MCP-1, CCR2 and CCR5 polymorphisms in Tunisian patients with atopic asthma.

Chemokines and their receptors play an important role in the late inflammatory stage of asthma. In this study, we aimed to investigate polymorphisms of MCP-1 (CCL2), CCR2 and CCR5 which can affect qualitatively and/or quantitatively their production and thus influence both susceptibility and severity of asthma and its clinical and biological features.MCP-1 (A/G -2518), CCR2 (+/64I), CCR5 (G/A -59029) and CCR5 (∆32) polymorphisms were evaluated by PCR in 107 Tunisian patients with asthma and 169 healthy controls.

Phylogenetic analysis of isolated HCV strains from tunisian hemodialysis patients.

The present study describes the strains of hepatitis C virus (HCV) isolated from Tunisian hemodialysis patients. Thirty-three HCV strains isolated from different dialysis centers in Tunis City were amplified by RT-PCR in a region of the NS5b gene, genotyped by sequencing, and compared to international sequences by phylogenetic analysis. The phylogenetic tree showed that 16 HCV isolates have been identified as subtype 4k (48.

Investigation of DNA sequence in the Basal core promoter, precore, and core regions of hepatitis B virus from Tunisia shows a shift in genotype prevalence.

Background: In this study, we evaluated the prevalence of the most common mutations occurring in Enhancer II (EnhII), Basal Core Promoter (BCP), Precore (PC), and Core (C) regions of hepatitis B virus (HBV) genome.

Objectives: We also investigated the correlation between HBV variants, their genotypes, and patients' HBe antigen (HBeAg: soluble shape of the capsid antigen) status.

Patients And Methods: We retrieved viral DNA from 40 serum samples of Tunisian patients positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and HBV DNA, amplified the above mentioned regions using specific primers, and sequenced the corresponding PCR (polymerase chain reaction) products.

[Hepatitis C in kidney transplantation: comparative study between two Maghrebin centers: Casablanca and Tunis].

Background: Hepatitis viral C (HVC) is relatively frequent among kidney transplants. It is responsible for a morbid-mortality that compromises the results of transplantation in the medium and long term.

Aim: To evaluate and to compare the prevalence of HVC, 172 kidney transplant adult patients were investigated in two Maghrebian centers at Casablanca (G1): 57 Moroccan patients and Tunisia (G2):.

Polymorphism in ICAM-1, PECAM-1, E-selectin, and L-selectin genes in Tunisian patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Background: Ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD) are chronic intestinal disorders characterized by immune dysregulation and leukocytes recruitment into gastrointestinal tract. Cell adhesion molecules (CAM) mediate the extravasation of leukocytes and their accumulation in inflamed intestinal mucosa. Recently, CAM genes have been implicated in determining susceptibility to UC and CD.

Human platelet antigens polymorphisms and susceptibility of thrombosis in hemodialysis patients.

To investigate the association between the polymorphisms of human platelet antigen (HPA)-1,2,3,4,5 and susceptibility to develop thrombosis accident in arteriovenous fistula (AVF), genomic DNA of 112 hemodialysis (HD) patients and 100 healthy blood donors were genotyped by PCR-SSP. The patients were classified into 2 groups: G1 included 54 HD patients presented at least one thrombotic episode on the level of the AVF, and G2 included 58 HD patients without any episode of thrombosis. The allelic frequencies of HPA-1, 2, 3, and 5 among patients and controls did not reveal significant differences.