Le mélanome malin: une tumeur rare des fosses nasales - à propos d’une série de 10 cas

Le mélanome malin des fosses nasales est une tumeur rare mais très agressive, de traitement complexe et de pronostic défavorable. Son traitement relève en principe d'une prise en charge essentiellement  chirurgicale complétée par une radiothérapie. L'objectif de ce travail est de rapporter les caractéristiques cliniques, thérapeutiques et évolutives des mélanomes des fosses nasales. Nous avons analysé  rétrospectivement 10 cas de mélanomes des fosses nasales suivis à l'institut national d'oncologie de  Rabat. La rhinoscopie avec biopsie a permis la confirmation histologique du diagnostic de mélanome. Le bilan d'extension comprenait une tomodensitométrie ou imagerie par résonnance magnétique du massif facial, une radiographie thoracique et une échographie abdominale. Dans notre série, l'âge médian était de 67.5 ans, avec une prédominance féminine (7femmes et 3hommes). Le délai médian de découverte était de 6 mois. Deux patients étaient métastatiques d'emblée, et toutes les tumeurs étaient localement  avancées au moment du diagnostic. Sept patients ont été opérés avec des limites chirurgicales envahies dans 2 cas et 3 patients étaient inopérables. 2 patients ont été irradiés après la chirurgie et 2 patients ont reçu une chimiothérapie arrêtée au moment de la progression. Deux patients ont récidivé après traitement, et un patient était en mauvais état général et a bénéficié uniquement de soins palliatifs. Tous les patients sont décédés avec un délai médian de survie de 12 mois. Le mélanome malin muqueux des fosses nasales, bien que rare, demeure une pathologie de pronostic défavorable et pose des problèmes de prise en charge.Key words: Mélanome malin, fosses nasales, chirurgie, radiothérapie, pronosti

L’hémangiopéricytome méningé: une tumeur intracrânienne rare - à propos d’un cas

L'hémangiopéricytomeméningé intracrânien est une tumeur rare qui représente moins de 1 % des tumeurs cérébrales. Son aspect radiologique peut être trompeur et faire porter à tort le diagnostic de méningiome. Le diagnostic de confirmation est histologique. Le traitement repose sur la chirurgie et la radiothérapie. L'évolution après traitement est caractérisée par la fréquence des récidives et des métastases à distance, imposant un suivi prolongé. Nous rapportons l'observation d'un patient présentant un hémangiopéricytome intracrânien dont l'évolution était marquée par l'absence de récidive à 4 ans de suivi.Key words: Hémangiopéricytome méningé intracrânial, chirurgie, radiothérapie, récidive, métastas

The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance

INTRODUCTION Investment in Africa over the past year with regard to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequencing has led to a massive increase in the number of sequences, which, to date, exceeds 100,000 sequences generated to track the pandemic on the continent. These sequences have profoundly affected how public health officials in Africa have navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. RATIONALE We demonstrate how the first 100,000 SARS-CoV-2 sequences from Africa have helped monitor the epidemic on the continent, how genomic surveillance expanded over the course of the pandemic, and how we adapted our sequencing methods to deal with an evolving virus. Finally, we also examine how viral lineages have spread across the continent in a phylogeographic framework to gain insights into the underlying temporal and spatial transmission dynamics for several variants of concern (VOCs). RESULTS Our results indicate that the number of countries in Africa that can sequence the virus within their own borders is growing and that this is coupled with a shorter turnaround time from the time of sampling to sequence submission. Ongoing evolution necessitated the continual updating of primer sets, and, as a result, eight primer sets were designed in tandem with viral evolution and used to ensure effective sequencing of the virus. The pandemic unfolded through multiple waves of infection that were each driven by distinct genetic lineages, with B.1-like ancestral strains associated with the first pandemic wave of infections in 2020. Successive waves on the continent were fueled by different VOCs, with Alpha and Beta cocirculating in distinct spatial patterns during the second wave and Delta and Omicron affecting the whole continent during the third and fourth waves, respectively. Phylogeographic reconstruction points toward distinct differences in viral importation and exportation patterns associated with the Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants and subvariants, when considering both Africa versus the rest of the world and viral dissemination within the continent. Our epidemiological and phylogenetic inferences therefore underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic on the continent and highlight key insights and challenges, for instance, recognizing the limitations of low testing proportions. We also highlight the early warning capacity that genomic surveillance in Africa has had for the rest of the world with the detection of new lineages and variants, the most recent being the characterization of various Omicron subvariants. CONCLUSION Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve. This is important not only to help combat SARS-CoV-2 on the continent but also because it can be used as a platform to help address the many emerging and reemerging infectious disease threats in Africa. In particular, capacity building for local sequencing within countries or within the continent should be prioritized because this is generally associated with shorter turnaround times, providing the most benefit to local public health authorities tasked with pandemic response and mitigation and allowing for the fastest reaction to localized outbreaks. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century

