Molecular genetic study of hemophilia B in an Algerian population

Hemophilia B is inherited as x-linked recessive disorder, carried by females, where males are affected.Rare cases of females affected with hemophilia B are known. This is also known as factor IX (FIX)deficiency, or "Christmas disease", originally named after Stephen Christmas; the first patient wasdescribed with this disease in 1952. It is characterized by spontaneous or prolonged hemorrages due tofactor IX deficiency. Factor IX mutations have not been previously reported in Algerian patients. Tounderstand the molecular basis of hemophilia B in Algeria, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and directsequencing have been applied to be the important regions of the factor IX gene from 11 patients; weidentified 2 point mutations. Mutations identified in our patients was linked with disease severity.Complications are problems that develop during treatment of the disease. Inhibitor (alloantibodies toexogenous factor XI) development is currently the most significant treatment complication. In thisstudy, we evaluated the relationship between inhibitor development and FIX gene mutation types. Insummary, our preliminary results will be used to build an Algerian mutation database which wouldfacilitate genetic counseling.Key words: Hemophilia B, factor IX gene, mutation, inhibitors

Safety evaluation and analgesic studies of defatted methanol extract of Capparis spinosa L. (Capparidaceae) fruits and roots bark in albino wistar rats

Capparis spinosa L. is an indigenous plant from Algeria but has widespread distribution in Mediterranean area. It is used in traditional medicine for the treatment of various diseases by the local populations. The purpose of this study is to test toxicity and analgesic effect of defatted methanol extract of fruits and roots bark of this plant in albino Wistar rats. To evaluate the acute toxicity, 500-5000 mg/kg body weight of each extract was administered orally to rats; symptoms of toxicity and mortality were observed for 72 h. The results revealed the absence of toxicity for both extracts. In subchronic toxicity, rats were treated, with doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg/day of each extract, they were surveyed for four weeks, no symptoms of toxicity were observed. These results were confirmed by the blood biochemical analyses and the histopathology study of liver and kidney. Peripheral analgesic activity was tested orally at the dose of 100 and 200 mg/kg for each extract against pain induced by acetic acid. The dose of 200 mg/kg of both extracts presented significant analgesic effect, compared to the positive control; the acetylsalicylic acid

Study of hormone levels and semen parameters in infertile patients and fertile controls from Batna

Background: Male infertility or the inability of a man to procreate is a major public health problem and is a leading cause of marital discord in countries such as Algeria. Endocrine disorders that can be associated with significant medical pathology remain an important factor to be considered in the etiology of male infertility, and those disorders are usually associated with alteration of sperm count or in severe cases with azoospermia. In this study, we are evaluating semen parameters and hormonal levels of patients with idiopathic male infertility and comparing their results with healthy fertile controls. Methods: We aim to study the impact of hormones; follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone (T) and prolactin (PRL) on idiopathic male fertility and their impact on semen parameters, we conducted a study on 71 male subjects with 39 infertile men and 32 fertile controls from the city of Batna (Algeria). Our study lasted six months and was conducted at the University Hospital of Batna and a private analysis laboratory. Results: The results of semen analysis allowed us to determine that the most common pathology in our population is OANTS with a percentage of 21.05% followed by NS and NT with 13.16%; results of the permocytogramme show a predominance of atypical forms of the head with a frequency of 39.21%. Regarding the hormone dosage, prolactin was the most disturbed hormone with an average value of (18 ± 6.221 ng/ml), which is almost pathologic; the other hormones showed some disturbances but to a lesser degree. The results of spermiologique parameters of infertile men compared with fertile controls showed highly significant differences (P≤O.OOO1) regarding motility, concentration vitality, and spermatozoa morphology. The comparison of results of hormones between the two groups revealed differences in LH and prolactin levels; no differences were found regarding FSH and testosterones. Concerning the relationship between hormones and spermiologiques parameters, positive correlations were found between (LH and sperm concentration) (testosterone and sperm concentration), and, finally, a strong correlation was found between the levels of prolactin and the anomalies of intermediate piece of spermatozoa. Conclusion: This study showed that hormonal disorders are not a common cause of male infertility in our study population. It further showed the relative frequencies of the various semen abnormalities during the study period. Also, we found associations between altered semen parameters and pathological levels of some hormones; however, a complementary study with a more subjects is needed

ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE OF ESCHERICHIA COLI STRAINS ISOLATED FROM SLAUGHTERHOUSES AND BROILER FARMS IN NORTH-EAST OF ALGERIA

L’objectif de notre étude est de déterminer la résistance aux antibiotiques des Escherichia coli issus de la flore intestinale et des E.coli pathogènes extra-intestinaux (Avian Pathogenic E.coli ou APEC), isolés à partir de 146 échantillons provenant du poulet de chair de 23 élevages et de 5 abattoirs avicoles du nord-est d’Algérie. Le sérotypage à l'aide de sérums monospécifiques a révélé que 11, 42% des isolats APEC appartiennent  aux sérotypes O78. Les résultats des antibiogrammes standards ont montré que toutes les souches isolés sont résistantes au moins à 4 antibiotiques. 100 % des souches sont résistantes à l’Oxacilline et à l’Oxytétracycline. De forts taux de résistance ont été remarqués pour : Doxycycline (98,33%), Amoxicilline (85%), Ampicilline (78,33%), Sulfamide-tremitoprime (78,33%), Enrofloxacine (55%), Acide nalidixique (88,33%), Kanamycine (65%).Un taux de résistance moyen est enregistré pour Chloramphenicol (43,33%). De faibles taux de résistance sont observés pour deux molécules: Gentamycine (3,33%) et Streptomycine (13,33%)

The predominance of codon 39 (c>t) mutation of HBB gene in a portion of the Algerian population (Northeast Algeria)

This study was planned to determine the frequency of β-thalassemia mutations in Batna region (Northeast Algeria). Nineteen blood samples of clinically thalassemic children patients were collected from Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital of Batna. We carried out the molecular genetics of beta globin gene by the method of minisequencing using Snapshot™ kit (Applied Biosystems) in search of the four most common HBB genetic variants including three β-thalassemia mutations: codon 39(C>T) (HBB: c.118C>T), IVSI-110(G>A) (HBB: c.93-21G>A), and IVSI-1-2(T>G) (HBB: c.92+2T>G), as well as the hemoglobin S variant (HBB: c.20A>T). We used direct DNA sequencing to detect the rare mutations of beta-globin gene. We have revealed the presence of four different β-globin gene mutations responsible for β-thalassemia in Batna region. According to our results, the nonsense mutation at codon 39 (C>T) is the most frequent mutation type in our province, the same as other geographical regions of Algeria. It is followed by codon 54(-T), detected in a second Algerian family (the proband was homozygote), and the first association of Hb Knossos: codon 27 (G>T) allele with codon 39 (C>T) in the Algerian population. Here we reportws also the association of codon 39(C>T) with IVS-I-110 (G>A). Our preliminary results show the predominance of codon 39 (c>t) mutation of HBB gene in Batna region

Accuracy of serum markers, progesterone and vitamins measurements for early screening of abortions in the eastern region of Algeria (Batna)

Spontaneous abortion is an involuntary interruption of pregnancy before 22 weeks of gestation. According to the Algerian National Institute of Public Health the percentage of women suffering from permanent complications during pregnancy is approximately 15%. The aim of this study is the determination of some biochemical analytes, including folic acid, vitamin B12, alphafoetoproteine, beta human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG), progesterone and oestradiol (uE3), which are involved in the detection of pregnancy failures. This case-control study was carried out on women in the process of abortion and a control group with viable pregnancies in the East region of Algeria (Batna) during the year 2015. In the present investigation, 69 pregnant women during the first and second trimester were recruited during the first and second trimesters as cases (with miscarriages) and the control group (n=69) was constituted of women who had normal ultrasound. The average concentration of alpha-fetoprotein is significantly low during the first trimester, but it is very high during the second trimester between cases and controls. The median values of β- hCG, uE3 and progesterone decrease very significantly. The mean concentration of serum folate and vitamin B12 did not change significantly between cases and controls in the first and second trimesters. The results of this study revealed that, spontaneous abortions are associated with changes in serum markers and progesterone, which could form an important part in the early diagnosis of non-viable pregnancies. However, vitamins levels have no significant effects on these pregnancies

Antimicrobial and Antioxidant activities of various extracts of Hyoscyamus albus L. and Umbilicus rupestris L. leaves

Our objectives were to investigate the antioxidant activity by the means of two methods: the β-carotene bleaching method and DPPH assay as well as testing the antimicrobial activity by the Agar-gel diffusion method and the microdilution method with liquid medium of the extracts (EEp, EChl and EMeOH) of the leaves of H. albus and (EEp, EChl and EMeOH) of U. rupestris. The quantitative analysis are showed that the highest content of total phenolic was concentrated in the butanolic extract of H.albus with 111 .1 ± 1.82 μg EAG/mg of extracts, in the second level the methanolic extract of U. rupestris with 105.7±0.37 μg EAG/mg of extracts. The content of flavonoids was determined by specrophotometry and showed the presence of these compounds in the all extracts from the two plants. In the β-carotene bleaching test, the EMeOH of H.albus displayed highest antioxidant activity (76.00 %) and the EMeOH extract with a radical-scavenging activity (72.97%). On the other hand, the quantitative evaluation of the antiradical activity towards DPPH showed that the EMeOH of U. rupestris is the most active (IC50 = 35.33 ± 0.136 μg/ml) followed by the EMeOH (IC50 = 75.19 ± 0.211 μg/ml) of H. albus. All the polar extracts of the two plants reacted positively at least on one of the bacterial strains tested. These extracts showed different activities and the CMI were determined starting from the most active extracts in gelose medium, Extract EBut of H.albus testified to a strong antimicrobial activity followed by the EMe of U. rupestris. Results of the anticandidose activity showed the inefficiency of the all extracts against the yeast Candida albicans

Association of CAT–262C/T with the concentration of catalase in seminal plasma and the risk for male infertility in Algeria

<p>Catalase (CAT) plays a central role in the protection of different cell types against the deleterious effects of hydrogen peroxide. In human, CAT is implicated in many physiological and pathological conditions including idiopathic male infertility. In this study we examined the association between CAT levels in seminal plasma with different sperm parameters and with <i>CAT–</i>262 C/T polymorphism and their risk for idiopathic male infertility in Algeria. Semen and blood samples were obtained from 111 infertile males and 104 fertile controls from the region of Eastern Algeria following informed consent. Standard semen parameters, DNA integrity, and CAT concentration in seminal plasma were evaluated. <i>CAT</i>-262C/T genotypes were screened using allele specific PCR. Seminal CAT activity was significantly different (<i>p</i><0.0001) between infertile males and controls, it was also markedly decreased in oligo-astheno-teratozoospermia (<i>p</i><0.0001), azoospermia (<i>p</i><0.0001), and normozoospermia (<i>p</i>=0.045) subgroups compared to controls. Positive correlations between CAT activity and semen parameters (volume, motility, concentration, and morphology) were detected, but not with sperm DNA integrity. There was no direct association between <i>CAT</i>-262C/T polymorphism and general male infertility. However, the results presented in this study showed that CAT activity is remarkably associated with the <i>CAT</i>-262T allele (<i>p</i>=0.001) and the different <i>CAT</i>-262C/T genotypes. This study highlighted the major differences in the seminal plasma CAT content between infertile and fertile males and the differences of CAT concentration between different <i>CAT</i>-262C/T genotypes carriers.</p

First study of sea turtle strandings in Algeria (western Mediterranean) and associated threats: 2016–2017

Between December 2015 and December 2017 a total of 63 sea turtles were recorded as being stranded along the Algerian coast. The loggerhead sea turtle Caretta caretta was the most commonly stranded species (n = 44) (69.8%), followed by the leatherback Dermochelys coriacea (n = 18) (28.6%) and the green turtle Chelonia mydas (n = 1). There was a slight dominance of the adult size class for stranded loggerhead turtles, while, for the leatherback, late juveniles and adults prevailed. Most loggerhead turtles stranded during the summer months (July and August), whereas most leatherbacks stranded during winter. The breakdown of the strandings by region shows a slight dominance along the western and central shores for C. caretta and a clear dominance in the west for D. coriacea. The primary cause of death was determined in 50.8% of the stranded turtles. Regarding the evidence of interactions with humans the major cause of stranding in loggerhead turtles was incidental catch by artisanal fisheries, followed by boats’ collisions. The main causes of leatherback strandings were boats’ collisions. Algerian data show that human activities affect loggerhead turtles and also prove a significant presence of the leatherback turtle on this coast