Pericentric inversion of chromosom 12 [Inv (12) (p12q12)] associated with idiopathic azoospermia in one infertile Tunisian man.

Chromosome aberrations are found in 2-7% of couples with fertility problems and pericentric inversions are structural chromosomal abnormalities, potentially associated with infertility or multiple miscarriages. In this study, we report the first case of pericentric inversion of chromosome 12 associated with non-obstructive azoospermia. A karyogram revealed pericentric inversion of chromosome 12 with breakpoints at 12p12 and 12q12. Testicular histopathology confirmed the Sertoli cell-only syndrome.

Quercetin attenuates lambda cyhalothrin-induced reproductive toxicity in male rats.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible protective effects of Quercetin (Qe) against oxidative stress induced by λ cyhalothrin (LTC) in reproductive system. Thirty-two male rats were divided into four groups. First group was allocated as the control group. Second group was given a Qe alone while the third group received a LTC alone. Animals in the fourth group were given a Qe with LTC. Caudae epididymis was removed for sperm analysis. Lipid peroxidation (LPO), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), and reduced glutathione (GSH) were determined in the testis. Additionally, the different histopathologic changes were observed in the testis of animals. LTC exposure significantly increased the abnormal morphology and LPO. On the contrary, sperm motility, viability and count, levels of GSH, and activities of SOD, CAT, GPx, and GST were significantly decreased compared to controls. Qe with LTC offset the decrease in functional sperm parameters, antioxidants enzymatic activities, and nonenzymatic antioxidant levels when compared with LTC-treated rats. Furthermore, LTC showed irregular seminiferous tubules containing only Sertoli cells and Qe with LTC caused regular seminiferous tubules showing spermatogenesis at level of spermatocytes. We conclude that LTC-induced oxidative stress and functional sperm parameters in male rats, and dietary of Qe attenuates the reproductive toxicity of LTC to restore the antioxidant system and sperm parameters in male rats.

[Assessment of nutritional status in patients with primary lung cancer]. / Evaluation de l'état nutritionnel des patients atteints de cancer broncho-pulmonaire primitif.

BACKGROUND: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Malnutrition is a common problem among patients with cancer, affecting up to 85% of patients with certain cancers and represents a risk factor for poor prognosis. aim: evaluate nutritional status in patients with lung cancer before and during treatment using nutritional risk index. METHODS: it's a prospective study conducted in pneumology IV department in Abderahman Mami hospital, from January to May 2011. 30 male patients with a lung cancer were included. Nutritional status was assessed before and during treatment based on anthropometric measures, biological markers and nutritional risk index (NRI). RESULTS: Mean age of patients was 58 ± 12 years, ranging from 19 to 82 years. 29 patients had non small cell lung cancer and one patient had small cell cancer. Malnutrition was noted in 14 patients (47%) before treatment according to the NRI. It was noted in 23 patients (77%) after three cycles of chemotherapy with severe malnutrition in 8 patients. Relationship between body mass index (BMI) and the NRI was linear, but NRI tends to evaluate more objectively risk of malnutrition in patients with lung cancer. CONCLUSION: Nutritional assessment in patient with lung cancer should be performed systematically, early and repeatedly. Several markers can be used such as BMI and NRI. Nutritional support will reduce morbidity and improve quality of life in patients with lung cancer.

Effect of freezing-thawing process and quercetin on human sperm survival and DNA integrity.

