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BackgroundAdapted physical activity programs have shown promising results in reducing the physical, social and psychological side effects associated with breast cancer, but the extent to which they can be effectively adopted, implemented and maintained is unclear. The aim of this study is to use the framework to guide the planning and evaluation of programs according to the 5 following keys: Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation and Maintenance (RE-AIM) framework to evaluate a fencing program under the French acronym RIPOSTE (Reconstruction, Image de soi, Posture, Oncologie, Santé, Thérapie, Escrime) literally in English (Reconstruction, Self-Image, Posture, Oncology, Health, Therapy, Fencing). This program is an innovative intervention focused on improving the quality of life (QoL) of breast cancer surgery patients through fencing.MethodsA convergent mixed methods pilot study was conducted to preliminary evaluate the different RE-AIM dimension of the pilot program. Twenty-four participants who have just undergone surgery for invasive breast cancer were randomly allocated in two groups: one group started immediately after their inclusion (Early RIPOSTE group) and the other started 3 months following their inclusion (Delayed RIPOSTE group). Participants answered a questionnaire at inclusion and at the end of the program on QoL, shoulder functional capacity, fatigue, anxiety-depression and physical activity.ResultsRIPOSTE program was able to reach mainly young and dynamic participants, attracted by the originality of fencing and keen to improve their physical condition. Regarding effectiveness, our results suggest a trend to the improvement of QoL, shoulder functional capacity, fatigue and anxiety-depression state, even without any significant differences between the Early RIPOSTE group and the Delayed RIPOSTE group.DiscussionsThe cooperation, exchanges and cohesion within the group greatly facilitated the adoption of the program, whereas interruptions during school vacations were the main barriers. The intervention was moderately well implemented and adherence to the protocol was suitable.ConclusionRIPOSTE is an acceptable and effective program for involving breast cancer survivors in physical activity, that needs to be tested at a larger scale to investigate its effectiveness, but has the potential to be transferred and scaled up worldwide.

Le choix de traiter de « l’individualisme hédoniste » dans la littérature féminine tunisienne d’expression française s’est imposé au vu des mutations et des changements sociaux de grande envergure qui se sont produits ces dernières décennies au sein de la société tunisienne avec l’évolution incessante de la condition féminine. Notre contribution se propose de faire le point sur le statut de la femme tunisienne moderne dans sa crise ainsi que dans sa révolte. Certains thèmes reviennent comme une constante ou un leitmotiv dans les romans féminins tunisiens, témoignant de leur pertinence notamment la substance intimiste qui s’impose comme une compensation à l’échec des personnages romanesques ou un moyen de relativiser les souffrances et d’accéder au bonheur. Il est ainsi assez aisé pour les lecteurs d’Emna Belhaj Yahia de constater les affleurements de l’intime dans ses œuvres. En effet, le roman féminin tunisien du nouveau siècle pose le motif de l’amour comme une rupture avec la thématique des décennies précédentes. L’importance de ce thème renouvelé converge avec une quête de plaisir et de bonheur perceptible à travers les processus d’introspection et de rétrospection. De fait, l’évocation nostalgique de l’enfance devient un automatisme de l’écriture des femmes tunisiennes y cherchant un monde paisible et un moyen d’évasion. Dans la même perspective, les personnages mis en jeu projettent cette intériorité et cet intimisme sur l’espace. La mer, le hammam ou encore la maison ancestrale sont autant espaces de liberté, de jouissance et de plaisir qu’espaces de création littéraire. Abstract The choice to deal with “hedonistic individualism” in French-speaking Tunisian women's literature was obvious in view of the large-scale mutations and social changes that have occurred in recent decades within Tunisian society with the incessant evolution of the status of women. Our contribution aims to take stock of the status of modern Tunisian women in their crisis as well as in their revolt. Certain themes recur like a constant or a leitmotif in Tunisian women's novels, testifying to their relevance, notably the intimate substance which imposes itself as a compensation for the failure of the fictional characters or a means of putting suffering into perspective and achieving happiness. It is thus quite easy for readers of Emna Belhaj Yahia to notice the outcroppings of the intimate in her works. Indeed, the Tunisian women's novel of the new century poses the motif of love as a break with the theme of previous decades. The importance of this renewed theme converges with a quest for pleasure and happiness perceptible through the processes of introspection and retrospection. In fact, the nostalgic evocation of childhood becomes an automatism in the writing of Tunisian women seeking a peaceful world and a means of escape. In the same perspective, the characters involved project this interiority and this intimacy onto the space. The sea, the hammam or even the ancestral house are as much spaces of freedom, enjoyment and pleasure as spaces of literary creation.

