Search

Study question What is the burden of early infertility care drop-out in the context of full reimbursement of infertility care and are medical practices associated with drop-out? Summary answer Medical practices seem associated with early infertility care drop-out whose burden remains high despite the equality of care policy in France What is known already More than half of couples drop out of their infertility treatment before pregnancy. Direct costs of infertility care are widely cited as the major barrier to continuation of care. In France, infertility treatments are fully reimbursed. Data from US IVF centres have shown a high estimated drop-out from the beginning and at each step of infertility treatment. Some studies have suggested a difference in medical practices during infertility care between couples who have dropped out and couples who have continued care Study design, size, duration Cohort study of all women aged 18–49 years who started infertility treatment between January–August 2016 in mainland France with a private practitioner and who had not been successfully treated at a 24-month follow-up. Participants/materials, setting, methods The cohort was based on the French national health insurance and hospital databases that exhaustively record reimbursed healthcare. Infertility treatment included ovarian induction by gonadotropin and clomifene. Outcome was infertility care drop-out within 3 months after starting treatment. Stratified analyses were performed based on the first treatment prescribed, with three categories: clomifene prescribed by a general practitioner, clomifene by a gynaecologist or gonadotropin by a gynaecologist Main results and the role of chance Among women unsuccessfully treated by ovarian induction, 31.1% dropped out of infertility care within 3 months. Women who started treatment with a general practitioner were more frequently socially disadvantaged (40.6%), less closely monitored (ultrasound and hormonal tests had not been done in 53.6% and 64.8%, respectively) and dropped out more frequently (46.8%). Where the prescriber of treatment was a gynaecologist, older age (35–39 and 40–43 years) was associated with higher probability of early drop-out with OR 1.5 (95% CI 1.3–1.7) and 2.2 (95% CI 1.9–2.5) for gonadotropins and 1.2 (95% CI 1.1–1.3) and 1.9 (95% CI 1.7–2.2) for clomifene. Disadvantaged social status was associated with higher early infertility care drop-out, whereas good monitoring was associated with a lower probability of early drop-out in all three categories of treatments and prescribers Limitations, reasons for caution These medical and administrative data did not allow us to explore medical practices in greater depth, notably the doctor-patient relationship Wider implications of the findings: This is the first estimation of early infertility care drop-out in a general population where treatment is fully reimbursed, exploring the implication of medical practices in early drop-out. Better access to good medical practices is needed for less socially advantaged people, beyond the current equality of care policy in France. Trial registration number N/A

The pharmacokinetics of cefotiam were investigated after intravenous administration of 1 g to 2 healthy volunteers with normal renal function and to 16 patients whose creatinine clearance ranged from 4.7 to 0.1 l/h (78 to 1.66 ml/min). The elimination half-life varied from 1.1 h in normal subjects to 13 h in patients and the total plasma clearance from 21 to 0.6 l/h (350 to 10 ml/min). The urinary recovery decreased from 62% of the dose in normal subjects to 1.1% in patients, and the renal clearance from 15 to 0.01 l/h (250 to 0.5 ml/min). Plasma and renal clearances of cefotiam correlated well with the creatinine clearance. The dosage schedule for cefotiam in patients with normal renal function can be used in the presence of renal failure when the creatinine clearance is equal to or greater than 1 l/h (16.6 ml/min). For patients whose creatinine clearance is less than 1 l/h, the dose must be decreased to 75% of that for a patient with normal renal function only when it is given every 6 or 8 h.

We report two cases of inadvertent peripheral nerve catheter (PNC) shearing that occurred during placement under ultrasound guidance. Same PNC kits were used in two different hospitals. The possible causes of PNC shearing are exposed. Differences and mechanical properties of different PNC kits are discussed. The management of retained PNC carried out in these cases is presented.

The astrometric monitoring of the natural planetary satellites is an important step to assess the formation and the evolution of these systems. However, in order to quantify relevant gravitational effects such as tidal forces, it is necessary to have very accurate observations over a long time interval. Unfortunately, the accuracy is decreasing as one considers older observations. To solve this issue, digitizing of old photographic plates is an attractive method, but a high accuracy in the measurement and the reduction of those plates is absolutely necessary. We have developed methods and algorithms adapted to specific plates provided by USNO, using the DAMIAN digitizer of ROB. From a set of 35 plates taken in 1974, we have been able to produce measurements with an accuracy better than 0.08 micrometers and after reduction using the UCAC2 catalogue, rms residuals of 35 mas (1.7 micrometers) for intersatellite positions (when the original reduction provided 100 mas) and of 65 mas for equatorial RA and Dec. positions (which were not possible to get with the original reduction). First results on the dynamics of the satellites and of the planet Jupiter are provided.

Resume Objectif Rapporter les regles de fonctionnement et l’activite du Comite d’ethique de la recherche en obstetrique et gynecologie (CEROG) cree en 2008. Les modalites pratiques de soumission sont decrites. Materiel et methodes Etude retrospective. Resultats Le Comite d’ethique de la recherche du College national des gynecologues et obstetriciens francais (CNGOF) a examine 65 projets d’etudes en 2008. Le nombre median d’etudes soumises etait de 5,5 par mois (IQR : 3,75–6,25). L’origine institutionnelle des soumissions etait la suivante : centre hospitalier universitaire (n = 63, 97 %), Inserm (n = 1), Inra (n = 1). Les projets de recherche soumis ont ete juges comme etant en conformite avec la legislation francaise et comme repondant aux principes scientifiques et ethiques dans 44 cas (68 %). Dans 13 cas (20 %), le projet d’etude a ete transmis a un comite de protection des personnes (CPP) car il relevait de la recherche biomedicale ou du « soin courant ». Dans six cas (9 %), les investigateurs n’ont pas repondu aux suggestions et demandes de modification du comite d’ethique. Dans deux cas (3 %), la fiche d’information a ete jugee non satisfaisante. Conclusion Le CEROG est le premier comite d’ethique de la recherche national specialise en gynecologie obstetrique, permettant de soumettre des etudes non interventionnelles.

Resume Objectif Evaluer l’impact du poids sur les taux de succes en fecondation in vitro. Patientes et methodes Etude retrospective d’une serie continue de 1444 cycles en fecondation in vitro (avec ou sans micro-injection) chez 846 couples dans un seul centre, quel que soit le protocole de stimulation utilise. Le resultat de chaque cycle a ete analyse en fonction de l’indice de masse corporelle (IMC) de la femme. Trois groupes ont ete compares : (i) femmes maigres (IMC Resultats Chez les femmes en surpoids, le taux d’enfants nes vivants par cycle (10,6 % [7,3–13,9]) etait significativement plus faible que chez les femmes d’IMC normal (16,6 % [14,3–18,8]). Chez les femmes maigres (11,8 % [4,1–19,4]) la difference n’etait pas significative. Chez les femmes en surpoids, le taux d’annulation par cycle etait significativement plus eleve (30,8 % [25,8–35,8]) que chez les femmes du groupe II (19,6 % [17,2–22]). Le taux de grossesse par ponction etait plus faible (19,9 %/24,6 %, respectivement) et le taux de fausse couche plus eleve (26,9 %/15,7 %) sans que la difference soit statistiquement significative. Discussion et conclusion L’obesite pourrait jouer sur la reponse a la stimulation, sur la qualite ovocytaire, sur l’implantation. Le taux d’enfant nes vivants est diminue chez les femmes en surpoids ou obeses.

We report new nearby L and late-M dwarfs (d_phot = 3.0, later than M8.0) at low Galactic latitude (|b| =M8.0), L, and T dwarfs with accurate trigonometric parallaxes to calibrate the M_J versus I-J colour-luminosity relation. The resulting photometric distances have standard errors of ~15%, which we used to select candidates d_phot

The French legislation about gamete donation imposes anonymity between the donor and the demanders, in reference to the principles of protection of the human dignity that are applied in other fields of biomedicine. We are here wondering about this choice: does this obligation really protect the human rights that are one of the ethical bases of law? At the time the French law was written, anonymity in gamete donation was inherited from the practice of the French CECOS but it has now become controversial. Many European countries have opened the access to the genetic origins. There is no evidence for this practice to be an efficient protection of the respect of human body and the disinterested nature of donation. Concerning gametes, it seems that it protects a social object, the parental project, but that it has no influence on the protection of parenthood, filiation, and the concept that humankind is not only biological. At last, we analyse the most important human rights documents to assume the hypothesis that anonymous gamete donation, although not violating the human rights, is an implement for Foucault's biopower, far from protecting the ethical foundations of human dignity.

