Manel Maalej

Psychiatric disorders, particularly schizophrenia (SCZ), bipolar disorder (BD), and schizoaffective disorder (SAD), present significant diagnostic challenges. Current diagnostic methods rely on clinical observation and self-reported symptoms, leading to under-diagnosis and delayed treatment. To address this gap, we applied mass spectrometry-based metabolomic profiling and targeted analysis of inflammatory proteins to plasma samples from patients versus controls, aiming to uncover disease-related molecular patterns and enhance our understanding of the underlying pathophysiology of these complex disorders. This study included 26 patients with BD, 34 with SCZ, 16 with SAD, and age- and sex-matched controls. All diagnoses were established according to DSM-5 criteria. Unsupervised analysis shows a clear separation between controls and patients, indicating distinct metabolic and inflammatory profiles. However, the lack of clear differentiation among the three disease subgroups suggests shared biological profiles across these psychiatric disorders. Biomolecules driving this separation between controls and patients includes decreased levels of proinflammatory cytokines, amino acids, and glycerophospholipids, and increased levels of acylcarnitines. This study represents a step towards addressing the limitations of current diagnostic approaches to severe psychiatric disorders, which rely heavily on clinical symptoms, by using omics approaches to refine their diagnosis and treatment.

Objectifs : L’étiopathogénie du trouble bipolaire (TB) demeure non encore bien élucidée. Récemment, il a été prouvé que la 25-hydroxy-vitamine D(25OHD) a un rôle anti-inflammatoire et neuroprotecteur. Nos objectifs étaient de mesurer les concentrations plasmatiques de la 25OHD chez des patients atteints de TB en décompensation aigue et de les comparer à celles de patients souffrant de schizophrénie (SCZ) ou de trouble schizo-affectif (TSA) et à celles de témoins sainsMéthodes : Il s’agissait d’une étude transversale de type cas-témoins qui a inclus des patients de sexe masculin hospitalisés pour une décompensation de leur maladie et chez qui les diagnostics de TB, SCZ, ou de TSA ont été retenus selon les critères du (DSM-5). Le groupe témoin a été constitué de sujets sains non apparentés, appariés selon l’age et le sexe.Résultats : La concentration de la 25OHD était significativement plus élevée uniquement chez les patients atteints de TB par rapport aux témoins. la 25OHD était aussi corrélée positivement à l’échelle PANSS (r = 0.282, p < 0.001) et aux différents scores de l’échelle MOCA (r = 0.326, p = 0.006) ainsi qu’aux dimensions concernant la capacité d’abstraction, d’attention et la mémoire . A l’analyse multivariée, la décompensation aigue du TB était liée de manière indépendante à l’élévation de la 25OHD plasmatique (p = 0.012; OR = 1.157, [1.032 -1.297]).Conclusion : Notre étude a montré que la décompensation aigue des TB était associée à une élévation de la synthèse de la 25OHD plasmatique. Toutefois, la pertinence du dosage de la vitamine D comme biomarqueur de cette maladie mérite d’être vérifiée par d’autres études.

 Introduction: University students use their smartphones very often and for different purposes. They are exposed to smartphone addiction, which |

The chronic hemodialysis imposes various limitations on patients that may affect their quality of life. However, Tunisian studies on this matter remain scarce. To assess the quality of life among hemodialysis patients and to identify the factors influencing their quality of life. We performed a cross-sectional study which included 71 outpatients, during the month of January 2013, in the department of Nephrology at Hedi Chaker Sfax university hospital in Tunisia. We used the specific scale Kidney Disease Quality of Life Short-Form (KDQOL-SF™) to assess the patient's quality of life. This instrument combines the short form 36 health survey questionnaire (SF-36) and a specific module adapted to renal function. Regression analysis was used to adjust for confounding factors. The global average score, according to KDQOL-SF and the SF-36 were respectively 51.6 and 38.2. The QOL was impaired in 90% of the cases. The logistic regression identified six variables to be correlated with impaired QOL. These six factors in descending order of importance were: lack of autonomy, a dialysis rhythm of thrice a week, an age over 60 years, a comorbid diabetes, low social economic level and living in rural areas. Our study highlights the high frequency of QOL impairment upon patients on hemodialysis underlining the interest of a systematic effort to assess the quality of life in those patients. It also shows the interest of acting upon modifiable factors correlated with the alteration of the quality of life. In this way, the professional integration of the patients should be favored as well as peritoneal dialysis.