Feasibility of a home-designed respiratory rehabilitation program for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: According to international guidelines, respiratory rehabilitation (RR) for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a cornerstone of standard non-pharmacological treatment.

Aims: To evaluate feasibility of a home-designed RR program and analyze its medium-term impact on respiratory parameters and quality of life.

Methods: This was a prospective study involving 74 COPD patients enrolled in January 2019 and put on inhaled bronchodilator treatment associated with RR at home following a written protocol, for 16 weeks.

Expanding the genetic spectrum of mitochondrial diseases in Tunisia: novel variants revealed by whole-exome sequencing.

Inherited mitochondrial diseases are the most common group of metabolic disorders caused by a defect in oxidative phosphorylation. They are characterized by a wide clinical and genetic spectrum and can manifest at any age. In this study, we established novel phenotype-genotype correlations between the clinical and molecular features of a cohort of Tunisian patients with mitochondrial diseases.

Co-expression of Twist and Snai1: predictor of poor prognosis and biomarker of treatment resistance in untreated prostate cancer.

Background: Prostate cancer (PCa) remains one of the most complex tumors in men. The assessment of gene expression is expected to have a profound impact on cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment decisions. The aim of this study was to determine the utility of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) transcription factors Twist and Snai1 in the treatment of naïve prostate cancer.

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Introduction: Medical education has progressed considerably. Information and communication technologies have been adopted as a learning tool.

Aim: We aimed to evaluate the contribution of an educational video in the acquisition of knowledge on the measurement of the Schöber index in young medical students.

Misdiagnosis asthma in adult, three rare causes.

Introduction: All that wheezes is not asthma. Although, asthma is the most common cause of wheeze and cough in children and adults, it is often attributed inappropriately to these symptoms from other causes.

Aim: We illustrate through this manuscript three rare causes of wheeze in adults, misdiagnosis as asthma.

Primary focal segmental glomerulosclerosis in children: epidemiology, clinical presentation and prognosis.

Introduction: Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis is a histopathological entity.

Aim: To analyze the epidemiological, clinical and histological profile of primary focal segmental glomerulosclerosis in children, as well as their prognostic factors.

Methods: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study over a period of 20 years (2001-2020), conducted in the Department of Pediatrics at Charles Nicolle Hospital in Tunis, which included children followed for primary focal segmental glomerulosclerosis.

Risk factors for sepsis and mortality in patients with emphysematous pyelonephritis : a series of 68 cases (case series).

Background: Emphysematous pyelonephritis (EPN) is a rare and severe necrotizing infection of the kidney with a high rate of complications and mortality. Our aim was to investigate risk factors of urosepsis and mortality in case of EPN.

Materials And Methods: Between January 2010 and December 2022 the charts of patients diagnosed with EPN were retrospectively reviewed.

Comorbidity of bathing suit ichthyosis and limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 2 A in a Tunisian patient revealed by Whole Exome Sequencing.

Elevated rates of consanguinity and inbreeding are responsible for the high prevalence of recessively inherited diseases among inbred populations including Tunisia. In addition, the co-occurrence of two of these conditions, called also comorbidity, within the same individual or in members of the same family are often described in Tunisia which is challenging for diagnosis. The high throughput sequencing has improved the diagnosis of inherited diseases.

Phenotype Spectrum in Tunisian Population with NPHP1 Deletion.

Introduction: Nephronophthisis (NPHP) is a tubulointerstitial kidney disorder with an autosomal recessive inheritance pattern. Its genetic heterogeneity contributes to phenotype variability. The most frequent etiology of juvenile nephronophthisis is a mutation in the nephronophthisis type 1 () gene.

Epidemiology and burden of Severe Acute Respiratory Infections (SARI) in the aftermath of COVID-19 pandemic: A prospective sentinel surveillance study in a Tunisian Medical ICU, 2022/2023.

Background: Severe Acute Respiratory Infections (SARI) caused by influenza and other respiratory viruses pose significant global health challenges, and the COVID-19 pandemic has further strained healthcare systems. As the focus shifts from the pandemic to other respiratory infections, assessing the epidemiology and burden of SARI is crucial for healthcare planning and resource allocation. Aim: to understand the impact of the post-pandemic period on the epidemiology of SARI cases, clinical outcomes, and healthcare resource utilization in Tunisia.

