An uncommon subtype of breast carcinoma in a man: The pure mucinous carcinoma

Aim: Our purpose is to describe a new case of pure mucinous carcinoma in a man, to put emphasis on the rarity of this histologic subtype and the problems of management due to the fewer reported cases in the literature and to compare it with the female counterpart. Observation: We report the case of a 79- year-old man presenting as a nodular mass of the right breast. The clinical symptoms weren’t specific and the diagnosis was based on histological and immunohistochemical findings. Conclusion: Male breast carcinoma is rare compared to its female counterpart representing less than 2% of male breast carcinomas and 1% of all breast carcinomas. Pure mucinous carcinoma in male is an extremely rare histological subtype. It is a variety of carcinoma of the breast which is characterized by the production of an abundant extra-cellular and/or intra-cellular mucin. It has been regarded as one of the more benign forms of breast carcinomas. To our knowledge, about 30 cases of mucinous breast carcinoma in male have been reported in the English literature and only 10 cases of pure mucinous carcinoma have been described. In general, pure mucinous carcinomas have a favorable prognosis. Numerous studies have shown that breast carcinomas in male behave more aggressively compared to those in females. Further research is needed on male carcinomas as they are becoming more frequent

Space-time variation of ciliates related to environmental factors in 15 nearshore stations of the Gulf of Gabes

Diversity and structure of ciliate communities in the Gulf of Gabes (Tunisia) were investigated based on a survey of 15 nearshore stations along 237 Km, by monthly sampling over a 1-year. Ciliated protozoa were identified to genus and/or species level and enumerated. Statistic tools were used to explain the ciliates assemblage. High ciliates species richness from 133 taxa was recorded, including new records of 76 species. This study showed a longitudinal distribution of ciliate communities, which are organized in northern stations (from Tabia to Harbor of Gabes) and southern stations (from Zarrat to Jabiat Haj Ali). The number of taxa increased significantly in northern stations but decreased in the southern. This distribution was mainly influenced by the salinity and phytoplankton abundance. Ciliate taxa were grouped into fives size-classes: 15-30 µm, 30-50 µm, 50-100 µm, 100-200 µm and >200 µm. In terms of abundance, most abundant size groups were small ciliates (15-30 μm) accounted from 15 to 79 %, while the greatest biomass contribution came from the 50-100 μm size classes. We thus conclude high diversity of ciliates communities that showed a geographical distribution influenced by abiotic and biotic factors along the coast of Gulf of Gabes

Local and regional factors influencing zooplankton communities in the connected Kasseb Reservoir, Tunisia

Associations between zooplankton community structure and abiotic (temperature, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, nutriments) and biotic factors (chlorophyll a and phytoplankton community) were examined, in Kasseb Reservoir, northern Tunisia. Samples were taken bimonthly from July to December 2002 at 3 sampling stations (deepest station: Station 1, Brik River: Station 2 and M’Zaz Stama River: Station 3). From our results it is evident that zooplankton exhibit seasonally and spatially heterogeneous distribution. The highest density of zooplankton was recorded in September at a depth of 5 m (10.8 × 103 ind·l-1). At Station 1 cyclopoid copepods (65% of total abundance) were the most abundant group followed by Cladocera (21% of total abundance). At Station 2 (93% of total abundance) and Station 3 (98% of total abundance) cyclopoid copepodswere numerically dominant throughout the study period. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) was used to estimate the influence of abiotic and biotic factors in structuring the zooplankton assemblage. Zooplankton abundance was negatively correlated with turbidity (r= -0.381,

Decay resistance against Coriolus versicolor in Sessile oak ( Quercus petraea Liebl.): analysis of the between-tree variability and correlations with extractives, tree growth and other basic wood properties

Abstract : Weight loss due to fungus Coriolus versicolor has been measured on 614 samples according to the NF EN 113 norm. Up to eight samples were cut at breast height (two opposite radii×four radial positions in heartwood) from 82 mature sessile oaks ( Quercus petraea Liebl.) originating from contrasting regions, silvicultural schedules and site qualities in France. The following points are addressed in the paper: (i) contribution to the total variability for weight loss of the effects "tree”, "position in the tree”, as well as their interaction; (ii) percentage of wood samples and trees in each of the five classes of natural durability defined by the norm NF EN 350-2; (iii) test of the effects of region, silvicultural schedule and site quality on weight loss and evaluating their contribution to the total variation; and (iv) correlations at tree level between weight loss and several traits related to tree growth and basic wood properties (density, swelling, grain angle, multiseriate wood rays characteristics, extractives content). The results are discussed with a view to aid the forest manager as well as the log/wood user to take advantage of the high level of between-tree variability observed as natural durability against C. versicolo

Heat Treatment Improvement of Dairy Products via Ohmic Heating Processes : Thermal and Hyrodynamic Effect on Fouling

Fouling and consequently cleaning of heat exchangers in the dairy industry are nowadays a significant issue still not solved for the processing of quite a large variety of products. Ohmic heating processes for food products a priori are well known to minimize the fouling phenomenon due to a totally different way of heating food by admitting the current directly in the product. Such a technology could be a good alternative to counter both fouling and cleaning aspects when pasteurizing or sterilizing dairy desserts known to generate large amounts of soil on heated surfaces. The aim of this experimental study was to investigate the respective roles of both the hydrodynamic parameters and surface electrode temperatures on the fouling phenomenon when heating a simple dairy mix designed to mimic dairy product behaviors

