Isoniazid acetylation in a group of Tunisian patients. Report of 620 patients

Isoniazid is a first line antituberculosis drug metabolized mainly in the liver by the Nacetyltransferase. There are differences between individuals in acetylation metabolism. Subjects are thereby characterized as being rapid or slow acetylators. The purpose is to study the distribution pattern of acetylation in patients with tuberculosis followed up at the teaching Hospital of La Rabta. The determination of acetylator phenotype was carried out on 620 tuberculosis patients during a period of 12 years. There were 483 men and 137 women with a median age of 40.3 years. The test was investigated before drug regimen administration at the dose of 5 mg/kg. A blood sample was taken three hours after the first administration. The determination of acetylation profile was worked out by Vivien hypothesis. In our population 391 were low and 229 were fast acetylators. The median dose recommended within the test was 3.04 mg/kg/day. 56% of our patients were initially receiving high dose of isoniazid. An increase in serum transaminase was initially observed in 60 patients among whom 47 slow acetylators. After dose adaptation, 53 patients had improved their biological abnormalities. The majority of Tunisian population seem to belong to slow acetylators modal. The frequency of hepatotoxicity suggests reducing the recommended dose of isoniazid from 5 to 3 mg/kg/day.     

Cytometric bead array: a multiplexed assay platform with applications in various areas of biology

The introduction of flow cytometric bead-based technology has added a new approach for investigators to simultaneously measure multiple analytes in biological and environmental samples. This new technology allows for (1) evaluation of multiple analytes in a single sample; (2) utilization of minimal sample volumes to glean data; (3) reproducibility and results comparative with previous experiments; (4) direct comparison with existing assays; and (5) a more rapid evaluation of multiple samples in a single platform. The cytometric bead array (CBA) system enables simultaneous measurement of multiple analytes in sample volumes too small for traditional immunoassays. Results have been presented for the analysis of a variety of human cytokines. In addition, the technology allows for the design and creation of assays to measure a variety of analytes including inflammatory mediators, chemokines, immunoglobulin isotypes, intracellular signaling molecules, apoptotic mediators, adhesion molecules, and antibodies. New initiatives put forward by the Human Genome Project and the FDA require the development and use of assays for the rapid simultaneous quantitation of multiple analytes. The CBA technology provides the ability to quantify multiple proteins within a given sample, with precision and consistency.     

Leptin,its Implication in Physical Exercise and Training: A Short Review

Leptin, a hormone synthesized by fat tissue had been noted to regulate energy balance and metabolism and thus to influence body weight. The influence of acute exercise and chronic exercise training on circulating leptin and its relationship with hormonal and metabolic changes that induce energy balance are presented. Research that has examined the influence of exercise under various experimental conditions on leptin and the conflicts in the literature are presented. It appears that a significant caloric perturbation (> 800 kcals) is necessary for acute exercise to result in a significant reduction in leptin. In contrast, exercise training can result in a leptin decline but typically this manifests a reduction in adipose tissue stores. In addition, future directions are presented.

Key Points

• Physical exercise and training have both inhibitory and stimulatory effects on leptin.
• Exercise with energy expenditure higher than 800 kcal can decrease leptinemia.
• Acute training may cause a decline in circulating leptin levels.

Key words: Leptin, exercise, training, hormones     

Perceived discrimination and depressive symptoms among US Latinos: the modifying role of educational attainment

Objective: Despite growing evidence that discrimination may contribute to poor mental health, few studies have assessed this association among US Latinos. Furthermore, the interaction between discrimination and educational attainment in shaping Latino mental health is virtually unexplored. This study aims to examine the association between perceived discrimination and depressive symptoms and the modifying role of education among a population of Mexican-origin adults.

Design: We utilized population-based data from 629 Mexican-origin adults (mean age?=?52.8 years) participating the Niños Lifestyle and Diabetes Study (2013–2014). Perceived discrimination was defined as responding ‘sometimes’ or ‘often’ to at least one item on the 9-item Everyday Discrimination Scale. High depressive symptoms were defined as scoring ≥10 on the CESD-10. We used log-binomial and linear-binomial models to estimate prevalence ratios (PR) and prevalence differences (PD), respectively, of high depressive symptoms for levels of perceived discrimination. Final models were adjusted for age, sex, education, cultural orientation, and nativity. General estimating equations were employed to account for within-family clustering.

Results: Prevalence of perceived discrimination and high depressive symptoms were 49.5% and 29.2%, respectively. Participants experiencing discrimination had higher depressive symptom prevalence than those never or rarely experiencing discrimination [PR?=?1.94, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.46–2.58; PD?=?0.19, 95% CI: 0.12–0.27]. The strength of this association varied by education level. The association between discrimination and depressive symptoms was stronger among those with >12 years of education (PR?=?2.69; PD?=?0.24) compared to those with ≤12 years of education (PR?=?1.36; PD?=?0.09).

Conclusion: US Latinos suffer a high burden of depressive symptoms, and discrimination may be an important driver of this burden. Our results suggest that effortful coping strategies, such as achieving high education despite high perceived discrimination, may magnify discrimination’s adverse effect on Latino mental health.     

Influence of intense training cycle and psychometric status on technical and physiological aspects performed during the small-sided games in soccer players

The study investigated the effect of intense training cycle (IT) of early season preparation period (SPP) and psychological status on technical and physiological parameters during small-sided games (SSG) and the relationships between these variables. Sixteen professional soccer players participated in the study (mean±SD: age: 24.5±4.1). Training load (TL), Total quality recovery (TQR) and well-being indices were performed daily. TL increased progressively (%TL=31.56 [AU]). Physiological variables did not change after IT and were not influenced by well-being indices and TQR. Technical aspects were negatively altered after IT (p<0.05). TL was significantly correlated with successful passes (r=-0.57, p=0.02), interceptions (r=-0.83, p<0.001) and lost balls (r=0.73, p=0.002). Well-being and TQR were related to successful passes, interceptions and lost passes [(r=-0.55, p=0.03; r=-0.75, p=0.001; r=-0.69, p=0.004); (r=0.54, p=0.03; r=-0.76, p=0.001; r=-0.69, p=0.004), respectively]. TL, Well-being indices and TQR represent a useful strategy for coaches to control technical aspects in soccer players during SPP.     

