Study on Compliance with Radiation Protection Rules in the Medical Imaging Department of Pr Bocar Sidy Sall Hospital of Kati (Mali)

Objective: Evaluate the level of compliance with radiation protection rules in the medical imaging department of the University Hospital Center (CHU) of Kati. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional and descriptive study carried out in the medical imaging department of Pr Bocar Sidy Sall (BSS) Hospital of Kati. A questionnaire was developed and sent to the staff of the medical imaging department. The assessment focused on the radiation protection of personnel, radiation protection measures for patients, the delimitation and signage of zoning as well as the application of radiation protection principles. Results: Twenty-one people participated in the study, 90% of whom were men. The 30 - 39 age group was predominant with 61.90%. 33.33% of the staff knew the principles of radiation protection;86% of our sample knew the basic rules of radiation protection. The majority of the staff in the imaging department (61.90%) had a perfect knowledge of protective equipment. For 76% of our workforce, the limits of the radiation doses received are regulated in Mali. 76% of those surveyed have not taken any additional training in radiation protection. The doors are closed during the X-ray examination for 76.19% of the respondents and 95% of the staff put themselves behind the sealed screen during the examination. For 81% of the respondents, the design of the premises met radiation protection standards. 62% of practitioners have a dosimeter and 80% of them wear it during their shift. For 62% of our sample, the change of the dosimeter is quarterly. The systematic request for DDR (date of last menstrual period) in women and the adaptation of the delivered dose to the patient’s morphology was only carried out by 65% of practitioners. The majority of staff (81%) did not benefit from medical surveillance, while for 55% of respondents the level of radiation protection in the establishment was average. Conclusion: This study enabled us to highlight the shortcomings in terms of radiation protection within the imaging department of the CHU Kati.

Feasibility of Scanopelvimetry in the Medical Imaging Department of the University Hospital of Point “G”.

Purpose: The purpose of our study was to describe the technique of scanopelvimetry used in the radiology department of the Point G University Hospital, to specify the indications of scanopelvimetry in the department and to evaluate the cost of radiopelvimetry. Patients and Method: This was a prospective, cross-sectional study that took place over a 12-month period from January 1 to December 31, 2018. It focused on pregnant women in whom scanopelvimetry was performed in the medical imaging department of Point G University Hospital during the study period. Results: Out of 8615 CT examinations performed in the radiology department, we collected 65 cases of scanopelvimetry, i.e., 0.7% of the CT examinations. Primigravida and paucigravida dominated the study (40% each). In 60% of the pregnant women the height was less than 150 cm. The most frequent indication for CT scanning was clinical pelvic narrowing (50%). In 80% of the cases, the scanopelvimetry was performed after 37 weeks of amenorrhea. A predominance of narrowing of the superior strait was noted (40%). 4.6% of the pregnant women had a Magnin index of less than 20. CT scanopelvimetry is a feasible examination in our context but the level of demand is low because of the high cost of the examination (49500 fca). Conclusion: In light of the results obtained, we can say that CT pelvimetry allows us to predict the probable route of delivery and thus we can reduce the risk of fetomaternal morbidity and mortality to improve maternal and child health.

Retroperitoneal Teratoma in Infants: About a Case in the Medical Imaging Department of the Mother and Child Hospital Center “Luxembourg”

Introduction: Retroperitoneal teratoma is a rare congenital tumour, representing only 1% to 10% of primary retroperitoneal tumors in children, far behind ovarian and testicular locations. There is a clear female predominance with a sex ratio of 3.4/1. The purpose of this study is to review the clinical manifestations, the mode of revelation of retroperitoneal teratoma, the diagnostic means and the anatomopathologic aspect of retroperitoneal teratoma, then to show the contribution and the limits of the various imaging examinations: ultrasound, CT and MRI in the diagnosis of retroperitoneal teratoma. Observation: We report the case of a mature retroperitoneal teratoma discovered in a 10-month-old male infant. The diagnosis evoked by ultrasound and abdominal CT was confirmed by histological study of the excised specimen. The postoperative evolution after 3 months was favorable in particular with no signs of recurrence. Conclusion: Retroperitoneal teratoma is a rare congenital tumour. The complete imaging assessment including ultrasound and computed tomography is necessary preoperatively in order to make the diagnosis and to clearly determine the relationship with the various organs. The anatomopathological study confirms the diagnosis of retroperitoneal teratoma. Tumor excision must be radical to avoid recurrence, which readily occurs in a malignant form. Even if the tumor appears benign, postoperative monitoring based on clinical, biological and radiological examination is essential.

