Sleep Habits and Disturbances Among Tunisian Adults: A Cross-Sectional Online Survey.

Background: Sleep quality and disturbances have gained heightened scholarly attention due to their well-established association with both mental and physical health. This study aims to assess sleep-wake habits and disturbances in Tunisian adults. Methodology: This cross-sectional study employed an online questionnaire to assess 3074 adults ≥ 18 years. Primary outcomes, including sleep quality, daytime vigilance, mood, and subjective well-being, were measured using validated questionnaires [the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ)-9, and the World Health Organisation-Five Well-Being Index (WHO-5)]. Results: Less than two-thirds (n= 1941; 63.1%) of participants were females and the mean age was 36.25±13.56. The prevalence of poor sleep quality was 53.8% when defined as a PSQI > 5. The prevalence of insomnia, short sleep duration, long sleep duration, EDS, severe depression, and poor well-being were 14.5%, 34.7%, 12.3%, 32.4%, 7.4%, and 40.2%, respectively. Some factors were associated with an increased likelihood of poor sleep quality, including female gender, chronic hypnotics use, internet use close to bedtime, daily time spent on the internet >3 hours, smoking, university- level education, nocturnal work, severe depression, impaired well-being status, insomnia, and EDS. Conclusion: The high prevalence of sleep-wake disturbances among Tunisian adults emphasizes the need for an appropriate screening strategy for high-risk groups. Individuals with unhealthy habits and routines were significantly more likely to experience these kinds of disturbances. Consequently, there is a pressing need for educational programs on sleep to foster healthier sleep patterns.

Leser-Trélat syndrome secondary to non-small-cell lung carcinoma.

The syndrome of Leser-Trélat (LT) is a rare paraneoplastic syndrome. However, patients presenting with the sign of Leser-Trélat should be considered to harbor an occult malignancy or a progressive tumor disease until "proven" otherwise. Herein, we present two cases of non-small-cell lung carcinoma associated with LT syndrome.

Predominance of the Rare EGFR Mutation p.L861Q in Tunisian Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Carcinoma.

Objectives: Several new cancer therapies targeting signaling pathways involved in the growth and progression of cancer cells were developed as personalized medicine. Our study aimed to identify epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations for TKI treatment in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) Tunisian patients. Methods: Analysis of the TKI sensitivity mutations in exons 18 to 21 of the EGFR gene and exon 15 of the B-raf gene was performed in 79 formalin fixed-paraffin embedded (FFPE) NSCLC samples using pyrosequencing. Results: EGFR mutations were detected in 34 cases among 79 (43%), with the predominance of the L861Q in exon 21 found in 35.3% of the cases (12 out of 34). Deletions in exon 19 were found in 8 cases (23.5%), and only one young male patient had the T790M mutation. Three patients harbored composite EGFR mutations (p.E746_A750del/p.L861R, p.E746_S752>V/p.S768I, and p.G719A/p.L861Q). Furthermore, the EGFR mutated status was significantly more frequent in female patients (p = 0.019), in non-smoker patients (p = 0.008), and in patients with metastasis (p = 0.044). Moreover, the B-raf V600E was identified in 5 EGFR negative patients among 39 analyzed samples (13.15%). Conclusion: The p.L861Q localized in exon 21 of the EGFR gene was the most common mutation identified in our patients (35.3%), whereas the "classic" EGFR mutations such as Del19 and p.L858R were found in 23.5% and 11.7% of the cases, respectively. Interestingly, most of p.L861X mutation-carrying patients showed good response to TKI treatment. Altogether, our findings suggest a particular distribution of the EGFR-TKIs sensitivity mutations in Tunisian NSCLC patients.

Primary thoracic synovial sarcomas: A case report.

Primary pulmonary synovial sarcoma (SS) is a rare neoplasm. Its clinicoradiologic attributes are not yet well defined. We report the observation of a patient followed for primary pulmonary synovial sarcoma. We report the radio-clinical features of this rare tumor.

Accelerated silicosis and silico-tuberculosis: A difficult diagnosis.

It is well established that exposure to respirable crystalline silica is associated with higher mortality. Such exposures are associated with an increased risk of silico-tuberculosis, silicosis, and other respiratory morbidities. We report two cases of accelerated silicosis, complicated with pulmonary tuberculosis and pulmonary infection.

[Diffuse infiltrating lung disease secondary to antisynthetase syndrome: a case report]. / Pneumopathie infiltrante diffuse secondaire à un syndrome des antisynthétases: à propos d´un cas.

Diffuse infiltrate lung diseases (DILDs) are frequent in patients with connective tissue diseases. They can be suggestive of connective tissue diseases or occur during follow-up. Antisynthetase syndrome (ASS) is a complex and heterogeneous connective tissue disease. Antisynthetase antibodies, in particular the anti-Jo1 antibody, are found in patients with this syndrome. The prognosis of ASS is conditioned by the occurrence of DILD and its severity, thus guiding therapeutic management. We here report the case of a 57-year-old female patient presenting with acute febrile DILD revealing ASS. Outcome was favorable under bolus corticosteroids in combination with cyclophosphamide treatment.

Rare case of primary extranodal marginal zone lymphoma of the thorax.

Primary lymphoma presenting a solitary lesion of the chest wall is extremely rare, as the majority of chest-wall tumors arise from metastasis. We report a case of a 64-year-old man with no history of HIV infection or pyothorax who presented with dry cough, right pleuritic pain and dyspnea. A computed tomography scan revealed an irregular pleural mass invading his right chest wall with pleural effusion. CT-guided needle biopsy revealed extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma. The patient was treated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The patient has 9 years of follow up with 2 relapse's episodes.

[Study of the role of blood eosinophil count in patients with severe acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease hospitalized in a Tunisian Center]. / Etude de l'intérêt de l'éosinophilie sanguine au cours des exacerbations aiguës sévères de bronchopneumopathie chronique obstructive (BPCO) dans un centre tunisien.

INTRODUCTION: There is a controversy over the relationship between blood eosinophil count (BEC) and the severity of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations. The purpose of our study was to determine the relationship between blood eosinophil count and multiple parameters in assessing the severity of serious acute exacerbation (AE) of obstructive pulmonary disease. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective monocentric study of hospitalized patients with obstructive pulmonary disease treated between 2005 and 2015. We compared 2 groups of patients: G1(BEC+): BEC ≥ 200 cell/µl (103 cases, 20.4%), G2(BEC-): BEC < 200 cell/µl (403 patients: 79.6%). RESULTS: A total of 506 subjects with obstructive pulmonary disease were included in the study. No significant difference between the two groups in age, gender, forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), and the number of AE/year (BEC+: 2.6, BEC-:2.5 AE/year; p = 0.48) was found. The analysis of the parameters of severity of serious AE showed no difference between the two groups in partial pressure of oxygen PaO2 measured on admission (60.5, 59.2 mmHg; p = 0.26), capnia (p=0.57), pH (p=0.74), C-reactive protein rate (mg/L) (82.7, 81; p = 0.89), leukocytosis (p = 0.36), non-invasive mechanical ventilation (5.8%, 6.5%; p = 0.81), invasive mechanical ventilation (p = 0.5),length of stay in hospital (9.7, 9 days; p = 0.21), mean time to next AECOPD (p = 0.32). Survival at 1 year was comparable between the two groups (94% vs 96%; Log Rank: 0.708). CONCLUSION: Increased BEC in patients with COPD does not appear to have a negative effect on patients with severe AE. Despite the recent guidelines recommend to consider blood eosinophil count while making treatment decisions, the role and the prognostic interest of blood eosinophil count in patients with COPD could be population-dependent.