Cytogenetic abnormalities in Tunisian women with premature ovarian failure.

To identify the distribution of chromosome abnormalities among Tunisian women with premature ovarian failure (POF) referred to the department of Cytogenetic at the Pasteur Institute of Tunis (Tunisia), standard cytogenetic analysis was carried out in a total of 100 women younger than 40 affected with premature ovarian failure. We identified 18 chromosomal abnormalities, including seven X-numerical anomalies in mosaic and non-mosaic state (45,X; 47,XXX), four sex reversal, three X-structural abnormalities (terminal deletion and isochromosomes), one autosomal translocation and one supernumerary marker. The overall prevalence of chromosomal abnormalities was 18% in our cohort.

HLA class II alleles susceptibility markers of type 1 diabetes fail to specify phenotypes of ketosis-prone diabetes in adult Tunisian patients.

We aimed to characterize the different subgroups of ketosis-prone diabetes (KPD) in a sample of Tunisian patients using the Aβ scheme based on the presence or absence of β-cell autoantibodies (A+ or A-) and β-cell functional reserve (β+ or β-) and we investigated whether HLA class II alleles could contribute to distinct KPD phenotypes. We enrolled 43 adult patients with a first episode of ketosis. For all patients we evaluated clinical parameters, β-cell autoimmunity, β-cell function and HLA class II alleles.

[Atypical presentation of a premature ovarian failure with deletion of X chromosome].

In order to illustrate a particular clinical presentation of premature ovarian failure, we report the case of a 16-year-old girl, who presented with primary amenorrhea. Physical examination discovered central obesity and an extent acanthosis nigricans in the neck and in the axillae. Pubertal stage was quoted S3P3 and external genitalia were normal.

[Ambulatory blood pressure measurement and control in hypertensive diabetic patients].

Background: Good blood pressure control is one of the recommended targets in diabetic patient's management.

Aim: To evaluate blood pressure (BP) control in hypertensive treated diabetic patients using ambulatory blood pressure measurement (ABPM).

Methods: Two hundred and six hypertensive treated diabetic patients were enrolled in this study (83 men and 123 women).

Ketosis-onset diabetes in Tunisian adults: immunological markers and beta-cell function.

The aim of this study in Tunisia was to classify ketosis-onset diabetes in adult patients. All patients aged > 30 years without known diabetes, presenting with ketosis and admitted to our department were studied. Patients with secondary or gestational diabetes and those on corticoid therapy or with coinciding infection were excluded.

[Macroprolactinoma revealed by an exophthalmos].

With the purpose of illustrating a particular circumstance of giant macroprolactinoma diagnosis, we report the case of a 54-year-old woman who was seen in the Endocrinology department with the suspected diagnosis of hyperthyroidism in presence of unilateral exophthalmos. The patient reported headaches during the last year and secondary amenorrhea since she was 38 years old. The ophthalmologic examination confirmed the unilateral left exophthalmos, which was associated with oculomotor paralysis and vision loss.

Unusual presentation of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A in a patient with the C634R mutation of the RET-protooncogene.

The aim of this paper is to report an atypical presentation of MEN2A, in a patient carrying the C634R mutation of the RET-protooncogene. A 41-year-old Tunisian woman was admitted to our department with newly diagnosed hyperglycemia. She had a history of bilateral urinary stone recurrence, managed successfully on two occasions.

Clinical and metabolic characteristics of newly diagnosed diabetes patients: experience of a university hospital in Tunis.

Purpose: The aim of our retrospective study was to explore the clinical and metabolic characteristics of newly diagnosed diabetes patients over the age of 30 years.

Methods: Study participants were consecutive, newly diagnosed patients with diabetes, over the age of 30 years, presenting to our university hospital department between January 1999 and June 2003. Clinical and metabolic data were collected retrospectively by medical record review.

[Adrenal gland hemangioma: a case report].

