TLR4 Polymorphisms (T399I/D299G) Association with Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder in a Tunisian Population.

Immune dysregulation has been widely described in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia (SCZ) and bipolar disorder (BD). Particularly, TLR4-altered activation was proposed as one of the underlying processes of psychosis onset. Since TLR4 activation was altered by T399I and D299G polymorphisms, we hypothesized that those variants could present common genetic factors of SCZ and BD.

Association between polymorphisms of TLR2-1-6 and bipolar disorder in a tunisian population.

Background: Bipolar disorder (BD) is a complex neuropsychiatric disease that has been strongly linked to immune dysregulation. In particular, an abnormal inflammatory response mediated by toll-like receptor 2 - 1/6 (TLR2-1/6) was described in BD. Nevertheless, genetic factors' contribution is still unknown.

Overexpression of P-glycoprotein and resistance to Imatinib in chronic myeloid leukemia patients.

Background: The P-glycoprotein (P-gp) is one of the mechanisms of Imatinib (IM) resistance in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). P-gp has been identified as an efflux pump involved in releasing of IM outside CML cells. To date, the P-gp involvement in the IM resistance development was not completely understood.

Increased levels of soluble HLA-G molecules in Tunisian patients with chronic hepatitis B infection.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a global health problem. The mechanisms of immune tolerance in HBV infection are still unclear. The host immune response plays a critical role in determining the outcome of HBV infection.

Antioxidant effect of hydroxytyrosol on human sperm quality during in vitro incubation.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the antioxidant potential of hydroxytyrosol (HT) on human sperm quality during incubation in vitro. Semen samples collected from men attending the Laboratory of Histology-Embryology of Sfax Faculty of Medicine (Tunisia) for infertility investigations were evaluated for initial sperm parameters. Only normal selected ejaculates (n = 15) were centrifuged and incubated further with or without HT (200ug ml ) at room temperature for 45 min.

HLA-E polymorphism and soluble HLA-E plasma levels in chronic hepatitis B patients.

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection occurs in association to a deregulation of immune system. Human leukocyte antigen E (HLA-E) is an immune-tolerant nonclassical HLA class I molecule that could be involved in HBV progression. To measure soluble (s) HLA-E in patients with chronic HBV hepatitis (CHB).

Frequency of HNF4A-P.I463V Variant in the Tunisian North-African Population and Its Relation with Diabetes Mellitus.

Background: HNF4A-p.I463Vvariant, reported previously in two distinct families suspected of MODY-1, is assessed in this report to determine whether it is a mutation or a polymorphism (frequency >1%).

Methods: 200 Tunisian healthy people were screened for the presence of HNF4A-p.

Association of an HLA-G 14-bp Insertion/Deletion polymorphism with high HBV replication in chronic hepatitis.

Identification of an HLA-G 14-bp Insertion/Deletion (Ins/Del) polymorphism at the 3' untranslated region of HLA-G revealed its importance in HLA-G mRNA stability and HLA-G protein level variation. We evaluated the association between the HLA-G 14-bp Ins/Del polymorphism in patients with chronic Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in a case-control study. Genomic DNA was extracted from 263 patients with chronic HBV hepatitis and 246 control subjects and was examined for the HLA-G 14-bp Ins/Del polymorphism by PCR.

Molecular detection of Chlamydia trachomatis and other sexually transmitted bacteria in semen of male partners of infertile couples in Tunisia: the effect on semen parameters and spermatozoa apoptosis markers.

This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis, Mycoplasmas, and Ureaplasmas in semen samples of the male partners of infertile couples and to investigate whether Chlamydia trachomatis could initiate apoptosis in human spermatozoa. A total of 85 males partners of infertile couples undergoing routine semen analysis according to World Health Organization guidelines were included. Specimens were examined for the presence of Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Mycoplasma hominis, Mycoplasma genitalium, Ureaplasma urealyticum and Ureaplasma parvum by Real time PCR (qPCR).

The cyclooxygenase-1 C50T polymorphism is not associated with aspirin responsiveness status in stable coronary artery disease in Tunisian patients.

In this study, we evaluate the relationships between aspirin nonresponsiveness and the cyclooxygenase-1 (Cox-1) gene C50T polymorphism in stable coronary artery disease (CAD) in Tunisian patients. One hundred twenty-five stable CAD patients were included. The Cox-1 gene C50T polymorphism was determined by the polymerase chain reaction/restriction fragment length polymorphism method.

HLA class II genetic diversity in southern Tunisia and the Mediterranean area.

North Africa is populated by many Arab- and Berber-speaking populations whose genetic history is still poorly understood. In this study, we analyse the HLA-DRB1 and DQB1 molecular diversity in three populations from the south of Tunisia--Berbers from Jerba, Berbers from Matmata and Arabs from Gabes--and we compare them to a large set of populations from the whole Mediterranean region. Among the three populations studied, the Berbers from Jerba are the most peculiar, as they diverge significantly from other North Africans while being genetically highly diversified and close to populations from the Near East.

Leukocyte filtration does not affect lymphocyte subpopulations and NK cell function in recipients of blood transfusions.

Background And Objectives: The possible immunosuppressive action of blood transfusion has aroused great interest recently, particularly with respect to its effects on tumor growth and recurrence rate of malignant disease.

Materials And Methods: The effect of blood transfusion on lymphocyte subpopulations and NK cell function preoperatively and 6 months postoperatively was studied in 129 patients treated with elective surgery for colorectal malignancy. Forty-two patients (33%) received blood transfusions, 21 of them randomly allocated to receive leukocyte-depleted blood products.