Aspects electroneuromyographiques des traumatismes du plexus brachial

Introduction: L’électroneuromyogramme (ENMG) garde une place cruciale dans l’exploration du plexus brachial. L’objectif de cette étude était d’étudier les caractéristiques électroneuromyographiques des atteintes plexiques brachiales post-traumatiques et de déterminer les facteurs associés à la topographie et à la sévérité des lésions. Patients et méthodes: Une étude rétrospective a été réalisée dans le service de Neurologie du CHU RAZI incluant les patients adressés à l’unité d’électroneurophysiologie pour une atteinte traumatique du plexus brachial durant la période allant de janvier 2003 à juin 2018. Les données démographiques, cliniques et les résultats de l’ENMG ont été recueillis et analysés. La sévérité de la lésion a été évaluée selon la version modifiée de l’échelle de Dumitru et Wilbourn. Résultats: Nous avons colligé 36 plexopathies brachiales post traumatiques chez 35 patients (H/F = 30/5, âge moyen = 39,3 ans). L’ENMG a été réalisé 3 semaines après le traumatisme chez 91,3% des patients. Il a montré une conduction nerveuse altérée (97,2 %), un tracé neurogène (91,7 %) et des signes de dénervation (55,6 %). Le niveau lésionnel concernait les troncs primaires (66,7 %) et les troncs secondaires (33,3 %). Il était sans lien significatif avec la cause (p>0,05). La lésion était sévère (61,1 %), modérée (36,1 %) et légère (2,8 %) sans association significative ni avec la cause ni avec le site lésionnel (p>0,05). Conclusion: Notre étude a permis d’appuyer le rôle de l’ENMG dans l’étude de la plexopathie brachiale post traumatique. Elle a démontré que la topographie et la sévérité des lésions étaient indépendantes des étiologies du traumatisme.   English title: Electroneuromyogram findings of traumatic brachial plexus injuries Background: Electroneuromyogram (ENMG) plays a crucial role in the exploration of the brachial plexus. The purpose of this study was to investigate the electroneuromyographic characteristics of posttraumatic plexus brachial damage and to determine the factors associated with the topography and severity of the lesions. Patients and methods:  A retrospective study was carried out in the Neurology Department of the RAZI University Hospital including patients referred to the electroneurophysiology unit for traumatic brachial plexus damage during the period from January 2003 to June 2018. Demographic, clinical and ENMG’s data results were collected and analyzed. The severity of the lesion was evaluated according to the modified version of the Dumitru and Wilbourn scale. Results:  We collected 36 post-traumatic brachial plexopathies in 35 patients (M / F = 30/5, mean age = 39.3 years). ENMG was performed 3 weeks after trauma in 91.3% of patients. He showed impaired nerve conduction (97.2%), a neurogenic trace (91.7%) and signs of denervation (55.6%). The lesion level concerned the primary trunks (66.7%) and the secondary trunks (33.3%). It was not significantly related to the cause (p> 0.05). The lesion was severe (61.1%), moderate (36.1%) and mild (2.8%) with no significant association with either the cause or the site of injury (p> 0.05). Conclusion:  Our study supported the role of ENMG in the study of post-traumatic brachial plexopathy. It demonstrated that the topography and the severity of the lesions were independent of the etiologies of the trauma. &nbsp

Pacifica: Poetry International: Revolutions in Tunisian Poetry

A collection of contemporary poetry from Tunisia, including poems in translation with their French and Arabic original texts

A Novel Digestive α-Amylase from Blue Crab (<i>Portunus</i> <i>segnis</i>) Viscera: Purification, Biochemical Characterization and Application for the Improvement of Antioxidant Potential of Oat Flour

This study reports on the purification and characterization of a digestive α-amylase from blue crab (Portunussegnis) viscera designated Blue Crab Amylase (BCA). The enzyme was purified to homogeneity by ultrafiltration, Sephadex G-100 gel filtration and Sepharose mono Q anion exchange chromatography, with the final purification fold of 424.02, specific activity of 1390.8 U mg−1 and 27.8% recovery. BCA, showing a molecular weight of approximately 45 kDa, possesses desirable biotechnological features, such as optimal temperature of 50 °C, interesting thermal stability which is enhanced in the presence of starch, high stability towards surfactants (Tween 20, Tween 80 and Triton X-100), high specific activity, quite high storage and broad pH range stability. The enzyme displayed Km and Vmax values, of 7.5 ± 0.25 mg mL−1 and 2000 ± 23 μmol min−1 mg−1 for potato starch, respectively. It hydrolyzed various carbohydrates and produced maltose, maltotriose and maltotetraose as the major end products of starch hydrolysis. In addition, the purified enzyme was successfully utilized for the improvement of the antioxidant potential of oat flour, which could be extended to other cereals. Interestingly, besides its suitability for application in different industrial sectors, especially food industries, the biochemical properties of BCA from the blue crab viscera provide novel features with other marine-derived enzymes and better understanding of the biodegradability of carbohydrates in marine environments, particularly in invasive alien crustaceans

