The moth Hylesia metabus and French Guiana lepidopterism: centenary of a public health concern.

The females of the moths Hylesia metabus have their abdomens covered by urticating hairs looking like micro-arrows and causing a puriginous dermatitis to humans known as "papillonite" in French Guiana and also called yellowtail moth dermatitis or Caripito itch. The densities of the moths show great seasonal and annual variations depending on mechanisms mostly unknown. When H. metabus infestations occur, numerous cases of dermatologic manifestations are reported from people living near the mangrove swamps where the moths are developing. One hundred years after the first "papillonite" epidemic reported from French Guiana in 1912, the data presented herein summarize the actual state of knowledge on H. metabus biology and ecology and on the lepidopterism. Some recommendations are proposed for the surveillance and warning systems of H. metabus infestations and to avoid contact with the moths. Research priorities are suggested to improve the control against this problem emerging between nuisance and public health.

Multiplex PCR assay to discriminate four neighbouring species of the Calliptamus genus (Orthoptera: Acrididae) from France.

Definition of the genus Calliptamus (Orthoptera: Acrididae) has generated many taxonomic debates. Even now, the existence of different geographical morphs hinders species determination, particularly as concerns females and larvae. Some of these species are observed in southern France and are recognized as potential pests. To circumvent problems of species identification in ecological surveys, we developed a single multiplex PCR method based on mitochondrial Cytochrome Oxydase I diagnostic polymorphisms to differentiate between the four species, Calliptamus italicus, C. wattenwylianus, C. siciliae and C. barbarus, in southern regions of France.

Upscaling the diffusion equations in particulate media made of highly conductive particles. I. Theoretical aspects.

Many analytical and numerical works have been devoted to the prediction of macroscopic effective transport properties in particulate media. Usually, structure and properties of macroscopic balance and constitutive equations are stated a priori. In this paper, the upscaling of the transient diffusion equations in concentrated particulate media with possible particle-particle interfacial barriers, highly conductive particles, poorly conductive matrix, and temperature-dependent physical properties is revisited using the homogenization method based on multiple scale asymptotic expansions. This method uses no a priori assumptions on the physics at the macroscale. For the considered physics and microstructures and depending on the order of magnitude of dimensionless Biot and Fourier numbers, it is shown that some situations cannot be homogenized. For other situations, three different macroscopic models are identified, depending on the quality of particle-particle contacts. They are one-phase media, following the standard heat equation and Fourier's law. Calculations of the effective conductivity tensor and heat capacity are proved to be uncoupled. Linear and steady state continuous localization problems must be solved on representative elementary volumes to compute the effective conductivity tensors for the two first models. For the third model, i.e., for highly resistive contacts, the localization problem becomes simpler and discrete whatever the shape of particles. In paper II [Vassal, Phys. Rev. E 77, 011303 (2008)], diffusion through networks of slender, wavy, entangled, and oriented fibers is considered. Discrete localization problems can then be obtained for all models, as well as semianalytical or fully analytical expressions of the corresponding effective conductivity tensors.

Upscaling the diffusion equations in particulate media made of highly conductive particles. II. Application to fibrous materials.

In paper I [Vassal, Phys. Rev. E77, 011302 (2008)] of this contribution, the effective diffusion properties of particulate media with highly conductive particles and particle-particle interfacial barriers have been investigated with the homogenization method with multiple scale asymptotic expansions. Three different macroscopic models have been proposed depending on the quality of contacts between particles. However, depending on the nature and the geometry of particles contained in representative elementary volumes of the considered media, localization problems to be solved to compute the effective conductivity of the two first models can rapidly become cumbersome, time and memory consuming. In this second paper, the above problem is simplified and applied to networks made of slender, wavy and entangled fibers. For these types of media, discrete formulations of localization problems for all macroscopic models can be obtained leading to very efficient numerical calculations. Semianalytical expressions of the effective conductivity tensors are also proposed under simplifying assumptions. The case of straight monodisperse and homogeneously distributed slender fibers with a circular cross section is further explored. Compact semianalytical and analytical estimations are obtained when fiber-fiber contacts are perfect or very poor. Moreover, two discrete element codes have been developed and used to solve localization problems on representative elementary volumes for the same types of contacts. Numerical results underline the significant roles of the fiber content, the orientation of fibers as well as the relative position and orientation of contacting fibers on the effective conductivity tensors. Semianalytical and analytical predictions are discussed and compared with numerical results.

Expression of a Bacillus thuringiensis cry1B synthetic gene protects Mediterranean rice against the striped stem borer.

