Tuberculose hépatique nodulaire: complication inhabituelle au cours de la maladie de Wilson

La tuberculose hépatique nodulaire est rare. Nous rapportons une forme pseudo-tumorale dont le tableau clinico-biologique et radiologique initial était aspécifique. Il s'agit d'un jeune marocain suivi pour maladie de Wilson et présentant une fièvre au long cours. L'imagerie met en évidence une lésion nodulaire hépatique non spécifique. L'examen anatomo-pathologique au cours d'une biopsie écho guidée du nodule hépatique permit de porter le diagnostic. L'évolution clinique est favorable sous traitement spécifique.Key words: Maladie de Wilson, tuberculose, foi

The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance

INTRODUCTION Investment in Africa over the past year with regard to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequencing has led to a massive increase in the number of sequences, which, to date, exceeds 100,000 sequences generated to track the pandemic on the continent. These sequences have profoundly affected how public health officials in Africa have navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. RATIONALE We demonstrate how the first 100,000 SARS-CoV-2 sequences from Africa have helped monitor the epidemic on the continent, how genomic surveillance expanded over the course of the pandemic, and how we adapted our sequencing methods to deal with an evolving virus. Finally, we also examine how viral lineages have spread across the continent in a phylogeographic framework to gain insights into the underlying temporal and spatial transmission dynamics for several variants of concern (VOCs). RESULTS Our results indicate that the number of countries in Africa that can sequence the virus within their own borders is growing and that this is coupled with a shorter turnaround time from the time of sampling to sequence submission. Ongoing evolution necessitated the continual updating of primer sets, and, as a result, eight primer sets were designed in tandem with viral evolution and used to ensure effective sequencing of the virus. The pandemic unfolded through multiple waves of infection that were each driven by distinct genetic lineages, with B.1-like ancestral strains associated with the first pandemic wave of infections in 2020. Successive waves on the continent were fueled by different VOCs, with Alpha and Beta cocirculating in distinct spatial patterns during the second wave and Delta and Omicron affecting the whole continent during the third and fourth waves, respectively. Phylogeographic reconstruction points toward distinct differences in viral importation and exportation patterns associated with the Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants and subvariants, when considering both Africa versus the rest of the world and viral dissemination within the continent. Our epidemiological and phylogenetic inferences therefore underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic on the continent and highlight key insights and challenges, for instance, recognizing the limitations of low testing proportions. We also highlight the early warning capacity that genomic surveillance in Africa has had for the rest of the world with the detection of new lineages and variants, the most recent being the characterization of various Omicron subvariants. CONCLUSION Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve. This is important not only to help combat SARS-CoV-2 on the continent but also because it can be used as a platform to help address the many emerging and reemerging infectious disease threats in Africa. In particular, capacity building for local sequencing within countries or within the continent should be prioritized because this is generally associated with shorter turnaround times, providing the most benefit to local public health authorities tasked with pandemic response and mitigation and allowing for the fastest reaction to localized outbreaks. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century

Neuropathie périphérique sous Infliximab: étude d’une observation

Les traitements Anti TNF alpha sont de prescription de plus en plus large. Des événements secondaires multiples ont été rapportés ses dernières années, en particulier les neuropathies périphériques. Nous rapportons un cas de neuropathie axonale survenant trois mois après le début d’un traitement par Infliximab. Il s’agit d’une patiente âgée de 60 ans, suivie pour réctocolite hémorragique résistant au traitement et ayant nécessité un traitement par Infliximab. Trois mois après, la patiente présente un tableau de neuropathie axonale sensitive. Le bilan étiologique restait négatif et la réduction des doses s’est accompagnée d’une amélioration de la symptomatologie. Le délai entre l’instauration du traitement à base d’Infliximab et l’apparition des manifestations cliniques de même que l’amélioration après réduction des doses plaident en faveur de la responsabilité de l’Infliximab dans la survenue de la neuropathie sensitive. La prise en charge n’est pas standardisée et doit être discuté au cas par cas.The Pan African Medical Journal 2016;2

Advanced Non-small Cell Lung Cancer: EGFR Mutation Analysis Using Pyrosequencing and the Fully Automated qPCR-Based Idylla System

