Vocal-gestural combinations in infant bonobos: new insights into signal functional specificity.

Comparing the communicative abilities of humans and great apes is a commonly used research strategy to understand the evolutionary foundation of modern human language. The ability to combine signals from different communicative modes (vocal, gestural, facial, etc.) is a universal and important feature of human language that is shared with great apes, although rarely investigated. Research on apes' signal combination has usually studied the frequency, distribution, effectiveness, and function of combinations in comparison with single signals, but only seldom have studies addressed their functional specificity, i.e., their ability to convey specific signallers' goals within contexts. Here, I suggest a new methodological approach to the investigation of functional specificity of signals, which consists of focusing on one call type and exploring its various patterns of production when combined with gestures. I illustrate the different methodological steps with a case study on infant bonobos' combinations of 'Pout moan' calls with gestures in the context of infant-to-mother requests. The descriptive results indicate that at least three combinations seem functionally specific, i.e., specific to the infants' desired goals. It suggests that combinations can be functionally specific from a young age and that learning how to combine signals efficiently might occur early in ontogeny. This suggested approach might provide insight to the on-going debate regarding the mechanisms underpinning the learning process of successful signal production and potentially further our understanding of the evolution of the combinatorial characteristics of human communication.

Great ape gestures: intentional communication with a rich set of innate signals.

Great apes give gestures deliberately and voluntarily, in order to influence particular target audiences, whose direction of attention they take into account when choosing which type of gesture to use. These facts make the study of ape gesture directly relevant to understanding the evolutionary precursors of human language; here we present an assessment of ape gesture from that perspective, focusing on the work of the "St Andrews Group" of researchers. Intended meanings of ape gestures are relatively few and simple. As with human words, ape gestures often have several distinct meanings, which are effectively disambiguated by behavioural context. Compared to the signalling of most other animals, great ape gestural repertoires are large. Because of this, and the relatively small number of intended meanings they achieve, ape gestures are redundant, with extensive overlaps in meaning. The great majority of gestures are innate, in the sense that the species' biological inheritance includes the potential to develop each gestural form and use it for a specific range of purposes. Moreover, the phylogenetic origin of many gestures is relatively old, since gestures are extensively shared between different genera in the great ape family. Acquisition of an adult repertoire is a process of first exploring the innate species potential for many gestures and then gradual restriction to a final (active) repertoire that is much smaller. No evidence of syntactic structure has yet been detected.

Great ape gestures: intentional communication with a rich set of innate signals.

Great apes give gestures deliberately and voluntarily, in order to influence particular target audiences, whose direction of attention they take into account when choosing which type of gesture to use. These facts make the study of ape gesture directly relevant to understanding the evolutionary precursors of human language; here we present an assessment of ape gesture from that perspective, focusing on the work of the "St Andrews Group" of researchers. Intended meanings of ape gestures are relatively few and simple. As with human words, ape gestures often have several distinct meanings, which are effectively disambiguated by behavioural context. Compared to the signalling of most other animals, great ape gestural repertoires are large. Because of this, and the relatively small number of intended meanings they achieve, ape gestures are redundant, with extensive overlaps in meaning. The great majority of gestures are innate, in the sense that the species' biological inheritance includes the potential to develop each gestural form and use it for a specific range of purposes. Moreover, the phylogenetic origin of many gestures is relatively old, since gestures are extensively shared between different genera in the great ape family. Acquisition of an adult repertoire is a process of first exploring the innate species potential for many gestures and then gradual restriction to a final (active) repertoire that is much smaller. No evidence of syntactic structure has yet been detected.

