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.

Nasopharyngeal Carriage of in Tunisian Healthy under-Five Children during a Three-Year Survey Period (2020 to 2022).

We aimed to assess the prevalence of nasopharyngeal pneumococcal carriage and to determine serotype distribution, antibiotic susceptibility patterns, and evolutionary dynamics of isolates in healthy under-five children. Nasopharyngeal swabs were collected from healthy children over three survey periods between 2020 and 2022. All pneumococcal isolates were serotyped and tested for antimicrobial susceptibility.

Catheterized chicken for training on ultrasound-guided vascular access: A simple, cost-effective, and effective model.

Ultrasound-guided vascular access is a medical procedure that is becoming increasingly common in daily practice and is recommended to avoid iatrogenic complications. One of the procedures with a high-risk rate of complications is the vascular puncture. However, training on this technique can be challenging due to the limited availability of simulation models.

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.

Autoimmune diseases and myelodysplastic syndromes.

Autoimmune diseases (ADs) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) may be associated in approximately 10-20% of cases. Although this association has been well recognized, it is not always easily diagnosed. The exact physiopathological mechanism involved has yet to be determined but seems to be multifactorial.

Preoperative anxiety and postoperative pain associated with cataract surgery under local anesthesia.

Introduction: Although cataract surgery is a routine outpatient surgery, anxiety and pain remain two significant concerns seen in patients.

Aim: To describe preoperative anxiety and postoperative pain related to cataract surgery under local anesthesia and identify the factors determining their occurrence.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical, study which included patients who underwent cataract surgery for the first eye in the ophthalmology department of Habib Bourguiba University Hospital in Sfax-Tunisia.

The accessory vascularization of the tensor fasciae latae muscle: towards a new classification?

Purpose: The tensor fasciae latae (TFL) muscle is supplied by the lateral femoral circumflex artery (LCFA), arising from the deep femoral artery. However, it has been noted that there is also a consistent vascular anastomotic network. The aim of this study was to describe the accessory vascularization of the TFL muscle through a descriptive anatomical study, in order to hypothesize the feasibility of harvesting a TFL flap in the event of an injury to the main pedicle.

The association between Dental Fluorosis and COL1A2 gene polymorphism among a Tunisian Population.

Dental fluorosis (DF) is a prevalent developmental defect of tooth enamel caused by exposure to excessive fluoride, with the severity dependent on various factors. This study aimed to investigate the association between DF and a specific genetic polymorphism (rs412777) in the COL1A2 gene among a Tunisian population. A case-control study was conducted from July to November 2022, involving a total of 95 participants including 51 cases and 44 controls.

Nurse-led home-based detection of cardiac dysfunction by ultrasound: results of the CUMIN pilot study.

Aims: Access to echocardiography is a significant barrier to heart failure (HF) care in many low- and middle-income countries. In this study, we hypothesized that an artificial intelligence (AI)-enhanced point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) device could enable the detection of cardiac dysfunction by nurses in Tunisia.

Methods And Results: This CUMIN study was a prospective feasibility pilot assessing the diagnostic accuracy of home-based AI-POCUS for HF conducted by novice nurses compared with conventional clinic-based transthoracic echocardiography (TTE).

Analysis of disease characteristics of a large patient cohort with congenital generalized lipodystrophy from the Middle East and North Africa.

Background: Congenital generalized lipodystrophy (CGL) is a rare inherited disease characterized by a near-total absence of adipose tissue and is associated with organ system abnormalities and severe metabolic complications. Here, we have analyzed the disease characteristics of the largest CGL cohort from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) who have not received lipodystrophy-specific treatment.

Methods: CGL was diagnosed clinically by treating physicians through physical assessment and supported by genetic analysis, fat loss patterns, family history, and the presence of parental consanguinity.

A rare ocular manifestation of mycoplasma pneumoniae infection.

Introduction: Ocular manifestations of Mycoplasma Pneumoniae infection are rare. We present a case of Mycoplasma Pneumoniae infection revealed by a recurrent retro-bulbar optic neuritis.

Case Description: A 38-year-old woman, initially treated for a typical retro-bulbar optic neuritis of the right eye with corticosteroid therapy at high doses, presented for a recurrent decreased vision in the same eye, associated with blepharospasm and conjunctival hyperemia.

Pleomorphic carcinoma of the lung revealed by uncommon colonic metastasis: An exceptional case report with literature review.

Lung pleomorphic carcinoma is a rare and aggressive cancer that uncommonly metastasizes to the colon and only a few case reports have been published thus far. We present an exceptional case of colon metastasis from lung pleomorphic carcinoma in a 68-year-old man which was revealed by large bowel perforation, and we review the previous three published cases. Metastasis to the bowel from primary lung malignancy often lacks specific symptoms which result in delayed diagnosis.

Systemic and Ocular Manifestations of Arboviral Infections: A Review.

Purpose: To provide an overview of pre-selected emerging arboviruses (arthropod-borne viruses) that cause ocular inflammation in humans.

Methods: A comprehensive review of the literature published between 1997 and 2023 was conducted in PubMed database. We describe current insights into epidemiology, systemic and ocular manifestations, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of arboviral diseases including West Nile fever, Dengue fever, Chikungunya, Rift Valley fever, Zika, and Yellow fever.

Traumatic uterine rupture: A rare complication of vehicle accidents.

