Quantum tailoring of electronic properties in covalently functionalized graphene: application to ammonia gas detection.

Functionalized graphene offers great potential in the field of rapid detection of gases at room temperature. We performed first-principles calculations to study the suitability of 4-sulfobenzenediazonium salts (4SBD) as bandgap modifier in graphene. The signature of unpaired spins is evidenced near the Fermi level owing to the symmetry breaking of graphene sublattices. 4SBD-chemisorbed on graphene is found to be electronically sensitive to the presence of ammonia NH3 with increasing gas concentration.

[Post-traumatic carotido-jugular fistula: Case report and review of the literature]. / Fistule carotido-jugulaire post-traumatique : à propos d'un cas opéré.

The neck, being not protected by skeleton, is vulnerable to external trauma and injury which can involve blood vessels, muscles, nerves, and trachea. Carotid injuries can be potentially life-threatening by hemorrhage and stroke. We present a case of a 26-year-old manual worker who presented a neck injury caused by a metallic projectile. The injury involved the right common carotid artery with an internal jugular vein fistula, and tracheal damage. The patient was managed with surgical repair of the tracheal lesion, reconstruction of the carotid section using a PTFE graft bypass, and ligation of the internal jugular vein. In the immediate postoperative period, the patient presented with no neurological deficits, but he did develop a pulmonary infection that resolved with antibiotic therapy. The follow-up is now 3months. The patient is doing well without any neurological disorder.

[Prognostic markers of advanced non-small cell lung carcinoma -  assessing the significance of oncomarkers using data-mining techiques RPA]. / Prognostické markery pokrocilého nemalobunkového karcinómu plúc -  hodnotenie významu onkomarkerov pomocou data-miningovej metódy RPA.

INTRODUCTION: Identification of new prognostic factors can help in designing future clinical studies. In the case of advanced non-small cell lung cancer, there might be good candidates - tumor markers CYFRA 21-1, CEA or NSE [1-8]. It is possible to evaluate the relationship between their expression and prognosis by data mining technique recursive partitioning and amalgamation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We analyzed retrospective data of 162 patients of Oncology clinics in Trnava. All of these patients were admitted between 2008 and 2012 for the administration of first-line chemotherapy according to current recommendations. We evaluated the impact of known pretreatment prognostic markers - performance status, weight loss, smoking, age, sex, stage, histologic subtype, comorbidity and oncomarkers CYFRA 21-1, CEA or NSE, as well as combinations of these factors on survival. RESULTS: Our analyses showed that there are three subgroups of patients with good, intermediate and unfavorable prognosis. Oncomarkers played an important role in formation of a subgroup of 49 patients with good prognosis - including patients with no pretreatment weight loss and low levels of CEA ( 4.1 ng/ml) or NSE ( 11.1 ng/ml). In this subgroup, the median survival time was at least 16 months (not achieved) and the difference in survival compared to the rest of the group was highly statistically significant (risk ratio 5.21, 95% CI 1.41-19.28; p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: We showed the prognostic significance of low levels of NSE and CEA oncomarkers in the group of patients with no pretreatment weight loss. Recursive partitioning and amalgamation is a useful data mining method, but the generated hypothesis needs to be confirmed by further clinical study designed for this purpose

[Stabilisation of post-acute stage schizophrenics: from the hospital to the city]. / Stabilisation des patients schizophrènes en post-aigu : de l'hôpital à la cité

Schizophrenia is a debilitating disease that usually begins in young adulthood, at a time when a person would usually make the transition to independent living, but it can occur at any age. The symptoms and behaviour associated with psychosis and schizophrenia have a distressing impact on the individual, and the family. The course of schizophrenia varies considerably. Although most patients will recover, some will have persisting difficulties or remain vulnerable to future episodes. Therefore, stabilisation of patients in acute phases and avoidance of relapse are major objectives of management throughout the course of this disease. The purpose of this article is to clarify the stabilisation, to study the contributing factors and strategies to implement to achieve stability, through a literature review and key guidelines. Thus, the patient is stabilised when productive symptoms and behavioural problems have decreased. So, the stable phase represents a prolonged period of treatment and rehabilitation during which symptoms are under adequate control and the focus is on improving functioning and recovery. Important predictive criteria of stabilisation include: positive symptoms, the number of previous relapses, cooperation with the patient and family, good adherence to treatment and the use of long acting injectable second-generation antipsychotics. After an acute relapse, the careful organization of the discharge and the development of a proposed ambulatory care in tailored care structures will help consolidate stabilisation and obtain remission. Accepting the idea of continuing treatment is a complex decision in which the psychiatrist plays a central role beside patients and their families. The course of integrated actions on modifiable risk factors such as psychosocial support, addictive comorbidities, identification of prodromes, active information for the therapeutic education of patients and families and access to care will also be supported. This would improve the functional abilities of patients, their social adaptation and particularly their quality of life.

