Oxidative stress markers in intestinal mucosa of Tunisian inflammatory bowel disease patients

Inflammatory bowel diseases [IBDs], Crohn's disease [CrD] and ulcerative colitis [UC], are chronic gastrointestinal inflammatory disorders. The precise etiology of IBD remains unclear, and it is thought that interactions among various factors, including, genetic factors, the host immune system and environmental factors, cause disruption of intestinal homeostasis, leading to dysregulated inflammatory responses of the gut. As inflammation is intimately related to formation of reactive intermediates, including, reactive oxygen species, oxidative stress has been proposed as a mechanism underlying the pathophysiology of IBD. The purpose of this study is to examine the lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation and anti-oxidative profile in Tunisian IBD. Malondialdehyde [MDA], conjugated dienes [CD], protein thiol levels, as well as the catalase [CAT] activity were evaluated in intestinal biopsies of 17 patients affected by IBD [12 CrD and 5 UC] and 12 healthy control individuals. Oxidative stress was confirmed in these two types of disease biopsies as compared to controls. MDA and CD levels were significantly increased in both UC and CrD patients' biopsies as compared to controls' biopsies [P < 0.001]. CAT activity was similar in UC and CrD biopsies' and was not significantly increased in IBD patients' biopsies compared with controls' biopsies [P > 0.05]. A non-significant decrease in thiol [SH] level was observed in both UC and CrD patients' biopsies compared with controls' biopsies [P > 0.05]. Increased levels of MDA and CD in IBD patients' biopsies underline the implication of oxidative stress in the physiopathology of IBD

[Pregnancy in dermatomyositis and polymyositis]

To determine the incidence of pregnancies during the inflammatory myopathy [IM], its influence on this disease and the influence of IM on the pregnancy's outcome. From 1979 to 2007 we have collected retrospectively 67 cases of IM [53 women and 14 men] in the department of internal medicine CHU Hedi Chaker of Sfax [Tunisia]. Diagnosis criteria were those and Peter. We have included pregnancies occurring after diagnosis of DM or PM and cases of IM occurring during pregnancy or postpartum. Five women [4DM and PM], average age 30.6 years [range 26 - 41 years] concluded 10 pregnancies [9.4%]. The fertility rate is 2 pregnancies per patient. Nine pregnancies occurred after the diagnosis of myositis in 4 women. IM was inactive at conception in all this case. No flare-up in IM has been noted during these pregnancies. The DM was revealed to the 10th day post-partum in one patient. Therapeutic interruption of pregnancy was needed in 3 cases. 4 pregnancies were completed without incident and resulted in the birth of healthy newborns. Foetal complication were observed in the other two pregnancies occurring in one patient who also presents an APS associated with DM. it was a foetal death in utero and premature delivery of a newborn who died in 3rd day after birth. Pregnancy in the MI is rare. Its influence on the activity of the disease is variable, both during the pregnancy than post-partum. The foetal prognosis is good when the disease is in remission. However foetal complications are important in case of active IM

Inhibitory effect of estrogens, phytoestrogens, and caloric restriction on oxidative stress and hepato-toxicity in aged rats / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the protective effect of 17beta-estradiol (E2), peganum harmala extract (PHE) administration and calorie restriction (CR) treatment (60%) on oxidative stress and hepato-toxicity in aged rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eighteen months old animals that were treated at the age of 12 months were divided into 4 groups: normal control group with free access to food, E2 treatment group, PHE treatment group and CR treatment group of the food given to control group. Six male rats at the age of 4 months were used as a reference group.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Aging significantly decreased superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX), and increased lactate deshydrogenase (LDH), gamma-glytamyl transferase (GGT), phosphatase alkalines (PAL), aspartate and lactate transaminase (AST and ALT) activities in the liver. Aging also induced an increased lipid peroxidation level, histological changes and a decreased E2 level. However, treatment with E2, PHE, and CR increased 17beta-estradiol, and decreased hepatic dysfunction parameters and lipid peroxidation as well as histological changes in the liver of aged rats.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The antioxidant and hepatoprotective activity of PHE and CR is possibly attributed to its ability to increase E2 level, which as an antioxidant, acts as a scavenger of ROS. Further studies on the pharmaceutical functions of E2 in males may contribute to its clinical application.</p>

non reponse a la vaccination antihepatitique chez le personnel soignant

The authors report the results of an investigation of witness cases realized in collaboration between occupational medecine service and immunology laboratory of hedi CHAKER university hospital SFAX during the year 2000. the purpose was to seartch the genetic control of the HLA class l system for the non response to hepatitis B vaccine and to evaluate the contribution of other favorite factors as tabac, sex age. Thus, in a population of 32 healthy agents found nonresponders to hepatitis B vaccine by the titers of anti HBs antibody, we have performed the HLA-A, -B phenotypes by the technique of complement dependent microcytotoxicity. The frequency of studied HLA class l antigens, was compared for the non responders group, to the frequency observed in witnesses group, done with 52 responders health agents. The rate of nonresponsiveness hepatitis B vaccine was evaluated up to 5%. Statistically significant difference was observed for HLA A1 and B44 markers showing frequencies which were considerably higher in the non responders than in witnesses