Search

Tuberculosis is a rare but treatable infectious disease that continues to pose a significant health issue in regions with high prevalence. Its abdominopelvic localization can mimic advanced ovarian cancer, leading to diagnostic challenges. This report describes the case of a 33-year-old woman who was admitted to the gastroenterology unit with ascites, peritoneal thickening, and an ovarian mass on imaging. The diagnosis of abdominopelvic and peritoneal tuberculosis was confirmed after laparoscopy. The patient underwent antitubercular chemotherapy and showed clinical improvement.

Ocimum basilicum is a valuable source of bioactive metabolites with high preventive and therapeutic effectiveness. Here we aimed to investigate the effect of phenological stages (vegetative and flowering stages) on essential oil composition and biological activities of two varieties of O. basilicum (Fino Verde variety and Genovese varieties). To this end, the level of essential oils, flavonoids and phenols, as well as antioxidant and antifungal activities were measured. At the metabolic level, essential oil at vegetative stage of O. bailicum Fino Verde and Genovese variety was constituted by 22 and 26 compounds representing 71.68% and 82.54% of the total oil, respectively. Where germacrene D (10.07%), bicyclogermacrene (6.07%) and β-elemene (4.88%) were the most present components in Fino Verde variety. Moreover, 22.19% are oxygenated monoterpenes represented mainly by the linalool (15.18%) and 1.8 cineole (6.36%) in Genovese variety. The individuals of essential oils were significantly increased to 40 components in Fino Verde variety (98.01% of total essential oil) and decreased to 15 components (95.6% of total essential oil) in Genovese variety at flowering stage. At this stage, the oxygenated monoterpenes (78.4%) were the major fraction represented by linalool (40.1%) and 1.8 cineole (30.96%) in Fino Verde variety, however 64.69% were esters which mainly represented by the methyl cinnamate (64.69%), and 16.83% of oxygenated monoterpenes and Linalool (12.7%) were recorded for Genovese variety. Genovese variety showed the highest levels at both vegetative and flowering stage compared to Fino Verde variety. At flowering stage, the two varieties showed high antioxidant and antifungal activities. Overall, O. basilicum properties offer prospects for their use as a source, particularly at flowering stage to extend new medicines based on natural bioactive molecules.

Extralobar pulmonary sequestrations (ELS) are masses of non-functioning lung tissue that are supplied by an anomalous systemic artery and do not have a bronchial connection to the native tracheobronchial tree. On prenatal ultrasonography, an ELS appears as a well-defined echodense, homogeneous mass. Detection by color flow Doppler ultrasonography of a systemic artery from the aorta to the fetal lung lesion is a pathognomonic feature of fetal ELS. MR imaging may help in the diagnosis of pulmonary sequestration by demonstrating a solid, well-defined mass, and the feeding artery. In this case report, we describe the sonographic and MR diagnosis of an ELS in a fetus at 22 weeks gestation with a review of the available literature.

Introduction The abdomen is the most prevalent site of primarily unidentified fatal injury after blunt trauma, and represents the third major affected part. However, follow-up strategies of intra-abdominal injuries remain controversial. The aim of this study is to describe the characteristics of children with blunt abdominal trauma (BAT) and who presented radiographic amendments in re-imaging studies and predict factors that could identify patients group requiring control in this population. Methods A retrospective study was conducted in the department of pediatric surgery and the intensive care unit of Monastir involving all patients under the age of 14 years old who were admitted for blunt abdominal trauma between January 2010 and December 2021.An analysis of epidemiological, clinical, radiological and therapeutic management characteristics were performed. Results A total of 151 patients were included in this study with a mean age of six years. The sex ratio (m/f) was 2.7. Most trauma circumstances were related to road accidents (43.7%) and falls (32.4%). The liver, the spleen, and the kidneys were the most frequently affected organs. A combination of intra-abdominal lesions was recorded in 32 cases. 84% of the cases (110/131) of the reimaged patients had no complications, compared to 16% (21/131) who developed intra-abdominal complications. The complicated reimaging findings were significantly associated with high grade hepatic and renal injuries (p=0.019 and 0.002, respectively), and patient symptom persistence or development (p=0.001). Conclusion It is safe to avoid performing reimaging studies if clinical progression remains uneventful in children with low-grade hepatic, splenic, and renal lesions. However, the clinical assessment is the most crucial consideration during BAT management in children.

