Gastrointestinal mucormycosis—four cases with different risk factors, involving different anatomical sites

Mucormycosis of the gastrointestinal tract is a rare infection that usually occurs in patients who are immunocompromised and carries a high mortality. We report four cases of gastrointestinal mucormycosis seen over a one year period with different presentations, risk factors and different anatomical sites of involvement. A preoperative diagnosis was made only in one patient. All underwent surgery, three survived and one died postoperatively from multiorgan failure.     

Effects of gestational weight gain on pregnancy complications

Introduction and objective

Gestational weight gain (GWG) has been reported to be associated with pregnancy outcomes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of GWG on maternal and birth complications.

Primary amenorrhea secondary to imperforate hymen

Hymen imperforation is uncommon. Symptoms include primary amenorrhea, cyclical lower abdominal pain, and rarely a pelvic mass syndrome. Delayed discovery may lead to endometriosis and infertility. Pelvic ultrasound and nuclear magnetic resonance detect associated genito‐urinary malformations. Hymenectomy is the standard surgical treatment.     

Surface protection of copper by azoles in borate buffers-voltammetric and impedance analysis

The inhibitory action of five azoles namely benzotriazole (BTA), mercaptobenzothiazole (MBT), benzimidazole (BIMD), mercaptobenzimidazole (MBIMD) and thiadiazole (TDA) on copper was examined in sodium borate solution of pH 6.4, 8.4 and 10.4 using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). A considerable drop off in the corrosion rate of copper was detected in the presence of the investigated compounds. CV showed that the inhibitors were of mixed type that they affect both the anodic and cathodic currents. Impedance spectra were characterized in terms of the charge transfer resistance and transport of copper ions through the oxide layer. The results indicate that the surface layer is of dielectric nature, and its protection increases with increasing inhibitor concentration and solution pH. On the basis of calculated adsorption data the process was concluded as chemisorption. Some quantum chemical parameters were also calculated using ab initio Hartree–Fock 6-31G*basis set and were used to complement the experimental results. The relative inhibition efficiencies of the azoles in controlling the copper corrosion was found to be in order of MBT > TDA > MBIMD≈BIMD > BTA.     

Thoracic reconstruction by a free fibulaire flap and latismus dorsi

In order to preserve the respiratory function of the thorax the reconstruction must be immediate and must answer currently to principles of repair very codified. We reported a case of thoracic reconstruction by an association of flaps, free fibular and pedicled of the latismus dorsi, after a resection of a shrewd tumour of the thoracic partition. This reconstruction has permitted the contribution of a musculocutaneous cover of good quality and the contribution of a skeletal support satisfying at a time. The association of flaps can be considered like one of the solutions for the reconstruction of the big losses of substance of full thickness of the thoracic partition requiring a restoration of the thoracic skeleton.     

Reconstruction after tumour's excision in lip's cancer: report of 100 cases

OBJECTIVE: Cancer of the lips is a frequent pathology, it represents 1/5 of cancers of the upper aerodigestive tract. Its objectives are to present the experience of the plastic and reconstructive surgery unit of the universitary hospital of Casablanca. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The authors present a retrospective study about 100 cases of lips cancer treated between January 1999 and December 2002. RESULTS: The average age is 59 years. The sex-ratio is 7.3. Eighty-five percent of our patients were smokers and 22% were alcoholics, the association alcoholic and smoker was found in 20%. In our study 71% were classified T1-T2 and 29% as T3-T4. The tumoral location was the lower lip in 82% and the upper lip in 10%. The histological study showed a squamous cell carcinoma type in 85% and a basal-cell carcinoma type in 14% of cases. After the tumour's excision, the reparation was done by cross-lip flap in 25%, the naso-lateral flap in 16% and the Gillies flap in 8%. The functional result was good in 92% of cases and the aesthetic result was excellent in 60% of cases and good in 30% of cases. The survival rate at 2 year was 90%. CONCLUSION: Actually, lip's cancer treatment is essentially surgical. The reconstructive techniques are various, depending on the size and location of the loss of substance.