TRP Channels: The Neglected Culprits in Breast Cancer Chemotherapy Resistance?

Breast cancer is a major health concern worldwide, and resistance to therapies remains a significant challenge in treating this disease. In breast cancer, Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) channels are well studied and constitute key players in nearly all carcinogenesis hallmarks. Recently, they have also emerged as important actors in resistance to therapy by modulating the response to various pharmaceutical agents. Targeting TRP channels may represent a promising approach to overcome resistance to therapies in breast cancer patients.

Psychological impact of the covid-19 pandemic on the operating room paramedical staff

Introduction

the recent covid19 pandemic is not devoid of psychological risks on paramedical staff. Among them, those who work in the operating theaters are exposed to such risks.

Objectives

to determine the perceived stress level and the psychological impact of COVID-19 on paramedics in the operating room.

Methods

This is an observational, descriptive and analytical study carried out in the operating rooms of Sahloul University Hospital during a 3 month period. The data collection tool was a self-administered questionnaire composed of 5 main parts (socio-demographic characteristics, occupational characteristics, exposure to COVID-19, the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and the Hospital Anxiety and depression scale (HADS)).

Results

96 paramedical staff participated in our study. The average perceived stress score was significantly higher among anesthetists. 48% of participants had anxiety. Anesthetists had significantly higher anxiety scores (p = 0.001). 26.1% of participants had definite depression. Of those with definite depression, 35.3% were anesthetists (p = 0.028). Factors significantly associated with the occurrence of anxiety were: psychiatric history, increased workload, contact with a positive coronavirus patient in the operating room, and severe perceived stress. However, the factors significantly associated with the occurrence of depression were: initial training in the management of covid-19 patients, personal infection with SARS-COV2 and severe perceived stress.

Conclusions

Covid-19 pandemic is causing significant symptoms of anxiety and depression among operation room staff. Primary and secondary prevention strategies must then be undertaken.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.

Psychosocial skills of ICU healthcare staff providing care to patients with COVID-19

Introduction

The COVID-19 crisis has imposed deep improvements in ICU responsiveness face to unprecedented and uncertain situations. In addition to strengthening logistics resources, this responsiveness required the development of psychosocial skills of healthcare providers, especially in ICU.

Objectives

To assess extrinsic factors interfering with psychosocial skills of the staff working in COVID-19 ICU and to analyze the different dimensions of these skills.

Methods

This is an observational descriptive study conducted at the COVID-19 ICU of an Academic Hospital, during a one-month period. All healthcare providers were enrolled. Data collection was based on a self-administered questionnaire including: socio-demographic factors; the general perception of work in covid-19 ICU and psychosocial skills. Six dimensions were explored separately, then by a standardized scale ranging from 0 to 100.Three levels of satisfaction were considered.

Results

Fifty-five healthcare providers were enrolled. The average age was 32 years. The sex ratio was 0.25. Mean scales of satisfaction were 53.6 for professional status and occupational security; 62.4 for working conditions and 69.8 for relational aspects. The most altered extrinsic factors were satisfaction regarding the salary and satisfaction regarding the administration policy with mean scores of 15 and 10 respectively. Satisfying psychosocial skills were creative and critical thoughts, self-awareness and empathy for others, communication and interpersonal relationships. Whereas the most impaired skills were stress management and problems solving, with mean scales of 49.6 and 68.3 respectively.

Conclusions

Psychosocial skills were generally acceptable. However, they could be improved by specific actions targeting extrinsic factors.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.

Incidence and risk factors of cognitive disorders after urologic endoscopic surgery

Introduction

Postoperative cognitive disorders are an emerging public health problem because of its related socio-economic impact.: Postoperative cognitive disorders are an emerging public health problem because of its related socio-economic impact.

Objectives

To determine the incidence and risk factors of cognitive disorders after endoscopic resection in urology.

