Chemical characterization and pharmacological properties of polysaccharides from Allium roseum leaves: In vitro and in vivo assays.

Allium roseum is amongst the most important wild medicinal plants. It is known for its diverse biological properties, including antioxidant, antibacterial and antidiabetic activities. In this work, the polysaccharides (PARLs) were ultrasonically extracted from Allium roesum leaves then purified and analyzed by several techniques.

CC5 and CC8, Two Disintegrin Isoforms from Snake Venom Decreased Inflammation Response In Vitro and In Vivo.

Inflammation is associated with many pathology disorders and the malignant progression of most cancers. Therefore, targeting inflammatory pathways could provide a promising strategy for disease prevention and treatment. In this study, we experimentally investigated the anti-inflammatory effect of CC5 and CC8, two disintegrin isoforms isolated from snake venom, on LPS-stimulated macrophages, both on human THP-1 and mouse RAW264.

Investigation of the Renal Protective Effect of Combined Dietary Polyphenols in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Aged Rats.

Natural polyphenols are widely reported to have a large range of pharmacological properties, especially antioxidant activities and free radical scavenging capacities. In this study, we investigate the effects of naringin, chlorogenic acid, and quercetin mixtures (NCQ) on renal fibrosis in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic aged rats and its underlying mechanisms for ten consecutive weeks. The oxidative defense system in the kidneys of treated rats was found to be improved.

Readmissions to kidney transplantation department: incidence, causes and risk factors.

Introduction: hospital readmission after kidney transplantation is an important metric for health care quality, which associated with increased morbidity, costs and transition-of-care errors. It is influenced by population demographics and the comprehensiveness of the healthcare system. The aim of this study was to evaluate incidence causes and risk factors associated with hospital readmission within the first year after transplantation.

Vitamin D in healthy Tunisian population: Preliminary results.

Background: Vitamin D deficiency is one of the most common medical conditions worldwide. In Tunisia, several studies evaluated Vitamin D status, but this was concerning specific populations (pregnant women, obese or diabetic patients and children with asthma). The only study that evaluated Vitamin D status in a healthy Tunisian population was conducted by Meddeb and associeties in 2002.

Expression of the First Recombinant Anti-Tumoral Snake Venom Kunitz-Type Serine Protease Inhibitor.

PIVL is a Kunitz-type serine protease inhibitor that was previously characterized from Tunisian snake venom, . It reduced glioblastoma cells' development and significantly blocked angiogenesis in in-vitro and ex-vivo models. PIVL exerted these effects by interfering with αvβ3 integrin.

Tunisian Native L. Extracts: Phytochemical Composition and Biological Activities.

Mint species ( family) have been used as traditional remedies for the treatment of several diseases. In this work, we aimed to characterize the biological activities of the total phenolic and flavonoid contents of L. extracts collected from two different regions of Tunisia.

Anti-glomerular basement membrane disease with intense nephrotic syndrome: a new case report.

Anti-glomerular basement membrane (anti-GBM) disease was usually described as a small vessel vasculitis presenting with acute kidney injury, haematuria and non-nephrotic proteinuria. We report a case of anti-GBM disease revealed by an intense nephrotic syndrome. The urinary protein level was 12g/day.

SFRP5 Enhances Wnt5a Induced-Inflammation in Rheumatoid Arthritis Fibroblast-Like Synoviocytes.

Background: Tissue derived fibroblast-like synoviocytes (td-FLS) are key actors in pannus formation and contribute to joint destruction and inflammation during rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Several members of the Wnt family, including Wnt5a, may contribute to RA td-FLS activation and can potentially serve as therapeutic targets.

Objective: The present work aimed to investigate the expression of Wnt5a signaling elements in RA td-FLS and their potential precursors (fluid derived (fd) FLS and fibrocytes).

Expression of extracellular matrix components and cytokine receptors in human fibrocytes during rheumatoid arthritis.

: Fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) represent one of the principal effectors of joint damage in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Recent discovery of the circulating fibrocyte, a potential precursor of FLS, has raised issues regarding the characterization of fibrocytes with respect to their morphology and their biological role. In this study, we evaluated the morphology of fibrocytes and their ability to produce different extracellular matrix (ECM) components in comparison with two populations of RA FLS: synovial fluid FLS (fd-FLS) and intimal lining FLS (td-FLS).

gene polymorphisms and related indel as predictor biomarkers of treatment response for colorectal cancer - toward a personalized medicine.

The gene variants were differentially associated with cancers. However, their association with colorectal cancer has not yet been explored. We investigated the contribution of the gene variants rs3331, rs1051295, and indel (insertion/deletion) rs11468831 Polymorphism as predictors of the treatment response in colorectal cancer patients.

Isolated tuberculous abscess in longissimus muscle.

Muscle's tuberculosis (TB) without coexistent active skeletal involvement is very rare. We presented a case of tuberculous abscess of longissimus muscle in a young immunocompetent female. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a well-circumscribed lesion in the longissimus muscle.

Mapping 123 million neonatal, infant and child deaths between 2000 and 2017.

Since 2000, many countries have achieved considerable success in improving child survival, but localized progress remains unclear. To inform efforts towards United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3.2-to end preventable child deaths by 2030-we need consistently estimated data at the subnational level regarding child mortality rates and trends.

Correlation of Fgf23 and Balp with Bone Mineral Density in Hemodialysis Patients.

