Probiotics from kefir: Evaluating their immunostimulant and antioxidant potential in the carpet shell clam (Ruditapesdecussatus).

This study aimed to investigate the impact of incorporating kefir into the diet on biometric parameters, as well as the immune and antioxidant responses of the carpet shell clam (Ruditapes decussatus) after an experimental infection by Vibrio alginolyticus. Clams were divided into a control group and a treated group. The control group was fed on spirulina (Arthrospira platensis) alone.

Comparative study of immunological biomarkers in the carpet shell clams (Ruditapes decussatus) from metal-contaminated sites in the South Lagoon of Tunis (Tunisia).

The South Lagoon of Tunis (Tunisia) is a Mediterranean lagoon adversely affected by industrial contaminants, harbour activity and untreated urban sewage. In this lagoon, the clam Ruditapes decussatus has been widely used as a biomonitor of seawater pollution through measurements of parameters related to oxidative stress and neurotoxicity. However, few studies have considered parameters of the immune system of this species in the South Lagoon of Tunis.

Biological Monitoring of Occupational Exposure to Metals in Electric Steel Foundry Workers and Its Contribution to 8-Oxo-7,8-Dihydro-2'-Deoxyguanosine Levels.

In this study, the urinary concentrations of selected metals in workers from an electric steel foundry in Tunisia were assessed and compared with existing biological limit values and general population reference values. Moreover, the association between oxidative DNA damage, measured as urinary 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'deoxyguanosine (8-oxodG) and co-exposure to metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) was evaluated. Urinary levels of 12 metals were determined by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) in end-shift spot samples from 89 workers.

Oxidative Stress and Damage Biomarkers in Clam Ruditapes decussatus Exposed to a Polluted Site: The Reliable Biomonitoring Tools in Hot and Cold Seasons.

In the present study, a multi-biomarker approach was used to assess the biological effects of metal pollution in the southern lagoon of Tunis, on clam Ruditapes decussatus both in "hot" (in summer) and "cold" (in winter) seasons. Clams were collected in August 2015 and February 2016 from three sites of the lagoon and from Louza considered a reference site. The concentrations of five trace metals (cadmium, copper, iron, lead, and zinc) in the soft tissues of R.

A Nanocomposite Based on Reduced Graphene and Gold Nanoparticles for Highly Sensitive Electrochemical Detection of through Its Virulence Factors.

Pyoverdine is a fluorescent siderophore produced by that can be considered as a detectable marker in nosocomial infections. The presence of pyoverdine in water can be directly linked to the presence of the , thus being a nontoxic and low-cost marker for the detection of biological contamination. A novel platform was developed and applied for the electrochemical selective and sensitive detection of pyoverdine, based on a graphene/graphite-modified screen-printed electrode (SPE) that was electrochemically reduced and decorated with gold nanoparticles (NPs).

Occurrence, sources and effects of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the Tunis lagoon, Tunisia: an integrated approach using multi-level biological responses in Ruditapes decussatus.

Coastal lagoons are critical ecosystems presenting a strategic economic importance, but they are subjected to potential anthropogenic impact. As part of the Tunis lagoon (Tunisia) biomonitoring study, levels, composition pattern and sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in surface sediments along with their bioavailability in clam Ruditapes decussatus were investigated in polluted (S2-S4) and reference (S1) sites. In order to investigate the contamination effects at different biological levels in clams, a wide set of biomarkers, including gene expression changes, enzymatic activities disruption and histopathological alterations, was analysed.

Combination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and temperature exposure: In vitro effects on immune response of European clam (Ruditapes decussatus).

Marine organisms are subjected to various biotic and abiotic factors such as changes of temperature and pollutants [e.g. polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and heavy metals, which may affect their defense mechanisms.

Urinary 8-Oxo-7,8-Dihydro-2'-Deoxyguanosine in Tunisian Electric Steel Foundry Workers Exposed to Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons.

In this study, urinary 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodG), as biomarker of oxidative DNA damage, was evaluated in Tunisian electric steel foundry workers and was associated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) exposure. Ninety-three healthy male workers were enrolled in the study; 8-oxodG was assessed by liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry. Exposure to PAHs was evaluated by measuring 16 urinary PAHs (U-PAHs) and 8 monohydroxylated metabolites (OHPAHs).

Update of the spectrum of mucopolysaccharidoses type III in Tunisia: identification of three novel mutations and in silico structural analysis of the missense mutations.

Background: Mucopolysaccharidoses type III (MPS III) are a group of autosomal recessive lysosomal storage diseases, caused by mutations in genes that code for enzymes involved in the lysosomal degradation of heparan sulphate: heparan sulfate sulfamidase (SGSH), α-Nacetylglucosaminidase (NAGLU), heparan sulfate acetyl-CoA: α-glucosaminide N-acetyltransferase (HGSNAT), and N-acetylglucosamine-6-sulfatase (GNS).

Methods: In this study, we have performed the molecular analysis of the SGSH, NAGLU and HGSNAT genes in 10 patients from 6 different MPS III Tunisian families.

Results: In the SGSH gene, two mutations were identified: one novel (p.

Combined effects of metal contamination and abiotic parameters on biomarker responses in clam Ruditapes decussatus gills: an integrated approach in biomonitoring of Tunis lagoon.

The spatial and seasonal alteration in a battery of biomarkers responses (enzymatic activity of glutathione-S-transferase, catalase and acetylcholinesterase and lipid peroxidation) were investigated to assess the metal derived effects in clam (Ruditapes decussatus) gills, collected from Tunis lagoon (Tunisia). Trace metals (Ag, As, Cd, Cu, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, V and Zn) concentrations were assessed seasonally in sediments and tissues of R. decussatus from three different sites (S1, S2 and S3).

