Influence of drying conditions on the quality of Origanum syriacum L.

The temperature and the speed of drying may affect the quality of the end product of medicinal plants. In addition, ecotypes and chemotypes could be factors influencing this quality. Thus, the aim of our study was to explore various techniques of drying of Origanum syriacum L., which is considered as a main ingredient in the Lebanese diet. For all these reasons, we decided to study two types of O. syriacum originating from Rkai and Ibrine regions on which analyses were carried out. In view of our results, a moderate temperature, in the absence of light, is more favourable for the safeguarding of the flavours and chlorophylls. On the other hand, these conditions seem to be unsuitable for other substances. In order to clarify the optimal conditions for drying of O. syriacum to lead to a product of quality, the choice of a technique of suitable dehydration seems to be delicate.

Nephropathy following Type 2 diabetes mellitus in Tunisian population / Nefropatía tras la diabetes mellitus tipo 2 en la población Tunesina

OBJECTIVE: The purpose was to compare the characteristics of Tunisians with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (Type 2 DM) and nephropathy with those without nephropathy. This study assessed whether or not phenotypic characteristics can predict nephropathy development in Type 2 DM. The prevalence of nephropathy in Tunisian Type 2 DM patients, and their relationship with clinical and biochemical factors as well as chronic complications of the disease were determined. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study of patients with diabetes diagnosed between January 2008 and December 2010. Altogether, 73 Type 2 DM and 42 healthy volunteers from the Basic Health Group of Sousse, were targeted for the study. Clinical, biochemical data, as well as complications of diabetes were collected. Kidney malfunction was defined by glomerular filtration rate (GFR). RESULTS: Diabetic patients were older. Diabetic women were more likely to have higher body mass index than men (p = 0.004). Obesity was more in women than men (60/23%). Complications including hypertension and dyslipidaemia were co-associated in women. Urinary creatinine clearance in Type 2 DM patients without nephropathy was significantly lower than in healthy participants (p < 0.0001). Microalbuminuria and urinary creatinine clearance were associated only in women with Type 2 DM with nephropathy (R² = 0.95); 1.5% of Type 2 DM patients without nephropathy had GFR < 60 mL/min/1.73m² and 76% had a GFR between 60 and 89 mL/min/1.73m². Glomerular filtration rate difference between Type 2 DM patients with/without nephropathy, as well as between Type 2 DM patients with nephropathy/Type 2 DM without nephropathy, and with retinopathy was not significant. CONCLUSIONS: By analysing factors associated with nephropathy in Type 2 DM Tunisian patients, this study demonstrated their susceptibility to nephropathy. In addition, retinopathy is potentially associated with incipient nephropathy in Type 2 DM Tunisian patients.

OBJETIVO: El propósito fue comparar las características de los tunesinos con diabetes mellitus tipo 2 (DMT2) y nefropatía, con aquéllos que no padecen nefropatía. Este estudio evaluó la posibilidad de saber si las características fenotípicas pueden predecir el desarrollo de una nefropatía en pacientes de DMT2. Se determinó la prevalencia de la nefropatía en los pacientes tunesinos con DMT2, y su relación con factores clínicos y bioquímicos, así como las complicaciones crónicas de la enfermedad. MÉTODOS: Se realizó un estudio transversal de pacientes con diabetes diagnosticada entre enero de 2008 y diciembre de 2010. En total, 73 voluntarios con DMT2 y 42 saludables del Grupo Básico de Salud de Sousse, fueron escogidos para el estudio. Se recogieron los datos clínicos y bioquímicos, así como las complicaciones por diabetes. El grado de mal funcionamiento renal fue determinado por la tasa de filtrado glomerular (GFR). RESULTADOS: Los pacientes diabéticos tenían más edad. Las mujeres diabéticas presentaban una mayor probabilidad de tener un índice de masa corporal más alto que los hombres (p = 0.004). Hubo mayor obesidad en las mujeres que en los hombres (60/23%). Las complicaciones - incluyendo hipertensión y dislipidemia - estuvieron co-asociadas en las mujeres. La depuración de la creatinina urinaria en los pacientes de DMT2 sin nefropatía fue significativamente más baja (p < 0.0001) que en los participantes saludables. La microalbuminuria y la depuración de la creatinina urinaria estuvieron asociadas en las mujeres con DMT2 con nefropatía (R² = 0.95); 1.5% de los pacientes con DMT2 sin nefropatía, tuvo una tasa GFR < 60 mL/min/1.73m² y 76% tuvo una GFR entre 60 y 89 mL/min/1.73m². La diferencia de la tasa de filtrado glomerular entre los pacientes de DMT2 con/sin nefropatía, así como entre los pacientes de DMT2 con nefropatía/DMT2 sin nefropatía, y con retinopatía, no fue significativa. CONCLUSIONES: Analizando factores asociados con la nefropatía en pacientes tunesinos con DMT2, este estudio demostró que estos últimos son susceptibles a la nefropatía. Además, la retinopatía se halla potencialmente asociada con la nefropatía incipiente en los pacientes tunesinos que padecen DMT2.

