Measurement of Isfahan heavy water zero-power reactor kinetic parameters using advanced pulsed neutron source method in a near critical state

The pulsed neutron source (PNS) technique was used to determine the prompt neutron decay constant for two different lattice pitches in the HWZPR heavy water zero power reactor. The results were compared to the variance-to-mean ratio (VTM) method. The neutron mean generation time was also calculated for both pitches, and the results were compared to previous Monte Carlo calculations. The findings of this research can be used as a benchmark nuclear codes to validate kinetic parameters.

Biological activities and determination of the mode of action of Tunisian Globularia alypum and Cistus monspeliensis ethanolic extracts

This study was designed to evaluate the antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of ethanolic extracts (EEs) of Cistus monspeliensis and Globularia alypum. C. monspeliensis showed the highest values of phenolic compounds. Further, it was shown that EE of C. monspeliensis displayed the highest DPPH (IC50 = 8.3 ± 1.08 mg/mL). The chemical profiles demonstrated a total of 12 and 13 phenolic compounds for C. monspeliensis and G. alypum, respectively. EEs of both plants possessed broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity when tested against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Treatment of studied strains with these extracts at their MICs reduced considerably the bacterial viability. The extracts did not induce total bacterial lysis, as determined by the measurement of optical density at 620 nm. Strains treated with EEs at Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations showed significant loss of tolerance to NaCl. Our results contribute to understanding the antibacterial mechanism of ethanolic extracts of the studied medicinal plants.

The Management of Insomnia by Tunisian General Practitioners

Introduction

Sleep disorders are common in clinical practice. However, they are relatively poorly understood by doctors. The aim of our study was to describe the management of insomnia by general practitioners (GPs).

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was carried out during the month of Mai 2016. Among the 193 GPs randomly selected from different areas of Sfax, in Tunisia, 127 completed a questionnaire about the management of insomnia.

Results

Among our participants, 46.5% stated that they often discuss the quality of sleep with their patients even when it is not their chief complaint. Forty-three percent reported that they are often consulted by insomniac patients. Twelve percent of GPs declared they know the “sleep diary”. Homeopathic treatment was the most prescribed first line medication (45.3%). Sleep hygiene measures were commonly recommended by 82.7% of the GPs. Relaxation therapy was known by 46.7% of the GPs and used by 26.7%. Sleep-restriction therapy was known and used by respectively 15.8% and 9.2% of participants. Discussing the quality of sleep with patients was correlated to: the frequency of solicitation for insomnia (P = 0.00), the knowledge of sleep diary (P = 0.031), and the recommendation of sleep hygiene measures (P = 0.032).

Conclusion

Continuous medical education, especially concerning non-pharmacological treatment measures, could drastically improve the management of insomnia by Tunisian GPs.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

eIF4F suppression in breast cancer affects maintenance and progression

Levels of eukaryotic initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) are frequently elevated in human cancers and in some instances have been associated with poor prognosis and outcome. Here we utilize transgenic and allograft breast cancer models to demonstrate that increased mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signalling can be a significant contributor to breast cancer progression in vivo. Suppressing mTOR activity, as well as levels and activity of the downstream translation regulators, eIF4E and eIF4A, delayed breast cancer progression, onset of associated pulmonary metastasis in vivo and breast cancer cell invasion and migration in vitro. Translation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP9) and cyclin D1 mRNAs, which encode products associated with the metastatic phenotype, is inhibited upon eIF4E suppression. Our results indicate that the mTOR/eIF4F axis is an important contributor to tumor maintenance and progression programs in breast cancer. Targeting this pathway may be of therapeutic benefit.

[Isolated radiocarpal luxation. A case report and general review of the literature]

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

We describe a case of an isolated radiocarpal dislocation and review the literature.

CASE REPORT

A young 29-year-old male, suffering from a wrist injury after a motor cycle accident, was diagnosed as dorsal radiocarpal joint dislocation with distal radioulnar dislocation and no fracture, close reduction was immediately performed followed by plaster cast immobilisation. After five months satisfactory stability and motion were obtained without signs of carpal instability.

DISCUSSION

This pathology is exceptional with less than 15 published cases. Dislocation is due to wrist hyperextension with ulnar motion but without, probably, intracarpal supination. After immediate treatment, this lesion appeared to have a good prognosis without post-traumatic carpal instability, when compared to the poorer result of perilunar dislocation.