Awake prone positioning for COVID-19 acute hypoxemic respiratory failure in Tunisia

Ismail Khaoula Ben,Essafi Fatma,Talik Imen,Slimene Najla Ben,Sdiri Ines,Dhia Boudour Ben,Merhbene Takoua 대한중환자의학회 2023 Acute and Critical Care Vol.38 No.3

Background: In this study, we explored whether awake prone position (PP) can impact prognosis of severe hypoxemia coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. Methods: This was a prospective observational study of severe, critically ill adult COVID-19 patients admitted to the intensive care unit. Patients were divided into two groups: group G1=patients who benefited from a vigilant and effective PP (>4h minimum/24) and group G2=control group. We compared demographic, clinical, paraclinical and evolutionary data. Results: Three hundred forty-ninepatients were hospitalized during the study period, 273 met the inclusion criteria. PP was performed in 192 patients (70.3%). The two groups were comparable in terms of demographic characteristics, clinical severity and modalities of oxygenation at ICU admission.The mean PaO2/FIO2ratios were respectively 141 and 128 mmHg, (P=0.07). The computed tomography scan was comparable with a critical >75% in 48.5% (G1) versus 54.2% (G2). The median duration of the daily PP session was 13±7 hours per day. The average duration of spontaneous PP days was 7 days [4–19]. Use of invasive ventilation was lower in the G1 group (27% vs. 56%, P=0.002). Healthcare-associated infections were significantly lower in G1 (42.1% vs. 82%, P=0.01). Duration of total mechanical ventilation and length of ICU stay were comparable between the two groups. Mortality was significantly higher in G2 (64% vs. 28%, P=0.02). Conclusions: Our study confirmed that awake PP can improve prognosis in COVID-19 patients. Randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm this result.

A New Kind of Slant Helix in Lorentzian (n + 2)- Spaces

Ates, Fatma,Gok, Ismail,Ekmekci, Faik Nejat Department of Mathematics 2016 Kyungpook mathematical journal Vol.56 No.3

In this paper, we introduce a new kind of slant helix for null curves called null $W_n$-slant helix and we give a definition of new harmonic curvature functions of a null curve in terms of $W_n$ in (n + 2)-dimensional Lorentzian space $M^{n+2}_1$ (for n > 3). Also, we obtain a characterization such as: "The curve ${\alpha}$ s a null $W_n$-slant helix ${\Leftrightarrow}H^{\prime}_n-k_1H_{n-1}-k_2H_{n-3}=0$" where $H_n,H_{n-1}$ and $H_{n-3}$ are harmonic curvature functions and $k_1,k_2$ are the Cartan curvature functions of the null curve ${\alpha}$.

Tadalafil oral disintegrating tablets: an approach to enhance tadalafil dissolution

Ahmed Refaat,Magda Sokar,Fatma Ismail,Nabila Boraei 한국약제학회 2015 Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation Vol.45 No.5

Improvement of the dissolution behavior of poorly water soluble tadalafil using solid dispersion technique was investigated. Polyvinylpyrollidone (PVP) was used to prepare solid dispersions (SDs) based on different ratios; 1:1 (SD1,), 1:2 (SD2,), 1:3 (SD3), 1:4 (SD4,) respectively. Tadalafil/PVP/AvicelⓇ in a ratio of 1:2:2 respectively (SD5) was also prepared. SD5 was selected to formulate orally disintegrating tablets (ODTs). Five formulae were prepared (F1–F5) and characterized with respect to drug content uniformity, breaking strength, % friability, wetting behavior, oral disintegration time. Results revealed that SD2 exhibited the highest dissolution rate improvement, where mean dissolution time was 8.22 min compared to 60.12 min for free tadalafil. X-ray powder diffraction spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry showed partial drug amorphization in the tested SDs sample which was further confirmed by scanning electron microscope. Moreover, particle size analysis showed the presence of nanocrystals combined with microcrystals dispersed in the prepared SDs. Among the studied solid SDs, SD2 showed the most satisfactory results. In order to improve % yield of SD2 (70.14 %), avicel Ⓡ was added and the resulting tertiary combination (SD5) showed better flow and higher % yield value (94.22 %). % tadalfil released from SD2 & SD5 differ insignificantly (p ≥ 0.05). F3 (48 % mannitol, 16 % avicelⓇ, 16 % croscarmellose) showed superior wetting time (30.1 s), excellent oral disintegration time (20 s) with an accepted hardness (3.6 kg) & % friability (0.7). Additionally, F3 exhibited a significant improvement of tadalafil dissolution compared to that of pure drug and test commercial tablet brand (p B 0.05).

