Publications by authors named "Mekki A"

Olive mill wastewater (OMWW) was used in ferti-irrigation due to its high water content, as well as its organic and mineral richness. However, this by-product also contains elevated levels of polyphenols, which may pose phytotoxic risks to soil microbiota and plants over time. To address this concern, we conducted a thorough examination of the phenolic composition of OMWW and the phenolic content of amended soils using HPLC analysis.

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A new study explores the distinct roles of spontaneous polarization and piezoelectric polarization in piezo-phototronic coupling. This investigation focuses on differences in photocatalytic and piezo-photocatalytic performance using sodium bismuth titanate, a key ferroelectric material. The research aims to identify which type of polarization has a greater influence on piezo-phototronic effects.

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We measured the temporal voltage response of NbTi superconducting filaments with varied nanoscale thicknesses to step current pulses that induce non-equilibrium superconducting states governed by a hot spot mechanism. Such detected voltage emerges after a delay time td, which is intimately connected to the gap relaxation and heat escape times. By employing time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau theory to link the delay time to the applied current, we determined that the gap relaxation time depends linearly on film thickness, aligning with the acoustic mismatch theory for phonon transmission at the superconductor-substrate interface.

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Purpose: In this study, we retrospectively reviewed the use of flow cytometry (FCM) in the diagnosis of inborn errors of immunity (IEIs) at a single center in Algeria. Sharing insights into our practical experience, we present FCM based diagnostic approaches adapted to different clinical scenarios.

Methods: Between May 2017 and February 2024, pediatric and adult patients presenting with clinical features suggestive of immunodeficiency were subjected to FCM evaluation, including lymphocyte subset analysis, detection of specific surface or intracellular proteins, and functional analysis of immune cells.

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Effluents from the leather tanning industry contain diverse pollutants, including hazardous heavy metals, posing threats to public health and the surrounding environment. Indigenous bacterial isolates can represent an eco-friendly approach for tannery wastewater treatment; however, phenotypic characterization is necessary to determine whether these strains are suitable for bioremediation. In the present study, we analyzed seven new Enterococcus faecium strains and two new Bacillus subtillis strains isolated from effluents from the Southern Tunisian Tannery (ESTT).

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Kyphoscoliotic Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (kEDS) is a rare genetic disorder combining congenital hypotonia, congenital/early onset and progressive kyphoscoliosis, and generalized joint hypermobility. Vascular fragility is another characteristic of the disease rarely described. We report a severe case of kEDS-PLOD1 with several vascular complications leading to difficulties in disease management.

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Criteria based on measurements of lesion diameter at CT have guided treatment with historical therapies due to the strong association between tumor size and survival. Clinical experience with immune checkpoint modulators shows that editing immune system function can be effective in various solid tumors. Equally, novel immune-related phenomena accompany this novel therapeutic paradigm.

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Article Synopsis
  • A new missense variant of the Collagen alpha-2(V) chain gene was identified in a 14-year-old patient with classical Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (cEDS).
  • The patient exhibited severe scoliosis, muscle hypotonia, and ocular issues but lacked atrophic scarring.
  • This case adds to the understanding of the range of symptoms associated with cEDS.
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Background: A defining feature of prolonged critical illness is muscle wasting, leading to impaired recovery. Supplementation with a tailored blend of amino acids may bolster the innate gut defence, promote intestinal mucosa repair and limit muscle loss.

Methods: This was a monocentric, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study that included patients with sepsis or acute respiratory distress syndrome.

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In this study, the biosorption ability of various potentially toxic elements from phosphate-processing effluent (PPE) using the indigenous bacterium Serratia rubidaea NCTC12971 immobilized in Ca-alginate beads was investigated. The experimental data analyzed by the Langmuir isotherm revealed that the optimum dose of 2 g·100 ml of immobilized S. rubidaea NCTC12971 at pH 7 and a contact time of 48 h allowed the removal of 92.

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Introduction: Inborn errors of immunity (IEI) represent a heterogeneous large group of genetic disorders characterized by susceptibility of affected individuals to recurrent infections, autoimmune/inflammatory diseases, allergy, and malignancy. We aimed to report for the first time the Algerian registry for IEI in children.

Methods: We described the characteristics of IEI in Algerian children from the data collected in the Algerian registry for IEI between 1985 and 2021.

