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Background: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is an inflammatory disease that can impair function and lower quality of life, which causes spinal bone fusion and new bone production. Several studies have been done on the differences in damage between women and men. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the differences between men and women with AS regarding clinical characteristics, structural damage, and treatment used by Algerian patients. Methods: In this study, 292 patients diagnosed with AS at the Hassani Abdelkader Hospital Rehabilitation Department of Sidi Bel Abbes Region between 2018 and 2021 were enrolled. The studied parameters were age, disease duration, age at disease onset, morning stiffness, joint involvements, laboratory data, disease activity, and treatments. All data were processed and analyzed via Excel and SPSS 20.0 (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, IBM Corporation, Chicago, IL, August 2011). Results: We assessed 166 females and 126 males. The mean age at disease onset was 31.69 ± 10.675 vs. 30.38 ± 10.250 years, and morning stiffness duration was 26.08 ± 26.977 vs. 23.80 ± 26.529 minutes in females and males, respectively. Positive HLA-B27 was noted more in 71.9% of women and 69.6% of men. Also, the female group suffered more from their lumbar (100%) and high inflammation (83.8% elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and 59.9% positive C-reactive protein (CRP)) rather than females who suffered from a long disease duration (7.28 ± 4.867 vs. 6.74 ± 3.584). Peripheral joints were primarily affected in males than females (knees involvement: 26.4% vs. 3.6% and hips involvement: 69.6% vs. 3%, respectively). In addition, high disease activity was more noted in men (52.8% vs. 41.9%, respectively). The most noted comorbidities, including uveitis, psoriasis, and diabetes, affected more females than males (40% vs. 29.9%, 4.8% vs. 2.4%, and 2.4% vs. 1.2%, respectively). Concerning the treatment, men used more sulfasalazine than women, 86.4% vs. 76%, while women used more Humira than men (88.6% vs. 74.4%, respectively). Conclusions: According to our findings, women had a higher inflammation rate and more damage in their lumbar, requiring more sulfasalazine and Humira treatment than men who suffered from their peripheral joints and higher disease activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetes stands as a profoundly critical public health concern. In light of this, the primary objectives of the present study were twofold: firstly, to identify the plants employed in the treatment of diabetes, and secondly, to characterize the therapeutic applications of these plants based on the ethnobotanical data collected at the population level within the Sidi Bel Abbes region. This ethnobotanical survey was conducted using questionnaire sheets, ensuring the inclusion of a representative sample from the population, consisting of 511 respondents of both genders. The findings of the ethnobotanical study indicated that female exhibit a substantially higher usage of medicinal plants compared to male, particularly among brides. Additionally, it was observed that older female, specifically those aged over 60 years, who often have limited literacy, were the most frequent users of traditional medicine. A total of fifty plants were identified for their use in diabetes treatment. Among these, leaves, seeds, and stems emerge as the most commonly employed plants parts. Regarding the methods of preparation, decoction and infusion were the predominant modes of use. The floristic investigation revealed that the recorded species belong to 29 distinct botanical families. The Lauraceae, Asteraceae, Fabaceae and Rosaceae families were the most frequently utilized for medicinal purposes in the treatment of diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aimed to describe the medical management, clinical profil and therapeutic characteristics as well as the activity of Rheumatoid Arthritis in women from Western Algeria. For this reason, We performed a retrospective analytical study based on medical records over 257 women in Western Algeria (North Africa) diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis at the level of internal medicine and rehabilitation departments of Sidi bel Abbes University Hospital. SPSS 22.0 software was used to calculate the various statistical tests presented in this survey. the mean age of diagnosis (Mean±SD) was 52.584±12.3013, ranging from 14 to 80 years old. 73.2% of patients were from urban area. Concerning medical histories 40.1% of patients had high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes (15.2%),the hand joints were the most affected in our study, Disease Activity Index 28 (DAS 28) between 3.2 and 5 was noted in more than half of our population, followed by high activity, Rheumatoid factors and Anti-CCP (anti-Cyclic Citrullinated Peptides) was positive in 43.97% and 43.58% of patients with a DAS 28 between 3.2(p<0.0001).Further prospective studies with a larger number of patients are needed to better understand the different acts of this disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is evidence that in addition to the classical sex steroid hormones regulating reproduction, vitamin D also modulates reproductive processes in women and men and its deficiency may impair fertility. In order to evaluate the relationship between low vitamin D status and impaired fertility, a prospective epidemiological study of 458 patients was conducted in the region of Oran (western Algeria). The statistical analysis was performed by SPSS version 25 and Excel software, a P value < 0.05 was accepted as statistically significant. Our study revealed that just 19.2% of our sample had normal vitamin D status and that there was no significant relationship of vitamin D status with age (P>0.05), however the results were significant with body mass indexes (P (χ²) <0.001), and with sex and residence P <0.05. On the other hand our result indicated that as vitamin D status increased, the duration of infertility decreased (P<0.001). The analysis of hormonal profiles showed the presence of a significance between FSH level and vitamin D deficiency (P <0.05). Moreover, we noticed that the vitamin D deficient persons are those who take the supplements (94.44%) for a period not exceeding one month. Whatever the considered field, it is clear that serum vitamin D concentration is a powerful biomarker of an individual's health status. Low concentrations of 25(OH) D are associated with many pathologies including infertility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our objective was to see if there were any differences between (HLAB27-) and (HLAB27+) individuals with ankylosing spondylitis