Environmental control on fish and macrocrustacean spring community-structure, on an intertidal sandy beach

The inter-annual variability of the fish and macrocrustacean spring community on an intertidal sandy beach near the Canche estuary (North of France) was studied from 2000 to 2013 based on weekly spring sampling over an 11-year period. Twenty-eight species representing 21 families were collected during the course of the study. The community was dominated by a few abundant species accounting for > 99% of the total species densities. Most individuals caught were young-of-the-year indicating the importance of this ecosystem for juvenile fishes and macrocrustaceans. Although standard qualitative community ecology metrics (species composition, richness, diversity, evenness and similarity) indicated notable stability over the study period, community structure showed a clear change since 2009. Densities of P. platessa, P. microps and A. tobianus decreased significantly since 2009, whereas over the period 2010-2013, the contribution of S. sprattus to total species density increased 4-fold. Co-inertia and generalised linear model analyses identified winter NAO index, water temperature, salinity and suspended particular matter as the major environmental factors explaining these changes. Although the recurrent and dense spring blooms of the Prymnesiophyte Phaeocystis globosa is one of the main potential threats in shallow waters of the eastern English Channel, no negative impact of its temporal change was detected on the fish and macrocrustacean spring community structure.

[Contribution of computerized cisternography using hydrosoluble contrast media or CT transit to the diagnosis of post-traumatic cerebrospinal rhinorrhea]

Based on a series of 100 cases, the authors present the value of CT transit in craniofacial traumatology. This examination, systematically performed in cases of fistulogenic fracture, is able to confirm or exclude the presence of an osteomeningeal breach, which is often difficult to detect during the immediate post-traumatic period. CT transit also allows precise localisation of the breach, which guides the operative procedure.

[Extramedullary hematopoiesis of thoracic and vertebral intraductal localization. Apropos of a case. Review of the literature]

The authors report a case of extramedullary haematopoiesis, presenting in the form of several tumor masses in the posterior mediastinum and in the vertebral canal. The patient presented with oedema in his lower limbs due to compression of the inferior vena cava by the mediastinal masses. The asymptomatic mass in the vertebral canal was detected by magnetic resonance imaging. The patient was first operated on to avoid spinal cord compression by the tumor and subsequently to relieve compression of the inferior vena cava. The masses removed from the vertebral canal and the mediastinum were found on histologic examination to be extramedullary haematopoiesis. The cause of the disease was unknown in this case. Such disease is often disclosed in the course of hemolytic anaemias or other medullar deficiency diseases as a compensatory phenomenon when the bone marrow fails. An other explanation is that it is a manifestation of a myeloproliferative disorder in which heterotopic pluripotential cells are transformed into haematopoietic cells. The authors review 88 cases reported in the world literature.

Interhemispheric subdural haematomas: seven cases and review of the literature

Interhemispheric subdural haematoma (ISH) is a rare complication of head injury with only 19 cases reported since 1940, but it may also occur spontaneously (three cases). In both circumstances, clotting disorders are frequent (six cases). We have recorded seven cases (five traumatic, two spontaneous). Classically ISH is due to tearing of bridging veins or cortical contusions. In one of our cases, it was due to arterial bleeding from a pericallosal branch. CT scan shows that ISH may extend above the tentorium and on the hemispheric convexity. Mortality is high (35%). The best operative procedure is parasagittal craniotomy. Chronic interhemispheric subdural haematomas also occur.