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Sabrine Louhaichi, 1–3 Mona Mlika, 2, 4 Besma Hamdi, 1–3 Kamel Hamzaoui, 1, 2 Agnès Hamzaoui 1–3 1Research Laboratory 19SP02 “Chronic Pulmonary Pathologies: From Genome to Management”, Abderrahman Mami Hospital, Ariana, Tunisia; 2Medicine Faculty of Tunis, Department of Basic Sciences, Tunis El Manar University, Tunis, Tunisia; 3Department of Paediatric and Respiratory Diseases, Abderrahman Mami Hospital, Pavillon B, Ariana, Tunisia; 4Pathology Department, Abderrahman Mami Hospital, Ariana, TunisiaCorrespondence: Agnès HamzaouiDepartment of Paediatric and Respiratory Diseases, A. Mami Hospital, Pavillon B, Ariana, TunisiaEmail agnes.hamzaoui@gmail.comObjective: Asthma inflammation is a complex pathway involving numerous mediators. Interleukin-26 (IL-26), a member of the IL-10 cytokine family, is abundant in human airways and induces the production of proinflammatory cytokines. Our aim was to investigate the possible role of IL-26 in severe asthma. We analysed the expression of IL-26 in severe asthma both in peripheral blood and induced sputum.Patients and Methods: A total of 50 adult women with severe asthma were recruited and compared to 30 healthy controls (HC). Serum and sputum fluid (SF) levels of IL-26 and IL-17 were defined by ELISA. IL-26 mRNA expression and IL-26 protein were analysed using RT-PCR and Western blot. In vitro, we studied the effect of recombinant IL-26 (rIL-26) and SF-IL-26 on cultured CD4+ T cells and monocytes, comparing patients and controls.Results: Concentrations of IL-26 are higher in serum and induced sputum of asthmatic patients than in HC. Moreover, IL-26 protein and mRNA expression were significantly elevated in asthma sputum cells compared to PBMCs. We observed a positive correlation between body mass index (BMI) and sputum fluid IL-26, while the correlation between IL-26 and lung function tests (FEV1% and FEV1/FVC ratio) was negative. IL-17A was highly expressed in SF and correlated positively with IL-26. In patients’ sputum IL-26 and IL-17A were significantly associated with neutrophils. Stimulation of cultured CD4+ T cells with monocytes by recombinant IL-26 promoted the generation of RORγt+ Th17+ cells inducing the production of IL-17A, IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α cytokines. IL-26 expressed in SF was biologically active and induced IL-17 secretion in the presence of IL-1β and IL-6 cytokines.Conclusion: These findings show that IL-26 is highly produced in asthmatic sputum, induces pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion by monocytes/macrophages, and favours Th17 cell generation. IL-26 thereby appears as a novel pro-inflammatory cytokine, produced locally in the airways that may constitute a promising target to treat asthma inflammatory process.Keywords: asthma, induced sputum, IL-26, IL-17A, IL-6, IL-1β

Mona Mlika,1,2 Walid Gattoufi,1,2 Hazem Zribi,2 Emna Braham,1,2 Adel Marghli,2 Faouzi El Mezni1,21Department of Pathology, Abderrahman Mami Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia; 2Research Unit UR12SP16, Université Tunis El Manar, Faculté de Médecine de Tunis, Tunis El Manar, TunisiaAbstract: We report a new case of a mediastinal mass in a 19-year-old patient corresponding microscopically to an association of unilocular thymic cyst and true thymic hyperplasia. Our aim is to highlight the absence of specificity of clinical and radiological findings and the necessity of a thorough sampling of the tumor in order to establish the diagnosis.Keywords: true thymic hyperplasia, thymic cyst, microscopy, surgery

Abstract Introduction Spindle cell oncocytoma of the adenohypophysis is a rare tumour recently reported by Roncaroli et al. in 2002. This tumour is considered a grade I tumour by the World Health Organization. Case presentation We describe what is, to the best of our knowledge, the 14th case of its kind in the literature. A 45-year-old African woman presented clinical and radiological findings related to a nonfunctioning pituitary adenoma. The diagnosis was made on the basis of histological and immunohistochemical findings. Conclusion The purpose of this work is to report a rare pituitary tumour and to describe its histological and immunohistochemical features, which were characterized by the expression of thyroid transcription factor 1 antigen by tumour cells. This fact could support the theory of a possible common origin of these tumours in pituicytomas. In fact, thyroid transcription factor 1 is considered to be a specific marker of pituicytes.

