Prevalence of comorbid asthma in Tunisian patients with COVID-19: clinical features and outcomes.

Introduction: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has resulted in around 1 million COVID-19 infection cases and over 29,000 deaths in Tunisia thus far. There is great variability in the prevalence of asthma among patients with COVID-19, but the impact of asthma on patients with COVID-19 is not clear. We sought to describe the clinical features of Tunisian patients with COVID-19 and to compare asthmatic and non-asthmatic patients.

Chiroptically Active Multi-Modal Calcium Carbonate-Based Nanocomposites.

The development of multimodal nano- and micro-structures has become an increasingly popular area of research in recent years. In particular, the combination of two or more desirable properties within a single structure opens multiple opportunities from biomedicine, sensing, and catalysis, to a variety of optical applications. Here, for the first time, we report the synthesis and characterization of multimodal chiroptically active CaCO nanocomposites.

The effects of prolonged stress exposure on the brain of rats and insights to understand the impact of work-related stress on caregivers.

Introduction: Stress exposure is a significant concern in the healthcare sector. This animal model study aims to reproduce caregivers' working conditions and determine their impact on the brain.

Method: Twenty-four healthy male rats of the Wistar strain were divided into four groups.

Effect of the incorporation of polysaccharides from green alga Bryopsis plumosa on beef sausages quality.

Maintaining the quality and stability of functional meat products during storage is one of the major challenges of these products. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of polysaccharides extracted from green alga Bryopsis plumosa as a new natural additive in the formulation of beef sausages. In order to evaluate the impact of the incorporation of polysaccharides in beef sausages formulation, the physico-chemical, microbiological, and antioxidant properties were investigated during 12 days of storage at 4°C.

Interest of surgical vascular reconstructions aiming at preserving hemodialysis access.

Background: Vascular hemodialysis access is a very precious asset for patients with end-stage renal failure. Ideally complications in these accesses should be detected early in order to treat them in time. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of vascular reconstructions to preserve the vascular access for hemodialysis and to examine their benefits in terms of conserving the venous network, using hemodialysis catheters, time of cannulation after surgery, patency and postoperative morbi-mortality, by comparing them to those of newly created arterio-venous fistula (AVF).

Extraction, characterization and biological properties of polysaccharide derived from green seaweed "Chaetomorpha linum" and its potential application in Tunisian beef sausages.

A novel polysaccharide extracted from green algae Chaetomorpha linum (PS) was characterized, using infrared spectroscopy, HPLC-FID, gel filtration high-pressure chromatography, thin layer chromatography and spectrum visible UV. Natural antioxidant potential of PS was evaluated based on DPPH free radical, ferrous iron-chelating, β carotene bleaching inhibition activities and DNA nicking assay. Functional properties were estimated based on Water Holding Capacity (WHC), Oil Holding Capacity (OHC), emulsifying activity and foaming ability.

Cryopreserved Cadaveric Arterial Allograft for Arterial Reconstruction in Patients with Prosthetic Infection.

Objective: The aim of this study was to report outcomes of cryopreserved arterial allografts used as a vascular substitute in the setting of prosthetic material infection.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data was conducted including all consecutive interventions performed with cryopreserved arterial allografts used for vascular reconstruction in the setting of prosthetic material infection between January 2005 and December 2014. Five year outcomes included allograft related re-interventions, survival, primary patency, and limb salvage rates.

Long-term results of surgical treatment of aneurysms of digestive arteries.

Background: The aim of this study was to document the long-term results of open surgical treatment of aneurysms of the digestive arteries.

Methods: Between January 2000 and March 2010, 60 patients were operated on for 78 aneurysms of the digestive arteries at our institution. The mean age of patients was 61 years (31-84 years).

Expression of Lactobacillus brevis IOEB 9809 tyrosine decarboxylase and agmatine deiminase genes in wine correlates with substrate availability.

Aims: Lactobacillus brevis IOEB 9809 is able to produce both tyramine and putrescine via tyrosine decarboxylase and agmatine deiminase enzymes, respectively, when cultured on synthetic media. The aims of this study were to assess the expression of L. brevis IOEB 9809 tdc and aguA1 genes, during wine fermentation and to evaluate the effect of substrate availability and pH on tdc and aguA1 expression, as well as on biogenic amine production and L.

[Epithelioid schwannoma of the acoustic nerve: a case report].

Epithelioid schwannomas mainly affect peripheral nerves and are frequently malignant. They are rarely encountered intracranially. Only five cases involving the eight nerve have been reported in the literature.

[Malignant struma ovarii: a case report].

Malignant transformation of struma ovarii is exceptional (less than 1%). The histolological diagnosis of malignancy is difficult especially in the well differentiated forms. Immunohistochemistry is highly contributive in the anaplastic forms.

[Cervicobulbar intramedullary lipoma. Apropos of a case with review of the literature].

The authors report a case of cervical intramedullary lipoma extending into the bulbomedullary junction. 99 cases of cervical and/or dorsal intramedullary lipomas without spinal dysraphism, reported since 1884, are reviewed. There is poor correlation between lipoma's length and age of onset.

[Subacute arsenic poisoning].

A cas is reported of a 23-year-old man who voluntarily took a massive dose of arsenic (at least 8 g). In spite of the ingested amount and the acute nature of the poisoning, the patient survived 8 days. Gastrointestinal, neurologic and cardiac features were predominant including nausea, vomiting, choleroid diarrhoea, encephalopathy, peripheral neuropathy, and finally a fatal toxic cardiomyopathy.

[Comparison of propanidid with propofol for dental surgery of short or medium duration].

The properties of propofol in emulsion given by continuous intravenous infusion to spontaneously breathing patients have been well studied. Thirty randomized voluntary premedicated patients undergoing dental extraction were anaesthetized with propofol (2.5 mg X kg-1 IVD, and 9 mg X kg-1 X h-1) or with propanidid (9 mg X kg-1 IVD, and 60 mg X kg-1 X h-1), supplemented with nitrous oxide in oxygen and fentanyl.

[Post-jejunoscopy bacteremia caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae].

We report a case of symptomatic Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteremia following a jejunoscopy. Occurrence of bacteremia in patients undergoing gastro-intestinal endoscopy is reviewed.