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with numerous complications such as bone mineral disorder. The aim of our study was to analyze the correlation of bone turnover markers with Bone Mineral Density (BMD) measurements in Tunisian end stage renal diseases (ESRD) patients.

Methods: This study included 100 ESRD Tunisian patients.

Acute Paraplegia Revealing a Hemorrhagic Cauda Equina Paragangliomas.

Cauda equina paragangliomas are rare neuroendocrine benign and slow-growing tumors. Acute paraplegia, occurring because of sudden intratumoral hemorrhage, represents an extremely rare clinical picture of this disease. We report the case of a 64-year-old male presenting with a 5-day acute lower back pain, sciatica, and leg weakness.

FGF 23, PTH and vitamin D status in end stage renal disease patients affected by VDR FokI and BsmI variants.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between two VDR SNPs FokI and BsmI and mineral status in ESRD patients.

Design And Methods: Our case-control study included 100 patients with chronic renal failure in ESRD and 149 healthy subjects. We measured the serum Vitamin D levels and the serum intact PTH level by Electrochemiluminescence Technology (cobas E411 analyzer).

Vascular endothelial growth factor (-460 C/T, +405 G/C, and +936 C/T) polymorphisms and endometriosis risk in Tunisian population.

The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a major angiogenic factor, is known to play an important role in the development of endometriosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of three VEGF (-460 C/T, +405 G/C, and +936 C/T) polymorphisms with the risk of endometriosis in the Tunisian population. This study includes 105 women with endometriosis and 150 women with no laparoscopic evidence of disease.

Glutathione S-transferase M1 and T1 gene polymorphisms and risk of endometriosis in Tunisian population.

Objective: An association between endometriosis and the glutathione S-transferase M1 (GSTM1)- and GSTT1-related genes has been proposed on account of the detoxification properties of the GST enzymes. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the polymorphisms and null mutations are associated with the susceptibility to endometriosis.

Methods: The study included 105 women with endometriosis and 150 healthy women with no laparoscopic evidence of disease.

Vitamin D reduces the differentiation and expansion of Th17 cells in young asthmatic children.

Vitamin D [25(OH)D3] deficiency has been associated with asthma as in many inflammatory and autoimmune pathologies; however, there is still a lack of data about the effects of administration of vitamin D in immune regulation in young asthmatic patients. In this study, we investigated its inhibitory effect on the immune response in young asthmatic patients and the possible mechanisms involved. Peripheral blood CD4(+) T cells from 10 asthmatic patients and 10 healthy controls were cultured under Th17 polarizing conditions in the presence or absence of [25(OH)D3], IL-17 cytokine production was determined by ELISA and flow cytometry.

Association of vitamin D receptor FokI and ApaI polymorphisms with lung cancer risk in Tunisian population.

Many studies reported that Vitamin D Receptor (VDR) gene polymorphisms might influence the cancer risk due to their antiproliferative, antiangiogenic, and apoptotic effects. The aim of this study was to explore the genetic association of VDR polymorphisms with lung cancer risk in Tunisian population. The genotype and haplotype frequencies of four VDR polymorphisms, FokI (rs2228570), BsmI (rs1544410), ApaI (rs7975232) and TaqI (rs731236) were studied using polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis in 240 patients with lung cancer and 280 healthy controls.

Interleukin-17A and -17F genes polymorphisms in lung cancer.

Interleukin-17 (IL-17) is a proinflammatory cytokines produced by T helper 17 (Th17) cells, which plays an important role in both innate and adaptive immune systems. Genetic variants in the IL-17 genes may influence the immunopathogenesis of many cancers. In our study, we investigated the association of three single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs: -152 G/A, 7488 A/G and 7383 A/G) in the IL-17A and IL-17F genes with lung cancer risk, in the Tunisian population.

Pulmonary manifestations in Behçet disease: impaired natural killer cells activity.

Background: Behçet's disease (BD) is a systemic vasculitis with unknown aetiology, where, besides genetic predisposition, an immune dysregulation involving T and B lymphocytes and hyperactive neutrophils contribute to disease pathogenesis. The aim of this study was to determine the cytotoxicity of natural killer (NK) cells in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) from BD patients with pulmonary manifestations.

Methods: BAL was performed in 27 patients with BD and pulmonary manifestations, 14 patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and 23 healthy controls (HC).

Serum IL-33 levels and skin mRNA expression in Behçet's disease.

Objectives: Behçet's disease (BD) is an autoimmune/inflammatory disease characterised by abnormal production of proinflammatory cytokines. Interleukin-33 (IL-33) is a novel cytokine of the IL-1 cytokine family that has been recently implicated in several inflammatory and autoimmune diseases and the association of IL-33 with BD has remained unknown. Here we document for the first time, IL-33 level and its association with BD.

The impact of vitamin D deficiency on immune T cells in asthmatic children: a case-control study.

Background: Vitamin D exerts profound effects on both adaptive and innate immune functions involved in the development and course of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. As the incidence of vitamin D insufficiency is surprisingly high in the general population, experimental studies have started to investigate whether vitamin D levels (measured as serum 25 hydroxy vitamin D-25[OH]D) are correlated with immune cells and clinical parameters.

Purpose: The aim of the present research was to investigate serum vitamin D status in a case-control study in children with asthma and to study associations between vitamin D levels and certain immunological parameters.