Genetic diversity of Acacia tortilis ssp. raddiana rhizobia in Tunisia assessed by 16S and 16S-23S rDNA genes analysis.

AIMS: In order to understand the genetic diversity of Acacia tortilis ssp. raddiana-rhizobia in Tunisia, isolates from nine geographical locations were obtained and analysed. METHODS AND RESULTS: Characterization using restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis (RFLP) of PCR-amplified 16S rRNA gene and the intergenic spacer (IGS) between the 16S and 23S rRNA genes was undertaken. Symbiotic efficiency of the strains was also estimated. Analysis of the 16S rRNA by PCR-RFLP showed that the isolates were phylogenetically related to Ensifer ssp., Rhizobium tropicii-IIA, and Rhizobium tumefaciens species. Analysis of 16S-23S spacer by PCR-RFLP showed a high diversity of these rhizobia and revealed eleven additional groups, which indicates that these strains are genetically very diverse. Full 16S rRNA gene-sequencing showed that the majority of strains form a new subdivion inside the genera Ensifer, with Ensifer meliloti being its nearest neighbour. Nodulation test performed on the plant host demonstrated differences in the infectivity among the strains. CONCLUSION: Rhizobial populations that nodulate specifically and efficiently Acacia tortilis ssp. raddiana in representative soils of Tunisia is dominated by E. meliloti-like genomospecies. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This paper provides the first clear characterization and symbiotic efficiency data of rhizobia strains nodulating A. tortilis in Tunisia.

Antiphospholipid syndrome and retinal vein occlusion in adults.

Antiphospholipid antibodies may play and important role in the pathogenesis of retinal vascular occlusions; investigated the prevalence among 33 patients with retinal vein and artery occlusions and 80 controls. Prevalence was 33% and 5% respectively. Ophthalmic examination and fluorescein angiography showed that occlusions were due to ischaemic events. The 11 patients were diagnosed with antiphospholipid syndrome: 9 patients were treated successfully with laser photocoagulation and anticoagulant and anti-aggregant therapy. Two patients with antiphospholipid antibodies associated with resistance to activated protein C had unfavourable outcomes. Our results suggest a correlation between antiphospholipid syndrome and retinal vein occlusions; we recommend a systematic search for antiphospholipid antibodies in occlusions of unexplained origin and laser photocoagulation treatment and long-term oral anticoagulant and anti-aggregant therapy.

Antiphospholipid syndrome and retinal vein occlusion in adults

Antiphospholipid antibodies may play and important role in the pathogenesis of retinal vascular occlusions; investigated the prevalence among 33 patients with retinal vein and artery occlusions and 80 controls. Prevalence was 33% and 5% respectively. Ophthalmic examination and fluorescein angiography showed that occlusions were due to ischaemic events. The 11 patients were diagnosed with antiphospholipid syndrome: 9 patients were treated successfully with laser photocoagulation and anticoagulant and anti-aggregant therapy. Two patients with antiphospholipid antibodies associated with resistance to activated protein C had unfavourable outcomes. Our results suggest a correlation between antiphospholipid syndrome and retinal vein occlusions; we recommend a systematic search for antiphospholipid antibodies in occlusions of unexplained origin and laser photocoagulation treatment and long-term oral anticoagulant and anti-aggregant therapy

Progress toward interruption of endemic measles transmission in Tunisia.

Measles was the second leading cause of infant mortality in Tunisia prior to introduction of measles vaccination in 1979. The number of reported measles cases has decreased from 3007 in 1981 to 47 cases in 2000 due in part to the high coverage rates achieved after 1992. During 1998, a measles catch-up campaign vaccinated 1,846,657 children (95%) aged 6-16 years, and a follow-up campaign for children aged 9 months to 5 years in 2001 reached 547,766 (94%). During 1999-2001, 1717 cases of rash and fever illness were tested for measles; only 3 (0.2%) were positive for measles. From February to July 2002, an outbreak of measles involving 87 cases occurred in Tunisia in a health care setting and 56 (64%) patients were aged 15-30 years. The low number of laboratory-confirmed measles cases during 1999-2001 suggests endemic measles transmission may have been interrupted.