[Sexuality of the couple during pregnancy stemming from a medically assisted procreation]. / Sexualité du couple lors de grossesse issue d'une procréation médicalement assistée.

OBJECTIVE: We studied the impact of pregnancy stemming from a medically assisted procreation on the sexuality of the couple. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Our study was forward-looking realized in the maternity of Sfax on duration of nine months. Its methodology is based on a questionnaire distributed to 40 women and on a review of the literature. RESULTS: Our patients continued to have a sexual activity during their pregnancy in the majority of the cases (at least 65% of the cases) but with a decrease of libido in 80% of the cases as well as a net decrease of the frequency of the sexual intercourse. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: In front of these difficulties of the consequent sexual life noticed also in the literature, a psychological support of these couples is so recommended that a sexologic care adapted to the particular context of the medically assisted procreation countered justified.

[Scalp ringworm tinea capitis in Tunisian infants]. / Teignes du nourrisson en Tunisie.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to specify the epidemiological, clinical, and mycological particularities of tinea capitis in infants. DESIGN: We retrospectively collected data from the files of 245 infants presenting with tinea capitis, followed in the Hedi-Chaker hospital dermatology department and in two mycology laboratories of the Sfax hospital, between January 1995 and December 2006. We collected the epidemiological, clinical, and mycological data for each patient. RESULTS: We included 137 boys and 108 girls with trichophytic tinea in 62 % of cases and microsporic tinea in 34 % of cases. Trichophyton violaceum and Microsporum canis were identified by culture respectively in 51 and 37 % of cases. CONCLUSION: Tinea capitis is frequent observed in our region, Trichophyton violaceum and Microsporum canis are the most frequent mycological agents.

[Primary cutaneous aspergillosis in an immunocompetent farmworker]. / Aspergillose cutanée primitive chez un agriculteur immunocompétent.

INTRODUCTION: Aspergillosis is an uncommon fungal infection in which primary cutaneous sites are very rare. Most cases occur in immunodepressed patients and are disseminated in the blood. We report a case of primary cutaneous aspergillosis in a 37-year-old immunocompetent farmworker presenting as a kerion-like lesion. CASE REPORT: A 37-year-old farmworker presented erythematous and nodular lesions of the face. These lesions were not associated with any general symptoms and failed to respond to antibiotic treatment. Histological examination of a skin biopsy sample showed a granulomatous reaction in the dermis associated with an extensive neutrophilic infiltrate. PAS staining revealed the presence of right-angled branched hyphae with conidia. Aspergillus fumigatus was isolated and identified in cultures. Clinical and biological examinations did not reveal any systemic localisation of aspergillosis, ruling out the hypothesis of blood dissemination. This primary cutaneous infection occurred in an immunocompetent patient, in whom laboratory tests ruled out any underlying immunosuppression. Systemic antifungal treatment with voriconazole led to complete resolution. DISCUSSION: Reports in the literature of primary cutaneous aspergillosis in immunocompetent patients are extremely rare. Clinical lesions may comprise often painful weeping or necrotic macules or papules or subcutaneous nodules that can progress towards abscess or necrosis. The semiological similarity between these lesions and kerions can lead to misdiagnosed cases and delayed treatment.

[IKARUS Project--incidence of bone events in breast cancer: retrospective analysis of patients in oncological centres in the Czech Republic and Slovakia]. / Projekt IKARUS--zjistení incidence kostních príhod u karcinomu prsu: retrospektivní analýza nemocných dispenzarizovaných v onkologických centrech Ceské a Slovenské republiky.

