Preventing bifenthrin-induced testicular toxicity in rats with <i>Citrus sinensis</i> (‘Maltese Half-blood’) essential oil: a multidisciplinary approach

The widespread use of pesticides, particularly bifenthrin, has raised concerns about their impact on the environment and human health. Bifenthrin has been shown to have adverse effects on male reproductive health, making it a pressing issue to address. In this study, we investigated the potential of Citrus sinensis ‘Maltese Half-Blood’ essential oil (CsEO) to mitigate bifenthrin-induced testicular toxicity. Our approach combined molecular docking, network pharmacology, histopathology, along with in vitro and in vivo assays. to evaluate the antioxidant properties of CsEO and its ability to counteract bifenthrin’s harmful effects. Our results showed that CsEO possesses robust antioxidant attributes, primarily due to its rich phytochemical composition. Limonene, α-pinene, and γ-terpinene were identified as the most contributive compounds. In rat models, CsEO treatment significantly alleviated oxidative stress markers induced by bifenthrin. Network pharmacology analyses revealed the intricate interactions between CsEO’s molecular constituents and their biological targets, with compounds like cedrene and geraniol playing key roles. Molecular docking data demonstrated that certain essential oil components have binding affinities to protein targets that rival or even exceed those of bifenthrin. CsEO effectively counteracted bifenthrin-induced testicular oxidative stress, highlighting its therapeutic potential. Our findings provide compelling evidence that CsEO can effectively counteract the harmful effects of bifenthrin on testicular health.</p

Report of the Tunisian Registry of Primary Immunodeficiencies: 25-Years of Experience (1988-2012)

International audiencePrimary immunodeficiencies (PIDs) are a large group of diseases characterized by susceptibility to not only recurrent infections but also autoimmune diseases and malignancies. The aim of this study was to describe and analyze the distribution, clinical features and eventual outcome of PID among Tunisian patients. We reviewed the record of 710 patients diagnosed with Primary Immunodeficiency Diseases (PIDs) from the registry of the Tunisian Referral Centre for PIDs over a 25-year period. The male-to-female ratio was 1.4. The median age at the onset of symptoms was 6 months and at the time of diagnosis 2 years. The estimated prevalence was 4.3 per 100,000 populations. The consanguinity rate was found in 58.2 % of families. According to the International Union of Immunological Societies classification, spectrums of PIDs were as follows: combined T-cell and B-cell immunodeficiency disorders account for the most common category (28.6 %), followed by congenital defects of phagocyte (25.4 %), other well-defined immunodeficiency syndromes (22.7 %), predominant antibody deficiency diseases (17.7 %), diseases of immune dysregulation (4.8 %), defect of innate immunity (0.4 %) and complement deficiencies (0.4 %). Recurrent infections, particularly lower airway infections (62.3 %), presented the most common manifestation of PID patients. The overall mortality rate was 34.5 %, mainly observed with combined immunodeficiencies. The distribution of PIDs was different from that reported in Western countries, with a particularly high proportion of Combined Immunodeficiencies and phagocyte defects in number and/or function. More is needed to improve PID diagnosis and treatment in our country

Study of Bacterial Adhesion on Different Glycopolymer Surfaces by Quartz Crystal Microbalance with Dissipation

Protein-carbohydrate interactions are involved in a wide variety of cellular recognition processes including cell growth regulation, differentiation and adhesion, the immune response, and viral or bacterial infections. A common way for bacteria to achieve adhesion is through their fimbriae which possess cellular lectins that can bind to complementary carbohydrates on the surface of the host tissues. In this work, we synthesized glycopolymers using reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization which were subsequently immobilized on a sensor surface for studies of bacterial adhesion by quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D). Ricinus communis Agglutinin (RCA120), a galactose specific lectin, was first studied by QCM-D to determine the specific lectin interactions to the different glycopolymers-treated surfaces. Subsequently, Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 (a Gram-negative bacterium with galactose-specific binding C-type lectin (PA-IL)) and Escherichia coli K-12 (a Gram-negative bacterium with mannose-specific binding lectin) were then used as model bacteria to study bacterial adhesion mechanisms on different polymer-treated sensor surfaces by the coupled resonance theory. Our results showed that lectin-carbohydrate interactions play significant roles in comparison to the nonspecific interactions, such as electrostatic interactions. A significantly higher amount of P. aeruginosa PAO1 could adhere on the glycopolymer surface with strong contact point stiffness as compared to E. coli K-12 on the same surface. Furthermore, in comparison to E. coli K-12, the adhesion of P. aeruginosa PAO1 to the glycopolymers was found to be highly dependent on the presence of calcium ions due to the specific C-type lectin interactions of PA-IL, and also the enhanced bacterial adhesion is attributed to the stiffer glycopolymer surface in higher ionic strength condition.</p