Does lambing season affect mother-young relationships and lamb vigor in D'man sheep reared in oases?

Although sheep are known to be seasonal breeders and give birth in winter, not all of them follow this trend. A few breeds can be mated and give birth all year round, meaning that mothers and neonates will have to face contrasting climatic conditions. The aim of this study was to test whether lambing season affects maternal and neonatal behaviors in D'man sheep. During four different lambing seasons (winter, autumn, summer and spring), periparturient ewes (n = 111) and their lambs (n = 213) were kept under 24-h-video surveillance in order to record postpartum behaviors. Mother-young preference was tested around 48 h after parturition. Lamb vigor was studied by the determination of birth weight, early postnatal behavior and rectal temperature at birth and 48 h later. Litter expulsion time was not affected by lambing season, but birth weight was biased against summer and winter born lambs. Ewes provided a higher intensity of care to their offspring in winter: latency for grooming was shorter and time spent grooming was longer compared to lambing in spring and summer (P = 0.01 in all cases). On the other hand, lambs were the most active in spring as they were faster to extend their hind legs (P = 0.01), stand up (P = 0.04) and reach the udder (P = 0.04). Rectal temperature at 48 h was affected by season of birth (P < 0.001) with higher values observed in summer. Glycemia variation between birth and 48 h was the lowest in spring born lambs and plasma levels increased less in spring born lambs than in winter (P < 0.0001), autumn (P < 0.0001) and summer born lambs (P < 0.0001). In the choice test, mothers clearly preferred their own young and no season effect was detected except that in the first minute of the test they spent less time near their own young in winter than in the other seasons (P = 0.04). Lambs also chose their mother successfully without any major effect of the season however, but winter born lambs were the least vocal (P = 0.01). Overall, this study show that maternal care, lamb behavior and vigor vary lightly according to seasons, albeit not in a consistent manner. In conclusion, a season is no more detrimental than another for the onset of mother-young relationships.

Management of a giant retroperitoneal leiomyoma: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Leiomyomas are benign tumors observed mainly in adult women. The retroperitoneum is a rare location for leiomyomas; almost 100 cases have been reported. Because retroperitoneal leiomyomas are paucisymptomatic and the tumor size at diagnosis is relatively large, surgical management is challenging. Regular follow-up is required because recurrence and malignant sarcomatous transformation have been described in a few cases. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a case of a 52-year-old North African woman with a 22-cm retroperitoneal leiomyoma. A preoperative embolization was performed 2 days before surgery. The clinical, therapeutic, and evolutive aspects of this rare entity are discussed. CONCLUSIONS: Despite its benignity, retroperitoneal leiomyoma is a challenging diagnostic, therapeutic, and evolutive condition. Surgeons must consider mainly the tumor's vascularization. Regular follow-up is mandatory because malignant transformation cannot be excluded.

Scrotal calcinosis: two case reports.

BACKGROUND: Scrotal calcinosis is a rare and benign condition. It usually gives rise to few symptoms, and the impact is mainly functional and aesthetic. It is considered part of dystrophic calcinosis cutis. Surgical management is the only curative approach, and recurrence has been described in few cases. CASE PRESENTATION: We report cases of two North African white patients with operated scrotal calcinosis. We describe the clinical and histological aspects as well as a pathogenic hypothesis and surgical management principles. CONCLUSIONS: A surgical approach to scrotal calcinosis must consider the aesthetic and functional aspects postoperatively. A complete excision prevents recurrence. Psychological support is required in association with surgery because the lesions are benign and concern an intimate part of the body.

[Familial psoriasis: descriptive report of 9 families]. / Le psoriasis familial: etude descriptive à propos de 9 familles.

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease. The familial nature of psoriasis has long been recognized. Aim of our study was to describe the epidemiological, clinical and genetic features of familial psoriasis. METHODS: Through a prospective study we investigated during a study period of lyear (2006-2007) 9 Tunisian unrelated multiplex families. Patients with psoriasis and their available family members were examined by the same dermatologist. RESULTS: Thirty nine individual presented psoriasis (25 men and 4 women), with a mean age at onset about 19.8 years. With the systematic exam of member's family we discover 11 cases of unknown psoriasis. The common form of psoriasis was the preponderant one (37 cases). The nails, the scalp, the mucous membranes were involved respectively in 21, 12 and 13 cases. The psoriasis was severe in 11 cases. CONCLUSION: Through this study we find similar epidemiological and clinical features of those reported previously. The intra and inter-familial variability was evident in our patients.

Acebutolol-induced subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus.

Beta-blocking medications are rarely associated with drug-induced lupus erythematosus syndrome and have never been incriminated as a cause of subacute lupus erythematosus (SCLE). We present herein the first case of SCLE induced by acebutolol. A 57-year-old woman presented with a 1-month history of a cutaneous eruption of the photo-exposed areas. One month ago, the patient had started a treatment with oral acebutolol to cure a hypertension of 1-year evolution. Physical examination revealed erythematous scaly annular plaques, involving the face, arms and trunk. Immunologic serology findings revealed a positive titer of antinuclear antibodies up to 1/1,280 with positivity of antihistone and Ro/SSA antibodies. Acebutolol was stopped, and the lesions cleared completely 4 months later. Literature data, along with our case, suggest a link between acebutolol therapy and the onset of a lupus syndrome. Although this is the first report of acebutolol-induced SCLE, we should be aware of this occurrence, and avoidance of acebutolol is recommended in patients with stigmata of lupus erythematosus.