Schizophrenia-Like Psychotic Symptoms Associated to Leigh Syndrome.

Introduction: Leigh syndrome (LS) is a mitochondrial disease characterized by subacute necrotizing encephalomyelopathy with an estimated incidence of 1:40,000 births. The comorbidity of psychotic symptoms noted in mitochondrial and psychiatric diseases has spurred interest in the effects of DNA mutations and psychiatric disorders. Case presentation. We report the case of a Tunisian 28-year-old male diagnosed with maternally inherited Leigh syndrome. He presented anxiety and auditory hallucinations, and he reported a vague, unsystematized delusion evolving since 6 months. Significant remission was observed at risperidone 3 mg/day. Discussion. The normality of explorations in our case raised the issue of the link between the two diseases, supporting the hypothesis that mitochondrial dysfunction maybe the primary origin of psychotic disorders. Conclusion: The aim of our work is to study the relations between mitochondrial dysfunction and psychiatric symptoms. Further study of mitochondrial dysfunction in psychiatric disorders is expected to be useful for the development of cellular disease markers and new psychotropics.

Synthesis of 2D Metal-Organic Nanosheets (MONs) by Liquid Phase Exfoliation: Applications in Effective Delivery of Antiulcer Drugs and Selective Adsorption and Removal of Cationic Dyes.

Nowadays, the fabrication of 2D metal-organic nanosheets (2D MONs) has entered the research arena fascinating researchers worldwide. However, a lack of efficient and facile methods has remained a bottleneck for the manufacturing of these 2D MONs. Herein, a 2D metal-organic framework (MOF), i.e., 2D Cu-MOF, was synthesized using a facile and convenient stirring method by using 4,4'-trimethylenedipyridine (TMDP) as an organic linker. The as-prepared MOF was characterized in detail and based on single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, it was established that tangled layers in the 2D Cu-MOF are interconnected to produce thick strands. These tangled layers could be easily separated via ultrasonication-induced liquid phase exfoliation (UILPE) to give the 2D Cu-MON as illustrated through Tyndall light scattering and exhaustive microscopic exploration such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The application of this 2D Cu-MON was assessed in the field of drug delivery revealing exceptional drug loading for the drug lansoprazole (LPZ) by 2D Cu-MONs as well as drug release in the acidic and neutral medium demonstrating that the 2D Cu-MON is an excellent carrier for antiulcer drug delivery. For environmental protection, the application of 2D Cu-MON was also examined toward the removal of various cationic and anionic dyes with excellent selectivity toward cationic dye removal. The plausible mechanism for dye removal indicated the involvement of cation-π and π-π interactions, for the effective adsorption of cationic dyes as well as a increase in the surface area of 2D Cu-MON by UILPE. Remarkably, the high drug loading and dye removal are imputed to the increase in surface area by UILPE. In a nutshell, the developed 2D Cu-MON will prove to be beneficial for application in the field of drug delivery as well as for wastewater treatment.

[COVID-19 Pandemic: Psychosocial impact among healthcare professionals in Tunisia]. / Pandémie COVID-19 : impact psychosocial sur le personnel de santé en Tunisie.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the psycho-affective impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the mental health of health professionals in Tunisia and to estimate the associated factors. METHODS: This is a multicenter, cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study of health professionals carried out from May 2, 2020 to June 30, 2020 in Tunisia. Healthcare professionals included doctors, nurses, dentists and pharmacists. The participants answered a pre-established questionnaire using an electronic "Google Form". This questionnaire gathered demographic data and medical history. It included two psychometric scales, the GAD-7 (General Anxiety Disorder-7) and the PHQ-9 (Patient Health Questionnaire-9) to assess the prevalence and intensity of anxiety symptoms and depressive symptoms respectively. RESULTS: The study included 203 healthcare professionals. The professionals had a mean age of 30.74±6.33years, 69.5 % were women, and the majority were doctors (77.8 %). Among professionals, 9.4 % were nurses, 7.4 % were dentists, and 5.4 % were pharmacists. A third of the participants 34.3 % worked in departments with Covid-19 patienfor having moderate to severe anxiety symptoms. CONCLUSION: In order to ensure better patient care, early detection of psychiatric disorders and the implementation of specific strategies to ensure better mental health among healthcare professionals are priorities not only during the current pandemic but also in the event of a future similar pandemic.

