Large spontaneous HBV DNA fluctuations and potential usefulness of a single-point measurement of combined HBV DNA and quantitative HBsAg for the exclusion of HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B: A prospective Tunisian cohort study.

Background And Study Aim: During the natural course of HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B (CHB), fluctuations in hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels are often observed, making the classification of patients difficult. We aimed to describe spontaneous short-term HBV DNA level fluctuations and to assess the usefulness of qHBsAg in Tunisian patients with HBeAg-negative chronic HBV infection.

Patients And Methods: We included 174 treatment-naive Tunisian patients with HBeAg-negative chronic HBeAg-negative HBV infection.

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).

[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.

Epidemiological profile and performance of triage decision-making process of COVID-19 suspected cases in southern Tunisia.

Introduction: During an epidemic, screening processes can play a crucial role in limiting the spread of the infection. The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiological profile of COVID-19 suspected cases and to evaluate the performance of the triage process in predicting COVID-19 in Southern Tunisia.

Methods: It was a prospective study including all patients consulting to the Hedi Chaker University Hospital departments from March to June 2020.

Point prevalence survey of health-care associated infections and their risk factors in the tertiary-care referral hospitals of Southern Tunisia.

Background: Health-care associated infections (HAI) are considered a public health problem and have substantial effect on mortality and morbidity. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of HAI in South Tunisian University Hospitals (UH) and to identify their risk factors.

Methods: We performed a point prevalence study, in the UH of Southern Tunisia in February 2019, including all hospitalized patients for at least 48 hours.

Prevalence and factors associated with smoking among Tunisian secondary school-adolescents.

Objectives: This study aimed to estimate the extent of smoking experience among high and middle school adolescents in Southern Tunisia and to delineate its potential associated factors.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study among middle and high school-adolescents in the governorate of Sfax, South of Tunisia in the 2017-2018 school-years. A questionnaire was anonymously administered to a representative sample of 1,210 school-adolescents randomly drawn.

Cardiovascular diseases in Southern Tunisia: current trends and future projections.

Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are a major cause of morbidity and mortality, driven by the epidemiological transition world-wide.

Aim: We aimed to describe the epidemiological profile of CVD hospitalizations, to assess their chronological trends and to estimate their future projected trends.

Methods: We retrospectively collected data from the regional morbidity registry of the University Hospital of Sfax, Tunisia, between 2003 and 2016.

Prevalence, Risk Factors and Outcomes of Neck, Shoulders and Low-Back Pain in Secondary-School Children.

Background: Musculoskeletal pain (MSP) is a public health problem among school-adolescents. This study aimed to identify the prevalence, risk factors and consequences of neck, shoulders and low-back pain among school-adolescents.

Study Design: A cross-sectional study.

What are the correlates of body image distortion and dissatisfaction among school-adolescents?

Background: Body image is considered as central to many aspects of human functioning including emotions, thoughts, behaviors and relationships. Our study aimed to investigate the prevalence of body image distortion and dissatisfaction among adolescents and to assess their main determinants.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional school-based study conducted among school-adolescents in the south of Tunisia, between October 2017 and February 2018.

Prevalence and risk factors of health care-associated infections in a limited resources country: A cross-sectional study.

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of health care-associated infections (HAI) in our university hospitals (UH) and to delineate the risk factors associated with HAI.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study in the 2 UH of Sfax, Tunisia on July 2017, including all patients hospitalized for at least 48 hours. It was a 1-day pass per department and a 1-week prevalence survey per UH.

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.

Pediatric respiratory tract diseases: Chronological trends and perspectives.

Background: The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiological profile of childhood respiratory tract diseases (RTD) in the region of Sfax, Tunisia, and to evaluate their trends over a 13 year period.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of all children hospitalized with RTD aged under 14 years. We collected data from the regional morbidity register of the university hospital of Sfax from 2003 to 2015.

[Disclosing birth defects to parents].

A descriptive transversal study was carried out by the child psychiatry and neonatology team of Hedi-Chaker General Hospital in Sfax, Tunisia. Its aim was to study the methods and circumstances of the announcement of a disability confirmed during the infant's first days of life. The results of the study show that when the announcement is made by an experienced, trained team, and in favourable conditions, it leads to better acceptance of the disability by the parents.

[The causes of death of the women of childbearing age at the hospitals of Sfax].

Aim: To study the principal causes of death of the women dead at an âge ranging between 15 and 49 years old and having been hospitalized in a public medical structures of the gouvernorat of Sfax.

Methods: Retrospective study concerning all the included deaths between 1999 and 2007.

Results: The study was related to 728 deaths, which correspond to an average of 80.

[Adolescent's hospital morbidity in Sfax - Tunisia].

Background: Adolescents present specific sanitary needs, linked to the physical and psychological mutations that occur during this vulnerable period of life. These needs remain little known in Tunisia. But : To describe epidemiological profile of morbidity of teenagers hospitalized in Hedi Chaker's hospital center of Sfax, during a period of 5 years, between 2003 and 2007.

Neoadjuvant gonadotropin-releasing hormone therapy before surgery and effect on fertility index in unilateral undescended testes: a prospective randomized trial.

Objectives: To investigate, in a prospectively randomized trial, whether preoperative gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) therapy improves the fertility index in primary cryptorchidism. Cryptorchidism is a common condition with a high risk of infertility. Treatment with GnRH appears to improve fertility later in life by inducing germ cell maturation.

Beneficial effects of high dobutamine doses on hemodynamic perturbations induced by Buthus occitanus tunetanus venom in rats.

Background: Hemodynamic manifestations are the leading causes of death after scorpion sting. This study was performed to evaluate the dose-dependent effect of dobutamine on hemodynamic perturbations induced by Buthus occitanus tunetanus (Bot) scorpion venom in rats.

Material/methods: Bot venom (850 microg/kg) was administered intravenously.

[Effects of Buthus occitanus tunetanus envenomation on an experimental murine model of gestation].

Scorpion envenoming is less studied in pregnant victims. In this work, the effect of Buthus occitanus tunetanus on parturition in late pregnancy was studied in an animal model. Four groups of six primigravid female rats, each one at the 22nd day of pregnancy, were used.