Prevalence and Risk Factors of Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia Among Very Premature Infants in a Tunisian Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Introduction: Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) stands as the primary chronic respiratory complication in premature infants, posing a substantial public health concern due to its rising prevalence, potential mortality, and socioeconomic burden.

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of BPD in very preterm infants and identify its associated risk factors.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective, descriptive, and analytical study including all premature infants born between 26 and 31 weeks of gestation age (GA) who survived beyond the 28th day of life, over a five-year period (2017-2021).

Screening clusters of charged residues in plants' mitochondrial proteins and biological significance.

Protein function is dependent on charge interactions and charge biased regions, which are involved in a wide range of cellular and biochemical processes. We report the development of a new algorithm implemented in Python and its use to identify charge clusters CC (NegativeCC: NCC, PositiveCC: PCC and MixedCC: MCC) and compare their presence in mitochondrial proteins of plant groups. To characterize the resulting CC, statistical, structural and functional analyses were conducted.

Cross-reactivity of r48/45, a recombinant protein, with sera from endemic areas of Africa.

Background: 48/45, a gametocyte surface protein, is a promising candidate for malaria transmission-blocking (TB) vaccine. Due to its relevance for a multispecies vaccine, we explored the cross-reactivity and TB activity of a recombinant 48/45 protein (r48/45) with sera from -exposed African donors.

Methods: r48/45 was produced in Chinese hamster ovary cell lines and tested by ELISA for its cross-reactivity with sera from Burkina Faso, Tanzania, Mali, and Nigeria - In addition, BALB/c mice were immunized with the r48/45 protein formulated in Montanide ISA-51 and inoculated with a crude extract of NF-54 gametocytes to evaluate the parasite-boosting effect on r48/45 antibody titers.

Impact of toll-like receptor 4 variations on nasopharyngeal carcinoma risk and survival in tunisian population.

Introduction: The Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), an important member of the host's innate immune response, is coded by a polymorphic gene. This polymorphism could be a predisposing factor for NasoPharyngeal Carcinoma (NPC).

Aim: To determine the association between TLR4 gene polymorphisms and the susceptibility to NPC in a cohort of Tunisian affected patients.

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Introduction: Despite current recommendations, most asthmatics remain insufficiently controlled. This is largely due to non-adherence to medications. Looking for factors associated with lack of therapeutic adherence is mandatory in order to improve the management of these patients.

Charge cluster occurrence in land plants' mitochondrial proteomes with functional and structural insights.

The Charge Clusters (CCs) are involved in key functions and are distributed according to the organism, the protein's type, and the charge of amino acids. In the present study, we have explored the occurrence, position, and annotation as a first large-scale study of the CCs in land plants mitochondrial proteomes. A new python script was used for data curation.

Extracellular and intracellular destruction of Pseudomonas aeruginosa by Dictyostelium discoideum phagocytes mobilize different antibacterial mechanisms.

Ingestion and killing of bacteria by phagocytic cells are critical processes to protect the human body from bacterial infections. In addition, some immune cells (neutrophils, NK cells) can release microbicidal molecules in the extracellular medium to eliminate non-ingested microorganism. Molecular mechanisms involved in the resulting intracellular and extracellular killing are still poorly understood.

Prevalence of self-reported food allergy in Tunisia: General trends and probabilistic modeling.

Background: Food allergy (FA) has become a major public health concern affecting millions of children and adults worldwide. In Tunisia, published data on FA are scarce.

Methods: This study, was intended to fill the gap and estimate the frequency of allergy to different foods in the Sfax region, Tunisia, within self-reported FA.

Determinants of Workplace Productivity Decline in the Tunisian Onshore Oil and Gas Industry.

Background: This study explored the impact of occupational stress, personal factors, and physical conditions on work productivity decline (WPD) among workers in the Tunisian onshore oil and gas industry.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey among 246 onshore oil installation workers of a Tunisian private oil company. 94 employees (48%) participated in this study.

COVID-19 impact on digital companies' stock return: A dynamic data analysis.

The coronavirus crisis impact on the digital sector is undoubtedly an important issue that deserves to be studied. Researchers mostly focused on specific sectors such as tourism, healthcare sector, or the economy. This paper used a dynamic panel model to examine the COVID-19 crisis impact on the digital companiesfl stock return.

Role of LrrkA in the Control of Phagocytosis and Cell Motility in .

LrrkA is a kinase with leucine-rich repeats. LrrkA stimulates Kil2 and intra-phagosomal killing of ingested bacteria in response to folate. In this study, we show that genetic inactivation of also causes a previously unnoticed phenotype: KO cells exhibit enhanced phagocytosis and cell motility compared to parental cells.

How Phagocytic Cells Kill Different Bacteria: a Quantitative Analysis Using Dictyostelium discoideum.

Ingestion and killing of bacteria by phagocytic cells protect the human body against infections. While many mechanisms have been proposed to account for bacterial killing in phagosomes, their relative importance, redundancy, and specificity remain unclear. In this study, we used the amoeba as a model phagocyte and quantified the requirement of 11 individual gene products, including nine putative effectors, for the killing of bacteria.