Effect of cadmium on lipid composition of pepper.

Seedlings (2 weeks old) of pepper (Capsicum annum) were grown in nutrient solution with added CdCl(2) (10 or 50 microM) for 7 days. In Cd-treated plants, changes in acyl lipids and fatty acid composition were investigated. Cd particularly lowered the amount of monogalactosyldiacylglycerol (MGDG) and enhanced accumulation of phospholipids [phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol] in leaves. In contrast, content of PC and galactolipids (MGDG and digalactosyldiacylglycerol) decreased in roots. Fatty acid composition of leaves was also changed by Cd addition to external medium, but no important changes occurred in roots. Levels of leaf polyunsaturated fatty acids, especially 18:3 and 16:3, were reduced. Lipid and fatty acid composition changes in roots are discussed in relation to Cd tolerance in pepper.

Cadmium- and copper-induced changes in tomato membrane lipids.

Cadmium and copper uptake and distribution, as well as their effects on growth and lipid composition were investigated in 17-day-old tomato seedlings (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. cv. 63/5 F1) grown in culture solution supplied with two concentrations of Cd or Cu (0, 5 and 50 microM). The accumulation of Cd and Cu increased with external metal concentrations, and was considerably higher in roots than in primary leaves. Biomass production of the growing roots and primary leaves was strongly depressed at high metal levels. Also, significant decreases in the content of lipid classes and changes of fatty acid composition were recorded in heavy metal-stressed plants in comparison with controls. Glycolipid contents were decreased more in leaves than in roots by Cd-treatment, but copper decreased both to similar extents in both organs. Likewise, both metals reduced the phospholipid and neutral lipid contents more in roots than in leaves. In almost all lipid classes the proportion of palmitic acid (16:0) increased, and that of linoleic (18:2) or linolenic (18:3) acid decreased, suggesting that heavy metal treatment induced an alteration in the fatty acid desaturation processes. Furthermore, the accumulation of palmitate (16:0) rather than stearate (18:0) indicated an alteration in the ratio of products from the fatty acid synthase. Copper was found to be the most unfavourable for plant growth and lipid metabolism. The possible mechanisms by which heavy metals, especially Cu, induce a strong lipid shift are discussed.

[Regressive bilateral retinoblastoma. Clinical and genetic study. Apropos of a case]. / Rétinoblastome régressif bilatéral. Etude clinique et génétique. A propos d'un cas.

The authors report the observation of a 35-year-old patient, mother of 5 children 4 of whom are carriers of bilateral retinoblastomas. Two of these children presented lesions suggestive of retinoma retinoblastoma association. The patient had peripheral retinal lesions evoking the diagnosis of regressive bilateral retinoblastoma. At present, the term retinoma or retinocytoma seems to be more adequate. The genetic study of this family was done with D esterase and DNA molecular biology.

[Zinc phytotoxicity and induction of stress proteins in bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)]. / Phytotoxicité du zinc et induction de protéine(s) de stress chez le haricot (Phaseolus vulgaris L.).

Bean seedlings (Phaseolus vulgaris L., cv. fin de Bagnol) were grown for ten days in nutrient solutions at 0, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 microM ZnS0(4). The results obtained show that Zn treatment is followed by a pathological behaviour, the precocity and intensity of which are dependent on the applied dose. In addition to the depressive effects on the biomass yield and the tissue water content, a decrease in the proteins contents was also observed. Zinc toxicity seems to induce synthesis of low molecular weight proteins in Zn-treated bean stems, but not in the roots and leaves. These peptides, in stems, may protect, hypothetically, the susceptibles metabolic sites in foliar parenchyma against the zinc deleterious effects.

Effects of NaCl on Flows of N and Mineral Ions and on NO3- Reduction Rate within Whole Plants of Salt-Sensitive Bean and Salt-Tolerant Cotton.

