Sex as a Biological Factor in the Changes in Disease Patients During Ramadan Intermittent Fasting: A Systematic Review.

Background: During Ramadan, many patients with diabetes, renal, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal diseases, headaches, and epilepsy choose to fast even against their doctor's advice. The impact of this intermittent fasting on health and disease could be different in men and women. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of sex as a factor in diseases outcomes of patients who opt to fast during Ramadan. Main Body: The articles included in this study reported data on six diseases: diabetes, renal, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal diseases, headaches, and epilepsy. A systematic search was performed on PubMed and Scopus for observational and clinical studies mentioning Ramadan, diabetes, renal, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal diseases, headaches, and epilepsy in both men and women. Data was extracted by two independent reviewers using a standardized data-collection form. From 381 original articles, 38 studies were selected, including 25,023 patients of which 44.4% were women. Sex-based differences were reported by 18 studies for several variables such as body mass index, blood glucose, the frequency of hypoglycemia, renal colic, mortality, thrombosis, and gastrointestinal diseases in patients fasting during Ramadan. Most of the differences between men and women were reported both in the baseline period before Ramadan and during Ramadan. Indeed, during the period outside Ramadan, the frequency of renal colic, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal diseases, were higher in men; while body mass index, Thrombosis, and headache were higher in women. In the remaining 21 studies, it was reported that the sex factor was not associated with the effect of Ramadan fasting in the frequency and other outcomes of these diseases. Conclusion: Currently, small attention is paid to sex as a determinant factor in patients while fasting during Ramadan. There appeared to be differences in the frequency and incidence of diseases in men and women during Ramadan. Closer attention to sex differences regarding the frequency and the progression of the diseases during fasting may help to improve patient care, especially to benefit those patients willing to fast during Ramadan.

Polysplenia syndrome in adulthood: a case report.

Polysplenia syndrome mainly described in pediatrics; rarely and incidentally in adulthood. Most patients had their diagnosis done during childhood due to the frequent association to cardiac anomalies that speak for themselves earlier in life. Multiple spleens, cardiac defect and vascular malformation of the inferior vena cava with azygos or hemiazygos continuation are the most frequent observed malformations. Our patient was one this rarest adulthood incidental diagnosis, who presented in the emergency department for nephritic colic, and while imaging for this, multiples spleens and other visceral malformations were diagnosed. Hopefully, cardiac ultrasound hadn't showed any cardiac malformation and the patient was discharged aware of this condition. Through this publication we report the possible incidental diagnosis of polysplenia condition and highlight the fact that people with such important malformation can lead a normal life, and only awareness should be given for future surgeries, instrumental treatment or else.

[NOD2 gene mutation in Moroccan patients with Crohn's disease: prevalence, genotypic study and correlation of NOD2 gene mutation with the phenotype of Crohn's disease]. / Mutation du gène NOD2 chez les patients marocains atteints de la maladie de Crohn: prévalence, étude génotypique et corrélation au phénotype de la maladie.

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of NOD2/CARD15 gene mutations in a group of Moroccan patients with Crohn's disease and to study its correlation with genotype-phenotypic expression. We conducted a cross-sectional case-control study over a period of 16 months. 101 patients with Crohn's disease were enrolled between January 2012 and April 2013 as well as a control group of 107 patients. We performed a genetic analysis to identify 3 NOD2 gene variants: p.Arg702Trp, p.Gly908Arg and p.Leu1007fsins. Then we conducted a study of the correlation between genotype and phenotypic expression. The genetic analysis of patients with Crohn's disease highlighted the presence of NOD2 mutation in 14 patients (13.77%) versus 7 patients (6.53%) in the control group. The study of the frequency of different alleles showed p.Gly908Arg mutation in 6.43%, p.Leu1007fsins in 0.99% and p.Arg702Trp in 0.49% versus 2.80%, 0% and 0.46% in the control group respectively. The study of the correlation between genotype and phenotypic expression showed that CARD15 mutation is associated with ileocecal Crohn's disease, with fistulizing and stenosing behavior in Crohn's disease as well as with severe evolution and frequent recourse to surgery and immunosuppressants. The prevalence of NOD2/ CARD15 mutation in our case series is low. This mutation is correlated with severe Crohn's disease.

Dysphagia lusoria: report of a series of six cases.

Dysphagia lusoria is a rare cause of organic dysphagia. This report describes a series of six patients admitted to our university hospital for dysphagia lusoria. Dysphagia was a constant feature in all our patients. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and a barium esophagram prompted the diagnosis, which was confirmed by angiography of the aortic arch showing an aberrant right subclavian artery in all cases. Treatment was surgical in all patients with good results.

[Krukenberg tumor: rare metastasis of hilar cholangiocarcinoma]. / Une métastase rare du cholangiocarcinome hilaire, la tumeur de Krukenberg.

INTRODUCTION: Hilar cholangiocarcinoma is a rare cancer revealed in this case only after its ovarian metastasis, a Krukenberg tumor. CASE REPORT: A 60-year old woman was hospitalized for jaundice. Her medical history included a hysterectomy eight months earlier for a Krukenberg tumor. The primary tumor had never been found. Physical examination showed isolated cholestatic jaundice. Blood tests revealed cholestasis and cytolysis. Hepatobiliary ultrasound showed dilatation of the intrahepatic bile ducts. Abdominal computed tomography confirmed that dilatation stopped at the hilar plate. Transparietal cholangiography findings suggested cholangiocarcinoma. Surgery discovered an extensive unresectable tumor of the proximal principal bile duct. The surgeon took tissue samples and placed a T-drain for decompression. The histology study found adenocarcinoma of the bile duct, and concluded that the Krukenberg tumor was secondary to this cholangiocarcinoma. DISCUSSION: Hilar cholangiocarcinoma quickly invades adjacent structures, such as the liver, gallbladder, lymph nodes, blood vessels and local nerves. Remote metastases have been reported in the lungs, spleen, adrenal gland, and peritoneum. Ovarian metastasis of hilar cholangiocarcinoma is very rare.