Epidemiological, clinical, and therapeutic characteristics of Behçet's disease: a monocentric study in Tunisia

Introduction: to describe the epidemiological, clinical, therapeutic and evolving characteristics of Behçet´s disease and identify prognostic factors. Methods: we have realized a retrospective, single-center study, conducted over a period of 26 years and including 130 patients presenting Behçet´s disease and hospitalized in an Internal Medicine Department. Results: the mean age of the Behçet´s disease at onset was 30.3 ±8.8 years and that at diagnosis was 34.6 ±9.4 years. The sex ratio (male/female) was 2.5. The mean delay of diagnosis was 53.5 months. Oral aphthosis was constant. The frequency of the manifestations was: genital aphtosis 71.5%, pseudofolliculitis 84.6%, erythema nodosum 11.5%, positive pathergy test 50%, ocular disease 36.9%, venous thrombosis 30%, arterial disease 4.6%, joint damage 30.8%, neurological disease 19.2% and digestive disease 0.8%. The male gender was significantly associated with ocular involvement (p =0.02), venous disease (p =0.01) and occurrence of relapses (p =0.01). The mean follow up was 68.5 ± 77.3 months. The poor survival prognostic factors were male gender, ocular involvement, venous disease, cardiovascular disease, a duration of follow up ≤12 months and a diagnostic delay ≤ 24 months. Conclusion: improving the prognosis of Behçet´s disease requires a shortening of the time to diagnosis, multidisciplinary collaboration, intensive treatment of functional threats, regular monitoring, and patient adherence

Développement de capteurs électrochimiques sérigraphiés et d un système d analyse automatisé pour la mesure sur site et en semi-continu du cadmium dans les milieux aquatiques

PAU-BU Sciences (644452103) / SudocSudocFranceF

Electrochemical Study of Diphenyl Ether Derivatives Used as Herbicides

The electrochemical behaviour of five nitro diphenyl ethers used as herbicides is investigated in acetonitrile. A detailed study by cyclic voltammetry and exhaustive electrolysis is carried out for the anodic oxidation of 2-Chloro-6-nitro-3-phenoxyaniline (aclonifen) and shows that the major oxidation product is a dimeric compound. A mechanistic scheme involving a coupling process is postulated for the electrochemical oxidation of this compound. Furthermore, the use of differential pulse voltammetry on a glassy carbon electrode permits the selective determination of aclonifen. The limit of detection is 0.6 μg/mL

Differentiation between cerebral hemorrhage and contrast extravasation using dual energy computed tomography after intra-arterial neuro interventional procedures

Purpose: To evaluate the value of dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) in differentiating cerebral hemorrhage from blood brain barrier (BBB) disruption after neuro-interventional procedures with intraarterial injection of iodinated contrast material. Material and methods: This prospective study was approved by the local ethics committee, and informed consent was obtained for all patients. Thirty five patients with acute ischemic stroke or un-ruptured brain aneurysm who had received intra-arterial administration of iodinated contrast material were evaluated using DECT at 80 and 150 kV immediately after the procedure. A three-material decomposition algorithm was used to obtain virtual non-contrast (VNC) images and iodine overlay maps (IOM). A follow-up examination (brain magnetic resonance imaging MRI or conventional CT) was used as the standard of reference for hemorrhage, defined as a persistant hyperdensity on a conventional CT or T2* hypo-intensity on brain MRI. The diagnostic values of DECT in differentiating hemorrhage and iodinated contrast material were obtained. Results: Mixed images obtained with DECT showed intra-parenchymal or subarachnoid hyperattenuation in 18/35 patients. Among these, 16 were classified (according to VNC images and IOM) as contrast extravasations and two with a mixture of hemorrhage and contrast material. On follow-up imaging, there were two patients with hemorrhage. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of DECT in the identifying hemorrhage was calculated as 67% (2/3), 100% (32/32) and 97% (32/33) respectively. Conclusion: DECT allows an early and accurate differentiation between cerebral hemorrhage and BBB disruption after intra-arterial neuro-interventional procedures.SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Bismuth-coated screen-printed microband electrodes for on-field labile cadmium determination

cited By 31International audiencePerformances of a screen-printed microband electrode prepared by ex situ bismuth deposition are reported. According to the low bismuth toxicity, this electrode represents an environmentally friendly alternative to mercury modified sensors, particularly for on-field measurements. The electrochemical behaviour of the microband electrode has been studied and is in agreement with microelectrode theory before and after bismuth modification. Sensitive cadmium analysis achieved in nondeaerated and unstirred solutions leads to a detection limit of 1.3 μg L-1 using SWASV for 120 s deposition time. This sensor has been successfully applied to a nontreated river water sample

Metastatic breast cancer and pseudocirrhosis: an unknown clinical entity

PURPOSE: Pseudocirrhosis is a radiological term used to describe rapid changes in the contour of liver invaded by metastases and treated with chemotherapy. Our primary objectives were to analyse the clinical and biological characteristics of those patients with breast cancer and to assess the prevalence of complications generally associated with decompensated cirrhosis. We have also assessed associated treatments and response. METHODS: This retrospective study included all women with metastatic breast cancer to the liver who had imaging protocols describing diffuse liver contour abnormalities during systemic treatment between 2003 and 2018 in our centre. The following were identified: neoplastic characteristics, complications presented, treatments administered and response. RESULTS: 48 patients were included. There was a trend towards an increased proportion of luminal cancers (88.2%, n=30, p=0052) when compared with our hospital cancer registry. Most patients (97.9%, n=47) had a widespread liver invasion, 58.3% (n=28) had ascites on physical examination; 90% (n=18) of ascites were classified as transudate. Nearly 23% (n=11) of patients had oesophageal varices and 6.5% (n=3) had an episode of variceal rupture. At the time of the appearance of liver contour abnormalities, the most frequently used molecules were: 5-fluorouracil (22.9%; n=11) and cisplatin (18.8%; n=9). A partial response was observed in 52.1% (n=25) of patients. CONCLUSION: This is the largest reported series of patients with pseudocirrhosis. Many patients developed complications related to portal hypertension and liver failure, similar to those observed in decompensated cirrhosis. Luminal subtypes could be over-represented. In our series, pseudocirrhosis appears to develop at the expense of extensive liver disease burden and most often under 5-fluorouracil, or its derivatives, with or without cisplatin, possibly following a response to treatment.SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Electroanalytical device for cadmium speciation in waters. part 1: Development and characterization of a reliable screen-printed sensor

cited By 15International audienceA reliable screen-printed sensor for cadmium speciation analysis is presented here. Its development has been focused on the achievement of a reproducible and repeatable sensor. The electrode construction and its surface coating are discussed in detail. The optimized procedure has permitted to obtain very accurate sensors with detection limit of 0.2 mg (Cd) L-1 using SWASV for only 60 s of deposition time. The electrochemically accessible, i.e. potentially bioavailable, fraction of the cadmium present in an untreated river water sample has been successfully quantified without degassing. These results give a glimpse of the potential of this membrane-free sensor in real matrices