Regulation of β-cell mass and function by the Akt/protein kinase B signalling pathway

The insulin receptor substrate-2/phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway plays a critical role in the regulation of β-cell mass and function, demonstrated both in vitro and in vivo . The serine threonine kinase Akt is one of the promising downstream molecules of this pathway that has been identified as a potential target to regulate function and induce proliferation and survival of β cells. Here we summarize some of the molecular mechanisms, downstream signalling pathways and critical components involved in the regulation of β-cell mass and function by Akt.     

Mycotoxin Removal by Lactobacillus spp. and Their Application in Animal Liquid Feed

The removal of mycotoxins from contaminated feed using lactic acid bacteria (LAB) has been proposed as an inexpensive, safe, and promising mycotoxin decontamination strategy. In this study, viable and heat-inactivated L. acidophilus CIP 76.13T and L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus CIP 101027T cells were investigated for their ability to remove aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁), ochratoxin A (OTA), zearalenone (ZEA), and deoxynivalenol (DON) from MRS medium and PBS buffer over a 24 h period at 37 °C. LAB decontamination activity was also assessed in a ZEA-contaminated liquid feed (LF). Residual mycotoxin concentrations were determined by UHPLC-FLD/DAD analysis. In PBS, viable L. acidophilus CIP 76.13T and L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus CIP 101027T cells removed up to 57% and 30% of ZEA and DON, respectively, while AFB₁ and OTA reductions were lower than 15%. In MRS, 28% and 33% of ZEA and AFB₁ were removed, respectively; OTA and DON reductions were small (≤15%). Regardless of the medium, heat-inactivated cells produced significantly lower mycotoxin reductions than those obtained with viable cells. An adsorption mechanism was suggested to explain the reductions in AFB₁ and OTA, while biodegradation could be responsible for the removal of ZEA and DON. Both viable LAB strains reduced ZEA by 23% in contaminated LF after 48 h of incubation. These findings suggest that LAB strains of L. acidophilus CIP 76.13T and L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus CIP 101027T may be applied in the feed industry to reduce mycotoxin contamination.     

Impact of sertraline on weight,waist circumference and glycemic control: A prospective clinical trial on depressive diabetic type 2 patients

Aim

Depression is prevalent in patients with type 2 diabetes. It may have a negative impact on the management of diabetes mellitus and could affect weight. The main aim of the investigation was to evaluate the effect of antidepressant treatment (sertraline) on anthropometric variables and glycemic control in depressed type 2 diabetic patients.

Soft‐tissue tumor of the perineum: an exceptional case of bilateral perineal myoma

Perineal myomas in female are exceptional. We report the second case in literature of perineal myomas. It is a case of bilateral perineal myomas lifting the skin occurring in a female patient of 49 years old. She was operated by perineal incisions. Histopathology confirmed the fibromatous nature without signs of malignancy.     

Maternal and foetal prognostic during severe toxemia

Severe gravidic toxemia gives heavy maternal and foetal morbidity and mortality. The purpose of our study is to loosen the factors of bad maternal and foetal prognostic. It's a retrospective study about 100 cases of severe and complicated gravidic toxemia repertorieted in the maternity of Military Hospital of Tunis. Maternal morbidity is dominated by the complications of hypertension and a blood disorders. We raised 4 cases of eclampsia, 9 cases of retro placental hematome and 5 cases of HELLP syndrome. We don't deplore any maternal death. Perinatal mortality is 28.8%. The rate of delay intra-uterine growth was 43.8% and the prematurity 65.9%. More toxemia appears early during pregnancy more maternal and foetal prognostic is compromised.     

Potter's reno-facial syndrome

Potter's reno-facial syndrome is a rare innate abnormality. We bring 4 observations repertoried at the maternity of military hospital of Tunis over a period of 6 years (1997 - 2002). The purpose of our work is to determine after a review of the literature the echographic and foetopathologic characteristics, and the forecast of this syndrome. The frequency of the bilateral renale agenesis is of 0.27 per thousand. Positive diagnosis bases essentially on the ultrasound of the 2th, or the 3-th trimester. The signs of appeal are essentially the oligoamnios associated to an hypotrophy. The caryotype is systematic to eliminate an associeted chromosomic abnormality. Foetopathologic exam is usefull for the diagnosis. Main abnormality except the urinary pathology is the lung hypoplasia. Therapeutic interruption of the pregnancy in this situation not compatible with the extra-uterine life., only type IV authorize the development of the pregnancy according to echographic data and of foetal urinaire biochemistry. We insist on the early practice of the morphological ultrasound between 20 - 22 weeks for the diagnosis of foetal abnormalities and the place of the genetic advice in association with the geneticist in the coverage of the couple.