Relationship between biomarkers of muscle damage and redox status in response to a weightlifting training session: effect of time-of-day.

The aims of the present study were to: (1) investigate the effect of a weightlifting training session and time-of-day (TOD) upon biological parameters (i.e., oral temperature, hematological, C-reactive protein (CRP), and oxidative stress) and (2) assess their possible link with muscle damage responses. Nine weightlifters (21 ± 0.5 years) performed, in a randomized order, three Olympic-Weightlifting sessions (i.e., at 08:00, 14:00, and 18:00). Blood samples were collected at rest, 3 min and 48 h after each training session. Between pre- and post-training session, ANOVA showed significant increases in oxidative stress markers at the three TODs (p < 0.01) and significant increases for creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) only at 08:00 and 18:00 (p < 0.05). At rest, the results showed a significant diurnal variation for the majority of the selected parameters except for malondialdehyde (MDA), total bilirubin, and CRP with higher values observed at 18:00 (p < 0.05). After the training session, given the higher rate of increase during the morning session, these diurnal variations persisted for temperature and WBC (p < 0.01) and were suppressed for CK, LDH, uric acid (UA), catalase, and glutathione peroxidase. The main significant correlations (p < 0.001) were observed between: (1) CK and MDA (r = 0.6) and CK and UA (r = 0.66 and r = 0.82) during the morning and evening training sessions; (2) CK and CRP only during the morning session (r = 0.5); and (3) CRP and WBC during the three training sessions (r = 0.8). In conclusion, the present findings: (1) confirm that the muscle damage responses could be induced by a high level of oxidative stress and (2) suggest to avoid scheduling training sessions in the morning given the higher muscle damage, inflammatory, and oxidative responses at this TOD.

Chediak-Higashi syndrome presenting in accelerated phase: A case report and literature review.

Chediak-Higashi syndrome (CHS) is a rare autosomal recessive lysosomal disorder characterized by frequent infections, oculocutaneous albinism, bleeding diathesis, and progressive neurologic deterioration. In 85% of cases, CHS patients develop the accelerated phase characterized by pancytopenia, high fever, and lymphohistiocytic infiltration of liver, spleen, and lymph nodes. Treatment of accelerated-phase CHS is difficult and the prognosis is poor. Here, we report a case of CHS in a 2-year-old boy who presented in the accelerated phase of the disease. CHS diagnosis was made on the basis of clinical characteristics, hair analysis, and identification of pathognomonic giant azurophilic granules in peripheral blood and bone marrow.

Ameliorative effects of vanillin on potassium bromate induces bone and blood disorders in vivo.

The objective of this study was to investigate the propensity of potassium bromate (KBrO3) to induce oxidative stress in blood and bone of adult mice and its possible attenuation by vanillin. Our results demonstrated, after KBrO3 treatment, a decrease of red blood cells and hemoglobin and a significant increase of white blood cell. A decrease in plasma levels of folic acid, vitamin B12 and iron was also noted. Interestingly, an increase of lipid peroxidation, hydroperoxides, hydrogen peroxide, advanced oxidation protein products and protein carbonyl levels in erythrocytes and bone was observed, while superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities and glutathione, non-protein thiol and vitamin C levels were decreased. KBrO3 treatment resulted in blood and bone DNA fragmentation, a hallmark of genotoxicity-KBrO3-induced, with reduction of DNA levels. Calcium and phosphorus levels showed a decrease in the bone and an increase in the plasma after KBrO3 treatment. These biochemical alterations were accompanied by histological changes in the blood smear and bone tissue. Treatment with vanillin improved the histopathological, hematotoxic and genotoxic effects induced by KBrO3. The results showed, for the first time, that the vanillin possesses a potent protective effect against the oxidative stress and genotoxicity in bone and blood of KBrO3-treated mice.

Detoxification of rats subjected to nickel chloride by a biomaterial-based carbonated orthophosphate.

