Can Digital Technologies Be Useful for Weight Loss in Individuals with Overweight or Obesity? A Systematic Review.

Digital technologies have greatly developed and impacted several aspects of life, including health and lifestyle. Activity tracking, mobile applications, and devices may also provide messages and goals to motivate adopting healthy behaviors, namely physical activity and dietary changes. This review aimed to assess the effectiveness of digital resources in supporting behavior changes, and thus influencing weight loss, in people with overweight or obesity.

Psychometric evaluation of the Arabic language version of the Birchwood Insight Scale in patients with schizophrenia.

Background: Clinical insight (i.e., impaired insight into illness) is increasingly recognized by the scientific community as a significant contributor to an array of psychological and clinical outcomes in schizophrenia.

A Longitudinal Study in Tunisia to Assess the Anti-RBD IgG and IgA Responses Induced by Three Different COVID-19 Vaccine Platforms.

Background: Vaccination constitutes the best strategy against COVID-19. In Tunisia, seven vaccines standing for the three main platforms, namely RNA, viral vector, and inactivated vaccines, have been used to vaccinate the population at a large scale. This study aimed to assess, in our setting, the kinetics of vaccine-induced anti-RBD IgG and IgA antibody responses.

Impact of IL-10 gene promoter polymorphisms on treatment response in HCV patients: A systematic review, a meta-analysis, and a meta-regression.

The impact of interleukin-10 (IL-10) gene promoter polymorphisms (SNPs) on treatment response in HCV patients was dissimilarly estimated. Hence, the aim of this meta-analysis was to robustly assess the effect of IL-10 SNPs on treatment response in HCV patients. An electronic literature search was carried out through PubMed, EMBASE, Web of science, and Scopus databases.

Surgical management of a proximal splenic artery aneurysm: A case report.

Introduction And Importance: Splenic artery aneurysms (SAA's) pose a rare yet clinically significant challenge, characterized by the weakening and ballooning of the splenic artery, potentially leading to severe complications such as rupture and hemorrhage.

Case Presentation: A 52-year-old female presenting with biliary colic. Diagnostic imaging revealed a saccular lesion closely associated with gallstones.

Pleural migration of biliary stent 10 years following treatment of hepatic hydatic echinococcosis: A case report.

Introduction: Echinococcosis, caused by larval stages of taeniid cestodes, primarily affects the liver and is commonly treated surgically. However, a complication post-treatment is biliary fistula, necessitating interventions like biliary stents. While stent complications are recognized, proximal migration leading to pneumonia is exceptionally rare.

Psychometric properties of the Arabic version of the intolerance of uncertainty scale: a multinational study.

Introduction: It is common for people to experience anxiety when contemplating their unknown future. Studies have shown that those who tend to worry more about their future are more likely to be intolerant of uncertainty. In order to study the way people from the Middle East tackle uncertainty, a valid and reliable scale is needed.

The multifaceted musculoskeletal hydatid disease.

Musculoskeletal hydatid disease is rare and can be located anywhere but most commonly the bone and muscles of the spine, pelvis, then the lower limbs. Imaging is essential for its diagnosis, performing the pre-therapeutic assessment, guiding possible percutaneous treatments, and providing post-therapeutic follow-up. Musculoskeletal hydatidosis can take several forms that may suggest other infections and tumors or pseudotumors.

Drainage of tuberculous pneumothorax in a Northern African country: Characteristics and difficulties.

Introduction-aim: Tuberculous pneumothorax (TP) is a serious complication of cavitary pulmonary tuberculosis. The aim of this study was to identify TP drainage characteristics and difficulties.

Methods: This was a retrospective multicenter study of patients hospitalized for TP between 1999 and 2021 in three hospitals from Tunis (Tunisia): Abderahmen Mami, La Rabta, and Charles Nicolle.

Ovarian mass in a patient with invasive breast carcinoma: A case report of an unexpected diagnosis.

Introduction: Ovarian steroid cell tumors not otherwise specified (OSCT-NOS) are extremely rare ovarian sex cord stromal tumors, accounting for <0.1 % of all ovarian tumors. In 25 % of cases, they are asymptomatic leading to a delay in diagnosis.

Intrauterine device migration resulting in acute appendicitis: A case report.

Introduction And Importance: The Intrauterine Contraceptive Device (IUD), a widely used contraceptive since 1965, has demonstrated efficacy but is associated with complications such as bleeding, pain, and rare occurrences of perforation. This case report details an IUD migration into the peritoneal cavity, leading to acute appendicitis.

