Association of spheno-orbital dysplasia with plexiform neuroma in von Recklinghausen's neurofibromatosis

We report a case of plexiform neurofibroma of the upper eyelid associated with spheno-orbital dysplasia in a 18-year-old woman with von Recklinghausen neurofibromatosis. Visual acuity was 20/40 in the right eye and 20/20 in the left. Plexiform neurofibroma involving the right upper eyelid was associated with mild ptosis and ipsilateral facial hypertrophy. Biomicroscopic examination showed lisch nodules. Funduscopic examination, visual field and neurologic examinations were normal. Café au lait spots involved the trunk with neck plexiform neurofibroma. Computed tomography disclosed spheno-orbital dysplasia. The patient's status remained unchanged at 6 months follow-up. Cranial features of von Recklinghausen neurofibromatosis are found in 3 to 7% of patients. In patients with plexiform neurofibroma of the eyelid the ophthalmologist should look for associated spheno-orbital dysplasia.     

Intérêt de l’huile essentielle du thuya de Berberie

The Barbary Thuya is an aromatic and medicinal plant used in traditional medicine in several countries including Morocco. Essential oil from the leaves of this species, predominated by bornyl acetate, α-pinene, camphor and limonene, have a high bacteriostatic and fungistatic activity.     

Pain and primary lung cancer in the elderly

The study of pain in elderly patients with a primary lung cancer (PLC) deserves special attention particularly because this symptom is frequently associated with the condition and influences the management and prognosis. To study the characteristics of pain due to PLC in the elderly, we prospectively evaluated pain in all patients aged over 65 years admitted for PLC. Thirty-nine elderly patients were enrolled in 15 months (62% of all PLC). The average age was 72 years. The cancer was advanced NSCLC in most cases. Pain was present in 74.3%. It was significantly less common among those over 75 years (50% versus 85.1%; P<0.05). The pain, mild in most cases, worsened during follow-up in 55.5%. The last mean visual analogue scale score was significantly lower than the first (1.3 versus 3.6; P=0.001). The pain treatment required was based on level I in 20.6%, level II in 48.2% and level III in 31% of cases. Pain management in the elderly should be early, adequate and continued in order to preserve to a maximum the quality of life of these patients with PLC.     

Cardiopericardial Hydatid Cysts

apd: 18 December 2000     

Use of a Human-Like Low-Grade Bacteremia Model of Experimental Endocarditis To Study the Role of Staphylococcus aureus Adhesins and Platelet Aggregation in Early Endocarditis

Animal models of infective endocarditis (IE) induced by high-grade bacteremia revealed the pathogenic roles of Staphylococcus aureus surface adhesins and platelet aggregation in the infection process. In humans, however, S. aureus IE possibly occurs through repeated bouts of low-grade bacteremia from a colonized site or intravenous device. Here we used a rat model of IE induced by continuous low-grade bacteremia to explore further the contributions of S. aureus virulence factors to the initiation of IE. Rats with aortic vegetations were inoculated by continuous intravenous infusion (0.0017 ml/min over 10 h) with 10⁶ CFU of Lactococcus lactis pIL253 or a recombinant L. lactis strain expressing an individual S. aureus surface protein (ClfA, FnbpA, BCD, or SdrE) conferring a particular adhesive or platelet aggregation property. Vegetation infection was assessed 24 h later. Plasma was collected at 0, 2, and 6 h postinoculation to quantify the expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin 1α (IL-1α), IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-10. The percentage of vegetation infection relative to that with strain pIL253 (11%) increased when binding to fibrinogen was conferred on L. lactis (ClfA strain) (52%; P = 0.007) and increased further with adhesion to fibronectin (FnbpA strain) (75%; P < 0.001). Expression of fibronectin binding alone was not sufficient to induce IE (BCD strain) (10% of infection). Platelet aggregation increased the risk of vegetation infection (SdrE strain) (30%). Conferring adhesion to fibrinogen and fibronectin favored IL-1β and IL-6 production. Our results, with a model of IE induced by low-grade bacteremia, resembling human disease, extend the essential role of fibrinogen binding in the initiation of S. aureus IE. Triggering of platelet aggregation or an inflammatory response may contribute to or promote the development of IE.     

Composition chimique et activité antimicrobienne des huiles essentielles de Thymus capitatus et de Thymus bleicherianus du Maroc

This work studies the chemical composition and antifungal and antibacterial activities of the essential oils of Moroccan Thymus capitatus and Thymus bleicherianus. The samples of Thymus capitatus provided the highest yield: 2.05 % as against 1.75% for Thymus bleicherianus. The chromatographic analyses (GC and GC/MS) showed that the main constituent of essential oil of Thymus capitatus is carvacrol (70.92 %), while essential oil of Thymus bleicherianus contains mainly α-terpinene (42.2%) and thymol (23.9%). Antimicrobial activity of the two essential oils was studied with respect to seven microorganisms. For essential oil of Thymus capitatus, Bacillus subtilus and Penicillium expansum were most sensitive, being inhibited as from 1/3000 v/v. As for essential oil of Thymus bleicherianus, however, all bacterial strains were inhibited at concentrations as weak as 1/2000 v/v. This bioactivity is due mainly to their high carvacrol and thymol content, substances known for their effectiveness against microbial agents. The inhibiting effect of these oils on bacterial and fungal development indicates their potential use in the food, cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries.     

Right arrhythmogenic ventricular dysplasia. A propos of 2 cases]

The authors report two new case histories of arrhythmogenic ventricular dysplasia. The disease was manifest as usual by recurrent ventricular tachycardia with apparent left lagging. Follow-up was 10 and 2 years. A review of the diagnostic and therapeutic approaches is provided based on this short personal series and on data from the literature.