[Hydatid cyst of the lung]. / Le kyste hydatique du poumon.

Following a summary of the natural biological cycle of Taenia echinococcus granulosus, the hydatid vesicle is described with its walls and contents. The chapter on the geographical distribution and epidemiology of hydatidosis shows that the disease is ubiquitous, spares no continent and is particularly frequent in Mediterranean countries and Latin America. The natural course of the pulmonary hydatid cyst is presented in 6 successive radioclinical stages and illustrated by radiological images that are most characteristic of each of these stages. The diagnosis of the disease is studied, with emphasis on the usefulness of serological tests. Treatment, which nowadays is exclusively surgical, must be preceded by careful preoperative evaluation. The surgical techniques are well codified and relatively simple. Medical treatments with "larvacidal" drugs are under study, but their effectiveness does not seem to have been demonstrated. The author concludes by insisting on the need for implementing the well-known and simple preventive measures which can be effective on the sources of infestation, on the chain of parasite transmission and on the subjects at risk.

[Epidemiology of smoking in the Wilaya population of Algeria]. / Epidémiologie du tabagisme dans la population de la Wilaya d'Alger.

A questionnaire survey was done in 1985 to determine the smoking habits of a representative sample of men and women in the Wilaya of Algiers. Among the men 77.1% used tobacco: 48.7% smoked cigarettes, 15.0% chewed tobacco, and 13.4% used both. There was no relationship between socioeconomic category and tobaccos consumption. Tobacco use among women was much lower (13.6%) and limited to cigarette smoking. The authors also examined relationships between smoking habits and functioned respiratory signs, and the reasons why former smokers stopped smoking.

The consequences of Robert Koch's Discovery for countries with a high prevalence of tuberculosis.

Since the issue of the 8th report of the WHO Expert Committee on Tuberculosis in 1964, the importance of Robert Koch's discovery has become fully apparent, becoming the basis of the development of the National Tuberculosis Control Programme. Robert Koch's discovery has had three main consequences for high prevalence countries. 1. It provides an unfailing epidemiological index which permits the evaluation of the tuberculosis problem in each country and the definition of the aims of the programmes. 2. It is the basis of the case-finding policy. 3. It makes possible the follow-up of the results of treatment in individual as well as in the community. The message of hope for the whole humanity, that was implied by the announcement in march 1882 of the remarkable discovery of the Koch bacillus, should be translated into reality in the next few decades by the progressive disappearance of tuberculosis in man.

[Absorption and urinary elimination of pyrazinamid administered alone or in combination with isoniazid and rifampicin]. / Etude de l'absorption et de l'élimination urinaire du pyrazinamide administré seul ou en assoication avec l'isoniazide et la rifampicine.

The aim of this work to study the PZA absorption in man its urinary excretion. The PZA was administered alone and in association with INH or/and Rifampicin. The PZA dosage in blood and urine and pyrazinoic acid in urine were performed in a sample of 80 patients divided into 4 groups. PZA dosage was also performed in blood from mice in the same experimental conditions. Our results showed that in man, the titres in serum gave higher peaks when PZA was given alone. Titres were significantly lower when PZA was associated with the two other drugs. The comparative study of PZA seral rates in men and women in one side and mice in the other, showed that the seral concentration was proportional to the body weight. Urinary excretion of Pyrazinamide and pyrazinoic acid showed a relation between the seral concentration and the urinary concentration. However, there was no correlation between the maximum seral concentration and urinary excretion of pyrazinoic acid.

[Is there sarcoidosis in countries with a high prevalence of tuberculosis? (author's transl)]. / La Sarcoïdose médiastino-pulmonaire existe-t-elle dans les pays à haute prévalence tuberculeuse?

A review is given of the literature concerned with the relatively rare occurence of sarcoidosis in countries with a high prevalence of tuberculosis and informations on clinical status, diagnostic, stage distribution and evaluation of 28 personally observed patients presented. The possible reasons of the only recently more frequent detection of sarcoidosis are discussed. Easily realisable measures as screening (test of tuberculine) for earlier detection are recommended.