Reliability and criterion-related validity of a new repeated agility test.

The study aimed to assess the reliability and the criterion-related validity of a new repeated sprint T-test (RSTT) that includes intense multidirectional intermittent efforts. The RSTT consisted of 7 maximal repeated executions of the agility T-test with 25 s of passive recovery rest in between. Forty-five team sports players performed two RSTTs separated by 3 days to assess the reliability of best time (BT) and total time (TT) of the RSTT. The intra-class correlation coefficient analysis revealed a high relative reliability between test and retest for BT and TT (>0.90). The standard error of measurement (<0.50) showed that the RSTT has a good absolute reliability. The minimal detectable change values for BT and TT related to the RSTT were 0.09 s and 0.58 s, respectively. To check the criterion-related validity of the RSTT, players performed a repeated linear sprint (RLS) and a repeated sprint with changes of direction (RSCD). Significant correlations between the BT and TT of the RLS, RSCD and RSTT were observed (p<0.001). The RSTT is, therefore, a reliable and valid measure of the intermittent repeated sprint agility performance. As this ability is required in all team sports, it is suggested that team sports coaches, fitness coaches and sports scientists consider this test in their training follow-up.

Comparative exine ontogeny in some members of the family Zygophyllaceae sensu lato.

Exine ontogeny is studied in five taxa of the family Zygophyllaceae sensu lato (Peganum harmala L., Zygophyllum album L., Fagonia cretica L., Tribulus terrestris L., and Nitraria retusa [Forsk.] Asch.). In the beginning of the tetrad stage, the plasmalemma is attached to the callose wall, except in T. terrestris, where it describes crests and hollows. The primexine matrix is fibrillar, bilayered in T. terrestris and unilayered in the other taxa. In all species except P. harmala, the procolumellae are heterogeneous with clear zones and they become compact later. In T. terrestris, they are built on the crests. In Z. album and T. terrestris, a primordial nexinic lamella is set up. It is tripartite with a white line seen at some levels; on its external leaflet, the foot layer is observed, and on its internal leaflet, there is the endexine with numerous lamellae. This white line disappears often in the mature exine. In T. terrestris, there is a thick nexine that is coarsely lamellate inside. In the aperture zone, the columellae are lacking, the tectum and the foot layer get thinner; they unite and form the apertural membrane with the external part of the endexine. There is a granulolamellar endexinic zone well developed in P. harmala, whereas it is threelayered and weakly developed in T. terrestris.

Disease-specific medical records improve the recording of processes of care in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

A retrospective review of the medical records of 961 patients with type 2 diabetes managed in primary care in Tunisia was undertaken. Recording of process of care measurements improved from 65 to 84% for blood pressure, from 60 to 71% for fasting glucose, and from 11 to 53% for weight measurement (P<0.001 for all). The introduction of disease-specific medical records significantly improves the recording of care of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Variations in care of diabetes in primary care centres in Tunis.

The aim of this study was to investigate the care of diabetes in primary care in the public sector in Greater Tunis and in particular, to assess variations in care across centres with the intention of seeking explanations for any differences identified. We undertook a retrospective medical review of patients with diabetes from four primary care health centres. Data were collected concerning patient characteristics, process of care criteria, outcome of care criteria, attendance rates, treatment and health centre characteristics. The total sample size was 235 patients. Outcome of care criteria were found to be similar across each of the centres. Process of care criteria were found to be significantly varied between the centres for all measurements used. Variations were also found in treatment and attendance rates across the health centres. In conclusion, there is a significant variation in the management of diabetes in primary care across centres within Greater Tunis, despite the use of standardised, national guidelines. A number of factors related to the centres may have given rise to these variations.

[Prevalence and causes of blindness in the Tunisian Republic. Results of a national survey conducted in 1993. Tunisian Team on the Evaluation of Blindness]. / Prévalence et causes de la cécité en République tunisienne. Résultats d'une enquête nationale conduite en 1993. L'équipe tunisienne d'évaluation de la cécité.

AIMS: to estimate the prevalence of visual impairment and blindness; to identify the major causes of visual impairment and blindness and to estimate their overall impact, particularly on cataracts. METHODS: We used a population-based method. A cluster sample was selected, with the number of households randomly selected from a community depending on the size of the population. Examinations and data collection were carried out using the procedures recommended by the WHO. RESULTS: We included 3,981 individuals, 3,547 of whom were given a medical examination (89% participation). The structure of the sample differed from that of the Tunisian population, with people over the age of 60 years over represented in the sample. The crude prevalence of blindness was 1.2% (adjusted prevalence 0.8%) and that for bilateral visual impairment was 3% (adjusted prevalence 2%). There were 225,000 individuals with severely impaired vision, of whom 64,500 were blind (including 2,100 children under the age of 15 years) and 160,000 were visually impaired (including 8,700 children). Individuals over the age of 60 were eight times more likely to become blind and 6.7 times more likely to suffer visual impairment than those below the age of 60. Cataracts, particularly associated with aging, were the main cause of blindness (66%) and bilateral visual impairment (54.6%). Uncorrected aphakia accounted for a significant fraction of the visual deficiencies identified in this survey (6.4% of cases of blindness and 11.8% of cases of bilateral visual impairment). 1.7% of the individuals examined (135,000 people) had ocular surgery and 80,000 had undergone surgery for cataracts. Only 41% of those individuals who had cataracts had undergone surgery. The provision of cataract surgery was therefore inadequate. CONCLUSION: About 80% of the cases of blindness registered were preventable or treatable. The development of appropriate strategies for dealing with cataract blindness should significantly reduce the incidence of blindness.

[Expediency of combined lumbar sympathectomy with reconstructive-restorative operations in arteriosclerotic lesion of the aorto-femoral segment]. / Tselesoobraznost' sochetaniia poiasnichnoi simpatéktomii s rekonstruktivno-vosstanovitel'nymi operatsiiami pri ateroskleroticheskom porazhenii aortopodvzdoshnogo segmenta.

An examination of patients after reconstructive operations on the aorto-femoral segment in combination with lumbar sympathectomy (173 patients) and without it (75 patients) has shown sympathetcomy to promote reduction of the amount of postoperative thromboses and amputations in the early postoperative period. In the remote period the frequency of reocclusions in patients subjected to sympathectomy was higher. The authors consider that sympathectomy is responsible for progress of atherosclerosis.