[Lombosacral epidural capillary hemangioma mimicking a dumbbell-shaped neurinoma: A case report and review of the literature]. / Hémangiome capillaire épidural lombosacré mimant un neurinome en sablier : à propos d'un cas et revue de la littérature.

INTRODUCTION: Capillary hemangiomas are benign endothelial cell neoplasms that are believed to be hamartomatous proliferations of vascular endothelial cells. The occurrence of spinal epidural capillary hemangiomas is exceedingly rare. Only 8 epidurally located cases of capillary hemangiomas in the spinal canal have been reported in the literature. CASE REPORT: We report for the first time, to our knowledge, a case of lumbosacral epidural capillary hemangioma revealed by S1 back pain and radicular pain in a 60-year-old patient, caused by an L5-S1 epidural capillary hemangioma. The neurological symptoms of the patient improved after surgery. CONCLUSION: Spinal epidural capillary hemangioma is exceedingly rare. These lesions are benign and can mimic dumbbell-shaped neurinoma. Total removal by surgery is curative.

Cytotoxic effect of essential oil of thyme (Thymus broussonettii) on the IGR-OV1 tumor cells resistant to chemotherapy

The anti-tumor effect of the Moroccan endemic thyme (Thymus broussonettii) essential oil (EOT) was investigated in vitro using the human ovarian adenocarcinoma IGR-OV1 parental cell line OV1/P and its chemoresistant counterparts OV1/adriamycin (OV1/ADR), OV1/vincristine (OV1/VCR), and OV1/cisplatin (OV1/CDDP). All of these cell lines elicited various degrees of sensitivity to the cytotoxic effect of EOT. The IC50 values (mean ± SEM, v/v) were 0.40 ± 0.02, 0.39 ± 0.02, 0.94 ± 0.05, and 0.65 ± 0.03 percent for OV1/P, OV1/ADR, OV1/VCR, and OV1/CDDP, respectively. Using the DBA-2/P815 (H2d) mouse model, tumors were developed by subcutaneous grafting of tumor fragments of similar size obtained from P815 (murin mastocytoma cell line) injected in donor mouse. Interestingly, intra-tumoral injection of EOT significantly reduced solid tumor development. Indeed, by the 30th day of repeated EOT treatment, the tumor volumes of the animals were 2.00 ± 0.27, 1.35 ± 0.20, and 0.85 ± 0.18 cm³ after injection with 10, 30, or 50 æL per 72 h (six times), respectively, as opposed to 3.88 ± 0.50 cm³ for the control animals. This tumoricidal effect was associated with a marked decrease of mouse mortality. In fact, in these groups of mice, the recorded mortality by the 30th day of treatment was 30 ± 4, 18 ± 4, and 8 ± 3 percent, respectively, while the control animals showed 75 ± 10 percent of mortality. These data indicate that the EOT which contains carvacrol as the major component has an important in vitro cytotoxic activity against tumor cells resistant to chemotherapy as well as a significant antitumor effect in mice. However, our data do not distinguish between carvacrol and the other components of EOT as the active factor.

Cytotoxic effect of essential oil of thyme (Thymus broussonettii) on the IGR-OV1 tumor cells resistant to chemotherapy.

The anti-tumor effect of the Moroccan endemic thyme (Thymus broussonettii) essential oil (EOT) was investigated in vitro using the human ovarian adenocarcinoma IGR-OV1 parental cell line OV1/P and its chemoresistant counterparts OV1/adriamycin (OV1/ADR), OV1/vincristine (OV1/VCR), and OV1/cisplatin (OV1/CDDP). All of these cell lines elicited various degrees of sensitivity to the cytotoxic effect of EOT. The IC50 values (mean +/- SEM, v/v) were 0.40 +/- 0.02, 0.39 +/- 0.02, 0.94 +/- 0.05, and 0.65 +/- 0.03% for OV1/P, OV1/ADR, OV1/VCR, and OV1/CDDP, respectively. Using the DBA-2/P815 (H2d) mouse model, tumors were developed by subcutaneous grafting of tumor fragments of similar size obtained from P815 (murin mastocytoma cell line) injected in donor mouse. Interestingly, intra-tumoral injection of EOT significantly reduced solid tumor development. Indeed, by the 30th day of repeated EOT treatment, the tumor volumes of the animals were 2.00 +/- 0.27, 1.35 +/- 0.20, and 0.85 +/- 0.18 cm(3) after injection with 10, 30, or 50 microL per 72 h (six times), respectively, as opposed to 3.88 +/- 0.50 cm(3) for the control animals. This tumoricidal effect was associated with a marked decrease of mouse mortality. In fact, in these groups of mice, the recorded mortality by the 30th day of treatment was 30 +/- 4, 18 +/- 4, and 8 +/- 3%, respectively, while the control animals showed 75 +/- 10% of mortality. These data indicate that the EOT which contains carvacrol as the major component has an important in vitro cytotoxic activity against tumor cells resistant to chemotherapy as well as a significant antitumor effect in mice. However, our data do not distinguish between carvacrol and the other components of EOT as the active factor.

