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Global warming, as a result of greenhouse gases, is exceeding the planet’s temperature stabilization capacities. Thus, greenhouse gas emissions must be reduced. We analyse a bankruptcy situation aimed at allocating emissions permits of CO2, the predominant greenhouse gas emitted by human activities. Inspired by the Constrained Equal Awards (CEA) solution for bankruptcy situations, we introduce a new allocation protocol based on the extension of the CEA solution over double-weighted bankruptcy situations, including two exogenous parameters aimed at providing a balance, in the request of emissions permits, between economic activities and the production of renewable energy. In these bi-criteria allocation problems, we focus on a computational approach to find an allocation protocol that does not prioritize any particular parameter. As an application of our method, we first consider CO2 permit allocation problems in European Union (EU) countries, using real data about the gross domestic product (GDP), the production rate of renewable energies, and countries’ ‘demands’ of CO2 emissions from 2010 to 2014. Then, we compare our approach with the CEA solution and its single-weighted extension to show the impact of using two weights over the distribution of CO2 emissions permits, we analyse the correlation between allocations of CO2 emission permits and the distribution of power within the EU Council to study the acceptability of alternative allocations.

Background and Aims Nephrotic syndrome (NS) is one of the manifestations of acute or chronic glomerular nephropathy in the elderly. Our study objective was to determine the particularities of NS in the elderly. Method This is a retrospective study, carried out in the Internal Medicine department A of Charles Nicolle hospital at Tunis, between January the 1st, 1975 and December the 31st, 2016. This study included subjects aged 65 years old or over hospitalized for NS. Results We studied 115 patients with an average age of 71 ± 5 years [65-83 years] with a sex ratio (M/F) of 1.7. Twenty-three percent of patients were diabetic. The median proteinuria was 4.7 g/l [3-19.5 g/l], the mean albumin level was 20 ± 6g/l and the mean protidemia was 50.6 ± 6.9 g/l. Nephrotic syndrome was impure in 89.5 % of patients with high blood pressure in 54 % of cases, hematuria ≥2 + in 30% of cases and renal failure in 82.7 % of cases. Renal biopsy was performed in 45 patients. The most common glomerular lesions were Membranous nephropathy (29 %) followed by amyloidosis (24.5 %). NS was secondary in 65.2 % of cases mainly to amyloidosis (35.6 %) and diabetes (19 %). Idiopathic nephropaty was dominated by membranous nephropathy (9.5 %) and primitive primitive (MPGN) (4.3 %). The treatment was symptomatic for 84.4% of patients. Corticosteroids and/or immunosuppressive treatment have been used for 15.6% of patients. At the end of follow-up, 35.3 % of patients achieved complete or partial remission and 56.6 % progressed to ESRD. Conclusion Elderly NS was characterized by a poor prognosis due to delayed cosultation and non-uniform treatment strategies. Multicentric study in order to identify different action axes could improve the prognosis of this disease. Multicentric study in order to identify different action axes could improve the prognosis of this disease.

Background and Aims Anti-Glomerular basement membrane disease « anti-GBM » is a rare autoimmune disease. It most often results in a rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis syndrome associated with intra-alveolar hemorrhage. The diagnostic confirmation is histological, by the demonstration of linear deposits of immunoglobulins (IgG) along the glomerular basement membrane. The aim of our study was to describe its epidemiological, clinical, biological, immunological, histological, and evolutionary characteristics and to identify the different prognostic factors for predicting patient survival and renal survival. Method It was a retrospective, descriptive and analytical study including patients over 16 years old with anti-GBM disease proved by kidney biopsy and followed up over a period of 32 years (January 1985 to July 2017), in Internal Medicine Department of Charles Nicolle Hospital of Tunis. Results We collected 32 patients with a sex ratio H/F = 1.13. The mean age at diagnosis was 42 years old with extremes of 18 to 81 years old. The most frequent extra-renal manifestations were pulmonary (53%), neurological (12.5%) and ocular (6%) manifestations. Hematuria associated with proteinuria was constantly found. The latter was nephritic in 31% of patients. All patients had renal insufficiency on admission, oligo-anuric in 60% of cases. The use of extra-renal treatment at admission was necessary in 75% of patients. On the immunological level, the search for anti-MBG antibodies, performed in 20 patients, was positive in 65% of cases. All our patients had undergone a renal biopsy puncture with direct immunofluorescence study. Diffuse extra-capillary glomerulonephritis was observed in 93% of patients. Corticotherapy was initiated in 27 cases, associated with plasma exchange in 21 cases and cyclophosphamide in 17 cases. Nine of our patients died in the first year. Renal outcome was marked by partial remission in 2 cases and end-stage renal failure in 19 cases. In univariate analysis, an age greater than 60 years and the occurrence of respiratory distress were predictors of death. Oligo-anuria and need dialysis on admission were predictive factors for progression to end-stage renal failure. Conclusion Anti-GBM disease is a serious illness. Current therapeutic modalities have significantly improved patient survival. These must be intensive and rapid in order to hope for a favorable renal evolution whose prognosis remains reserved.