Background Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation status is of a major clinical significance in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) management, as it guides therapeutic decision making to target patients for a better response to therapy. This implicates the introduction of EGFR mutation analysis as the standard of care for Moroccan NSCLC patients, which in itself entails the implementation of targeted methods for routine EGFR mutation analysis in our laboratories. In this study, we aimed to present 2 targeted methods for EGFR mutation identification and to determine the prevalence and spectrum of EGFR mutations in NSCLC Moroccan patients. Methods A retrospective investigation of a cohort of 340 patients was undertaken to analyze somatic EGFR mutations in exons 18 to 21 using pyrosequencing and the Idylla TM system. Results Of the enrolled patients, 70.9% were males and 29.1% were females. Predominately, 92% of cases had adenocarcinoma, and 53.7% of patients self-reported a history of smoking. Overall, 73 patients (21.7%) harbored an EGFR mutation, the most prevalent of which were the exon 19 deletions (53.4%) followed by exon 21 substitutions (31%). Exon 18 mutations and exon 20 alterations occurred in 8.1% and 6.7% of the positive EGFR mutation cases, respectively. Of the analyzed cases, all of the EGFR-mutated patients had adenocarcinoma. EGFR mutation prevalence was significantly higher in females (females vs males: 38.4% vs 14.5%, P < .001) and non-smokers (non-smokers vs non-smokers: 36% vs 10.3%, P < .001). The featured pyrosequencing and the Idylla TM system are targeted methods endowed with high sensitivity and specificity as well as other compelling characteristics which make them great options for routine EGFR mutation testing for advanced NSCLC patients. Conclusion These findings underline the imperious need for implementing quick and efficient targeted methods for routine EGFR mutation testing among NSCLC patients, which is particularly useful in determining patients who are more likely to benefit from targeted therapy

Study of epidemiological, clinical and evolutionary characteristics of a population of patients hospitalized for COVID-19 in Morocco

The outbreak of COVID-19 still represents a real risk for the increased death rate for the whole of human kind. In this context, the present research work aims at describing evolutionary data in a population of hospitalized COVID-19 positive patients based on selected epidemiological, clinical and paraclinical data at admission. In this cross-sectional study, we examined the data obtained from 108 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in the VINCI clinic, Casablanca (Morocco) between August and September 2020. General characteristic, clinical, radiological and biological data as well as therapeutic management were assessed. The patients’ median age was 45-50 years old. Among our studied patients, 4.6% were transferred to the intensive care unit (ICU), 16.7% were cured after more than 15 days, while 78.7% were cured within 15 days. Those transferred to the ICU unit were either smokers, obese, or over 65 years of age. The majority of patients with normal radiological and cardiac parameters were cured within<15 days, while biological disorders were observed in approximately all cases that were transferred to ICU. Regarding therapeutic treatment, 98.1% of the subjects were treated with hydroxychloroquine + azithromycin in combination with vitamin C and zinc supplementation. The study shows that the minimal healing time is well conditioned by the general and clinical characteristics of patients. Furthermore, the administration of hydroxychloroquine + azithromycin showed a beneficial effect with no associated adverse effects in the study cases

, and Mutational Profile of Colorectal Cancer in a Series of Moroccan Patients

Objectives The present study aimed to evaluate the frequencies of KRAS , NRAS, and BRAF mutations and their possible associations with clinicopathological features in 249 Moroccan patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). Methods A retrospective investigation of a cohort of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues of 249 patients with CRC was screened for KRAS / NRAS / BRAF mutations using Idylla™ technology and pyrosequencing. Results KRAS , NRAS, and BRAF mutations were revealed in 46.6% (116/249), 5.6% (14/249), and 2.4% (6/249) of patients. KRAS exon 2 mutations were identified in 87.9% of patients (102/116). KRAS G12D and G12 C were the most frequent, at 32.8% and 12.93%, respectively. Among the patients with KRAS exon 2 wild-type (wt), 27.6% (32/116) harbored additional KRAS mutations. Concurrent KRAS mutations were identified in 9.5% (11/116); including six in codon 146 (A146P/T/V), three in codon 61 (Q61H/L/R), one in codon 12 (G12 A and Q61H), and one in codon 13 (G13D and Q61 L). Among the NRAS exon 2 wt patients, 64.3% (9/14) harbored additional NRAS mutations. Concurrent NRAS mutations were identified in 28.6% (4/14) of NRAS -mutant patients. Since 3.2% wt KRAS were identified with NRAS mutations, concomitant KRAS and NRAS mutations were identified in 2.4% (6/249) of patients. KRAS mutations were higher in the >50-year-old age-group ( P = .031), and the tumor location was revealed to be significantly associated with KRAS mutations ( P = .028) predominantly in left colon (27.5%) and colon (42.2%) locations. NRAS mutations were most prevalent in the left colon (42.8%) and in well-differentiated tumors (64.2%). Conclusion Detection of KRAS mutations, particularly the G12 C subtype, may be significant for patients with CRC and has possible therapeutic implications. However, rare KRAS concomitant mutations in CRC patients suggest that each individual may present distinct therapeutic responses. KRAS testing alongside the identification of other affected genes in the same patient will make the treatments even more personalized by contributing more accurately to the clinical decision process. Overall, early diagnosis using novel molecular techniques may improve the management of CRC by providing the most efficient therapies for Moroccan patients