Feasibility of the preparation of silica monoliths for gas chromatography: fast separation of light hydrocarbons.

The preparation conditions of silica monoliths for gas chromatography were investigated. Silica-based monolithic capillary columns based on sol-gel process were tested in the course of high-speed gas chromatographic separations of light hydrocarbons mixture (C1-C4). The impact of modifying the amount of porogen and/or catalyst on the monolith properties were studied.

[Comparative study of C-reactive protein and procalcitonin in the severity diagnosis of pyelonephritis in children].

Objective: The aim of this study is to compare two biologic parameters; C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT) in the detection of acute renal lesions assessed by DMSA scintigraphy in the urinary tract infection in child.

Design: In a prospective study, serum PCT, CRP and leukocyte counts were measured for children admitted, between January and December 2010, with a first episode of febrile urinary tract infection.

Results: Seventy-five children were enrolled in the study.

[Hepatopulmonary syndrome: a complication of type 1 Gaucher disease].

Gaucher's disease is a not exceptional lysosomial disease in Tunisia. Type 1 is by far the most common one. Pulmonary involvement is considered to be rare in type 1 Gaucher's disease.

Digestive malacoplakia in children: case report.

Malacoplakia is a form of chronic granulomatous inflammatory reaction that rarely affects the pediatric age group. The gastrointestinal system is the second most common site for the occurrence of malacoplakia. We report the case of a 9-year-old girl who was hospitalized for abdominal pain, chronic diarrhea, and rectal hemorrhage.

[Idiopathic steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome in child : study of 20 cases].

Background: Idiopathic steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (ISRNS) is rare and represents a significant therapeutic dilemma for paediatricians and paediatric nephrologists.

Aim: To analyze characteristics of the ISRNS in the child.

Methods: Retrospective study of 20 cases of ISRNS enrolled in paediatric department of nephrology in Sahloul hospital (Tunisia) between June 1993 and December 2007 (14 years period).

[Hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy type IV: a report on two cases].

Hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy type IV (HSAN IV) is a very rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of unexplained fever, extensive anhidrosis, total insensitivity to pain, hypotonia, and mental retardation. The absence of urticarial reaction to intradermal injection of histamine is a sign of great diagnostic value, but this is common to all types of HSAN. The most frequent complications of this disease are corneal scarring, multiple fractures, joint deformities, osteomyelitis, and disabling self-mutilations.

[Treatment of severe hemophagocytic syndrome associated with visceral leishmaniasis].

The association of hemophagocytic syndrome (HS) and visceral leishmaniasis is a frequent disorder during infancy in endemic areas such as Tunisia. The range of severity of HS secondary to visceral leishmaniasis includes both pure biological forms that resolve with antimicrobial therapy and life-threatening emergencies that require specific treatment. We describe 2 cases of severe HS secondary to visceral leishmaniasis.

Rotavirus strain diversity in the centre coast of Tunisia from 2000 through 2003.

An epidemiological survey investigating rotavirus infection in children was undertaken in the coastal region of Tunisia from January 2000 through September 2003. A total of 309 fecal specimens were screened by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and latex agglutination assay for the presence of group A rotavirus antigen. The detection rate was 26.

IgA anti-actin antibodies in celiac disease.

Aims: The purpose of this study was to determine the sensitivity and specificity of IgA anti-actin antibodies (IgA-AAA) for celiac disease (CD), to investigate their usefulness as a marker of compliance in CD patients to the gluten-free diet (GFD), and to assess the relationship between their presence in the sera of CD patients and severity of intestinal mucosal damage.

Patients And Methods: A total of 182 patients with CD were studied: 63 patients were untreated; 50 patients were following a strict GFD; and 69 patients were non-compliant with a GFD. IgA-AAA was detected using a homemade enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Uveitis responding on gluten free diet in a girl with celiac disease and diabetes mellitus type 1.

A 9-year old girl with a history of diabetes mellitus type 1, presented with visual loss of the left eye. The right eye examination was unremarkable. Slit-lamp examination revealed few small and fine keratic precipitates.

Tracking of lipids in schoolchildren: a four-year followup, population-based study in Sousse (Tunisia).

Objective: Dyslipidaemia, which is now seen as one of the most important cardiovascular risk factors, is becoming more common in the younger population. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of tracking serum lipid levels over a four-year period in an urban population of schoolchildren.

Methods: The study began in 1999 with a cohort of 789 schoolchildren.

[Graves's disease in children and adolescent: study of seven cases].

Background: In spite of its rarity in the paediatric age, Graves' disease constitutes the principal aetiology of hyperthyroidism in child.

