Prevalence and impact of diabetes mellitus in hospitalized COVID-19 patients in a Tunisian Center: a cross-sectional study.

Background: The outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become an evolving worldwide health crisis. With the rising prevalence of diabetes mellitus has come an increasing awareness of their impacts on infectious diseases, and the risk for postinfection complications and mortality from critical infections. Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and impact of diabetes mellitus on the severity and mortality of COVID-19. Methods: Data of laboratory-confirmed hospitalized patients at the COVID-19 unit between September 2020 and August 2021 were analyzed, in a cross-sectional study. The population was classified into two groups: COVID-19 patients with and without diabetes. Primary outcomes were the overall length of hospital stay, the admission to the ICU, and death. The association between diabetes and death was assessed in a Cox proportional hazards model. Results: A total of 866 patients were included. There were 270 (31.2%) patients with diabetes. Diabetic patients were more likely to have hypertension (58.1 vs. 33.4%), cardiovascular disease (18.5 vs. 10.4%), and dyslipidaemia (17.8 vs. 7.2). Overall, 263 patients died, among them only 86 in the diabetic group (P=0.523). Patients with diabetes had a higher risk of developing complications (P<0.001). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that diabetes was not significantly associated with death [HR (95% CI): 1.253 (0.963-1.631)]. Conclusion: Diabetes was associated with a greater risk of complications in patients with COVID-19. Special attention to diabetic patients during treatment must be given to avoid these complications.

Prostatic tissue in 46XX congenital adrenal hyperplasia: Case report and literature review.

The presence of prostatic tissue, in addition to uterus and adrenal tumors, is possible in 46XX patients with CAH. Lesions of these organs are usually benign. However, complications including prostate and adrenal cancer were also reported.

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 11-Beta-hydroxylase deficiency in a Tunisian family.

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia refers to a group of rare genetic disorders affecting the adrenal glands. 21-hydroxylase deficiency is the most prevalent and the most studied cause while the remaining enzymatic defects are less common, accounting for less than 10% of cases. We herein described the clinical, biological and molecular characteristics and outcome of patients of the same family diagnosed with 11-Beta-hydroxylase deficiency. The disorder was revealed by peripheral precocious puberty between the age of 2-3 years in males and by the virilization of the external genitalia in females. Genetics finding a homozygous p.Gly379Val mutation in the CYP11B1 gene. All patients received hydrocortisone supplementation therapy and mineralocorticoid-receptor antagonist. The females underwent a surgical correction of the ambiguous genitalia at the neonatal age. Long term follow-up revealed metabolic syndrome, obesity and hypertension in the first two patients, an impaired final height in the two females and hypokalemia in three patients.

A case of Kallmann syndrome associated with a non-functional pituitary microadenoma.

Kallmann syndrome (KS) is a form of hypogonadotropic hypogonadism in combination with a defect in sense of smell, due to abnormal migration of gonadotropin-releasing hormone-producing neurons. We report a case of a 17-year-old Tunisian male who presented with eunuchoid body proportions, absence of facial, axillary and pubic hair, micropenis and surgically corrected cryptorchidism. Associated findings included anosmia. Karyotype was 46XY and hormonal measurement hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. MRI of the brain showed bilateral agenesis of the olfactory bulbs and 3.5 mm pituitary microadenoma. Hormonal assays showed no evidence of pituitary hypersecretion. LEARNING POINTS: The main clinical characteristics of KS include hypogonadotropic hypogonadism and anosmia or hyposmia.MRI, as a non-irradiating technique, should be the first radiological step for investigating the pituitary gland as well as abnormalities of the ethmoid, olfactory bulbs and tracts in KS.KS may include anterior pituitary hypoplasia or an empty sella syndrome. The originality of our case is that a microadenoma also may be encountered in KS. Hormonal assessment indicated the microadenoma was non-functioning. This emphasizes the importance of visualizing the pituitary region in KS patients to assess for hypoplastic pituitary malformations or adenomas.