[The plethysmographic reference equations established for adult natives of Eastern Algeria are not applicable to natives of Northern Algeria].

Introduction: The validity of the published plethysmographic reference equations specific to adults living in Eastern Algeria (RE-EA) in the interpretation of spirometric results in adult natives of Northern Algeria has not been assessed.

Aim: To test the application of the RE-EA (Constantine, mean altitude=694m) to a population of healthy adults living in Algiers (mean altitude=153m).

Methods: The plethysmographic parameters of 453 healthy adults living in Algiers (234 women; age: 45±15 years, height: 1.

HAEMOcare: The First International Epidemiological Study Measuring Burden of Hemophilia in Developing Countries.

 Optimizing hemophilia care remains challenging in developing countries. Burden-of-disease studies are important to develop strategies for improving hemophilia care.  The HAEMOcare study evaluated the factors contributing to hemophilia-related orthopedic disease burden in developing countries.

The learning environment of four undergraduate health professional schools: Lessons learned.

Background And Objectives: Learning is an interplay between cognition and environmental factors. Any learning environment, that fulfills the intrinsic and extrinsic needs of the students will probably lead to better and more promising learning outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the student perceptions of Learning Environment (LE) in four health schools of a large university and compare between schools, years of study, and gender.

Postgraduate publishing output in pediatric neurosurgery: correlation with fellowship site and individual scholars.

Objective: The objective of this study was to analyze the publication output of postgraduate pediatric neurosurgery fellows for a 10-year period as well as identify 25 individual highly productive pediatric neurosurgeons. The correlation between academic productivity and the site of fellowship training was studied.

Methods: Programs certified by the Accreditation Council for Pediatric Neurosurgery Fellowships that had 5 or more graduating fellows from 2006 to 2015 were included for analysis.

Visual and refractive outcomes of posterior chamber phakic IOL in stable keratoconus.

We evaluated the visual and refractive outcomes after phakic visian toric implantable collamer lens (ICL) insertion in stable keratoconus (KC). This retrospective study investigated toric ICL implantation in 14 eyes of 8 patients with stable KC. After 6mo, the mean uncorrected distance visual acuity improved significantly from 0.

How Does the Media Portray Neurosurgeons?

Background: It is not unusual to find neurosurgeons in the news and entertainment. The present study examined the portrayal of neurosurgeons by major print and online media sources.

Methods: Two search strategies identified articles from October 1, 2012 to October 1, 2017 containing the keyword "neurosurgeon.

Effect of carbapenem resistance on outcomes of bloodstream infection caused by Enterobacteriaceae in low-income and middle-income countries (PANORAMA): a multinational prospective cohort study.

Background: Low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) are under-represented in reports on the burden of antimicrobial resistance. We aimed to quantify the clinical effect of carbapenem resistance on mortality and length of hospital stay among inpatients in LMICs with a bloodstream infection due to Enterobacteriaceae.

Methods: The PANORAMA study was a multinational prospective cohort study at tertiary hospitals in Bangladesh, Colombia, Egypt, Ghana, India, Lebanon, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Vietnam, recruiting consecutively diagnosed patients with carbapenem-susceptible Enterobacteriaceae (CSE) and carbapenem-resistant Entero-bacteriaceae (CRE) bloodstream infections.

The Impacts of Ramadan Intermittent Fasting on Oxidant/Antioxidant Stress Biomarkers of Stable Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Male Patients.

No prior study has evaluated the impacts of Ramadan intermittent fasting (RIF) on oxidant/antioxidant stress (OS/AOS) biomarkers in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The aim of this study was to assess the impacts of RIF on some OS/AOS biomarkers measured in male patients with stable COPD. Fifteen COPD patients (mean age: 71 ± 6 years) fasting Ramadan in 2017 volunteered to take part in the study.

Comparison of Periodontal Status Between Male Exclusive Narghile Smokers and Male Exclusive Cigarette Smokers.

Studies evaluating the effects of narghile use on the periodontium present conflicting conclusions. This study aimed to compare the periodontal status of exclusive narghile smokers (ENSs, n = 74) to that of exclusive cigarette smokers (ECSs, n = 74). Males aged 20-40 years were recruited to participate in this comparative study.

Pipeline for Distal Cerebral Circulation Aneurysms.

Background: Pipeline embolization device (PED; Medtronic, Dublin, Ireland) utilization is not limited to the treatment of giant wide-necked aneurysms. It has been expanded to handle small blisters, fusiforms, and dissecting intracranial aneurysms.

Objective: To report the use of the PED in various off-label distal cerebral circulation (DCC) arteries with a follow-up to assess clinical outcomes.

Rapid and complete response to idelalisib in a case of Richter syndrome.

Richter syndrome (RS) is an aggressive lymphoma arising on the back of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)/small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) and is the most common B-cell malignancy in the Western world. In the majority of cases, RS presents an activated B cell (ABC) phenotype of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). From the therapeutic point of view, selective inhibition of PI3Kδ with idelalisib represents a valuable addition to available treatment options for patients with CLL/SLL, many of whom do not respond to or cannot tolerate chemoimmunotherapy.

A single simple position for ultrasound assessment of both common extensor and common flexor origin at the elbow.

Objective: Is to evaluate the simplicity of 90° flexion/neutral position for ultrasonography assessment of both common extensor and common flexor origins in comparison with the standard position.

Material And Methods: A standard questionnaire was distributed on 50 trainees, rheumatologists with No previous experience or training in ultrasonography. (They) were attending musculoskeletal training workshops at AL-Azhar rheumatology department musculoskeletal ultrasonography unit in 2016.

Biochemical Data and Metabolic Profiles of Male Exclusive Narghile Smokers (ENSs) Compared With Apparently Healthy Nonsmokers (AHNSs).

