Lower p66Shc promoter methylation in subjects with chronic renal failure.

Objective: To determine the correlation between DNA methylation of p66Shc promoter and some markers of inflammatory and oxidative stress in chronic renal failure (CRF) patients compared with healthy subjects.

Methods: An observational cross-sectional study was conducted in the nephrology department at Sidi Bouzid Regional Hospital (Tunisia). In total, 39 patients with CRF and 37 healthy subjects were included.

The Relationship Between Menopause and Metabolic Syndrome: Experimental and Bioinformatics Analysis.

Menopausal hormonal changes have been associated with the emergence of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its consequences such as type 2 diabetes (T2D) and cardiovascular diseases (CVD). The common gene signature and the associated signaling pathways of MetS, T2D, CVD and menopause status have not been widely studied. We analyzed a total of 314 women aged between 35 and 75 years.

Biochemical parameters and oxidative stress markers in Tunisian patients with periodontal disease.

Background: Oxidative stress is involved in many diseases including diabetes and cancer. Numbers of studies have suggested its involvement in the pathogenesis of periodontal diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the levels of biochemical parameters and oxidative stress markers in plasma of healthy and chronic periodontitis patients.

Relationship of activin A levels with clinical presentation, extent, and severity of coronary artery disease.

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the relationship of serum activin A levels with risk factors, clinical presentation, biochemical marker levels, extent, and severity of atherosclerotic coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods: In total, 310 CAD patients [92 with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), 111 with non-STEMI (NSTEMI), and 107 with unstable angina (UA)] and 207 healthy subjects (controls) were enrolled. Activin A levels in all participants were measured using ELISA.

Hepatic Proteins and Inflammatory Markers in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients.

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic disease that causes chronic synovial inflammation eventually leading to joint destruction and disability. The aim of this study was to determine the variations of hepatic proteins, myeloperoxidase, and iron in rheumatoid arthritis Tunisian patients and their implications in inflammation and in iron metabolism.

Methods: Overall, 172 patients from the Rheumatology Department of the University Hospital "Farhat Hached", Sousse-Tunisia between 2011 and 2012, with rheumatoid arthritis (97.

Pathological interactions between the endothelin-1 and the angiotensin- converting enzyme among Tunisian coronary patients.

Background: The correct understanding of the biochemical and metabolic interactions between coronary risk factors contribute to the exploration of cardiovascular pathophysiology and improves therapeutic care. The aim of this study was to explore the endothelin-1 (ET-1) concentration and the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) activity among Tunisian patients with coronary heart disease, and to investigate the metabolic relationships between these two markers,… and to assess the possible relationship between them and the different risk factors. In this present study, ET-1 concentration was determined by an analytical method (High Performance Chromatography, coupled by Mass Spectrometry), ACE activity was measured by a kinetic method for patients and healthy controls.

Evaluation of physiological risk factors, oxidant-antioxidant imbalance, proteolytic and genetic variations of matrix metalloproteinase-9 in patients with pressure ulcer.

Pressure ulcer (PU) remains a common worldwide problem in all health care settings, it is synonymous with suffering. PU is a complex disease that is dependent on a number of interrelated factors. It involves multiple mechanisms such as physiological risk factors, chronic inflammation, oxidant-antioxidant imbalance and proteolytic attack on extracellular matrix by matrix metalloproteinases (MMP).

Molecular analysis in a GALNS study cohort of 15 Tunisian patients: description of a novel mutation.

Background: Mucopolysaccharidosis type IVA (MPS IVA) is an autosomal recessive disease caused by the deficiency of the lysosomal enzyme N-acetylgalactosamine-6-sulfate sulfatase (GALNS). The purpose of this study was to analyze the GALNS mutations and the haplotypes associated.

Methods: Mutation screening of the GALNS gene was performed by direct sequence analysis using DNA samples from 15 unrelated Tunisian MPS IVA patients.

Successful switch from insulin to oral sulfonylurea therapy in HNF1A-MODY Tunisian patient with the P291fsinsC mutation.

