Maximal Voluntary Breath-Holding Tele-Inspiratory Test in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Maximal voluntary inspiratory breath-holding time (MVIBHT) has proved to be of clinical utility in some obstructive ventilatory defects. This study aims to correlate the breath-holding time with pulmonary function tests in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and to determine the feasibility of using a breath-holding test in assessing the severity of COPD.A cross-sectional study including male patients with stable COPD were conducted. Patients with respiratory comorbidities and severe or unstable cardiac diseases were excluded. Patients were interviewed and examined. Six-minute walk test (6MWT) and plethysmography were performed.For MVIBHT collection, the subject was asked to inspire deeply and to hold the breath as long as possible at the maximum inspiratory level. This maneuver was repeated three times. The best value was used for further analysis.A total of 79 patients (mean age: 64.2 ± 8) were included in this study. The mean value of MVIBHT was 24.2 ± 8.5 s. We identified a positive and significant correlations between MVIBHT and forced vital capacity (r = .630; p < .001) as well as MVIBHT and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1%) (r = .671; p < .001). A significant inverse correlation with total lung capacity (r = -.328; p = .019) and residual volume to total lung capacity ratio (r = -.607; p < .001) was noted. MVIBHT was significantly correlated to the distance in the 6MWT (r = .494; p < .001). The mean MVIBHT was significantly different within spirometric grades (p < .001) and GOLD groups (p = .002). At 20.5 s, MVIBHT had a sensitivity of 72% and specificity of 96% in determining COPD patients with FEV1 <50%.Our results provide additional evidence of the usefulness of MVIBHT in COPD patients as a pulmonary function parameter.

COPD patients' body composition and its impact on lung function.

INTRODUCTION: Despite fat-free mass index (FFMI) is one of the strongest predictive factors of survival during chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), there is a considerable lack of information regarding body composition in Tunisian patients with COPD.   Aim: Describe the body composition of Tunisian patients followed for COPD and examine the relationship between body composition and the severity of the disease. METHODS: Cross-sectional study of patients with stable COPD. Body composition was assessed by bioelectrical impedance analysis. Pulmonary function tests (PFT) included spirometry with plethysmography and the six-minute walking test. The severity of dyspnea was assessed by the mMRC scale. RESULTS: During the study period, 104 patients with stable COPD were included (average age= 65.9 years and average FEV1= 49.3%). Fifty-four percent of patients were GOLD D stage. According to the IMM, malnutrition was identified in 20.2% of cases. Patients with low FFMI were the most symptomatic, had a more severe air flow limitation and a more severe disease. The walking distance was lower in malnourished patients. However, FFMI was not significantly associated with exercise capacity. CONCLUSIONS: Malnutrition is highly prevalent in COPD patients and is correlated to the severity of the disease. Thus, body composition analysis should be considered in COPD patient management.

Contribution of mobile applications to learning and medical practice.

INTRODUCTION: Medical mobile applications are increasing, accessible and easy leading to a considerable increase use by physicians. AIM: To assess the contribution of mobile applications to medical learning and practice among medical residents. METHODS: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study carried out during May and June 2021, via an anonymous questionnaire, published online focusing on the contribution of medical applications in the learning and the daily life of medical interns. RESULTS: We collected 134 responses completed by interns in all specialties. The mean age was 28 ± 2.04 years with a predominance of women (gender ratio = 0.39). The average number of years of experience was 4.52 ± 2.5 semesters. All interns had smartphones and 56.7%. Only 3% had no applications on their smartphones and 62.7% had between two and four applications. The most used applications were communication and scoring applications.  several advantages of these applications were noted, mainly assistance in therapeutic management (85.1%), diagnosis (76.9%) and communication (69.4%). However, limitations were mainly the lack of 3G / 4G coverage. For scientific research, the most used search engine were Google, Google Scholar and Pub Med. One hundred and six residents (79.1%) were satisfied with the contribution of applications to learning and 61 wished to have training in the specific use of the smartphone. CONCLUSION: Communication, diagnostic or management help mobile applications have become unavailable in daily practice but also in learning. However, this new mode of instruction must be associated to the classical education.