Nephropathy following type 2 diabetes mellitus in Tunisian population.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose was to compare the characteristics of Tunisians with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (Type 2 DM) and nephropathy with those without nephropathy. This study assessed whether or not phenotypic characteristics can predict nephropathy development in Type 2 DM. The prevalence of nephropathy in Tunisian Type 2 DM patients, and their relationship with clinical and biochemical factors as well as chronic complications of the disease were determined. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study of patients with diabetes diagnosed between January 2008 and December 2010. Altogether, 73 Type 2 DM and 42 healthy volunteers from the Basic Health Group of Sousse, were targeted for the study. Clinical, biochemical data, as well as complications of diabetes were collected. Kidney malfunction was defined by glomerular filtration rate (GFR). RESULTS: Diabetic patients were older Diabetic women were more likely to have higher body mass index than men (p = 0.004). Obesity was more in women than men (60/23%). Complications including hypertension and dyslipidaemia were co-associated in women. Urinary creatinine clearance in Type 2 DM patients without nephropathy was significantly lower than in healthy participants (p < 0.0001). Microalbuminuria and urinary creatinine clearance were associated only in women with Type 2 DM with nephropathy (R2 = 0.95); 1.5% of Type 2 DM patients without nephropathy had GFR < 60 mL/min/1.73m2 and 76% had a GFR between 60 and 89 mL/min/1.73m2. Glomerular filtration rate difference between Type 2 DM patients with/without nephropathy, as well as between Type 2 DM patients with nephropathy/Type 2 DM without nephropathy, and with retinopathy was not significant. CONCLUSIONS: By analysing factors associated with nephropathy in Type 2 DM Tunisian patients, this study demonstrated their susceptibility to nephropathy. In addition, retinopathy is potentially associated with incipient nephropathy in Type 2 DM Tunisian patients.

Golimumab therapy of rheumatoid arthritis: an overview.

Golimumab is a new approved humanized antibody for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This antibody belonging to biologic agents is raised against the pro-inflammatory cytokine tumour necrosis factor-alpha playing an essential role in the initiation of RA. To date, Golimumab administration for patients with RA, as indicated by USA Food and Drug Administration, is subcutaneous combined with methotrexate (MTX). Here, we have reviewed current literature with a focus on characteristics of Golimumab and also have exposed the clinical trials either using MTX or not using MTX. We have also highlighted the incoming clinical trials on Golimumab and have proposed some indications for the future studies based on a setting of clinical data and post-marketing observational studies. These studies will advance rheumatologists' decisions in the beginning of RA therapeutic interventions to insure the best outcomes for patients with RA and to improve their quality of life.

Las aguas y sedimentos del río tunecino Hamdoun presentan riesgo de disrupción endocrina / Water and sediment waste rejected in Hamdoun’sriver are major endocrine disrupting system

Diversos estudios recientes sostienen que muchos productos químicos antropogénicos, presentes en el medio ambiente, imitan la acción de hormonas endógenas. Estos disruptores endocrinos pueden originar múltiples efectos adversos en la fauna, como la feminización de peces, la pérdida de capacidad reproductiva, defectos congénitos y, a veces, pueden estar en el origen de algunos tipos de cáncer en el ser humano. La aparición de intersexos en peces de varios ríos europeos se ha atribuido a la exposición a sustancias químicas estrogénicas presentes en los efluentes de estaciones de tratamiento de aguas residuales. Para profundizar en el efecto ambiental de estos contaminantes, hemos investigado la actividad estrogénica, de receptor de hidrocarburo arílico y de receptor X de pregnano, de muestras de agua y sedimentos del río Hamdoun, tomadas aguas arriba y aguas abajo de la zona de vertidos procedentes del área industrial de la región central de Túnez. Mediante un ensayo in vitro de células cancerosas bioluminiscentes que expresan el gen de la luciferasa bajo el control de ciertos elementos con acción hormonal, hemos detectado escasa actividad estrogénica en agua y sedimentos por encima de la zona de vertidos; sin embargo, encontram os fuerte actividad es trogénica, de receptor de hidrocarburo arílico y de receptor X de pregnano en agua y s edimentos río abajo. Con experimentos de com petición demostramos que, predominantemente, las muestras de agua y de sedimentos con actividad estrogénica contienen compuestos con alta y baja afinidad con el ER " recombinante, respectivamente. Estos resultados indican que el agua del río y los sedimentos constituyen un importante sumidero y pueden ser fuente potencial de contaminantes disruptores endocrinos(AU)

In recent years, many studies supported that anthropogenic chemicals occurring in the environment have been shown to mimic the action of endogenous hormones. These endocrine-disrupting chemicals can potentially lead to a host of adverse effects on wildlife, such as the feminization of fish, the lack of reproduction success, birth defects and sometimes they can be the origin of some kind of cancers in human. The occurrence of intersex fish in a number of European rivers has been attributed to the exposure to estrogenic chemicals present in sewage treatment work effluents. To further understand the environmental effect of these contaminants, the estrogenic, aryl hydrocarbon receptor and pregnane X receptor activities of water and sediments were investigated in this study. The water and sediment samples were obtained from upstream and downstream outfalls of the Hamdoun River located in proximity of the industrial area in the centre region of Tunisia. Using an in vitro assay with bioluminescent cancer cells expressing luciferase gene under different hormonal responsive element control, we detected a much lower level of estrogenic activity in water and sediment upstream, however, we found out a strong estrogenic, aryl hydrocarbon receptor and pregnane X receptor activities in water and sediment downstream this river. By using competition experiments, we demonstrated that estrogenic activity found contained mainly compounds with a strong and lower affinitiy in water and sediment respectively with the recombinant ER ". These results suggest that the river water and sediments are a major sink and could be a potential source of endocrine-disrupting chemicals contaminants(AU)