Prevalence of metabolic syndrome in Tunisian overweight and obese children.

Aims: To assess the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) and its parameters in a cohort of overweight and obese Tunisian schoolchildren and to investigate the involvement of leptin, and insulin in MS development via obesity.

Methods: A total of 306 schoolchildren between 10- 12 years: obese (n=35), overweight (n=99) and normal weight (n=172) were included in the study. Height, weight, waist circumference were measured and body mass index (BMI) was calculated.

Postmenopausal hypertension, abdominal obesity, apolipoprotein and insulin resistance.

This study aimed to evaluate the association of abdominal obesity, apolipoprotein and insulin resistance (IR) with the risk of hypertension in postmenopausal women. We analyzed a total of 242 women aged between 35 and 70 years. Blood pressure (BP), anthropometric indices, lipid profile, fasting glucose, insulin, C-reactive protein (CRP) and apolipoprotein concentrations were measured.

[Alterations in lipidic metabolism in hemodialysis patients].

Background: Chronic kidney failure is associated with dyslipidemia and accelerated atherosclerosis.

Aim: To study lipidic metabolism alterations in patients with chronic kidney failure on hemodialysis.

Methods: The study interested 45 hemodialysis patients with a mean age of 49.

Relationship of C-reactive protein with components of the metabolic syndrome in a Tunisian population.

Background: C-reactive protein (CRP) is an independent risk factor of diabetes and cardiovascular disease and it is proposed as a component of metabolic syndrome (MS). This study was undertaken to investigate the relationship between CRP and various characteristics of the MS in a sample of the Tunisian population

Methods: One hundred and forty nine patients with MS and 152 controls, aged 35-70 years were recruited. Waist circumference (WC), blood pressure, HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides (TG), glucose, insulin and CRP were measured.

The Apolipoprotein B/Apolipoprotein A 1 ratio in relation to metabolic syndrome and its components in a sample of the Tunisian population.

Objective: This study was undertaken to investigate the relationship between the Apolipoprotein B/Apolipoprotein A 1 (ApoB/ApoA 1) ratio and various characteristics of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) in a sample of the Tunisian population.

Methods: The study included 330 adults aged 35-74 (172 patients with MetS and 158 controls). Waist circumference (WC), blood pressure (BP), HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides (TG), glucose, insulin, and apolipoprotein concentrations were measured.

Association between C-reactive protein and type 2 diabetes in a Tunisian population.

The aim of this study was to investigate the association of CRP levels with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and its related variables in a sample of the Tunisian population. Our sample included 129 patients with T2D and 187 control subjects. Body mass index (BMI), plasma lipids, glucose, insulin, and CRP concentrations were measured for each participant.

C677t polymorphism of MTHFR and G80A polymorphism of RFC genes and their relation with homocysteine levels in obese Tunisian children.

Aims: To investigate the frequencies of C677T polymorphism in MTHFR gene and G80A polymorphism in RFC gene in obese and no obese Tunisian children and to assess their relation with homocysteine (tHcy), folate and vitamin B12 levels.

Methods: We have studied 31 obese compared to 22 no obese children. tHcy was assessed by fluorescence-immunoassay ; folate and vitamin B12 by radioimmunoassay.

Deletion polymorphism of glutathione S-transferases M1 and T1 in the Tunisian population.

Background: Glutathione S-transferases (GST) play a vital role in cellular defense against environmentally toxic compounds. These enzymes present a genetic deletion polymorphism, which varies with ethnicity.

Aim: To evaluate the frequencies of homozygous deletion of GSTM1 and GSTT1 genes in Tunisian population.

Serum leptin concentration in Tunisian non obese children.

Leptin, an adipocyte-derived peptide hormone, is thought to play a key role in the regulation of body fat mass. Beyond this function, it appears to be an integral component of various hypothalamo-pituitary-endocrine feedback loops. Because childhood and puberty are periods of major metabolic and endocrine changes, we investigated leptin levels in 348 non overweight, non obese children (147 boys, 201 girls, age: 6-12 years) and then correlated these levels with age, anthropometric data, pubertal stage and insulin.

[Premature rupture membrane at term with unfavourable cervix].

Background: Between expectant attitude in hospital and labour induction, management of and premature rupture membrane at term stay controversial.

Aim: The aim of our study was to evaluate the management rupture of the membranes at term with unfavourable cervix.

Material And Methods: We conducted a retrospective study.

[Erythropoietin in cancer patients with anemia].

Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the endogenous erythropoietin production in cancer patients with anemia.

Methods: Our prospective study interested 99 cancer patients with anemia from 17 to 80 years old, during the period going from March 2002 to December 2004, and 31 healthy individuals with anemia caused by iron deficiency. A blood sample was collected from each patient, as well as healthy individuals to measure serum erythropoietin, C reactive protein and ferritin.

[Biological investigation of thyroid cancer].

Thyroid carcinomas represent the most common endocrine malignancy, and several biological markers are proposed according to the different types of this cancer: for papillary cancer, thyroglobulin constitutes an excellent prognostic factor and rearrangements of ret oncogene can be useful in diagnosis. In sporadic medullary carcinoma, calcitonin is a diagnosis marker of choice, and coupled with ACE, can prevent relapse. Regarding familial medullary carcinoma, mutation screening in ret oncogene leads to early detection of new cases.

[Genetic polymorphism of gluthation-S transferases and N-acetyl transferases 2 and nasopharyngeal carcinoma: the Tunisia experience].

Interindividual differences observed in the metabolism of xenobiotics have been attributed to the genetic polymorphism of genes, which code for enzymes involved in detoxification. This genetic variability seems to be associated with the individual's susceptibility to certain cancers, including nasopharyngeal carcinoma. In this study, we have investigated the genotypic frequencies of DNA polymorphisms of two detoxification's genes: the gluthatione-S-transferase (GST) and the N-acetyl transferase 2 (NAT2).

[Serum lactate dehydrogenase and its isoenzymes in nasopharyngeal carcinoma in Tunisia].

Our prospective study interested 41 patients, from 13 to 70 years old, and present a nasopharyngeal carcinoma confirmed histologically, during the period going from September 1999 to March 2000, and 45 healthy controls. A blood sample was collected from each patient before any treatment, as well as controls to measure serum LDH and its isoenzymes. Two groups of patients were selected after a period varying from 12 to 37 months with a mean of 29 months: 29 with favourable evolution, 12 with non favourable evolution.

[Contribution of serum Cyfra 21-1 in nasopharyngeal carcinoma in Tunisia].

Cyfra 21-1 is a recognised marker for epidermoid lung and head and neck carcinomas oriented to the cytokeratin 19 that is expressed particularly in malignant epithelial cells. The aims of this study were to evaluate the importance of the use of this marker in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Our prospective study interested 41 patients (33M/8F) with a mean age of 44 years (13 to 70) with 8 of them aged less than 30 years, presenting a nasopharyngeal carcinoma histologically confirmed from September 1999 to March 2000 and 45 healthy controls without evidence neoplasm.