The impact of hydrogen inhalation therapy on blood reactive oxygen species levels: A randomized controlled study.

Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) play a key role in physiological processes. However, the imbalance between ROS and antioxidants in favor of the former causes oxidative stress linked to numerous pathologies. Due to its unique attributes, including distinguished permeability and selective antioxidant capability, molecular hydrogen (H) has become an essential therapeutic agent.

spp. in Eggs and Laying Hens in the North-East of Tunisia: High Prevalence and Multidrug-Resistance Phenotypes.

Despite the importance of eggs in the human diet, and unlike other products, for which food safety risks are widely investigated, information on the occurrence of and antimicrobial resistance in eggs and layer hen flocks is lacking in Tunisia. This study was conducted to determine the occurrence of and the antimicrobial resistance in layer hens and on eggshells. Thus, 366 cloacal swabs and 86 eggshell smear samples were collected from five layer hen farms in the North-East of Tunisia.

Phylogeography and phylogeny of Rhinoviruses collected from Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI) cases over successive epidemic periods in Tunisia.

Rhinoviruses (RV) are a major cause of Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI) in children, with high genotypic diversity in different regions. However, RV type diversity remains unknown in several regions of the world. In this study, the genetic variability of the frequently circulating RV types in Northern Tunisia was investigated, using phylogenetic and phylogeographic analyses with a specific focus on the most frequent RV types: RV-A101 and RV-C45.

Parasites Differently Regulate Antioxidant Genes in Macrophages Derived From Resistant and Susceptible Mice.

Macrophage- interactions are central to parasite growth and disease outcome. Macrophages have developed various strategies to fight invaders, including oxidative burst. While some microorganisms seem to survive and even thrive in an oxidative environment, others are susceptible and get killed.

Distribution of virulence and antibiotic resistance genes in Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli isolated from broiler chickens in Tunisia.

Background: Thermo-tolerant Campylobacter species are the major cause of foodborne diseases worldwide. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of virulence genes and antibiotic resistance determinants in Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli isolates, and to investigate the relationship between these two traits.

Methods: A total of 132 Campylobacter isolates from poultry were tested for the presence of 13 virulence genes; flaA, cadF, racR, virB11, pldA, dnaJ, cdtA, cdtB, cdtC, ciaB, wlaN, cgtB and ceuE.

The morbid cutaneous anatomy of the human genome revealed by a bioinformatic approach.

Computational approaches have been developed to prioritize candidate genes in disease gene identification. They are based on different pieces of evidences associating each gene with the given disease. In this study, 648 genes underlying genodermatoses have been compared to 1808 genes involved in other genetic diseases using a bioinformatic approach.

Epidemiology of -Lactamase-Producing Staphylococci and Gram Negative Bacteria as Cause of Clinical Bovine Mastitis in Tunisia.

The aim of this study was to determine the species distribution of Gram negative bacteria (GNB) and the occurrence of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococci (MRS) and Extended-Spectrum -lactamase- (ESBL-) producing GNB. Bacterial culture of 300 clinical mastitis milk samples from 30 different farms across different regions of Tunisia during four seasons was realized. The obtained results showed the presence of high frequency of the tested samples with a positive growth for bacteria (64%).

Association of common IL-10 promoter gene variants with the susceptibility to head and neck cancer in Tunisia.

Background/aim: We investigated the association of three IL-10 promoter single-nucleotide polymorphisms and altered IL-10 plasma levels with the risk of head and neck cancer (HNC).

Materials And Methods: Study subjects comprised 194 HNC patients [137 nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) and 57 laryngeal cancer (LC)], and 263 healthy controls. Genotyping of rs1800896 (-1082A>G), rs1800871 (-819C>T), and rs1800872 (-592A>C) IL-10 variants was performed by real-time PCR; IL-10 levels were measured by enzyme amplified immuno sensitivity assay (EAISA).

Prevalence and Antibiotic Resistance Patterns of spp. Isolated from Broiler Chickens in the North of Tunisia.

The aim of the current study is to assess the prevalence of infection in broiler chickens, raised in intensive production conditions, and to evaluate the antimicrobial susceptibility of recovered isolates. A total of 590 cloacal swab samples were taken from 13 broiler chicken flocks in the North East of Tunisia. All samples were tested for the presence of thermophilic by culture and PCR, targeting the and genes, respectively.

A common molecular signature of patients with sickle cell disease revealed by microarray meta-analysis and a genome-wide association study.

A chronic inflammatory state to a large extent explains sickle cell disease (SCD) pathophysiology. Nonetheless, the principal dysregulated factors affecting this major pathway and their mechanisms of action still have to be fully identified and elucidated. Integrating gene expression and genome-wide association study (GWAS) data analysis represents a novel approach to refining the identification of key mediators and functions in complex diseases.

Family specific genetic predisposition to breast cancer: results from Tunisian whole exome sequenced breast cancer cases.

Background: A family history of breast cancer has long been thought to indicate the presence of inherited genetic events that predispose to this disease. In North Africa, many specific epidemio-genetic characteristics have been observed in breast cancer families when compared to Western populations. Despite these specificities, the majority of breast cancer genetics studies performed in North Africa remain restricted to the investigation of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes.

De novo assembly and annotation of Hyalomma dromedarii tick (Acari: Ixodidae) sialotranscriptome with regard to gender differences in gene expression.

Background: Hard ticks are hematophagous ectoparasites characterized by their long-term feeding. The saliva that they secrete during their blood meal is their crucial weapon against host-defense systems including hemostasis, inflammation and immunity. The anti-hemostatic, anti-inflammatory and immune-modulatory activities carried out by tick saliva molecules warrant their pharmacological investigation.

The PEG-responding desiccome of the alder microsymbiont Frankia alni.

Actinorhizal plants are ecologically and economically important. Symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing bacteria allows these woody dicotyledonous plants to colonise soils under nitrogen deficiency, water-stress or other extreme conditions. However, proteins involved in xerotolerance of symbiotic microorganisms have yet to be identified.