[Epidemiology of nasal and paranasal sinus cancer in Tunisia]. / Epidémiologie des cancers du massif facial en Tunisie.

OBJECTIVE: To report the epidemiological and clinical features of nasal and paranasal sinus cancers collected during a period of 35 years at the Salah Azaiez Institute of Tunis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This retrospective study concerned patients with histologically confirmed nasal and paranasal sinus cancers treated at our institute from 1969 to 2004. We collected the following data: age, sex, residence (rural or urban), site, occupation and professional exposure, histological type and tumor extension. RESULTS: We identified 265 cases (163 M; 102 F; Sex-ratio=1.65) with a mean age of 60 years (3 months - 91 years). Epidermoid carcinoma (47%) and adenocarcinoma (16%) predominated followed by sarcoma (14%) and melanoma (6%). We observed only 2 cases (0.7%) of ethmoidal adenocarcinoma. CONCLUSION: Nasal and paranasal cancers in Tunisia are linked more to chronic rhino-sinusal inflammation than professional exposition (wood).

Use of Geotrichum candidum for olive mill wastewater treatment in submerged and static culture.

The production of lignin peroxidase (LiP), manganese peroxidase (MnP) and lipases by Geotrichum candidum were performed in order to control the decolourisation and biodegradation of olive mill wastewater (OMW). Optimisation of different factors showed that dilution, carbon and ammonium concentrations significantly affected decolourisation and activities of ligniolytic peroxidases (LiP and MnP) on OMW. Moreover, addition of olive oil and agitation improved the lipase production. Batch and continuous OMW treatments in settler or bubble column bioreactors showed high COD and colour removal efficiencies of 60% and 50%, respectively. Lipolytic activity was greater in the batch bubble column whereas, LiP and MnP productions were improved in the settler. The performance of the continuous processes decreased with the decrease of hydraulic retention time (HRT). It has been shown that decolourisation and biodegradation decreased with an average of 40% and 45%, respectively, by decreasing the HRT from 4d to 1.7d.