[Knowledge of breastfeeding among mothers before maternity discharge]

OBJECTIVES

The aim of our study was to assess the knowledge of parturients about breastfeeding and to analyze the factors influencing this level of knowledge.

METHODS

It was a prospective, descriptive and analytical, cross-sectional study carried out over a period of six months including 500 parturients who gave birth at the maternity unit of the National Center for Maternity and Neonatalogy of Tunis during the period from July to December 2020. Sociodemographic, obstetrical and breastfeeding related data were collected through individual interviews carried out before leaving the postpartum service using a questionnaire written in Tunisian dialectal Arabic.

RESULTS

The average age of the mothers was 31.5 years. Housewives accounted for 73.3 % of cases. Forty-four percent of the women surveyed were first-time mothers. The main source of information was relatives (74.8 %). The prevalence of breastfeeding was 93.8 %. Knowledge about breasfeeding was insufficient in 76.4 % of cases. The level of knowledge was insufficient in particular regarding signs of effective breastfeeding, signs of awakening of the newborn, lactogenesis, and diet of breastfeeding women. Unemployment of the parturient age over 30 and primiparity negatively influenced the knowledge of parturients.

CONCLUSION

The level of knowledge of parturients was heterogeneous but generally insufficient. Health education programs on MA targeting subjects most at risk of insufficient knowledge should be put in place in order to improve the knowledge base and hopefully improve the breastfeeding rates.

Crystal structure, Hirshfeld surface analysis and DFT study of N-(2-amino-5-methyl-phen-yl)-2-(5-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)acetamide

The title mol-ecule, C13H16N4O, adopts an angular conformation. In the crystal a layer structure is generated by N-H⋯O and N-H⋯N hydrogen bonds together with C-H⋯π(ring) inter-actions. Hirshfeld surface analysis indicates that the most important contributions to the crystal packing are from H⋯H (53.8%), H⋯C/C⋯H (21.7%), H⋯N/N⋯H (13.6%), and H⋯O/O⋯H (10.8%) inter-actions. The optimized structure calculated using density functional theory (DFT) at the B3LYP/ 6-311 G(d,p) level is compared with the experimentally determined structure in the solid state. The calculated HOMO-LUMO energy gap is 5.0452 eV.

Crystal structure, Hirshfeld surface analysis and density functional theory study of 6-methyl-2-[(5-methyl-isoxazol-3-yl)meth-yl]-1H-benzimidazole

In the title mol-ecule, C13H13N3O, the isoxazole ring is inclined to the benzimidazole ring at a dihedral angle of 69.28 (14)°. In the crystal, N-H⋯N hydrogen bonds between neighboring benzimidazole rings form chains along the a-axis direction. Hirshfeld surface analysis indicates that the most important contributions to the crystal packing are from H⋯H (48.8%), H⋯C/C⋯H (20.9%) and H⋯N/N⋯H (19.3%) inter-actions. The optimized structure calculated using density functional theory at the B3LYP/6-311 G(d,p) level is compared with the experimentally determined structure in the solid state. The calculated highest occupied mol-ecular orbital (HOMO) and lowest unoccupied mol-ecular orbital (LUMO) energy gap is 4.9266 eV.

Efficient hybrid bionanocomposites based on iron-modified TiO2 for dye degradation via an adsorption-photocatalysis synergy under UV-Visible irradiations

To overcome the titanium oxide limitations, Fe₂O₃- and Fe₃O₄-modified TiO₂ (3:1) nanoparticles were synthesized by a humid and solid path, respectively. These nanoparticles were embedded in sodium alginate biopolymer to prepare beads with efficient adsorption and photocatalytic behaviors in cationic dye degradation under both UV and visible irradiations. Operating conditions were investigated such as initial methylene blue (MB) concentration and contact time to evaluate their impact on the process. The bead recycling was also scrutinized. We have come to the conclusion that Fe₂O₃-modified TiO₂-Alg displayed superiorities, including expanded responsive wavelength range in the visible region (up to 700 nm), narrower band gap (1.79 eV), and better efficiency for MB removal in terms of adsorption capacities and photocatalytic effectiveness under both UV and visible irradiations. Furthermore, these beads can be effortlessly recovered from the reaction medium after the photocatalytic process and reused up to 5 cycles without any noteworthy decline in their initial properties.