Studies evaluating the metabolic profiles of ENSs are scarce and presented controversial conclusions. This study aimed to compare the metabolic profiles of ENSs' and AHNSs' groups. Males aged 25-45 years and free from a known history of metabolic and/or cardiovascular diseases were included.

The Experience With Flow Diverters in the Treatment of Posterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery Aneurysms.

Background: The use of the pipeline embolization device (PED; Medtronic, Dublin, Ireland) in the posterior circulation has been limited and infrequently reported compared to other off-label utilizations. Posterior inferior cerebellar artery aneurysms (PICAA) constitute 1 of the least reported posterior circulation aneurysms treated with PED. No clinical studies have addressed the treatment of these aneurysms with flow diversion exclusively.

Smoking behavior among students of health sciences at the university of Monastir (Tunisia).

Objective: Measure the prevalence of smoking among students of health sciences Faculties in Monastir (Tunisia) and identify factors associated with smoking behavior.

Methods: A cross-sectional study based on a self-administered questionnaire conducted among students registered in their second, fourth and sixth year at the Faculties of Medicine and Pharmacy in Monastir, in 2013. Smoker was the subject who, at the time of the survey, smoked at least one cigarette per day.

The regulatory capacity of B cells directs the aggressiveness of CLL.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is associated with abnormal T-cell responses responsible for defective anti-tumor activities. Intriguingly, CLL B cells share phenotypical characteristics with regulatory B (Breg) cells suggesting that they might negatively control the T-cell activation and immune responses. We elaborated an co-culture system with T cells to evaluate the Breg capacities of CLL B cells following innate Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) engagement.

17p deletion strongly influences rituximab elimination in chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most common type of leukemia and the anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, rituximab, represents the therapeutic gold standard for more than 2 decades in this pathology, when used in combination with chemotherapy. However, some patients experience treatment resistance or rapid relapses, and in particular, those harboring a 17p/TP53 deletion (del(17p)). This resistance could be explained by a chemo-resistance, but it could also result from the direct impact of del(17p) on the pharmacokinetics of rituximab, which represents the aim of the present study.

Correlation between pre-admission blood pressure and outcome in a large telestroke cohort.

Background: Telemedicine rapidly connects patients, with acute ischemic stroke symptoms, with neurovascular specialists for assessment to reduce chemical thrombolysis delivery times. Management of AIS includes maintaining target systolic blood pressures (SBP). In this retrospective study, we assess the efficacy of the telestroke (TS) system at a primary stroke center and the prognostic value of SBP throughout the transportation process.

Understanding of plagiarism among North-African university hospital doctors (UHDs): A pilot study.

No previous North-African study has evaluated the UHDs understanding of plagiarism (UP). This descriptive study aimed to assess UP among Tunisian UHDs. UHDs were recruited via electronic mails sent to all the Tunisian UHDs through the national health networks and by convenience sampling via a questionnaire provided directly to some UHDs.

Basics on the use of acid-sensing ion channels' inhibitors as therapeutics.

Since the discovery of acid-sensing ion channels in 1997, their importance in the health of neurons and other non-neuronal cells has gained significant importance. Acid-sensing ion channels play important roles in mediating pain sensation during diseases such as stroke, inflammation, arthritis, cancer, and recently migraine. More interestingly, acid-sensing ion channels may explain the sex differences in pain between males and females.

Measurements and correlations in solution-state for charge transfer products caused from the 1:2 complexation of TCNE acceptor with several important drugs.

In our previous work, we highlighted the thermodynamic and spectroscopic characteristics of the 1:1 charge transfer (CT) complexation of TCNE acceptor with various medically important drugs. Continuing that work, we further examine drugs that react with the TCNE acceptor via a 1:2 interaction. The examined drugs are atenolol, quinidine, cimetidine, reserpine, and levofloxacin.

Cardiotoxicity and myocardial infarction-associated DNA damage induced by thiamethoxam in vitro and in vivo: Protective role of Trigonella foenum-graecum seed-derived polysaccharide.

The risk of pesticides on the human health and environment has drawn increasing attention. Today, new tools are developed to reduce pesticide adverse effects. This study aimed to evaluate the toxicity induced by, thiamethoxam (TMX), and the cytoprotective effect of a novel polysaccharide, named fenugreek seed water polysaccharide (FWEP) in vitro using H9c2 cardiomyoblastes and in vivo using Wistar rat model.

Standard cross-linking versus photorefractive keratectomy combined with accelerated cross-linking for keratoconus management: a comparative study.

Purpose: To compare the safety and efficacy of standard 30 min epithelium-off cross-linking (CXL) versus photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) combined with accelerated epithelium-off cross-linking (AXL) for the treatment of progressive keratoconus (CXL-Plus).

Methods: This study was a prospective multicentre comparative clinical study. A total of 125 eyes of 75 patients with grade 1 keratoconus and documented progression were divided into two groups.

Pipeline-assisted coiling versus pipeline in flow diversion treatment of intracranial aneurysms.

Background And Purpose: Flow-diversion therapy (FDT) for large and complex intracranial aneurysms is effective and considered superior to primary coil embolization. Data evaluating common treatment with both FDT and coiling continues to emerge, but information on outcomes remains scarce. This study aims to examine further the efficiency and outcomes correlated with joint FDT using pipeline embolization device (PED) and coiling compared to PED-alone in treating intracranial aneurysms.

Factors associated with Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine recommendation by physicians in Lebanon, a cross-sectional study.

Persistent Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) infection is associated with the development of cervical cancer, a leading cause of female death worldwide. In Lebanon, cervical cancer is the 6th most common cancer amongst girls and women aged 14-44 years. Cervical cancer is preventable through HPV vaccination; however, Lebanon does not include HPV vaccination in its national routine vaccination schedule.