[Epidemiology of smoking in the male population in Tunisia. HSHS Study 6].

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of smoking in the male population of Hammam Sousse (Tunisia), to describe its modalities and to analyse its determining factors.

Methods: This was a "community-based" study, carried out on a random sample of households, including a population of males aged 20 or over. The data were collected, at home, using a specific support consisting of a lifestyle questionnaire, a physical examination, and a biological assessment, oriented towards cardiovascular risk factors.

Epidemiology of obesity in Tunisia: HSHS4 study (Hammam Sousse Sahloul Heart Study).

Introduction: The HSHS study is a community-based survey focused on cardiovascular risk factors.

Aim: The objectives of this specific analysis were to determine the prevalence of obesity and overweight in the general population of Hammam Sousse (Tunisia) and to identify their predisposing factors.

Methods: HSHS was conducted with a random sample of households, composed by the EPI (Expanded Program on Immunization) technique.

Epidemiology of metabolic syndrome in Tunisia. HSHS 5 study.

Objective: To measure the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its components in the HSHS cohort (Hammam Sousse, Tunisia), in 2009, and to identify its determining factors.

Methods: This was a descriptive epidemiological study of the "community based" type having focused on a random sample of people aged 20 and over. The metabolic syndrome was defined according to the criteria of the "International Diabetes Federation" (IDF 2005) and those of the "National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult Treatment Panel III" (NCEP-ATP III, 2001).

Epidemiology of dyslipidemia in Tunisia, HSHS 3 study (Hammam Sousse Sahloul Heart Study).

Introduction: Dyslipidemia is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide because it increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Aim: To determine the prevalence of dyslipidemia and its components in the general population of Hammam Sousse (Tunisia) and to identify its risk factors.

Methods: This was an analysis of the HSHS database (Hammam Sousse Sahloul Heart Study), a «community-based» cross-sectional study on cardiovascular risk factors including dyslipidemia, with a random sample in two-stages, proportional-probability clusters.

and polymorphisms as predictors of 5 fluorouracil toxicity in colorectal cancer patients.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer and the fourth leading cause of cancer death. 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is an essential component of systemic chemotherapy for CRC. Our objective was to determine the genotypic frequency of polymorphisms affecting dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase () and thymidylate synthetase () genes and to correlate the genetic profile with the toxicity due to 5-FU, also considering nongenetic factors.

Epidemiology of diabetes mellitus in Tunisia. HSHS 2 study (Hammam Sousse Sahloul Heart Study).

Background: National epidemiological studies on diabetes mellitus are rare, ancient and often carried out schools or clinics settings.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of diabetes mellitus and identify its risk factors in the adult population of the city of Hammam Sousse (Tunisia) during the year 2009.

Methods: This study is a part of analysis of the HSHS database (Hammam Sousse Sahloul Heart Study), a «community-based» cross-sectional study on cardiovascular risk factors including diabetes mellitus, with a two-stage proportional probability cluster random sample.

Epidemiology of arterial hypertension in Tunisia: Hammam Sousse Sahloul Heart Study (HSHS).

Introduction: Tunisia is experiencing a double burden of morbidity, characterized by the explosion of cardiovascular diseases and their risk factors including arterial Hypertension. The objective of this study, based on the HSHS cohort (Hammam Sousse Sahloul Heart Study), was to determine the prevalence of hypertension in the general population and to identify its predisposing factors.

Methods: HSHS is a cardiovascular health promotion initiative in the city of Hammam Sousse (Tunisia).

Epidemiology of elderly dependency in Tunisia. HSHS study 7.

Aim: Measure the functional autonomy of elderly people and identify its components and determinants in the HSHS (Hammam-Sousse Sahloul Heart Study) population (phase 2009, Tunisia).

Methods: This study was concerned with the quality of life of elderly people aged 65 years or more, living at home from the HSHS cohort divided into two groups: young-old (65-74 years old) and old-old (≥75 years old). The autonomy was assessed using the "Activities of Daily Living" (ADL) scale ranging from 0 to 6, the "Instrumental Activities of Daily Living" (IADL) scale ranging from 0 to 8 and, the combined scale ranging from zero to 14, iso-weighted at one point per activity.

