Impacts of the 2003 and 2015 summer heatwaves on permafrost-affected rock-walls in the Mont Blanc massif.

Rockfall is one of the main geomorphological processes that affects the evolution and stability of rock-walls. At high elevations, rockfall is largely climate-driven, very probably because of the warming of rock-wall permafrost. So with the ongoing global warming that drives the degradation of permafrost, the related hazards for people and infrastructure could continue to increase. The heatwave of summer 2015, which affected Western Europe from the end of June to August, had a serious impact on the stability of high-altitude rock-walls, including those in the Mont Blanc massif. A network of observers allowed us to survey the frequency and intensity of rock-wall morphodynamics in 2015, and to verify its relationship with permafrost. These observations were compared with those of the 2003 summer heatwave, identified and quantified by remote sensing. A comparison between the two years shows a fairly similar rockfall pattern in respect of total volumes and high frequencies (about 160 rockfalls >100m3) but the total volume for 2003 is higher than the 2015 one (about 300,000m3 and 170,000m3 respectively). In both cases, rockfalls were numerous but with a low magnitude and occurred in permafrost-affected areas. This suggests a sudden and remarkable deepening of the active layer during these two summers, rather than a longer-term warming of the permafrost body.

Phenotypic evolution and hidden speciation in Candidula unifasciata ssp. (Helicellinae, Gastropoda) inferred by 16S variation and quantitative shell traits.

In an effort to link quantitative morphometric information with molecular data on the population level, we have analysed 19 populations of the conchologically variable land snail Candidula unifasciata from across the species range for variation in quantitative shell traits and at the mitochondrial 16S ribosomal (r)DNA locus. In genetic analysis, including 21 additional populations, we observed two fundamental haplotype clades with an average pairwise sequence divergence of 0.209 +/- 0.009 between clades compared to 0.017 +/- 0.012 within clades, suggesting the presence of two different evolutionary lineages. Integrating additional shell material from the Senckenberg Malacological Collection, a highly significant discriminant analysis on the morphological shell traits with fundamental haplotype clades as grouping variable suggested that the less frequent haplotype corresponds to the described subspecies C. u. rugosiuscula, which we propose to regard as a distinct species. Both taxa were highly subdivided genetically (FST = 0.648 and 0.777 P < 0.001). This was contrasted by the partition of morphological variance, where only 29.6% and 21.9% of the variance were distributed among populations, respectively. In C. unifasciata, no significant association between population pairwise FST estimates and corresponding morphological fixation indices could be detected, indicating independent evolution of the two character sets. Partial least square analysis of environmental factors against shell trait variables in C. u. unifasciata revealed significant correlations between environmental factors and certain quantitative shell traits, whose potential adaptational values are discussed.

Neuroanatomical correlates of visually evoked sexual arousal in human males.

Brain areas activated in human male sexual behavior have not been characterized precisely. For the first time, positron emission tomography (PET) was used to identify the brain areas activated in healthy males experiencing visually evoked sexual arousal. Eight male subjects underwent six measurements of regional brain activity following the administration of [15O]H2O as they viewed three categories of film clips: sexually explicit clips, emotionally neutral control clips, and humorous control clips inducing positive but nonsexual emotions. Statistical Parametric Mapping was used to identify brain regions demonstrating an increased activity associated with the sexual response to the visual stimulus. Visually evoked sexual arousal was characterized by a threefold pattern of activation: the bilateral activation of the inferior temporal cortex, a visual association area; the activation of the right insula and right inferior frontal cortex, which are two paralimbic areas relating highly processed sensory information with motivational states; and the activation of the left anterior cingulate cortex, another paralimbic area known to control autonomic and neuroendocrine functions. Activation of some of these areas was positively correlated with plasma testosterone levels. Although this study should be considered preliminary, it identified brain regions whose activation was correlated with visually evoked sexual arousal in males.

The influence of psychological factors on the outcome of the fertilization step of in vitro fertilization.

Our objective was to determine whether psychological factors have an influence on the outcome of the fertilization step of in vitro fertilization (IVF) trials. The design was a prospective cohort study. We studied 48 women and 32 of their spouses. Each subject was assessed psychologically on the day before oocyte retrieval (OR) with the Child Project Questionnaire (CPQ) and the Ways of Coping Checklist. In addition, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory was filled in by subjects 2 days before OR, and the State form was completed again for 6 additional days. The outcome measure was the success of the fertilization step. Logistic regression analysis was used to test the influence of psychological factors while taking into account the effect of medical and sociodemographic variables. The following variables were found to be statistically significant predictors of fertilization: normal sperm; tubal lesions or occlusion; women's factor II of the CPQ, i.e. Perception of Marital Harmony in the Project to Conceive a Child. We conclude that, even when the influence of biomedical variables is taken into account, the women's Perception of Marital Harmony in the Project to Conceive a Child, is a statistically significant predictor of the success of the fertilization step of IVF.

Psychological characteristics of infertile patients: discriminating etiological factors from reactive changes.

