Publications by authors named "Fredj S"

Article Synopsis
  • Study aims to investigate head lice prevalence among primary school children in Monastir, Tunisia, due to its global health impact and lack of local research.
  • A total of 2396 children from 14 schools were examined, revealing a 17.5% infestation rate, significantly higher in girls (29.1%) compared to boys (6.3%).
  • Factors such as crowded living conditions, grade level, and parents' education were linked to higher infestation risk, underlining the need for preventive measures and health programs targeting children and their communities.
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Background: The physical changes that accompany the onset of puberty demand a constant restructuring of the adolescent's perception of their body and may influence adolescents' mental health.

Aim: To describe weight status perception and its association with socio-demographic characteristics (SDC) and mental health disorders among adolescents in a low and middle-income country (LMIC).

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study in high schools in the urban area of the governorate of Sousse, Tunisia in 2018.

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Introduction: The rapid proliferation of technology and its impact on adolescents' lives have raised concerns about addictive behaviors and its potential consequences, including behavioral and mental health problems. This study investigates the prevalence and risk factors associated with the co-occurrence of Problematic Facebook Use and Problematic Video game Use among Tunisian adolescents.

Methodology: We conducted a cross-sectional study in the urban area of Sousse governorate in Tunisia during the 2018/2019 school year.

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Introduction: Sickle cell syndrome (SCS) represent a real health problem. In this work, we propose to study the epidemiological and clinical features of 66 patients with SCS.

Methods: This is a retrospective descriptive cross-sectional study carried out on a population of 66 patients with SCS, (36 S/S, 18 S/β-thalassemia, seven S/C and five S/O), over a period of two years.

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Background: Addictive behaviours are a major public health problem, especially among adolescents, who are susceptible to experiencing multiple co-occurring addictions.

Aim: To assess the prevalence of addiction problems and co-occurrences of addictive behaviours (substance abuse, problematic video gaming and social media addiction) and disorders among high school students in Sousse, Tunisia.

Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2018 in public high schools, in the urban area of Sousse, Tunisia.

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Background: The drive to vaccinate large populations is nowadays the main instrument for combating the pandemic and preventing serious disease and death. However, breakthrough infection (post-vaccination infection) still happens after vaccination among fully vaccinated people. We aimed to assess the severity outcomes and to determine its associated factors among vaccinated COVID-19 cases in the governorate of Sousse, Tunisia.

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In Tunisia, despite the implementation of national strategies to prevent some of cardiovascular risk factors, these diseases still represent the leading cause of death. The current study aimed to determine the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors and assess the screening and health education practices related to these factors among the adults of Sousse (Tunisia). A cross-sectional study was conducted in 1000 households in Sousse, Tunisia.

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Background: In developed countries, there was an overall decrease in tobacco use over the last decades. In Tunisia, a national strategy to reduce tobacco use was set up since 2008. However, this strategy was rarely evaluated.

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Background: People's lives were seriously affected by the emergence and the spread of the COVID-19 disease. Several vaccines were developed in record time to overcome this pandemic. However, putting an end to this public health problem requires substantial vaccination coverage rate.

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Raised blood pressure is the leading risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. We aimed to demonstrate the effectiveness of a 3-year community-based healthy lifestyle promotion intervention at a neighbourhood level for blood pressure reduction among adults in the context of a political transition. We conducted repeated cross-sectional surveys including 1880 (940 from each area) participants at baseline and 1977 (1001 in the intervention area; 976 comparison area) participants at follow-up.

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Hypertension can originate in childhood and remain undetected unless special screening is performed. The burden of hypertension in adolescents in Tunisia is unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of blood pressure (BP) within the hypertension range and its association with other risk factors among Tunisian adolescents.

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Background And Aim: The COVID-19 is a stigmatizing infectious disease even after healing. Until now, no COVID-19 stigma scale validated in Tunisian Arabic language among the general population is available. Developing such tools is necessary to detect COVID-19 stigma and reduce it effectively.

