Un cas de nœud iléo-sigmoïdien chez une femme en post-partum

Le nœud iléo-sigmoïdien est une cause rare d'occlusion intestinale. Nous rapportons un cas de nœud iléo-sigmoïdien survenu chez une femme en post-partum. Le diagnostic a été évoqué sur les données du scanner et confirmé en peropératoire

Emphysematous Pyelonephritis and Emphysematous Osteomyelitis: A case report

Background. Emphysematous osteomyelitis and emphysematous pyelonephritis are both rare entities responsible for a high death rate. The first is defined by the presence of intravertebral or intraosseous gas, while the second is infectious damage to the renal parenchyma and perilesional tissues caused by gas-producing microorganisms and is, therefore, characterized by the formation of gas. Imaging plays a crucial role in making a rapid diagnosis and, thus, the initiation of the necessary treatment. Case Report. A 66-year-old woman with a medical history of type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypertension presented with the altered general condition and flank pain for 5 days, associated with fever and chills. The patient’s vital signs were remarkable with a disturbed biological workup, which led to emergency abdominal and pelvic computed tomography scanning that revealed emphysematous osteomyelitis of the spine and emphysematous pyelonephritis. Conclusions. The coexistence of emphysematous pyelonephritis and emphysematous osteomyelitis is a rare life-threatening entity, occurring in patients with comorbidities such as diabetes mellitus. Computed tomography is currently the gold standard in making the positive diagnosis, staging, for a quick and better management and, thus, a favorable prognosis

Microbial interaction with and tolerance of radionuclides: underlying mechanisms and biotechnological applications

Radionuclides (RNs) generated by nuclear and civil industries are released in natural ecosystems and may have a hazardous impact on human health and the environment. RN-polluted environments harbour different microbial species that become highly tolerant of these elements through mechanisms including biosorption, biotransformation, biomineralization and intracellular accumulation. Such microbial–RN interaction processes hold biotechnological potential for the design of bioremediation strategies to deal with several contamination problems. This paper, with its multidisciplinary approach, provides a state-of-theart review of most research endeavours aimed to elucidate how microbes deal with radionuclides and how they tolerate ionizing radiations. In addition, the most recent findings related to new biotechnological applications of microbes in the bioremediation of radionuclides and in the long-term disposal of nuclear wastes are described and discussed.European Union (EU) Spanish Government RTI2018-101548-B-I0

Ogilvie Syndrome Following Caesarean Section: A Case Report

Background. Ogilvie syndrome is a rare postpartum complication. It is characterized by an acute colonic pseudo-obstruction which occurs in the absence of a mechanical cause. Early detection of the diagnosis is essential to avoid cecal perforation. Case report. We report a case of Ogilvie syndrome following caesarean section in a 39-year-old woman (gravida 2, para 2) with a history of secondary infertility 10 years ago due to tubal stenosis and subserous fibroma, which led to the indication for cesarean section in second pregnancy at 39 weeks of gestation. Three days after cesarean section, the patient presented with significant abdominal distension and tenderness, vomiting, weakness, and nausea; an abdominal X-ray showed cecal distension. Abdominal computed tomography scan with intravenous contrast revealed distension of the ascending and transverse colon with air-fluid levels but without transitional mechanical obstruction. The patient was successfully treated. Conclusions. Ogilvie syndrome is a rare but serious complication that should be considered in fit young patients who present with pain, severe abdominal distension and failure to pass flatus after caesarean section

Evidence of microbial activity in a uranium roll-front deposit: Unlocking their potential role as bioenhancers of the ore genesis

