Humoral and cellular response of two different vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 in a group of healthcare workers: An observational study.

On March 13, 2021, Tunisia started a widespread immunization program against SARS-CoV-2 utilizing different vaccinations that had been given emergency approval. Herein, we followed prospectively a cohort of participant who received COVID-19 vaccine (Pfizer BioNTech and Sputnik-Gameleya V). The goal of this follow-up was to define the humoral and cellular immunological profile after immunization by assessing neutralizing antibodies and IFN- γ release.

sCXCL16 as a prognostic biomarker for COVID-19 outcome.

As elevated levels of the soluble CXCL16 (sCXCL16) chemokine have been reported in severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients, this study examined whether sCXCL16 concentration on the first day of hospitalization predicted death in COVID-19 patients. A total of 76 patients with COVID-19 were admitted to the Military Hospital of Tunis, Tunisia, between October 2020 and April 2021, and later classified as survivors or nonsurvivors based on their outcomes. At admission, the groups were matched by age, gender, comorbidities, and the percentage of patients with moderate conditions.

COVID-19 prophylaxis with doxycycline and zinc in health care workers: a prospective, randomized, double-blind clinical trial.

Objectives: This study aims to assess the efficacy of a combination treatment of doxycycline and zinc in the primary prevention of COVID-19 infection in Tunisian health care workers compared with two control groups.

Methods: We conducted a prospective, randomized, double-blind clinical trial over 5 months to determine the efficacy of a preventive combination treatment dose of doxycycline (100 mg/day) and zinc (15 mg/day), compared with a single-dose treatment with doxycycline versus placebo. The effectiveness of preventive treatment was measured by the significant decline in the number of cases of COVID-19 infection and/or a decrease in the viral load as determined by SARS-CoV-2 cycle threshold value using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction tests.

Atlanto-odontoid pyogenic arthritis revealing a Jugular Vein Thrombosis.

Pyogenic arthritis of the atlantoaxial joint is scarce. It can lead to several complications, such as spinal cord compression and cerebral vein thrombosis. A 51-year-old man presented with a twenty-day history of inflammatory neck pain.

Neuromeningeal cryptoccocosis revealing IgA-λ multiple myeloma.

Cryptococcosis is an opportunistic fungal infection that is commonly associated with an immune-compromised state. Cases of cryptococcosis have rarely been reported in patients with multiple myeloma (MM). However, cryptococcosis as a presenting symptom of MM has never been reported.

Neuro-meningeal cryptococcal infection revealing a multiple myeloma.

Rare cases of Cryptococcus have been documented in patients living with multiple myeloma. To date there has been no documented evidence of cryptococcosis revealing multiple myeloma. We reported a 63-year-old man who had a 2-months history continuous holocranial headaches, morning vomiting, complaining of blurred vision and fever.

Toxocariasis and nephrotic syndrome.

We describe a case of toxocariasis as a rare cause of nephrotic syndrome in an adult woman. This rare association was confirmed by elevated Toxocara-specific immunoglobulin M titers. Renal biopsy was not done because of prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time.

Severe metastatic calcifications in a hemodialysis patient.

Tissue calcification is a common complication in patients on continuous hemodialysis (HD) for chronic renal failure; however, severe calcification is unusual. Three distinct clinical types of extraosseous calcifications are found in uremic patients: vascular calcification, periarticular (tumoral) calcification, and visceral calcification (heart, lung, and kidney). We report a case of a young chronic HD patient who presented with extensive metastatic calcifi cations both vascular, visceral specially localized in the lungs, and periarticular with progressively increasing multiple subcutaneous swellings.

Malaria in tunisian military personnel after returning from external operation.

Introduction. Malaria had been eliminated in Tunisia since 1979, but there are currently 40 to 50 imported cases annually. Soldiers are no exception as the incidence of imported malaria is increasing in Tunisian military personnel after returning from malaria-endemic area, often in Sub-Saharan Africa.

[Central nervous system involvement in systemic sclerosis].

Systemic sclerosis is a connective disease usually known to spare the central nervous system. This has been much debated by recent imaging studies. We report a 56-year-old woman followed-up for systemic sclerosis since 2005.

[Cerebral actinomycosis pseudotumor: a case report].

Introduction: Cerebral actinomycosis is rare and difficult to diagnose.

Case Report: We report a case of a 45-year-old man hospitalized for seizures associated with fever and left hemiparesis. The white cell count and C-reactive protein were elevated.

Visceral leishmaniasis in a renal transplant recipient treated with allopurinol.

Leishmaniasis is an infection caused by a protozoan parasite belonging to the genus Leishmania and transmitted by the Phlebotomus sandfly. We report a case of visceral leishmaniasis in a 49-year-old male renal transplant recipient, a resident of the western part of Tunisia, which is an endemic zone for the disease. Just before and after the transplantation, the patient resided in Tunis, which is non-endemic for leishmaniasis.

[Cerebral aspergillosis in immunocompetent patients: three case reports].

Introduction: Cerebral aspergillosis is a severe disease most commonly suspected in immunocompromised patients.

Case Report: We report herein three cases of cerebral aspergillosis in immunocompetent adults. Sinus involvement was noted in two cases, but there was no extracerebral involvement in the third case.

[Brain tuberculomas: six cases].

Introduction: Despite the resurgence of tuberculosis, partly due to HIV infection, central nervous system involvement remains rare, accounting for only 2 to 5% of all tuberculosis forms. PATIENTS ET METHOD: We report six cases of brain tuberculomas occurring in patients free of HIV infection and hospitalized between 2001 and 2006 in the internal medicine department of a Tunisian military hospital (Tunis).

Results: Four patients had an underlying defect.