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S Nouira

Publications and source records attributed to S Nouira.

34 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

[C-reactive protein in bacterial meningitis in adults].

In order to assess the benefits of serial assays of C-reactive protein in the course of bacterial meningitis in adults, daily blood samples were taken for CRP measurement during 10 days in 21 consecutive patients (mean age: 24 +/- 8 years) hospitalized for bacterial meningitis principally due to Neisseria meningitidis (n = 15). The highest CRP level (178 +/- 38 mg/l) was present on admission, followed by a regular decrease occurring in uncomplicated meningitis until normal level was achieved on day 9. The CRP kinetics was not influenced by the type of causative micro-organism. This study shows that CRP kinetics in adults is similar to that reported in children. The benefit of CRP assays in optimizing the duration of antibiotic treatment of meningitis needs to be more carefully assessed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Hellp syndrome: incidence and maternal-fetal outcome--a prospective study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence of Hellp syndrome (HS) and the maternal fetal outcome associated with its occurrence. DESIGN: A prospective study during a 6-month period. SETTING: The department of obstetrics and gynecology and the Intensive Care Unit of a 700 bed teaching hospital. PATIENTS: Sixty-two consecutive preeclamptic and eclamptic women. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: All patients were systematically investigated for the biological markers of HS. The effects of the occurrence of HS on maternal and fetal prognosis were evaluated by comparing for prognosis indicators usually assessed in gravidic hypertension, pre-eclamptic and eclamptic woman who exhibited HS (HS+ subgroup) with HS free patients (HS- subgroup). HS was found in 12 out of the 62 pre-eclamptic and eclamptic women (19.3%). Its occurrence was associated with higher maternal mortality (16.7% vs 0%; p = 0.03), a greater incidence of eclamptic crisis (50% vs 20%; p = 0.03), severe hypertension (33% vs 8%; p = 0.03) and episodes of acute renal failure (66% vs 30%; p = 0.02). Mean proteinuria was also higher in HS+ patients (4.6 +/- 3.3 vs 2.2 +/- 2.5 g/day; p = 0.001). However, fetal outcome was not significantly altered. CONCLUSION: Pre-eclampsia and eclampsia may be more severe in the presence of HS with a worsening of maternal prognosis while fetal outcome seems not altered.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Passive partitioning of respiratory volumes and time constants in ventilated patients.

If the thoracoabdominal partitioning of volumes in the mechanical respiratory apparatus was constant, one transducer of indirect spirometry should be sufficient to measure volume variations. To verify this hypothesis we used respiratory inductive plethysmography (RIP) in 16 paralysed patients, of whom eight had normal lungs and 8 had not, to measure: 1) the thoracoabdominal partitioning of volumes (400-1,200 ml) insufflated from either a syringe (Syr) or a ventilator (Vent); and 2) thoracic (Tho) and abdominal (Abd) time constants (T0.368) on spontaneous deflation to barometric pressure. In eleven additional subjects with normal lungs we measured only the time constants. 1) Correlation coefficients of the calibration lines were in all but one subject > 0.98. In all patients the error of volume was < +/- 10% when either one of two coils alone was used to assess volumes with no difference between the two coils; 2) Partitioning varied little with volumes (4 +/- 2%), but widely between subjects, with no group average significant difference between Syr and Vent; 3) T0.368 were identical for Tho and Abd except in one patient; 4) Partitioning and T0.368 were volume size independent. We conclude that, to measure volume variations and time constants in ventilated, paralysed patients, the use of either a thoracic or abdominal single coil RIP is justified. We also provide the normal range for time constant in 19 subjects (0.73 +/- 0.29 s).

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Cardiac dysfunction and pulmonary edema following scorpion envenomation.

Cardiac dysfunction with pulmonary edema following scorpion envenomation (SE) has been documented only in a few isolated case reports. We conducted a systematic hemodynamic study in five consecutive patients (mean age, 21.6 +/- 8 years) presenting with pulmonary edema occurring a few hours (9.6 +/- 5.2 hours) after SE. All patients had increased pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (mean, 25 +/- 1.8 mm Hg) while the systemic vascular resistance was elevated only in one. The stroke volume index was markedly depressed (21.7 +/- 3.6 ml/sq m) whereas cardiac index was normal or slightly decreased (2.5 +/- 0.4 L/min/sq m). Cerebral infarct and sudden cardiac arrest were the cause of death in two patients. In the three survivors, all the hemodynamic disturbances and respiratory abnormalities disappeared within a few days. We conclude that cardiac dysfunction was found in all five patients and this was reversible in the three surviving the acute episode.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Is intensive care justified for patients with haematological malignancies?