Introduction: The abdomen is the most prevalent site of primarily unidentified fatal injury after blunt trauma, and represents the third major affected part. However, follow-up strategies of intra-abdominal injuries remain controversial. The aim of this study is to describe the characteristics of children with blunt abdominal trauma (BAT) and who presented radiographic amendments in re-imaging studies and predict factors that could identify patients group requiring control in this population. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted in the department of pediatric surgery and the intensive care unit of Monastir involving all patients under the age of 14 years old who were admitted for blunt abdominal trauma between January 2010 and December 2021.An analysis of epidemiological, clinical, radiological and therapeutic management characteristics were performed. Results: A total of 151 patients were included in this study with a mean age of six years. The sex ratio (m/f) was 2.7. Most trauma circumstances were related to road accidents (43.7%) and falls (32.4%). The liver, the spleen, and the kidneys were the most frequently affected organs. A combination of intra-abdominal lesions was recorded in 32 cases. 84% of the cases (110/131) of the reimaged patients had no complications, compared to 16% (21/131) who developed intra-abdominal complications. The complicated reimaging findings were significantly associated with high grade hepatic and renal injuries (p=0.019 and 0.002, respectively), and patient symptom persistence or development (p=0.001). Conclusion: It is safe to avoid performing reimaging studies if clinical progression remains uneventful in children with low-grade hepatic, splenic, and renal lesions. However, the clinical assessment is the most crucial consideration during BAT management in children.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and the antioxidant germanium (Ge) are promising tools for boosting bioactive compound synthesis and producing healthier foods. However, their combined effect remains unexplored. This study demonstrates the synergistic impact of AMF and Ge on the growth, metabolite accumulation, biological activities, and nutritional qualities of Spinacia oleracea L. (spinach), a globally significant leafy vegetable. Individually, Ge and AMF increased biomass by 68.1% and 22.7%, respectively, while their combined effect led to an 86.3% increase. AMF and Ge also improved proximate composition, with AMF–Ge interaction enhancing crude fiber and mineral content (p < 0.05). Interestingly, AMF enhanced photosynthesis-related parameters (e.g., total chlorophyll) in Ge treated plants, which in turn increased carbohydrate accumulation. This accumulation could provide a route for the biosynthesis of amino acids, organic acids, and fatty acids, as evidenced by increased essential amino acid and organic acid levels. Consistently, the activity of key enzymes involved in amino acids biosynthesis (e.g., glutamine synthase (GS), methionine biosynthase (MS), lysine biosynthase (LS)) showed significant increments. Furthermore, AMF improved fatty acid levels, particularly unsaturated fatty acids in Ge-treated plants compared to the control. In addition, increased phenylalanine provided a precursor for the production of antioxidants (e.g., phenols and flavonoids), through the action of the enzyme phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), resulting in improved antioxidant activity gains as indicated by FRAP, ABTS, and DPPH assays. This study is the first to show that Ge enhances the beneficial effect of AMF on spinach, improving growth and nutritional quality, with promising implications for agricultural practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Avulsion of the lesser trochanter is an uncommon injury. In children and adolescents it usually occursas a sports injury via traumatic avulsion of the psoas major tendon. In adults, isolated fractures of thelesser trochanter are most commonly pathological due to metastatic tumor invasion of the proximalfemur. This case report documents how a 14-year-old boy, who presented with an avulsion of thelesser trochanter of the proximal femur following a seemingly atraumatic shot put session at a trackand field event, was diagnosed and successfully treated with a conservative approach.

