Reproductive effects in hybrid sparrow from a polluted area in Tunisia: Oxidative damage and altered testicular histomorphology.

Air pollution is a threat for human health and wildlife. The aim of this study is to assess the pathophysiological changes and the oxidative-antioxidative status in testicular tissues of 40 Hybrid sparrows collected from four areas in Gabès city, one of the most polluted areas in Tunisia. The testis histopathological analysis revealed alterations in birds from Ghannouche, the polluted area. The thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) levels were higher in testis of birds from the contaminated site compared to less polluted areas indicating oxidative damage to membrane lipids. Antioxidant enzyme activities (superoxide dismutase and catalase) were lower in testis sparrows from the polluted site compared with the reference site, suggesting deficiency of the antioxidant system to compensate for oxidative stress. Overall, our results suggest that the hybrid sparrow offers a suitable model for biomonitoring programs of atmosphere pollutants and the selected biomarkers could be useful tool to evaluate pollution impacts in living organisms.

Protective effects of ethyl acetate fraction of Lawsonia inermis fruits extract against carbon tetrachloride-induced oxidative damage in rat liver.

This study aimed to investigate the antioxidant properties of different fractions obtained from the fruits of Lawsonia inermis, a widely used medicinal plant, against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced oxidative stress in rat liver. The results show that several fractions obtained from L. inermis fruits possessed important antioxidant activity. Among them, the ethyl acetate (EA) fraction showed the highest antioxidant activity. Then, EA fraction was selected for the purification of potential antioxidant compounds. The hepatoprotective effects of EA fraction and its most active constituent, gallic acid (GA), were evaluated against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. CCl4 induced oxidative stress by a significant rise in serum marker enzymes. However, pretreatment of rats with EA fraction of fruits of L. inermis at a dose of 250 mg kg(-1)body weight and GA significantly lowered some serum biochemical parameters (alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and lactate dehydrogenase) in treated rats. A significant reduction in hepatic thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and an increase in antioxidant enzymes namely superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase by treatment with plant extract and GA, against CCl4-treated rats, were observed. Histopathological examinations showed extensive liver injuries, characterized by extensive hepatocellular necrosis, vacuolization, and inflammatory cell infiltration. This potential antioxidant activity is comparable to those of the major purified antioxidant compound, GA. Based on these results, it was observed that fruits of L. inermis protect liver from oxidative stress induced by CCl4 and thus help in evaluation of traditional claim on this plant.

High Diagnostic Yield of Targeted Next-Generation Sequencing in a Cohort of Patients With Congenital Hypothyroidism Due to Dyshormonogenesis.

Objective: To elucidate the molecular cause in a well-characterized cohort of patients with Congenital Hypothyroidism (CH) and Dyshormonogenesis (DH) by using targeted next-generation sequencing (TNGS). Study design: We studied 19 well-characterized patients diagnosed with CH and DH by targeted NGS including genes involved in thyroid hormone production. The pathogenicity of novel mutations was assessed based on in silico prediction tool results, functional studies when possible, variant location in important protein domains, and a review of the recent literature. Results: TNGS with variant prioritization and detailed assessment identified likely disease-causing mutations in 10 patients (53%). Monogenic defects most often involved TG, followed by DUOXA2, DUOX2, and NIS and were usually homozygous or compound heterozygous. Our review shows the importance of the detailed phenotypic description of patients and accurate analysis of variants to provide a molecular diagnosis. Conclusions: In a clinically well-characterized cohort, TNGS had a diagnostic yield of 53%, in accordance with previous studies using a similar strategy. TG mutations were the most common genetic defect. TNGS identified gene mutations causing DH, thereby providing a rapid and cost-effective genetic diagnosis in patients with CH due to DH.

Physiological impacts of pollution exposure in seabird's progeny nesting in a Mediterranean contaminated area.

Aquatic wildlife is exposed through trophic transfer of hazardous substances to several threats inducing physiological impairments. We aimed at assessing the impact of contamination in one of the hot spots of pollution along Mediterranean coasts, the gulf of Gabes in Tunisia, on Common tern Sterna hirundo, a piscivorous top predator bird. Firstly, we compared the reproductive effort of breeding adults through clutch size distribution in three sites with different levels of pollution. Then, a battery of genotoxicity and oxidative stress biomarkers was carried out to assess physiological impairments in chicks. While defense mechanisms showed a depletion, lipid peroxidation and genotoxicity increased significantly according to pollution level. The multi-biomarker approach used here, discriminated chicks according to contamination degree of their nesting sites. Increases in genotoxicity and oxidative stress were correlated to a decrease in chick body mass known to lead to long-term impacts on juvenile survival and recruitment in birds.

Proficiencies of Zingiber officinale against spine curve and vertebral damage induced by corticosteroid therapy associated with gonadal hormone deficiency in a rat model of osteoporosis.

This study was assessed to examine whether Zingiber officinale (ZO) can prevent spine disorder and trabecular microarchitecture disruption in osteoporotic murin model. Three groups of male rats were selected: Controls (CTRL), combined model of osteoporosis (CMO), in which rats were orchidectomized and treated with cortisol, and CMO treated with ZO (CMO + ZO). One month after the surgical procedures, the rats were sacrificed. Lumbar curve of the spine has been evaluated using the kyphotic method. The spines were submitted to histological and histomorphometric analysis and mineral (calcium and phosphorus) metabolism assessment. Compared to CTRL, the mean kyphotic angle (KA) was significantly higher in CMO rats. The spinal deconditioning associated decreased bone trabecular volume and a disrupted microarchitecture. A disorder was observed in the serum and bone levels of calcium and phosphorus in the combined severe osteopenia model. An increase in the level of TRAcP associated with an increase in osteoclast number and activity has been reported. These disturbances were reduced following the use of ZO in the CMO + ZO group. Finally, ginger might be an alternative therapeutic candidate for the treatment of severe osteopenia induced vertebral damage and spine curve disruption.

