Ammonia gas sensors based on undoped and Ca-doped ZnO nanoparticles.

Due to its large use in different industrial sectors, high toxicity, and corrosion, the demand for sensing techniques towards ammonia gas has become urgent. In this study we report on the sensing performances of a conductometric sensor for NH3 gas based on Ca-doped ZnO nanoparticles with different calcium concentrations (0, 1, and 3 at%) synthesized using the sol-gel process under supercritical dry conditions of ethanol. All samples were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Pure and Ca-doped ZnO are polycrystalline and well crystallized in the hexagonal wurtzite structure. TEM images revealed that pure ZnO is composed of spherical particles with dimensions in the nanometer range. Larger particles were observed after the incorporation of Ca ions. The average crystallite size, estimated by the Williamson-Hall method, was 43, 80, and 96 nm for pure, Ca-1 at% and Ca-3 at%, respectively. Furthermore, FTIR spectroscopy was used to prove the formation of ZnO and the incorporation of calcium ions in the Ca-doped ZnO samples. The gas sensing performances towards ammonia gas clearly ameliorated after the addition of Ca ions in the ZnO structure. The gas response to NH3, R0/Rg, of the 1% Ca-doped ZnO sensor reached a value of 33 for 4000 ppm of ammonia at T = 300 °C with good selectivity compared to other gases such as CO, CO2, and NO2. The response and recovery times were 5 s and 221 s, respectively. The reported good sensing performances indicate the potential application of Ca-doped ZnO as a sensor material for ammonia detection.

[The Eyes Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing for children with traumatic traumatic stress disorder: A Tunisian experience]. / L'Eyes Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing auprès des enfants avec Trouble Stress Post-Traumatique : une expérience tunisienne.

OBJECTIVES: Evaluate the effectiveness of the Eyes Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing psychotherapy for children with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted in the Child Psychiatry Department of CHU Mongi Slim, Marsa (Tunis, Tunisia). All Outpatients with a Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder diagnosis and who had Eyes Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing psychotherapy during the period from July 2016 to May 2018 were included. They were evaluated according to DSM 5 criteria in pre and post therapy. RESULTS: The sample consisted of sixteen children with a sex-ratio of 1.6. Their age ranged from 3 to 17 years old with a mean age of 9.5±4.6 years. Five patients were less than six years old. Our patients were exposed to a sexual assault (4 cases), a death of a family member (3 cases), a road accident (3 cases), a physical assault (4 cases), an arrest of the father (1 case) and burglary of the house (1 case). In 15 cases, the traumatic event was unique while it was repeated in one sexual assault case. The total number of follow-up sessions ranged from one to seven sessions with an average of 3±2.4 sessions. The average number of sessions for preschool children was 2.6±0.5 sessions. Bilateral tactile stimulations were used with thirteen children in our population, including the five children younger than six years old. At the end of the therapy all patients no longer met the criteria for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder diagnosis. All the preschool patients and eight children older than 6 years did not respond to any of the four Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder criteria. The difference between the scores of the DSM 5 criteria in pre and post EMDR was statistically significant. We found P=10-3 for children over six years and P<0.05 for children under six years old. CONCLUSION: Eyes Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing is a therapy that has several advantages. First, it is effective in Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in children. Second, its protocol is flexible and adaptable to all ages and developmental level of the child. Third, the number of sessions is usually reduced, which is a great advantage over other trauma-focused psychotherapies.

Assessment of cardiovascular risk in Tunisia: applying the Framingham risk score to national survey data.

OBJECTIVE: This paper aims to assess the socioeconomic determinants of a high 10 year cardiovascular risk in Tunisia. SETTING: We used a national population based cross sectional survey conducted in 2005 in Tunisia comprising 7780 subjects. We applied the non-laboratory version of the Framingham equation to estimate the 10 year cardiovascular risk. PARTICIPANTS: 8007 participants, aged 35-74 years, were included in the sample but effective exclusion of individuals with cardiovascular diseases and cancer resulted in 7780 subjects (3326 men and 4454 women) included in the analysis. RESULTS: Mean age was 48.7 years. Women accounted for 50.5% of participants. According to the Framingham equation, 18.1% (17.25-18.9%) of the study population had a high risk (≥20% within 10 years). The gender difference was striking and statistically significant: 27.2% (25.7-28.7%) of men had a high risk, threefold higher than women (9.7%; 8.8-10.5%). A higher 10 year global cardiovascular risk was associated with social disadvantage in men and women; thus illiterate and divorced individuals, and adults without a professional activity had a significantly higher risk of developing a cardiovascular event in 10 years. Illiterate men were at higher risk than those with secondary and higher education (OR=7.01; 5.49 to 9.14). The risk in illiterate women was more elevated (OR=13.57; 7.58 to 24.31). Those living in an urban area had a higher risk (OR=1.45 (1.19 to 1.76) in men and OR=1.71 (1.35 to 2.18) in women). CONCLUSIONS: The 10 year global cardiovascular risk in the Tunisian population is already substantially high, affecting almost a third of men and 1 in 10 women, and concentrated in those more socially disadvantaged.

[Acute myocarditis complicating Mediterranean spotted fever. A case report]. / Une myocardite aiguë compliquant une fièvre boutonneuse méditerranéenne. À propos d'un cas.

