Mobile phone use and temporal skin heat sensation

International audienceEpidemiological investigation of mobile phone (MP) users reported symptoms of discomfort feeling, warmth behind/around or on the ear and heat sensation of the cheek. These symptoms may be due to thermal insulation, conduction of the heat produced in the phone by the battery currents and running of the radiofrequency (RF) electronic circuits, and electromagnetic field (EMF) energy absorbed by the user's head. Using a Luxtron 790 fiberoptic thermometer we measured the temperature of the temporal skin due to GSM 1800 MHz MP radiated power (125 mW). We suppressed the EMF exposure by switching the RF signal from the antenna to a 50 O load. The ambient air temperature was 23°C and the MP was held in the normal position of use for 30 minutes to reach the thermal steady state. With a switched off MP, the increase in skin temperature was statistically significant 1.88°C. When MP was switched on, the increase was 2.93°C in reception mode, 3.29°C in emission mode without load and 3.31°C in emission mode with load. The temperature difference with or without load was not significant (tl7 = 0.707; p = 0.489), which means that the contribution of EMF absorption to skin heating is negligible. The result suggests that the heat sensations reported by the MP users are exclusively caused by thermal insulation and heat conduction from MP associated with long calling time

A combined study of heat and mass transfer in an infant incubator with an overhead screen

The main objective of this study is to investigate the major physical processes taking place inside an infant incubator, before and after modifications have been made to its interior chamber. The modification involves the addition of an overhead screen to decrease radiation heat losses from the infant placed inside the incubator. The present study investigates the effect of these modifications on the convective heat flux from the infant’s body to the surrounding environment inside the incubator. A combined analysis of airflow and heat transfer due to conduction, convection, radiation and evaporation has been performed, in order to calculate the temperature and velocity fields inside the incubator before and after the design modification. Due to the geometrical complexity of the model, Computer-Aided Design (CAD) applications were used to generate a computer-based model. All numerical calculations have been performed using the commercial Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) package FLUENT, together with in-house routines used for managing purposes and User-Defined Functions (UDFs) which extend the basic solver capabilities. Numerical calculations have been performed for three different air inlet temperatures: 32, 34 and 36ºC. The study shows a decrease of the radiative and convective heat losses when the overhead screen is present. The results obtained were numerically verified as well as compared with results available in the literature from investigations of dry heat losses from infant manikins

Thyroïde accessoire ectopique : une observation clinique inhabituelle: Ectopic accessory thyroid gland: an unusual case report

The Ectopic accessory thyroid is a rare embryologic malformation defined as the presence of thyroid tissue outside of its normal position. The coexistence between an accessory thyroid and a thyroid gland in its normal position is exceptional. We report a case of an elderly patient who underwent a surgery for a heteromultinodular goiter with incidental intraoperative discovery of an ectopic accessory thyroid nodule in the anterior mediastinum. L’ectopie thyroïdienne est une malformation embryologique rare qui est une présence de tissu thyroïdien en dehors de sa position normale, la thyroïde accessoire avec une glande thyroïde en place est exceptionnelle. Nous rapportons un cas d’une patiente âgée opérée pour un goitre hétéromultinodulaire avec découverte fortuite per-opératoire d’un nodule thyroïdien accessoire ectopique dans le médiastin antérieur

Fistule cholécysto-biliaire dans le cadre de syndrome de Mirizzi: Cholecysto-biliary fistula in the context of Mirizzi syndrome

