Trends in Secondary Prevention of Coronary Heart Disease in Tunisia: Prevention of Recurrences of MI and Stroke

ObjectivesThe survival benefits achieved by prescription of antiplatelet agents, B-adrenoreceptor antagonists (beta-blockers), angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARB), and lipid lowering agents in patients surviving the myocardial infarction (MI) have been well documented in large clinical trial. Despite well-established benefits, these pharmacological agents continue to be underutilized. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the progress of cardiovascular secondary prevention practices in Tunisia.MethodsThe PREMISE (Prevention of Recurrence of Myocardial Infarction and Stroke) is a descriptive, cross-sectional study conducted in Tunisia in two phases (2002 and 2009). Seven hundred eighty two patients were recruited. The recruitment criteria were: previous MI, stable angina, unstable angina, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), stroke, transient ischemic attack (TIA) or carotid endarterectomy. This analysis is limited to coronary heart disease (CHD) patients. Five hundred hospital patients were interviewed and their medical records were reviewed: 250 in 2002 and 250 in 2009. Patients were included if they had confirmed diagnosis of MI, angina, CABG or PTCA, and if their first cardiovascular event had occurred more than one month but not later than 3 years ago. We compared the total of both patient groups, using the prevalence of Cardio-Vascular Risk Factors (CVRF) and the treatment prescribed at hospital discharge.ResultsThe proportion of patients with reported hypertension, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia and current smoker patients had decreased. Concerning pharmacological prescriptions, a significant increase was observed in prescribing statins (38.9% vs. 70.3%) and ACE inhibitors (49.3% vs. 69.9%), non pharmacological prescriptions as healthy diet or tobacco cessation had opposite trends. Adherence to treatment did not change substantially.ConclusionAlthough the use of cardioprotective drugs had increased in CHD patients, there are still gaps in secondary prevention in Tunisia. The recommended strategies of secondary prevention need to be applied more intensively in clinical practice

Insights into Hydration Dynamics and Cooperative Interactions in Glycerol-Water Mixtures by Terahertz Dielectric Spectroscopy.

We report relaxation dynamics of glycerol-water mixtures as probed by megahertz-to-terahertz dielectric spectroscopy in a frequency range from 50 MHz to 0.5 THz at room temperature. The dielectric relaxation spectra reveal several polarization processes at the molecular level with different time constants and dielectric strengths, providing an understanding of the hydrogen-bonding network in glycerol-water mixtures. We have determined the structure of hydration shells around glycerol molecules and the dynamics of bound water as a function of glycerol concentration in solutions using the Debye relaxation model. The experimental results show the existence of a critical glycerol concentration of ∼7.5 mol %, which is related to the number of water molecules in the hydration layer around a glycerol molecule. At higher glycerol concentrations, water molecules dispersed in a glycerol network become abundant and eventually dominate, and four distinct relaxation processes emerge in the mixtures. The relaxation dynamics and hydration structure in glycerol-water mixtures are further probed with molecular dynamics simulations, which confirm the physical picture revealed by the dielectric spectroscopy

Le traitement de la tuberculose ganglionnaire cervicale a propos de 361 cas

Introduction : La tuberculose ganglionnaire cervicale représente la localisation extra pulmonaire la plus fréquemment observée. Cependant, le traitement d’une affection aussi répandue dans le monde ne fait pas consensus. L’objectif de cette étude est de préciser, à travers une revue de la littérature, les différents moyens de traitement antituberculeux et de discuter en particulier la place de la chirurgie dans le traitement de la tuberculose ganglionnaire cervicale.Patients et méthodes : étude rétrospective portant sur 361 malades atteints de tuberculose ganglionnaire cervicale colligés au service d’ORL et de CCf de l’hôpital farhat Hached de Sousse sur une période de 30 ans (Janvier 1982- décembre 2011)Résultats : L’âge moyen de nos patients était de 29 ans avec une prédominance féminine. Le traitement chirurgical a concerné 96,4% des malades. L’évolution était bonne pour 77,2% des malades. une résistance et une récidive ont été constatées chacune dans 4,4% des cas.Conclusion : le traitement de la tuberculose ganglionnaire cervicale reste avant tout médical. Cependant, la chirurgie garde toujours une place prépondérante dans un but diagnostique et en cas d’échec du traitement médical. La durée de la chimiothérapie antituberculeuse est encore sujet de controverse.Mots clés : tuberculose ganglionnaire, adénopathie cervicale, antituberculeux, chirurgie.Objective : Lymph node infection is the most frequent localization of extrapulmonary tuberculosis. The treatment does not make general agreement. The aim of this study is to specify, from a review of the literature, the different ways of antimicrobial treatment and the indications of surgery.Patients and methods : A retrospective study concerning 361 patients hospitalized for cervical lymph node tuberculosis in the department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck surgery of the hospial of farhat Hached of Sousse over a period of 30 years (from January 1982 to december 2011)Results : the mean age of our patients is of 29 years. A female predominance was noted. Surgical treatment has interested 96, 4% of patients. The course of the disease was favorable for 77,2% of patients. Lymph node recurrence and failure of treatment was observed in 4,4% of cases, each.Conclusion: Treatment of lymph node tuberculosis is above all medical. Surgery retains an important place in the diagnosis of cervical lymph node tuberculosis and in case of failure of the medical treatment. No reliable published data was found as to the optimal duration of treatment.Keyswords : lymph node tuberculosis, cervical lymphadenopathy, anti tuberculosis drug, surgery