We aimed in the first part of our work to study the effect of cryopreservation on the human sperm DNA integrity and the activation of caspase 3, the main apoptosis indicator. In the second part, we were interested in testing the effect of quercetin, as an antioxidant, in preventing sperm damage during the freeze-thawing process. Seventeen semen samples were obtained from 17 men recruited for infertility investigations. Liquefied sperm was cryopreserved using spermfreeze®. Nine of the used samples were divided into two aliquots; the first one was cryopreserved with spermfreeze only (control) and the second one was cryopreserved with spermfreeze supplemented with quercetin to a final concentration of 50 µM. Sperm motility and viability were assessed according to WHO criteria. We used TUNEL assay and the Oxy DNA assay to assess sperm DNA integrity. Activated caspase 3 levels were measured in spermatozoa using fluorescein-labeled inhibitor of caspase (FLICA). Cryopreservation led to a significant increase in sperm DNA fragmentation, DNA oxidation and caspase 3 activation (p<0.01). Supplementation of the cryopreservation medium with quercetrin induced a significant improvement in post thaw sperm parameters, compared to those of control, regarding sperm motility (p=0.007), viability (p=0.008) and DNA integrity (p=0.02); however, it had no effect on caspase 3 activation (p=0.3). We conclude that oxidative stress plays a major role in inducing sperm cryodamage but implication of apoptosis in this impairment requires further investigations. Quercetin could have protective effect during cryopreservation but further research is needed to confirm this effect.

Chromosomal defects in infertile men with poor semen quality.

PURPOSE: To assess the incidence and the type of chromosomal aberrations in males with infertility we reviewed cytogenetic results in 76 Tunisian infertile men (54 nonobstructive azoospermia and 22 oligo-asthenospermia). METHODS: Karyotyping was performed on peripheral blood lymphocytes according to the standard methods. Molecular diagnosis of classical and partial Y-chromosomal microdeletions was performed by amplifying Y-specific STSs markers. RESULTS: Various numerical and structural chromosome abnormalities were identified in 15 patients (19.48%). The occurrence of chromosomal abnormality in the azoospermics and severe oligo-asthnospermic was 21.7% and 13.5%, respectively. The most common was Klinefelter syndrome, accounting for 10 of the 15 cytogenetic defects. The total frequency of Y chromosomal microdeletions was 17.1%, with respective frequencies in azoospermic and severe oligospermic groups, 11.1% and 31.8%. The most frequent of Y chromosomal deletions were the partial ones (11.1% in azoospermic and 27.2% in oligospermic). CONCLUSION: The occurrence of chromosomal abnormalities among infertile males strongly suggests the need for routine genetic testing and counseling prior to the employment of assisted reproduction techniques.

Switching to a Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Center: Lessons From Ariana Hospital Experience.

After the translating of the worldwide pandemic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) disease from South East Asia to Europe, North African countries accelerate their steps to follow WHO guidelines to prepare the outbreak response. In March 2020, the Tunisian Ministry of Health switched Abderrahmen Mami Hospital to a COVID-19 center. The main objectives were management of patients but also setting-up new rules to permit enough safety for the staff members and harmony between medical, nonmedical, and administrative departments within the facility. Organization and communication during the fast-paced preparation process were crucial to get enough qualified human resources, material resources, and clear procedural texts in place before cases arrived in huge numbers. A group of medical and administrative experts within a central crisis unit brought this challenge into reality.

An unusual clinical manifestation of a relapsed typical pulmonary carcinoϊd tumor.

Typical carcinoid tumors of the lungs carry an excellent prognosis after complete surgical excision. However, recurrence of these cancers remains poorly described in the literature and may occur many years after surgery. We report a case of carcinoid tumor of the lung. Clinical presentation and follow-up were uneventful. The 55 years old patient had got a surgical removal of a huge typical carcinoid tumor of the left lung. A left pneumonectomy with a mediastinal lymph node resection were performed. Thirteen years later, paraneoplastic acromegaly revealed a pulmonary and extrapulmonary recurrence of the tumor. We prescribed a chemotherapy regimen including Cisplatin and Etoposide. Endocrine paraneoplastic syndromes are related to mutations in specifically known genes. Several mutations may become a promising therapeutic target in the future. In the case of neuro-endocrine pulmonary tumors, authors described BCOR gene mutation as an oncogenic development inducer and an eventual generator of ectopic tumoral secretions. The more we get familiar with carcinoid tumor mutations, the closer we get to targeted therapy for non-resectable tumors.

