Bifocal Tuberculosis with Adalimumab Revealed by Laryngeal Involvement: Case Report

Introduction. Anti-TNF treatment has transformed the treatment of chronic inflammatory rheumatism. Although the therapy can be highly effective, anti-TNF drugs are associated with an increased risk of tuberculosis, especially extra-pulmonary tuberculosis. Laryngeal tuberculosis is rare and its symptoms are not specific. Laryngeal tuberculosis is often secondary to another localization, particularly pulmonary. In the use of anti-TNF therapy, its development is unusual. Case report. We report a case of bifocal tuberculosis: laryngeal and pulmonary tuberculosis revealed by laryngeal involvement in a patient aged 41 years with axial spondylarthritis treated with Adalimumab. Conclusion. This presentation highlights the importance to consider the rare possibility of laryngeal tuberculosis in the presence of atypical otorhinolaryngologic signs under anti-TNF therapy and underlines the importance of looking for other tuberculosis involvement

Monoarthritis of the Elbow Revealing Osteoid Osteoma: A Case Report and Literature Review

Osteoid osteoma is a rare benign osteoblastic tumor that mainly occurs in the extra-articular segments of lower limb long bones. The elbow is an exceptional location for osteoid osteoma. The diagnosis is usually delayed since the elbow is a rare site for this tumor and unspecific clinical signs, such monoarthritis, may mimic other more common conditions. We report the case of a 16-year-old girl who presented with chronic monoarthritis of the elbow which was treated falsely as tuberculous arthritis and monoarticular rheumatoid involvement. The laboratory tests were negative. Computed tomography scan and magnetic resonance imaging showed the focal nidus at the coronoid process of the ulna with mild synovitis. The diagnosis of osteoid osteoma was not made until the disease had been progressing for eighteen months and the elbow had already become stiff. Arthroscopic excision of the lesion was performed, and histopathology of the nidus was consistent with osteoid osteoma. Since then, the patient has been pain-free with an improved elbow range of motion

Evaluation of rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) genotypes for tolerance to PEG (polyethylene glycol) induced drought at germination and early seedling growth

Rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) is an important oilseed crop well adapted to Mediterranean area. However, increasing drought, due to climate change, impairs its growth and development, mainly when this stress occurs early during germination. This study carried out in vitro conditions aimed to investigate the effect of water deficit on seed germination and seedling growth traits in 12 genotypes to select the most drought-tolerant ones. Drought conditions were created using polyethylene glycol 6000 to induce three osmotic potential levels, namely −0.7 MPa for moderate stress, −0.9 MPa for intermediate stress, and −1.1 MPa for severe stress. Germination percentage (GP), germination rate (GR), mean germination time (MGT), root length (RL), shoot length (SL), root-to-shoot ratio (RSR), seedling vigor index (SVI), shoot elongation rate (SER), and root elongation rate (RER) were measured/calculated. ANOVA and PCA were performed to analyze the data gathered. Results showed a significant effect of genotype, drought, and drought × genotype interaction on all studied parameters. Under severe drought conditions, overall values of GP, GR, RL, SL, SER, RER, and SVI decreased by 87.15 %, 53.29 %, 9.33 %, 4.73 %, 78 %, 82 %, and 96 %, respectively, while those of MGT and RSR increased by 56 % and 76 %, respectively, when compared to unstressed conditions. However, the genotypes studied reacted differently to the three levels of water stress. Based on PCA results, RL, RER, and GP proved to be the most discriminating of drought-tolerant genotypes. Overall, higher drought tolerance was associated with higher values in RL, SL, and SVI. Accordingly, the variety ‘Nap10’ and, to a lesser extent, ‘Baraka’ and ‘Nap9’ exhibited higher drought tolerance than the rest of genotypes, which makes them potential cultivars for dry areas. However, further studies in real field conditions are needed to confirm their tolerance to drought occurring at germination as well as during other stages, mainly flowering