Mediterranean spotted fever (MSF) due to Rickettsia conorii is the most important tick-borne disease occurring in North Africa. The first description of MSF was made by Conor and Brush in 1910 in Tunisia. Clinical diagnosis relies on the association of fever, rash and inoculation's scar during summertime. Prognosis in MSF is usually good, however malignant forms were described. These forms occur in patients with comorbidities. G6PD deficiency is a classic ground for severe forms of MSF. Myocarditis is an uncommon complication in MSF; only few cases were reported in the literature. We report a new case of myocarditis complicating MSF in a 15-year-old patient with G6PD deficiency. The patient presented with fever and rash, evocative of MSF; he reported chest pain and the electrocardiogram showed ST segment elevation in anterior leads. Troponin level was elevated. Echocardiogram showed left ventricular dysfunction with 40% ejection fraction. Serologic tests confirmed R. conorii recent infection. Antibiotic treatment with vibramycine and rifadine was started. Patient also received classic treatment of myocarditis with left ventricular dysfunction associating CEI, ß-bloquers and diuretics. Evolution was favourable with complete recovery of left ventricular function. Myocarditis is an uncommon but severe complication of MSF. Early diagnosis and treatment allow favorable evolution.

[Causes of death in Tunisia: estimates of years of life lost]

This study estimated the number of years of life lost [YLL]by cause due to premature death in Tunisia for the year 2006.We adopted the methodology [SEYLL]proposed by Murray and Lopez.The crude rate of YLL was 58.1 per 1000 inhabitants.After age-standardization using the world population, we obtained a rate of 57.7 YLL per 1000.Cardiovascular diseases [CVD][19.3% of total YLL]and cancers [17.8%]dominated the burden of premature mortality, followed by perinatal conditions [13.6%]. Excluding extreme age groups where perinatal conditions [0-4 years]and CVD [>60 years]dominated the YLL's causes, injuries [road traffic crashes, falls, etc.] and cancers were most responsible for YLL.The present study highlights the major contribution of noncommunicable diseases to YLL in Tunisia.The promotion of healthy lifestyle and the reinforcement of secondary prevention in primary health care are the best ways to tackle these diseases

قام الباحثون في هذه الدراسة بتقدير عدد سنوات الحياة المفقودة نتيجة الموت المبكر، موزعة حسب أسباب الوفيات في تونس في عام 2006 . وقد اتبع الباحثون الطريقة المعيارية لحساب سنوات الحياة المتوقع فقدانها وهي الطريقة التي ابتكرها موري ولوبيز. ووجدوا أن المعدل الخام لسنوات الحياة المفقودة هو 58.1 لكل ألف نسمة، وبعد إضفاء المعيارية بالنسبة للسن بالاعتماد على عدد سكان العالم، حصل الباحثون على معدل 57.7 لسنوات الحياة المفقودة لكل ألف نسمة. وقد غلبت على عبء الوفيات المبكرة كل من أمراض القلب والأوعية [19.3 % من مجمل سنوات الحياة المفقودة]والسرطانات [17.8 %]، وتلاهما وفيات حالات الخداج والحالات المحيطة بالولادة [13.6 %]. وعندما استبعد الباحثون المجموعات العمرية القاصية التي تغلب فيها الحالات المحيطة بالولادة [0 - 4 سنوات]والأمراض القلبية الوعائية [في الأعمار أكثر من 60 عاما]، وجدوا أن الأسباب الغالبة لسنوات الحياة المفقودة هي الإصابات [حوادث التصادم على الطرق والسقوط وغير ذلك]، والسرطانات، فهي الأكثر مسؤولية عن سنوات الحياة المفقودة. وتوضح هذه الدراسة الإسهام الكبير للأمراض غير السارية في سنوات الحياة المفقودة في تونس. ولعل أفضل الطرق للتصدي لهذه الأمراض هي تعزيز الحياة الصحية وتعزيز الوقاية الثانوية في الرعاية الصحية الأولية

Cette étude présente une estimation des années de vie perdues [AVP]du fait d'un décès prématuré, par cause, en Tunisie pour l'année 2006.Nous avons adopté la méthodologie SEYLL [Standard Expected Years of Life Lost]proposée par Murray et Lopez.Le taux brut d'AVP était de 58, 1 pour 1000 habitants; celui standardisé sur la population mondiale était de 57, 7 pour 1000.Les maladies cardio-vasculaires [19, 3 %]et les cancers [17, 8 %]étaient les plus pourvoyeurs d'AVP, suivis par les affections périnatales [13, 6 %]. En dehors des classes d'âge extrêmes prédominées par les affections périnatales [0-4 ans]et les maladies cardio-vasculaires [>60 ans], c'étaient les cancers et les traumatismes [accidents de la circulation, chutes, etc.] qui étaient les plus pout-voyeurs d'AVP.L'étude souligne la part majeure des maladies non transmissibles dans les pertes en années de vie en Tunisie.La promotion d'un mode de vie sain et la prévention secondaire en première ligne semblent les moyens de lutte les plus efficaces contre ces maladies

Trends in secondary prevention of coronary heart disease in Tunisia: prevention of recurrences of MI and stroke.

OBJECTIVES: The 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. METHODS: The 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. RESULTS: The 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. CONCLUSION: Although 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.