Osteolytic clear cell meningioma of the petrous bone occurring 36 years after posterior cranial fossa irradiation: Case report

Objective and importance While bone invasion and hyperostosis are frequent phenomena in meningiomas, primary intraosseous meningiomas are rare and their occurrence in the skull base is an extraordinary exception. Moreover, radiation-induced meningiomas represent a unique clinical dilemma given the fact that patients with these tumors had often received a prior full course of radiotherapy. Clinical presentation A 42-year-old man presented with a 3-month history of progressively worsening facial asymmetry. His medical history was consistent for a posterior cranial fossa irradiation at the age of 6 years for a non-confirmed brain stem tumor. On admission his Karnofsky performance status was graded as 50% and his neurological examination showed a complete right facial nerve paralysis and hearing impairment. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated an osteolytic tumor invading the whole right petrous bone without intracranial involvement. Intervention As the tumor reached the external auditory canal, a tissue sample was obtained locally. Pathological examination of the lesion identified a grade II clear cell meningioma and the patient was consequently addressed for an intensity modulated radiation therapy. His condition remained unchanged till the most recent follow-up examination, 8 months later. Conclusions To the best of our knowledge, a radiation induced osteolytic clear cell meningioma of the petrous bone has not been previously reported. As little literature exists regarding the use of adjuvant therapies for these tumors, intensity modulated radiation therapy remains an attractive treatment option in case of pervious irradiation and general status alteration

Phlegmon peri-amygdalien aspects diagnostiques et thérapeutiques

Introduction: The Peritonsillar abscesse (PTA) is a suppurated complication of the face and the neck often met as a matter of urgency ENT. He can raise diagnostic and therapeutic problems and be life-threatening. The objective of this study is to specify the epidemiological and clinical particularities of this affection and to revise the therapeutic possibilities from a review of the literature.PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective study concerning 75 patients hospitalized for PTA in the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery of the Hospital of Nabeul over a period of 7 years (in January 2001 to December 2007). The study of files allowed us to find all the clinical and therapeutic data. Our drop is of two years.RESULTS : The average age of our patients was of 26 years with a sex ratio of 1. The classic set of three of the PTA was complete only in 49 % of the cases. All the patients were the object of a needle aspiration, it was positive in 74 % among which 92 % benefited from a drainage under local anesthetic. A germ was identified in 16 cases with a Streptococcus â-hemolytic group A in 13 cases. The clinical and biological cure was noticed on average in the tenth day. Forty-seven patients underwent tonsillectomy at a later date after an interval from 2 to 6 months. No emergency tonsillectomy was realized.CONCLUSION : The Peritonsillar abscesses is a frequent urgency in ENT. The diagnostic is clinical. The practicable of needle aspiration in every case allows to confirm the diagnosis in the incomplete forms. The treatment is medical and surgical.KEYWORDS : Peritonsillar abscesses, diagnostic, treatmen

