[ effects of endurance training and whey protein supplementation on inflammation and insulin resistance in the rats fed with high-fat diet]

Background and Aim: Whey protein has been known to be an excellent prophylactic agent against obesity. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of endurance training and whey protein supplementation on TNF-alpha levels and insulin resistance in the rats fed with high-fat diet

Materials and Methods: In the first phase of the study, 40 male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to two groups: one group was fed with standard chow [n = 8] and the other group with high fat diet [HFD] [n = 32]. After 9 weeks, in the second phase of our study, HFD rats were randomly assigned to 4 groups: [1] control, [2] whey supplementation, [3] endurance training and [4] endurance training + whey supplementation groups. Each group consisted of 8 rats. Endurance training protocol was performed for 10 weeks [5days/wk, Ihr/day, 21m/min, and 15% grade]. Data were analyzed by Mann-Whitney U test [to compare normal control group and control high-fat diet group] and two way ANOVA

Results: Body weight [P=0.009], adipose tissue [P=0.002], insulin resistance [P=0.045] and TNF-a level [P=0.022] were significantly higher in HFD sedentary rats, compared to those in the rats in normal diet control group. Adipose tissue weight [P=0.02], blood glucose [P=0.006], insulin [P=0.0003], insulin resistance index [P=0.00021] and TNF-alpha level in adipose tissue [P=0.039] in whey supplemented groups were lower than those in the non-supplemented groups. Also, body weight [P=0.017], adipose tissue weight [P=0.001] adipose tissue TNF-alpha level [P=0.001] in the training groups were lower than those in the control group

Conclusion: Whey protein supplementation led to improvement of high-fat diet-induced insulin resistance and decreased inflammation. Endurance training also reduced inflammation in adipose tissue

[Comparison of breast cancers diagnosed in and outside the large scale mammography program of L'Ariana state in Tunisia]

To report the anatomoclinical comparison of BC issued from the large scale mammography program in Ariana state of Tunisia to those of the cases "classically" diagnosed in patients consulting for breast symptoms. This retrospective study was done between April 2004 and June 2007. We have included 58 women issued from the large scale mammographic program of the state of Ariana in Tunisia [Group I] and 100 symptomatic women who came to our patient clinic [Group 2]. We have compared epidemiological characters [age, delay of diagnosis...], tumoral size, histological sue and type, grade, hormonal receptors and therapeutic protocols. In the large scale mammographic program, BC are insitu carcinomas in 11.1% and invasive carcinomas in 88.9% of the cases. The mean age was 48 years old in the group I versus 46 years in group 2. In the first group, the mean clinical and histological tumoral size was 20mm and 22 mm versus 45mm and 36 mm for the group 2. The invasive canalar carcinoma was the most frequent histological type in both groups. The lymph nodes were negative in 58.1% of the cases in group I versus 34% in group 2.80% of the patients in group 2 had mastectomy versus 42.8% in the first one. The mortality was 10% in the screened women versus 6.8% in the other group2. The results of large scale mammographic BC program were favourable for the management of breast cancer in terms of clinical and histological tumoral size, number of positive nodes, number of mastectomies and the survival rates

[Satisfaction inquiry within women involved in the pilot program of large scale mammography in the Ariana state in Tunisia]

Evaluate the degree of satisfaction of women included in the large scale mammography program of breast cancer screening in the state of Ariana in Tunisia. Within the women explored by mammography, we have contaced 112 patients who had a positive screening requiring histological checking. We have established a questionnaire concerning: the invitation, the clinical examination, the result announcement and the therapeutic management. The average age of patients was 49 years. 64% had a primary education level. 80 women or 71.4% were satisfied with the process of screening and the method of announcement. The main cause of dissatisfaction for patients with cancer diagnosis was delay and difficult access to adjuvant treatments. Among patients who had histological diagnosis: 47.3% had a malignant disease [53 cases] against 37.5% of benign [42 cases]. 100% of patients who had a pathological result reassuring are satisfied at the end of the screening program. The psychosocial impact of screening must be considered for the development of new programs. The waiting and announcement of results are essential factors that allow us to judge the success of the project, because of patient satisfaction will depend the quality of monitoring and adherence to screening