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Background: In December 2019, a novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) was recognized in Wuhan, China. It was characterised by rapid spread causing a pandemic. Multiple public health interventions have been implemented worldwide to decrease the transmission of the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

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Background: The aim of our study was to determine through a systematic review and meta-analysis the incubation period of COVID-19. It was conducted based on the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA). Criteria for eligibility were all published population-based primary literature in PubMed interface and the Science Direct, dealing with incubation period of COVID-19, written in English, since December 2019 to December 2020.

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Background & Objectives: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is caused by mutations in the gene encoding the CF transmembrane regulator (CFTR) protein, a chloride channel located in the epithelial cell membrane. Over than 2,000 CFTR mutations have been identified, which contribute to the variety of clinical phenotypes of CF. We performed a case-control study to determine p.

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Aim: To establish a preliminary national report on clinical and genetic features of cystic fibrosis (CF) in Tunisian children as a first measure for a better health care organization.

Methods: All children with CF diagnosed by positive sweat tests between 1996 and 2015 in children's departments of Tunisian university hospitals were included. Data was recorded at diagnosis and during the follow-up from patients' medical records.

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Background: This study investigated the association of II polymorphism in α2β1 integrin gene () and eNOS (894G/T and -786T/C) polymorphisms with ischemic stroke (IS) in Tunisian patients.

Methods: The study comprised 210 patients with IS and 208 controls. The genotypes of the II polymorphism in and eNOS (894G/T and -786T/C) polymorphisms were determined using the PCR-RFLP.

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Objective: To determine the incidence and risk factors of adverse events (AE) in a Tunisian university hospital.

Method: We carried out a longitudinal observational study in 2016 over a period of 3 months in the Sahloul university hospital of Sousse, Tunisia. Data were collected using a pretested form filled by doctors previously trained in the collection methodology, upon each visit to all hospitalized patients.

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Objective: To determine the incidence and risk factors of adverse events (AE) in a Tunisian university hospital.

Method: We carried out a longitudinal observational study in 2016 over a period of 3 months in the Sahloul university hospital of Sousse, Tunisia. Data were collected using a pretested form filled by doctors previously trained in the collection methodology, upon each visit to all hospitalized patients.

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Background: Hand hygiene (HH) is considered the most important measure to tackle the transmission of healthcare-associated pathogens. However, compliance with recommendations is usually low and effective improvement strategies are needed. We aimed to assess the effectiveness of an intervention targeting hand hygiene promotion among healthcare workers (HCWs).

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Background And Objectives: Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is the most common human enzymopathy worldwide associated with hemolysis as well as neonatal jaundice, kernicterus, and even death. The goal of this study is to determinate the prevalence of G6PD deficiency in icteric neonates and to investigate its biochemical, hematological and molecular characteristics.

Patients And Methods: This cross sectional study was carried out on 154 icteric newborns admitted to the Bechir Hamza Children's Hospital in Tunisia.

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Objective: To determine the incidence and risk factors of adverse events (AE) in a Tunisian university hospital.

Method: We carried out a longitudinal observational study in 2016 over a period of 3 months in the Sahloul university hospital of Sousse, Tunisia. Data were collected using a pretested form filled by doctors previously trained in the collection methodology, upon each visit to all hospitalized patients.

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While cytokines and their genetic variants have been intensively studied in schizophrenia, little attention has been focused on chemokines in the last years. The monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) is known to attract peripheral monocytes to the brain during an inflammatory reaction and to affect the T helper (Th) cell development by stimulating Th2 polarization. Owing to the neuroinflammation in schizophrenia and the variable level of MCP-1 in these patients' sera, we proposed to analyze the impact of functional genetic variants of the MCP-1 gene (MCP-1-2518A/G (rs1024611), MCP-1-362G/C (rs2857656), and MCP-1 int1del554-567 (rs3917887)) in schizophrenic patients.

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Background: Facebook is by far the most popular social network. Thus, it is important to use a valid measuring tool. This study aimed to validate an Arabic version of the Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale (BFAS).

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Introduction: Soluble Suppression of Tumorigenicity 2 (ST2) is a biomarker of myocardial fibrosis increasingly recognized as a predictor of morbidity and mortality in heart failure. Its role in the prognosis after a myocardial infarction has not been validated to date.

Aim: To evaluate the prognostic value of ST2 for in-hospital morbidity and mortality after myocardial infarction.

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