Endothelial nitric oxide synthetase, methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase polymorphisms, and cardiovascular complications in Tunisian patients with nondiabetic renal disease.

Objectives: The relationship between endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene polymorphisms and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in Tunisian patients with chronic renal disease (CRD) has not been examined. We investigated (a) the relationship of these gene polymorphisms with the presence and the severity of renal disease, and (b) their relationships with CVD in these patients.

Design And Methods: We used PCR-RFLP analysis to detect the eNOS G894T, MTHFR C677T and A1298C variants in 100 patients with CRD and in 120 healthy controls.

Hyperhomocysteinemia, paraoxonase concentration and cardiovascular complications in Tunisian patients with nondiabetic renal disease.

Objectives: Hyperhomocysteinemia is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. We determine homocysteine levels (Hcy), paraoxonase (PON1) concentration and their relationship on cardiovascular complications in patients with chronic renal disease (CRD).

Design And Methods: The study population included 100 CRD patients and 120 healthy controls.

Hyperhomocysteinaemia and parameters of antioxidative defence in Tunisian patients with coronary heart disease.

Background: An imbalance between oxidative damage and antioxidative protection in association with the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis has been suggested. The aim of this study was to test the parameters of antioxidative defence and to assess their association with hyperhomocysteinaemia and the severity of coronary heart disease (CHD) in Tunisian patients.

Methods: The study population included 100 patients with CHD and 120 healthy controls.

Ex vivo lentivirus transduction and immediate transplantation of uncultured hepatocytes for treating hyperbilirubinemic Gunn rat.

Background: Ex vivo liver gene therapy provides an attractive alternative to orthotopic liver transplantation for the treatment of liver diseases. We previously reported a protocol in which human primary hepatocytes are highly transduced in Suspension with Lentiviral vectors and Immediately Transplanted (SLIT). Here, we evaluated the SLIT approach in Gunn rats, the animal model for Crigler-Najjar syndrome type 1, a defect in bilirubin UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (BUGT).

Taurine status and response to intravenous taurine supplementation in adults with short-bowel syndrome undergoing long-term parenteral nutrition: a pilot study.

Taurine deficiency in patients on long-term parenteral nutrition may be involved in cholestasis. We aimed to assess plasma taurine and tauro-conjugated bile acids in adults with short-bowel syndrome and their response to intravenous taurine. Thirty-two adult patients, who had been on taurine-free parenteral nutrition for a mean of 59 (SE 14) months for short-bowel syndrome, were studied retrospectively.

Hyperhomocysteinemia, paraoxonase activity and risk of coronary artery disease.

Objectives: Paraoxonase-1 (PON1) detoxifies homocysteine thiolactone (HcyT) in human blood and could thus delay the development of atherosclerosis. We investigated (a) PON1 activity and polymorphisms, and (b) the relationship between PON1 activity, homocysteine (Hcy) and the severity of CAD patients in Tunisian population.

Design And Methods: We used PCR-RFLP analysis to detect the Q192R and L55M variants of the PON1 gene in 100 patients with CAD and in 120 healthy controls.

Comparative study on in vitro effects of homocysteine thiolactone and homocysteine on HUVEC cells: evidence for a stronger proapoptotic and proinflammative homocysteine thiolactone.

Hyperhomocysteinemia is an independent risk factor for the development of atherosclerosis. However the underlying mechanisms responsible for endothelial cell injury with increased plasma concentration of homocysteine or homocysteine derivatives remains still incompletely elucidated. In this study, we investigated the ability of homocysteine (Hcy) and homocysteine thiolactone (HcyT) to induce cell death and IL-8 secretion in primary human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC).

Hyperhomocysteinaemia, methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase polymorphism and risk of coronary artery disease.

Background: Hyperhomocysteinaemia is an independent, graded risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD). The methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) polymorphism is associated with hyperhomcysteinaemia and may therefore influence individual susceptibility to CAD. We have investigated this risk factor in a Tunisian Arab population.

Comparison of the inflammatory response between miniaturized and standard CPB circuits in aortic valve surgery.

Objective: One of the complications of CPB is the systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). Recent developments tend to minimize the biological impact of CPB in using miniaturized closed circuit with reduced priming volume and less blood-air interface. The benefit of these miniaturized closed circuits in terms of inflammatory response has been proved in coronary surgery.

Hyperhomocysteinemia, endothelial nitric oxide synthase polymorphism, and risk of coronary artery disease.

Background: Hyperhomocysteinemia is an independent, graded risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD). The G894T variant of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) was postulated to be associated with hyperhomocysteinemia and could influence individual susceptibility to CAD. The aims of this study were to investigate (a) the relationship of the eNOS G894T polymorphism with the presence and the severity of CAD and (b) the possible relationship between hyperhomocysteinemia and the eNOS G894T variant for the risk of CAD severity in a Tunisian population.

Successful gene therapy of the Gunn rat by in vivo neonatal hepatic gene transfer using murine oncoretroviral vectors.

Crigler-Najjar type 1 disease (CN1) is a rare inherited metabolic disease characterized by complete absence of hepatic UDP-glucuronosyl transferase (UGT1), resulting in high levels of unconjugated bilirubin. CN1 is an attractive candidate disease for gene therapy. Here we show that in vivo neonatal hepatocyte transduction using recombinant oncoretroviral vectors results in long-term and complete phenotype correction in Gunn rats, a model for CN1.

Effects of ursodeoxycholic acid (ursodiol) treatment on chronic viral hepatitis in heart transplant patients: results of a prospective, double-blind, placebo-randomized study.

Background: Chronic viral hepatitis averages 15% to 20% in heart transplant patients. Several studies have shown that ursodiol may improve liver biochemistry in patients with chronic hepatitis. We used a double-blind randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effect of ursodiol in heart transplant patients with chronic viral hepatitis.