BACILLUS THURINGIENSIS: Cry1Ba endotoxin, which was shown to exhibit a tenfold lower lethal concentration 50 (LC50) than Cry1Ac in a Striped Stem Borer (SSB) diet incorporation assay. The 1.950-bp synthetic cry1B gene, possessing an overall GC content of 58 %, was cloned under the control of the maize ubiquitin promoter first intron and first exon regions. The resulting vector, designated as pUbi-cry1B, was transferred to two commercial Mediterranean cultivars of rice, Ariete and Senia, using microprojectile acceleration-mediated transformation. Thirty-two and 47 T0 events were generated in cvs. Ariete and Senia, respectively. Southern blot and immunoblot analyses allowed the identification of 7 Senia and 1 Ariete events harbouring both an intact gene cassette and expressing Cry1B at a level ranging from 0.01% to 0.4% of the total soluble proteins. Three Senia and 1 Ariete events were found to be protected against second instar SSB larvae in whole plant feeding assays, exhibiting 90-100% mortality 7 days after infestation. Spatial and temporal variation in transgene expression was further examined in resistant event 64 of cv. Ariete. Stable accumulation of Cry1B, representing 0.4% of the total soluble proteins, was observed over the T2 to T4 generations in leaf tissue 20, 40, 70 and 90 days after germination in both young and old leaves and in internodes. Ariete event 64 was found to be fully protected from attacks of third and fourth instar SSB larvae over subsequent generations.

Isolation of Multiple Subspecies of Bacillus thuringiensis from a Population of the European Sunflower Moth, Homoeosoma nebulella.

Five subspecies of Bacillus thuringiensis were isolated from dead and diseased larvae obtained from a laboratory colony of the European sunflower moth, Homoeosoma nebulella. The subspecies isolated were B. thuringiensis subspp. thuringiensis (H 1a), kurstaki (H 3a3b3c), aizawai (H 7), morrisoni (H 8a8b), and thompsoni (H 12). Most isolates produced typical bipyramidal crystals, but the B. thuringiensis subsp. thuringiensis isolate produced spherical crystals and the B. thuringiensis subsp. thompsoni isolate produced a pyramidal crystal. Analysis of the parasporal crystals by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed that the crystals from the B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki and aizawai isolates contained a protein of 138 kDa whereas those from B. thuringiensis subsp. morrisoni contained a protein of 145 kDa. The crystals from B. thuringiensis subsp. thuringiensis contained proteins of 125, 128, and 138 kDa, whereas those from B. thuringiensis subsp. thompsoni were the most unusual, containing proteins of 37 and 42 kDa. Bioassays of purified crystals conducted against second-instar larvae of H. nebulella showed that the isolates of B. thuringiensis subspp. aizawai, kurstaki, and thuringiensis were the most toxic, with 50% lethal concentrations (LC(inf50)s) of 0.15, 0.17, and 0.26 (mu)g/ml, respectively. The isolates of B. thuringiensis subspp. morrisoni and thompsoni had LC(inf50)s of 2.62 and 37.5 (mu)g/ml, respectively. These results show that a single insect species can simultaneously host and be affected by a variety of subspecies of B. thuringiensis producing different insecticidal proteins.

[Long-term fate of pituitary dwarfs treated with growth hormone]. / Le devenir à long terme des nains hypophysaires traités par l'hormone de croissance.

A questionnaire having been mailed to 50 hypopituitary patients aged 18 to 36 years (m 21.7 +/- 3.4) previously treated with human growth hormone for at least 3 years, 44 answers have been received. The final height is 2.1 +/- 0.9 standard deviations below the average. However 57% of the patients consider it is sufficient. The smallness is felt as a handicap by 20% only of these adults, though 88% had suffered for it during their adolescence. The treatment is retrospectively considered as useful and acceptable by 68%, heavy but useful by 25%, heavy and useless by 7%, without correlation with the results. Only 41% are satisfied with their school achievements. However, more than two thirds of patients had severe school difficulties at the time of onset of the treatment. Actually 75% of the patients are professionally qualified, among whom 36% have achieved high school, and most have an educational level similar to that of their parents or even higher. But 41% only have an employment, 27% are still students and 32% are unemployed. The way of life of the young hypopituitary adults is severely affected: 6 only are married or living with a mate, 11 only write they have occasional sexual experiences, 16 remain completely alone. In contrast, leisure activities are good in more than 90%. A score taking all these data into consideration to evaluate their way of life shows, among the 43 complete answers to the questionnaire, 16% with excellent results, 49% with a rather good social status and 35% with poor final result.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Mode of inheritance in familial cases of primary gonadotropic deficiency.

The mode of inheritance of primary gonadotropic deficiency was studied in 38 children and adolescents. 92% of this population was male with high frequencies of undescended testes (80%) and micropenis (31%). Anosmia was present in 61% of the patients aged more than 5 years and was a frequent genetic marker in the families. Inheritance was matrilineal in 18, X-linked dominant or autosomal dominant in 6. In 13 cases, the transmission was patrilineal and evoked autosomal dominant inheritance. An autosomal recessive transmission was likely in 7 patients. The data agree with the suggestion of multiple modes of inheritance of congenital gonadotropic deficiency, and clearly show the wide range of expressivity of the disorder.

