La température,facteur prévisionnel du cycle évolutif deProspaltella perniciosi Tow

Résumé Par application de la méthode deBondenheimer en prenant 10 °C pour seuil inférieur de développement du parasite, il a été calculé le nombre de jours/degrés nécessaires à l'évolution moyenne deProspaltella. Avec cette méthode, le nombre de générations calculé est identique à celui observé dans divers vergers de différentes régions. La méthode est proposée pour faciliter l'emploi deProspaltella en déterminant le temps nécessaire à la manifestation de l'efficacité.

---

Summary By application of theBodenheimer's method, in taking 10°C for the threshold of the parasit development, the number of days/degrees necessary for a mean evolution ofProspaltella has been calculated. With this method, the theoretical number of generations is identical with that observed in several orchards of some countries. This method is suggested to facilitate the use ofProspaltella by fixing the time necessary to show the parasite's efficiency.

     

Distribution du sélénium et de seize éléments dans les différents organes deTrifolium repens

Summary Sandy clay loam soils in the La Roche-Posay area, and the different parts ofTrifolium repens growing on 9 locations, were analyzed for their contents of selenium and 16 other elements. The level of K, P, Se in the young leaves was 2 or 3 times higher than in the old organs. The roots showed the lowest contents for these three elements. By contrast, their content of Al, Fe, As were 10 times higher than in the young leaves. When the content of Se in leaves and roots was low, the contents of P, Al and Fe increased with increasing contents of Se. When the level of Se was high, the reverse was the case.      

Systématique moléculaire des phlebotominae : étude pilote. paraphylie du genre phlebotomus

Phylogenetic relationships among Phlebotominae were inferred through a pilot study using parsimony analysis of the D2 domain of ribosomal DNA sequences: 455 pairs of bases were sequenced in nine species of Phlebotomine sandflies which belong to the genera Lutzomyia, Phlebotomus and Sergentomyia. Two taxa are used as outgroups: Psychoda sp. and Nemapalpus flavus which is the sister group of the Phlebotominae. The South American genus Lutzomyia appears to be monophyletic. The Mediterranean species Sergentomyia dentata is its sister group and is not clustered with the Old World genus Phlebotomus. The latter is a paraphyletic genus with an early individualisation of the branch including the closely related subgenera Phlebotomus and Paraphlebotomus, and a late individualisation of the subgenus Larroussius. These results have some consequences on the biogeography of the leishmaniasis in the Old World.     

Analyse du statut spermatique, érectile et hormonal chez des patients hémodialysés

Introduction

Our work was to establish the hormonal, semen and erectile profile among haemodialysed patients and to seek the impact of hormonal disturbances on erectile function and semen parameters.

Patients and methods

We conducted a cross-sectional study in haemodialysed patients in whom a semen, in parallel with hormonal analyses including FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) and testosterone. Erectile function was assessed by the study of the international index of erectile function in its French version (IIEF). Analyses of sex hormones were done by radio immunoassay and semen analyses according to WHO guidelines.

Results

Two patients had a semen analysis and a normal hormone balance; the IIEF was normal in a one patient. Azoospermic patients (16%) showed a hypergonadotrophic eugonadism. Forty percent of the patients had hypospermia without any correlation between hypospermia and hormonal values. One third of patients showed severe oligospermia associated with high levels of FSH in 77% of cases. Sperm motility and morphology were altered in 96% and 50% of the cases respectively. Hormonal analyses showed an elevated FSH (> 8.5 mUI/ml) in 40% of the cases and testosterone was decreased (< 3.2 ng/ml) in 25% of the cases.

Discussion

Semen volume was significantly decreased in patients over 30 years. Erectile function was disturbed in 73% of the patients with a mean IIEF score of 15. Several authors have shown a correlation between gonadal dysfunction and high levels of gonadotropins in men with chronic renal insufficiency, with or without testicular atrophy. In our series, testosterone was normal despite the absence of androgen. Are haemodialysis sessions effective in preserving the endocrine function?

Conclusion

Patients in chronic haemodialysis for a period exceeding one year had a hypergonadotrophic eugonadism and a severe erectile dysfunction. The state of the genital tract was relatively preserved. The duration of haemodialysis did not significantly affect sperm and erectile function. Patients older than 30 years showed a significant decrease in semen volume, which could be a marker to determine the impairment of erectile and reproductive functions.     