BPA and its analogs increase oxidative stress levels in in vitro cultured granulosa cells by altering anti-oxidant enzymes expression.

Bisphenol A is a widespread endocrine disruptor with numerous effects on reproductive functions. Limitations on BPA in manufacturing has prompted the use of analogs, such as BPS and BPF, with limited research on their safety. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of BPA and its analogs on oxidative stress levels within bovine granulosa cells and to measure the expression of key antioxidant genes. Results indicate that BPA and BPF reduce cell viability and induce mitochondrial dysfunction and all three bisphenols increased production of reactive oxygen species as early as 12hrs post exposure. BPA increased the levels of antioxidants at 12hrs at the mRNA and protein levels, while these results were not significant at 48hrs. These results together suggest that BPA and its analogs can induce oxidative stress within bovine granulosa cells, although not necessarily through common mechanisms. Therefore, the use of BPA analogs may have to be re-considered.

Effect of COVID-19 on mental health among the young population in Lebanon.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 is a global pandemic that has raised worldwide public health concerns. The wide spread of the virus has led to unprecedented disturbance to regular life for people around the globe and impacted their mental health. AIMS: The aims of the current study were to investigate the prevalence of psychiatric symptoms related to insomnia, depression, and anxiety, and identify risk factors contributing to psychological stress in Lebanese young population during COVID-19 pandemic. METHOD: A cross-sectional study was done on the Lebanese young population. Participants were 4397 males and females aged 18 to 35 years who filled a self-administered online questionnaire. Three validated scales were used to measure the mental health status of the participants during the COVID-19 pandemic: 7-item Insomnia Severity Index for insomnia, the Patient Health Questionnaire 9-item depression module for depression, and the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale for anxiety. RESULTS: The median interquartile range scores for anxiety, insomnia, and depression, were 8 (4-13), 10 (5-14), and 9 (5-12) respectively. Higher anxiety scores were reported with female gender (P<0.001) and alcohol usage (P=0.04). Moderate to severe insomnia was associated with single (P=0.02) and divorced marital status (P=0.003), university education (P<0.001), consumption of caffeinated beverages (P=0.02) and energy drinks (P=0.03). Higher depression scores were associated with status of being the only person working at home (P=0.01), family income more than 500 USD (P=0.008), multiple insurance plans (P=0.01), and contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case (P=0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study demonstrate the considerable impact of COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown on Lebanese young population's mental status such as anxiety, depression and insomnia. Further follow-up studies are warranted to assess the long-term mental effects that can be imposed by the pandemic.

Cross-talk between apelin and vasopressin in response to different osmotic stimuli in type 2 diabetic rats.

Apelin, a peptide hormone that has been linked to insulin resistance, obesity and glucose metabolism, coexists with arginine vasopressin (AVP) in hypothalamic magnocellular neurons that control body fluid homeostasis. The significant correlation between serum glucose and serum osmolarity in uncontrolled DM indicates the need for adequate compensation, but how apelin and AVP contribute to this is still unsettled. This study aims to investigate the interaction between apelin and AVP in osmotic regulation in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and to explore the underlying mechanism. Forty-eight adult male albino rats were divided into six groups: control (isotonic, ip 0.9% NaCl; hypotonic, ip distilled water; hypertonic, ip 2% NaCl) groups and T2DM (isotonic, hypotonic, hypertonic) groups. Serum levels of AVP, apelin, Na, glucose, serum and urine osmolarity were measured; kidney samples were taken for Aquaporin 2 channels (AQP2) and epithelial sodium channel gamma subunit (ENaCγ) gene expression. Hypothalamic tissue sections were used for immunohistochemical staining of apelin and AVP. Both in control and diabetic groups serum apelin, showed a significant negative correlation with serum AVP (r=-0.533, p≤ 0.001). Serum apelin and AVP were inversely proportional to their hypothalamic protein expression. Serum apelin and AVP were significantly higher in diabetic rats (P= 0.001) yet their percentage change in response to hypo and hyper-osmotic stimuli (1.5±0.7, -0.34±0.15 and -0.38±0.13, 1.95±0.36, respectively) was less pronounced when compared to control rats (3.28±0.52, -0.59±0.12 and -0.45±0.13, 2.58±0.93, respectively). Na and ENaCγ levels significantly increased in hypertonic rats, while AQP2 gene expression significantly increased in hypotonic rats. Both apelin and AVP reacted to osmotic stimuli in T2DM but with less sensitivity than in control rats. In spite of its abnormal increased levels in diabetic rats, apelin maintained its role through counteracting AVP action.