BCL-2 expression infollicular cyst and odontogenic keratocyst

Odontogenic keratocyst is a developmental odontogenic cyst with aggressive behavior and tendency to high recurrence. The cyst's epithelium shows more potential for growth than follicular cyst. On the other hand, BCL-2 is an anti apoptotic protein that can increase the longevity of epithelial cells. The purpose of this investigation was to compare the immunoreactivity in different layers and linings of both epitheliums of the follicular cyst and odontogenic keratacyst using BCL-2 anti-apoptotic marker. A retrospective descriptive study design was employed in order to evaluate 20 paraffin blacks of odontogenic keratocyst and 20 paraffin blocks of follicular cyst. The immunohistochemistry staining method was used together with BCL-2 marker [Anti BCL-2, Clone 124, Isotype: IgG, Kappa, Dako, Denmark].The cytoplasms of epithelial cells were immunostained in different layers and all linings of the epithelium for both cysts, in 1000 epithelial cell counts. The collected data was analyzed using SPSS statistical software, and Roc Curve analysis as well as student T-test in order to prepare and report the results. Immunoreactivity with BCL-2 marker was 98.5 [ +/- 1.4%] in Basal layer, 12.1 [ +/- 3.2%] in intermediate, and null [0] in the surface layer of odontogenic keratocyst. Immunoreactivity with BCL-2 marker in basal layer was 2.1 [ +/- 1.9%] but the surface and intermediate layers did not immunostained with BCL-2 marker. The mean number of epithelial cells, positive for BCL-2, in all linings of follicular cyst was 0.7 [ +/- 0.63%] and in odontogenic keratocyst was 36.8 [ +/- 1.5%]. The mean immunoreactivity difference in layers of odontogenic keratocyst was statistically significant [P < 0.001]. However, the mean difference in immunoreactivity with BCL-2 marker was not significant [P > 0.05] in different layers of follicular cysts. Based on the results of this study, BCL-2 seams to be involved in pathogenesis of the odontogenic keratocyst. Likewise, the over-expression of BCL-2 marker in basal layer of odontogenic keratocyst was associated with increased recurrence and aggressive behavior of odontogenic keratocyst when compared with follicular cyst. Therefor, it can be suggested that the overexpression of BCL-2 in basal layer of odontogenic keratocyst can be considered as a useful marker to differentiate it from follicular cyst

[Outcome of malignant vulvar tumors]

Vulva anatomy - FIGO classification- Vulva tumors anatomopathology - Treatments of vulva cancers. Our study is a retrospective, longitudinal and continuous one. It concerns 11 malignant vulva tumors which were treated in the d‚partement "C" of the centre of maternity of Tunis. The period of study is fifty four months [2002-2006]. The aim of our study is to analyse the characteristics of the vulva cancer and to compare our results to litterature. Mean age of our patients is 67 years old. They are all menaused. The principal signs are vulva tum‚faction in 72,7% of the cases, vulva pruritis in 27,3% of the cases and genital bleeding in 27,3% of the cases. The mean period of consultation is of 14 months. We have ten cases of vulvar epidermoid carcinoma and one melanoma. The treatment was surgical in the eleven cases [10 total vulvectomy and one hemivulvectomy] They all benefited of an inguinal bilateral curage. The adjuvant radioth‚rapie was indicated in 3 cases. A patient was classed stage lb of FIGO, 7 stage II, one stage III and one stage IVA. Nine patients are in remission, 3 are dead: 2 because of their cancer and one due to a pulmonar embolism. The survival of 6 month is 72, 2%.The prevention of this cancer passes by the close follow of dystrophic states and viral pathologies of the vulva

relation between amillaze activity and total protein with cigarette smoking

Normal saliva has a critical role in maintenance of oral and dental health. Saliva is the first biologic fluid to confront the inhaled cigarette smoke. Chemical compounds in cigarette may change the amount and activity of salivary proteins and enzymes. The aim of this study was to compare the total protein concentration and amylase activity in smoker and nonsmoker men before dental practice. In a case - control study, 30 smoker men with mean age of 36 years and 30 nonsmoker men with mean age of 34 years who referred to Babol dental school were studied. After completing the questionnaire and before performing any dental work salivary samples were obtained. Their salivary samples were stored in -20°C and after centrifuge of saliva specimens, a modified Biuret method was used for measurement of total protein concentration. Caraway starch - iodine method was used to determine a-amylase activity on supernatants. Data were analyzed with SPSS software and t-test. The mean salivary a-amylase activity in smokers [121.47 +/- 22.41 IU/lit] was lower than in nonsmokers [133.52 +/- 18.73 IU/lit], but total protein concentration in smokers [257.43 +/- 49.18 mg/dl] was higher than nonsmokers [193.24 +/- 31.75mg/dl]. Although the mean a-amylase activity and total protein concentration were different in saliva of smoking and nonsmoking groups, but the difference wasn't statistically significant which suggests that smoking can not significantly change salivary total protein and a-amylase activity in smokers in comparison with nonsmokers

