Contribution de la Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders au dépistage et au diagnostic des troubles anxieux chez l’enfant d’âge scolaire

Children's anxiety disorders were for a long time viewed as poorly differentiated; however, many researchers recently brought evidence that syndromes similar to adult ones are clearly recognizable among very young children. The best instruments for diagnosing these disorders are time-consuming structured interviews like the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School Age Children (Kiddie-SADS). Is it possible to shorten the diagnostic procedure using “paper/pencil” questionnaires as diagnostic tests? The aim of this study was to test the diagnostic value of the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED), which comprises a self-report form and a parent-report form, and assesses four DSM anxious disorders. We examined 69 children aged 6 to 12 (36 boys) addressed to a school psychology facility using both self-report and parent-report SCAREDs and Kiddie-SADSs. Indices were defined, based on threshold-scores on the four SCARED syndrome scales. Theses indices all showed high sensitivity, but have different specificities: maximal for separation anxiety disorder, moderate for panic disorder and social phobia, but poor for generalized anxiety disorder. The SCARED-based indices performed well as screen for these four anxious disorders. In addition, they allow substantial time economy in the process of diagnosing separation anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and social phobia.     

Tracking of cardiovascular risk factors among school children: a four-year population surveillance in Susa, Tunisia

In order to confirm the phenomenon of tracking of cardiovascular risk factors among school children, we undertook in 2003, a prospective survey of a population of 789 pupils aged 13 to 15 years who had participated in a first investigation on cardiovascular risk factors in 1999. We were able to follow and study 453 pupils (57.4% of the initial population). Prevalences of hypertension and obesity were respectively 11.3% and 6.1% without significant difference between sexes. On the other hand, hypercholesterolemia was significantly more elevated among girls than boys (16.1% versus 9.3%, p = 0.039). Children classified initially as hypertensive, obese or having a hypercholesterolemia were identified 4 years later at a subsequent exam as hypertensive, obese or having a hypercholesterolemia in respectively 25%, 48.9% and 59%. The stability of cardiovascular risk factors among children imposes an early screening for a better management and a policy of cardiovascular health promotion since childhood based essentially on prevention of risk factors in order to reduce the cardiovascular disease burden in adulthood.     

Age-specific seroprevalence of hepatitis a among school children in central Tunisia

Hepatitis A virus (HAV) has different epidemiologic and clinical patterns, depending on the level of endemicity in a given geographic area. Tunisia is considered a region of high endemicity for hepatitis. Improvement of socioeconomic conditions in this country has made a determination of the seroprevalence of this disease advisable. We assessed the seroprevalence of HAV in Sousse in central Tunisia. A total of 2,400 school children 5-20 years of age (mean +/- SD age = 11.7 +/- 3.5 years) were selected by two-stage cluster sampling and tested serologically for IgG antibody to HAV by using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The overall seroprevalence among this population was 60% (44%, in children < 10 years old, 58% in those 10-15 years of age, and 83% in those > 15 years of age. Seroprevalence also varied according to area of residence. At the age of 10, 21.3% of school children living in the urban areas and 87.7% of those living in rural areas had antibodies to HAV. Other factors that increased seroprevalence included non-potable water, crowding, and a low education level of parents with odds ratios of 4.37, 2.96, and 2.62, respectively. This study has shown an increase of seroprevalence with age, suggesting that transmission among younger children has decreased, particularly in urban areas. Programs to prevent hepatitis A may need to be modified based upon the changing age distribution of the disease and mass vaccination program could be indicated if additional incidence and prevalence data confirm the intermediate endemicity of HAV.     

Structure-based discovery of a small non-peptidic Neuropilins antagonist exerting in vitro and in vivo anti-tumor activity on breast cancer model

Neuropilin-1/-2 (+33 NRPs), VEGF-A₁₆₅ co-receptors_, are over-expressed during cancer progression. Thus, NRPs targeted drug development is challenged using a multistep in silico/in vitro screening procedure. The first fully non-peptidic VEGF-A₁₆₅/NRPs protein–protein interaction antagonist (IC₅₀ = 34 μM) without effect on pro-angiogenic kinases has been identified (compound-1). This hit showed breast cancer cells anti-proliferative activity (IC₅₀ = 0.60 μM). Compound-1 treated NOG-xenografted mice significantly exerted tumor growth inhibition, which is correlated with Ki-67^low expression and apoptosis. Furthermore, CD31⁺/CD34⁺ vessels are reduced in accordance with HUVEC-tube formation inhibition (IC₅₀ = 0.20 μM). Taking together, compound-1 is the first fully organic inhibitor targeting NRPs.     

Possible relation of Tunisian pemphigus with traditional cosmetics: a multicenter case-control study

Pemphigus is a severe, autoimmune, blistering disorder with a high incidence among young women in rural Tunisia. The authors investigated explanatory environmental factors. A multicenter case-control study was conducted prospectively from 1992 to 1996 in Tunisia. Sixty-eight incident female cases of pemphigus and 166 controls matched on age, hospital, and geographic area were included. Data collected concerned socioeconomic status, medical history, drug intakes, lifestyle, and environment. Several factors were significantly associated with pemphigus in multivariate logistic regression analyses: traditional cosmetics (odds ratio (OR) = 4.0, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.1, 14.8); Turkish baths (OR = 3.2, 95% CI: 1.4, 7.3); cutting up raw poultry (OR = 5.1, 95% CI: 1.3, 19.4); contact with ruminants (OR = 2.7, 95% CI: 1.3, 5.8); and wasp, bee, and spider stings (OR = 3.1, 95% CI: 1.5, 6.4). A dose-dependent relation was observed for traditional cosmetics. All risks except insect bites were higher when analysis was restricted to younger women, the demographic group with higher incidence. The strength of the associations, the dose-dependent relation for traditional cosmetics, and the increase of risk estimates for younger women support a causal relation. Traditional cosmetics widely used by Tunisian women could play a major role in excess of cases of pemphigus.