Prevalence of spine pain among Tunisian children and adolescents and related factors.

Background: The prevalence of back and neck pain is common in children and adolescents, and in some series the numbers are alarming. Various risk factors have been identified, although some are controversial.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of neck and back pain in children and adolescents and to investigate the potential association with various risk factors identified in the literature.

Navigating the Factors Affecting Functional Impairment in Spondyloarthritis.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the predictive factors of functional impairment in spondyloarthritis (SpA) patients assessed with bath ankylosing spondylitis functional index (BASFI) and Lequesne Index (LI).

Methods: This retrospective study was conducted at the Rheumatology Department of Mohamed Kassab Institute of Orthopedics, Manubah, Tunisia, and collected data from 2008 to 2019 over a period of 4 months (August to November 2019). Socio-demographic and disease-related data of SpA patients were collected.

Dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies after natural infection: insights from a study on Pasteur Institute of Tunis employees.

This study aimed to assess the kinetics of antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2, following natural infection in a cohort of employees of the Institut Pasteur de Tunis (IPT) and to assess the risk of reinfection over a 12-months follow-up period. A prospective study was conducted among an open cohort of IPT employees with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection that were recruited between September 2020 and March 2021. Sera samples were taken at 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after confirmation of COVID-19 infection and tested for SARS-CoV-2-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies to the spike (S-RBD) protein (IgG anti-S-RBD) and for neutralizing antibodies.

Prognostic significance of tumor suppressor protein p53 in prostate cancer.

Introduction: The p53 gene mutation is one of the most common genetic alterations in many cancers. In prostate cancer (PCa), it has been associated with a poor prognosis, tumor progression and aggressiveness. P53 mutation induces an abnormal protein expression in related tissues.

Pediatric and adult osteoporosis: a contrasting mirror.

Pediatric osteoporosis (PO) is a condition that is currently gaining recognition. Due to the lack of official definitions over the past few decades, the exact incidence of PO is unknown. The research does not provide a specific prevalence of PO in different world regions.

Foot-related impairment in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Aim: Foot involvement is present in approximately 60%-90% of children with Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). It is a major cause of disability, which can lead to deterioration in daily activities and quality of life. However, it is often overlooked and can compromise patient management.

Assessment of self-esteem and community integration in spondyloarthritis.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to identify the associated factors with lower self-esteem and restriction in community reintegration in SpA patients.

Methods: This study was a cross-sectional study including SpA patients (ASAS criteria) aged 18-50 years. The level of self-esteem was assessed using the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES).

Central Sensitization in Spondyloarthritis: The Crossroads between Disease Activity, Health-related Quality of Life and Fibromyalgia.

Objective: To assess central sensitization in young patients with spondyloarthritis (SpA) and to study the associated factors with higher central sensitization scores.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study including patients with SpA (ASAS criteria) aged less than 50 years. For all patients, we collected the sociodemographic and disease characteristics data.

Incidence and risk factors of SARS-CoV-2 infection among workers in a public health laboratory in Tunisia.

The aim of this study was to measure the extent of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection among workers at the Institut Pasteur de Tunis (IPT), a public health laboratory involved in the management of the COVID-19 pandemic in Tunisia, and to identify risk factors for infection in this occupational setting. A cross-sectional survey was conducted on IPT workers not vaccinated against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Participants completed a questionnaire that included a history of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Factors associated with the inflammatory process in pain in ankylosing spondylitis.

Introduction: sleep disorders, closely related to any chronic pain process, are frequent among patients with rheumatic diseases, mainly ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Our study aimed to determine the association between sleep disturbances and the inflammatory process in pain in AS patients compared with lower back pain (LBP) patients. We have additionally examined factors associated with sleep disorders among AS patients.

Pediatric synchronous multifocal and disseminated cerebrospinal classic medulloblastoma revealed by bilateral decreased visual acuity: a case report.

Medulloblastoma (MB) is a rapidly growing malignant solid tumor that arises from stem cells located in the subependymal germinal matrix or outer granular layer of the cerebellum. It represents 15 to 30% of pediatric brain tumors and less than 1% of primary brain tumors. The reason for the high incidence of MB in children compared to adults is the embryonic origin of the tumor.

Primary adult unilateral thalamic pilocytic astrocytoma with von Recklinghausen's disease mimicking lymphoma: A case report.

Thalamic astrocytomas are rare central nervous system tumors that account for 1%-1.5% of all brain tumors. Their Clinical features depend on anatomical involvement.

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Objective: We aimed to estimate the mortality attributable to current cigarette smoking among Tunisian individuals aged 30 years and over in 2016.

Methods: The number of deaths attributable to cigarette smoking was estimated using the population attributable fraction (PAF) method of calculation. Current cigarette smoking-related data and number of deaths by cause were obtained from a Tunisian national household survey conducted in 2016 (THES-2016) and the "Global Burden of Disease" study respectively.

COVID-19 in Tunisia (North Africa): Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in the General Population of the Capital City Tunis.