Biological Monitoring of Occupational Exposure to Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons at an Electric Steel Foundry in Tunisia.

Occupational exposures during iron and steel founding have been classified as carcinogenic to humans, and the exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in this industrial setting may contribute to cancer risk. The occupational exposure to PAHs was assessed in 93 male workers at an electric steel foundry in Tunisia by biomonitoring, with the aims of characterizing the excretion profile and investigating the influence of job title and personal characteristics on the biomarkers. Sixteen 2-6 ring unmetabolized PAHs (U-PAHs) and eight hydroxylated PAH metabolites (OHPAHs) were analyzed by gas chromatography-triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry, respectively.

Transcriptomic, Biochemical, and Histopathological Responses of the Clam Ruditapes decussatus from a Metal-Contaminated Tunis Lagoon.

This study was designed to investigate the molecular (transcriptional expression), biochemical (oxidative stress and neurotoxicity), and histopathological effects of metal contamination in the gill of clams (Ruditapes decussatus) sampled from the Tunis lagoon. The concentrations of five heavy metals (Cd, Pb, Hg, Cu, and Zn) in surface sediments and their accumulation in soft tissues of R. decussatus were evaluated in three sites (Z1, Z2, and Z3).

Attenuation of endoplasmic reticulum stress and mitochondrial injury in kidney with ischemic postconditioning application and trimetazidine treatment.

Background: Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondria have been implicated in the pathology of renal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R). In the present study, we investigated whether the use of ischemic postconditioning (IPostC) and trimetazidine (TMZ) separately or combined could reduce ER stress and mitochondria damage after renal ischemia.

Methods: Kidneys of Wistar rats were subjected to 60-min of warm ischemia followed by 120-min of reperfusion (I/R group, n = 6), or to 6 cycles of ischemia/reperfusion (10-s each cycle) just after 60-min of warm ischemia (IPostC group, n = 6), or to i.

Ischemic preconditioning reduces endoplasmic reticulum stress and upregulates hypoxia inducible factor-1α in ischemic kidney: the role of nitric oxide.

Background: Although recent studies indicate that renal ischemic preconditioning (IPC) protects the kidney from ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury, the precise protective mechanism remains unclear. In the current study, we investigated whether early IPC could upregulate hypoxia inducible transcription factor-1α (HIF-1α) expression and could reduce endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress after renal I/R and whether pharmacological inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) production would abolish these protective effects.

Methods: Kidneys of Wistar rats were subjected to 60 min of warm ischemia followed by 120 min of reperfusion (I/R group), or to 2 preceding cycles of 5 min ischemia and 5 min reperfusion (IPC group), or to intravenously injection of NG-nitro-L-arginine methylester (L-NAME, 5 mg/kg) 5 min before IPC (L-NAME+IPC group).

Insulin like growth factor-1 increases fatty liver preservation in IGL-1 solution.

Aim: To investigate the benefits of insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) supplementation to serum-free institut georges lopez-1 (IGL-1) solution to protect fatty liver against cold ischemia reperfusion injury.

Methods: Steatotic livers were preserved for 24 h in IGL-1 solution supplemented with or without IGF-1 and then perfused "ex vivo" for 2 h at 37degrees C. We examined the effects of IGF-1 on hepatic damage and function (transaminases, percentage of sulfobromophthalein clearance in bile and vascular resistance).

Normal human gingival epithelial cells sense C. parapsilosis by toll-like receptors and module its pathogenesis through antimicrobial peptides and proinflammatory cytokines.

This study was designed to investigate the interaction between C. parapsilosis and human epithelial cells using monolayer cultures and an engineered human oral mucosa (EHOM). C.

Cytokine release and cytotoxicity in human keratinocytes induced by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (1-methylpyrene and perylene).

The cytotoxic effects of two polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) (1-methyplyrene and perylene) were investigated on human skin keratinocytes. Normal human keratinocytes were cultured in the presence of various concentrations of 1-methylpyrene and perylene either alone or in combination. Following incubation, keratinocyte adhesion, viability, proliferation, colony-forming efficiency, and apoptosis/necrosis level were examined.

Candida famata modulates toll-like receptor, beta-defensin, and proinflammatory cytokine expression by normal human epithelial cells.

Candida albicans is no longer the only yeast involved in infectious disorders, as others, such as C. famata, commonly associated with foods as well as terrestrial and marine environments, are being recognized as potential emerging pathogens that cause human candidiasis. We investigated the interaction between C.

Molecular diversity analysis and bacterial population dynamics of an adapted seawater microbiota during the degradation of Tunisian zarzatine oil.

The indigenous microbiota of polluted coastal seawater in Tunisia was enriched by increasing the concentration of zarzatine crude oil. The resulting adapted microbiota was incubated with zarzatine crude oil as the only carbon and energy source. Crude oil biodegradation capacity and bacterial population dynamics of the microbiota were evaluated every week for 28 days (day 7, day 14, day 21, and day 28).

[Effect of ischaemic preconditioning and vitamin C on functional recovery of ischaemic kidneys].

Objective: To present the results of ischaemic preconditioning (IPC), pharmacological preconditioning with vitamin C (Vit C) and a combination of the two modalities on functional recovery of rat kidneys after prolonged warm ischaemia.

Material: Forty six rats were divided into 5 experimental groups. Kidneys of the sham group (n = 9) were only submitted to dissection of the pedicle.