Antiobesity and Hypolipidemic Potential of Extract in Overweight/Obese Women: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Pilot Study.

This study aimed to assess the efficacy of extract (NRE) in reducing weight, body mass index (BMI), body fat composition (BF), and anthropometric parameters among overweight/obese women, comparing the results with those of a placebo group. Overweight/obese individuals participated in a 12-week, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Body weight, BMI, body composition, and anthropometric parameters were assessed.

Exploring the Effects of Short-Term Daily Intake of Tea on Lipid Profile: A Pre-Post, Uncontrolled Pilot Study in Both Healthy and Overweight/Obese Adults.

In the present study, we aimed to explore the feasibility, compliance, and potential benefits of extract (NRE) intervention in both healthy (BMI ≤ 24.9 Kg/m) and overweight/obese adults (BMI > 25 Kg/m). A total of 98 participants, including 37 healthy individuals and 61 overweight/obese adults, were randomly assigned to either a low-dose (500 mg/day) or a high-dose (2000 mg/day) NRE intervention group.

Chemical characteristics and cancer risk assessment of smokeless tobacco used in Tunisia (neffa).

Introduction: neffa, a form of air-dried smokeless tobacco used in North Africa, is spuriously perceived as a lower risk alternative to smoking. The objective of this study was to provide information on some harmful constituents of neffa and to use them for cancer risk assessment.

Methods: a high-performance liquid chromatography method coupled with fluorescence detector was used to determine polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in one sample of neffa.

Glutathione-S-transferase genetic polymorphism and risk of hepatotoxicity to antitubercular drugs in a North-African population: A case-control study.

Introduction: GST non-functional genotypes can lead to the accumulation of toxic intermediates, resulting in liver damage and increasing susceptibility to ATDH.

Aim: To investigate the impact of GST Mu (GSTM1), GST Theta (GSTT1) null genotypes, and GST Pi (GSTP1; adenosine (A) > guanine (G), rs1695) variant allele on the development of ATDH in Tunisian patients treated with anti-tuberculosis therapy.

Methods: This was a case-control study including patients receiving anti-tuberculosis regimen.

Rosemary Tea Consumption Alters Peripheral Anxiety and Depression Biomarkers: A Pilot Study in Limited Healthy Volunteers.

.is traditionally used as an infusion in the treatment of several diseases and in particular against neuropsychiatric disorders, such as anxiety and depression. It was established that rosemary extracts show an antidepressant effect on animal models.

Bioavailability and nutrikinetics of rosemary tea phenolic compounds in humans.

Rosmarinus officinalis L. is a widespread aromatic plant commonly consumed as a tea in traditional cuisine and in folk medicine to treat various illnesses due to its therapeutic properties. To the best of our knowledge, there are no reports on the bioavailability and metabolism of R.

Tissue quantification of radioiodine thyroid uptake in humans by an isotopic imaging technique on slides.

Background: Thyroid metabolism involves iodine, which allows us to use radioactive iodine for diagnostic and therapy purposes. The efficiency of radioiodine therapy depends on several parameters; the ability of thyroid tissue to uptake radioactive iodine is one of them.

Objective: The objective of this work is to quantify the radioactive iodine uptake on thyroid tissue.

Evaluation of Daily Tea Consumption on Lipid Profile Biomarkers in Healthy Volunteers.

is known in the field of herbal medicine and studies that it has beneficial effects such as antibacterial, antifungal, antidiabetes, and anti-inflammatory properties. We investigated whether tea consumption affects the plasma levels of lipid biomarkers in healthy volunteers. Thirty healthy Tunisian volunteers aged between 20 and 57 years old consumed infusion, prepared from 5 g of dried leaves in 100 ml boiled water, once a day during 10 days.

Influencing factors of absenteism among first cycle of medical students in the Faculty of Medicine of Sousse.

Background: Student absenteeism is a major concern for higher education and especially for medical studies.

Aim: This work was conducted to assess the extent of this phenomenon among undergraduate medical students at the Faculty of Medicine of Sousse and to determine whether certain student characteristics affect student absenteeism.

Methods: We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study among first and second year of medical study students from the faculty of medicine of Sousse during the second semester of the 2015-2016 academic year using a pretested self-administered questionnaire.

Metal-Organic Frameworks as Efficient Oral Detoxifying Agents.

Poisoning and accidental oral intoxication are major health problems worldwide. Considering the insufficient efficacy of the currently available detoxification treatments, a pioneering oral detoxifying adsorbent agent based on a single biocompatible metal-organic framework (MOF) is here proposed for the efficient decontamination of drugs commonly implicated in accidental or voluntary poisoning. Furthermore, the in vivo toxicity and biodistribution of a MOF via oral administration have been investigated for the first time.

Glutathione S-transferase M1 and T1 polymorphisms and the risk of mild hepatotoxicity induced by carbamazepine in a tunisian population study.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the glutathione S-transferase M1 (GSTM1) and T1 (GSTT1) null alleles may contribute to carbamazepine-induced hepatotoxicity.

Methods: A cross-sectional prospective study was conducted to identify the frequency distribution of GSTM1 and GSTT1 alleles in 129 Tunisian epileptic patients treated with carbamazepine. Null alleles were determined using a Polymerase Chain Reaction.

Bioavailability and metabolism of rosemary infusion polyphenols using Caco-2 and HepG2 cell model systems.

Background: Rosmarinus officinalis is an aromatic plant used in folk medicine as a result of the therapeutic properties associated with its phenolic composition, being rich in rosmarinic acid (RA) and caffeic acid (CA). To better understand the bioactivity of these compounds, their absorption and metabolism were assessed in human Caco-2 and HepG2 cells, as small intestine and liver models, respectively, using RA and CA standards, as well as a rosemary infusion and ferulic acid (FA).

