Variación estacional y sexual en la composición y perfil de ácidos grasos en filetes de caballa, Scomber scombrus (L. 1758) de la costa este tunecina

This study investigates the impact of season and sex variations on the total lipid contents and fatty acid composition of Scomber scombrus fillets from the Middle East Coast of Tunisia in order to dertermine the most favorable periods for consumption, and to see if the nutritional quality of the meat depends on the sex of the animal. The effect of fishing season induced significant changes in the lipid profile, and the highest values for total lipids were obtained in the spring for females with 13.2% and for males with 18.9%. The highest values for proteins were obtained in the summer for females with 22.0% and for males with 21.8%. Protein content variations were not significant (p > 0.05). The n-3/n-6 ratio showed a significant level, indicating a tendency toward n-3 fatty acid accumulation in mackerel fillets mainly represented by DHA, whose values were high during the study period for both sexes, except in autumun, which is the period of mackerel gonad maturation, when DHA decreased significantly (p 0.05). The Atherogenicity index (AI) and Thrombogenicity index (TI) were calculated. In our study the AI index was comprised between 0.3 and 0.6 for males and between 0.4 and 0.5 for females. The TI index values ranged from 0.6 to 0.8 for males, and was about 0.6 for females.Este estudio investiga el impacto de las variaciones estacionales y sexuales sobre el contenido total de lípidos y la composición de ácidos grasos de filetes de caballa, Scomber scombrus, de la Costa Este Tunecina, con objeto de determinar los períodos más favorables para su consumo y para ver si la calidad nutricional de la carne depende del sexo del animal. Los efectos de la temporada de pesca indujeron cambios significativos en el perfil de lípidos, así, los valores más altos de lípidos totales se obtuvieron en primavera para las hembras, 13,2% y para los machos, 18,9%. Los valores más altos de proteína se obtuvieron en verano para las hembras, 22,0% y para los machos 21,8%. Las variaciones en el contenido de proteínas no fueron significativas (

Increased percentage of T cells with the expression of CD127 and CD132 in hypertrophic adenoid in children with otitis media with effusion

The hypertrophic adenoid may promote chronic suppurative otitis media in children as it fulfills its immune function. The number of lymphocytes in the adenoid and their cooperation in the immune response depend of on their proliferation and migration to the effector sites. Interleukin 7 (IL-7) is essential for the normal development and function lymphocytes. IL-7 plays pivotal role for activation and proliferation of T and B cells. The heterodimeric interleukin-7 receptor (IL-7R) is composed of the IL-7Rα (127) and the common cytokine receptor γc (CD132). The aim of this study was to evaluate the percentage of lymphocytes T (CD4+ and CD8+) with IL-7R (CD127 and CD132) expression in hypertrophic adenoid in children suffering with otitis media with effusion for a duration of 3 months. Adenoid excised due to hypertrophy with or without chronic otitis media with effusion was used as study material. CD4+ CD127+, CD4+132+, CD8+CD127+ and CD8+CD132+ cell subpopulations were identified using monoclonal antibodies and flow cytometry. The percentage of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells with CD127 receptor expression in hypertrophic adenoid of children with otitis media with effusion was statistically significantly higher than in hypertrophic adenoid group. The percentage of CD4+ T cells with CD132 expression in the study group was statistically significantly higher than in the reference group. The percentage of CD8+ T cells with CD132+ expression was not statistically different in both groups. The increased percentage of T lymphocytes with IL-7R expression (CD127 and CD132) in hypertrophic adenoid seems to influence the quantity of lymphocytes and upset the immunological function of tonsils which can influence the course of otitis media with effusion

Limits to sustained energy intake. XXII. Reproductive performance of two selected mouse lines with different thermal conductance

Abstract Maximal sustained energy intake (SusEI) appears limited, but the factors imposing the limit are disputed. We studied reproductive performance in two lines of mice selected for high and low food intake (MH and ML, respectively), and known to have large differences in thermal conductance (29% higher in the MH line at 21°C). When these mice raised their natural litters, their metabolisable energy intake significantly increased over the first 13 days of lactation and then reached a plateau. At peak lactation, MH mice assimilated on average 45.3 % more energy than ML mice (222.9±7.1 and 153.4±12.5 kJ day-1, N=49 and 24, respectively). Moreover, MH mice exported on average 62.3 kJ day-1 more energy as milk than ML mice (118.9±5.3 and 56.6±5.4 kJ day-1, N= subset of 32 and 21, respectively). The elevated milk production of MH mice enabled them to wean litters (65.2±2.1 g) that were on average 50.2% heavier than litters produced by ML mothers (43.4±3.0 g), and pups that were on average 27.2% heavier (9.9±0.2 and 7.8±0.2 g, respectively). Lactating mice in both lines had significantly longer and heavier guts compared to non-reproductive mice. However, inconsistent with the central limit hypothesis, the ML mice had significantly longer and heavier intestines than MH mice. An experiment where the mice raised litters of the opposing line demonstrated that lactation performance was not limited by offspring growth capacity. Our findings are consistent with the idea that the SusEI at peak lactation is constrained by the capacity of the mothers to dissipate body heat.</jats:p

