Imagerie des glandes annexes de la voie séminale

Ultrasonography (US) is presently routine part of the investigation of infertile men with low volume ejaculate. It provides excellent depiction of the congenital or acquired obstructive lesions of the reproductive system, particulary in its distal part. For 10 years, we performed a US examination of the kidneys, the scrotum contents and transrectal US (TRUS) in every case a excretory cause of male hypofertility could be suspected. In selected patients, MR imaging (with endorectal coil) appears usefull. We describe the normal and abnormal anatomy of the epididymis, vas deferens, seminal vesicle (SV) and ejaculatory ducts in male infertility with US and MRI. Dilatation of the small ducts in the epididymis and sometimes in the testis at scrotal US is suggestive of a downstream obstacle. Sometimes these dilatation could appear as small hypoechoic areas in the epididymis. In contrast, post-inflammatory changes are hyperechoic but often associated with dilatations. TRUS permits to confirm the absence of the vas deferens in congenital bilateral absence of vas deferens (CBAVD): it shows the absence of the ampullae and severe abnormalities of the SV. In case of unilateral absence of the vas deferens, the association with a homolateral kidney agenesis does not lead to the screening for mutations in the cystic fibrosis gene, but suggests a wolffian duct abnormality. MRI (with endorectal coil) is indicated when TRUS is unconclusive. Scrotal US permits to guide semen aspiration and TRUS is indicated to eliminate a distal obstruction when a surgical anastomosis is planed. TRUS (as well as scrotal US) can suggest an obstacle when dilatation of one or several segments of the seminal tract is observed. Sometimes the cause is obvious with imaging: CBAVD, prostatic cyst, inflammatory and post-infectious changes, lithiasis etc. However, it remains many cases where US is only one component of the therapeutic decision, besides clinical examination, sperm count, FSH level and biochemical sperm markers.     

Sélection dépendant de la fréquence et durée de développement embryonnaire chez Drosophila melanogaster

Sans résuméEquipe de Recherche Associée du C.N.R.S. N^o 406 Analyse et mécanismes de maintien du polymorphisme.     

Le développement de l’inventaire de dépistage ERIraos: un outil global d’appréciation du risque d’évolution psychotique

Adequate identification of patients for early intervention programmes requires reliable and valid assessment tools. Within the German Schizophrenia Network (Kompetenznetz Schizophrenie) a set of schedules for early detection of schizophrenia has been proposed: the Early Recognition Inventory ERIraos. ERIraos is a two-step procedure with a 17-item checklist used at step 1 by GPs, psychologists, teachers, while a comprehensive 110-item symptom list is applied at early intervention centres at the expert level. In addition, ERIraos allows the assessment of several risk factors for psychosis such as familial load, childhood deficiencies, alcohol and drug use by special modules. Some preliminary results are presented here. The frequency of the 17 checklist symptoms increases from the early to the late prodrome, and more specific symptoms occur over time. The 17 checklist symptoms are grouped by factor analysis to 5 factors (psychotic, depressive, disorganised, withdrawn, dysphoric). In addition to prodromal symptoms, most patients (86.2%) report at least one additional risk factor (mean: 1.7 risks). 68% demonstrate some schizotypal features, 53% report alcohol and/or drug consumption, 24% demonstrate some deficiency or delay in childhood development, 21% report definite obstetric or birth complications, and 10% have a family history of schizophrenia or some schizophrenia-like diagnosis in first degree relatives. So far, the results are of a preliminary nature, and when sufficient information on psychotic transitions is available, the predictive value of ERIraos will be determined.     

Comparaison de techniques de débruitage des images scintigraphiques

Scintigraphic images are strongly affected by Poisson noise. This article presents the results of a comparison between denoising methods for Poisson noise according to different criteria: the gain in signal-to-noise ratio, the preservation of resolution and contrast, and the visual quality. The wavelet techniques recently developed to denoise Poisson noise limited images are divided into two groups based on: (1) the Haar representation, (2) the transformation of Poisson noise into white Gaussian noise by the Haar–Fisz transform followed by a denoising. In this study, three variants of the first group and three variants of the second, including the adaptative Wiener filter, four types of wavelet thresholdings and the Bayesian method of Pizurica were compared to Metz and Hanning filters and to Shine, a systematic noise elimination process. All these methods, except Shine, are parametric. For each of them, ranges of optimal values for the parameters were highlighted as a function of the aforementioned criteria. The intersection of ranges for the wavelet methods without thresholding was empty, and these methods were therefore not further compared quantitatively. The thresholding techniques and Shine gave the best results in resolution and contrast. The largest improvement in signal-to-noise ratio was obtained by the filters. Ideally, these filters should be accurately defined for each image. This is difficult in the clinical context. Moreover, they generate oscillation artefacts. In addition, the wavelet techniques did not bring significant improvements, and are rather slow. Therefore, Shine, which is fast and works automatically, appears to be an interesting alternative.     

