Le Syndrome des Anticorps Anti Phospholipides: Une Etiologie des Fausses Couches Laquelle on Ne Pense pas Souvent en Afrique Noire

Contexte : Le syndrome des anticorps antiphospholipides est l’une des étiologies des fausses couches rarement évoquée en première intention, sous diagnostiquée en Afrique Noire. Presentation de Cas : Les auteurs rapportent l’observation d’une femme de 36 ans, aux antécédents d’ulcère de la jambe gauche, suivie au service de gynéco-obstétrique pour des fausses couches à répétition totalisant cinq (5) épisodes. Le diagnostic initial était orienté vers les causes gynéco-obstétricales, lesquelles trois cerclages du col ont été réalisés avec échec. La survenue d’une pancytopénie qui était le motif majeur de consultation de la patiente a permis de porter le diagnostic de syndrome des anticorps antiphospholipides lupiques par un titrage significatif des anticorpsantiphospholipides et des anticorps antinucléaires de spécifié anti DNA. Le traitement avec les corticoïdes, immunosuppresseurs, l’aspirine et l’héparine a permis une évolution favorable conduisait une 6è grossesse avec succès. Conclusion : Ce travail interpelle les praticiens à rechercher systématiquement le syndrome des anticorps antiphospholipides devant toutes fausses couches spontanées en vue d’un diagnostic et prise en charge précoce. Background: The antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APL) was rarely evoked as abortion etiology in black Africa. Case Report: The authors reported a case of a 36-year-old female with a medical history of leg ulcer who presented five episodes of recurrent abortion. The diagnosis was oriented to obstetrical etiologies, and three uterine cervix cerclages were realized with failure. As a result of pancytopenia which was the main reason of consultation, the diagnosis was made with immunology test showing a high titer of antiphospholipid antibody and lupus anticoagulant. The patient was treated with corticosteroids, immunosuppressive agents, aspirin, and heparin. The 6th pregnancy was free from complications and led to the birth of a living child. Conclusion: This case calls on practitioners to systematically search for the antiphospholipid antibody syndrome during the investigation of spontaneous miscarriages for diagnosis and early management

Total triterpene content, antioxidant activity and acute toxicity study of Securidaca longepedunculara Fresen

Plants are widely used in developing countries for traditional medicine. Knowledge of biological activities and phytochemistry is necessary for the safe use of these plants in traditional medicine. Securidaca longepedunculata is a medicinal plant whose roots are widely used in the treatment of several diseases. In this study the content of total triterpenes in leaf and root bark was assessed. The antioxidant activity by the ABTS method was evaluated as well as the effect of the extracts on lipid peroxidation of mice liver cell membranes. Acute toxicity was evaluated at the dose of 2000 mg / mL administered to the mouse. The results showed that the maximum values of the triterpenes contents of the leaves and of the root bark are 58 and 21 mg UAE / 100 mg respectively. Methanolic and chloroform extracts from leaves and root bark inhibited more than 50% of lipid peroxidation. The same extracts showed strong ABTS cation reduction activity. The leaf extract did not induce signs of acute toxicity in mice at a dose of 2000 mg / mL. The leaves of S. longepedunculata could be used in the management of pathologies associated with oxidative stress or which require biological properties relating to triterpene compounds. Keywords: Securidaca longepedunculata, triterpenes, peroxidation, toxicit

Immune infiltrates in the breast cancer microenvironment: detection, characterization and clinical implication

Although unlike melanoma, breast cancer is not generally viewed as a highly immunogenic cancer, recent studies have described a rich tumor immune microenvironment in a subset of breast cancers. These immune infiltrates, comprised cells from the innate and adaptive immune response, can be detected and characterized in biopsy specimens and have prognostic value. Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) represent the majority of mononuclear immune infiltrates in the breast tumor microenvironment and can be easily identified in formalin-fixed paraffinembedded tissues after standard hematoxylin & eosin staining. High levels of TILs are most common in HER2+ and basal-like subtypes where they are associated with good prognosis and with response to certain therapies such as the anti-HER2 antibody trastuzumab. International collaborative efforts are underway to standardize the assessment of TILs so as to facilitate their implementation as a breast cancer biomarker. Using immunohistochemistry to further characterize TILs, recent reports describe the presence of important lymphocyte populations including CD8+ cytotoxic, FOXP3+ regulatory, and CD4+ helper and follicular T cells which have overlapping associations with prognosis and response to therapies. Moreover, recently identified immune checkpoint markers (PD-1, PD-L1) are present in some breast cancers, implying some cases might be especially amenable to immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment strategies which are being evaluated in a number of active clinical trials.Medicine, Faculty ofPathology and Laboratory Medicine, Department ofReviewedFacultyPostdoctoralGraduat