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PubMed2004

Epidemiological and antigenic analysis of respiratory syncytial virus in hospitalised Tunisian children, from 2000 to 2002.

Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the major viral cause of lower respiratory tract disease in children. Infections with the virus occur as annual winter epidemics in temperate climates, placing considerable pressure on the provision of hospital beds. Most molecular epidemiological studies have, until now, focused on isolates from infants in industrialised countries. No data have been available with regard to RSV strains from northern Africa. In this report, a recent RSV outbreak in Tunisia was studied and results showed that 176 of 815 (21.6%) nasopharyngeal aspirates collected from hospitalised children were RSV-positive by immunofluorescence assay. This RSV outbreak showed a temperature-dependent pattern (P=0.026) but no significant association with rainfall. A total of 73 RSV-positive samples were tested by two reverse-transcription-polymerase chain reaction assays (RT-PCR): RT-PCR-1, which amplifies the RNA of all RSV strains, and RT-PCR-2, which allows subgroup classification of RSV. Analysis by hybridisation assay of RT-PCR-2-amplified 1B protein gene products showed a higher prevalence of group B RSV than that of group A (82.5% vs. 17.5% among the typed strains). Knowledge of the variants is important in terms of both diagnosis and definition of a vaccine composition.

Antigens, Viral↗
PubMed1998

Phylogeny of wapiti, red deer, sika deer, and other North American cervids as determined from mitochondrial DNA.

Red deer (Cervus elaphus) are divided into three subspecific groups; the first group includes seven subspecies from Europe and northern Africa, the second group includes seven subspecies from central Asia, and the third group includes nine subspecies from eastern Asia, Siberia, and North America. Recognition of the North American wapiti as a species has been denied on the basis of morphological similarity with red deer and the circumpolar distribution of C. elaphus. Sika deer (C. nippon), which are distributed in much of the same range, also share phenotypic and genotypic similarities with the red deer. A comparison of sequences from the control region of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from North American and Siberian wapiti, European red deer, and Asian sika deer was used to construct a phylogenetic relationship among these cervids and other cervids found within North America, including white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), black-tailed deer (O. hemionus columbianus), moose (Alces alces), and caribou (Rangifer tarandus). The mtDNA sequence divergence between wapiti and red deer was 5.60%, between wapiti and sika deer 5.19%, and between sika deer and red deer 5.02%, suggesting that the subspecies status of North American wapiti needs to be reviewed. The mtDNA sequence divergence between white-tailed deer and black-tailed deer was 7.82% and is consistant with earlier mtDNA studies in Odocoileus.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Alpha I/65 hereditary elliptocytosis in southern Italy: evidence for an African origin.

alpha I/65 Hereditary elliptocytosis (HE) is due to the duplication of TTG codon 154 (leucine) of alpha-spectrin and is associated with a constant haplotype. It was encountered exclusively in African and American Blacks, and in North Africans. We assumed that it diffused from the Benin-Togo area to Northern Africa. We now report two South Italian families with alpha I/65 HE. The phenotype fully conformed to previous descriptions. The mode of transmission was dominant; however, the manifestations were more pronounced when the common, low expression level alpha V/41 allele occurred in trans to the alpha I/65 allele, also conforming to previous records. The mutation underlying alpha I/65 HE turned out to be, again, the duplication of TTG codon 154 and the associated haplotype was the same as that encountered previously (+-+; XbaI, PvuII, MspI). Thus, the alpha I/65 allele found in Italy must have been introduced from North Africa across the Sicilian channel and would ultimately have originated from the Benin-Togo area. It would witness the same migratory stream as that followed by the Benin type haemoglobin S allele, which is also present in Southern Italy.

Africa, Western↗
PubMed1994

Comparison of retrospective surveys with a longitudinal follow-up in Senegal: SFS, DHS and Niakhar.

"This study compares the data obtained from two retrospective surveys: the Senegal Fertility Survey (SFS) and the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) with the data obtained from a longitudinal follow-up study held among the Sereer, living in a rural area of Senegal (Niakhar). The study shows that the fertility level is slightly higher in the retrospective surveys than in the longitudinal follow-up, the difference being mainly due to an overestimation of the fertility rate of the age group 15-19 years. The mortality levels and trends among under-five children are correctly estimated by the DHS, but are underestimated by the SFS. The age pattern of mortality is slightly biased in the DHS and SFS, owing to errors on age at the time of death in these retrospective surveys. The comparison of the nutritional status was difficult to make because of the small sample size used in the DHS." (SUMMARY IN FRE)

Africa↗
PubMed1999

Molecular evidence on the evolutionary and biogeographical patterns of European cyprinids.

The phylogenetic relationships of 106 European cyprinid taxa were determined based on the complete nucleotide sequence (1140 bp) of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene. The molecular phylogeny was used (1) to revise the current systematics of European cyprinids, (2) to establish the phylogenetic utility of traditional morphological characters that are widely used in Cyprinidae systematics, and (3) to discuss alternative hypotheses on the biogeography of the family in Europe. The age of the major lineages within European cyprinids was tentatively estimated with a molecular clock and showed full agreement with the fossil record of the group. Moreover, the results provided unambiguous evidence for a close phylogenetic affinity of some Caucasian and Greek endemic cyprinid taxa (e.g., B. capito and B. brachycephalus and Leuciscus keadicus, Barbus graecus, and B. albanicus, respectively) to Iberian and North African, but not Central European, cyprinids. The existence of such unexpected phylogenetic relationships refutes the classical hypothesis on the biogeography of European cyprinids, which assumes a dispersal of the cyprinid fauna from central Europe to southern Europe and northern Africa during the Miocene (and, hence, predicts a close phylogenetic relationship of all Caucasian, Greek, Iberian, and North African cyprinids to central European taxa). Instead, the existence of a Mediterranean realm independent of the central European route seems plausible based on the molecular evidence. It is likely that the new biogeographical scenario proposed here might apply to other primary freshwater European animals with low dispersal abilities, including fish, amphibians, and invertebrates.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

A large Cretaceous theropod from Patagonia, Argentina, and the evolution of carcharodontosaurids.

