Impact of pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical interventions on COVID-19 in Tunisia.

Background: In COVID-19 management, a variety of pharmaceutical interventions (PI) and non- pharmaceutical interventions (NPI) were adopted to limit the spread of the disease and its associated deaths. We aimed to evaluate the impact of PI and NPI on risks of COVID-19 transmission and deaths.

Method: We collected aggregate data from March 2nd, 2020, to December 1, 2022 from the Tunisian Ministry of Health's website and OurWorldInData.

Incidence and risk factors of post COVID-19 syndrome: a Tunisian cohort study.

Background: It has become increasingly clear that SARS-CoV-2 infection can lead to persistent physical and mental health problems lasting weeks or months, requiring prolonged periods of clinical care and increasing the burden on the healthcare system. This phenomenon, known as post COVID-19 syndrome (PCS), is a relatively new condition, its incidence is still unclear and differs between studies.

Objectives: In this cohort study, we aimed to estimate the incidence of PCS and to identify its risk factors in the Tunisian population.

Comparison of time to negative conversion of SARS-CoV-2 between young and elderly among asymptomatic and mild COVID-19 patients: a cohort study from a national containment center.

Objective: We aimed to study the relationship between age and time to negative conversion of SARS-CoV-2 in patients with asymptomatic and mild forms of COVID-19.

Methods: We conducted a cohort study including all patients diagnosed with COVID-19 from the national COVID-19 containment center of Tunisia. Patients were subdivided into two cohorts: (under 60 years) and (over 60 years) and were followed up until PCR negativization.

Quality indicators of public maternity units in the governorate of Monastir (Tunisia).

Introduction: Increasing access to healthcare for expectant mothers is a national goal. In Monastir, Tunisia, some Peripheral Maternity Units (PMUs) required assessment. Our goals were to describe the delivery activities in MUs (maternity units) and to assess whether some of PMUs need to have their activities replaced.

Burden and predictions of hospitalized injuries in a low-middle income country: results from a Tunisian university hospital.

Injuries are responsible for a high premature mortality and disability. They are poorly explored in low and middle income-countries. We aimed to estimate the burden of hospitalized injuries in the Monastir governorate (Tunisia) according to the nature of the injury, trends and projections of hospitalizations for injuries up until 2024, and to identify the distribution of this disease burden based on age and sex.

The effectiveness of a health education intervention to reduce anxiety in quarantined COVID-19 patients: a randomized controlled trial.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic is regarded as a serious public health concern that boosts levels of stress and anxiety which could be explained by several reasons, including social isolation. In this regard, we aimed to assess the impact of health education on the anxiety level of COVID-19 patients during the isolation period.

Methods: This is a randomized controlled trial conducted between February 2021 and June 2021.

Associations of psychological factors, parental involvement, and adverse health behaviors with bullying among tunisian middle school students.

Background: Bullying is a serious problem that significantly affect adolescent well-being and health, needing the attention of teachers, school administrators, parents and public health professionals. In this study, we aimed at estimating the prevalence of bullying, from the perspective of victims in middle school students in the region of Monastir Tunisia, as well as analyzing its association with individual and family context variables.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study conducted in December 2017 and January 2018 among a sample of students from two middle schools in the region of Monastir (Tunisia), using the Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS) self-answered questionnaire.

Burnout syndrome among health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross sectional study in Monastir, Tunisia.

Background: Burnout syndrome may affect the safety of frontline healthcare care workers (HCW) and patients. We aimed to measure the prevalence of burnout among HCW in care facilities in Tunisia during the Covid-19 pandemic and to identify its associated factors.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study among HCW practicing during the covid-19 pandemic in health care facilities in the governorate of Monastir.

Associated factors with adherence to preventive behaviors related to COVID-19 among medical students in the university of Monastir, Tunisia.

Introduction: Medical students should act as a model for the community in terms of compliance with preventive practices toward COVID-19. The aim of this study was to assess adherence to preventive behaviors related to COVID-19 among medical students and to identify its associated factors.

Population And Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey in October 2020 in the faculty of medicine of Monastir.

Effect of vitamin D supplementation versus placebo on recovery delay among COVID-19 Tunisian patients: a randomized-controlled clinical trial.

Introduction: The present study aimed to determine the impact of vitamin D supplementation (VDs) on recovery delay among COVID-19 patients.

Methods: We performed a randomized controlled clinical trial at the national COVID-19 containment center in Monastir (Tunisia), from May to August 2020. Simple randomization was done in a 1:1 allocation ratio.

Occupational exposure to hepatitis C virus infection and associated factors among healthcare workers in Fattouma Bourguiba University Hospital, Tunisia.

Background: Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at high risk of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Indeed, they are exposed to blood and body fluid which put them at an important risk of transmission of various blood borne pathogens including HCV. The goal of this study was to determine the magnitude of occupational exposure to hepatitis C virus infection as well as the factors associated to this exposure among HCWs at a Tunisian University Hospital in 2017.

Animal bites and post-exposure prophylaxis in Central-West Tunisia: a 15-year surveillance data.