Our objective was to discriminate psychological factors playing an etiological role in infertility and psychological problems as consequences of infertility. The design was a prospective study of couples with initially Undetermined Fertility (UF couples) and couples with initially Known Infertility (KI couples). After a 13-month follow-up, three groups could be defined: fertile UF couples; infertile UF couples; and KI couples. Hypotheses were the following. If a psychological factor played an etiological role, measures in fertile UF couples should be different from measures in infertile UF couples and in KI couples. If a psychological measure reflected a reactive change, KI couples should differ from both groups of UF couples. Finally, if a psychological variable played both roles, the three pairwise comparisons between groups should reveal differences, with the largest difference between fertile UF couples and KI couples. The questionnaires used were the Child Project Questionnaire (CPQ), with three factor scores (different for men and women) and a Sexual Problems Score (SPS); the Dyadic Adjustment Scale; the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory; the Neonatal Perception Inventory. In women, on CPQ factor II, i.e. Frequency of Thoughts and Concerns related to the Project to Conceive a Child and on the SPS, KI women had scores significantly higher than both groups of UF women. In men, on CPQ factor II, i.e. Quality of Integration between Wish for a Child and Sexuality, men from fertile UF couples had significantly higher scores than men from both infertile groups; the two latter groups did not differ significantly. On the SPS, scores of men from infertile UF couples and scores of men from KI couples were significantly higher than scores of men from fertile UF couples; scores were similar in both groups of men from infertile couples. We conclude that in women, CPQ factor II and sexual problems reflected reactive changes to infertility and that in men CPQ factor II and sexual problems represented etiological factors.

[Intrahepatic portasystemic shunt and hemorrhagic emergencies in the cirrhotic patient]. / Shunt intrahépatique porto-systémique (SIPS) et urgences hémorragiques du cirrhotique.

From March 1992 to March 1994, 26 patients underwent Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt (TIPS) for emergency treatment of variceal bleeding. Patients were all cirrhotic, with a mean age 55 +/- 13 yrs, Child's score was A = 4, B = 10, C = 12. TIPS was performed in case of failure or impossibility to obtain hemostasis after endoscopic and/or medical treatment. Hemostasis was successful in all cases of TIPS, and the portocaval gradient was lowered from 19 to 9 mmHg. Early complications occurred in 30% of cases. They consisted of: spontaneously regressive hemobilia (15%) and shunt thrombosis (15%) (3/4 were repermeabilized). Early mortality accounted for 15% of patients in the whole group and 25% in Child C'patients. During follow-up (m = 8 +/- 6 m), only one patient rebled, de novo hepatic encephalopathy occurred in 15% of patients always regressive in response to Lactulose therapy. One year mortality rate was 57%. A comparison between TIPS and other emergency hemostasis methods: endoscopic sclerotherapy, surgical portocaval shunt and esophageal transsection was performed on the early mortality rate according to the percentage of Child C'patients in the various series. TIPS is better than other methods in series with a low percentage of Child C'patients. TIPS should be proposed: in case of failure of endoscopic methods; for patients waiting for liver transplantation; when portal vein patency is compromised by thrombosis. This last indication implies that portal patency must be confirmed with angiography or better by with duplex sonography once primary hemostasis of variceal bleeding has been completed.

[Complications with rifampicin treatment: one case with anuria (author's transl)]. / Les complications du traitement à la rifampicine. A propos d'un cas avec anurie.

The authors report a new case of acute renal insufficiency with Rifampicin. They evoke the clinical background which is characteristic of these anuric tubular nephritis. They recall the different complications with Rifampicin to which they can be associated and the different mechanisms which can be at the origin of this affection as well as the difficulties to reveal them. Then, they insist on the prevention of renal accidents within the frame of our present knowledge.

[Tumours or mediastinal pseudo-tumours of Castleman? One observation (author's transl)]. / Tumeurs ou pseudo-tumeurs médiastinales de Castleman? A propos d'une observation.

Through a routine examination a Castleman tumour of left hilary topography was discovered in a 30 years old man. No recurrence followed exeresis. With regard to this case, the authors underlined the infrequency of these tumours with no preferential mediastinal topography and its occurrence at any age. Diagnosis is often reached after surgery by histological analysis of the tumour which enabled the distinction in two types according to Flendrig: type I plasmocytic with inflammatory signs; type II hyalino-vascular without any inflammatory signs. Surgery usually advised is not without any drawbacks because of the vascularization of the tumour and its adherence to neighbouring organs. But Castleman tumours still set nosological problems and the debate remains opened on the question of a nodal origin or a true neo-formation.

[Value of gastrostomy in the prevention of food inhalation]. / Intérêt de la gastrostomie dans la prévention des inhalations alimentaires.

Gastrostomy can have both a preventive and curative effect for patients particularly exposed to food inhaling, especially the heavy casualties with loss of initial consciousness and prolonged intubation or tracheotomy. In these patients stopping the forcible feeding led to frequent mishaps and to recurrent pulmonary complications. Gastrostomy prevents them while enabling the seriously injured patients to receive 2.500 calories daily. These cases showed the different circumstances where gastrostomy done rapidly under L. A. and with assisted ventilation gave good results.

[Surgical pulmonary biopsy under local anesthesia and its results (based on 93 cases)]. / La biopsie pulmonaire chirurgicale sous anesthésie locale et ses résultats (d'après 93 cas)

The authors report 93 observations during which OCB were performed under local anesthesia. They insist on the validity of the method which can be used on fragile patients or on those with respiratory insufficiency for whom an exploring thoracotomy would be contra-indicated. Incidents were minor and momentary (pneumothorax, pleural reaction). It is mostly in diffuse lesions of miliary and fibrotic nature that this technique was used to identify various lesions : silicosis, sarcoidosis, tuberculosis, histiocytosis, etc... In a third of the cases, lesions were not specific and could not be definitely identified in parieto-alveolar fibrosis or inflammatory alveolitis.