Crystal structure, Hirshfeld surface analysis and DFT study of 1-ethyl-3-phenyl-1,2-di-hydro-quinoxalin-2-one

In the title mol-ecule, C16H14N2O, the di-hydro-quinoxaline moiety is not planar as there is a dihedral angle of 4.51 (5)° between the constituent rings. In the crystal, C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds form helical chains about the crystallographic 21 screw axis in the b-axis direction. Hirshfeld surface analysis indicates that the most important contributions to the crystal packing are from H⋯H (51.7%), H⋯C/C⋯H (26%) and H⋯O/O⋯H (8.5%) inter-actions. The optimized structure calculated using density functional theory (DFT) at the B3LYP/6-311 G(d,p) level is compared with the experimentally determined structure in the solid state. The calculated HOMO-LUMO energy gap is 3.8918 eV.

Effect of iron doped titanium oxide encapsulated in alginate on photocatalytic activity for the removal of dye pollutants

Iron oxide/titania oxide are encapsulated in alginate biopolymer. These bio-nanocomposites are suitable for the photodegradation of dissimilar organic pollutants under UV irradiation as well as visible light.

[Anti-D prophylaxis in fetal-maternal erythrocyte incompatibility in Tunisia]

Generalization of postnatal prophylaxis using anti-D immunoglobulins decreased the incidence of erythrocyte fetal-maternal incompatibility (EFMI) in the Rhesus system. Few recent studies have investigated the situation of anti-D prophylaxis in Tunisia and its effects on maternal and neonatal health. The aim of this study was therefore to analyze the situation of anti-D prophylaxis in Tunisia to detect defects and propose solutions. We conducted a retrospective descriptive study of IFME cases in the rhesus system in the Department of Medicine and Neonatal Resuscitation of the Tunis Maternity and Neonatology Center (CMNT) during an 8-year period from 1 January 2006 to 31 December 2015. We collected 51 cases of IFME. The prevalence of IFME was 3.4 per 10 000 live births; 41 % of the patients were transferred in utero and they were from the northwest of the country (17 %). The rate of women with a history of at least one spontaneous miscarriage (SCF) was 45 %. In 42 % of the cases, pregnancies were monitored at local clinics. The search for irregular agglutinins (RAI) was performed in 86 % of the women studied. RAI was positive in 97 % of the cases. Anti-D prophylaxis was correctly performed in only 27 % of the cases. The systematic prophylaxis of the third trimester and a systematic Kleihauer test must be combined with postpartum prophylaxis to better identify dysfunctions and improve the application of the recommendations.

3,4-Dihydro-2H-benzo[4,5]imidazo[2,1-b][1,3]thiazin-3-ol

In the title compound, C10H10N2OS, the benzimidazole ring system is almost planar (r.m.s. deviation = 0.007 Å), whereas the heterocyclic six-membered thiazine ring has an envelope conformation, with the hydroxy-substituted C atom as the flap. In the crystal, molecules are linked by O—H...N hydrogen bonds to form zigzag chains running along the b-axis direction. The chains are linked by C—H...O hydrogen bonds and C—H...π interactions, forming layers parallel to the bc plane.

[Hydatic cyst of the fallopian tube]

Hydatic cyst of the Fallopian tube is an exceptional localization, the diagnosis of which is frequently confirmed preoperatively. A 44-year-old woman was addressed for pelvic mass with fortuitous discovery. The diagnosis preoperatively confirmed by the extemporaneous histological study was hydatic cyst of the Fallopian tube. Salpingectomy was required. The pelvic hydatic cyst, particularly in the Fallopian tube, is a rare complaint. Clinics and biology were very important for diagnosis but only anatomopathology can confirm diagnosis of hydatic cyst. The treatment of Fallopian tube hydatic cyst is surgival and often radical (salpingectomy).

[Synthesis of benzimidazole derivatives by amino acid action on ortho-phenylenediamine, variously substituted in positions 4 and 5]

As part of the synthesis of the benzimidazole derivative heterocyclique system, we are interested in studying the condensation of the o-phenylenediamines with amino-acids such as aspartic acid, serine and histidine. The interest that these present is based mainly on their pharmacological properties. They have, in fact anti-inflammatory, antidepressive, antibacterial and antihistamine properties. On the other hand, it should be noted that 5,6-dimethyl-1-(alpha-D-ribofuranosyl) benzimidazole constitutes part of vitamin B12. Taken together, these results led us to pursue our research in this domain while focusing on new methods of benzimidazolic derivative synthesis. It should be said that the obtaining of these compounds depends on the quantity of the amino-acid. All synthesized products have been characterized by infrared, nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry.