Assessing the insecticidal impact of rosemary essential oils on the saw-toothed grain beetle Oryzeaphilus surinamensis

This work studied the fumigant toxicity of free and encapsulated rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) essential oils against adults of the saw-toothed grain beetle (Oryzeaphilus surinamensis) for three storage periods: 30, 45 and 60 days. Chitosan was used as encapsulation matrix. GC/MS analysis results showed that camphor and 1,8-cineole were the major components with respectively 18.04% and 39.67%. Mortality rates caused by the essential oils at 300 μL/L air after 10 days of storage were about 85.48%. The median lethal concentration (LC50) was 124.80 μL/ L air. Encapsulation efficacy was 25.8% and loading capacity was 1.9%. Encapsulated essential oils achieved an efficacy of 82%, 100% and 100% respectively after 30, 45 and 60 days of storage. Reference treatment with Phosphine revealed a toxicity of 100%, 96% and 71% after 30, 45 and 60 days of storage respectively. Results showed that encapsulated essential oils caused a very slight modification on semolina properties. Protein contents decreased at the end of the storage period less than 1% (from 13.61% after 30 days to 12.91% after 60 days of storage). Encapsulated essential oils might be considered as an alternative fumigant control way for semolina without deterioration of its quality during storage

Syndrome d’activation macrophagique d’origine infectieuse : une série des cas de l’hôpital Charles Nicolle, en Tunisie: Infection-related hemophagocytic syndrome: a case series from Charles Nicolle Hospital

Context and objective. Hemophagocytic syndrome (HS) is a rare and life-threatening disease. Amongits various etiologies, infection is an important one. The aim of the present study was to investigate clinical features, management and underlying etiologies of patients with infection related HS. Methods. A descriptive study involving data of patients with HS attending the Service of Internal Medicine B at the Charles Nicolle Hospital in Tunis between January 2004 and December 2019 was conducted. Results. There were 9 patients included, six men and three women. Their mean age was 39.4 years. Fever was noted in all the cases. Splenomegaly was observed in 4 cases and peripheral lymph nodes in one case. Hemorrhagic complication was noted in two cases. There were an increase of inflammatory indices in 8 cases. All the patients had pancytopenia. High levels of lacticodeshydrogenases with hepatic cytolysis were encountered in nine and eight cases, respectively. Seven patients developed intravascular disseminated coagulation. There were high plasma triglycerids in all the cases and hyper-ferritinemia in 8 cases. Bone marrow confirmed hemophagocytosis in 9 patients. Hemophagocytosis was associated to leishmaniasis in three cases, lymph nodes tuberculosis with immunodeficiency virus in one case, disseminated tuberculosis in two cases, and septic shock with staphylococcus in two cases and infective endocarditis with decapitated germ in one case. Seven patients were successfully treated with etiological treatment. The evolution was fatal in two cases. Conclusion. This study shows the preponderance of infectious etiology of HS. In cases of hemophagocytic syndrome, clinician should search for infection conditions such as tuberculosis, leishmaniasis in endemic areas. Contexte et objectifs. Le syndrome d’activation macrophagique (SAM) est une pathologie rare mais souvent mortelle dont les causes infectieuses revetent une grande importance. Le présent travail avait pour objectif de décrire les caractéristiques clinico-biologiques des SAM d’étiologie infectieuses. Méthodes. Il s’agissait d’une étude descriptive concernant les patients ayant présenté un SAM au service de Médecine Interne B de l’hôpital Charles Nicolle de Tunis entre janvier 2004 et décembre 2019. Résultats. Il s’agissait de six hommes et trois femmes, d’âge moyen de 39,4 ans, tous presentant de la fievre. Les étiologies infectieuses étaient : une leishmaniose viscérale de l’adulte dans trois cas, une tuberculose disséminée dans deux cas, une tuberculose ganglionnaire associée à une infection par le virus de l’immunodéficience humaine dans un cas, un choc septique à staphylocoque dans deux cas et une endocardite infectieuse à germe décapité dans un cas. Les examens ayant montré une bonne rentabilité étiologique étaient : l’examen direct au myélogramme, les sérologies, la biopsie ganglionnaire. Pour nos neuf patients, un traitement étiologique, spécifique a pu être administré. Quatre patients avaient reçu une corticothérapie. L’évolution était favorable dans sept cas, et fatale dans deux autres cas. Conclusion. Cette étude montre la place prépondérante de l’étiologie infectieuse dans le SAM. En cas d’hémophagocytose, une recherche d’infections bactériennes, virales et parasitaires s’impose, même en l’absence d’orientation étiologique. Le traitement spécifique de l’agent causal infectieux est crucial dès son identification afin d’améliorer le pronostic

