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Biomedical subjects

H Zouaghi

Publications and source records attributed to H Zouaghi.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1996

[Reduction of lipoproteins with apoAI but without apoAII (LpAI) in non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients].

Recent data suggest the existence of a relationship between ischemic heart diseases and apolipoprotein A-I containing lipoproteins. The latter and other classic lipid-lipo-protein-apoprotein parameters were quantified in 25 non-insulin-dependent diabetics and 26 normoglycemic normolipidemic subjects. Compared to a control group, non-insulin-dependent diabetics have higher levels of plasma cholesterol (p < 0.05), triacylglycerol, apolipoprotein B (p < 0.001). In contrast, their lipoprotein particles containing only apolipoprotein AI without apolipoprotein AII and apoAI/apoB ratio were lowered (p < 0.001). In our diabetics, apolipoprotein AI was found at normal level but its distribution between high density lipoproteins ('HDL') and 'non-HDL' was abnormal. Also, the distribution of particles containing apolipoprotein A-I without apolipoprotein A-II in non-insulin-dependent diabetics was found abnormal. A higher proportion of both apoAI and LpAI were found in the 'non-HDL' fraction. These data show that lipoprotein metabolism is affected in non-insulin-dependent diabete mellitus. The disease is associated to a lipoprotein profile which is in favour of the atherogenic process.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

[Absence of litholytic effects of zinc sulfate and copper sulfate in experimental lithiasis in rats].

Seventy two male Wistar-strain rats were fed lithogenic diet with ethylene-glycol within three weeks. At the end of this treatment, six rats were killed in order to determine the oxalate and calcium concentrations in renal tissue. Remained rats was randomly divided in four series, each series consisting of three groups. In first series (T), the animals were treated with distilled water; in the second (D1Zn), the animals were treated intramuscularly with the zinc at the rate of 24 micrograms per 100 grams of body weight and per day; in the third (D2Zn), 240 micrograms of zinc were administrated to animals and in the last series (D2Cu), the animals were treated at the same dose as the previous series, but with the copper. The groups which making up each series were killed successively at the 5th, 10th and 15th day after ending treatment with ethyleneglycol in order to determine urinary pH, percentage of water in renal tissue, uremia and concentrations of oxalate and calcium in renal tissue. Then, the comparisons of means were carried out, at each time, between different treated groups and reference group which was treated with distilled water. Litholytic effect was found in all series, including that which had been treated with distilled water. However, compared to reference animals, no acceleration of litholytic process was induced by zinc or copper. The high doses used in these experimentations proved therefore that calcium oxalate calculi were insoluble by zinc and copper.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Puzzling biochemical thyroid profile in patients with multinodular goitre originating from a mild iodine deficient area in Tunisia.

Thirty Tunisian patients with a voluminous multinodular goiter with cold nodules and inhabiting a region of mild iodine deficiency, have been studied. The 131 I fixation by the thyroid, three hours after ingestion was significatively higher than in normal population. Fourty six per cent of the patients have stable iodine urine contents less or equal to 0.39 mumol/L. Three serum concentrations were paradoxically abnormal: thyrotropin (TSH), thyroglobulin (TG) and gammaglobulin concentrations. Fourty seven per cent of the serum thyrotropin (TSH) levels were less than the normal values though the serum total triiodotyronine (TT3), tetraiodotyronine (TT4), free triiodotyronine (FT3), free tetraiodotyronine (FT4), antithyroglobulin antibodies, total protein, triglycerides and cholesterol concentrations were normal. Serum thyroglobulin (TG) rates were elevated, ranged from 2 to 10,180 ng/ml and twenty five per cent of our patients showed levels greater than 500 ng/ml. The gammaglobulin levels were greater than normal in sixty eight per cent of our patients though only 10% of our patients manifest antithyroglobulin antibodies.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

[Does vitamin E protect against experimental lithiasis?].

We have recently suggested that vitamin A could protect against experimental lithiasis by repairing tubular membrane cells or protection against membrane damage caused by free radicals generated during experimental lithiasis. Although vitamin E treatment demonstrated no beneficial effect on stone formation, it promoted the repair mechanism by vitamin A during experimental lithiasis and by supported the hypothesis that oxalate crystals may be destructive to renal epithelium because they are large and irregular.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

[Antilithogenic and litholytic action of vitamin A vis-a-vis experimental calculi in rats].

Oxalate lithiasis was induced in control rats and rats previously given a vitamin A supplement for one week at the dose for 200 UI/d/kg body weight. Oxalate and calcium deposits in renal tissue measured 24 hours after the induction of lithiasis were found to be significantly lower in the vitamin A supplemented rats (p < 0.001 and p < 0.01) respectively). Renal function in these animals was also improved as compared with controls (p < 0.05). However, when vitamin A supplements were given for the same period and at the same dose, but after the induction of oxalate lithiasis, no difference regarding oxalate and calcium deposits was found between the two groups of animals. The same applied to renal function, which showed no improvement in the supplemented animals as compared with controls. These results suggest that vitamin A supplements have an inhibitory effect on lithogenesis but probably no litholytic action as such. The effect of vitamin A is probably related to its action on tubular cellular repair or an inhibitory effect on necrosis of these cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

[Contribution of scanning electron microscopy in children with lithiasis].

Infrared spectroscopy (IR) was used as the preferential method for determination of the composition of calculi and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for observation of the IR shape. Our results show the role of SEM for visualisation of the internal ultrastructure and architecture of calculi in children. The authors confirm their previous hypothesis that phosphates favour the nucleation of other compounds, and demonstrate the presence of some trace elements which could play an important role in lithogenesis (eg Si).

