Animal and plant cytochrome P-450 systems.

Cytochromes P-450 are a family of hemeproteins catalyzing the metabolism of both endogenous and exogenous (xenobiotic) compounds. This review describes the general features of these enzymes and some aspects of comparative studies, mainly in fish, birds, insects and plants.

[Pierre Masson. A precursor and re-discoverer (1880-1959)].

Pierre Masson, born in Dijon in November 1880, intended to be a clinician doctor. After being seriously troubled with bad health and following the advice of his master Eugène Bataillon, a researcher who found out the parthenogenesis of batrachian ova, he turned towards a scientific carrier as a biologist. Appointed Chairman in Strasbourg where he held the chair of pathology as early as the first world war, he left France in 1927 to assume the same functions in Montreal.

[Multiple paragangliomas of the neck localized in the thyroid region. Papillary thyroid cancer associated with parathyroid adenoma].

A 58 years-old woman has had a goiter for many years. She was treated by neck irradiation for "lymphadenopathy" 20 years-ago. She is now operated on for bilateral carotid body paragangliomas and a similar tumor of the thyroid gland near the midline.