[Cervical myelopathy revealing bone fluorosis]. / Myélopathie cervicale révélant une fluorose osseuse.

Bone fluorosis is a rare metabolic disease characterized by massive bone fixation of fluorine. It is seen endemically around phosphate mines in North Africa. Neurologic complications, such as medullar compression may rarely reveal the disease. We report a case of cervical myelopathy due to bone fluorosis causing tetraparesis. Medullar compression was caused by posterior vertebral ligament calcification. Diagnosis was based on the characteristic radiologic aspect, and confirmed by the dosage of serum and urine levels of fluorine. Cervical laminectomy resulted in significant pain improvement, despite persistent motor deficit.

Bioactivities of seven chrysanthemum species flowers powder on Spodoptera littoralis (Boiduval) larvae.

We have screened seven Chrysanthemum species, collected from different biotope in Tunisia for the antifeeding and growth regulatory activity against S. littoralis (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) an insect pest of tomato. The flowers powder was added to the Poitout and Bues (1974) artificial diet at three concentrations: 4, 8, and 16%. After ten days of treatment, the consumed quantity determination revelled that these species have an antifeeding activity proportional to the concentration, more considerable for the C. fuscatum and C. Myconis flowers powder. At the concentration of 16% the larvae weight was significantly delayed in the average time to the control, these results were compared to the effect of Cestrum parquii on S. littoralis and Pieris brassicae The moulting date determination showed an elongation of the third, fourth and fifth stages at the high concentration probably due to the presence of juvenile hormones Analogues.

Aspirin and venous occlusion: effects on blood fibrinolytic activity and tissue-type plasminogen activator levels.

The effects of oral aspirin (650 mg at 18 and 2 hours before testing) on the response to 10 minute venous occlusion in normal young adults (8 men, 4 women) was examined by fibrinolytic methods (euglobulin lysis, and radiofibrin assay of whole blood and plasma activities) and immunoassay of plasma tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA). Aspirin had no effect on resting (pre-occlusion) values for any of these. Resting plasma tPA levels were approximately 3-fold greater in men than in women, with or without aspirin. Both before and after aspirin, occlusion increased euglobulin lysis activity, plasma fibrinolytic activity, and plasma tPA levels. In addition, there was an occlusion-related increase in cellular phase activity, determined by radiofibrin assay, which was similar, with and without aspirin, to the increase in plasma activity, indicating the participation of blood cells in the response to occlusion. Mean whole blood activity and cellular phase activity (whole blood less plasma activity) were increased 1.8- and 1.5-fold, respectively, by venous occlusion. In all subjects, the net effect of aspirin on occlusion-related increments in fibrinolytic activity were decreases in whole blood and cellular phase responses (p less than 0.05), without significant effects on plasma or euglobulin lysis activity. In contrast, aspirin treatment resulted in a 32% increase in mean individual increments in plasma tPA concentration with occlusion, an effect predominant in men. Aspirin interferes with the cellular phase fibrinolytic response to venous occlusion, and results in increased, rather than decreased, mean occlusion-induced increments in levels of plasma tissue activator, determined immunochemically.

[Meningeal melanocytoma: a rare meningeal tumor]. / Une tumeur méningée rare: mélanocytome méningé

Meningeal melanocytoma is a rare benign pigmented tumor. It develops from melanocytes normally present in the meninges of the posterior fossa and medulla. It is an extra axial tumor, that manifests due to compression of adjacent structures. The authors report a case of meningeal melanocytoma located at the foramen magnum. They insist on the characteristic paramagnetic signal of the tumor on the different MRI sequences.

[Primary psoas abscess in children: 6 cases]. / Les abcès primitifs du psoas chez l'enfant: six cas.

BACKGROUND: Primary psoas abscess is very rare in childhood; its diagnosis and treatment can be improved by the use of recent imaging techniques. PATIENTS: Six children, aged 11 months to 10 years (mean: 51 months) were admitted from January 1987 to 15 December 1993 because they suffered mainly from fever, lumbar pain and/or homolateral flexed hip. Examination showed a painful inguinal mass in five patients and hyperleucocytosis in all. X-rays showed disappearance of the external limit of psoas in two patients; ultrasonography showed enlarged psoas in all, associated with hypoechogenic mass in two and without echo in four patients. CT scan showed the abscess in all cases, permitting a needle aspiration for bacteriological studies: Staphycococcus aureus was present in five cases. Drainage of the abscess by CT-guided percutaneous catheter was performed in two patients. Surgical drainage was performed in three including one for whom percutaneous catheter drainage did not succeed. The two other patients were only given antibiotics. CONCLUSION: CT-guided needle aspiration to establish presence and nature of fluid collection is a well established technique that may be extended to treatment of psoas abscesses.

