BACKGROUND: Targeted therapy has revolutionized the management of Philadelphia chromosome-positive (Ph+) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL); however, relapse still occurs because of the presence of quiescent stem cells, termed leukemia propagating cells (LPCs). This study aimed to assess the phenotypic diversity of LPCs in adult patients with Ph+ B-Acute ALL (B-ALL) and to assess its prognostic impact. METHODS: Seventy adults with newly diagnosed Ph+ B-ALL were recruited at the Mansoura Oncology Center. Multiparameter flow cytometry studies of mononuclear blast cells for cluster of differentiation (CD)34, CD38, and CD58 were performed. RESULTS: Seventeen patients had blasts with the pattern of LPCs (CD34+CD38−CD58−), while 53 cases had other diverse phenotypic patterns. The rate of complete response was significantly lower in patients with the LPC phenotype (47% vs. 81%, P=0.006). The median time to achieve a complete response was prolonged in patients with the CD34+CD38−CD58− phenotype (48 vs. 32 days, P=0.016). The three-year overall survival was significantly lower in patients with the CD34+CD38−CD58− phenotype (37% vs. 55% respectively, P=0.028). Multivariate analysis showed that the CD34+CD38− CD58− phenotype was an independent risk factor for overall survival. CONCLUSION: The presence of CD34+CD38−CD58− LPCs at diagnosis allows rapid identification of higher risk patients. Risk stratification of these patients is needed to further guide therapy and develop effective LPCs-targeted therapy to improve treatment outcome.
Adult ; Diagnosis ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Leukemia* ; Multipotent Stem Cells ; Multivariate Analysis ; Phenotype* ; Philadelphia Chromosome ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; Prognosis* ; Recurrence ; Risk Factors ; Stem Cells ; Treatment Outcome

PURPOSE: To fight animal rabies, Moroccan veterinary authorities organize annual dog mass vaccination campaigns using Rabivac vaccine, an inactivated adjuvanted cell culture veterinary rabies vaccine. Two experiments were undertaken to assess the efficacy and immunogenicity of Rabivac. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The first experiment involved 13 caged dogs (8 vaccinated and 5 negative controls). Dogs were bled at day 0 (D0) and at days D7, D14, D21, D28, D35, D49, D56, D64, D70, D77, D84, D91, D98, D105, D112, and D119 post-vaccination. At D121, a virulent challenge was performed. After 70 days monitoring period, seven out of eight vaccinated dogs survived the challenge (one dog succumbed to a mesenteric torsion accident) and four out of five controls succumbed. All vaccinated dogs seroconverted and the control dogs remained negative. The second experiment consisted in a field study involving 919 owned dogs randomly selected in eight Moroccan districts located in different parts of the country. The dogs were identified and vaccinated by the parenteral route and bled on the vaccination day (D0) and on D30. RESULTS: Ninety-two percent of dogs developed a positive rabies virus neutralizing antibody response to vaccination and 24% were positive at D0, suggesting that dogs were previously vaccinated. The increase in rabies antibody titers was highly significant in all districts. No significant difference seemed occurring between the geographical status (rural, semiurban, or urban) of the districts on the results obtained. CONCLUSION: Rabivac is efficacious both in experimental and field conditions. This supports its use in dog mass vaccination campaigns.
Animals* ; Antibodies, Neutralizing ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Dogs ; Mass Vaccination ; Morocco* ; Rabies Vaccines ; Rabies virus ; Rabies* ; Vaccination

Objective: To determin the chemical compounds of Mentha suaveolens (M. suaveolens) and Pinus halepensis (P. halepensis) essential oils (Eos) and evaluate their antioxidant and antibacterial activities. Methods: The chemical composition of P. halepensis and M. suaveolens EOs was determined by GC-MS analysis. The antioxidant activity was evaluated using DPPH, ABTS and FRAP assays. The antibacterial effect was tested against 6 bacterial strains using the well diffusion method and micro-dilution assay. Results: The major components of P. halepensis EOs were β-caryophyllene (28.04%), myrcene (23.81%) and α-pinene (12.02%). However, piperitenone oxid (56.28%), piperitenone (11.64%) and pulegone (6.16%) were the major components of M. suaveolens EOs. M. suaveolens EOs showed remarkable antioxidant activities compared with P. halepensis EOs, showing antioxidant capacity values of IC

Traditional treatment of infectious diseases is based on compounds that aim to kill or inhibit bacterial growth. The bacterial resistance against antibiotics is a serious issue for public health. Today, new therapeutic targets other than the bacterial wall were deciphered. Quorum sensing or bacterial pheromones are molecules called auto-inducer secreted by bacteria to regulate some functions such as antibiotic resistance and biofilms formation. This therapeutic target is well-studied worldwide, nevertheless the scientific data are not updated and only recent researches started to look into its potential as a target to fight against infectious diseases. A major concern with this approach is the frequently observed development of resistance to antimicrobial compounds. Therefore, this paper aims to provide a current overview of the quorum sensing system in bacteria by revealing their implication in biofilms formation and the development of antibiotic resistance, and an update on their importance as a potential target for natural substances.

Objective To study the effect of citric acid given alone or combined with atropine on brain oxidative stress, neuronal injury, liver damage, and DNA damage of peripheral blood lymphocytes induced in the rat by acute malathion exposure. Methods Rats were received intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of malathion 150 mg/kg along with citric acid (200 or 400 mg/kg, orally), atropine (1 mg/kg, i.p.) or citric acid 200 mg/kg + atropine 1 mg/kg and euthanized 4 h later. Results Malathion resulted in increased lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde) and nitric oxide concentrations accompanied with a decrease in brain reduced glutathione, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity, total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and glucose concentrations. Paraoxonase-1, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase activities decreased in brain as well. Liver aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase activities were raised. The comet assay showed increased DNA damage of peripheral blood lymphocytes. Histological damage and increased expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) were observed in brain and liver. Citric acid resulted in decreased brain lipid peroxidation and nitric oxide. Meanwhile, glutathione, GPx activity, TAC capacity and brain glucose level increased. Brain AChE increased but PON1 and butyrylcholinesterase activities decreased by citric acid. Liver enzymes, the percentage of damaged blood lymphocytes, histopathological alterations and iNOS expression in brain and liver was decreased by citric acid. Meanwhile, rats treated with atropine showed decreased brain MDA, nitrite but increased GPx activity, TAC, AChE and glucose. The drug also decreased DNA damage of peripheral blood lymphocytes, histopathological alterations and iNOS expression in brain and liver. Conclusions The study demonstrates a beneficial effect for citric acid upon brain oxidative stress, neuronal injury, liver and DNA damage due to acute malathion exposure.

Objective: To investigate the effect of the prostaglandin E1 analogue misoprostol on oxidative stress and neurodegeration caused by subcutaneous rotenone administration in rats. Methods: Rotenone was administered in a dose of 1.5 mg/kg every other day for 2 weeks. Starting from the 1st day of rotenone injection, rats were subcutaneously treated with misoprostol at doses of 10, 100 or 1 000

Objective To investigate the effect of N