Myasthenie - spondylarthropathies: association fortuite ? A propos d’un cas et revue de la littérature

Propos Nous rapportons le cas d’un patient atteint d’une myasthénie associée à une spondylarthropathie. Cette observation est originale de part sa rareté, six cas seulement on été rapportés dans la littérature et le problème que pose cette association : est ce qu’elle est fortuite ou impliquerait-elle d’autres facteurs génétiques qui restent à prouver ?Observation Monsieur J.H. âgé de 32 ans, aux antécédents de myasthénie depuis 2002, était hospitalisé en avril 2004 pour polyarthrite chronique bilatérale et asymétrique évoluant depuis un an, touchant le poignet gauche, les inter phalangiennes proximales des 3ème et 5ème doigts droits et le genou droit associées à des talalgiesbilatérales et une douleur des articulations sacro-iliaques. La biologie montrait un syndrome inflammatoire modéré, des facteurs rhumatoïdes faiblement positifs et un typage HLA B7 et B17. Le bilan radiologiquemontrait une arthrite des mains, une enthésite calcanéenne et permettait de suspecter une sacro-iliite bilatérale qui était confirmée par un scanner. L’évolution était bonne sous anti- inflammatoires nonstéroïdiens pendant 6 mois. Il consulte en janvier 2006 pour le même tableau associé à une sècheresse buccale et oculaire. Le bilan trouvait une VS à 20, des facteurs rhumatoïdes faiblement positifs mais desAAN positifs à un taux 1/160 homogènes avec des anti SSA. Les radiographies standard montraient une carpite stade II gauche. L’examen ophtalmologique a confirmé le syndrome sec oculaire. La biopsie des glandes salivaires accessoires a montré un syndrome de Gougerot Sjögren grade 2 de Shisholm

Health promoting potential of herbal teas and tinctures from Artemisia campestris subsp maritima: from traditional remedies to prospective products

This work explored the biotechnological potential of the medicinal halophyte Artemisia campestris subsp. maritima (dune wormwood) as a source of health promoting commodities. For that purpose, infusions, decoctions and tinctures were prepared from roots and aerial-organs and evaluated for in vitro antioxidant, anti-diabetic and tyrosinase-inhibitory potential, and also for polyphenolic and mineral contents and toxicity. The dune wormwood extracts had high polyphenolic content and several phenolics were identified by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-photodiode array-mass-spectrometry (UHPLC-PDA-MS). The main compounds were quinic, chlorogenic and caffeic acids, coumarin sulfates and dicaffeoylquinic acids; several of the identified phytoconstituents are here firstly reported in this A. campestris subspecies. Results obtained with this plant's extracts point to nutritional applications as mineral supplementary source, safe for human consumption, as suggested by the moderate to low toxicity of the extracts towards mammalian cell lines. The dune wormwood extracts had in general high antioxidant activity and also the capacity to inhibit a-glucosidase and tyrosinase. In summary, dune wormwood extracts are a significant source of polyphenolic and mineral constituents, antioxidants and a-glucosidase and tyrosinase inhibitors, and thus, relevant for different commercial segments like the pharmaceutical, cosmetic and/or food industries.FCT - Foundation for Science and Technology [CCMAR/Multi/04326/2013]; Portuguese National Budget; FCT [IF/00049/2012, SFRH/BD/94407/2013]; Research Foundation - Flanders (FWO) [12M8315N]info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Is corporate environmental disclosure associated with firm value? A multi-country study of Gulf Cooperation Council firms

The file attached to this record is the author's final peer reviewed version. The Publisher's final version can be found by following the DOI link.open access articleSeveral studies have found a relationship between corporate social and environmental disclosure and firm value or accounting profitability. Where environmental disclosure has been the focus, though, only single-country studies have been published; and most of the previous research concerns the developed world. This study examines the association between corporate environmental disclosure (CED) and firm value (FV) in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, where CED has been increasing from its previous low base. Findings from a multi-country sample of 500 firm-year observations using a 55-item unweighted environmental disclosure index suggest that CED is significantly and positively related to FV as measured by Tobin’s Q (TBQ). The relationship is robust to using a weighted version of the disclosure index, individual countries and environmental disclosure sub-indices. Some evidence of a positive relationship between CED and return on assets (ROA) is also found, but even where statistically significant, the relationship is much weaker than in the case of TBQ. For empirical and theoretical reasons, we recommend that future studies pay greater attention to market-based proxies, if possible when investigating the value relevance of CED in both developed and developing countries. Our results suggest that both managers and policymakers in GCC countries should take a positive view of expanded CED