Se estima que el 37% de las mujeres es fumadora antes de iniciar su gestacion y que el 19,5% de las mujeres embarazadas sigue fumando durante toda o parte de ella. El fenomeno del tabaquismo pasivo en las mujeres embarazadas esta mal cuantificado, pero sigue siendo frecuente. El tabaquismo, como cualquier conducta adictiva, es el indicador de un sufrimiento con multiples facetas, corporal, psicologico y/o social. Se trata de un factor demostrado de trastornos de la fecundidad femenina y/o masculina. Durante la gestacion, el tabaquismo aumenta el riesgo de aparicion de complicaciones gravidicas: hematoma retroplacentario, placenta de insercion baja, crecimiento intrauterino retardado, prematuridad, muerte subita del lactante y tambien una mayor demanda asistencial global en la primera infancia. Estos riesgos implican tener en cuenta no solo el tabaquismo activo de la mujer, sino tambien su tabaquismo pasivo relacionado con el de su pareja, su entorno, o su medio profesional, tanto antes como durante y despues de la gestacion. La prevencion y el tratamiento del tabaquismo durante la gestacion y la lactancia materna pasan por la medicion del monoxido de carbono (CO) espirado y la intervencion breve en la rutina clinica. Algunas anomalias graves del ritmo cardiaco fetal durante el trabajo de parto y/o la aparicion posterior de enfermedades motrices cerebrales, que tienen una gran incidencia medicolegal, se relacionan de forma directa con la hipoxia provocada por el CO del humo del tabaco. Para el tratamiento, todos los profesionales sanitarios implicados que se encuentran con fumadoras embarazadas (ginecologos-obstetras, matronas, pediatras, psicologos, pero tambien anestesistas reanimadores, medicos generales, odontologos) deben participar y tener formacion sobre la intervencion breve, que consiste en la medicion del CO espirado y la prescripcion de tratamientos eficaces (terapias cognitivoconductuales, sustitutos nicotinicos) en la consulta, en hospitalizacion y en el parto, durante el posparto y la lactancia materna.

Resume Outre les contraintes physiques importantes, les techniques d'assistance medicale a la procreation s'accompagnent d'une lourde charge emotionnelle et psychologique, a la fois pour la femme et pour l'homme. Les couples concernes sont generalement infertiles, mais il existe des situations particulieres ou les personnes sont fertiles, comme celles des couples dont l'homme est seropositif, et qui recourent a ces techniques pour eviter les risques de contamination lies aux rapports sexuels non proteges. Les couples sont generalement soudes et motives, mais les difficultes sont parfois importantes, notamment l'attente de la grossesse et la deception liee a l'echec d'un cycle. Les reactions les plus frequentes sont le stress, l'anxiete et les depressions, mais les difficultes sont parfois telles que certains couples renoncent apres une seule tentative. Globalement, les parents infertiles ne presentent pas davantage de difficultes a s'occuper de leurs enfants que les parents fertiles. Les enfants, malgre un risque accru d'anomalies genetiques, presentent dans l'immense majorite des cas un developpement normal. Cependant, certains enfants presentent des difficultes psychologiques particulieres qui peuvent justifier d'un suivi specialise.

Resume Les progres des traitements anti-retroviraux permettent maintenant aux personnes infectees par le VIH d’aspirer a fonder une famille. La reglementation en France les autorise depuis 2001 a recourir a l’assistance medicale a la procreation (AMP) dans le but de reduire le risque de transmission entre les partenaires ou de traiter une infertilite du couple. Le controle de l’infection a VIH et de co-infections a VHC ou VHB est un prealable indispensable, ainsi que l’accompagnement psychologique du couple. Lorsque l’homme est infecte, seul le recours a l’AMP permet de concevoir tout en maintenant des rapports proteges au sein du couple. Le sperme est concentre et le VIH recherche dans la fraction finale des spermatozoides. Les echantillons congeles valides sont alors utilisables en AMP. Lorsque la femme est infectee, le couple doit etre informe des risques de transmission du VIH a l’enfant et du traitement optimise pour les reduire. De simples auto-inseminations peuvent etre proposees au couple, apres un bilan d’infertilite si la femme a plus de 38 ans. Le projet d’enfant doit etre pris en charge rapidement et le recours a l’AMP propose en cas d’echec des methodes non medicalisees, car la fonction ovarienne semble precocement diminuee chez les femmes infectees. Si celle-ci est normale, les chances de succes sont celles de l’AMP habituellement. Les grossesses gemellaires doivent etre evitees car elles favorisent la transmission materno-fœtale du VIH. Plusieurs milliers de couples en Europe ont beneficie de l’AMP sans qu’aucune contamination n’ait ete rapportee. Environ la moitie des couples pris en charge peuvent esperer avoir un enfant.

