The effects of cognitive behavioral therapy on selected physical, physiological parameters, exercise and nutritional behaviors in diabetic persons

OBJECTIVE Due to the high prevalence of diabetes in the world, it seems that one of the most important strategies to prevent and treat this disease are lifestyle changes. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of cognitive behavioral therapy on selected physical and psychological parameters, exercise, and nutritional behaviors in diabetic patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS This was a cross-sectional study of volunteers with type 2 diabetes. Patients were randomized into two groups: an intervention (n=32) and a control group (n=31). The Beck Physical Activity Questionnaire was used to assess physical activity in combination with the Beck Depression Inventory and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index to assess the levels of depression and the quality of sleep. Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) training consisted of six sessions of cognitive behavioral therapy interventions. The intervention consisted of a face-to-face individual counseling session. The patients received a special diet according to their basal metabolic rate (BMR). At all sessions, dietary advice was reviewed, and during the treatment period, they were asked to record their diet and physical activity. Body composition and blood samples were measured before and after three months of the experiment for both groups. RESULTS Blood glucose, blood lipid profiles (except high-density lipoprotein), lifestyle, behavior patterns and body composition were significantly improved following CBT intervention (p≤0.05). CONCLUSIONS CBT can play a key role in improving physiological and psychological parameters in diabetic patients

Enquête séroépidémiologique de la rhinopneumonie des équidés en Tunisie

Une enquête séroépidémiologique, réalisée sur 789 équidés (400 élevés au Nord-Est de la Tunisie, 389 dans la région du Sahel et du Centre), a permis de détecter, par le test de fixation du complément, des anticorps spécifiques contre le virus de la rhinopneumonie équine. Les résultats ont montré que 15 équidés (1,9 %) étaient séropositifs, avec des taux variables d'anticorps fixant le complément. Ces résultats sont discutés en relation avec ceux obtenus par d'autres auteurs en Tunisie et dans les pays voisins

Les mutations virales et leur impact sur la vaccination contre la bursite infectieuse (maladie de Gumboro)

International audienceInfectious bursal disease (also known as Gumboro disease) is an immunosuppressive viral disease specific to chickens. In spite of all the information amassed on the antigenic and immunological characteristics of the virus, the disease has not yet been brought fully under control. It is still prevalent in properly vaccinated flocks carrying specific antibodies at levels normally high enough to prevent the disease. Common causes apart, failure of vaccination against infectious bursal disease is associated mainly with early vaccination in flocks of unknown immune status and with the evolution of viruses circulating in the field, leading to antigenic drift and a sharp rise in pathogenicity. Various highly sensitive molecular techniques have clarified the viral determinants of antigenicity and pathogenicity of the infectious bursal disease virus. However, these markers are not universally recognised and tend to be considered as evolutionary markers. Antigenic variants of the infectious bursal disease virus possess modified neutralising epitopes that allow them to evade the action of maternally-derived or vaccine-induced antibodies. Autogenous or multivalent vaccines are required to control antigenic variants in areas where classical and variant virus strains coexist. Pathotypic variants (very virulent viruses) remain antigenically related to classical viruses. The difficulty in controlling pathotypic variants is linked to the difficulty of eliciting an early immune response, because of the risk of the vaccine virus being neutralised by maternal antibodies. Mathematical calculation of the optimal vaccination time and the use of vaccines resistant to maternally-derived antibodies have improved the control of very virulent viruses.La bursite infectieuse (maladie de Gumboro) est une pathologie virale immunodépressive spécifique du poulet. En dépit des informations accumulées sur les caractères antigéniques et immunologiques du virus, la maladie reste imparfaitement contrôlée. Elle sévit aujourd’hui dans des cheptels correctement vaccinés et porteurs d’anticorps spécifiques à des niveaux habituellement suffisants pour prévenir la maladie. Au-delà des causes triviales, les échecs de la vaccination contre la maladie de Gumboro sont essentiellement liés aux vaccinations précoces de cheptels au statut immunitaire inconnu et à l’évolution des virus qui circulent sur le terrain, se traduisant par une dérive antigénique et une hausse sensible de la pathogénicité. Diverses techniques moléculaires hautement sensibles ont permis d’identifier les déterminants viraux d’antigénicité et de pathogénicité du virus. Ces marqueurs ne sont cependant pas unanimement reconnus et sont pour la plupart considérés comme des marqueurs évolutionnaires. Les virus variants antigéniques possèdent des épitopes neutralisants modifiés qui leur permettent de se soustraire à l’action des anticorps résiduels ou vaccinaux. Leur contrôle passe par l’utilisation d’autovaccins ou de vaccins multivalents dans les régions où coexistent virus classiques et variants. Les variants pathotypiques (virus hypervirulents) restent antigéniquement apparentés aux virus classiques. La difficulté de contrôler ce type de variant est liée à celle d’obtenir une réponse immune précoce, en raison du risque de neutralisation du virus vaccinal par les anticorps d’origine maternelle. Le calcul mathématique de la date optimale de vaccination et l’utilisation de vaccins insensibles aux anticorps résiduels ont permis un meilleur contrôle des virus hypervirulents

Détection de la circulation de virus West Nile chez les Équidés dans le nord-ouest de la Tunisie

