Methylglyoxal: A Relevant Marker of Disease Activity in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Background: The contribution of methylglyoxal (MGO) and soluble receptor for advanced glycation end products (sRAGE) in the presence of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is still unknown. We investigated whether serum MGO and sRAGE were related to the presence of disease activity in RA.

Methods: 80 patients with RA and 30 control subjects were included in a cross-sectional study.

Increased serum concentrations of N-carboxymethyllysine are related to the presence and the severity of rheumatoid arthritis.

Background There are limited data regarding the contribution of advanced glycation end products in the presence of rheumatoid arthritis. We investigated whether serum N-carboxymethyllysine and pentosidine were related to the presence and the severity of rheumatoid arthritis. Methods Eighty patients with rheumatoid arthritis and 30 control subjects were included in a cross-sectional study.

Effect of White Kidney Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L. var. Beldia) on Small Intestine Morphology and Function in Wistar Rats.

The chronic ingestion of raw or undercooked kidney beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) causes functional and morphological derangement in various tissues. The major objectives of this study were to investigate the gavage effects of a raw Beldia bean variety that is widely consumed in Tunisia, on the small intestine morphology and jejunal absorption of water, electrolytes, and glucose in Wistar rats.

[Contribution of dynamic radiographs in atlantoaxial subluxation in rheumatoid arthritis].

Background: Cervical spine (CS) involvement is common during rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and it is distinguished by its potential gravity.

Aim: To determinate the occurrence of atlantoaxial subluxation (AAS) by dynamic incidences X-Ray and to assess its predictive factors.

Methods: Our study included a cohort of 40 patients carrying RA, who fulfilled the American College of Rheumatology criteria, for more than 2 years.

[Survival prognosis factors in multiple myeloma].

Background: Outcome in multiple myeloma (MM) is very heterogeneous in survival and therapeutic response, constantly fatale despite her therapy progress.

Aim: To determine the prognostic factors and survival in MM.

Methods: We carried out a transversal study of 100 patients in the rheumatology department of hospital Monastir between 1991 and 2010.

Osteoid osteoma of the phalanx and metacarpal bone: report of 17 cases.

Background: Osteoid osteoma (OO) is a slowly progressing benign osteoblastic tumour. In the hand, this tumour is rare. We propose a review of seventeen cases of OO of the phalanx and metacarpal bone.

Combat sports practice favors bone mineral density among adolescent male athletes.

The aim of this study was to determine the impact of combat sports practice on bone mineral density (BMD) and to analyze the relationship between bone parameters and anthropometric measurements, bone markers, and activity index (AI). In other words, to detect the most important determinant of BMD in the adolescent period among combat sports athletes. Fifty athletes engaged in combat sports, mean age 17.

Grip strength is a predictor of bone mineral density among adolescent combat sport athletes.

The aim of this study was firstly to investigate the correlation between bone parameters and grip strength (GS) in hands, explosive legs power (ELP), and hormonal parameters; second, to identify the most determinant variables of bone mineral density (BMD) among adolescent combat sport athletes. Fifty combat sport athletes aged 17.1 ± 0.

[Prevalence of bone loss in adult celiac disease and associated factors: a control case study].

Background: Bone loss in celiac disease (CD) is important and is associated to increased risk of fractures. The determining factors of this Bone loss and the osteoporosis fracture during this disease remain still unknown. The bone remodeling parameters seem to play it an important role.

Lipid profile in Tunisian patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

This study aims to assess the prevalence of dyslipidaemia in Tunisian patients with active RA and to investigate the clinical and biological associated factors. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 92 unselected patients with active RA (77 females and 15 males, aged 49.1 ± 12.

[Ochronosis: report of two familial cases].

Background: Ochronosis of alkaptonuria is a rare hereditary autosomal recessive disease in which there is an absence of homogentisic acid oxidase resulting in accumulation of homogentisic acid in tissues.

Aim: To report a new case of alkaptonuria

Case Report: A 49-year-old man had been followed for 4 years for chronic lombalgia and arthropaty of two knees. He is married to his cousin and father of 4 girls.

[The fracture risk assessment tool (FRAXTM), where are we in Tunisia?].

Background: The fracture risk assessment tool (FRAXTM), published in February 2008, is developed based on the use of clinical risk factors with or without bone mineral density tests.

Aim: To calculate the FRAX tool in a cohort of Tunisian patients in whom bone mineral density (BMD) was assessed by dual X ray absorptiometry (DXA); to correlate this score to osteoporotic fracture and to BMD assessment and to propose a threshold for therapeutic intervention.

Methods: In a cross sectional study of 582 patients older than 40 years, in whom a BMD measurement by DXA has been performed between January 2006 and December 2009, clinical risk factor for osteoporotic fracture and the occurrence of a prior fragility fracture were assessed.

[Adult-onset of Still's disease with atypical articular and skin manifestations].

Background: Adult-onset Still's disease (ASD) is an uncommon clinical entity. It is a diagnosis of exclusion, characterized by a clinical triad of intermittent fever spikes, evanescent rash, and either arthralgia or arthritis. Destructive arthritis more commonly affects the hips, wrists, tarsal joints and cervical spine.

Bilateral posterior fracture dislocation of the shoulder.

The authors report a case of shoulder bilateral posterior fracture dislocation in a 42-year-old man with osteogenesis imperfecta history. The importance of the communition, the large size of articular surface involved and the poor quality of the bone indicate a bilateral total shoulder arthroplasty. At midterm outcome, a good range of motion of both shoulders was registered.

Socioeconomic impact of ankylosing spondylitis in Tunisia.

Objective: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is the second most common chronic inflammatory joint disease after rheumatoid arthritis and causes substantial functional impairment, two features that generate a heavy socioeconomic burden. Here, our objective was to assess the socioeconomic impact of AS and to identify factors associated with higher costs.

Patients And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical charts of 50 patients with AS seen at the Monastir Public Health Service Hospital over the 6-month period from March to September 2006.

HLA-B27 and HLA-B51 determination in Tunisian healthy subjects and patients with suspected ankylosing spondylitis and Behçet's disease.

The aim of this retrospective study is to assess the frequency of HLA-B27 and HLA-B51 in healthy subjects from the center of Tunisia and to investigate their usefulness in the diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and Behçet's disease (BD), respectively. Microlymphocytotoxicity test was used to perform serologic HLA typing in a group of 124 healthy volunteers and a group of 365 patients suffering from clinical manifestations of AS and/or BD. HLA-B27 was found in 3.

An autosomal dominant hypophosphatemic rickets phenotype in a Tunisian family caused by a new FGF23 missense mutation.

Autosomal dominant hypophosphatemic rickets (ADHR) is a rare disease, characterized by isolated renal phosphate wasting, hypophosphatemia, and inappropriately normal 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) (calcitriol) levels. This syndrome involves rickets with bone deformities in childhood and osteomalacia, osteoporosis, articular and para-articular pain, and fatigue in adulthood. It is caused by mutations in a consensus sequence for proteolytic cleavage of the FGF23 protein.