Effect of date seed oil on p53 expression in normal human skin.

A critical step to escape from the carcinogenic potential of UV radiation is mediated by the protein p53. P53 activates growth arrest, allowing for DNA repair, which removes damaged cells. The concept of photoprotection involves blocking apoptosis and the prevention of oxidative damage to cellular DNA. Date seed oil (DSO) extract has been reported to be beneficial in the reduction of chemically induced oxidative stress in normal human skin. In this study, we investigated the DNA-protective qualities of DSO as measured by p53 expression in human skin biopsies, one day after exposure to ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation. P53 expression was analyzed using immunohistochemistry. The results showed an increase in p53 expression in the basal cell compartment of UVB-exposed skin as compared to the non-UVB-exposed skin. However, DSO has significant photoprotective effects by inhibition of damage caused by UVB irradiation: a significantly lower fraction of cells was p53 positive as compared to the non-DSO-treated skin. We conclude that p53 expression is a sensitive parameter for the detection of UVB-induced damage in the skin and suggest that DSO could provide an efficient complement to photoprotective measures and may contribute to reduce the DNA damage.

Efficacy of Essential Trace Elements Supplementation on Mineral Composition, Sperm Characteristics, Antioxidant Status, and Genotoxicity in Testis of Tebuconazole-treated Rats.

OBJECTIVE: This research was performed to evaluate the effect of tebuconazole (TBZ) on reproductive organs of male rats and to assess the protective role of combined essential trace elements in alleviating the detrimental effect of TBZ on male reproductive function. METHODS: For this purpose, 48 rats were exposed to 100 mg/kg TBZ, TBZ supplemented with zinc (Zn), selenium (Se), copper (Cu), and iron (Fe), TBZ + (Se + Zn); TBZ + Cu; or TBZ + Fe. The experiment was conducted for 30 consecutive days. RESULTS: TBZ caused a significant perturbation in mineral levels and reduction in reproductive organs weights, plasma testosterone level, and testicular antioxidant enzyme activities. The TBZ-treated group also showed a significant increase in sperm abnormalities (count, motility, and viability percent), plasma follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone concentrations, lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation, and severe DNA degradation in comparison with the controls. Histopathologically, TBZ caused testis impairments. Conversely, treatment with trace elements, in combination or alone, improved the reproductive organ weights, sperm characteristics, TBZ-induced toxicity, and histopathological modifications in testis. CONCLUSION: TBZ exerts significant harmful effects on male reproductive system. The concurrent administration of trace elements reduces testis dysfunction, fertility, and toxicity induced by TBZ.

Lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzyme activities in infertile men: correlation with semen parameter.

The aim of this study was to investigate the oxidative stress status and antioxidant enzyme activities in infertile men's semen and to determine their relationship with spermatozoa characteristics. Four groups of infertile men, normozoospermic (n=9), azoospermic (n=13), oligoasthenozoospermic (n=38), and asthenozoospermic (n=42), were tested for malonaldialdehyde (MDA) concentration and catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities in semen using spectrophotometric methods. We found that MDA levels in semen and SOD activity in seminal plasma (SP) were significantly higher in oligoasthenozoospermic and asthenozoospermic groups compared with normozoospermic group. In contrast, the mean values of CAT activity were not significantly different in all groups. We found positive correlations between semen MDA concentration and SOD activity (P<0.01). MDA levels in sperm pellet and in SP were also positively correlated with mobility grade b (P<0.01), acrosome anomalies (P<0.01), and residual cytoplasmic droplets (P<0.05). In contrast, SOD activity in SP was negatively correlated with sperm concentration and normal morphology (P<0.05). Similarly, CAT activity in SP was negatively correlated with sperm and leukocyte concentrations (P<0.05). In conclusion, our results suggest that the evaluation of oxidative status and antioxidant defenses may be taken as an important tool for diagnosis and treatment of male infertility.

Paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis revealing a small cell carcinoma of the lung.

INTRODUCTION: Paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis is a rare disease, usually associated with small cell lung cancer. CASE REPORT: We report in this publication the cases with different age brackets, who presented with various neurological symptoms such as repetitive seizures or anterograde amnesia. Cerebral CT-scan, cerebral MRI and anti onco-neural paraneoplastic antibodies were suggesting the diagnosis of paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis. Etiological exploration lead to the diagnosis of locally advanced small cell carcinoma of the lung. We started rapidly a curative protocol associating chemotherapy and sequential thoracic radiotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: we insist on the diversity of the imaging findings, immunological analyses and outcome on treatment of this entity. Prognostic impact remains also unclear.

Effects of date seed oil on normal human skin in vitro.

Oxidative stress has been implicated in various skin diseases through the generation of reactive oxygen species and the depletion of endogenous antioxidant systems. The administration of antioxidants or free radical scavengers is reportedly helpful, notably in order to enhance the healing process. We investigated the protective effect of one new natural product:"date seed oil: DSO" against hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2))-induced oxidative stress, in terms of lipid peroxidation, depletion of endogenous antioxidant defense enzymes such as glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), one day after a 2 h exposure to H(2)O(2), using human skin organ culture as an in vitro model. In the investigated model system, DSO has significant protective effect, by inhibition of damage caused by H(2)O(2), endowing a radical scavenging ability. Treatment of skin with DSO inhibited H(2)O(2)-induced lipid peroxidation. In addition, this oil inhibited H(2)O(2)-induced depletion of antioxidant defense components, such as superoxide dismutase and catalase. We conclude that DSO could be useful in the attenuation of H(2)O(2)-induced oxidative stress-mediated skin diseases in human skin, possibly due to antioxidant properties.

Potential protective effects of polysaccharide extracted from Ulva lactuca against male reprotoxicity induced by thiacloprid.

CONTEXT: Polysaccharides (PSs) from seaweeds have been reported to possess biological activity of potential medicinal values. OBJECTIVE: The current study was conducted to establish the protective effects of PS extracted from Ulva lactuca against oxidative stress induced by Thiacloprid (THC) in the rat reproductive system. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Rats were exposed either to THC, THC + PS (100 mg/kg), or THC + PS (200 mg/kg). RESULTS: Our study showed that THC induced severe disorders in the functional sperm parameters. A decrease in antioxidant activities and their genes expression were observed in the same group, compared to the controls. Our molecular data showing also a severe DNA breakdown in the testis of THC treated group. Moreover, THC treated group showed severe histopathological changes. CONCLUSIONS: Our results revealed that PS extracted from Ulva lactuca alleviated the THC induced reprotoxicity and reduced oxidative stress damages, DNA breakdown and histological injuries in the testis.

Antioxidant enzymes and lipid peroxidation at the tissue level in patients with stable and active vitiligo.

BACKGROUND: The pathogenetic mechanisms in vitiligo have not been clarified completely. One of the major hypotheses in the pathogenesis of vitiligo is the oxidative stress hypothesis. The active and stable phases of vitiligo are defined as the progression or appearance of new lesions in the last 3 months and the absence of new lesions or progression in the last 6 months, respectively. METHODS: We examined the levels of malondialdehyde, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase in the tissues of 10 patients with active vitiligo, 10 patients with stable vitiligo, and 20 matched healthy controls. RESULTS: The results revealed that the levels of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and malondialdehyde in tissues were increased significantly in patients with active vitiligo relative to those in patients with stable vitiligo and matched controls; however, the levels of catalase in tissues were decreased significantly in patients with active vitiligo relative to those in patients with stable vitiligo and matched controls. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that oxidative stress is involved in the pathophysiology of both active and stable vitiligo, but an increased imbalance of antioxidants is observed in the tissues of patients with active vitiligo.