ABSTRACT: The fluctuations of the Tunisian society, generated and reinforced by the phenomenon of modernization which is thwarted by the winds of conservatism that blow over the country, require a rethinking of the status of the modern woman. Thus, the condition of the woman is to be placed between a sort of suffocation and constraints which are originally found in the socio-cultural reality and a form of emancipation and freedom. This study seeks to explore the image of the modern Tunisian woman, which is based on this ambivalence, in Chronique Frontalière by Emna Belhaj Yahia. The focus will be on describing the crisis experienced by each female character. Zeineb and Narjess suffer from a triple exile: an exile in the body, an exile in the language and an exile in space. Though these characters manage to overcome the constraints imposed by rites and old traditions, they are confronted by the moral prejudice and hypocrisy of a society of paradoxes. RÉSUMÉ : Les fluctuations de la société tunisienne qu’engendre et renforce le phénomène de la modernisation, contrarié par un vent du conservatisme qui souffle sur le pays, nous obligent à repenser le statut de la femme moderne. La condition de cette dernière est ainsi à situer entre une sorte d’étouffement et de contraintes trouvant leurs origines dans la réalité socio-culturelle et une forme d’émancipation et de liberté. Notre contribution se propose d’étudier l’image de la femme tunisienne moderne qui repose sur cette ambivalence, dans Chronique frontalière d’Emna Belhaj Yahia. Nous nous attacherons, en effet, à décrire la situation de crise que vit chaque personnage féminin. Zeineb et Narjess, les deux héroïnes du roman, souffrent d’un exil triple ; un exil dans le corps, un exil dans la langue et un exil dans l’espace. Ces dernières, bien qu’elles réussissent à surmonter les contraintes dictées par les rites et les vieilles traditions, se heurtent aux préjugés moraux et à l’hypocrisie d’une société de paradoxes.

This study examines a number of indole derivatives (C2-C5), were successfully prepared by the condensation reaction of diamine derivatives such as (3, 4-diaminobenzoic acid, benzene- 1, 2-diamine, urea and thiourea) with 2- [1, 1-dimethyl-1, 3-dihydro-2H-benzo[e]indol-2- ylidene] malonaldehyde [C1]. They produced when 1, 1, 2-trimethylbenz[e] indole and POCl3 were combined in the presence of dimethyl forma mide (DMF). Compounds (C2-C3) were prepared by refluxing of compound (C1) with (3, 4-diaminobenzoic acid, benzene-1, 2- diamine), while compounds (C4, C5) were synthesized through the reaction of compound (C1) with urea and thiourea respectively in the presence of hydrochloric acid [HCI] as catalyst, spectroscopic methods such as (FT-IR and nuclear resonance spectroscopy 1H-NMR) were used to confirm the compounds' purity. The agar well diffusion method was used to test new compounds for their, antibacterial activity against E. coli and S. aureus, and the findings were inconsistent.

Étant considérée par les critiques comme un art essentiellement temporel, la littérature se caractérise aussi par une ‘spatialité’, comme le souligne d’ailleurs Genette dans sa Figure II. En effet, le temps, les personnages et l’espace sont des composantes à pied d’égalité. Ceci dit, que l’espace est « une composante essentielle de la machine narrative » (Mitterand, 1980, pp. 211-212), qui détermine les relations entre les personnages et influe, d’une façon ou d’une autre, sur leurs actions. De fait, l’espace n’est pas un simple élément scénique, il établit des liens complexes avec les autres éléments du récit (temps, personnages et péripéties). L’analyse de ces liens et des significations de ces éléments révèle la façon dont le cadre spatial est perçu ou conçu. Dans Le corps de ma mère de Faouzia Zouari, la narratrice évoque la vie des femmes bédouines de Tunisie, et celle de sa mère, en particulier. Elle relate l’influence de l’espace dans laquelle cette dernière évolue, comment celle-ci est parvenue à se libérer d’une longue tradition ancestrale particulièrement contraignante pour les femmes, et décrit les mutations survenues avec la révolution du Jasmin. Le livre se compose de trois parties, et chacune d’elle se caractérise par son cadre spatial spécifique. Celui qui domine la première et la troisième partie, ‘le corps de ma mère’ et ‘l’exil de ma mère’, est Tunis (la capitale) et ses ‘cités de béton’. La romancière nous livre, dans ces deux chapitres, le récit familial extraordinaire de Yamna, sa mère qui a vécu dans un petit village de Tunisie, recluse pendant cinquante ans dans sa maison. Puis, malade, la vieille femme s’est trouvée déracinée à Tunis, où ses enfants insistaient pour qu’elle se fasse soignée. A l’hôpital moderne où elle va mourir, elle est accompagnée par ses filles, pour faire des confessions qui laissent transparaitre une perception de l’espace qui repose sur l’ambivalence entre réclusion et délivrance. La deuxième partie décrit le fossé entre campagne et grande ville en Tunisie, entre cultures traditionnelles, religion, superstition, djinns, coutumes ancestrales, contes et modernisation. L’opposition entre l’espace urbain et l’espace rural, en particulier le réquisitoire dressé contre la capitale, puis le corps féminin comme espace idéologique feront les objets de notre présente étude.

Since antiquity, the dichotomy of the beautiful and the ugly structures our societies and our relationship to the world. The literature of the XXth and XXIst centuries does not escape this antithesis and opposes the beautiful and proper gesture to the ugly and unseemly gesture. The Tunisian writer Ahmed MAHFOUDH, nicknamed "writer of the city" because all his novels stage the city of Tunis with its medina and its European neighborhoods, manages his universe in terms of space opening to his characters the way of happiness and beauty, on the one hand, but also of frustration and ugliness, on the other. In this perspective, we will reflect on how this novel writing reflects the problem of beauty and ugliness as a symptom of the process of modernization marking the Tunisian society. To this end, we propose a study of the image of the city of Tunis in the work in question to grasp the two concepts of beauty and ugliness that involve each other and, which prove to be richer and more unpredictable than we think.

The effects of mulching on soil characteristics and plant development for pepper crops conducted in organic farming were studied in the Sahel coast of Tunisia. The types of mulching used for tests are straw mulching, compost mulching, and plastic mulching which were compared with bare soil without mulching (control). The soil characteristics under these different mulching systems were evaluated by soil physical and biological parameters such as penetration resistance at 0-60 cm layer, microbial biomass, organic matter, and water content at 0-20 cm layer. Measurements were performed every week for 50 days. The obtained results showed that compost mulching led to a better growth rate and improved the structural and water state of cultivated soil by decreasing its resistance to penetration and increasing its organic matter content. It can be concluded that the "Beldi" organic pepper crop under conservation tillage and compost mulching has presented the best combination thus leading to motivating results such as the positive effects of soil physical properties and microbial biomass on the final crop yield.