The hot spot mutation P291fsinsC was identified for the first time in a 26 years old Tunisian woman. The low serum level of high C-reactive protein was helpful to target the HNF1A gene. Due to the molecular diagnosis, the change from insulin to sulfonylurea therapy was performed successfully.

Gaucher Disease: Clinical, Biological and Therapeutic Aspects.

We present a brief review of Gaucher disease (GD), the most common lysosomal storage disease. GD is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by the defective function of the catabolic enzyme β-glucocerebrosidase (GBA), leading to an accumulation of its substrate, glucocerebroside. Clinical signs and symptoms include neurological dysfunctions, bone infarcts and malformations, hepatosplenomegaly and hypersplenism leading to anemia, neutropenia and thrombocytopenia.

Relationship between the A(8002)G intronic polymorphism of pre-pro-endothelin-1 gene and the endothelin-1 concentration among Tunisian coronary patients.

Background: Acute coronary syndromes (ACS) are complex and polygenic diseases which are a real problem of public health. These syndromes require multidisciplinary studies to understand the pathogenesis mechanisms. Our study aims to evaluate the endothelin-1 (ET-1) serum concentration in Tunisian coronary compared to controls healthy, as well as the study of the impact of an intronic polymorphism A (8002) G of pre-pro-endothelin-1 Gene (inactive precursor of ET-1) on the change in serum endothelin-1 and in the susceptibility to Acute coronary syndrome (SCA).

Circadian variation in murine hepatotoxicity to the antituberculosis agent «Isoniazide».

The circadian time is an important process affecting both pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of drugs. Consequently, the desired and/or undesired effects vary according to the time of drug administration in the 24 h scale. This study investigates whether the toxicity in liver as well as oxidative stress varies according to the circadian dosing-time of isoniazid (INH) in mice.

Genetic basis of cystinosis in Tunisian patients: Identification of novel mutation in CTNS gene.

Nephropathic cystinosis (NC) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by defective transport of cystine across the lysosomal membrane and resulting in renal, ophthalmic, and other organ abnormalities. Mutations in the CTNS gene cause a deficiency of the transport protein, cystinosin. This study was performed to investigate mutations of the CTNS gene in three Tunisian families with NC.

Metabolic interactions between hyperhomocysteinemia and endothelin-1 among Tunisian patients with acute coronary diseases.

Background: Acute coronary syndromes (ACS) are complex and polygenic diseases which are a real problem of public health. These syndromes require multidisciplinary studies to understand the pathogenesis mechanisms and metabolic interactions between different risk factors.This study aimed to explore the variation of two coronary risk parameters not mentioned by Framingham cohorts, hyperhomocysteinemia and endothelin-1 (ET-1) in Tunisian coronary and the study of the variation of these parameters based on various cardiac risk factors and metabolic relationship between them.

Clinical utility of serum cystatin C in predicting coronary artery disease in patients without chronic kidney disease.

Background: Cystatin C has been proposed as a novel marker of renal function and predictor of cardiovascular risk. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of cystatin C level as a predictor of cardiovascular events in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods: Three hundred and five coronary artery patients were included in this study.

Polymorphisms of glutathione-S-transferases M1, T1, P1 and susceptibility to colorectal cancer in a sample of the Tunisian population.

In this study, we investigated the associations of polymorphisms in glutathione-S-transferases (GSTs) genes that are GSTM1, GSTT1, and GSTP1, with sporadic colorectal cancer (CRC). Hundred and fifty patients with CRC and 128 healthy controls were genotyped. DNA was isolated from blood samples.

Concomitant effects of Ramadan fasting and time-of-day on apolipoprotein AI, B, Lp-a and homocysteine responses during aerobic exercise in Tunisian soccer players.

Objective: To examine the time-of-day and Ramadan fasting (RF) effects on serum apolipoprotein-AI (Apo-AI) and B (Apo-B), lipoprotein particles-a (Lp-a), high-sensitive C-reactive-protein (hs-CRP), and homocysteine (Hcy) during the Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test (YYIRT).

