Thiopurine S-methyltransferase genetic polymorphism in the Tunisian population

Background: Determine the incidence of four thiopurine S-methyltransferase (TPMT) mutant alleles, TPMT*2, *3A, *3B and *3C in the Tunisian population involved in adverse drug reactions. Genomic DNAs were isolated from peripheral blood leucocytes of 119 healthy Tunisian volunteers. The frequencies of four allelic variants of the TPMT gene, TPMT*2, *3A, *3B, *3C were determined using allele specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism technique.Results: Of the 119 Tunisian subjects participating in this study, 117 subjects (98.3%) were homozygous for TPMT*1 and only two subjects (1.68%) were heterozygous for TPMT*1/*3A. The frequency of TPMT*3A mutant allele was 0.009.Conclusions: Our study provides the first data on the frequency of common TPMT variants in the Tunisian population. TPMT*3A, which causes the largest decrease in enzyme activity, seemed to be a unique variant allele found in this our population.Keywords: Thiopurine S-methyltransferase (TPMT); Pharmacogenetics; Tunisians; PC

Tissue cell stress response to obesity and its interaction with late gestational diet

Intra-uterine growth restriction in late pregnancy can contribute to adverse long term metabolic health in the offspring. We utilised an animal (sheep) model of maternal dietary manipulation in late pregnancy, combined with exposure of the offspring to a low activity, obesogenic environment after weaning, to characterise the effects on glucose homeostasis. Dizygotic twin-pregnant sheep were either fed to 60% of requirements (nutrient restriction (R)) or fed ad libitum (~ 140% of requirements (A)) from 110 days gestation until term (~147d). After weaning (~3 months of age), their offspring were kept in either a standard (in order to remain lean) or low activity, obesogenic environment. R mothers gained less weight and produced smaller offspring. As adults, obese offspring were heavier and fatter with reduced glucose tolerance, irrespective of maternal diet. Molecular markers of stress and autophagy in liver and adipose tissue were increased with obesity, with gene expression of hepatic Grp78 and of omental Atf6, Grp78 and Edem1 only being increased in R offspring. In conclusion, the adverse effect of juvenile onset obesity on insulin responsive tissues can be amplified by previous exposure to a suboptimal nutritional environment in utero, thereby contributing to earlier onset of insulin resistance

La PME tunisienne

Les notions d’entreprises et d’entrepreneurs dans leurs configurations actuelles sont consécutives à la modernisation somme toute récente de l’appareil productif tunisien. Vu dans sa globalité, ce processus de modernisation révèle trois étapes de formation de l’entreprise en tant qu’institution, et de l’entrepreneur en tant qu’acteur social : l’étape coloniale, de la construction du modèle de référence et du « choc » avec la modernité ; l’étape de l’indépendance, du volontarisme moderniste so..

Comparaison morphologique de deux souches de Monacrosporium salinum, champignon prédateur de nématode, isolées d’un agro-écosystème tunisien et omanais

Monacrosporium salinum strain, MSO03, isolated from Omani horticultural agro-ecosystem in 2003, has been compared to patented strains, MST84, isolated in 1984 from Tunisian soils. Morpho-biometrical characteristics demonstrated that MSO03 was similar to MST84. However, conidia of MSO03 were longer as compared to those of MST84. Furthermore, MSO03 strain produce specifically single chlamydospores rounded, showing thick cell wall, while known M. salinum chlamydospores are flattened, in chains with thin cell wall. Consequently, the Omani strain MSO03 can resist to more severe stress conditions, such as drought and extreme temperature, occurring in Omani agro-ecosystems. Generally, the predatory antagonistic activity toward Tylenchulus semipenetrans and Meloidogyne javanica was similar for both M. salinum strains.La souche de Monacrosporium salinum MSO03, isolée en 2003 d’un agro-écosystème horticole au sultanat d’Oman, a été comparée à la souche tunisienne MST84, brevetée, de la même espèce et isolée depuis 1984. L’utilisation des caractéristiques morpho-biométriques a montré que la souche MSO03 est similaire à la souche MST84. Cependant, les conidies de MSO03 sont plus longues que celles de MST84. En outre, la souche omanaise produit des chlamydospores formées par une seule cellule arrondie à membrane épaisse, contrairement aux chlamydospores de Monacrosporium salinum connues et qui sont formées de cellules aplaties, en chaînes et présentant une membrane mince. Par conséquent, la souche omanaise MSO03 peut résister aux conditions adverses telles que la sécheresse et les températures extrêmes caractérisant les agro-écosystèmes omanais. L’activité prédatrice de ces champignons vis-à-vis de Tylenchulus semipenetrans et de Meloidogyne javanica est similaire pour les deux souches de M. salinum.Elfékih Samia, Kallel Sadreddine, Abdelwahed A., Al-Hinai Sulaiman, B’Chir Mohamed Mouldi. Comparaison morphologique de deux souches de Monacrosporium salinum, champignon prédateur de nématode, isolées d’un agro-écosystème tunisien et omanais. In: Ecologia mediterranea, tome 38 n°1, 2012. pp. 81-88

