Collaborative annotation of genes and proteins between UniProtKB/Swiss-Prot and dictyBase.

UniProtKB/Swiss-Prot, a curated protein database, and dictyBase, the Model Organism Database for Dictyostelium discoideum, have established a collaboration to improve data sharing. One of the major steps in this effort was the 'Dicty annotation marathon', a week-long exercise with 30 annotators aimed at achieving a major increase in the number of D. discoideum proteins represented in UniProtKB/Swiss-Prot. The marathon led to the annotation of over 1000 D. discoideum proteins in UniProtKB/Swiss-Prot. Concomitantly, there were a large number of updates in dictyBase concerning gene symbols, protein names and gene models. This exercise demonstrates how UniProtKB/Swiss-Prot can work in very close cooperation with model organism databases and how the annotation of proteins can be accelerated through those collaborations.

[The use of ultrasonographic 3D power Doppler to describe an ovarian Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor]. / Description échographique d'une tumeur ovarienne de Sertoli-Leydig à l'aide du doppler énergie tridimensionnel.

We report one case of unilateral ovarian Sertoli-Leydig tumor with intermediate grade and heterologous element, in a young woman with clinical and biological typical presentation. We discuss 2D and 3D ultrasonographic and doppler features.

[Role of ultrasound in the evaluation of patients after laparoscopic sacropexy: preliminary study]. / Intérêt de l'échographie dans le suivi des patientes après promontofixation par coelioscopie: étude préliminaire.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate results of laparoscopic sacropexy with introital and vaginal ultrasonography, that is to observe dynamic behavior of the mesh, to measure precisely its position and to conclude on the feasibility of this exam. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The surgery was a laparoscopic subtotal hysterectomy and a suspension of the cervix with an anterior vesicovaginal mesh and a posterior rectovaginal mesh. These meshes are joined together and fixed on the sacrum. Ultrasound was performed in fifteen patients to see in the sagital plane the position of the mesh. The distance anterior mesh-bladder neck and the distance posterior mesh-anal sphincter were measured at rest, during straining and during retaining. The spreading out and the dynamic behavior of the mesh were studied. RESULTS: The distance anterior mesh-bladder neck is 12 mm at rest, 15 mm during straining and 13 mm during retaining. The distance posterior mesh-anal sphincter is 30 mm at rest, 26 mm during straining and 31 mm during retaining. The mesh is always seen as spread out, or folded, but never strained. Video recording shows that sacropexy does not block pelvic dynamics. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Ultrasound imaging appears in this study as a simple and efficient exam to study and measure prosthesis. It could be a good help for clinical examination to explain failure or complication of surgery.

[Autoimmune hepatitis and pregnancy: about a patient's three consecutive pregnancies]. / Hépatite auto-immune et grossesse: à propos de trois grossesses consécutives chez une patiente.

Spontaneous evolution of autoimmune hepatitis during pregnancy is not well known, nor are its consequences on pregnancy evolution. Immunosuppressive treatment during pregnancy is sometimes necessary but the long- and short-term consequences are unrecognized. We relate a patient's disease with autoimmune hepatitis and cirrhosis and three consecutive pregnancies with different obstetrical and medical complications.

[Fertiloscopy: Clermont-Ferrand's experiment]. / Fertiloscopie: l'expérience clermontoise.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluation of fertiloscopy's place in the management of female infertility. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective study including 229 women presenting primary or secondary infertility without pathology raising of an evident surgical sanction and benefitting from a fertiloscopy. Perioperative data analysis (context of the infertility, operating technique, complications). RESULTS: Two hundred and three fertiloscopic procedures succeeded (88.6%), revealing lesions in 58 cases (28.6%) requiring a laparoscopy. These are represented by adherences (21 cases), endometriosis (17 cases), an abnormality of the tubal permeability (10 cases), complete or partial failure to visualize the adnexae (6 cases) and ovarian cysts visualization (4 cases). Five complications (2.5%) without major consequence will be deplored: two rectal injuries, two hemorrhagic complications and a postoperative salpingitis. Most of procedures (97.5%) have been performed in an ambulatory setting except when a geographic remoteness did not allow it (5 patients). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Fertiloscopy is a safe and reliable procedure. It can be substituted to laparoscopy in the routine assessment of infertile women management in case of not obvious surgical indication.

[Laparoscopy and gynecologic cancer in 2005]. / Coelioscopie et cancer en gynécologie: le point en 2005.

All the surgical procedures, which may be required to treat a gynecologic cancer, can be performed endoscopically. However prospective randomized studies required to confirm the oncologic efficacy of the technique are still lacking in gynecology, whereas such studies are available in digestive surgery. Animal studies suggested that the risk of tumor dissemination in non traumatized peritoneum is higher after a pneumoperitoneum than after a laparotomy. Experimental studies also emphasized two points: the surgeon and the surgical technique are essential, all the parameters of the pneumoperitoneum may influence the postoperative dissemination. Changing these parameters we may, in the future, be able to create a peritoneal environment adapted to oncologic patients in order to prevent or to decrease the risks of peritoneal dissemination and/or of postoperative tumor growth. Until the results of prospective randomized studies become available, the preoperative selection of the patients and the surgical technique should be very strict. In patients with endometrial cancer, the laparoscopic approach should be reserved to clinical stage I disease, if the vaginal extraction is anticipated to be easy accounting for the volume of the uterus and the local conditions. In cervical cancer, the laparoscopic approach should be reserved to patients with favorable prognostic factors: stage IB of less than 2 cm in diameter. Laparoscopy is the gold standard for the surgical diagnosis of adnexal masses. But the puncture should be avoided whenever possible. The surgical treatment of invasive ovarian cancer should be performed by laparotomy whatever the stage. In contrast restaging of an early ovarian cancer initially managed as a benign mass, is a good indication of the laparoscopic approach. The laparoscopic management of low malignant potential tumors should include a complete staging of the peritoneum. Knowledge of the principles of endoscopy and of oncologic surgery is required. Teaching and diffusion of endoscopic oncological techniques are among the major challenges of gynecologic surgery within the next few years.