Evaluation of the prevalence and specificities of asymptomatic paranasal sinus aspergillosis: retrospective study of 59 cases.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To calculate the prevalence of asymptomatic localized paranasal sinus aspergillosis (or fungus ball) in the general population and to compare asymptomatic and symptomatic fungus balls (FB) in order to determine their specificities. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Retrospective study including 59 patients operated for FB between 2006 and 2011 in a single unit. Patients were divided into two groups: asymptomatic patients (group 1, n=10), and symptomatic patients (group 2, n=49). All patients in group 1 were identified by systematic screening for a site of infection prior to cataract surgery during this period (n=6198). All patients were treated by endonasal surgery. Calculation of the prevalence of asymptomatic FB was based on standardization of the source population (normal distribution, 95% confidence interval). The two groups were then compared (clinical context, age, history of root canal treatment, topography, recurrence rate), after randomization test by Student's test and Chi(2) test. RESULTS: The prevalence rate of asymptomatic FB in our study was 1.6/1000 in the population over the age of 55 years. A statistically significant difference was demonstrated between the two groups in terms of the following parameters: more advanced age for patients of group 1, constant history of root canal treatment in group 1, constant maxillary topography in group 1, and higher recurrence rate in group 2. Mean follow-up was 18.7 months (range: 3-49 months). DISCUSSION: This study, the first to determine the prevalence of asymptomatic FB, suggests the existence of very slowly progressive, minimally symptomatic forms, raising the problem of the surgical indications in these patients. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of asymptomatic fungus balls is 1.6/1000. Prospective studies are necessary to justify conservative management in these patients.

[Modified butterfly cartilage tympanoplasty: retrospective study on 26 patients]. / Tympanoplastie transcanalaire type "butterfly" modifiée: etude rétrospective sur 26 patients.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the results of inlay butterfly tympanoplasty on dry perforation. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case study. PATIENTS: 26 patient (14 male, 12 female), mean age 38 years, ranged from 9 to 73. Mean follow up: 20 months. SURGERY: Inlay cartilage butterfly tympanoplasty performed under general or local anesthesia according to the technique originally described by Eavey, with our specific modifications (use of a dermatological punch). RESULTS: 92.3% of perforation closure was obtained; 2 residual perforations and 1 non-epithelialisation were observed. No iatrogenic cholesteatoma was observed. The mean preoperative to post operative four-tone air bone gap improved from 27.67 to 20.1 (mean gain 7.5). CONCLUSION: Inlay butterfly cartilage tympanoplasty is a safe, efficient and easy technique. This technique need more prospective evaluation, and its place among other techniques of tympanoplasty needs to be precised.

[Nasal obstruction and compliance to nasal positive airway pressure]. / Obstruction nasale et compliance à la ventilation nasale à pression positive.

UNLABELLED: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is a very common disease. Nasal continuous positive airway pressure is a useful and efficient treatment but compliance depends on several factors including the degree of nasal obstruction. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of surgical correction of nasal obstruction on compliance to nasal continuous positive airway pressure in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This retrospective study (from March 1998 to March 2000) included ten patients suffering from a severe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (apnea-hypopnea index greater than 30 per hour) treated by nasal continuous positive airway pressure for at least three months and presenting an anatomic nasal obstruction limiting the use of nasal continuous positive airway pressure. Surgical procedures included one septoplasty, two inferior turbinectomies and seven septoplasties with turbinectomies. RESULTS: The post-operative polysomnography showed that surgical correction of nasal obstruction had no effect on obstructive sleep apnea syndrome severity (no significative change of apnea hypopnea index after surgery) but allowed the use of lower nasal continuous positive airway pressure levels (7.1 mmHg after surgery versus 10 mmHg before) and improved compliance to treatment (six compliant patients after surgery versus no compliant patient before). These results were compared with those published in the literature. CONCLUSION: An examination of the nose has to be performed before initiating nasal continuous positive airway pressure. If nasal continuous positive airway pressure cannot be tolerated because of nasal obstruction, surgery is required to improve compliance and tolerance to treatment.

[Anatomic variants of paranasal sinuses]. / Les variantes anatomiques des sinus de la face.

During the last 15 years period, the development of functional endoscopic sinus surgery underlines the needs of a better knowledge of sinonasal anatomy and consequently, of sinonasal anatomic variations. These anatomic variations are widely spread into the population and commonly encountered in daily CT practice. The difference of anatomic landmarks during endoscopic surgery can result in bony transgression and increase the difficulties of the surgery. In fact, functional endoscopic surgery is a blind surgery leading to severe complications with medico-legal impact. Therefore, the anatomic sinonasal variations should be depicted in all sinonasal CT imaging studies irrespective of the indications. Moreover, some anatomical variants may cause certain symptoms.

