ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Despite therapeutic progress, less than half of hypertensive patients are controlled. The objective of this study was to examine the links between blood pressure control and socioeconomic factors. METHODS: We used data collected in the cardiology department of Sfax University Hospital as part of the Tunisian national hypertension registry. We studied the associations between the socio-economic variables (educational level, profession, medical insurance) and optimal blood pressure control (SBP<140mmHg and DBP<90mmHg) using logistic regression models. RESULTS: The average age of our population was 65 and the sex ratio was 0.95. We found, as expected, the clinical and behavioral factors associated with a good blood pressure control, namely: female sex, low-sodium diet, therapeutic compliance, and regular physical activity. However, obesity and an increased number of antihypertensive drugs have been associated with poor blood pressure control. The study of the effect of socio-economic variables on BP control finds a significant gradient against the most disadvantaged social categories for our three social variables in the univariate analysis. The inclusion of clinical and behavioral factors in the multivariate analysis attenuated these associations but did not fully explain them. CONCLUSION: Our study shows that there are social inequalities in the control of blood pressure. Social justice and improving living conditions are probably the real solutions to the problem of these social inequalities in health.
Subject(s)
Hypertension , Antihypertensive Agents/pharmacology , Antihypertensive Agents/therapeutic use , Blood Pressure , Female , Humans , Hypertension/drug therapy , Hypertension/epidemiology , Patient Compliance , Risk Factors , Socioeconomic FactorsABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: We evaluate the association between the decrease of serum paraxonase 1 activity and the risk of cardiovascular disease in type 2 diabetes. METHODS: One hundred and fourteen patients with type 2 diabetes were included in the present study. Seventy-one of them have significant coronary disease. The control group consisted of 53 healthy adults. RESULTS: PON1 activity was significantly reduced in diabetic patients compared to controls (P=0.021), especially in those with significant coronary disease (P=0.013). No significant variation in PON1 activity according to age was observed both in controls and in patients. When HDLc≥1.03mmol/L, the PON1 activity was significantly higher in patients without significant coronary disease compared to those with significant coronary disease (0.030). In case of significant coronary disease, a decrease of 12.23% in PON1 activity was observed in smokers compared with non-smokers, but without statistical significance. The PON1 activity did not very significantly according to the presence or absence of hypertension in patients with significant coronary disease. CONCLUSION: The implication of diabetes in the decrease of PON1 activity seems highly probable but PON1 activity seems not to be in itself a marker of cardiovascular disease.
Subject(s)
Aryldialkylphosphatase/blood , Cardiovascular Diseases/diagnosis , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/complications , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Biomarkers/blood , Body Mass Index , Cardiovascular Diseases/blood , Cardiovascular Diseases/complications , Case-Control Studies , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Predictive Value of Tests , Risk Factors , Sensitivity and SpecificityABSTRACT
Optical and structural properties of the organic-inorganic hybrid perovskite-type (C6H11NH3)2[PbI4] (abbreviated as C6PbI4) were investigated using optical absorption, photoluminescence (PL), and x-ray diffraction measurements. Room temperature, optical absorption measurements, performed on spin-coated films of C6PbI4, revealed two absorption bands at 2.44 and 3.21 eV. Upon 325 nm (3.815 eV) laser irradiation, strong green PL emission peaks were observed at 2.41 eV (P1) and 2.24 eV (P2) and assigned to free and localized excitons, respectively. The exciton binding energy was estimated at 356 meV. At low temperature, two additional emission bands were detected at 2.366 eV (P3) and a large band (LB) at 1.97 eV. The former appeared only below 40 K and the latter emerged below 130 K. The thermal dependence of the PL spectra revealed an abnormal behavior accompanied by singularities in the peak positions and intensities at 40 and 130 K. X-ray diffraction studies performed on powder and single crystals as a function of temperature evidenced significant changes of the interlayer spacing at 50 K and â¼138 K. Around 138 K, a commensurate to incommensurate structural phase transition occurred on cooling. It involves a symmetry breaking leading to a distortion of the PbI6 octahedron. The resulting incommensurate spatial modulation of the Pb-I distances (and Pb-I-Pb angles) causes a spatial modulation of the band gap, which is at the origin of the emergence of the LB below â¼130 K and the anomalous behavior of the position of P1 below 130 K. The change of the interlayer spacing in the 40-50 K range may in turn be related to the significant decrease of the intensity of P2 and the maximum emission of the LB. These results underline the intricate character of the structural and the PL properties of the hybrid perovskites; understanding such properties should benefit to the design of optoelectronic devices with targeted properties.