Seroprevalence studies are essential to get an accurate estimate of the actual SARS-CoV-2 diffusion within populations. We report on the findings of the first serosurvey conducted in Tunis prior to the implementation of mass vaccination and analyzed factors associated with seropositivity. A household cross sectional survey was conducted (March-April 2021) in Tunis, spanning the end of the second wave and the beginning of the third wave of COVID-19.

Spontaneous rapid regression of a juvenile primary aneurysmal bone cyst of the skull: A case report and literature review.

Aneurysmal bone cyst (ABC) is a benign lesion that often starts off the metaphysis of long bones and which, as it grows, may blow out bone. Only 3%-6% of cases are located in the skull. Spontaneous recovery has been reported.

Knowledge attitudes and practices toward seasonal influenza vaccine among pregnant women during the 2018/2019 influenza season in Tunisia.

Background: The uptake and acceptance of the influenza vaccine (IV) among pregnant women remain unknown in Tunisia despite the increased influenza-related complications and death. The present study aimed to assess the IV uptake and acceptability and to describe related knowledge and attitudes among pregnant women in Tunisia.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 84 Tunisian healthcare facilities over a period of three months (from March to May 2019).

A giant partial thrombosed aneurysm of the internal cavernous carotid artery mimicking a meningioma of the lesser wing of the sphenoid bone.

Giant intracranial aneurysms are defined as those with diameters of 25 mm or more and represent about 5% of all intracranial aneurysms. These aneurysms typically manifest during the fifth to seventh decades of life. Due to their size, giant aneurysms are responsible for intracranial mass effect rather than hemorrhage.

A case of adult cerebellar liponeurocytoma with atypical radiological features and long survival with literature review.

Cerebellar liponeurocytoma or lipomatous medulloblastoma is a rare oncological entity. Knowledge regarding the management and outcomes of these rare tumors are still evolving. Very few cases have been described previously in the literature.

Hydatid cyst in the third ventricle of the brain: case report of an exceptionally rare condition.

Hydatid disease is an endemic zoonotic disease caused by the cestode Echinococcus multilocularis and Echinococcus granulosus. Intra-ventricular hydatid cysts are extremely rare. Even more rarely, and to the best of our knowledge, only three cases of third ventricle involvement have been reported.

Dumbbell-shaped solid-cystic hypoglossal schwannoma: An unusual case report.

Hypoglossal Schwannomas are extremely rare benign slow-growing neoplasms, which originate from the 12th cranial nerve. To date, and to the best of our knowledge, only 40 cases of dumbbell-shaped Hypoglossal Swchannomas have been published in the world literature. We report our experience with a 66 years old male patient, who was diagnosed with a solido-cystic lesion at the right cerebello-pontine angle arising from XIIth cranial nerve.

Mental health status of adults under institutional quarantine: a cross-sectional survey in Tunisia.

Introduction: restrictive measures imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as quarantine, may induce psychiatric outcomes among concerned individuals. The present study aimed to describe the mental health status of Tunisian adults under mandatory institutional quarantine imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to determine factors influencing the occurrence of psychiatric symptoms.

Methods: a cross-sectional phone survey was conducted from April to November 2020 using convenience sampling of persons who had experienced mandatory institutional quarantine.

Prevalence and risk factors of trastuzumab induced cardiotoxicity in Tunisian HER2-positive breast cancer patients.

Introduction: Cardiotoxicity is the most important side effect of Trastuzumab treatment. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the prevalence of Trastuzumab induced cardiotoxicity and to analyze risk factors associated with this side effect.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective institutional study was carried out from June 2018 to December 2018 at the department of Medical Oncology of Salah Azaiz institute, Tunis, Tunisia.

Case report of Osteopoikilosis in patient with psoriatic arthritis.

Osteopoikilosis (OPK) is one of the rare genetic musculoskeletal, non-inflammatory disorders that we should increase awareness toward. We report a case of a patient diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis with incidental imaging findings of lesions suggestive of osteopoikilosis.

Incidence and risk factors associated with development of oxalipatin-induced acute peripheral neuropathy in colorectal cancer patients.

Introduction: Oxaliplatin utilized in colorectal neoplasms treatment could induce acute peripheral neuropathy (APN) which is a dreadful and frequent adverse event. The objective of this study is to estimate incidence of APN induced by oxaliplatin cumulative incidence in cancer patients colorectal and to describe the distribution of the APN incidence according to demographic and clinical characteristics, as well as according to oxaliplatin cumulative dose.

Material And Methods: This is a prospective descriptive study which took place from June to December 2018 at the Salah Azaiz Institute, Tunis.

Influenza vaccination knowledge, attitudes, and practices among Tunisian elderly with chronic diseases.

Background: Generally, seasonal influenza does not cause severe infection in healthy adults, but for the elderly, an infection can pose a serious health concern. Although several measures can help prevent influenza, vaccination is considered the most effective. This study aimed to assess influenza vaccine uptake among elderly with chronic diseases in Tunisia during the 2018-2019 influenza season, and to identify knowledge, attitudes and barriers associated with influenza vaccine uptake.