Pharmacokinetics of ceftazidime injected peritoneally in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis

Peritonitis is the most frequent complication in patients under continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis. Intraperitoneal administration of ceftazidime in a dose of 125 mg per liter dialysate achieved serum concentrations higher than the minimal inhibitory concentrations of most organisms in spite of low peritoneal clearance. Serum concentration was stable up to the 120th hour. Dialysate osmolarity had no influence on serum concentration, peritoneal absorption or clearance of ceftazidime. Peritoneal inflammation did not cause changes in ceftazidime pharmacokinetics. Ceftazidime used alone as the first choice treatment was successful in 85%, of cases.     

Establishment of a novel anaplastic large-cell lymphoma-cell line (COST) from a 'small-cell variant' of ALCL.

Anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (ALCL) is a distinct biological and cytogenetic entity with a broad spectrum of morphological features (common type, small-cell variant and lymphohistiocytic variant). Few cell lines of ALCL are available and they all originate from primary tumors demonstrating the common type morphology (ie large-sized lymphoma cells). We established a new ALCL cell line (COST) from the peripheral blood of a patient with a small-cell variant of ALCL, at diagnosis. Cells growing in vitro and in SCID mice consisted of two populations, that is, small- and large-sized cells as seen in the patient's tumor. Both large and small malignant cells were positive for CD43/MT1 T-cell associated antigen, perforin, granzyme B and TIA-1, but negative for CD2, CD3, CD5, CD7, CD4 and CD8 antigens. Standard cytogenetic studies as well as multiplex FISH confirmed the presence of the canonical t(2;5)(p23;q35) translocation, but also revealed additional numerical and structural abnormalities. The COST cell line is the first ALCL small-cell variant cell line, and thus provides a potentially useful tool for further functional and molecular studies that should improve our understanding of the small-cell variant of ALCL, which is more frequently complicated by a leukemic phase.     

La mort subite cardiaque chez la femme,registre du nord de la Tunisie

BackgroundSudden cardiac death is a major public health problem. Epidemiological and clinical differences according to gender have been described in sudden cardiac death. The aim of this study was to examine the gender differences between autopsy findings and circumstance of occurrence associated with sudden cardiac death.MethodsWe prospectively collected epidemiological and autopsy data of victims of sudden cardiac death occurring in the northern governorates of Tunisia between January 2013 and December 2019. Symptoms preceding death, circadian, weekly and seasonal variations of sudden death were also analyzed.ResultsThe study population included 1834 men and 468 women with a mean age of 56.5 ± 14.2 years. All cardiovascular risk factors except smoking were significantly more frequent among women but ischemic heart disease was the most common cause of death in men (51.3 %, versus 28 %, P < 0.001). Women were more likely to have a negative macroscopic autopsy than men (34 % versus 23.6 %, P < 0.001). Chest pain preceding sudden death was more frequent in male (24 % versus 13.2 %, P < 0.001). In contrast, women were more likely to have dyspnea (8.1 % versus 15.6 %, P < 0.001). Sudden death in women occurred indoors more often than in men (63.9 % versus 54.5 %, P < 0.001) and also more often during night (midnight to 6 am). We also recorded an excess cardiac mortality in winter in both sexes.ConclusionsWomen had considerably more cardiovascular risk factors and more commonly negative macroscopic autopsy. Death occurred indoors and during night more often than in men.     

Bleeding and asymptomatic overdose in patients under Vitamin K antagonist therapy: Frequency and risk factors

Background

Vitamin K antagonists are widely used in the treatment and prevention of thromboembolic disease. However, these drugs can cause serious side effects, especially bleeding. This study aims to evaluate frequency and risk factors of both bleeding and asymptomatic overdose in North African patients undergoing Vitamin K antagonist therapy.

Association of PTPN22 gene polymorphism and systemic lupus erythematosus in a cohort of Egyptian patients: impact on clinical and laboratory results

To assess the possible association between the protein tyrosine phosphatases non-receptor 22 (PTPN22) gene 1858 CT polymorphism and the predisposition to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in Egyptian patients and its influence on clinical and laboratory parameters. PTPN22 gene 1858 CT polymorphisms were analyzed in forty SLE patients and 20 normal controls by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology, using the TaqMan 5-allele discrimination assay. Detailed history, clinical examination, and investigations were done to detect various organ involvement. The homozygous genotype TT was absent in both SLE and controls. The CC genotype was observed in 47.5% SLE and 80% controls; the CT genotype was found in 52.5% patients and 20% controls. The frequencies of the C and T alleles were 74 and 26% in SLE and 90 and 10% in controls, respectively. The presence of CT genotype increased the risk for developing SLE by 4.42. Renal involvement was significantly higher in SLE patients with CT (76.2%) compared to those with CC genotype (42.1%).     

Synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of pyrazolopyrimidopyrimidine derivatives: anti-inflammatory agents with gastroprotective effect in rats

We report the synthesis of new anti-inflammatory 1,7-dihydropyrazolo[3′,4′:4,5]pyrimido[1,6-a]pyrimidine 5 from aminocyanopyrazole. All compounds were characterized by physical, chemical and spectral studies. Preliminary pharmacological evaluation of the resulting products showed that compounds 5a, b, f (50–100 mg/kg, i.p) are active anti-inflammatory agents in carrageenan-induced rat paw oedema assay, and their effects are comparable to that of acetylsalicylic–lysine (300 mg/kg, i.p.), used as a reference drug. The nature of substituent (Y, R₃) had a pronounced effect on the anti-inflammatory activity. Studies of structure–activity relationships have led to selection of compound ethyl-3,5-dimethyl-7-imino-N ¹-phenyl-1,7-dihydropyrazolo[3′,4′:4,5]pyrimido[1,6-a]pyrimidine-6-carboxylate, 5f which exhibited the most potent anti-inflammatory activity. In addition, the compounds 5a, b, f showed a significant gastroprotective effect against HCl/EtOH-induced gastric ulcer.     

Chronic effects of low lead levels on sperm quality, gonadotropins and testosterone in albino rats

The current study evaluates the impact of low or moderate levels of lead acetate (PbAc) on sperm parameters, gonadotropins (FSH, LH) and testosterone. Adult albino wistar male rats were allocated to five groups and given 0%, 0.025%, 0.05%, 0.1% and 0.3% PbAc in distilled drinking water for 24 weeks.There was no change in body weight gain and in absolute or relative weight of testes, epididymides and seminal vesicles. The ventral prostate weight was decreased in groups exposed to 0.05%, 0.1% and 0.3% PbAc without statistically significant differences.Sperm velocity was decreased in all treated groups while reduction of sperm motility was observed in rats exposed to 0.05%, 0.1% and 0.3% PbAc without statistically significant differences compared to the control group. However, there was a significant increase greater than 100% in the total percentage of abnormal sperm in groups treated with 0.1% (p<0.01) and 0.3% PbAc (p<0.05).The frequency of dead sperm was significantly increased only in the 0.3% PbAc group (p<0.01). Significant increases in frequencies of amorphous head sperm (p<0.01) and abnormal tails (p<0.01) were found in the group exposed to 0.1% PbAc, while the frequency of neck abnormalities was increased in the high-lead-exposed group (p<0.01).The levels of LH and FSH were not significantly affected after lead treatment and significant increase in serum testosterone level was noted only in animals administered 0.05% PbAc (p<0.01).In conclusion, our results reveal that some sperm parameters were altered at low or moderate lead concentrations with no obvious alteration of hypothalamic–pituitary function. The increase of testosterone level observed suggests that lead may target testicular function.