[Idiopathic intracranial hypertension and factor V Leiden mutation]. / Hypertension intracrânienne idiopathique et mutation du facteur V de Leiden.

Activated proteinC resistance is a frequent prothrombotic abnormality. In most cases it is due to factorV Leiden mutation by nucleotide G1691A substitution. This recently described thrombophilic defect of activated proteinC resistance has been postulated to be implicated in the pathogenesis of idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH). We report a case of factorV Leiden mutation in association with IIH and their likely link and implication in the management of IIH.

[Temporal lobe epilepsy due to an intracranial meningocele in a patient with neurofibromatosis type 1]. / Épilepsie temporale symptomatique d'une méningocèle intracrânienne chez une patiente atteinte de neurofibromatose de type 1.

Epilepsy has been rarely reported in patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 (formally known as von Recklinghausen disease), which may occur in 3 to 6% of cases. This condition is generally related to neuronal migration anomalies or cortical malformations. We report a case of temporal epilepsy secondary to temporal meningocele due to sphenoidal dysplasia in a patient who presented with neurofibromatosis type 1 and also discuss this association.

Retención de orina en el embarazo y el postparto / Retention of urine in pregnancy and postpartum

La retención aguda de orina (RAO) durante el embarazo es un hecho poco frecuente que se observa en la práctica clínica habitual, por ello se comentan cinco casos documentados en nuestra Institución, revisando las características clínicas y actitud terapéutica empleada en cada uno de ellos, con la finalidad de establecer un protocolo de actuación frente a esta patología. Casos clínicos: Se describen cinco gestantes que presentaron retención aguda de orina en el periodo 2006-2012, cuya edad se encontraba entre los 27-38 años. En cuatro de ellos se presentó la retención de orina entre la décima tercera y décima quinta semana de gestación y en un caso la retención de orina se presentó en el puerperio. Discusión: La retención de orina en el embarazo y el puerperio se encuentra asociada a los cambios fisiopatológicos que se dan durante el mismo, siendo el útero en retroversión el factor mecánico más importante para el desarrollo de esta patología durante la gestación, mientras que en el puerperio, además de los cambios, el parto distócico parece ser el factor más importante para el desarrollo de la retención de orina. El manejo general consiste en la aplicación de maniobras descompresivas y cambios de hábito que permitan el vaciado adecuado vesical. En caso de fallar, el drenaje de orina mediante sondaje vesical intermitente o a permanencia son opciones factibles que pueden ser aplicadas conjuntamente con estudios y seguimiento urológico y ginecológico (AU)

Acute urinary retention of urine during pregnancy is a rare occurrence observed in clinical practice, discusses why five cases documented in our institution, reviewing the clinical and therapeutic approach used in each, in order to establish a protocol against this disease. Case reports: We describe five pregnant women who had acute retention of urine in the period 2006-2012, whose age was between 27-38 years old. In four of these patients developed urinary retention between the thirteenth and fifteenth week of gestation and in one case of urinary retention occurred in the postpartum period. Discussion: The retention of urine in pregnancy and the postpartum period is associated with pathophysiological changes that occur during the same, being retroverted uterus the most important mechanical factor for developing this disease during pregnancy, while the puerperium pathophysiological changes besides the dystocia seems to be the most important factor for the development of urine retention. The general operation involves the application of maneuvers allowing adequate bladder emptying. In case of failure, the urine drainage by intermittent catheterization or permanence is feasible options that can be applied in conjunction with a study and urological and gynecological follow (AU)

Distrofia muscular tipo Duchenne y afectación del aparato urinario: caso clínico / Muscular dystrophy of Duchenne and involvement of the urinary tract: a case report

La distrofia muscular de Duchenne es una miopatía genética, de herencia recesiva ligada al cromosoma X. La clínica urológica en esta enfermedad es conocida y es consecuencia de la afectación del detrusor y del esfínter estriado, con un patrón tendente a la hipertonicidad. Estas alteraciones propician infección de orina recurrente y sus posibles complicaciones. Presentamos el caso de un paciente con esta enfermedad y diagnóstico de orquiepididimitis aguda que cursó con evolución tórpida (AU)

