The imprinted expression of the IGF2 and H19 genes is controlled by the imprinting control region 1 (ICR1) located at chromosome 11p15.5. This methylation-sensitive chromatin insulator works by binding the zincfinger protein CTCF in a parent-specific manner. DNA methylation defects involving the ICR1 H19/IGF2 domain result in two growth disorders with opposite phenotypes: an overgrowth disorder, the Beckwith– Wiedemann syndrome (maternal ICR1 gain of methylation in 10% of BWS cases) and a growth retardation disorder, the Silver–Russell syndrome (paternal ICR1 loss of methylation in 60% of SRS cases). Although a few deletions removing part of ICR1 have been described in some familial BWS cases, little information is available regarding the mechanism of ICR1 DNA methylation defects. We investigated the CTCF gene and the ICR1 domain in 21 BWS patients with ICR1 gain of methylation and 16 SRS patients with ICR1 loss of methylation. We identified four constitutional ICR1 genetic defects in BWS patients, including a familial case. Three of those defects are newly identified imprinting defects consisting of small deletions and a single mutation, which do not involve one of the CTCF binding sites. Moreover, two of those defects affect OCT-binding sequences which are suggested to maintain the unmethylated state of the maternal allele. A single-nucleotide variation was identified in a SRS patient. Our data extends the spectrum of constitutive genetic ICR1 abnormalities and suggests that extensive and accurate analysis of ICR1 is required for appropriate genetic counseling in BWS patients with ICR1 gain of methylation.
Demars, J., Mansur Ennuri Moftah Shmela, S. Rossignol, J. Okabe, I. Netchine, S. Azzi, S. Cabrol, C. Le Caignec, A. David , Y. Le Bouc, A. El-Osta , C. Gicquel(9-2010)

Formaldehyde is an anxious gas used as a tissue preservative of cadavers in anatomy halls. Therefore, laboratory staff and students are at high risk of different clinical complications due to the continuous exposure to formaldehyde. The present questionnaire-based study evaluates the effects of formaldehyde exposure on veterinary students and staff in the anatomy gross dissection laboratory, University of Tripoli, Libya. A total of 104 students and 6 anatomy staff members completed a questionnaire of 24 questions related to the clinical symptoms observed after formaldehyde exposure and the answers were assessed using a six point (0-5) scale. Students had a high prevalence of nasal itching 78(75%), eyes burning 78(75%), excessive lacrimation 76(73%), eyes redness 60(58%), headache 64(62%) and respiratory distress 61(59%). Smoking and wearing glasses or gloves worsened many symptoms while wearing masks minimized other symptoms and male students were more affected than females. All anatomy staff members (100%) reported nasal itching, burning and congestion, eyes burning and redness, excessive lacrimation, cough and respiratory distress and less than that (83%) suffered from mouth dryness, headache, temporary loss of their ability to recognize the smell of formaldehyde and needed a physician assistance after the exposure to formaldehyde. The repeated exposure to formaldehyde in gross anatomy dissection has harmful effects on both students and staff member and finding alternative preservation methods, such as freezing, would be safer than using the formaldehyde. arabic 12 English 74
Fahima A Alnagar, Mansur Ennuri Moftah Shmela, , Abdulrhman Mohamed Salah Alrtib, , Fathia mahmoud Mohammad Ashour, Amal Omar Elarif Buker, Anwar Mustafa Abdalhadi Abdalmula(10-2015)

As little is known about the blood profile of camels in Libya, this article is the first of a 4-part series describing the biochemical and haematological blood profile in Libyan camels. Part 1 of these manuscripts determines the values of enzymes, metabolites, electrolytes and haematological indices in the blood of Libyan camels, parts 2-4 evaluates the effects of breed, gender and age respectively on these values. In this study, blood samples were collected from sixty six camels of three different breeds, different ages and with both sex. The blood of the studied camels showed (i) average values of Potassium (K), Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg), Phosphorus (Ph), Haemoglobin (Hb), Packed Cell Volume (PCV) and White Blood Cell (WBC) counts (ii) low values of Sodium (Na), Iron (Fe), total proteins, albumin, globulin, creatinine, cholesterol, triglycerides, Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV), Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin (MCH), and low serum activity of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) and amylase (AMS) enzymes and (iii) high values of glucose, urea, Red Blood Cell (RBC) counts, Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) and Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin Concentration (MCHC). The finding of this study was documented and compared with the findings of similar studies performed elsewhere. arabic 25 English 134
Anwar Mustafa Abdalhadi Abdalmula, Amal Omar Elarif Buker, Fathia mahmoud Mohammad Ashour, Mansur Ennuri Moftah Shmela, , Ismail M Abograra, , Fahima A Alnagar(8-2018)