Congenital Arhinia: A Neonatal Case Report.

Congenital arhinia or nasal absence is a rare condition, with only less than 100 cases published in the literature to date. It is a rare condition that causes respiratory distress during the neonatal period. Although stabilization of the airway is the priority, management is not clearly defined, given the rarity of the malformation. We report a case of arhinia in a female newborn and briefly review the literature.

[The degree of chronic renal failure is associated with the rate of pro-inflammatory cytokines, hyperhomocysteinemia and with oxidative stress]. / Le degré de l'insuffisance rénale chronique est associé aux taux de cytokines pro-inflammatoires, à l'hyperhomocystéinémie et au stress oxydant.

AIM: To evaluate pro-inflammatory cytokines, homocysteinemia and markers of oxidative status in the course of chronic renal failure. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred and two patients (male/female: 38/64; age: 45±07 years) with chronic renal failure were divided into 4 groups according to the National Kidney Foundation classification. They included 28 primary stage renal failure patients, 28 moderate stage renal failure, 28 severe stage renal failure and 18 end stage renal failure. The inflammatory status was evaluated by the determination of pro-inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1ß, interleukin-6) and total homocysteine. Pro-oxidant status was assessed by assaying thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, hydroperoxides, and protein carbonyls. Antioxidant defence was performed by analysis of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase. RESULTS: Inflammatory markers were elevated in the end stage renal failure group compared to the other groups (P<0.001). Indeed, an increase in thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, hydroperoxides and protein carbonyls was noted in the end stage renal failure group in comparison with the other groups (P<0.001), while the levels of antioxidants enzymes activity were decreased in the study population (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Impaired renal function is closely associated with the elevation of inflammatory markers leading to both increased markers of oxidative stress and decreased antioxidant defense.

Effect of dietary consumption, advanced age and overweight on the physical characteristics of cholesterol gallstones and biliary lipid composition in west Algerian women.

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of age, overweight and food consumption on the number and size of cholesterol stones and bile composition in west Algerian women undergoing surgery for cholelithiasis. Patients were divided into four groups according to body mass index (BMI, weight/height(2), kg/m(2)) and age. The highest number of patients with cholesterol gallstones was observed in the older women, in particular in those being overweight. In all patients, the stone number and size was approximately similar. The same dietary consumption was observed in older and young patients. Overweight patients were characterized by higher energy consumption (14.5 +/- 2.0 MJ x day(-1)) versus normal-weight patients (10.6 +/- 1.3 MJ x day(-1); p < 0.01) and versus Mediterranean diet (8 MJ x day(-1)). In normal-weight patients, the cholesterol saturation index (CSI) was higher in older patients (+56%) versus young patients while it diminished (-53%) in older overweight versus young patients. In older patients, the CSI was fourfold higher in normal-weight compared to overweight patients (p < 0.001). In conclusion, differences in food consumption were noted in overweight patients compared to normal-weight patients. Advanced age and overweight impaired biliary lipid composition, increased the number of patients with cholesterol gallstones but did not significantly affect the physical characteristics of west Algerian women.