Gestion informatisée de la biologie délocalisée

La prise en charge par le biologiste de certaines analyses délocalisées se trouve grandement facilitée par la mise en place d’un système informatique reliant l’analyseur délocalisé et le laboratorie. Elle apporte un niveau de sécurité nécessaire pour la prise de responsabilité du laboratoire dans l’acte de biologie délocalisé. L’architecture réseau de la plupart de h?pitaux permet maintenant de transmettre très facilement et de manière fiable des données entre plusieurs services voire entre établissements. Les analyseurs de gazométrie sanguine permettent cette connexion, de plus en plus d’industriels développent d’autres paramètres en plus des simples gaz du sang comme dernièrement l’urée et la créatinine. Les analyseurs permettant de doser les marqueurs cardiaques, ceux réalisant l’hémostase sont désormais fréquemment connectables. Chaque industriel du diagnostic proposant des analyseurs de glycémie a ou va prochainement commercialiser un modèle connectable. Il en est de même pour les bandelettes urinaires. Il est donc probable, et les biologistes sont les premiers demandeurs, que la connexion informatique d’analyseurs de biologie installés dans les unités de soins, soit un pré-requis pour la gestion des analyses délocalisées par le biologiste, et sa prise de responsabilité dans les résultats biologiques issus de ces analyseurs.     

Absence de corrélation génotype-phénotype dans les absences de canaux déférents

Absence of the vas deferens is a rare cause of male infertility, associated with mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR) gene in about 80% of cases. Only limited published data are available concerning the correlation between genotype and reproductive tract abnormalities observed in this disease: presence or absence of seminal vesicles and parts of the epididymis, symmetrical or asymmetrical lesions, testicular volumes. We screened 47 patients for the 13 most common CFTR mutations on the cystic fibrosis gene and for the 5-thymidine variant of the polythymidine tract of intron 8. Renal, scrotal and transrectal ultrasonography was performed in each patient to explore the testes and reproductive tract. All patients presented absence of the ampullae of the vas deferens. Forty patients presented bilateral absence of the vas deferens and 7 presented unilateral absence of the vas deferens. At least one mutation of the cystic fibrosis gene was present in 64% of cases: 47% had the ΔF 508 mutation and 63% had the 5T allele. No mutation was detected in seventeen patients, including 3 patients with unilateral renal agenesis and 3 patients with unilateral absence of the vas deferens. No differences were observed for seminal vesicles and symmetry of vesicular and epididymal abnormalities between patients with or without CFTR gene mutations, but epididymal abnormalities were significantly more frequent in the group without mutation (p=0.01). Testicular volumes were significantly lower in the patients without mutation or with the 5T allele only, than in the patients with at least one CFTR gene mutation: 10.7±4.1 ml versus 15.1±4.5 ml, respectively (p<0.001). In conclusion, in cases of isolated absence of the vas deferens, there is no difference in sperm duct abnormalities between patients with or without CFTR gene mutation. These results suggest that other genetic or environmental determinants are required to explain a common pathogenesis for these malformations. The decreased testicular volume of patients without CFTR gene mutation or with the 5T allele only suggests the existence of an unidentified secretory or mixed factor involved in these forms of absence of the vas deferens.     

