Lichenological exploration of Algeria: historical overview and annotated bibliography, 1799-2013

yesDespite more than two centuries of almost uninterrupted surveys and studies of Algerian lichenology, the history and lichen diversity of Algeria are still poorly understood. During the preparation of a forthcoming checklist of Algerian lichens it was considered necessary to provide the present historical overview of lichenological exploration of the country from 1799 to 2013, supported by a reasonably comprehensive annotated bibliography of 171 titles

Viscerocutaneous form of loxoscelism and erythrocyte glucose-6-phosphate deficiency

In a period of time of five years, all patients who exhibited viscerocutaneous form of loxoscelism were investigated for erythrocyte glucose-6-phosphate deficiency, and in two patients out of seven it was found this deficiency. This finding suggests that this genetical enzyme deficiency could account for the hemolysis after Loxosceles bite, at least in some of the cases

Thermal characterizations of silver-containing bioactive glass-coated sutures

International audienceThis study utilized and compared a number of thermal analysis methods to characterize the thermal properties of commercial sutures with and without antimicrobial coatings of silver-doped bioactive glass (AgBG) interlocking particulates. The effect of a slurry dipping technique used to coat resorbable Vicryl® (polyglactin 910) and non-resorbable Mersilk® surgical sutures with AgBG was investigated using conventional differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), high speed calorimetry (or HYPERDSC™), and modulated temperature DSC (MTDSC). These methods were compared in terms of their ability to resolve the thermal transitions of the types of suture materials. Differential thermal analysis (DTA) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were used to verify the thermal degradation temperatures of these materials and to quantify the AgBG coatings on the sutures

Tramadol as local anesthetic drug for maxillary sinuses trephination in equine species: Donkey model

This project was designed to study the incidence, onset, duration and potency of tramadol, in donkeys can be evaluated as local anesthetic drug by infiltration in maxillary sinus for trephination. In this study, five adult donkeys of both sexes of local breed were used for induce trephination of maxillary sinus that was given 2% xylazine hydrochloride intravenously followed by local infiltration of 5% tramadol with aseptic technique. Parameters were used for evaluation, physical and clinical examination which includes: degree of chewing, degree of pain during palpation, measuring of anesthetic time, secretion of lacrimal gland was measured after induction of anesthetic drug locally. The results demonstrated that there are no any significant changes in heart rate, respiratory rate and rectal body temperature .While the anesthetic parameters showed no any significant changes about pain during palpation and absent of chewing movement with secretion of lacrimal gland was seen. Increase in anesthesia duration time from 30-45 minute and with the potency and recovery was excellent after surgical operation

In vitro attachment of staphylococcus epidermidis to surgical sutures with and without Ag-containing bioactive glass coating

The ability of a silver-doped bioactive glass (AgBG) coating to prevent bacterial colonization on surgical sutures was investigated in vitro. Bioactive glass powders, in the form of 45S5 Bioglass(R) and AgBG, were used to coat Mersilk(R) sutures using an optimized 'in house' slurry-dipping process. In vitro experiments were carried out using Staphylococcus epidermidis under both batch and flow conditions. While the traditional batch culture testing was used to determine the number of viable cells adhered to the surface, the flow-cell was used to visualize attachment and detachment over time. Under batch conditions of up to 180 min, statistically significant differences were observed in the colony forming units (CFU) per suture for both the coated and uncoated Mersilk(R) sutures. The results showed that the AgBG coating had the greatest effect on limiting bacterial attachment (8 x 10(2) CFU) when compared to the 45S5 Bioglass(R) coating (3.2 x 10(3) CFU) and the uncoated Mersilk(R) (1.2 x 10(4) CFU). Also under flow conditions differences were seen between the coated and uncoated sutures. Therefore, this preliminary study has demonstrated the quantification and visualization of bacterial attachment onto sutures in order to compare the antibacterial properties of Ag-containing bioactive glass coatings. The bactericidal properties imparted by Ag-containing glass open new opportunities for use of the composite sutures in wound healing and body wall repair