Méthodes d’évaluation des érections automatiques nocturnes dans les dysfonctions érectiles

For more than 25 years, the study of nocturnal penile tumescence (NPT) has been a basic element in the investigation of erectile dysfunction. Numerous methods have been proposed; always non-invasive, generally not very onerous and easily achieved. They require little more than a basic understanding of physiology, and knowledge of the qualitative and quantitative criteria for assessing NPT, in order to avoid any incorrect or dangerous interpretation. Based on more than 8000 nights of recordings, it is possible to separate the advantages, inconveniences and operating costs of the major instrumentation options. Although rather unsatisfactory, plethysmography and rigidometry of NPT have become the cornerstone for investigating erectile dysfunction. Always necessary, sometimes these examinations alone are sufficient, for example when they are normal and allow confirmation of a psychogenic aetiology of impotence. In other situations they must be supplemented with other complementary examinations, in which case the results show an 80% correlation with NPT. A revival of interest in the study of NPT will occur once we have achieved the impossible: the availability of a cheap instrument allowing recording of turgidity, rigidity and REM sleep, without discomfort and in the patient’s home.     

Personnalisation des émotions et cortex médial préfrontal

Functional brain imaging studies in healthy subjects suggest that several regions (prefrontal cortex, amygdala, thalamus, hippocampus, anterior cingulate) have specialized functions for emotional operations. Within these regions, the medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) is considered to have a general role in emotional processing. Using a memory paradigm with verbal material, we recently demonstrated that the MPFC is specifically involved in self-related processing of emotional stimuli. Study with mood induction also suggest that personality traits may modulate the reactivity of the MPFC to emotional Stressors. Taken together these findings support the hypothesis that the MPFC subserve processes involved in emotion regulation. Dysfunction of the MPFC and related structures (i.e. amygdala) may increase the vulnerability to emotional disorders.     

Utilisation des lichens dans la mise en évidence des éléments traces présents dans les cours d'eau

The authors demonstrated the possibility to use lichens as biodetectors of the presence of copper and cadmium in rivers. The authors showed that the lichen biomass fixes rapidly metals in solution. This caption is proportional to the quantity of metal present, without any toxic threshold being observed, even at high concentration levels. Furthermore, Dermatocarpon luridum (With.) Laundon syn. D. weberi (Ach.) Mann was a better biodetector of metallic micropolluants than other aquatic macrophytes (brypophytes and phanerogames). Transplantations of this lichen were made in the Vienne river (Massif Central, France) in the upstream and downstream section of an electrolytic copper refining plant. The results revealed an aquatic pollution generated by this industry.     

Les virus des eaux usées et leur élimination au cours des traitements des effluents pollués

Viruses are a biological pollution in wastewaters. Their elimination results from treatment processes of polluted effluents in the sewage treatment plant or in the lagooning pilot plant. Bacteriophages are regarded as viruses models and as indicators of faecal contamination. In an expiremental study, two pilot plants laboratories have been used (natural lagooning and activated sludge pilot) to follow and evaluate the elimination rate of somatic coliphage X-174 or the ARN F-specific one MS2. The two phages removal, ranging to 99 % in the two systems, are related with previous values on enteric viruses. The main factors of viral removal and inactivation (adsorption to solid matters, microbial activities, solar radiations, dissolved matters) have been studied too. Adsorption of infectious particles to solid matters is a very significant process. This was obtained in the pilot plant laboratory experiment and in in vitro study (X-174 or MS2 in the presence of the kaolinite or the montmorillonite). Otherwise, 12 hours of solar rays exposition were efficient ro inactivate nearly the whole phagic suspension. The ciliate protozoan Tetrahymena pyriformis does not seem to have an important role for elimination of phages (X-174 and MS2.     

Les photorécepteurs des Collemboles, étude ultrastructurale

Résumé L'étude ultrastructurale de l'appareil dioptrique des photorécepteurs des Collemboles adultes a permis de reconsidérer la structure des formations oculaires à ommatidies aggrégées. Quatre types de cornéules ont été reconnus, dont les plus remarquables sont ceux à mamelons cornéens. Les cellules cristalliniennes au nombre de quatre assurent alternativement une double fonction au cours de chaque cycle de la mue. Sur les faces distales, les cellules élaborent le matériel cuticulaire de la cornéule; vers l'intérieur elles sécrètent le cristallin. Les cellules de Semper réalisent ainsi une fonction cornéagène et une fonction cristallogène. La répartition spatiale des organites intracellulaires en couches concentriques est une caractéristique des Collemboles. Chaque cellule cristallinienne envoie vers la membrane basale un processus tubulaire contenant des granules denses de nombreux microtubules et du glycogène en faible quantité. Les cônes cristallins présentent une grande diversité de forme de structure et de composition chimique. Suivant les groupes le cristallin peut être une formation intracellulaire ou extracellulaire, simple ou quadripartite. La présence de petits cristallins satellites associés à un cristallin unique reste inexpliquée mais caractérise une espèce troglobie Tomocerus problematicus. Deux cellules dites cornéagènes à cytoplasme toujours pauvre en organites intracytoplasmiques, avec ou sans pigment, complètent l'appareil dioptrique des ommas des Collemboles.