We measured the proper motions of 1250 pre-main sequence (PMS) stars and of 104 PMS candidates spread over all-sky major star-forming regions. This work is the continuation of a previous effort where we obtained proper motions for 213 PMS stars located in the major southern star-forming regions. These stars are now included in this present work with refined astrometry. The major upgrade presented here is the extension of proper motion measurements to other northern and southern star-forming regions including the well-studied Orion and Taurus-Auriga regions for objects as faint as V ≤ 16.5. We improve the precision of the proper motions which benefited from the inclusion of new observational material. In the PMS proper motion catalogue presented here, we provide for each star the mean position and proper motion as well as important photometric information when available. We provide also the most common identifier. The rms of proper motions vary from 2 to 5 mas/yr depending on the available sources of ancient positions and depending also on the embedding and binarity of the source. With this work, we present the first all-sky catalogue of proper motions of PMS stars.

Resumen Cada ano nacen en el mundo unos 100.000 ninos fruto de embarazos obtenidos gracias a las tecnicas de reproduccion asistida (TRA). El seguimiento de estos ninos y de su desarrollo se inicia en el parto y se mantiene durante muchos anos. Durante dicho seguimiento se estudian los datos perinatales, las malformaciones y anomalias cromosomicas, el desarrollo psicomotor, pondoestatural e intelectual, y el estado de salud hasta la vida adulta.

BACKGROUND: Fetal DNA circulating in maternal serum offers a possibility for non-invasive prenatal diagnosis but its kinetics during very early pregnancy is still unclear. In order to clarify this point, the studies on the kinetics of fetal DNA appearance in maternal serum were conducted on patients undergoing assisted reproduction. METHODS: Using a quantitative real time PCR assay, the presence of SRY gene sequences was evaluated in the serum of patients at the onset of pregnancy. RESULTS: Twenty-seven patients were originally studied but first trimester abortion occurred in five cases. Among the 22 ongoing pregnancies, ten were found to bear at least one male fetus and all sera from these women gave positive results for SRY gene detection. The SRY gene was found to be detectable as soon as day 18 after embryo transfer in one case and it had been found in the other nine patients by day 37. CONCLUSIONS: Fetal DNA is found in maternal serum even before the fetal circulation is established, which is highly suggestive that it is released, at least in part, from the trophoblast. Detection of fetal DNA in maternal serum very early in pregnancy may have clinical implications such as with the management of pregnant women carrying a fetus at risk for congenital adrenal hyperplasia.

We present the results of a study of the FBS blue stellar objects with the goal of discovering new interesting objects. Forty-seven FBS objects have been observed with the Byurakan Observatory 2.6m telescope in 1987-1991 and scanned with the MAMA scanning machine at Observatoire de Paris in 1997-1999. 5 QSOs/Sy1s, 4 emission-line stars, five white dwarfs, and a number of continuous spectra objects (possible BL Lacs and DC white dwarfs) have been revealed.

we present the discovery of a previously unknown member of the immediate solar neighbourhood, DENIS-P J104814.7 395606.1 (hereafter DENIS 1048 39), identified while mining the DENIS database for new nearby stars. A HIRES echelle spectrum obtained with the 10-m Keck telescope shows that it is an M9 dwarf. DENIS 1048 39 has a very bright apparent magnitude (I = 12.67) for its spectral type and colour (I J = 3.07), and is therefore very nearby. If it is single its distance is only 4.1±0.6 pc, ranking it as between our 12 th and 40 th closest neighbour. It is also the closest star or brown dwarf with a spectral type later than M7V. Its proper motion was determined through comparison of Sky atlas Schmidt plates, scanned by the MAMA microdensitometer, with the DENIS images. At 1.52" yr 1 it primarily attests the closeness of DENIS 1048 39 and hence its dwarf status. These characteristics make it an obvious target for further detailed studies.

Astrometry (positions and proper motions) and photographic BVR photometry were determined from a set of 29 photographic plates and CCD data in a region of 2.3 degrees x 2.3 degrees in the area of open clusters NGC 1750 and NGC 1758 in Taurus. The iterative central overlap algorithm was used for the proper motion calculations. Plate-to-plate transformations and astrometric magnitude effects are discussed in detail. CCD data interact with photographic material ill three different ways: for the elimination of astrometric magnitude effects,, for the photometric standard calibration of photographic plates and for building a CCD pseudo-plate used for astrometric purposes as any other photographic plate. A preliminary analysis of the resulting photometric and astrometric catalogue con firmed the reality of two different clusters in the zone (NGC 1750 and NGC 1758). There were no indications for the existence of NGC 1746.

