Association of ABO Gene rs2073823 Polymorphism with Microvascular Complications, sP-Selectin Levels and Lipid Profile in Type 2 Diabetes.

Introduction: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a prevalent metabolic disorder linked to chronic inflammation and endothelial dysfunction, which contributes to the development of microvascular complications (MVCs) such as diabetic retinopathy (DR) and diabetic neuropathy (DN). Genetic factors, including variations in the ABO gene, may influence these complications. This study aimed to investigate the association between the ABO rs2073823 polymorphism and the risk of MVCs in patients with T2D, as well as its impact on inflammatory biomarkers, endothelial markers, and lipid profiles.

Chronic total occlusion- Percutaneous coronary intervention (CTO-PCI) experience in a single, multi-operator Tunisian center : A Five-Year Report.

Introduction: In recent years, advancements in chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) have been notable, improving procedural techniques, imaging, and management of complications.

Aim: We sought to assess the performance and the practice of a high-volume Tunisian PCI center in treating patients with a CTO.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated data from consecutive CTO patients who underwent percutaneous revascularization from October 2019 to January 2024 at the cardiology department of Habib Thameur Teaching Hospital, Tunisia.

Tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion/pulmonary arterial systolic pressure ratio as a predictor of outcome in acute heart failure.

Unlabelled: Introduction Acute heart failure (AHF) is a life-threatening condition that requires swift diagnosis and tailored management to enhance patient outcomes. In the pursuit of more precise prognostic indicators, Tricuspid Annular Plane Systolic Excursion (TAPSE) and Pulmonary Arterial Systolic Pressure (PASP) have emerged as potential significant advancements. The TAPSE/PASP ratio, a novel parameter, has recently gained attention as a promising predictor of outcomes in acute heart failure.

Comparison of Mesotherapy and Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) in the Management of Chronic Non-Specific Low Back Pain: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Unlabelled: Introduction-Aim: Chronic low back pain affects 80% of individuals at some point in their lives and has significant socioeconomic impacts. This study aims to compare the efficacy of mesotherapy with transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) in treating chronic low back pain.

Methods: A randomized bicentric study was conducted at the Military Hospital of Tunis and the Multidisciplinary Military Polyclinic of Mefeteh Saadallah between August 2023 and June 2024.

Student interest and perception of ethical reasoning learning: Insights from medical education.

Introduction: Medical ethics teaching is one of the pillars of medical education. Ethical reasoning learning (ERL) is one of the means of teaching medical ethics.

Objective: The aim of our study was to evaluate the pedagogical interest and the students' perceptions of ERL in directed teaching in internal medicine among fifth-year students.

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Aim: To elaborate Tunisian recommendations for the therapeutic management in current practice of patients with spondyloarthritis who are candidates for treatment with a biological agent.

Methods: Following the standardized procedures of the INEAS (Instance Nationale de l'Evaluation et de l'Accréditation en Santé) and in collaboration with the LITAR (Tunisian League against Rheumatism), a systematic review of the literature, carried out by 6 rheumatologists, based on the questions individualized by the working group (15 expert rheumatologists), served as the basis for the working meetings, with determination of the strength of the recommendations and the degree of agreement of the experts. The recommendations were validated by an independent reading group comprising 19 experts from various related specialties.

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Aim: To develop good practice recommendations (GPR) for the therapeutic management of patients with spondyloarthritis (SpA), including psoriatic arthritis.

Methods: Following standardised procedures, a systematic review of the literature was carried out on non-pharmacological and non-biological pharmacological treatments for SpA. The review was based on questions defined by a working group of 15 rheumatologists.

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Unlabelled: Advancements in understanding SpA have greatly improved patient quality of life through early detection and effective treatment. However, non-specialist physicians often face challenges in identifying the early symptoms of SpA.

Aim: This study aims to assist healthcare practitioners in the early detection of SpA and to streamline management strategies by employing a standardized assessment protocol for adult patients with SpA.

