Evaluation of Daily Laurus nobilis Tea Consumption on Lipid Profile Biomarkers in Healthy Volunteers.

Introduction:Laurus nobilis is known in the field of herbal medicine and in vitro studies that it has beneficial effects such as antibacterial, antifungal, antidiabetes, and anti-inflammatory properties.Objective: We investigated whether L. nobilis tea consumption affects the plasma levels of lipid biomarkers in healthy volunteers.Methods: Thirty healthy Tunisian volunteers aged between 20 and 57 years old consumed L. nobilis infusion, prepared from 5 g of dried L. nobilis leaves in 100 ml boiled water, once a day during 10 days. Plasma concentrations of serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, triglycerides and HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol were measured by Beckman Coulter D × 600 analyzer before L. nobilis consumption and at the end of the experiment.Results:L. nobilis tea consumption significantly increased the concentration of HDL cholesterol ([HDL cholesterol] D0 = 1.34 ± 0.25 pg/mL, D11=1.42 ± 0.29, p = 0.01). However, a slight decrease that was statistically non-significant in LDL cholesterol and triglycerides levels was observed (p < 0.05).Conclusions: These findings highlight the improving blood lipidic profiles, which means a possible positive effect on reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease of L. nobilis tea consumption in healthy volunteers. However, more powerful studies with an extended treatment period are required.

A Comprehensive Characterisation of Rosemary tea Obtained from Rosmarinus officinalis L. Collected in a sub-Humid Area of Tunisia.

INTRODUCTION: Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) is an aromatic plant common in Tunisia and it is widely consumed as a tea in traditional cuisine and in folk medicine to treat various illnesses. Currently, most research efforts have been focused on rosemary essential oil, alcoholic and aqueous extracts, however, little is reported on rosemary infusion composition. OBJECTIVE: To investigate compounds present in rosemary tea obtained from Rosmarinus officinalis L. collected in a sub-humid area of Tunisia in order to assess whether the traditional rosemary tea preparation method could be considered as a reference method for rosemary's compounds extraction. METHODOLOGY: Qualitative characterisation of Rosmarinus officinalis tea obtained after rosemary infusion in boiled water was determined by high performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionisation quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS). Quantitative analysis relies on high performance liquid chromatography with diode array detector (HPLC-DAD). RESULTS: Forty-nine compounds belonging to six families, namely flavonoids, phenolic acids, phenolic terpenes, jasmonate, phenolic glycosides, and lignans were identified. To the best of the authors' knowledge eucommin A is characterised for the first time in rosemary. Rosmarinic acid (158.13 µg/g dried rosemary) was the main compound followed then by feruloylnepitrin (100.87 µg/g) and luteolin-3'-O-(2″-O-acetyl)-ß-d-glucuronide (44.04 µg/g). Among quantified compounds, luteolin-7-O-rutinoside was the compound with the lowest concentration. CONCLUSION: The infusion method allows several polyphenols present in rosemary tea to be extracted, therefore it could be a reference method for rosemary's compounds extraction. Moreover, traditional Tunisian Rosmarinus officinalis tea consumption is of interest for its rich phenolic content. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Evaluation of Quality of Life in Tunisian patients with Differentiated Thyroid Cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC), despite its good prognosis, affects the quality of life (QOL) of patients by its physical and psychological repercussions and by the toxicity of treatment. A study of the quality of life as well as the potentially associated factors is necessary in order to carry out targeted actions. AIM: This work was conducted to assess the quality of life of patients treated for thyroid cancer. METHODS: 89 patients treated surgically and by iratherapy for DTC responded from January 2018 to December 2019 to the SF36 questionnaire in its validated version in Tunisian dialect. A descriptive and bivariate analysis between the scores of the different domains and the variables of interest was performed. RESULTS: The overall mean score (SMG) of the QOL of our patients ranged from 12.8 to 94.25 with a mean of 58±22%. The factors that proved to have a positive impact on the QOL of patients followed for CDT assessed by the SMG and/or the mental summary score (MSS) and/or the physical summary score (PSS) were: male gender (p=0.034), higher educational level (p=0.037), early TNM stage (p=0.041) and low cumulative iodine-131 dose (≤ 5550 MBq) (p=0.031). CONCLUSION: QOL is strongly influenced by many sociodemographic and clinical factors. More attention should be paid to patients followed for DTC to improve quality of life.

Pulmonary mucoepidermoid carcinoma in children: a rare diagnosis not to be overlooked - case report.