Cyclic ADP-ribose (cADPR), an endogenous metabolite of beta-NAD+, activates Ca2+ release from endoplasmic reticulum in sea urchin eggs via the ryanodine receptor (RyR) pathway. A similar role has been proposed in cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR), although this remains controversial. We therefore investigated the ability of cADPR to induce Ca2+ release from canine cardiac SR microsomes using fluo 3 to monitor extravesicular Ca2+ concentration. We found that cADPR induced Ca2+ release in a concentration-dependent manner, whereas neither its precursor, NAD+, nor its metabolite, ADP-ribose, elicited a consistent effect. In addition, an additive effect on calcium release between cADPR and 9-Me-7-Br-eudistomin-D (MBED), an activator of RyR, was found as well as no cross-desensitization between cADPR and MBED. Specific blockers of the RyR did not abolish the cADPR-induced Ca2+ release. These results provide evidence for cADPR-induced Ca2+ release from dog cardiac SR via a novel mechanism which is independent of RyR activation.

We present a catalogue of positions and pho- tographic R magnitudes at observed maximum and mini- mum brightness for 1061 variable stars newly detected in the direction of the Bright Cloud B in Sagittarius. The limiting R magnitude of the survey is about 18. Most of these stars are long period variables. Taking into account the previously published lists (Terzan et al. 1982, 1988, 1991), the total number of new variable objects discov- ered in the surveyed 100 square degree eld amounts to 4430.

We present identifications and accurate positions for about 280 planetary nebulae (PNe) in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). These positions are needed for follow-up ground or space observations. Entire Schmidt plates have been scanned with the MAMA micro-densitometer, and PPM stars used for the astrometric reduction. The precision achieved is always better than , and better than for most of the objects not located close to the border of the plates. Photometry in the B band is provided with an accuracy of about 0.2 magnitude, except in too crowded zones where the background cannot be determined. Cross-identifications with IRAS sources have also been tabulated and discussed.

We report two cases of inadvertent peripheral nerve catheter (PNC) shearing that occurred during placement under ultrasound guidance. Same PNC kits were used in two different hospitals. The possible causes of PNC shearing are exposed. Differences and mechanical properties of different PNC kits are discussed. The management of retained PNC carried out in these cases is presented.

A total of 686 adult patients with complicated urinary tract infections were enrolled in a double-blind, randomised, multicentre study to compare sparfloxacin (200 mg loading dose on day 1 followed by 100 mg daily) with ciprofloxacin (500 mg orally twice daily) for 10 to 14 days. Urinary tract infection was defined as pyuria and bacteriuria (cfu > or = 10(5)/mL). Evaluations were performed at four time-points. The clinical efficacy of the two antibacterial agents was equivalent at the end of treatment: clinical cure in 88.6% of the intent-to-treat population and 87.3% in the evaluable population treated with sparfloxacin compared to 85.4% and 84.8% of the intent-to-treat and evaluable populations, respectively, treated with ciprofloxacin. The clinical results were also equivalent at follow-up. The bacteriological efficacy of the two agents was not equivalent. At the end of treatment, bacteriological cure was observed in 72.6% of the intent-to-treat and 72.1% of the evaluable populations treated with sparfloxacin and in 81.4% and 80.8% of the intent-to-treat and evaluable populations, respectively, treated with ciprofloxacin. The difference was primarily because of a higher number of persisting pathogens, which included Enterobacteriaceae other than Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and enterococci, which exhibited moderate susceptibility to sparfloxacin. Tolerability was similar in the two treatment groups.

The large field of Schmidt plates allows monitoring of hundreds of thousands or even millions of stars, either for magnitude variations or for proper motions. CCD cameras benefit from the sensitivity, linearity, and easy interface to computers of detectors of increasing dimensions. However, especially for proper motion studies, there is no substitute to plates of first or intermediate epochs. In addition, the photographic plates, with their large sky coverage free of gaps, are irreplaceable for the accurate astrometry of optical counterparts of sources detected at other wavelengths.We first introduce the subject by mentioning a few problems concerning the replacement of Schmidt plates by CCD detectors. After a brief survey of astronomical applications requiring accurate astrometry or massive processing in large fields, we develop in more detail the results obtained in proper motion studies by several groups using the MAMA system (Berger et al. 1991). The last part of this paper is devoted to the studies of stellar variability and to the EROS and DUO microlensing programmes. Our conclusion (not a surprise, we think), is that Schmidt telescopes with photographic facilities should remain available to the general astronomical community for at least a decade and probably more.

