MONITORING THE MONITORS

Comment on the Ethnic Aged Monitoring Group's Report on the implementation of recommendations arising from the Report of the Ethnic Aged Working Party, “Strategies for Change”.     

Oxidative stress induced by fluoride in adult mice and their suckling pups.

To assess renal and liver damages in pregnant and lactating mice as well as in their suckling pups, Wistar female mice were given 500 ppm NaF (226 ppm F-) in drinking water from the 15th day of pregnancy until day 14 after delivery. All mice were sacrificed on day 14 after parturition. In the present work, we evaluated the effects of sodium fluoride on histopathological aspects of kidney, antioxidant status, lipid peroxidation levels and on the expression of four stress proteins (namely, the cytosolic heat shock proteins: HSP72, 73, 90 and the reticulum-associated GRP94). Histological studies have shown many abnormalities in mothers and their pups. Biochemical results showed that lipid peroxidation increased in NaF-treated mice, as evidenced by high kidney and liver thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) levels. Alteration of the antioxidant system was confirmed by the significant decline of serum total antioxidant status and of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities in red blood cells. Besides, fluoride treatment induced a decrease in serum levels of non-enzymatic antioxidants such as uric acid and of some oligoelements: zinc and copper, known to be cofactors of superoxide dismutase (SOD-Cu-Zn). Compared to control group, the 72kDa protein was found to be overexpressed in kidney of 14-day-old mice only. HSP90 expression in liver appeared moderately inhibited in mothers, but decreased significantly in their pups. No significant changes were detected in the expression of 94kDa protein in both liver and kidney. Results showed that fluoride given to dams led to an oxidative stress in mothers as well as in offspring able to induce enhanced lipid peroxidation levels and protein conformational changes, as suggested by stress protein (HSP, GRP) expression changes.     

Melatonin ingestion before intradialytic exercise improves immune responses in hemodialysis patients

International Urology and Nephrology - The present study aimed to investigate the effects of melatonin (MEL) intake on systemic inflammation and immune responses during intradialytic exercise....     

Can leukocytospermia predict prostate cancer via its effects on mitochondrial DNA?

Leukocytospermia was previously reported to affect sperm quality by the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) leading to oxidative stress (OS). In turn, OS decreases sperm functional integrity, increases sperm DNA damage and ultimately alters fertility status. To elucidate the impact of leukocytospermia on sperm nuclear DNA integrity and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) structure, we conducted a study including 67 samples from infertile patients with low level of leucocytes (Group 1: n = 20) and with leukocytospermia (Group 2: n = 47). In addition to standard sperm parameters’ assessment, we measured the levels of inflammation biomarkers [interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-8 (IL-8)] and evaluated the oxidative status [malondialdehyde (MDA) and enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants]. In addition, we evaluated the level of sperm nuclear DNA fragmentation and analysed mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) of sperm cells by sequencing of 5 genes [cytochrome oxidase I (COXI), cytochrome oxidase II (COXII), cytochrome oxidase III (COXIII), adenosine triphosphate synthase 6 (ATPase 6) and adenosine triphosphate synthase 8 (ATPase 8)]. As expected, patients with leukocytospermia had significantly higher MDA levels (32.56 ± 24.30 nmole/ml) than patients without leukocytospermia (17.59 ± 9.60 nmole/ml) (p < .018). Also, sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) was significantly higher in Group 2 (33.05 ± 18.14%) as compared to Group 1 (14.19 ± 9.50%) (p < .001). The sequencing of mtDNA revealed a high number of substitutions in Group 2 (n = 102) compared to Group 1 (n = 5). These substitutions were observed mainly in COXI. Among COXI substitutions found in Group 2, twelve changes were previously described in patients with prostate cancer and six of them were shown associated with this pathology. These findings suggest that leukocytospermia may predispose to the manifestation of prostate cancer through modification of mitochondrial DNA and this may be promoted by OS.     

Vertebral solitary bone plasmacytoma in a young adult with Trisomy 21: A case report

Context: Solitary bone plasmacytoma (SBP) are rare lesions, accounting for less than 5% of all plasma cell proliferations. We describe a case of a 21-year-old female with Trisomy 21 presenting with cauda equina compression from an SBP.Findings: Solitary bone plasmacytoma (SBP) is a rare primary bone tumor. It is characterized by monoclonal proliferation of malignant plasma cells localized to a bone segment, without signs of systemic invasion. The vertebral location is the most common. It preferentially affects men during their 5th or 6th decade.Clinical relevance: We report the first association between solitary bone plasmacytoma and Trisomy 21.     

Study of magnetic and electrical properties of Pr0.65Ca0.25Ba0.1MnO3 manganite

The magnetic properties and magnetocaloric effect (MCE) in Pr_0.65Ca_0.25Ba_0.1MnO₃ have been investigated supplemented by electrical data. X-ray diffraction shows that the sample crystallizes in the distorted orthorhombic system with the Pnma space group. Pr_0.65Ca_0.25Ba_0.1MnO₃ undergoes paramagnetic–ferromagnetic (PM–FM) phase transition at T_C ∼ 85 K. For a magnetic field change of 5 T, the maximum value of the magnetic entropy change (−ΔS^max_M) is estimated to be 4.4 J kg⁻¹ K⁻¹ around T_C with a large relative cooling power (RCP) value of 263.5 J kg⁻¹. While the modified Arrott plots suggested that the magnetic transition belongs to the second order phase transitions, the universal curves of the rescaled magnetic entropy (ΔS_M) proved the opposite. The electrical properties of Pr_0.65Ca_0.25Ba_0.1MnO₃ have been investigated using impedance spectroscopy techniques. The dc-resistivity (σ_dc) study shows the presence of semiconductor behavior. Ac-conductivity (σ_ac) analysis shows that the conductivity is governed by a hopping process. From the analysis of the alternating regime, the exponent s variation obtained is in good agreement with Mott theory. The impedance spectrum analysis reveals the presence of a relaxation phenomenon. Based on these analyzes, the sample can be modeled by an electrical equivalent circuit.

The magnetic properties and magnetocaloric effect in Pr_0.65Ca_0.25Ba_0.1MnO₃ compound have been investigated supplemented by electrical data.     

Antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of the edible medicinal halophyte Tamarix gallica L. and related polyphenolic constituents

Tamarix gallica is a halophytic species having hepatotonic and stimulant properties, as it was traditionally used in the treatment of various liver disorders. Leaf and flower infusion have anti-inflammatory and anti-diarrheic proprieties. In this work, we have investigated antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of leaf and flower extracts and their phenolic composition. Results showed that flowers exhibit a higher antioxidant activity as compared to the leaves, IC₅₀ values of the flower extracts are being 1.3 (β-carotene bleaching) to 19 times (lipid peroxidation inhibition) lower than those for leaves. Accordingly, flower extracts exhibited the highest total phenolic content (135.35 mg GAE/g DW) and RP-HPLC analysis showed that syringic acid, isoquercitin as well as catechin were the major phenolics. Furthermore, Tamarix extracts showed appreciable antibacterial properties against human pathogen strains. The mean inhibition zone was from 0 to 6.5 mm when the concentration increased from 2 to 100 mg/l. The strongest activity was recorded against Micrococcus luteus and the lowest activity was observed against Escherichia coli. Moreover, organ extracts show a weakly to moderate activity against the tested Candida. These findings suggest that Tamarix may be considered as an interesting source of antioxidants for therapeutic or nutraceutical industries and for food manufactures.