Aspects psycho-sociaux de la sterilité masculine en Tunisie

A sample of 22 consultants for sterility has been studied. Sterility is badly accepted; it is felt as a narcissic wound, keeping on a depressive mood, with loss of the spirit of initiative. The multiplication of examinations and visits to doctors is a current consequence inspite of the results of complementary examinations. The means of reparation and compensation are very much restricted. Insemination is refused in 77% of the cases. Adoption causes many cultural problems. For the majority of consultants resorting to religion results in resignation more than acceptation     

Effect of salinity and temperature variations on Pterocladia capillacea

Summary At high salinities and high temperatures, the growth rate of Pterocladia was high, the tips of branch initials were dilated and holdfasts broadened. By the end of the fourth week bleaching of the whole plant was complete.Under low salinities and low temperatures, the rate of vegetative growth was decreased, the cuticle was thin and food reserve was centrally accumulated in the cells.Under high salinities and low temperatures, the rate of growth was greatly reduced and cells were devoid of food reserve. Defoliation of lateral branches was frequent.Under low salinities and high temperatures, the rate of growht was rather high and cells were relatively large.     

Insights into the Effects of Electrolyte Composition on the Performance and Stability of FeF2 Conversion‐Type Cathodes

As an alternative to commercial Ni‐ and Co‐based intercalation‐type cathode materials, conversion‐type metal fluoride (MF_x) cathodes are attracting more interest due to their promises to increase cell‐level energy density when coupled with lithium (Li) or silicon (Si)‐based anodes. Among metal fluorides, iron fluorides (FeF₂ and FeF₃) are regarded as some of the most promising candidates due to their high capacity, moderately high potential and the very low cost of Fe. In this study, the impacts of electrolyte composition on the performance and stability of nanostructured FeF₂ cathodes are systematically investigated. Dramatic impacts of Li salt composition, Li salt concentration, solvent composition, and cycling potential range on the cathode's most critical performance parameters—stability, capacity, rate, and voltage hysteresis are discovered. In contrast to previous beliefs, it is observed that even if the Fe²⁺ cation dissolution could be avoided, the dissolution of F^? anions may still negatively affect cathode performance. Formation of the more favorable cathode solid electrolyte interface (CEI) is found to minimize both processes.     

The Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase +35A/C (rs2234694) variant correlates with altered levels of protein carbonyls and glutathione and associates with severity of COPD in a Tunisian population

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major cause of mortality that has been associated with inflammation and oxidative stress. The purpose of the present case–control study was to determine the relationships between oxidative stress-related genetic variants and the risk and severity of COPD, as well as, the influence of these variants on inflammatory and oxidative stress parameters. Genotyping of superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) + 35 A/C (rs2234694), catalase [A-21T (rs7943316), C-262T (rs1001179)] and glutathione peroxidase 1 (reduced glutathione (GSH)-Px1) 198Pro/Leu (rs1050450) was carried out in 143 patients with COPD and 216 healthy controls using PCR-RFLP. Serum levels of IL-6 and TNF-α were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), while the levels of reduced GSH, total antioxidant status (TAS), H₂O₂, lipid peroxides (TBARS) and protein carbonyls (PCs) were determined using spectrophotometric methods. We also evaluated the activities of GSH-Px, catalase, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in both plasma and erythrocytes. We did not observe significant differences in the genotype and allele frequencies of chosen variants between COPD patients and healthy controls. A significant correlation was retrieved between the SOD1?+?35A/C variant and disease severity (odds ratios (OR) = 0.15, p?=?0.04). In addition, patients having the +35AC genotype presented increased plasma levels of GSH and a reduced level of PCs (p?=?0.03, p?=?0.04, respectively). The present data highlighted the important role of antioxidant enzymes and their genetic variants in the oxidative stress-mediated pathogenesis and progression of COPD.     

The alteration of PLCζ protein expression in unexplained infertile and asthenoteratozoospermic patients: A potential effect on sperm fertilization ability

Failed oocyte activation has been observed in unexplained infertile (UI) and asthenoteratozoospermic (AT) men. The deficiency of phospholipase C‐zeta (PLCζ) could be a possible reason for such failures and has not been studied yet. We investigated the expression and localization of PLCζ protein in the sperms of patients with UI and AT conditions. The relationships between PLCζ‐related parameters with male age, sperm characteristics, DNA integrity, and cellular maturity were assessed. Semen samples were collected from fertile (n = 40), UI (n = 40), and AT (n = 40) men. Subsequently, semen analysis, DNA fragmentation, hyaluronic acid‐binding ability, and PLCζ level along with its distribution were evaluated using computer‐assisted sperm analyzer, sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA), hyaluronic acid‐binding assay (HBA), western blot analysis and immunofluorescence microscopy, respectively. Unlike SCSA, the values of HBA, and PLCζ expression were significantly reduced in UI and AT patients compared to fertile men, whereas no significant differences were observed among the experimental groups in terms of PLCζ localization patterns. The regression analysis also showed that HBA is the only variable associated with PLCζ levels. Furthermore, the correlation of male age with PLCζ localization in postacrosomal, equatorial, and acrosomal+postacrosomal+equatorial (A+PA+E) patterns, as well as the relation of normal morphology, with the (A+PA+E) pattern, remained in the regression model. Our findings indicated that reduced PLCζ level along with the increased DNA fragmentation and impaired maturation may be possible etiologies of decreased fertilization in the studied subjects.     

On single and multiple models of protein families for the detection of remote sequence relationships

Background  

The detection of relationships between a protein sequence of unknown function and a sequence whose function has been characterised enables the transfer of functional annotation. However in many cases these relationships can not be identified easily from direct comparison of the two sequences. Methods which compare sequence profiles have been shown to improve the detection of these remote sequence relationships. However, the best method for building a profile of a known set of sequences has not been established. Here we examine how the type of profile built affects its performance, both in detecting remote homologs and in the resulting alignment accuracy. In particular, we consider whether it is better to model a protein superfamily using a single structure-based alignment that is representative of all known cases of the superfamily, or to use multiple sequence-based profiles each representing an individual member of the superfamily.