Background: Rabies is a disease that still exists in developing countries and leads to more fatalities than other zoonotic diseases. Our study aimed to describe the profile of human exposures to animals over fifteen years and to assess the post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) practices in the governorate of Kasserine (Tunisia) on pre- and post-revolution (2011).

Methods: We carried out a descriptive study using surveillance data from a region in Central-West Tunisia.

Syndromic surveillance of female sexually transmitted infections in primary care: a descriptive study in Monastir, Tunisia, 2007─2017.

Background: Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) are a public health problem, especially for reproductive-age women. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence and trend of STIs during 11 years in Tunisia (2007-17).

Methods: We conducted a descriptive study including all women with curable STIs (chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and trichomoniasis) diagnosed with the syndromic approach in all basic health care centers of the Governorate of Monastir (Tunisia) from 2007 to 2017.

Factors associated with a prolonged negative conversion of viral RNA in patients with COVID-19.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to identify the factors influencing the delay in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA negative conversion.

Methods: A cohort study was conducted that included patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) admitted to the Tunisian national containment center. Follow-up consisted of a weekly RT-PCR test.

Quality indicators of hip fracture management. A systematic review.

Objective: To identify standards and quality indicators of hip fracture management from the medical literature.

Methods: We conducted a "systematic review" on the topic of quality indicators of hip fracture management using PubMed database, during 15 years from 2001 to 2015. The collected publications were studied by two readers to extract the different quality indicators of hip fracture management.

Hepatitis B birth vaccination, cohort study, Tunisia 2000-2017.

Unlabelled: We aimed to compare the efficiency of the first dose of Hepatitis B (HB) vaccine: at Birth versus at 3 months and to evaluate the efficacy of HB vaccine. We conducted a cohort study in the governorate of Monastir. Vaccinated Cohort (VC) included populations receiving the first dose at 3 months (Protocol 1), and at birth (HepB-BD) (Protocol 2).

Trends and health burden of hospitalized acute respiratory infections and impact of Haemophilus influenza immunization in a Tunisian university hospital: a twelve-year study.

Background: We aimed to describe the episodes and trends of admissions for community-acquired Respiratory Infections (RI) over a 12-year period and to assess the impact of Haemophilus influenza type b (Hib) vaccine on RI admissions in children aged up to 3 years.

Methods: We conducted a twelve-year retrospective observational study on all community-acquired RI admitted to Fattouma Bourguiba Hospital in Monastir Governorate (Tunisia) from 1 January 2002 to 31 December 2013. RI cases were selected from the Regional Registry of Hospital Morbidity.

For a honest Maghreb care system. Systematic Review of the International Literature on Corruption in the Health care System.

Introduction: Corruption in the health care system is a universal phenomenon, putting at risk the health of populations. The purpose of this work was to synthesize the international literature on corruption in the health sector.

Methods: This is a systematic review of literature dealing with articles on health corruption practices, published between July 2008 and June 2018, via two search engines: PubMed and Google Scholar.

BCG vaccination and tuberculosis prevention: A forty years cohort study, Monastir, Tunisia.

We aimed to describe incidence, trends of tuberculosis (TB) over 18 years and to evaluate the impact of the BCG vaccine after four decades of immunization program according to three protocols. We performed a cohort study including declared cases in Monastir from January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2017. We reported 997 cases of TB.

Patient satisfaction in a tertiary care center (Tunisia, 2015-2016).

Introduction: Patient satisfaction is one of the most commonly used indicators in healthcare service quality evaluation. The aim of the study was to measure overall and specific patient satisfaction rates and to identify determinants of satisfactionin Sahloul University hospital during 2015 and 2016.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study which included a random sample of patients hospitalized in Sahloul University Hospital between 2015 and 2016.

Expanded program of immunization in the Maghreb. Case study of Tunisia.Systematic review of the literature.

Background: Vaccination is the most cost-effective intervention for primary prevention. The Maghreb countries had joined the The Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI). Tunisia had also introduced the vaccine against hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib).

Which indicators used to assess quality performance in Intensive Care Units? A systematic review of medical literature.

Objective: Collect, through a literature review, the indicators recommended for the measurement of performance in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and determine their typology.

Methods: This systematic review was conducted in Medline, using the following search strategy: ("Critical Care"[Mesh] or "Critical Care Nursing"[Mesh] or "Intensive Care Units"[Mesh]) and "Quality Indicators, Health Care"[Mesh] and (hasabstract[text] and "2012/01/01"[PDat]: "2016/12/31"[PDat] AND "humans"[MeSH Terms] and [English(lang) or French(lang)]).

Results: Overall, a total of 176 articles were selected for inclusion, of which 140 articles were available.

Alteration of cathepsin D trafficking induced by hypoxia and extracellular acidification in MCF-7 breast cancer cells.

The microenvironment that surrounds tumor cells is characterized by hypoxic conditions and extracellular acidity. These hostile conditions induce crucial changes in cell behavior and can promote the secretion of many soluble factors such as growth factors, cytokines and enzymes. The lysosomal aspartyl-endopeptidase cathepsin D (CD) is a marker of poor prognosis in breast cancer and is associated with a metastatic risk.