Incidence and risk factors associated with development of oxalipatin-induced acute peripheral neuropathy in colorectal cancer patients.

INTRODUCTION: Oxaliplatin utilized in colorectal neoplasms treatment could induce acute peripheral neuropathy (APN) which is a dreadful and frequent adverse event. The objective of this study is to estimate incidence of APN induced by oxaliplatin cumulative incidence in cancer patients colorectal and to describe the distribution of the APN incidence according to demographic and clinical characteristics, as well as according to oxaliplatin cumulative dose. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is a prospective descriptive study which took place from June to December 2018 at the Salah Azaiz Institute, Tunis. Demographic data, clinical data and data on oxaliplatin administration were collected from patient interview, medical files and pharmaceutical databases. RESULTS: The APN (grade 1, grade 2 and grade 3) cumulative incidence during the period of six months of follow up was 86% (95% CI [0.7815-0.9132]). While 38.3% (95% CI [0.29-0.48]) of the patients had grade 2 or 3 neuropathy. The search for factors associated with the risk of grade 2 and 3 NAP revealed trend significant association with diabetes (adjusted RR = 5.7 (IC95% [0.9- 37.3]; p = 0.07). Moreover, there was significant association with oxaliplatin cumulative dose (≥421 mg/m2) to increase the risk of APN grade 2 and 3 (adjusted RR = 7.8; [2.7-22.7]; p = 0.0001). Furthermore, significant association with obesity to increase the risk of APN grade 2 and 3 (adjusted RR = 5.3 [1.1- 25.4]; p = 0.04) was found. Among the patients included, 31.1% experienced oxaliplatin dose reduction and in the majority of cases this reduction is due to neurotoxicity (90.9%). CONCLUSION: The high incidence of oxaliplatin-induced APN remains an embarrassing and handicapping side effect. Our study has shown that oxaliplatin cumulative dose (≥421 mg/m2), diabetes and obesity are risk factor for the development of grade 2 and 3 APN.

Physico-chemical and spectroscopic quality assessment of compost from date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) waste valorization.

Organic matter (OM) is a vital component for a healthy soil, its lack arise a major problem for farmers who need to use commercialized fertilizers with high costs. Considering circular economy approach and for increasing OM availability, water soaked date palm waste was co-composted with goat manure in aerated windrow to produce a soil organic amendment. The OM biodegradation was mainly controlled based on biological parameters and spectroscopic techniques. The results showed a rapid temperature increase during the first week, and a relatively long compost maturity phase. The OM content reduction was of 36% and C/N ratio shifted from 60 to 20 at the process end. During the composting process, the specific ultraviolet absorbance SUVA254, SUVA269 and the SUVA280 values increase confirmed the OM and hydrophilic compounds degradation, as well as substrate content oxidation into aromatic compounds. The Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analyses of the different samples collected during the process exhibited both OM biodegradation and mineralization. The 3 absorption ratios 1650/2845, 1525/2925 and 2920/1640 confirmed an aromaticity increase by aromatic structures biosynthesis, such as humic-like and fulvic-like substances, with the decomposition/transformation of aliphatic components, polysaccharides, and alcohols. Fluorescence excitation-emission matrix (FEEM) spectroscopy coupled with parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) evidenced the dissolved organic matter (DOM) humification. A four-component model was obtained, i.e. humic-like component (S1, S2 and S3) and fulvic-like component (S4). The produced compost didn't exhibit any phytotoxicity evidenced by cress seed germination index exceeding 80%. All the analyses confirmed the good quality of the compost issued from mixed date palm waste and goat manure.

Association of the IL-10 receptor A536G (S138G) loss-of-function variant with multiple sclerosis in Tunisian patients.

Interleukin-10 (IL-10), a potent anti-inflammatory T-cell cytokine, has been shown to be a regulatory cytokine that is associated with disease remission in multiple sclerosis (MS) and exerts its activity through its cognate cell surface receptor complex, IL-10 receptor 1 (IL-10R1) and IL-10R2. The purpose of this study was to investigate the IL-10R1 S138G loss-of-function polymorphism (A536G: rs3135932) for possible influence on susceptibility and outcome of MS in Tunisian patients. A total of 103 Tunisian MS patients and 160 control subjects were studied. Genomic DNA samples were extracted from leukocytes and used to investigate S138G polymorphism in IL-10R1 gene by multiplex allele-specific polymerase chain reaction. Associations between G allele [odds ratio (OR) = 5.57; 95% confidence intervals (CI) = 3.26-9.54; p = 10-7 ], GG genotypes [OR = 10.41; 95% CI = 2.28-47.58; p = 0.0007] and AG genotype [OR = 4.14; 95% CI = 2.16-7.93; p = 0.000016] with the risk development of MS were found. In contrast, the AA genotype seemed to be associated with protection against MS [OR = 0.17; 95% CI = 0.09-0.30; p = 10-7 ]. No association was found between S138G SNP and clinical features or disease activity of MS patients. In conclusion, our results suggest that S138G loss-of-function polymorphism of the IL-10R1 may be important risk factor in increasing susceptibility to MS.

Factors related to treatment compliance in bipolar disorder.

BACKGROUND: Medication non-adherence is a major problem in patients with bipolar disorder as it is associated to poor clinical outcomes with frequent relapses and consequently poor quality of life. The reasons that patients are non adherent with medication are not well understood by clinicians who often consider it as related to the illness itself.    AIMS: To assess sociodemographic, clinical and therapeutic factors related to medication compliance in bipolar disorder. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the department of psychiatry of FarhatHached Hospital of Sousse. We included 50 outpatients with bipolar disorder type I or II according to the criteria of the DSM-IV TR. The sociodemographic, clinical and therapeutic data were collected and adherence was evaluated with the Medication Adherence Report Scale (MARS) of Thompson. RESULTS: The mean age of our patients was of 31.9 years. The most frequent diagnosis was the bipolar disorder type I (60 %). Most of the participants were single (n=30; 60%), unemployed and living with their families. Factors associated to medication non-adherence were: young age, addiction, complexity and adverse effects of medications, lack of information about the disease and utility of treatments, low income and type I of bipolar disorder. CONCLUSION: Improving medication compliance strategies in bipolar patients must take into account psycho education of patients about their disease and simplification of prescriptions that must be also well tolerated mainly in young subjects, having addictive behaviors and low income.

Polyphenolic compounds progress during olive mill wastewater sludge and poultry manure co-composting, and humic substances building (Southeastern Tunisia).

In Mediterranean areas, olive mill wastes pose a major environmental problem owing to their important production and their high polyphenolic compounds and organic acids concentrations. In this work, the evolution of polyphenolic compounds was studied during co-composting of olive mill wastewater sludge and poultry manure, based on qualitative (G-50 sephadex) and quantitative (Folin-Ciocalteu), as well as high pressure liquid chromatography analyses. Results showed a significant polyphenolic content decrease of 99% and a noticeable transformation of low to high molecular weight fraction during the compost maturation period. During this step, polyphenols disappearance suggested their assimilation by thermophilic bacteria as a carbon and energy source, and contributed to humic substances synthesis. Polyphenolic compounds, identified initially by high pressure liquid chromatography, disappeared by composting and only traces of caffeic, coumaric and ferulic acids were detected in the compost. In the soil, the produced compost application improved the chemical and physico-chemical soil properties, mainly fertilising elements such as calcium, magnesium, nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus. Consequently, a higher potato production was harvested in comparison with manure amendment.