Carcinome epidermoïde du larynx chez la femme

Le cancer du larynx est assez rare chez la femme. Cependant, il risque d’être en recrudescence à cause de l’augmentation du tabagisme féminin. Peu de travaux se sont consacrés à rechercher les spécificités du cancer du larynx chez la femme.But: Analyser le profil épidémiologique et clinique des femmes porteuses d’un carcinome épidermoïde du larynx et dégager les caractéristiques thérapeutiques, évolutives et les facteurs pronostiques chez cette population.Méthodes: étude rétrospective portant sur 50 femmes prises en charge pour un carcinome épidermoïde du larynx sur une période de treize ans (1994-2006).Résultats : L’âge moyen de nos patientes était de 63,5 ans. L’intoxication tabagique était retrouvée chez 32,6% des patientes. Chez 30% de nos patientes aucun facteur de risque n’a été retrouvé. Les signes cliniques étaient dominés par la dysphonie suivie de la dyspnée et la dysphagie. Les tumeurs prenaient naissanceau dépend de l’étage glottique dans 55,8% des cas. Nous avons relevé que 60,4% des tumeurs étaient vus à un stade évolué T3-T4 et que 95,3% des tumeurs étaient initialement classées N0. La chirurgie a été pratiquée chez 47,5% des patientes tandis que 16,2% ont reçu une radio-chimiothérapie. La survie globale cumulée était de 78,8% à 3 ans et de 73,5% à 5 ans.Conclusion : L’absence des facteurs de risque classiques chez un grand nombre de nos patientes laisse supposer le rôle d’autres facteurs étiopathogéniques dans la genèse du cancer du larynx chez la femme. Toute dysphonie chez la femme doit être explorée même en l’absence de facteurs de risque. La prise en charge et le pronostic semblent superposables à celui de l’homme.Mots clés : Tumeur – Larynx – Femme – Epidémiologie – TabagismeLaryngeal cancer is quite uncommun in women. However, it may be on the rise due to the increase in smoking among women. Few studies have been devoted to find the specifics of laryngeal cancer in women.Purpose: to analyze the epidemiological and clinical profile of squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx in women, and to identify therapeutic characteristics and prognostic factors in this population.Methods: retrospective study of 50 womens treated for squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx over a period of thirteen years (1994- 2006).Results: The mean age of our patients was 63.5 years. The tobacco abuse was found in 32.6% of patients. In 30% of our patients no risk factors were found. Clinical signs were dominated by dysphonia followed by dyspnea and dysphagia. Primary tumor was localized in glottis in 55.8% of cases. We found that 60.4% of tumors were seen at an advanced stage T3-T4 and 95.3% of the tumors were initially classified N0. The surgery was performed in 47.5% of patients, while 16.2% received chemoradiotherapy. The cumulative overall survival was 78.8% at 3 years and 73.5% at 5 years.Conclusion: The absence of conventional risk factors in a large number of our patients suggests the role of other etiologic factors in the genesis of laryngeal cancer in women. Every dysphonia in women should be explored even in the absence of risk factors. The  management and prognosis seem congruent with that of man.Key words: Tumor-larynx-women-epidemiology-smokin

GENETIC DIVERSITY OF FABA BEAN (VICIA FABA L.) POPULATIONS ESTIMATED BY ISOZYMIC AND MOLECULAR MARKERS: RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TWO METHODS

In our previous studies, the genetic diversity among nine Tunisian faba bean (Vicia faba) populations was analysed using isozymes and sequence-specific amplification polymorphism (SSAP) markers. The objectives of this study were to compare the application and utility of isozymes and sequence-specific amplification polymorphism (SSAP) techniques for analysis of genetic diversity among nine Tunisian faba bean (Vicia faba) populations. A high genetic diversity within populations was detected by both isozymes (SOD, 6-PGD, ME, EST, SKDH, FDH and GDH) and (SSAP) markers (PDR1, Tps19 and Tvf4). For all populations, the genetic diversity revealed by SSAP was more pronounced than that detected with isozyme, based on polymorphic profiles. The analyses of correspondance between the tow methodes based in Mantel test revealed a low correlation ( r=0.177). The low correspondance indicated the absence of correlation and therfore the complimentarit

