Brown tumors in dialyzed patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism: Report of 16 cases

Brown tumors (BTs) are relatively uncommon but they are serious complications of renal osteodystrophy. The objective of this study was to analyze the clinical, biological, and radiological characteristics of 16 patients with BTs provoked by secondary hyperparathyroidism (sHPT) and its response to the decrease in parathyroid hormone levels after parathyroidectomy (PTX). The management of that uncommon condition was also reviewed. We conducted a retrospective study including 16 end‐stage renal disease patients who underwent subtotal PTX between 1997 and 2007 for severe sHPT with BTs. Our study included 10 men and 6 women, whose average age was 34 years. All patients were on dialysis. Ten of them were on dialysis for more than 5 years. The median duration on dialysis was 84 months. Patients included suffered from swellings associated with functional limitations. BTs had multiple locations in 7 patients. Jaw was the most frequent location (62%). Radiography and tomodensitometry demonstrated a mixed radio lucent and radio‐opaque lesions with an expansion of the cortical bone. Bone scan demonstrated an increased uptake of lesions. Chirurgical treatment was indicated in all cases because of severe refractory sHPT with functional limitations and/or disfiguring deformities. In all cases, BTs stopped its progression and even decreased in size. However, it was insufficient in four cases, which required a surgical resection. PTX remains an efficacious approach in resistant cases of sHPT with persistent BTs.     

Toward hydrogen enriched natural gas “HCNG” fuel on the algerian road

The Algerian transport sector is still largely dependent on petroleum. Pollution emitted by this sector is constantly increasing with the expansion of the automobile fleet. Thus, there is a pressing need for use of cleaner and economically viable alternative fuels. Therefore, the use of Hydrogen enriched Compressed Natural Gas (HCNG) is expected to play a significant role to reach this target. When hydrogen and natural gas are used together in an internal combustion engine, large benefits are possible. Algeria has significant resources and potential to introduce this new fuel. The development of HCNG as a transportation fuel allows an entry point for hydrogen in the transportation sector. The aim of this paper is to discuss strategic ways to introduce HCNG as road fuel, in Algeria. Two fundamental strategic elements were designed to introduce the Hydrogen Enriched Natural Gas as a transportation fuel. These are, the development of compressed natural gas as a road fuel, and the completion of the MedHySol project. The MedHySol project includes the production and the distribution of solar produced hydrogen, and involves the project HySolThane intended for the development of HCNG fuel road with 8% vol of Hydrogen in Natural Gas.     

Influence of pregnancy on the course of primary chronic glomerulonephritis

According to some nephrologists, pregnancy has damaging effects on renal function in primary glomerulonephritis, but the evidence is conflicting. We evaluated the effect of pregnancy on the occurrence of end-stage renal failure (ESRF) in 360 patients with various histological forms of primary glomerulonephritis but with normal renal function (serum creatinine < or = 0.11 mmol/L) at presentation. In actuarial analyses, overall ESRF-free survival did not significantly differ between women who became pregnant after clinical onset of renal disease (n = 171) and those who did not conceive (n = 189). Furthermore, in a case-control study pregnancy did not emerge as a risk factor for progression to ESRF (odds ratio 1.15 [95% CI 0.61-2.18]), whereas the type of glomerulonephritis and hypertension were major determinants. We conclude that pregnancy does not affect the course of renal disease in patients who have normal renal function at conception.     

Miscibility study of poly(vinyl chloride)/poly(methyl methacrylate‐co‐4‐vinylpyridine) by viscosimetry,DSC, and FTIR

The miscibility of the poly(vinyl chloride)/poly(methylmethacrylate) system were improved by introducing pyridine units into poly(methylmethacrylate) main. For this purpose, we have synthesized through a radical polymerization a series of methylmethacrylate‐co‐vinyl‐4‐pyridine copolymers of different compositions and carried out a comparative study by viscosimetry, differential scanning calorimetry, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic (FTIR) methods. The viscosimetric analysis using the Krigbaum‐Wall, K. K. Chee, and Compos approaches revealed that, the Poly(vinyl chloride)/poly(methylmethactylate‐co‐4‐vinylpyridine)(PVC/MMA4VP‐15) at 15 wt % of 4‐vinylpyridine systems in tetrahydrofuran are completely miscible in all proportions. The differential scanning calorimetry analysis confirmed the miscibility of these systems in all proportions by the appearance of only one glass transition temperature between those of the two pure constituents. The Kwei and Schneider approaches showed also the miscibility of this system, which is due to the specific interactions between the acidic hydrogen atom of PVC and the nitrogen of MMA4VP‐15. The use of FTIR method has confirmed the occurrence of this kind of interactions by broadening and shifting of the involved functional groups vibration bands. In this work, we have also carried out a preliminary test of sorption of THF aqueous solution by PVC and PVC/MMA4VP‐15 blend membranes. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

Amoxicillin Magadiite Derivatives: Advanced Materials for Antibacterial and Drug Delivery Applications

Silicon - Herein, a pure and well crystallized Na-magadiite was synthesized by hydrothermal method. It was then used as a host matrix to prepare hybrid materials by intercalation of zwitterionic...     

Characterization and Cheese-Making Properties of Rennet-Like Enzyme Produced by a Local Algerian Isolate of Aspergillus niger

An ochratoxin free extracellular acid protease was produced by solid state cultivation of Aspergillus niger FFB1. The purified enzyme (48.7 kDa) showed an optimal milk clotting activity at pH 5.5 and 45°C in the presence of 0.01 M CaCl₂. The enzyme was stable at least 24 h at 35°C in the pH range of 5.5–7.0. Thermal denaturation started above 45°C. Fresh cheese manufactured with reconstituted cow milk and the purified enzyme showed similar basic characteristics (pH 4.5, acid taste, white color) as marketed cheeses obtained with calf rennet. This emphasizes the value of exploiting local biological resources for value added food processing in developing countries.     

Fatty acid profiles, antioxidant compounds and antiradical properties of Pinus halepensis Mill. cones and seeds

BACKGROUND: Pinus halepensis (Aleppo pine) is a widespread tree that can be found in both natural and urban environments. A discrimination study based on the antioxidant compounds, antioxidant capacity and fatty acid (FA) profile of P. halepensis cones (PHC) and seeds (PHS) was performed. RESULTS: The total amount of phenols was about 72‐fold higher in PHC extract than in PHS extract (P < 0.001). Anthocyanin and carotenoid contents were 10‐ and 12‐fold higher respectively in PHC extract. PHC and PHS extracts at a concentration of 1 mg mL^?1 differed significantly in free radical‐scavenging activity on 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH^?) (86.65 vs 16.97%). PHC had higher antioxidant ability on 2,2′‐azino‐bis(3‐ethylbenzothialozine‐6‐sulfonic acid) radical cation (ABTS^?+) than PHS (EC₅₀ 0.368 vs 2.345 mg mL^?1). The FA profile of PHC oil revealed its richness in saturated FAs (41.5%) and high levels of trans FA isomers, with a predominance of trans,trans ‐linoleic acid (4.74%). However, polyunsaturated FAs in PHS oil represented more than 64% of total FAs. CONCLUSION: PHC showed important antioxidant activities as well as high levels of bioactive compounds. Thus PHC is a potential source of natural antioxidants that may afford several health benefits. However, the lipid extract of PHS seems to have more nutritional value as a polyunsaturated oil than that of PHC, which is high in saturated and trans FAs. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry