Santé mentale
Psychometric properties of the Tunisian-Arabic version of the Women's Health Questionnaire.
Benzineb S, Fakhfakh R, Bellalouna S, Ringa V, Hajri S.
Source
* Groupe Tawhida Ben Cheikh de Recherche et Action pour la Santé des Femmes , La Marsa , Tunisia.
Abstract
Objectives The Women's Health Questionnaire has been developed for the assessment of symptom perception in mid-aged women. It explores a range of psychological and physical symptoms and is one of the most used health-related quality of life measures. It was developed in the English language and is available in several other languages. The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Tunisian-Arabic version of the questionnaire. Methods A Tunisian-Arabic translation of the original version of the Women's Health Questionnaire (36-item WHQ) was produced using the forward-backward translation method recommended by the designers. A total of 1231 women were anonymously recruited from the general population using the quota method of sampling. All women were administered the WHQ as part of a broader questionnaire; 1150 records were finally retained for analysis. Psychometric evaluation was performed for the original version of the WHQ (36 items) and then for the 23-item revised version proposed by the MAPI Research Institute. Results The acceptability and comprehensibility of the scale were good. The 36-item version showed overall good reliability, but some subscales lacked internal consistency. The validity was explored by principal component analysis and showed significant differences with the original English instrument and some deficiencies in its dimensional structure. The validity of the 23-item revised version was better. Finally, we suggest some adjustments to improve the reliability and validity of the instrument. Conclusion The Tunisian-Arabic version of the WHQ is globally reliable and valid, but we recommend the use of an improved shortened version, more specific to mid-aged women.
Climacteric. 2012 Nov 1. [Epub ahead of print]
Fakhfakh R, Lee SJ, Tremblay JP.
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a recessive disease caused by a dystrophin gene mutation. Myoblast transplantation permits the introduction of the dystrophin gene into dystrophic muscle fibers. However, this strategy has so far produced limited results. Modulation of transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) superfamily signaling promotes skeletal muscle differentiation and growth and myogenic regeneration. We investigated the possibility that the combination of TGF-β superfamily signaling inhibition with myoblast transplantation might be an effective therapeutic approach in dystrophin deficient patients. In vitro, blocking myostatin and other ligands with a soluble form of the extracellular domain of the activin IIB receptor(ActRIIB/Fc) up-regulated the expression of myogenic differentiation factors and increased human myoblast fusion. In vivo, systemic inhibition of activin IIB receptor signalling by delivery of ActRIIB/Fc increased the success of the myoblast transplantation. This effect was further increased by forcing the mice to swim weekly to induce cycles of muscle degeneration and regeneration. Treatment of dystrophic mice with ActRIIB/Fc led to increased body weight, increased skeletal muscle mass and improved myoblast transplantation. Thus ActRIIB/Fc represents an effective therapeutic strategy for muscular dystrophies, and its effects are enhanced when combined with muscle exercise.
Cell Transplant. 2012 Mar 22. [Epub ahead of print]
Losartan enhances the success of myoblast transplantation.
Fakhfakh R, Lamarre Y, Skuk D, Tremblay JP.
Source
Unité de recherche de recherche en Génétique Humaine, Centre de recherche de CHUL, CHUQ, Faculté de médecine, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada.
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a recessive X-linked genetic disease caused by dystrophin gene mutations. Cell therapy can be a potential approach aiming to introduce a functional dystrophin in the dystrophic patient myofibers. However, this strategy produced so far limited results. Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) is a negative regulator of skeletal muscle development and is responsible for limiting myogenic regeneration. The combination of TGF-β signaling inhibition with myoblast transplantation can be an effective therapeutic approach in dystrophin-deficient patients. Our aim was to verify whether the success of human myoblast transplantation in immunodeficient dystrophic mice is enhanced with losartan, a molecule that downregulates TGF-β expression. In vitro, blocking TGF-β activity with losartan increased proliferation and fusion and decreased apoptosis in human myoblasts. In vivo, human myoblasts were transplanted in mice treated with oral losartan. Immunodetection of human dystrophin in tibialis anterior cross sections 1 month posttransplantation revealed more human dystrophin-positive myofibers in these mice than in nontreated dystrophic mice. Thus, blocking the TGF-β signal with losartan treatment improved the success of myoblast transplantation probably by increasing myoblast proliferation and fusion, decreasing macrophage activation, and changing the expression of myogenic regulator factors.
Cell Transplant. 2012;21(1):139-52. doi: 10.3727/096368911X576045. Epub 2011 Apr 29
Fakhfakh R, Michaud A, Tremblay JP.
Source
Unité de recherche en Génétique Humaine, Centre de recherche de CHUL, CHUQ, Faculté de médecine, Université Laval, Sainte-Foy, Québec, Canada.
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a recessive disease caused by a dystrophin gene mutation. Myoblast transplantation permits to introduce the dystrophin gene in dystrophic muscle fibers. However, the success of this approach is reduced by the short duration of the regeneration following the transplantation, which reduces the number of hybrid fibers. Myostatin (MSTN) is a negative regulator of skeletal muscle development and responsible for limiting regeneration. It binds with high affinity to the activin type IIB receptor (ActRIIB). Our aim was to verify whether the success of the myoblast transplantation is enhanced by blocking the MSTN signal with expression of a dominant negative mutant of ActRIIB (dnActRIIB). In vitro, blocking MSTN activity with a lentivirus carrying dnActRIIB increased proliferation and fusion of human myoblasts because MSTN regulates the expression of several myogenic regulatory factors. In vivo, myoblasts infected with the dnActRIIB lentivirus were transplanted in immunodeficient dystrophic mice. Dystrophin immunostaining of tibialis anterior (TA) cross-sections of these mice 1 month post-transplantation revealed more human dystrophin-positive myofibers following the transplantation of dnActRIIB myoblasts than of control myoblasts. Thus, blocking the MSTN signal with dnActRIIB improved the success of myoblast transplantation by increasing the myoblast proliferation and fusion and changed the expression of myogenic regulatory factors.
Mol Ther. 2011 Jan;19(1):204-10. doi: 10.1038/mt.2010.171. Epub 2010 Aug 10.
[Article in French]
Karoui S, Fakhfakh R, Daly S, Ben Hriz F, Boubaker J, Filali A.
Source
Service de Gastro-entérologie, A. Hôpital la Rabrta, Tunis.
Abstract
AIM:
To evaluate the psychological state in Tunisian patients with inflammatory bowel disease using the general health questionnaire in 12 items.
METHODS:
A prospective case-control study was performed, including 60 cases of Crohn's disease. 60 cases of ulcerative colitis and 60 healthy control subjects. The total score of the general health questionnaire was calculated on the basis of 0-0-1-1 system.
RESULTS:
The total score of the general health questionnaire was significantly higher in inflammatory bowel disease patients compared to control group (3.70+3,57 vs 0,16+ 0,52, p<0.0001). In inflammatory bowel disease patients, the total score of the general health questionnaire was significantly higher in Crohn's disease patients compared to ulcerative colitis patients (4,40+3,84 vs 3.01+3.18,p=0.03) and in case of active disease compared to quiescent disease (5,57+3.18 vs 1,64+2,78,p<0.0001).
CONCLUSION:
Psychological disorders are frequent in Tunisian patients with inflammatory bowel disease, essentially in patients with Crohn's disease or in case of active disease.
Tunis Med. 2006 Dec;84(12):768-71.
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