Red-capped mangabeys (Cercocebus torquatus) adapt their interspecific gestural communication to the recipient's behaviour.

Sensitivity to recipient's attention and responsiveness are critical markers of intentional communication. Although previous research showed that ape gestures can be intentional, few studies have yet addressed this question concerning monkeys. Here, we characterise the effect of a recipient's presence, attentional state and responsiveness on the interspecific gestural communication of captive red-capped mangabeys (Cercocebus torquatus).

A novel test for evaluating horses' spontaneous visual attention is predictive of attention in operant learning tasks.

Attention is described as the ability to process selectively one aspect of the environment over others. In this study, we characterized horses' spontaneous attention by designing a novel visual attention test (VAT) that is easy to apply in the animal's home environment. The test was repeated over three consecutive days and repeated again 6 months later in order to assess inter-individual variations and intra-individual stability.

Factors of influence and social correlates of parturition in captive Campbell's monkeys: Case study and breeding data.

How nonhuman primates deal with birth, at the moment of delivery, and during the following days, remains poorly explored because of the unpredictability of this event, particularly for forest-dwelling arboreal species. Available studies highlight intra- and interspecific variation which suggest flexibility of the timing of delivery, of behavior associated with labor contractions and parturition, and the social context and ambient noise surrounding delivery. Here, we present the findings of a two-decade survey of reproduction in a population of captive Campbell's monkeys.

Which are the features of the TUBE task that make it so efficient in detecting manual asymmetries? An investigation in two Cercopithecine species (Cercopithecus neglectus and Cercocebus torquatus).

In the last decade, the TUBE task has been repeatedly shown to be highly efficient in detecting manual asymmetries that are strong hand preferences reflecting hemispheric specialization, in non human primates. The TUBE task was thus classified as a high-level task, presumably because it involves bimanual coordination. However, this task also requires a precise action made by digit(s), which may also be a crucial feature in eliciting manual asymmetries.

[Cannabis and psychosis: search of a causal link through a critical and systematic review].

Introduction: Although cannabis use may be involved in the aetiology of acute psychosis, there has been considerable debate about the association observed between cannabis use and chronic psychosis. In particular, because of the frequent co-occurrence between schizophrenia and cannabis use, the question has been raised of a causal link between exposure to cannabis as a risk factor and the development of psychosis or psychotic symptoms.

Objective: The aim of this article was to examine the evidence that cannabis use causes chronic psychotic disorders by using established criteria of causality.

Social laterality and 'transversality' in two species of mangabeys: influence of rank and implication for hemispheric specialization.

Individuals in social groups monitor many relationships by adapting their activities to the sex, age, social status, behaviour as well as the position of conspecifics. Here, we investigated the influence of the relative positions of the members of two groups of mangabeys on social visual laterality (right/left) and 'transversality' (frontal/rear) in two contexts: (1) 'one-to-one' interactions and (2) a 'one-to-many' context allowing potential observation of all group members. We discuss our data in relation to (1) the influence of rank and (2) theories explaining lateralization of cerebral hemispheres.

Visual laterality responses to different emotive stimuli by red-capped mangabeys, Cercocebus torquatus torquatus.

Hemispheric asymmetry in emotional perception has been put forward by different theories as the right hemisphere theory or the valence theory. But no consensus was found about the role played by both hemispheres. So, in order to test the different theories, we investigated preferential use of one eye in red-capped mangabeys, at the individual as well as at the group level.

Postural effect on manual laterality in different tasks in captive grey-cheeked mangabey (Lophocebus albigena).

The authors examined the effects of task complexity and posture on laterality and compared lateralization during different tasks in 9 captive grey-cheeked mangabeys (Lophocebus albigena) during spontaneous food processing and 3 experimental tasks. Comparisons with data of red-capped mangabeys (Cercocebus torquatus torquatus; semiterrestrial species) were used. Less than half the monkeys were lateralized for simple everyday activities, but 6 were lateralized for complex daily activities.

