Association of HLA-DR, HLA-DQ, and HLA-B alleles with inclusion body myositis risk: A systematic review, a meta-analysis, a meta-regression and a trial sequential analysis.

Introduction: Although, several studies have assessed the association of HLA Class I and II genes with inclusion body myositis (IBM), results were inconsistent and between-studies heterogeneity needs to be investigated.

Objectives: The aim of this review was to summarize existing data on the contribution of HLA-DRB1 and HLA-B alleles to IBM susceptibility and to investigate the between-studies heterogeneity by subgroup analyses and meta-regressions.

Design: This study was performed according to the PRISMA guidelines for systematic reviews and meta-analyses.

Vitamin D association with systemic sclerosis and its clinical features: A systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression.

Objectives: The aim of this review was to summarize existing data on the contribution of Vitamin D level and/or deficiency/insufficiency to systemic sclerosis susceptibility and its clinical features.

Methods: An electronic literature search for eligible studies among all papers published prior to 30 June 2024 was conducted through PubMed, EMBASE, Web of science, and Scopus databases. Meta-analyses estimating pooled raw mean differences, odds ratios, and Pearson together with subgroup analyses and meta-regressions were performed for the association of Vitamin D with susceptibility to systemic sclerosis and disease presentation.

A regression predictive model for QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus indeterminate results in immunosuppressed patients.

Background: Screening for latent tuberculosis infection using Interferon-Gamma Release Assays is a routine procedure prior to the initiation of anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) biotherapy or immunosuppressive therapy. However, indeterminate results are relatively frequent and are an obstacle to treatment initiation.

Aim: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to estimate the frequency of indeterminate QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus test results in Tunisian patients, and to analyze the potential clinico-biological risk factors associated with these indeterminate results.

Association of 10 Polymorphisms in PLA2R1 and HLA DQA1 Genes with Primary Membranous Nephropathy Risk: A Meta-Analysis and a Meta-Regression.

Background: Although, several studies have assessed the association of the phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R) and HLA-DQA1 SNPs with primary membranous nephropathy (PMN), results were inconsistent and between-studies heterogeneity needs to be investigated.

Objectives: The aim of this review was to summarize existing data on the contribution of 10 SNPs in the PLA2R and HLA-DQA1 genes to PMN susceptibility and to investigate the between-studies heterogeneity by subgroup analyses and meta-regressions.

Design: This study was performed according to the PRISMA guidelines for systematic reviews and meta-analyses.

Impact of IL-10 gene promoter polymorphisms on treatment response in HCV patients: A systematic review, a meta-analysis, and a meta-regression.

The impact of interleukin-10 (IL-10) gene promoter polymorphisms (SNPs) on treatment response in HCV patients was dissimilarly estimated. Hence, the aim of this meta-analysis was to robustly assess the effect of IL-10 SNPs on treatment response in HCV patients. An electronic literature search was carried out through PubMed, EMBASE, Web of science, and Scopus databases.

Knowledge and Attitudes Toward Organ Donation Among Tunisian Adults: Results of a National Survey.

Objectives: Attitudes and knowledge toward organ donation can influence a person's willingness to donate. The aim of this study was to assess attitudes and knowledge regarding organ donation among Tunisian adults.

Materials And Methods: We conducted a crosssectional survey at the national level from January 23 to February 15, 2017, among 1026 Tunisian adults.

[Access to kidney transplantation for patients with end-stage renal failure in Maghreb countries: state of art and recommendations].

We present an overview of kidney transplantation activity in the Maghreb countries, based on data from the 9th Colloque France-Maghreb (Paris, May 20 and 21, 2022). For Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia, the incidence of end stage renal failure is respectively 120, 130 and 130 per million inhabitants, its prevalence 626, 900 and 833 per million inhabitants and the part of patients with a functional graft of 10.3, 1.

Development and comparative evaluation of SARS-CoV-2 S-RBD and N based ELISA tests in various African endemic settings.

Management of the COVID-19 pandemic relies on molecular diagnostic methods supported by serological tools. Herein, we developed S-RBD- and N- based ELISA assays useful for infection rate surveillance as well as the follow-up of acquired protective immunity against SARS-CoV-2. ELISA assays were optimized using COVID-19 Tunisian patients' sera and prepandemic controls.

Pre- and Post-treatment Serum BAFF Levels and BAFF Gene Polymorphisms in Patients with Graves' Disease.

Background: B cell activating factor (BAFF), a crucial factor for B cell survival and differentiation, has been linked to several autoimmune conditions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of BAFF gene's polymorphisms with its serum levels and to assess their effect on Graves' disease (GD) susceptibility and presentation.

Methods: Sixty-two GD patients and 152 healthy controls have been enrolled to investigate BAFF rs9514827 (-2841 T/C), rs1041569 (-2701 T/A) and rs9514828 (-871 C/T) gene's polymorphism by PCR-RFLP and serum BAFF level's kinetics under medical treatment by ELISA.

Thrombotic microangiopathy due to acquired complement factor I deficiency in a male receiving interferon-beta treatment for multiple sclerosis.

Aims: Interferon-beta (IFNβ), the most widely prescribed medication for multiple sclerosis, is generally considered safe. Nevertheless, rare serious and/or life-threatening side effects have been reported such as thrombotic microangiopathy. A few mechanisms have been proposed to explain how interferon causes thrombotic microangiopathy, but immunological studies have been unable to pin this phenomenon down to a single pathophysiologic pathway.

Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase gene expression and kynurenine to tryptophan ratio correlation with nasopharyngeal carcinoma progression and survival.

