MR imaging of intracranial hemangiopericytomas.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the MR features of primary intracranial hemangiopericytomas (HPCs) on conventional imaging, diffusion and MR spectroscopy and aim to determinate distinguishing features from meningiomas. METHODS: From 2006 to 2012, seven patients with pathologically confirmed primary intracranial HPCs were included. The clinical data, conventional MR findings (n=7), DWI features (n=7) and MR spectroscopy (n=5) were retrospectively analyzed. ADC values of the HPCs (n=7) were measured on ADC map and were compared with that of contralateral normal white matter. RESULTS: Of the seven HPCs, four were anaplastic HPCs (WHO grade III) and three were HPCs (WHO grade II). MR pattern consisted in lobulated or irregular margin tumors in all cases with cross-leaf growth on both side of the falx in two cases. The lesions showed mainly iso signal (n=4) on T1 WI and heterogeneous high signal (n=5) on T2 WI. Heterogenity was mainly related to intra tumoral hemorrhage (n=4), and proeminent intratumoral flow voids (n=3). Marked heterogeneous enhancement (n=5) with dural tail (n=4) was noted. All tumours showed significant peritumoral edema. ADC values of the tumor tissue component range between 0.638 and 1.50×10(-3)mm/s(2) (average = 1,02). Three grade II HPCs showed higher values compared to normal parenchyma ADC (range between 0.772 and 0.930×10(-3)mm/s(2) with average of 0.830), whereas grade III HPCs showed either equal (three cases) or decreased ADC values (one case). MRS showed in all cases markedly increased Cho with lip/lac peak, decreased Cr and almost absent NAA. High mI peak with large glutamine/glutamate were noted in the three grade II HPCs. CONCLUSION: Conventional MR pattern when combined with DWI and MRS findings are highly suggestive of HPC and appear valuable data to differentiate HPCs from meningiomas.

[Primary retroperitoneal fibrosis: a report of 7 cases]. / La fibrose rétropéritonéale idiopathique: à propos de sept cas.

Retroperitoneal fibrosis is a rare fibrosing disease of the retroperitoneal tissue characterized by a significant clinico-biological polymorphism. No codified treatment exists, particularly for the primary type which is the most frequent. We retrospectively report on 7 cases of primary retroperitoneal fibrosis seen over a period of 10 years. There were 4 men and 3 women (mean age: 58 years).The most common presenting symptom was lumbar pain. A biological inflammatory syndrome and a renal insufficiency were found in 4 cases. The diagnosis was confirmed by abdominal CT scan and/or histology. Etiological investigations remained negative. The evolution was generally favourable under corticosteroids. Retroperitoneal fibrosis requires a careful etiological investigation before it is considered primary. Prognosis is good in spite of the absence of a well codified treatment.

Folic acid complexes with human and bovine serum albumins.

The interaction of folic acid with human serum (HSA) and bovine serum albumins (BSA) at physiological conditions, using constant protein concentration and various folic acid contents was investigated. FTIR, UV-visible and fluorescence spectroscopic methods as well as molecular modelling were used to analyse folic acid binding sites, the binding constant and the effect on HSA and BSA stability and conformations. Structural analysis showed that folic acid binds HSA and BSA via both hydrophilic and hydrophobic contacts with overall binding constants of Kfolic acid-HSA=8.1 (±0.5)×10(4)M(-1) and Kfolic acid-BSA=1.0 (±0.3)×10(5)M(-1). The number of bound acid molecules per protein was 1.7 (±0.4) for HSA and 1.5 (±0.3) for BSA complexes. Molecular modelling showed participation of several amino acids in folic acid-protein complexes stabilised by hydrogen bonding network. Folic acid complexation altered protein secondary structure by major reduction of α-helix from 59% (free HSA) to 35% (acid-complex) and 62% (free BSA) to 25% (acid-complex) with an increase in random coil, turn and ß-sheet structures indicating protein unfolding. The results suggest that serum albumins might act as carrier proteins for folic acid in delivering it to target molecules.

Corynebacterium neomassiliense sp. nov., a new bacterium isolated in a stool sample from a healthy male pygmy.

An obligate aerobic, Gram-positive, non-sporulating, rod-shaped bacterium designated Marseille P3888T was isolated from the stool sample of a healthy male pygmy. We described its main characteristics, and sequenced and annotated its genome. The 16S rRNA analysis revealed 98.10% sequence similarity with Corynebacterium terpenotabidum, the phylogenetically closest species with standing in nomenclature. The genome had a size of 3142051 bp with a guanine + cytosine content of 66.83%. We proposed the creation of the new Corynebacterium neomassiliense sp. nov. strain Marseille-P3888T.

Taxono-genomics and description of Gordonibacter massiliensis sp. nov., a new bacterium isolated from stool of healthy patient.

