Sister Mary Joseph's Nodule at a University Teaching Hospital in Northwestern Tanzania: A Retrospective Review of 34 cases.

Sister Mary Joseph's nodule is a metastatic tumor deposit in the umbilicus and often represents advanced intra-abdominal malignancy with dismal prognosis. There is a paucity of published data on this subject in our setting. This study was conducted to describe the clinicopathological presentation and treatment outcome of this condition in our environment and highlight challenges associated with the care of these patients, and to proffer solutions for improved outcome. This was a retrospective study of histologically confirmed cases of Sister Mary Joseph's nodule seen at Bugando Medical Centre between March 2003 and February 2013. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics. A total of 34 patients were enrolled in the study. Males outnumbered females by a ratio of 1.4:1. The vast majority of patients (70.6%) presented with large umbilical nodule > 2 cm in size. The stomach (41.1%) was the most common location of the primary tumor. Adenocarcinoma (88.2%) was the most frequent histopathological type. Most of the primary tumors (52.9%) were poorly differentiated. As the disease was advanced and metastatic in all patients, only palliative therapy was offered. Out of 34 patients, 11 patients died in the hospital giving a mortality rate of 32.4%. Patients were followed up for 24 months. At the end of the follow-up period, 14(60.9%) patients were lost to follow-up and the remaining 9 (39.1%) patients died. Patients survived for a median period of 28 weeks (range, 2 to 64 weeks). The nodule recurred in 6 (26.1%) patients after complete excision. Sister Mary Joseph's nodule of the umbilicus is not rare in our environment and often represents manifestation of a variety of advanced intra-abdominal malignancies. The majority of the patients present at a late stage and many with distant metastases. The patient's survival is very short leading to a poor outcome. Early detection of primary cancer at an early stage may improve the prognosis

Caractérisation de la matière organique naturelle et de son évolution dans les sols et les sédiments à l'aide du couplage US/UV

Natural organic matter in soils and sediments is transformed mainly by biological processes which may have an impact on surface and groundwater quality. A global characterization of this organic matter is proposed with the use of UV-Visible spectrophotometry after selective solvent extraction. Studied samples are pine and leafy humus, peat and sediments coming from a marsh. Oxidation index and humification index, calculated from UV-Visible spectra exploitation, respectively A220nm / A280nm and A465nm / A665nm, allow to estimate the evolution level of organic matter by mineralization and/or humification.La matière organique naturelle présente dans les sols et les sédiments subit des transformations, essentiellement par voie biologique, qui sont susceptibles d'avoir un impact sur la qualité des eaux de surface ou souterraines. Une caractérisation globale de cette matière organique naturelle est proposée à l'aide du couplage US/UV consistant en une extraction sélective par solvant, assistée par ultrasons, suivie d'une détection par spectrophotométrie UV-Visible. Les échantillons étudiés sont des humus de résineux et de feuillus, une tourbe et des sédiments provenant d'un marais. Un indice d'oxydation et un indice d'humification, calculés à partir de l'exploitation bi longueur d'onde du spectre UV-Visible des différents extraits aqueux et alcalins, respectivement A220nm / A280nm et A465nm / A665nm, permettent d'estimer le degré d'évolution de la matière organique par minéralisation et/ou humification

Simple Tools for the Study of PAH Contaminated Soils using UV Spectroscopy

International audienceUsing UV spectrophotometry, a PAH index has been developed for the estimation of PAHs pollution in contaminated soil, after an extraction step with acetonitrile. This index is based on the 254 nm absorbance value which has been correlated to HPLC measurement. Using a two wavelength approach, a soil maturity index is proposed. This tool can be useful for process control or for the survey of natural attenuation on a contaminated soil

Caractérisation et suivi du traitement biologique de sols contaminés par des HAP (Hydrocarbures Aromatiques Polycycliques)

National audienc

Caractérisation des terres polluées et des effluents liquides

Rapport final d'activités "TTC

UV Characterization of colloidal and particulate matter in wastewater

International audienc

UV assistance for process control and water management

International audienc