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Photoreceptors of Collembola, an ultrastructural studyI. The Dioptric Apparatus

Summary Ultrastructural features of the dioptric apparatus of photoreceptors of adult Collembola described by the author has enabled the author to compare the structure of ocular formations with aggregated ommatidia. Four different types of corneulae have been determined, the most remarkable of which are those showing corneal nipples. The four crystalline cells have alternately different functions during each molting cycle. On their distal surfaces, the cells elaborate cuticular material of the corneula; proximally, they secrete a crystalline cone. The Semper cells thus have both corneogenous and crystallogenous functions. The typically concentric spatial distribution of intracellular organelles in these cells is a characteristic feature for Collembola. Each crystalline cell sends towards the basal membrane a tubular process containing granules, numerous microtubules, and a small amount of glycogen. The shape, the structure, and the chemical composition of the crystalline cones are highly variable. In Collembola, the crystalline formation can either be intracellular or extracellular, and it can be simple or quadripartite. No explanation has yet been advanced for the existence of small crystalline satellites which appear to be associated with the single large crystalline cones; this association is characteristic for the troglobian species Tomocerus problematicus. The dioptric apparatus of Collembolan ommatidia is completed by the presence of two corneogenous cells, the cytoplasm of which contains few organelles and in some cases pigments.

     

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.     

Age paternel: apport des données épidémiologiques et d'AMP

Introduction

Maternal age over 35 years is a well known risk factor in reproduction. This effect of maternal age had been demonstrated on the risk of infertility and the risk of miscarriage on the basis of epidemiological data and ART data, especially AID sources. In contrast, the effect of paternal age has been rarely analysed. The objective of this study was to review the literature analysing the effect of paternal age on the risk of infertility and the risk of miscarriage.

Material and method

Sixteen publications analysing paternal age were selected by a MEDLINE search. Thirteen publications concerned epidemiological data, based on surveys in the general population, surveys in pregnant women, case-control studies, and birth and death certificates. Three publications concerned ART data, based on IVF with ovum donation. In IVF with ovum donation, there is no correlation between paternal age and age of the female gamete donor.

Results

Seven epidemiological studies analysed the effect of paternal age on the risk of infertility. After controlling for maternal age, five studies showed a paternal age effect, and one showed a very weak paternal age effect. The last study did not show any paternal age effect, but only considered men under the age of 33 years. Three studies analysed the effect of paternal age on pregnancy rates in IVF with ovum donation. Only one study showed a paternal age effect. The four studies analysing the effect of paternal age on the risk of miscarriage showed a paternal age effect and two of the three studies based on birth and death certificates showed a paternal age effect on late foetal death (>20 weeks of gestation).

Conclusion

There are concordant data in the literature showing an effect of paternal age on the risk of infertility and the risk of miscarriage. Paternal age over 40 years could therefore be a risk factor in reproduction in the same way as maternal age over 35 years. Moreover, the risk of infertility and the risk of miscarriage could be much higher when both partners are over the age of 35–40 years.     

[Fréquence des maladies transmises sexuellement chez des étudiants universitaires.]

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the incidence rate of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) among university students and evaluate the associated sociodemographic factors. DESIGN: Mail survey in April 1990. Included in the questionnaire were questions about the subjects'' STD experience since their admission to the university and the type and date of the infection. SUBJECTS: Of the 19,682 undergraduate students 2920 subjects, in 10 groups of 292, were randomly selected. A total of 1731 (59.4%) completed the questionnaire. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Estimated annualized incidence rates of genital human papillomavirus infection and Chlamydia infection. RESULTS: The estimated annualized incidence rates of genital human papillomavirus and Chlamydia infections were 2.2% and 1.5% respectively. Among the students who indicated being infected with genital human papillomavirus 59% were 18 to 21 years old (p < 0.05), 76% were women (p < 0.01) and 69% had more than one sexual partner (p < 0.01). No statistically significant associations were observed between age, sex and Chlamydia infection. On the other hand, 95% of the cases of Chlamydia infection were found among those who had more than one sexual partner (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: University students continue to have sexual activities at risk for STDs and should be specifically targetted by general practitioners and health services in an effort to slow the spread of STDs.     

Importance de l'étude de la répartition écologique pour la taxonomie des éponges calcaires