ABSTRACT
Cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) is a key drug-metabolizing enzyme. Loss-of-function variants have been reported as rare events, and the first demonstration of a CYP3A4 protein lacking functional activity is caused by CYP3A4*20 allele. Here we characterized the world distribution and origin of CYP3A4*20 mutation. CYP3A4*20 was determined in more than 4000 individuals representing different populations, and haplotype analysis was performed using CYP3A polymorphisms and microsatellite markers. CYP3A4*20 allele was present in 1.2% of the Spanish population (up to 3.8% in specific regions), and all CYP3A4*20 carriers had a common haplotype. This is compatible with a Spanish founder effect and classifies CYP3A4 as a polymorphic enzyme. This constitutes the first description of a CYP3A4 loss-of-function variant with high frequency in a population. CYP3A4*20 results together with the key role of CYP3A4 in drug metabolism support screening for rare CYP3A4 functional alleles among subjects with adverse drug events in certain populations.
Subject(s)
Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A/genetics , Ethnicity/genetics , Gene Frequency/genetics , Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide/genetics , Alleles , Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions/genetics , Founder Effect , Haplotypes/genetics , HumansSubject(s)
Addison Disease/pathology , Pigmentation Disorders , Skin Pigmentation , Adult , Female , HumansABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) occurs frequently in young patients with xeroderma pigmentosum (XP). Because tumours are multiple and usually found on the face, alternatives to surgery are proposed. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of cryosurgery for BCC in XP patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective study that included all instances of BCC occurring in XP patients treated by cryosurgery between January 2002 and October 2008. RESULTS: Forty-five cases of primary facial BCC and one case of relapsing BCC (16 on the cheeks, 11 on the nose, six on the face and five on the inner edge of the eye area) were treated by cryosurgery in 18 XP patients (average age: 18.7 years; sex ratio: 0.5). Mean carcinoma size was 10mm. Thirty-six tumours were nodular and 10 were nodular and ulcerated. Follow-up ranged from 16 to 60 months (mean: 30 months). Complications were rare. Cosmetic results were satisfactory. We noted 10 cases of hypopigmentation (21.7%) and one notch on the nose following treatment for recurrent BCC on a radiotherapy scar. Relapse occurred in one case (2.17%). CONCLUSION: Because of its simplicity, its good safety, its sparing of skin and its reliability of oncological outcome, cryosurgery is the treatment of choice for CBC in XP patients.
Subject(s)
Carcinoma, Basal Cell/surgery , Cryosurgery/methods , Facial Neoplasms/surgery , Head and Neck Neoplasms/surgery , Skin Neoplasms/surgery , Xeroderma Pigmentosum/surgery , Adolescent , Adult , Carcinoma, Basal Cell/diagnosis , Child , Facial Neoplasms/diagnosis , Female , Head and Neck Neoplasms/diagnosis , Humans , Male , Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/diagnosis , Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/surgery , Reoperation , Retrospective Studies , Skin Neoplasms/diagnosis , Xeroderma Pigmentosum/diagnosis , Young AdultABSTRACT
No disponible
No disponible
Subject(s)
Humans , Female , Adult , Neoplasms, Basal Cell/diagnosis , Eyelid Neoplasms/diagnosisABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Onychomycosis is more frequent in the elderly. The aim of this Tunisian study was to determine the prevalence and the epidemiological, clinical and mycological characteristics of onychomycosis in elderly subjects. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a prospective study performed over a 7-month period (October 2005 - April 2006). The fingernails and toenails of 290 new consecutive patients aged 65 years and over presenting at general practitioners' clinics were examined by certified dermatologists. Clinical signs of onychomycosis were observed in 120 patients. 137 nail samples and 103 skin scrapings were obtained from these subjects. RESULTS: The study population comprised 51 men and 69 women (sex ratio M/F: 0.74) of mean age 72.33 +/- 6.2 years. Fingernails were involved in 28 cases (20.4%), toenails in 109 cases (79.5%), and both fingernails and toenails in 17 cases (12.4%). On average, patients had 2.7 infected fingernails and 3.9 infected toenails. The big toenail and thumbnail were affected most often respectively on the feet and on the hands. Among the clinical presentations seen, distolateral subungual onychomycosis was the most common clinical presentation, on both the feet and the hands. Mycologically confirmed onychomycosis was detected in 110 of 137 nail samples. The rate of positivity was 80.3%. The prevalence of onychomycosis was confirmed in 34.1% of patients examined (99/290). Dermatophytes were the main agents causing onychomycosis in our population (79%). The most frequently detected fungus was Trichophyton rubrum (72.1%). In toenail infections, dermatophytes were most frequently isolated (97%), while in fingernail infections, yeasts were most often isolated (75%), with Candida albicans being dominant (60%). No moulds were isolated in either the hands or the feet. The same fungus was isolated in both skin scrapings and nail samples from 33 patients. Trichophyton rubrum was detected in 28 cases. CONCLUSION: This study confirms a higher prevalence of onychomycosis in the elderly. It shows dermatophytes, in particular Trichophyton rubrum, to be the most frequently isolated causative agents in onychomycosis in the elderly, followed by yeasts, with no moulds being detected.
