Effects of season on the yield and quality of agar from Gelidium sesquipedale (Rhodophyta) from Mostaganem, Algeria

The aim of this work was to study the seasonal variations in the yield and physicochemical properties of agar of Gelidium sesquipedale. The algae were col lected from January 2011 to December 2011, from the coast of Mostaganem, western Algeria. The overall results show that the dry biomass of Gelidium sesquipedale was constant throughout the year (22.34 ± 3.18 %), while the agar yield varied seasonally with highest values (P<0.05) in spring and summer (32.22 ± 1.7%). Regarding the composition of the agar, total sugars was 87.63% (± 6.9 %), with a maximum in winter (P<0.05), the 3,6-anhydrogalactose varied between 30.65 (±2.56%) and 40.40% (±1.34%). The agar of G. sesquipedale was slightly substituted with sulphate (2.75 ± 1.37%) and pyruvate (0.32 ± 0.09%) and had a viscosity of 11.11 mPa.s (± 1.50 mPa.s.). In general, the physicochemical characteristics of the agar of G.sesquipedale are similar to those of the commercial agar, which leads to the conclusion that this alga can be a source of production of agar.Key words: Agarophytes, seaweed, agar, 3,6-anhydrogalactose, sulphate, pyruvate

Recurrent epistaxis revealing a non-catheter-related superior vena cava syndrome in a hemodialysis patient: Unmasking undifferentiated connective tissue disease

We report a case of an 80-year-old Caucasian woman on maintenance hemodialysis for almost three years through a right-tunneled jugular catheter. She presented with recurrent epistaxis for which she was periodically blood transfused despite erythropoietin therapy. She continued manifesting epistaxis, which was progressively emerging as a sign related to superior vena cava syndrome due to mediastinal mass. Laboratory investigations revealed active immunological abnormalities thereafter. Malignant superior vena syndrome remains an uncommon com-plication in this population related to a history of or ongoing central vein catheterization. Pro-longed oozing from the vascular site was the first alerting sign of the existence of this syndrome. We conclude that sometimes the transformation of undifferentiated connective tissue disease in the presence of epidermoid carcinoma of the superior mediastinum may be revealed during the use of catheters in dialysis