Physical modelling of sub-salt gliding due to fluid overpressure in underlying sedimentary strata

International audienceThe Gulf of Mexico and the offshore Campos and Santos basins of Brazil provide good examples of sub-salt detachments, by shearing in the presence of overpressure. We have developed new physical models of such situations, including layers of ductile silicone putty, which simulated an evaporite, and fluid overpressure in porous brittle layers. We studied two configurations, in which the maximal overpressure was either beneath a single ductile layer of silicone (simulating salt), or between two such layers of silicone (simulating an evaporite sequence). The results of our analogue modelling showed that detachment faults appeared and persisted at the bases of the ductile layers, even though some ductile deformation occurred simultaneously within these layers. For models where maximal overpressure was between two ductile layers, detachment occurred mainly at the base of the upper silicone layer. On comparing our models with structures in the Gulf of Mexico or offshore Brazil, we find strong similarities, which lead us to suspect that detachment is indeed possible at the base of an evaporite sequence in nature. This conclusion has strong implications, not only for the understanding of petroleum systems, but also for better management of petroleum productionin sedimentary basins

Experimental study of the mercury 4 047 Å line (6 3P 0-7 3S1) absorption profile in the presence of foreign gases

The absorption profile of the 4 047 Å line of mercury has been studied by means of the magnetic scanning method. The absorption chamber contained either only mercury and nitrogen, or a small amount of nitrogen and a perturbing noble gas.On étudie par balayage magnétique le profil d'absorption de la raie 4 047 Å du mercure. La cuve d'absorption contient soit un mélange de mercure et d'azote, soit un mélange de mercure et de gaz noble, avec une petite quantité d'azote

Source Rock Characterization and Petroleum Systems in North Ghadames Basin, Southern Tunisia

International audienc

Comparative characterization of the spawning environments of European anchovy, Engraulis encrasicolus, and round sardinella, Sardinella aurita (Actinopterygii: Clupeiformes) in the eastern coast of Tunisia

Background. The distribution of early ontogenic stages of small pelagic fishes is important for understanding the dynamics of their fluctuating populations. To fill a gap in the knowledge we conducted a comparative analysis on the distribution of eggs and larvae of the exploited populations of European anchovy, Engraulis encrasicolus (L.) and round sardinella, Sardinella aurita (Valanciennes, 1847), in the eastern coast of Tunisia. Materials and methods. A multidisciplinary survey was carried out in the summer of 2008, from June 23 through July 9. Samples were taken over a grid of 71 stations. Temperature and salinity profiles were recorded at each station by CTD casts and water samples were taken by means of a Rosette equipped with Niskin bottles. Ichthyoplankton was sampled by oblique tows with a Bongo net of 60 cm mouth diameter and 335-µm mesh nets. To specify the preferred spawning environment the quotient values were estimated for each variable. Results. The eggs and larvae of both species represented an important proportion of the ichthyoplankton, around 50% for each ontogenic stage. Anchovy mainly spawned in the shelf edge, north-east of Kuriate Island, with a minor spawning area near Cap Bon and Kelibia. The main spawning area of the round sardinella was in the warmer waters. It was located near the major spawning ground of anchovy. Anchovy eggs were scarce in the coastal zones and in the south of the study area, whereas round sardinella eggs were scarce in the north. The main spawning grounds of anchovy coincided with the area of higher zooplankton abundance while round sardinella spawning grounds correspond with those areas of highest chlorophyll-a and zooplankton. This distribution suggests a propensity for food availability, for both adults and larvae, as the location of spawning grounds of these species. Conclusion. Both anchovy and sardinella spawned mainly in deeper waters within the limits of the continental shelf. Each species appeared to have a specific strategy for spawning that was influenced by physical and biological variables