Design: Performance and biochemical measures were completed at two times-of-day (07:00 and 17:00 h), 1-week before RF (BR), the second week of RF (SWR), and the fourth week of RF (ER).

Setting: For each session, subjects performed the YYIRT, and blood samples were taken before and 3-min after the test for biochemical measures.

Biochemical responses to level-1 yo-yo intermittent recovery test in young tunisian football players.

Purpose: The aim of this work was to investigate the metabolic and muscle damage responses after the level-1 Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test (YYIRT) in young football players.

Methods: Fifteen male football players (17.42 ± 0.

The pro-oxidant effect of angiotensin-1 converting enzyme in Tunisian patients with coronary heart disease.

Background: Evaluation and investigation of the pro-oxidant role of the angiotensin-1 converting enzyme among Tunisian coronary.

Materials And Methods: In the present study the angiotensin-1 converting enzyme (ACE1) was determined by a kinetic method for coronary and witness populations. These subjects (117 patients and 86 controls) beneficed also by an enzymatic determination of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and total antioxidant status (TAS) to reveal the atherogenic effects of these radical species and investigate their interactions with ACE1.

Association of POL1, MALT1, MC4R, PHLPP and DSEL single nucleotide polymorphisms in chromosome 18q region with type 2 diabetes in Tunisians.

Previous studies and replication analyses have linked chromosome 18q21.1-23 with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and its complications, including diabetic nephropathy (DN). Here we investigated the association of POL1-nearby variant rs488846, MALT1-nearby variant rs2874116, MC4R-nearby variant rs1942872, PHLPP rs9958800 and DSEL-nearby variant rs9966483 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the 18q region, previously linked with DN in African-Americans, with T2DM in (North African) Tunisian subjects, followed by their association with DN, which was performed subsequent to the analysis of the association with T2DM.

Low erythrocyte catalase enzyme activity is correlated with high serum total homocysteine levels in Tunisian patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Background: An imbalance between pro-oxidants and antioxidant systems has been suggested to be implicated in the physiopathology of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). We aimed to evaluate the antioxidant capacity in Tunisian patients and to assess the possible relationship between erythrocyte catalase enzyme activity and hyperhomocysteinaemia.

Methods: 108 patients with AMI and 81 healthy subjects were enrolled in this study.

Alteration of lipid status and lipid metabolism, induction of oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation by 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic herbicide in rat liver.

This study aims to investigate the effects of the 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic herbicide (2,4-D) on plasma lipids, lipoproteins concentrations, hepatic lipid peroxidation, fatty acid composition and antioxidant enzyme activities in rats. Animals were randomly divided into four groups of 10 each: control group and three 2,4-D-treated groups G1, G2 and G3 were administered 15, 75 and 150 mg/kg/BW/d 2,4-D by gavage for 28 d, respectively. Results showed that 2,4-D caused significant negative changes in the biochemical parameters investigated.

[Metabolic interactions between the hyperhomocysteinemia and angiotensin-1 converting enzyme activity in Tunisian patients with coronary heart disease].

Hyperhomocysteinemia and hyperactivity of the angiotensin-1 converting enzyme (ACE1) are considered two unconventional coronary risk factors. The study of the variation of these two biochemical parameters in coronary patients and metabolic investigation of the relationship between these two markers has a fundamental interest. In this context, 110 patients and 80 control subjects are recruited for our study.

Biochemical and histological evaluation of kidney damage after sub-acute exposure to 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic herbicide in rats: involvement of oxidative stress.

The present study evaluated the effects of sub-acute exposure to different doses of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) on rat kidney. Forty animals were divided into four equal groups and treated with different doses of 2,4-D: 0, 15, 75 and 150 mg/kg body weight per day via oral gavage for 28 consecutive days. Renal function, histopathology, tissue malondialdehyde and antioxidant enzyme activities were evaluated.

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.