Le Traitement Chirurgical Des Poches De Retraction Tympaniques De L\'enfant

Objectifs : Préciser les principes du traitement chirurgical et les particularités des poches de rétraction tympaniques (PDR) chez l\'enfant. Matériel et méthodes : Nous rapportons une étude rétrospective à propos de 37 PDR (28 enfants) opérés entre 1995 et 2006. Tous les patients avaient bénéficié d\'un examen clinique et un bilan audiométrique. Le traitement consistait en un renforcement tympanique par un greffon cartilagineux éventuellement associé à une attico-mastoïdectomie. Les résultats anatomiques et fonctionnels post opératoires ont été évalués avec un recul moyen de 29 mois. Résultats : L\'âge moyen des patients était de 10,5 ans et le sex-ratio de 1,33. Sept enfants avaient des antécédents d\'otite séromuqueuse bilatérale, avec pose d\'ATT. L\'hypoacousie était le signe fonctionnel le plus fréquent (67,8%). Les PDR étaient classées stade III, II et I (Charachon) respectivement dans 56,8%, 29,7% et 13,5% des cas. L\'audiométrie trouvait une surdité de transmission moyenne à 25 ± 15 dB. Une chirurgie de renforcement a été pratiquée dans tous les cas, associée à une mastoïdectomie chez 12 patients. Aucune récidive de rétraction n\'a été notée en post opératoire. Par ailleurs, l\'analyse des résultats fonctionnels a montré un gain auditif moyen de 10 dB et un Rinne résiduel < 15 dB dans 75,6% des cas. Conclusion : La chirurgie de renforcement tympanique par du cartilage, prend une place importante dans la prise en charge des PDR de l\'enfant et donne d\'excellents résultats anatomiques et fonctionnels.Objective: To precise the bases of surgical treatment and the particularities of tympanic retraction pockets (RP) in children. Materials and methods: We report a retrospective study about 37 RP (28 children) operated between 1995 and 2006. All patients had otological examination, nasal endoscopy and audiometric explorations. Treatment consists in reinforcement of the tympanic membrane with cartilage graft in all cases. After treatment, anatomical and functional results were evaluated with a mean follow-up of 29 months. Results: Mean-age was 10,5 years and sex-ratio 1,33. Seven children had bilateral seromucous otitis with ventilation tube insertion. Hearing-loss was the most frequent sign (67,8%). RP were classified (Charachon) stage III, II and I in 56,8%, 29,7% et 13,5%, respectively. Audiometery showed an average air conduction threshold of 25± 10 dB. Reinforcement tympanoplasty was performed in all cases, associated with canal wall-up mastoidectomy in 12 ears. No recurrence of retraction of the graft has been noted after treatment. Furthermore, analysis of functional results showed an average air conduction gain of 10 dB and air conduction gap < 15 dB in 75,6 % of cases. Conclusion: Reinforcement tympanoplasty with cartilage, takes a large place in the management of RP in children and achieves good anatomical and functional results. Keywords: Tympanic retraction – Surgery – Cartilage – Supervision Journal Tunisien d\'ORL et de chirurgie cervico-faciale Vol. 18 2007: pp. 12-1

Les cancers de l’orbite etude retrospective à propos de 31 cas

locorégionale rendant le traitement difficile et mutilant. Dans ce travail, nous rapportons notre expérience dans la prise en charge diagnostique et thérapeutique de ces tumeurs. Matériels et méthodes : Notre étude rétrospective a concerné 31 cas de cancers de l’orbite colligés sur 13 ans (1993- 2005). Tous les patients ont bénéficié d’un examen clinique complet, d’une imagerie du massif facial (TDM et/ou IRM) et d’une biopsie de la tumeur. Le traitement a été basé sur la chirurgie, la radiothérapie et/ou la chimiothérapie. Résultats : La symptomatologie clinique était dominée par les signes ophtalmologiques et les algies faciales. L’imagerie a montré dans tous les cas un processus expansif tissulaire à point de départ orbitaire, avec lyse osseuse orbitaire chez 16 patients (51,6%), une extension au massif facial chez 7 patients (22,6%), endocrâniennes chez 6 patients (19,4%) et des formes bilatérales atteignant les deux orbites dans 3 cas (9,7%) l’anatomopathologie montrait une prédominance des lymphomes malins non hodgkiniens (32,3%) et des carcinomes épidermoïdes (32,3%), suivis des rhabdomyosarcomes embryonnaires (19,4 %). Douze patients ont été traités par chirurgie et radiothérapie postopératoire, dix patients par une association radio-chimiothérapie, et neuf autres par une chimiothérapie néo-adjuvante. La survie globale était de 67,8% à 3 ans, 48,4% à 5 ans et 22,6% à 10 ans. Conclusion : Les cancers de l’orbite sont de mauvais pronostic. Un diagnostic précoce et un traitement radical et adapté au type histologique permet d’améliorer la survie et la qualité de vie chez les patients atteints de ces tumeurs.Mots-clés : Orbite, cancer, lymphome, carcinome épidermoïde, rhabdomyosarcom

Highly variable use of diagnostic methods for sexually transmitted infections-results of a nationwide survey, Germany 2005