in Western Algeria.291 patients diagnosed with (AS) at the level of rehabilitation department of (Sidi-bel-Abbes University Hospital ) were enrolled. The studied parameters were: age, gender, disease duration, age onset of disease, morning stiffness, joint and extraarticular injuries, laboratory data, disease activity, and treatments. All data were processed and analyzed via EXCEL and SPSS 22.0 (Statistical Package for the 44 Social Sciences, IBM Corporation; Chicago, IL. August 2013). Most of patients were HLAB27positive (70.79%), the mean age of disease age onset was earlier in the (HLAB27) positive group 29.46±8.99 VS 31.89±10.98 years (p= 0.001) and the morning stifness was higher in the (HLAB27) positive group 26.43 ±28.05 VS 22.00±23.36 Min. Moreover, patients with positive (HLAB27) suffer from uveitis more than patients with negative (HLAB27) 72(35.4%) VS 27(31.8%), the inflammatory parameters was higher in HLAB27 positive group and Smoking was mostly noted in this group of patients (P=0.024). Disease activity indices were significantly greater in group of positive (HLAB27) with (BASDAI) p=0.019, (ASDASCRP) p=0.007. Regarding medical treatment, Sulfasalazine and Humira were the most commonly used drugs for both groups .The presence of the (HLAB27) antigen is linked to an early start of ankylosing spondylitis in Algerian patients, as well as a high incidence of uveitis, inflammatory parameters, and disease activity indices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the past 20 years, women tend to delay pregnancies in order to achieve academic and professional careers, however, they fall into the problem of infertility. To combat this, couples either turn to assisted reproduction clinics, which are very expensive, or use inexpensive means such as the use of traditional herbs. This is the objective of our study; we tested a highly qualified medicinal plant, Maca (Lepidium meyenni) for its effect on fertility. We administered this plant to rabbits, divided into four groups, the first is the control, and the three others are subjected to a "Decapeptyl" hormone for a period of one week, in order to block their ovarian functions. Subsequently, we tried to treat this blockage by stimulation, on the one hand with the chemical molecule "Purugon" and on the other hand with Maca and we left a batch without stimulation. We compared their weight evolution and after sacrifice, we calculated the Gonad somatic (GSI) and Condition Factor (CF) maturity indices, we also made histological sections to observe the ovaries and the evolution of the oogenesis of the 4 lots. The results were promising; we noticed a positive effect of Maca on weight and indices of sexual maturity. Microscopic observations of ovary sections showed that the batch having consumed Maca had a beautiful structure of the ovary which is characterized by numerous follicles at different stages of development. this structure reveals a resumption of oogenesis after hormonal blockage. We have concluded that Maca is a plant that has great ovarian stimulation power. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of our study was the antifungal power test of the pomegranate peel aqueous extract PPE, on a phytopathogenic fungal strain of tomato "Fusarium oxysporum f.sp.radicis-lycopersici". For this purpose, a test was carried out, by the direct contact method in PDA potato dextrose agar medium, on the phytopathogen, in different concentrations of PPE (1%, 2%, 3%, 5%). Antifungal activity was evaluated by the estimation of the mycelial growth, the mycelial inhibition rate and the spore count. Our results showed a remarkable and highly significant antifungal activity against the studied phytopathogen, an inhibition index of 100% with the 3% and 5% concentrations was noted. The effectiveness of PPE could be the subject of investigation and exploitation in the integrated control of the tested fungus that causes much damage to the tomato crop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aimed to demonstrate the gender and age-at-onset differences in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in the western Algerian population and their impacts on patients' clinical features and medical management. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was carried out at the Internal Medicine and Functional Rehabilitation Departments (University Hospital of Sidi-bel-Abbes region) based on medical records of over 306 RA patients diagnosed between 2016 and 2019 according to ACR 1987 criteria. Late-onset RA (LORA) was defined as disease onset at 51 years of age or older. All data were processed and analyzed via SPSS 22.0. Results:We enrolled 306 rheumatoid arthritis patients (85% women) with a mean age-at-onset of 52.47±12.14. Algerian RA women were more at risk of developing type 2 diabetes (P = 0.035), hypertension (P = 0.003), and thyroid disorders (P = 0.05). We did not find any significant relationship between clinical features, laboratory data, and gender. The LORA group comprised 60.5% of our study population with a higher number of comorbidities such as hypertension (P < 0.001), osteoporosis (P = 0.007), and scleroderma (P = 0.014). Nonetheless, we found evidence of an association between positive anti-CCP, RF rate, and age-at-onset (P = 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively). Conclusions: Algerian RA women with LORA presented a higher prevalence of comorbidities, while Young-onset RA (YORA) was associated with a high rate of RF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: To assess the compliance to the gluten-free diet (GFD) of Algerian patients with celiac disease (CD) and to study the impact of long-term GFD on anthropometric, serological, and histological parameters of these patients. Material and method: We conducted a retrospective study on 111 cases of CD patients followed up, from pediatric age until now, at the pediatrics department of the ORAN University Hospital Centre for many years. Two groups were made according to their adherence to the gluten-free diet. Results: The clinical presentation of the disease was typical (84.7%) and atypical (15.3%). Two groups were selected group A and B for non-compliant diets (39.6%) and compliant diets (60.4%), respectively. There was a significant difference between the current age and the two groups of adherence (p=0.008) and with body mass index (BMI) (p<10-3). However, we noticed an excellent significant difference between a serology under diet and two groups (p=0.001) also with the grade of histology (p<10-3). Moreover, a significant reduction of IgA and IgG anti-t-TG in group B (p=0.001). Conclusions: CD in Algeria is still characterized by heterogeneous clinical symptoms and good compliance to the GFD is a sign of the path to recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]