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy is a genetic myopathy, of X-linked recessive inheritance. Urological clinic in this disease is known and is due to the involvement of the urinary detrusor and striated sphincter, with a pattern tending to hypertonicity. These alterations may cause recurrent urinary tract infection and its complications. We report the case of a patient withthis disease and diagnosis of acute orchiepididymitis with torpid extended (AU)

Avaliação da atividade antibacteriana da microalga Spirulina platensis / Assessment of the antibacterial activity of microalgae Spirulina platensis

Infecções são agravadas pelo aumento da resistência dos microrganismos a substâncias antimicrobianas. A necessidade de descoberta de novos medicamentos em decorrência desta resistência microbiana tem impulsionado o desenvolvimento de novas pesquisas. A Spirulina platensis, reconhecida pelas suas propriedades nutricionais, possui alta quantidade de compostos fenólicos, os quais podem apresentar também propriedades antimicrobianas. Objetivou-se cultivar a microalga Spirulina platensis, avaliar a produção de compostos fenólicos pela mesma, caracterizar a possível atividade antimicrobiana dos fenóis frente a Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, a Pseudomas aeruginosa ATCC 27853 e o Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538P e determinar a concentração inibitória mínima do extrato fenólico frente às bactérias citadas. Os resultados demonstraram que elevadas concentrações de nitrato de sódio (4g/L) no meio de cultivo não aumentaram a produção de compostos fenólicos. A microalga cultivada com 2 g/L de nitrato de sódio apresentou 2,13 mg/g de compostos fenólicos, sendo que os extratos apresentaram atividade antibacteriana contra o S. aureus, bactéria Grampositiva, com halo de inibição de 22 mm e 19 mm e concentração inibitória mínima de 47,46 mg/mL, indicando sua importância como potencial inibidor de S. aureus.

Bacterial infections are aggravated by the increasing resistance of microorganisms to antimicrobial substances. The need to discover new medicines to evade microbial resistance is the driving force behind much new research. The microalga Spirulina platensis, recognized for its nutritional properties, has a high content of phenolic compounds, which can provide antimicrobial properties. The objective of this study was to establish a culture of Spirulina platensis, estimate the production of phenolic compounds by this microalga, characterize the antimicrobial activity of the phenolics against microorganisms such as Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Pseudomas aeruginosa ATCC 27853 and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538P and determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the phenolic extract for these bacteria. It was found that adding high concentrations of sodium nitrate (4 g/L) to the medium did not increase the production of phenolic compounds. The microalgae grown with 2 g/L sodium nitrate produced 2.13 mg/g of phenolic compounds, and the extracts showed antibacterial activity against S. aureus, a Gram-positive bacterium, with inhibition haloes of 22 mm and 19 mm and a MIC of 47.46 mg/ mL, indicating its importance as a potential S. aureus inhibitor.

Infección urinaria recurrente / Recurrent urinary infection

La infección del trato urinario (ITU) puede presentarse de forma recurrente. En este caso requiere un estudio específico, la repetición de tratamientos antibióticos y la adición de otras medidas terapéutica encaminadas a conseguir una orina estéril durante un periodo de tiempo lo más largo posible. A continuación se revisan de forma general los conceptos básicos de la ITU recurrente y su abordaje terapéutico (AU)

Urinary tract infection may be recurrent. This condition needs specific diagnostic evaluation repetition of antibiotic treatment, adding different therapeutic solutions to achieve a durable sterile urine culture. This paper review the principles of recurrent ITU and his therapeutic approach (AU)

Endotoxins do not influence transplacental transmission of lymphotropic human herpesviruses and human papillomaviruses into amniotic fluid taken from healthy mothers before parturition in Hungary.

Pregnant women were examined following healthy pregnancies at term. Amniotic fluids were sampled before arteficial rupture of membranes using closed vacutainer system. Blood samples were also taken from the pregnants simultaneously. Endotoxin concentrations of amniotic fluids were tested by the semiquantitative Limulus amebocyte lysate. Both amniotic fluids and blood samples were tested for the presence of DNA of lymphotropic human herpesviruses. The DNA of human papillomaviruses were tested only in the amniotic fluid samples. One-third of the amniotic fluids tested were found to contain measurable amounts of endotoxin. Lymphotropic herpesvirus DNA was deteced in every fourth amniotic fluid sample and in every 8th blood sample. The prevalence of papillomaviruses was 7 of 96 samples. No significant correlation was found between the presence of endotoxin and viruses in the amniotic fluids. Epstein-Barr virus, human cytomegalovirus and human herpesvirus type 7 were found more frequently in the amniotic fluids than in blood samples (7 to 1). The prevalence of human herpesvirus 6 and 8 was higher in the blood samples than that in the amniotic fluids. The mean weight of the neonates were not impaired significantly by the presence of either viruses or endotoxin. Possible post partum consequences, i.e. partial immunotolerance to viruses is discussed.

Purification and characterization of the laccase secreted by the white rot fungus Perenniporia tephropora and its role in the decolourization of synthetic dyes.

AIMS: To characterize the white rot fungus Perenniporia tephropora with respect to its laccase and to test its ability to decolourize synthetic dyes. METHODS AND RESULTS: Under the culture conditions utilized, P. tephropora produced one laccase isozyme, which was purified to electrophoretic homogeneity by ammonium sulfate precipitation, size-exclusion chromatography and anion-exchange chromatography. The protein was monomeric with a molecular mass of 63 kDa (SDS-PAGE) and had an isoelectric point of 3.3. The N-terminal amino acid sequence was SIGPVADLTVTNANI and the highest similarity value was found to the laccase from Lentinus tigrinus (86.6%). The optimum pH of the enzyme varied and was substrate dependent. It was 4.0 and 5.0 for 2,6-dimethoxyphenol (DMP) and 2,2'-azino-di(3-ethyl-benzthiazoline-6-sulfonate) (ABTS), respectively. Under standard assay conditions, K(m) values of the enzyme were 7.3 and 0.4 mmol l(-1) towards DMP and ABTS, respectively. The laccase was inhibited by NaN(3), EDTA and p-coumarate but not by SDS and NaBr. Laccase was stable in the presence of some metal ions such as Cu(2+), Co(2+), Ca(2+), Cd(2+), Mg(2+), Mn(2+), Mo(2+), Ni(2+), Li(+) and Al(3+). The crude enzyme as well as the purified laccase was able to decolourize dyes from the textile industries, including remazol brilliant blue R, neolane blue and neolane pink. However, several other dyes were partially or not decolourized. In the presence of 1-hydroxybenzotriazole as mediator, only the decolourization of neolane yellow was achieved, while the decolourization of most of the dyes was just slightly improved. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study is the first report on the purification and the characterization of the laccase from the white rot fungus P. tephropora. The high levels of laccase secreted by this fungal strain as well as its stability suggest that it could be a useful tool for environmental applications.

[Autoimmune chronic active hepatitis: anatomoclinic's study of 50 patients]. / Les Hépatites auto-immunes (HAI) chroniques de l'adulte: étude anatomoclinique d'une série de 50 patients.

PURPOSE: To analyse anatomoclinic and evolutive aspects of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) through 50 observations collected in two Internal Medicine departments in Algiers from 1998 to 2002 and to make a review of the literature. METHODS: The study is prospective. The diagnosis of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is established according to the recommendations of the score of the International Autoimmune Hepatitis Group (1991) or/and hepatitic damage confirmed by histology. RESULTS: Fifty patients were studied: (32 women-18 men) and the mean age was 38 years (17 to 73). Autoimmune extra-hepatitic manifestations were associated in 26%. The AIH type 1 has been noted in 58%. AIH were type 2 in only 6%. In 22% of the cases AIH were sero-negative and the others AIH represented 14% were classed as overlap-syndrome (5 cases of primary biliary cirrhosis and 2 cases of primary sclerosing cholangitis hepatitis overlap syndrome). The first liver biopsy tissue showed strong necrotic-inflammatory activity in 56% and cirrhosis was identified in 19 patients (38%). The treatment (azathioprine and corticosteroid) was prescribed in 37 patients (74%) in active chronic hepatitis or in compensed cirrhosis. FOLLOW-UP: 28% of the patients died (9-36 months) because cirrhosis's complications or because complications of hepatocarcinoma (3 cases). CONCLUSION: The diagnosis of AIH must be established early for each patient with chronic liver disease particularly is those are supposed as a crypto genetic hepatitis. The prognosis is compromised by delayed diagnosis and the mortality in middle following up is high.