A cardiac hydatid cyst underlying pulmonary embolism: a case report

Hydatid cysts located in the interatrial septum are especially rare but when they occur, they might cause intracavity rupture. We report on a patient with acute pulmonary embolism caused by an isolated, ruptured hydatid cyst on the right side of the interatrial septum. A 16-year-old-boy with an uneventful history was hospitalized for exercise-induced dyspnea and blood expectorations. Multiple and bilateral opacities were visualized on standard chest x-ray. Signs of right-sided hypertrophy were seen on ECG. Imaging findings led to the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism complicating cardiac hydatid cysts. An operation was performed through median sternotomy to remove the cardiac cyst. The pleural cavity was entered through the fifth intercostal space to withdraw lung hydatid cysts. Operative recovery was uneventful and the patient resumed his normal activities 19 months later. Prompt diagnosis and an appropriate surgical treatment prevented a potentially fatal outcome.Key words: Echinococcosis, Hydatidosis, Pulmonary embolism, cardiac, hydatid cys

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Lung Cancer: Underlying Pathophysiology and New Therapeutic Modalities

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer are major lung diseases affecting millions worldwide. Both diseases have links to cigarette smoking and exert a considerable societal burden. People suffering from COPD are at higher risk of developing lung cancer than those without, and are more susceptible to poor outcomes after diagnosis and treatment. Lung cancer and COPD are closely associated, possibly sharing common traits such as an underlying genetic predisposition, epithelial and endothelial cell plasticity, dysfunctional inflammatory mechanisms including the deposition of excessive extracellular matrix, angiogenesis, susceptibility to DNA damage and cellular mutagenesis. In fact, COPD could be the driving factor for lung cancer, providing a conducive environment that propagates its evolution. In the early stages of smoking, body defences provide a combative immune/oxidative response and DNA repair mechanisms are likely to subdue these changes to a certain extent; however, in patients with COPD with lung cancer the consequences could be devastating, potentially contributing to slower postoperative recovery after lung resection and increased resistance to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Vital to the development of new-targeted therapies is an in-depth understanding of various molecular mechanisms that are associated with both pathologies. In this comprehensive review, we provide a detailed overview of possible underlying factors that link COPD and lung cancer, and current therapeutic advances from both human and preclinical animal models that can effectively mitigate this unholy relationship

Detecting falls and estimation of daily habits with depth images using machine learning algorithms

International audienceDifferent approaches have been proposed in the literature to detect the fall of an elderly person. In this paper, we propose a fall detection method based on the classification of parameters extracted from depth images. Three supervised learning methods are compared: decision tree, K-Nearest Neighbors (K-NN) and Random Forests (RF). The methods have been tested on a database of depth images recorded in a nursing home over a period of 43 days. The Random Forests based method yields the best results, achieving 93% sensitivity and 100% specificity when we restrict our study around the bed. Furthermore, this paper also proposes a 37 days follow-up of the person, to try and estimate his or her daily habits. © 2020 IEEE

"STOP BANG" Questionnaire: Validity to Screen Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome in North African Population

Background: The aim of this study was to validate the predictive value of the questionnaire "STOP BANG" in the detection of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome syndrome (OSAS) and to identify patients at high risk of OSASS in anesthesia consultation in North African population. Methods: Prospective clinical study, consecutive, about 759 patients proposed for elective surgery and enjoying a remote anesthesia consultation in H. Bourguiba hospital in Sfax, Tunisia. Included patients answered the questionnaire "STOP BANG". Patients with a score below 3 are considered low risk and represent the group (1). Patients with a score greater than or equal to 3 are considered high risk and represented the group (2). All patients were investigated by ventilator polygraphy to confirm the diagnosis of obstructive apnea syndrome. The apnea hypopnea index (AHI) greater than or equal to 5 confirmed the diagnosis of OSAS. Results: One hundred and fifty patients were included in the study. 41 patients had low risk of OSAS and represented the group (1) and 27.33% of included patients. 109 patients had high risk of OSAS and represented the group (2) and 72.66% of included patients. The diagnosis of OSAS was confirmed among 127 patients including 99 in the group (1) and 28 in the group (2). In our study results showed that the sensitivity of the score STOP BANG questionnaire was to the order of 87.1%, specificity was 47.8%, with positive and negative predictive values 90% and 40.74 respectively. The sensitivity of the questionnaire increased significantly with increasing AHI, it was 91.3% for IAH ≥ 15/H and 93.9% for AHI ≥ 30/H. Similarly, the predictive negative value of the questionnaire increased parallel with the increase in the AHI, it was 70.37% for AHI ≥ 15/H and 88.9% for AHI ≥ 30/H. Conclusion: The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value vary by IAH and score STOP BANG. These results show that the STOP BANG questionnaire is a good simple screening tool, easy, particularly suitable for anesthesia consultation. The questionnaire has excellent sensitivity and specificity to identify patients at high risk of OSAS

Frailty detection of older adults by monitoring their daily routine

International audienceDifferent approaches have been proposed in the literature to detect the frailty of an elderly person. In this paper, we propose a solution for detecting the frailty of older adults based on the monitoring of activities of daily living (ADL). The elderly's daily routine, is characterized by indexes determined by depth sensors such as the percentage of time in the lying position, the percentage of time in a sitting position during the day, the number of falls, the number of visits, the number of outing, and the walking speed. These indexes are intended to be an indication of frailty. Measuring frailty is difficult and requires data collection over several months. In this communication, we hypothesize that the elderly person organizes the daily life around their environment, behavior or social relations and has a well-defined routine life and we use a model to simulate the routine (normal) or non-routine (abnormal) day, according to the variance of frailty indexes over a six-month period. The classification of the type of the days (normal/ abnormal) for two different databases to lead to an accuracy of 99% and 100%. A patient is considered frail when the weekly percentage of maintaining routine decreases steadily. © 2020 IEEE

A Numerical Analysis of Solid\textendashLiquid Phase Change Heat Transfer around a Horizontal Cylinder

International audienceA numerical study is conducted to analyze the melting process around a horizontal circular cylinder in the presence of the natural convection in the melt phase. Two boundary conditions are investigated one of constant wall temperature over the surface of the cylinder and the other of constant heat flux. A numerical code is developed using an unstructured finite-volume method and an enthalpy porosity technique to solve for natural convection coupled to solid-liquid phase change. The validity of the numerical code used is ascertained by comparing our results with previously published results. \textcopyright 2013 Elsevier Inc

Melting inside a Horizontal Cylindrical Capsule

International audienceThe role of natural convection on solid-liquid interface motion during constrained melting within a horizontal cylindrical capsule was investigated. A numerical code is developed using an unstructured finite-volume method and an enthalpy porosity technique to solve for natural convection coupled to solid-liquid phase change. Flow patterns for different Rayleigh numbers are presented. The resulting melt shapes and the temperature in the PCM provide conclusive evidence of the importance of natural convection on heat transfer in the melt region