Vitamin D deficiency is associated with metabolic syndrome in Tunisian children with obesity.

Background: A negative association between serum vitamin D levels and obesity has been reported by several studies. Data on vitamin D status in Tunisian obese children and its relationship with metabolic syndrome remain rare.

Aim: We aimed to study the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in Tunisian obese children and to examine the correlation between vitamin D levels and metabolic syndrome.

A new case of congenital atransferrinemia with a novel splice site mutation: c.293-63del.

Congenital atransferrinemia is an extremely rare autosomal recessive disorder resulting in the complete absence or extremely reduced amount of transferrin. In this study, we describe the first case of congenital atransferrinemia in Tunisia and the 18th patient in the reported data. The patient was referred to our hospital to explore a severe hypochromic and microcytic anemia.

Correction to: Full title: peripheral venous catheter complications in children: predisposing factors in a multicenter prospective cohort study.

Following publication of the original article [1], one of the authors flagged that the title of the article was submitted (incorrectly) with "Full title:" at the beginning.

Peripheral venous catheter complications in children: predisposing factors in a multicenter prospective cohort study.

Background: Peripheral venous catheterization (PVC) is frequently used in children. This procedure is not free from potential complications. Our purpose was to identify the types and incidences of PVC complications in children and their predisposing factors in a developing country.

Delayed diagnosis of esophageal foreign body: A case report.

Introduction: Foreign body (FB) ingestion, a common and serious problem in children, can present with a wide variety of symptoms. This paper describes and discusses the case of an esophageal foreign body (EFB), in which the patient presented with primarily respiratory clinical signs causing delayed diagnosis.

Presentation Of Case: A six month old boy presented with three months history of harsh cough, stridor and pulmonary congestion.

Predictive score for positive upper endoscopies outcomes in children with upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

Background: Upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) is a common pediatric emergency. Esophago-gastro-duodenoscopy (EGD) is the first line diagnostic procedure to identify the source of bleeding. However etiology of UGIB remains unknown in 20% of cases.

[Clinical predictors of high risk bleeding endoscopic lesions in children with hematemesis].

Background: Haematemesis is an alarming symptom in children, even if the proportion of normal endoscopies ranges from 10 to 21% and the causes are often benign. The purpose of the study was to identify clinical predictors of endoscopic lesions with high risk of bleeding and to establish a score that predict the presence of these lesions.

Methods: Retrospective study carried in Children's Hospital of Tunis between 1997 and 2006 involved children with haematemesis who underwent Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy.

Report of the Tunisian Registry of Primary Immunodeficiencies: 25-Years of Experience (1988-2012).

Purpose: Primary immunodeficiencies (PIDs) are a large group of diseases characterized by susceptibility to not only recurrent infections but also autoimmune diseases and malignancies. The aim of this study was to describe and analyze the distribution, clinical features and eventual outcome of PID among Tunisian patients.

Methods: We reviewed the record of 710 patients diagnosed with Primary Immunodeficiency Diseases (PIDs) from the registry of the Tunisian Referral Centre for PIDs over a 25-year period.

[Diagnosis and management of cow's protein milk allergy in infant].

Background: Cow's milk protein allergy (CMPA) can be responsible of a variety of symptoms and can be caused by IgE or non-IgEmediated reactions. The remaining questions concern the diagnosis (what are the most suggestive clinical manifestations, the laboratory evaluations which play a supporting role, and the management of CMPA in breast fed infants and formula-fed infants.

Methods: Review of the pub med, science direct, Cochrane library, using the key words cow's milk protein allergy, guideline, and child.

Nodular gastritis: an endoscopic indicator of Helicobacter pylori infection in children.

Background: Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection is a common and universally distributed bacterial infection. It is predominantly acquired in childhood.

Aim: To assess the relationship between endoscopic nodular gastritis and Hp infection.

Detection of a novel splicing mutation causing analbuminemia in a Libyan family.

Background And Objectives: Analbuminemia is a very rare autosomal recessive disorder. It is an allelic heterogeneous defect caused by a variety of mutations within the albumin gene. We describe in this report two new cases of analbuminemia in Libyans.

Neurological variant of Lemierre's Syndrome with purulent meningitis: a case report and literature review.

We report an unusual variant of Lemierre's Syndrome (LS) in a 10-year-old-girl admitted to the intensive care unit for septic shock with meningitis. The primary infection was otitis media. A gram negative bacillus was identified in the direct exam of the purulent ear discharge and the cerebrospinal fluid but cultures were negative.

Prevalence and risk factors of overweight and obesity in elementary schoolchildren in the metropolitan region of Tunis, Tunisia.

Background: Local data about prevalence of obesity in emerging countries are rather scarce. Risk factors for obesity, well known in most industrialized countries, are poorly understood in Tunisia.

Aims: To assess prevalence of overweight and obesity and to investigate associations with possible risk factors in a group of 6-12 year- old schoolchildren in Tunis, Tunisia.

Serum leptin concentration in Tunisian non obese children.

Leptin, an adipocyte-derived peptide hormone, is thought to play a key role in the regulation of body fat mass. Beyond this function, it appears to be an integral component of various hypothalamo-pituitary-endocrine feedback loops. Because childhood and puberty are periods of major metabolic and endocrine changes, we investigated leptin levels in 348 non overweight, non obese children (147 boys, 201 girls, age: 6-12 years) and then correlated these levels with age, anthropometric data, pubertal stage and insulin.

Nephrotic syndrome and Guillan-Barré Syndrome: a rare association in child.

Only few cases of nephrotic syndrome associated with Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) have been reported in the adult and pediatric literature. A 3-year-old boy was initially admitted to our hospital following five days of progressive weakness of his extremities, fatigue, right leg pain and numbness. There was no past history of renal or neurological disease.

[Study of 116 mothers of the knowledge, behavior, and practices of vitamin D supplementation].

Background: In our country, the prevention of rickets is based on daily vitamin D intake from birth to eighteen months. This vitamin D intake has decreased according to our hospital practice.

Aim: To assess vitamin D supplementation prevalence and to study mother knowledge, attitude and practices about vitamin D and factors that influenced them and to define target population who needs further education.

The effect of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and Helicobacter pylori infection on the gastric mucosa in children with upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

Objective: To study the effect of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) and of Helicobacter pylori infection on the gastric mucosa in children with upper GI bleeding (UGIB).

Methods: Eighty-four children, 41 males (mean age 92.6 months, 4-168 months) underwent an upper GI endoscopy with gastric biopsies for UGIB.

[Chronic gastritis in children].

Background: Active gastritis, atrophic gastritis (AG) and intestinal metaplasia are lesions associated with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection in adults.

Aim: To assess the prevalence of chronic gastritis, its histological characteristics and clinical features in children.

[The hydatid cyst of the lung in children: 54 cases].

The purpose of this retrospective study is to clarify the clinical, radiological and evolutionary aspects of the hydatid cyst of the lung. Over a period of 9 years (January, 1983 - December, 2001), we brought together in the pediatric service B of Children's hospital of Tunis, 54 cases of hydatid cyst of the lung. The average age is of 7 years 3 months (extremes 2 and 14 years), and the sex- ratio of 1,16.

[First seizure in children. Exploration strategy].

We have carried out a retrospective study on 51 children aged between 2 years 3 months and 13 years in order to determine the findings and to define the indications of neuroimaging modalities in children with a first unprovoked seizure. Children who had neuroimaging studies were divided into two groups based on the results of neuroimaging normal or abnormal. We have compared the two groups according to each clinical and electroencephalographic parameters studied.