L’apport de l’imagerie hybride TEMP/TDM dans la prise en charge du cancer différencié de la thyroïde

IntroductionSingle photon emission computed tomography combined with a low dose computed tomography (SPECT/CT), is a hybrid imaging integrating functional and anatomical data. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the contribution of the SPECT/CT over traditional planar imaging of patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC).MethodsPost-therapy iodine 131 (¹³¹I) whole-body scan followed by cervico-thoracic SPECT/CT, were performed in 100 patients with DTC.ResultsAmong these 100 patients followed for a predominantly papillary DTC, planar imaging and SPECT/CT, were perfectly concordant in 70% of patients and discordant in the remaining 30%. The use of fusion imaging SPECT/CT compared to conventional planar imaging allowed us to correct our therapeutic approach in 27% (27/100 patients), according to the protocols of therapeutic management of our institute.ConclusionSPECT/CT is a hybrid imaging modality which provides better identification and more correct anatomic localization of the foci of radioiodine uptake with impact on therapeutic management.     

Maize genetic diversity and association mapping using transposable element insertion polymorphisms

Transposable elements are the major component of the maize genome and presumably highly polymorphic yet they have not been used in population genetics and association analyses. Using the Transposon Display method, we isolated and converted into PCR-based markers 33 Miniature Inverted Repeat Transposable Elements (MITE) polymorphic insertions. These polymorphisms were genotyped on a population-based sample of 26 American landraces for a total of 322 plants. Genetic diversity was high and partitioned within and among landraces. The genetic groups identified using Bayesian clustering were in agreement with published data based on SNPs and SSRs, indicating that MITE polymorphisms reflect maize genetic history. To explore the contribution of MITEs to phenotypic variation, we undertook an association mapping approach in a panel of 367 maize lines phenotyped for 26 traits. We found a highly significant association between the marker ZmV1-9, on chromosome 1, and male flowering time. The variance explained by this association is consistent with a flowering delay of +123 degree-days. This MITE insertion is located at only 289 nucleotides from the 3′ end of a Cytochrome P450-like gene, a region that was never identified in previous association mapping or QTL surveys. Interestingly, we found (i) a non-synonymous mutation located in the exon 2 of the gene in strong linkage disequilibrium with the MITE polymorphism, and (ii) a perfect sequence homology between the MITE sequence and a maize siRNA that could therefore potentially interfere with the expression of the Cytochrome P450-like gene. Those two observations among others offer exciting perspectives to validate functionally the role of this region on phenotypic variation.     

Methyl Jasmonate Increases the Tropane Alkaloid Scopolamine and Reduces Natural Herbivory in Brugmansia suaveolens: Is Scopolamine Responsible for Plant Resistance?

The tropane alkaloid (TA) scopolamine is suggested to protect Brugmansia suaveolens (Solanaceae) against herbivorous insects. To test this prediction in a natural environment, scopolamine was induced by methyl jasmonate (MJ) in potted plants which were left 10?days in the field. MJ-treated plants increased their scopolamine concentration in leaves and herbivory decreased. These findings suggest a cause?Ceffect relationship. However, experiments in laboratory showed that scopolamine affect differently the performance of the specialist larvae of the ithomiine butterfly Placidina euryanassa (C. Felder & R. Felder) and the generalist fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith): the specialist that sequester this TA from B. suaveolens leaves was not negatively affected, but the generalist was. Therefore, scopolamine probably acts only against insects that are not adapted to TAs. Other compounds that are MJ elicited may also play a role in plant resistance against herbivory by generalist and specialist insects, and deserve future investigations.     

Identification of the SPG15 gene, encoding spastizin, as a frequent cause of complicated autosomal-recessive spastic paraplegia, including Kjellin syndrome

Hereditary spastic paraplegias (HSPs) are genetically and phenotypically heterogeneous disorders. Both "uncomplicated" and "complicated" forms have been described with various modes of inheritance. Sixteen loci for autosomal-recessive "complicated" HSP have been mapped. The SPG15 locus was first reported to account for a rare form of spastic paraplegia variably associated with mental impairment, pigmented maculopathy, dysarthria, cerebellar signs, and distal amyotrophy, sometimes designated as Kjellin syndrome. Here, we report the refinement of SPG15 to a 2.64 Mb genetic interval on chromosome 14q23.3-q24.2 and the identification of ZFYVE26, which encodes a zinc-finger protein with a FYVE domain that we named spastizin, as the cause of SPG15. Six different truncating mutations were found to segregate with the disease in eight families with a phenotype that included variable clinical features of Kjellin syndrome. ZFYVE26 mRNA was widely distributed in human tissues, as well as in rat embryos, suggesting a possible role of this gene during embryonic development. In the adult rodent brain, its expression profile closely resembled that of SPG11, another gene responsible for complicated HSP. In cultured cells, spastizin colocalized partially with markers of endoplasmic reticulum and endosomes, suggesting a role in intracellular trafficking.     