Aminoazoles in heterocyclic synthesis. Synthesis of some new pyrimidobenzimidazoles and pyrazolonopyridines as well as triazolo-, tetrazolo- and pyrazolo-pyrimidines of pharmaceutical interest.

The reactivity of 3-cinnamoylindole, 3-cinnamoylantipyrine and 1-(3-methyl-1-phenyl-5-pyrazolon-4 yl)-4-antipyrin-4-yl)-prop-2-ene-1- one(la-c) towards 2-aminobenzimidazole, 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole, 5-aminotetrazole monohydrate, 5-amino-3-phenylpyrazole and 3-amino-1-phenyl-2-pyrazolin-5-one to give the fused heterocycles 2a-c, 4a,b, 5a,b, 8a,b, and 10a-c has been investigated. Structures of the synthesized compounds were confirmed by both the analytical and the spectral data (IR, UV and 1H NMR).

Epoxidation of some natural furocoumarins and furochromones using gamma-ray.

Epoxidation of imperatorin (1a) with m-chloroperbenzoic acid (mcpba) under the irradiation of gamma-ray gave a mixture of epoxide 3a and dioxofuran 4a. Whereas, alloimperatorin (1b) under the same condition obtained the epoxide 3b as a sole product. On the other hand, it was successfully epoxidized xanthotoxin (1c) with mcpba under the same condition as above. In addition, visnagin (2a) was epoxidized to give a mixture of epoxides 5a, 6a. While, khellin (2b) gave the epoxide 5b, no other products were observed.

Photosynthesis of furocoumarin- and furochromone-types potential intercalative alkylating and oxidizing agents of DNA through photooxidations using gamma-ray.

The photooxygenation of imperatorin (1a) under gamma-ray irradiation afforded the hydroperoxides 2a and 3a. Similarly, the photooxygenation of alloimperatorin (1b) gave the hydroperoxide (2b). Visnagin (1c) was also photooxygenated to give the hydroperoxide (2c) as sole product. On the other hand, the photooxygenation of khellin (1d) gave the endoperoxide (2d) as a sole product. The epoxidation of imperatorin (1a) using hydrogen peroxide under gamma-ray irradiation afforded the epoxide 5a. Similarly visnagin (1c) and khellin (1d) were epoxidized to give the epoxides 5c and 5d.

[Effect of olive leaves (Olea europea) feeding on the in vitro JH III biosynthesis by the corpora allata in Schistocerca gregaria during vitellogenesis]. / Action d'une alimentation à base de feuilles d'olivier (Olea europea) sur la biosynthèse in vitro de la JH III par les corpora allata chez Schistocerca gregaria au cours de la vitellogenèse.

Per os administration of olive leaves (Olea europea) to females of Schistocerca gregaria results in stopping vitellogenesis. These vitellogenins are not synthesised by the fat body in the heamolymph. The vitellogenin inhibition is induced by the stopping of juvenile hormone JH III by the corpora allata. These corpora allata (Medicago sp.) Synthesise 10 times less JH III than those of alfalfa fed females.

Tacrolimus therapeutic drug monitoring in Tunisian renal transplant recipients: effect of post-transplantation period.

BACKGROUND: Most previous studies having focused on therapeutic drug monitoring of tacrolimus in renal transplant recipients have assessed the clinical response of patients. The aim of this study is to investigate the influence of post-transplant delay on tacrolimus dose, trough levels (C0) and dose/C0 ratio in a Tunisian renal transplant population. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective study including 110 renal transplant patients has been performed. Tacrolimus trough concentrations were adjusted according to the target range proposed by the European consensus conference on tacrolimus optimization. Samples for determination of tacrolimus blood level were subdivided according to the post-transplantation period into three groups. RESULTS: The initial dose required was 0.17 ± 0.05 mg/kg/day during the first 3 months after transplantation. A reduction of 36 and 65% of tacrolimus initial dose during the second (3-12 months) and third period after transplantation (>12 months), respectively, was required to maintain the concentration level within therapeutic range. These results were different from those found in other studies performed in different populations. We hypothesize that these differences in dosing requirement may be due to an interethnic polymorphism in the expression of enzymes involved in tacrolimus metabolism. CONCLUSION: These results could provide a simple therapeutic strategy to optimize tacrolimus prescription after renal transplantation in Tunisian population.

