Antibiotic photocatalysis and antimicrobial activity of low-cost multifunctional Fe3O4@HAp nanocomposites.

Water contamination by multiple pollutants is a serious environmental issue originating from the many diverse sources of pollution. It has worsened with the appearance of new contaminants, named emerging micropollutants, such as drug residues which are considered a potential threat to human health and/or ecosystems. These require prior treatment before release into the environment. Simultaneous adsorption and photocatalysis as well as solid-liquid separation are promising technologies for water treatment. In order to obtain low cost photoactive nanocomposites, porous and magnetic Fe3O4-hydroxyapatite (wFeHAp) nanocomposites were prepared by soft chemistry from the dissociation of natural phosphate into Ca2+ and H3PO4 precursors, further neutralized by ammonia in the presence of preformed Fe3O4 particles. The magnetic nanocomposites were characterized and examined as effective antibacterial agents. Fe3O4 association with apatite modifies the surface properties of the wFeHAp nanocomposite materials, yielding efficient antimicrobial activity for S. aureus, B. subtilis, E. coli and K. pneumoniae strains. The photocatalytic removal of ciprofloxacin (CPF) and oxytetracyclin (OXT) antibiotics in water was also evaluated. The wFeHAp nanocomposites adsorbed and degraded the selected antibiotics successfully. Toxicity evaluation of the treated water after photodegradation using the four strains demonstrates the absence of toxic by-products at the end of the reaction. Therefore, Fe3O4@HAp nanoparticles are valuable for antimicrobial and photocatalysis applications.

Z-scheme WO3/PANI heterojunctions with enhanced photocatalytic activity under visible light: A depth experimental and DFT studies.

A WO3@PANI heterojunction photocatalyst with a various mass ratio of polyaniline to WO3 was obtained via the in situ oxidative deposition polymerization of aniline monomer in the presence of WO3 powder. The characterization of WO3@PANI composites was carried via X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM-EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflection spectroscopy (DRS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL). The photocatalytic efficiency of WO3@PANI photocatalysts was assessed by following the decomposition of the Rhodamine B (RhB) dye under visible light irradiation (λ >420 nm). The results evidenced the high efficiency of the WO3@PANI (0.5 wt %) nanocomposite in the photocatalytic degradation of RhB (90% within 120 min) under visible light irradiation 3.6 times compared to pure WO3. The synergistic effect between PANI and WO3 is the reason for the increased photogenerated carrier separation. The superior photocatalytic performance of the WO3@PANI catalyst was ascribed to the increased visible light in the visible range and the efficient charge carrier separation. Furthermore, the Density Functional Theory study (DFT) of WO3@PANI was performed at the molecular level, to find its internal nature for the tuning of photocatalytic efficiency. The DFT results indicated that the chemical bonds connected the solid-solid contact interfaces between WO3 and PANI. Finally, a plausible photocatalytic mechanism of WO3@PANI (0.5 wt %) performance under visible light illumination is suggested to guide additional photocatalytic activity development.

[Cerebral actinomycosis pseudotumor: a case report]. / Actinomycose cérébrale d'aspect pseudotumoral: à propos d'un cas.

INTRODUCTION: Cerebral actinomycosis is rare and difficult to diagnose. CASE REPORT: We report a case of a 45-year-old man hospitalized for seizures associated with fever and left hemiparesis. The white cell count and C-reactive protein were elevated. HIV serology was negative. Blood cultures remained sterile. The CT scan revealed hyperdense nodular lesions in the occipital area, with annular contrast uptake and peripheral edema causing a mass effect, suggestive of brain metastasis. The pathology examination of a surgical specimen disclosed cerebral actinomycosis. A dental origin of the infection was suspected. Hemiparesis remained after a 12-month antibiotic regimen associated with dental care and short-term corticosteroid therapy. CONCLUSION: Actinomycosis should be discussed as a possible diagnosis for all cerebral lesions, particularly in patients with a potential dental infection. Histology is required for positive diagnosis. Antibiotic therapy alone is generally sufficient; surgery is often performed for diagnostic purposes.

Amyloid goiter: first manifestation of systemic amyloidosis.

