Impact of Gender and Age-at-onset on Clinical and Medical Features of Rheumatoid Arthritis in Western Algerian Population

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.

Increased Homocysteine Level and Risk of Gestational Hypertension in South East Algerian population

The objective of this study is to target the effect, in the South East Algerian population, of homocysteine level on gestational hypertension (GH) in wom-en. We also aim to study if gestational hypertension and preeclampsia (PE), two types of hypertensive disorders, share the same risk factors. The case-control study has been undertaken in Ouargla maternity hospital. Homocys-teine (Hcy) levels have been measured using an automated chemilumines-cence method. Creatinine and total protein have been determined using a colorimetric method, while an enzymatic technique has been employed to estimate the aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and the alanine aminotrans-ferase (ALT). The mean concentration of homocysteine was significantly higher for PE (14.90±8.54 μmol/l) and GH (11.10±5.13 μmol/l) compared to that of normotensive women (6.85±3.23 μmol/l) p≤ 0.01. Besides, hyperho-mocysteinemia (Hhcy) was detected with 70% of mothers with PE and with 40% of mothers with GH compared to only 11.53 % of controls. These values show the correlation between the rate of Hcy and hypertension during preg-nancy aetiology and severity. The other metabolites showed a significant increase in total protein level in PE and GH women compared to controls (p≤0.01). A significant increase in creatinine level is observed for patients with preeclampsia (p<0.05). There were no differences among patients and controls concerning AST nor ALT. Results show that homocysteine is an im-portant risk factor as for gestational hypertension as for preeclampsia. Com-plications have similar biochemical profiles leading GH to be given as much attention as PE.

Lack of Association between CYP1A1 3801T > C Polymorphism and Idiopathic Male Infertility in Algerian Population

<p><strong>Background and Objective:</strong> Ongoing research suggests that cytochrome P4501A1 (CYP1A1) 3801T &gt; C polymorphism may be correlated with human male infertility but the reported results are conflicting. Hence, this case-control study was conducted in Algerian population to determine the frequency of this polymorphism and its relationship to male infertility.<br /><strong>Methods:</strong> This study included 173 subjects grouped into two categories: controls (84) and patients (89) with abnormal semen analysis parameters. Genomic DNA from the patients and controls was extracted and PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism was used to genotype the 3801T &gt; C CYP1A1 polymorphism.<br /><strong>Results:</strong> In the control group, the frequency of homozygous wild-type TT, heterozygous TC, and mutant homozygous CC genotypes of the CYP1A1 T &gt; C polymorphism was 84.52%, 13.10%, and 2.38%, respectively, while infertile men had 77.53%, 20.22%, and 2.25%, respectively. There was no correlation between the 3801T &gt; C CYP1A1 variant and male infertility. Furthermore, the rs4646903 C allele was not a risk factor in the dominant genetic model.<br /><strong>Conclusion:</strong> The 3801T &gt; C polymorphism cannot be considered as a risk factor for male infertility in Algerian population. Our results need to be validated and confirmed through prospective studies with a larger number of patients.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>