Methods

This is an observational, descriptive and analytical study carried out in the urology department of Sahloul University Hospital during a 3 month period, and enrolling patients scheduled for endoscopic resections. Collected data included socio-demographic characteristics and parameters related to the operative management. Cognitive disorders were assessed by the MOCA Test one day before the intervention, then, during the first postoperative day. Patients developing TURP syndrome were excluded.

Results

During the study period, 104 patients were enrolled with a mean age of 67.76 years. The sex ratio was 33.6. Main interventions were transurethral resection of bladder tumor and transurethral resection of the prostate.The incidence of cognitive disorders was 45.2% after endoscopic resection. Main Risk factors in multivariate analysis were age (p <10-3), low educational level (p <0.001), sedentary (p <0.001), smoking (p = 0.029), an age gap with spouse> 10 years (p <0.001), high blood pressure (p <0.001), myocardial infarction (p = 0.005); chronic bronchitis (p = 0.002), sleep disorders (p <0.001), preoperative concentration disturbances (p = 0.005), poor quality of patient information (p <0.05), and the type of anesthesia (p = 0.012).

Conclusions

The incidence of cognitive disorders after urologic endoscopic surgery is considerable. Patients with risk factors require preventive measures, regular screening and optimal management.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.

Assessing sexual health status among Tunisian ICU healthcare providers in times of the COVID-19

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically affected ones well-being. ICU healthcare providers are particularly concerned by this impact which includes physical, mental and socioeconomic repercussions. Others health dimensions could be deeply affected but not well explored such as the psycho-sexual status.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to assess sexual health status among ICU healthcare providers.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional study enrolling Tunisian ICU healthcare providers and conducted between July and September 2021. Data collection was based on a self-administrated questionnaire. To assess sexuality, Arabic validated versions of the IIEF-15 and the FSFI was used for male and female respectively. The Fear of COVID-19 Scale and the Rosenberg Self-esteem questionnaire were also used.

Results

Twenty ICU workers (13 physicians and 7 nurses) were enrolled. The mean age was 28.2 years and the sex ratio was 2.3. All participants were involved in COVID-19 crisis management and 80 % reported an increase in their workload. The mean Rosenberg scale was 27 suggesting a low self-esteem. The mean Covid19 Fear Scale was 26 ± 2. For the IIEF-15 the mean score was 17 ± 3 (moderate erectyl dysfunction) and the most damaged dimension was the intercourse satisfaction. For the FSFI scale, the mean was 23 ± 5 witch (a low sexual dysfunction). A high sexual desire with a lack in the satisfaction dimension was reported in 90% of cases. Only 4 participants have consulted a sexologist.

Conclusions

COVID-19 has a serious sexual impact in ICU healthcare providers justifying urgent psychological interventions.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.

[Disseminated fusariosis during autologous stem cells transplant]

Fusarium is a filamentous brown fungus found in soil, on plants and outdoors responsible for localized or disseminated infections. Diagnosis is based on blood cultures and skin biopsy. Disseminated fusariosis is a rare and serious fungal infection, that occurs especially in neutropenic immunosuppressed patients. Treatment is difficult and mortality is estimated between 50 and 70% in adult patients. This infection is rare in Morocco. We report a case of systemic fusariosis in patient with multiple myeloma during a second autologous stem cell transplant. At day 4 of the autologous stem cells transplant the patient had febrile neutropenia and diarrhea; he received ceftazidime, metronidazole and amikacin for 2 days. The patient still febrile was treated by imipenem and vancomycin without bacteriological proof. At day 10 the patient presented difficulty of breathing and wheezing on auscultation of the lungs, and received nebulization with salbutamol every 6 hours. The CT scan shows interstitial infiltrate of the right lung with micronodules. At day 11 he was treated by voriconazole with clinical improvement. At day 19, Fusarium sp. was identified on the Sabouraud blood culture. The patient left the transplant unit at day 25, he received 6 weeks of voriconazole with clinical and radiological improvement.

