COMBINED EFFECT OF WATER CONTAMINATION WITH COBALT AND NICKEL ON METABOLISM OF ALBINO (WISTAR) RATS

The contamination of water by metal compounds is a worldwide environmental problem. Concentration of metals is widely related to biochemical values, which are used in diseases diagnosis due to environmental toxicity. The sub-chronic combined effects of nickel and cobalt on body weight gain and biochemical parameters were determined and compared with those of Ni (2+) or Co (2+) alone in 6 weeks male albino (Wistar) rats. Animals were given drinking solutions of NiSO4 6H2O [Ni (II) cation, LD50/2] or CoSO4 6H2O [Co (II) cation, LD50/2]. For the combined treatment (Ni + Co), the rats received both Ni (II) cation (LD 50/2) and CO (II) cation (LD50/2). Nickel and cobalt treatment decreased body weight gain. The nickel sulphate increased also the glucose level. The two heavy elements produced hepatic and renal damage, characterized by increased activity of alanine and aspartate transaminases (GPT, GOT) and alkaline phosphatase. However lactate dehydrogenase activity (LDH) was decreased. In addition, serum urea, serum creatinine, serum total protein and serum bilurebin concentrations were significantly elevated. In general the combined effect of Ni-Co was slightly less toxic than nickel or cobalt alone, suggesting antagonism between these toxicants

Effect of reduced dietary zinc intake on carbohydrate and Zn metabolism in the genetically diabetic mouse (C57BL/KsJ db+/db+)

1. Male, 4-5-week-old, genetically diabetic mice (C57BL/KsJ db/db) and non-diabetic heterozygote littermates (C57BL/KsJ db/+) were fed on a diet containing 1 mg zinc/kg (low-Zn groups) or 54 mg Zn/kg (control groups) for 27 d. Food intakes and body-weight gain were recorded regularly. On day 28, after an overnight fast, animals were killed and blood glucose and insulin concentrations, liver glycogen, and femur and pancreatic Zn concentrations were determined. 2. The consumption of the low-Zn diet had only a minimal effect on the Zn status of the mice as indicated by growth rate, food intake and femur and pancreatic Zn concentrations. In fact, diabetic mice fed on the low-Zn diet had a higher total food intake than those fed on the control diet. The low-Zn diabetic mice had higher fasting blood glucose and liver glycogen levels than their control counterparts. Fasting blood insulin concentration was unaffected by dietary regimen. 3. A second experiment was performed in which the rate of loss of 65Zn, injected subcutaneously, was measured by whole-body counting in the two mouse genotypes over a 28 d period, from 4 to 5 weeks of age. The influence of feeding low-Zn or control diets was also examined. At the end of the study femur and pancreatic Zn and non-fasting blood glucose levels were determined. 4. All mice fed on the low-Zn diet showed a marked reduction in whole-body 65Zn loss compared with those animals fed on the control diet.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS

[Listeriosis in Tunis: seven cases reports].

International audienceListeria monocytogenesis a Gram positive facultative intracellular bacterium that can be responsible for severe infections, affecting essentially pregnant women, immunocompromised patients at the early and later stages of life. In Tunisia, invasive L. monocytogenes infections are thought to be exceptional and limited data are available about listeriosis. We reported seven cases (five newborn children and two infants) of human listeriosis that occurred in Tunis from 2000 to 2008. The newborn children were hospitalized for suspicion of maternofoetal infections. The two infants were hospitalized for fever associated with digestive signs in one case and neurological signs in the other. L. monocytogenes-was isolated from culture of cerebrospinal fluid in four cases, peripheral samples in two cases and from blood culture in one case. Isolates identification was based on conventional methods. Antimicrobial susceptibility was realized according to the recommendation of the "Comité de l'antibiogramme de la Société française de microbiologie". All L. monocytogenes isolates were sensitive to amoxicillin and aminoside but resistant to 3rd generation cephalosporins. Investigations of the immune system were realized for the two infants including phenotypic analysis of peripheral blood cells by flow cytometry, lymphocyte proliferation assays, phagocytic cell functions and measurement of immunoglobulins as well as complement. All these explorations were normal for both infants. The outcome was fatal in only one case (a newborn child), and all the other patients recovered after adapted antibiotic treatment. In conclusion, our study shows that listeriosis is not exceptional in Tunis. Thus, it is necessary to know how to evoke this diagnosis, at any age, in order to establish an early and adapted antibiotic treatment and to avoid fatal outcome