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The objective of this study was to prepare low-cost macroporous ceramic membranes using natural kaolin and natural lignite, as porogen agent, both from Tunisia. The characteristics of this membrane have been defined to be used in filtration processes and as a support for multilayer ceramic membranes. This study includes the characterization of the raw materials in order to define optimal processing parameters to obtain the membranes. A study of the effect of lignite content has been carried out. Porosity, density and mechanical strength were the considered parameters to be optimized. A lignite percentage of 20% and a sintering temperature of 1,050°C were chosen. Obtained membranes show good porosity above 43% but with a slightly low mechanical strength that does not exceed 20 MPa. These membranes can be considered as efficient regarding the results shown in the gas permeation tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Obesity in children is currently a major public health problem in Tunisia., Aim: To determine the prevalence of obesity among pre-schoolchildren in the city of Bardo and to identify risk factors., Methods: We carried a cross-sectional study of 220 children between 4 and 6 years of age, recruited from kindergartens in the city of Bardo. Children with endocrinal, tumoral or genetic diseases causing secondary obesity, children on corticosteroids and children with two illiterate parents were not included. The weight status of the children was defined according to the curves of the international obesity task force. A parent is considered obese if his BMI>30 Kg/m²., Results: The average age was 4.65±0.77 years. A female predominance was noted (55.9% girls and 44.1% boys). The average BMI of the children was 16.93±2.46 kg/m². The prevalence of overweight among all children was 10.9% and that of obesity was 11.4%. The frequency of overweight (including obesity) was 22.3%. In multivariate analysis, factors independently related to childhood obesity were child age, child medical history and hospitalization, parental obesity, parental dyslipidemia, snack type and snacking., Conclusions: Overweight is common in pre-school children. It should be detected at an early age, especially if risk factors are present.

Introduction: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is associated with both maternal and fetal complications related to maternal hyperglycemia., Aim: The aim of the study was to describe the incidence of maternal and fetal complications associated with GDM in a reference maternity hospital in the Tunis (2019-2020)., Methods: We conducted a prospective longitudinal descriptive and analytical study including 220 patients followed for GDM at the research unit «Diabetes and pregnancy» of the C department of the National Institute of Nutrition of Tunis. The patients were followed during pregnancy and until post partum, for a period of 18 months (July 2019-December 2020). The patients were divided into two groups Group1(G1) including women treated with insulin therapy (n=68) and Group 2(G2) including women treated with diet only (n=152)., Results: In the current study, 63,6% of patients delivered by cesarean section and 5% developed gestational induced hypertension. Neonatal outcomes were dominated by macrosomia (13.5%) and transient respiratory distress (11.4%). Insulin-treated women had a higher incidence of gestational induced hypertension (G1:11,9% versus G2: 2,1%;p=0,03). There was no significant difference between the two groups in the incidence of fetal outcomes including macrosomia (G1:17.6% versus G2:11.2%; p=0.203),transient respiratory distress (G1:11.8% versus G2: 10.5%; p=0.781) and prematurity (G1:7.4% versus G2:4.6%; p=0.452)., Conclusion: Our study showed that Insulin-treated women had a higher incidence of gestational induced hypertension. However, there was no significant difference between the two groups in the incidence of fetal complications.

Introduction: Facing the repeated failures of the medical management of obesity, bariatric surgery offers a promising therapeutic option in terms of achieving weight loss and metabolic benefits., Aim: To evaluate the impact of sleeve gastrectomy on the carbohydrate profile of a group of obese subjects., Methods: It is a prospective study including 40 obese patients (7 Men and 33 Women) who underwent sleeve gastrectomy between 2016 and 2018. Clinical and biological parameters were collected before the intervention, at six months and one year after. Insulin resistance was defined by a HOMA-IR index ≥2.4. Remission of diabetes was determined using the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery's (ASMBS) criteria., Results: The mean patients' age was 34.65 ± 8.17 years. The mean body mass index (BMI) was 50.23 ± 8.3 kg/m². One year after sleeve gastrectomy, the frequency of insulin resistance, decreased from 89% to 4% (p<0.05). The evolution of carbohydrate tolerance abnormalities was marked by the diabetes and prediabetes remission in 75% and 100% of cases, respectively. The mean excess weight loss was 55.8% at 12 months., Conclusion: These results have expanded our knowledge of the short-term sleeve gastrectomy's effectiveness on the carbohydrate profile of obese subjects. However, it would be interesting to check the durability of this metabolic benefit in the medium and long term.