Aim: Our goal is to analyze the clinical and evolutive particularities of Graves's disease in children.

Methods: We studied retrospectively seven cases of Graves' disease in children enrolled in the pediatrics department of Sousse during ten years period (1993-2002).

[Complete primary distal renal tubular acidosis in children: 11 cases].

Aim: Analyze the clinical and evolutive particularities of complete primary distal renal tubular acidosis in children,

Methods: We studied retrospectively 11 cases enrolled in the pediatrics department of Sousse during 10 years period (1993-2002).

Results: It is about 9 boys and 2 girls (sex-ratio = 45) aged 3 month to 5 years (mean age: 18 months). Diagnosis was suspected on clinical and biological data of presumption and confirmed by acidification test.

[Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies and associated diseases].

Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies are classical serological markers of small-vessels vasculitis. However, they have been described in many other pathological situations. The aim of this study was to determine through our experience, the main antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies-associated diseases and to investigate antigen targets of these antibodies.

[Nasofrontal fistula and epidermoid cyst: a case study].

Nasofrontal fistulas, also called nasofrontal dermal sinuses, are very rare and found for the most part in children. This congenital malformation may be revealed by local infection or neuromeningitis, making this a serious disorder. We report one case of nasofrontal dermal sinus diagnosed in an 11-month-old girl, which was complicated by left fronto-orbital infection.

[Lupus nephritis in childhood: clinical and evolutive study of 14 cases].

Background: Renal involvement is one of the most severe and frequent manifestations of the systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Aim : In this study, we analyzed clinical and evolutive particularities of 14 paediatric cases of lupus nephritis (LN).

Methods: It's a retrospective study in 14 children with lupus nephritis followed-up in the paediatrics department of Sousse and Mahdia between 1983 and 2004.

[Mycobacterial infections in children in Central Tunisia. A study of 31 cases including 7 disseminated BCG-osis].

Unlabelled: In order to analyze the current epidemiological pattern of mycobacterial infection in children in Central Tunisia, we studied retrospectively the clinical feature of 31 children with mycobacterial infection enrolled in the pediatrics department of Sousse during eight years period (1994-2001). Twenty three boys and eight girls aged two months to 13 years (mean age: 4 years and 8 months) were investigated. Among them, 24 patients suffered of tuberculosis (TBC) and 7 of disseminated BCG-osis.

[Canavan disease or N-acetyl aspartic aciduria: a case report].

Canavan disease or N-acetyl aspartic aciduria, is an autosomal recessive leukodystrophy characterized by spongy degeneration of brain. The disease is an inborn error of metabolism caused by aspartoacylase deficiency resulting from accumulation of N-acetyl aspartic acid in the brain. The authors report a case in a 10-month-old boy who presented with developmental delay and megalencephaly noticeable after 4 months of age.

[Pneumococcal meningitis mortality in children. Prognostic factors in a series of 73 cases].

Objective: Despite advances in antibiotic therapy strategies and pediatric intensive care, prognosis of Streptococcus pneumoniae meningitis remains very poor. To determine the factors associated with hospital mortality of children with pneumococcal meningitis.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of 73 cases of childhood pneumococcal meningitis admitted in 4 teaching hospitals in the center of Tunisia during a 8-year period (1995-2002).

[Gillespie syndrome: 2 familial cases].

We report 2 familial cases of Gillespie syndrome in an 8-year-old girl and her brother 16 months old. They had both congenital aniridia, cerebellar ataxia and mental retardation. In the girl, pupillar dilation in the 2 eyes and delay in different milestones development were elicited at 2 years.

ANCA-associated diffuse alveolar hemorrhage due to benzylthiouracil.

Benzylthiouracil has been recently observed to be associated with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-positive vasculitis, resulting in crescentic glomerulonephritis. We report an 8-year-old girl treated with benzylthiouracil for Graves's disease who developed an ANCA-positive vasculitis with pulmonary hemorrhage. She responded to corticosteroids and discontinuation of benzylthiouracil.

Epidemiology of hypertension among a population of school children in Sousse, Tunisia.

Background: Pediatric hypertension is a field of increasing interest and importance. Early identification of children at risk for hypertension is important to prevent the serious, long-term complications associated with the condition. In Tunisia, there are no data available on the cardiovascular disease risk profile, such as hypertension, in the population of children.

Group A streptococci in children with acute pharyngitis in Sousse, Tunisia.

A 1-year prospective study in 2 paediatric outpatient clinics in Sousse, Tunisia, aimed to determine the presence of group A streptococci in acute pharyngitis cases and carriers, and the distribution of the serotypes and biotypes. Group A streptococci were found in 9.0% of throat swabs from 155 controls and 17.