Influence of genetic and non-genetic factors on acenocoumarol maintenance dose requirement in a Tunisian population.

Purpose: We aimed to study potential variables involved in interindividual variability to acenocoumarol (AC) response in order to establish a pharmacogenetic algorithm (PA) that includes clinical and genetic factors to predict adequate AC dose to stabilize anticoagulation in a cohort of Tunisian patients.

Methods: Genotyping of the CYP2C9, VKORC1, CYP4F2, and CALU polymorphisms was conducted on 246 patients using PCR-RFLP technique. AC normalized maintenance dose (NMD): ((mean maintenance dose/international normalized ratio (INR)) equilibrium) was calculated.

Association between ABCB1 polymorphisms and response to first-generation antiepileptic drugs in a Tunisian epileptic population.

Purpose: We aimed in this study to investigate the association between the ATP-Binding Cassette sub-family B, member1 (ABCB1) polymorphisms: C1236T (rs1128503), G2677T (rs2032582) and C3435T (rs1045642), and the resistance to antiepileptic drugs (AEDs).

Materials And Methods: The Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism genotyping of ABCB1 polymorphisms was conducted on 153 Tunisian epileptic patients treated with AEDs.

Results: Two genetic polymorphisms of the ABCB1 gene seemed to influence the response to AEDs.

Association between dementia and vascular disease-associated polymorphisms in a Tunisian population.

Purpose: Dementia is a multifactorial idiopathic pathology caused by clinical, eDementia is a multifactorial idiopathic pathology caused by clinical, environmental and genetic factors. Hence, its etiology is still unknown. We aimed to evaluate the association between five genetic risk factors for vascular diseases and dementia individually and when gathered in haplotypes.

Association of ADIPOQ, leptin, LEPR, and resistin polymorphisms with obesity parameters in Hammam Sousse Sahloul Heart Study.

Background: Adipose tissue is an important endocrine organ that secretes a number of adipokines, such as adiponectin (ADIPOQ), leptin (LEP), leptin receptor (LEPR), and resistin (RETN) which may be implicated in obesity. Some adipokines' polymorphisms of genes might influence their concentrations and/or activities. Our aim was to study the relationship between seven SNPs in ADIPOQ (+45T View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The C677T MTHFR genotypes influence the efficacy of B9 and B12 vitamins supplementation to lowering plasma total homocysteine in hemodialysis.

Background: Hyperhomocysteinaemia, an independent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, is common in hemodialysis patients (HD) and particularly in those homozygous for polymorphism of the 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene. B vitamins supplementation has been shown to lower plasma total homocysteine (tHcy), but this has been contreversed in several groups. The aim of our study was to explore the response of tHcy in hemodialysis (HD) patients to individual supplementation with folic acid (B9) and/or vitamin B12, based on carrier status for the (MTHFR) polymorphism.

Association between haptoglobin 2-2 genotype and coronary artery disease and its severity in a tunisian population.

Haptoglobin (Hp) polymorphism generates three common human genotypes (Hp1-1, Hp2-1, and Hp2-2), having functional differences, related to the risk of development of cardiovascular diseases. These functions are a consequence of hemoglobin binding that leads to the synthesis of an antioxidant like ferritin. We explored the association of Hp polymorphism with significant coronary stenosis (SCS) and its severity within 400 Tunisian patients, using genotyping, biochemical parameters, and the Gensini score.

Association of PON1 and PON2 polymorphisms with PON1 activity and significant coronary stenosis in a Tunisian population.

PON1 and PON2 have attracted considerable attention as candidate genes for coronary heart disease because their enzymes function as key factors in lipoprotein catabolism pathways. We studied the distribution of PON1 and PON2 polymorphisms, including genotyping, lipid profile, and PON1 activity, and their association with PON1 activity and significant coronary stenosis (SCS) in a Tunisian population. PON1 activity was lower in patients with SCS than in controls.

Association of three polymorphisms of scavenger receptor class BI gene (exon8, exon1, intron5) with coronary stenosis in a coronary Tunisian population.

Background: The potential role of scavenger receptor class BI (gene name SCARB1) in the regulation of lipoproteins metabolism and atherosclerosis has attracted considerable interest. We tested the relationship of SCARB1 polymorphisms with significant coronary stenosis (SCS) and lipid profile in a coronary Tunisian population.