Is abdominal compression useful in lung stereotactic body radiation therapy? A 4DCT and dosimetric lobe-dependent study

International audiencePurpose : To determine the usefulness of abdominal compression in lung stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) depending on lobe tumor location.Materials and methods : Twenty-seven non-small cell lung cancer patients were immobilized in the Stereotactic Body Frame™ (Elekta). Eighteen tumors were located in an upper lobe, one in the middle lobe and nine in a lower lobe (one patient had two lesions). All patients underwent two four-dimensional computed tomography (4DCT) scans, with and without abdominal compression. Three-dimensional tumor motion amplitude was determined using manual landmark annotation. We also determined the internal target volume (ITV) and the influence of abdominal compression on lung dose-volume histograms. Results : The mean reduction of tumor motion amplitude was 3.5 mm (p = 0.009) for lower lobe tumors and 0.8 mm (p = 0.026) for upper/middle lobe locations. Compression increased tumor motion in 5 cases. Mean ITV reduction was 3.6 cm3 (p = 0.039) for lower lobe and 0.2 cm3 (p = 0.048) for upper/middle lobe lesions. Dosimetric gain of the compression for lung sparing was not clinically relevant. Conclusions : The most significant impact of abdominal compression was obtained in patients with lower lobe tumors. However, minor or negative effects of compression were reported for other patients and lung sparing was not substantially improved. At our institute, patients with upper or middle lobe lesions are now systematically treated without compression and the usefulness of compression for lower lobe tumors is evaluated on an individual basis

Temporal visual resolution and disease severity in MS

OBJECTIVE: To examine temporal visual resolution assessed as critical flicker frequency (CFF) in patients with MS and to investigate associations with visual system damage and general disability and cognitive function. METHODS: Thirty-nine patients with MS and 31 healthy controls (HCs) were enrolled in this cross-sectional study and underwent CFF testing, high- and low-contrast visual acuity, alertness and information processing speed using the paced auditory serial addition task (PASAT), and retinal optical coherence tomography (OCT). In patients with MS, visual evoked potentials (VEPs) and Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores were assessed. RESULTS: CFF in patients with MS (mean ± SD: 40.9 ± 4.4 Hz) was lower than in HCs (44.8 ± 4.4 Hz, p < 0.001). There was no significant CFF difference between eyes with and without previous optic neuritis (ON). CFF was not associated with visual acuity, VEP latency, the peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness, and the combined ganglion cell and inner plexiform layer volume. Instead, reduced CFF was associated with worse EDSS scores (r(2) = 0.26, p < 0.001) and alertness (r(2) = 0.42, p = 0.00042) but not with PASAT (p = 0.33). CONCLUSION: CFF reduction in MS occurs independently of ON and structural visual system damage. Its association with the EDSS score and alertness suggests that CFF reflects global disease processes and higher cortical processing rather than focal optic nerve or retinal damage

Improvements in the South African HIV care cascade: findings on 90-90-90 targets from successive population-representative surveys in North West Province.

IntroductionTo achieve epidemic control of HIV by 2030, countries aim to meet 90-90-90 targets to increase knowledge of HIV-positive status, initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) and viral suppression by 2020. We assessed the progress towards these targets from 2014 to 2016 in South Africa as expanded treatment policies were introduced using population-representative surveys.MethodsData were collected in January to March 2014 and August to November 2016 in Dr. Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District, North West Province. Each multi-stage cluster sample included 46 enumeration areas (EA), a target of 36 dwelling units (DU) per EA, and a single resident aged 18 to 49 per DU. Data collection included behavioural surveys, rapid HIV antibody testing and dried blood spot collection. We used weighted general linear regression to evaluate differences in the HIV care continuum over time.ResultsOverall, 1044 and 971 participants enrolled in 2014 and 2016 respectively with approximately 77% undergoing HIV testing. Despite increases in reported testing, known status among people living with HIV (PLHIV) remained similar at 68.7% (95% Confidence Interval (CI)&nbsp;=&nbsp;60.9-75.6) in 2014 and 72.8% (95% CI&nbsp;=&nbsp;63.6-80.4) in 2016. Men were consistently less likely than women to know their status. Among those with known status, PLHIV on ART increased significantly from 80.9% (95% CI&nbsp;=&nbsp;71.9-87.4) to 91.5% (95% CI&nbsp;=&nbsp;84.4-95.5). Viral suppression (&lt;5000 copies/mL using DBS) among those on ART increased significantly from 55.0% (95% CI&nbsp;=&nbsp;39.6-70.4) in 2014 to 81.4% (95% CI&nbsp;=&nbsp;72.0-90.8) in 2016. Among all PLHIV an estimated 72.0% (95% CI&nbsp;=&nbsp;63.8-80.1) of women and 45.8% (95% CI&nbsp;=&nbsp;27.0-64.7) of men achieved viral suppression by 2016.ConclusionsOver a period during which fixed-dose combination was introduced, ART eligibility expanded, and efforts to streamline treatment were implemented, major improvements in the second and third 90-90-90 targets were achieved. Achieving the first 90 target will require targeted and improved testing models for men