[Distribution of corneal thickness in the Tunisian population: Study by anterior segment optical coherence tomography]. / Distribution de l'épaisseur cornéenne centrale dans la population tunisienne : étude par tomographie en cohérence optique du segment antérieur.

GOALS: To describe the distribution of the central corneal thickness (CCT) in the Tunisian population. METHODS: A prospective descriptive study was performed in 201 right eyes of 201 randomly selected healthy Tunisian subjects without glaucoma. We measured the spherical error by autorefraction, the axial length using A-scan ultrasound biometry and the central corneal thickness using anterior segment optical coherence tomography (DRI TRITON OCT). RESULTS: We examined 201 eyes. The mean age was 47±13.5 years (18 to 77 years). The M/F sex ratio was at 0.46 (137 women and 64 men). The mean CCT was 508,1µm (standard deviation 31,5µm) and ranged from 440 to 600µm. In our population 43.8% had a CCT less than 500µm, and 89.1% had a CCT less than 550µm. No statistically significant correlation was observed between CCT and age, sex, spherical error or axial length. CONCLUSION: Central corneal thickness in the Caucasian Tunisian population is less than CCT in the European and Asian populations. CCT is independent of age, sex, spherical error or axial length. These results must be confirmed by larger multicentric studies.

Cardiac hydatid cyst in the interventricular septum: A literature review.

Human hydatidosis occurs mainly as a result of infection with the larvae of Echinococcus granulosus. Cardiac echinococcosis is an uncommon disease and the interventricular septum is rarely involved. This article is a review of all of the literature related to hydatid cyst in the interventricular septum included in the PubMed database. Forty-five cases reported between 1964 and 2019 were identified.

Effects of zinc oxide nanoparticles and/or zinc chloride on biochemical parameters and mineral levels in rat liver and kidney.

The aim of this study was to assess the potential subacute toxicity of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) in Wistar rats in comparison with reference toxicant, zinc chloride (ZnCl2), of a non-nanoparticulate form. We therefore studied the relationships between zinc (Zn) accumulation, liver and kidney trace element levels, and plasmatic biochemical parameters. Rats in all groups were treated by intraperitoneal injection of ZnO NPs and/or ZnCl2 solution (25 mg/kg) every other day for 10 days. The contents of trace element in the liver and kidney were slightly modulated after ZnO NPs and/or ZnCl2 solution exposure. The same treatment increased the aspartate aminotransferase activity and uric acid concentration. However, ZnO NPs or ZnCl2 solution decreased the creatinine levels, whereas the combined intake of ZnO NPs and ZnCl2 decreased the glucose concentration. Interestingly, the analysis of the lyophilized powder of liver using the x-ray diffractometer showed the degradation of ZnO NPs in ZnO-treated group, instead there is a lack of NPs ZnO biosynthesis from the ZnCl2 solution injected in rats. These investigations suggest that combined injection of ZnO NPs and ZnCl2 solution has a possible toxic effect in rats. This effect could be related to Zn(2+) ion release and accumulation of this element in organs. Our findings provide crucial information that ZnO appeared to be absorbed in the organs in an ionic form rather than in a particulate form.

[Surgical management of extracranial carotid artery aneurysm]. / Traitement chirurgical des anévrismes carotidiens extracrâniens : à propos de dix cas.

OBJECTIVE: Aneurysm of the extracranial carotid artery is rare. The embolic risk mandates prompt intervention once diagnosed. The aim of this study was to determine therapeutic techniques, their indications and outcomes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We report a series of ten patients who underwent surgery for extracranial carotid artery aneurysm in the cardiovascular surgery department of La Rabta hospital. RESULTS: There were six men and four women, mean age 43 years. All patients were symptomatic (swelling and pulsatile cervical mass). Two patients had dysphonia and one patient underwent an emergency procedure because of aneurismal rupture. Aneurismal excision was performed in most patients. The arterial reconstruction was performed by end-to-end anastomosis in four cases, interposition of an autologous venous graft in four, interposition of a prosthetic graft in one and suture of a small rent in the artery in one. There was no postoperative mortality. Early postoperative morbidity included one recurrent laryngeal nerve injury, one hypoglossal nerve injury, one stroke and one infection with thrombosis of a prosthetic graft. The follow-up was uneventful. CONCLUSION: Surgical treatment of extracranial carotid aneurysms is required, in most cases with good results. Endovascular treatment may be an effective therapy in selected cases.