Subject(s)
Onychomycosis/epidemiology , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Female , Humans , Male , Prevalence , Prospective StudiesABSTRACT
Electrochemical combination of the magnetic dinuclear anion [MM'(C2O4)(NCS)8](4-) (MM' = Cr(III)Cr(III), Cr(III)Fe(III)) with the ET organic pi-donor (ET = BEDT-TTF = bis(ethylenedithio)tetrathiafulvalene) gives rise to two new isostructural molecular hybrid salts ET5[MM'(C2O4)(NCS)8], with MM' = CrCr (1), CrFe (2). The molecular structure of compound 1 has been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The particular arrangement of the organic units consists of an unprecedented two-dimensional organic sublattice nearly similar to that observed in kappa-phase structures. For both compounds, the magnetic susceptibility measurements indicate (i) the ET radicals do not contribute to the magnetic moment probably due to the presence of strong antiferromagnetic interaction between them, and (ii) in the anion, the magnetic coupling is antiferromagnetic for 1 (J = -3.65 cm(-1)) and ferromagnetic for 2 (J = 1.14 cm(-1), J being the parameter of the exchange Hamiltonian H = -2JS1S2). The field dependence of the magnetization of compound 2 at 2.0 K gives further evidence of the S = 4 ground-state arising from the interaction between S = 3/2 Cr(III) and S = 5/2 Fe(III). EPR measurements confirm the nature of the magnetic interactions and the absence of any contribution from the organic part, as observed from the static magnetic measurement. Conductivity measurements and electronic band structure calculations show that both salts are semiconductors with low activation energies.
ABSTRACT
A new polynuclear copper(II) complex [Cu7(OH)6Cl2(pn)6(H2O)2](C(CN)3)4Cl2 with hydroxo-bridging ligands has been prepared; the centrosymmetric cluster cation can be described as two Cu4O3Cl distorted cubane units sharing one copper cation.
ABSTRACT
A new series of homo- and heterometallic oxalato-bridged dinuclear compounds of formulas [Et4N]4[MM'(ox)(NCS)8] ([Et4N]+ = [(C2H5)4N]+; ox = C2O4(2-)) with MM' = Cr(III)-Cr(III) (1), Fe(III)-Fe(III) (2), and Cr(III)-Fe(III) (3) is reported. They have been structurally characterized by infrared spectra and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The three compounds are isostructural and crystallize in the orthorhombic space group Cmca with Z = 8, a = 16.561(8) A, b = 13.481(7) A, and c = 28.168(8) A for 1, a = 16.515(2) A, b = 13.531(1) A, and c = 28.289(4) A for 2, a = 16.664(7) A, b = 13.575(6) A, and c = 28.386(8) A for 3. The structure of 3 is made up of a discrete dinuclear anion [CrFe(ox)(NCS)8]4- and four disordered [Et4N]+ cations, each of them located on special positions. The anion, in a crystallographically imposed C2h symmetry, contains metal cations in distorted octahedral sites. The Cr(ox)Fe group, which is planar within 0.02 A, presents an intramolecular metal-metal distance of 5.43 A. Magnetic susceptibility measurements indicate antiferromagnetic pairwise interactions for 1 and 2 with J = -3.23 and -3.84 cm-1, respectively, and ferromagnetic Cr-Fe coupling with J = 1.10 cm-1 for 3 (J being the parameter of the exchange Hamiltonian H = -2JS1S2). The ESR spectra at different temperatures confirm the magnetic susceptibility data.