Recently, the therapeutic approaches of the detoxification against the metals (nickel) in the body are the use of biomaterials such as carbonated hydroxyapatite. The aim of this study is therefore to analyze the physiological and physicochemical parameters of strain white rats "Wistar" receiving nickel chloride and to study the protective associative of apatite against adverse effects of this metal, and this in comparison with control rats. Our results showed that the nickel induced in rats an oxidative stress objectified by elevated levels of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances and conjugated dienes associated with inhibition of the activity of the antioxidant defense system such as glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and catalase in the liver, kidney, spleen and erythrocyte. Disorders balances of ferric, phosphocalcic, a renal failure and a liver toxicity were observed in rats exposed to nickel. As well as a significant increase in the rate of nickel in the bones and microcytic anemia was revealed. However, the implantation of carbonated hydroxyapatite in capsule form protects rats intoxicated by the nickel against the toxic effects of this metal by lowering the levels of markers of lipid peroxidation and improving the activities of defense enzymes. Our implantation technique is effective to correct ferric balance and phosphocalcic equilibrium, to protect liver and kidney function, to reduce the rate of bone nickel and to correct anemia. They clearly explain the beneficial and protective of our biomaterial which aims the detoxification of rats receiving nickel by substituting cationic (Ca(2+) by Ni(2+)) and anionic (OH(-) by Cl(-)) confirmed by physicochemical characterization like the IR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. These techniques have shown on the one hand a duplication of OH(-) bands (IR) and on the other hand the increase of the volume of the apatite cell after these substitutions (X-ray diffraction).

High intensity exercise affects diurnal variation of some biological markers in trained subjects.

The study investigated if markers of muscle injury and antioxidant status were affected by a Wingate test performed at 2 different times of day. 15 young male footballers performed 2 tests (randomized) at 07:00-h and 17:00-h. Fasting blood samples were collected before and 3 min after each test for assessment of markers of muscle injury and antioxidant status. Resting oral temperature was recorded during each session. Peak power (10.76 ± 1.05 vs. 11.15 ± 0.83 W.kg( - 1)) and fatigue index (0.41 ± 0.04 vs. 0.49 ± 0.13%) during the Wingate test, and core temperature, were significantly higher (all p<0.05) in the evening. Markers of muscle injury were significantly higher in the evening before and after exercise (e. g., 148.7 ± 67.05 vs. 195 ± 74.6 and 191.6 ± 79.52 vs. 263.6 ± 96.06 IU.L (- 1), respectively, for creatine kinase; both p<0.001). Antioxidant parameters increased after the Wingate test but only resting values were significantly higher in the morning (e. g., 1.33 ± 0.19 vs. 1.19 ± 0.14 µmol.L (- 1) for total antioxidant status; p<0.05). The results indicate that muscle injury and antioxidant activity after the Wingate test were higher in the evening, suggesting a possible link between the biochemical measures and the diurnal fluctuation of anaerobic performance. However, repetition of this study after prescribed rather than self-selected exercise intensity is recommended.

[Evaluation of a prospective therapeutic protocol in adult patients with nonsevere aplastic anemia in South Tunisia]. / Evaluation d'un protocole thérapeutique prospectif des aplasies médullaires acquises non sévères de l'adulte dans le Sud tunisien.

INTRODUCTION: Immunosuppressive drugs are usually used in the treatment of acquired aplastic anemia (AAA). The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of a prospective therapeutic protocol using cyclosporine and androgens in the treatment of adult patients with nonsevere AAA. METHODS: Twenty-nine patients diagnosed and treated at the University Hospital of Sfax (Tunisia), during a 10-year period (1991-2000) were included. In addition to symptomatic treatment (transfusion, antibiotics), all the patients received a specific treatment including two drugs: cyclosporine 5mg/kg per day and androgens 0,5mg/kg per day. RESULTS: The response rate at three, six and 12 months were 48, 75, and 87%, respectively. Survival rate was 52% at one year, and 37% at five and 10 years. The main toxicities were hepatic, renal, and hypertension, observed in 53, 16 and 15%, respectively. These toxicities were reversible in 65, 87 and 100% of the cases, respectively. CONCLUSION: The response and survival rates in our series are quite satisfactory when compared to those obtained with other immunosuppressive drugs (cyclosporine and antilymphocyte serum) in the literature. The addition of androgens in our patients seemed to potentiate the immunosuppression induced by ciclosporin, but secondary toxic effects were more common.

[Detection by flow cytometry of T cell subsets secreting IL-2 and UFNy(Gamma): optimalisation for the technic and the establishment of reference values]. / Détection par cytométrie en flux des sous-populations lymphocytaires T sécrétrices d'IL-2 et IFN-gamma : optimisation de la technique et établissement des valeurs de référence.

