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Background: Arthropods parasites of bats play a crucial role in both ecological and public health contexts, as they have the potential to transmit zoonotic agents. The study aims to identify the distribution, and host-parasite associations of bat ectoparasites in the Grand Maghreb region (Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia), which has been largely understudied., Methods: A thorough analysis of published records was conducted and we included our own field data., Results: The checklist reveals a total of 43 ectoparasite species, encompassing a range of taxa. The list comprises 9 tick species, 11 mite species (including a chigger-mite), 11 bat fly species, 3 species of bugs, and 9 species of fleas. Extensive research efforts uncovered 141 host-parasite associations. Our data presents several new country records, documenting for the first time the presence of Carios vespertilionis and Raymondia huberi in Tunisia, Ixodes simplex and Spinturnix plecotinus in Algeria., Conclusion: By compiling and analysing available information, we have provided for the first time an up-to-date checklist of bat ectoparasites and their host associations in the region. This knowledge contributes to a better understanding of the epidemiological implications associated with bat ectoparasites, emphasizing their ecological and public health importance. The study's findings call for continued investigations and monitoring of bat ectoparasites to mitigate potential risks and safeguard both human and animal populations., (© 2023. The Author(s) under exclusive licence to Witold Stefański Institute of Parasitology, Polish Academy of Sciences.)

Carmustine (BCNU) has proved to be of value against a variety of primary brain tumors. This agent exhibits a steep dose-response curve in in vitro and animal tumor models and has been proposed for use in high-dose chemotherapy as a single agent or in combination. We conducted a phase II study to assess high-dose BCNU in children with high-grade gliomas. A total of 13 children with high-grade gliomas were treated in a phase II study using high-dose BCNU (800 mg/m2) followed by autologous bone marrow transplantation. Eight patients were newly diagnosed, and five were treated at the time of tumor recurrence. Seven patients had diffuse intrinsic brain-stem gliomas. The response was assessed at 1 month after treatment. Only one objective effect was observed. Five patients had stable disease and seven progressed. The immediate toxicity was mild; however, one patient developed fatal respiratory distress at 50 days after treatment with high-dose BCNU. Dose escalation of BCNU does not seem beneficial in children with high-grade gliomas.

Background: Microscopic extrascleral involvement and involvement of optic nerve resection line are accepted risk factors for orbital and/or metastatic disease from retinoblastoma. Conversely, choroidal and retrolaminar optic nerve involvement are questionable risk factors. The aim of this retrospective study was to define the histopathologic risk factors for orbital and/or metastatic disease in patients treated by first-line enucleation., Methods: Histopathologic review of 172 evaluable patients treated at Institut Curie between 1977 and 1990 determined the degree of choroidal (minimal or massive), scleral (intra- or extrascleral), optic nerve (prelaminar, retrolaminar with or without resection line involvement), and anterior chamber invasion. The degree of differentiation was also analyzed. The log rank test was used for univariate analysis and the Cox regression model was used for multivariate analysis. RESULTS. Eighty-seven percent of the 172 patients were disease free at 3 years. Twenty-three patients developed retinoblastoma recurrence. The disease-free survival was significantly different among the five subgroups of choroidal or scleral invasion (P = 3 x 10(-3). The differences among the four subgroups of optic nerve invasion were also significant (P = 10(-4)). Classical factors were confirmed in our series (extrascleral involvement and involvement of optic nerve resection line). Multivariate analysis of the 149 patients without these classical risk factors revealed two factors that increase the risk of orbital and/or metastatic disease: massive choroidal invasion and postlaminar optic nerve involvement., Conclusions: In our experience, retrolaminar optic nerve involvement, with free resection line, and massive choroidal invasion significantly increase the risk for orbital and/or metastatic disease.

Background: Orbital involvement is a rare occurrence in retinoblastoma but still carries a bad prognosis. The aim of this study was to define more clearly the role of chemotherapy in this advanced disease., Methods: Between 1977 and 1991, 33 patients were treated at the Services de Pédiatrie at Institut Curie (Paris, France) for orbital involvement of retinoblastoma, which was isolated in 20 patients and associated with metastases in 13 patients (outside the central nervous system [CNS], 6; within the CNS, 7). Treatment included chemotherapy for 33 patients, irradiation of the orbit for 23 patients, and intrathecal chemotherapy and/or CNS irradiation in selected patients., Results: The plateau phase of the survival curve was reached at 15 months, with a survival of 34% plus or minus 8%. The disease free interval was longer when patients had no CNS disease (P < 0.05). Twenty of the 21 recurrences (95%) occurred within 1 year after diagnosis of orbital involvement., Conclusions: Intensive chemotherapy using cyclophosphamide, platinum compounds, epipodophyllotoxins, doxorubicin, and vincristine was effective in orbital involvement of retinoblastoma even with associated extra-CNS metastases. However, associated CNS disease still carries a bad prognosis, and long term follow-up is necessary to evaluate the risk of a second tumor.