Potentiels et limites de l'analyse pollinique de spéléothèmes quaternaires : applications à la reconstitution de l'environnement végétal de l'Homme préhistorique sur le pourtour Nord‑Méditerranéen

En contexte archéologique, l’analyse pollinique de spéléothèmes offre l’opportunité de caractériser la composition de l’environnement végétal de l’Homme préhistorique. L’évaluation des processus taphonomiques affectant la pluie pollinique lors du dépôt dans la calcite souligne les limites et les potentiels de ce type de support. Les résultats obtenus sur des sites préhistoriques du pourtour nord‑méditerranéen sont confrontés et corrélés à l’ensemble de l’information paléoécologique livrée par les données multidisciplinaires. Ces études palynologiques tentent aussi d’estimer la distribution spatiale des écosystèmes végétaux, la composante locale étant souvent la plus significative. Quand la formation des spéléothèmes coïncide avec des niveaux archéologiques, l’environnement local de l’Homme préhistorique peut être précisé.Pollen analysis on speleothems carry out detailed vegetal environment data in archaeological context. Pollen rain recorded in calcite is subject to a variety of taphonomic processes, pointing out limits and potentials of pollen analyses on speleothems. These records are evaluated in the light of multidisciplinary palaeoecological information from Northern Mediterranean prehistoric settlements. A main contribution of local vegetation with regard to spatial distribution of the different vegetal ecosystems is observed. When speleothem growths and archaeological layer deposits are synchronous, local environment of the prehistoric populations can be accurately documented

Human cytomegalovirus quantification in toddlers saliva from day care centers and emergency unit: A feasibility study.

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Provision of enrichments to meet the behavioral needs of broilers

International audienceTo meet the behavioural needs of broilers is fundamental to increase their welfare. The provision of physical enrichment in the barn is a way to meet these needs. The aim of the study was to assess the relevance of enrichments from the animal point of view. First, a working group described 11 behavioural needs based on the knowledge of Gallus g. domesticus and red jungle fowl : forage, perch, move, rest, preen, dustbath, sunbath, stretch, interact, play, use of cognitive ability. Then, 5 broiler farms were monitored in Western France (Ross308 or JA987; 1 week before slaughter, 28–38 days; 19–22 broilers/m2) in Spring 2021. The enrichments were designed to meet the following behavioural needs: foraging (pecking blocks, strings, chains, straw bales, balloons, bags of pellets), perching/resting (platform perches, linear and straw bales), dustbathing (tray with sand), use of the cognitive abilities (more complex environment with vertical panels). Resting and foraging behaviours were collected through 5 scans (at 1min intervals), while other active behaviours were collected through 5min continuous sampling, twice a day, in an enriched and a non-enriched areas. Data were analysed using non parametric tests. More broilers were foraging with a pecking enrichment than in the empty area (10% of animals/scan VS 2%, p<0.05), and seemed to prefer the pecking blocks, strings and straw bales compared to the other items. Platforms and straw bales were preferred by broilers to perch on compared to linear perches (≈60% of animals/scan VS 10%, p<0.001), even if no difference was observed on the percentage of resting birds. Vertical panels were also used by birds to rest along. No difference was observed on the dustbath behaviour with or without the tray. The addition of suitable enrichments improves the welfare of broilers and it is important to provide different enrichments so that the broilers can express their full behavioural repertoire

Clinical diagnosis, outcomes and treatment of thiamine deficiency in a tertiary hospital

International audienceSummaryBackgroundAcute thiamine deficiency can occur in patients with or without history of alcohol abuse and can lead to life-threatening complications. Clinical diagnosis is challenging, often resulting in delayed recognition and treatment. Patients may present with heterogenous symptoms, more diverse than the historical neurological description. Cerebral MRI can contribute to the diagnosis in patients with neurological signs but it is not always feasible in emergency settings. Prompt parenteral supplementation is required to obtain the improvement of symptoms and avoid chronic complications.AimsTo describe the clinical presentation of reported cases of thiamine deficiency, assess prescription and results of cerebral imaging, review treatments that had been prescribed in accordance or not with available guidelines, and study the short-term outcome of these patients.MethodsThis is a monocentric retrospective analysis of all reported cases of thiamine deficiency in a French tertiary hospital between January 1st 2008 and December 31st 2018.ResultsFifty-six cases were identified during the study period. Forty-five (80%) patients had a history of alcohol abuse. Most patients were diagnosed based on neurological symptoms but non-specific and digestive symptoms were frequent. Thirty-four percent of patients fulfilled clinical criteria for malnutrition. A brain MRI was performed in 54% of patients and was abnormal in 63% of these cases. Eighty-five percent of patients were treated by parenteral thiamine administration and the supplementation was continued orally in 55% of them. The majority of patients initially received 1000 mg daily of IV thiamine but the dose and duration of thiamine supplementation were variable. At the time of discharge, partial or complete improvement of symptoms was noted in 59% of patients.ConclusionThis study highlights the clinical and radiological heterogeneity of thiamine deficiency. These observations should encourage starting thiamine supplementation early in patients with risk factors or suggestive symptoms even in non-alcoholic patients, and underline the importance of early nutritional support

Response to the letter by Onishi and al. regarding “Clinical diagnosis, outcomes and treatment of thiamine deficiency in a tertiary hospital”

International audienceLetter to the Editor Response to the letter by Onishi and al. regarding "Clinical diagnosis, outcomes and treatment of thiamine deficiency in a tertiary hospital" We have read with interest the letter addressed by Onishi and al. about our recent article entitled "Clinical diagnosis, outcomes and treatment of thiamine deficiency in a tertiary hospital". While we agree with the authors' remarks about the diagnosis of thiamine deficiency, we would like to provide some clarifications about the interpretation of our study

Clérac, Charente-Maritime

Le site du Canton des Bergauds (commune de Clérac, Charente-Maritime) occupe le versant ouest d’un plateau en lanière, entouré par deux sous-affluents de l’Isle, le Lary et le Mouzon. Il consiste en un unique niveau archéologique comprenant près de 80 000 silex taillés, abrité dans une légère incision du relief, sur la partie amont du versant. Ce petit chenal a été colmaté à la fin du Pléistocène, par des colluvions ruisselées héritées des formations sableuses tertiaires locales. Plus tard, au cours de l’Holocène, le dépôt archéologique enfoui a été perturbé par la présence temporaire d’une nappe phréatique, à l’origine d’une déferrification et d’un léger tassement sédimentaire. La datation par thermoluminescence de trois silex situe cette brève occupation humaine quelque part entre 12 500 et 10 700 avant notre ère. Cette marge d’erreur de près de deux millénaires est propre à la méthode de datation. La méthode du radiocarbone, beaucoup plus précise, nous était inaccessible puisque le niveau archéologique ne contenait plus la moindre trace de matière organique