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For any real numbers p,q ≥ 1, we present in this paper a (p, q)-generalized version of Beurling's uncertainty principle for ℝn, which largely extends the classical Beurling's theorem. We then define its analog for compact extensions of ℝn and also for Heisenberg groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Toxoplasmosis is one of the most prevalent parasitic infections among humans and animals which caused by Toxoplasma gondii. This study was carried out to detection and identification of T. gondii in pregnant women population of Urmia, Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional study was done from August 2015 to March 2016. Totally, 620 pregnant women referred to the urban and rural healthcare centers of Urmia were studied. IgG and IgM specific for T. gondii were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The demographic and risk factors data were collected by questionnaires. All included women completed the consent letter of agreement. The identification of T. gondii was performed using nested Polymerase Chain Reaction. The statistical analysis was done using SPSS 16.0. Results: Out of 620 pregnant women, 114 (18.4%) had specific IgG and three (0.5%) had specific IgM for T. gondii. Statistical analysis showed significant relation between the IgG level and age (p<0.05). We did not find any significant relation (p>0.05) between the level of T. gondii specific antibodies with career, education, and vegetable and meat consumption habits. Molecular identification of T. gondii showed type I in isolates obtained from three newborns of IgM-positive mothers. Conclusion: In order to prevent of the disease in newborns, screening of pregnant women and healthcare education are suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geotrichum capitatum is an uncommon cause of invasive infections in immunocompromised patients, particularly those with hematological malignancies and severe neutropenia. The aim of this study was to report the cases of invasive geotrichosis in our hospital. It is a retrospective study of invasive geotrichosis diagnosed in the Laboratory of Parasitology-Mycology of the UH Habib Bourguiba, Sfax, from January 2005 to August 2013. Six cases of invasive Geotrichum infections were diagnosed. There were three men and three women. The mean age was 35 years. Five patients have acute myeloid leukemia with a profound neutropenia, and one patient was hospitalized in the intensive care unit for polytraumatism. Clinically, the prolonged fever associated with pulmonary symptoms was the predominant symptom ( n = 5). Geotrichum capitatum was isolated in one or more blood culture. Two patients had urinary tract infections documented by multiple urine cultures positive for G. capitatum. Five patients received conventional amphotericin B alone or associated with voriconazole. The outcome was fatal in four cases. Invasive geotrichosis is rare, but particularly fatal in immunocompromised patients. Approximately, 186 cases have been reported in the literature. The prognostic is poor with mortality over 50 %. So, early diagnosis and appropriate management are necessary to improve prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal Africain D'Hépato-Gastroentérologie is the property of Lavoisier and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The public irrigated area "Cebala" located in the lower valley of Medjerda was built to enhance exploitations and increase efficiency by exploiting important potential treated wastewater. These waters used for irrigation are often saline (3 to 4 g/l), so we can expect loss of crop-types income and risk of soil salinity, if we do not take special measures. As part of the global framework to conduct sustainable agriculture and environmental preservation, we will determine the optimum technical and economic reuse treated wastewater, which preserves soil fertility and prevents soil salinity in the long term. We surveyed 83 farms and isolated six types of farms belonging to six distinct soil types. We adopted a biophysical model "CropSyst" that allows long-term simulation Trifolium alexandrinum yields and soil salinity. We generated climate data for 30 years using real data and "ClimGen" program in "Cropsyst". We also generated others climate data for the same period using the same program and adopting two scenarios of temperature increase respectively TO one and two degrees Celsius to study the climate change effects on crop yields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background:Obesity is associated with reduced exercise maximal fat oxidation rate (FATmax), which is generally assessed by cardiopulmonary cycling test. The six-minute walking test (6MWT) presents an alternative method in patients.Objective:The aim of this study was to establish a practical reference equation facilitating the prediction of FATmax from the 6MWT in obese children of both genders.Design:This study is a cross-sectional study using mixed linear and multiple regression models.Research methods and procedures:Anthropometric measurements were recorded and submaximal cycling test and 6MWT conducted for 131 school-aged obese children, 68 boys and 63 girls. A multiple regression analysis for FATmax, including six-minute walking distance (6MWD), anthropometric and cardiac parameters as the dependent variables, was performed for the two genders separately.Results:Mean 6MWD and FATmax were 564.9±53.7 m and 126.5±12.1 mg min−1 for boys and 506.7±55.0 m and 120.7±10.0 mg min−1 for girls, respectively. The 6MWD, body mass index, Z-score, fat-free mass, waist