Assessment of metal trace elements in the echinoderm Paracentrotus lividus from the North-Eastern coast of Algeria

The echinoderm sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus Lamarck, 1816 (Echinodermata, Echinoidea) is a good species to be used in environmental and toxicology research, in particular as a heavy metal bio-indicator. Our study’s objective is to evaluate the amounts of Zn, Pb, Fe, and Cu in sea urchin specimens collected from the coast of Skikda (Northeast Algeria) in order to validate the fact that sea urchins are good indicators of metal pollution and can be used effectively for environmental biomonitoring. To realize our objectives, three sampling sites were chosen based on suspected forms and sources of contamination. The main physicochemical parameters of the seawater were measured to determine their quality. 15 specimens of urchins in each station were obtained from exposed rocky surfaces and transported to the laboratory. Before dissection, the biometric parameters and the total wet weight were determined. The soft organs (gut and gonads) of individuals were separated and utilized to evaluate the levels of heavy metals. The condition index and metal indices were also determined. Our study confirmed that P. lividus may be considered a valuable bioindicator of heavy metal contamination in marine ecosystems. The results show that the amounts of heavy metals differed significantly between stations. Samples taken from the Larbi Ben M’hidi station showed greater amounts of Pb, Zn, and Cu. These amounts are above the recommended limits for fish and aquatic animals. Also, the heavy metals found in sea urchins vary depending on the physicochemical parameters, trace metals in the seawater, and the individual biometric parameters. These higher concentrations of metals in seawater and in P. lividus individuals at the Larbi Ben M’hidi station are largely caused by the construction of a massive oil industry complex and terminal with several refineries and petrochemical units near this station, as well as by a considerable amount of domestic wastewater. Finally, to avoid this metallic pollution risk, it is necessary that permanent controls be imposed as soon as possible. Urban and industrial wastes must be treated before being released, in the hope of reducing future metal concentrations

Le médicament générique au Maroc: le point de vue du consommateur

Introduction: Le médicament générique est souvent une origine de préjugés négatifs et de méfiance chez les professionnels de santé et les patients. Ceci pourrait être dû à plusieurs facteurs entre autre le manque des connaissances du patient sur ces médicaments. Le but de notre étude était d'évaluer l'information du consommateur sur les médicaments génériques et apprécier leur utilisation de ces médicaments. Méthodes: Il s'agit d'une étude transversale réalisée de Janvier à Mars 2010 auprès de 251 sujets. Un questionnaire comprenant dix questions fermées a été utilisé. Les questions concernaient l'évaluation des connaissances sur les médicaments génériques, les sources d'information, le degré de confiance et d'information des patients sur ces médicaments. Une analyse descriptive simple des différentes variables a été réalisée. Résultats: Dans notre étude, 126 sujets (50,2%) ont répondu connaître les médicaments génériques. Parmi eux, 52,3% les utilisaient et 67,4% estimaient qu'ils étaient insuffisamment informés sur ces médicaments. Les cadres supérieurs et les étudiants ont représenté la catégorie qui utilisait le plus les médicaments génériques (respectivement dans 40,9% et 25,7%) et qui était la mieux informée (respectivement dans 61,9% et 23,81%). Le faible coût a été la principale motivation d'utilisation du médicament générique (93,9%). Les médias ont représenté la première source d'information (59,5%). Après sensibilisation, 88,8% des sujets qui ne connaissaient pas le médicament générique ont été favorable à son utilisation.Conclusion: Une promotion efficace par une politique d'information soutenue auprès des consommateurs et par des mesures incitatrices à la prescription et à la délivrance du générique par les médecins et les pharmaciens, pourront améliorer l'utilisation de ces médicaments dans notre pays.Key words: Médicament générique, consommateur, perception, Maro

Patients with complicated Pott's disease: Management in a rehabilitation department and functional prognosis

AbstractObjectiveThe objective is to study the rehabilitation management and to assess autonomy in daily life activities as well as walking recovery in patients with complicated Pott's disease.Patients and methodsRetrospective study in nine patients over a period of 8 years extending from 2000 to 2008, collated in the Department of Physical Medicine and Functional Rehabilitation, CHU Sahloul, Sousse, Tunisia.ResultsThe mean age of our patients was 43.8 years; sex ratio was 5/4. The spine involvement of tuberculosis was dorsal in seven cases, dorso-lumbar in one patient, and multiple (cervical, dorsal and lumbar) in one case. All patients were paraplegic with a neurological involvement of the bladder. They had prior antituberculosis chemotherapy for at least 8 months. Decompression surgery was performed in six cases. Two female patients presented disorders of spinal posture during treatment requiring surgical revision with osteosynthesis. All patients received additional rehabilitation care. Following a mean duration of hospitalisation in the Rehabilitation department of 47 days with twice-daily sessions of tailored physiotherapy, three patients remained in complete paraplegia, autonomous in wheel-chair and with vesical and sphincter incontinence. The measure of functional independence (MFI) was at admission/discharge 71/92.ConclusionRehabilitation takes an important place in the medico-surgical management in Pott's disease, to limite or compensate the disabilities and handicap related to this pathology

Interoperability applications of TELEMAC-MASCARET System

Water Qualit

Genomic and transcriptomic landscape of conjunctival melanoma.

Conjunctival melanoma (CJM) is a rare but potentially lethal and highly-recurrent cancer of the eye. Similar to cutaneous melanoma (CM), it originates from melanocytes. Unlike CM, however, CJM is relatively poorly characterized from a genomic point of view. To fill this knowledge gap and gain insight into the genomic nature of CJM, we performed whole-exome (WES) or whole-genome sequencing (WGS) of tumor-normal tissue pairs in 14 affected individuals, as well as RNA sequencing in a subset of 11 tumor tissues. Our results show that, similarly to CM, CJM is also characterized by a very high mutation load, composed of approximately 500 somatic mutations in exonic regions. This, as well as the presence of a UV light-induced mutational signature, are clear signs of the role of sunlight in CJM tumorigenesis. In addition, the genomic classification of CM proposed by TCGA seems to be well-applicable to CJM, with the presence of four typical subclasses defined on the basis of the most frequently mutated genes: BRAF, NF1, RAS, and triple wild-type. In line with these results, transcriptomic analyses revealed similarities with CM as well, namely the presence of a transcriptomic subtype enriched for immune genes and a subtype enriched for genes associated with keratins and epithelial functions. Finally, in seven tumors we detected somatic mutations in ACSS3, a possible new candidate oncogene. Transfected conjunctival melanoma cells overexpressing mutant ACSS3 showed higher proliferative activity, supporting the direct involvement of this gene in the tumorigenesis of CJM. Altogether, our results provide the first unbiased and complete genomic and transcriptomic classification of CJM