Hemangioma is a benign vascular tumor composed of angioblastic cells. The adrenal gland localization is very rare, with only fifty cases reported in literature. We report a case of adrenal gland hemangioma diagnosed in a 55-year-old woman who presented a cervical neoplasm.

[Celiac disease revealed by hypocalcemia complicating total thyroidectomy: a case report].

In order to illustrate a particular circumstance of diagnosis of celiac disease, we report the case of 54-year-old women with a history of thyroid enlargement with normal thyroid function and positive anti-peroxidase antibodies. Immediately after total thyroidectomy with preservation of the parathyroid glands, she developed tetany with total serum calcium level at 50mg/l. Intravenous calcium infusion increased the calcium level and led to resolution of hypocalcemia-induced signs but there was no result when calcium and vitamin D were taken orally.

[MRI and pituitary adenoma].

Pituitary is the most important gland of the organism which can be affected by many diseases, especially by adenomatous processes. Classically macroadenoma, microadenoma and picoadenoma are described, according to the size of the pituitary adenoma. The diagnosis of microadenoma was long considered a highly difficult task and that of picoadenoma was impossible by computed tomography.

[Quality of ambulatory care of non-insulin dependent diabetic patients].

We assessed the quality of care provided to non-insulin treated diabetic patients by examining the medical records of 248 such patients attending our outpatient department in 2002. The mean age was 59.5 (SD 10.

Bioactivities of seven chrysanthemum species flowers powder on Spodoptera littoralis (Boiduval) larvae.

We have screened seven Chrysanthemum species, collected from different biotope in Tunisia for the antifeeding and growth regulatory activity against S. littoralis (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) an insect pest of tomato. The flowers powder was added to the Poitout and Bues (1974) artificial diet at three concentrations: 4, 8, and 16%.

The metabolic syndrome in an Arab population: a first look at the new International Diabetes Federation criteria.

Aims: To report the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in Arab men and women using the new International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criteria, and to compare this with the prevalence using the 1999 World Health Organization (WHO) and 2001 National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NECP ATPIII) definitions.

Methods: The study involved 863 subjects (343 men and 520 women) aged > or = 40 years living in Tunis, Tunisia, taken from an initially randomized, population sample.

Results: The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome using the IDF criteria was found to be 45.

Diabetes insipidus and panhypopituitarism revealing pituitary metastasis of small cell lung carcinoma: a case report.

Metastatic tumors of the pituitary gland are not commonly diagnosed during life in cancer patients. The occurrence of symptomatic lesions is also very unusual and difficult to differentiate clinically and radiologically from pituitary adenomas. We report a case of pituitary metastasis which was the prime manifestation of a small cell lung carcinoma in a 40-year-old man.

Quality of care of patients with type 2 diabetes in a Tunisian university hospital.

Objectives: The aim of this retrospective study was to explore the quality of ambulatory management provided to patients with type 2 diabetes.

Methods: Five hundred ninety-three patients with type 2 diabetes attended our outpatient department in 2002. Clinical and biological data were collected from the medical records of these patients.

Imaging features of intrasellar tuberculoma: two cases.

Hypophyseal tuberculoma is extremely rare. It may be confused with other more common sellar tumors such as adenomas. Characteristic, but not specific, radiological features are in the majority of cases: intense enhancement on contrast CT and thickening of the pituitary stalk better visible on MRI.

[Lymphocytic hypophysitis].

Lymphocytic hypophysitis is a rare inflammatory disease of the pituitary gland which may be related to an autoimmune process. Only twenty cases are reported in male. Patients usually present with symptoms of an expanding intrasellar mass or varying degrees of hypopituitarism.

[Study of the effect of converting enzyme inhibitors on microalbuminuria in diabetics].

The authors report the results of a randomised trial using a converting enzyme inhibitor in 40 microalbuminuric diabetic subjects during 18 months. In the treated group, we observed a reduction of albuminuria from 57.4 mg/24 hours to 35.