Background and Aims Hyperkalemia is a dreadful biological event that can immediately compromise the vital prognosis. Etiologies are many and varied. The aim of our study is to better characterize the epidemiological and clinical aspects of this disorder in order to establish adequate diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in order to intervene effectively and in the shortest possible time. Methods Cross-sectional study carried out over a period of 12 months [January-December 2017] including all emergency calls for hyperkalemia greater than 5.5 mmol / l and undergoing hemodialysis in the nephrology department. Results We collected 185 patients (Sex ratio= 1.43) aged on average 61.8 ± 16.1 years [18-94 years]. 70.3% had serum potassium between 5.5 and 7 mmol / l and 29.7% greater than 7. Patients mainly came from emergencies in 71.4% of cases. Main symptoms consisted in oligoanuria, vomiting, chest pain, and febrile syndrome in 38.9%, 10.8%, %, and 5.9% of cases, respectively. Of these patients, 76.2% are known to be chronic renal failure whose 29.7% are in chronic dialysis. Acute renal failure (ARF) was diagnosed in 30.3% of patients. Of these, 39.4% were functional AKI, 41% were obstructive and organic AKI in 19.6% of cases. Mean serum potassium was 6.7 ± 0.9mmol / l [5.5-11] associated with metabolic acidosis in 52.4% of cases. Mean serum creatinine was 988umol /l[184-3270]. The electrical signs of hyperkalemia were noted in 40% (n = 74) of patients: large T in 28.6% of cases, atrioventricular block (AVB) in 3.8% of cases including a 3rd BAV degree in 1.6% of cases, QRS wide in 11.4% of cases and sinus bradycardia in 7% of cases, Ventricular Extrasystoles and a branch block found respectively in 3.2% of cases. 30.8% (n = 57) of the patients were under hyperkalaemic treatment. In fact, 27 % of patients took a blocker of the renin-angiotensin system, 7% were on aldoactone, 13.5% of patients on þetabloquant,1.6 % of whom were on kaleoride and / or admitted to intensive care and infused with KCl. Medical treatment was started urgently in 42.7 % of cases and included the administration of twenty ml 10% ca gluconate that was given intravenously over 5-10minutes, insulin with glucose ,sodium polystyrene sulfate (Kayexalete) and salbutamol, sodium bicarbonate indicated for severe metabolic acidosis (pH Conclusion Hyperkalemia remains a frequent metabolic disorder. Renal failure and acidosis were the main factors associated to hyperkalemia in our study. The clinical and therapeutic subtleties must be known by any caregiver in order to effectively mitigate the harmful effects of this disorder, mainly in the cardiac function.

