 1901) except the species A. spinosus penndorfi (Rothe, 1955), Acanthoceratites evolutus (Philippi, 1901) and the nautilus Germanonautilus bidorsatus (Schlotheim, 1804); it is due to the width of their shells. In no case the sediment filling of cephalopod shells gives information about the depth of the depositional environment. On the other hand it is a good indicator of the waving occurring on the sea floor and the reworking of the sediment.     

Intérêt de l’abaissement du testicule non descendu chez l’adulte. Etude à propos de 259 patients

Introduction

Undescended testis is a frequent congenital disease, more often diagnosed and treated during childhood. However, due to ignorance or negligence, this disease can be seen even after puberty, when it raises a therapeutic problem: is orchidopexy still useful? This study was designed to evaluate the outcome of orchidopexy at adulthood in terms of improvement of fertility and prevention of malignant degeneration.

Material and methods

Retrospective study performed over a 23-year period (1983–2005). We have found 259 patients with undescended testis diagnosed and treated after the age of 18 years.

Results

The mean age of patients was 24 years (range: 18–63). In the majority of cases, undescended testis was diagnosed at a systemic medical examination in 199 patients (77% of cases), and in a context of infertility in 33 patients, testicular malignancy in 8 patients, testicular torsion in 2 patients and, in 17 cases, undescended testis had been known since birth but was neglected by the parents. Undescended testis was unilateral in 209 cases and bilateral in 50 cases. Out of 37 couples, only 4 gave birth to children (10.8% paternity rate). Sperm analysis was abnormal in all infertile patients. All patients were treated by orchidopexy, except for 36 patients in whom orchidectomy was performed due to testicular atrophy (27 cases), malignancy (8 cases) or necrosis (1 case). Biopsy of the intrascrotal testis was performed in 3 patients with unilateral cryptorchidism. Histological examination was normal in two cases and abnormal in one case. The long-term outcome was characterized by:

1. Testicular atrophy in 6 patients (2.7% of cases).
2. Progression to malignancy in 3 patients (1.3% of cases).
3. Improvement of sperm parameters in 16 of 33 infertile patients (48.5%); 4 patients fathered children after treatment.

Conclusion

Orchidopexy at adulthood can lead to improvement of infertility. It can also decrease the incidence of malignancy and facilitate clinical examination looking for possible malignancy. However, the best treatment remains preventive, based on early diagnosis and orchidopexy.     

Les sépultures italiennes du Paléolithique supérieur. Reconstitutions du régime alimentaire

The identification of dietary habits is increasingly seen as a fundamental aspect for studying the ancient human populations. Accordingly, several projects aiming to identify Paleolithic individuals’ dietary patterns were developed to analyze the organic component of bone tissue and identify isotopic markers to reconstruct the food typology. Bone fragments from six individuals were selected for carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes analysis. The interpretation of human isotopic data was framed through a dataset of twenty-one Italian Paleolithic individuals. The isotopic data generated for the Paleolithic individuals agree with the information already provided by the archaeological record concerning the Italian hunter and gatherer communities. Their subsistence economy was essentially grounded upon the exploitation of high protein foods, either from terrestrial fauna resources or inland lacustrine or riverine species.     

Détermination par TEP-TDM au 18FDG du statut ganglionnaire dans les cancers du col utérin – intérêt de la mesure du SUV de la tumeur primitive

Purpose. – To evaluate the value of ¹⁸F-fluoro-2-désoxyglucose (FDG) PET-CT and maximal standardized uptake value (SUV_max) of the primary tumor for lymph node staging in cervical cancer.Materials and methods. – This retrospective study involved a series of 18 consecutive patients who had benefited from PET-CT and MRI at initial staging for a stage IB or higher cervical carcinoma. The SUV_max of each primary tumor was measured retrospectively. All patients had been previously treated by radiochemotherapy. Lymph node status was obtained in 12 of 18 cases.Results. – The sensitivity and specificity for determining lymph node status was 80 and 86%, respectively, for PET-CT, and 80 and 71% for MRI. In 16.6% of cases, PET-CT revealed unknown sus-diaphragmatic lesions. SUV_max of the primary tumor was significantly higher in the N+ than in the N− group (15.6 ± 1.6 vs 8.5 ± 3.9, p < 0.01). The optimal threshold was determined to be 10.8 from ROC analysis.Conclusion. – When staging with FDG PET-CT, SUV_max of a primary cervical cancer seems to be a good predictor of lymph node status. This could lead to an intensification of treatment for patients whose SUV_max is higher than 10.8. A prospective study would allow to assess a potential benefit of treatment intensification for patients with SUV_max higher than 10.8.