Optical redox imaging of ANT1-de-cient muscles

Adenine nucleotide translocator(ANT)is a mitochondrial protein involved in the exchange of ADP and ATP across the mitochondrial inner membrane.It plays a crucial role in cellular energy metabolism by facilitating the transport of ATP synthesized within the mitochondria to the cytoplasm.The isoform ANT1 predominately expresses in cardiac and skeletal muscles.Mutations or dysregulation in ANT1 have been implicated in various mitochondrial disorders and neuromuscular diseases.We aimed to examine whether ANT1 deletion may affect mitochondrial redox state in our established ANT1-de-cient mice.Hearts and quadriceps resected from age-matched wild type(WT)and ANT1-de-cient mice were snap-frozen in liquid nitrogen.The Chance redox scanner was utilized to perform 3D optical redox imaging.Each sample underwent scanning across 3–5 sections.Global averaging analysis showed no signi-cant differences in the redox indices(NADH,flavin adenine dinucleotide containing-flavoproteins Fp,and the redox ratio Fp/(NADH+Fp)between WT and ANT1-de-cient groups.However,quadriceps had higher Fp than hearts in both groups(p¼0:0004 and 0.01,respectively).Furthermore,the quadriceps were also more oxidized(a higher redox ratio)than hearts in WT group(p¼0:004).NADH levels were similar in all cases.Our data suggest that under non-stressful physical condition,the ANT1-de-cient muscle cells were in the same mitochondrial state as WT ones and that the signi-cant difference in the mitochondrial redox state between quadriceps and hearts found in WT might be diminished in ANT1-de-cient ones.Redox imaging of muscles under physical stress can be conducted in future.

Is it a normal phenomenon for pediatric patients to have brain leptomeningeal contrast enhancement on 3-tesla magnetic resonance imaging?

Determining whether sevoflurane sedation in children leads to“pseudo”prominent leptomeningeal contrast enhancement(pLMCE)on 3 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging will help reduce overdiagnosis by radiologists and clarify the pathophysiological changes of pLMCE.

Life Time Attributable Cancer Risk Estimated Using Scanner Reported Dose Length Product during Chest Computed Tomography Imaging in Young Children

This study aims to estimate the lifetime attributable cancer risk (LAR) for pediatric chest computed tomography (CT) examinations in five age groups using recently published age and region-specific conversion coefficients multiplying the widely available scanner registered dose length products (DLP) displayed on the CT console and hence calculating the Effective Dose (ED). The ED is then multiplied by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) published risk factor for LAR. The obtained LAR values are compared with the international literature. Factors that may affect the LAR value are reported and discussed. The study included one hundred twenty five chest CT examinations for both males and females aged from less than one year to fifteen years. The patients reported data are from one single medical institution and using two CT scanners from June 2022 to December 2023. The results of this study may serve as benchmark for institutional radiation dose reference levels and risk estimation.

Comparative Study of Transvesical and Retropubic Prostatic Adenomectomies in the Urology-Andrology Department of Ignace Deen University Hospital Center

