Communication interventriculaire post infarctus du myocarde: réparation chirurgicale

La communication interventriculaire (CIV) post infarctus du myocarde est une complication aiguë. l’incidence de cette complication est évaluée entre 1% et 2%, mais elle est responsable de 5% des décès en phase aiguë de l’infarctus. Sa prise en charge est chirurgicale, avec la difficulté de réparation à partir des tissus infarcis fragiles. Le septum interventriculaire a une double vascularisation, ce qui explique les deux types de localisation de CIV: CIV antérieure par occlusion de l’artère interventriculaire antérieure (IVA), qui est la plus fréquente, et la CIV postérieure par occlusion d’une coronaire droite dominante ou plus rarement d’une circonflexe dominante. Nous rapportons le cas d’une réparation chirurgicale, faite avec succès, d’une CIV antérieure de 15mm, chez un patient de 75 ans, qui avait une occlusion de l’IVA. La réparation a été faite sous circulation éxtracorporelle, avec résection des tissus infarcis et mise en place d’un patch adapté au défect. Le patch a été positionné du coté ventriculaire gauche. Des points en U sur feutre de Teflon ont fixé le patch. Les suites opératoires ont été favorables et le patient est sorti du bloc opératoire avec de faible dose de DOBUTAMINE

Increased memory phenotypes of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in children with sickle cell anaemia in Tanzania

Background: Infection is an important cause of morbidity in children with sickle cell anaemia (SCA). However, little is currently known regarding the spectrum of adaptive immune derangement in SCA, especially of populations in Sub-Saharan Africa. In this study, we investigated the phenotype and activation status of T and B lymphocytes among children with SCA in Tanzania.Methods: We compared 30 children with SCA aged 1–6 years in steady-state with 10 age-matched controls. We assessed white blood cell count, T and B lymphocyte phenotype and activation status using an automated haematology analyser and multiparameter Flow Cytometry.Results: In children with SCA, the absolute lymphocyte, monocyte and granulocyte counts were all increased. There was also an increase in proportion of central/transitional memory (42.4% vs. 33.3%, p = 0.0100), effector memory (7.8% vs. 5.4%, p = 0.0086) and terminally differentiated (2.3% vs. 1.3%, p = 0.0355) CD4+ T cells as well as effector memory CD8+ T cells (21.3% vs. 11.5%, p = 0.0060) in children with SCA. In contrast, there was no difference in naïve, classical memory, atypical memory and IgM memory B-cells between the two groups. The level of activation of both T and B cells were comparable between children with and without SCA. Furthermore, we observed a significant inverse correlation between frequency of the effector memory CD8+ T cells and haematocrit (Spearman rho = -0.3859, p = 0.0352). Conclusions: Children with SCA in Tanzania show an absolute increase in all leukocyte types, including lymphocytes, with skewing of both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells towards the memory phenotypes. These findings provide insights on the development of adaptive immunity which may have implications on vaccine responsiveness, allo-immunisation, auto-immune diseases and transplant immunology in children with SCA

La tamponnade cardiaque: une manifestation rare de l’hypothyroïdie

La survenue d'un épanchement péricardique au cours d'une hypothyroïdie est fréquente. Ce fait justifie la réalisation d'une échocardiographie lors du diagnostic et du suivi évolutif des hypothyroïdies. Les signes de mauvaise tolérance de cet épanchement sont rares et la constitution d'une tamponnade péricardique n'est que très rarement rapportée. Ce travail se base sur l'étude rétrospective de quatre cas de tamponnade cardiaque révélant une hypothyroïdie primaire. L'échocardiographie a permis de faire le diagnostic immédiat de la  tamponnade. Orienté par l'aspect clinique, le diagnostic d'hypothyroïdie a été confirmé par dosage biologique. Le  traitement a été à base de drainage péricardique chirurgical et d'hormonothérapie progressive, l'évolution a été favorable avec disparition de l'épanchement  péricardique. Certaines particularités physiopathologiques, l'intérêt de l'échocardiographie et du drainage péricardique chirurgical, tant au plan diagnostique qu'au plan thérapeutique sont soulignés.Key words: Hypothyroïdie, drainage chirurgical, tamponnade cardiaqu

Influence of Fine Dune Sand on the Modulus of Elasticity of Eco-Self-Compacting-Concrete

The aim of this research was to study the effect of fine dune sand on the mechanical performance of Eco-Self-Compacting Concrete (SCC). For that, the fine dune sand of the Western erg (Taghit -Algeria) was being like mineral addition to formulate the SCC, and a comparison was carried out on their effect on the properties of SCC. Our study also showed that the substitution of fine dune sand (DS) by cement in the composition of the SCC, contributes to a slight variation of workability in the fresh state parameters still remaining in the field of SCC required by the AFGC recommendations. The experimental results show that the compressive strengths and modulus of elasticity of SCC improved by substituting of 20% cement by DS

Anemia at the Initiation of Tuberculosis Therapy Is Associated with Delayed Sputum Conversion among Pulmonary Tuberculosis Patients in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania.