Background and Aims Urgent hemodialysis is a very common situation in nephrology and is burdened with high morbidity and mortality. The aim of this work is to study the epidemiological, etiological, clinico-biological and indications of dialysis emergencies, the parameters of the session and the potential complications. Method This is a descriptive study conducted over a period of 12 months (January – December 2017), including all patients who have been admitted to the nephrology department for urgent management in hemodialysis. Results Our study collected a total of 318 patients (sex ratio =1.52), the mean age 60.54 ± [18-95 years]. Patients came mainly from the emergency department (69.8%). 40.9 % of the patients were diabetic and 66,4 % hypertensive, 15.1% had coronary artery disease. Among patients, 80.9% had chronic renal insufficiency, of which 29.6% were end-stage (28% hemodialysis and 1.6% peritoneal dialysis). Urgent hemodialysis was undertaken for threatening hyperkalemia in 58.2% of cases, a poorly tolerated uremic syndrome in 50.8% acute pulmonary edema (APO) in 36.5% of cases, and anuria greater than 12h were the indication in 44.4% of cases and a severe metabolic acidosis in 11.3% of cases. The average duration of the session was 3 hours. Ultrafiltration was necessary in 63.7% of the cases. The blood access was a femoral catheter in 80.6% of the cases. Blood transfusion was indicated in 13.8% of cases. Main complications were dominated by symptomatic arterial hypotension in 12.9% requiring stopping the session in half of cases hypoglycemia in 6.9%, neurological disorder in 6.6% chest pain in 3.5 %. After a year of follow up care, overall mortality was 40% in this population. On multivariate analysis, age (p=0.006) and neurological state according to the glasgow score (p=0.01) were retained as independent factors of mortality in this population. Conclusion A greater prevalence of urgent hemodialysis is observed in our country testifying to the accessibility of this method of extrarenal replacement. Hyperkalemia, uremic syndrom and PAO are the main indications for urgent hemodialysis. Early diagnosis, prompt and relevant management of these patients will determine their prognoses in the short and medium term.

Background and Aims The occurrence of renal involvement during the clinical course of systemic lupus erythematous (SLE) is generally considered to be the most important factor influencing the prognosis in terms of morbidity and mortality. The factors influencing prognosis in lupus nephritis (LN) are variable in literature. The aim of our study was to analyze the clinicopathological correlations, and risk factors associated with renal failure in male patients with LN. Method We retrospectively studied all male patients with kidney biopsy-proven lupus nephritis (LN) treated in our department during the period between 1979 and 2016. Looking for predictive factors related to renal prognosis, we analyzed clinical, biological and histological data by multivariate analysis using the comparison of the survival rates by the log-rank test. Results We collected 41 native renal biopsies showing LN. Patients were aged 32.17 years (17-65 years) at the time of diagnosis of LN. Diagnosis of SLE was made according to the criteria of the American College of Rheumatology. The most common clinical presentation was nephrotic syndrome (61%), and the most frequent pathological finding in sediment was proteinuria (85%). At the time of diagnosis, 17% of patients had hypertension and 39 % of patients had an eGFR under than 60 ml/min/1.73 m2. LN was of class I, II, III, IV and V in 7.5%, 12.5%, 27.5%, 47.5% and 41.5% of the cases, respectively. Fourteen patients developed end-stage renal failure. The presence of hematuria, renal failure at the time of diagnosis, nephrotic syndrome, low complement, proliferative glomerulonephritis (class IV), high activity index score of LN and thrombotic microangiopathy were significantly associated with poor renal prognosis with (p=0.0053), (p=0.0002), (p=0.0186), (p=0.0287), (p=0.0005), (p=0.058), (p=0.0117), respectively. Conclusion Renal failure at the time of diagnosis and active proliferative lesions should be diagnosed and treated as soon as possible because they influence the renal prognosis in lupus man.