Abstract Centromeres are defined by chromatin containing the histone H3 variant CENP-A assembled onto repetitive α-satellite sequences, which are actively transcribed throughout the cell cycle. Centromeres play an essential role in chromosome inheritance and genome stability through coordinating kinetochores assembly during mitosis. Structural and functional alterations of the centromeres cause aneuploidy and chromosome aberrations which can induce cell death. In human cells, the tumor suppressor BRCA1 associates with centromeric chromatin in the absence of exogenous damage. While we previously reported that BRCA1 contributes to proper centromere homeostasis, the mechanism underlying its centromeric function and recruitment was not fully understood. Here, we show that BRCA1 association with centromeric chromatin depends on the presence of R-loops, which are non-canonical three-stranded structures harboring a DNA:RNA hybrid and are frequently formed during transcription. Subsequently, BRCA1 counteracts the accumulation of R-loops at centromeric α-satellite repeats. Strikingly, BRCA1-deficient cells show impaired localization of CENP-A, higher transcription of centromeric RNA, increased breakage at centromeres and formation of acentric micronuclei, all these features being R-loop-dependent. Finally, BRCA1 depletion reveals a Rad52-dependent hyper-recombination process between centromeric satellite repeats, associated with centromere instability and missegregation. Altogether, our findings provide molecular insights into the key function of BRCA1 in maintaining centromere stability and identity.

Summary: Background: While an association of the intraoperative driving pressure with postoperative pulmonary complications has been described before, it is uncertain whether the intraoperative mechanical power is associated with postoperative pulmonary complications. Methods: Posthoc analysis of two international, multicentre randomised clinical trials (ISRCTN70332574 and NCT02148692) conducted between 2011–2013 and 2014–2018, in patients undergoing open abdominal surgery comparing the effect of two different positive end–expiratory pressure (PEEP) levels on postoperative pulmonary complications. Time–weighted average dynamic driving pressure and mechanical power were calculated for individual patients. A multivariable logistic regression model adjusted for confounders was used to assess the independent associations of driving pressure and mechanical power with the occurrence of a composite of postoperative pulmonary complications, the primary endpoint of this posthoc analysis. Findings: In 1191 patients included, postoperative pulmonary complications occurrence was 35.9%. Median time–weighted average driving pressure and mechanical power were 14·0 [11·0–17·0] cmH2O, and 7·6 [5·1–10·0] J/min, respectively. While driving pressure was not independently associated with postoperative pulmonary complications (odds ratio, 1·06 [95% CI 0·88–1·28]; p=0.534), the mechanical power had an independent association with the occurrence of postoperative pulmonary complications (odds ratio, 1·28 [95% CI 1·05–1·57]; p=0.016). These findings were independent of body mass index or the level of PEEP used, i.e., independent of the randomisation arm. Interpretation: In this merged cohort of surgery patients, higher intraoperative mechanical power was independently associated with postoperative pulmonary complications. Mechanical power could serve as a summary ventilatory biomarker for the risk for postoperative pulmonary complications in these patients, but our findings need confirmation in other, preferably prospective studies. Funding: The two original studies were supported by unrestricted grants from the European Society of Anaesthesiology and the Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location AMC. For this current analysis, no additional funding was requested. The funding sources had neither a role in the design, collection of data, statistical analysis, interpretation of data, writing of the report, nor in the decision to submit the paper for publication.

Food security issue is getting more attention in middle-income countries such as Tunisia after the revolution 2011, where many factors affecting its food security are multiplied. An econometric analysis of food security was done through the Vector Error Correction Model approach (VECM). The result of this approach shows that there is a significant long-term causality between the dependent variables and the explanatory variables. Some signs of variables like land under cereals assert the hypothesis of Ricardo’s land rent theory and also attract attention for the preservation of land fertility in climate change context. However, there is a short-term causal relationship between food security and independents variables like: land under cereals, inflation and food imports. These results confirm that the issue of food security in Tunisia is a question of threat in the short and long-term instability. So, it is important today to readjust some factors to ensure food security in Tunisia like controlling inflation and lowering the food importation as short-term measures and preserving and improving the fertility of land under cereals and adopting climate change as long-term measures.

