Cardiac involvement in systemic lupus erythematosus: Interest of 2D global longitudinal strain.

Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic multisystem autoimmune disease of undetermined etiology. Cardiac involvement is common in SLE and constitutes one of the main causes of mortality. More recently, new ultrasound imaging techniques, such as transthoracic ultrasound (TTE) with strain evaluation, have appeared and seem promising for the detection of cardiac involvement.

[Rheumatic cardiopathies and its risk factors: about 50 cases].

Introduction: Acute rheumatic fever (ARF) is a multi-systemic disease, in which cardiac involvement is the most serious major manifestation of disease. The aim of this study was to analyse cardiac involvement in children with ARF and his risk factors.

Materials And Methods: It were a retrospective study including all children under the age of 14 years who were hospitalized for ARF in the pediatric department of the CHU Hédi Chaker of Sfax, during a period of twelve years (2010-2022).

Recent advances in selective allergies to mammalian milk proteins not associated with Cow's Milk Proteins Allergy.

Cow's milk proteins allergy (CMA) is an atypical immune system response to cow's milk and dairy products. It's one of the most common food allergies in children affecting 8% of the total pediatric population pediatric population. This comprehensive review examines recent studies in CMA, especially regarding mammalian milk allergies such as goat's, sheep's, buffalo's, camel's, mare's and donkey's milk allergies in order to increase awareness of these selective allergies and to reduce allergy risks for those who have them.

Synthesis and comparative study of the structural and optical properties of binary ZnO-based composites for environmental applications.

The development of photoactive systems to solve serious environmental problems is a key objective of researchers and remains a real challenge. Herein, n-p heterojunction ZnO-based composites were developed to achieve better photocatalytic performance in methylene blue (MB) degradation under natural solar irradiation. The hydrothermal technique was used to synthesize zinc oxide (ZnO)/metal oxide (MO) composites, with a molar ratio of 1 : 1 (MO = MnO; FeO; CuO; NiO).

[General practitioners' management of childhood asthma in Sfax, Tunisia].

Aims: To study primary care physicians' attitudes toward childhood asthma management and their adherence to international guidelines.

Methods: Cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical survey conducted among 400 primary care physicians practicing in the governorate of Sfax. Data collection was done through a self-administered questionnaire with 36 questions.

Variable Expression of Lung Disease Due to a Novel Homozygous Variant.

Mutations in the ATP-binding cassette transporter A3 () gene are one of the most common surfactant disorders leading to interstitial lung diseases (ILD). The clinical spectrum and severity of lung disease caused by ABCA3 deficiency due to missense variants is variable. A novel c.

Bioadhesive Hyaluronic Acid/Dopamine Hydrogels for Vascular Applications Prepared by Initiator-Free Crosslinking.

Intimal hyperplasia, a vascular pathology characterized by vessel wall thickening, is implicated in vein graft failures. For efficient prevention, a biodegradable drug delivery system should be applied externally to the graft for an extended time. Finding a gel suitable for such a system is challenging.

Development of an Efficient Voltammetric Sensor for the Monitoring of 4-Aminophenol Based on Flexible Laser Induced Graphene Electrodes Modified with MWCNT-PANI.

Sensitive electrodes are of a great importance for the realization of highly performant electrochemical sensors for field application. In the present work, a laser-induced carbon (LIC) electrode is proposed for 4-Aminophenol (4-AP) electrochemical sensors. The electrode is patterned on a commercial low-cost polyimide (Kapton) sheet and functionalized with a multi-walled carbon nanotubes polyaniline (MWCNT-PANI) composite, realized by an in-situ-polymerization in an acidic medium.

Congenital lung malformations : analysis of 27 cases.

Introduction: Congenital lung malformations (CLM) include a complex range of developmental abnormalities. Currently, most are diagnosed prenatally or during early childhood.

Objective: to investigate clinical and imaging findings of congenital lung malformations in children.

Preliminary national report on cystic fibrosis epidemiology in Tunisia: the actual state of affairs.

Aim: To establish a preliminary national report on clinical and genetic features of cystic fibrosis (CF) in Tunisian children as a first measure for a better health care organization.

Methods: All children with CF diagnosed by positive sweat tests between 1996 and 2015 in children's departments of Tunisian university hospitals were included. Data was recorded at diagnosis and during the follow-up from patients' medical records.

Childhood asthma : factors predicting severity and persistence of symptoms.

Background: Asthma is the most common chronic disease in infants. In young children, asthma still raises many questions and many points are still being debated.