Combined therapy with metformin and insulin attenuates systemic and hepatic alterations in a model of high‐fat diet‐/streptozotocin‐induced diabetes

In this study we have explored the pathogenesis of the hepatic alterations which occur in diabetes and the modulation of these complications by the combination of metformin adjunct treatment and insulin monotherapy. For this purpose, diabetic rats were treated with insulin (DM + Ins) or metformin plus insulin (DM + Met + Ins). Biochemical and cardiometabolic parameters were analysed by spectrophotometry. Intravital microscopy was used to study the hepatic microcirculation. In the liver tissue, real‐time PCR was used to analyse oxidative stress enzymes, inflammatory markers and receptors for advanced glycation end products (AGE) (RAGE) gene expression. Lipid peroxidation was assessed by thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARs) analyses. AGE deposition and RAGE protein expression were studied by fluorescence spectrophotometry and Western blot respectively. Body weight, %HbA_1c, urea, total proteins and oxidative stress parameters were found to be similarly improved by insulin or Met + Ins treatments. On the other hand, Met + Ins treatment showed a more pronounced effect on fasting blood glucose level than insulin monotherapy. Fructosamine, uric acid, creatinine, albumin and amylase levels and daily insulin dose requirements were found to be only improved by the combined Met + Ins treatment. Liver, renal and pancreatic dysfunction markers were found to be more positively affected by metformin adjunct therapy when compared to insulin treatment. Liver microcirculation damage was found to be completely protected by Met + Ins treatment, while insulin monotherapy showed no effect. Our results suggest that oxidative stress, microcirculatory damage and glycated proteins could be involved in the aetiology of liver disease due to diabetes. Additionally, metformin adjunct treatment improved systemic and liver injury in induced diabetes and showed a more pronounced effect than insulin monotherapy.     

Engaging African American breast cancer survivors in an intervention trial: culture, responsiveness and community

Introduction  

Younger breast cancer survivors often lead extremely busy lives with multiple demands and responsibilities, making them difficult to recruit into clinical trials. African American women are even more difficult to recruit because of additional historical and cultural barriers. In a randomized clinical trial of an intervention, we successfully used culturally informed, population-specific recruitment and retention strategies to engage younger African-American breast cancer survivors.     

Diet and Diet Combined with Chronic Aerobic Exercise Decreases Body Fat Mass and Alters Plasma and Adipose Tissue Inflammatory Markers in Obese Women

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of 6 months aerobic exercise and diet alone or in combination on markers of inflammation (MOI) in circulation and in adipose abdominal tissue (AT) in obese women. Thirty obese subjects were randomized into a 24-week intervention: (1) exercise (EX), (2) diet (DI), and (3) exercise and diet (EXD). Blood samples were collected at baseline, after 12 and 24 weeks. AT biopsies were obtained only at baseline and after 24 weeks. In the EXD and DI groups, the fat loss was after 12 weeks was ?13.74 and ?7.8 % (P?<?0.01) and after 24 weeks was ?21.82 and ?17 % (P?<?0.01) with no changes in the EX group. After 12 and 24 weeks, maximal oxygen consumption (VO_2max) was increased by 21.81–39.54 % (P?<?0.05) in the EXD group and 18.09–40.95 % in the EX group with no changes in the DI group. In the EXD and DI groups, circulating levels of tumor necrosis factor α and interleukin 6 were decreased after 24 weeks for both groups (P?<?0.01). No changes in the EX group. Homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance decreased (P?<?0.05) only after 24 weeks in the EXD group. In AT biopsies, subjects in the EXD and DI groups exhibited a significant decrease in MO (P?<?0.01 for all). No changes in AT biopsies were found in the EX group. In conclusion, chronic aerobic exercise was found to have no effects on circulating and AT MOI despite an increased VO_2max. Rather important body composition modifications were found to have beneficial effects on circulating and AT MOI in these obese women.     

Association of vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms with susceptibility to asthma in Tunisian children: A case control study

Background

Vitamin D and its nuclear receptor (VDR) are linked to asthma in a genetic and immunologic basis. Polymorphisms in the VDR gene may alter the actions of vitamin D and then influence the development and the severity of asthma.

Aims

We aimed at elucidating the genetic association of VDR gene polymorphisms with susceptibility to asthma in Tunisian children and with serum vitamin D levels.

Methods

The study included 155 patients recruited from Abderrahmen MAMI hospital in Tunisia and two hundred twenty five healthy individuals matched with patients in age and sex for comparison. VDR genotypes were determined by PCR-RFLP method using endonuclease FokI, BsmI, TaqI and ApaI and vitamin D was assessed with a radioimmunoassay kit.

Results

The distribution of genotype frequencies differed significantly between asthmatics and controls (FokI: P = 0.04; BsmI: P = 0.006; TaqI: P = 0.006). Haplotype analyses revealed a significant association between bAt and bat haplotypes and asthma (P = 0.00076, P = 0.016). When patients were stratified according to atopic status and stage of severity, no significant association was detected with VDR variants. No association was found between VDR SNPs and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels.

Conclusion

Our study shows a relation between VDR gene polymorphisms and susceptibility to asthma in children.