The Geological discontinuities such as joint are the most common discontinuities present in the rock mass. A model scale study was carried out to evaluate the effect of the joints on rock blasting. Single hole tests at three selected burdens (optimum, less than optimum and more than optimum) were done on six different joint orientations. The joint orientation angles were 0°, 30°, 60°, 90°, 120° and 150° rotating in anticlockwise direction from the floor of the bench in a plane perpendicular to the free face. Bench models of dimensions 515x335x215 mm with a bench height of 50 mm were prepared by binding sandstone slabs of 25 mm thickness with an adhesive. The models were blasted by n°6 electric detonators. The dynamic and static properties of sandstone are given. The bench crater formed and the fragmentation produced were predominantly influenced by the position of charge with respect to the joint orientation. Severe toes were noticed in models with vertical joints and with joints dipping away from the face. Over breaks were observed in horizontally bedded models and in models with joints dipping towards the free face. Over breaks were observed in horizontally bedded models and in models with joints dipping towards the free face. The size of the broken fragments at 20 mm burden was found to be finer than the fragments obtained at 30 mm and 40 mm burdens for all joint orientations except vertical.

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Introduction The cardiac localization of hydatid cyst (HC) is rare and little known. It is exceptionally primary and isolated. Myocardial ischemia remains an exceptional and unusual manifestation of this localization. We report the original observation of cardiac HC revealed by acute myocardial ischemia in a young subject. Observation A 35-year-old patient with no notable pathological history was admitted to our department via the emergency room for acute anterior chest pain. The somatic examination was without abnormalities as well as the baseline biological tests. The electrocardiogram demonstrated epicardial ischemia in the infero-lateral territory without other abnormalities. The cardiac troponin I was slightly elevated (32ng/l, N<19ng/l). Subsequent controls after 30min, 60min and 180min did not show significant variations. Subsequent investigations (CT, coro-CT, coronary angiography) led to the diagnosis of intramyocardial HC of the left ventricle, with no abnormalities of the coronary arteries. After surgical excision, the evolution was favorable with normalization of the electrocardiogram and the troponin Ic. Conclusion Cardiac localization of this parasitosis is exceptional and characterized by an important clinical polymorphism making its diagnosis a real challenge. It seems useful to discuss the diagnosis of cardiac HC in front of any unexplained electrocardiogram abnormality occurring in endemic zone.

Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is a rare hereditary auto-inflammatory disease that can be exceptionally associated with many other dys-immune disorders; the most reported associations were with systemic vasculitis, spondyloarthropathies, inflammatory bowel diseases, systemic lupus erythematous, multiple sclerosis, and juvenile chronic arthritis. The association of FMF with primary inflammatory myopathy remains exceptional and unusual; it has only been noted once before with adult polymyositis. We report an original observation of FMF associated with juvenile dermatomyositis in an eight-year-old boy, which, to our knowledge, has not been reported previously.

Introduction Psychiatric manifestations are exceptional during hypothyroidism and are not always easy to diagnose, especially since the clinical signs of hypothyroidism can be confused with those of the depressive syndrome. We report an original observation of depression of the elderly revealing an isolated primary hypothyroidism. Observation A 78-year-old patient, followed for essential hypertension, well-balanced under monotherapy with calcium channel blockers, and without degenerative complications, was referred by her family doctor for depressive syndrome not improved by the specific treatment prescribed and correctly taken for six months. The clinical examination noted in particular macroglossia with dental impressions and dry and cracked skin. The biological assessment showed hypothyroidism with TSH at 28µmol/l. Thyroid ultrasound showed atrophy of the thyroid gland. The thyroid autoimmunity (anti-thyroglobulin and anti-thyroperoxidase antibodies) was negative. The rest of the biological tests were in the normal range. The diagnosis of Riedel's thyroiditis was retained and the patient was treated with levothyroxine in progressive doses until TSH normalization was achieved. The evolution on the psychiatric level was also favorable with disappearance of the signs of the depression and the anti-depressive treatment was discontinued. Conclusion Depression is rare, complicating only 4% of overt hypothyroidism and its diagnosis is not always easy, especially in the elderly. Hormone replacement therapy significantly improves the depressive syndrome and protects against cognitive decline. Thus, hypothyroidism screening seems appropriate for any depressive syndrome in the elderly.