Predicting long-term outcomes of kidney transplantation in the era of artificial intelligence.

The ability to accurately predict long-term kidney transplant survival can assist nephrologists in making therapeutic decisions. However, predicting kidney transplantation (KT) outcomes is challenging due to the complexity of the factors involved. Artificial intelligence (AI) has become an increasingly important tool in the prediction of medical outcomes.

Evaluation of the efficacy of sacral neuromodulation in the treatment of voiding dysfunction after endometriosis surgery.

Pelvic surgery for endometriosis is associated with a risk of bladder and digestive sequelae. Sacral neuromodulation (SNM) has been shown to be effective in the treatment of overactive bladder (OAB) and voiding dysfunction (VD). This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of sacral neuromodulation (SNM) in treating voiding dysfunction (VD) following endometriosis surgery.

A cadaveric anatomical study of the adrenals: vascular relationship.

The adrenal gland is a retroperitoneal organ with intimate relationships with neighboring organs but also with the large retroperitoneal vessels. Our aim was to study the vascular relationships of the adrenal gland with the large abdominal vessels. Our work is an anatomical dissection of 80 fresh cadaveric adrenals.

Isolated ureteral injury from multiple stab wounds: A case report.

This is a case report about a 44-year-old woman who sustained multiple stab wounds, resulting in an isolated right ureteral injury. Despite a precise diagnosis from an urgent CT scan showing contrast material extravasation, the patient's stable vital signs allowed for a thorough surgical exploration, leading to an accurate diagnosis. Immediate surgical repair of the right ureter using an end-to-end anastomosis following precise surgical principles achieved complete restoration of the initial injuries.

Uncovering the Spectrum of Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis: A Nephrology Department's Analysis of 14 Cases.

Introduction: Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a disease of multi-organ dysfunction due to excessive immune activation causing widespread inflammation and tissue destruction. It is a severe condition associated with high morbidity and mortality. Early identification is crucial for prompt treatment.

Acute cholecystitis in pregnant women: A therapeutic challenge in a developing country center.

Backgrounds/aims: Acute cholecystitis is a rare condition in pregnant women, potentially affecting the maternal and fetal prognosis. Our aim was to report the main clinical and paraclinical features of acute cholecystitis during pregnancy and therapeutic modalities.

Methods: We conducted a case series analysis recording pregnant patients with acute cholecystitis admitted to our surgery department over a period of 11 years.

HBHA-IGRA and cytotoxic mediators release assays for the diagnosis of cervical tuberculous lymphadenitis.

Cervical tuberculous lymphadenitis (CTL), the most frequent extrapulmonary form of tuberculosis, is currently a major health problem in Tunisia and in several regions around the world. CTL diagnosis is challenging mainly due to the paucibacillary nature of the disease and the potential misdiagnosis as cervical non-tuberculous lymphadenitis. This study demonstrates the added value of the heparin-binding hemagglutinin-interferon-gamma release assay as an immunoassay in the context of CTL.

Organ preservation in anorectal melanoma: A tempting challenge-a case report.

Melanoma arising from melanocytes is an uncommon neoplastic lesion, with rare occurrences in anorectal mucosa. While mucosal melanomas constitute a small portion of all melanomas, anorectal cases are even rarer and present with aggressive behavior and poor prognosis. Surgical management is central, with evolving debates regarding optimal approaches.

Contrast media-induced nephropathy in Tunisia: prospective case-control study with cardio-nephrological monitoring.

Introduction: vascular opacification using iodinated contrast media (ICM) is often the primary diagnostic and therapeutic approach. However, the risk of post-injection nephrotoxicity of ICM is significantly higher in patients with underlying nephropathy. This study aimed to determine the incidence of Contrast Media Induced Nephropathy (CMIN) and identify predictive factors for its occurrence in patients from a cardiology department.

Mesenteric Arterial Thrombosis Revealing Relapse of Nephrotic Syndrome in Young Women.

Background: Nephrotic syndrome (NS) is associated with a hypercoagulable state and may be complicated by thrombotic events. Venous thrombosis is well-acknowledged, while arterial thrombosis is rather unusual.

Case Presentation: We present the case of a 20-year-old woman with a 12-year history of idiopathic NS revealed by extensive cerebral venous thrombosis with pulmonary embolism treated with anticoagulation therapy and oral corticosteroid therapy followed by mycophenolate mofetil (MMF).