38 research outputs found
Comparative analysis of medicinal plants used in traditional medicine in Italy and Tunisia
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Italy and Tunisia (Africa for the Romans), facing each other on the opposite sides of the Mediterranean Sea, have been historically linked since the ancient times. Over the centuries both countries were mutually dominated so the vestiges and traces of a mutual influence are still present. The aim of the present study is to conduct a comparative analysis of the medicinal species present in the respective Floras in order to explore potential analogies and differences in popular phytotherapy that have come out from those reciprocal exchanges having taken place over the centuries</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The comparative analysis based on the respective floras of both countries takes into consideration the bulk of medicinal species mutually present in Italy and Tunisia, but it focuses on the species growing in areas which are similar in climate. The medicinal uses of these species are considered in accordance with the ethnobotanical literature.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A list of 153 medicinal species belonging to 60 families, present in both floras and used in traditional medicine, was drawn. A considerable convergence in therapeutic uses of many species emerged from these data.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This comparative analysis strengthens the firm belief that ethno-botanical findings represent not only an important shared heritage, developed over the centuries, but also a considerable mass of data that should be exploited in order to provide new and useful knowledge.</p
External Financial Aid to Blood Transfusion Services in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Need for Reflection
Jean-Pierre Allain and colleagues argue that, while unintended, the foreign aid provided for blood transfusion services in sub-Saharan Africa has resulted in serious negative outcomes, which requires reflection and rethinking
Higher prevalence of parvovirus B19 in Belgian as compared to Tunisian blood donors: differential implications for prevention of transfusional transmission
Contribution of Flow Cytometry to Acute Leukemia Classification in Tunisia
The precision of immunological characterization of leukemias was improved by a certain number of technical innovations, particularly hybridoma production and standardization, resulting in monoclonal antibodies and definition of recognised cellular antigens (designated by CD: Cluster of Differentiation)
Neurohormonal activation in severe scorpion envenomation: Correlation with hemodynamics and circulating toxin
International audienc
Systolic time intervals combined with Valsalva maneuver for the diagnosis of left ventricular dysfunction in COPD exacerbations
Hamdi Boubaker,1,2 Mohamed Habib Grissa,1,2 Kaouther Beltaief,1,2 Zohra Dridi,3 Mohamed Fadhel Najjar,4 Wahid Bouida,1,2 Riadh Boukef,5 Soudani Marghli,6 Semir Nouira1,2 1Department of Emergency, Fattouma Bourguiba University Hospital, 2Research Laboratory (LR12SP18), University of Monastir, 3Department of Cardiology, 4Department of Biochemistry, Fattouma Bourguiba University Hospital, Monastir, 5Department of Emergency, Sahloul University Hospital, Sousse, 6Department of Emergency, Tahar Sfar University Hospital, Mahdia, Tunisia Background: The goal of this study was to determine the value of systolic time intervals and their change during Valsalva maneuver (VM) in the diagnosis of left ventricular dysfunction (LVD) in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD).Methods: We included 166 patients admitted to the emergency department for AECOPD. Measurement of systolic time intervals included electromechanical activation time (EMAT), left ventricular ejection time (LVET), and EMAT/LVET ratio. These were performed at baseline and during the first strain phase of the VM using a computerized phonoelectrocardiographic method. The diagnosis of LVD was determined on the basis of clinical examination, echocardiography, and brain natriuretic peptide. The values of systolic time intervals were compared between patients with and without LVD; their diagnostic performance was assessed using the area under receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.Results: Patients with LVD (n=95) had a significantly higher EMAT