Loreleiella nov. gen., nouvel éodévonariidé(Chonetacea,Brachiopoda) du Dévonien

The detailed morphological analysis of the dorsal interior of Chonetes arcuatus Hall, 1857, typespecies of the genus Eodevonaria (North American Lower Devonian), compared with those of the European species classically assigned to this genus, allows the erection of a new genus for the European eodevonariids. The phylogenetic relations of Loreleiella nov. gen. and its paleobiogeographic implication are discussed.     

Flore et végétation lichéniques épiphytes du parc de Lostange (France,Tarn)

Flora and epiphyte lichen vegetation in the ‘parc de Lostange’ (Tarn, France). The precise geographical situation of the parc is given. The author presents a list of the lichen vegetation as well as a catalogue of the epiphyte lichens of this site. Chorologic and phytosiologic comments are given as well as suggestions on management of the parc.     

Sur les échanges du «deuxième degré» entre colonies filles deFormica polyctena étudiés au moyen des radio-isotopes

Résumé Le transfert d'isotopes (¹⁹⁸Au) entre les colonies filles deFormica polyctena, à partir d'une des colonies marquées, suit des voies préférentielles, malgré l'activité des butineuses plus ou moins également réparties entre les fourmilières. Certaines colonies procèdent à des échanges actifs de glucides et d'isotopes, d'autres ne reçoivent rien ou presque rien. Le transfert est limité d'ailleurs à une petite fraction de la quantité totale qui a été distribuée.

---

Summary Isotope exchanges (¹⁹⁸Au) between the daugther-colonies ofFormica polyctena are strongly anisotropes, even when foragers activity between the different nests is almost the same. Some nests exchange easily the isotope (and glucides) with the colonies in close neighbourhood, some other do not; only a small fraction of the isotope is transferred, even in most favourable cases.

     

La dysfonction éréctile au Sénégal: Profil épidemiologique

Methodology

This was a transverse randomized survey of subjects over the age of 18 years. Subjects completed a self-administered questionnaire composed of two parts. The first part contained information on demographic characteristics, associated diseases, erectile dysfunction and associated sexual disorders and the second part was based on IIEF5. Two groups were identified: a group with erectile dysfunction (ED group) and another group without erectile dysfunction (No ED group). Differences between the two groups were considered to be statistically significant for p ≤ 0.05 on the Chi-square test.

Results

The global prevalence of erectile dysfunction was 26%. The prevalence by age-group revealed a progressive increase of ED with age from 11% between 20 and 30 years to 76% between 70 and 80 years. The rate of polygamous men was significantly higher in the group with ED (29.2%) compared to the group without ED (6.6%) (p < 0.0001) and the severity of ED increased in relation to the number of wives. Chronic alcoholism was significantly more frequent in the group with ED (p = 0.023). The frequency of ED increased with the duration of cigarette smoking from 11.9% for less than 5 years, 16.9% between 5 years and 10 years and 71.2% for more than 10 years. Some diseases (diabetes, hypertension and depression) were significantly more frequent in the group with ED. Analysis of the type of ED revealed that secondary erectile dysfunction was more frequent (95.6%) than primary erectile dysfunction (4.4%). Associated sexual disorders were significantly more frequent in the group with ED.     

Traitement pharmacologique du premier épisode psychotique

Pharmacological treatment has a central role in the treatment of a first episode psychosis. However, drug therapy must be viewed as within a framework of a global approach, whose aim is to facilitate the participation of the patient in the treatment regime. As the initial symptoms of psychotic disorders may often be atypical and complicated by co-morbidity, this can make both the early diagnosis and the choice of an appropriate treatment difficult. In a more dimensional approach to diagnosis rather than a categorical approach, it is important to identify the presence of affective symptoms (depressive or manic) which may necessitate the addition of either an antidepressant or a mood stabilizer. The indication for using atypical antipsychotic drugs as first choice in treatment has been firmly established in the current literature. These novel antipsychotic drugs are less prone to inducing undesirable side-effects, such as cognitive impairment and dysphoria, and appear to have a more favourable effect than conventional neuroleptics on the course of both depressive symptoms as well as hostile and aggressive behaviours. Furthermore, they seem to have a mood stabilizing effect, and are more easily accepted by the patients. Even though there is a reduced risk of acute extrapyramidal side-effects and late onset dyskinesia, the risk of weight gain as well as cardiovascular and endocrinological complications is considerable. This review article focuses on problems related to pharmacological treatment of first episode psychosis. It is the result of an extensive review of the current literature available on this field. The results have been discussed and organised in the form of clinical guidelines for the treatment of both non-affective and affective first episode psychoses.     