A 20cm 2 CCD mosaic camera has been especially built to search for dark galactic halo objects by the gravitational microlensing effect. The sensitive area is made of 16 edge-buttable CCDs developped by Thomson-CTS, with 23×23 µm 2 pixels. The 35 kg camera housing and mechanical equipment is presented. The associated electronics and data acquisition system are described in a separate paper. The camera resides at the focal plane of a 40 cm, f/10, Ferson reflector. The instrument has been in operation since December 1991 at the La Silla Observatory (ESO).

To summarize, the readout and the control system of the CCD mosaic camera are running since December 1991 at the La Silla Observatory (ESO). The overall performance of the camera has been good. About 12000 pictures (data and flat-fields) have been successfully registered up to now. We will report in the near future preliminary scientific results of the EROS experiment.

A programme for the determination of proper motions and photographic B, V, R magnitudes for stars up to 18m within a 4° by 4° region centered near Alcyone is described. We use MAMA measurements of plates taken with Tautenburg and OCA Schmidt telescopes as well as with the double refractor of Bonn and Carte du Ciel plates. To check the stability of the solution three different methods of reduction are applied.According to the results of the pilot programme a final proper motion accuracy of about 2 mas/a can be achieved for the majority of stars in the survey.

Resume La ciprofloxacine a ete administree a 72 patients âges de 16 a 95 ans (âge moyen 61,5 ans, âge median 54 ans) 29 hommes et 43 femmes atteints d'infections urinaires severes : 29 cystites et 43 pyelonephrites le plus souvent chroniques et compliquees par des anomalies urologiques ou d'origine nosocomiale post-operatoire, post-sondage ou post-cystoscopique. La ciprofloxacine a ete administree en monotherapie dans 69 cas, dans 3 cas de pyelonephrites elle a ete associee a l'amikacine, la ceftazidime et l'aztreonam. La posologie a ete de 1 g par jour en deux prises par voie orale dans tous les cas ; la duree de traitement a varie de 14 a 254 jours avec une duree mediane de 28 jours dans les cystites et de 56 jours dans les pyelonephrites. La surveillance post-therapeutique a varie de 1 a 12 mois. Quatre vingt quatorze bacteries ont ete isolees, 35 dans les cystites et 59 dans les pyelonephrites, 16 ECBU ayant isole deux, trois et meme quatre bacteries appartenant a la meme espece ou a des especes differentes. Les enterobacteries au nombre de 38 representaient 40,4 % de l'ensemble des bacteries. Avec 54 souches les Pseudomonas en representaient 57,4 % dont 51,6 % a l'origine de cystites et 57,6 % a l'origine de pyelonephrites. Vingt trois enterobacteries etaient sensibles a l'acide nalidixique et 15 resistantes. Les CMI de la ciprofloxacine ont ete determinees a partir de 75 souches bacteriennes : elles ont ete de 0,007 a 4 mg/l. La CMI mediane a ete de 0,25 – 0,50 mg/l pour l'ensemble des souches. Elle a ete de 0,03 mg/l pour les 33 souches d'enterobacteries, de 0,015 mg/l pour les 23 souches sensibles a l'acide nalidixique et de 0,50 mg/l pour les 10 souches resistantes a l'acide nalidixique ; pour les 40 souches de Pseudomonas elle a ete de 0,25 mg/l. Les resultats therapeutiques se repartissent en : 28 guerisons et 1 echec par rechute sur 29 cas de cystites, 29 guerisons, 2 echecs par absence de sterilisation et 12 echecs par rechute sur 43 cas de pyelonephrites. La tolerance clinique de la ciprofloxacine a ete excellente dans 70 cas (97,2 %). Une augmentation du nombre de selles a ete compatible avec la poursuite du traitement ; des brulures gastriques vives l'ont fait interrompre. La tolerance biologique a ete bonne dans 57 cas (98,2 %). Une evaluation transitoire des transaminases a ete notee. Aucune modification de la fonction renale n'a ete observee en particulier chez 10 patients ayant une insuffisance renale.