The Cretaceous Carcharodontosauridae is the latest clade of carnosaurs, including the largest predatory dinosaurs yet recorded. Albeit spectacular for their size, the skeletal anatomy of these theropods remains poorly-known, and their diversity was until recently restricted to two Cenomanian species: the highly derived Giganotosaurus carolinii, from southern South America, and the incompletely known Carcharodontosaurus saharicus, from northern Africa. Here we describe an older and basal member of the group, Tyrannotitan chubutensis gen. et sp. nov., from Aptian strata of Patagonia, Argentina. The new taxon gives new insights into the systematics and evolution of carcharodontosaurids and offers a better understanding of the evolution of Southern theropod faunas. We suggest that carcharodontosaurids radiated in Gondwana sharing with spinosaurids the role of top-predators until their extinction in Cenomanian-Turonian times. During this interval, the diplodocoid sauropods and giant titanosaurians went extinct (probably as part of a global-scale crisis), and the smaller abelisaurid theropods took dominance, reigning until the end of the Cretaceous. Electronic Supplementary Material is available.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Foodstuffs and human blood contamination by the mycotoxin ochratoxin A: correlation with chronic interstitial nephropathy in Tunisia.

Ochratoxin A (OTA) has been detected in high amounts in human blood samples collected in nephrology departments in Tunisia from nephropathy patients under dialysis, especially those categorised as having a chronic interstitial nephropathy of unknown aetiology. These represent 12-26.1% of all chronic renal failure patients. To clarify the situation, food and blood samples were collected from nephropathy patients and controls, (with no familial case of nephropathy). The OTA assay showed very different scales of OTA food and blood contamination from 0.1 to 16.6 micrograms/kg and 0.1-2.3 ng/ml, respectively, in controls and healthy individuals and 0.3-46 830 micrograms/kg for food and 0.7-1136 ng/ml for blood in nephropathy patients. The disease seems related to OTA blood levels and food contaminations, since the control group was significantly different from the nephropathy group (p < 0.005) for both food and blood ochratoxin A contamination. Combined with data published already, the results emphasize the likely endemic aspect of this OTA-related nephropathy occurring in Tunisia and possibly in other countries of northern Africa. This nephropathy is very similar to Balkan endemic nephropathy.

Chronic Disease↗
PubMed2000

Unproven methods in cancer: a worldwide problem.

Questionable or unproven methods are used by cancer patients throughout the world. Treatments include drugs, vitamins, herbs, diets, healing, "psychological" treatments, folk medicines, and homeopathy. The exact frequency of questionable methods in cancer is difficult to evaluate because of the variety of methods, some being used as complementary treatments to conventional ones (and often not mentioned by patients) and others, as curative treatment (alternative treatment). In Europe, data are available for the Nordic countries, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, United Kingdom, The Netherlands, France and Italy. High frequencies of use are observed in German-speaking countries (52-65%). In North America, many publications give frequencies of between 7% and 54%. In Mexico, the frequency is 50%, higher than in Argentina (17%). In Australia, 22% have used complementary medicines. In Asia, some data are available from India, Taiwan and Japan. In Tunisia (northern Africa), the results of 59 interviews also show the use of questionable methods among Arabic patients. There is a lack of data from countries in Africa and in Asia. While some products are used all over the world (e.g. mistletoe, vitamins), others are country specific (Moerman diet in The Netherlands). Some traditional medicines are also country specific (e.g., Chinese medicine, Ayurvedic medicine in India). Both alternative and complementary unproven methods are prescribed either according to classical concepts of cancer treatment or according to a new concept of the world and of life.

Complementary Therapies↗
PubMed2004

[Shammah-associated oral leukoplakia-like lesions].

CASE REPORT: Shammah is a chewing tobacco, commonly used in Northern Africa. Leukoplakia-like lesions and oral cancer may be induced. In a 73-year-old male patient from Algeria leukoplakia-like lesions were observed in the anterior mandibular vestibulum and lower lip. The patient has been using shammah for 39 years. During the day three portions of shammah wrapped in a piece of paper tissue are prepared and rest in situ for 4-5 h. Due to its high alkalinity, shammah induces lesions resembling a burn. FINDINGS: Clinically, a white homogeneous lesion was seen in the vestibulum and mucosa of the lower lip. The white lesions could not be wiped off. Gingival recessions were seen in the lower front teeth. Root surfaces showed black-brown discoloration. A brush biopsy did not reveal epithelial atypia. The oral cavity showed signs of denture stomatitis and erythematous candidiasis. Microbiologically, Candida albicans was demonstrated. CONCLUSION: Due to the possibility of oral cancer in association with this habit, leukoplakia-like lesions have to be followed up diligently. Since chewing tobacco is a rare habit in Germany, changes as observed in the present case report may only rarely be observed. Due to migration it seems likely that in the future oral habits may be observed which are atypical for Western Europe. This phenomenon has also been addressed as transcultural dentistry.

Algeria↗