Open and endovascular treatment by covered and multilayer stents in the therapy of renal artery aneurysms: mid and long term outcomes in a single center experience.

AIM: The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the mid and long terms outcomes of open and endovascular surgical treatment, as well as multilayer stent, in patients affected by Renal Artery Aneurysm (RAA). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty five patients with RAA (24 monolateral and 1 bilateral aneurysm, 26 aneurysms) were observed between 2000 and 2015: 4 were not treated due to the small size of the aneurysm (< 2.5 cm); out of the remaining, 16 underwent endovascular treatment, 2 were treated by open surgery consisting in aneurysmectomy and graft reconstruction and 5 (in 1 patient bilateral) were treated by ex vivo repair and autotransplantation. RESULTS: Out of the 22 patients treated for RAA, one patient operated upon open surgery presented an early thrombosis of a PTFE graft, followed by nephrectomy (4.7%); one patient underwent autotransplantation showed an ureteral kinking without functional consequences. In a follow-up ranging from 1 and 11 years (mean 5 years), no deaths were observed; all the renal arteries repaired were patents and 16 out of 21 patients had a significative reduction of systemic blood pressure. DISCUSSION: The choice of the best treatment is based on aneurysm's morphology according to Rundback's classification. The type I, involving the main renal artery, is always treated by endovascular approach; type II, involving renal artery bifurcations may be treated by open surgery or multilayer stents; type III (hilar or intraparenchymal aneurysms) needs only an open surgical treatment as autotransplantation. CONCLUSION: Based on our experience it seems that most of RAAs may be treated by endovascular technique. The ex vivo autotransplantation represents the first-line treatment in hilar and intraparenchymal aneurysms. Multilayer stents seem to have good outcome in the treatment of aneurysms involving arterial bifurcations. Mid and long term results, related to kidney preservation and to normalization of blood pressure, seems satisfying.

Antioxidant activities, anticancer activity and polyphenolics profile, of leaf, fruit and stem extracts of Pistacia lentiscus from Tunisia.

Plant derived compounds have played an important role in the development of several clinically useful anticancer drugs. The aim of the present study was 1) to evaluate for the first time the anti-proliferative activity of a polyphenol enriched extract obtained from leaf, fruit and stem of Tunisian variety of Pistacia lentiscus against two cultured cancer cells, and 2) to carry out a phytochemical analysis of vegetable extracts particularly by determining the chemical composition of phenolics (total polyphenols, flavonoids and condensed tannins content in solvents with varying polarities), 3) to  evaluate the antioxidant activity and identify the major compounds by RP-HPLC. Leaf extract using methanol/water (8:2) showed the highest polyphenol content (124.1 mg GAE/g DW). Moreover, total antioxidant capacity, reducing power and antiradical capacities against DPPH were maximal in leaf extracts with IC50 significantly lower than that standard (BHT). In MTT assay, methanol (8:2) extract exerted the most potent cytotoxic effect. The leaf extract exhibited an important antiproliferative activity (IC50: 135.67 ± 2.5 and 250.45 ± 1.96 µg/ml in CaCo2 and AGS cells respectively) but the infusion extracts of fruit stems and leaves were inactive. The RP-HPLC analysis revealed the presence of several phenolic compounds in P. lentiscus leaf, fruit and stem including tannic acid, gallic acid, digalloyl quinic acid derivative, quercetin and   p-coumaric acid as major phenolics. The high phenolic content and the important antioxidant activities of P. lentiscus extract could be a useful source of natural products and may be increasingly important for human consumption, prevention of damages caused by oxygen free as well as for the agro-food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries.

Immunohistochemical analysis of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and p53 expression in pterygium from Tunisian patients.

A pterygium is characterized by abnormal fibrovascular corneoconjunctival tissue. A number of investigations have attempted to elucidate this incompletely understood pathology. Since vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and p53 are known to participate in tumor vascularization, our purpose was to study VEGF and p53 expression in active primary and recurrent pterygium from Tunisian patients. To this end, 15 cases of active primary pterygium and five cases of recurrent pterygium from Tunisia were studied by immunohistochemistry. Antibodies raised against VEGF and p53 were used to analyze the distribution and expression of these markers in pterygium and normal human conjunctiva were used as negative control. VEGF and p53 proteins were found in all cases of primary pterygium in epithelial, fibroblast and vascular endothelial cells. Active primary and recurrent pterygium have different patterns of expression. In primary pterygium, an important variability of p53 and VEGF expression was observed. However, in recurrent pterygium, p53 immunoreactivity was weak to moderate, whereas VEGF immunoreactivity was strong. In normal human conjunctiva, VEGF and p53 expression was weak to negative. The overexpression of VEGF in active primary and recurrent pterygium suggests that angiogenesis may play a role in pterygium pathogenesis and the expression of p53 in active primary pterygium, which might be associated with its mutated form, supports the hypothesis that actinic radiation may be involved in the genesis of pterygium. Thus, VEGF and p53 may be useful biomarkers for understanding the physiopathology of pterygium.

Morphological and biochemical changes of salmonella hadar exposed to aqueous garlic extract / Cambios morfológicos y bioquímicos de salmonella hadar expuestas a extracto acuoso de ajo

The effect on Salmonella hadar growth was investigated using fresh sterile liquid medium (Pronadisa, Hispanlab) containing aqueous garlic extract (AGE) at different concentration (0, 11, 12, and 13 mg/ml). The garlic extract added at these final concentrations had a bacteriostatic effect on Salmonella hadar. The effect of these bacteriostatic concentration of AGE on the growth of the tested serovar, revealed a pattern of inhibition characterized by: (i) a transitory inhibition phase whose duration was proportional to AGE concentration (ii) a resumed growth phase which showed a lower rate of growth than in uninhibited controls, and (iii) an entry into stationary phase at a lower culture density. The minimal inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentrations were very close, garlic MIC was 12 mg/ml and the MBC was 14 mg/ml. Among enzymatic activities followed with the API-ZYM system, significant changes during the inhibition phase were detected. These biochemical changes represent an adaptative response towards the garlic stress. Some cellular enzymatic activities disappeared, whereas others were induced or maintained after AGE addition. TEM images of the samples treated with the bacteriostatic concentration of AGE (12 mg/ml) revealed the rupture of cell walls and nonhomogeneous disposition of cytoplasmic materials within treated bacteria.

El efecto sobre el crecimiento de Salmonella hadar fue investigado utilizando un medio líquido estéril fresco (Pronadisa, Hispanlab) conteniendo el extracto acuoso de ajo (EAA) en diferentes concentraciones (0, 11, 12 y 13 mg/ml). El extracto de ajo añadido con estas concentraciones tuvo un efecto bacteriostático sobre Salmonella hadar. La prueba serovar reveló un patrón de inhibición caracterizado por: (i) una fase de inhibición transitoria cuya duración fue proporcional a la concentración de EAA, (ii) una reanudación de la fase de crecimiento, la cual mostró una tasa más baja de crecimiento que controles sin inhibición, y (iii) una ingreso en fase estacionaria con una menor densidad de cultivo. La concentración mínima inhibitoria (CMI) y la concentración mínima bactericida (CMB) fueron muy cercanas, la CMI de ajo fue de 12 mg/ml y la CMB fue de 14 mg/ml. Las actividades enzimáticas seguidas con el sistema API-ZYM, mostraron cambios significativos durante la fase de inhibición. Estos cambios bioquímicos representan una respuesta adaptativa al estrés del ajo. Algunas actividades enzimáticas celulares desaparecieron, mientras que otras fueron inducidas o mantenidas después de la adición de EAA. Las imágenes de MET de las muestras tratadas con la concentración del bacteriostático EAA (12 mg/ml) revelaron la ruptura de las paredes celulares y la disposición no homogénea de materiales citoplasmáticos dentro de las bacterias tratadas.

Immunohistochemical analysis of cellular adhesion molecules (ICAM-1, VCAM-1) and VEGF in fibrovascular membranes of patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy: preliminary study.

PURPOSE: Diabetic fibrovascular membranes are the main pathological changes of proliferative diabetic retinopathy that can cause serious complications leading to blindness. Since the mechanism of fibrovascular membrane development is still unknown, the aim of our study was to identify potential biomarkers for this pathology. To this end, we analyzed the simultaneous expression of ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and VEGF within tissues of diabetic fibrovascular membranes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fibrovascular membranes were taken from nine diabetic patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy. The fibrovascular membrane specimens were analyzed by immunohistochemistry to determine ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and VEGF expression. Controls were collected on nine normal conjunctivas removed during senile cataract surgery. RESULTS: Coexpression of ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and VEGF was found in most of the diabetic fibrovascular membranes studied. Thus, ICAM-1 was positive in eight of nine membranes (82%), VCAM-1 in seven of nine membranes (78%) and VEGF in all the membranes. CONCLUSIONS: The substantial overexpression of adhesion molecules ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and of VEGF suggests that these molecules might contribute to the development of fibrovascular membranes in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy, and that they could constitute suitable markers of this pathology.

Effect of training on GH and IGF-1 responses to a submaximal exercise in football players.

To study the effects of regular football training on basal and exercise induced levels of growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1), 13 young football players were investigated by a submaximal exercise at the beginning of the sporting season in October (S1), at the middle of the season in January (S2) and at the end in May (S3). At each session, an exercise test on an ergogycle was performed for 25 min, beginning with an incremental exercise to reach 90% of theoretical maximal heart, which was maintained for the last 10 min of the test. Venous blood samples were collected at rest, at the end of the exercise and at 30 and 60 min during the recovery period. Plasma lactate and glucose concentrations increased during exercise with no difference found between sessions. GH level increased with exercise at each session but the response was significantly higher in S1 than in S2 and S3 (P<0.01). The GH area under the curve decreased significantly all along the football season (P<0.01); the IGF-1 level did not significantly change during exercise nor with training. Basal insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP3) remained stable during the three sessions. Football training decreased significantly the exercise-stimulated GH levels all along the football season but did not have any significant effect on IGF-1 levels or on basal IGFBP3 levels.

Contribution of blotting techniques to the study of rapeseeds (Brassica napus L.) lipases.

A recent advance in the study of plant lipases involving immunological techniques is presented. In an attempt to characterize lipases of cotyledons from germinating rapeseed seedlings and to investigate an eventual cross-reactivity with animal lipases, we have prepared anti-porcine pancreatic lipase antibodies raised in rabbit. It is shown by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and dot-blotting that these antibodies react with lipases in the rapeseed crude extract and in the different cellular fractions obtained by differential centrifugation. Preincubation of the antiserum with the rapeseed crude extract affects the amount of antibodies binding to the porcine pancreatic lipase. We demonstrate immunochemical cross-reactivity between rapeseed and porcine pancreatic lipase. Using the immunoblotting procedure, it is found that antibodies bind specifically to a single polypeptide with a molecular mass of about 55 kDa. Rapeseed lipase activity decreased after immunoprecipitation suggesting that antibodies were bound to some catalytic site residues. We conclude from the data obtained in this study that the two different lipase species present close similarities in amino acid sequence and antigen characteristics.

Diacylglycerol acyltransferase in maturing sunflower seeds.

Developing sunflower seeds exhibit a high diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DAGAT, EC 2.3.1.20) activity. The distribution of the enzyme has been studied in subcellular fractions prepared by differential centrifugation of seed homogenate. Its activity was characterized using [1-(14)C]oleoyl-CoA and diolein dispersed in Tween 20. Some properties of the microsomal fraction of DAGAT were investigated. Hyperbolic kinetics were observed, the apparent K(m) was 60 microM and the specific activity of the reaction 15 pmol/min/mg of protein. Addition of BSA (0.1%) stimulated oleate incorporation, which was not dependent on the presence of exogenous diacylglycerol. Detergents which might solubilize DAGAT, Triton X-100 and CHAPS, were tested for enzyme inhibition, and CHAPS was found to be the least denaturing.

Evidence of cross-reactivity between porcine pancreatic and rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) lipases.

A cross-reactivity between animal and plant lipases was determined, using immunological techniques. It was shown by ELISA and dot-blotting that these antibodies react with lipases in the rapeseed crude extract and in the different cellular fractions obtained by differential centrifugation. Pre-incubation of the antiserum with the rapeseed crude extract affects the amount of antibodies binding to the porcine pancreatic lipase. Antibodies were able to precipitate lipase activity from 3-day-old rapeseed crude extract. These epitopes seem to be located in the catalytic site, suggesting that a consensus sequence exists in oleaginous lipases and that it will be universal.

[Biosystematic study of mice of the genus Mus: karyotype and electrophoretic analysis of total proteins]. / Contribution à l'étude biosystématique de la souris du genre Mus: caryotype et analyse électrophorètique des protéines totales.

Two forms of sympatric mice are captured in North - Tunisia: long - tailed mouse and short - tailed mouse. They are often considered as two semi - species of genus Mus, respectively Mus musculus musculus et Mus musculus spretus. They have the same Karyotype (2n = acrocentrics). The electrophoretic study of total proteins, shows up genetics differences. These two forms of mice may be considered as two different species, as like as mices of Europe: Mus musculus at long-tailed and Mus spretus at short tailed.