Introduction The British Thoracic Society (BTS) responded to a call from the pleural community to establish this new Training Standard to detail the capabilities in practice for thoracic ultrasound (TUS), which will build on the previous curricula and extend the remit to include training for the emergency provision of TUS.Methods BTS convened a working group to produce a set of Training Standards.Results This document provides a comprehensive Training Standard for TUS facilitating timely and improved management of patients with respiratory presentations, particularly (but not exclusively) pleural pathologies.Discussion The Training Standards document will be widely disseminated.

In this paper, we report on the chemical preparation, crystal details, vibrational, optical, and thermal behavior, and antibacterial activity of a new non-centrosymmetric compound: 4-tert-butyl-pyridinium tetrachloridocuprate. X-ray diffraction analysis shows that the structure has a 3D network made up of C–H…Cl and N–H…Cl H-bonds, and [CuCl4]2− anions have a shape halfway between a tetrahedron and a square planar structure in this compound’s monoclinic system. Hirshfeld surface analysis was used to explain the nature and extent of intermolecular interactions, highlighting the importance of the H-bonds and the C–H⋯π interactions in the structure’s stabilization. Additionally, SEM/EDX experiments were conducted. The powder X-ray diffraction investigation at room temperature validated the material purity. Moreover, the different functional groups were identified using FT-IR spectroscopy. In addition, the optical properties were investigated using UV-Vis absorption. The thermal stability of (C9H14N)2[CuCl4] was performed by TGA-DTA. The bactericidal potency of the title compound was surveyed.

Medicago truncatula is a forage crop of choice for farmers, and it is a model species for molecular research. The growth and development and subsequent yields are limited by water availability mainly in arid and semi-arid regions. Our study aims to evaluate the morpho-physiological, biochemical and molecular responses to water deficit stress in four lines (TN6.18, JA17, TN1.11 and A10) of M. truncatula. The results showed that the treatment factor explained the majority of the variation for the measured traits. It appeared that the line A10 was the most sensitive and therefore adversely affected by water deficit stress, which reduced its growth and yield parameters, whereas the tolerant line TN6.18 exhibited the highest root biomass production, a significantly higher increase in its total protein and soluble sugar contents, and lower levels of lipid peroxidation with greater cell membrane integrity. The expression analysis of the DREB1B gene using RT-qPCR revealed a tissue-differential expression in the four lines under osmotic stress, with a higher induction rate in roots of TN6.18 and JA17 than in A10 roots, suggesting a key role for DREB1B in water deficit tolerance in M. truncatula.

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is a low-to-intermediate grade sarcoma of dermal origin that rarely presents in the vulva, typically occurring on the trunk of young to middle-aged adults. Even though it has a low potential for distant metastases, it often recurs locally. Therefore, surgical excision is the treatment of choice. We report a case of DFSP with fibrosarcoma transformation involving the vulva treated by large excision with tumor free margins followed by plastic reconstruction. Our aim is to highlight this rare disease and through literature evaluate the safety and efficacy of surgical treatment. Early recognition of this rare entity whose localization and the aggressive nature of the fibrosarcomatous component will be an issue in the surgical management.

Background: Molecular classification of breast tumors has identified the basal-like subtype, with high heterogeneity and very poor prognosis. These tumors are mainly triple negative, characterized by the expression of basal markers CK5/6 and EGFR. In this study, we sought to investigate the features, outcome, and therapeutic modalities of basal-like breast cancers (BLBC). Methods: We retrospectively identified 90 BLBC patients diagnosed at the Department of Surgical Oncology of Salah Azaiez Institute between January 2009 and December 2013. Results: The mean age of our patients was 50 years, and 15.5% had a family history of breast cancer. The mean tumor size was 43.8 mm. Histological examination revealed invasive ductal carcinoma in 88.9% of the cases, metaplastic carcinoma in 5.6%, and medullary carcinoma and adenoid cystic carcinoma in 2.2%. BLBC was most often associated with a high tumor grade (55.3% had a grade 3 tumor) and a high Ki-67 proliferative index. Vascular invasion was found in 31.1% of the cases. Regarding lymph node involvement, 42.9% had positive lymph nodes and 7.9% featured distant metastases. Surgical treatment was provided for 85 patients. It consisted of conservative surgery in 40 cases and radical surgery in 45 cases. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy was administrated to 23 patients, with a 13% complete pathologic response. The rates of overall survival and disease-free survival at 3 years for localized BLBC were 74.4% and 75.9%, respectively. Conclusion: BLBCs are aggressive tumors associated with poor prognosis. Thus, to identify novel prognostic factors and therapeutic targets, prospective studies should investigate the epidemiological and evolutive profile of these tumors.