ABSTRACT
Developing sunflower seeds exhibit a high diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DAGAT, EC 2.3.1.20) activity. The distribution of the enzyme has been studied in subcellular fractions prepared by differential centrifugation of seed homogenate. Its activity was characterized using [1-(14)C]oleoyl-CoA and diolein dispersed in Tween 20. Some properties of the microsomal fraction of DAGAT were investigated. Hyperbolic kinetics were observed, the apparent K(m) was 60 microM and the specific activity of the reaction 15 pmol/min/mg of protein. Addition of BSA (0.1%) stimulated oleate incorporation, which was not dependent on the presence of exogenous diacylglycerol. Detergents which might solubilize DAGAT, Triton X-100 and CHAPS, were tested for enzyme inhibition, and CHAPS was found to be the least denaturing.
Subject(s)
Acyltransferases/metabolism , Helianthus/enzymology , Seeds/enzymology , Acyl Coenzyme A/metabolism , Carbon Radioisotopes , Cholic Acids/pharmacology , Detergents/pharmacology , Diacylglycerol O-Acyltransferase , Diglycerides/metabolism , Kinetics , Octoxynol/pharmacology , Protein DenaturationABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Craniopharyngioma, the most common tumor of the sellar and suprasellar regions in childhood, can exceptionally develop in the infrasellar area. CASE REPORT: A premature girl (GA: 30 weeks) weighing 1240 g required intubation and ventilation because she suffered from a neonatal respiratory distress syndrome. Nasal endoscopy showed total obstruction of rhinopharynx by a tumor resembling adenoid tissue. This tumor was successfully excised and its histological examination showed a craniopharyngioma. CONCLUSION: A wide range of intranasal tumors has to be examined, endoscopy and CT scan are necessary for a precise localization and to eliminate meningocele.
Subject(s)
Craniopharyngioma/complications , Nasal Obstruction/etiology , Nasopharyngeal Diseases/etiology , Nose Neoplasms/complications , Craniopharyngioma/diagnosis , Craniopharyngioma/surgery , Female , Humans , Infant, Newborn , Nose Neoplasms/diagnosis , Nose Neoplasms/surgerySubject(s)
Syphilis Serodiagnosis/standards , Syphilis/diagnosis , Adult , Decision Trees , False Positive Reactions , Female , Hemagglutination Tests/methods , Hemagglutination Tests/standards , Humans , Latex Fixation Tests/methods , Latex Fixation Tests/standards , Male , Prospective Studies , Sensitivity and Specificity , Syphilis/classification , Syphilis/epidemiology , Tunisia/epidemiologySubject(s)
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/complications , Mycoses/etiology , Parasitic Diseases/etiology , Adolescent , Adult , Candidiasis/diagnosis , Candidiasis/etiology , Cryptococcosis/diagnosis , Cryptococcosis/etiology , Cryptosporidiosis/diagnosis , Cryptosporidiosis/etiology , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Mycoses/diagnosis , Parasitic Diseases/diagnosis , Pneumonia, Pneumocystis/diagnosis , Pneumonia, Pneumocystis/etiology , Toxoplasmosis/diagnosis , Toxoplasmosis/etiologySubject(s)
Deafness/rehabilitation , Education, Special , Adolescent , Child , Child, Preschool , Deafness/etiology , Deafness/psychology , Female , Humans , Infant , Language Development , Male , TunisiaABSTRACT
Three serological surveys were conducted for mass detection of hydatidosis in Tunisia. Microtubes were used for sampling of serum and plasma eluates were tested by the E. L. I. S. A. technique. More than 2,500 persons, mainly originating from rural areas (Souks, primary schools, military recruits, village dispensaries) were studied. 2/3 of individuals examined simultaneously underwent abdominal echotomography the findings of which were compared to those of serology. The whole data were discussed with respect to current status of hydatidosis in Tunisia.