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This framework was developed under the auspices of the Tunisian League Against Rheumatism (LITAR), coordinated by a project leader. The primary objective is to formulate recommendations for the management of spondyloarthritis, grounded in the development of questions structured according to the PICO model. This model defines four essential elements of a clinical question: P: Patient or Population or Problem, I: Intervention (the proposed action), C: Comparison (between diagnostic tests, treatments, etc.

High performance COVID-19 screening using machine learning.

Since the World Health Organization declared the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic as an international concern of public health emergency in the early 2020, several strategies have been initiated in many countries to prevent healthcare services breakdown and collapse of healthcare structures. The most important strategy was the increased testing, diagnosis, isolation, contact tracing to identify, quarantine and test close contacts. In this context, finding a rapid, reliable and affordable tool for COVID-19 screening was the main challenge to address the pandemic.

Extensive elastofibroma dorsi with scapulo-thoracic involvement in a male laborer: A case report.

Introduction And Importance: Elastofibroma dorsi is a rare benign soft tissue lesion primarily located in the subscapular region. This distinctive lesion, with its unique radiological and histological features, poses diagnostic challenges due to its subtle presentation and overlap with other conditions.

Case Presentation: A 48-year-old man, manual laborer with an unremarkable medical history presented with a progressively enlarging mass below the right scapula over two years.

Perforated Meckel diverticulitis: Diagnostic challenges and surgical outcomes.

Meckel's diverticulum, a congenital anomaly of the omphalomesenteric duct, is a rare cause of acute abdomen and poses significant diagnostic challenges due to its variable presentation and complications such as perforation. We present the case of a 19-year-old male with a 24-hour history of right iliac fossa pain progressing to generalized abdominal tenderness. Laboratory results showed leukocytosis and elevated C-reactive protein, while CT imaging suggested pneumoperitoneum and an inflamed Meckel diverticulum.

SARS-CoV-2 excretion and genetic evolution in nasopharyngeal and stool samples from primary immunodeficiency and immunocompetent pediatric patients.

Background: Primary Immunodeficiency disorders (PID) can increase the risk of severe COVID-19 and prolonged infection. This study investigates the duration of SARS-CoV-2 excretion and the genetic evolution of the virus in pediatric PID patients as compared to immunocompetent (IC) patients.

Materials And Methods: A total of 40 nasopharyngeal and 24 stool samples were obtained from five PID and ten IC children.

High-Intensity Interval Training Reduces Liver Enzyme Levels and Improves MASLD-Related Biomarkers in Overweight/Obese Girls.

Background/objectives: Despite the abundant body of evidence linking high-intensity interval training (HIIT) to cardiometabolic markers, little is known about how HIIT affects liver enzymes, particularly in obese adolescents. This study aimed to investigate the effects of HIIT on metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD)-related biomarkers in overweight/obese adolescent girls.

Methods: Thirty-three overweight/obese adolescent girls (age, 17.

Comparative Analysis of Serum BAFF and IL-17 Levels Pre- and Post-Antipsychotic Treatment for Acute Schizophrenia.

The interplay between the cytokine network and antipsychotic treatment in schizophrenia remains poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the impact of psychotropic medications on serum levels of IFN-γ, IL-4, TGF-β1, IL-17, and BAFF, and to explore their relationship with psychopathological features. We recruited 63 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia in the acute phase, all of whom were either drug-naïve or had been drug-free for at least three months.

Bio-concentration of hazardous metals in migrant shorebirds in a key conservation reserve and adjoining areas on the west coast of India.

Heavy metal pollution is a growing environmental concern as it causes the degradation of wetlands by affecting the organisms at different trophic levels. Shorebirds typically feed on benthic invertebrates including polychaete worms, crustaceans and molluscs. Thus, the assessment of bioconcentration of heavy metals in shorebirds provides an insight into the extent of bioaccumulation of these hazardous metals in the upper trophic levels.

