Factor V Leiden, prothrombin 20210G>A, MTHFR 677C>T and 1298A>C, and homocysteinemia in Tunisian blood donors

Specific genetic conditions are known to be associated with high risk of venous thromboembolism. This genetic basis varies widely between ethnic groups. We investigated the distribution of four inherited polymorphisms in 113 unselected Tunisian blood donors by using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. The allele frequencies of Factor V Leiden (FVL), prothrombin 20210G>A, methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) 677C>T, and MTHFR 1298A>C mutations were 3, 0.9, 30, and 31%, respectively. The MTHFR 677C>T polymorphism was influenced by age. Twenty-nine of the 113 blood donors demonstrated more than one genetic markers. Hyperhomocysteinemia was found in 12 subjects, and it was statistically associated to the MTHFR 677TT genotype. Principal component analysis allowed disclosing the resemblance between Mediterranean populations. Our findings may be helpful for population genetics study, and provide epidemiologic database for further studies in thrombosis field among Tunisians.     

Le chemin vers la Médecine de Famille en Tunisie. Analyse stratégique

Background:

Health system reforms in many countries have shown that the delivery of integrated primary health care services according to family medicine is the most efficient approach to achieve universal health coverage. In Tunisia, the issue is therefore the capacity of our health system to integrate a care approach based on family practice.

Aim:

To assess the preparedness to implement family medicine in our country

Methodology:

this is a qualitative study carried out over a period of 9 months during the year 2017.Based on a WHO protocol addressing the 13 pillars of family practice, our study explores health policy context, actors (using interviews with key informants at national, regional and local level) and health content.

Results:

Family practice model is a strategic priority in Tunisia. However, this political recognition suffers from a lack of operationalization, in relation with continuing medical training, registration of patients and families by doctors, referral system, minimum package of essential care/ essential drugs and quality of care monitoring as well as community involvement..

Conclusion:

Our situation analysis reveals that the delivery of integrated care based on family practice model; enforce to adopt a comprehensive and operational health policy that goes beyond the academic aspects.     

Serum lactate dehydrogenase and its isoenzymes in nasopharyngeal carcinoma in Tunisia

Our prospective study interested 41 patients, from 13 to 70 years old, and present a nasopharyngeal carcinoma confirmed histologically, during the period going from September 1999 to March 2000, and 45 healthy controls. A blood sample was collected from each patient before any treatment, as well as controls to measure serum LDH and its isoenzymes. Two groups of patients were selected after a period varying from 12 to 37 months with a mean of 29 months: 29 with favourable evolution, 12 with non favourable evolution. The mean serum total LDH and its isoenzymes values were significantly higher in patients than those in controls with values of variable p of 0.001 to 0.05. A significant correlation was found between ganglionnary extension and serum values of total LDH, LDH3 and LDH5. No significant difference were observed between the means serum total LDH before treatment and the clinical evolution of patients. Diagnostic contribution of total LDH is limited, by its ubiquitary character, but could constitute for LDH3 a good marker of the disease progression.     

Epidermoid cyst of the buccal mucosa—An uncommon entity: Case report and literature review

Epidermoid cyst of the buccal mucosa is rare. Nevertheless, it must be included in the differential diagnosis of swelling in this area. The diagnosis is based on anatomopathological examination. The surgical enucleation is the gold standard of treatment.     

Altered hepatic mRNA expression of immune response‐associated DNA damage in mice liver induced by potassium bromate: Protective role of vanillin

Chronic exposure to potassium bromate (KBrO₃), a toxic halogen existing widely in the environment, environment through contaminated drinking water, has become a global problem of public health. The present study investigates the protective role of vanillin against KBrO₃ induced oxidative stress, distruption in inflammatory cytokines expression, DNA damage, and histopathological changes. Adult mice were exposed orally to KBrO₃ (2g/L of drinking water) for 2 weeks The co‐administration of vanillin to the KBrO₃‐treated mice significantly prevented the plasma transaminases increase in. Furthermore, it inhibited hepatic lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde), advanced oxidation protein product (AOPP) and protein carbonyl (PCO) formation and attenuated the KBrO₃‐mediated depletion of enzymatic and non enzymatic antioxidants catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase activities and glutathione level in the liver. In addition, vanillin markedly attenuated the expression levels of proinflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor‐α, interleukin‐1β, interleukin‐6, and COX2 and prevented KBrO₃‐induced hepatic cell alteration and necrosis, as indicated by histopathological data. DNA damage, as assessed by the alkaline comet assay, was also found to be low in the co‐treated group. Thus, these findings show that vanillin acts as potent chemopreventive agent against KBrO₃‐mediated liver oxidative stress and genotoxicity through its antioxidant properties. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 31: 1796–1807, 2016.