Uranium(U) roll-front deposits constitute a valuable source for an economical extraction by in situ recovery (ISR)mining. Such technology may induce changes in the subsurfacemicrobiota, raising questions about the way their activities could build a functional ecosystem in such extreme environments (i.e.: oligotrophy and high SO4 concentration and salinity). Additionally, more information is needed to dissipate the doubts about the microbial role in the genesis of such U orebodies. A U roll-front deposit hosted in an aquifer driven system (in Zoovch Ovoo, Mongolia), intended for mining by acid ISR, was previously explored and showed to be governed by a complex bacterial diversity, linked to the redox zonation and the geochemical conditions. Here for the first time, transcriptional activities of microorganisms living in suchU ore deposits are determined and theirmetabolic capabilities allocated in the three redox-inherited compartments, naturally defined by the roll-front system. Several genes encoding for crucialmetabolic pathways demonstrated a strong biological role controlling the subsurface cycling ofmany elements including nitrate, sulfate, metals and radionuclides (e.g.: uranium), through oxidation-reduction reactions. Interestingly, the discovered transcriptional behaviour gives important insights into the good microbial adaptation to the geochemical conditions and their active contribution to the stabilization of the U ore deposits. Overall, evidences on the importance of these microbial metabolic activities in the aquifer system are discussed that may clarify the doubts on the microbial role in the genesis of low-temperature U roll-front deposits, along the Zoovch Ovoo mine.ORANO Mining (France) through the collaborative research contract n° 3748 (OTRI)

Barite formation in the ocean: Origin of amorphous and crystalline precipitates

We also thank editors and two anonymous reviewers for helpful comments that have significantly improved this contribution.Ocean export production is a key constituent in the global carbon cycle impacting climate. Past ocean export production is commonly estimated by means of barite and Barium proxies. However, the precise mechanisms underlying barite precipitation in the undersaturated marine water column are not fully understood. Here we present a detailed mineralogical and crystallographic analysis of barite from size-fractionated particulate material collected using multiple unit large volume in-situ filtration systems in the North Atlantic and the Southern Ocean. Our data suggest that marine barite forms from an initial amorphous phosphorus-rich phase that binds Ba, which evolves into barite crystals whereby phosphate groups are substituted by sulfate. Scanning electron microscopy observations also show the association of barite particles with organic matter aggregates and with extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). These results are consistent with experimental work showing that in bacterial biofilms Ba binds to phosphate groups in both cells and EPS, which promotes locally high concentrations of Ba leading to saturated microenvironments favoring barite precipitation. These results strongly suggest a similar precipitation mechanism in the ocean, which is consistent with the close link between bacterial production and abundance of Ba-rich particulates in the water column. We argue that EPS play a major role in mediating barite formation in the undersaturated oceanic water column; specifically, increased productivity and organic matter degradation in the mesopelagic zone would entail more extensive EPS production, thereby promoting Ba bioaccumulation and appropriate microenvironments for barite precipitation. This observation contributes toward better understanding of Ba proxies and their utility for reconstructing past ocean export productivity. This article is part of a special issue entitled: “Cycles of trace elements and isotopes in the ocean – GEOTRACES and beyond” - edited by Tim M. Conway, Tristan Horner, Yves Plancherel, and Aridane G. González.This study was supported by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) co-financed grants CGL2015-66830-R and CGL2017- 92600-EXP (MINECO Secretaría de Estado de Investigación, Desarrollo e Innovación, Spain), Research Group RNM-179 and BIO 103 (Consejería de Economía, Innovación, Ciencia y Empleo, Junta de Andalucía) and the University of Granada (Unidad Científica de Excelencia UCE-PP2016-05). We thank the Center for Scientific Instrumentation (CIC, University of Granada), the Warm Core Rings project, and NSF OCE- 0961660 for supporting sample collection during MV1101

Degradation of ancient Maya carved tuff stone at Copan and its bacterial bioconservation