Rudimentary testes syndrome revisited.

Sixteen children who were one day to 9 years of age underwent clinical, anatomic, and hormonal study because of extreme hypoplasia of the phallus and small testes associated with normal 46XY male karyotype. Two of them were first cousins. All patients had Leydig cell deficiency. Among 15 patients who received luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone stimulation during childhood, 11 had an exaggerated response of either one or both gonadotropins. Bilateral biopsy, performed in eight patients, showed a clearly testicular structure with either scant or incompletely differentiated tubules. These characteristics allow clear differentiation from chromosomal abnormalities and malformation syndromes. It is more difficult to differentiate between rudimentary testes and primary gonadotropic deficiencies and may not be possible until the child has reached adolescence. The syndrome of rudimentary testes may be a manifestation of XY primary gonadal dysplasia, along with pure XY gonadal dysgenesis, XY hermaphroditism, XY mixed gonadal dysgenesis, and congenital anorchia, probably resulting from fetal regression of the testes. The observed familial occurrence of the syndrome of rudimentary testes, as well as of XY gonadal dysgenesis, leads to speculation about the possibility of X-linked transmission.

[Obesity in infants. A series of 14 cases]. / L'obésité du nourrisson. Etude d'une série de 14 cas.

The infants aged less than two years, though often overweight, are seldom obese with a weight exceeding 2.5 SD above average for their height. This study includes 14 cases of obesity with early onset. The children were referred at age 17 +/- 5.7 months, with a mean height of +1.07 +/- 1.15 SD for age and a mean weight of +4.54 +/- 2.44 SD for height. They were reported as overfed, without any associated abnormality in their prenatal and postnatal history, and without emotional disturbances. In 8 cases, one of the parents was obese. For obtaining a weight decrease in these very young patients, a severely restricted diet has been necessary, with 50-60 cal/kg/day, corresponding in fact to 65-85 cal/kg of the average weight for height when the weight excess is 4 to 9 SD, and sometimes less, and hospital care. This diet, continued for 1 to 8 months, has allowed to reduce the weight excess at the level of +2.66 +/- 1.38 SD for height. It has been harmless, but not well accepted, so that in spite of the good results 10 of the 14 babies and mothers were lost for follow-up. The data show that true obesity is different from common weight excess in infants, is rare and very difficult to manage, and is poorly understood.

[Multiple hyperostosis with unilateral sacroiliitis. A new spondyloarthropathy]. / Hyperostose multiple avec sacro-iliite unilatérale. Une nouvelle spondyloarthropathie.

Six patients (4 male and 2 female) presenting with an original, predominantly osseous disease are reported. The disease is characterized by a chronic inflammatory process affecting the thorax, the spine, the femur in 1 case and in all patients only one of the sacro-iliac joints. The condition had begun 11 to 28 years previously and had been active for 6 to 24 years. One case started with regressive polyarthritis. There was no visceral involvement. Radiograms showed bone condensation with hyperostosis, sometimes hypertrophic, unrelated to any articular space. Depending on each patient, the lesions involved the clavicles, the sternum, the posterior arch of the ribs, the vertebrae, the inferior femoral metaphysis. The only joints involved were the sacro-iliac and anubrio-sternal joints. The areas affected showed high radioisotope uptake. There was discrete biochemical inflammatory syndrome. Three of the 6 patients belonged to the HLA group B 27. The multiple biopsies performed showed no specific lesions. The disease proceeds by successive attacks lasting several months and responding poorly to anti-inflammatory drugs. One patient developed Crohn's disease, another, retroperitoneal fibrosis. In some respects, this condition is remindful of sterno-clavicular hyperostosis and of the osteo-arthropathy in palmoplantar pustulosis or acne conglobata. It seems to constitute a new variety of spondylo-arthropathy intermediate between the above-mentioned diseases and genuine ankylosing spondylitis.

[Insufficiency of penis development (micropenis). Etiological data in a series of 25 cases]. / L'insuffisance du développement de la verge (micropénis). Données étiologiques dans une série de 25 cas.

The diagnosis of micropenis was made in 25 boys aged 1 month to 16 years. This abnormality was associated with hypothalamic-pituitary deficiency in 12 boys (hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism, hypopituitary growth failure, Prader-Willi syndrome), with testicular disorders in 5 boys (anorchia, testicular dysgenesis). In the other 8 the micropenis was an isolated finding but the testicular response to HCG and the LH response to LHRH was significantly reduced (p less than 0.005). The results suggest there may be isolated gonadotrophia deficiency. The variety of conditions that are responsible for micropenis suggest that testosterone deficiency is an important causative factor. HGH may also be important as the penis may be small in HGH deficiency and growth occurs with treatment.