Le cycle de développement des Castes chezReticulitermes

Résumé La production des castes, notamment des nymphes, futurs imagos ailés et des ouvriers chez leReticulitermes lucifugus est soumise à un cycle biologique annuel. L'auteur montre que dans les colonies naturelles les nymphes apparaissent quelques semaines après l'essaimage des jeunes imagos, vers la fin du printemps en une fois et en grande quantité. Elles se développent pendant l'été et arrivent en automne à l'avant-dernier ou même au dernier stade avant la mue imaginale. En hiver le développement de la colonie est normalement arrêté par le froid. Au début du printemps les nymphes se transforment en imagos et quittent la colonie. Pendant le repos hivernal les sexuées femelles accumulent beaucoup de corps gras et, au moment où les grandes nymphes se transforment en imagos, une ponte massive se produit dans le nid. Après la disparition des imagos la colonie voit son potentiel nutritif considérablement augmenté, puisqu'il n'y a plus de nymphes à nourrir. Pour cette raison les larves, à leur tour bien alimentées, peuvent se transformer en nymphes. Celles-ci, par leur croissance et leur constant besoin de nourriture, abaissent de nouveau le potentiel alimentaire. En conséquence de cette baisse, les larves qui apparaissent pendant l'été et l'automne sont mal nourries et donnent des ouvriers.Si les colonies deReticulitermes l. santonensis ont leur nid dans une maison bien chauffée en hiver, comme c'est le cas dans quelques immeubles de La Rochelle, lecycle annuel peut se transformer encycle semestriel. Les nymphes formées au printemps arrivent à l'état imaginal en automne et essaiment alors. Quand ils quittent la colonie un nouveau cycle commence qui permet un autre essaimage cinq à six mois plus tard, au printemps.L'auteur suppose que le facteur climatique et le facteur alimentaire jouent le rôle principal dans la formation des nymphes et dans le cycle biologique des Termitières.     

Cinétique de dégradation des hydrocarbures par Candida lipolytica

Résumé Le mécanisme d'assimilation des hydrocarbures par une levure, Candida lipolytica est étudié au moyen de l'analyse cinétique de la croissance du microorganisme et de la disparition du substrat hydrocarboné. Les hydrocarbures utilisés sont des n-paraffines. On ajoute au milieu soit un seul hydrocarbure (n-tetradécane ou n-hexadécane), soit un mélange binaire (n-dodécane et n-heptadécane), soit un mélange complexe (du n-undécane au n-octadécane). Contrairement à d'autres auteurs, nous pensons qu'il est peu probable que l'essentiel de la réaction s'effectue par contact des gouttes de substrat et des microorganismes puisque l'on observe des retards d'assimilation de certains hydrocarbures: ceux de faible poids moléculaire (les plus solubles) sont assimilés plus rapidement. Il semble donc que l'assimilation se fasse en grande partie à partir d'hydrocarbures préablement solubilisés.

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Kinetics of hydrocarbon assimilation by Candida lipolytica

Summary The mechanism of hydrocarbon uptake by a yeast, Candida lipolytica has been studied by means of the kinetic analysis of micro-organism growth and substrate assimilation. Hydrocarbons used as only source of carbon are normal alkanes either pure (n-tetradecane or n-hexadecane) or in mixture of two paraffins (n-dodecane and n-heptadecane) or eight paraffins (n-undecane to n-octadecane). In these last cases delays in n-alkanes consumption are observed. They show that the most soluble substrates (lower molecular weight) are first consumed. In opposition to other authors we think that there is little probability for main reaction occurring by direct contact between drops and micro-organisms. The evidence indicates that n-alkanes are mainly utilized in the dissolved state.

     

La technique de débitage au Paléolithique supérieur de l’archipel du Japon

The representative debitage technique is the one of the culture of knife-to-back in the name of the superior Paleolithic of Japan. She/it can be he divided in two, the one of the first half and the one of the second half. The first corresponds at the time of apparition, either to the stage of launching of the technique of debitage laminaire whose debitage didn’t provide elaborate blades being little successive. As for the stage of fortifying of the debitage laminaire, the industries lithic to knife-to-back of the Sugikubo type developed themselves in the oriental Honshû. With regard to the region of Kantô to the second half of the first where the knife-to-back of Moro type mingled equally with those while shaping on the blade. To the recent stage of development, one can note the industry lithic to knife-to-back of Moro type is based on the technical very blady in the western Japan. Succeeding in the second half of the superior Paleolithic that the technique of debitage of Sétoüchi developed itself in this part whose debitage is characterized by the strut oblong in wing, are the transverse blades These gotten supports used especially for making the knife-to-back of Koü type while spilling country-wide. To the second recent half, the technical blade of Sunagawa type took place in all regions of Japan except the inshore regions of the Interior Sea of Séto and the region of Kinki (Kyoto-Osaka).     