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Despite the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines, there is still an urgent need for discovering new anti-viral drugs to address the awful spread and transmission of the rapidly modifiable virus. In this study, the ability of a small library of enantiomerically pure spirooxindolopyrrolidine-grafted piperidones to inhibit the main protease of SARS-CoV-2 (M) is evaluated. These spiroheterocycles were synthesized by 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of various stabilized azomethine ylides with chiral dipolarophiles derived from [-(-)-methylbenzyl]-4-piperidone.

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Background: Inborn errors of immunity (IEI) predispose patients to various infectious and non-infectious complications. Thanks to the development and expanding use of flow cytometry and increased awareness, the diagnostic rate of IEI has markedly increased in Algeria the last decade.

Aim: This study aimed to describe a large cohort of Algerian patients with probable IEI and to determine their clinical characteristics and outcomes.

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In this paper, a new family of composite materials was prepared based on calcium alginate and metal nanoparticle-loaded zeolite omega. Different types of metal nanoparticles (MNPs), namely Cu, Co and Fe, were loaded onto zeolite omega to test the performance of the resulting metal/zeolite@alginate composites towards the catalytic reduction of methylene blue dye. To examine their application field as broadly as possible, these composite beads were also tested as antibacterial and antifungal agents against several types of bacteria.

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Article Synopsis
  • Related overlap disorder isn't included in the 2017 EDS classification yet.
  • It should be explored as a possible diagnosis for patients with hypermobile EDS.
  • Investigating this condition could help in delivering proper genetic counseling to affected individuals.
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Objectives: To evaluate the diagnostic performance and interobserver agreement of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) protocol that only includes sagittal T2-weighted Dixon fat and water images as an alternative to a standard protocol that includes both sagittal T1-weighted sequence and T2-weighted Dixon water images as reference standard in lumbar degenerative disc disease with Modic changes.

Methods: From February 2017 to March 2019, 114 patients who underwent lumbar spine MRI for low back pain were included in this retrospective study. All MRI showed Modic changes at least at one vertebral level.

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Article Synopsis
  • Many countries face challenges in widespread COVID-19 testing due to limited RT-PCR kits and CT-scans, prompting the need for a pre-test probability score for SARS-CoV-2 infection.
  • The study analyzed data from 605 patients across four university hospitals, focusing on demographic details, symptoms, and blood test results to identify key factors indicating infection risk.
  • The developed PARIS score demonstrated high accuracy in predicting SARS-CoV-2 infection, with a 93% positive predictive value and a 98% negative predictive value, making it a useful tool for clinicians in prioritizing tests and managing patient care.
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Article Synopsis
  • COVID-19, which surfaced in 2019, spread quickly around the globe, and CT imaging is crucial for screening, quantifying, and staging the disease.
  • Effective staging is necessary for healthcare management, such as planning for ICU beds and enhancing drug development through quick assessments.
  • This study explored the use of medical imaging and AI to improve disease quantification and patient outcomes, demonstrating promising results through automated deep learning methods and combining imaging data with clinical information.
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Introduction: Covid-19 pneumonia CT extent correlates well with outcome including mortality. However, CT is not widely available in many countries. This study aimed to explore the relationship between Covid-19 pneumonia CT extent and blood tests variations.

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Background We report two cases of -related capillary malformation-arteriovenous malformation (CM-AVM1) syndrome mimicking hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT).Methods and results A 28-year-old man, previously embolised for cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), presented with epistaxis and typical nasal telangiectasias of HHT. CT scan revealed a large portocaval shunt.

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This work concerns the preparation of composite beads based on calcium alginate and FeO@MCM-41. In the first step, the material FeO@MCM-41 was prepared mechanically using several FeO contents, then was encapsulated by calcium alginate as a cross-linking matrix to give the composites MC@CA(x). The composite beads were used as catalysts for the reduction of MB and OG dyes in a simple system.

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Article Synopsis
  • A 79-year-old woman with COVID-19 pneumonia developed complications including thrombosis in both arterial and venous upper mesenteric vessels.
  • The ongoing coronavirus pandemic necessitates awareness of potential complications for hospitalized patients.
  • Unenhanced chest CT scans are essential in managing COVID-19, and medical professionals should be vigilant for indirect signs of thrombosis.
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We investigated the study of the phytotoxic potential of olive mill wastewaters (OMW) on the germination and growth responses of the faba bean 'Vicia faba L.' leguminous plant cultivated under an arid Mediterranean climate. The results showed that the raw OMW blocked the germination of the seeds tested, while OMW treated soil extracts stimulate the seeds' germination rate.

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