Outcomes and Risk Factors for Morbidity After Lung Hydatidosis Surgery in Children.

Objective: To examine outcomes and associated risk factors for children who undergo surgery for lung hydatidosis (LH).

Study Design: Through a retrospective and analytical-aim-study, over a period of 35 years in 2 surgical departments, we reported all operative cases for LH in children, regardless of cyst number, location, and aspect. Univariate and multivariable analyses were used to assess variables potentially predictive of postoperative morbidity.

Sleep Habits and Disturbances Among Tunisian Adults: A Cross-Sectional Online Survey.

Background: Sleep quality and disturbances have gained heightened scholarly attention due to their well-established association with both mental and physical health. This study aims to assess sleep-wake habits and disturbances in Tunisian adults.

Methodology: This cross-sectional study employed an online questionnaire to assess 3074 adults ≥ 18 years.

Nasopharyngeal Carriage of in Tunisian Healthy under-Five Children during a Three-Year Survey Period (2020 to 2022).

We aimed to assess the prevalence of nasopharyngeal pneumococcal carriage and to determine serotype distribution, antibiotic susceptibility patterns, and evolutionary dynamics of isolates in healthy under-five children. Nasopharyngeal swabs were collected from healthy children over three survey periods between 2020 and 2022. All pneumococcal isolates were serotyped and tested for antimicrobial susceptibility.

[Advantages of simulation-based training in improving skills of beginners in interventional cardiology procedures: a Tunisian cross-sectional study].

Introduction: simulator training in interventional cardiology (ST) is an educational tool that is rapidly spreading worldwide. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the advantages of ST in improving skills of beginners in interventional cardiology procedures, through a short training cycle.

Methods: we conducted a before-and-after quasi-experimental evaluative study in the simulation center of the Faculty of Medicine in Sfax.

Enhanced recovery after thoracic surgery in low- and middle-income countries: Feasibility and outcomes.

Background: Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) applies multimodal, perioperative, and evidence-based practices to decrease postoperative morbi-mortality, the length of hospital stay, and hospitalization costs. Implementing enhanced recovery after thoracic surgery (ERATS) in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) is problematic. This randomized controlled trial evaluated the feasibility and effectiveness of an ERATS protocol adapted to LMIC conditions in Tunisia.

Impact of Therapeutic Education on the Management of High Blood Pressure: A Quasi-experimental Survey From Southern Tunisia.

Introduction: The prevalence of arterial hypertension (HTA) was continuously increased with a low percentage of pressure control blood pressure among treated patients. Therapeutic education (TE) was one of the inventive methods in the management of high blood pressure (HBP) worldwide. The objective was to assess the impact of TE on the control and management of HBP.

Low back-pain among school-teachers in Southern Tunisia: prevalence and predictors.

Objectives: In the professional environment, low back pain (LBP) is a multifactorial symptomatology, despite scientific and technological advances in the design and the arrangement of increasingly ergonomic workstations. Teachers are not exempt from this risk, due to prolonged sitting or standing. In light of this, this study aimed to estimate LBP prevalence among teachers in Southern Tunisia and to identify their determinants.

COVID-19-Related Fear and Mental Distress Among Tunisian Primary, Middle and High School Teachers: Prevalence and Predictive Factors.

This study aimed to determine the prevalence and predictive factors of fear of COVID-19 and serious mental distress among teachers in public schools of Southern Tunisia. This was a cross sectional study among a representative sample of 525 teachers. The level of Fear was assessed using the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S).

Impact of atorvastatin reload on the prevention of contrast-induced nephropathy in patients on chronic statin therapy: A prospective randomized trial.

Background: This trial aimed to assess the efficacy of Atorvastatin reloading on the prevention of Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) in patients pre-treated with this statin and undergoing coronary catheterization.

Methods: This was a prospective randomized controlled study including patients on chronic atorvastatin therapy. We randomly assigned the population to the Atorvastatin Reloading group (AR group), by reloading patients with 80 mg of atorvastatin one day before and three days after the coronary procedure, and the Non-Reloading group (NR group), including patients who received their usual dose without a reloading dose.

[Immediate, medium- and long-term outcomes of percutaneous coronary intervention with very long drug eluting stent : An observational multicentric study].

Introduction: Very long coronary lesions account for 20% of coronary stenoses in the real world. There are few data on the effectiveness of angioplasty of these lesions with very long active stents (DES) in the literature. We conducted this study to assess the long-term outcomes of angioplasty with DES length ≥ 40 mm in a population with multiple cardiovascular risk factors.

[General practitioners' management of childhood asthma in Sfax, Tunisia].

Aims: To study primary care physicians' attitudes toward childhood asthma management and their adherence to international guidelines.

Methods: Cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical survey conducted among 400 primary care physicians practicing in the governorate of Sfax. Data collection was done through a self-administered questionnaire with 36 questions.

[Knowledge, attitudes and practices of front-line physicians in smoking cessation assistance in Sfax, Tunisia, in 2020].