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Sexual transmitted infections (STIs) have increased in Germany and other countries in Europe since the mid-nineties. To obtain a better picture of diagnostic methods used in STI testing institutions in Germany, we performed a nationwide survey amongst STI specialists in order to evaluate the quality of STI reports and provide recommendations to harmonize and possibly improve STI diagnostics in Germany.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We asked sentinel physicians and randomly chosen gynaecologists, urologists and dermato-venerologists, about the diagnostic methods used in 2005 to diagnose HIV, chlamydia (CT), gonorrhoea (GO) and syphilis (SY) in a national cross-sectional survey in order to recognize potential problems and provide recommendations.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A total of 739/2287 (32%) physicians participated. Of all participants, 80% offered tests for HIV, 84% for CT, 83% for GO and 83% for SY. Of all participants who performed HIV testing, 90% requested an antibody test, 3% a rapid test and 1% a nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT). For CT testing, NAAT was used in 33% and rapid tests in 34% of participants. GO resistance testing was performed by 31% of the participants. SY testing was performed in 98% by serology.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Diagnostic methods for STI vary highly among the participants. Diagnostic guidelines should be reviewed and harmonised to ensure consistent use of the optimal STI diagnostic methods.</p

Effect of addition of exogenous enzymes in hypocaloric diet in broiler chicken on performance, biochemical parameters and meat characteristics

In developing countries, broiler farmers often use imbalanced energy diets, hence our study aims to evaluate the combined effect of addition of commercial exogenous enzymes (CEE), in low energy level corn/soybean meal based-diet on performance, serum biochemical parameters, meat characteristics in male and female of broiler chickens. A total of 120 one day old Hubbard F15 broiler chickens were divided on 2 groups (60 animals/group) with 5 replicates/group. The control group received a standard diet, while CEE group received the same diet supplemented with enzymes (250 g/ton). Addition of enzymes reduced significantly feed (p<0.001) and water intakes (p<0.05); in meantime, feed conversion ratio tended to be lower (p=0.08). No changes were observed in pH, protein or moisture contents of meat in both sexes broiler between CEE and control groups. No perturbation was found in all serum biochemical parameters in both sexes between CEE and control groups, except total protein and albumin levels were significantly higher in male birds fed enzymes when compared to male birds of the control group (p<0.001; p<0.01) respectively. Addition of enzymes allowed a decrease of 950 g/bird in feed intake for the total rearing period, hence save 337 €/1000 birds; thus, use of CEE in hypocaloric diet enhances broilers feed efficiency and procures an economic benefit to farmers

On the selection and design of proteins and peptide derivatives for the production of photoluminescent, red-emitting gold quantum clusters

Novel pathways of the synthesis of photoluminescent gold quantum clusters (AuQCs) using biomolecules as reactants provide biocompatible products for biological imaging techniques. In order to rationalize the rules for the preparation of red-emitting AuQCs in aqueous phase using proteins or peptides, the role of different organic structural units was investigated. Three systems were studied: proteins, peptides, and amino acid mixtures, respectively. We have found that cysteine and tyrosine are indispensable residues. The SH/S-S ratio in a single molecule is not a critical factor in the synthesis, but on the other hand, the stoichiometry of cysteine residues and the gold precursor is crucial. These observations indicate the importance of proper chemical behavior of all species in a wide size range extending from the atomic distances (in the AuI-S semi ring) to nanometer distances covering the larger sizes of proteins assuring the hierarchical structure of the whole self-assembled system

Nintedanib targets KIT D816V neoplastic cells derived from induced pluripotent stem cells of systemic mastocytosis