Child↗
PubMed1988

[Familial distal tubular acidosis].

This study concerned a Tunisian family of 52 members. We have looked for distal tubular acidosis (D.T.A.) after we had discovered that 2 members of this family suffered from nephrocalcinosis with D.T.A. Twenty six of our patients (group I) suffered from D.T.A., 17 from confirmed metabolic acidosis with low urinary pH (5.22 +/- 0.25). Patients of latest groups may present a D.T.A. with intact capacity to lower urinary pH. Our literature review revealed 27 families composed of 228 patients.

Acidosis, Renal Tubular↗
PubMed1986

High-affinity binding of testosterone in serum from normal developing chick embryos and during the graft-versus-host reaction.

The sera of developing chicken embryos contain high-affinity, low-capacity protein binding sites for testosterone. The affinities remain constant throughout development, with mean values for the association constants of approx. 3.6 X 10(8) M-1 at 25 degrees C, whereas the concentration of sites varies markedly as a function of age: from approx. 2 nmol/g serum proteins in 11-day embryos, it rises to a peak of approx. 5-8 nmol at 14-16 days, then drops to approx. 2.6 nmol at 18 days and only 0.8-1 nmol in adults. Testosterone binding is inhibited by corticosterone, progesterone and dihydrotestosterone, and is little affected by estradiol. The testosterone and corticosterone binding properties of chicken sera show close similarities: parallel ontogenic patterns; constant ratios, throughout development, of the equilibrium binding parameters of the two steroids; mutual binding inhibition. The evidence strongly suggests that the two activities are associated, at least in part, with a common protein carrier(s). In growing embryos which undergo a graft-versus-host reaction, elicited by the graft of adult spleen tissue at 9 days of age, the testosterone and corticosterone binding activities are significantly decreased. This decrease is due to a fall in the number of sites, whereas association constants are not affected. This is the first high-affinity, saturable, testosterone-binding property to be described in an embryonic serum.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1985

Total and unbound cortisol-, progesterone-, oestrone- and transcortin-binding activities in sera from patients with myocardial infarction: evidence for differential responses of good and bad prognostic cases.

Day-of-admission sera from myocardial infarction patients (MI) and patients with cardiopathies other than MI (non-MI) were analysed for total and unbound cortisol (F), progesterone (P4), oestrone (E1), and corticosteroid binding activities (CBG). The MI who survived (n = 28) showed high increases of F, P4 and E1 compared to healthy controls. By contrast, the MI who died within 10 days of admission (n = 6) had unchanged F and less increased P4 and E1 than survivors. The non-MI (n = 6) had higher F and E1 than controls but normal P4. The unbound steroids were increased in all patients: however, the MI who died showed much smaller rises than survivors (P less than 0.001 for unbound F and E1 increases in survivors vs. deceased). The CBG activity was in all MI lower than in normals (P less than 0.001) but unchanged in non-MI. These results are discussed in terms of the potential significance of unbound plasma steroids as predictors of MI severity.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Serum inflammatory responses of transcortin binding activities and of total and free corticosterone and progesterone levels in developing rats: a kinetic approach.

The kinetics of the inflammatory responses of 5 serum parameters involved in specific protein-hormone interactions were studied, namely: transcortin (CBG) binding activities; total corticosterone (B), main ligand of CBG; unbound corticosterone (free B); total progesterone (P4), main competitor of B for binding on CBG; and the free P4. The studies were performed in developing animals, i.e. on rats given a single turpentine injection at 1, 10, 21 or 90 days of post-natal age. The responses showed similar trends at all ages, but age-dependent differences in kinetics and reactivities. Common characteristics were 3-5-fold increases of the hormone parameters as soon as 4-8 h after the injection, and 2-3-fold decreases in CBG activities. A remarkable age-dependent difference was the contrast of early CBG decrease in adults (4 h after turpentine) to the delayed occurrence of this reaction in immatures (8-24 h after turpentine). On the other hand, the increase of free B lasted for 72 h in neonates, but only 40 h in rats treated at 21 or 90 days. Age-dependent characteristics were seen also in reactivities: the peak increases in the hormone levels were highest in the young, while the peak decreases of CBG were most marked in the mature animals. The results suggest that the regulatory mechanisms governing the mutual effects of hormonal activities and CBG synthesis might depend on the stage of development.

Aging↗
PubMed1984

[Decrease in transcortin binding activity in depression].

In a preliminary study, Cortico-Binding Globuline (CBG) has been determined in 10 depressed major inpatients (DSM3) and compared with healthy volunteers. A clear cut fall of binding activity of transcortin is reported in depressed patients associated with an increase of total and free plasmatic cortisol.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Turpentine-induced decrease of alpha 1-foetoprotein in the serum of the developing rat: a novel parameter of the inflammatory response.

The acute phase of an inflammation induced in young rats, at various ages between 1 and 21 days after birth, by a single subcutaneous turpentine injection, is accompanied by a 35%-45% decrease of the alpha 1-foetoprotein serum concentrations. This fall is demonstrated with equilibrium dialysis binding methods, evidencing the loss of about 1/3 of the high affinity estrogen binding sites characteristic for the rat foetoprotein, as well as by specific immunoassay of the foetoprotein concentrations. This negative response is coincidental with classical inflammatory changes of the plasma proteins, similar to those defined in adults: in particular we evidence 5 to 10 fold rises of haptoglobin, as early as the first post-natal day. We discuss the implications of these findings for ontogenic and mechanistic aspects of the inflammatory response.

Animals↗