Evaluation of the Antagonistic Effect of <i>Pseudomonas</i> Rhizobacteria on Fusarium Wilt of Chickpea

This study aimed to isolate rhizobacteria belonging to the genus Pseudomonas with plant-growth-promoting properties that can be used in the control of chickpea wilt disease caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceris (Foc). The production of antifungal compounds by the isolated rhizobacteria was assessed against two Foc isolates, coded Foc-S1 and Foc-S2. Strains E1FP13, E1FP4, and E1PP7 were the most effective against Foc-S1, with percentages of 52.77%, 48.37%, and 47.97%, respectively, while E1PP6, E1FP13, and E1PP15 were the most effective against Foc-S2 with percentages of 52.20%, 52.09%, and 45.38%, respectively. All five isolates were identified as Pseudomonas species using 16S rRNA sequencing. The microscopic examination of the impact of the Pseudomonas strains on Foc revealed that all five strains caused morphological changes in Foc, such as granulation and condensation of the cytoplasm, fragmentation, and deformation of the hyphae. The strains produced several plant-growth-promoting compounds, such as cellulase, hydrogen cyanide, indole acetic acid, ammonia, siderophores, lipase, protease, and solubilized phosphate. They were also able to significantly increase chickpea growth and reduce wilt disease, with E1FP13 resulting in the highest disease reductions of 55.77% (Foc-S1) and 53.33% (Foc-S2). The results revealed that our isolates can make promising biocontrol agents for controlling chickpea wilt disease

Optimization of vibration energy localization in quasi-periodic structures

A mechanical periodic structure in presence of component perturbations can be a seat of a localization of vibration energy. In fact, it is well known that mistuned components have larger response levels than those of perfect components. This results in a localized energy, which can be tapped via harvesting devices. In this study, the dynamic behavior of a quasi-periodic system consisting in weakly connected linear oscillators is investigated. The main objective is to optimize the mistuning parameter, the coupling stiffness and the damping coefficient in order to functionalize the imperfection, which leads to the maximization of the localized vibration energy

Optimization of vibration energy localization in quasi-periodic structures

A mechanical periodic structure in presence of component perturbations can be a seat of a localization of vibration energy. In fact, it is well known that mistuned components have larger response levels than those of perfect components. This results in a localized energy, which can be tapped via harvesting devices. In this study, the dynamic behavior of a quasi-periodic system consisting in weakly connected linear oscillators is investigated. The main objective is to optimize the mistuning parameter, the coupling stiffness and the damping coefficient in order to functionalize the imperfection, which leads to the maximization of the localized vibration energy

Use of sodium polystyrene sulfonate in an acute-on-chronic lithium poisoned patient: A case report

A 35-year-old woman with an acute-on-chronic lithium overdose received multiple oral doses of sodium polystyrene sulfonate totaling 120 g over a 24-h period. During the 72 h after the institution of therapy, the serum lithium level decreased from 3.80 to 0.42 mEq/L. Multiple doses of sodium polystyrene sulfonate may be useful in lowering the serum lithium level in severely ill patients with acute renal failure, and can substitute hemodialysis

Use of sodium polystyrene sulfonate in an acute-on-chronic lithium poisoned patient: A case report

A 35-year-old woman with an acute-on-chronic lithium overdose received multiple oral doses of sodium polystyrene sulfonate totaling 120 g over a 24-h period. During the 72 h after the institution of therapy, the serum lithium level decreased from 3.80 to 0.42 mEq/L. Multiple doses of sodium polystyrene sulfonate may be useful in lowering the serum lithium level in severely ill patients with acute renal failure, and can substitute hemodialysis