Usefulness of colposcopy in inflammatory vagin frottis

The cervical cancer is the second most frequent cancer of the woman in Tunisia. It is considered as a sexual transmissive desease due to the involvement of the HPV. The purpose of our study is to proove that an inflammatory cervical smear should be considered as a positive test and must lead to other investigations. It is a prospective study over 140 cases of inflammatory cervical smears [without atypical cells] diagnosed during a year period from June 2001 to June 2002. These patients had a systematic colposcopy with the biopsy of suspicious lesions. The mean age of our patients is 42 years. 68.57% of them are in active genital period. The colposcopy was normal in 10% of our patients. It showed benign lesions such as: ectropion in 22.85%, colpitis in 14.28%, cervical polypus in 5%, normal transformation zone in 8.57%, but also suspicious lesions such as: atypical transformations grade I [ATGI] in 25.71% and atypical transformations grade II [ATGII] in 13.57%. The biopsies made on 89 patients showed dysplasia and carcinoma in 18.57% of them. A case of in situ carcinoma, a microinvasif epidermoid carcinoma and an invasif glandular carcinoma were diagnosed. Colposcopy is an ambulatory investigation. It makes a minutious study of the cervix and diminishes the rate of false negative made by the cervical smear

[Fetal and maternal prognosis of breech presentation at term]

Introduction: Breech presentation is associated with increased fetal, neonatal and maternal risk. The purpose of this study was to assess the prognosis of this presentation near or at term

Patients and methods: This retrospective study included all deliveries with a breech presentation and a gestational age over 34 weeks in our service between January 2000 and December 2005

Results: 243 deliveries were indexed throughout the study period.141 patients delivered by prelabor planned cesarean section and 47 by cesarean section during labor. 2 cord prolapses were found [0.8%]. 8 babies [3,3%] had a 5 minute Apgar scores < 7 and we observed 5 admissions to the neonatal unit. There were 2 birth trauma and 2 perinatal deaths

Conclusion: Breech delivery is a risk for mother and newborns. Development of measures and standards for obstetric practice would help improve its prognosis

Impact of diet habits on clinical and biological characteristics of type 2 diabetics originating from south and costal regions

Type 2 diabetes is a very frequent pathology in our country. The objective of this study was to compare two diabetic populations recruited in the Monastir [M] and Sfax [S] areas. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effect of the diet on the evolution of the disease. The duration of diabetes was longer in the sample from Sfax and their levels for glycated haemoglobin and triglycerides were higher: 8.51 +/- 2.8 vs 10.2 +/- 3.6% [p=0.035] and 1.7 +/- 1.1 vs 2.6 +/- 1.3 mmol/l [p=0.006] respectively for group M and S. Total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and Apo AI levels were significantly higher in the M. group. Total homocysteine plasmatic levels were also significantly higher in the Monastir sample compared to the one from Sfax: respectively 23.3 +/- 15.4 vs 14.8 +/- 5.92 micro mol/l [p=0.002]. The protein food intake was positively correlated to the plasmatic homocysteine level only in the M. group [r= 0.439, p<0.001]. Olive oil consumption proved to be beneficial with a lowering of both systolic and diastolic blood pressure in the 2 groups [Monastir: r= -0.113, p<0.05 and Sfax: r= -0.403, p<0.001]. An appropriate and early management following the [Mediterranean diet] is called for in type 2 diabetes

Comparison of heat inactivation and urea inhibition methods for determination of bone and liver alkaline phosphatase isoenzymes

The alkaline phosphatase [ALP] enzyme has several isoenzymes in different tissues. Bone and liver isoenzymes are abundant and prominent. The purpose of this study was to develope and compare the heat inactivation and urea inhibition methods in measurement of bone and liver alkaline phosphatase isoenzymes. Determination of total ALP activity of liver and bone isoenzymes was carried out for several times per day and during consecutive days. Precision and reliability of these methods were confirmed after 10 times repeat of all experiments on two normal, one liver cholestase and one bone paget's serum samples. Then it was set up heat inactivation and urea methods in biochemistry laboratory of Babol University of Medical Sciences. In addition to, on 50 normal serum samples of adolescents, determination of total ALP activity by AACC- IFCC standard method and bone and liver isoenzymes was carried out by heat inactivation and urea inhibition methods. The results of bone and liver isoenzymes activity by heat inactivation and urea inhibition methods were about in mean +/- 1SD intervals. CVs of heat inactivation method for liver and bone isoenzymes were 3.17 and 3.73 and CVs of urea inhibition method for liver and bone isoenzymes were 3.33 and 4.46, respectively. Comparison of urea inhibition method with heat inactivation method, demonstrated a good coefficient of correlation for liver [r = 0.964] and bone [r = 0.961] isoenzymes. The heat inactivation and urea inhibition methods are cheap and had acceptable precision and reliability and good accuracy. These methods are useful for determination of ALP isoenzymes especially when bone and liver are involved