We acknowledge funding by the Santander Program for the Research and Conservation of Maya Sculpture, at the David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies (DRCLAS), Harvard University; the Spanish Government grant RTI2018-099565-B-I00, the Junta de Andalucia research groups RNM-179 and BIO 103, and the University of Granada, Unidad Cientifica de Excelencia UCE-PP2016-05. We thank the Instituto Hondureno de Antropologia e Historia (IHAH) and the local Santander team at the Maya Sculpture Conservation Laboratory (LACEM) in Copan including Hector Eliud Guerra, Karina Garcia, Adelso Canan, Rufino Membreno, Luis Reina, and Isuara Nereyda Alonso for their help and continuous support, as well as for providing access to this Maya archaeological site and their contribution to the documentation, sampling, and treatment application process. We also thank architectural conservator Laura Lacombe for sampling support, Fulvio di Lorenzo for his help with Rietveld analysis of XRD results, George W. Scherer for his insightful comments on clay swelling damage, and the personnel of the Centro de Instrumentacion Cientifica (CIC) of the University of Granada for their help with TG/DSC, XRD, FRX, mu-CT, FESEM and TEM analyses. We also thank Aurelia Ibanez Velasco for her help with the expansion tests, as well as with the porosity and water absorption analyses, and Jean Battini from Micromeritics France S.A.R.L., for the MIP analyses.Much stone sculptural and architectural heritage is crumbling, especially in intense tropical environments. This is exemplified by significant losses on carvings made of tuff stone at the Classic Maya site of Copan. Here we demonstrate that Copan stone primarily decays due to stress generated by humidity-related clay swelling resulting in spalling and material loss, a damaging process that appears to be facilitated by the microbial bioweathering of the tuff stone minerals (particularly feldspars). Such a weathering process is not prevented by traditional polymer- and alkoxysilane-based consolidants applied in the past. As an alternative to such unsuccessful conservation treatments, we prove the effectiveness of a bioconservation treatment based on the application of a sterile nutritional solution that selectively activates the stone ' s indigenous bacteria able to produce CaCO3 biocement. The treatment generates a bond with the original matrix to significantly strengthen areas of loss, while unexpectedly, bacterial exopolymeric substances (EPS) impart hydrophobicity and reduce clay swelling. This environmentally-friendly bioconservation treatment is able to effectively and safely preserve fragile stones in tropical conditions, opening the possibility for its widespread application in the Maya area, and elsewhere.Santander Program for the Research and Conservation of Maya Sculpture, at the David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies (DRCLAS), Harvard UniversitySpanish Government European Commission RTI2018-099565-B-I00Junta de Andalucia RNM-179- BIO 103University of Granada, Unidad Cientifica de Excelencia UCE-PP2016-0

Adénocarcinome de l’ouraque: une cause rare d’hématurie

Les cancers de l'ouraque sont rares et de pronostic sombre. Les auteurs rapportent un cas d'adénocarcinome de l'ouraque révélé par une hématurie et exploré par échographie et tomodensitométrie abdominopelvienne.Pan African Medical Journal 2013; 14:

Deciphering indigenous bacteria in compacted bentonite through a novel and efficient DNA extraction method: Insights into biogeochemical processes within the Deep Geological Disposal of nuclear waste concept

Compacted bentonites are one of the best sealing and backfilling clays considered for use in Deep Geological Repositories of radioactive wastes. However, an in-depth understanding of their behavior after placement in the repository is required, including if the activity of indigenous microorganisms affects safety conditions. Here we provide an optimized phenol:chloroform based protocol that facilitates higher DNA-yields when other methods failed. To demonstrate the efficiency of this method, DNA was extracted from acetate-treated bentonites compacted at 1.5 and 1.7 g/cm3 densities after 24 months anoxic incubation. Among the 16S rRNA gene sequences identified, those most similar to taxa mediating biogeochemical sulfur cycling included sulfur oxidizing (e.g., Thiobacillus, and Sulfurimonas) and sulfate reducing (e.g., Desulfuromonas and Desulfosporosinus) bacteria. In addition, iron-cycling populations included iron oxidizing (e.g., Thiobacillus and Rhodobacter) plus reducing taxa (e.g., Geobacillus). Genera described for their capacity to utilize acetate as a carbon source were also detected such as Delftia and Stenotrophomonas. Lastly, microscopic analyses revealed pores and cracks that could host nanobacteria or spores. This study highlights the potential role of microbial driven biogeochemical processes in compacted bentonites and the effect of high compaction on microbial diversity in Deep Geological Repositories