The course of 260 adults with haematological malignancies admitted to a medical intensive care unit was studied to evaluate the value of life support techniques and to research predictive factors. The overall in the medical intensive care unit (MICU) and hospital mortality rates were respectively 43% (113 patients) and 57% (148 patients). Among survivors, 64% (49 patients) were still alive after 6 months and 44% (35 patients) after 1 year. Among 34 haemodialysed patients, the MICU mortality was 67% (23 patients) and among 111 mechanically ventilated patients 85% (94 patients). Prolonged mechanical ventilation, more than seven days, was performed in 11 of the 17 survivors and did not influence long term survival. No individual predictor of mortality was found comparing survivors and non-survivors. However, SAPS, intractable sepsis and failure of more than one organ system were significantly different in non-survivors (p less than 0.001). Among the 20 patients requiring both mechanical ventilation and haemodialysis, only two left the MICU and both died soon thereafter. We conclude that life support therapy should be initiated in patients with haematological disorders and that prolonged mechanical ventilation is compatible with long term survival. However, the combination of mechanical ventilation and haemodialysis is always associated with a poor prognosis and therefore the use of both techniques simultaneously for one patient is questionable.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Mechanical effects of PEEP in patients with adult respiratory distress syndrome.

In 10 patients with adult respiratory distress syndrome, we studied the effects on respiratory system mechanics of two levels of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP), best PEEP (BP) and half of this value (HBP), using a respiratory inductive plethysmograph (RIP) combined with a super syringe. We found the following. 1) Inflation compliance of pressure-volume (PV) curves did not change significantly. 2) End-expiratory volume increased with HBP and further with BP (278 +/- 186 and 464 +/- 313 ml, respectively, P less than 0.01). This increase was positively correlated with inflation compliance for HBP and BP (r = 0.794, P less than 0.01 and r = 0.876, P less than 0.01, respectively). 3) No dynamic hyper-inflation was detected on mechanical ventilation at zero end-expiratory pressure (ZEEP), and the time constant of the respiratory system was in the normal range (0.79 +/- 0.21 s). 4) Hysteresis of PVrip curves, which were corrected for gas exchange, decreased significantly with PEEP (P less than 0.05). We conclude that PEEP does not change inflation PV curve but induces an increase in intrathoracic volume whose magnitude is related to compliance and PEEP level. The reduction of hysteresis with PEEP suggests less gas trapping and thus a functional improvement.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

[Skeletochronological determination of age and demographic analysis of a population of Acanthodactylus pardalis (Lischenstein, 1823) of the Kerkennah islands (Tunisia)].

The skeletochronological analysis of 34 adult lizards from population of Acanthodactylus pardalis of Kerkennah islands in Tunisia enabled to: determine the individual age of the animals; delineate four various cohorts making up the studied population; evaluate around 4 years life span in nature of this species; point out that the renewal rate accounts for 41% of its population. Moreover the method of "maximums successifs" is applied on sizeable sample in order to shore up the obtained results.

Age Determination by Skeleton↗
PubMed1986

[Reproduction of populations of Eremias olivieri (Reptilia, Lacertidae) from the Kerkennah Islands].

The study of the genital tractus of 234 Eremias olivieri females caught among two populations from the islands of Kerkennah permitted to define the breeding characteristics of this species: two successive clutches by season of activity; precocious sexual maturity: 7 to 9 months according as the animals are issued from the first or second animal clutche. high pregnant rate: ranging from 87 to 100%; average annual fecundity: 1.98 to 2.98 eggs per female; the importance of each clutche varies between 1 and 7 eggs when the most frequent clutches comprise 2 and 3 eggs. A continuous observation of the populations during different seasons of activity (3 seasons for the population of the island of Gharbi and 2 for the population of the island of Chargui) permitted to notice some differences statistically significant the thorough interpretation of which, in terms of adaptative strategies remains difficult for lack of fuller data on other demographic and ecologic parameters.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

[The reptile population south of Chott El Djerid].

