Alteration in systemic markers of oxidative and antioxidative status in Tunisian patients with asthma: relationships with clinical severity and airflow limitation

Objective: This study aims to determine the systemic oxidant-antioxidant status in Tunisian patients with asthma. Methods: We evaluated the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) as thiobarbituric acid complexes, total protein carbonyls (PCs) and advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP). The levels of total thiols, protein sulfhydryls, glutathione (GSH), together with hydrogen peroxide, ascorbic acid, iron and total antioxidant status (TAS) were colorimetrically estimated. Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were assessed in plasma and erythrocytes by spectrophotometry. We also determined the levels of nitric oxide (NO) and peroxynitrite in plasma from asthmatic patients and healthy controls. The volume of fractionated exhaled NO (Fe_NO) was evaluated by the Medisoft HypAir method. Estimation of DNA damage was determined using the comet assay. Results: Asthmatic patients showed increased levels of MDA in comparison to healthy controls (p?<?0.001), while no significant difference was found in protein carbonyls (p?=?0.79) and AOPP (p?=?0.98). Patients with asthma also had significantly lower levels of total thiols (355.9?±?15.72 versus 667.9?±?22.65, p?<?0.001), protein sulfhydryls (333.99?±?16.41 versus 591.95?±?24.28, p?<?0.001) and glutathione (p?<?0.001). They also showed decreased GSH-Px activity (p?<?0.001), whereas no significant differences in measurements of catalase and SOD enzyme activities were observed between the two groups (respectively, p?=?0.06 and p?=?0.55). In addition, ascorbic acid and nitric oxide levels were decreased in asthmatics in comparison to controls (p?<?0.01). Conclusions: Our findings highlight that oxidative stress and defective anti-oxidative status are major alterations in Tunisian patients with asthma.     

Antioxidant enzymes and lipid peroxidation at the tissue level in patients with stable and active vitiligo

Background  The pathogenetic mechanisms in vitiligo have not been clarified completely. One of the major hypotheses in the pathogenesis of vitiligo is the oxidative stress hypothesis. The active and stable phases of vitiligo are defined as the progression or appearance of new lesions in the last 3 months and the absence of new lesions or progression in the last 6 months, respectively.
Methods  We examined the levels of malondialdehyde, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase in the tissues of 10 patients with active vitiligo, 10 patients with stable vitiligo, and 20 matched healthy controls.
Results  The results revealed that the levels of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and malondialdehyde in tissues were increased significantly in patients with active vitiligo relative to those in patients with stable vitiligo and matched controls; however, the levels of catalase in tissues were decreased significantly in patients with active vitiligo relative to those in patients with stable vitiligo and matched controls.
Conclusions  Our study shows that oxidative stress is involved in the pathophysiology of both active and stable vitiligo, but an increased imbalance of antioxidants is observed in the tissues of patients with active vitiligo.     

Carbon tetrachloride-induced nephrotoxicity and DNA damage in rats: Protective role of vanillin

In this study, the protective effects of vanillin were evaluated against carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4))-induced kidney damages in Wistar albino rats. CCl(4) (1 ml/kg, intraperitoneally [i.p.]) caused a significant induction of renal disorder, oxidative damage and DNA fragmentation as evidenced by increased plasma creatinine, urea and uric acid levels, increased lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde [MDA]) and protein carbonyl. Furthermore, glutathione levels, catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione transferase and glutathione peroxidase activities were significantly decreased. A smear without ladder formation on agarose gel was also shown, indicating random DNA degradation. Pretreatment of rats with vanillin (150 mg/kg/day, i.p.), for 3 consecutive days before CCl(4) injection, protected kidney against the increase of MDA and degradation of membrane proteins compared to CCl(4)-treated rats and exhibited marked prevention against CCl(4)-induced nephropathology, oxidative stress and DNA damage. Kidney histological sections showed glomerular hypertrophy and tubular dilatation in CCl(4)-treated rats, however, in vanillin pretreated rats, these histopathological changes were less important and present a similar structure to that of control rats. These data indicated the protective role of vanillin against CCl(4)-induced nephrotoxicity and suggested its significant contribution of these beneficial effects.     

Twin pregnancy after renal transplantation: first case reported in Tunisia

Women with end-stage renal disease or on regular dialysis have low fertility. Renal transplantation restores not only normal renal and endocrine functions but also the reproductive function as well and this conception becomes possible. Pregnancy in transplanted women is at higher risk and necessitates a multidisciplinary follow up. We report the course and out come of two successful pregnancies, the second was the first case of twin pregnancy in Tunisia in a transplanted woman. Our patient is 35 years old had a chronic renal insufficiency, secondary to interstitial nephropathy. After six years of hemodialysis, she had received a renal graft from a living donor (his brother). A double drug immunosuppression was given (Prednisolone - Azathioprine). Two years later, she became pregnant and delivered a normal baby at term, and one year later she had a twin pregnancy that ended successfully and delivered by caesarian section a two babies with different sex. Pregnancy after renal transplantion must be considered as a risk factor for any subsquent pregnancy, and the risk nicreases in case of twin pregnancy.     

Contribution to the study of camel milk fat globule membrane

The camel milk fat globule membrane has been characterized according to several approaches. Compared with the cow milk fat globule membrane, various specificities have been revealed. Its physicochemical composition showed a poor content in proteins, and a higher content in neutral lipids and in phospholipids. The mechanical properties measured at low (4 degrees C, 20 degrees C) and high temperatures (40 degrees C, 45 degrees C and 50 degrees C) using a film balance are different when the camel milk fat globule membrane is spread at the air-water interface. The thermal study revealed an important proportion of high-melting triacylglycerols that involves fatty acids with long chains.     

Factors Influencing Overall Survival for Patients With Metastatic Clear-Cell Renal-Cell Carcinoma in Daily Practice

Purpose

To describe factors associated with overall survival (OS) among patients with metastatic clear-cell renal-cell carcinoma (mccRCC) in regard to evolution of systemic therapies.

Dietary polyunsaturated fatty acid prevents hyperlipidemia and hepatic oxidant status in pregnant diabetic rats and their macrosomic offspring

A considerable amount of clinical and experimental evidence now exists and suggests the involvement of fatty acids and free radical-mediated oxidative processes in the pathogenesis of diabetic complications. Fetuses from diabetic mothers are at increased risk of developing neonatal macrosomia and oxidative stress. We investigated the modulation of antioxidant status and liver biochemical parameters in normal and diabetic pregnant rats and their offspring. Animals were randomly allocated into three groups of six rats each: a control group, a diabetic group and diabetic rats fed with flax and sesame seeds mixture group. The time course of changes in lipid metabolism and antioxidant status by dietary rich in ω3- and ω6-polyunsaturated fatty acids in alloxan-induced diabetic pregnant rats and their macrosomic offspring was studied. Glucose and insulin levels were also assessed in order to characterize the diabetic state of dams and their offspring. The diabetic rats presented a significant increase in glycemia, plasma and liver lipid parameters compared with those of control group. In addition, liver malonaldialdehyde levels significantly increased. Antioxidant enzyme activities such as catalase and superoxide dismutase and reduced glutathione levels significantly decreased in the liver of diabetic rats when compared with controls. Diet supplemented with flax and sesame seeds mixture in pregnant diabetic rats ameliorated lipid parameters, antioxidant enzyme activities, level of reduced glutathione and significantly decreased malonaldialdehyde levels. These ameliorations were also observed in pups whose pregnant diabetic mothers were fed seeds mixture. Our results suggested that flax and sesame seeds mixture supplemented to diet of pregnant diabetic rats might be helpful in preventing diabetic complications in adult dams and their offspring.