The effects of NaCl on the transport rates of cations, NO3-, and reduced N compounds between roots and shoot and on NO3- assimilation rate were examined on plants of two species differing in their sensitivity to salinity, bean (Phaseolus vulgare L. cv Gabriella) and cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L. cv Akala). Biomass production after 20 d in response to 50 and 100 mM NaCl decreased by 48 and 59% in bean, but only 6 and 14% in cotton. The comparison of the flow patterns obtained for control and NaCl-fed plants showed that salinity induced a general decrease in all the fluxes involved in partitioning of N and the various ions. This decrease was markedly higher in bean than in cotton. Within either species, the different flows (uptake, xylem flux, phloem flux) of a given element were affected by NaCl to the same extent with minor exceptions. No specific effect of salinity on any of the components of N partitioning were discerned. The greater sensitivity of nitrate reductase activity to NaCl in bean leaves compared to cotton leaves seems to be due to a decreased compartmentalization of ions rather than to a difference in salt tolerance of the enzyme itself. Overall, our data show that alteration of mineral nutrition is not solely the reflection of a decreased growth rate, but also is a general process that impairs uptake of all the minerals even at mild NaCl salinity.

Three-dimensional planar and vector analysis of brainstem auditory evoked potentials as a function of intensity in guinea pig.

Brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs) have been studied in guinea pigs as a function of intensity by means of the Three-channel Lissajous' trajectory (3-CLT) method. Data were quantified in terms of duration, orientation of planar segments and orientation of equivalent dipoles. The auditory stimulus was a click varying from 48 dB pSPL to 108 dB pSPL by steps of 10 dB pSPL. A semi-automated procedure was used to identify planar segments, by calculating the curvature (apex) and magnitude curves. Dipole analysis was made at the corresponding magnitude peaks and apices. Taking into account a symmetrical orientation of planar segments and equivalent dipoles, similar results were obtained after right and left stimulation. Six planar segments, A, B, C, D, E, F were analysed as were six equivalent dipoles corresponding roughly to P1, N1, P3, N3, P4 and N4 on a vertical lead. There was a parallel latency shift of the first and last point of planar segments as a function of intensity, accounting for the stable duration of a planar segment. Planar segment D (roughly corresponding to N3 on a vertical lead) disappeared as the intensity decreased. Only planar segments C and F and dipole N3 showed a significant change in their orientation. The stable duration of planar segments suggests that intensity coding in the auditory brainstem, in terms of a global function of a system, involved the same number of synapses in a serial circuit while the activated neurons increase in the in parallel circuitry, as the intensity increases. Similar changes in orientation of planar segments C (including P3 of guinea pig BAEPs) and F (including N4 of guinea pig BAEPs) suggest a possible common source with a depolarization followed by a repolarization.

[Familial form of gelatin drop corneal dystrophy]. / Forme familiale de dystrophie gélatineuse en gouttes de la cornée.

We report 4 cases of gelatin drop dystrophy corneal amyloidosis in two brothers and two sisters of the same family. The age of onset is between 1 and 10 years. The corneal signs are described at different stages of development. Lesions are initially asymmetrical. The typical is a subepithelial nodule starting in the center and then expanding to involve the whole cornea. There is no relationship between extension and outcome of the disease. Diagnostic is confirmed by histological examination. There was no consanguinity between parents and no other cases were found in the family. An immunological study with HLA typing was performed. All patients were treated with lamellar or transfixing keratoplasty with a follow-up of 2 to 5 years.

[Toxocara canis in apparently bilateral ocular site]. / Localisation oculaire à toxocara canis apparemment bilatérale.

The authors report a rare case of ocular larva migrans lesions due toxocara canis in an 8-year-old child. Lesions were bilateral, consisting of peripheral chorioretinal granuloma, papillitis and vasculitis. Diagnosis was confirmed by eosinophilia (37%), positive serology in blood and aqueous humour and by raised immunoglobulins E in vitreous humour. The presence of vascular and chorioretinal lesions was demonstrated by fluorescein angiography. The patient was treated with antihelminthic drugs, topical and systemic steroids and ocular cryotherapy to the peripheral chorioretinal granuloma. The outcome was good, with lesions stabilised.