Le syndrome de Mirizzi est une étiologie rare de l’ictère rétentionnel suite à une compression de la voie biliaire principale par un calcul enclavé dans le collet vésiculaire ou dans le canal cystique, cette compression peut évoluer vers l’érosion de la paroi du canal hépatique commun et provoquer la formation d’une fistule cholécysto-biliaire. Son diagnostic préopératoire repose sur l’imagerie et surtout la cholangio-IRM, mais la découverte per opératoire de ces dégâts biliaires nécessite une prise en charge chirurgicale appropriée. Nous rapportons le cas d’une patiente de 42 ans, opérait pour un syndrome de Mirizzi et dont l’exploration chirurgicale découvrait une large fistule cholécysto-biliaire traitait par un drainage externe par un drain de kehr et une cholécystectomie antérograde avec suites post opératoires favorables. Mirizzi syndrome is a rare etiology of retentional jaundice caused by a compression of the bile duct by an enclaved stone in the gallbladder neck or in the cystic duct. This compression may progress to erosion of the wall of the common hepatic duct and lead to the formation of a cholecystic-biliary fistula. Its preoperative diagnosis is based on imaging and especially cholangio-MRI, but the peroperative discovery of this biliary damage requires appropriate surgical management. We report the case of a 42-year-old patient, operated for Mirizzi syndrome and whose surgical exploration discovered a large cholecysto-biliary fistula treated by external drainage through a kehr drain and an anterograde cholecystectomy with favourable postoperative follow-up

Benign Macrocystic Serous Cystadenoma of the Tail of the Pancreas: A Case Report

Serous cystadenoma is a rare benign cystic lesion of the pancreas, predominantly affecting women with a mean age of onset around 62 years. While often asymptomatic, it can manifest with nonspecific symptoms such as abdominal pain and nausea. We present the case of a 68-year-old woman with abdominal pain and nausea, diagnosed with a serous cystadenoma in the tail of the pancreas through imaging modalities. Radiological examinations revealed a septated, multilayered cystic lesion with lobulated contour and calcifications. Surgical resection was performed, and pathological examination confirmed a serous cystadenoma. Differential diagnosis from pseudocysts and malignant serous cystadenocarcinomas is crucial. Treatment options include pancreatic resection, with close monitoring recommended for asymptomatic patients or those at high surgical risk. Despite their benign nature, accurate diagnosis and management of serous cystadenomas are essential

Symptomatic Schwannoma of the Abdominal Wall: A Case Report

Schwannomas are rare benign tumors originating from Schwann cells of the nerve sheath, typically found in peripheral nerves. While they commonly affect extremities, occurrences in parenchymatous organs like the liver are exceedingly rare. Here, we present the case of a 62-year-old man with a symptomatic abdominal wall schwannoma, a unique finding in the medical literature. The patient underwent surgery for a liver hydatid cyst a year prior and subsequently experienced right hypochondrial pains localized at the laparotomy scar. The nodular mass was discovered intraoperatively, prompting surgical excision with enucleation and Lagrot intervention, which resulted in an uneventful postoperative recovery. Histological examination confirmed the diagnosis of a benign schwannoma. This case highlights the importance of considering schwannomas as a rare cause of abdominal pain and emphasizes the favorable prognosis associated with surgical management

Surgical Outcomes in Hepatic Hydatid Disease: A Case Series of 153 Patients

Hepatic hydatid disease, caused by Echinococcus granulosus, remains a significant public health concern in endemic regions. This retrospective study analyzed 153 cases treated surgically at the General Surgery Department of Ibn Rochd University Hospital in Casablanca from 2019 to 2022. The majority of patients were women from rural areas, with a mean age of 45. Right upper quadrant pain was the predominant symptom. Diagnosis was primarily based on ultrasound using the Gharbi classification, with CT and MRI providing further anatomical detail. The most affected hepatic segments were VI, VII, and VIII. All patients underwent open surgery, mainly via right subcostal laparotomy, with dome resection being the most common technique. Biliary fistulas were identified in 13.72% of cases. Postoperative recovery was uneventful in over 93% of patients, with a low recurrence rate. The discussion highlights the importance of imaging in diagnosis, the role of serology, and surgical principles, including intraoperative exploration and bile duct assessment. Although drug therapy and minimally invasive methods are evolving, open surgery remains the cornerstone of treatment in complex or advanced cases