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Biomedical subjects

M Ben Said

Publications and source records attributed to M Ben Said.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1996

Interactive electronic teaching (ISIS): has the future started?

Medical education of hypertensives as well as of other asymptomatic cardiovascular risk patients requires individualized, interactive and attractive strategies. Electronic teaching set up in hospital or clinic settings opens the way of the future, saving time and allowing more advantageous use of caretakers. ISIS (Initiation Sanitaire Informatisee et Scenarisee), a French computer assisted program for cardiovascular risk patients, combines a scientific information, divided in 12 sequential but independent modules, with a recreative imaginary trip in the world of ancient Egypt. To test the impact of this tool on patient health information retention, 158 hypertensives hospitalized in a day-hospital clinic were randomized into an intervention or ISIS group (IG, n = 79) and a control group (CG, n = 79). Both groups received cardiovascular education through standard means. In addition, IG patients underwent a 30 to 60 min session on the computer. Cardiovascular knowledge was tested by a nurse administering a standardized 28-item questionnaire before and two months after education. Retesting was done by telephone interview. A total of 138 completed questionnaires (69 from each group) were analyzed. Overall mean cardiovascular knowledge score before education (14.3 +/- 4.2, range 4-25) improved significantly after education (3.7 +/- 3.5, p = 0.0001). This improvement was more important in the IG than the CG (3.8 +/- 3.6 vs 2.4 +/- 3.2 respectively, p = 0.02), especially in hypertensives having a known disease for more than six months. Isis is now available in two languages: French and English. Patients' satisfaction and the conclusion of this comparative trial encourage confirmation of these first results in other French or English speaking populations, in order to test the long term effects of structured electronic teaching sessions on health behaviour, and to promote a wide use of computers and multimedia communication in hypertension control programs.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Benefits of a computer-assisted education program for hypertensive patients compared with standard education tools.

ISIS (Initiation Sanitaire Informatisée et Scénarisée), a French computer-assisted hypertension and cardiovascular risk education program, was developed to provide patients at cardiovascular risk with a modern interactive educational tool combining rigorously scientific information with the aesthetic attractiveness of multimedia communication. To test the impact of this tool on patient health information retention, 158 hypertensives hospitalized for initial work-up (day hospital) or therapeutic adjustments (3 days) were randomized into control (n = 79) and ISIS (n = 79) groups. Both groups received cardiovascular education through standard means: physicians, nurses, dietitians and pamphlets. In addition, ISIS patients underwent a 30- to 60-min session on the computer with the ISIS program. Cardiovascular knowledge was tested by the same investigator administering a standardized 28-item questionnaire before and 2 months after education. Retesting was made by telephone. At the time of first assessment, all patients were aware that they would be retested. A total of 138 completed questionnaires (69 from each group) was analyzed. Overall mean cardiovascular knowledge score before education improved significantly after education. This improvement was greater in the ISIS than the control group. These results confirm the potential of computer-assisted education in hypertensives from a specialized center.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Enhancements of anatomical information in UMLS knowledge sources.

Although anatomical terminology forms a part of biomedical structured vocabularies, available sources lack the requisite granularity, semantic types and relationships for comprehensively and consistently representing anatomical concepts in machine readable form. Thoracic angiology was selected as a proof of concept experiment for in depth representation of symbolic information in gross anatomy through the enhancement of semantic types, concepts and relationships in UMLS. Provided the representation of concepts is comprehensive, hierarchies generated with four types of simple relationships are capable of displaying anatomical information from the systemic view point with sufficient detail to meet the needs of applications in basic science education and in the practice of surgical subspecialties.

Anatomy↗
PubMed1994

[Evaluation of a computer assisted training program for hypertensive patients].

ISIS tutorial program (French abbreviation for Animated and Computerized Initiation into Health) was carried out for Macintosh type computers to place a modern and interactive learning device at cardiovascular risk patients' disposal. Such a program combines strict scientific explanations and aesthetic attractiveness of multimedia communication. To test the effect of this device on health knowledge gain, 158 hypertensives admitted in one-day or in half-week clinics for an initial check-up or for a therapeutic adjustment were randomised into two groups: a control group (n = 79), receiving usual education (contacts with physicians, nurses, dieticians, health oriented booklets), and an experimental or "ISIS" group (n = 79) undergoing an interactive session with the computer during 30 to 60 minutes, in addition to usual education. Health knowledge of both groups was assessed through a 28-item questionnaire, before any education procedure, two months after the discharge, through a standardized interview by phone, thanks to the same investigator. On the whole, 69 + 69 = 138 complete case records could be analysed. Initial health knowledge mean score, at admission to the hospital, was 14.3 +/- 4.2 (range: 4 to 25). This score significantly improved among the whole population (difference between the two evaluations: 3.7 +/- 3.5 points; p = 0.0001). Improvement was greater in ISIS group than in controls (p = 0.02). Among hypertensives with initial scores < or = 16, improvement was respectively 4.5 +/- 3.6 and 2.9 +/- 3.0 for ISIS and control groups (p < 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1994

A comparative study between a computer-aided education (ISIS) and habitual education techniques for hypertensive patients.