To report the rules and the activity of the institutional review board of the French college of obstetricians and gynecologists (Comité d'éthique de la recherche en obstétrique et gynécologie [CEROG]) created in 2008. The submission requirements are also described.Retrospective study.The Ethical Review Committee [institutional review board of the French college of obstetricians and gynecologists (CNGOF)] CEROG have examined 65 project studies in 2008. The median number of submitted studies was 5.5 per month (IQR: 3.75-6.25). The origins of the submission were as follows: tertiary care university hospitals (n=63, 97 %), Inserm (n=1), INRA (n=1). Researches were found to be in conformity with the French laws and regulations, to conform to generally accepted scientific principles and medical research ethical standards in 44 cases (68 %). In 13 cases (20 %), the study has been forwarded to the Persons Protection Committee (PPC) since it concerned biomedical research or "usual care research" (soin courant). In six cases (9 %), the investigators have not responded to IRB suggestions. In two cases (3 %), the information form has been judged unsatisfactory.The CEROG is the first national IRB in obstetrics and gynecology. This new committee clarifies IRB submission procedure in France concerning non-interventional studies in the field of obstetrics and gynecology.

Two associated resistance mechanisms were found in a nalidixic acid-susceptible (4 micrograms/ml) but fluoroquinolone-resistant (8 to 16 micrograms/ml) strain of Escherichia coli Q2 selected under norfloxacin therapy. As compared with the susceptible E. coli Q1 isolated before treatment, changes in outer membrane proteins and lipopolysaccharides in Q2 were associated with a 1.5- to 3-fold decrease in the uptake of fluoroquinolones but not nalidixic acid. A 50% inhibition of DNA synthesis in toluene-permeabilized cells of the resistant strain E. coli Q2 required up to 500-fold increased quantities of fluoroquinolones, whereas such inhibition was obtained in both E. coli Q1 and Q2 with similar amounts of nalidixic acid. Selection from E. coli Q1 on norfloxacin of one-step resistant mutants resembling E. coli Q2 was unsuccessful. From these results we infer that a decrease in outer membrane permeability, associated with a peculiar alteration of the DNA gyrase, was responsible for the unusual quinolone resistance phenotype of E. coli Q2.

To examine the effect of women's weight on the success rate of in vitro fertilization.Single centre retrospective study of a continuous series of 846 patients who underwent 1444 in vitro fertilization or ICSI cycles. The outcomes of each cycle was analysed as a function of the woman's body mass index (BMI). Three groups were defined: (1) underweight (BMI18 kg/m2, n=68 cycles, 43 women), (2) normal BMI (18or =BMI25, n=1045 cycles, 607 women), (3) overweight or obese women (IMCor =25, n=331 cycles, 196 women).Live birth rate per cycle.In group 3, the live birth rate per cycle (10,6% [95% confidence interval: 7,3-13,9]) was significantly lower than in group 2 (16,6% [14,3-18,8]). There was a non-significant trend towards a decreased live birth rate in group I (11,8% [4,1-19,4]). In group 3, the cancellation rate (30,8% [25,8-35,8]) was significantly greater than in group 2 (19,6% [17,2-22]), the pregnancy per oocyte pick-up rate was lower (19,9% versus 24,6%) and the early miscarriage rate was increased (26,9% versus 15,7%) without reaching statistical significance.The live birth rate was decreased among overweight or obese women. This could be mediated by impairment of response to ovarian stimulation, oocyte quality, or implantation abnomalies.

The French legislation about gamete donation imposes anonymity between the donor and the demanders, in reference to the principles of protection of the human dignity that are applied in other fields of biomedicine. We are here wondering about this choice: does this obligation really protect the human rights that are one of the ethical bases of law? At the time the French law was written, anonymity in gamete donation was inherited from the practice of the French CECOS but it has now become controversial. Many European countries have opened the access to the genetic origins. There is no evidence for this practice to be an efficient protection of the respect of human body and the disinterested nature of donation. Concerning gametes, it seems that it protects a social object, the parental project, but that it has no influence on the protection of parenthood, filiation, and the concept that humankind is not only biological. At last, we analyse the most important human rights documents to assume the hypothesis that anonymous gamete donation, although not violating the human rights, is an implement for Foucault's biopower, far from protecting the ethical foundations of human dignity.

