Plasma total homocysteine: usual values and main determinants in adults living in the Great Tunis region.

Background: Elevated total plasma homocysteine (tHcy) is an established risk factor for occlusive vascular disease and is thought to increase the risk of pregnancy loss, birth defects, and cognitive impairment in the elderly.

Objectives: To determine tHcy standard values and the prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia (HHC) and to examine their association with demographic and life style factors in the Greater Tunis population.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 2712 subjects (1228 males and 1484 females) aged 35 - 70 years, living in the Greater Tunis region.

Dyslipidemia in the Greater Tunis population: prevalence and determinants.

Background: Economic development and socio-demographic changes have led to increased frequency of cardiovascular disease and other chronic diseases in Tunisia.

Objectives: To assess the prevalence of different types of dyslipidemia and to examine their association with sociodemographic characteristics in the Greater Tunis population.

Methods: The study included 2712 subjects (1228 men and 1484 women) aged 35-70 years, recruited during the years 2004 and 2005 from the Greater Tunis population.

Aminoacidopathies and organic acidurias in Tunisia: a retrospective survey over 23 years.

Background: Inborn errors of metabolism are neglected in developing countries because they are not as common as infectious and nutritional disorders. In Tunisia, no information is available on the incidence and epidemiological features of these inherited metabolic diseases.

Aims: To precise the profile of aminoacidopathies other than phenylketonuria and organic acidurias and to estimate their incidences in Tunisia.

Association of a DNA polymorphism of the apolipoprotein AI-CIII-AIV gene cluster with myocardial infarction in a Tunisian population.

Background: Apolipoproteins AI-CIII-AIV play important roles in the metabolism of triglycerides and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. However, whether genetic variations in the ApoAI-CIII-AIV gene cluster are associated with the risk of myocardial infarction (MI) remains uncertain. In the present study, we examined a possible association of the ApoCIII SacI polymorphism in the ApoAI-CIII-AIV gene cluster with lipid parameters and MI in a sample of the Tunisian population.

C(-260)T polymorphism in the promoter of CD 14 gene is not associated with myocardial infarction in the Tunisian population.

Recent findings suggest that inflammation plays a role in atherosclerosis and its acute complications. Several known mechanisms may play at least a partial role in this process. One of the most likely mechanisms involves lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and its receptor, CD14.

Association between -786TC polymorphism in the endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene and hypertension in the Tunisian population.

Background: Nitric oxide (NO) is produced by endothelial cells and serves as a potent vasodilator. Several lines of evidence have shown that NO plays an important role in the regulation of blood pressure and regional blood flow. Recent genetic studies have shown an association between the -786TC polymorphism in the endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene (NOS3) and coronary artery diseases, but any possible association with hypertension has been controversial.

The paraoxonase L55M and Q192R gene polymorphisms and myocardial infarction in a Tunisian population.

Objectives: In the present study, we examined a possible association between the PON1 Q192R and L55M polymorphisms and myocardial infarction (MI) in a sample of the Tunisian population.

Design And Methods: Three hundred and ten patients with MI and 375 controls were recruited. Paraoxonase gene polymorphisms at codon 192 and 55 were analyzed by PCR-RFLP.

Association of rs2781666 G/T polymorphism of arginase I gene with myocardial infarction in Tunisian male population.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between rs2781666 G/T polymorphism of arginase I (ARG I) gene and myocardial infarction (MI) in the Tunisian male population.

Design And Methods: Three hundred eighteen patients with MI and 282 controls were recruited. The rs2781666 G/T polymorphism of ARG I was determined by PCR-RFLP analysis.

Gender-specific effect of Pro12Ala polymorphism in peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma-2 gene on obesity risk and leptin levels in a Tunisian population.

Objectives: This study was undertaken to investigate the impact of the Pro12Ala (rs1801282) polymorphism of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma-2 (PPARgamma-2) gene on obesity or body mass index (BMI) and plasma leptin, insulin, adiponectin and lipid levels in a sample of the Tunisian population.

Design And Methods: The study included 387 obese patients and 288 control subjects. The Pro12Ala genotype was determined by polymerase chain reaction followed by a digestion with the restriction of endonuclease BstUI.

Association of a 27-bp repeat polymorphism in intron 4 of endothelial constitutive nitric oxide synthase gene with hypertension in a Tunisian population.

Objectives: Nitric oxide (NO) produced by endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) mediates endothelium-dependent vasodilatation and antithrombotic action. Controversial results regarding the association of eNOS gene (NOS3) polymorphisms with hypertension have been reported. In the present study, we examined a possible association between the 27-base pair (bp) repeat polymorphism in intron 4 of the NOS3 gene and hypertension in a sample of the Tunisian population.

Association between the -2518G/A polymorphism in the monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) gene and hypertension in Tunisian patients.

Objectives: Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1:CCL2) has been demonstrated to be involved in the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis and hypertension. This study was aimed to investigate whether the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) at -2518 of the MCP-1 gene promoter region is associated to hypertension in a sample of Tunisian population.

Design And Methods: A total of 290 Tunisian patients with hypertension and 390 normotensive controls were included in the study.

Association between the 2756A> G variant in the gene encoding methionine synthase and myocardial infarction in Tunisian patients.

Background: Elevated plasma total homocysteine (tHcy), a risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD), is due to defects in genes encoding for enzymes involved in tHcy metabolism or from inadequate status of vitamins involved in tHcy disposal. Methionine synthase (MS), a vitamin B(12)-dependent enzyme, catalyses the remethylation of homocysteine to methionine using a methyl group donated by 5-methyltetra-hydrofolate, which is the major circulating form of folate in the body. Functional genetic variants of the MS may alter tHcy as well as folate levels which are independent risk factors for CAD.

Association between the -2518G/A polymorphism in the monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) gene and myocardial infarction in Tunisian patients.

Background: Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1; gene name CCL2) has been suggested to play an important role in the initiation of atherosclerosis by recruiting monocytes to sites of injured endothelium. Recently, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the MCP-1 regulatory region have been identified. Controversial results regarding the association of the -2518G/A polymorphism of the MCP-1 gene with coronary artery disease (CAD) have been reported.

Association of a 27-bp repeat polymorphism in intron 4 of endothelial constitutive nitric oxide synthase gene with myocardial infarction in Tunisian patients.

Background: Nitric oxide (NO) produced by endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) mediates endothelium-dependent vasodilatation and antithrombotic action. Controversial results regarding the association of eNOS gene (NOS3) polymorphisms with myocardial infarction (MI) have been reported. In the present study, we examined a possible association between a 27-base pair (bp) repeat polymorphism in intron 4 of the NOS3 gene and MI in a subgroup of the Tunisian population.