Manual laterality in Campbell's Monkeys (Cercopithecus c. campbelli) in spontaneous and experimental actions.

Behavioural asymmetries, once thought to be exclusively human, appear to be widespread in vertebrates. A population-level bias should stem from natural selection and reflect a cerebral dominance, while individual preferences might be linked to individual characteristics. Manual laterality has been extensively investigated in non-human primates.

[Ectopic lingual thyroid. Apropos of 3 cases].

Lingual thyroid is a rare cause of upper airway obstruction, dysphagia or hypothyroidism symptoms. This report describes three cases of lingual thyroid arising in women. One was in pregnancy and developed a lingual goiter and hemorrhages with hypothyroidy.

[Plasmapheresis and acute attacks of uveitis].

Our study concerns the effects of plasma exchange in acute attacks of posterior or total chronic uveitis. The treatment undertaken in 10 patients consisted of 8 plasma exchanges in a 2 weeks period, associated with a corticosteroid and immunosuppressive therapy. Immediately after the plasma exchanges, there was a significant improvement in visual acuity and a decrease in inflammatory activity in most patients (70%).

Immunological analysis of the aqueous humour in candida endophthalmitis. II: Clinical study.

An anterior chamber paracentesis was carried out on six patients with candida endophthalmitis and on control subjects. We endeavoured to find out if there was local production of antibodies by evaluating the anti-candida antibody titres, the immunoglobulin G, and the albumin levels in the aqueous humour and in the serum. A significant difference in the level of specific antibodies between patients and controls was found.

Immunological analysis of the aqueous humour in candida endophthalmitis. I: Experimental study.

An immunological study of aqueous humour and serum was carried out in experimental ocular candidosis in rabbits. Anti-candida antibody titres, immunoglobulin G, and albumin levels were evaluated in the aqueous humour and in the serum. A local synthesis of anti-candida antibodies was detected in numerous rabbits at the height of clinical activity of the lesions.

Experimental study of the intra-ocular penetration of ketoconazole in rabbits.

We studied 11 healthy rabbits and 15 rabbits with experimentally induced Candida endophthalmitis. Using a microbiological procedure, ketoconazole levels were determined 1, 2, 4, 8 and 24 h after its oral administration. Ketoconazole penetration was average in the aqueous humour, significant in tears and poor in the vitreous.

[Local production of specific antibodies in the aqueous humor in experimental Candida endophthalmia in rabbits].

An increasing frequency of ocular lesions due to Candida albicans has been reported, but clinical detection of lesions, which may cause permanent blindness, remains difficult. Hematogenous endophthalmitis caused by Candida albicans in the rabbit is a useful model to study the pathogenesis of the disease, and perhaps to find new methods of biological diagnosis. A suspension of Candida albicans was injected in 15 rabbits, according to the method described by Edwards et al.

[Maculopathy in typical retinitis pigmentosa apropos of 33 cases].

The authors studied 33 maculopathies in 54 patients affected by typic retinitis pigmentosa: atrophic macular degeneration 31 cases (49%); cystoïd macular oedema: 1 case (3%) and macular retraction syndrome: 1 case (3%). These results are confronted with those of the literature. Two therapeutical trials based on pathogenical hypothesis were conducted.

[Value of adjustable sutures in the treatment of diplopia].

Adjustable sutures have been used as a curative procedure in 31 cases of diplopia, 16 cases of plegic causes, 4 cases of acute concomitant squint and 11 cases of mechanical strabismus: thyroid myopathy, orbital fracture, oculomotor imbalance after scleral indentation. In oculomotor paralysis if a few functional motor units remained at plegic muscle level, we were able to obtain new rotational balance by combining, with adjustable sutures, recession and resection of the couple agonist-antagonist. On the other hand, if no functional motor unit remained, it was then necessary to turn to the muscular translocation process modulated by adjustable surgery.