We report the discovery of a new M9.0 dwarf at only 8.2 pc, which we identified in our search for nearby ultracool dwarf (I-J >= 3.0, later than M8.0) in the DENIS database. We measure a very high proper motion of 2.5 arc-sec/yr. The PC3 index measured from its low-resolution spectrum gives a spectrophotometric distance of 8.2 pc. This makes it the third closest M9.0 dwarf., revised version, accepted by MNRAS Letters

We present spectra of 36 nearby star candidates and 3 red giant candidates, identified in the DENIS database by Phan-Bao et al. (2003). 32 of the dwarf candidates are indeed nearby red dwarfs, with spectral types from M5.5 to M8.5. Out of 11 targets with low proper motion (mu < 0.1$ arc-sec/yr) but a Reduced Proper Motion above an inclusive threshold, 9 are red dwarfs. The 4 contaminants are all reddened F-K main sequence stars, and they could have been eliminated by checking for some well known high latitude molecular clouds. These stars might be of interest as probes of interstellar absorption. For the red dwarfs we derive spectral types and spectroscopic distances, using a new calibration of the PC3 spectral index to absolute magnitudes in the I, J, H and K photometric bands. We confirm 2 new members of the 12 pc volume (2 new M8.5), and one M7.5 NLTT object closer than 10pc. We also show that one quarter of the stars with photometric distances under 30 pc have too small a proper motion for inclusion in the NLTT catalog., Accepted by A&A

This paper reports updated results on our systematic mining of the DENIS database for nearby very cool M-dwarfs (M6V-M8V, 2.0, Comment: Accepted by Astronomy & astrophysics. 17 pages, 8 figures

As a first step in our open cluster programme, a preliminary catalogue of proper motions and photographic B, V magnitudes for stars up to 18 mag within a region centred near Alcyone is presented. The catalogue is based on MAMA measurements of plates taken with the Tautenburg Schmidt telescope. A preliminary survey includes approx. 20,000 stars and covers a total field of about 9 square degrees. For stars brighter than B = 18 mag an accuracy of 0.05 mag and 2.5 mas/year has been estimated for photometric data and proper motions, respectively. The results of the determination of the Pleiades membership up to magnitude 18 are presented

We have investigated the 2-D stellar distribution in the outer parts of three nearby open clusters: NGC 2287 (=M41), NGC 2516, and NGC 2548 (=M48). Wide-field star counts have been performed in two colours on pairs of digitized ESO and SRC Schmidt plates, allowing us to select likely cluster members in the colour-magnitude diagrams. Cluster tidal extensions were emphasized using a wavelet transform. Taking into account observational biases, namely the galaxy clustering and differential extinction in the Galaxy, we have associated these stellar overdensities with real open cluster structures stretched by the galactic gravitational field. As predicted by theory and simulations, and despite observational limitations, we detected a general elongated (prolate) shape in a direction parallel to the galactic Plane, combined with tidal tails extended perpendicularly to it. This geometry is due both to the static galactic tidal field and the heating up of the stellar system when crossing the Disk. The time varying tidal field will deeply affect the cluster dynamical evolution, and we emphasize the importance of adiabatic heating during the Disk-shocking. In the case of NGC 2548, our dating of the last shocking with the Plane (based on a tidal clump) is consistent with its velocity. During the 10-20 Z-oscillations experienced by a cluster before its dissolution in the Galaxy, crossings through the galactic Disk contribute to at least 15% of the total mass loss. Using recent age estimations published for open clusters, we find a destruction time-scale of about 600 Myr for clusters in the solar neighbourhood., To be published in A&A (accepted July 2001). 10 pages, 10 figures. Version with full resolution figures available at http://www.cai-mama.obspm.fr/pagesPersonnelles/bergond/img/referee.ps.gz

We extend the work developed in previous papers on microlensing with a selection of variable stars. We use the Pixel Method to select variable stars on a set of 2.5 x 10**6 pixel light curves in the LMC Bar presented elsewhere. The previous treatment was done in order to optimise the detection of long timescale variations (larger than a few days) and we further optimise our analysis for the selection of Long Timescale and Long Period Variables (LT&LPV). We choose to perform a selection of variable objects as comprehensive as possible, independent of periodicity and of their position on the colour magnitude diagram. We detail the different thresholds successively applied to the light curves, which allow to produce a catalogue of 632 variable objects. We present a table with the coordinate of each variable, its EROS magnitudes at one epoch and an indicator of blending in both colours, together with a finding chart. A cross-correlation with various catalogues shows that 90% of those variable objects were undetected before, thus enlarging the sample of LT&LPV previously known in this area by a factor of 10. Due to the limitations of both the Pixel Method and the data set, additional data -- namely a longer baseline and near infrared photometry -- are required to further characterise these variable stars, as will be addressed in subsequent papers., 11 pages with 10 figures

We present 30 new nearby (d, Accepted in Astronomy and Astrophysics