Introduction: Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) is an immunosuppressive tryptophan-depleting enzyme expressed in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) tissue. However, IDO has not been reported in the peripheral blood of NPC patients. The aim of this study was to analyze, IDO1 and IDO2 messenger RNA (mRNA) expression, the kynurenine (Kyn) and tryptophan (Trp) plasma levels, their clinical values and their relationship with cytokine levels in NPC.

Comparative study of six SARS-CoV-2 serology assays: Diagnostic performance and antibody dynamics in a cohort of hospitalized patients for moderate to critical COVID-19.

Background: To overcome the COVID-19 pandemic, serology assays are needed to identify past and ongoing infections. In this context, we evaluated the diagnostic performance of 6 immunoassays on samples from hospitalized patients for moderate to critical COVID-19.

Methods: 701 serum samples obtained from 443 COVID-19 patients (G1: 356 positive RT-PCR patients and G2: 87 negative RT-PCR cases) and 108 pre-pandemic sera from blood donors were tested with 6 commercial immunoassays: (1) Elecsys Anti-SARS-CoV-2, Roche (Nucleocapsid, N), (2) Elecsys Anti-SARS-CoV-2 S, Roche (Spike, S), (3) Vidas SARS-COV-2 IgM/IgG, BioMérieux (S), (4) SARS-CoV-2 IgG, Abbott (N), (5) Access SARS-CoV-2 IgG, Beckman Coulter (Receptor Binding Domain), and (6) Standard F COVID-19 IgM/IgG Combo FIA, SD Biosensor (N).

Interleukin-1 gene polymorphisms in axial spondyloarthritis Tunisian patients.

Introduction: Axial spondyloarthritis (SpA) is a common inflammatory arthritis characterized by axial skeletal inflammation, enthesitis, and association with HLA-B27. Pro-inflammatory cytokines play important roles in the regulation of inflammatory response and seem to be good candidates involved in the development of this pathology.

Aim: To assess the influence of the functional polymorphisms of single nucleotide polymorphims (SNPs) of IL-1 and IL-1 Ra in SpA susceptibility Tunisian patients.

Immunogenicity of antitumor necrosis factor therapy in patients with spondyloarthritis.

Objectives To evaluate the serum dosage of the biomedicine (DBM) and the incidence of antidrug antibody (ADA) against antitumor necrosis factor (TNF) in spondyloarthritis, and to demonstrate the influence of these parameters on the clinical efficiency. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional multicentric study including patients with spondylarthritis (SpA) under antiTNF (infliximab [INF], etanercept [ETA] and adalimumab [ADL]) for at least 6 months. A dosage of the ADA and DBM were practiced by the immuno-enzymatic essay.

PLA2R antibody, PLA2R rs4664308 polymorphism and PLA2R mRNA levels in Tunisian patients with primary membranous nephritis.

Background: Primary membranous nephritis (PMN) is an autoimmune disease induced by the deposit of antibodies (Ab) to the phospholipase receptor A2 receptor (PLA2R) on podocytes. In this context, we aimed to assess the relationships between anti-PLA2R Ab, PLA2R rs4664308 SNP, PLA2R mRNA levels and PMN susceptibility and outcome.

Methods: Sixty-eight PMN patients, 30 systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with secondary MN and 30 healthy control subjects served for anti-PLA2R Ab measurement by ELISA and PLA2R rs4664308 SNP genotyping by a commercial real-time PCR.

[Comparison of two kits of anti-infliximab antibodies plasmatic measurement].

Unlabelled: Infliximab (IFX) is a chimeric monoclonal antibody which has proven its efficacy in the treatment of inflammatory diseases. However, its efficacy can be limited by the development of anti-IFX antibodies (ATI) resulting in a therapeutic failure of IFX. ATI plasmatic monitoring is then indicated to optimize IFX treatment.

Association of Autoantibody to Rods and Rings with Hepatitis C Outcome and Viral Load.

Despite the current availability of more potent drugs, hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is still treated with a combination of IFN- and ribavirin in many countries. Interferon/ribavirin therapy can induce the appearance of autoantibodies to Rods and Rings (anti-RR), which have been associated to a poorer prognosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of anti-RR antibodies before and after ribavirin therapy and to look for a possible association with HCV infection outcome.

Response to clopidogrel and of the cytochrome CYP2C19 gene polymorphism.

Introduction: Clopidogrel (clopi) is a prodrug widely prescribed in the management of coronary artery disease and requires the intervention of hepatic cytochrome P450 2C19 (CYP2C19) for its activation. However, there is interindividual variability in response to clopi despite the use of recommended doses. Thus, the studies have highlighted the effect of the CYP2C19 gene polymorphism or Cyp2C19 gene on the response to clopi and particularly Cyp2C19 * 2 which may be associated with an increased risk of major cardiovascular events or MACE.

The role of IL-23/IL-17 axis in human kidney allograft rejection.

Th17 cell subset has been implicated in autoimmune diseases, tumor immunity and, transplant rejection. In order to investigate the role of IL-17/IL-23 pathway in allograft outcome, intragraft expression of IL-17 mRNA and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of IL-17A, IL-17F, IL-17RC, and IL23R genes were evaluated with a quantification of IL-17A, IL-17F, and IL-23 plasma levels. This study revealed that recipients with acute rejection (AR) had a significant increase in IL-17A mRNA expression levels after transplantation compared to controls (P = 0.

IL-17A, IL-17RC polymorphisms and IL17 plasma levels in Tunisian patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Background: Interleukin-17 (IL-17), a cytokine mainly secreted by Th17 cells, seems to play a significant role in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Functional genetic polymorphisms in IL-17 and its receptor genes can influence either qualitatively or quantitatively their functions. Therefore, we aimed to study the impact of IL17-A and IL17RC polymorphisms on plasma level of IL-17 and RA susceptibility and severity.