and hip circumferences (WC and HC), rest heart rate, and systolic and diastolic blood pressures were highly correlated with FATmax for both genders. There was a significant correlation between 6MWD and FATmax in both boys and girls (r=0.88 and r=0.81, P<0.001, respectively). Stepwise regression analyses revealed that the combinations of 6MWD with HC for boys and 6MWD with WC for girls improved the predictability of the model (R2=0.81 for boys and R2=0.72 for girls; P<0.001).Conclusion:In obese children, the 6MWT can be used to predict FATmax when formal test of exercise capacity and gas exchange analysis are unavailable or impractical. It is therefore possible to prescript targeted exercises at FATmax, without performing indirect calorimetry, just from a field test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the role of thrombocytopenia in terms of disease manifestations, disease activity and prognostic impact in a cohort of Tunisian systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. Methods: The charts of 182 SLE patients diagnosed between 1996 and 2009 were retrospectively reviewed. The clinical manifestations, immunological profiles, disease activity, SLE relapses and survival rate at the time of follow-up were recorded. Results: Thrombocytopenia (<100,000/mm3) and severe thrombocytopenia (<20,000/mm3) was observed in 19.2% and 4.4%, respectively. Hemorrhagic manifestations were observed in 11 patients (31.4%). Thrombocytopenia was significantly associated with splenomegaly, renal disorders, neurologic manifestations, arterial thrombosis, leucopenia, low C3 level at SLE diagnosis, SLE relapses and infectious complications. Using multivariate logistic regression, thrombocytopenia was independently associated with splenomegaly (odds ratio [OR] = 9.36, p = 0.001), neurologic manifestations (OR = 4.6, p = 0.006) and renal disease (OR = 4.15, p = 0.02). By multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression analyses, thrombocytopenia was associated with the occurrence of mortality after adjusting for variables known to influence it (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.79, p = 0.045). The cause of death was unrelated to hemorrhagic complications in all patients. Conclusion: Our results, concerning North-African SLE patients, confirm the findings of previous studies which suggest that thrombocytopenia correlates with more severe disease and has a negative impact on the survival of lupus patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cytogenetic studies in multiple myeloma (MM) are hampered by the hypo-proliferative nature of plasma cells. In order to circumvent this problem, we have used a combination of immunolabeling of cytoplasmic Ig light chains (λ or κ) and FISH (cIg-FISH), which allowed a comprehensive detection of the most common and/or recurrent molecular cytogenetic aberrations on fixed bone marrow cells of 70 Tunisian patients. Translocations involving the chromosome 14q32 region were observed in 32 cases (45.7%), including 18 cases with a t(11;14), 8 cases with a t(4;14), and 2 cases with a t(14;16). Deletions of the 13q14 region (D13S319/RB1) were detected in 18.6%, and deletions of the 17p13 region (TP53) in 5.7% of the cases, respectively. Of all patients with a D13S319/RB1 deletion, 61.5% also carried a 14q32 translocation, whereas TP53 deletions were associated with a t(11;14) in 2 cases (50%) and a D13S319 deletion in 1 case (25%). Our results suggest that there is a correlation between the presence of 14q32 translocations and chromosome 13q14 deletions in MM patients and that cIg-FISH is more sensitive as compared to conventional karyotyping in detecting molecular cytogenetic abnormalities in this disease. Copyright © 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study was designed to examine the effect of training on components of the metabolic syndrome and ApoB/ApoA-I ratio in obese children. Methods: We studied thirty-two obese children (13.3 ± 0.4 years) with 16 subjects who participated to 8-week training and 16 subjects serving as a control group. Training was individualized at the point where fat oxidation was maximal (Fat max). In each subject, pre- and postintervention anthropometric measures and biochemical tests on fasting blood were performed. Results: After the programme, the training group showed an increase in VO2peak and fat oxidation during exercise. Body mass index (BMI), blood glucose and triglycerides were reduced, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) was increased. ApoB/ApoA-I ratio decreased significantly (−0.43%, p < 0.01). Systolic and diastolic blood pressure also decreased (−8.4% and −10.9%, respectively). Among the training group, 10 subjects were classified as having the metabolic syndrome before the intervention and none after. No significant changes in any other variables were measured in the control group. Conclusions: Training targeted at Fat max reduces the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its associated factors in obese children. In particular, this intervention decreases the ApoB/ApoA-I ratio, which may be considered as a marker for following this syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Invasive aspergillosis (IA) is a major opportunistic infection in haematology patients. Preventive measures are important to control IA because diagnosis is difficult and the outcome of treatment is poor. We prospectively examined the environmental contamination by Aspergillus and other fungal species and evaluated the prevalence of invasive aspergillosis in the protect unit of haematology. A three-year prospective