Self-Sampling Versus Physicians' Sampling for Cervical Cancer Screening - Agreement of Cytological Diagnoses

Othman, Nor Hayati,Zaki, Fatma Hariati Mohamad,Hussain, Nik Hazlina Nik,Yusoff, Wan Zahanim Wan,Ismail, Pazuddin Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2016 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.17 No.7

Background: A major problem with cervical cancer screening in countries which have no organized national screening program for cervical cancer is sub-optimal participation. Implementation of self-sampling method may increase the coverage. Objective: We determined the agreement of cytological diagnoses made on samples collected by women themselves (self-sampling) versus samples collected by physicians (Physician sampling). Materials and Methods: We invited women volunteers to undergo two procedures; cervical self-sampling using the Evalyn brush and physician sampling using a Cervex brush. The women were shown a video presentation on how to take their own cervical samples before the procedure. The samples taken by physicians were taken as per routine testing (Gold Standard). All samples were subjected to Thin Prep monolayer smears. The diagnoses made were according to the Bethesda classification. The results from these two sampling methods were analysed and compared. Results: A total of 367 women were recruited into the study, ranging from 22 to 65 years age. There was a significant good agreement of the cytological diagnoses made on the samples from the two sampling methods with the Kappa value of 0.568 (p=0.040). Using the cytological smears taken by physicians as the gold standard, the sensitivity of self-sampling was 71.9% (95% CI:70.9-72.8), the specificity was 86.6% (95% CI:85.7-87.5), the positive predictive value was 74.2% (95% CI:73.3-75.1) and the negative predictive value was 85.1% (95% CI: 84.2-86.0). Self-sampling smears (22.9%) allowed detection of micro-organisms better than physicians samples (18.5%). Conclusions: This study shows that samples taken by women themselves (self-sampling) and physicians have good diagnostic agreement. Self-sampling could be the method of choice in countries in which the coverage of women attending clinics for screening for cervical cancer is poor.

Toxicity Assessment of Common Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Widely Consumed by Tunisian Population

Nader Nciri,조남준,Faic¸al El Mhamdi,Hanen Ben Ismail,Abderraouf Ben Mansour,Fayc¸al Haj Sassi,Fatma Ben Aissa-Fennira 한국식품영양과학회 2015 Journal of medicinal food Vol.18 No.9

This research aimed at assessing the content and the functional properties of phytohemagglutinin (PHA) in different varieties of beans widely consumed in Tunisia through soaking, cooking, autoclaving, germination, and their combinations. This study was carried out on three varieties of white beans grown in different localities of Tunisia, namely Twila, Coco, and Beldia, as well as on imported and local canned beans. All bean samples underwent biochemical and immunological evaluation by employing several techniques such as indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), hemagglutinating assay, Ouchterlony double immunodiffusion, and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Biochemical and immunological analyses indicated that raw dry beans contained a considerable amount of proteins and PHAs. ELISA demonstrated that soaking, either in plain water or in alkaline solution, caused an increase in the concentration of PHA. A slight increase of PHA was produced equally by germination during 4 days in all bean varieties. Cooking or autoclaving of presoaked beans resulted in a complete disappearance of PHA. ELISA test also proved that both imported and local canned beans contained fingerprints of PHA. Hemagglutination assays showed that not only cooked and autoclaved presoaked beans lacked the ability to agglutinate red blood cells but also autoclaved unsoaked beans did. In agar gel immunodiffusion using rabbit anti-PHA serum, raw, soaked, cooked unsoaked, and sprouted beans gave precipitin arc reactions, indicating that PHA existed in immunoreactive form in the tested seeds. SDS-PAGE electrophoretograms showed protein isolates of Twila and Beldia beans to have different profiles through soaking, cooking, and autoclaving processes. This work revealed that the combination of soaking and cooking/autoclaving was the best way in reducing PHA content and its activity in all bean varieties when compared with germination.