Reference Values for Spirometry in Moroccan Adults.

INTRODUCTION: This novel study aimed to establish spirometric reference values and prediction equations based on a sample of the adult Moroccan population, an endeavor that has not been attempted previously. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study involving healthy Moroccan adults, data was collected through a mobile spirometry setup. RESULTS: Our sample comprised 841 healthy adults (384 men and 457 women) aged 18-86 years who underwent spirometry. For both sexes, the Global Lung Function Initiative 2012 equations for Caucasians corresponded the best to the studied sample but were not perfectly compatible. CONCLUSION: The spirometric prediction equations established in this study for Moroccan adults aged 18-86 years best represent the Moroccan population. More extensive future studies are needed to enrich the database of reference values and prediction equations derived from our research.

Intrathoracic gas effusions in patients with COVID-19.

Current evidence suggests that intrathoracic gas effusions (pneumomediastinum and pneumothorax) may be observed among COVID-19 patients even without mechanical ventilation. Here, we report 9 patients who developed spontaneous intrathoracic gas effusions in the absence of mechanical ventilation. The incidence of spontaneous intrathoracic gas effusions is low at 0.5% in hospitalized COVID-19 patients in the absence of respiratory support. Two patients (22.2%) had spontaneous pneumomediastinum, with or without subcutaneous emphysema. Three patients (33.3%) had pneumomediastinum associated with pneumothorax, with or without subcutaneous emphysema, and 4 patients (44.4%) had spontaneous pneumothorax. The Pneumothorax was unilateral in 66.6% of cases (6/9) but without location preference. Five of our patients were smokers, of whom 80% had isolated spontaneous pneumothorax. Other comorbidities included pulmonary tuberculosis in a single patient, diabetes in 2 patients and arterial hypertension in 1 patient. None of the patients had respiratory comorbidities. All of our patients were male. The average duration of hospital stay was 10 days (±6.63). All patients required oxygen therapy. Three patients (33.3%) with spontaneous pneumothorax required chest drainage. The evolution was favorable in 6 patients (66.7%) and worse in 3 cases (33.3%). The respiratory manifestations of COVID-19 have been stereotyped. Intrathoracic effusions may also be signs of COVID-19 with varying prognoses, or even the only presentation of the disease. This should be considered in clinical practice, and doctors are encouraged to request a SARS-CoV-2 test in this situation. Further investigations with a larger sample size are needed to identify the prognostic factors in COVID-19 patients with gas effusions.

Contribution of Imaging in Diagnosis of Primitive Cyst Hydatid in Unusual Localization: Pleura-A Report of Two Cases.

Hydatic disease has always been the most common in countries where large amount of sheep and cattle is raised, but increased travel and immigration have made this condition a serious worldwide public problem. Cyst hydatid may affect all parts of the human body like the heart, the bone marrow, the eye, the brain, the kidney, and the spermatic cord. Humans can become infested by accidentally ingesting the eggs that are passed in the feces from definitive hosts (usually a canid, such as a wolf, fox, or dog). Even in endemic countries, the primitive pleural hydatid cyst is exceptional, and it is very difficult to distinguish from other pleural and parietal cystic masses especially that in majority of cases the immunologic tests are negative. We report two cases of pleural hydatid cyst discovered in two young patients, with a nonspecific clinical presentation. The interest of this paper is to raise the primordial role of imaging in the positive diagnosis of primary pleural hydatid cyst.

Primary Pleuropulmonary Synovial Sarcoma: A Case.

Primary pleuropulmonary synovial sarcoma is extremely rare. The diagnosis can only be made after having eliminated an extrapleuropulmonary localization in the past and at the time of diagnosis. Our presentation is about a 40-year-old woman having a cough and dyspnea since three weeks ago; imaging had showed a left pleurisy with pleuropulmonary process. Histological study of the biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of pleuropulmonary synovial sarcoma. PET-SCAN had not identified any extrathoracic localization. This tumor is known for its aggressive nature and high risk of metastasis. Its primitive character is retained following a diagnostic procedure of exclusion. Surgical treatment remains the best therapeutic tool when it is technically feasible; otherwise the prognosis is often unfortunate. In this paper, we report a case of primary pleuropulmonary synovial sarcoma. Through this case, we present a rare disease that is often difficult to diagnose.

A primary intestinal lymphangiectasia hiding the diagnosis of pleural and pericardial tuberculosis: a clinical observation.

Primary intestinal lymphangiectasia (Waldmann's disease) is an exudative enteropathy characterized by lymph leakage into the small bowel lumen leading to hypoalbuminemia, hypogammaglobulinemia and lymphopenia (particularly T-cell). The diagnosis is based on viewing the duodenal lymphangiectasia. A 20 years old female patient, treated for a primary intestinal lymphangiectasia, has consulted for anasarca. Etiological work-up reveals pleural and pericardial tuberculosis. The clinical aggravation of an enteropathy, particularly in adulthood, requires a search for a secondary etiology. Tuberculosis should be sought systematically.

[Initial manifestation and atypical site for metastatic synovial sarcoma in an immunocompetent adult patient: about a case and literature review]. / Mode révélateur original et localisation métastatique particulière d'un synovialo-sarcome chez un adulte immunocompétent: à propos d'un cas avec revue de la littérature.

