Corrélation entre la composition chimique et l’activité antifongique des huiles essentielles à prédominance thymol sur Candida albicans et Aspergillus fumigatus

The analysis of essential oils of seeds of Aframomum melegueta (K. Schum), the leaves of Ocimum gratissimum, Aframomum daniellii (K. Hook) and Aframomum exscapum (H. Sims) obtained by steam distillation using Clevenger apparatus, was performed by GC and GC / MS. The study of antifungal activity of these samples on the growth of Candida albicans and Aspergillus fumigatus allowed classifying them into three groups according to their antifungal response in correlation with their chemotypes.     

Use of thallium-201 brain SPECT to differentiate cerebral lymphoma from toxoplasma encephalitis in AIDS patients.

PURPOSETo determine whether thallium-201 brain single-photon emission CT could be used to make the distinction between central nervous system lymphoma and toxoplasma encephalitis, which may not be possible by routine MR and CT.METHODSA total of 37 patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome who had intracranial mass lesions found during a 9-month prospective study by either MR or CT underwent further evaluation with Tl-201 brain single-photon emission CT.RESULTSTwelve patients had increased intense focal Tl-201 uptake. All of these patients had either biopsy- or autopsy-proven lymphoma. Twenty-five of the patients studied had no Tl-201 brain uptake in the lesion(s); 24 of these patients had toxoplasma encephalitis on clinical follow-up. One patient with no Tl-201 uptake was found by cerebrospinal fluid analysis to have mycobacterium tuberculosis abscess.CONCLUSIONPatients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome who have intracranial mass lesions on MR or CT may benefit from Tl-201 brain single-photon emission CT because it can help distinguish between lymphoma and infectious lesions such as toxoplasma encephalitis.     

The rs12594956 polymorphism in the NRF-2 gene is associated with top-level Spanish athlete's performance status

ObjectivesTo determine the association between the nuclear respiratory factor 2 (NRF-2) polymorphisms and elite athletic performance.DesignWe compared the genotype and allele frequencies of the NRF-2 A/C (rs12594956), NRF-2 A/G (rs7181866), and NRF-2 C/T (rs8031031) polymorphisms between world-class endurance athletes (n = 89), elite power-oriented athletes (n = 38), and non-athletic controls (n = 110) of the same Caucasian (Spanish) origin.MethodsGenomic DNA was extracted from peripheral EDTA-treated, anti-coagulated blood using a standard protocol. Genotyping was performed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR).ResultsThe frequency of the AA genotype of the NRF-2 A/C (rs12594956) polymorphism was significantly higher in endurance athletes compared with power athletes (P < 0.01) and controls (P < 0.01) (48% vs. 13% and 21%, respectively). The likelihood of having the AA (rs12594956) genotype was higher in elite endurance athletes compared with controls [odds ratio (OR): 3.536, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.903–6.571] and elite power athletes (OR: 6.170, 95%CI: 2.206–17.253).ConclusionsOur results suggest that the NRF-2 A/C polymorphism might belong to a growing group of polymorphisms associated with endurance performance at the elite level. However, it is important to replicate these findings in other groups of elite athletes using larger sample sizes.     

Whole-body (67)Ga scintigraphy in a patient with thymus carcinoma

We report a case of a 50 year old man referred to our department with a history of mild cough, dyspnea and dysphagia. The thoracic CT scan showed a large solid mass in the anterior mediastinum, corresponding to the findings in the chest radiographs.A 67Ga scintigraphy was performed and showed high pathological accumulation in the anterior mediastinum. A subsequent fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) showed the presence of malignant cells, suggesting thymic carcinoma. Although this type of tumour is uncommon, it should be taken into account in order to establish the differential diagnosis of gallium-avid mediastinal masses.     

Treatment of 125 sinonasal tumors: Prognostic factors, outcome, and follow-up

We reviewed our experience with sinonasal cancer patients to assess the prognostic factors. Between 1974 and 1995, we enrolled 125 patients (58 + 16 years [mean age + SD]; 94 males and 31 females). Tumor stage distribution was: T1, 64 patients; T2, 36 patients; and T3, 25 patients. Surgery as a primary treatment was selected for 106 patients (55 cases of surgery alone, 40 cases of surgery plus radiotherapy, and 11 cases of surgery plus chemotherapy with/without radiotherapy). The 1-, 5-, and 10-year overall survival was 75.0%, 37.2%, and 24.7%, respectively. The parameters with statistical prognostic significance were nodal stage, locoregional failure, and tumor stage. Histological type and primary site had no prognostic value. There were no significant survival differences between surgery alone and surgery plus radiotherapy. Sinonasal tumors have a poor survival, despite early diagnosis, radical surgical resection, and strict follow-up. Radiotherapy seems not to be clearly necessary in stage T1.