Cor triatriatum is an extremely rare cardiac congenital malformation characterized by subdivision of the left atrium into two chambers. This division is due to the presence of an abnormal fibromuscular membrane interrupted by one or more openings that communicate the two chambers. The size and number of those orifices is variable, affecting the age of onset of symptoms and their severity. Our case describes the fortuitous discovery of this pathology in a young adult in her forties, following the finding of atrial fibrillation during a preoperative assessment of a strangulated hernia. The cardiac ultrasound allowed in our case to invoke the diagnosis, confirmed thereafter with an angioscanner. Surgical resection was not required in our patient who was put on medical treatment involving a beta-blocker to reduce atrial fibrillation and an anticoagulant treatment to decrease the thromboembolic risk, with a good clinical evolution. It seems therefore interesting to consider this uncommon pathology which may be latent for a long time, manifesting after some physiological or pathological situations.

We investigate the possibility of producing biofuel cell electrode materials in vivo by injecting the reagents directly into plant tissues. We first introduce model electroactive substances Fe(CN)64− and Ru(NH3)63+ into a Nicotiana tabacum leaf. In situ electrochemical measurements make it possible to trace the distribution of these substances. As well as mapping the vascular content, electrochemistry can be used to trigger reactions directly inside the plant. The injection of thiophene (T) and ethylenedioxythiophene (E)-based trimers (ETE) anchoring an Os(2,2′-bipyridine)2(1-(3-aminopropyl)-imidazole)Cl Os-complex followed by the application of anodic polarization triggers a polymerization reaction in the region of the plant vascular system containing the monomer, showing that it is possible to generate electroactive organic macromolecules locally in vivo.

We demonstrate that electrolyte-gated organic field-effect transistors (EGOFETs) can detect extremely minute modifications in the composition of the electrochemical double layers forming at the channel/electrolyte and gate/electrolyte interfaces, thus permitting real-time monitoring of alkylthiols self-assembling on a gold surface. We used this property to assay the enzymatic activity of acetylcholinesterase which, in the presence of its substrate (acetylthiocholine), produces thiocholine. Keywords: Electrochemical double layer, EGOFET, Alkylthiol, Acetylcholinesterase

The purpose of this article is to illustrate a rare case of a pericardial hemangioma of the right atrioventricular groove of incidental discovery in a tennis player who presented with cough and dyspnea and was treated by surgical excision with a favorable outcome. We also report the role of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the diagnosis and management of this pericardial tumor.

Here we illustrate a rare case of Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) with pulmonary atresia in a 40-year-old survivor patient, despite a chronic pediatric shunt thrombosis. The patient became symptomatic at 38-years-old with progressive dyspnea on exertion and short cyanosis spells. The clinical findings were unspecific except for sinus tachycardia . To reassess cardiac abnormalities and associated intrathoracic malformations, a cardiac CT-scan was performed. Here we explain the mechanism for prolonged survival as an expansion of several and huge major aortopulmonary collateral arteries. This case predicts an exceptional late outcome of untreated TOF.

Pelargonium graveolens, rose-scented geranium, is commonly used in the perfume industry. P. graveolens is enriched with essential oils, phenolics, flavonoids, which account for its tremendous biological activities. Laser light treatment and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inoculation can further enhance the phytochemical content in a significant manner. In this study, we aimed to explore the synergistic impact of these two factors on P. graveolens. For this, we used four groups of surface-sterilized seeds: (1) control group1 (non-irradiated; non-colonized group); (2) control group2 (mycorrhizal colonized group); (3) helium-neon (He-Ne) laser-irradiated group; (4) mycorrhizal colonization coupled with He-Ne laser-irradiation group. Treated seeds were growing in artificial soil inculcated with Rhizophagus irregularis MUCL 41833, in a climate-controlled chamber. After 6 weeks, P. graveolens plants were checked for their phytochemical content and antibacterial potential. Laser light application improved the mycorrhizal colonization in P. graveolens plants which subsequently increased biomass accumulation, minerals uptake, and biological value of P. graveolens. The increase in the biological value was evident by the increase in the essential oils production. The concomitant application of laser light and mycorrhizal colonization also boosted the antimicrobial activity of P. graveolens. These results suggest that AMF co-treatment with laser light could be used as a promising approach to enhance the metabolic content and yield of P. graveolens for industrial and pharmaceutical use.