[Preparation and purification of anti immunoglobulin Y antibodies from rabbit]

Background and Objective: Chicken egg yolk antibodies [IgY] play an important role as an alternative to mammalian polyclonal antibodies. They are recently used in medical research for prophylaxis, diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Anti-IgY antibodies are used for immunoassay and therapy. The aim of this study was preparation and purification of anti-immunoglobulin Y antibodies from rabbit serum and confirm of its activity

Methods: IgY and other water-soluble proteins were extracted with acid and chloroform and then thiophilic chromatography [T-gel] was performed and applied for purification of IgY. Two female rabbits were immunized with IgY in Freud's adjuvant and then booster doses were administered, blood samples were collected by times. Ammonium sulfate precipitation, then gel filtration or T-gel chromatography used for purification of Anti-IgY antibodies. Cellulous acetate electrophoresis, double immunodiffusion and ELISA procedures used for confirm of identification and activity

Findings: The purified protein [IgY] was observed in the gamma-globulin region of electrophoresis. The purified antibodies from rabbit serum were observed in the gamma-globulin region, which reacted against IgY in double immunodiffusion and the titer of purified antibody-using ELISA, 1.10000 obtained

Conclusion: These antibodies serve as the basis of many immunoassays for detection and assay of several molecules as anti-immunoglobulin Y reagents

[Pregnancy and fetal autcomes in macrosomic delivery about 400 cases]

Fetal macrosomy represents a materno-fetal high-risk pathology in front of which obstetricians face diagnostic, therapeutic and prognostic problems. We report a retrospective analytical study of 400 deliveries of macrosomes brought together in the gynaecology and obstetrics C departement of the maternity center of Tunis over a period of 4 years from 1997 till 2001. The aim of our study is to stress on the materno-fetal risk factors of macrosomy. The frequency the macrosomy was of 7, 11%. The average maternal age was of 30, 9 years. Pathologies associated with pregnancy were dominated by gestational diabetes in 19% of cases and by toxemia in 17% of cases. The antecedents of big baby were noted in 23% of cases. Screening of macrosomy was based on excessive uterine height [>35 cm] found in 43 % of cases and near term ultrasounds, which suspected macrosomy in 21, 8% of the cases. Delivery was made naturally in 68 % of the cases, with instrumental help in 5, 25% of cases and by cesarian section in 32% of cases. The mean weight of macrosomes was of 4233g. Maternal complications were dominated by delivery hemorrage in 2% of cases and obstetrical trauma in 2, 75% of the cases. Fetal complications were dominated by shoulder dystocia in 2, 25% of the cases, respiratory distress 2, 75% of cases and hypoglycemia in 2% of the cases

[Inaugural diabetic acido-ketosis during pregnancy]

Ketoacidosic decompensation is still an important cause of morbidity, and mortality in diabetic patients. This complication may inaugurate the disease and its occurrence in pregnancy is a medical and obstetrical emergency that puts both mother's and foetus' life at risk. We report two cases of inaugural ketoacidosis in patients 27 and 14 years old, at 36 and 25 weeks of amenorrhea [WA]. With reanimation and insulinotherapy, evolution was favorable with a cesarean section delivrery at 36WA+3d and 35WA+3d of healthy children who weighed 2900g and 1970g. Persistance of high glucose values in postpartum required continuance of insulinotherapy for one patient and oral antidiabetic agents for the second

[Hormonal contraception with depo-provera about 930 cases]

In this study, D‚po-Prov‚ra [R] was evaluated in 930 women. It is a retrospective longitudinal bicentric study: We revealed the following The average age is 30,8 years. 66,6% the women have between 1 and 3 children. The nulliparous represent 17%. In 84,3%, it is the first used contraceptive method. The first injection was done in the post abortion in 65,3% of the cases. Pearl index is 0,46. Thus, the efficacy level is 99,54%. Amenorrhea is the most frequent trouble; its incidence within a year is 52,3%. It the first cause of abandon. The other troubles of the cycle disappear within 12 months. The acceptability is 34,8% year women