Role of chemical exposure in the incidence of vitiligo: a case-control study in Tunisia.

Vitiligo is a multifactorial dermatosis with many etiological hypotheses that have been suggested for its occurrence. To our knowledge, few epidemiological studies are available on vitiligo induction factors and particularly on the role of exposure to chemicals in the onset of the disease has been found. Therefore, there is need to investigate the relationship between vitiligo and chemical exposures in order to understand this mysterious disease.

Does mindfulness reduce perceived stress in healthcare professionals?

Background: Healthcare professionals (HCPs) are exposed to multiple psychosocial risks that may lead to high levels of stress and low levels of life satisfaction and well-being. Mindfulness, defined as the awareness that arises by intentionally paying attention in the present moment and in a non-judgmental way, seems to be a moderator in the causal association between life stressors and well-being.

Aims: The aim of the present study was to test the model of relationships between self-reported mindfulness, perceived stress, well-being index and life satisfaction in a sample of Tunisian HCPs.

Workaholism in engineers: Prevalence and associated factors.

Introduction: Workaholism is an emerging form of behavioural addiction encountered in the workplace. The present study aims to assess the prevalence and the associated factors of this phenomenon in engineers.

Methods: A cross sectional survey was conducted for two months by means of an online questionnaire of engineers practising in Tunisia.

Work productivity loss due to musculoskeletal symptoms in the shoe and leather industry.

This study aimed to explore the work productivity loss (WPL) due to musculoskeletal symptoms (MS) and its explanatory psychosocial, ergonomic and personal factors in Tunisian shoe and leather industry workers. We conducted a cross-sectional survey among 337 workers. We evaluated WPL using the work productivity and activity impairment questionnaire.

Allergic contact dermatitis to isothiazolinones in a rubber factory: A case report.

Isothiazolinones, used as preservative, are known to be skin sensitizers. Although cosmetics represent their main source, occupational exposure may be a significant origin of eczema. While allergic eczema related to these derivates have been reported in a number of professional sectors, their presence in the same workplace was not common.

Occupational exposure to coal and risk of multiple health outcomes: A case report.

Occupational cutaneous squamous-cell carcinoma has an increased incidence, but rarely suspected. When located in an uncovered skin area, it is closely linked to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons exposure. However, single pulmonary anthracosis nodule is rarely described in the literature.

Effects of Geomaterial-Originated Fillers on Microstructure and Mechanical/Physical Properties of α- and β-Chitosan-Based Films.

Edible films and coatings with good mechanical/physical properties are highly required for carrying medical substances and food packaging. So, solvent-cast films of α- or β-chitosan filled with palygorskite, montmorillonite or geopolymer-containing material (GCM), were prepared, and the effects of their clay contents (up to 50 wt.%) on the mechanical/physical properties were assessed.

Retention and release of hexavalent and trivalent chromium by chitosan, olive stone activated carbon, and their blend.

Shrimp shells and waste of olive stones were used as feedstock for the preparation of chitosan and activated carbon. The adsorption of Cr and Cr species in aqueous solution by the materials prepared and their blend were studied by using the well-known kinetic and isotherm models, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscope. It was demonstrated that the rates of adsorption were controlled by diffusion inside particles and throughout the liquid film, and adsorption occurred spontaneously (- 26 < ∆G° < - 15 kJ/mol) in the range of 298-333 K, except for that involving Cr species and activated carbon.

Cytogenetic monitoring of hospital staff exposed to ionizing radiation: optimize protocol considering DNA repair genes variability.

Purpose: Chronic occupational exposure to ionizing radiation (IR) induces a wide spectrum of DNA damages. The aim of this study was to assess the frequencies of micronucleus (MN), sister chromatid exchanges (SCE) and to evaluate their association with XRCC1 399 Arg/Gln and XRCC3 241 Thr/Met polymorphisms in Hospital staff occupationally exposed to IR.

Materials And Methods: A questionnaire followed by a cytogenetic analysis was concluded for each subject in our study.

Oxidative stress and glutathione S-transferase genetic polymorphisms in medical staff professionally exposed to ionizing radiation.

Purpose: Ionizing radiation (IR) is considered as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool in medicine. However, chronic occupational exposure of medical staff to IR may affect the antioxidant status and, as a result, DNA damage and cancers as well. The objective of our study was to evaluate the oxidative stress profile caused by IR in 29 Tunisian medical staff from radiology and radiotherapy departments, and to find an association between the GSTM1 null, GSTT1 null, and GSTP1 Ile105Val polymorphisms and oxidative stress biomarkers.

Heated blends of phosphate waste: Microstructure characterization, effects of processing factors and use as a phosphorus source for alfalfa growth.

Microstructure of expandable lightweight aggregates (LWAs), which was composed of phosphate waste (PW), cement kiln dust (CKD) and raw clay (RC) was investigated, and the effects of processing factors (temperature, waste content, soaking time) on their physical properties were quantified by using response surface methodology (RSM). The potential use of LWAs as a phosphorus source was assessed through the use of seeds of alfalfa. It was found that the main minerals of the waste, namely carbonates and fluorapatite, were involved in the formation of labradorite/anorthite and melt respectively.

Combining Haar Wavelet and Karhunen Loeve Transforms for medical images watermarking.

This paper presents a novel watermarking method, applied to the medical imaging domain, used to embed the patient's data into the corresponding image or set of images used for the diagnosis. The main objective behind the proposed technique is to perform the watermarking of the medical images in such a way that the three main attributes of the hidden information (i.e.

Phosphate sludge: thermal transformation and use as lightweight aggregate material.

Phosphate sludge generated from beneficiation plants of Moroccan phosphate rocks was investigated at 900-1200 °C by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, thermal analysis and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Mixtures of the phosphate sludge and a swelling clay (up to 30 wt.%) were investigated and their properties (shrinkage, density, water absorption and compressive strength) were measured as a function of temperature and clay addition.

Removal of methylene blue from aqueous solution by fibrous clay minerals.

Kinetics and equilibrium processes of the methylene blue (MB) retention from aqueous solution by a mixture of fibrous clay minerals, which was isolated from a naturally occurring clay, were investigated. For these purposes, the effects of contact time, initial adsorbate concentration, adsorbent content, pH and ionic strength were determined. The results show that the MB retention obeys a pseudo-first order equation and the process is a diffusion controlled solid-state reaction.

[Horner's syndrome associated with Guillain-Barré syndrome].

Autonomic dysfunctions are classically described during the acute phase of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). This involvement concerns visceral afferent, parasympathetic and/or sympathetic efferent fibers and is closely related to sudden deaths in the acute phase of the disease. We report a case of a patient suffering from a GBS associated with a transient Horner syndrome without extraocular muscle involvement.