[Methods for studying the in vitro susceptibility of Candida spp. to antifungals].

In recent years, an increase of systemic Candida infections was noted. Thus, identification and susceptibility testing to antifungals became of considerable importance. The technique of dilution in liquid medium developed by « National committee for clinical laboratory standards » NCCLS or more recently named CLSI « Clinical and laboratory standards institute » is the reference method most used.

Microsatellite and single nucleotide polymorphisms in the β-globin locus control region-hypersensitive Site 2: SPECIFICITY of Tunisian βs chromosomes.

The diversity of sickle cell disease severity is attributed to several cis acting factors, among them the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and (AT) rich region in the β-locus control region (β-LCR). This contains five DNase I hypersensitive sites (HS) located 6 to 22 kb upstream to the ϵ gene. The most important of these is the HS2 (5' β-LCR-HS2), characterized by the presence of three different SNPs and a microsatellite region known to be in association with β(S) chromosomes in various populations.

Genetic polymorphisms of NQO1, CYP1A1 and TPMT and susceptibility to acute lymphoblastic leukemia in a Tunisian population.

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the major pediatric cancer in developed countries. The etiology of ALL remains poorly understood, with few established environmental risk factors. These risks were influenced by co-inheritance of multiple low-risk genetic polymorphisms such as variants within cytochrome P450A1 (CYP1A1), NADPH: quinone oxidoreductase (NQO1) and Thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT) genes.

Ability of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GAF01 to remove AFM1 in vitro and to counteract AFM1 immunotoxicity in vivo.

Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) has been detected in many parts of the world both in raw milk and many dairy products, causing great economic losses and human disease. Unfortunately, there are few studies dealing with AFM1 immunotoxicity/interactions with lactic acid bacteria for potential application as a natural preventive agent. The aim of this study was to isolate (from dairy products) food-grade probiotic bacteria able to degrade/bind AFM1 in vitro and evaluate whether the same organism(s) could impart a protective role against AFM1-induced immunotoxicity in exposed Balb/c mice.

An unusual clinical presentation of ocular trauma in a child.

To report an unusual clinical presentation of ocular trauma in a child. Observational case report used in this study. A 12 year-old previously healthy boy presented with decreased vision and corneal opacity in the right eye following a punch in the face three years earlier.

Two new class III G6PD variants [G6PD Tunis (c.920A>C: p.307Gln>Pro) and G6PD Nefza (c.968T>C: p.323 Leu>Pro)] and overview of the spectrum of mutations in Tunisia.

We screened 423 patients referred to our laboratory after hemolysis triggered by fava beans ingestion, neonatal jaundice or drug hemolysis. Others were asymptomatic but belonged to a family with a history of G6PD deficiency. The determination of enzymatic activity using spectrophotometric method, revealed 293 deficient (143 males and 150 females).

[Achalasia: role of endoscopic therapy and surgery].

Pneumatic dilation of achalasia has a same medium-term efficacy than surgery and is commonly proposed as the first-line treatment. Intra-sphincteric injection of botulinum toxin is reserved for elderly patients with serious comorbidities. Per-endoscopic myotomy is possible but needs to be evaluated by further studies.

KIT mutation detection in Tunisian patients with newly diagnosed myelogenous leukemia: prevalence and prognostic significance.

The KIT gene encodes a class III tyrosine kinase receptor in which specific somatic mutations have been found to be associated with many diseases. In this work, we investigated the prevalence of KIT mutations in patients with chronic and acute myelogenous leukemia (CML and AML) and their prognostic significance. A total of 157 subjects were included in the present study (84 patients with CML, 33 with AML, and 40 healthy controls).

Hb S [β6(A3)Glu→Val, GAG>GTG] and β-globin gene cluster haplotype distribution in Mauritania.

Of 1050 Mauritanian blood donors screened from the two main racial groups, i.e., the Moors and Black Africans, 60 were found to carry Hb S [β6(A3)Glu→Val, GAG>GTG], giving a global frequency of 5.

Is the exponent 3/2 justified in analysis of loading curve of pyramidal nanoindentations?

Kaupp and Naimi-Jamal (2010) claimed that the analysis of published loading curves reveals the exponent 3/2 to the depth for nanoindentations with sharp pyramidal or conical tips. To demonstrate this, they plotted the load vs. the penetration depth to the power 3/2.

Three new mutations account for the prevalence of glucose 6 phosphate deshydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency in Tunisia.

