Association of Fas/Apol gene promoter （-670 A/G） polymorphism in Tunisian patients with IBD

AIM： To detect a possible association between the polymorphism of the （-670 A/G） Fas/Apol gene promoter and susceptibility to Crohn＇s disease （CD） and ulcerative colitis （UC） in the Tunisian population. METHODS： The （-670 A/G） Fas polymorphism was analyzed in 105 patients with CD, 59 patients with UC, and 100 controls using the polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism method. RESULTS： Significantly lower frequencies of the Fas -670 A allele and A/A homozygous individuals were observed in CD and UC patients when compared with controls. Analysis of （-670 A/G） Fas polymorphism with respect to sex in CD and UC showed a significant difference in A/A genotypes between female patients and controls （P corrected = 0.004 ＂in CD patients＂ and P corrected = 0.02 ＂in UC patients＂, respectively）. Analysis also showed a statistically significant association between genotype AA of the （-670 A/G） polymorphism and the ileum localization of the lesions （P corrected = 0.048） and between genotype GG and the colon localization （P corrected = 0.009）. The analysis of IBD patients according to clinical behavior revealed no difference. CONCLUSION： Fas-670 polymorphism was associated with the development of CD and UC in the Tunisian population.     

Composition corporelle des patients atteints de BPCO et son impact sur la fonction respiratoire

Introduction:

Despite fat-free mass index (FFMI) is one of the strongest predictive factors of survival during chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), there is a considerable lack of information regarding body composition in Tunisian patients with COPD.   Aim: Describe the body composition of Tunisian patients followed for COPD and examine the relationship between body composition and the severity of the disease.

Methods:

Cross-sectional study of patients with stable COPD. Body composition was assessed by bioelectrical impedance analysis. Pulmonary function tests (PFT) included spirometry with plethysmography and the six-minute walking test. The severity of dyspnea was assessed by the mMRC scale.

Results:

During the study period, 104 patients with stable COPD were included (average age= 65.9 years and average FEV1= 49.3%). Fifty-four percent of patients were GOLD D stage. According to the IMM, malnutrition was identified in 20.2% of cases. Patients with low FFMI were the most symptomatic, had a more severe air flow limitation and a more severe disease. The walking distance was lower in malnourished patients. However, FFMI was not significantly associated with exercise capacity.

Conclusions:

Malnutrition is highly prevalent in COPD patients and is correlated to the severity of the disease. Thus, body composition analysis should be considered in COPD patient management.     

Predictors for cardiovascular morbidity and overall mortality in Tunisian ESRD patients: A six year prospective study

ObjectivesThe study was aimed to test the predictive value of several potential cardiovascular factors and markers for non fatal cardiovascular events (CVE) and overall mortality in Tunisian patients with renal failure.Subjects and methodsOne hundred and fifteen renal failure patients were followed-up from 2000 to 2006. At enrollment, each patient underwent clinical examination and blood collection for analysis of lipid parameters, albumin, C reactive protein (CRP), parathyroid hormone (PTH), homocysteine and hemoglobin. Multivariate Cox regression models were applied to identify the predictors for non fatal CVE and overall mortality.ResultsDuring the follow up, seventeen patients were lost. Among the 98 remaining patients, 29 presented a non fatal CVE (21.5%) and 15 were deceased (11.1%). In univariate analyses, non fatal CVE were more frequent in smokers and in patients with high PTH concentrations and low HDL levels. Moreover, low albumin concentrations were univariately associated with overall mortality. In the multivariate analysis, non fatal CVE was significantly and independently associated with age [hazard ratio (95% confidence interval), 1.04 (1.01–1.08); p = 0.028] and the upper quartile of PTH concentrations [2.68 (1.24–5.81); p = 0.013]. Overall mortality was independently predicted by the bottom quartile of albumin concentrations [5.62 (2.02–15.6); p = 0.001] and the upper quartile of CRP concentrations [3.20 (1.14–8.79); p = 0.027].ConclusionAdvanced age and high PTH levels are the main predictors of CVE, whereas low albumin and high CRP concentrations are the independent predictors of death in Tunisian renal patients. A better control of these factors would greatly increase the patient's survival rates.     