A novel Phosphonothioamidate derivative (EThmP) was designed, chemically synthesized, characterized and evaluated for its ability to inhibit oxidative stress and fibrotic process. In the present investigation, (EThmP) was used on an experimental murine model of pulmonary fibrosis induced by bleomycin (BLM). Wistar rats were given a single dose of BLM (4 mg/kg, intratracheal), while (EThmP) (10 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) was administered 3 days later and continued for 4 weeks. Our results indicate a significant decrease of superoxide dismutase activity and an increase in lipid peroxidation after BLM treatment compared to control group, while (EThmP) (10 mg/kg) was able to normalize the level of these oxidative markers, decreased collagen accumulation and lung damage compared to BLM group. Computational chemistry was carried out on the studied compound by using DFT and PM6 basis set. Calculations were employed to get more insights in the stability, the bioactivity prediction and the structure–activity relationship using energies and molecular orbitals (MO). Furthermore, the molecular docking approach was used to model the interaction between the (EThmP) and the selected collagen peptides (ID: 1CAG, 1QSU, 1Q7D, 3A1H, 1NQD and 1V4F) against anti-fibrotic disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Intestinal tuberculosis (ITB), a rare yet severe manifestation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, poses significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenges due to its nonspecific clinical presentation. Perforation, a life-threatening complication, necessitates prompt surgical intervention and effective antituberculous therapy. Case presentation: This case study highlights a 41-year-old immunocompetent male who presented with fever, abdominal pain, vomiting, and significant weight loss. A computed tomography scan revealed minimal pneumoperitoneum, intestinal wall thickening, mesenteric fat stranding, lymphadenopathy, and an intra-abdominal abscess. Exploratory laparotomy identified a perforation at the terminal ileum, leading to ileocaecal resection and stoma formation. Histopathological examination confirmed ITB, and a nine-month regimen of antituberculous medication was initiated. Discussion: ITB, more common in immunocompromised individuals, can also affect immunocompetent patients, often mimicking other gastrointestinal conditions and delaying diagnosis. This case underscores the importance of considering ITB in differential diagnoses for patients with vague gastrointestinal symptoms. Diagnostic confirmation typically requires a combination of clinical, radiological, and microbiological assessments, with histopathology playing a crucial role. Factors such as age and comorbidities can increase the risk of severe complications like perforation. Surgical resection with anastomosis tends to yield better outcomes than direct closure, and comprehensive antituberculous therapy is essential for successful treatment. Conclusion: The complexity of diagnosing and managing ITB, compounded by its severe complications, necessitates heightened awareness among healthcare providers. Accurate diagnosis, timely surgical intervention, and rigorous antituberculous therapy are vital for improving patient outcomes, especially in high-risk populations or regions with prevalent TB.

Introduction Thoracic solitary fibrous tumors (SFTs) are usually pleural-based lesions and diagnosed incidentally. The authors, hereby, report two cases of symptomatic SFT of the pleura with locally aggressive potential. Case 1 A 63-year-old male patient presented with chief complaints of dyspnea at rest and thoracic pain. Computed tomography scan revealed a mass of the right visceral pleura with multiloculated pleural effusion. Microscopic examination with immunostaining of the resected mass confirmed the diagnosis of malignant SFT. Local recurrence occurred after 5 months. Case 2 A 32-year-old patient had a massive tumor of the left hemithorax, invading the descending aorta and thoracic vertebrae, causing a shifting of the heart and mediastinum. A needle transcutaneous biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of SFT. Considering the respiratory failure, surgical treatment was preceded by a general preparation. The patient died few days before the operation owing to respiratory distress. Conclusion This paper sustains the heterogeneity of these tumors. SFT of the pleura could have malignant potential at first presentation or in a young patient.

Abstract Extramedullary hematopoiesis in the posterior mediastinum is rare. Our case interested a 28‐year‐old man with a history of eosinophilia with FIP1L1‐PDGFRA fusion gene who had a mediastinal mass surgically excised. Pathological examination concluded to an extramedullary erythropoiesis. This case is original by its location and the presence of only the erythroblastic line rearrangement.