Surgical management of intramedullary spinal cord metastasis: Report of three cases that revealed unknown malignancies

Intramedullary spinal cord metastasis (IMSCM) is a rare complication of malignancies still studied by case reports; although surgery is related with the best results, the management is still debated considering the risks and the low life expectancy; in fact, many authors prefer conservative management (radiotherapy, chemotherapy), and so less than 200 cases reported in the literature with patients IMSCM were treated surgically; reporting such cases will help to understand the pathology and elaborate a clear management protocol. We report three cases of IMSCM operated at our department; in those patients, the intramedullary lesions revealed the primary tumours.   &nbsp

Early diagnosis and management of traumatic dura tear with brachial plexus injury without spinal lesions in childhood

Although the dura is a thick membrane, it could be severed in spine surgery and less frequently by a traumatism (7,8,10); in this case, it is usually accompanied with bone or ligamentous injury (2). Rare cases are reported of a traumatic dura tear without spinal lesion and would suspect in the first place a brachial plexus injury (2,8). Dura tears are rarely seen in childhood (3). We report a case of early diagnosis of dura tear in brachial plexus injury without bone or ligamentous lesions on a child of 4 years old and we discuss the diagnostic and treatment modalities

Erosion et ruissellement en montagnes méditerranéennes d'Algérie du Nord: analyse des facteurs conditionnels sous pluies naturelles et artificielles

En Algérie, environ 6 millions d’hectares sont exposés à une érosion active. L’érosion spécifique varie entre 2000 et 4000 t/km²/an. Vu les enjeux prioritaires, il s’est manifesté un besoin de recherche de quantification des processus et de l’impact des facteurs conditionnels et en particulier des systèmes de gestion. Ce travail rentre dans ce cadre et a permis de contribuer à l’étude des facteurs conditionnels de l’érosion en nappe sous pluies naturelles et artificielles. L’érosion en nappe sur les diverses situations est de 2,5 à 9 t/ha/an sur sols nus, de 0,06 à 2,7 sur sols cultivés et de 0,06 à 2,7 sur sols en jachère. Les grandes exportations sont liées aux ruissellements exceptionnels (30 à 60 %). Les indicateurs pertinents du ruissellement et de l’érosion, sont liés au sol, aux états de surface du sol, à la couverture du sol et aux événements pluvieux. Nous avons constaté qu’une variation d’un de ces facteurs entraîne une variation du déclenchement du ruissellement et de l’érosion. Le ruissellement peut apparaître pour des valeurs seuils très faibles (2 à 10 mm de pluie) sur les situations dégradées et sur sols nus battus par les pluies

Effect of MoO3 in the cathode buffer layer on the behaviour of layered organic solar cells

The behaviour of small-molecule organic solar cells based on coper-phthalocyanine/fullerene with different cathode buffer layer is investigated as a function of air exposure duration. We present the study of the effect of MoO3 on the properties of photovoltaic solar cells (OPVCs) when it is introduced in the cathode buffer layer (CBL). Photovoltaic performances were measured as a function of time of air exposure. During the first days of air exposure the efficiency of the OPVCs with MoO3 in their CBL increases significantly, while it decreases immediately after air exposure in the case of reference OPVCs, i.e. without MoO3 in the CBL. Nevertheless, the lifetime of the OPVCs with MoO3 in their CBL is around 60 days, while it is only 10 days in the case of reference OPVCs. The initial increase of the OPVC with MoO3 in their CBL is attributed to the slow decrease of the work function of MoO3 due to progressive contamination. Then, the progressive degradation of the OPVCs efficiency is due water vapour and oxygen contamination of the organic layers. The use of a double CBL, Alq3/MoO3, allows to interrupt the growth of pinholes, defects and increases the path of permeating gas. Also it can prevent the contamination of the organic layer by Al. All this results in significant increase of the lifetime of the OPVCs

Effects of the buffer layer inserted between the transparent conductive oxide anode and the organic electron donor

In optoelectronic devices, the work function of the transparent conductive oxide, which is used as anode, does not match well the highest occupied molecular orbital of the organic material, which induces the formation of a barrier opposed to hole exchange at this interface. Therefore a thin buffer layer is often used to achieve good matching of the band structure at the interface. From experimental results it can be deduced that the main effects of the buffer layer consist in a better matching of the band structure at the interface anode/organic material and in a more homogeneous organic layer growth. We show that, whatever the nature of the buffer layer-metal, oxide, organic material—the classical Schottky–Mott model allows to anticipate, at least roughly, the behaviour of the contact, even if some dipole effect are often present. A good correlation between the “metal/buffer layer” work function and the barrier Φb for hole exchange at anode/organic electron donor interfaces is obtained, as expected by the model

Durvalumab with or without tremelimumab in patients with recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: EAGLE, a randomized, open -label phase III study