[Metronidazole-induced reversible cerebellar lesions and peripheral neuropathy]. / Lésions cérébelleuses réversibles et neuropathie périphérique induites par le métronidazole.

INTRODUCTION: Metronidazole is a widely prescribed treatment for amoebic and anaerobic germ infections. Its neurologic toxicity is rare but can be serious. CASE REPORT: We report the case of a 27-year-old male patient, treated with metronidazole for a cerebral abscess. He presented with a cerebellar syndrome and peripheral neuropathy at a cumulative metronidazole dose of 60g. The MRI aspect of the cerebellar lesions in addition to their reversibility after treatment cessation led to the diagnosis of metronidazole induced neurologic toxicity. CONCLUSION: The occurrence of neurologic disorders in patients treated with metronidazole must suggest drug toxicity and lead to cessation of treatment.

Blood cells participate in the fibrinolytic response to tissue-type plasminogen activator.

Exercise and venous occlusion stimulate fibrinolysis. In addition to increased concentrations of tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) and increased plasmin-mediated fibrinolysis in plasma, these stimuli produce additional cellular-phase activity in blood that is of the same magnitude as the plasma response. To determine whether tPA alone, rather than other consequences of these stimuli, is responsible for the cellular response, the in vitro effects of tPA on whole blood, plasma, and calculated cellular-phase (whole blood minus plasma) activities were determined by solid-phase radiofibrin assay on venous blood from ten normal subjects (seven men, three women). At tPA concentrations encompassing physiological and therapeutic levels (5 to 100 ng/mL; 0.7 to 14 IU/mL), increments in whole blood were consistently in excess of those in companion plasma and represented increased cellular-phase activity equivalent in magnitude to the well-known increase in plasma activity. Fibrinolytic activity produced by 10 to 20 ng tPA/mL (1.4 to 2.8 IU/mL) was consistently detected in whole blood and plasma by 60 minutes, with higher concentrations (100 ng or 14 IU tPA/mL) detectable after a five-minute assay in all subjects. Thus, tPA alone, without invoking fibrinolytic factors extraneous to blood or other effects of exercise or venous occlusion, accounts for both cellular and plasma responses to these stimuli. The considerable cellular response, the mechanism of which remains to be elucidated, may constitute a determinant of individual therapeutic responsiveness to tPA.

Flow cytometric evaluation of erythrocyte response to oxidant stress.

Erythrocyte response to oxidant challenge has been used as an indicator of cell membrane tolerance to oxidant stress. This study describes a simple technique for evaluation of erythrocyte response to hydrogen peroxide oxidant stress using flow cytometry as an assay method. Challenged cells showed a detectable increase in fluorescence over the basal level. This increase in fluorescence was both concentration and time dependent. The test was standardized using 0.1 mM hydrogen peroxide and 2 h incubation. The standardized test showed a higher fluorescence of challenged umbilical cord erythrocytes compared to challenged adult red blood cells. We recommend further use of this test for examining other populations of red blood cells.

[Osteochondroma of the mandibular condyle. Apropos of a case]. / Ostéochondrome du condyle mandibulaire. A propos d'un cas.

The authors report a case of mandibular condyle osteochondroma on a 33 years-old woman, similar to osteocartilaginous exostosis of the long bones. The lesion was revealed by a facial asymmetry and a change of the occlusion. The diagnosis was performed on the computed-tomography examination and histopathology. The removal of the lesion has conserved the condyle without recurrence after 20 months following-up. The authors remind the uncommonly location of osteochondroma in the facial skeleton and discuss the histogenesis of this lesion in its mandibular condyle site.

[Primary malignant non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the salivary glands. An anatomo-clinical and immunohistochemical study of 2 cases and a review of the literature]. / Les lymphomes malins non hodgkiniens primitifs des glandes salivaires. Etude anatomo-clinique et immunohistochimique de 2 cas et revue de la littérature.

The authors reports two cases of primary non Hodgkin's lymphomas of the right submandibular gland in a 50 years old woman, and of a minor gland in another woman also 50 years old. The diagnosis was difficult for the second case, and was established on the immunochemistry study. The authors discuss the epidemiological, clinical, radiological, pathological features of this neoplasm and its management.