Pulmonary tuberculosis and anemia are both prevalent in Tanzania. There is limited and inconsistent literature on the association between anemia and sputum conversion following tuberculosis treatment. Newly diagnosed sputum smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients aged ≥15 years initiating on standard anti tuberculosis therapy were recruited from 14 of 54 tuberculosis clinics in Dar es Salaam. Patients were receiving medication according to the recommended short course Directly Observed Therapy (DOT) strategy and were followed up prospectively until completion of treatment (six months). Patients were evaluated before initiation of TB treatment by performing the following; clinical history, physical examination, complete blood counts, serum biochemistry and sputum microscopy. Sputum smears were re-examined at two months of anti-tuberculosis therapy for presence of acid fast bacilli. Anemia was defined as hemoglobin <13 g/dl (males) or <12 g/dl (females). Log-binomial regression was used to assess the association between anemia and sputum conversion at two months. Of the 1245 patients included in the study, 86% were anemic and 7% were sputum smear positive at two months of anti-tuberculosis therapy. Anemic patients were three times more likely to have sputum positive smear as compared to non-anemic patients at two months (RR = 3.05; 95% CI 1.11-8.40) p = 0.03. The risk for sputum positive smear results increased with severity of anemia (P for trend <0.01). Baseline anemia is associated with increased risk for persistent positive sputum smears at two months of tuberculosis treatment. Future studies should evaluate the mechanisms for TB-associated anemia as well as the role of intervention for anemia among TB patients

Infective endocarditis following COVID-19 pneumonia: about two cases

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has emerged as a pandemic and public health crisis across the world. The severity of this situation is escalating in certain populations, particularly when the COVID-19 diagnosis may delay the recognition of more dramatic illnesses such as infective endocarditis, which is a dreaded complication in patients with cardiac disease. We report the case of two patients who presented with infective endocarditis initially mistaken for COVID-19 pneumonia, which was responsible for a delay in diagnosis. We discuss the diagnostic difficulties as well as the management of this complication in the COVID-19 era. As a physician, one must remain alert to this dreaded complication, especially in patients with a cardiac history, in order to prevent it, detect it early, and manage it in time

Right atrial thrombus, junctional tachycardia, and critical lower limb ischemia: three rare complications of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection can engender multi-system inflammatory syndrome. Its main symptoms are cardiovascular and thromboembolic problems that can develop into severe complications. The present case is about a 55-year-old patient who was admitted for critical ischemia of the right lower limb and necrosis of the right forefoot. The patient was infected with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) one month before her admission. The patient also has cardiovascular risks including type 2 diabetes and hypertension. The performance of ultrasounds revealed a thrombus in the right atrium and the pulmonary artery, and arteriography detected an occlusion of the right popliteal joint for which she had an endovascular recanalization and amputation of the right forefoot. This case highlights that SARS-CoV-2 infection could be considered a serious cardiovascular disease requiring cardiovascular explorations to initiate hospital management and avoid severe complications

Prioritizing Health-Sector Interventions for Noncommunicable Diseases and Injuries in Low- and Lower-Middle Income Countries: National NCDI Poverty Commissions

Health sector priorities and interventions to prevent and manage noncommunicable diseases and injuries (NCDIs) in low- and lower-middle-income countries (LLMICs) have primarily adopted elements of the World Health Organization Global Action Plan for NCDs 2013–2020. However, there have been limited efforts in LLMICs to prioritize among conditions and health-sector interventions for NCDIs based on local epidemiology and contextually relevant risk factors or that incorporate the equitable distribution of health outcomes. The Lancet Commission on Reframing Noncommunicable Diseases and Injuries for the Poorest Billion supported national NCDI Poverty Commissions to define local NCDI epidemiology, determine an expanded set of priority NCDI conditions, and recommend cost-effective, equitable health-sector interventions. Fifteen national commissions and 1 state-level commission were established from 2016–2019. Six commissions completed the prioritization exercise and selected an average of 25 NCDI conditions; 15 conditions were selected by all commissions, including asthma, breast cancer, cervical cancer, diabetes mellitus type 1 and 2, epilepsy, hypertensive heart disease, intracerebral hemorrhage, ischemic heart disease, ischemic stroke, major depressive disorder, motor vehicle road injuries, rheumatic heart disease, sickle cell disorders, and subarachnoid hemorrhage. The commissions prioritized an average of 35 health-sector interventions based on cost-effectiveness, financial risk protection, and equity-enhancing rankings. The prioritized interventions were estimated to cost an additional US$4.70–US$13.70 per capita or approximately 9.7%–35.6% of current total health expenditure (0.6%–4.0% of current gross domestic product). Semistructured surveys and qualitative interviews of commission representatives demonstrated positive outcomes in several thematic areas, including understanding NCDIs of poverty, informing national planning and implementation of NCDI health-sector interventions, and improving governance and coordination for NCDIs. Overall, national NCDI Poverty Commissions provided a platform for evidence-based, locally driven determination of priorities within NCDIs.publishedVersio

Predictors of delayed sputum smear conversion among Tuberculosis patients (n = 1245)^*.

<p>*Additionally controlled for marital status, education status, monthly income, daily expenditure on food and serum creatinine, none of which were significantly associated with delayed sputum smear conversion.</p

The association between delayed sputum conversion and anemia among Tuberculosis patients (N = 1245)^*.

<p>*Two separate models for (anemia and anemia severity) were each adjusted for: age, sex, HIV status, smoking, alcohol, drug abuse, body mass index (BMI), duration of illness, lymphocytes, platelets count and resistance to rifampicin and/or Isoniazid.</p><p><b>**</b>Trend test p-value.</p