Amyloidosis is an abnormal extracellular deposit, which can occur in several tissues. The mechanism is not clearly defined. In systemic amyloidosis, all the organs can be infiltrated, but amyloid goiter as the initial manifestation of systemic amyloidosis is an exceedingly rare condition. We report a rare case of a patient who presented an amyloid goiter as the first manifestation of systemic amyloidosis. This patient had a known Crohn's disease. He developed a goiter without compressive complications. Histologic examination revealed a diffuse amyloid deposition surrounding thyroid follicles. The gland was enlarged with an eosinophilic and amorphic deposit. Confirmation of amyloid was made by the presence of congophilia and apple-green birefringence under polarized-light microscopy. An immunoreactivity was seen with AA protein. Amyloid goiter is a rare manifestation of amyloidosis. About 250 cases of amyloid goiter have been reported in the literature. The goiter enlarges rapidly and progressively, often becoming compressive like thyroid cancer. The prognosis depends on the treatment of the amyloidosis and the underlying chronic disease.

[Intracerebral schwannoma: case report]. / Schwannome intracérébral: étude anatomoclinique d'une observation.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: We report a well-documented case of intracerebral schwannoma, presenting as a cystic and solid parietal mass, arising in a 20-year-old woman. Possible mechanisms underlying the histogenesis of this rare lesion are discussed. METHODS: The clinical, radiological and pathological features are described. The relevant literature is reviewed. RESULTS: The patient presented seizures and elevated intracranial pressure. Neuroradiologic findings showed a right parietal lesion with cystic and tissular components, intensely enhanced after injecting intravenous gadolinium. The tumor was removed through a right parietal craniotomy. Histological and immunochemical features confirmed the diagnostic of intracerebral schwannoma. The patient is alive without progressive local disease or metastasis. The origin of intracerebral schwannomas has been the source of much controversy. The most popular hypothesis argues that these tumors arise from the proliferation of Schwann cells in the perivascular nerve plexii. CONCLUSIONS: Intracerebral schwannoma is an extremely rare benign tumor. About fifty cases have been reported. The importance of recognizing this tumor is stressed, particularly in younger patients, given its benign nature, radiological resemblance to other tumors and favorable response to resection without toxic treatment.

[Epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma of the nasal cavity]. / Carcinome épithélial-myoépithélial de la cavité nasale.

OBJECTIVES: Epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma is a rare tumor of the salivary glands with an incidence of less than 1%. Most cases arise in the parotid gland. Extraoral location is exceptional. The purpose of this study was to describe a case with nasal location, which is exceptionally reported in the literature. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We report a case of epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma arising in the nasal cavity of a 54-year-old woman. RESULTS: The woman presented with right recurrent epistaxis and on nasal endoscopic examination was found to have a polypoid tumor in the right nasal cavity. The CT-scan demonstrated a soft tissue mass without extension to the rhinopharynx or bony destruction. Histopathologic examination revealed the tumor to consist of a mixture of a solid, tubular, and trabecular structures with a double-layered arrangement of inner eosinophilic cells and outer clear cells. Dual differentiation toward myoepithelial and epithelial cells was confirmed immunohistochemically. CONCLUSION: The occurrence of epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma in the nasal cavity is possible. In published cases, no recurrence or metastasis has been reported in this location.

[Sclerosing hemangioma of the lung: a rare lesion with a difficult diagnosis]. / L'hémangiome sclérosant du poumon: une lésion rare et de diagnostic difficile.

Sclerosing hemangioma of the lung is a rare lesion described for the first time in 1956 by Liebow. We report a case in a 45 year-old woman who was admitted for exploration of chronic cough. The chest x-ray revealed a round opacity, well delimited in the left pulmonary parenchyma. Surgical resection enabled the histopathological diagnosis of sclerosing hemangioma. We review progress in our knowledge of the histogenesis and diagnosis of this tumor. Immunohistochemistry has been highly contributory although numerous points remain controversial.

[Encapsulating peritonitis disclosing primary melanoma of the small intestine: a case report]. / Péritonite enccapsulante révélatrice d'un mélanome primitif du grêle: à propos d'une observation.

Encapsulating peritonitis is a chronic peritonitis leading to the constitution of the thick white nacred fibrosis membrane. It is a rare affection. Its physiopathology is poorly elucidated. Diagnosis is usually at operation. We report an unpublished case of a 36-year-old patient, admitted for an abdominal mass. The different investigations demonstrated small bowel tumor with entrapped ileal and jejunal loops within a capsule. Diagnosis was made at the time of operation by discovering an encapsulating peritonitis caused by a primary malignant melanoma of the small bowel, which is an exceptional affection.

