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Peer review is the process of subjecting an author’s scholarly work, research or ideas to the scrutiny of others who are experts in the same field. The peer review of scientific manuscripts is a cornerstone of modern science and medicine. Some journals have difficulty in finding appropriate reviewers who are able to complete reviews on time avoiding publication delay. We discuss some of the main issues involved during the peer review process. The reviewer has a direct and important impact on the quality of a scientific medical Journal. Editors select reviewers on the basis of their expertise. Reviewers are more likely to accept to review a manuscript when it is relevant to their area of interest. They should respond to ethical principles, excluding any conflict of interest condition. The reviewer has to be professional, constructive, tactful, empathetic and respectful. Structured approaches, quality indicators and step-by-step process check list formats could be useful in obtaining a good review.

L’article analyse le cout du financement en Afrique et identifie les politiques publiques permettant de le reduire et de renforcer l’inclusion financiere dans la region. Apres une breve vue d’ensemble de l’inclusion financiere en Afrique, le papier decrit l’evolution des marges d’intermediation dans la region et analyse leurs composantes. L’ensemble des reformes presentees vise a s’attaquer aux causes sous-jacentes des importantes marges d’intermediation. La priorite devrait etre donnee aux reformes qui pourraient avoir le plus grand impact tout en tenant en compte des situations propres a chaque pays. Toutefois le renforcement de l’inclusion financiere en Afrique necessite aussi une palette de mesures, en particulier le developpement de l’epargne et des paiements bancaires, car le cout du financement n’est pas l’unique obstacle a l’inclusion financiere et a la prosperite.Classification JEL : G21, G23, G28 O16, O55.

Several forms of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) have been imputated to connexins mutations and prevalently to connexin 26 (Cx26), codified by the GJB2 gene (gap junction protein, beta 2). Here, we report the first familiar case (heterozygous p. G130V mutation) of non-syndromic (without any dermatological manifestation) dominant profound SNHL. Proband was a 6-years-old male with post-lingual bilateral profound SNHL, clinically identified at the age of 3 with diagnosis of severe SNHL. We confirm that the p. G130V variant of the GJB2 gene is causative of autosomal dominant form of SNHL, although it is not always associated with the presence of skin diseases.

The Authors analyze the path of the publication of a study starting from the choice of the journal. Subsequently they summarize the different systems of data reporting and how to format a manuscript according to well-established international editorial structures. In conclusion they suggest how to positively manage a rejection.

Endogenous lipid peroxidation (LPO)-derived aldehydes accumulate in human skin after photoexposure and contribute to the development of skin cytotoxicity and cancer. This study employed LC-ESI-MS and HPLC-UV-DAD techniques to investigate the effect of UVB radiation on the biotransformation and detoxification of the prototype aldehyde 4-hydroxy-2-trans-nonenal (HNE) using the human keratinocyte cell line (NCTC 2544). In parallel we followed the keratinocytes' cytotoxic response to HNE through morphological analysis and cell viability assay. In UVB-unstressed keratinocytes, even a supraphysiological dose of the aldehyde (200 microM) was rapidly and completely cleared in metabolized form (free and GSH-conjugated metabolites) from the cell, with no signs of cytotoxicity. By contrast, UVB preexposure already at 1 MED (50 mJ/cm2, the minimal erythemal dose in humans) markedly impaired HNE metabolism. After 2 h of incubation, the relative amount of GSH-conjugated adducts dose-dependently dropped from 44% (unirradiated cells) to 22% at 3 MED as a consequence of UVB-induced GSH depletion (no impairment of GST A4.4 nor of G6PD activities was observed). The levels of free metabolites, 1,4-dihydroxy-trans-nonene (DHN) and 4-hydroxy-trans-2-nonenoic acid (HNA), were modified (+30% DHN, -22% HNA) only at 3 MED, in parallel to the AR and ALDH enzyme activity modulation. In addition, a dose-dependent increase of unmodified HNE was found in the extracellular medium, paralleled by a significant fraction of the HNE-incubated dose not recovered at the intra- or extracellular level. The impairment of HNE metabolism paralleled a dramatic cytotoxic response. These results provide a reasonable explanation for the massive accumulation of carbonyl toxins in human skin in vivo after photoexposure and shed light on the detrimental effects of UVB radiation in the presence of unmetabolized LPO metabolites.

A case report is a detailed narrative of symptoms, signs, diagnosis, treatments and follow-up of one or several patients. Although, in evidence-based medicine, randomized clinical trials provide most of the scientific evidence, whereas case reports play in general a minor role, they represent an important part of medical practice.