Objective: To compare the results of transvesical and retropubic prostatic adenomectomies at the Urology-Andrology Department of Conakry University Hospital. Methodology: This was a prospective multi-operator analytical study lasting 6 months. It included 70 patients operated on for benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH), divided into 2 groups of 35 according to the retropubic or transvesical technique. The data was collected using a questionnaire and entered into the Epi info application. The analysis was initially descriptive and then univariate. To identify confounding factors, a multivariate analysis was performed. The application conditions of each test were checked before their application. A p-value Results: Upper adenomectomies represented 53.6% of surgeries performed for BPH. The average age was 73.2 years. The mean prostate volume was 117 ± 51.6 cc and the mean total PSA was 9.2 ± 11.4 ng/ml. The majority of patients had an ASA1 (60%) and ASA2 (37.1%) score. Spinal anesthesia, a double-current silicone probe with hinged hinge 22, and drainage of the prevesical space were carried out in all patients, i.e. 100%. The average overall blood loss was 229 ± 98.2 ml. It was lower in the group of patients operated via the retropubic route (187 ± 60.4 ml). The same was true for the duration of intervention (49.1 ± 7.17 vs 55.4 ± 7.9 min), the catheter wearing time (5.14 ± 0.97 vs 9.29 ± 2 .9 days) and the length of hospitalization (=6.26 ± 1.15 vs 12.1 ± 5.74 days). Conclusion: The retropubic technique has advantages over the transvesical one. These advantages are translated by a gain in the duration of the intervention, blood loss, catheter wearing time and length of hospitalization.

The prognostic value of radiomics based on ^(18)F-FDG PET/CT imaging in advanced non-small cell lung cancer

Objective:To investigate the prognostic value of radiomics features based on ^(18)F-FDG PET/CT imaging for advanced non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC)treated with chemotherapy.Methods:A sample of 146 NSCLC patients stagedⅢor stageⅣwere included in this retrospective study who received ^(18)F-FDG PET/CT before treatment.All patients were treated with standardized chemotherapy after PET/CT examination and were divided into training group and validation group in an 8:2 ratio randomly.Radiomics features were extracted.In the training group,the minimum absolute contraction and selection operator(LASSO)algorithm and Cox risk proportional regression model were used to screen radiomics and clinical prognostic factors of progression-free survival(PFS).The radiomic model,clinical model and complex model were established respectively.The corresponding scores were calculated,then verified in the validation group.Results:The LASSO algorithm finally screened four radiomics features.ROC results showed that in the training group,the AUC of PFS predicted by the radiomics model was 0.746,and that in the verification group was 0.622.COX multivariate analysis finally included three clinical features related to PFS in NSCLC patients,namely pathological type,clinical stage and MTV30.The AUC for predicting PFS by clinical model,radiomics model and composite model were 0.746,0.753 and 0.716,respectively.The radiomics model had the highest diagnostic efficacy,and its sensitivity and specificity were 0.663 and 0.833,respectively.Delong test verified that there was no statistical difference in the predictive efficacy between the radiomics model and the composite model(Z=1.777,P=0.076)and the clinical imaging model(Z=0.323,P=0.747).Conclusion:The radiomics model based on PET/CT has a good predictive value for the prognosis of advanced NSCLC treated with chemotherapy,but it needs further validation before it can be widely used in clinical practice.

Prostate magnetic resonance imaging and the value of experience:An intrareader variability study

Objective To measure the intraobserver concordance of an experienced genitourinary radiologist reporting of multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging of the prostate(mpMRIp)scans over time.Methods An experienced genitourinary radiologist re-reported his original 100 consecutive mpMRIp scans using Prostate Imaging-Reporting and Data System version 2(PI-RADS v2)after 5 years of further experience comprising>1000 scans.Intraobserver agreement was measured using Cohen's kappa.Sensitivity,specificity,negative predictive value(NPV),positive predictive value(PPV),and accuracy were calculated,and comparison of sensitivity was performed using McNemar's test.Results Ninety-six mpMRIp scans were included in our final analysis.Of the 96 patients,53(55.2%)patients underwent subsequent biopsy(n=43)or prostatectomy(n=15),with 73 lesions targeted.Moderate agreement(Cohen's kappa 0.55)was seen in the number of lesions identified at initial reporting and on re-reading(81 vs.39 total lesions;and 71 vs.37 number of PI-RADS≥3 lesions).For clinically significant prostate cancer,re-reading demonstrated an increase in specificity(from 43%to 89%)and PPV(from 62%to 87%),but a decrease in sensitivity(from 94%to 72%,p=0.01)and NPV(from 89%to 77%).Conclusion The intraobserver agreement for a novice to experienced radiologist reporting mpMRIp using PI-RADS v2 is moderate.Reduced sensitivity is off-set by improved specificity and PPV,which validate mpMRIp as a gold standard for prebiopsy screening.