Synovial sarcoma (SS) is a rare tumor. It is characterized by various sites of occurrence but rarely involves the chest. The tumor may be wrongly diagnosed as benign due to its slow growth. Less than 10% of patients present with metastatic cancer. Endobronchial metastases are exceptional. Immunohistochemical examination and cytogenetic analysis allow to distinguish it from other mesenchymal tumors. The presence of SYT-SSX fusion transcript allows the diagnosis. Surgery is used for localized tumors that can be treated with radiation therapy while chemiotherapy is used for metastatic tumors. The average rate of locoregional or metastatic recurrence two years after SS is 50%. We report the case of a 28-year old patient with metastatic SS characterized by its uncommon metastatic site. He presented with endobronchial metastasis revealing his disease, that had evolved for more than 2 years. The SS is life-threatening due to its slow and insidious growth. Prognosis is guarded. This study aimed to emphasize this atypical site for metastatic synovial sarcoma as well as to insist on the role of early diagnosis and treatment.

[The tree that hides the forest: aspergillosis associated with bronchial carcinoma (about two cases)]. / L'arbre qui cachait la forêt: aspergillose sur carcinome bronchique (à propos de deux cas).

Endobronchial aspergilloma and intracavitary pulmonary aspergilloma may clinically and radiologically mimic a bronchial neoplasia, hence the importance of systematically searching for an association. A confirmed association completely changes the prognosis as well as the therapeutic approach. We here report two cases with two different forms of pulmonary aspergilloma associated with bronchial carcinoma.

[Myocardial tuberculoma: unusual location of tuberculosis: a new observation and review of the literature]. / Tuberculome myocardique: localisation inhabituelle de la tuberculoseà propos d'une nouvelle observation avec une revue de la littérature.

We report the case of a 50-year old patient with a left ventricular tumor whose evolution was marked by impaired general condition and fever. This mass was objectified by echocardiography performed to explore a radiological cardiomegaly. The imaging (MRI) appearance was suggestive of an intra-myocardial tuberculoma Based on our observations, we propose a review of the literature on this unusual location of tuberculosis.

[Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in children: about two cases]. / Tuberculose multirésistante chez l'enfant: à propos de deux cas.

Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in children is a severe form of tuberculosis, which remains a major health problem especially in developing countries. We report the case of two children treated, during our training, for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis and put on second-line regimen.

First line anti-tuberculosis induced hepatotoxicity: incidence and risk factors.

In our days, tuberculosis, whet ever its localization, became a curable disease. The cornerstone is a 6 month course of isoniazid, rifampicine and pyrazinamide. All of the three first line antituberculosis drugs may induce hepatic damage which may have negative consequences for treatment outcome. Several risk factors were associated with the development of antituberculosis- drug-induced hepatotoxicity (ATDH). A retrospective study was conducted from July 2014 to March 2015 regarding all therapeutic drug-monitoring requests sent to the Laboratory of Poison Control and Pharmacovigilance Centre of Morocco. 142 patients diagnosed with active tuberculosis were included in study. Plasma peak levels of isoniazid, rifampicin and pyrazinamide were analyzed in plasma samples after 2 to 3 hours of administration of anti-tuberculosis treatment. Logistic regression was used to identify the ATDH risk factors. The incidence of ATDH was found 24.6% (35 patients out of 142). Intergroup differences in the plasma levels were statistically significant for isoniazid (p=0.036). ATDH was found to be associated with combined form of anti-TB drugs (p=0.002, COR=13.1, AOR= 13.5) and plasma concentration of INH superior to 2mg/l (p=0.045, COR=1.3, AOR= 1.4).age, gender, alcohol intake and smoking status were not significantly associated with ATDH. The finding of 24.6% incidence of hepatotoxicity is extremely high. Many factors can be associated with the development of ATDH such as genetic factors, combined forms of treatment and plasma peak levels.

NAT2 Genotypes in Moroccan Patients with Hepatotoxicity Due to Antituberculosis Drugs.

AIM: Isoniazid (INH) is the most effective drug used as a first-line tuberculosis (TB) treatment besides rifampicin, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol. It is also the most commonly associated with hepatotoxicity. Differences of toxicity induced by INH have been attributed to genetic variability of the N-acetyltransferase 2 (NAT2) gene which encodes a drug-metabolizing enzyme. The aim of this study was to characterize the acetylation profile of patients who developed hepatotoxicity after TB treatment by genotyping NAT2 polymorphisms. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study included 42 Moroccan patients who developed hepatotoxicity after TB treatment and 163 Moroccan controls without TB. We genotyped four selected variants of the NAT2 gene (NAT2*5, NAT2*6, NAT2*7, and NAT2*14) by Sanger sequencing for patients and real-time polymerase chain reaction for controls. RESULTS: The majority of patients had NAT2 genotypes previously described as slow acetylators including NAT2*5/*5, NAT2*5/*6, NAT2*6/*6, and NAT2*6/*14 (78%) and none were genotyped as rapid acetylators. Controls were slow, intermediate, and rapid acetylators with frequencies of 72.39%, 21.48%, and 6.13%, respectively. CONCLUSION: There were no fast acetylator genotypes found among the patients having INH-hepatotoxicity. This finding suggests that the slow acetylator phenotype may contribute to the development of TB treatment hepatotoxicity.