Background: Targeting the programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1)/programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) axis has demonstrated clinical benefit in recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (R/M HNSCC). Combining immunotherapies targeting PD-L1 and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) has shown evidence of additive activity in several tumor types. This phase III study evaluated the efficacy of durvalumab (an anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibody) or durvalumab plus tremelimumab (an anti-CTLA-4 monoclonal antibody) versus standard of care (SoC) in R/M HNSCC patients. Patients and methods: Patients were randomly assigned to receive 1 : 1 : 1 durvalumab (10 mg/kg every 2 weeks [q2w]), durvalumab plus tremelimumab (durvalumab 20 mg/kg q4w plus tremelimumab 1 mg/kg q4w 4, then durvalumab 10 mg/kg q2w), or SoC (cetuximab, a taxane, methotrexate, or a fluoropyrimidine). The primary end points were overall survival (OS) for durvalumab versus SoC, and OS for durvalumab plus tremelimumab versus SoC. Secondary end points included progression-free survival (PFS), objective response rate, and duration of response. Results: Patients were randomly assigned to receive durvalumab (n 1⁄4 240), durvalumab plus tremelimumab (n 1⁄4 247), or SoC (n 1⁄4 249). No statistically significant improvements in OS were observed for durvalumab versus SoC [hazard ratio (HR): 0.88; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.72e1.08; P 1⁄4 0.20] or durvalumab plus tremelimumab versus SoC (HR: 1.04; 95% CI: 0.85e1.26; P 1⁄4 0.76). The 12-month survival rates (95% CI) were 37.0% (30.9e43.1), 30.4% (24.7e36.3), and 30.5% (24.7 e36.4) for durvalumab, durvalumab plus tremelimumab, and SoC, respectively. Treatment-related adverse events (trAEs) were consistent with previous reports. The most common trAEs (any grade) were hypothyroidism for durvalumab and durvalumab plus tremelimumab (11.4% and 12.2%, respectively), and anemia (17.5%) for SoC. Grade !3 trAE rates were 10.1%, 16.3%, and 24.2% for durvalumab, durvalumab plus tremelimumab, and SoC, respectively. Conclusion: There were no statistically significant differences in OS for durvalumab or durvalumab plus tremelimumab versus SoC. However, higher survival rates at 12 to 24 months and response rates demonstrate clinical activity for durvalumab

Influence of the exciton blocking layer on the stability of layered organic solar cells

The life-time of multi-layer organic solar cells based on the couple donor acceptor copper phthalocyanine/fullerene is studied as a function of the nature of the exciton blocking layer (EBL). It is shown that organic EBL are more efficient than are the inorganic In2S3 EBLs. Moreover among the organic EBL, Alq3 is the most efficient EBL protecting layer. An organic solar cell’s lifetime depends on oxygen- and water-contamination of the organic materials. The solar cell’s degradation may correspond to bulk or interface phenomena. Using equivalent electrical schemes of solar cell diodes, we show that the structure degradation is mainly related to bulk modification. It is proposed that oxygen- and water-diffusion into the C60 induce a large increase in its resistivity and, therefore an increase in the series resistance, which decreases the solar cell efficiency. In the case of In2S3 EBLs, the degradation law predicts that with time two different phenomena will be present. The classical oxygen- and water-diffusion into the organic material, during the first hour of air exposure, leads to a modification in the In2S3 EBL/organic interface properties

Expression of Neurog1 Instead of Atoh1 Can Partially Rescue Organ of Corti Cell Survival

In the mammalian inner ear neurosensory cell fate depends on three closely related transcription factors, Atoh1 for hair cells and Neurog1 and Neurod1 for neurons. We have previously shown that neuronal cell fate can be altered towards hair cell fate by eliminating Neurod1 mediated repression of Atoh1 expression in neurons. To test whether a similar plasticity is present in hair cell fate commitment, we have generated a knockin (KI) mouse line (Atoh1KINeurog1) in which Atoh1 is replaced by Neurog1. Expression of Neurog1 under Atoh1 promoter control alters the cellular gene expression pattern, differentiation and survival of hair cell precursors in both heterozygous (Atoh1+/KINeurog1) and homozygous (Atoh1KINeurog1/KINeurog1) KI mice. Homozygous KI mice develop patches of organ of Corti precursor cells that express Neurog1, Neurod1, several prosensory genes and neurotrophins. In addition, these patches of cells receive afferent and efferent processes. Some cells among these patches form multiple microvilli but no stereocilia. Importantly, Neurog1 expressing mutants differ from Atoh1 null mutants, as they have intermittent formation of organ of Corti-like patches, opposed to a complete ‘flat epithelium’ in the absence of Atoh1. In heterozygous KI mice co-expression of Atoh1 and Neurog1 results in change in fate and patterning of some hair cells and supporting cells in addition to the abnormal hair cell polarity in the later stages of development. This differs from haploinsufficiency of Atoh1 (Pax2cre; Atoh1f/+), indicating the effect of Neurog1 expression in developing hair cells. Our data suggest that Atoh1KINeurog1 can provide some degree of functional support for survival of organ of Corti cells. In contrast to the previously demonstrated fate plasticity of neurons to differentiate as hair cells, hair cell precursors can be maintained for a limited time by Neurog1 but do not transdifferentiate as neurons