Tracheobronchopathia Osteochondroplastica: End Stage of Tracheo-Bronchial Amyloidosis?

Tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica is a rare idiopathic disease of the trachea and the main bronchi, characterized by multiple submucosal osteocartilaginous nodules. Although the etiology of tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica remains unknown, several theories have been proposed. We report a case of a 47-year-old non-smoker woman with wheezing dyspnea over the past two years, which was treated as asthma without improvement. Investigations, including chest computed tomography scan, fiberoptic bronchoscopy, and endobronchial biopsy, indicated tracheobronchial amyloid light-chain (AL) amyloidosis. Thirteen years later, she was admitted for cough and wheezing. The bronchoscopic examination demonstrated nodular lesions distributed along the cartilaginous rings of the lower portion of the trachea and the main bronchi. Endobronchial biopsy confirmed tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica. We found tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica to be the end stage of amyloidosis.

Impact of smoking on the severity of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Hypopnea Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Smoking is an established risk factor of several respiratory and extra respiratory diseases. However, the effect of smoking on obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is not well characterized. The purpose of this work is to study the influence of smoking on the severity of OSAS. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study, which included patients with an obstructive sleep apnea syndrome diagnosed in the pulmonology department of Charles Nicolle Hospital in Tunis, during the period from January 2008 to December 2014. RESULTS: We collected 104 patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. The average age of patients was 49,4 years (14-81 years). The majority of patients were women (53,8%). Thirty two patients were smokers with an average consumption of 27 PA. The reasons for consultation were nocturnal snoring (90%), daytime sleepiness (77%), respiratory pauses (53%), nocturia (35%), daytime fatigue (34%) and headache (29% ). The average weight was 92 kg. The average BMI was 33 kg / m2. The average waist circumference was 98 cm. On average, the Epworth score was 12. The apnea hypopnea index was on average 32 / h. A slight OSAS was noted in 28,8% of cases, moderate OSAS in 14,4% of cases and severe OSAS in 53,8% of cases. The number of desaturations averaged 155. The CPAP treatment was fixed in 61 patients (58%) and self-controlled in 5 patients (4,8%). Adherence was checked in 48 patients (46%) and it was good in 85% of cases. The comparison between the smoking and non-smoking subjects was about; the Epworth scale, FEV, AHI, mean SpO2 and observance of treatment but no significant difference was found. CONCLUSION: Although our study did not find any difference between smokers and non smokers, smoking cessation takes an important place for management of a patient with OSAS.

Prognostic factors of advanced stage non-small-cell lung cancer.

Background Lung cancer is the main cause of death from cancer in the world. The 5-year survival is about 15%. Despite the progress of medicine the mortality rate decreased only marginally. This poor prognosis is due to late diagnosis. Aim To evaluate overall survival and prognostic factors in patients locally advanced or metastatic non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods Retrospective study including 180 patients with non-small cell lung cancer hospitalized in the department of Charles Nicolle Hospital of Tunis between January 2007 and December 2014. Results The mean age was 61.5 years with a male predominance (93.3%). The median overall survival was 6 months. The poor prognostic factors were the performans status (PS) and early delays of management (<30 days). The factors that improve survival were surgical treatment and delays of management more than 45 days.  Conclusion The prognostic factors in locally advanced and metastatic NSLC in our patient were: PS, management delay and treatment. These factors should be considered in management of patient with advanced stage NSCLC.

[Predictive factors of the outcome of smoking cessation among Tunisian women]. / Facteurs prédictifs des résultats du sevrage tabagique chez la femme tunisienne.