Twenty species of Reptiles divided into 14 genus and 7 families have been identified from 21 samples of the south of Chott El Djerid. The specific richness seems to decrease on the surroundings of the Chott. The log-normal model shows best the abundance of the distribution observed. In the relation with the pedologic characteristics of the environment, Reptiles share out themselves between four unities.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Repeat suicide attempts: characteristics of repeaters versus first-time attempters admitted in the emergency of a Tunisian general hospital].

UNLABELLED: Repeat suicide attempts constitute a special problem in suicidology. It seems that the excess mortality by suicide is even higher among the suicide repeaters. The objectives of this study were to estimate repeat suicide attempts frequency among a sample of suicide attempters admitted in the University Hospital Emergency of Monastir (Tunisia), to compare their features to those of first-time attempters and to determine factors associated with repeat suicide. METHOD: A transversal survey involves a review of all patients committing suicide attempt and who are admitted in the emergency service during the second semester of 1999. Study variables included: demographic parameters, family and personal psychiatric history, axis I psychiatric disorder and circumstances of the present suicide attempt. Also, subjects were evaluated with the following scales: Montgomery and Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) and The Social Readjustment Rating Scale of Holms and Rahe. RESULT: Among the 90 suicide attempters, 42.2% (n = 38) had made at least one previous suicide attempt. More repeaters than first-time attempters were divorced or separated: 21.1% versus 5.8% (p = 0.05). Belonging to a numerous family (n > or = 4) was more frequent in the repeaters group: 73.7% versus 46.2% (p = 0.01). The two groups did not differ as to level of education but were significantly different with regard to their professional activity: 60.5% of repeaters were unemployed versus 34.6% of first-time attempters (p = 0.01). Repeaters had more loaded family psychiatric disorders: 26.3% versus 7.7% (p = 0.03). However there were practically no differences between repeaters and first-time attempters in regard of suicide in their families. Personal previous history of repeaters was characterized by frequency of psychiatric hospitalization: 50% versus 11.5% (p = 0.00005). Sexual abuse was more frequent in repeaters group but this difference was not significant. Alcohol and drug abuse were not frequent in the two groups. Concerning the actual suicide attempt, the most frequently diagnosed disorder was adjustment disorders. However depressive and psychotic disorders were significantly more frequent in the repeaters group: 34.2% versus 13.4% (p = 0.05). Repeaters had more frequently elevated scores (> 14) in MADRS: 71.1% versus 48.1% (p = 0.01), and raised intensity of stress factors lived during the six months preceding actual suicide attempt: 68.4% versus 42.3% (p = 0.04). Nevertheless we hadn't noticed any differences between the two groups regarding the methods used or the motives. CONCLUSION: Differences in the characteristics of repeaters and first-time attempters are therefore of interest when discussing future suicidal risk and should clear on preventive actions in order to face the increase of suicidal recidivism. A broad based, multidisciplinary intervention approach is recommended.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Space organization and structure of the scorpion population in the region of Sfax (Tunisia)].

Four species of scorpions live in Sfax area: Androctonus australis, Androctonus aeneas, Buthus occitanus and Scorpio maurus. Preliminary study of this community organization showed that: spatial segregation allow coexistence of different species, nature and texture of the soil determine biogeography distribution and populations abundances in the sector studied, populations of scorpions maintains close connections between them and with guild of insectivorous and nocturnal lizards, particularly competition and predation.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Acanthodactyles of Tunisia: VIII--The southern acanthodactyles from south of Chott el Djerid].

Applied to 135 Acanthodactylus, from eight clusters of collecting sites, a multidimensional analysis of 11 characters, mainly of colouring and scale patterns, providing 35 mathematical variables, reveals a hight intrapopulational variability. Samples dwelling on reg nebkhas and sandy knolls in the river beds are Acanthodactylus inornatus. Some specimens, in the sample from barkhanes and sand dunes areas, are morphologically close to A. longipes.

Animals↗