Panmictic structure of the genetic diversity of apomictic Meloidogyne nematodes (Nematoda: Tylenchida)

Species delineation in parthenogenetic tropical species of Meloidogyne nematodes is particularly difficult although they are strictly apomictic. In fact, parthenogenesis in Meloidogyne nematodes is a recent phenomenon and the structure of the genetic diversity is mainly explained by crosses prior to the establishment of parthenogenesis. Under such hypothesis, increasing the size of a characterized sample by adding individuals should result in the decrease of the diversity structure. Twelve individuals from different geographical origins were added to the initial pool of 26 lines characterized in a previous study and an AFLP study was conducted on the whole set of 38 lines. As expected under the panmixy hypothesis, this resulted in a loss of genetic structure. This confirms thus that the genetic structure of tropical parthenogenetic Meloidogyne is due to crosses anterior to the establishment of apomixy.     

Treatment of early-onset generalized dystonia by chronic bilateral stimulation of the internal globus pallidus. Apropos of a case]

Dystonia musculorum deformans is an inherited severe disease, with a wide clinical polymorphism. The most severe clinical forms with early onset carry a high risk of life-threatening complications. In the absence of any efficient medical treatment, bilateral pallidotomy has previously been reported to be of value in the management of this disease. We report the first clinical case of a severe early-onset generalized dystonia dramatically improved by a bilateral stimulation of the internal globus pallidus. In November 1996, we proposed this neurosurgical procedure for a 8-year-old girl, who had suffered since the age of 3 from severe generalized dystonia, and who progressively became totally dependent and bedridden. She had been under sedation and permanent controlled respiratory assistance for the last two months. The etiology of the disease remained unknown (the DYT1 mutation was absent). Under general anesthesia, we bilaterally implanted a four-contacts electrode in the internal globus pallidus, using the Leksell's stereotactic frame and a 1.5 tesla MRI control. A dramatic improvement was noted 6 weeks later and led us to connect the two electrodes to neurostimulators inserted under the abdominal skin.     

Correlates of STI testing among vocational school students in the Netherlands

Background  

Adolescents are at risk for acquiring sexually transmitted infections (STIs). However, test rates among adolescents in the Netherlands are low and effective interventions that encourage STI testing are scarce. Adolescents who attend vocational schools are particularly at risk for STI. The purpose of this study is to inform the development of motivational health promotion messages by identifying the psychosocial correlates of STI testing intention among adolescents with sexual experience attending vocational schools.     

No effect of cigarette smoking on attention or mood in non-deprived smokers

Aim. This study aimed (a) to assess whether smoking reduces anxiety when paired with a pleasant distractor and (b) to investigate the effect of smoking a cigarette on cognitive performance in non-deprived smokers.
Design. Participants were allocated randomly to four conditions in a 2 × 2 factorial design: 1, Smoke + Distractor; 2, Smoke + No Distractor; 3, No Smoke + Distractor; 4, No Smoke + No Distractor.
Setting. University psychology department (University of Surrey, UK).
Participants. Forty-five volunteer cigarette smokers (mean consumption = 16 cigarettes per day) allowed to smoke normally prior to the study.
Intervention. Participants were either allowed to smoke a cigarette of their choice in a manner of their choosing or not allowed to smoke, either with or without a concurrent distractor (a music video).
Measurements. Rapid Visual Information Processing (RVIP) performance was measured via computer before and after a 10-minute break (during which the interventions took place). Mood was measured by (a) State Anxiety Inventory (SAI) and (b) Feeling State Questionnaire (FSQ), before and after the first RVIP task and then immediately after the break/cigarette.
Findings. The RVIP task produced a significant increase in both measures of anxiety (SAI and FSQ stress subscale). Smoking, when paired with a distractor, did not decrease anxiety compared with when no distractor was present. Furthermore, smoking did not decrease anxiety or increase attentional (RVIP) performance compared with not smoking.
Conclusion. The findings of this study failed to support the idea that smoking has anxiety-reducing or attention-enhancing properties in non-abstinent smokers.     