Analysis of Local Diagnostic Reference Levels for Pediatric Patients Undergoing 18F-FDG PET/CT Imaging for Oncology

Background: The PET/CT imaging studies have two doses components the dose from the PET radiopharmaceutical and the other from the low dose CT used for PET images attenuation correction. We have one PET/CT scanner at our institution a Philips Time of Flight scanner. Our local patient’s radiation protection rules requires continuous assessment of radiation doses delivered to our patients. Purposes: The objectives of this study are to develop a weight- based facility DRLs for paediatric F-18-FDG PET-CT imaging for oncology in a large tertiary hospital and to determine whether the calculated DRLs compares with internationally published DRLs. Materials & Methods: Radiation dose data and patient demographics of two-hundreds and sixteen paediatric PET-CT oncology patients imaging procedures from one large tertiary hospital were selected and analysed in order to establish a facility paediatric DRLs. Statistical analysis was performed. Results: The PET dose reference levels ranged between [62 - 525] MBq of injected activity for a range of pediatric age groups. The CTDIvol values were between 3.5 and 16.5 mGy for all age groups. Comparison with current EANM and SNMMI recommendations of patient’s dose are discussed. Conclusion: Our pediatric PET/CT reference levels are higher than the ones reported internationally with notable variations. .

The Epidemiological, Clinical and Radiological (Echography, Mammography) Characteristics of Breast Pathologies at the Diagnostic Imaging Center (C.I.D) “Teriya” in Bamako

Breast pathology is varied, bringing together tumor and non-tumor lesions. Objective: To study the contribution of the ultrasound-mammography pair in the diagnosis of breast pathologies. Materials and Method: This was a retrospective descriptive study, carried out over a period of 3 years (from January 2018 to December 2020) at the Diagnostic Imaging Center (C.I.D) “TERIYA” in BAMAKO. It concerned all patients who came for a mammogram/ultrasound examination of the breast. All women admitted for mammogram or breast ultrasound who were diagnosed with a breast injury during the study period were included. Incomplete records and radiological checks were not included. The variables analyzed were age, sex, clinical data, and ultrasound and mammography aspects. The devices used are: a Voluson 730 PRO ultrasound machine and a G 600T type mammography machine. Results: At the end of our study, we collected 254 breast pathologies on a number of 382 women, i.e. a frequency of 66.49%. The average age of our patients was 41 years old. The dominant clinical data were mastodynia (41.88%) and mammary nodule (21.70%). On imaging (mammo-ultrasound) the lesions predominated on the left in 36% of cases, bilateral in 28% of cases and in the upper-outer quadrants in 31.5% of cases. Tumor pathologies represented 66.54% of which 45.27% were benign mainly composed of fibro-adenoma (20.88%) and cyst (18.50%), 11.8% of suspected cases and 9.45% of cancers. Non-tumor pathologies represented 33.46%, mainly mastitis (16.14%), galactophoric dilations (11.02%) and abscesses (5.51%). These pathologies were classified in 50.3% in ACR2, 17.75% in ACR3 and 4, and in 14.20% in ACR5. Lymphadenopathy was present in 73.21% of cases.