L’esthesioneuroblastome olfactif : a propos de 7

Introduction : L’esthésioneuroblastome est une tumeur maligne rare développée aux dépens du neuro-épithélium olfactif. C’est l’une des plus rares tumeurs des fosses nasales. L’objectif de ce travail est d’étudier à travers une revue de la littérature, les caractéristiques histocliniques, les modalités thérapeutiques et les facteurs pronostiques de cette tumeur.Matériel et méthodes : Etude rétrospective à propos de sept cas d’esthésioneuroblastome olfactif traités dans le service d’ORL et de CCF de l’hôpital Farhat Hached de Sousse sur une période de 26 ans.Résultats : L’âge moyen de nos patients était de 36 ans avec une prédominance féminine. La symptomatologie clinique était dominée par l’obstruction nasale et l’épistaxis. Cinq patients étaient classés stade B de Kadish, et 2 stade C. Six patients ont eu un traitement chirurgical dont cinq ont eu une radiothérapie post opératoire. Une patiente avait une importante extension locorégionale et était au dessus de tout traitement à visée curative. Trois malades sont en rémission complète avec un recul moyen de 6 ans. Trois malades ont présenté une récidive tumorale.Conclusion : L’esthésioneuroblastome olfactif est une tumeur naso-sinusienne maligne rare, caractérisée par son polymorphisme clinique et son agressivité locale. Malgré la chirurgie et la radiothérapie, le pronostic reste réservé à long terme.Mots clés : Esthésioneuroblastome olfactif - Imagerie- Immunohistochimie- Chirurgie -RadiothérapieIntroduction: Introduction: Esthesioneuroblastoma is a rare malignant tumor, which develops from olfactory neuroepithelium and is one of the rarest tumors of the nasal cavity. The aim of this study is to specify through a review of the literature, histoclinic characteristics, therapeutic terms and prognostic factors of this tumor.Material and methods: a retrospective study concerning seven cases of olfactory neuroblastoma treated in the department of otolaryngology- Head and Neck surgery at Farhat Hached Hospital Sousse over a period of 26 years.Results: The mean age of our patients was 36 years. A female predominance was noted. Clinical symptomatology was dominated by nasal obstruction and epistaxis. Five patients were classified as Kadish B and 2 patients as Kadish C. Six patients underwent surgicaltreatment, five of them had postoperative radiotherapy. One patient was above all therapeutic resources. 3 patients are in complete remission with a mean follow-up of 6 years. Recurrence was observed for the remaining patients.Conclusion: olfactory esthesioneuroblastoma is a rare sinonasal malignant tumor, characterised by clinical polymorphism and local agressivity. In spite of the surgery and the radiotherapy, the forecast remains reserved in the long term.Key words: Olfactory neuroblastoma – Imagery – Immunohistochemestry – Surgery - Radiotherap

Resultats du traitement chirurgical de l’otospongiose notre experience a propos de 310 cas

Introduction : Le traitement de l’otospongiose est chirurgical. Plusieurs facteurs peuvent intervenir dans l’indication opératoire ou influencer les résultats fonctionnels. L’objectif de notre étude est d’évaluer nos résultats audiométriques et d’étudier les facteurs prédictifs de l’échec fonctionnel. Matériel et méthodes : Il s’agit d’une étude rétrospective à propos de 310 oreilles opérées pour otospongiose, sur une période de 21 ans (1985-2005). On a effectué une analyse des résultats audiométriques à partir des audiogrammes postopératoires faits à 3 mois, à 1an et au dernier contrôle. Nous avons ensuite étudié 8 facteurs pouvant être prédictifs de l’échec fonctionnel. Ce dernier était défini par un Rinne résiduel post-opératoire (RRPO) > 10 dB.Résultats : Le RRPO était en moyenne de 7,9 dB avec des extrêmes de 5 dB à 33 dB. La fermeture du Rinne a été obtenue dans 87,3% des cas. Après étude multivariée avec régression logistique, nous avons retenu 2 facteurs indépendants significativement prédictifs de l’échec fonctionnel : un stade audiométrique III ou IV d’Aubry (OR : 19,06/p : 0,0001) et un Rinne post-opératoire précoce supérieur à 35 dB (OR : 4 ,01/p : 0,0025). Conclusion : Une audiométrie post-opératoire précoce serait intéressante pour dépister précocement un échec chirurgical d’une part et pour préjuger du résultat fonctionnel définitif d’autre part. Un stade audiométrique III ou IV d’ Aubry, prédictif certes d’un moins bon résultat fonctionnel, ne contre-indique pas la chirurgie qui permettra entre autres une meilleure adaptation audio- prothétique.Mots-clés : otospongiose - chirurgie - résultats – facteurs prédictif

Velocity Dependence Of One- And Two-electron Processes In Intermediate-velocity Ar16++He Collisions

We report investigations of one- and two-electron processes in the collisions of 0.9-keV/u to 60-keV/u (vp=0.19-1.55 a.u.) Ar16+ ions with He targets. The cross sections for these processes were measured by observing the final charges of the Ar ions and the recoiling target ions in coincidence. The average Q values for the capture channels were determined by measuring the longitudinal momenta of the recoiling target ions. Single capture (SC) is the dominant process and is relatively independent of the projectile energy. The two-electron transfer-ionization (TI) process is the next largest and slowly increases with projectile energy. The Q values for both SC and TI decrease with increasing projectile energy. Our data thereby suggest that electrons are captured into less tightly bound states as the collision velocity is increased. Both double capture and single ionization are much smaller and fairly independent of the projectile energy. The energy independence of SI is somewhat surprising as our energy range spans the region of the target electron velocity where ionization would be expected to increase. Our analysis suggests that the ionization process is being suppressed by SC and TI processes. © 1993 The American Physical Society

Les lymphomes de l’anneau de Waldeyer traitement et pronostic

Les lymphomes non Hodgkiniens (LNH) qui prennent naissance au niveau de l’anneau de Waldeyer constituent une entité bien particulière tant sur le plan clinique, thérapeutique que pronostique. Les auteurs rapportent une étude rétrospective de 44 observations de LNH de l’anneau de Waldeyer colligées entre 1995 et 2002. Une chimiothérapie exclusive aété indiquée chez 80,6% des malades et une association chimio-radiothérapie a été réalisée chez 19,4%. Le taux de survie globale était de 42% à 5 ans. Dans notre étude quatre facteurs de mauvais pronostic ont été individualisés : un âge ≥ à 40 ans, les stades d’Ann Arbor II, III et IV, un taux de LDH ≥ 1,5 fois la normale et la survenue de rechute.Mots-clés : Lymphome, anneau de Waldeyer, chimiothérapie, radiothérapie, pronosti

Cloaked Facebook pages: Exploring fake Islamist propaganda in social media

This research analyses cloaked Facebook pages that are created to spread political propaganda by cloaking a user profile and imitating the identity of a political opponent in order to spark hateful and aggressive reactions. This inquiry is pursued through a multi-sited online ethnographic case study of Danish Facebook pages disguised as radical Islamist pages, which provoked racist and anti-Muslim reactions as well as negative sentiments towards refugees and immigrants in Denmark in general. Drawing on Jessie Daniels’ critical insights into cloaked websites, this research furthermore analyses the epistemological, methodological and conceptual challenges of online propaganda. It enhances our understanding of disinformation and propaganda in an increasingly interactive social media environment and contributes to a critical inquiry into social media and subversive politics

A cost effectiveness analysis of salt reduction policies to reduce coronary heart disease in four Eastern Mediterranean countries.

BACKGROUND: Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) is rising in middle income countries. Population based strategies to reduce specific CHD risk factors have an important role to play in reducing overall CHD mortality. Reducing dietary salt consumption is a potentially cost-effective way to reduce CHD events. This paper presents an economic evaluation of population based salt reduction policies in Tunisia, Syria, Palestine and Turkey. METHODS AND FINDINGS: Three policies to reduce dietary salt intake were evaluated: a health promotion campaign, labelling of food packaging and mandatory reformulation of salt content in processed food. These were evaluated separately and in combination. Estimates of the effectiveness of salt reduction on blood pressure were based on a literature review. The reduction in mortality was estimated using the IMPACT CHD model specific to that country. Cumulative population health effects were quantified as life years gained (LYG) over a 10 year time frame. The costs of each policy were estimated using evidence from comparable policies and expert opinion including public sector costs and costs to the food industry. Health care costs associated with CHDs were estimated using standardized unit costs. The total cost of implementing each policy was compared against the current baseline (no policy). All costs were calculated using 2010 PPP exchange rates. In all four countries most policies were cost saving compared with the baseline. The combination of all three policies (reducing salt consumption by 30%) resulted in estimated cost savings of $235,000,000 and 6455 LYG in Tunisia;$39,000,000 and 31674 LYG in Syria; $6,000,000 and 2682 LYG in Palestine and$1,3000,000,000 and 378439 LYG in Turkey. CONCLUSION: Decreasing dietary salt intake will reduce coronary heart disease deaths in the four countries. A comprehensive strategy of health education and food industry actions to label and reduce salt content would save both money and lives