Simultaneous Exposure to Noise and Toluene Induces Oxidative and Inflammatory Damage in the Heart of Wistar Rats: Therapeutic Potential of Olea europaea L. Leaf Extract.

Workers in occupational settings often face simultaneous exposure to multiple risk factors, including noise and chemicals. This study aimed to investigate the effects of combined exposure to noise and toluene on the cardiac health of rats, with a focus on assessing the potential mitigating effects of Olea europaea L. (OLE) leaf extract (40 mg/kg/day). The evaluation involved scrutinizing biochemical and hematological markers, quantifying oxidative stress levels, determining proinflammatory cytokines in the serum, and conducting an in silico Docking studies. Forty-two male Wistar rats were divided into eight groups-(n = 6/group):-Control-group-(C),-OLE-group-(Rats administered OLE), NT-group (rats co-exposed to noise and toluene), NT-4 group-(rats co-exposed to noise and toluene four weeks after the exposure period), NT + OLE1-group (rats co-exposed to noise and toluene treated with OLE for one week), NT + OLE2-group-(rats co-exposed to noise and toluene treated with OLE for two weeks), NT + OLE3-group-(rats co-exposed to noise and toluene treated with OLE for three weeks), and NT + OLE4-group (rats co-exposed to noise and toluene treated with OLE for four weeks). The results revealed that combined exposure to noise and toluene led to oxidative damage and increased serum levels of proinflammatory cytokines. However, OLE treatment attenuated these effects by reducing lipid peroxidation and enhancing catalase and superoxide dismutase activities. Additionally, OLE treatment significantly decreased proinflammatory cytokine levels compared to the noise and toluene co-exposed group. The study highlighted the potential of OLE to attenuate the adverse effects of combined exposure to noise and toluene, attributed to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

Olea europaea L. leaf extract mitigates pulmonary inflammation and tissue destruction in Wistar rats induced by concurrent exposure to noise and toluene.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of combined exposure to noise (85 dB(A)) and inhaled Toluene (300 ± 10 ppm) on rat lung health. It also aimed to assess the potential therapeutic effects of Olea europaea L. leaves extract (OLE) (40 mg/kg/day) using biochemical, histopathological, and immunohistochemical (IHC) analyses, as well as determination of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-1ß), and in silico Docking studies. The experiment involved forty-two male Wistar rats divided into seven groups, each exposed to a 6-week/6-hour/day regimen of noise and Toluene. The groups included a control group, rats co-exposed to noise and Toluene, and rats co-exposed to noise and Toluene treated with OLE for different durations. The results indicated that noise and Toluene exposure led to structural damage in lung tissue, oxidative harm, and increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-1ß). However, the administration of OLE extract demonstrated positive effects in mitigating these adverse outcomes. OLE treatment reduced lipid peroxidation and enhanced the activities of catalase and superoxide dismutase, indicating its anti-oxidant properties. Furthermore, OLE significantly decreased the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines compared to the groups exposed to noise and Toluene without OLE treatment. Moreover, the in silico investigation substantiated a robust affinity between COX-2 and OLE components, affirming the anti-inflammatory activity. Overall, our findings suggest that OLE possesses anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties that mitigate the adverse effects of concurrent exposure to noise and Toluene.

The Clinical Significance of IGF-1R and Relationship with Epstein-Barr Virus Markers: LMP1 and EBERs in Tunisian Patients with Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma.

OBJECTIVES: Tunisia is in the endemic area of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) based assays have been commonly used as standard markers for screening and monitoring the disease. So, it is very important to find novel factors for the early diagnostic and prognostic evaluation of this cancer. The aim of the study was to evaluate the expression of IGF-1R (Insulin Growth Factor Receptor 1), LMP 1 (Latent Membrane Protein 1) and EBERs (EBV encoded RNAs) in order to determine their correlation with clinicopathologic parameters and survival rates in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). We also looked for the relationship between these biomarkers. METHODS: IGF-1R and LMP1 expression was performed by means of immunohistochemical method and EBERs were detected using in situ hybridization of paraffin embedded tumor tissues of 94 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma and 45 non-cancerous nasopharyngeal mucosa samples. RESULTS: Our findings demonstrated that IGF-1R was over expressed in 47.87% of NPC patients and only in 2.22% of controls. Positive LMP1 expression was detected in 56.38% of NPC patients and all NPC patients were positive for the EBV-encoded RNAs staining. A statistically significant positive correlation was observed between IGF-1R expression and the tumor size (P < .001). Kaplan-Meier survival curves showed that NPC patients with a strong IGF-1R expression level have shorter median and 5-year Overall Survival than those with weak expression rates (100.15 vs 102.68 months, P = .08). In addition, median and 5-year Disease-Free Survival was significantly lower in the LMP1 positive NPC patients than in the LMP1 negative ones (53.38 vs 93.37 months, P = .03). Moreover, LMP1 expression correlated strongly with IGF-1R expression (P = .018). The relationship between these two biomarkers could influence patient survival. CONCLUSION: IGF1-R and LMP1 could be valuable prognostic markers in Tunisian NPC patients.

HLA-A*26-A*30 and HLA-DRB1*10 could be predictors of nasopharyngeal carcinoma risk in high-risk Tunisian families.

We investigated human leukocyte antigen (HLA) profiles for Tunisians with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), their families, and a sample of unrelated healthy Tunisians in order to identify HLA specificities associated with familial NPC. HLA-A, -B, and -DRB1 typing was successful for 36 NPC patients, 72 unaffected family members, and 130 community controls, and the chi square or Fisher exact test was used to compare allele frequencies between cases and controls. We observed a consistent protective effect of HLA-DRB1*10 on NPC development. However, none of the NPC patients or their family members had a positive result for this HLA marker (0% vs 9.2% in controls, P = 0.047). In addition, HLA-A*26 was probably an induction marker, as its allelic frequency was significantly higher among NPC patients than among controls (P = 0.003) and among NPC patients than among at-risk family members (P = 0.067). Logistic regression analysis of the joint effect of selected HLA specificities showed that HLA-A*26 and HLA-A*30 were co-associated and have an important effect on NPC risk. Despite the small size of our cohort, we showed that HLA-A*26-A*30 and HLA-DRB1*10 might be predictive markers for NPC screening of Tunisian families with a high risk of NPC.

Association of maternal homocysteine and vitamins status with the risk of neural tube defects in Tunisia: A case-control study.

BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to determine whether low folate and vitamin B12 levels, as well as high homocysteine levels in pregnant women are associated with neural tube defects (NTDs) in Tunisia. METHODS: A total of 75 NTDs pregnancies and 75 matched controls were included in the study. Their vitamin B12, folate, and red blood cell folate concentrations were measured using a radio-immunoassay kit and total homocysteine concentrations were determined using a fluorescent polarization immunoassay. RESULTS: Vitamin B12 and folate concentrations were lower in NTD-affected pregnant women than in controls (respectively, p = 0.009 and p < 0.001). Total homocysteine concentration was significantly higher in the NTDs group than in controls (p = 0.008). In the case group, the folate levels were positively related with vitamin B12 levels (r = 0.54; p < 0.001) and negatively correlated with total homocysteine levels (r = -0.19; p = 0.04). Besides, red blood cell folate levels were positively correlated with folate levels (r = 0.24; p = 0.02) and negatively correlated with total homocysteine levels (r = -0.37; p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Lower concentrations of folate and vitamin B12 are related to the increased risk of NTDs. Both folate and vitamin B12 intake insufficiency could contribute to the increased risk of NTDs. A dietary supplement, combining folate and vitamin B12, might be an effective measure to decrease the NTDs incidence in Tunisia.

An increase in spina bifida cases in Tunisia, 2008-2011.

BACKGROUND: The term spina bifida refers to a group of neural tube defects that result in malformations of the spinal cord and the surrounding vertebrae. Though the etiologies of spina bifida remain largely unknown, several risk factors have been identified, including feto-maternal characteristics. AIM OF THE STUDY: To discover possible underlying reasons for the increase of spina bifida and identify intervention targets, an investigation was undertaken comparing spina bifida-affected pregnancy notifications in 2008-2011 with notifications in the period 1991-1994. METHODS: Characteristics and outcomes of births with spina bifida and pregnancy characteristics of mothers were recorded in the medical chart. Comparisons of pregnancies affected by a spina bifida in 2008-2011 were made with pregnancies affected by a spina bifida in the period 1991-1994. Statistical analysis was undertaken using Poisson regression and Chi-squared tests. RESULTS: From 1991 through 1994, the prevalence of identified spina bifida cases was equal to 0.3/10,000 births compared to 1.6/10,000 births in 2008-2011. This increase was statistically significant (P<0.001). The prevalence of females was equal to 0.45 per 10,000 births over the period 1991-1994 compared to 1.88 per 10,000 births during the period 2008-2011. As for males, the prevalence was equal to 0.16 per 10,000 births in 1991-1994 compared to 1.88 in 2008-2011. The difference was statistically significant (P<0.001) between both genders. A mother's age of over 30 years had significant impact on the emergence of spina bifida (P=0.02, OR=3.93, CI=1.23-12.47). As well as, maternal blood type was a significant risk factor for the appearance of spina bifida (P=0.008). Results also had shown that fetal weight and term, gestity and parity were significant risk factors for the occurrence of spina bifida (P<0.05).In this study, results have been interpreted with caution due to analyses not being adjusted. CONCLUSION: This analysis highlighted areas where prevention efforts should be strengthened and surveillance data improved.

Epidemiology of neural tube defect subtypes in Tunisia, 1991-2011.

BACKGROUND: Neural tube defects are common major congenital anomalies that result from very early disruption in the development of the brain and spinal cord. AIM OF THE STUDY: We conducted an epidemiological study to determine the impact of some feto-maternal characteristics in the occurrence of NTD subtypes. METHODS: Characteristics and outcomes of births with NTD and pregnancy characteristics of mothers over a period of twenty years (1991-2011) were recorded in the medical chart. RESULTS: From 1991 through 2011, 769 stillborns with NTD were delivered, yielding a prevalence of 2.02/10,000. The increase in NTD prevalences over these years was statistically significant (P = 0.000). In addition, differences between prevalences of NTD subtypes over season (P = 0.003) and between genders (P < 0.001) were significant. The highest frequency was noticed in winter with 3, 7 per 10,000 births among females. The difference in fetal term between subtypes was significant (P = 0.017). The probability to have a malformed fetus with a weight less than 1500 g was three times higher in myelomeningocele than in craniorachischisis, two times higher in anencephaly and encephalocele, but two times lower than rachischisis. Mothers with one gestation were two fold higher in anencephaly than in encephalocele. Nulliparous mothers' cases were significantly more likely to have NTD than uni- or multiparous mothers. O+ mother's blood type presented a significant risk factor and was significantly less common in myelomeningocele than in rachischisis, but three times higher than in craniorachischisis. Consanguinity was present in cases with rachischisis and was two times higher than in cases with anencephaly, and three times higher than in cases with encephalocele. In this study, the results have been interpreted with caution due to analyses not being adjusted. CONCLUSION: One of the main findings of the study is that there are many differences between NTD subtypes, which suggests that there may be etiologic differences between subtypes. This suggests that, although epidemiologic studies frequently do not distinguish between NTD subtypes in analyses, they should be analyzed separately when possible.