Présentation et mise en place du premier système de dialyse péritonéale automatisée connecté en France

The first system of connected automated peritoneal dialysis (APD) was set up in France in the CHSF. This system allows to collect and transmit the data of APD sessions via a modem and a platform towards the medical team and permits the remote adaptation of the treatments. This implementation required a number of steps on national and regional levels. We present the functioning and the expected benefits of such a system.Le premier système connecté de dialyse péritonéale automatisée (DPA) a été mis en place en France au CHSF. Il s’agit d’un système collectant les données des séances de DPA via un modem et une plateforme sécurisée puis les transmettant vers l’équipe médicale et permettant l’adaptation des traitements à distance. Cette mise en place a nécessité un certain nombre de démarches à l’échelle nationale et régionale. Nous en présentons le fonctionnement et les bénéfices attendus. Cette revue est mise à disposition selon les termes de la Licence Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International

Facteurs pronostiques de l’atteinte rénale au cours du Purpura Rhumatoïde de l’adulte au Centre Hospitalier et Universitaire de Tunis / Pronostic factors of Henoch Schönlein nephritis in Tunis university hospital: Pronostic factors of Henoch Schönlein nephritis in Tunis university hospital

Context and objective. IgA vasculitis is a leukocytoclastic vasculitis with IgA deposits characterized by the association of cutaneous, articular and digestive involvements. Renal involvement worsens the pronostic of the disease. The main objective of this work was to identify the risk factors of end-stage renal failure in Tunisian adults with IgA vasculitis. Methods. From 1975 to 2017, patients with IgA vasculitis and nephritis were studied retrospectively. All the patients benefited from a renal biopsy classified histologically according to Pillebout. Results. Thirty-four adult patients (mean age at nephritis onset: 39 ± 17.6y) mainly men, were included. Risk factors for progression to end stage renal disease were: edema (p=0.002), oligoanuria (p=0.003), initial renal impairment (p=0.001), anemia (p=0.010), hyperuricemia (p=0.015), class IV (p=0.018), crescents (p=0.018) and interstitial fibrosis (p=0.017). Conclusion. The outcome of renal involvement during IgA vasculitis is relatively poor. Renal involvement conditions the long-term prognosis of the disease. The identification of clinical, biological and histological risk factors of end stage renal failure would improve its management. Contexte et objectif. Le purpura rhumatoïde est une vascularite leucocytoclasique à dépôts d’IgA caractérisée par l’association de signes cutanés, articulaires et digestifs. L’atteinte rénale fait la gravité de la maladie. Le principal objectif de ce travail était d’identifier les facteurs prédictifs de la maladie rénale chronique stade 5 chez des patients ayant un Purpura Rhumatoïde avec atteinte rénale. Méthodes. Nous avons étudié de façon rétrospective les observations de patients ayant présenté un purpura rhumatoïde avec atteinte rénale colligés de 1975 à 2017. Les lésions histologiques ont été classées selon la classification de Pillebout. Résultats. Nous avons colligé 34 patients adultes atteints de Purpura Rhumatoïde avec atteinte rénale. L’âge moyen des patients était de 39 ± 17,6 ans avec une prédominance masculine. Les facteurs prédictifs de la Maladie Rénale Chronique stade 5 étaient : les œdèmes (p=0,002), l’oligoanurie (p=0,003), l’insuffisance rénale initiale (p=0,001), l’anémie (p=0,010), l’hyperuricémie (p=0,015), la classe histologique IV (p=0,018), les croissants (p=0,009) et la fibrose interstitielle (p=0,017). Conclusion. L’atteinte rénale au cours du Purpura Rhumatoïde conditionne le pronostic à long terme. Sa recherche doit être systématique afin de prévenir ou de ralentir l’évolution vers la maladie rénale chronique stade 5

Family specific genetic predisposition to breast cancer: results from Tunisian whole exome sequenced breast cancer cases