A previous study on G6PD deficiency carried out on Tunisian population, led to the finding of seven different mutations with the prevalence of G6PD A- variant. This present study reports 23 new unrelated deficient subjects studied at the molecular level to determine the mutation that causes G6PD deficiency. Using PCR-SSCP of coding regions followed by direct sequencing of abnormal pattern, three new mutations were detected.

Interaction of Lactobacillus plantarum MON03 with Tunisian montmorillonite clay and ability of the composite to immobilize Zearalenone in vitro and counteract immunotoxicity in vivo.

Background And Aim: The present study was conducted to determine the abilities of the living Lactobacillus plantarum MON03 (LP) cells, Tunisian montmorillonite clay and their composites to accumulate Zearalenone (ZEA) from a liquid medium and elucidate the preventive effect of their composite in ZEA-contaminated balb/c mice showing immunotoxicity disorders.

Materials And Methods: In the in vitro study, LP (2 × 10(9) CFU/mL), TM (0.5 mg) and LP+TM were incubated with 50 µg mL(-1) ZEA for 0, 12 and 24 h.

Microsatellite analysis of Candida isolates from recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis.

Candida albicans and Candida glabrata are the most common causative agents of both vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) and recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC). Studying the population structure and genotype differentiation of Candida species that cause RVVC may lead to a significant improvement in clinical management. A total of 106 isolates were collected from 55 patients who were subdivided into three groups.

Natural occurrence of aflatoxins (B₁ and M₁) in feed, plasma and raw milk of lactating dairy cows in Beja, Tunisia, using ELISA.

Beja is an agricultural area in northwest Tunisia. It contributes to national needs by offering cereals and milk to the market for human and animal consumption. A small number of studies on mycotoxin occurrence in feedstuffs and raw milk from lactating dairy cows in this region are available.

Sphincterochilidae from Tunisia, with a note on the subgenus Rima Pallary, 1910 (Gastropoda, Pulmonata).

In order to establish an updated checklist of terrestrial gastropod from Tunisia, a revision of the species of Sphincterochilidae is presented, using bibliographic and museum records and the results of our own field work. As a result, only two species, Sphincterochila candidissima and Sphincterochila tunetana, are accepted to occur in Tunisia, and their type specimens are illustrated. The study of the morphological characters of the genital organs of both species clarified their subgeneric affiliation.

Invasive aspergillosis: resistance to antifungal drugs.

Although the arsenal of agents with anti-Aspergillus activity has expanded over the last decade, mortality due to invasive aspergillosis remains unacceptably high. Resistance of the Aspergillus spp. species to antifungal drugs increased in the last 20 years with the increase in antifungal drugs use and might partially account for treatment failures.

Influence of genetic polymorphisms of xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes on the risk of developing leukemia in a Tunisian population.

Leukemia is a type of cancer of the blood or bone marrow that is characterized by an abnormal increase of white blood cells. Leukemia is clinically and pathologically subdivided into a variety of large groups. The risk of developing leukemia may be influenced by polymorphisms of xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes.

[Clinical characteristics of Rett Syndrome].

Background: Rett Syndrome is a neurodevelopmental disorder, one of the least commonly occurring autism spectrum disorders (ASD),affecting mainly females.

Aim: To describe features and molecular specificities of Rett syndrome.

Methods: To identify articles for this review, a Pubmed search was conducted using the following keywords: Rett syndrome, regression,mutation, stereotypes.

Alveolar and blood T lymphocyte profiles in Pneumocystis jirovecii-positive patients: effects of HIV status.

Background: There are substantial differences in the risk evaluation, clinical presentation, and outcome of Pneumocystis pneumonia between human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive and HIV-negative immunocompromised patients. To compare the host immune defenses against Pneumocystis jirovecii, the blood and alveolar lymphocyte profile was explored in these 2 populations.

Methods: The total, CD3(+), CD4(+), and CD8(+) T-lymphocyte counts were measured in the blood and alveoli of immunocompromised patients with a P.

Molecular characterization of a discrete hemoglobinopathy upon investigation for a lung hydatic cyst in an old Tunisian patient.

We report the case of an old Tunisian patient hospitalized for a complicated hydatic cyst of the right lung. Primary laboratory investigation showed a microcytic hypochromic anemia with an abnormal hemoglobin pattern. Hemoglobin analysis and DNA sequencing of the β-globin gene revealed a compound heterozygote, HbO-Arab/cd 39 β°-thalassemia.