Pleomorphous leiomyosarcoma of the mesocolon: a case report

Leiomyosarcoma is a rare tumor of the smooth muscle, but relatively frequent in the stomach and the small intestine. The mesocolic site is rare. Globally, leimyosarcoma represents less than 0, 1% of the malignant tumors found in the colon and the anus. Because of the similarities with other digestive tumors, namely mesenchymatous or benign tumors of the smooth muscle, the diagnosis of a pleomorphic sarcoma remains difficult even at the histological stage. Surgery is the mainstay of the therapy. We report a case of leiomyosarcoma of the mesocolon and discuss about its main characteristics in the view of the current literature about this pathological condition.Pan African Medical Journal 2015; 2

Enxtraoviarian granulosa cell tumor: a case report

Extraovarian granulosa cell tumor (GCT) is a very unusually tumor, assumed to arise from the ectopic gonadal tissue along the embryonal route of the genital ridge. One such rare case of extraovarian granulosa cell tumor was encountered in a 60-year-old female patient who presented with a large intra-abdominal mass. Computerized tomography revealed a large retroperitoneal mass measuring 11 x 10 x 8cm in size. Her past medical history was irrelevant. She underwent exploration laparotomy and the mass was excised. Histopathological examination of the excised mass showed features of adult-type granulosa cell tumor.The tumor showed positivity for inhibin while epithelial membrane antigen was negative thus confirming the diagnosis of granulosa cell tumor. A diagnosis of extraovarian granulosa cell tumor can only be done after excluding any previous history of granulosa cell tumor of the ovary. Immunostains help to differentiate granulosa cell tumors from other neoplasms.Pan African Medical Journal 2016; 2

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

Integrated management of water resources in both supply and demand sides

لقد نتج عن زيادة السكان في القرن الحالي، زيادة الطلب على المياه، وهو ما انعكس في مشكلتين أساسيتين، نتجت الأولى من زيادة الضغوط على الموارد المائية السطحية والجوفية لتأمين مصادر جديدة للمياه، وتمثلت الثانية في ارتفاع حجم مياه الصرف الصحي والزراعي والصناعي، ومن ثم طرح هذه المياه في الأوساط الطبيعية . وبالتالي فهناك مشكلتان : مشكلة كمية وتتمثل في محدودية الموارد المائية، ومشكلة نوعية وهي متمثلة في تلوث الأوساط المائية . ومن الضروري بمكان الربط بين هاتين المشكلتين، وذلك عند وضع خطط السياسات المائية واستراتيجيات إدارتهاThe increase in population in the current century has resulted in an increase in the demand for water, which is reflected in two main problems. The first resulted from increasing pressures on surface and ground water resources to secure new sources of water. The second was the increase in the volume of wastewater, agricultural and industrial, and then put This water is in normal circles. Consequently, there are two problems: a quantitative problem, which is limited water resources, and a qualitative problem which is represented in pollution of the water media. It is essential to link these two problems when developing water policy plans and management strategie

Hybrid cooling systems: A review and an optimized selection scheme

International audienc

Antioxidant, haemolytic activities and HPLC-DAD-ESI-MSn characterization of phenolic compounds from root bark of Juniperus oxycedrus subsp oxycedrus

International audienceThis study investigates the phenolic compound content antioxidant and haemolytic activities in four extracts (methanol, water, hexane and dichloromethane) of Juniperus oxycedrus subsp. oxycedrus root bark. The methanol extract was the most concentrated in total phenolics (76.1 +/- 2.8 mg GAE/g DW), flavonoids (39 +/- 2.5 mg CE/g DW) and tannins (31.3 +/- 2.1 mg CE/g DW). HPLC-MSn analysis of the methanol extract led to the identification of proanthocyanidin oligomers, quercetin hexose, quercitrin, and isorhamnetin hexose. The highest antioxidant activities were found in the methanol extract which exhibited the lowest IC50 in all the antioxidant assays i.e. DPPH, ABTS, oxygen singlet, hydroxyl radical and superoxide anion scavenging assays, inhibition of the beta-carotene bleaching and lowest EC50 in iron reducing assays. Incubation of the four extracts (20 mg/ml) with human erythrocytes for one hour led to haemolytic activities between 2.05% and 4.37%. The present findings suggest than the root bark could be used as food ingredient

ANTIDIABETIC EFFECT OF THYMUS SATUREIOIDES AQUEOUS EXTRACT IN STREPTOZOTOCIN-INDUCED DIABETIC RATS

Objective: The aerial parts of Thymus satureioides have been traditionally used to treat diabetes mellitus and its complications in Morocco. The aim of the present study was to investigate the antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic effects of the aqueous extract of Thymus satureioides aerial parts in streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats.Methods: Experimental diabetes was induced in overnight fasted rats by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (45 mg/kg). Diabetic rats were orally administered with aqueous extract of Thymus satureioides (500 mg/kg b.w.) for 28 d. Glibenclamide (2 mg/kg), a standard antidiabetic drug, was used as a positive control drug. Body weight and fasting blood glucose (FGB) were measured every week. Oral glucose tolerance, change in lipid parameters, urea, creatinine, aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT) and alanine aminotransferase (ALAT) levels of diabetic rats were evaluated at the end of the treatment.Results: Administration of Thymus satureioides aqueous extract to diabetic rats for 28 d reduced their fasting blood glucose levels significantly compared to the diabetic control rats. The extract improved body weight and glucose tolerance in diabetic rats. The antihyperlipidemic assessment of the extract revealed a decrease in plasma total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL levels and an increase in HDL level in the plasma of treated diabetic rats. Furthermore, the biochemical liver and kidney functional tests have shown that serum biomarkers of liver and renal dysfunction were significantly reduced in treated diabetic rats.Conclusion: The present findings suggest that Thymus satureioides extract has both antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic effects in experimental diabetic rats which can be beneficial in the management of diabetes and its complications.Â