Pulmonary mucoepidermoid carcinoma (PMEC) in children is a rare entity. The diagnosis is often unrecognized, often treated as pneumonia, a more frequent diagnosis at this age. Case presentation: The authors report in this article, the case of a 12-year-old child with a clinical history of chronic cough evolving for 6 months with recurrent episodes of pneumonia. The presence of a foreign body was suggested on the thoracic computed tomography (CT). PMEC was histopathologically determined on biopsy. Fluorine-18-fluorodesoxyglucose positron emission tomography (18 F-FDG PET)/CT was performed as part of the extension work-up prior to surgical management. Clinical discussion: Preoperative imaging with 18F-FDG PET/CT seems to be a valuable tool for predicting tumor grade, nodal stage, and postsurgical prognosis in mucoepidermoid carcinoma. PMEC patients with high 18F-FDG PET/CT uptake may need extensive mediastinal lymph node dissection and adjuvant therapy. Conclusion: PMEC has different presentations depending on the degree of tumor differentiation on PET/CT whose input in the management of these rare cancers requires further studies.

First characterization of the intestinal microbiota in healthy Tunisian adults using 16S rRNA gene sequencing.

The gut microbiota is currently recognized as an important factor influencing the host's metabolism, immune, and central nervous systems. Determination of the composition of the gut microbiota of healthy subjects is therefore necessary to establish a baseline for the detection of alterations in the microbiota under pathological conditions. So far, most studies describing the gut microbiota have been performed in populations from Asia, North America, and Europe, whereas populations from Africa have been overlooked. Here, we present the first characterization of the intestinal microbiota in healthy Tunisian adults using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. We further compare the gut microbiota composition based on gender and BMI. Our results showed that the Tunisian gut microbiota is dominated by the phyla Firmicutes and Bacteroidota in accordance with studies from western countries. However, some specificities have been identified, including a higher proportion of Firmicutes in males and higher proportions of Atopobiaceae and Peptostreptococcaceae in Tunisian overweight individuals. Moreover, we were able to identify bacterial species differently represented between males and females and between normal weight and overweight individuals. These results constitute an important baseline that can be used to identify the dysbiosis associated with the main diseases affecting the Tunisian population.

Rosemary Tea Consumption Alters Peripheral Anxiety and Depression Biomarkers: A Pilot Study in Limited Healthy Volunteers.

Background: Rosmarinus officinalis L.is traditionally used as an infusion in the treatment of several diseases and in particular against neuropsychiatric disorders, such as anxiety and depression. It was established that rosemary extracts show an antidepressant effect on animal models. However, to the best of our knowledge, there is no scientific data that highlights the therapeutic effects of rosemary intake on human mental health.Aim: This study investigated whether rosemary tea consumption affects the plasma levels of anxiety and depression biomarkers in healthy volunteers.Methods: Twenty-two healthy volunteers aged between 20 and 50 years old consumed rosemary tea prepared from 5 g of dried rosemary in 100 mL boiled water once a day for 10 days. Plasma concentrations of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), Interleukine-6 (IL-6), Interleukine-4 (IL-4), Tumor Necrosis Factor- alpha (TNF-α), Interferon-gamma (IFNϒ), and cortisol were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using commercial ELISA kits (R&D systems) before rosemary consumption and at the end of the experiment.Results: Rosemary tea consumption significantly increased the concentration of BDNF([BDNF]D0 = 22363.86 ± 12987.66 pg/mL, [BDNF]D10 = 41803.64 ± 28109.19, p = 0.006) and TNF-α([TNF-α] D0 = 39.49 ± 14.44 pg/mL, [TNF-α] D10 = 56.24 ± 39.01, p = 0.016). However, a slight variation that was statistically non-significant in INFϒ, cortisol, IL-4, IL-6 levels and in the ratio IL-4/INFϒ was observed (p > 0.05).Conclusion: Our findings highlight the promising anxiolytic and/or antidepressant effects of rosemary tea consumption in healthy volunteers since it increases the level of the most reliable depression biomarker BDNF. However, more powerful studies with larger sample size, carefully-chosen target population and, an extended intervention period are required.

Glutathione-S-transferase genetic polymorphism and risk of hepatotoxicity to antitubercular drugs in a North-African population: A case-control study.