BACKGROUND: Bone incidents today represent, in terms of frequency and the overall effect on the quality of life of patients with breast cancer, a serious health problem. In a number of clinical studies bisphosphonates have been shown to have a positive impact on reducing the risk of bone events and therefore to be effective in the prevention of bone events. The primary objective of this project was to identify the incidence of bone events in patients with metastatic breast cancer treated in the Czech and Slovak Republics. SUBJECTS: Retrospective, multi-centre, non-interventional, epidemiological and explorative studies to identify the incidence of bone events in the defined group of patients and a description of the practice of prevention and treatment of skeletal events in the years 2000-2005. Enrolled were patients with advanced metastatic breast cancer diagnosed in 2000. METHODS AND RESULTS: Analysis of overall survival and survival to disease progression, analysis of patterns of treatment of bone events and the practice of the use of bisphosphonates in the prevention of bone events in metastatic skeleton affection in the normal conditions of clinical practice, analysis of patient compliance in the treatment with bisphosphonates, analysis of the time interval between the occurrence of bone metastases and the occurrence of bone events and, last but not least, survival analysis of patients in relation to bone events. CONCLUSION: This work has shown that the practice of treatment with bisphosphonates since 2000 and assessed the survival of patients with metastatic breast cancer.

Doxycycline for the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis.

The incidence of cutaneous leishmaniasis has shown a resurgence in recent years in Tunisia. Because of the toxicity and high cost of pentavalent antimonials we have sought alternative medications. In a study of 14 patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis, ten patients achieved complete clinical regression of the lesions with oral administration of doxycycline, 200mg per day, for 15-30 days.

[Retroauricular dermatofibroma in a child simulating a malignant tumour]. / Dermatofibrome rétro-auriculaire chez un enfant simulant une tumeur maligne.

BACKGROUND: Dermatofibroma represents one of the commonest benign soft tissue tumours, and its diagnosis is usually straightforward if classical clinicopathologic features are evident. It occurs frequently on the extremities and trunk, often in young adults during the 3(rd) and 4(th) decades. We report a peculiar case of an aggressive cellular dermatofibroma in a child that simulated a malignant tumour. Our aim is to discuss the differential diagnosis. CASE REPORT: An 8-year-old boy presented with a retroauricular tumour. Clinically, the lesion, 2 cm in diameter, was located in the left retroauricular region. It was nodular, erythematous, infiltrating the underlying tissue with an anterior spread leading to an amputation of the auricular lobule and a retraction of the tragus. Computerized axial tomography revealed a local tissular thickening extending in soft tissues without any bone involvement. A malignant lesion was initially suspected. A biopsy was performed. It was followed by a surgical resection. The lesion had the full microscopic characteristics of a cellular dermatofibroma. CONCLUSION: Dermatofibroma is one of the major differential diagnosis of nodular cutaneous tumours in children that simulate malignancy. Histologic examination with immunohistochemical study is essential for diagnosis.

[Childhood actinic lichen planus (6 cases)]. / Lichen plan actinique de l'enfant (à propos de 6 cas).

INTRODUCTION: Actinic lichen planus (ALP) is a chronic and benign disease that affects young people of the Middle East and Maghreb countries. PURPOSE: To analyse clinical features and prognosis of ALP in children. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective, descriptive study of cases observed in the department of dermatology of Sfax hospital over a period of 11 years (1995-2005). RESULTS: Our patients were 5 boys and 1 girl. Mean age at diagnosis was 11 years. Onset was during the summer in 5 cases. The face was involved in 5 cases and the upper limb in 3 cases. The annular form was found in 5 cases, the pigmented melasma-like form in 1. Cheilitis was associated in 3 cases. Treatment consisted in photoprotection in all the patients. Antimalaria drugs were used in 4 patients and topical steroids in 2. Evolution was favourable in 5 cases. Disease relapsed in one child after treatment interruption. CONCLUSION: ALP can be seen during childhood. Ultraviolet rays are involved in pathogenesis. The annular form is predominant. Treatment is based on sun protection associated with antimalarials or topical steroids.

[Subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus in childhood: a case report]. / Lupus érythémateux subaigu de l'enfant: à propos d'un cas.

Subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus is extremely rare in childhood. We report the case of a 7 year-old girl who presented annular erythematous infiltrated lesions on sun exposed areas since the age of 2 months. Histopathologic examination showed orthohyperkeratosis, epidermal atrophy, widespread hydropic degeneration of epidermal basal cell layer, and a dermal lymphohistiocytic infiltrate. The lupus band test was negative. The immunological investigations (antinuclear antibodies) were negative. Treatment with antimalarials, topical steroids and sun protection allowed clearance of the cutaneous lesions. Lesions relapsed after antimalarials discontinuation and sun exposure. Four years later, at the age of 11, the antinuclear antibodies became positive. The diagnosis of subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus is based on the clinical aspect of lesions, topography, histological finding, evolution and immunological profile of the patient.