[Generalized chromomycosis caused by Phialophora verrucosa]

BACKGROUND

Chromomycosis is a chronic fungal skin infection that generally presents in the form of verrucous or vegetative lesions on uncovered areas of skin. We report an unusual case of generalised chromomycosis due to Phialophora verrucosa.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A 42-year-old town-dwelling housewife was hospitalised for erythematous keratotic nodules on the arm showing sporotrichoid distribution, associated with a crusted ulcerative lesion on the homolateral index finger, as well as subcutaneous papulonodular lesions. In places, the lesions on the patient's back presented an umbilical and molluscoid appearance. The patient had suffered no previous injuries and had not visited any areas in which leishmaniasis is endemic. Her history included insulin-dependent diabetes. Screening for Leishman bodies was negative. Histopathological analysis of the skin biopsy revealed an epithelioid giant-cell granuloma with no caseous necrosis. The mycological study demonstrated the presence of fumagoid bodies and P. verrucosa was isolated. Treatment with terbinafine was initially given, followed by clarithromycin, but in the absence of any improvement, the patient was readmitted to hospital and is currently on itraconazole and amphotericin B.

DISCUSSION

The novel features of our case comprise the clinical aspect of chromomycosis, the extent of the lesions, their unusual site on the back and upper limbs, and the isolation of a rare species, P. verrucosa (only the second observation in Morocco). It also highlights the therapeutic difficulties posed by this type of chromomycosis.

An interdisciplinary research strategy to improve symbiotic nitrogen fixation and yield of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) in salinised areas of the Mediterranean basin

The main findings of a cooperative research group of agronomists, plant breeders, microbiologists, physiologists and molecularists to improve the symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) and N2-dependent yield of common bean under moderate salinity in the Mediterranean basin are summarised. Agronomic surveys in reference production areas show large spatial and temporal variations in plant nodulation and growth, and in efficiency of utilisation of the rhizobial symbiosis. The latter was associated with a large rhizobial diversity, including new bean nodulating species. Macrosymbiont diversity in SNF and adaptation to NaCl was found. However, contrasts between plant genotypes could be altered by specific interactions with some native rhizobia. Therefore, variations in soil rhizobial population, in addition to agronomic practices and environmental constraints, may have contributed to erratic results observed in field inoculations. At the mechanistic level, nodule C and N metabolisms, and abcissic acid content, were related to SNF potential and tolerance to NaCl. Their relation with nodule conductance to O2 diffusion was addressed by in situ hybridisation of candidate carbonic anhydrase and aquaporin genes in nodule cortex. The limits and prospects of the cooperative strategy are discussed.

Effects of salinity on protein and lipopolysaccharide pattern in a salt-tolerant strain of Mesorhizobium ciceri

AIMS

To characterize the physiological and metabolic responses of Mesorhizobium ciceri strain ch-191 to salt stress, investigating the changes induced by salinity in protein and lipopolysaccharide profiles, as well as determining the accumulation of amino acids, glutamate and proline.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Strain ch-191 of M. ciceri was grown with different NaCl concentrations. Protein and lipopolysaccharide patterns were determined by electrophoresis. The strain ch-191 tolerated up to 200 mmol l-1 NaCl, although higher salt dosages limited its growth and induced changes in the protein profile. The most noteworthy change in the LPS-I pattern was the decrease in the slowest band and the appearance of an intermediate mobility band. The accumulation of proline in response to salt stress surpassed that of glutamate.

CONCLUSION

The protein profile showed major alterations at salinity levels which inhibited growth. However, the alterations in the LPS profile and accumulation of compatible solutes were evident from the lowest levels, suggesting that these changes may constitute adaptative responses to salt, allowing normal growth.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

The selection and characterization of salt-tolerant strains, which also show efficient symbiotic performance under salinity, may constitute a strategy for improving Cicer arietinum-Mesorhizobium ciceri symbiosis in adverse environments.