BACKGROUND: The spread of smoking among women in Tunisia has reached alarming proportions because of increasing smoker rate, the younger age of smoking initiation and therefore its duration. AIM: Identify predictors of success or failure of smoking cessation, Methods: we conducted a retrospective study (January 2008-June 2011), including 101 female smokers (19.8%) among 510 smokers of both sexes undergoing smoking cessation interventions. Univariate and multivariate analysis between groups of smokers who succeeded and who failed smoking cessation was performed. RESULTS: Average age of our patients was 44 years. The overall success rate at 6 months and 1 year were respectively 24.7 and 18.8%. In univariate analysis, a statistically significant difference in terms of successful weaning was observed in smokers who had a late age of smoking onset (after 20 years) (p=0.03), respiratory or cardiovascular comorbidities associated (p=0.03) and good adhesion to the consultation (p=0.02). In multivariate analysis only the presence of a tobacco-related disease (OR: 4.43, 95% CI [1.29- 15.17], p=0.01) and adherence to the consultation (OR 5.02 95% CI [1.29 -19.39], p=0.01) were significantly associated with a good prognosis for successful weaning at 6 months and one year. A possible but not significantly associated with age of smoking initiation was observed (OR=0.3 95% CI [0.08-1.07], p=0.06). CONCLUSION: Beyond validated smoking cessation and prolonged follow-up, a differential approach, taking into account women specificities, would increase the chances of quitting smoking.

[Management of non small cell lung cancer]. / Implications thérapeutiques des récentes études sur la stratégie de prise en charge des cancers bronchiques non àpetite cellule.

BACKGROUND: The broncopulmonary cancer is a major problem of public health whose diagnosis is most of the time unfavorable. For a long time, strategies of management of cancer have not taken into consideration much the histological type and few authors have studied the implication of histological type of cancer on the future of patients having cancer. AIM: Taking into account the results of recent studies, we propose to review the recent epidemiological and biological aspects of bronchial cancers and then to study the impact on the therapeutic strategy. METHODS: Review of literature RESULTS: The scientific progress and the discovery of new mechanisms of carcinogenesis considerably enlarge the therapeutic potential targets and enable to adopt a more specific approach of the cancer cell. CONCLUSION: Despite the progress observed in thoracic cancerology, the benefits concerning survival remain modest. The oncoming of new molecules specifically targeting a stage of oncogenesis enables a better therapeutic selectivity and a lesser toxicity.

[Obesity hypoventilation syndrome and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome: is there an association?]. / Syndrome d'obésité hypoventilation et syndrome d'apnées de sommeil : quel type d'association?

BACKGROUND: Severe obesity sometimes leads to a chronic alveolar hypoventilation: obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS), (Pao2<70mmHG, Paco2>45mmHG and body mass index (BMI)>30Kg/m2). The association with an OSAS is frequent. AIM: To assess predicting factors that lead to hypoventilation in a population of obese patients with SAS and to deduct the type of association between OHS and SAS. METHODS: We have study during 4 years, at pneumology service of Charles Nicolle hospital, 62 obese patients (BMI>30Kg /m2), 41men and 21 women and presenting an OSAS. We excluded those carriers of a bronchial obstruction (VEMS/CV <60%) and we have compared anthropométriques, functional, gazométriques and polysomographiques details of the groupe1 (G1): OHS=9 and of the groupe2 (G2): obesity without hypoventilation (n=53). RESULTS: We didn't identified any significant difference between the two groups concerning (age, sex, the frequency of smokers, the frequency of the nasopharynx region abnormalities, apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), the SAS severity and the respiratory functional exploration). The obesity is significant more important in the G1, it is sever (BMI>40) in 77.8% of patients of the G1 with significant difference with the G2 (P=0.004). We noted that there is a positive interrelationship between BMI and Paco2. We identified severe gazométrique perturbation in G1 (Pao2 medium = 61± 9 mmHg,Paco2 medium=50 ± 7 mmHg), in the G2 we noted a moderate hypoxemia. Patients of the group1 make of the minimal desaturation of 63 ± 17% and a Sao2 average of 81 ± 20% what is meaningfully more important than in the G2. CONCLUSION: The alveolar hypoventilation in SAS seems to be in correlation with the degree of obesity. The hypercapnie in the OHS is in relation neither with the SAOS nor with its severity. The OHSSAS association is usual but not synonym; the OHS is an autonomous disease.