Antioxidant effect of hydroxytyrosol on human sperm quality during in vitro incubation.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the antioxidant potential of hydroxytyrosol (HT) on human sperm quality during incubation in vitro. Semen samples collected from men attending the Laboratory of Histology-Embryology of Sfax Faculty of Medicine (Tunisia) for infertility investigations were evaluated for initial sperm parameters. Only normal selected ejaculates (n = 15) were centrifuged and incubated further with or without HT (200ug ml-1 ) at room temperature for 45 min. After incubation, sperm motility and viability, DNA oxidation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production were assessed. The results showed that centrifugation significantly influenced sperm motility and viability. The supplementation of HT in incubating media improved (P = 0.01) significantly sperm viability and decreased sperm DNA oxidation (P < 0.001) and ROS levels (P = 0.03) following centrifugation. It can be concluded that supplementation of HT might be helpful to maintain the human spermatozoon after centrifugation.

Biomarkers of oxidative stress in epidermis of Tunisian pemphigus foliaceus patients.

BACKGROUND: Reactive oxygen species play a key role in the development of many dermatological disorders. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to examine the lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation and antioxidative profile in Tunisian pemphigus foliaceus (PF) patients. METHODS: Malondialdehyde (MDA), conjugated dienes (CD), protein thiol levels, catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were evaluated in skin biopsies of 13 patients compared to biopsies of 7 healthy controls. RESULTS: Oxidative stress was confirmed in these three types of patient biopsies as compared to controls. Thus, MDA, CD levels and catalase CAT and SOD activities were significantly increased in lesional, perilesional and normal biopsies of PF patients than in those of control subjects. Protein oxidative was confirmed by lower levels of protein thiols in lesional, perilesional and normal biopsies than in control's biopsies. Otherwise, in patients, a significant rise of these biomarkers was observed in lesional and perilesional biopsies compared with normal biopsies. CONCLUSION: This study shows that oxidative stress could be involved in the pathogenesis of PF by the spread of skin lesions and/or by the increase in auto-antibodies' reactivity.

Enhanced reactivity to malondialdehyde-modified proteins by systemic lupus erythematosus autoantibodies.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluation of the reactivity of autoantibodies of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients directed against malondialdehyde (MDA)-modified catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and different Hep2 protein fractions (hydrophobic, hydrophilic, and nuclear). METHOD: Thiol groups and MDA-protein adducts were first assessed among 65 SLE patients and 60 healthy controls. Then, the reactivities of SLE immunoglobulin (Ig)G autoantibodies towards MDA-modified and unmodified proteins were compared using a standard enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: An increase in the levels of MDA-modified proteins and a decrease in the concentration of thiol groups among SLE patients (p < 0.05) were observed. IgG circulating autoantibodies in the sera of SLE patients exhibited a significant enhanced reactivity (p < 0.05) against catalase and SOD-modified proteins. The same data were observed in the different protein fractions extracted from cultured cells (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: These data reinforce the role of oxidative stress and especially lipid peroxidation products in the progression of SLE disease.

Successful treatment of osteolytic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma with pamidronate.

We describe the case of a 70-year-old man with unicentric grade 1 epitheloid hemangioendothelioma (EH) of the bone that favourably responded to intravenous pamidronate as a single agent. After 6 years of follow-up, the patient was in complete remisssion. We suggest that use of bisphosphonates should be considered in the treatment of osteolytic EH.

Maintenance treatment with recombinant alpha interferon after autologous bone marrow transplantation for aggressive myeloma in first remission after conventional induction chemotherapy.

Twenty patients (median age 57 years) with high tumor mass myeloma in first remission after conventional chemotherapy received a two-phase treatment: autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT) using a preparative regimen of high dose melphalan plus total body irradiation followed by maintenance treatment with recombinant alpha interferon. Before ABMT all patients were in partial remission, while after ABMT 10 (50%) achieved complete remission, and 10 remained in partial remission (with a 90% decrease in measurable paraprotein in 7/10). With a median follow-up of 19.8 months (12.2-33.5) after diagnosis and 13 months (4-25) after ABMT, the Kaplan-Meier 2-year post-ABMT probability of progression-free survival was 85% (95% CI = 58.7-95.8%). None of the 10 patients in complete remission has relapsed. No toxic death occurred. Alpha interferon was introduced early after ABMT (2.7 months) and was well tolerated. This strategy may represent an advance in the management of aggressive myeloma.

[MRI in subacromial pathology. Report of 20 cases]. / IRM dans la pathologie sous-acromiale. A propos de 20 observations.

The authors report the results of MRI performed in 20 patients presenting clinical symptoms of subacromial pathology. The MRI results are correlated to the results of arthrography or arthro CT scan and also to surgical results. MRI is an excellent technique if a precise protocol with T2 weighted images is respected in order to visualize tears or minor perforations of the supraspinatus muscle.

[Hip algodystrophy and pregnancy]. / Algodystrophie de hanche et grossesse.

We report two cases of algodystrophy of the hip in pregnancy. The principle characteristics of the condition are: the occurrence of the symptoms in the second or third trimester of the pregnancy; and these are more marked on the left than on the right hip and radiological decalcification. MRI is accurate, specific and non invasive and it has largely taken the place of scintigraphy and tomodensitometry in making the diagnosis and in the differential diagnosis of early aseptic necrosis of the femoral head. Recovery always occurs in less than a year without sequelae. The physiopathogenic mechanism still is to be discussed but it does seem that the mechanical factors play a very important role.

[Synovial hemangioma of the knee joint. A case report]. / L'hémangiome synovial du genou. A propos d'une observation]

Synovial hemangioma of the knee joint was diagnosed in a young woman 15 years after the first signs. The principal clinical manifestation involved repeated episodes of hemorrhagic joint effusion. MRI is the exploration of choice for this vascular tumor of the synovial membrane, although a pathology study is needed to confirm the diagnosis. Cure is achieved with surgical resection.

[Paget's disease: errors to be avoided]. / Maladie de Paget: erreurs à ne pas commettre.

Paget's disease of bone occurs in elderly people and resembles no other disease. The most frequent diagnostic errors are made when it is discovered in young adults, especially after an injury. Forms with osteolysis of the lower limbs are the most misleading, and it is better to avoid biopsies in such cases, as they may be followed by fractures. In geriatric pathology the failure to recognize that cerebral, spinal cord and cardiac manifestations are due to a specific vascular disorder of pagetic origin is a serious error as it deprives the patient of calcitonin which is the only effective therapy. Errors in the interpretation of laboratory results are easily avoided if a low hydroxyproline diet is prescribed during the week that precedes the tests. The biochemical activity should be correlated with the pagetic bone mass. Histology may wrongly suggest primary hyperparathyroidism, but patients with Paget's disease have no hypercalcaemia unless they are bedridden. Treatment relies on calcitonin and/or disodium etidronate (EHDP). Only 50% of the patients require this treatment the indications of which must carefully be weighed. EHDP may have adverse effects on bones, including fractures and pseudosarcomatous osteolysis, notably when it is given in high doses or for limited and/or osteolytic lesions. Pre and post-operative calcitonin therapy is recommended in patients undergoing surgery.