Variability in response to vitamin D supplementation according to vitamin D metabolism related gene polymorphisms in healthy adults.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the influence of polymorphisms in some key gene actors of the vitamin D (vitD) metabolic pathway on supplementation efficacy.

Methods: In total, 245 healthy participants were recruited from occupational medicine service in Sahloul University Hospital with vitD deficiency [25(OH)D ≤ 30 ng/ml]. After giving an informed consent, all participants were asked to complete a generalized questionnaire and to follow a detailed personalized supplementation protocol.

The pharmacogenetics of mycophenolate mofetil in Tunisian renal transplant patients.

The effects of variants in and genes on the efficacy and safety of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) in the Tunisian population were investigated. A total of 245 kidney transplant patients being treated with MMF were recruited and cotreated with cyclosporine or tacrolimus. Genotyping was performed using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method.

Investigation of carbonic anhydrase 6 gene polymorphism rs2274327 in relation to the oral health status and salivary composition in type 2 diabetic patients.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to investigate the oral manifestations and salivary composition in type 2 diabetics with periodontitis and to evaluate their association with CA6 gene polymorphism rs2274327.

Methods: Oral examination was performed by a single periodontist for 300 type 2 diabetics. Whole unstimulated saliva and blood were collected.

Induction of Neuronal Differentiation of Murine N2a Cells by Two Polyphenols Present in the Mediterranean Diet Mimicking Neurotrophins Activities: Resveratrol and Apigenin.

In the prevention of neurodegeneration associated with aging and neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease), neuronal differentiation is of interest. In this context, neurotrophic factors are a family of peptides capable of promoting the growth, survival, and/or differentiation of both developing and immature neurons. In contrast to these peptidyl compounds, polyphenols are not degraded in the intestinal tract and are able to cross the blood⁻brain barrier.

Leptin and Leptin receptor polymorphisms, plasma Leptin levels and obesity in Tunisian volunteers.

Adipose tissue is an important endocrine organ that secretes a number of adipokines, like Leptin (LEP). The aim this study was to investigate the prevalence of single nucleotide polymorphisms in LEP gene (LEP 3'UTR A/C, -2548 G/A) and LEPR (K109R and Q223R) and their association with Leptin level and obesity. We recruited 169 non-obese (body mass index [BMI] = 24.

The effect of oxysterols on nerve impulses.

The propagation of nerve impulses in myelinated nerve fibers depends on a number of factors involving the myelin and neural axons. In several neurodegenerative diseases, nerve impulses can be affected by the structural and biochemical characteristics of the myelin sheath and the activity of ion channels located in the nodes of Ranvier. Though it is generally accepted that lipid disorders are involved in the development of neurodegenerative diseases, little is known about their impact on nerve impulses.

Influence of genetic and non-genetic factors on acenocoumarol maintenance dose requirement in a Tunisian population.

Purpose: We aimed to study potential variables involved in interindividual variability to acenocoumarol (AC) response in order to establish a pharmacogenetic algorithm (PA) that includes clinical and genetic factors to predict adequate AC dose to stabilize anticoagulation in a cohort of Tunisian patients.

Methods: Genotyping of the CYP2C9, VKORC1, CYP4F2, and CALU polymorphisms was conducted on 246 patients using PCR-RFLP technique. AC normalized maintenance dose (NMD): ((mean maintenance dose/international normalized ratio (INR)) equilibrium) was calculated.

MDR-1 and CYP3A5 Polymorphisms in Pediatric Idiopathic Nephrotic Syndrome: Impact on Susceptibility and Response to Steroids (Preliminary Results).

Background: Oral steroid treatment is the first line of therapy for childhood nephrotic syndrome (NS). However, resistance to this treatment has been observed in some patients. Here, we investigated the association of two steroid metabolism-related genes with susceptibility to childhood NS and the steroid response.

Association between dementia and vascular disease-associated polymorphisms in a Tunisian population.

Purpose: Dementia is a multifactorial idiopathic pathology caused by clinical, eDementia is a multifactorial idiopathic pathology caused by clinical, environmental and genetic factors. Hence, its etiology is still unknown. We aimed to evaluate the association between five genetic risk factors for vascular diseases and dementia individually and when gathered in haplotypes.

Resistin polymorphims, plasma resistin levels and obesity in Tunisian volunteers.

Background: Adipose tissue is an important endocrine organ that secretes a number of adipokines, like Resistin (RETN); it's an adipocytes-secreted cytokine and has been proposed as a link between obesity and diabetes. Many resistin gene polymorphisms were described and their implication in obesity was controversial. This study was to investigate the prevalence of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in RETN gene 420C/G; 44G/A; 62G/A; 394C/G and 299 G/A and their association with Resistin level and obesity in Tunisian volunteers.

Genetic Variation in the Renin-Angiotensin System and Diabetic Nephropathy in the Tunisian Population.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of ACE, angiotensinogen (AGT) and angiotensin II receptor type I (AGTR1) polymorphisms with diabetic nephropathy (DN) in Tunisians.

Methods: The study population comprised 236 type 2 diabetic patients: with nephropathy (DN = 47) and without nephropathy (DM = 189). Genotyping of ACE-I/D-rs1799752, ACE-rs4343G>A, AGT-rs5050A>C, AGT-rs 4762C>T, AGT-rs699A>G, and AGTR1-rs5186A>C was performed by PCR-RFLP.