A Novel Digestive α-Amylase from Blue Crab (Portunus segnis) Viscera: Purification, Biochemical Characterization and Application for the Improvement of Antioxidant Potential of Oat Flour

This study reports on the purification and characterization of a digestive &alpha;-amylase from blue crab (Portunussegnis) viscera designated Blue Crab Amylase (BCA). The enzyme was purified to homogeneity by ultrafiltration, Sephadex G-100 gel filtration and Sepharose mono Q anion exchange chromatography, with the final purification fold of 424.02, specific activity of 1390.8 U mg&minus;1 and 27.8% recovery. BCA, showing a molecular weight of approximately 45 kDa, possesses desirable biotechnological features, such as optimal temperature of 50 &deg;C, interesting thermal stability which is enhanced in the presence of starch, high stability towards surfactants (Tween 20, Tween 80 and Triton X-100), high specific activity, quite high storage and broad pH range stability. The enzyme displayed Km and Vmax values, of 7.5 &plusmn; 0.25 mg mL&minus;1 and 2000 &plusmn; 23 &mu;mol min&minus;1 mg&minus;1 for potato starch, respectively. It hydrolyzed various carbohydrates and produced maltose, maltotriose and maltotetraose as the major end products of starch hydrolysis. In addition, the purified enzyme was successfully utilized for the improvement of the antioxidant potential of oat flour, which could be extended to other cereals. Interestingly, besides its suitability for application in different industrial sectors, especially food industries, the biochemical properties of BCA from the blue crab viscera provide novel features with other marine-derived enzymes and better understanding of the biodegradability of carbohydrates in marine environments, particularly in invasive alien crustaceans

Sensitivity of Awaji Criteria and Revised El Escorial Criteria in the Diagnosis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) at First Visit in a Tunisian Cohort

Background. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal disease whose diagnosis and early management can improve survival. The most used diagnostic criteria are the revised El Escorial criteria (rEEC) and Awaji criteria (AC). The comparison of their sensitivities showed contradictory results. Our study aimed to compare the sensitivities of these two criteria in the diagnosis of definite ALS, at first visit, in a Tunisian hospital cohort. Materials and Methods. This was a retrospective study including 173 patients diagnosed with ALS at the Department of Neurology of the Razi Hospital between January 2003 and April 2018.After studying the clinical features of the disease in our study population,each patient was categorized according to the rEEC and AC based on data collected in his medical record during his first visit to our department. Then, we compared the sensitivities of these two criteria in the diagnosis of definite ALS. Results. Our Tunisian cohort was characterized by a slower disease progression. The sensitivity of the AC (69.4%) was significantly higher than that of the rEEC (40.5%) (p < 0.001). When the clinical signs evolved for less than 6 months, the sensitivities were 61% for AC and 12% for rEEC (p < 0.001). After 24 months of disease progression, the sensitivities were 78.2% for AC and 69.1% for rEEC (p = 0.063). It was impossible to categorize seventeen patients by the two criteria. Conclusion. Our study demonstrated that patients in AC are more sensitive than rEEC in the early diagnosis of ALS in our Tunisian cohort. However, this superiority is gradually reduced during the evolution of the disease

Monitoring of heavy metal contamination in soils and terrestrial isopods sampled from the industrialized areas of Sfax (southeastern Tunisia)

ACLTo evaluate the influence of soil contamination on the distribution of terrestrial isopods, species richness, relative abundance, and diversity, various indices were studied in 20 sampling sites from five industrial areas located in Sfax (SE Tunisia). The following hypotheses were tested: (1) is isopod diversity affected by soil properties? (2) What are the environmental factors that influence the isopod distribution? A total of 445 individuals were sampled and eight species of terrestrial isopods were identified. Porcellionides pruinosus was the most abundant species (38%); however, the highest specific richness per area was equal to four species. To evaluate the impact of metal contamination on isopod distribution, cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and iron (Fe) concentrations were measured in soils and terrestrial isopods. Moreover, multivariate analyses revealed a negative correlation between heavy metal concentrations and ecological parameters suggesting an impact of the contamination degree on biodiversity. In addition, to characterize the heavy metal accumulation in isopods, the bioaccumulation factor (BAF) was determined and revealed that Cu and Zn were the most accumulated elements. Results showed that for all species, the order of the BAF values is as follows: Cu ≫ Zn ≫ Cd > Pb > Fe. On the contrary, all species seemed to be deconcentrators of Fe and Cd, with some exceptions