Antibody persistence in pre-school children after hexavalent vaccine infant primary and booster administration

Objective: Antibody persistence evaluation for all antigens of a fully liquid DTaP-IPV-HB-PRP~T vaccine at 3.5 and 4.5 y of age following different primary series and booster schedules in South Africa and Latin America. Methods: Participants had completed one of two previous studies (Study 1-South Africa; Study 2-Latin America). In Study 1, participants who had not received HB vaccine at birth received a 6–10-14 week primary series of DTaP-IPV-HB-PRP~T or DTwP/PRP~T-Hib+HB+OPV and a third group who had received HB vaccine at birth received a 6–10-14 week primary series of DTaP-IPV-HB-PRP~T; all received a booster (15–18 months) of the primary series vaccine(s) except for HB in the DTwP/PRP~T-Hib group. In Study 2, participants received HB vaccine at birth, a 2–4-6 month primary series of DTaP-IPV-HB-PRP~T or DTaP-HB-IPV//PRP~T, and a DTaP-IPV-HB-PRP~T or DTaP-HB-IPV//PRP~T booster (12–24 months). Participants were followed up at 3.5 and 4.5 y of age for antibody persistence. Results: Approximately 80% of eligible participants were assessed. In Study 1, a birth dose of HB increased anti-HBs persistence (≥10 mIU/mL) following DTaP-IPV-HB-PRP~T primary and booster vaccination from 76.3% to 96.1% at 3.5 y of age and from 73.3% to 96.1% at 4.5 y of age; in Study 2, anti-HBs persistence was high and similar in each group. For the other antigens, there were no differences between groups or studies at 3.5 or 4.5 y. Conclusion: Good persistence of antibodies to each antigen in the DTaP-IPV-HB-PRP~T vaccine up to pre-school age, irrespective of the vaccination schedule during the first 2 y of life

Hepatocyte FBXW7-dependent activity of nutrient-sensing nuclear receptors controls systemic energy homeostasis and NASH progression in male mice

Abstract Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is epidemiologically associated with obesity and diabetes and can lead to liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma if left untreated. The intricate signaling pathways that orchestrate hepatocyte energy metabolism and cellular stress, intrahepatic cell crosstalk, as well as interplay between peripheral tissues remain elusive and are crucial for the development of anti-NASH therapies. Herein, we reveal E3 ligase FBXW7 as a key factor regulating hepatic catabolism, stress responses, systemic energy homeostasis, and NASH pathogenesis with attenuated FBXW7 expression as a feature of advanced NASH. Multiomics and pharmacological intervention showed that FBXW7 loss-of-function in hepatocytes disrupts a metabolic transcriptional axis conjointly controlled by the nutrient-sensing nuclear receptors ERRα and PPARα, resulting in suppression of fatty acid oxidation, elevated ER stress, apoptosis, immune infiltration, fibrogenesis, and ultimately NASH progression in male mice. These results provide the foundation for developing alternative strategies co-targeting ERRα and PPARα for the treatment of NASH

Enhanced Antibacterial Efficiency of Cellulosic Fibers: Microencapsulation and Green Grafting Strategies

We report an analysis of chemical components of essential oils from barks of Ceylon cinnamon and cloves of Syzygium aromaticum and an investigation of their antibacterial activity. The components of oils were determined by using Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis, and the antimicrobial activity was assessed by the disk diffusion test. The synergic effect of essential oils mixture (cinnamon oil and clove oil) was evaluated. Antimicrobial properties were conferred to cellulosic fibers through microencapsulation using citric acid as a green binding agent. Essential oil mixture was encapsulated by coacervation using chitosan as a wall material and sodium hydroxide as a hardening agent. The diameter of the produced microcapsules varies between 12 and 48 μm. Attachment of the produced microcapsules onto cotton fabrics surface was confirmed by Attenuated Total Reflectance-Fourier Transformed Infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy, optical microscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis. The results show that microcapsules were successfully attached on cotton fabric surfaces, imparting antibacterial activity without significantly affecting their properties. The finished cotton fabrics exhibited good mechanical properties and wettability