ISIS is a patient education computer program about hypertension. It aims to be complementary to the habitual educational techniques by bringing into patient education the facility of multimedia features. Its efficiency in improving the knowledge about hypertension was tested among 158 hypertensive patients. Their prior knowledge was evaluated using a questionnaire. They were then randomly separated in a control group (CG) which had the regular education program and ISIS group or (IG) which, in addition, had an interactive session using ISIS. Two months after discharge, all the patients were asked the same questions over the telephone. A total of 138 observations (69 CG, 69 IG) were reported in the final analysis. The initial scores were significantly improved for both groups. The improvement is more evident in the IG, particularly among patients whose initial score was low and patients whose hypertension was discovered for more than 6 months. ISIS is actually used by hospitalized patients and by nurse students.

Computer Systems↗
PubMed1994

[Cutaneopulmonary blastomycosis].

We observed a new case of blastomycosis in a patient with haemoptysis. The chest X-ray revealed a lesion confined to the upper right lobe of the lung and there was an ulcerating vegetation at the medial angle of the right eye. Skin biopsy and bronchial aspiration led to the identification of typical Blastomyces dermatitidis. Outcome was favourable after oral therapy with ketoconazole. Cutaneo-pulmonary blastomycosis is weakly endemic in Tunisia. Pulmonary lesions are more frequent because of airborne transmission. Cutaneous lesions may be clinically misleading. This disease is sensitive to antifungal imidazole derivatives.

Blastomycosis↗
PubMed1993

Structuration and acquisition of medical knowledge. Using UMLS in the conceptual graph formalism.

The use of a taxonomy, such as the concept type lattice (CTL) of Conceptual Graphs, is a central structuring piece in a knowledge-based system. The knowledge it contains is constantly used by the system, and its structure provides a guide for the acquisition of other pieces of knowledge. We show how UMLS can be used as a knowledge resource to build a CTL and how the CTL can help the process of acquisition for other kinds of knowledge. We illustrate this method in the context of the MENELAS natural language understanding project.

Artificial Intelligence↗
PubMed1992

[Canine leishmaniasis in the region of Enfidha (Central Tunisia). Assessment of seroprevalence with direct agglutination (DAT) and indirect immunofluorescence (IFAT)].

In order to assess canine leishmaniasis prevalence rate in Enfidha area, considered to be the most important kala-azar focus in Sousse Governorate, a serological survey was carried out in 6 localities. 265 sera were examined by DAT and IFAT. 16 (6.03%) showed positive results for anti-leishmania antibodies with significant variations according to the locality. A fairly DAT-IFAT good correlation was observed.

Agglutination Tests↗
PubMed1989

Study of circulating immune complexes during the evolution of visceral Mediterranean leishmaniasis.

In the present study, sera of 56 children suffering from visceral Mediterranean leishmaniasis were analysed. The incidence of circulating immune complexes (CIC) by ELISA technique using the conglutinin binding assay was 39% before treatment, 28% after the first treatment, and nil at the end of the second one. The C4 levels remain low even after treatment. The anti-leishmania antibodies (AAL) account for 95% of the cases before treatment and 84% after treatment. The rheumatoid factor (FR) also remains with more or less the same frequency (74%) before and after treatment. The search for a correlation between the presence of CIC and the other immunological factors show that the average titre of AAL is higher in the group of patients that have CIC than in the group that does not. The C4 levels are significantly reduced in the CIC positive group of patients, whereas the rate of IgG is significantly increased in the same group. The study of the evolution of CIC under treatment in nine patients shows that they disappear at the end of the treatment, and that the FR reduces but does not disappear.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

[Parasite burden and immune response in kala-azar].

The parasite-burden, which is indicative of the macrophage activity, was determined before treatment in 84 kala azar cases (L. infantum) and compared to non specific immune response parameters (serum IgG, and IgM), to the specific antibody levels as detected by immunofluorescence and IgG and IgM-ELISA, as well as to rheumatoid factor titers. In 57 cases presenting with less than 3 months from the first appearance of symptoms and despite some individual variations, high parasite-burden levels were accompanied with high specific and non specific immune response parameters and inversely. The data suggest that, during kala azar, low and high immune responders could be distinguished in the humans in the way it was demonstrated by Biozzi in mice. Data collected from 27 cases with more than 3 months duration showed a poor correlation. However, at highest antibody levels, some decreasing in parasite-burden was noticed. The prognostic value of the parasite-burden determination is emphasized. Genetic studies of populations would improve control measures.

Antibodies↗
PubMed1985

[Epidemiology of hydatid cyst in Tunisia. Value of mass serologic surveys of hydatid cyst].

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.

Echinococcosis↗
PubMed1984

[Geography of major parasitosis in Tunisia].

Basing on their personal investigations, literature data and statistic archives, the authors have tried to establish the geographical distribution of the main parasitic diseases in Tunisia which require a curative action together with an action on the environment for their eradication. Three of these disease are transmitted by vectors: Malaria, Leishmaniasis, Schistosomiasis; and three others are transmitted by soil: Hydatidosis, Ancylostomiasis and Strongyloidiasis.

Ancylostomiasis↗