Genetic diversity in Tunisian horse breeds

This study aimed at screening genetic diversity and differentiation in four horse breeds raised in Tunisia, the Barb, Arab-Barb, Arabian, and English Thoroughbred breeds. A total of 200 blood samples (50 for each breed) were collected from the jugular veins of animals, and genomic DNA was extracted. The analysis of the genetic structure was carried out using a panel of 16 microsatellite loci. Results showed that all studied microsatellite markers were highly polymorphic in all breeds. Overall, a total of 147 alleles were detected using the 16 microsatellite loci. The average number of alleles per locus was 7.52 (0.49), 7.35 (0.54), 6.3 (0.44), and 6 (0.38) for the Arab-Barb, Barb, Arabian, and English Thoroughbred breeds, respectively. The observed heterozygosities ranged from 0.63 (0.03) in the English Thoroughbred to 0.72 in the Arab-Barb breeds, whereas the expected heterozygosities were between 0.68 (0.02) in the English Thoroughbred and 0.73 in the Barb breeds. All FST values calculated by pairwise breed combinations were significantly different from zero (p  <  0.05) and an important genetic differentiation among breeds was revealed. Genetic distances, the factorial correspondence, and principal coordinate analyses showed that the important amount of genetic variation was within population. These results may facilitate conservation programs for the studied breeds and enhance preserve their genetic diversity

Decreased glutathione levels and impaired antioxidant enzyme activities in drug-naive first-episode schizophrenic patients

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The aim of this study was to determine glutathione levels and antioxidant enzyme activities in the drug-naive first-episode patients with schizophrenia in comparison with healthy control subjects.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>It was a case-controlled study carried on twenty-three patients (20 men and 3 women, mean age = 29.3 ± 7.5 years) recruited in their first-episode of schizophrenia and 40 healthy control subjects (36 men and 9 women, mean age = 29.6 ± 6.2 years). In patients, the blood samples were obtained prior to the initiation of neuroleptic treatments. Glutathione levels: total glutathione (GSHt), reduced glutathione (GSHr) and oxidized glutathione (GSSG) and antioxidant enzyme activities: superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT) were determined by spectrophotometry.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>GSHt and reduced GSHr were significantly lower in patients than in controls, whereas GSSG was significantly higher in patients. GPx activity was significantly higher in patients compared to control subjects. CAT activity was significantly lower in patients, whereas the SOD activity was comparable to that of controls.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This is a report of decreased plasma levels of GSHt and GSHr, and impaired antioxidant enzyme activities in drug-naive first-episode patients with schizophrenia. The GSH deficit seems to be implicated in psychosis, and may be an important indirect biomarker of oxidative stress in schizophrenia early in the course of illness. Finally, our results provide support for further studies of the possible role of antioxidants as neuroprotective therapeutic strategies for schizophrenia from early stages.</p

A Key Role of Dendritic Cells in Probiotic Functionality

BACKGROUND: Disruption of the intestinal homeostasis and tolerance towards the resident microbiota is a major mechanism involved in the development of inflammatory bowel disease. While some bacteria are inducers of disease, others, known as probiotics, are able to reduce inflammation. Because dendritic cells (DCs) play a central role in regulating immune responses and in inducing tolerance, we investigated their role in the anti-inflammatory potential of probiotic lactic acid bacteria. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Selected LAB strains, while efficiently taken up by DCs in vitro, induced a partial maturation of the cells. Transfer of probiotic-treated DCs conferred protection against 2, 4, 6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis. Protection was associated with a reduction of inflammatory scores and colonic expression of pro-inflammatory genes, while a high local expression of the immunoregulatory enzyme indolamine 2, 3 dioxgenase (IDO) was observed. The preventive effect of probiotic-pulsed DCs required not only MyD88-, TLR2- and NOD2-dependent signaling but also the induction of CD4+ CD25+ regulatory cells in an IL-10-independent pathway. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Altogether, these results suggest that selected probiotics can stimulate DC regulatory functions by targeting specific pattern-recognition receptors and pathways. The results not only emphasize the role of DCs in probiotic immune interactions, but indicate a possible role in immune-intervention therapy for IBD

SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in the urban population of Qatar: An analysis of antibody testing on a sample of 112,941 individuals

ABSTRACTBackgroundQatar has experienced a large SARS-CoV-2 epidemic. Our first objective was to assess the proportion of the urban population that has been infected with SARS-CoV-2, by measuring the prevalence of detectable antibodies. Our second objective was to identify predictors for infection and for having higher antibody titers.MethodsResidual blood specimens from individuals receiving routine and other clinical care between May 12-September 9, 2020 were tested for anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Associations with seropositivity and higher antibody titers were identified through regression analyses. Probability weights were applied in deriving the epidemiological measures.ResultsWe tested 112,941 individuals (∼10% of Qatar’s urban population), of whom 51.6% were men and 66.0% were 20-49 years of age. Seropositivity was 13.3% (95% CI: 13.1-13.6%) and was significantly associated with sex, age, nationality, clinical-care type, and testing date. The proportion with higher antibody titers varied by age, nationality, clinical-care type, and testing date. There was a strong correlation between higher antibody titers and seroprevalence in each nationality, with a Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.85 (95% CI: 0.47-0.96), suggesting that higher antibody titers may indicate repeated exposure to the virus. The percentage of antibody-positive persons with prior PCR-confirmed diagnosis was 47.1% (95% CI: 46.1-48.2%), severity rate was 3.9% (95% CI: 3.7-4.2%), criticality rate was 1.3% (95% CI: 1.1-1.4%), and fatality rate was 0.3% (95% CI: 0.2-0.3%).ConclusionsFewer than two in every 10 individuals in Qatar’s urban population had detectable antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 between May 12-September 9, 2020, suggesting that this population is still far from the herd immunity threshold and at risk from a subsequent epidemic wave.</jats:sec

Postoperative outcomes in oesophagectomy with trainee involvement

BACKGROUND: The complexity of oesophageal surgery and the significant risk of morbidity necessitates that oesophagectomy is predominantly performed by a consultant surgeon, or a senior trainee under their supervision. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of trainee involvement in oesophagectomy on postoperative outcomes in an international multicentre setting. METHODS: Data from the multicentre Oesophago-Gastric Anastomosis Study Group (OGAA) cohort study were analysed, which comprised prospectively collected data from patients undergoing oesophagectomy for oesophageal cancer between April 2018 and December 2018. Procedures were grouped by the level of trainee involvement, and univariable and multivariable analyses were performed to compare patient outcomes across groups. RESULTS: Of 2232 oesophagectomies from 137 centres in 41 countries, trainees were involved in 29.1 per cent of them (n = 650), performing only the abdominal phase in 230, only the chest and/or neck phases in 130, and all phases in 315 procedures. For procedures with a chest anastomosis, those with trainee involvement had similar 90-day mortality, complication and reoperation rates to consultant-performed oesophagectomies (P = 0.451, P = 0.318, and P = 0.382, respectively), while anastomotic leak rates were significantly lower in the trainee groups (P = 0.030). Procedures with a neck anastomosis had equivalent complication, anastomotic leak, and reoperation rates (P = 0.150, P = 0.430, and P = 0.632, respectively) in trainee-involved versus consultant-performed oesophagectomies, with significantly lower 90-day mortality in the trainee groups (P = 0.005). CONCLUSION: Trainee involvement was not found to be associated with significantly inferior postoperative outcomes for selected patients undergoing oesophagectomy. The results support continued supervised trainee involvement in oesophageal cancer surgery