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Hypericum genus is traditionally known for its medicinal use and its therapeutic and antioxidant effects. However, the toxic effect of this plant has not been much explored. Our study aimed at investigating the effect of Hypericum humifusum (Hh) leaf extracts on oxidative stress parameters in male rats. For it, we first focused on the phytochemical analysis of the aqueous and methanolic extracts of Hh leaves. Hence, Wistar rats were treated per gavage for 30 days and divided into Control (1 mL/rat, distilled water), A200 group (200 mg/kg body weight (bw) aqueous extract), A400 group (400 mg/kg bw aqueous extract), M10 group (10 mg/kg bw methanolic extract), M20 group (20 mg/kg bw methanolic extract). The phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of tannins, flavonoids, steroids, carbohydrates, and phenolic compounds. Biochemical and histological investigations were performed in plasma and liver tissue. Liver tissue homogenates were used for the measurement of malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels. At the same time, alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were assayed in plasma samples. Histological study was also conducted in liver. We showed that Hh extracts reduced relative liver weight and increased ALT, AST, LDH activities in treated groups compared to control group. These results were associated with an increase of MDA levels and a decrease of antioxidant enzyme activities (CAT and SOD) in liver tissues of treated rats. Histology of liver demonstrated several alterations showing necrosis, altered hepatocytes and lymphocyte migration mainly in A200 group and dilated sinusoids, foamy appearance of hepatocytes and lymphocyte accumulation in the other treated groups. This original work indicated that chronic consumption of Hh leaf extracts has no antioxidant effect but instead it induces oxidative stress and enhances markers of cell damage which was confirmed by histological study of liver rats.

Resume Introduction Les angiosarcomes du sein sont des tumeurs vasculaires rares. Elles representent 0,4 % de l’ensemble des tumeurs malignes du sein et 3 a 9 % des sarcomes mammaires. Patients et methode Il s’agit d’une etude retrospective portant sur dix cas d’angiosarcome (neuf femmes et un homme) du sein colliges au service d’immuno-histocytologie de l’hopital Salah Azaiez sur une periode de 31 ans entre 1977 et 2007. Resultat La moyenne d’âge etait de 40 ans. Le mode de decouverte a ete un nodule du sein avec un etat general conserve dans tout les cas. La taille moyenne de la tumeur etait de 5,5 cm. La mammographie a revele une masse bien limitee dans cinq cas. Une mastectomie a ete pratiquee chez huit patients associee dans quatre cas a une radiotherapie et dans un cas a une chimiotherapie. Le traitement conservateur a ete indique dans deux cas. L’examen histologique a montre un aspect typique d’angiosarcome dans huit cas. La survie sans recidive allait de quatre mois a 13 ans. Deux patientes ont ete perdues de vue apres le diagnostic d’angiosarcome. Quatre de nos patients n’ont pas developpe de recidive locale ou de metastase a distance. Deux patientes ont developpe une recidive locale ou de metastase a distance. Deux patientes ont developpe une recidive locale apres huit et 18 mois. Une patiente a developpe une metastase osseuse apres 29 mois. Conclusion Les angiosarcomes du sein sont des tumeurs rares qui posent un probleme diagnostique differentiel avec les angiomes. En consequent, une surveillance rapprochee et reguliere s’impose pour les tumeurs vasculaires.

Objective The aim of this review is to study natural history, presentation, treatment and prognosis of head and neck liposarcomas. Methods We carry a retrospective study about 15 patients diagnosed and treated in our department between 1969 and 2001. Therapeutic modalities included surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Results Tumors were mostly localized at the neck (4 cases) and the scalp (3 cases). Cervical lymphadenopathy was found in 1 case. Chest X-ray found showed metastases in 2 cases. Histological types of liposarcomas were the following: myxoid (5 cases), well differentiated (4 cases), pleomorphic (4 cases), round cell (1 case) and dedifferentiated (1 case). Twelve patients underwent surgery. Complete excision was performed in 7 cases. In the other 5 cases, exeresis was incomplete and 4 of them received postoperative radiotherapy. Three patients were not operated because of vascular involvement (1 case) or metastasis (2 cases), and they all received radiotherapy alone. After initial treatment, complete remission was achieved in 7 cases (46.7%). A recurrence occurred in 8 cases (53.3%). Two of these patients were reoperated and another one received chemotherapy. In the other 5 cases, the tumor was uncontrollable and no additional treatment has been proposed. Five-year survival rate was 87% for patients who underwent surgery alone, 75% for those who underwent surgery and postoperative radiotherapy, and 0% for those treated by radiotherapy alone. Conclusion The mainstay of treatment of head and neck liposarcomas is surgical excision and the prognosis is largely determined by the histological grade and the clinical stage.