Vaginal rhabdomyoma: a case report of an uncommon and misleading neoplasm.

Vaginal rhabdomyoma is an extremely rare tumor which presents as a vaginal polypoid masses. It is essential to differentiate it from benign and malignant mimickers so that appropriate therapy may be provided. The present report describes a vaginal wall nodule of a symptomatic 24-year-old woman. Local excision and subsequent pathological examination were performed. The final diagnosis was vaginal rhabdomyoma. The literature is reviewed and differential diagnosis are discussed.

The effect of sodium lactate and lactic acid combinations on the microbial, sensory, and chemical attributes of marinated chicken thigh.

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the chemical, microbiological, and sensory effects of different sodium lactate (SL) and lactic acid (LA) combinations on marinated chicken thigh. The latter were treated with SL and LA combined at various concentrations, namely 0.3 and 0.03; 0.5 and 0.05; 0.6 and 0.06; 0.75 and 0.075; and 0.9 and 0.09%, respectively. The findings indicated that those combinations were efficient (P < 0.05) against the proliferation of various spoilage microorganisms, including aerobic plate count, psychrotrophic populations, Pseudomonas spp., Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacteriaceae, and Salmonella spp. The results from chemical analyses revealed that the treated thigh underwent significant decreases (P < 0.05) in terms of pH values and total volatile base nitrogen contents. Significant differences (P < 0.05) were, however, detected with regard to their sensory attributes, with SL-LA concentrations of 0.9 and 0.09 yielding the highest scores for the color, texture, and flavor attributes. Overall, the findings demonstrated that the addition of 0.9% SL and 0.09% LA to marinated chicken can help delay the proliferation of spoilage microorganisms, prevent the generation of undesirable chemicals, improve the levels of sensory attributes, and extend the shelf life of products during refrigerated storage.

Effect of culturing processes and copper addition on laccase production by the white-rot fungus Fomes fomentarius MUCL 35117.

AIM: To produce high laccase activities from the white-rot fungus Fomes fomentarius. METHODS AND RESULTS: Different culturing methods, viz, cell immobilization on stainless steel sponges and plastic material and solid-state fermentation (SSF) using wheat bran as substrate were used for laccase production by the white-rot fungus F. fomentarius. The SSF study expresses the highest laccase activities, nearly to 6400 U l(-1) after 13 days of laboratory flasks cultivation. When the wheat bran medium was supplemented with 2 mmol l(-1) copper sulfate, laccase activity increased by threefold in comparison to control cultures, reaching 27 864 U l(-1). With the medium thus optimized, further experiments were performed in a 3 l fixed-bed bioreactor (working volume 1.5 l) leading to a laccase activity of about 6230 U l(-1) on day 13. CONCLUSIONS: The results obtained clearly showed the superiority of wheat bran for laccase production over stainless steel sponges and plastic material. Supplementing the wheat bran solid medium with 2 mmol l(-1) copper sulfate allowed obtaining high activities at flask scale. The system was scaled to fixed-bed laboratory reactor. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The high enzyme production along with the low-cost of the substrate, showed the suitability of the system F. fomentarius- SSF for industrial purposes.

[Conjunctival dirofilariasis due to Dirofilaria Repens. A new Tunisian case]. / Dirofilariose conjonctivale à Dirofilaria repens. A propos d'un nouveau cas tunisien.

INTRODUCTION: Dirofilariasis due to Dirofilaria repens is a parasitic disease affecting domestic animals and transmitted to man by mosquito bites. Human infestation is rare and involves benign subcutaneous and ocular manifestations. The diagnosis is made by excisional biopsy, which is also the sole recommended treatment. There are few reports of human infection in Tunisia. CASE REPORT: We report herein the second case of conjunctival dirofilariasis in a 21-year-old woman residing in Tunis (Tunisia). The clinical presentation evoked orbital cellulites. Clinical and radiological investigations did not provide a diagnosis. Surgical excision and histological examination established the diagnosis by the presence of an adult female worm identified as Dirofilaria repens. Parasite extraction allowed successful treatment. CONCLUSION: Dirofilariasis is rare in Tunisia, with only seven cases reported. The true incidence of dirofilariasis is probably greater than recognized. This can be explained by the apparent benign nature of the lesions that may not warrant excision.

[Ocular parasitoses and mycoses: cases diagnosed in the Central University Hospital of Sfax between 1996 and 1999]. / Parasitoses et mycoses oculaires: bilan des cas diagnostiqués dans le CHU de Sfax entre 1996 et 1999.

Parasitical and fungal ophthalmic infections are polymorphic and variably severe. They are rarely reported in publications. The aim of our study has been to specify the parasitic and fungal agents isolated from the ocular samples in our district (Sfax-Tunisia). We surveyed retrospectively the different ocular parasitosis and mycosis diagnosed in our laboratory (Sfax hospital) over a 4 year-period (1996-1999). Fungal ophthalmic infections were dominated by corneal localisations: 20 cases of keratomycosis secondary to: Fusarium solani (8 cases), Aspergillus fumigatus (3 cases); Aspergillus flavus (2 cases); Alternaria sp (2 cases), Candida albicans (2 cases); Fusarium dimerium (1 case); Fusarium oxysporum (1 case) and Scedosporium sp (1 case). A prolonged treatment by ketoconazole had a successful resolution in 70% of cases; 1 case of ciliar tinea caused by Trichophyton violaceum. Parasitic agents were dominated by Demodex folliculorum (32 cases), Phthirius inguinalis (6 cases) and Oestrus ovis (2 cases). Two cases of orbital hydatidosis and 2 cases of palpebral cutaneous leishmania were noted; 21 cases of ocular toxoplasmosis were treated by clindamycine. Our survey concerned not only cosmopolite parasitosis and fungi, but also some affections endemic to our district (hydatidosis and leishmaniasis) with manifestations in isolated ophthalmic localisation. Our research has underscored the need to specify types of infection by way of adequate sampling so as to treat early and then improve prognosis.

Transgenic citrus plants expressing the citrus tristeza virus p23 protein exhibit viral-like symptoms.

Summary The 23 kDa protein (p23) coded by the 3'-terminal gene of Citrus tristeza virus (CTV), a member of the genus Closterovirus with the largest genome among plant RNA viruses, is an RNA-binding protein that contains a motif rich in cysteine and histidine residues in the core of a putative zinc-finger domain. On this basis, a regulatory role for CTV replication or gene expression has been suggested for p23. To explore whether over-expression of this protein in transgenic plants could affect the normal CTV infection process, transgenic Mexican lime plants were generated carrying the p23 transgene, or a truncated version thereof, under the control of the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S promoter. Constitutive expression of p23 induced phenotypic aberrations that resembled symptoms incited by CTV in non-transgenic lime plants, whereas transgenic plants expressing the p23 truncated version were normal. The onset of CTV-like symptoms in p23-transgenic plants was associated with the expression of p23, and its accumulation level paralleled the intensity of the symptoms. This demonstrates that p23 is involved in symptom development and that it most likely plays a key role in CTV pathogenesis. This is the first case in which a protein encoded by a woody plant-infecting RNA virus has been identified as being directly involved in pathogenesis in its natural host. This finding also delimits a small region of the large CTV genome for the future mapping of specific pathogenic determinants.

[Pityriasis versicolor in children: a retrospective study of 164 cases]. / Pityriasis versicolor de l'enfant: étude rétrospective de 164 cas.

INTRODUCTION: Pityriasis versicolor is a superficial mycosis uncommonly reported in children. It occurs frequently in warm humid climates. Clinical diagnosis can be confirmed by mycology examination of a biopsy sample or a patch-test. The aim of our work was to assess the frequency of pityriasis versicolor in children in our region and ascertain the contribution of the cutaneous patch test and its diagnostic specificity. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted in patients meeting the following inclusion criteria over a 5-year period: age < 14 years, clinical presentation compatible with pityriasis versicolor, a positive patch-test. Age, sex, clinical features and favoring factors were recorded for all patients. Patch tests were performed in a control group of age-matched children with eczema or vitiligo. RESULTS: Pityriasis versicolor was diagnosed in 1,379 cases during the study period including 164 children (11.8 p. 100). Age varied from 5 months to 14 years (mean 11 years), with a slight female predominance. Facial lesions were the most frequent (n = 78; 47.5 p. 100), preferentially on the forehead (n = 53; 68 p. 100). An achromic and hypochromic aspect predominated (n = 118; 72 p. 100). The adhesive tape tests were negative in all controls. DISCUSSION: Pityriasis versicolor is exceptional in children in our region. The adhesive tape test provides a specific diagnostic tool. Preferential facial localization and predominant achromic and hypochromic aspect are characteristic of childhood pityriasis versicolor in our region. These 2 features are also reported in the literature. Childhood cases suggests the pathogenic factors involved in pityriasis versicolor should be reconsidered. Pityriasis versicolor should be included in the differential diagnosis of childhood hypopigmentation of the face.

alpha-Amylase gene of thermophilic Streptomyces sp. TO1: nucleotide sequence, transcriptional and amino acid sequence analysis.

The nucleotide sequence of a 1860-bp region encoding a thermostable alpha-amylase of Streptomyces sp. TO1 was determined. Frame analysis revealed the presence of a 1359-bp long open reading frame (amy TO1) encoding a 453 amino acid protein with a deduced M(r) of 49 kDa. Northern blot analysis revealed that amy TO1 gene was expressed as approximately 1.5-kbp monocistronic transcript in both SL1326/pLM1 and Streptomyces sp. TO1 strains. Primer extension experiments indicated that the transcriptional start site lies 30 bp upstream of the ATG start codon, and allowed the identification of -35 (TTGCTG) and -10 (TACGCG) eubacterial-like promoter sequences. Amy TO1 exhibits strong amino acid identities with those from other Streptomyces species with a maximum of 78% with S. thermoviolaceus alpha-amylase. Nevertheless, subtle amino acid changes such as the substitution of four conserved residues found at similar positions in other Streptomyces alpha-amylases by proline residues, and the substitution of three conserved hydrophilic amino acids by hydrophobic ones in Amy TO1 might account for the thermostable properties of Amy TO1.

Novel bioactive compounds from actinomycetes.

Actinomycetes form an enormous reservoir of secondary metabolites and enzymes. The potential for exploiting rare actinomycetes is highlighted by the discovery of novel compounds from strains of Spirillospora and Nocardioides. Novel compounds of well known classes of antibiotics, such as polyenes, continue to be discovered. For compounds containing a chromophore, the analysis by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with a diode-array detector enables the elimination of producers of known compounds and facilitates the discovery of novel compounds or derivatives. The complexity of the regulatory mechanisms is illustrated by glutamine synthetase. The characterization of thermostable amylolytic, lignolytic, peroxidase and neuramidase activities, and the isolation of novel cellulolytic actinomycetes clearly demonstrate the potential of Actinomycetes as producers of enzymes.