International audienceTwo outbreaks of West Nile Fever (FWN) were observed in the Sahel of Tunisia in 1997 and 2003. Several cases of meningitis and meningoencephalitis have been described in humans during these two outbreaks. However, no animal or clinical findings or seroconversion have been detected despite a high seroprevalence in human beings found around the affected areas. Few data are available regarding the spreading of this virus in other parts of the country. The purpose of this study was to detect a possible WNV spread in horses in some areas of Tunisia considered to be at risk for WNV but which had not been affected by previous outbreaks. A total of 133 equine blood samples were collected in six delegations from three governorates in the north-west of Tunisia. A second blood sampling was taken from animals that were tested negative after the first sampling for IgG to identify possible seroconversion. Detection of IgG was done using competitive ELISA. A significant viral spread was detected in the study area. Out of 133 samples tested for IgG during the first sampling, 36 samples were tested positive (27.1%). Two seroconversions were detected between September and October 2008 out of 84 samples tested. Statistical analysis showed a significant association between the presence of a wetland within 10 km and seroconversion. The presence of cattle seems to be a protective factor.Deux épidémies à virus West Nile (VWN) ont été observées dans la région du Sahel tunisien en 1997 et en 2003. Plusieurs cas de méningites et de méningoencéphalites ont été décrits chez l’Homme durant ces deux épidémies. Mais, aucun cas animal, ni clinique ni de séroconversion, n’a été rapporté. De plus, peu de données sont disponibles quant à la circulation de ce virus dans les autres régions du pays. Le but de la présente étude était de détecter une éventuelle circulation virale de VWN chez les Équidés dans certaines régions de la Tunisie où des épidémies n’ont pas été enregistrées auparavant. Un total de 133 Équidés a été prélevé dans six délégations appartenant à trois gouvernorats du nord-ouest de la Tunisie entre août et octobre 2008. Les Équidés qui se sont avérés négatifs en IgG au premier prélèvement ont fait l’objet d’un deuxième prélèvement ultérieur pour identifier de possibles séroconversions. L’analyse des IgG a été réalisée par Elisa compétitif. L’étude a permis de détecter une circulation virale dans la zone étudiée. Sur les 133 prélèvements testés en IgG lors de la première visite, 36 prélèvements étaient positifs ; soit une séroprévalence de l’ordre de 27,1 %. Une deuxième série de prélèvements a été réalisée sur 84 Équidés: le résultat s’était avéré négatif. Deux séroconversions ont été détectées entre les mois de septembre et d’octobre 2008. L’analyse a montré une association statistiquement significative entre la présence d’une zone humide à moins de 10 km et la séroprévalence. La présence de bovins semble être un facteur protecteur

Seroepidemiological Survey on Equine Viral Arteritis in Two Regions in Tunisia

A seroepidemiological survey was carried out on equine viral arteritis in two regions of Tunisia: Ariana and Kasserine. The authors researched specific antibodies against the arteritis virus by the serum neutralization technique in a sample representative of the horse populations in both areas. The sample concerned 199 horses of which 114 were Thoroughbred Arabian from Ariana area and 85 were Barb from Kasserine area; 72 of them were males and 127 females. Results showed that 51 horses (25.6%) were seropositive. Among them 30 (26.3%) were Arabian horses from Ariana and 21 (24.7%) were Barb horses from Kasserine; the difference was not statistically significant. Twelve males (16.66%) and 39 females (30.7%) were positive; the difference was statistically significant. The results are discussed in relation with those obtained by other authors in Tunisia and neighboring countries

Efficiency of refinery sludge biodegradation using municipal wastewater and activated sludge and effect of hydrocarbon concentration on culturable bacteria community

The efficiency of activated sludge as inoculum and municipal wastewater as diluent for the biodegradation of refinery sludge was investigated. At a laboratory scale, biodegradation experiments carried out in an aerobic batch reactor showed that toxic oily sludge was biodegradable after dilution. Compared with freshwater, the use of municipal wastewater for dilution clearly enhanced the biodegradation of this toxic pollutant. Using municipal wastewater, experiments showed that, starting from an initial total hydrocarbon concentration (THC) of 750 mg L-1, we could reach a final THC of 5 mg L-1 and a COD removal of 97% in only 19 days. In addition, we found that bacterial dominance was affected by hydrocarbon load. An absolute dominance of Gram-positive strains with high hydrocarbon load (7500 mg L-1) was found. However, with a hydrocarbon load of 750 mg L-1, some Gram-negative strains were also active. This bacterial dominance also changed in the course of treatment. We conclude that municipal wastewater and activated sludge, less often used nowadays in oily sludge biodegradation processes, contained bacterial strains that are efficient and able to work in a community. Municipal wastewater is also strongly recommended as a diluent as it offers an effective low-cost solution

Miniaturized biosensor for avian influenza virus detection

5th Maghreb/Europe Meeting on Materials and Their Applications for Devices and Physical, Chemical and Biological Sensors (MADICA 2006), Mahdia, TUNISIA, OCT 30-NOV 01, 2006International audienceAvian Influenza Virus (AIV) infections are a major cause of mortality and rapid identification of the virus has important clinical, economical and epidemiological implications The traditional methods for avian influenza vir-us diagnostic are Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) and Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) which are time consuming and expensive. In this paper we describe the development of miniaturized gold electrode biosensor for H7N1 detection with electrochemical technique such us impedance spectroscopy. The biosensor is based on the immobilization of specific H7N1 antibodies onto biofunctionnalized gold electrode. Each grafted layer on the gold electrode was characterized with impedance spectroscopy and modelised with an equivalent electric circuit. The affinity interaction of the antibody with the specific antigen can be measured with a low limit detection (5 mu g/ml) and with a good reproductibility. The non-specific interaction has been tested with the Newcastle antigen. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved