Thymoma may explain the confusion: a case report

Background The association of inflammatory myopathy and myasthenia gravis is a rarely described entity whose clinical presentation has always been intriguing because of the great clinical similarity between these two pathologies. The presence of a thymic pathology often explains this combination, whose mechanisms are very complex. Case presentation A 56-year-old woman of North African origin, was hospitalized to explore the Raynaud phenomenon associated with proximal muscle weakness, pain, and arthralgia. There was no rash, and neuromuscular examination had revealed proximal tetraparesis and mild neck weakness. Tendon reflexes were normal. There was no abnormal nail fold capillaroscopy. A significant titer of muscle enzymes had been shown on blood tests, and autoimmune screening for myositis-specific and myositis-associated autoantibodies was negative. Electromyography had shown a myopathic pattern, and muscle biopsy confirmed an inflammatory myopathy. Although steroids were introduced, the clinical course was unsatisfactory; ophthalmic and bulbar symptomatology appeared. The association of myasthenia gravis was confirmed by an elevated level of serum acetylcholine receptor. A chest computed tomography scan had identified a thymoma. Treated with prednisone, pyridostigmine, and thymectomy, the patient’s clinical and biological evolution was favorable. Conclusion This case illustrates an exceptional association of two entities and the difficulty encountered during their diagnosis and treatment. The management of these two diseases is different, so it is essential to recognize this concomitant presentation.

THE VIRGILIAN CENTO PROGNE ET PHILOMELA (ANTH. LAT. 13 R): TOWARDS A SOLUTION FOR A MYTHOLOGICAL RIDDLE

This paper deals with the 24-line mythological epyllion Progne et Philomela (Anth. Lat. 13 R), an anonymous Virgilian cento of presumed North African origin, which is usually dated to the fourth or fifth century and is marked by considerable obscurity. The aim is to shed some light on the most intriguing parts of this elliptical retelling of the given myth, in particular the puzzling network of family relationships and the extended talking-blood metaphor. Offering a new perspective on the text, the author claims that its general ambiguity is, to some extent, a purposefully adopted authorial strategy rather than a by-product of the cento technique. For this reason, it is proposed that the poem might have been written as a sort of mythological riddle to be solved by its readers.

Prevalence of specific and recurrent/founder pathogenic variants in BRCA genes in breast and ovarian cancer in North Africa

Background Elucidation of specific and recurrent/founder pathogenic variants (PVs) in BRCA (BRCA1 and BRCA2) genes can have an impact on breast cancer (BC) and/or ovarian cancer (OC) risk, making genetic testing affordable and accessible. Methods To establish the knowledge about BRCA PVs and to determine the prevalence of the specific and recurrent/founder variants in BRCA genes in BC and/or OC women in North Africa, a systematic review was conducted in Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. Results Search of the databases yielded 25 relevant references, including eleven studies in Morocco, five in Algeria, and nine in Tunisia. Overall, 15 studies investigated both BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, four studies examined the entire coding region of the BRCA1 gene, and six studies in which the analysis was limited to a few BRCA1 and/or BRCA2 exons. Overall, 76 PVs (44 in BRCA1 and 32 in BRCA2) were identified in 196 BC and/or OC patients (129 BRCA1 and 67 BRCA2 carriers). Eighteen of the 76 (23.7%) PVs [10/44 (22.7%) in BRCA1 and 8/32 (25%) in BRCA2] were reported for the first time and considered to be novel PVs. Among those identified as unlikely to be of North African origin, the BRCA1 c.68_69del and BRCA1 c.5266dupC Jewish founder alleles and PVs that have been reported as recurrent/founder variants in European populations (ex: BRCA1 c.181T > G, BRCA1 c1016dupA). The most well characterized PVs are four in BRCA1 gene [c.211dupA (14.7%), c.798_799detTT (14%), c.5266dup (8.5%), c.5309G > T (7.8%), c.3279delC (4.7%)] and one in BRCA2 [c.1310_1313detAAGA (38.9%)]. The c.211dupA and c.5309G > T PVs were identified as specific founder variants in Tunisia and Morocco, accounting for 35.2% (19/54) and 20.4% (10/49) of total established BRCA1 PVs, respectively. c.798_799delTT variant was identified in 14% (18/129) of all BRCA1 North African carriers, suggesting a founder allele. A broad spectrum of recurrent variants including BRCA1 3279delC, BRCA1 c.5266dup and BRCA2 c.1310_1313detAAGA was detected in 42 patients. BRCA1 founder variants explain around 36.4% (47/129) of BC and outnumber BRCA2 founder variants by a ratio of ≈ 3:1. Conclusion Testing BC and/or OC patients for the panel of specific and recurrent/founder PVs might be the most cost-effective molecular diagnosis strategy.

Bilingualism and language attitude in Melilla (Spain)

This study examines levels of bilingualism and language attitude in the autonomous Spanish city of Melilla. Located on the North African coast, Melilla has a population of 86,000 inhabitants that is roughly divided between residents of Iberian origin and residents of North African Origin. Based on responses to a language questionnaire (111 participants) and sociolinguistic interviews (20 participants), our results show high levels of bilingualism between Spanish and Tamazight among the sector of the population that is of North African origin, while the population of Iberian origin remains monolingual in Spanish. We also show that Spanish is the dominant language in the public domain, including administration and education, while Tamazight is maintained as a family and community language. Overall, the participants in our study express positive attitude towards the Melillan variety of Spanish and Tamazight, and their co-existence as part of the multicultural nature of the city.

Intervention protocol to improve scabies control in enclosed communities: a case report

Objectives: To describe patients with scabies in a prison setting. Document what type of treatment was carried out. Prepare an intervention protocol to improve scabies control in the Penitentiary Center. Material and method: All cases of scabies diagnosed in the Youth Detention Centre (La Roca del Vallès, Barcelona) between November 2018 and November 2019 were recorded. The treatment used was recorded. Bibliographical research on the protocols and treatment guidelines was carried out for community-acquired scabies. Results: The study was performed with 762 inmates, of whom 61 patients were diagnosed with scabies. 39 patients’ pathologies were detected at the time of admission to the center, 11 cases were diagnosed in the first 6 weeks after entering the prison, coinciding with the incubation period of the disease. Finally, 11 more were diagnosed when they had already been in prison for more than 6 weeks and therefore could be infected cases within the center. This parasitosis was detected mainly in inmates of North African origin, 14.7% of Algerian inmates and 14.2% of Moroccan inmates presented this pathology, compared to 1.6% among Spanish prisoners. All 61 patients were treated with permethrin and 8 cases had to repeat the treatment cycle due to apparent therapeutic failure. Research literature indicates that oral ivermectin should be the drug of first choice for the treatment of scabies in prison. Discussion: The high incidence of scabies cases detected in prison led us to carry out a bibliographic review that brought about changes in the treatment protocol that may be of interest for the control of the disease in closed communities.

The demography of the Canary Islands from a genetic perspective

The establishment of European colonies across the world had important demographic consequences because it brought together diverse and distant civilizations for the first time. One clear example of this phenomenon is observed in the Canary Islands. The modern Canarian population is mainly the result of the admixture of natives of North African origin and European colonizers. However, additional migratory flows reached the islands due to the importation of enslaved Africans to cultivate sugarcane and the intense commercial contact with the American continent. In this review, we evaluate how the genetic analysis of indigenous, historical, and current populations has provided a glimpse into the Canary Islands’ complex genetic composition. We show that each island subpopulation’s characterization is needed to fully disentangle the demographic history of the Canarian archipelago. Finally, we discuss what research avenues remain to be explored to improve our knowledge of the impact that the European colonization had on its native population.

L’epigrafia antiga dels hipogeus de Menorca.

This paper gathers 22 inscriptions (some of them unpublished) dated to Roman period and read on the walls of 11 hypogea from Minorca (Balearic Islands). Although they share a similar context, their contents are diverse: they contain religious texts (the rare Roman god Summanus, as well as some Christian formulae), an epitaph (to Honorius), three graffiti with Vespasianus and some per¬sonal name (Iasidur, Tasidur, Iucuta, Iaso, Iaguren) suggested to have a North-African origin, more concretely Paleo-Amazigh.

Two “Mothers” in 5 Ezra 2:1-32

The early Christian apocryphon 5 Ezra (2 Esdras) 2:1-32 describes two distinct but unidentified “mothers.” The first (2:1-7) is desolate, forlorn, and consigned to “destruction”; the second (2:15-32) is encouraged, glorified, and triumphant. It is generally recognized that the first “mother” represents the city of Jerusalem, “Mother Jerusalem.” The identity of and literary/thematic inspiration(s) behind the second “mother,” however, are uncertain. The main thesis of this paper is that the “mother” in 2:15-32 represents the Christian church, “Mother Church.” The primary evidence for this identification is the remarkable thematic and verbal parallels between 5 Ezra’s descriptions of the “mother” and the characterizations of “Mother Church” in the writings of Cyprian. Furthermore, the writings of Zeno of Verona and Lactantius contain lists of Christian ecclesiastical “works of mercy” that are close to 5 Ezra 2:20-22. Our findings suggest that 5 Ezra is a post-250 Latin composition of North African origin.

Middle Eastern Dance and What We Call It

This article traces the historical background of the term ‘belly dance’, the English-language name for a complex of solo, improvised dance styles of Middle Eastern and North African origin whose movements are based on articulations of the torso. The expression danse du ventre – literally, ‘dance of the belly’ – was initially popularised in France as an alternate title for Orientalist artist Jean-Léon Gérôme's 1863 painting of an Egyptian dancer and ultimately became the standard designation for solo, and especially women's, dances from the Middle East and North Africa. The translation ‘belly dance’ was introduced into English in 1889 in international media coverage of the Rue du Caire exhibit at the Parisian Exposition Universelle. A close examination of the historical sources demonstrates that the evolution of this terminology was influenced by contemporary art, commercial considerations, and popular stereotypes about Eastern societies. The paper concludes with an examination of dancers' attitudes to the various English-language names for the dance in the present day.

Salafist Impregnation of Muslim Youth in France: a Challenge to the Republic?

Based on qualitative research, this article aims to shed some light on the criticism of the functioning of French society by youths of North African origin influenced by a Salafist reading of Islam. The arguments put forward, which draw largely on a religious theme, must be taken seriously. However, the references to a “Salafised” world of meaning are not exclusive and they coexist with an attachment to other, more liberal values. We will therefore endeavour to determine whether the criticism expressed generates separatist attitudes or whether it leads to individual and collective strategies founded on a dual cultural allegiance. Without denying the ambivalences or weaknesses, it is necessary to accurately clarify the identity constructs and social trajectories of the working-class youths studied here.