Central Region Of Tunisia Research Articles

Analysis of the Effects of Drought on Vegetation Cover in a Mediterranean Region through the Use of SPOT-VGT and TERRA-MODIS Long Time Series

The analysis of vegetation dynamics and agricultural production is essential in semi-arid regions, in particular as a consequence of the frequent occurrence of periods of drought. In this paper, a multi-temporal series of the Normalized Difference of Vegetation Index (NDVI), derived from SPOT-VEGETATION (between September 1998 and August 2013) and TERRA-MODIS satellite data (between September 2000 and August 2013), was used to analyze the vegetation dynamics over the central region of Tunisia in North Africa, which is characterized by a semi-arid climate. Products derived from these two satellite sensors are generally found to be coherent. Our analysis of land use and NDVI anomalies, based on the Vegetation Anomaly Index (VAI), reveals a strong level of agreement between estimations made with the two satellites, but also some discrepancies related to the spatial resolution of these two products. The vegetation’s behavior is also analyzed during years affected by drought through the use of the Windowed Fourier Transform (WFT). Discussions of the dynamics of annual agricultural areas show that there is a combined effect between climate and farmers’ behavior, leading to an increase in the prevalence of bare soils during dry years.

The use of hydrochemical and environmental isotopic tracers to understand the functioning of the aquifer system in the Bou Hafna and Haffouz regions, Central Tunisia

Major ions hydrochemistry and isotopic data (18O, 2H, 3H, 14C) have been used to improve the understanding of mineralisation processes, origins, and circulation patterns of groundwaters of the Bou Hafna and Haffouz region in Central Tunisia. Hydrochemical investigation indicates that the salinity in groundwater, which varies greatly from 0.2 to 1.3 g/l, results mainly from the dissolution of evaporates (halite, gypsum and anhydrite), cation exchange and dedolomitization processes. The use of stable isotopes tracers (δ18O, δ2H) has classified groundwaters samples into two groups. The non-evaporated groundwaters are distinguished by relatively depleted isotope contents, highlighting significant recharge at higher altitudes. The evaporated groundwaters are characterized by enriched δ18O and δ2H contents, reflecting the contribution of return flow of irrigation waters to the recharge of the studied aquifer system. Tritium contents, varying from 0.03 to 1.23 UT, provide evidence of the presence of two sources of recharge that correspond to pre-nuclear recharge, and to a mixture between pre-nuclear water and the contemporaneous recharge. The 14C activities, ranging between 7.4 and 78.6 pmc, identify two groundwater groups. The first group is dominated by the direct infiltration of present day meteoric water at higher altitude. The second group is formed by a mixture of recent and palaeoclimatic groundwaters.

Clinicopathological study of primary gastric lymphomas in the central region of Tunisia, with survival analysis

Primary gastric lymphomas (PGL) are rare and represent only 5% of gastric malignancies, but are apparently increasing in incidence worldwide. Optimal treatment of PGL remains controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate clinicopathological characteristics, prognostic factors, survival rates, and treatment modalities in Tunisian patients with PGL. We retrospectively analyzed data from patients treated for PGL in our hospital over an 18-year period (1994-2011). Data from 128 patients with PGL were retrospectively analyzed. Eighty-four were males and the median age was 57 years (range 5-89 years). The mean BMI was 22.9 (15-39). A total of 40 patients (31.2%) had a poor performance status (PS). The antrum was the most commonly involved site (52 cases, 40.6%). The most frequent pathological subtypes were diffuse large-cell lymphomas (46.4%) and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissues (32%). Disease was localized (stages IE and IIE) in 97 patients (75.8%). Ninety-six patients were evaluable. Chemotherapy alone was used in 73 (76%) patients, with 76.7% achieving complete remission. During chemotherapy, there were no severe complications requiring urgent surgery. Actuarial five-year overall and event-free survival were 60.2 and 54.3% respectively. We found no statistically significant difference in survival between patients treated with surgery and those treated by a conservative strategy. In the multivariate study, age greater than 60 years, poor PS, and BMI less than 20 were significant prognostic factors for overall survival (P=0.04, 0.009, and <0.001, respectively). Surgery provides no advantage for survival over conservative treatment. Age, PS, and BMI were effective prognostic factors.

AB0017 Hla-g 3′utr 14bp polymorphism and shla-g levels in tunisian patients with behçet’s disease

BackgroundBehcet’s disease (BD) is a chronic relapsing multisystemic inflammatory disease. Although the actual etiology is still unclear, BD symptoms are considered to be the resultant of genetic intrinsic factors and...

P-0077 - Prognosis Factors of Primary Gastric Non-Hodgkin'S Lymphoma in Central Region of Tunisia

P-0077 - Prognosis Factors of Primary Gastric Non-Hodgkin'S Lymphoma in Central Region of Tunisia

Transmission of visceral leishmaniasis in a previously non-endemic region of Tunisia: Detection ofLeishmaniaDNA inPhlebotomus perniciosus

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) has been endemic in northern Tunisia and has occurred sporadically in the center of Tunisia. Recently, there have been several cases from areas known to be free of VL. We report in this work all human and canine cases of VL recorded between 2003 and 2011 and an entomological study of phlebotomine fauna in a previously non-endemic region. Sixty-three cases of VL were diagnosed and identified as L. infantum using several different methods. Eight species of 179 sand flies were caught and identified by both morphological and molecular methods. Two genera were present, Phlebotomus and Sergentomya, with an abundance of the subgenus Phlebotomus (Larrousius) spp., a classic vector of VL in Tunisia. Moreover, Leishmania DNA was detected in seven unfed Phlebotomus pernicousus and L. infantum was identified in three of them. This result confirms the establishment of a transmission cycle of VL in the studied region by the coexistence of infected vectors with infected hosts.