[Sexual dysfunction among 78 Moroccan male hemodialysis patients: clinical and endocrine study]. / Troubles sexuels chez 78 hémodialysés chroniques marocains de sexe masculin: étude clinique et endocrinienne.

PURPOSE: To investigate the correlation between biochemical and endocrine variables with sexual disorders in 78 male patients on chronic hemodialysis at the Ibn Rochd University Hospital (Casablanca-Morocco). METHODS: Seventy-eight male hemodialysis patients with chronic renal failure were evaluated with regard to their sexual function. All patients answered a personal questionnaire on their sexual activity. Hormone (FSH, LH, prolactin, testosterone, and parathyroid hormone) and zinc and ferritin assays were also performed. RESULTS: The men reported erection (44.9%), libido (44.9%), ejaculation (26.8%), and orgasm (21.8%) disorders. Gynecomastia was observed in 17.9% of the patients. There was no correlation with weight nor the nature of the causal nephropathy nor with duration of dialysis. Levels of gonadotropins (FSH, LH), prolactin, and parathyroid hormone were elevated. Testosterone levels were low. Ferritinemia was elevated but there was no significant variation in zincemia. There was a negative curvilinear relationship between serum testosterone and sexual disorders, and between gynecomastia and ferritinemia. LH and prolactin levels were positively correlated with gynecomastia. CONCLUSION: Abnormal hormonal and iron overload could be important factors involved in the complex pathogenesis of sexual dysfunction in chronic renal failure patients undergoning hemodialysis.

[Cerebellar primary germinoma. Case report]. / Le germinome cérébelleux primitif.

Germinoma cell tumors account for 1% of all primary cerebral tumors. They occur in pineal and in supra-sellar regions, and rarely, in basal ganglia and thalami. Germinoma cell tumors originating in the posterior fossa are very rare. We report a case of primary germinoma found in the cerebellar hemisphere in a 45-year-old immunocompetent man presented with intracranial hypertension and cerebellar ataxia. The CT scan revealed a heterogeneous mass in the cerebellar right hemisphere with a cystic component. Intense and heterogeneous enhancement after contrast infusion was observed. Two other nodules were identified in the frontal and occipital lobe. The pineal region was normal. Total resection was performed. The histological finding were a germinoma. Extensive systemic examination indicated that the intracranial lesion had not metastasized from a primary extracranial tumor.

[Metastatic and hemorrhagic brain arteriovenous fistulae due to a choriocarcinoma. Case report]. / Fistule artérioveineuse cérébrale métastatique hémorragique d'origine choriocarcinomateuse.

Brain metastasis of choriocarinoma is uncommon. These tumors develop in women of childbearing age and commonly produce signs and symptoms of subarachnoid hemorrhage, intracerebral hemorrhage, or brain tumor. Diagnosis can be established by histologic study of operative swabs and bioassay of the patient's blood, urine and cerebrospinal fluid for chorionic gonadotropin. This condition is highly chemo- and radiosensitive. We report the case of a 36-year-old woman with intracranial neoplastic fistulae. Rupture occurred 3 days after spontaneous abortion at 3 months of pregnancy. The patient presented with hemiplegia, aphasia and unclear consciousness. Left fronto-parietal hematoma was diagnosed on the CT scan, and cerebral angiography showed an arteriovenous intracranial fistulae. The hematoma and angioma were surgically removed successfully. The histological examination showed a metastatic choriocarcinoma. Surgery was followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy. After 6 years of follow-up, complete remission has been obtained.

Evidence that simulated microgravity may alter the vascular nonreceptor tyrosine kinase second messenger pathway.

Simulated microgravity (hind limb unweighting; HU) reduces maximal contractile capacity to norepinephrine (NE) but not 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in the rat abdominal aorta of male Wistar rats. Our earlier study showed that voltage-operated calcium channels, the MAPK pathway [1], and vasoconstrictive prostaglandins contribute to the NE-induced contraction of control (C) but not HU, aorta rings. Genistein, a general tyrosine kinase inhibitor, caused a significant reduction in vascular contractility in C but not HU arteries. The present study explored the role of protein kinase C (PKC) and extracellular receptor-activated kinase 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) in the HU-induced vascular hyporesponsiveness to NE. Microgravity was simulated in Wistar rats by 20 day HU. The abdominal aorta was removed from control and HU rats, cut into 3 mm rings, and mounted in tissue baths to measure isometric contraction. Protein levels were determined using Western blot analysis. PD98059, a selective MAPKK inhibitor, caused a marked inhibition of NE-induced contraction in both C and HU arteries. Calphostin C, a PKC inhibitor, completely abolished the contractile response to NE in both C and HU tissues. Phosphorylated (activated) ERK1/2 protein mass was greater in C, compared to HU, aortas, and was reduced by genistein only in C tissues. MAPK total protein levels in the rat aorta were increased in the HU-treated, compared to C, animals. These results indicate that PKC represents an early transduction step in the contractile response to NE in the rat abdominal aorta. That inhibition of the step immediately before activation of MAPK reduced contraction in both C and HU tissues, while general tyrosine kinase inhibition with genistein blocked only the control responses, suggests that a nonreceptor tyrosine kinase may be involved in HU-induced vascular hyporesponsiveness to NE.

Tumor-like tuberculosis of the sacrum.

Isolated tuberculosis of the sacrum in a 43-year-old woman manifested as functional impairment of the right lower limb. Sacral tuberculosis is rare in patients with no history of tuberculosis. Another unusual feature was the tumor-like aspect of the lesion, with diffuse, ill-defined osteolysis of a large part of the sacrum and extension to the presacral soft tissues responsible for rectal displacement.

[Behcet's disease with multiple intracranial arterial aneurysms. Report of a case]. / Maladie de Behçet avec anévrismes artériels intracrâniens multiples. A propos d'un cas.

Behçet disease is a rare condition in central Europe but more common in Morocco. A case of multiple intracranial arterial aneurysms occurring in a 44 year-old Moroccan patient with 2-years history of Behçet's disease is reported. CT-scan showed an infarction in the right middle cerebral artery territory. Panangiography showed sacciform aneurysms of the bifurcation of the right and left middle cerebral arteries. The draining veins and sinuses were normal. The two aneurysms were successfully clipped by two microsurgical frontotemporal approach in one surgical time. There have been only eight reports of intracranial arterial aneurysms associated to Behçet disease in the literature.

Spinal neurenteric cyst. A report of a case.

A case of intradural extramedullary neurenteric cyst is reported. The embryogenesis and surgical treatment of this lesion are discussed.

[Double localization of intracranial germinoma. Apropos of a case]. / Double localisation d'un germinome intracrânien. A propos d'un cas.

The authors report a case of a double localization of an intracranial germinoma in the pineal and suprasellar regions, which represents only 2 to 7% of all germinomas. Reviewing the literature, they discuss the pathogenesis, histopathology, biology and treatment of these tumours.

[Spondylodiscitis in subacute bacterial endocarditis. Apropos of a case]. / Spondylodiscite oslérienne. A propos d'un cas.

Occurring of spondylodiscitis as first manifestation of bacterial endocarditis in an uncommon condition. About fifty cases are reported in the literature. Such association makes imperious the regular examination of the heart of patients with spondylodiscitis and spine radiography when a vertebral pain is found to be present in patients with bacterial endocarditis. An additional case is her by reported.