Uncoupling of the LKB1-AMPKα Energy Sensor Pathway by Growth Factors and Oncogenic BRAFV600E

BACKGROUND: Understanding the biochemical mechanisms contributing to melanoma development and progression is critical for therapeutical intervention. LKB1 is a multi-task Ser/Thr kinase that phosphorylates AMPK controlling cell growth and apoptosis under metabolic stress conditions. Additionally, LKB1(Ser428) becomes phosphorylated in a RAS-Erk1/2-p90(RSK) pathway dependent manner. However, the connection between the RAS pathway and LKB1 is mostly unknown. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Using the UV induced HGF transgenic mouse melanoma model to investigate the interplay among HGF signaling, RAS pathway and PI3K pathway in melanoma, we identified LKB1 as a protein directly modified by HGF induced signaling. A variety of molecular techniques and tissue culture revealed that LKB1(Ser428) (Ser431 in the mouse) is constitutively phosphorylated in BRAF(V600E) mutant melanoma cell lines and spontaneous mouse tumors with high RAS pathway activity. Interestingly, BRAF(V600E) mutant melanoma cells showed a very limited response to metabolic stress mediated by the LKB1-AMPK-mTOR pathway. Here we show for the first time that RAS pathway activation including BRAF(V600E) mutation promotes the uncoupling of AMPK from LKB1 by a mechanism that appears to be independent of LKB1(Ser428) phosphorylation. Notably, the inhibition of the RAS pathway in BRAF(V600E) mutant melanoma cells recovered the complex formation and rescued the LKB1-AMPKalpha metabolic stress-induced response, increasing apoptosis in cooperation with the pro-apoptotic proteins Bad and Bim, and the down-regulation of Mcl-1. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: These data demonstrate that growth factor treatment and in particular oncogenic BRAF(V600E) induces the uncoupling of LKB1-AMPKalpha complexes providing at the same time a possible mechanism in cell proliferation that engages cell growth and cell division in response to mitogenic stimuli and resistance to low energy conditions in tumor cells. Importantly, this mechanism reveals a new level for therapeutical intervention particularly relevant in tumors harboring a deregulated RAS-Erk1/2 pathway

Premier cas d'adénomatose chez une brebis en Tunisie

Les auteurs décrivent un cas typique d'adénomatose associée à une lésion parasitaire chez une brebis. Ils montrent l'importance de l'examen histologique dans le diagnostic de cette maladie et confirment sa présence en Tunisie.</jats:p

Single- and double-strand breaks induced in plasmid DNA irradiated by ultra-soft X-rays

In order to investigate the molecular consequences of a carbon K photo-ionization located on DNA, dry pBS plasmid samples were irradiated with ultra-soft X-rays at energies below and above the carbon K-threshold (${\rm E}_K=278$ eV). Single- and double-strand breaks (ssb and dsb) were quantified after resolution of the three plasmid forms (supercoiled, relaxed circular, linear) by gel electrophoresis. A factor of 1.2 was found between the doses required at 250 eV and 380 eV to induce the same number of dsb per plasmid

La maîtrise des cycles sexuels chez les bovins en Tunisie : application des traitements combinés à base de progestérone-PMSG et progestogène-PMSG

Le but de ce travail est de préciser l'espérance de fertilité après insémination artificielle systématique, et traitement de maîtrise des cycles. L'étude a été réalisée dans trois régions de Tunisie sur 1249 femelles locales, de races Holstein et Frisonne Pie-noire (n = 554). Ces animaux ont été traités par spirales vaginales + PMSG (700-1000 UI, groupe I et II) et par des implants sous-cutanés + PMSG (500 UI, groupe III). Les femelles synchronisées ont été inséminées systématiquement 48 et 72 h après le retrait des dispositifs. Le "taux de fertilité apparent global" chez les femelles contrôlées (n = 1042) par palpation trans-rectale, 90 jours après l'oestrus induit, est de 54,7 %. Ni le type de traitement, ni l'état physiologique sexuel des femelles, n'influence les résultats enregistrés (P &gt; 0,05). En revanche, une différence hautement significative (P &lt; 0,01) est notée entre génotypes. Sur 132 vaches du groupe I, présumées gestantes par diagnostic précoce de non-gestation par dosage qualitatif de la progestérone dans le lait, 72 se sont confirmées gestantes (54,5 %) par une palpation trans-rectale 90 jours après les inséminations artificielles. Le "taux de fertilité cumulé" (1e et 2e inséminations artificielles) était de 71,6 %. Ces taux de fertilité globaux élevés autorisent désormais le recours à ces techniques.</jats:p