and lower LVET and EMAT/LVET ratio compared to patients without LVD (n=71); the area under ROC curve was 0.79, 0.88, and 0.90, respectively, for EMAT, LVET, and EMAT/LVET ratio. All baseline systolic time intervals changed significantly during VM in patients without LVD but they did not change in patients with LVD. The area under ROC curve increased to 0.84 and 0.93, ­respectively, for EMAT and EMAT/LVET ratio but did not change for LVET.Conclusion: Simple and noninvasive measurements of systolic time intervals combined with VM could be helpful to detect or rule out LVD in patients admitted to the emergency room for COPD excacerbation. The EMAT/LVET ratio seems to have the best diagnostic value. Keywords: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, exacerbation, systolic time intervals, Valsalva maneuver 
Acupuncture versus titrated morphine in acute renal colic: a randomized controlled trial
Kaouthar Beltaief,1,2 Mohamed Habib Grissa,1,2 Mohamed Amine Msolli,1,2 Nasri Bzeouich,1,2 Nizar Fredj,1,2 Adel Sakma,1,2 Hamdi Boubaker,1,2 Wahid Bouida,1,2 Riadh Boukef,1,3 Semir Nouira1,2 1Emergency Department, Fattouma Bourguiba University Hospital, 2Research Laboratory LR12SP18, University of Monastir, Monastir, 3Emergency Department, Sahloul University Hospital, Sousse, Tunisia Objective: The objective of this study was to compare the analgesic effect and tolerance profile of acupuncture versus intravenous (IV) titrated morphine in patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with renal colic.Materials and methods: A total of 115 patients were randomized into two groups. Patients in the IV titrated-morphine group (n=61) received 0.1 mg/kg morphine every 5 minutes until pain score dropped by at least 50% of its baseline value. Patients in the acupuncture group (n=54) received an acupuncture session of 30 minutes following a prespecified protocol. The visual analog scale (VAS) was used to assess pain intensity at baseline and at 10, 20, 30, 45, and 60 minutes following the start of the treatment protocol. Possible treatment side effects were also recorded.Results: No significant differences were found between the two groups concerning age, sex, or baseline VAS score. From the 10th minute until the end of the intervention, acupuncture was associated with a deeper analgesic effect than titrated morphine (P<0.05 from the 10th minute and over). Analgesia was also faster in the acupuncture group, with time to obtain 50% reduction of baseline VAS of 14 minutes in the acupuncture group versus 28 minutes in the IV titrated-morphine group (P<0.001). Only three patients in the acupuncture group experienced minor side effects versus 42 in the morphine group (P<0.001). No major side effects were observed in this study.Conclusion: In ED patients with renal colic, acupuncture was associated with a much faster and deeper analgesic effect and a better tolerance profile in comparison with titrated IV morphine. Keywords: acupuncture, morphine, renal coli
Thrombosis in congenital deficiencies of AT III, protein C or protein S: a study of 44 children
Characterization of Aromatic Compounds and Antioxidant Activity of Essential Oils from Tunisian Pituranthos tortuosus
Survival of Escherichia coli Strains in Mediterranean Brackish Water in the Bizerte Lagoon in Northern Tunisia
International audienceThis study investigated survival and virulence of Escherichia coli strains exposed to natural conditions in brackish water. Two E. coli strains (O126:B16 and O55:B5) were incubated in water microcosms in the Bizerte lagoon in Northern Tunisia and exposed for 12 days to natural sunlight in June (231 to 386 W/m(2), 26 +/- 1 degrees C, 30 g/L) and in April (227 to 330 W/m(2), 17 +/- 1 degrees C, 27 g/L) or maintained in darkness for 21 days (17 +/- 1 degrees C, 27 g/L). The results revealed that sunlight was the most significant inactivating factor (decrease of 3 Ulog within 48 hours for the two strains) compared to salinity and temperature (in darkness). Survival time of the strains was prolonged as they were maintained in darkness. Local strain (E. coli O55:B5) showed better survival capacity (T(90) = 52 hours) than E. coli O126:B16 (T(90) = 11 h). For both, modifications were noted only for some metabolic activities of carbohydrates hydrolysis. Cytotoxicity of the two strains, tested on Vero cell, was maintained during the period of survival. Water Environ. Res., 82, 2249 (2010)