The KIT D816V mutation is found in >80% of patients with systemic mastocytosis (SM) and is key to neoplastic mast cell (MC) expansion and accumulation in affected organs. Therefore, KIT D816V represents a prime therapeutic target for SM. Here, we generated a panel of patient-specific KIT D816V induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from patients with aggressive SM and mast cell leukemia to develop a patient-specific SM disease model for mechanistic and drug-discovery studies. KIT D816V iPSCs differentiated into neoplastic hematopoietic progenitor cells and MCs with patient-specific phenotypic features, thereby reflecting the heterogeneity of the disease. CRISPR/Cas9n-engineered KIT D816V human embryonic stem cells (ESCs), when differentiated into hematopoietic cells, recapitulated the phenotype observed for KIT D816V iPSC hematopoiesis. KIT D816V causes constitutive activation of the KIT tyrosine kinase receptor, and we exploited our iPSCs and ESCs to investigate new tyrosine kinase inhibitors targeting KIT D816V. Our study identified nintedanib, a US Food and Drug Administration-approved angiokinase inhibitor that targets vascular endothelial growth factor receptor, platelet-derived growth factor receptor, and fibroblast growth factor receptor, as a novel KIT D816V inhibitor. Nintedanib selectively reduced the viability of iPSC-derived KIT D816V hematopoietic progenitor cells and MCs in the nanomolar range. Nintedanib was also active on primary samples of KIT D816V SM patients. Molecular docking studies show that nintedanib binds to the adenosine triphosphate binding pocket of inactive KIT D816V. Our results suggest nintedanib as a new drug candidate for KIT D816V-targeted therapy of advanced SM.Peer reviewe

HIV-1 Infection in Cyprus, the Eastern Mediterranean European Frontier: A Densely Sampled Transmission Dynamics Analysis from 1986 to 2012

Since HIV-1 treatment is increasingly considered an effective preventionstrategy, it is important to study local HIV-1 epidemics to formulate tailored preventionpolicies. The prevalence of HIV-1 in Cyprus was historically low until 2005. To investigatethe shift in epidemiological trends, we studied the transmission dynamics of HIV-1 in Cyprususing a densely sampled Cypriot HIV-1 transmission cohort that included 85 percent ofHIV-1-infected individuals linked to clinical care between 1986 and 2012 based on detailedclinical, epidemiological, behavioral and HIV-1 genetic information. Subtyping andtransmission cluster reconstruction were performed using maximum likelihood and Bayesianmethods, and the transmission chain network was linked to the clinical, epidemiological andbehavioral data. The results reveal that for the main HIV-1 subtype A1 and B sub-epidemics,young and drug-naïve HIV-1-infected individuals in Cyprus are driving the dynamics of thelocal HIV-1 epidemic. The results of this study provide a better understanding of thedynamics of the HIV-1 infection in Cyprus, which may impact the development of preventionstrategies. Furthermore, this methodology for analyzing densely sampled transmissiondynamics is applicable to other geographic regions to implement effective HIV-1 preventionstrategies in local settings

EEG for good outcome prediction after cardiac arrest: a multicentre cohort study.

AIM Assess the prognostic ability of a non-highly malignant and reactive EEG to predict good outcome after cardiac arrest (CA). METHODS Prospective observational multicentre substudy of the "Targeted Hypothermia versus Targeted Normothermia after Out-of-hospital Cardiac Arrest Trial", also known as the TTM2-trial. Presence or absence of highly malignant EEG patterns and EEG reactivity to external stimuli were prospectively assessed and reported by the trial sites. Highly malignant patterns were defined as burst-suppression or suppression with or without superimposed periodic discharges. Multimodal prognostication was performed 96 hours after CA. Good outcome at 6 months was defined as a modified Rankin Scale score of 0-3. RESULTS 873 comatose patients at 59 sites had an EEG assessment during the hospital stay. Of these, 283 (32%) had good outcome. EEG was recorded at a median of 69 hours (IQR 47-91) after CA. Absence of highly malignant EEG patterns was seen in 543 patients of whom 255 (29% of the cohort) had preserved EEG reactivity. A non-highly malignant and reactive EEG had 56% (CI 50-61) sensitivity and 83% (CI 80-86) specificity to predict good outcome. Presence of EEG reactivity contributed (p<0.001) to the specificity of EEG to predict good outcome compared to only assessing background pattern without taking reactivity into account. CONCLUSION Nearly one-third of comatose patients resuscitated after CA had a non-highly malignant and reactive EEG that was associated with a good long-term outcome. Reactivity testing should be routinely performed since preserved EEG reactivity contributed to prognostic performance