Assessment of the Association of Chlamydia e pneumoniae Infection with Lung Cancer in a Moroccan Patients' Cohort.

BACKGROUND: Chlamydia pneumoniae (C. pneumoniae) is a respiratory pathogen associated with chronic inflammatory and its detection in human lung cancer suggests its involvement in cancerogenesis. Our study aimed to evaluate the association between C. pneumoniae  infection and Lung Cancer disease in Moroccans patients and control cohorts, through a molecular investigation. METHODS: The study comprised 42 lung cancer patients and 43 healthy controls. All participants provided demographics, Clinical, and Toxic behaviors datas, and a peripheral blood sample for testing, a Nested Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) was performed for C. pneumoniae Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) detection. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM®SPSS®software. RESULTS: Positive Nested PCR results for cases and controls were respectively 33.3% and 4.7%, there by  significant difference between cases and controls   infection was identified (p <0.05). Data analysis also showed that tobacco could act synergically with C. pneumoniae infection as a risk factor of lung cancer. In fact a significant difference between patients and controls was shown for tobacco and alcohol use (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: C. pneumoniae infection is potentially associated with primary Lung cancer in the Moroccan population and has combined effects with Tabaco consumption.

[Multifocal tuberculosis revealed by pancytopenia: about a case]. / Tuberculose multifocale révélée par une pancytopénie: à propos d'un cas.

We here report the case of a 58-year old patient admitted with respiratory distress, oxygen desaturation 65% while breathing ambient air and fever 38.5°C. Blood count showed pancytopenia. Ionogram objectified slight hepatic cytolysis and chest X-ray showed bilateral miliaria. BK research using sputum was negative as well as Genexpert TB test. Anatomopathological examination of the osteomedullar biopsy revealed epitheliogigantocellular granuloma without caseous necrosis and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) showed mycobacterium tuberculosis in osteomedullary biopsy. Liver biopsy showed epithelioid granuloma without caseous necrosis. The diagnosis of multifocal tuberculosis with pulmonary, hematopoietic and hepatic impairment was retained. Miliary Tuberculosis is a severe form of tuberculosis. Bacilloscopies are often negative and the diagnosis can be retained based on other sampling, including cerebrospinal fluid sampling and osteomedullary biopsy. Different kinds of biopsies enable diagnosis in rare cases. PCR, a technique used in molecular biology, has enabled to shorten the window period from disease onset to diagnosis as well as treatment implementation. Miliary tuberculosis can be life-threatening; therefore, sometimes, treatment must be administered before certain diagnosis.

[Spinal cord compression in a patient with tuberculous spondylodiscitis]. / Compression médullaire au cours d'une spondylodiscite tuberculeuse: à propos d'un cas.

We here report the case of a 76-year old patient admitted to Pulmonology Department with tuberculous spondylodiscitis diagnosed on the basis of clinical signs including weight loss, prolonged fever and stabbing lumbar pain occurred 2 months before. The diagnosis was confirmed by lumbar CT scan and by Genexpert TB test on lumbar fluid taken from the abnormal L1 vertebral body, which showed mycobacterium tuberculosis. Three weeks after the beginning of treatment the patient had motor deficit in lower limbs followed by sensory deficit. These abnormalities were confirmed by MRI which showed abnormal L1 somatic signal with collapse of the vertebral body (A). These lesions enhanced after gadolinium injection (B) that also showed posterior cortical rupture with epiduritis. Radiological examination was performed which confirmed the diagnosis of spinal cord compression associated with TB spondylodiscitis. A few days after, the patient had severe sepsis complicated by septic shock after which he died. Spinal compression is rare in patients with spondylodiscitis. It has a high potential for irreversible complications in the absence of early treatment for spinal cord decompression. Surgery and early antibacillar treatment ensure favorable outcome in the medium and long term.