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The association of bone mineral density (BMD) with obesity and insulin resistance remains unclear. This study aimed to explore these associations in Tunisian menopausal women. Eighty-one postmenopausal women were recruited. Data were analyzed for obese (N = 57) and non-obese women (N = 24) and for insulin-resistant (N = 43) and non insulin-resistant women (N = 36). Anthropometric and biochemical parameters were recorded. BMD in different sites and body composition were measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Higher BMD was observed in obese women than those non-obese in the left femur (p = 0.0067), right femur (p = 0.0108), total hip (p = 0.0077), and the whole body (p = 0.0276). Also BMD was significantly greater in insulin-resistant women than in non-insulin-resistant women when measured in the left femur and total hip. Positive correlations were recorded between BMD and anthropometric parameters, body composition parameters, and glycemia (r = 0.249, p < 0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis shows that only trunk fat (p < 0.05) and lean mass (p < 0.05) were independently and positively related to BMD, and the waist circumference was the only anthropometric parameter independently and negatively associated to BMD. BMD is improved in obese and insulin-resistant women. Also, trunk fat and lean mass are likely to be key positive independent factors for BMD., (Copyright © 2017 The International Society for Clinical Densitometry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Asthma is a frequent pathology all over the world. The patient well-being becomes an aim to achieve in th management of a patient with asthma. Thus, the factors affecting quality of life (QOL) in these patients should be determined. Moreover, as QOL is affected by the socio-cultural and psychological context of each patient, QOL should be assessed in the country where the patient lives., Aim: To determine the factors influencing QOL in our country: Tunisia: a Mediterranean, Arabic and developing country., Methods: Eighty five adult patients with asthma were included prospectively. The questionnaire of the alteration of QOL in asthmatics in Tunisia (AQLAT) was used., Results: QOL was moderately altered. The score didn't differ between men and women and was not correlated with age. In students, the QOL was less altered than in non students. Patients with severe asthma had a significantly more altered QOL than those with mild to moderate asthma. Nevertheless, there was no correlation between the oldness of asthma and the AQLAT. Besides, the QOL didn't differ in patients with controlled asthma and those with uncontrolled one., Conclusion: A good analysis of the factors determining QOL is patients with asthma would allow a more efficient care of them.

We have performed an exhaustive retrospective study in all surgical wards (54 services in 35 hospitals) which usually carry out surgical treatment of hydatic cysts in the country, covering the period between January 2001 and December 2005, in order to determine the annual surgical incidence of human cystic hydatidosis in Tunisia. A total of 6249 surgical interventions were recorded during the period 2001-2005. The highest proportion was recorded in the hospitals of Tunis District (42.9%). The service of thoracic surgery from Ariana hospital occupies the first rank (95%). The yearly incidence rate varies between 11 and 13.6 per 100,000. Calculated over the 5 years period, the incidence rate is 63.2 per 100,000 inhabitants, which means an average yearly incidence rate of 12.6 per 100,000 [12.28-12.99]. Governorates of the North West and the Western Central regions of the country are the most endemic area with an average annual incidence rates varying between 19.2 and 33.9 per 100,000, which is at least once and half higher than the national level. After 30 years (1977-2005), the average annual incidence rate slightly dropped, from 15 to 12.6 per 100,000, proving that such zoonosis remains a problem of public health in Tunisia. In order, to control in more or less short term this heavy burden disease and public health expenditure, the only efficient way is the prevention of the diseases with a mass treatment campaign of dogs, principal host of the parasite.