Results: Test compounds were partially up-taken and metabolized by Caco-2 and HepG2 cells, although a higher metabolization rate was observed after hepatic incubation compared to intestinal incubation.

A Comprehensive Characterisation of Rosemary tea Obtained from Rosmarinus officinalis L. Collected in a sub-Humid Area of Tunisia.

Introduction: Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) is an aromatic plant common in Tunisia and it is widely consumed as a tea in traditional cuisine and in folk medicine to treat various illnesses. Currently, most research efforts have been focused on rosemary essential oil, alcoholic and aqueous extracts, however, little is reported on rosemary infusion composition.

The relationship between pharmacokinetic parameters of carbamazepine and therapeutic response in epileptic patients.

Introduction: The prescribed dose and carbamazepine plasma concentration to achieve the optimal therapeutic efficacy are highly variable from one patient to the other. Our study aimed to determine whether biological parameters may be used as plasma markers that can individually adjust the carbamazepine dose necessary to optimize therapeutic efficacy.

Material And Methods: Ninety-four epileptic patients under carbamazepine monotherapy and who have never used combination therapy were recruited from the consecutive admissions at the Department of Neurology "CHU Sahloul" of Sousse Central Hospital in Tunisia from February 2010 to April 2011.

Effects of glutathione S-transferase M1 andT1 deletions on bipolar disorder risk among a Tunisian population.

Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) enzymes are involved in the detoxification of several endogenous and exogenous substances. In this study, we evaluated the effects of two glutathione S-transferase polymorphisms, (GSTM1 and GSTT1) on bipolar disorder (BPD) risk susceptibility in a Tunisian population. These polymorphisms were analyzed in 229 healthy subjects and 109 patients with BPD, using a polymerase chain reaction.

Effects of EPHX1 and CYP3A4*22 genetic polymorphisms on carbamazepine metabolism and drug response among Tunisian epileptic patients.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of polymorphisms in the EPHX1 (c.416A > G, c.337T > C) and CYP3A4*22 genes involved in carbamazepine (CBZ) metabolism and pharmacoresistance among 118 Tunisian patients with epilepsy under maintenance dose of CBZ.

Breast Cancer Association with CYP1A2 Activity and Gene Polymorphisms--a Preliminary Case-control Study in Tunisia.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relative contribution of CYP1A2 isoforms (-3860 G/A, -2467T/delT and -163C/A) in control subjects and breast cancer patients to the metabolism of caffeine in human liver. Restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of PCR-amplified Fragments (PCR-RFLP) was used for the genotyping of CYP1A2 SNPs and HPLC allowed the phenotyping through the measurement of CYP1A2 activity using the 17X + 13X + 37X/137X urinary metabolite ratio (CMR) and plasma caffeine half life (T1/2). The CYP1A2 -3860A genotype was associated with a decreased risk of breast cancer.

Relationships between pharmacokinetic parameters of carbamazepine and therapeutic response in patients with bipolar disease.

This study aimed to assess the relationship between plasma levels of carbamazepine and its active metabolite 10,11-epoxide-carbamazepine, and the therapeutic response in patients with bipolar disease. Thirteen patients were kept on a fixed individual dose of carbamazepine for 19 weeks under psychiatric care. Steady-state plasma concentrations of carbamazepine and its metabolite 10,11-epoxide-carbamazepine were measured at weeks 4, 12, and 20 by HPLC essay.

Effects of glutathione S-transferase M1 and T1 deletions on epilepsy risk among a Tunisian population.

Glutathione-S-transferases enzymes are involved in the detoxification of several endogenous and exogenous substances. In this present study, we evaluated the effects of two glutathione-S-transferase polymorphisms, (GSTM1 and GSTT1) on epilepsy risk susceptibility in a Tunisian population. These polymorphisms were analyzed in 229 healthy subjects and 98 patients with epilepsy, using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Cytokine and eicosanoid profiles of phosphate mine workers.

Professional exposures to respirable dusts from phosphate mines are associated with the development of an inflammatory response and airways diseases. This study was performed on 12 phosphate workers versus 8 unexposed controls, including smokers and non-smokers. It consisted of assessing the incidence of phosphate dusts exposure associated or not with smoking on the plasmatic inflammatory status of phosphate mine workers versus controls.

Analysis of thiopurine S-methyltransferase phenotype-genotype in a Tunisian population with Crohn's disease.

This study was conducted to investigate the thiopurine S-methyltransferase TPMT activity distribution and gene mutations in Tunisian population with positive diagnostic for Crohn's disease. TPMT activity was measured in Tunisian population (n = 88) by a high performance liquid chromatography assay. Polymerase chain reaction-based methods were used to determine the frequency of TPMT mutant alleles TPMT*2, TPMT*3A, TPMT*3B and TPMT*3C.

Role of CYP1A2 polymorphisms in breast cancer risk in women.

Cytochrome P4501A2 (CYP1A2) is a key enzyme in the etiology of breast cancer (BC). It is involved in breast carcinogen activation [aromatic (AAs) and heterocyclic amines (HAs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)], in the production of beneficial oestrogen [2-hydroxyestrone (2-OHE1)] and in converting arachidonic acid (AAc) to epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs), which have anti-inflammatory properties. Within a hospital-based case-control study, the effect of functional CYP1A2 variants [-3860G/A (rs2069514), -2467T/delT (rs3569413), -163C/A (rs762551)] and their interactions with environmental factors in BC risk was investigated.