Background and Aims With increasing longevity, the numbers of elderly patients presenting with renal diseases including glomerular disease are increasing. Nephrotic syndrome (NS) is a common presentation of glomerular disease in the elderly. We performed this study to assess predictors of renal survival in this population. Method A retrospective study including one hundred and six patients aged 65 years or more hospitalized for NS in the Internal Medicine department A of Charles Nicolle hospital at Tunis, between January the 1st, 1975 and December the 31st, 2016. A multivariate study was carried out, the dependent variable being the evolution towards end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Results We studied 106 patients with an average age of 70 ± 4.5years [65-83 years] with a sex ratio (M/F) of 1.7. Twenty-three percent of patients were diabetic. The median proteinuria was 4.6 [3-19.5 g/l], the mean albumin level was 20 ± 5.6g/l and the mean protidemia was 50 ± 6.9 g/l. Nephrotic syndrome was impure in 89.6 % of patients with high blood pressure in 70.5 % of cases, hematuria ≥2 + in 34.7% of cases and renal failure in 88.4 % of cases. The renal biopsy was performed in 41 patients. The most common glomerular lesions were Membranous nephropathy (29 %) followed by amyloidosis (27 %). NS was secondary in 63.2 % of cases mainly to amyloidosis (35.8 %) and diabetes (19.8 %). Idiopathic nephropaty was dominated by membranous nephropathy (11.3 %) and primitive membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) (6.6 %). At the end of follow-up, 35 % of patients achieved complete or partial remission and 58.5 % progressed to ESRD. The multivariate study found as independent risk factors of progression to ESRD uremia ≥ 17 mmol/l (ORa =33.2 [1.3 - 837.7]; p Conclusion Elderly NS was characterized by a poor prognosis, in particular secondary to delayed and non-uniform treatment strategies, hence the need for rising physician awarness about this decease and consultation on a standardized treatment strategies.

BackgroundPrimary membranous nephritis (PMN) is an autoimmune disease induced by the deposit of antibodies (Ab) to the phospholipase receptor A2 receptor (PLA2R) on podocytes. In this context, we aimed to assess the relationships between anti-PLA2R Ab, PLA2R rs4664308 SNP, PLA2R mRNA levels and PMN susceptibility and outcome.MethodsSixty-eight PMN patients, 30 systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with secondary MN and 30 healthy control subjects served for anti-PLA2R Ab measurement by ELISA and PLA2R rs4664308 SNP genotyping by a commercial real-time PCR. Twenty patients with tubulo-interstitial nephritis (TIN) were used as controls for renal PLA2R mRNA quantification in PMN patients from kidney biopsies. PLA2R mRNA quantification was carried-out by real-time PCR after RNA extraction.ResultsForty-three (63.2%) PMN patients received initial therapy consisting of alternating monthly cycles of corticosteroids and cyclophosphamide. Twelve (17.6%) patients had resistant PMN to initial therapy and were consecutively treated by cyclosporine or tacrolimus. Anti-PLA2R Ab were positive in 54 (79.4%) PMN patients, while all SLE patients and controls were negative, pConclusionAnti-PLA2R Ab and renal PLA2R mRNA could be useful markers for PMN outcome predicting. The PLA2R rs6446308 SNP is associated with PMN susceptibility in Tunisians.

Tunnelled catheter endocarditis is a frequent and sever situation among hemodialysis patients. The management should be fast and multidisciplinary. Case report: We report the case of a 36 year old woman with a history of systemic erythematous lupus, discovered at the age of twenty. She profited from a tunneled catheter because of exhaustion of her venous capital. One year later, the patient had an endocarditis of the tricuspid valve. An echocardiogram demonstrated mobile and friable 8 mm vegetation in the tricuspid valve. Blood cultures were positive for pseudomonas and klebsiella. The catheter was removed at the fifth day of the infection. The patient received antibiotic treatment which was changed on several occasions in front of multiresistant strains. Ten days later, the blood culture showed Candida albicans. The echocardiogram demonstrated an increase of the size of the vegetation to 15 mm. A chest CT carried out in front of a respiratory distress showed pulmonary septic emboli. Tricuspid valve replacement was performed. Culture of native valve was positive for multiresistant candida famata. The patient developed a pulmonary embolism causing her death. Discussion: Endocarditis with permanent catheter is a severe situation with high mortality and poor prognosis among hemodialysis patients. Immune suppression due to a renal failure and auto immune disease can support the development of multiresistant strains difficult to treat. Conclusion: Endocarditis on tunneled catheter is a serious infection. Nephrologists, cardiologists and infectiologists must collaborate in order to provide adequate therapy.