study (December 2004–September 2007) was carried out in the department of haematology of Hedi Chaker Hospital. Suspected invasive aspergillosis cases were reviewed and classified as proven, probable and possible invasive aspergillosis using the EORTC criteria. During the study period, we collected weekly environmental samples (patient’s rooms, tables and acclimatisers) and clinical samples from each patient (nasal, expectoration and auricular). Among 105 neutropenic patients, 16 had probable and 13 had possible IA. A total of 1680 clinical samples were collected and A. flavus was most frequently isolated (79.2%). Analysis of 690 environmental samples revealed that Penicillium (44%) was the most frequent followed by Cladosporium (20%), Aspergillus spp. (18%) and Alternaria (13%). The PCR-sequencing of 30 A. flavus isolates detected from clinical and environmental samples confirmed the mycological identification. Our findings underline the importance of environmental surveillance and strict application of preventive measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: We investigate the effects of a 2-month weight-loss programme on plasma levels of adiponectin, leptin and resistin in obese adolescent boys. Methods: Twenty-one obese adolescent boys (BMI = 30.8 ± 3.2 kg/m2) completed the weight-loss programme including: 1/ either energy restriction (R), 2/ or individualized exercise training at the point of maximum lipid oxidation (Lipoxmax) (E), 3/ or energy restriction and training (RE). Body composition, lipid oxidation and plasma levels of adiponectin, leptin and resistin were measured before and after intervention. Results: Following the weight-loss programme, adolescents of the RE group showed an improvement of their body composition (p < 0.01), an increase in plasma adiponectin (+73.7%, p < 0.01) and a decrease in plasma leptin (−38.8%, p < 0.01) leading to an increase in adiponectine/leptin ratio (ALR, +144.4%, p < 0.01) higher than the R or E groups. E and RE groups only showed a similar significant increase in plasma resistin (p < 0.05) and a significant improvement of lipid oxidation rate at Lipoxmax (p < 0.01 and p < 0.001). In addition, in RE group, ALR is correlated with waist/hip and waist/height ratios, resistin level, homoeostasis mode assessment (HOMA-IR) index and Lipoxmax. Conclusion: In obese adolescents boys, moderate exercise training completed at Lipoxmax and combined with energy restriction improves their ability to oxidize lipids, which is associated with a normalization of their adiponectin, leptin and resistin levels resulting in an improved insulin sensitivity, as attested by a higher ALR and a lower HOMA-IR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of long- term rugby participation on bone mineral content (BMC) and density (BMD) of male rugby players and to determine if the di- verse stimuli elicited by the actions of forwards and backs affect their skeleton differently. Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans were obtained from 20 male rugby players (10 For- wards and 10 Backs) who actively participated in rugby for the past 13 yr, and from 29 age matched non active subjects of the same ethnic origin. Both groups (rugby players and controls) had comparable age (23.6±3.7yr vs. 25.6±3.4yr), height (178.1 ±4.0cm vs. 178.3±6.0cm), and body fat percentage (14.2 ±4.4 vs. 16.5± 5.1). Rugby players showed greater total body mass, and greater total lean and fat body masses than con- trol subjects (p <0.01). Whole spine BMC and BMD were 52% and 15% higher, respectively, in the rugby players than in the control subjects (p <0.001). Furthermore, rugby players displayed higher skeletal BMC (40%, 37% and 58% for legs, arms and pelvis, respectively) and BMD (16%, 21% and 17%, respectively) than con- trols. Within the rugby group, forwards were taller, heavier and had greater body fat percentage, and greater total lean and fat body masses than backs (p<0.05 to p<0.001). Likewise, BMC, BMD and bone area for the whole body and at specific sites such as arms, spine and legs were also greater in the forwards (p <0.05 to p < 0.001). Long-term rugby participation, starting at pubertal age, is associated with markedly increased BMC, BMD and bone size at all skeletal sites, except at the head. The musculo-skeletal adaptations, greater in forwards than in backs, could mimic training responses and therefore explain the bone features, localized in specific stressed regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the response of the somatotrope axis (insulin-like growth factor-i (IGF-1), insulin- like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3)) to intense exercise in relation to tiredness. Methods: The study involved 11 rugby players who completed a questionnaire intended to evaluate fitness or, conversely, overtraining and who agreed to plasma samples being taken before and after an international rugby match. Results: The main finding of our study is that we observed strong negative correlations between IGF-1 (r = 0.652) and IGFBP-3 (r = 0.824) levels and the overtraining state estimated using the French Society of Sport Medicine questionnaire. In particular, there was a fall (of up to 25%) in IGFBP-3 levels after the match in the more fatigued subjects compared to an increase (of up to 40%) in fit subjects. Conclusions: A fall in IGFBP-3 in response to an intense bout of exercise may represent an index of tiredness in highly trained sportsmen, as indicated by the scores obtained from the overtraining questionnaire. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary:Thalidomide–dexamethasone therapy was given in patients (<61 years) with previously untreated symptomatic multiple myeloma. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and toxicity of this combination as first-line therapy, and to determine its effect on stem cell collection and engraftment. During first-line therapy, thalidomide and dexamethasone were administered for 75 days (200 mg/day) and 3 months, respectively. The monthly dose of dexamethasone was 20 mg/m2/day for 4 days, with cycles repeated on days 9 to 12 and 17 to 20 on the first and the third month of therapy. After first-line therapy, a collection of peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) was performed. Between May 2003 and September 2004, 60 patients were included. On an intent-to-treat basis, the overall response (partial response) rate was 74%, including 24% of patients who obtained a complete remission. Grade 3–4 toxicities consisted of infections (12%), deep-vein thrombosis (3%), constipation (5%), and neuropathy (5%). A total of 58 patients (96%) proceeded to PBSC mobilisation and yielded a median number of 8 × 106 CD34+ cells/kg. First-line thalidomide–dexamethasone therapy is effective and relatively well tolerated in young patients with symptomatic multiple myeloma. This combination does not affect PBSC mobilisation.Bone Marrow Transplantation (2005) 36, 193–198. doi:10.1038/sj.bmt.1705050; published online 13 June 2005 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Competition is a more demanding situation than other strenuous exercise of equivalent duration; it results in stronger physiological changes. The object of this study was to get information on the duration of the recovery period by measuring changes of saliva cortisol [C], testosterone [T] and their ratio T/C in a group of international rugby players (n=20) during the week following a rugby match (6 days). Using non-invasive saliva assays, we were able to take samples during the day of competition and the post-competitive days. Hormone levels were assayed with a routine in-house radioimmunoassay (RIA) method. Throughout the competition, C levels increased sharply (about 2.5-fold compared resting values) and returned to basal values within 4 h. Conversely, the T level decreased slightly. During the recovery period, C levels were lower and T levels were higher than basal values, resulting in a very high T/C ratio until the 5th day. This high post-competitive T/C ratio phase is probably required to restore the break-down of homeostasis induced by the very hard mental and physical strain associated with a rugby match. Thus, a period of 1 week recovery appears to be the minimal duration between two competitions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A hundred and eight patients less than 60 years old with de novo acute myeloid leukemia were treated between 1982 and 1994 by protocols including final intensification with a transplant using autologous bone marrow purged by mafosfamide in first remission in the absence of an HLA-matched sibling donor available for allograft. From 1989, we attempted to improve tumor control by using high-dose anthracyclines in induction, by increasing from one to two the number of consolidation courses pre-transplant and by introducing intermediate doses of cytarabine in the first consolidation course. The CR rate was 77% (33/43) before 1989 and 90% (59/65) after 1989 (P = 0.06). Forty-five out of the 59 patients (76%) who achieved CR after 1989 could undergo bone marrow grafting in CR1 vs 16/33 (48%) before 1989 (P = 0.01). In spite of the higher proportion of patients above 50 years after 1989 (32%) toxicity was mild and an adequate graft was obtained more frequently after one collection. The principal factor relating to improvement in graft feasibility was the post-1989 modification of induction and consolidation regimens. This improvement in graft feasibility was associated with a better disease-free survival (DFS) (48 ± 7% vs 32 ± 8%, P = 0.04) and overall survival (OS) (53 ± 6% vs 30 ± 7%, P = 0.007) at 5 years. By multivariate analysis four factors were associated with overall survival (OS): karyotype, white blood cell count at diagnosis, treatment regimen and bone marrow grafting in CR1. This global approach should be prospectively compared with intensive chemotherapy. Bone Marrow Transplantation (2001) 27, 1045–1052. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 22-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of fever, skin rash and epistaxis. Physical examination revealed fever (39.5°C), generalized purpura, lymphadenopathy and splenomegaly. Blood tests showed pancytopenia. Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy showed hemophagocytosis with no evidence of malignant cells. Anti rubella IgM antibody were positive and the IgG titers increased from 16 to 50 UI/mL in 3 days. Therefore, he was diagnosed to have rubella-associated hemophagocytic syndrome. We report herein the first case in a man and the sixth case of rubella-associated hemophagocytic syndrome in the literature by search in Pub Med till March 2012. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Oncologie (Tech Science Press) is the property of Tech Science Press and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The retracted article "First-line thalidomide dexamethasone therapy in preparation for auto-SCT in young patients (<61 years) with symptomatic multiple myeloma," by A. Abdelkefi, L. Torjman, N. Ben Romdhane, S. Ladeb, H. El Omri, T. Ben Othman, M. Elloumi, H. Bellaj, A. Lakhal, R. Jeddi, L. Aissaouï, A. Saad, M Hsaïri, K. Boukef, K. Dellagi and A. Ben Abdeladhim is presented.