The role of glutathione transferases M1 and T1 in individual susceptibility to bladder cancer in a Tunisian population.

Background: Susceptibility to bladder cancer is thought to depend on interplay between genetic factors and environmental chemical carcinogens.

Aim: This study seeks to determine the role of the glutathione transferases M1 and T1 null genotypes (GSTM1*0 and GSTT1*0) in individual susceptibility to bladder cancer in a Tunisian population.

Method: Sixty-two patients with transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder cancer and 79 controls were examined with respect to the frequency of GSTM1 and GSTT1 null genotypes.

Effects on immunological and virological outcome of patients using one protease inhibitor or one non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor in a triple antiretroviral therapy: normal clinical practice versus clinical trial findings.

We compared the response of two standard 3-drug regimens containing two-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (Zidovudine +Lamivudine) plus either a protease inhibitor (PIs) (Indinavir) or a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTIs) (Efavirenz) among treatment-naïve or treatment-experienced HIV-infected persons. The obtained results will be compared to clinical trial findings. Through a retrospective study, we compared the virological and immunological response of 119 Tunisian HIV-1 infected patients (North Africa) who started for the first time/ in salvage use a triple antiretroviral treatment containing one NNRTI (group A1/group A2) or one PI (group B1/group B2).

Differences in Tunisian adolescents' knowledge, misconceptions and attitudes towards HIV/AIDS from 1997 to 2002.

Surveys were conducted to estimate the extent to which knowledge, misconceptions and attitudes of adolescents in Tunisia towards HIV/AIDS had changed after a period of five years. A population of school-going adolescents of both sexes, age 16 to 20, was sampled in 1997 and again in 2002. We found that HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases became better known, there was more tolerance expressed for people living with AIDS, and the use of condoms was more positively judged.

The Developing Country Reactions to Biomedical Techniques and Plant Biotechnology: The Tunisian Experience.

In the present study we present the conditions offered to biotechnology development in Tunisia and we compare three main biotechnology applications which raise ethical and health problems: organ transplant, assisted reproductive techniques, and genetically modified organisms. We try to identify factors that have allowed success of the first two applications and failure of the latter. Conditions offered to biotechnology in other African countries are also discussed.

The significance of combining World Health Organization and Center for Disease Control criteria to resolve indeterminate human immunodeficiency virus type-1 Western blot results.

A total of 466 repeatedly reactive HIV-1 blood samples evidenced by enzyme immunoassay were analyzed by the Western blot method and interpreted according to WHO and CDC criteria. Discordant and indeterminate samples were further analyzed by PCR. When the Western blot result was classified as indeterminate, according to both WHO and CDC criteria, the PCR test was always negative.

[Attitude of health personnel to organ donation and transplantation].

It was shown that the rate of organ donation depends not only on the attitudes of the public but also of the predisposition of the health care staff. An opinion poll has interested 702 physicians, nurses and technicians. It comes out from this study that 59% of the sample are favorable to the organ donation.