Breast Cancer in a Supernumerary Breast at the Yaoundé Gynaeco-Obstetric and Paediatric Hospital: About a Case

Accessory or ectopic breast tissue is an anomaly in the development of the breast. It is a rare condition that occurs along the embryological mammary line. In less than 1% of all breast cancers, supernumerary breast cancer is reported, with the axillary location being the most common in 60% to 90% of cases. Cancerous degeneration of this supernumerary breast tissue can pose a dual diagnostic and therapeutic problem. We report the case of locally advanced adenocarcinoma in a right supernumerary breast. This is a 75-year-old, grand-multiparous, postmenopausal, and known hypertensive patient on treatment. Family history was remarkable for brain cancer in her sister and oesophageal cancer in her mother. She consulted for a mass in the right axillary cavity on supernumerary breast evolving for a year. Clinical examination revealed a large, fixed, budding and haemorrhagic-ulcerated mass of the right axilla, with long axis measuring about 15 cm. There was as wella supernumerary breast on the left, but without particularity. A soft tissue ultrasound showed a large hypoechoicmass in the right axillary region of 116 mm with areas of central necrobiosis. Morphologically, the breasts were normal. A breast MRI revealed a subcutaneous mass in the right axillary cavity with skin ulceration and satellite lymphadenopathy. The extension assessment revealed liver metastases, and a biopsy of the mass revealed a breast adenocarcinoma. The case was the subject of a multidisciplinary consultation meeting following which a wide excision of the mass was indicated. The histo-pathology analysis results of the surgical specimen were in favour of a triple negative papillary adenocarcinoma. After a post-operative multidisciplinary consultation meeting, adjuvant chemotherapy was indicated. The development of supernumerary breasts depends on hormones, just like normal breasts. Breast cancer in accessory breast tissue is quite rare with the incidence being 6%. The most common pathology is invasive carcinoma (50% - 75%). It is usually located in the armpit (60% - 70%) although it can be present in other less common locations such as the inframammary region (5% - 10%) and rarely the thighs, perineum, groin and the vulva. Since accessory axillary breast tissue is not considered during breast screening examination, it is necessary for clinicians to be aware of this entity and associated pathologies. Their preventive excision in women at high risk can also be considered.

Phase II Clinical Study of Three-Dimensional Printed Coplanar Template Combined with CT-Guided Percutaneous Core Needle Biopsy of Pulmonary Nodules in Elderly Patients

Background: As the population age structure gradually ages, more and more elderly people were found to have pulmonary nodules during physical examinations. Most elderly people had underlying diseases such as heart, lung, brain and blood vessels and cannot tolerate surgery. Computed tomography (CT)-guided percutaneous core needle biopsy (CNB) was the first choice for pathological diagnosis and subsequent targeted drugs, immune drugs or ablation treatment. CT-guided percutaneous CNB requires clinicians with rich CNB experience to ensure high CNB accuracy, but it was easy to cause complications such as pneumothorax and hemorrhage. Three-dimensional (3D) printing coplanar template (PCT) combined with CT-guided percutaneous pulmonary CNB biopsy has been used in clinical practice, but there was no prospective, randomized controlled study. Methods: Elderly patients with lung nodules admitted to the Department of Oncology of our hospital from January 2019 to January 2023 were selected. A total of 225 elderly patients were screened, and 30 patients were included after screening. They were randomly divided into experimental group (Group A: 30 cases) and control group (Group B: 30 cases). Group A was given 3D-PCT combined with CT-guided percutaneous pulmonary CNB biopsy, Group B underwent CT-guided percutaneous pulmonary CNB. The primary outcome measure of this study was the accuracy of diagnostic CNB, and the secondary outcome measures were CNB time, number of CNB needles, number of pathological tissues and complications. Results: The diagnostic accuracy of group A and group B was 96.67% and 76.67%, respectively (P = 0.026). There were statistical differences between group A and group B in average CNB time (P = 0.001), number of CNB (1 vs more than 1, P = 0.029), and pathological tissue obtained by CNB (3 vs 1, P = 0.040). There was no statistical difference in the incidence of pneumothorax and hemorrhage between the two groups (P > 0.05). Conclusions: 3D-PCT combined with CT-guided percutaneous CNB can improve the puncture accuracy of elderly patients, shorten the puncture time, reduce the number of punctures, and increase the amount of puncture pathological tissue, without increasing pneumothorax and hemorrhage complications. We look forward to verifying this in a phase III randomized controlled clinical study. .

Phenotypical Aspects of a Familial Syndromic Retinitis Pigmentosa

Aim: To report a familial case of syndromic retinitis pigmentosa identified at Aristide Le Dantec Hospital in Dakar and to describe their clinical characteristics ophthalmic. Observation: We report a sibling group of nine children, four died at a young age from unknown causes. Three children were affected by retinitis pigmentosa, two cases were syndromic. A history of nyctalopia was found in all three affected children. The mean age of onset of decreased visual acuity was 6.6 years. Patient 1 affected by syndromic retinitis pigmentosa had an extraocular sign of cystic dilation of the main bile duct. Patient 2 had myoclonic epilepsy, psychomotor retardation, and the molar tooth sign on cerebral MRI (highly suggestive of Joubert syndrome). The third child had isolated retinitis pigmentosa. Ophthalmological examinations (fundus examination, electroretinogram, and visual evoked potentials) and pediatric examinations in the remaining two children were normal. Discussion and Conclusion: Retinitis pigmentosa is a rare degenerative disease that can be associated with several other malformations, highlighting the importance of screening for associated conditions. It presents a grim functional prognosis and a life prognosis dependent on extraocular manifestations. Molecular biology (karyotyping, next-generation sequencing) could have identified the implicated genes and allowed for a formal diagnosis and genetic counseling.

Complete Hydatidiform Mole at Menopause: A Case Report from Panzi Hospital, Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo

Gestational trophoblastic disease is an abnormal proliferation of trophoblastic tissue during pregnancy. It occurs in women of childbearing age, although a few cases have also been observed in post-menopausal women, although it is extremely rare in the latter. Here we describe a rare case of complete hydatidiform mole in a 56-year-old female patient who presented with genital bleeding combined with nausea and vomiting and a gravid uterus 16 cm in height. The ultrasound findings and the increase in serum β-HCG to 182566.00 mIU/ml suggested a diagnosis of complete hydatidiform mole. Given the post-menopausal state and the future risk of post-molar gestational trophoblastic neoplasia, we opted for total hysterectomy without preservation of the adnexa via a transabdominal approach, followed by antimitotic treatment with methotrexate. The uterus measured 18.45 cm × 11.18 cm with intra cavitary vesicles. Microscopic examination showed chorionic villi of variable size and shape, most of which were dilated and oedematous, associated with trophoblastic cell proliferation and haemorrhage suggestive of complete benign hydatidiform mole. Follow-up showed a consistent decrease in serum β-HCG levels and no evidence of residual disease. A suspicion of gestational trophoblastic disease should be borne in mind when evaluating a patient with peri- or post-menopausal bleeding to avoid delay in diagnosis and treatment.

An environmentally sensitive zinc-selective two-photon NIR fluorescent turn-on probe and zinc sensing in stroke

A two-photon near infrared(NIR)fluorescence turn-on sensor with high selectivity and sensitivity for Zn^(2+)detection has been developed.This sensor exhibits a large Stokes'shift(-300 nm)and can be excited from 900 to 1000 nm,with an emission wavelength of-785 nm,making it ideal for imaging in biological tissues.The sensor's high selectivity for Zn^(2+)over other structurally similar cations,such as Cd^(2+),makes it a promising tool for monitoring zinc ion levels in biological systems.Given the high concentration of zinc in thrombi,this sensor could provide a useful tool for in vivo thrombus imaging.

Evaluation of the Quality of Life of Patients Suffering from Chronic Rhinosinusitis in a Hospital Setting in Kinshasa

