[Prognostic factors of advanced stage non-small-cell lung cancer]. / Facteurs pronostiques du cancer bronchique non à petites cellules au stade avancé.

INTRODUCTION: Primary lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in men in the world. Although the introduction of new drugs, new therapeutic strategies and despite therapeutic advances, the prognosis is relatively improved during the last years. AIM: To evaluate the prognosis of patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and to identify prognostic factors at these stages. METHODS: A retrospective study, including 140 cases of locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC diagnosed in our department between 2003 and 2013. RESULTS: The average age was 61±10 years (35 to 90 years). Sex ratio was 18. The delays management were 80±25 days for presentation, 45±20 days for the diagnostic, while the treatment delay was 8±2.33 days. The cancer was at stage IIIA in 14%, IIIB in 27% and IV in 59%. Six months and one-year survival was between 50 and 74% and between 9 and 25%, respectively. Better survival was observed in patients with NSCLC on stage III, having better performance status, having comorbid conditions, with prolonged delays management, a short therapeutic delay and patients who received specific antitumor treatment. CONCLUSION: The prognostic factors in locally advanced and metastatic NSCLC in our patients were: stage of cancer, performance status, comorbid conditions, delay of management and specific antitumoral treatment. These factors should be considered in the management of patients with advanced NSCLC.

[Respiratory symptoms and obstructive ventilatory disorder in Tunisian woman exposed to biomass]. / Symptômes respiratoires et trouble ventilatoire obstructif chez la femme tunisienne exposée à la biomasse.

INTRODUCTION: In some Tunisian cities, especially semi-urbanized, the exposure to the smoke produced during combustion of the biomass, main source of pollution of indoor air, remains prevalent among non-smoking women. AIM: To assess the relationship between exposure to biomass smoke and the presence of obstructive ventilatory disorder in the non-smoking women in semi-urban areas of Tunisia. METHODS: Cross etiological study, using a questionnaire, including 140 non-smoking women responsible for cooking and/or exposed during heating by traditional means with objective measurement of their respiratory functions. RESULTS: We found 81 women exposed to biomass for a period > or equal to 20 hours-years and 59 unexposed women. Exposed women reported more respiratory symptoms namely exertional dyspnea and/or chronic cough than unexposed. Of the 140 women, 14 women have an FEV/FEV6 <70 % of which 13 are exposed to biomass. We found a correlation between respiratory symptoms and obstructive ventilatory disorder in exposed women. CONCLUSION: The air pollution inside the home during the traditional activities of cooking and/or heating is a respiratory risk factor for non-smoking women over the age of 30 years. Exposure to biomass smoke can cause chronic respiratory symptoms and persistent obstructive ventilatory disorder that can be consistent with COPD.

[Respiratory symptoms and obstructive ventilatory disorder in Tunisian woman exposed to biomass]. / Symptômes respiratoires et trouble ventilatoire obstructif chez la femme tunisienne exposée à la biomasse.

INTRODUCTION: In some Tunisian cities, especially semi-urbanized, the exposure to the smoke produced during combustion of the biomass, main source of pollution of indoor air, remains prevalent among non-smoking women. AIM: To assess the relationship between exposure to biomass smoke and the presence of obstructive ventilatory disorder in the non-smoking women in semi-urban areas of Tunisia. METHODS: Cross etiological study, using a questionnaire, including 140 non-smoking women responsible for cooking and/or exposed during heating by traditional means with objective measurement of their respiratory functions. RESULTS: We found 81 women exposed to biomass for a period of≥20 hours-years and 59 unexposed women. Exposed women reported more respiratory symptoms namely exertional dyspnea and/or chronic cough than unexposed. Of the 140 women, 14 women have an FEV/FEV6<70% of which 13 are exposed to biomass. We found a correlation between respiratory symptoms and obstructive ventilatory disorder in exposed women. CONCLUSION: The air pollution inside the home during the traditional activities of cooking and/or heating is a respiratory risk factor for non-smoking women over the age of 30 years. Exposure to biomass smoke can cause chronic respiratory symptoms and persistent obstructive ventilatory disorder that can consistent with COPD.

[Etiology and evolution of bronchiectasis in women]. / Profil étiologique et évolutif des bronchectasies chez la femme.

INTRODUCTION: Although considered as an orphan disease in the developed countries, bronchiectasis are frequent in our country as in all emerging ones. They are most common in women and they represent a frequent cause for consultation and hospitalization in pulmonology departments. PATIENTS AND METHODS: To determine the etiology and prognosis of the bronchectasies in women, a retrospective study was performed including 200 patients. RESULTS: The mean age was 55.60 years. The diagnosis of bronchiectasis was confirmed in all patients. Bronchiectasis were post-tuberculosis in 56.5% of cases and primitive in 29.5% of cases. The systemic diseases, in particular the rheumatoid polyarthritis represented 3% of cases. The infectious complications and the chronic respiratory failure were more frequent in patients with primitive bronchiectasis than those with secondary bronchiectasis. However this difference was statistically significant only for the chronic respiratory failure. CONCLUSION: The bronchiectasis remains frequent in women in our country, as a sequel of pulmonary tuberculosis more than primitive forms. Bronchiectasis secondary to systemic diseases, although rare, must be known.