Methods: Three SCARB1 polymorphisms (exon8 (C/T), exon1 (G/A), intron5 (C/T)) were studied in 316 Tunisian patients undergoing coronary angiography.

Association between four resistin polymorphisms, obesity, and metabolic syndrome parameters in Tunisian volunteers.

Resistin is an adipocyte-secreted cytokine recently discovered and has been proposed as a link between obesity and diabetes. Many resistin gene polymorphisms were described and their implication in obesity and metabolic syndrome (MetS) was controversial. Our aim was to study the relationship between four resistin polymorphisms (420C/G, 44G/A, 62G/A, and 394C/G), MetS parameters, and the risk of obesity in Tunisian volunteers.

Four polymorphisms of cholesteryl ester transfer protein gene and coronary stenosis in a Tunisian population.

Aims: The role of cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) in the development of atherosclerosis is under debate. We studied the association of four polymorphisms (Taq1B, I405V, R451Q and A373P) in the CETP gene with lipid profile and coronary artery disease.

Methods: Four CETP polymorphisms were studied in 316 Tunisian patients undergoing coronary angiography.

Relationship between leptin G2548A and leptin receptor Q223R gene polymorphisms and obesity and metabolic syndrome risk in Tunisian volunteers.

Leptin is a key hormone of weight regulation that modulates food intake. Since the elaboration of the leptin action mechanism, several studies tried to establish the relationship between obesity and the common polymorphisms of leptin (LEP) and leptin receptor (LEPR) genes, but results were controversial. We studied the association of G2548A of the LEP gene and Q223R of LEPR gene polymorphisms with obesity and metabolic syndrome (MetS).

Six lipoprotein lipase gene polymorphisms, lipid profile and coronary stenosis in a Tunisian population.

Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) is the rate-limiting enzyme in the hydrolysis of triglyceride-rich lipoprotein particles (Chylomicrons and very-low-density lipoprotein). LPL polymorphisms' effects on lipids and coronary artery disease are controversial among studies and populations. Our aim was to study the association between six polymorphisms, haplotypes and significant coronary stenosis (SCS), disease severity and lipid parameters in Tunisian patients.

Association between eight adiponectin polymorphisms, obesity, and metabolic syndrome parameters in Tunisian volunteers.

Background: Adiponectin is a plasma protein produced by the adipose tissue, with insulin sensibility, antiinflammatory and antiatherogenic properties. Many adiponectin gene polymorphisms have been described, and their implication in obesity, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular diseases was controversial. Our aim was to study the relationship between eight adiponectin polymorphisms (-1391G/A, -1377C/G, 4522C/T, 395 G/A, 276G/T, 639C/T, 45T/G, and +2019delA), metabolic syndrome parameters, and the risk of obesity in Tunisian volunteers.

Single-nucleotide polymorphisms at the adiponectin locus and risk of coronary artery disease in Tunisian coronaries.

Objective: Adiponectin is an adipocyte-derived hormone and an essential modulator of insulin sensitivity. Several studies suggest an important role of adiponectin in the process leading to atherosclerosis, thus indicating the adiponectin gene as a potential candidate for coronary artery disease. Two single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at the adiponectin locus (+45T/G and +276G/T) have been associated with low circulating adiponectin levels, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.

Associations between common polymorphisms of adenosine triphosphate-binding cassette transporter A1 and coronary artery disease in a Tunisian population.

Background: The adenosine triphosphate-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) protein plays an important role in the first step of the reverse cholesterol transport system.

Aims: We studied the association of four polymorphisms in the ABCA1 gene (G1051A, G2706A, G2868A and -565C/T) with lipid profile and coronary artery disease.

Methods: Overall, 316 Tunisian patients underwent coronary angiography.

Apolipoprotein B and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol are better risk markers for coronary artery disease than low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in hypertriglyceridemic metabolic syndrome patients.

Background: Metabolic syndrome is highly prevalent in the general population. Small dense low-density lipoprotein (sd-LDL) particles have been considered as a risk marker in metabolic syndrome diagnosis. Apolipoprotein B (ApoB) concentration reflects the number of LDL particles and is closely associated with atherosclerosis.