Abstract Background A family history of breast cancer has long been thought to indicate the presence of inherited genetic events that predispose to this disease. In North Africa, many specific epidemio-genetic characteristics have been observed in breast cancer families when compared to Western populations. Despite these specificities, the majority of breast cancer genetics studies performed in North Africa remain restricted to the investigation of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. Thus, comprehensive data at a whole exome or whole genome level from local patients are lacking. Methods A whole exome sequencing (WES) of seven breast cancer Tunisian families have been performed using a family-based approach. We focused our analysis on BC-TN-F001 family that included two affected members that have been sequenced using WES. Relevant variants identified in BC-TN-F001 have been confirmed using Sanger sequencing. Then, we conducted an integrative analysis by combining our results with those from other WES studies in order to figure out the genetic transmission model of the newly identified genes. Biological network construction and protein–protein interactions analyses have been performed to decipher the molecular mechanisms likely accounting for the role of these genes in breast cancer risk. Results Sequencing, filtering strategies, and validation analysis have been achieved. For BC-TN-F001, no deleterious mutations have been identified on known breast cancer genes. However, 373 heterozygous, exonic and rare variants have been identified on other candidate genes. After applying several filters, 12 relevant high-risk variants have been selected. Our results showed that these variants seem to be inherited in a family specific model. This hypothesis has been confirmed following a thorough analysis of the reported WES studies. Enriched biological process and protein–protein interaction networks resulted in the identification of four novel breast cancer candidate genes namely MMS19, DNAH3, POLK and KATB6. Conclusions In this first WES application on Tunisian breast cancer patients, we highlighted the impact of next generation sequencing technologies in the identification of novel breast cancer candidate genes which may bring new insights into the biological mechanisms of breast carcinogenesis. Our findings showed that the breast cancer predisposition in non-BRCA families may be ethnic and/or family specific

Family specific genetic predisposition to breast cancer: results from Tunisian whole exome sequenced breast cancer cases.

International audienceBACKGROUND:A family history of breast cancer has long been thought to indicate the presence of inherited genetic events that predispose to this disease. In North Africa, many specific epidemio-genetic characteristics have been observed in breast cancer families when compared to Western populations. Despite these specificities, the majority of breast cancer genetics studies performed in North Africa remain restricted to the investigation of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. Thus, comprehensive data at a whole exome or whole genome level from local patients are lacking.METHODS:A whole exome sequencing (WES) of seven breast cancer Tunisian families have been performed using a family-based approach. We focused our analysis on BC-TN-F001 family that included two affected members that have been sequenced using WES. Relevant variants identified in BC-TN-F001 have been confirmed using Sanger sequencing. Then, we conducted an integrative analysis by combining our results with those from other WES studies in order to figure out the genetic transmission model of the newly identified genes. Biological network construction and protein-protein interactions analyses have been performed to decipher the molecular mechanisms likely accounting for the role of these genes in breast cancer risk.RESULTS:Sequencing, filtering strategies, and validation analysis have been achieved. For BC-TN-F001, no deleterious mutations have been identified on known breast cancer genes. However, 373 heterozygous, exonic and rare variants have been identified on other candidate genes. After applying several filters, 12 relevant high-risk variants have been selected. Our results showed that these variants seem to be inherited in a family specific model. This hypothesis has been confirmed following a thorough analysis of the reported WES studies. Enriched biological process and protein-protein interaction networks resulted in the identification of four novel breast cancer candidate genes namely MMS19, DNAH3, POLK and KATB6.CONCLUSIONS:In this first WES application on Tunisian breast cancer patients, we highlighted the impact of next generation sequencing technologies in the identification of novel breast cancer candidate genes which may bring new insights into the biological mechanisms of breast carcinogenesis. Our findings showed that the breast cancer predisposition in non-BRCA families may be ethnic and/or family specific

Low incidence of SARS-CoV-2, risk factors of mortality and the course of illness in the French national cohort of dialysis patients

International audienceThe aim of this study was to estimate the incidence of COVID-19 disease in the French national population of dialysis patients, their course of illness and to identify the risk factors associated with mortality. Our study included all patients on dialysis recorded in the French REIN Registry in April 2020. Clinical characteristics at last follow-up and the evolution of COVID-19 illness severity over time were recorded for diagnosed cases (either suspicious clinical symptoms, characteristic signs on the chest scan or a positive reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction) for SARS-CoV-2. A total of 1,621 infected patients were reported on the REIN registry from March 16th, 2020 to May 4th, 2020. Of these, 344 died. The prevalence of COVID-19 patients varied from less than 1% to 10% between regions. The probability of being a case was higher in males, patients with diabetes, those in need of assistance for transfer or treated at a self-care unit. Dialysis at home was associated with a lower probability of being infected as was being a smoker, a former smoker, having an active malignancy, or peripheral vascular disease. Mortality in diagnosed cases (21%) was associated with the same causes as in the general population. Higher age, hypoalbuminemia and the presence of an ischemic heart disease were statistically independently associated with a higher risk of death. Being treated at a selfcare unit was associated with a lower risk. Thus, our study showed a relatively low frequency of COVID-19 among dialysis patients contrary to what might have been assumed