Simultaneous RT/PCR detection and differentiation of arabis mosaic and grapevine fanleaf nepoviruses in grapevines with a single pair of primers

The movement protein genes from several isolates of ArMV and GFLV of different geographical origins were amplified by RT/PCR using degenerate primers, cloned and sequenced. A single pair of degenerate primers was designed from these sequences to allow the simultaneous amplification of parts of the movement protein genes of ArMV and GFLV. Their use in an immunocapture-RT/PCR for the detection of ArMV or GFLV in infected grapevines proved to be ten times more sensitive than the corresponding ArMV or GFLV ELISA tests. A Sph1 restriction site found in the sequences corresponding to the amplified products from the GFLV isolates, but not in the amplified products from the ArMV isolates, allowed the differentiation between ArMV and GFLV in the infected grapevines by a Sph1 restriction digestion of the amplified products.     

Hydatid cysts of the brain stem. Two cases

Cerebral hydatid cysts represent 2-3% of all intracranial masses in endemic countries. Its incidence in posterior fossa is very rare. We report two cases of brainstem location. Clinically, the lesion exhibited signs of brainstem tumor. In two patients, CT scan showed a hypodense lesion. There was no enhancement after contrast administration. One patient was explored by MRI; on precontrast images, the lesion appeared homogeneous with hyposignal intensity and smooth limits. T2 weighted MRI and post contrast examination confirmed the cyst nature of the lesion. Surgery was performed in the two patients. The cyst was first aspirated and its membrane was then removed. Post operatively, one patient died, the other one is still alive but severely affected two years later. CT scan showed total disappearance of the cyst. The clinical presentation, radiological findings and surgical procedures are discussed.     

Présentation insolite d’un sarcome embryonnaire indifférencié du foie : à propos d’un cas

Undifferentiated embryonal sarcoma of the liver is a rare tumor occurring in late childhood. This tumor is often characterized by a misleading clinical and radiological presentation. We report a case of primary hepatic embryonal sarcoma in a 15 years old girl erroneously assumed to be a rupture hydatic cyst and discuss its clinicopathologic, therapeutic and evolutive features.     

Pulmonary arterial aneurysms in Behçet's syndrome. Report of 4 cases

Pulmonary involvement in Behcet's disease is uncommon and pulmonary arterial aneurysms are present in about 1 to 7% of patients. But despite their scarcity, they represent a life-threatening complication and are usually regarded as of a poor prognosis. Our study aims to describe the epidemiological and therapeutic aspects of this condition. Among 180 patients with Behcet's disease according to the criteria of the international study group for Behcet's disease, four were diagnosed as having pulmonary artery aneurysms (2.22%). All were male, the mean age at the time of the diagnosis of pulmonary artery aneurysms was 29.8 years and the mean disease duration was 6.6 years. Hemoptysis was the presenting symptom in all cases. The patients were treated by corticosteroid, colchicine and cyclophosphamide pulses. The outcome was good with disappearance of hemoptysis in all cases and disappearance of pulmonary aneurysms in three. One patient had recurrence of aneurysms 40 months after the first episode and died 18 months later. So, we can hope, thanks to medical treatment, a better outcome than previously reported in this complication.     

Pyogenic abscess of the breast: clinical and therapeutic aspects

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this retrospective work was to study the clinical aspects and the principles of management of the abscess of the breast in order to determine a convenient and recent therapeutic attitude. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Our retrospective survey concerns 114 cases of breast abscess collected in a surgery department over a period of 14 years, from 1990 to 2003. All patients have been operated and the diagnosis confirmed through the operation. The puerperal abscesses have been noted in 31 cases. RESULTS: One hundred and four women and ten men were concerned, with a sex-ratio of 0.1. The medium age was 33 years old for the women and 42 years for the men. The diagnosis was based on the clinical criteria, confirmed by the ultrasonography in 11 cases out of 16 and by the mammary puncture in 15 cases out of 22. Two non-puerperal abscesses have revealed an infiltrating canal carcinoma. The Staphylococcus aureus was the germ the most frequently met, concerning 8 cases out of 16. The surgical biopsies carried out in 52 cases revealed a fibrocystic mastopathy in six cases, a canalar ectasia in two cases and an infiltrating canalar carcinoma in two cases. The surgical treatment, performed in any case, was associated to an anti-staphylococcus antibiotherapy. The recurrence of the abscess has been observed in four cases. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The frequency of pyogenic abscess of the breast, particularly the puerperal abscesses, has considerably decreased. The non-puerperal abscesses often pose a differential diagnosis problem with the very aggressive inflammatory cancers. The percutaneous ultrasonography guided drainage must be proposed in first intention to treat the abscesses of the breast. However, surgical treatment is still valid with an abscess either relapsing or chronic, or else the failure of the non-operative processes.     

Impact of COVID-19 on cancer management in military hospitals of Saudi Arabia

Objectives:To evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on cancer management in Saudi Arabia’s military hospitals.Methods:This multi-centric, retrospective study compared cancer patients diagnosed from February-July 2019 and 2020, focusing on the time duration for acceptance and time for oncologic treatment initiation. Eligibility and referral status were recorded. Clinical data of COVID-19-positive cancer patients were collected and evaluated their outcomes and survival.Results:Data of 1574 cancer patients (mean age, 57.1 years) were collected. Mean time for acceptance was 7.3 days in 2019 and 8 days in 2020, with no statistically significant difference. Mean time for oncology treatment initiation was 38.4 days in 2019 and 44.3 days in 2020, with no statistically significant difference. The number of new cancer patients decreased in 2020 but increased in peripheral hospitals. It decreased in Riyadh and Jeddah hospitals. Concerning referral status, a statistically significant modification was recorded only in Riyadh and Tabuk hospitals. No significant changes observed in time duration for acceptance of new patients and oncology treatment initiation from 2019-2020. A total of 76 COVID-19-positive cancer patients recorded; 72% were symptomatic, 73.6% recovered, 22.3% died due to COVID-19 complications, and 8% died due to cancer; cancer progressed in 7 patients.Conclusion:COVID-19 did not affect oncology service in Saudi Arabia’s military hospitals. New cancer cases reduced during the pandemic. Cancer patients are at increased risk for COVID-19 complications, including death.