Case Presentation: A 33-year-old woman, with a history of IUD insertion 16 months prior, presented with pelvic pain.

Association between textual and pictorial warnings on tumbac (waterpipe tobacco) boxes and motivation to quit waterpipe smoking among Lebanese and Iraqi adolescents.

Background: Waterpipe tobacco smoking has increased tremendously at a global level among all age groups, particularly young people. Previous studies have examined the impact of waterpipe tobacco pictorial health warnings on adults but scarce studies were done on adolescents. The aim of this study was to assess the association of textual versus pictorial warnings on tumbac boxes and the motivation to quit waterpipe smoking among adolescents located in two Eastern Mediterranean countries Lebanon and Iraq.

Concurrent NRAS-BRAF variants in metastatic colorectal cancer: a Tunisian case report.

Target therapy for metastatic colorectal cancer needs the determination of KRAS, NRAS, and BRAF mutation status to identify patients resistant to anti-EGFR treatment. RAS genes (KRAS/NRAS) are mutated in 40-60% of metastatic colorectal cancer and BRAF in 5-10%. The presence of a double mutation in RAS and BRAF is rare.

Bouveret Syndrome: A rare form of gallstone ileus a case report.

Introduction And Importance: Bouveret Syndrome, a rare form of gallstone ileus, involves the migration and impaction of a gallstone in the duodenum or stomach, causing gastric outlet obstruction. Early intervention and a comprehensive care plan are essential for favorable outcomes.

Case Presentation: This article presents a case of an 82-year-old female with a history of coronary artery disease and untreated gallstones.

An ode to multidisciplinarity: the 'Bacteria Orchestrate Life' international meeting.

If scientists stick to their research expertise without collaborating with other experts in different fields, it could stall the progress of their work in a world where interdisciplinary thinking and working should be second nature. Biologists are at the forefront of this trend. That is why a consortium formed by the faculty of sciences of Tunis El Manar University, Tunisia, the GetGenome Foundation and Learn and Win, decided to organise an international conference on bacteria, a perfect field for multidisciplinarity.

Imaging of supra-thoracic tuberculosis.

Tuberculosis (TB) typically affects the lungs, but may involve many extra-pulmonary sites; with the latter especially prone in patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection. The clinical features of extra-pulmonary TB are often non-specific, mimicking many different disease entities. Application of the most appropriate imaging modality and knowing the imaging findings with clinical context awareness help initiation of further investigations, diagnosis and early treatment.

Ovarian hemangioma: Differential diagnosis of ovarian cancer.

Introduction And Importance: Ovarian cavernous hemangioma is a rare benign vascular tumor primarily found as either an isolated ovarian mass or as diffuse abdominopelvic hemangiomatosis. Its discovery is often incidental, but symptomatic presentations can occur, including ovarian torsion, can occur without any specification.

Case Presentation: We present the case of a 55-year-old menopausal woman with chronic pelvic pain.

Moderating effect of work fatigue on the association between resilience and posttraumatic stress symptoms: a cross-sectional multi-country study among pharmacists during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Introduction: In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, pharmacists, despite their vital contributions, have faced significant challenges that have impacted their mental well-being, potentially leading to the development of Post-Traumatic Stress symptoms (PTSS). The aim of this study was to investigate the role of work-related fatigue as a potential moderator in the relationship between pharmacists' resilience and their likelihood of experiencing PTSS during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted online in eight countries from January to December 2021, including Brazil, Lebanon, Nigeria, Pakistan, Poland, Serbia, and Tunisia.

Path analysis of the role of coping strategies between emotional intelligence and lifestyle habits during COVID-19 lockdown.

The relationship between Emotional Intelligence (EI) and lifestyle choices during the COVID-19 pandemic is obscure and not very well understood. To clarify the mechanisms underlying this relationship, we proposed to test the hypothesis that different coping styles (avoidant and approach) have an indirect effect on the association between EI and many types of lifestyle habits. A cross-sectional study was conducted between December 2020 and January 2021.

French validation of the barriers to access to care evaluation (BACE-3) scale.

Background: The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate a French version of the Barriers to Access to Care Evaluation (BACE-3) scale that is tailored to the socio-cultural and language setting of the study.

Methods: The translation of the BACE-3 into French and its validation were the two key components of this psychometric investigation. An online survey was created and circulated to French-speaking participants who volunteered to participate in the study.