The rupture of the gravid uterus is a rare complication of trauma. It is reported in less than one percent of pregnant women who are victims of road accidents. The authors report the case of a 26-year-old nulliparous patient presented with a uterine rupture resulting in fetal death at 32 weeks of gestation following a nonpenetrating abdominal trauma in a road traffic accident.

Effects of a nighttime melatonin ingestion on dynamic postural balance and muscle strength the following morning in people living with multiple sclerosis: A preliminary study.

Background: Decreased endogenous melatonin concentrations in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) are associated with fatigue and pain that impair postural balance and muscle strength. Melatonin ingestion had analgesic and anti-fatigue effects. However, the acute effect of exogenous melatonin on dynamic postural stability and muscle strength has not been studied yet in PwMS.

Severe Hypernatremia During Hydatid Cyst Surgery: An Anusual Cause Of Acute Abdomen.

Treatment of liver hydatid cysts is still in most cases surgical. To avoid the recurrence of hydatid cysts injection of scolicidal products inside the cystic cavity is an important step in the surgical procedure. Many scolicidal solutions are used.

Infrequent patterns in cerebrospinal fluid isofocusing test: Clinical significance and contribution of IgG index and Reiber diagram to their interpretation.

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) isoelectrofocusing (IEF) is considered as the gold standard for detecting an intrathecal synthesis of IgG, which is a hallmark of multiple sclerosis (MS). This corresponds to the presence of CSF-restricted IgG oligoclonal bands (OCB) (typically type 2 pattern). Moreover, this technique can also detect a systemic immune reaction with passive transfer of IgG (type 3 and 4 patterns) for which the clinical relevance is less understood.

Mild limb girdle muscular dystrophy R9 phenotype caused by novel compound heterozygous FKRP gene mutation.

Fukutin-related protein (FKRP) mutations cause a broad spectrum of muscular dystrophies, from a relatively mild limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 9 (LGMDR9) to severe congenital muscular dystrophy (CMD). This study aims to report two siblings belonging to a non-consanguineous Tunisian family harboring a novel compound heterozygous variant and presenting a mild LGDMR9 phenotype. For mutation screening, massive parallel sequencing was performed, followed by Sanger sequencing and multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) to validate the existence of the discovered variants.

Pericapsular nerve group block versus fascia iliaca block for perioperative analgesia in hip fracture surgery: a prospective randomized trial.

The aim of our study was to evaluate the efficacy of the pericapsular nerve group block (PENG) versus the supra-inguinal fascia iliaca compartment block (SI-FICB) to improve analgesia during positioning for spinal anesthesia (SA) for hip fracture surgery. We conducted a prospective randomized clinical trial involving patients who will undergo hip fracture surgery under SA and randomized into two groups: the PENG group: patients who received PENG block with 10 ml of 0.25% bupivacaine and 10 ml of 2% lidocaine and the SI-FICB group: patients who received SI-FICB block with the same solution.

Clinical and therapeutic characteristics of childhood uveitis in a tertiary center in Tunisia.

Introduction: Childhood uveitis is a rare condition with various associated diagnostic and therapeutic challenges.

Aim: We proposed to describe the distribution, clinical findings, treatment, complications, and visual outcomes of uveitis in children at a tertiary referral center in Sfax, Tunisia.

Methods: A retrospective study of 33 children (54 eyes) with uveitis collected over the period from January 2009 to December 2018 was carried out at the Ophthalmology Department of Habib Bourguiba University Hospital, Sfax, Tunisia.

RANKL, OPG, and RUNX2 expression and epigenetic modifications in giant cell tumour of bone in 32 patients.

Aims: The present study investigated receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-Β ligand (RANKL), osteoprotegerin (OPG), and Runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2) gene expressions in giant cell tumour of bone (GCTB) patients in relationship with tumour recurrence. We also aimed to investigate the influence of CpG methylation on the transcriptional levels of RANKL and OPG.

Methods: A total of 32 GCTB tissue samples were analyzed, and the expression of RANKL, OPG, and RUNX2 was evaluated by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR).

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on breast cancer pathological stage at diagnosis in Tunisian patients.

Background: Breast cancer (BC) patients' diagnosis and management was affected by a global reorganization after the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Our study aimed to assess the impact of the pandemic on the pathological stage of newly diagnosed patients with BC compared to pre-pandemic and to identify predictive factors of tumor advanced stage.

Methods: Pathological records of all consecutive newly operated BC patients between March 2020 and December 2021 were reviewed retrospectively.

Ketamine infiltration improves analgesia after thyroid surgery.

Postoperative pain increases the risk of postoperative complications and may predispose patients to chronic post-surgical pain. This study aims to evaluate the impact of ketamine wound infiltration versus placebo at the end of thyroid surgery on postoperative pain and analgesic requirements. In this randomized controlled trial, we prospectively studied patients who underwent thyroid surgery.

Pregnancy-Related Recurrent Benign Goiter With Intratracheal Extension.

This report describes the unique case of a 37-year-old pregnant patient with a history of total thyroidectomy who presented worsening dyspnea due to a recurrent benign goiter. The goiter grew through the tracheal wall and narrowed the tracheal lumen. After unsuccessful treatment with bronchodilators and corticosteroids, the patient underwent an emergency tracheostomy and cesarean section.