组织追踪成像评价冠心病患者心肌收缩期后收缩的特征

目的:采用组织追踪成像(tissue tracking imaging,TTI)评价冠状动脉(冠脉)疾病患者心肌收缩期后收缩(post-systolic shortening,PSS)的特征。方法:选取54例因胸痛住院行冠脉造影的患者,术前3 d接受TTI检查,并根据其冠脉造影结果分为对照组(28例)和冠脉狭窄组(26例)。PSS指标包括收缩期后位移(postsystolic displacement,Dpss)、收缩期后位移指数(post systolic displacement index,PSI)及PSS检出率。结果 :对照组和冠脉狭窄组患者的PSS检出率分别为19.5%和32.5%(P<0.05),冠脉狭窄组的Dpss和PSI平均值显著高于对照组(P均0.23为截点值,即24个节段中有≥6个节段检出PSS时,TTI预测冠脉狭窄的灵敏度为73.1%,特异度为71.4%。结论:TTI检查对于冠脉狭窄患者的PSS检出率较高,且PSS波峰较高大。TTI检查能显示PSS的特征,帮助诊断冠脉疾病。     

Assessment of toxicity of the untreated and treated olive mill wastewaters and soil irrigated by using microbiotests

Hazard assessments based on two measures of toxicity were conducted for the untreated olive mill wastewaters (U), untreated olive mill wastewaters organic extract (UOE), treated olive mill wastewaters (T), treated olive mill wastewaters organic extract (TOE) and extracts of soils ferti-irrigated with untreated (SU) and with treated olive mill wastewaters (ST). The measures of toxicity were achieved by the determination of the bioluminescence inhibition percent (I(B)%) of Vibrio fischeri and by the growth inhibition (GI) of Bacillus megaterium, Pseudomonas fluorescens and Escherichia coli. A bioluminescence inhibition of V. fischeri of 100%, 100%, 65%, 47%, 46% and 30% were obtained with U, UOE, T, TOE, SU and ST respectively. Indeed, even diluted 24 times, a significant bioluminescence inhibition of 96% was obtained by U. However, only 30% bioluminescence inhibition was obtained by 24 times diluted T. Whereas, 24 times diluted, SU and ST did not show a bioluminescence inhibition (3% and 1%, respectively). The GI of B. megaterium, P. fluorescens and E. coli were, respectively, 93%, 72% and 100% by U; 100%, 80% and 100% by UOE; 70%, 60% and 89% by T; 63%, 54% and 68% by TOE; 39%, 27% and 43% by SU and 23%, 0% and 34% by ST. The incubation of U or T in the soil during four months reduced their toxicity by 54% and 35%, respectively. As it was expected, the most resistant bacterium to OMW toxicity is P. fluorescens then B. megaterium and E. coli. V. fischeri remained the most sensitive strain to the toxicity of this sewage what proves again its utilisation as standard of measure of the toxicity.     

Perforating necrobiosis lipoidica in a girl with type 1 diabetes mellitus: a new case reported

Necrobiosis lipoidica is an idiopathic dermatological condition that is strongly associated with diabetes mellitus. It is more commonly seen in women than men. The average age of onset is 30-40 years. Necrobiosis Lipoidica diabeticorum is an extremely rare finding in childhood diabetes. We describe the case of a 13-year-old girl who has had type 1 diabetes mellitus since she was 8 years old. The patient presented with 2 well-defined, persistent plaques with a depressed central area and elevated purple peripheral ring, one on the right thigh and the other over the lateral left leg. Histopathologic evaluation of the patient's biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of necrobiosis lipoidica with transfollicular elimination. Our patient is the second pediatric case described with perforating necrobiosis lipoidica. We review the literature and discuss clinical features, several complications, and the most recent treatment options for necrobiosis lipoidica in diabetic children.