POS1127 ULTRASOUND ASSESSMENT OF GOUT LESIONS IN AN ALGERIAN POPULATION WITH ASYMPTOMATIC HYPERURICEMIA

Background:Hyperuricemia is a common biological abnormality, often clinically asymptomatic. However, it can announce a gout and be linked to many diseases such as metabolic syndrome, high blood pressure or kidney disease.In fact, the majority of learned societies do not recommend any urate lowering therapy (ULT) as long as the hyperuricemia remains asymptomatic. But it turns out that part of the population with asymptomatic hyperuricemia (AH) develops a gout after a few years particularly with genetic predisposition, but also on certain risk factors that need to be confirmed.By this way, musculoskeletal ultrasound (MUS) can detect “asymptomatic gout” by visualizing signs of urate deposits (UD) in subjects with AH.Objectives:Our main objective is already to estimate the prevalence of specific signs of gout in Algerian population with AH and assess the factors exposing to UD.Methods:This is a descriptive cross-sectional study from January 2017 to February 2019, with the recruitment of subjects with AH and serum urate level > 60 mg / L, who do not take any ULT and have not associated any chronic inflammatory rheumatism, where we performed a MUS of the knees, metatarsophalangeal joints MTP1, MTP2 and metacarpophalangeal joint MCP2 and MCP3 with the Achilles, patellar and quadricipital tendons.Results:We retained 258 subjects with AH, 132 women and 126 men (sex ratio = 0.95), the mean age was 59 years, the mean body mass index (BMI) was 28.4 kg / m2, 42 patients were under diuretics, 37 patients reported being on low-dose of aspirin 100 mg daily.The mean rate of serum urate levels was 78 ± 10 mg / L, the prevalence of UD found at the MUS was 22% (n = 58), among them 36 % (21/58) had a sign of the double contour DC on the MTP1 and 29% (17/58) on the knee, 7% (4/58) had tophi on the MTP1 and 3% (2/58) had urate aggregates. The factors reported to be linked to UD in the sample were: the male gender (p = 0.0016); the high uric acid level (p= 0.0355); BMI (p = 0.0427); taking diuretics for women (p= 0.0002).Conclusion:Through this work, it is clear that elementary ultrasound lesions related to gout disease are common in a population with AH and concerned one fifth of subjects in our study with a higher risk in men and subjects with obesity and high uric acid level, but also in women taking diuretics. These results need to be enhanced with a randomized controlled study in order to better determine the predisposing factors for gout in any subject with AH.Disclosure of Interests:None declared.

Association study between asthma and single nucleotide polymorphisms of ORMDL3, GSDMB, and IL1RL1 genes in an Algerian population

Background Genetic variation has a key role in the development of asthma, but genetic influences may vary between different populations. In this study, we looked for evidence of association of key asthma SNPs, namely, rs1420101 and rs10192157 within the IL1RL1 gene, rs2305480 in GSDMB gene, and the rs3744246 polymorphism in the ORMDL3 gene, in the Algerian population. We included 266 unrelated subjects of an Algerian population in a case-control study, with 125 adult asthmatic and 141 healthy controls. DNA was extracted and genotypes determined by the Taqman PCR technique for characterization of the different genetic variants. Results The results show that there were no significant differences in allele frequencies for 3 of the chosen SNPs in the ORMDL3, GSDMB, and IL1RL1 genes between the asthmatic and control groups with respective P values of 0.922, 0.331, and 0.937. However the T allele of rs10192157 of the IL1RL1gene was associated with protection from asthma (P value=0.010). Conclusion These results indicate that there is no marked effect of rs3744246, rs2305480, and rs1420101 polymorphisms of the ORMDL3, GSDMB, and IL1RL1 genes on asthma risk in the Algerian population. However, a protective effect of the rs10192157 polymorphism of the IL1RL1 gene was found.

Effect of the Confinement Imposed By Covid-19 on Algerians Physical Activity Through Lens оf Gender

Background. To estimate the level of PA before and during quarantine, in both sexes, according to four categories (vigorous, moderate, walking and sitting) and to provide suggestions to reduce the negative effects of the latter (quarantine) on the health of the Algerian population. Methods. A sample of 1210 of Algerian males and females, age around 18 to 60 years old have been taken a part in this study: males: 991–81,9 %, females: 219–18,1 %. Interviewed by IPAQ (short form) to estimate the impact of confinement on Algerians gender lifestyle physical activity. Results. We confirmed that sitting long hours was the main problem for two sexes. As well as males are more active than females in all comparisons practiced. Conclusion. Confinement is a fundamental safety step to avoid the spreading of Covid-19. Whereas some guidelines for avoiding prolongation are requested to reduce inactivity and sedentary lifestyle, especially for our females. Support by health and exercise videos broadcast by national television in order to improve physical activity and routinely exercising in a safe home environment. Support in this study, as an important governmental policy, helps their citizens for healthy living during the corona virus crisis. Admitted as guidelines for our females, permitting them to maintain their physical function and mental health during this critical period.