Seuil thermique de développement de trois coccinelles prédatrices de la cochenille du manioc au congo

Résumé Le seuil thermique de développement de 3 prédateurs de la famille desCoccinellidae (un exotique et deux locaux) a été étudié. L'équation de la constante thermique a été utilisée pour le calcul du seuil thermique. Les données obtenues ont été comparées entre elles. L'espèce exotiqueHyperaspis raynevali a un seuil thermique de développement plus bas que celui des 2 espèces locales (Hyperaspis senegalensis hottentotta etExochomus flaviventris). Le seuil thermique suivant a été obtenu pour chaque espèce, à savoir: 11,81°C pourH. raynevali; 13,78°C pourH. s. hottentotta; 13,63°C pourE. flaviventris. Des différences de seuil thermique de développement et de mortalité ont été enregistrées entre le prédateur exotique et les espèces indigènes. Des hypothèses explicatives sont évoquées dans la discussion.      

Analyse de la trisomie 9p par dénaturation ménagée

Résumé L'analyse de la structure fine des chromatides obtenue par dénaturation ménagée par la chaleur permet de rapporter un nouveau cas de trisomie pour le bras court du chromosome 9.Un nouvel examen, avec cette même technique, des cas précédemment publiés a permis d'identifier les chromosomes impliqués dans les diverses translocations familiales, de localiser les points de cassure et, par là, de préciser les diverses trisomies ou monosomies associées à la trisomie 9p observée chez les patients.La confrontation des données cytologiques ainsi recueillies et des données phénotypiques observées chez dix patients permet de dégager l'ensemble malformatif correspondant à la trisomie du bras court du chromosome 9 à savoir: Un syndrome dysmorphique: microcéphalie modérée, énophtalmie, obliquité en bas et en dehors des fentes palpébrales, hypertélorisme modéré, oreilles décollées, nez charnu, coins de la bouche tombants, hypoplasie de certaines phalanges. Une particularité des dermatoglyphes: pli palmaire transverse, absence ou fusion de b et c. Une débilité mentale sévère.

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Giemsa-R-banding analysis of the trisomy 9p and report of a new case

Summary Analysis of the chromatid fine structure after heat denaturation led to the identification of another case of trisomy of the short arm of chromosome 9. Reexamination of cases already published by means of this technique permitted identification of the chromosomes involved in the various familial translocations, localization of the breakage sites, and, consequently, detailed statements on the respective trisomies or monosomies occurring in connection with trisomy 9p in the patients.Comparison of the chromosomal findings and the clinical phenotypes of 10 patients reveals that a characteristic clinical entity corresponds to the trisomy of the short arm of chromosome 9 consisting of the combination of the following features: A Malformation Syndrome. Moderate microcephaliy, enophthalmus, antimongoloid slant of palpebral fissures, mild hypertelorism, protruding ears, globulous nose, downward slanting mouth hypoplasia of phalanges. A Peculiarity in the Dermal Ridge System. Transverse palamar flexion crease, absence of a digital triradius or fusion of the triradii b and c. Severe Mental Retardation.

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Zusammenfassung Die Analyse der Feinstruktur der Chromatiden nach Hitzedenaturierung erlaubte die Identifizierung eines neuen Falles einer Trisomie des kurzen Armes von Chromosom 9. Die Nachuntersuchung bereits publizierter Fälle mit dieser Technik ermöglichte die Identifizierung der an den verschiedenen familiären Translokationen beteiligten Chromosomen, die Lokalisierung der Bruchstellen und damit auch genauere Angaben über die unterschiedlichen Trisomien oder Monosomien, die im Zusammenhang mit der bei den Patienten beobachteten Trisomie 9p auftraten.Die Gegenüberstellung der Chromosomenbefunde und der phänotypischen Merkmale bei 10 Patienten erlaubt die Angrenzung der folgenden Kombination klinischer Merkmale, die der Trisomie des kurzen Armes von Chromosom 9 entspricht: Ein Mißbildungssyndrom. Mäßige Mikrocephalie, Enophthalmie, schräg nach außen und unten gerichtete Lidachsenstellung, mäßiger Hypertelorismus, abstehende Ohren, fleischige Nase, abfallende Mundwinkel, Hypoplasie einiger Phalangen. Eine Eigentümlichkeit im Hautleisten- und-furchensystem. Transverse palmare Beugefurche, Fehlen eines digitalen Triradius oder Fusion der Triradien b und c. Schwere geistige Retardierung.