Introduction: first-line physicians should play a key role in tobacco control. The purpose of this study is to assess the knowledge and attitudes of front-line physicians as well as their practices for smoking cessation, assess their smoking status and determine the barriers to smoking cessation support.

Methods: we conducted a cross-sectional study among a representative sample of front-line physicians practising in the governorate of Sfax in November 2020.

Prevalence and Factors Affecting Willingness to Accept or Refuse Vaccination against COVID-19 among Healthcare Professionals in Southern Tunisia.

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread throughout the world causing serious morbidity and mortality. Health care professionals (HCP) are on the front line in the face of this pandemic and are identified as priorities for COVID-19 vaccination. This study aimed to estimate the acceptability rate of the COVID-19 vaccination among HCP and to identify their predisposing factors.

Adverse effects of personnel protective equipment among first line COVID-19 healthcare professionals: A survey in Southern Tunisia.

Background: Health care professionals (HCP) were obliged to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) during pandemic in order to minimize the risk of transmission of the emerging virus. The objective of the study was to estimate the prevalence of adverse effects related to the wear of PPE among HCP and to determinate their predictive factors.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study including a representative sample of 300 randomized HCP at Hedi Chaker University Hospital Sfax, Tunisia, during the period August-September 2021.

Thromboembolic events in COVID-19 ambulatory patients: An observational study about incidence, and thromboprophylaxis outcomes.

Introduction: There are no clear data about the incidence and the prophylactic strategies of arterial and venous thromboembolic events (TE) in COVID-19 ambulatory patients. Thus, we conducted this study to analyze thromboembolic complications in this setting and to assess thromboprophylaxis management and outcomes in the real life.

Patients And Methods: This is an observational study including Covid-19 ambulatory patients.

Sulodexide Significantly Improves Endothelial Dysfunction and Alleviates Chest Pain and Palpitations in Patients With Long-COVID-19: Insights From TUN-EndCOV Study.

Objective: Non-respiratory long-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) symptoms are mainly related to a long-lasting endothelial dysfunction and microcirculation impairment. We hypothesized that Sulodexide, a purified glycosaminoglycan mixture with a beneficial endothelial effect in arterial and venous peripheral diseases, may be effective in a subset of patients with long COVID-19.

Approach And Results: We conducted a multicenter prospective quasi-experimental study.

The Effect of Topical Tranexamic Acid in Endoscopic Sinus Surgery: A Triple Blind Randomized Clinical Trial.

Objective: Our aim is to evaluate the effect of topical tranexamic acid (TA) on bleeding and surgical quality field in the functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS).

Methods: A total of 74 patients who underwent FESS due to chronic rhinosinusitis were included. The patients were randomized into 2 groups.

Characteristics of Obese Patients with Acute Hypercapnia Respiratory Failure Admitted in the Department of Pneumology: An Observational Study of a North African Population.

Background: Acute hypercapnic respiratory failure (AHRF) is a common life-threatening event in patients with obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS).

Objectives: To study the clinical pattern, noninvasive ventilatory support, as well as the short- and long-term outcomes of patients with OHS admitted in a ward because of AHRF.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study including all adults with OHS aged ≥ 18 - year - old, admitted in a 90-bed-ward for AHRF.

Long COVID 19 Syndrome: Is It Related to Microcirculation and Endothelial Dysfunction? Insights From TUN-EndCOV Study.

The COVID-19 disease is a multisystem disease due in part to the vascular endothelium injury. Lasting effects and long-term sequelae could persist after the infection and may be due to persistent endothelial dysfunction. Our study focused on the evaluation of endothelial quality index (EQI) by finger thermal monitoring with E4 diagnosis Polymath in a large cohort of long COVID-19 patients to determine whether long-covid 19 symptoms are associated with endothelial dysfunction.

[Assessment of the practices and knowledge among cardiologists regarding radiation protection in Tunisia].

Introduction: interventional cardiology procedures have become complex and expensive in time with a higher risk of exposure to ionizing radiations. The purpose of our study was to assess radiation protection knowledge and practices among Tunisian cardiologists exposed to X-rays.

Methods: we conducted a descriptive, analytical study in October 2019.

Distal radial approach versus conventional radial approach: a comparative study of feasibility and safety.

The distal radial approach (DRA) is suggested to have benefits over the conventional radial approach (CRA) in terms of local complications and comfort of both patient and operator. Therefore, we aimed to compare the feasibility and safety of DRA and CRA in a real life population. We conducted a prospective, observational multicentric trial, including all patients undergoing coronary procedures in September 2019.

Private public partnership: a solution for the development of health system in Tunisia.

In a context of economic difficulties, the Tunisian government is required to find solutions to meet the expectations of the population. Health sector is one of the critical areas requiring radical reform. The objective of this paper is to find the place of public private partnership project in the harmonious development of both public and private sectors in Tunisia.

Accuracy of the TIMI and GRACE scores in predicting coronary disease in patients with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome.

Introduction: The GRACE and TIMI scores have been well validated for assessment of prognosis in non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS). However, their value in predicting coronary artery disease (CAD) has been little studied. We aimed to assess the relationship between these scores and the extent of coronary disease.