The chemical preparation, crystal structure, Hirshfeld surface analysis and spectroscopic characterization of the novel cadmium (II) 2,5-dichloro-p-phenylendiaminium decachlorotricadmate(II) hexahydrate complex, (C6H8Cl2N2)2[Cd3Cl10]·6H2O, has been reported. The atomic arrangement can be described as built up by an anionic framework, formed by edge-sharing [CdCl6]2− octahedra in linear polymeric chains spreading along the a-axis, while the organic cations surround these latters. The inspection of the Hirshfeld surface analysis helps to discuss the strength of hydrogen bonds and to quantify the inter-contacts, which reveal that H…Cl/Cl…H (38.9%), H…H (13.9%), and Cd…Cl/Cl…Cd (12.4%) are the main interactions that govern the crystal packing of the studied structure. SEM/EDXwas carried out and the powder XRD confirmed the good crystallinity of the material. FT-IR and the DFT calculation reveal the good correlation between the experimental and the theoretical wavenumbers. The HOMO-LUMO energy gap was used to predict the electric conductivity of the compound. Finally, the thermal TGA/DTA analysis shows stability until 380 K.

We used an integrated morpho-physiological, biochemical, and genetic approach to investigate the salt responses of four lines (TN1.11, TN6.18, JA17, and A10) of Medicago truncatula. Results showed that TN1.11 exhibited a high tolerance to salinity, compared with the other lines, recording a salinity induced an increase in soluble sugars and soluble proteins, a slight decrease in malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation, and less reduction in plant biomass. TN6.18 was the most susceptible to salinity as it showed less plant weight, had elevated levels of MDA, and lower levels of soluble sugars and soluble proteins under salt stress. As transcription factors of the APETALA2/ethylene responsive factor (AP2/ERF) family play important roles in plant growth, development, and responses to biotic and abiotic stresses, we performed a functional characterization of MtERF1 gene. Real-time PCR analysis revealed that MtERF1 is mainly expressed in roots and is inducible by NaCl and low temperature. Additionally, under salt stress, a greater increase in the expression of MtERF1 was found in TN1.11 plants than that in TN6.18. Therefore, the MtERF1 pattern of expression may provide a useful marker for discriminating among lines of M. truncatula and can be used as a tool in breeding programs aiming at obtaining Medicago lines with improved salt tolerance.

The human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine is the recommended prevention strategy for viruses-related cancers, but its acceptability remains controversial, primarily because of the relationship between sexual activity and HPV infection. Countries in the Middle East and North Africa are conservative vis-à-vis sexual behaviors, where Islam shapes people’s practices including sexual health, and imposes that sex be carried out within lawful context. Many sexually transmitted infections can be prevented if the rules of Islam are unfailingly applied by Muslims in that region. However, this is not guaranteed and a noticeable shift in the sexual behavior of the youth has been detected, including a drastic increase in unofficial sexual practices, which in the long-term increase HPV incidence and its related diseases. This study examines the available epidemiological data as well as the teachings in Islam’s sacred texts and scholars’ perspectives to describe the tensions that exist in Muslim cultures around sexuality. Understanding their influence and the function of these tensions can help illuminate the factors that contribute to barriers to accepting the vaccine.

Les recherches sur l’influence de l’environnement sur le comportement des individus se sont le plus souvent intéressées aux facteurs qui produisent des comportements positifs. Cependant, il serait pertinent de connaître les variables qui, au sein des hôtels, constitueraient des sources d’irritation susceptibles d’engendrer des réactions négatives et qui devraient être évitées. Cette recherche tente d’identifier les facteurs irritants des touristes français lors d’un séjour dans un hôtel Tunisien. Une approche exploratoire basée sur des entretiens en profondeur a permis d’identifier ces facteurs. Une analyse de contenu thématique révèle que ces facteurs peuvent, lorsqu’ils étaient évalués de manière défavorable, agir négativement sur le comportement des clients. Des recommandations managériales seront aussi proposées aux responsables hôteliers afin d’améliorer l’expérience des touristes.

Insulin is a vital peptide hormone that is a central regulator of glucose homeostasis, and impairments in insulin signaling cause diabetes mellitus. In principle, it should be possible to enhance the activity of insulin by inhibiting its catabolism, which is mediated primarily by insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE), a structurally and evolutionarily distinctive zinc-metalloprotease. Despite interest in pharmacological inhibition of IDE as an attractive anti-diabetic approach dating to the 1950s, potent and selective inhibitors of IDE have not yet emerged.We used a rational design approach based on analysis of combinatorial peptide mixtures and focused compound libraries to develop novel peptide hydroxamic acid inhibitors of IDE. The resulting compounds are approximately 10(6) times more potent than existing inhibitors, non-toxic, and surprisingly selective for IDE vis-à-vis conventional zinc-metalloproteases. Crystallographic analysis of an IDE-inhibitor complex reveals a novel mode of inhibition based on stabilization of IDE's "closed," inactive conformation. We show further that pharmacological inhibition of IDE potentiates insulin signaling by a mechanism involving reduced catabolism of internalized insulin.The inhibitors we describe are the first to potently and selectively inhibit IDE or indeed any member of this atypical zinc-metalloprotease superfamily. The distinctive structure of IDE's active site, and the mode of action of our inhibitors, suggests that it may be possible to develop inhibitors that cross-react minimally with conventional zinc-metalloproteases. Significantly, our results reveal that insulin signaling is normally regulated by IDE activity not only extracellularly but also within cells, supporting the longstanding view that IDE inhibitors could hold therapeutic value for the treatment of diabetes.

Onions contain valuable phytochemical compounds, including quercetin derivatives. This study explores the potential of onion extract as a natural additive in chicken patties. The optimized conditions involved sonication at 80% for 5 min with a 75% ethanol concentration. The onion extract exhibited total phenolic and flavonoid compound values of 255.63 mg GAE g-1 DR and 196.87 mg QE g-1 DR, respectively. The antioxidant activity of the onion extract was characterized by an IC50 of 12.74 µg/mL. This onion extract was dominated by quercetin derivatives (quercetin 4'-O-β-glycoside and quercetin-3-O-β-glycoside and quercetin-3,4'-O-β-diglycoside). Chicken patties treated with 2% onion extract exhibited superior pH stability, lowest thiobarbituric acid reactive substances level (0.40 mg/kg) and peroxide index (0.77 mEq O2/kg meat) and maintained color stability. Comparative analysis with BHT demonstrated the efficacy of onion extract in reducing lipid oxidation. These findings highlight the potential of a 2% onion extract as effective ingredient for enhancing the quality of chicken products.

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare malignant neuroendocrine tumor more common in immunosuppressed old patients. It is characterized by a high frequency of local recurrence, regional nodal metastasis, distant metastasis, and low survival rate. The diagnosis of MCC is challenging due to its rarity and can be clinically mistaken for other skin cancer. We report a case of locally advanced MCC of the left groin with aggressive behavior that was finally controlled with a combined treatment and we collected data from the literature to discuss the appropriate therapeutic algorithm for the management of this uncommon skin tumor.