INTRODUCTION: GST non-functional genotypes can lead to the accumulation of toxic intermediates, resulting in liver damage and increasing susceptibility to ATDH. AIM: To investigate the impact of GST Mu (GSTM1), GST Theta (GSTT1) null genotypes, and GST Pi (GSTP1; adenosine (A) > guanine (G), rs1695) variant allele on the development of ATDH in Tunisian patients treated with anti-tuberculosis therapy. METHODS: This was a case-control study including patients receiving anti-tuberculosis regimen. Cases (n = 23) were tuberculosis patients presenting ATDH during two months of anti-tuberculosis drug therapy. Controls (n = 30) were patients treated for tuberculosis, but presenting no ATDH. Genotyping was performed using a polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. RESULTS: No statistically significant association was observed between GSTM1 and GSTT1 homozygous null genotypes, and the risk of ATDH. A statistically significant association between GSTM1 and GSTT1 double null genotypes, and the risk of ATDH was found (p = 0.033) between cases and controls. For GSTP1, the distribution of GG homozygous mutant genotype was significantly associated with ATDH compared with the wild and the transition A to G (AA + AG) genotypes. CONCLUSION: Double deletion of GSTM1 and GSTT1 may predispose to ATDH in a Tunisian population. Moreover, GSTP1 rs1695 (A > G) genotyping can predict susceptibility to developing ATDH.

Bioavailability and nutrikinetics of rosemary tea phenolic compounds in humans.

Rosmarinus officinalis L. is a widespread aromatic plant commonly consumed as a tea in traditional cuisine and in folk medicine to treat various illnesses due to its therapeutic properties. To the best of our knowledge, there are no reports on the bioavailability and metabolism of R. officinalis tea polyphenols in humans. This study was aimed at assessing the bioavailability and nutrikinetics of R. officinalis phenolic compounds in healthy humans for the first time. Forty-eight compounds were identified in plasma and urine. Few un-metabolized compounds were detected since rosemary polyphenols were extensively metabolized into phase II conjugates, with rapid appearance and clearance in plasma, pointing to small intestinal absorption. Phase II derivatives of caffeic acid showed kinetics compatible with both intestinal and colonic hydrolysis of rosmarinic acid yielding free caffeic and 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl-lactic acids, which were absorbed and metabolized into phase II derivatives. These metabolites, along with reduced forms of caffeic acid and their phase II metabolites, and those of hydroxyphenylpropionic, hydroxylphenylacetic, benzoic and hippuric acids, highlight the importance of colonic absorption. Total urinary excretion of the phenols added up to 235 µmol, corresponding to 22.3% of the ingested amount (1055 µM). In conclusion, rosemary tea polyphenols are partially bioavailable and extensively metabolized, mainly by the colonic microbiota.

Influencing factors of absenteism among first cycle of medical students in the Faculty of Medicine of Sousse.

BACKGROUND: Student absenteeism is a major concern for higher education and especially for medical studies. AIM: This work was conducted to assess the extent of this phenomenon among undergraduate medical students at the Faculty of Medicine of Sousse and to determine whether certain student characteristics affect student absenteeism. METHODS: We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study among first and second year of medical study students from the faculty of medicine of Sousse during the second semester of the 2015-2016 academic year using a pretested self-administered questionnaire. RESULTS: The response rate was 80.9%. Of the respondents, 9.6% reported never having attended the lectures. The reason that justified this absenteeism was the boring teaching. Absenteeism was significantly associated with gender (15.7% of male students never attended versus 7.1% of female students, p = 0.015), with the year of study (7.4% of first-year students versus 12.1% of second-year students, p = 0.0001) and the repetition of the year (9.1% of non-repeaters versus 21.1% of repeaters, p = 0.002). CONCLUSION: Various reasons for missing classes have been identified which suggesting the complexity of this decision. Knowledge of these factors could potentially help university medical teachers to develop innovative teaching strategies that would reduce the rate of absenteeism.

Effects of glutathione S-transferase M1 and T1 deletions on epilepsy risk among a Tunisian population.

Glutathione-S-transferases enzymes are involved in the detoxification of several endogenous and exogenous substances. In this present study, we evaluated the effects of two glutathione-S-transferase polymorphisms, (GSTM1 and GSTT1) on epilepsy risk susceptibility in a Tunisian population. These polymorphisms were analyzed in 229 healthy subjects and 98 patients with epilepsy, using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Odds ratio (ORs) was used for analyzing results. The study results demonstrated that individuals with the GSTM1 null genotype were at an increased risk of developing epilepsy [OR=3.80, 95% confidence interval (CI) (2.15-4.78)], whereas no significant effects were observed between individuals with GSTT1 null genotype and epilepsy risk [OR=1.15, 95% CI (0.62-2.12)]. These genotyping finding revealed that the absence of GSTM1 activity could be contributor factor for the development of epilepsy disease.