Thyroid Hypoplasia in Congenital Hypothyroidism Associated with Thyroid Peroxidase Mutations.

BACKGROUND: Primary congenital hypothyroidism (CH) affects about 1:3000 newborns worldwide and is mainly caused by defects in thyroid gland development (thyroid dysgenesis [TD]) or hormone synthesis. A genetic cause is identified in <10% of TD patients. The aim was to identify novel candidate genes in patients with TD using next-generation sequencing tools. PATIENT FINDINGS: Whole exome sequencing was used to study two families: a consanguineous Tunisian family (one child with severe thyroid hypoplasia) and a French family (two newborn siblings, with a thyroid in situ that was not enlarged on ultrasound at diagnosis). Variants in candidate genes were filtered according to type of variation, frequency in public and in-house databases, in silico prediction tools, and inheritance mode. Unexpectedly, three different variants of the thyroid peroxidase (TPO) gene were identified. A homozygous missense mutation (c.875C>T, p.S292F) was found in the Tunisian patient with severe thyroid hypoplasia. The two French siblings were compound heterozygotes (c.387delC/c.2578G>A, p.N129Kfs*80/p.G860R) for TPO mutations. All three mutations have been previously described in patients with goitrous CH. In these patients, treatment was initiated immediately after diagnosis, and the effect, if any, of thyrotropin stimulation of these thyroids remains unclear. CONCLUSIONS: The first cases are reported of thyroid hypoplasia at diagnosis during the neonatal period in patients with CH and TPO mutations. These cases highlight the importance of screening for TPO mutations not only in goitrous CH, but also in normal or small-size thyroids, and they broaden the clinical spectrum of described phenotypes.

Corticosteroid treatment exacerbates bone osteopenia in mice with gonadal hormone deficiency-induced osteoporosis.

Gonadic deficiency and corticotherapy are important risk factors in the pathogenesis of osteoporosis. This study was outlined to assess the effects of combined orchidectomy (ORX) and corticosteroid (cortisol; CS) administration on bone remodeling and metabolism. Twenty-week-old male Swiss mice were randomized into four groups: either sham operated (sham), ORX, CS injected (CS), or ORX and CS injected (ORX+CS). After 28days, mice were euthanized. Both ORX and CS resulted in reduced trabecular volume, and mineral apposition rate and increased osteoclast number and activity. TRAcP levels were increased in ORX and CS mice, but reached highest values in ORX+CS. Bone and serum mineral content (calcium and phosphorus) were disrupted in ORX and CS groups when compared to Sham, and were more affected in ORX+CS group. Urinary calcium measures were increased in ORX, CS, and ORX+CS during the time course of the study. Increases were more prominent in ORX+CS. The differences between groups were generally more accentuated at ORX+CS group. Biochemical data showed a parallel extent to the histologic and histomorphometric changes. This study provides a valid pre-clinical model for severe and rapid osteopenia by ORX associated corticotherapy in which bone loss was significantly higher than either ORX or CS alones.

Pyridoxine-dependent epilepsy in Tunisia is caused by a founder missense mutation of the ALDH7A1 gene.

Pyridoxine-dependent epilepsy (PDE) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by seizures and therapeutic response to pharmacological dose of pyridoxine. Mutations in the ALDH7A1 gene, encoding α-aminoadipic semialdehyde (α-AASA) dehydrogenase (antiquitin), have been reported to cause PDE in most patients. In this study molecular analysis of seven PDE Tunisian patients revealed a common missense c.1364T>C mutation in the ALDH7A1 gene. The identification of a cluster of PDE pedigrees carrying the c.1364T>C mutation in a specific area raises the question of the origin of this mutation from a common ancestor. We carried out a genotype-based analysis by way of genotyping a new generated microsatellite marker within the ALDH7A1 gene. Genotype reconstruction of all affected pedigree members indicate that all c.1364T>C mutation carriers harbored the same allele, indicating a common ancestor. The finding of a founder effect in a rare disease is essential for the genetic diagnosis and the genetic counseling of affected PDE pedigrees in Tunisia.

Investigation of phytochemical contents, in vitro antioxidant and antibacterial behavior and in vivo anti-inflammatory potential of Ecballium elaterium methanol fruits extract

Abstract Ecballium elaterium species are mostly used as therapeutic agents and food ingredient. The current work was designed to investigate phytochemical contents, antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties of methanol fruits extract of Ecballium elaterium. Good antioxidant activity was observed with IC50 values of 156 ± 4 and 377 ± 6 μg/mL for DPPH and ABTS, respectively, and EC50 of 126 ± 4 µg/mL for FRAP assays, which is related with their richness in total phenolic, flavonoid and condensed tannins contents. The results of antibacterial activity showed the effectiveness of methanol extract against Bacillus cereus with value of inhibition zone diameter of 15 ± 0 mm and a MIC and MBC values of 6 ± 0 and 12 ± 0 mg/mL, respectively. The in vivo anti-inflammatory effects have been also studied by carrageenan induced rat paw edema assay and the results revealed that a dose of 75 mg/kg induced a significant inhibition of 66.4% at 2 h. FT-IR spectral data justified the presence of biological functional groups such as ─OH, C─H, C─O, C─C and C=O. These results highlighted the potential using of Ecballium elaterium fruits extract as natural antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents for food applications and for the pharmaceutical industry.