Aim: The aim of this study is to identifies, in asthmatic children, factors predictors of severity and persistence of symptoms.

Perception of pain in Class II malocclusion children treated with cervical headgear: a randomized controlled trial.

Objectives: The aims of this study were: 1. to evaluate the experience of pain perceived by children during separator placement and headgear wear; 2. to find possible associations between the perceived intensity of pain and the levels of Substance P (SP) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) in the gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) during these procedures; 3.

A novel variant in a Tunisian patient with primary ciliary dyskinesia.

Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a genetically heterogeneous hereditary disease caused by the structural abnormalities and dysfunction of motile cilia. The is the most frequently mutated gene in PCD patients and hot spot exons were reported in this gene. Here, we aim to screen mutations in a set of five hot spot exons of gene in a cohort of 10 clinically diagnosed Tunisian PCD patients using an optimized polymerase chain reaction-single-strand conformational polymorphism screening technique.

Primary ciliary dyskinesia gene contribution in Tunisia: Identification of a major Mediterranean allele.

Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a genetically heterogeneous disease of motile cilia. Even though PCD is widely studied, North-African patients have been rarely explored. In this study, we aim at confirming the clinical diagnosis and explore the genetic spectrum of PCD in a cohort of Tunisian patients.

Enhanced photocatalytic activity against crystal violet dye of Co and In doped ZnO thin films grown on PEI flexible substrate under UV and sunlight irradiations.

This work is focused on the photocatalytic activities of undoped ZnO, Co (1%) doped ZnO (CZO) and In (1%) doped ZnO (IZO) thin films grown on flexible PEI (Polyetherimide) substrate by spray pyrolysis. The photodegradation of crystal violet dye was investigated under UV and sunlight irradiations. Doping and excitation energy effects on photocatalytic efficiencies are discussed.

Headgear compliance as assessed by a temperature-sensitive recording device: a prospective clinical study.

Objective: To accurately describe compliance in headgear wearing time by using a temperature- and force-sensitive device over an 8 month period of use in a prospective clinical manner.

Materials And Methods: Twenty children with Class II malocclusion aged 8-12 years were randomly selected for treatment with cervical headgear. The headgears were equipped with an electronic module, which measured temperature and force, and patients were instructed to wear the headgear 12 hours daily.

Fulminant mulch pneumonitis in a previously healthy child.

Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is associated with multiple and recurrent infections. In patients with CGD, invasive pulmonary infection with aspergillus species remains the greatest cause of mortality. Acute fulminant presentations of fungal pneumonia are catastrophic.

[Positivity of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies in children: prevalence and etiologies].

In adults, anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) are considered as serological markers of several diseases, especially vasculitis and glomerulonephritis. Since ANCA are rarely positive in children, few data about the clinical relevance of these auto-antibodies in pediatric population have been reported. Therefore, our study aims to describe the spectrum of disorders associated with positive ANCA in Tunisian children.

Management of cholestatic pruritus in children with Alagille syndrome: Case report and literature review.

Alagille syndrome causes intractable pruritus and disfiguring xanthomas because of retained bile acids and cholesterol. Drug therapy in addition to surgical intervention may be effective in many patients in reducing serum bile acids, cholesterol levels, pruritus, and skin xanthomas. In this report, we describe a child with Alagille syndrome who presented with severe pruritus and xanthomas as a consequence of severe hypercholesterolemia and discuss the treatment modalities.

Transient neonatal diabetes mellitus and activating mutation in the KCNJ11 gene in two siblings.

Transient neonatal diabetes mellitus is a rare disease usually associated with chromosome 6 abnormalities. Mutations of the genes encoding the potassium channel are rarely associated with these transitional forms. Herein, we report the clinical features of two siblings with a heterozygous mutation C679 G>A in the KCNJ11 gene.

Frequent Infections, Hypotonia, and Anemia in a Breastfed Infant.

Vitamin B12 deficiency may be responsible of serious hematologic and neurodevelopmental abnormalities. We report the case of an infant who was hospitalized because of recurrent infections, failure to thrive, hypotonia, and weakness. He was 8 months old and had been exclusively breastfed.

Clinical and Genetic Characterization of Tunisian Children with Hereditary 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D-Resistant Rickets.

Background: Hereditary vitamin D-resistant rickets (HVDRR) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by the early onset of rickets and is caused by mutations in the vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene. Some HVDRR patients also have alopecia.

Patients And Methods: We retrospectively studied the clinical features, laboratory findings, genetic defects, as well as responses to treatment in a series of children with HVDRR.