Background and objective: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), a common disease worldwide, has a major impact on patients’ quality of life (QoL). In recent years, the measurement of health-related QoL has made it possible to assess the patient’s state of health, the severity of the CRS and the treatment. The aim of this study was to assess the QoL of patients with CRS in a hospital setting in Kinshasa. Methods: This was a cross-sectional analytical study conducted from June 2020 to May 2021 in the ENT service of the Kinshasa University Hospital and the Monkole Hospital Center. The study involved 113 patients aged at least 18 years, whose QOL was compared with that of a control group consisting of 100 non-patients. QOL was assessed using the Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) Questionnaire. Results: The mean age of the patients was 41.0 years (18 - 74 years) and that of the controls was 39.1 years (19 - 77 years). More than half of the participants were university graduates. The median SNOT-22 score was 44 (14 - 78) in patients and 7 (1 - 40) in controls. Compared with subjects without CRS, patients with CRS had significantly higher scores in all four domains of the SNOT-22. Around 9 out of 10 patients had a severely impaired QoL compared with 2 out of 10 controls. Considering mildly impaired QoL, we found that in the otological and sleep domains, scores were not significantly different between patients and controls. In the case of severely impaired QoL, however, only the otological domain showed a non-significant difference in scores between the two groups. Conclusion: CRS is a real public health problem in our environment and significantly alters the QoL of patients suffering from it, with repercussions on their professional productivity;hence the need for better management.

Bilharzia Appendicitis: Incidence in a Commune in Mali, about 3CAS

Appendicitis bilharzia is a very rare condition and we report 3 cases of this pathology that sense clinical and biological similarities with bacterial appendicitis. The etiological diagnosis was exclusively histopathological, this allowed to highlight eggs of Schistosome in the appendicular wall in the three patients. The surgical treatment was supplemented by a specific medical treatment based on praziquantel. The surgical suites were simple for 2 patients, complicated by superficial parietal suppuration in a patient.

Epidemiological, Clinical and Therapeutic Aspects of Bladder Tumors in a Schistosomiasis-Endemic Country

Introduction: Bladder tumors are common in our country;Mali is a bilharzial endemic country. In our context, urinary bilharzia is common, and bladder tumors arouse particular interest in the field of urological oncology, because of their frequency, their diagnosis, their difficulty in management and their histological particularity. The objective of our work was to study the epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic aspects of bladder tumors. Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional, descriptive study with a retrospective and prospective collection that took place over 3 years from January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2022. Results: We identified 316 cases of bladder tumors during this period. Bladder tumors are a common pathology representing 35.95% of all hospitalized patients, and occupying the 1st rank of tumors in urology in the Urology Department of the Pr Bocar Sidy Sall University Hospital in Kati. Bladder tumors were more common in men with 56.33%. The average age of our patients was 50 years ± 25.8 years and the extreme ages were 20 and 87 years. Urinary schistosomiasis, considered a predisposing factor, was found in 66.78% of cases in our patients as a history. Transurethral resection of the bladder was performed in 100% of our patients, nephrostomy in 1.90% of cases, ureterostomy in 1.58% of cases, Bricker type urinary diversion in 1.27% of cases, and a neobladder in 0.32% of cases. Squamous cell carcinoma is the dominant histological type (88.29%). The postoperative outcome was 99% favorable after resection. Conclusion: Bladder tumors were mainly tumors infiltrating the bladder muscle. The main risk factor was urinary bilharzia. Squamous cell carcinoma is the most common histological type with a diagnostic delay, thus limiting radical treatment after resection of the bladder tumor.

Ionically Imprinting-Based Copper(Ⅱ)Label-Free Detection for Preventing Hearing Loss

Copper is a microelement with important physiological functions in the body.However,the excess copper ion(Cu^(2+))may cause severe health problems,such as hair cell apoptosis and the resultant hearing loss.Therefore,the assay of Cu^(2+)is important.We integrate ionic imprinting technology(IIT)and structurally colored hydrogel beads to prepare chitosan-based ionically imprinted hydrogel beads(IIHBs)as a low-cost and high-specificity platform for Cu^(2+)detection.The IIHBs have a macroporous microstructure,uniform size,vivid structural color,and magnetic responsiveness.When incubated in solution,IIHBs recognize Cu^(2+)and exhibit a reflective peak change,thereby achieving label-free detection.In addition,benefiting from the IIT,the IIHBs display good specificity and selectivity and have an imprinting factor of 19.14 at 100μmol·L^(-1).These features indicated that the developed IIHBs are promising candidates for Cu^(2+)detection,particularly for the prevention of hearing loss.