A dysregulation in Th1/Th2 balance has been described for different pathological situations. Knowing the cytokine profile in a given pathology could assist in understanding the disease mechanism and in choosing an immune intervention most effective for the management of this condition. In this work, the production of two Th1 cytokines, IL-2 and IFN- gamma, was analyzed for different T-cell subsets from 20 normal subjects (mean age 33.5 years) and reference values were defined using the flow cytometric analyses. The optimum operating conditions were set as following: mononuclear cells were stimulated with PMA (20 ng/ml) and ionomycin (1 uM) for 6 h in the presence of brefeldin A (10 ug/ml). Cells were fixed with 4% paraformaldehyde and then dually stained, with anti-CD3 or anti-CD4 or anti-CD8 for the membrane and with anticytokine antibody for the intracytoplasma after being permeabilized with 0.5% saponine solution. The frequency determination of cells that produce IL-2 or IFN-gamma revealed large 95% confidence intervals: (CD3-IL-2: 4.60-10.67%, CD8-IL-2: 1.47-23%, CD3-IFN-gamma: 2,97-32,49%, CD4-IFN-gamma: 2.83-21%, CD8-IFN-gamma: 4.60-35.28%). CD4+ lymphocytes produce the majority of IL-2 (85 vs 13% for CD8+). For IFN-gamma, the situation is more balanced, but the CD4+ lymphocytes remain the predominant producer cells (63 vs. 41%).

[Congenital factor XIII deficiency in the south of Tunisia]. / Déficit congénital en facteur XIII de la coagulation dans le sud tunisien.

Factor XIII deficiency is a rare autosomal recessive congenital disorder of haemostasis characterised by a plasmatic factor XIII level less than 1% in homozygote and bleeding as of the youth. We report a study about ten patients with congenital factor XIII deficiency from seven south-Tunisian families, there are seven females. Umbilical bleeding was common and only two patients had intracranial bleeding. The standard screening tests are normal. Factor XIII activity was less than 1% in all patients. A sub-unit A deficit was detected for the ten patients. Out hemorrhagic context, five patients receive regular prophylactic transfusion with fresh frozen plasma.

[Myelodysplastic syndrome / acute myeloid leukemia with t(8; 21) and bundle of Auer rods in neutrophils: an unusual hemopathy]. / Syndrome myélodysplasique / leucémie aiguë avec t(8;21) et polynucléaires à corps d'Auer en fagot: une hémopathie rare de présentation inhabituelle.

We report the case of a 8-year-old girl diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome. This case was morphologically characterized by the presence of bundle of Auer rods in the neutrophils. The evolution of the disease was marked by a quick transformation in a acute myeloid leukaemia with t(8;21) refractory to treatment. We reviewed the literature for clinical, biological and therapeutic features of this rare childhood hemopathy.

[Streptococcus pneumoniae of lesser sensitivity to penicillin in the Sfax region, Tunisia (1994-1995)]. / Streptococcus pneumoniae de sensibilité diminuée à la pénicilline dans la région de Sfax, Tunisie (1994-1995).

In the last fifteen years, the frequency of Streptococcus pneumoniae resistance to penicillin has been regularly increasing with various degrees in different geographical zones. In order to determine the epidemiological situation in our region, we studied penicillin G susceptibility of S. pneumoniae strains isolated in our laboratory for 2 years 1994 and 1995. The S. pneumoniae strains with reduced susceptibility to penicillin G (PSDP) were detected by oxacillin screen test (using 1 microgram oxacillin disk) and completed with the determination of penicillin G MIC. We isolated 107 S. pneumoniae strains (41 in 1994 and 66 in 1995); 12 of them had reduced susceptibility to penicillin (11.2%). The study showed a difference in the percentage of penicillin susceptibility between invasive (5.1%) and non invasive strains (28.6%). The rate of strains with reduced susceptibility to penicillin increased from 7.3% in 1994 to 13.6% in 1995 with a higher degree of resistance in 1995. We concluded that our region is not spared from the problem of the decreased susceptibility to penicillin G of S. pneumoniae. These results should prompt us to survey the evolution of such resistance.