Using the taxono-genomics concept, we describe here a strictly anaerobic Gram-positive bacillus. This strain was isolated from the stool sample of a 50-year-old healthy Bedouin woman. The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis and the whole-genome sequencing showed that this isolate belonged to the genus Gordonibacter in the family Eggerthellaceae. Based on these criteria, we propose the creation of Gordonibacter massiliensis sp. nov., strain Marseille-P2775T (= CSUR P2775).

Description of Gracilibacillus phocaeensis sp. nov., a new halophilic bacterium isolated from Senegalian human stool.

Using the taxonogenomics method, we describe Gracilibacillus phocaeensis strain Marseille-P3801, a new species previously isolated from a salty stool of a 20-year-old man from N'Diop, Senegal. It is a Gram-positive, aerobic and motile bacillus. The major fatty acids are C15:0-anteiso (59%), C16:0 (16%) and C17:0-anteiso (11%). Strain Marseille-P3801 exhibits a 98.45% sequence similarity with Gracilibacillus thailandensis strain TP2-8, the phylogenetically closest species. Its genome is 4.66 Mb with 39.6 mol% G + C content.

Urinicoccus massiliensis gen. nov., sp. nov., a new bacterium isolated from a human urine sample from a 7-year-old boy hospitalized for dental care.

Urinicoccus massiliensis strain Marseille-P1992T (= CSURP1992 = DSM100581) is a species of a new genus isolated from human urine.

[Myositis ossificans circumscripta: the contribution of imaging]. / La myosite ossifiante circonscrite: apport de l'imagerie.

OBJECTIVES: Illustrate the specific and nonspecific aspects of myositis ossificans circumscripta (MOC) in standard imaging, cross-sectional imaging (sonography, CT, and MRI), and bone scintigraphy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eight patients presenting with MOC (three men and five women) were explored using standard radiography (eight cases), sonography (seven cases), scintigraphy (four cases), CT (six cases), and MRI (four cases). RESULTS: Standard x-rays and sonography of the soft tissue showed a well-defined mass containing calcifications in 75% of the cases. The CT scan diagnosed MOC in four cases, showing calcified masses separated from the adjacent bone by a clear radiotransparent border or afferent peripheral tumoral calcifications highly suggestive of MOC. MRI was nonspecific. Bone scintigraphy showed hyperfixation in the four cases imaged. CONCLUSION: Standard x-rays were useful to demonstrate the calcifications of MOC and to identify their relation with the subjacent bone. Sonography and bone scintigraphy were interesting in monitoring the lesion's maturation. In addition to early detection of calcifications, CT can precisely localize the lesion before surgical ablation. MRI is a very sensitive technique in detecting small lesions at an early stage, but it is nonspecific and does not remove the necessity of biopsy to eliminate the possibility of a malignant disease.

[Vertebral primary malignant germ cell tumor of thoracic spine: an exceptional observation]. / Tumeur germinale primitive à localisation vertébrale dorsale chez un adulte : une observation exceptionnelle.

Vertebral primary malignant germ cell tumors are rarely located in thoracic spine. We report the case of a 44-year-old female, in which a symptomatology including dorsal rachidial pain, intercostal neuralgia, straight and transit disorder revealed a thoracic vertebral primary malignant germ cell tumor. The sole location of a vertebral primary malignant germ cell tumor in adult, exceptionally reported in the literature, prompted us to relate this observation.

Binding of biogenic and synthetic polyamines to ß-lactoglobulin.

The bindings of biogenic polyamines spermine (spm), spermidine (spmd) and synthetic polyamines 3,7,11,15-tetrazaheptadecane·4HCl (BE-333) and 3,7,11,15,19-pentazahenicosane·5HCl (BE-3333) with ß-lactoglobulin (ß-LG) were determined in aqueous solution. FTIR, UV-vis, CD and fluorescence spectroscopic methods as well as molecular modeling were used to determine the polyamine binding sites and the effect of polyamine complexation on protein stability and secondary structure. Structural analysis showed that polyamines bind ß-LG via both hydrophilic and hydrophobic contacts. Stronger polyamine-protein complexes formed with synthetic polyamines than biogenic polyamines, with overall binding constants of K(spm-ß-LG)=3.2(±0.6)×10(4) M(-1), K(spmd-ß-LG)=1.8(±0.5)×10(4) M(-1), K(BE-333-ß-LG)=5.8(±0.3)×10(4) M(-1) and K(BE-3333-ß-LG)=6.2(±0.05)×10(4) M(-1). Molecular modeling showed the participation of several amino acids in the polyamine complexes with the following order of polyamine-protein binding affinity: BE-3333>BE-333>spermine>spermidine, which correlates with their positively charged amino group content. Alteration of protein conformation was observed with a reduction of ß-sheet from 57% (free protein) to 55-51%, and a major increase of turn structure from 13% (free protein) to ∼21% in the polyamine-ß-LG complexes, indicating a partial protein unfolding.