Résumé 1. Les travaux deSarà (1953) et deBurton (1963) ont remis en question la valeur systématique des caractères morphologiques dans la classification des Eponges Calcaires, et ont proposé de considérer de nombreuses formes connues comme des variétés individuelles et régionales d'espèces très plastiques et variables. Nous avons essayé de préciser, par l'observation directe en plongée libre, la distribution et les préférences écologiques des Calcaires, de définir ainsi les limites naturelles de leurs populations, et d'étudier ensuite la variabilité des caractères morphologiques à l'intérieur de ces populations.2. Nous exposons ici l'exemple des espèces des genresClathrina etAscandra, étudiées en Adriatique, dans les régions de Marseille et de Roscoff. Leur distribution est en rapport direct et très précis avec l'exposition aux vagues et à la lumière, à tel point que sur une surface réduite plusieurs espèces se succèdent et se remplacent en fonction de l'exposition de l'endroit. Dans la règion de Roscoff cette distribution est plus large ce qui est dû aux effets des marées, mais les zones écologique préférentielles pour les espèces deClathrina ont pu être établies en fonction de l'importance de l'apport des sédiments par les eaux côtières.3. La possibilité de définir des populations dont la distribution est très précisemment délimitée malgré une coexistence dans un espace réduit, et qui ne sont pas réliées par les formes transitoires, permet d'éliminer l'hypothèse de la cospécificité de ces populations. Elle permet également d'établir les variations morphologiques possibles au sein d'une espèce, de retenir les caractères significatifs pour la classification, et finalement de distinguer les espèces qui se ressemblent morphologiquement. Dans le cas d'animaux qui, commeClathrina, possèdent très peu de caractères utilisables en systématique, c'est la seule façon de résoudre les problèmes de leur taxonomie.

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The importance of research on the ecological distribution for the taxonomy of calcareous sponges

The particular difficulties of the taxonomy of calcareous sponges are due to their great plasticity and their capacity for adaptation which obscure the natural limits of species. An attempt was made to define the natural populations of the Mediterranean species of the generaClathrina andAscandra through a study of their ecological distributions. The populations not connected by the transitory forms were defined by their ecological preferences, and, as they are found in a close cohabitation, were treated as having the specific values. The variability of different morphological features is discussed, the features significant for taxonomy are pointed out and the morphologically close species are defined.

     

Diversité spécifique et évolution des groupements végétaux supra forestiers des Pyrenèes centrales

Summary Calculations of various diversity indices in seral meadow communities from the Central Pyrenees subalpine zone were based on quantitative vegetational analyses by the point quadrat method. Species richness (S) increased rapidly toward a maximum then decreased markedly with increasing maturation of the meadows. In contrast, equitability measured as the Pielou index first inereases gradualy and then remains on more or less the same level, while decreasing a little in older stages, if not accelered by over-grazing. Not surprisingly, Patten's redundancy measure exibits inverse variations. Since it encompasses both the number of species and the distribution of individuals over the species, the Shannon and Weaver index of diversity behaved in a manner intermediate between richness and evenness. In the two toposequences investigated, diversity and equitability variations were highly correlated with the occurence of monopolistic dominant species.

Nom des plantes suivant P. Fournier (1961) Les quatre flores de France.     

Résistance des abeilles (Apis mellifica L. var.ligustica) a des températures élevées

Summary The following is a study of resistance of worker honey bees (Apis mellifica L. var.ligustica) to high temperatures and of the effect of nutrition upon it.Survival of honey bees of spring generation was studied at 45, 50, 55 and 60°C during 15, 30, 45 and 60 minutes exposures. The survival rate was established at the end of their exposure, and 24 hours later. Lethal effects of heat were evident immediately after a 30 minute exposure to 50° C. These effects could be noticed in the survivers 24 hours following exposure.Effect of nutrition on heat resistance at 32° C and at 50° C was studied on one group of bees supplied with a 30 % honey solution; on another- with water only, and on a third group which served as a control (no food). Their survival at 32° C after 12 hours exposure was 100%, 81% and 48%, respectively. However, an exposure duration of 45 minutes at 50°C resulted in a survival of 22% of control bees as compared to a total survival of those fed on honey solution.     

La radiation des échinodermes au Paléozoïque inférieur,l’exemple des blastozoaires

The subphylum Blastozoa is the most abundant and among the most diversified of echinoderm groups during the Early Paleozoic. Reappraisal of their highly diverse anatomies suggests that their superficially incomparable morphologies are actually relatively homogeneous among the major blastozoan clades. Their generic diversity shows two peaks (Drumian, Sandbian), linked by a single origination event during the Cambrian-Lower Ordovician interval. During the lower Middle Ordovician, blastozoans were distributed in distinct provinces, but became progressively more cosmopolitan during the Upper Ordovician. After the Late Ordovician crisis event, blastozoans were restricted to the Laurentian and the Baltic margins.     

Sur des aspects particuliers des protéines élaborées dans la glande mammaire. Etude au microscope électronique chez la lapine en lactation

Résumé L'étude au microscope électronique de la glande mammaire de la lapine en lactation a montré 1) des remaniements dans le cytoplasme des protéines élaborées et 2) une localisation inhabituelle des grains de protéine dans les espaces inter-cellulaires et le tissu conjonctif péri-acineux. Ces phénomènes répondent vraisemblablement à une stase lactée avec réabsorption du produit sécrétoire.

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Summary The electron microscopic study of the mammary gland of the lactating rabbit has shown 1) a fusion and probably rearrangement within the cytoplasm of the secreted proteins, and 2) an unusual localization of protein granules in the intercellular spaces and the periacinar connective tissue. These phenomena probably indicate a stasis of the secretory product accompanied by its reabsorption.

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En hommage au Professeur W. Bargmann.