Evaluation of the Bio-Rad VARIANT II HbA2/HbA1C Dual Program for measurement of hemoglobin concentrations and detection of variants.

In this work data obtained on the VARIANT II hemoglobin analyzer using the Dual Kit elution system were compared to those obtained with the beta-Thalassemia Short Program. Since many laboratories still use an earlier model of the hemoglobin analyzer, the Variant 1, these data were also compared to those obtained with the latter instrument. Our study is divided into two parts. The first is an evaluation of the precision of the VARIANT II for determining the levels of hemoglobin (Hb)A2 and Hb F. This was carried out for normal subjects, thalassemic patients and patients with HbS. The second part concerns the potential of this instrument in the presumptive identification of Hb variants.     

Ciguatera risk management in French Polynesia: The case study of Raivavae Island (Australes Archipelago)

Based on epidemiological data available through long-term monitoring surveys conducted by both the Public Health Directorate and the Louis Malardé Institute, ciguatera is highly endemic in French Polynesia, most notably in Raivavae (Australes) which appears as a hot spot of ciguatera with an average incidence rate of 140 cases/10,000 population for the period 2007-2008. In order to document the ciguatera risk associated with Raivavae lagoon, algal and toxin-based field monitoring programs were conducted in this island from April 2007 to May 2008. Practically, the distribution, abundance and toxicity of Gambierdiscus populations, along with the toxicity levels in 160 fish distributed within 25 distinct species, were assessed in various sampling locations. Herbivores such as Scarids (parrotfish) and Acanthurids (unicornfish) were rated as high-risk species based on receptor-binding assay toxicity data. A map of the risk stratification within the Raivavae lagoon was also produced, which indicates that locations where both natural and man-made disturbances have occurred remained the most susceptible to CFP incidents. Our findings also suggest that, locally, the traditional knowledge about ciguatera may not be scientifically complete but is functionally correct. Community education resulted in self-regulating behaviour towards avoidance of high-risk fish species and fishing locations.     

From print to meaning: an electrophysiological investigation of the role of phonology in accessing word meaning.

This study investigated the role and time-course of phonology in accessing meaning during silent reading. In Experiment 1, the homophone effect was replicated in a semantic categorization task in French. When deciding whether a stimulus belonged to a semantic category (FOOD), subjects made more errors to homophones (MEET) than to orthographic controls (MELT). In Experiment 2, event-related brain potentials (ERPs) were used to study the online development of this effect. If access to meaning was mediated by phonology, smaller N400 components should be obtained to homophones than to orthographic controls. The ERP data exhibited a full-blown N400 component to homophones that did not differ from the N400 to controls. No differences between homophones and controls were found before the N400. After the N400, however, homophones differed from controls, with ERPs to homophones being similar to those of correct category exemplars. The results suggest that the final selection of a word's meaning does not depend on its phonological form. This result is incompatible with a strong phonological view according to which the only way to meaning is via a word's phonology.     

Prognosis of cystoid macular edema after retinal detachment repair

Twenty eyes of 20 patients who had undergone successful retinal detachment repair by means of microsurgery had cystoid macular edema (CME) disclosed by fluorescein angiography 10–12 weeks postoperatively. Clinical evaluation war repeated at 6-month intervals for a period of 12–30 months. Sixteen eyes were followed for at least 18 months. CME spontaneously cleared or dramatically decreased in 12 of the 16 eyes (75%), which were followed for at least 18 months. CME had spontaneously cleared in 50% of the eyes by the end of 1 year after surgery. For those eyes with transient CME, the mean visual acuity improved from 0.3 at 3 months postoperatively to 0.6 at the end of the follow-up period. The final visual acuity was 0.4 or better in 83.3% of the eyes with transient CME. None of the eyes with persistent CME developed premacular fibrosis or cystoid macular degeneration during the follow-up period. No prognostic factor for angiographic CME after repair of retinal detachment could be determined in the present series of patients.Presented at the 1984 meeting of the Club Jules Gonin in Lausanne, Switzerland