Caractères ultrastructuraux du pollen de quelques Podostémales. Affinités avec les Rosidae évoluées

The order Podostemales are two pantropical families of aquatic plants living in running water: Tristichaceae (five genera, ten species) and Podostemaceae (35 genera, 200 species). Pollen of the 26 genera and 62 species studied is characterized by: a granular infratectum in which the granules are sometimes organized as columellae like units, and a lamellar and/or granular endexine in all pollen types, single or in dyads. Most of the apertural characters and the ornamentation of the exine allow us to distinguish the previously established taxonomic groups: Weddellinoideae have tricolporate rugulo-areolate, pollen with a smooth apertural membrane; in Tristichoideae, pollen is periporate and the microspines of the tectum and of the apertural membrane are massive; in Podostemaceae, the tectal spines with their broad bulbous base are formed from numerous masses of sporopollenin, the endexine is microfibrillar at the base, the apertural membrane is constituted of structured ectexinous masses, and the endexine is granular at the aperture. Presence of the tricolporate pollen type associates the Podostemales with the higher eudicotyledons. Most of the pollen characters of Podostemales and their variations are found among advanced Rosidae (Hamamelidales, Polygalales, Santalales, Violales, Euphorbiaceae).     

Marqueurs de défense antioxydative modulés par le polymorphisme génétique de la glutathion S-transférase: résultats d’une étude cas-témoins du cancer du poumon

Oxidative stress and xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes are suspected to be related to carcinogenesis by different cellular mechanisms. Hence, our study aimed at identifying potential relationships between antioxidant defense parameters measured in blood and glutathione S-transferase (GST) genetic polymorphisms of four GST izoenzymes in lung cancer patients and reference individuals. The case-control study included 404 lung cancer patients and 410 non-cancer subjects as controls, matched by age, gender and place of living (central Poland). In control subjects with GSTM3*A/*A, GSTT1 null, GSTM1 null + GSTT1 null, GSTM3*A/*A + GSTT1 null genotype, glutathione peroxidase activity was significantly higher (P?0.05) than in controls possessing respective potential protective GST genotypes. Controls with GSTM3*A/*A + GSTP1*B genotype presented significantly higher ceruloplasmin activity (P?0.05) than GSTM3*B + GSTP1*A/*A carriers. Zinc level was significantly higher (P?0.05) in controls and cases with GSTP1*B + GSTT1 null genotype and in cases with GSTM1 null + GSTP1*B genotype, when compared with respective potential protective GST genotypes. This case-control study indicates that particular defective GST genotypes may enhance the defense against oxidative stress. The potential relationship between the investigated antioxidative enzymes and microelements, and common functional genetic polymorphism of GST was observed mostly in control subjects.     

L' α-Glycérophosphate-déshydrogénase du moustique Culex pipiens: Génétique formelle,linkage et étude de populations

THE -CLYCEROPHOSPHATE-DEHYDROGENASE IN THE MOSOUITO CULEX PIPIENS: HEREDITY, LINKAGE AND POPULATION STUDIES. Culex pipiens -glycerophosphate-dehydrogenase is coded by an autosomal locus which is shown to have a demonstrable activity in nymphs just prior to imago emergence and in adults of any age and sex. The -Gpd locus has two codominant alleles, -Gpd ^1.00 and -Gpd ^1.30, and heterozygotes present three isozymes. The -Gpd locus is localized on the same chromosomes as the two linked esterase loci Est-2 and Est-1, at 37.05 and 44.88 cross-over units, respectively, of these loci. Population studies seem to indicate that the -Gpd locus has a low variability in Culex pipiens as in most other organisms.     

Les premiers vertébrés et les premières étapes de l’évolution du crâne

The earliest vertebrates and the first steps of the evolution of the skull. Vertebrates are one of the few metazoan taxa, which display a well-corroborated phylogenetic pattern, a good and anatomically informative fossil record, and a relatively slow ontogenetic development. They are thus a favourite taxon for illustrating evolution as a historical process, although the stem of the vertebrate tree remains poorly documented by fossils, except for some Early Cambrian forms. Therefore, the characterization of the vertebrates now rests essentially on a small number of developmental characters, mostly involved in the rise of the skull, and whose precursors may occur in other chordates. The tree of the crown-group vertebrates also shows some major morphological gaps due to early extinctions, but a number of Palaeozoic stem gnathostome taxa helps in documenting the agnathan-gnathostome evolutionary transition. However, stem cyclostomes remain elusive.