Cyanotoxins in small artificial dams in Kenya utilised for cage fish farming – a threat to local people?

Nine small artificial dams located in different climatic regions of Kenya were studied. The local communities use the stored water for various purposes, such as irrigation, domestic use, watering of livestock and cage fish farming. Such intense use is commonly accompanied by eutrophication, including fast growth of cyanobacteria, which at times produce cyanotoxins threatening human and animal life. We studied the pelagic community, analysed abiotic variables and identified microcystins by means of high performance liquid chromatography and ELISA kits at monthly intervals over a period of one year. Mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) was used to identify structural variants of microcystins by their protonated masses (M + H). Three dams contained microcystins, with the highly toxic Microcystin-LR being identified as the most prominent substance. Cell content of the toxin varied from 7.2 to 686.7 fg cell^?1. Basic limnological variables that indicate the probability of toxin presence were also recorded. Non-parametric Mann–Whitney U-test revealed significant differences in soluble reactive phosphorous, nitrate-N, water depth, total hardness and post-Nauplii stages sampled between toxin-producing and non-toxin-producing dams. Although most of the samples did not contain high amounts of cyanobacteria, the cyanotoxin-problem was evident, suggesting the need for regular cyanotoxin monitoring programs.     

Priapisme veineux: traitement et pronostic fonctionnel. A propos de 26 cas

Introduction

Priapism is a prolonged, painful and persistent erection, unrelated to sexual stimulation. The management of priapism is complex and requires various medical or surgical treatments. The authors review the aetiology, treatment and outcome of priapism.

Material and methods

26 cases of low-flow priapism were collected over a period of 23 years (1985–2007), corresponding to 22 adults and 4 children (average age: 32 years) with various types of priapism. The time to appropriate management after onset of priapism varied according to the aetiology and the time to consultation (range: 16 hours to 15 days).

Results

Complete and persistent detumescence for the first 24 hours was obtained in 84% of cases, sometimes with multiple successive procedures. No case of early recurrence was observed. 21 patients were regularly followed for a period of 3 months to 10 years (mean follow-up: 2 years). There were 9 (42.9%) successes (recovery of normal erectile function), 4 partial results (19%) and 9 (30.1%) failures (complete erectile dysfunction).

Conclusion

Low-flow priapism must be considered to be a serious andrological emergency. Medical treatment can be effective in early forms, but surgery must not be delayed to prevent permanent erectile dysfunction secondary to extensive corpora cavernosa fibrosis.     

Aflatoxicosis in rabbits: Effectiveness of Egyptian raw bentonite in prevention or diminution the detrimental effects of naturally aflatoxin contaminated diets

Thirty five females and 15 males of New Zealand White mature rabbits about 6 months of age, were assigned to 1–5 dietary treatments (7 does+3 bucks for each): uncontaminated control diet, naturally aflatoxin contaminated diet without or with 1,2 and 3% bentonite. Rabbit fed with the aflatoxin-diet had a decreased (P<0.01 or 0.05) physical semen characteristics of bucks and a reproductive performance traits of does. The values of conception rate (%), gestation length (days), litter size (n) and litter weights (g) at birth and viability (%) of litters of doe rabbits, fed with the aflatoxin-diet, recorded, respectively: 64.5; 31.0; 4.4; 275.0 and 57.1 versus 85.6; 30.3; 7.9; 508.0; and 100 for those fed with the uncontaminated diet. Addition of bentonite to the aflatoxin contaminated diet improved in general the physical semen characteristics of buck and reproductive performance traits of doe rabbits. The results of the study demonstrate that adding 1% of Egyptian raw bentonite to the naturally aflatoxin contaminated rabbit diets can provide an effective, cheap and safe practical technique for preventing the aflatoxicosis in mature rabbits.