Optimization of rAd5 vectored Newcastle vaccine production in HEK293 at high cell densities

Newcastle disease (ND) is a highly contagious and often severe global spread syndrome that affects birds including domestic poultry. It is caused by a virus belonging to the paramyxoviridae family. Indeed, an outbreak of ND can be quite severe, and is considered as a constant threat to the industry and food security worldwide. The disease can be controlled through the administration of effective vaccines. Immunizations with inactivated or live vaccines, although protective, have some eminent disadvantages. The aims of this work is the development of a vectored vaccine using a non-replicative human adenovirus vector, expressing the F antigen from Newcastle Disease Virus (rAd-F-ND) in bioreactor. The recombinant vaccine is produced using the HEK293 cell line. HEK293 cultures were carried out in suspension, first in shake flasks and then in stirred bioreactor at 37°C, 5% CO2 and 150 rpm in chemically defined media. The virus titers were determined by qPCR. To improve rAd-F-ND virus productions in HEK-293 cells, we studied the effects of the following parameters in shake flask cultures: culture media (Hycell Trans FX-H and Xell-GM), cell density, multiplicity of infection (MOI) and feed (Xell-FS , Xell-GM and cell Boost 5). Please click Download on the upper right corner to see the full abstract

Angiotensin II Receptor Gene A1166C Variant and Hypertension in Tunisian Population

Many genes have been proposed as candidate genes for hypertension. Among these genes, the angiotensin II type 1 receptor gene (AGTR1) has been investigated in the pathogenesis of hypertension, but studies have often generated controversial results. In this study, we analyzed the relationship between the A1166C variant of the AGTR1 and hypertension in a sample from the Tunisian population. Analysis of the AGTR1 genotypes was performed in 388 Tunisian patients with hypertension and 428 healthy subjects by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. The results shows that the AGTR1 genotypes distribution and allele frequencies were not significantly different between the hypertensive and normotensive subjects (p>0.05). This polymorphism was not associated with hypertension (OR = 1.03, 95% CI [0.47-2.24]; p = 0.58) for AC and (OR = 1.19, 95% CI [0.65-2.19]; p = 0.83) for CC in comparison to the AA wild homozygous. After adjustment for the confounding factors of age, gender, body mass index, fasting glucose concentration, dyslipidemia and smoking, the OR for hypertension remained no significant (OR = 1.28, 95% CI [0.87-1.84]; p = 0.50) for CC vs AA. Furthermore, no relationship was found between clinical characteristics and AGTR1 genotypes. In the conclusion; our data suggested that the A1166C variant of the AGTR1 is not involved in the pathogenesis of hypertension in the Tunisian population

ScaI Atrial Natriuretic Peptide Gene Polymorphism and Hypertension in the Tunisian Population

Numerous genetic variants have been linked to hypertension. Among these variants T2238C polymorphism in atrial natriuretic peptide gene has been investigated in the pathogeneses of hypertension, but studies have often generated controversial results. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between hypertension and the ANP/ T2238C variant gene that led to the loss of ScaI restriction site, thus eliminated the regular stop codon and involved an extension of the human ANP by two additional arginines. We genotyped 384 patients with hypertension and 435 healthy controls. The ScaI ANP gene polymorphism was determined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. The results shows that the ScaI ANP gene polymorphism genotypes distribution and allele frequencies were not significantly different between the hypertensive and normotensive subjects (p>0.05). The frequencies of A2 wild allele and A1 mutant allele were 48% and 52% respectively in hypertensive patients and 49% and 51% in control group (p=0.66). This polymorphism is not associated with hypertension (OR= 1.55, 95% CI [0.82-2.92]; p=0.17) for TC and (OR=1.80, 95% CI [0.81-3.98]; p=0.14) for CC after adjustment for age, gender, body mass index, fasting glucose concentration, dyslipidemia and smoking. Furthermore, no relationship was found between clinical characteristics and ScaI ANP genotypes. As a conclusion; this study suggested that the ScaI ANP gene polymorphism is not associated with hypertension in the Tunisian population

Non-Invasive Ventilation in the Elderly in the Emergency Department: Epidemiological Data and Results

Introduction: Non-invasive ventilation (NIV) could be a good alternative in elderly people with acute respiratory failure (ARF), to procure them a respiratory support while avoiding as much as possible the complications of invasive ventilation.Methods: This is an observational retrospective study conducted at the emergency department (ED) of a tertiary care, university-based teaching hospital. Data of elderly patients (≥ 65 years) admitted to ED between January 2017 and April 2018 for ARF and requiring NIV were collected and analyzed using SPSS 22 software.Results: Sixty six patients (≥ 65 years) requiring NIV for acute respiratory failure (ARF) were included. The mean age was 76 years (± 7), the median Charlson index was 5. Acute respiratory failure was related to acute heart failure in 68%, acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in 53% and pneumonia in 39% of cases. Forty eight percent had more than one etiologic diagnosis. Hypercapnic acute respiratory failure was observed in 61%. On initiation of NIV, the average pH was 7.31 (± 0.11) and PaCO2 56 mmHg (± 21), After NIV, the average pH was 7.38 (± 0.11) and PaCO2 53 mmHg (± 26). Improvement of pH was significant (p < 0.05). 61% of patients were discharged at home, 9% were admitted to intensive care unit. Invasive ventilation was performed in 4%, of which 23% died. Success of NIV was observed in 68% of patients.Conclusion: NIV can be of a great interest in elderly people. Our study showed that it can be used successfully in the studied settings.&nbsp

Lack of association between FokI polymorphism in vitamin D receptor gene (VDR) & type 2 diabetes mellitus in the Tunisian population

Background & objectives: The impact of several environmental and genetic factors on diabetes is well documented. Though the association between the vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphisms and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has been analyzed in different ethnic groups, the results have been inconsistent. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible association between VDR FokI polymorphism and genetic susceptibility to T2DM in Tunisian population. Methods: A total of 439 unrelated patients with T2DM and 302 healthy controls were included in the study. Genomic DNA was extracted from blood and genotyped for the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of FokI (T/C: (rs2228570) by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis. Results: The genotype distribution and the relative allelic frequencies for the FokI polymorphism were not significantly different between T2DM and controls: in T2DM patients the frequencies of the CC, CT, and TT genotypes were 52.6, 41.0, and 6.1 per cent, respectively, and in controls the genotype frequencies were 55.6, 38.7, and 5.6 per cent, respectively. In our study, the TT genotype of the FokI polymorphism was not associated with T2DM (OR =1.19, 95% CI 0.63 - 2.25, P=0.577). Interpretation & conclusions: Our study showed no significant association of the FokI polymorphism in the vitamin D receptor gene with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Tunisian population

The role of nutraceuticals in heart failure muscle wasting as a result of inflammatory activity. The International Lipid Expert Panel (ILEP) Position Paper

Muscle wasting is one of the main causes for exercise intolerance and ventilatory inefficiency in patients with heart failure and a strong predictor of frailty and reduced survival. The prevalence of sarcopenia is at least 20% in patients with heart failure. Patients with heart failure often have subclinical systemic inflammation, which may exert sustained effects on skeletal muscle. Besides exercise, nutrition should also be carefully evaluated as an appropriate diet with selected nutraceuticals may be able to stimulate muscle anabolism and inhibit muscle catabolism. This review summarizes the epidemiological and clinical trial evidence supporting the recommendations for the use of nutraceuticals with anti-inflammatory properties in heart failure and provides an overview of the state of the evidence for nutraceutical supplementation to prevent and/or mitigate heart failure muscle wasting