[Forensic assessment of eye blasts in active military personal]. / Évaluation médicolégale des blasts oculaires chez le militaire actif.

BACKGROUND: Ocular blast injuries are defined as ocular damage caused by explosives. Within the military, they are considered work accidents resulting from military service, and they are therefore governed by the military disability pension system, which utilizes a specific scale. OBJECTIVES: To study the clinical presentation and course of ocular blast injuries. To describe the particularities of forensic expertise in military settings. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of 28 eyes of 15 military personnel with ocular blast injuries. A baseline ophthalmologic examination was performed to assess of all the eyes and the general lesions caused by the trauma. A military medicine expert opinion was obtained from the date of consolidation. The rates of permanent partial disability (PPD) and the aptitude or not for military activities were specified according to the specific scale of the military disability pension system. RESULTS: The mean age of the victims was 27.53 years. A mine explosion was the predominant cause of ocular damage. Trauma to the ocular adnexa occurred in 4 eyes. Anterior segment injuries were noted in 19 eyes, with a mean initial visual acuity of 1/10. Posterior segment lesions occurred in 14 eyes, with a mean initial visual acuity of 0.5/10. Ruptured globes occurred in 3 eyes of 2 patients. All the victims presented with systemic lesions in addition to ocular ones. The average PPD rate was approximately 58%. CONCLUSION: Regarding the particular clinical features of ocular blast injuries, military victims must be managed and fairly compensated according to specific regulations.

[Level of cardiovascular risk factors in the urban and rural populations of Cap-Bon: Tunisia]. / Niveau des facteurs de risque cardio-vasculaire dans la population urbaine et rurale du Cap-Bon: Tunisie.

Cardiovascular risk factors were studied in a random sample from the urban and rural population of the Cap-Bon, including 692 men and women, aged 35-50 years. In this sample, including 56 % urban dwellers, the mean total cholesterol was higher in urban areas (4.64 mmol/l) than in rural areas (4.16 mmol/l). In urban areas 10.2 % of the subjects had values above 6.2 mmol/l compared with 6.6 % in rural areas. Obesity was much more frequent among women (35.2 % versus 26.3 %) but less frequent among men (16.0 % versus 5.4 %) in urban and rural areas. Diabetes was found in 8.8 % of men and 10.4 % of women in urban areas, and only 0.8 % and 3.9 % in rural areas. Hypertension was found in 13.8 % of women and 11.6 % of men in urban areas, 13.3 % and 4.0 % in rural areas (13.3 %). Cigarette smoking was found in 60.7 % of men in urban areas and 75.8 % in rural areas (p < 0.05).

[A clinical trial of a titrated Olea extract in the treatment of essential arterial hypertension]. / Essai clinique d'un extrait titré de feuilles d'Olivier dans le traitement de l'hyptension arterielle essentielle.

A clinical assay of Olea europaea L. aqueous extract was carried on two groups of patients suffering with essential hypertension. 12 patients consulting for the first time, 18 patients with antihypertensive treatment. Treatment based on Olea europeae L. leaf aqueous extract was given (400 ng x 4/24 h) during 3 months, after 15 days treatment based on placebo. We note for all patients a statistically significant decrease of blood pressure (p < 0.001), we didn't find any modification of biological parameters excepted a significant little decrease of glycemia and calcemia p < 0.01 and p < 0.01 respectively. We didn't find any side effect in the two groups.

[The effects of high-dose ascorbic acid administration on the factors of lithogenesis in the rat]. / Effets de l'administration de fortes doses d'acide ascorbique sur les facteurs de la lithogenèse chez le rat.

Administration of ascorbic acid, at 150 mg/100 ml of water intake, for one month, induced hyperoxaluria in the rats (P less than 0.001) and decreased citraturia (P less than 0.001) magnesuria (P less than 0.001) and pyrophosphaturia (P less than 0.01). The same disorders were observed when the dose administered was 300 mg/100 ml, excepted that oxaluria was considerably enhanced in this group. Despite these variations, renal deposits were not observed, even in the animals receiving 300 mg of ascorbate/100 ml of water intake. This protection was due to decreased calcium excretion (P less than 0.01 in two groups) and probably to acidification of the urine.