The long-term results of closed palmar fasciotomy in the management of Dupuytren's contracture.

Twenty-three patients were reviewed an average of 5.3 years after a closed palmar fasciotomy for the correction of Dupuytren's contracture. Results suggest that this procedure is best suited to those whose contracture is mainly at the MP joint and that approximately 55% of such patients can expect the correction to be maintained for at least five years. In those patients with severe deformity affecting the PIP joint in addition to the MP joint, this may be a useful preliminary procedure, but is unlikely to be of any long term benefit.

Benign tendon sheath chondroma.

Soft tissue chondromas are uncommon tumours but when they do occur the hands and the feet are a common site (Lichtenstein, 1964; Dahlin, 1974; Chung, 1978). We have experience in the management of two cases each of whom had a chondromatous lesion in the index finger of the left hand which exhibited features that could have been considered sinister to those unfamiliar with this lesion and could lead to over treatment.

[Report of 2180 laparoscopic tubal ligations with the Yoon ring]. / A propos de 2180 sterilisations tubaires per-coelioscopiques par procede mecanique de Yoon.

PIP: Records of 2180 tubal sterilizations carried out using the Yoon procedure between March 1978-March 1980 in a pilot family planning clinic in Tunis, Tunisia, were examined to assess the medical, social, and psychosexual impact of the operation. Patients were seen by a social worker who obtained the couple's consent and evaluated their socioeconomic status, a midwife who took a careful medical and fertility history, and a medical specialist who ruled out pregnancy and contraindications. 2 of the 2180 women were unmarried. The average age was 34.6 years. No previous contraception had been used in 1300 cases, the pill had been used in 294, IUD in 593, and other methods in 45. 84 women had 0-3 living children, 1350 had 4-6, 682 had 7-9, and 60 had over 9. 1100 women had no induced abortions before the sterilization, 741 had 1, 197 had 2, 86 had 3, 30 had 4, and 26 had 5. Laparoscopy revealed 36 cases of pelvic infection, 29 of ovarian cysts, 14 of fibromas, 5 of varicoceles, 3 of endometriosis, 1 of G.E.U., 1 of developing mass, 1 of a mesosalpingeal granulation, and 1 of a Lippes loop. Most perioperative complications were associated with inexperienced operators; among them, 2 hematomas required laparotomy. There were 20 cases of uterine perforation. 8 cases of minor injury to abdominopelvic organs occurred but none required laparotomy. In 9 cases there was difficulty in creating the pneumoperitoneum, in 70 cases there was poor insertion of the ring, and in 7 cases there were errors in insertion of the ring. In 52 cases there were minor complications in the 1st postoperative week. 15.62% of the women later complained of pain related to the procedure, 9.71% of menstrual difficulties, .09% of fridigity, and .22% of dyspareunia. 2.17% complained of behavioral problems including anorexia, headaches, trembling and backaches, and frank psychic manifestations. 5 cases of poststerilization pregnancy were discovered, a failure rate of .08%.^ieng

[Tubal sterilization in Tunisia: psychological and sexual data (author's transl)]. / Sterilisation tubaire en Tunisie: donnees psychologiques et sexuelles.

PIP: The present study was carried out at the medicopsychological clinic of a general hospital in Tunis in close cooperation with the department of gynecology. Ligatured patients are systematically followed up if they present psychiatric symptoms ranging from ordinary complaints without any real organic cause to psychotic states requiring hospitalization and special care. Ligation of the organs which are physically involved in sex is experienced either as secondary castration entailing a type of neurosis or a narcissistic hemorrhage expressed through physical symptoms. Sexual problems may be in the foreground or else masked by a pattern of behavior mainly characterized by excessive aggressiveness directed chiefly towards the husband and children. From the psychodynamic point of view, ligation reactivates subconscious traumas and conflicts which are then expressed in the form of aggression as if part of the sexual instinct was transformed into a death instinct. (author's)^ieng