M256 ADVANCED OVARIAN CARCINOMA: THERAPEUTIC RESULTS AND PROGNOSTIC FACTORS: ABOUT 130 PATIENTS IN THE CENTRAL REGION OF TUNISIA

International Journal of Gynecology & ObstetricsVolume 119, Issue S3 p. S614-S614 Poster presentations M256 ADVANCED OVARIAN CARCINOMA: THERAPEUTIC RESULTS AND PROGNOSTIC FACTORS: ABOUT 130 PATIENTS IN THE CENTRAL REGION OF TUNISIA S. Hidar, S. HidarSearch for more papers by this authorS. Boughizane, S. BoughizaneSearch for more papers by this authorI. Chabchoub, I. ChabchoubSearch for more papers by this authorS. BenAhmed, S. BenAhmedSearch for more papers by this authorH. Khaïri, H. KhaïriSearch for more papers by this author S. Hidar, S. HidarSearch for more papers by this authorS. Boughizane, S. BoughizaneSearch for more papers by this authorI. Chabchoub, I. ChabchoubSearch for more papers by this authorS. BenAhmed, S. BenAhmedSearch for more papers by this authorH. Khaïri, H. KhaïriSearch for more papers by this author First published: 22 October 2012 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0020-7292(12)61448-9AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article. Volume119, IssueS3Abstracts of XX FIGO World Congress of Gynecology and ObstetricsOctober 2012Pages S614-S614 RelatedInformation

Cannabis use in a central region of Tunisia

The objective of this study was to determine the sociodemographic characteristics of cannabis users, their consumption patterns, and effects. Our cross-sectional, descriptive study included 205 subjects (191 men, 14 women, mean age = 25.9 ± 7.9 years). The consumption of psychotropic drugs and/or cannabis was confirmed by toxicological analysis. In our study population, 61% were cannabis users. Consumption was significantly higher in males (94.4%) than in females. Consumers were young adults, aged 25.8 ± 8.8 years, single (81.6%), had primary school educations (62.4%), were employed (72%) and lived in urban areas (77.6%); 28.8% had a personal history of psychiatric disorders. The mean age of first cannabis use was 20 years. Cannabis use was frequently associated with consumption of alcohol and tobacco (72%). Forty percent of consumers used cannabis daily. Most of those who had used drugs had done so with friends. In most cases, cannabis was regarded as a means of escape from problems (29.3%), relaxation (20.2%), experimentation (18.2%) and a source of pleasure (16.7%). These data suggest the importance of primary prevention of early use and rapid treatment of young users.

Étude anatomoclinique et pronostique des néphroblastomes dans le centre tunisien

Nephroblastoma is a commun malignant tumour in childhood that benefited from therapeutic progress. This is a retrospective study of 35 nephroblastoma diagnosed and treated in the central region of Tunisia within the last 8 years (1991–1999). We report and compare clinical features, therapeutic results and prognostic factors with those reported in the literature. The mean age was 3-years and 9 months, and the main clinical symptom was abdominal mass. Pre-operative chemotherapy was done in 32 cases and the objective response rate was 58%. Thirty-three patients had radical nephrectomy and only one had partial nephrectomy. Histologic analysis concluded to an anaplastic nephroblastoma in 2 cases. Using the classification of the international society of pediatric oncology, 11.4% of tumours were stage I, 48.6% stage II, 5.7% stage III, 11.4% stage IV and 2.9% stage V. The overall 5 years survival was 80%; tumour relapse was only independant prognosis factor in multivariate analysis ( P < 0,01). Prognosis of nephroblastoma has been improved with chemotherapy and the pluridisciplinar treatment.

The spatio‐temporal distribution of a rodent reservoir host of cutaneous leishmaniasis

Summary 1. The rodent Psammomys obesus is the main reservoir host for Leishmania major, the causative agent of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Tunisia, much of North Africa and mid‐western Asia. An understanding of the population dynamics of this rodent is essential to establish a preventive control strategy based on the early prediction of rodent outbreaks. 2. The study of P. obesus dynamics at a regional scale requires index‐based sampling. Rodent numbers were monitored twice per year at the beginning and end of the breeding season, using transects around the Sidi Bouzid region in central Tunisia. 3. Two different types of dynamics occurred in two drainage basins. Rodents living in the northern basin were at low density and those living in the southern basin were at high density. 4. At the scale of a plot, occupied burrows were generally associated with the presence of three Chenopodiaceae: Arthrocnemum glaucum, Salsola tetrandra and Suæda fruticosa, rarely in monospecific formations. However, in dry periods, occupied burrows drifted to A. glaucum formation linked with high moisture and salinity of the soil (χ2 MacNemar = 6·26). 5. The risk of a P. obesus outbreak can be assessed by a simultaneous knowledge of flooding regimes in the drainage basins, the distribution of halophytic plant formations, and the progressive movements of the rodents as drying out proceeds. The transect indices of rodents are easily repeatable, economical and would be applicable in other developing countries where cutaneous leishmaniasis occurs. 6. This work illustrates that simple ecological methods can assist the assessment of spatial and temporal components of epidemiological risk such as the proximity between rodent colonies and human habitats at the time of outbreaks.