[Mandibulotomy for cancer of the oral cavity and oropharynx: functional and carcinologic outcome in 107 cases]. / La chirurgie par voie de mandibulotomie dans les cancers de la cavité buccale et de l'oropharynx. Résultats fonctionnels et carcinologiques sur une série de 107 cas.

We report a series of 107 patients who underwent mandibulotomy at the Gustave-Roussy Institute, France for cancer of the oral cavity and orophaynx between 1998 and 1996. The most common tumor site was the base of the tongue. Most cases were stage T2 or T3. Postoperative radiotherapy was employed except in those who had previous irradiation, either for the same tumor (12 cases) or another cancer (16 cases). The different types of mandibulotomies and osteosynthesis methods were analyzed in relation to postoperative course and functional and oncological outcome at mean follow-up of 6 years. Osteitis was the most frequent complication (14%) requiring hemimandibulectomy in 5 cases. Complications occurred particularly when osteosynthesis was in the pre-or postoperative irradiation field. Osteosynthesis was definitive in 79.4% with good functional results in 76.5%. Previous radiotherapy or use of flaps for closure gave poor function results. We emphasize the advantages of anterolateral mandibulotomy and titanium plates. The local control rate was 81.5% at 6 months and overall survival rat was 51.5% at 5 years with no significant impact of tumor site on survival.

[Horseradish peroxidase retrograde labeling of primary sensory axons in rats: a comparison between three different intraspinal injections methods]. / Marquage rétrograde des axones sensitifs primaires par la peroxydase du raifort chez le rat: mise au point de la technique d'injection intramédullaire.

STUDY AIM: In order to improve the results of intraspinal retrograde labeling of post-ganglionic primary sensory axons by horseradish peroxidase (HRP), the authors compared three different intraspinal injection methods of this tracer into the inferior thoracic spinal cord in the rat. MATERIAL AND METHOD: 'Open field' method (group 1, N = 8); stereotactic injection, needle tip diameter = 0.72 mm (group 2, N = 8); stereotactic injection, needle tip diameter = 0.24 mm (group 3, N = 8). Histological features of the spinal injection site showed that tissue damages due to injection was more extensive and deeper than expected. HRP transported in retrograde fashion from injection site to sensory body cells located in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) was revealed by the Mesulam histochemical technique. RESULTS: The mean number of labeled neurons per DRG was 652 in group 3, 116 in group 2, and 77 in group 1. Differences were statistically significant, especially between groups 1 and 3 (P = 4.10(-16)) and groups 2 and 3 (P = 2.10(-17)). CONCLUSION: Retrograde labeling of primary sensory axons by HRP (or another axonal tracer) with fine needle stereotactic intraspinal injection may represent an alternative to anterograde labeling. This reliable and reproducible method may be useful in studies dealing with regeneration of post-ganglionic primary sensory axons.

Congenital tracheoesophageal fistula without esophageal atresia.

The authors report a series of eight cases of isolated tracheoesophageal fistula without esophageal atresia (or an H type fistula), treated in three pediatric ENT departments. This is a rare malformation whose diagnosis requires investigation for associated anomalies. The clinical signs are mainly respiratory but also digestive and the symptomatology can be severe. The diagnosis can be made with a barium swallow combined with cineradiography, but a tracheoesophageal endoscopy remains the investigation of choice. The treatment is surgical. In most cases, the fistula is accessible by a right or left cervicotomy, depending on the surgeon's practice, with a much lower postoperative morbidity as compared to a thoracotomy. The postoperative management was straightforward in most of our cases. We discuss the role of gastro-esophageal reflux with respect to postoperative morbidity as well as systematic treatment for reflux peri-operatively. The pros and cons of the various surgical approaches are also discussed.