Is plasma concentration of coenzyme Q10 a predictive marker for left ventricular remodelling after revascularization for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction?

BACKGROUND

Left ventricular remodelling that frequently occurs after acute myocardial infarction is associated with an increased risk of heart failure and cardiovascular death. Although several risk factors have been identified, there is still no marker in clinical use to predict left ventricular remodelling. Plasma concentration of coenzyme Q10, which plays a key role in mitochondrial energy production and as an antioxidant, seems to be negatively correlated with left ventricular function after acute myocardial infarction.

OBJECTIVE

The goal of our study was to determine whether the plasma coenzyme Q10 baseline concentrations at time of the ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) could predict left ventricular remodelling at six months' follow-up.

METHODS

Sixty-eight patients who were admitted to hospital for STEMI and successfully revascularized with primary percutaneous coronary intervention were recruited. All patients underwent a 3D-echocardiography examination within the first four days after percutaneous coronary intervention and six months later then divided into two groups based on the presence or not of left ventricular remodelling. Plasma coenzyme Q10 concentration at the time of percutaneous coronary intervention was determined using high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

RESULTS

While we found similar plasma coenzyme Q10 concentrations compared with other studies, no association was evidenced between coenzyme Q10 concentrations and left ventricular remodelling (P = 0.89).

CONCLUSION

We found no evidence for using plasma coenzyme Q10 concentration as an early prediction marker of left ventricular remodelling after STEMI.

Polyphenolic compounds progress during olive mill wastewater sludge and poultry manure co-composting, and humic substances building (Southeastern Tunisia)

In Mediterranean areas, olive mill wastes pose a major environmental problem owing to their important production and their high polyphenolic compounds and organic acids concentrations. In this work, the evolution of polyphenolic compounds was studied during co-composting of olive mill wastewater sludge and poultry manure, based on qualitative (G-50 sephadex) and quantitative (Folin-Ciocalteu), as well as high pressure liquid chromatography analyses. Results showed a significant polyphenolic content decrease of 99% and a noticeable transformation of low to high molecular weight fraction during the compost maturation period. During this step, polyphenols disappearance suggested their assimilation by thermophilic bacteria as a carbon and energy source, and contributed to humic substances synthesis. Polyphenolic compounds, identified initially by high pressure liquid chromatography, disappeared by composting and only traces of caffeic, coumaric and ferulic acids were detected in the compost. In the soil, the produced compost application improved the chemical and physico-chemical soil properties, mainly fertilising elements such as calcium, magnesium, nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus. Consequently, a higher potato production was harvested in comparison with manure amendment.

Time-dependent evolution of olive mill wastewater sludge organic and inorganic components and resident microbiota in multi-pond evaporation system

The physico-chemical and microbiological characterizations of olive mill wastewater sludge (OMWS) were investigated in five OMW evaporation ponds of the open-pond system in Sfax (Tunisia), during the olive oil production period in 2004. Time-dependent changes in both physico-chemical parameters and the microbiota were investigated. Mathematical models and principal component analysis (PCA) were used to establish the correlations between the studied parameters. During the effluent time-dependent changes in the ponds, the result of OMWS analysis showed an increase of sludge index (SI), ash content, total solids (TS), volatile solids (VS), ethyl acetate extractive (EAE) and total phosphorus (Total P), as well as microbial flora especially the yeasts and moulds. The SI, TS, VS and Total P changes with time fit a simple linear equation, while EAE, phenols and NH(4)(+) fit a second-degree polynomial model. The PCA analysis exhibited three correlated groups. The first group included temperature, ash content, evaporation, SI, TS, VS, Total P, EAE, yeasts and moulds. The second group was made by bacteria and moisture; and the third group by NH(4)(+), oil and phenol. Such modelling might be of help in the prediction of OMW changes in natural evaporation ponds.

Bioconversion of wastes from the olive oil and confectionary industries: spectroscopic study of humic acids

Structural changes in humic acids extracted from composted mixtures of sesame bark with the paste of olive mill wastewater or exhausted olive cake, were investigated using FTIR spectroscopy and solid state 13C CP/MAS techniques. The C/N ratio and organic matter degradation decreased significantly after 6 months of composting. The FTIR spectra of humic acids content showed an increase in the aromatic compounds content and a degradation of aliphatic chains. During composting, nuclear magnetic resonance 13C spectral analyses confirmed that aromatic groups exhibited a slight increase while the aliphatic groups decreased and disappeared at the end of the composting process. These results showed that during composting, aliphatic chains were preferentially oxidized, while aromatic macromolecules were bio converted into highly functionalized compounds.

["Aggressive" angiomyxoma of the vagina. A case report and review of the literature]

Aggressive angiomyxomas are rare soft tissue tumours. They are mainly found females. Steeper and Rosai described these tumors for the first time in 1983. The diagnosis and the treatment are difficult. The recurrence is frequent. The authors report a case of aggressive angiomyxoma of the vagina and the pelvis, diagnosed in a 34-old-woman. They discuss clinical symptoms and different signs allowing the diagnosis. Therapeutic management is also discussed.

Retrovesical hydatid disease: a clinical study of 27 cases

OBJECTIVES

We report our experience with 27 cases of retrovesical hydatid cysts (RVHC) and discuss the pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of this hydatid location.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the clinical files of 27 patients with RVHC admitted to our institution from January 1984 to December 2000.