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Maître de Recherches à l'Inserm.

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Chargé de Recherches au C.N.R.S.     

Effets de l'acide gibbérellique et de la kinétine sur le développement de l'activitéα-amylasique durant la croissance de l'Orge

Effects of gibberellic acid and kinetic on α-amylase production during the germination of barley. - The action of gibberellic acid and kinetin, alone or combined at different concentrations, has been studied on α-amylase production in whole barley seedlings and in embryoless endosperms in course of the six first days of development in the dark. The classic activation of α-amylase synthesis by gibberellic acid has been confirmed both in whole seeds and in embryoless endosperms. Kinetin inhibits α-amylase synthesis after the third day of germination but has no effect on isolated endosperms. When gibberellic acid and kinetin are given simultaneously gibberellic acid stimulated during the three first days just as it does alone, kinetin inhibits after the third day also as it was alone so that the two regulators act, without interactions, at different stages in the time. These effects of kinetin are be independent. A critical examination of the techniques used in the literature in the stud of amylase is made.     

Les génotypes responsables de mucoviscidose ou d’absence bilatérale des canaux déférents ABCD

Over the last decade, the genetic basis for CBAVD has been identified by its association with CFTR gene mutations, and CBAVD is now generally considered to be a mild or incomplete form of CF. In this review, the author summarizes the main results of compilation of CFTR gene analysis conducted in French laboratories for 3,923 patients with CF and 800 males with CABVD. The degree of clinical expression can be affected by several variables, including the molecular mechanisms by which the various CFTR mutations impair or disrupt the function of the CFTR chloride channel. Phenotypic expression of CFTR mutational genotypes varies from severe, progressive pulmonary disease with pancreatic insufficiency (CF-PI), to mild pulmonary disease with pancreatic sufficiency (PS) or singleorgan forms of “CFTR-opathies”. In CF, a total of 310 different CFTR mutations accounting for 94% of 7,846 CF alleles have generated almost 500 different genotypes, comprising 2 severe mutations in 88% of cases (CF-PI), one severe mutation in trans to a mild mutation in 11% (CF-PS), and 2 mild mutations in 1% of identified genotypes. In CBAVD, 137 mutations scattered over the whole gene were identified in 60% of 1,600 CBAVD alleles during the study. Among the 150 characterized mutational CFTR genotypes, compound heterozygosity was the rule, and the most frequent CBAVD combinations were ΔF508/5T (35%), ΔF508/other mutation (30%, including ΔF508/R117H-7T: 5,6%), and 5T/other mutation (17%). No combination of two severe mutations was found in CBAVD (0%); by contrast with the CF population, 88% of genotypes identified in CBAVD comprised a severe mutation in trans to a mild mutation, and 12% consisted of 2 mild mutations. A total of 22 genotypes were shared by both CF and CBAVD. The role of the 5T allele as a splicing variant with variable, incomplete disease penetrance in CBAVD is reviewed. Other haplotype backgrounds, such as the TG12 sequence and the M470V polymorphism, may influence CFTR splicing and/or function. This study confirms the high molecular heterogeneity of CFTR mutations in CBAVD and emphasizes the importance of extensive CFTR analysis in these patients. Longterm follow-up studies of CBAVD patients are necessary in order to predict the phenotypic consequences of numerous CFTR mutational genotypes.     

Etude des premiers stades de développement de la Coccidie Coelotropha durchoni

Summary This study considers the earlier growth stages of Coccidium Coelotropha durchoni in its host, Nereis diversicolor. Before evolving into free trophozoites and gamontes in coeliac fluid, the parasites remain in muscular and coeliac cells in microscopic intracellular form. Electron microscope reveals that these stages show an intermediary fine structure between that of a sporozoite — from which they keep some typical characteristics such as the conoid, the fibers and the involuted tubuli — and that of the future free trophozoites. The wall consisting in two clear membrans is provided with one or several micropores. The classical cytoplasmic organites clearly stand out: dictyosomes show constant relationship with ergastoplasm, the mitochondria contain short inner tubuli. Besides the paraglycogen granules and lipoid vacuoles, at least three types of vacuoles may be observed. Peculiar topographic relationship connects mitochondria and paraglycogen granules probably in formation. In the nucleus with classical membrane and heterogeneous structure, a rather voluminous nucleolus may be seen.