Impact of Pediatric Posterior Fossa Tumor Treatments on Working Memory Tracts Using Resting-State fMRI and Tractography.

Background And Purpose: Working memory, a primary cognitive domain, is often impaired in pediatric brain tumor survivors, affecting their attention and processing speed. This study investigated the long-term effects of treatments, including surgery, radiotherapy (RT), and chemotherapy (CT), on working memory tracts in children with posterior fossa tumors (PFTs) using resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) and diffusion MRI tractography.

Methods: This study included 16 medulloblastoma (MB) survivors treated with postoperative RT and CT, 14 pilocytic astrocytoma (PA) survivors treated with surgery alone, and 16 healthy controls from the Imaging Memory after Pediatric Cancer in children, adolescents, and young adults study (NCT04324450).

Chemical characterization and evaluation of antiviral activity of two fucoidans extracted from Mediterranean brown seaweeds, Padina pavonica and Dictyopteris membranacea.

Brown seaweeds are known for their bioactive compounds, particularly sulfated polysaccharides such as fucoidans, which have demonstrated antiviral properties. However, limited studies have focused on the antiviral potential of fucoidans extracted from Mediterranean brown seaweeds. In this study, two brown seaweeds Padina pavonica and Dictyopteris membranacea (Fuc-Pad and Fuc-Dic) were collected from monastir coasts, Tunisia, and a specific extraction protocol was employed to obtain fucoidans.

Invasive Infections in Children in Vaccine Era: Phenotypic and Genotypic Characterization Tunis, Tunisia.

The changing epidemiological profile of invasive infections (IIHi) is noted in the post-vaccination era. The aim of this study was to characterize phenotypically and genotypically invasive (Hi) isolates detected in Tunisian pediatric patients. A retrospective study was conducted in the microbiology laboratory of the Children's Hospital of Tunis over ten years (2013-2023).

Mass Spectrometric Based Metabolomics of the Saudi Cultivar of Fenugreek ( L.): A Combined GC-MS, Antimicrobial and Computational Approach.

In Saudi Arabia, numerous plant species with promising medicinal properties are cultivated, widely traded, and commonly utilized in traditional medicine, including fenugreek (). This study aimed to comprehensively assess the phytochemical composition and antimicrobial potential of the Saudi cultivar of fenugreek using an integrative approach combining in vitro and in silico methodologies. A comprehensive investigation was conducted on the ethanol extract of fenugreek seeds, assessing its antibacterial, antifungal, properties.

Riboflavin- and Dextran-Producing FS54 B2: Characterization and Testing for Development of Fermented Plant-Based Beverages.

The use of lactic acid bacteria for developing functional foods is increasing for their ability to synthesize beneficial metabolites such as vitamin B (riboflavin, RF) and postbiotic compounds. Here, the spontaneous mutant FS54 B2 was isolated by treatment of the dextran-producing FS54 strain with roseoflavin. FS54 B2 overproduced RF (4.

Isolation and Characterization of Lytic Phages Infecting Clinical from Tunisia.

: is an opportunistic pathogen that causes a wide range of infections worldwide. The emergence and spread of multidrug-resistant clones requires the implementation of novel therapeutics, and phages are a promising approach. : In this study, two phages, KpTDp1 and KpTDp2, were isolated from wastewater samples in Tunisia.

Octadecaneuropeptide promotes the migration of astrocyte via ODN metabotropic receptor and calcium signaling pathway.

Migration is an essential characteristic of cells that occurs during many physiological and pathological processes. Astrocytes represent the most abundant cell type in the adult central nervous system (CNS), that play a crucial role in various functions such as guiding and supporting neuronal migration during development and maintaining brain homeostasis at adulthood. Astrocytes specifically synthesize and release endozepines, a family of regulatory peptides, including the octadecaneuropeptide (ODN).