Non-classical human leukocyte antigen class I in Tunisian children with autism.

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are one of the most common childhood morbidities characterized by deficits in communication and social skills. Increasing evidence has suggested associations between immune genes located in the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) complex and etiology of autism. In this study, we investigated whether the non-classical class I HLA-G, -E, and -F polymorphisms are associated with genetic predisposition to autism in Tunisia.

and Orthologous Coiled-Coil Candidates for a Potential Cross-Protective Vaccine.

Over the last four decades, significant efforts have been invested to develop vaccines against malaria. Although most efforts are focused on the development of vaccines, the current availability of the parasite genomes, bioinformatics tools, and high throughput systems for both recombinant and synthetic antigen production have helped to accelerate vaccine development against the parasite. We have previously identified several and proteins containing α-helical coiled-coil motifs that represent novel putative antigens for vaccine development since they are highly immunogenic and have been associated with protection in many functional assays.

Extremely preterm infants in Tunisia: Where are we now?

Background: Extremely preterm infants are newborns born before 28 weeks of gestation. Survival of these immature newborns depends on resuscitation and the quality of care during hospitalization.

Objective: To determine survival and neurologic outcomes at2 years after extremely preterm birth.

The practice of the mental image tool for the training of hand hygiene with Hydro-alcoholics solutions: randomized trial.

Introduction: Mental image (or mental practice), a psychological representation of a task to be carried out, is a technique that could enhance skills in several areas areas including medicine.

Objective: To evaluate the practice of the mental image tool for the training of hand hygiene with Hydro-alcoholics solutions among students of DCEM2.

Methods: Randomized trial including DCEM2 students in Neonatology and Pediatrics at Charles Nicolle Hospital during the same period.

The script concordance test as a tool to evaluate clinical reasoning in neonatology.

Background: Script concordance test aims to evaluate knowledge organization, which represents an essential component of the clinical competence.

Objective: To build a script concordance test and demonstrate its relevance in the evaluation of Neonatology skills.

Methods: A script concordance test including 20 vignettes and 20 items, was provided to 52 fourth year medical students and 11 family medicine interns.

Molecular basis of complement factor I deficiency in Tunisian atypical haemolytic and uraemic syndrome patients.

Aim: The aim of the present study was to characterize the molecular basis of complement factor I deficiency in Tunisian atypical haemolytic and uremic syndrome patients with low factor I levels.

Methods: Six adults and seven children were enrolled in this study. Complement factor I levels were assessed by a homemade sandwich ELISA and ranged between 12.

Inflammations mediators and circulating levels of matrix metalloproteinases: Biomarkers of diabetes in Tunisians metabolic syndrome patients.

Aims: This study investigates the relationships between matrix metalloproteinases, inflammations mediators and type 2 diabetes mellitus in Tunisians metabolic syndrome (Mets) patients.

Methods: The study has included 239 MetS patients and 247 controls. Mets was defined according to the NCEP-ATPIII report.

Acute neonatal appendicitis in a preterm.

Acute neonatal appendicitis is very rare in the neonatal period. It is usually associated with comorbidity including prematurity. Symptoms are non-specific.

Genetic structure of the Kuwaiti population revealed by paternal lineages.

Objective: We analyzed the Y-chromosome haplogroup diversity in the Kuwaiti population to gain a more complete overview of its genetic landscape.

Method: A sample of 117 males from the Kuwaiti population was studied through the analysis of 22 Y-SNPs. The results were then interpreted in conjunction with those of other populations from the Middle East, South Asia, North and East Africa, and East Europe.

Paternal lineages in Libya inferred from Y-chromosome haplogroups.

Many studies based on genetic diversity of North African populations have contributed to elucidate the modelling of the genetic landscape in this region. North Africa is considered as a distinct spatial-temporal entity on geographic, archaeological, and historical grounds, which has undergone the influence of different human migrations along its shaping. For instance, Libya, a North African country, was first inhabited by Berbers and then colonized by a variety of ethnic groups like Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Arabs and, in recent times, Italians.

Essential oil variation in wild populations of Artemisia saharae (Asteraceae) from Tunisia: chemical composition, antibacterial and antioxidant properties.

Background: Artemisia saharae Pomel is a new taxon of Artemisia herba-alba Asso (Asteraceae) which is endemic to Tunisia and Algeria. This shrub, commonly known as white wormwood or desert wormwood, is largely used in folk medicine and as a culinary herb. The bulks aromatic plants come from wild populations whose essential oils compositions as well as their biological properties are severely affected by several factors such as geographic conditions.

Serum lipid level in Tunisian patients with psoriasis.

Background: Psoriasis is a common chronic inflammatory skin disorder that has been associated with oxidative stress, abnormal plasma lipid metabolism, and high frequency of cardiovascular events. The aim of this study was to determine lipid profile variations in Tunisian psoriatic patients.

Methods: This study was designed and conducted as a case-control assay with 91 psoriatic patients and 91 controls.