RESULTS

The predominant presenting symptom was burning micturition (13 cases). Physical examination revealed a pelvic mass in 17 patients. Preoperative diagnosis was based upon ultrasonography, intravenous pyelography, and serology tests. CT was performed in 10 patients. We noticed that RVHC can be subdivided into two categories: those that develop mainly in the peritoneal cavity (intraperitoneal type; 18 cases), and those that develop mainly in the confined pelvic cavity (subperitoneal type; 9 cases) and are more liable to induce ureteral compression and more difficult to approach surgically. One patient died before operation. Twenty-six patients were operated and had either a total (9 cases) or partial pericystectomy (17 cases). Four patients underwent closure of cystovesical fistulas. Two patients had ureteral reimplantation. Postoperatively, 1 patient died with septic shock and 1 was reoperated for peritonitis. Mean postoperative hospital stay was 8 days.

CONCLUSIONS

The preoperative diagnosis of RVHC is based mainly on ultrasonography. Open surgery is the treatment of choice.

Combination of ballistic lithotripsy and transurethral prostatectomy in bladder stones with benign prostatic hyperplasia: report of 120 cases

PURPOSE

We report our experience with the combination of ballistic lithotripsy (BL) and transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) in 120 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and bladder stone(s).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The mean stone size, appreciated by measuring the greatest diameter, was 18.5 mm (range 10-80 mm). The mean prostate volume was 35.4 cc (26-62 cc). All procedures were monitored under direct endoscopic control with a videocamera.

RESULTS

Lithotripsy and evacuation of fragments was performed in an average time of 27.5 minutes (10-80 minutes). The only intraoperative complication was mild hematuria in 38 patients (32%), which did not affect vision for TURP. The mean resection time was 42 minutes (range 15-65 minutes). Four patients experienced mild postoperative bleeding, and one patient had clot retention. The mean hospital stay was 1.2 days (range 1-4 days).

CONCLUSIONS

Combined BL and TURP is effective, safe, and economical.

Digital necrosis and lupus-like syndrome preceding ovarian carcinoma

Since 1967, about 40 cases of digital necrosis associated with neoplasia have been reported. We report a new case of digital necrosis associated with an ovarian carcinoma and with a lupus-like syndrome. Immunologic cross-reactivity to tumoral antigen could explain the lupus-like syndrome.

[Repair of urethrocutaneous fistula with double skin flap. Report of 32 cases]

OBJECTIVES

Urethro-cutaneous fistula constitutes the main complication of urethroplasty for hypospadias. The frequency of this complication ranges from 12 to 90%. The multiplicity of fistula closure techniques, reflects the difficulty involved in repairing these lesions. The authors evaluated fistula repair by a double pedicle skin flap according to the Wise technique.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

32 patients were treated: 18 had already undergone 34 attempted repairs of urethro-cutaneous fistulas complicating urethroplasties (9 Mathieu, 17 Duplay and 6 Leveuf) for anterior penile (9), middle penile (14) and penoscrotal hypospadias (9). In 14 cases, the Wise technique was the first procedure used to repair the fistula.

RESULTS

The authors obtained 29 successes. The 3 failures concerned fistulas after Duplay urethroplasties to correct penoscrotal hypospadias. The overall success rate of this technique in our series (90%) was therefore close to that reported by Wise (5 out of 6 successes), who described this technique in 1977.

CONCLUSION

The Wise technique is a good technique for repair of large, recurrent urethro-cutaneous fistulas after several attempts of repair.

The detection of tyrosinase mRNA in the peripheral blood of stage I melanoma patients is not of clinical relevance in predicting metastasis risk and survival

The presence of tyrosinase mRNA in the peripheral blood cells of melanoma patients has been recently studied as a possible marker of haematogenous dissemination. However, considerable variations in the rates of detection have been noted. We determined the presence of tyrosinase mRNA-positive circulating cells using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in 35 patients with stage I melanoma, two patients with stage II melanoma and two patients with stage III melanoma. Among the patients with stage 1, 13 were tested before and after surgery (< 1 h). Twenty healthy subjects served as negative controls. Out of the melanoma patients, the tyrosinase gene was expressed in three of the 52 samples tested. Tyrosinase mRNA was present in the circulating cells of only one patient with stage I melanoma after intra-congenital naevi resection. However, two other stage I patients developed rapidly lethal metastasis within the following 6 months, despite the lack of detectable tyrosinase mRNA. None of stage II patients were positive for the tyrosinase transcripts, while both patients with stage III melanoma showed enzyme expression. Our results confirm those of previous studies, showing that a small proportion of stage I melanoma patients have tyrosinase-positive circulating cells. Moreover, the lack of tyrosinase mRNA detection in the blood does not necessarily exclude metastatic progression. Therefore, this study indicates that the detection of tyrosinase mRNA-positive circulating cells by RT-PCR is not a predictive biomarker of a metastasis risk in patients with stage I melanoma.

[Anterior anal sphincter approach in the management of urethral-rectal fistulas: a case report]

Urethrorectal fistula is a rare disease which is easy to diagnose, but which essentially raises a problem of the choice of the most appropriate surgical technique. A review of the literature on the subject shows that, over the last decade, various teams have developed the anterior and posterior trans-anp-sphincteric approaches. We report a case of an acquired urethrorectal fistula associated with anal incontinence treated via an anterior trans-ano-rectal perineal incision. The exposure provided by this incision facilitates simultaneous cure of the fistula and repair of the anal sphincter.