[Comparison of two hepatitis C virus typing assays in a Tunisian population]. / Comparaison de deux méthodes de typage du virus de l'hépatite C dans une population tunisienne.

In patients with hepatitis C, it is necessary to determine the genotype of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) to tailor treatment schedules. HCV-positive sera from 60 chronically infected patients were analyzed by two methods: serotyping and genotyping, to evaluate the suitability of serotyping method for routine determination of HCV genotype; 47 men and 13 women were included in this study, nine were renal transplant patients and five were hemodialysis patients. Anti-HCV antibodies were detected by Elisa (HCV Ab III, Innogenetics SA) and confirmed by immunoblot assay (INNO-LIA-HCV Ab III update, Innogenetics SA). Genotyping analysis was performed by a line probe assay (Inno-LiPA-HCV, Innogenetics SA) and serotypes were determined by an Elisa-based serotyping assay (Murex HCV serotyping 1-6 HCO2, Murex SA) which detect type specific antibodies against NS4-derived epitopes. Among 60 patients positive for anti-HCV antibodies and confirmed by immunoblot assay only 90% show a strong reactivity with NS4. We found the following genotype distribution : 1b (73.3%), 4 (10%), 1a (5%), 3a (5%), 4c/4d (5%) and 1 not classified (1.7%). The most prevalent serotype was type 1 (60%) followed by serotype 6 (20%), 4 (8.3%), 2 (1.7%) and 10% were no type specific antibodies. The sensitivity of the serotyping and the genotyping assays was 90% with a total concordance of 68.3%. Thirteen samples revealed discrepant results with genotype : 1b (4), 1a (3), 3a (3), 4 (2) and 4c/4d (1). This study indicates that the serotyping assay is less specific than genotyping. However, the test is rapid, relatively easy to perform and represent a reliable alternative in laboratories that lack the specific expertise to typing the HCV by molecular methods.

[Extra-adrenal gland pheochromocytoma. Apropos of 3 cases and review of the literature]. / Le phéochromocytome extrasurrénalien. A propos de trois observations et revue de la littérature.

The authors report three new cases of ectopic pheochromocytoma: latero-aortic, bladder and near the kidney. From the review of the literature, they propose a diagnostic and therapeutic strategy for the management of ectopic localisation of pheochromocytoma.

[Adrenal myelolipoma]. / Le myélolipome surrénalien.

The authors report a case of myelolipoma discovered in a 57 year-old woman by ultrasonography and computed tomography. The tumour was 10 cm in diameter and weighed 350 grams. This case is discussed in the light of a review of the literature.

[Encapsulated papillary carcinoma of the thyroid gland. Particular histological aspect of a case with review of the literature]. / Le carcinome papillaire encapsulé de la thyroïde. Aspect histologique particulier d'une observation avec revue de la littérature.

The authors report a case of encapsulated papillary neoplasm in the right lobe of the thyroid of a 36-year-old woman. This neoplasm was a papillary encapsulated carcinoma with variable histologic patterns not properly described in the literature. In the light of a review of the literature, the authors stress the macroscopic and histologic aspects of this tumor and they discuss the prognosis and therapeutic tools used to cure this neoplasm.

[Melanotic schwannoma. A case with review of the literature]. / Le schwannome mélanotique. Une observation avec revue de la littérature.

The authors report a case of melanotic schwannoma in a 46-year-old man after 2 years of bilateral sciatica. Surgical removal was incomplete, because of the posterior site of the tumor. The patient was alive and well, 2 years after surgical removal, with some surgical sequelae. The authors stress the diagnostic difficulties of this melanotic and review the previously reported cases in a comparative study.

[Bladder pheochromocytoma and pregnancy. A case report]. / Phéochromocytome vésical et grossesse. Une observation.

The authors report the case of a 31-year old patient who successfully completed a pregnancy despite unsuspected bladder pheochromocytoma. After delivery, the patient required care post-partum due to serious hemodynamic problems. Hypertension had been attributed to toxemia of pregnancy. The authors recall the diagnostic difficulties of tumors of this type, and the means which can be used for topographical diagnosis and the precautions to be taken before this tumor can be treated surgically.