Reduced Self-Perception of Fatigue after Intake of Panax ginseng Root Extract (G115®) Formulated with Vitamins and Minerals An Open-Label Study

Background: Unexplained fatigue is a common complaint. When underlying disease causes have been eliminated, lifestyle measures and supplementation can be indicated. Elaborating on clinical findings that G115®, a dry extract from the root of Panax ginseng, combined with vitamins and minerals could alleviate fatigue, this open label study aimed at assessing its effect on perceived fatigue and energy. Methods: Healthy adults self-reporting fatigue (n = 103) completed the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory questionnaire. They rated their perceptions of mental and physical fatigue, energy, performance, and stress at baseline and 15, 30, 60 and 90 days after a daily intake of 40 mg G115® formulated with vitamins and minerals. Results: Compared with baseline values, mean self-perception of general fatigue was reduced by −7.55 units [95% CI: −8.44; −6.66] (−41.8%, p < 0.0001) at 90 days. All assessed perception ratings (mental and physical fatigue, reduced activity and motivation, performance, and stress) were significantly and steadily improved from two weeks after supplementation up to study's end. Overall satisfaction with the ability of the product to reduce fatigue reached 85% at Day 90. Conclusion: Daily intake with G115® extract formulated with vitamins and minerals suggests an improvement of self-perception of fatigue and energy in a fatigued adult population

Influence du diélectrique de grille et de la structure moléculaire du semi conducteur sur les performances de transistors organiques

Ce travail porte sur l'étude de l'influence du diélectrique de grille et de la structure moléculaire du semi conducteur sur les performances de transistors organiques (OFET). L'obtention d'OFET stables, fonctionnant à de faibles tensions tout en présentant de bonnes performances constitue un aspect déterminant de ces dispositifs. Dans ce contexte, nous avons réalisé des transistors en pentacène, avec différents diélectriques de grille. Nous proposons un diélectrique bicouche, composé d'un isolant à forte constante et d'un isolant polymère, qui permet, en associant les avantages de ces deux matériaux d'obtenir des tensions de fonctionnement de 15V, tout en améliorant les mobilités des porteurs de charges et en minimisant les instabilités électriques générées par le diélectrique à forte constante. Nous avons ensuite réalisé des transistors, à partir de dérivés d'oligothiophènes et étudié l'impact de la structure moléculaire sur les dispositifs.This work reports on an investigation of the influence of the gate dielectric and the molecular structure of the semiconductor on organic field effect transistors (OFETs) performances. The challenge has been to obtain low voltage, high mobility and stable OFET. Within this context, pentacene based transistors with different gate dielectric materials were realized. We propose a bilayer dielectric, composed by an high-k insulator and a polymeric insulator. This combination give devices working at rather low voltage (15V), while the field effect mobility is improved and the electrical instabilities generated by the high-k dielectric are minimized. In a second part, we have realized transistors, with different oligothiophenes derivatives as active layer and studied the impact of the molecular structure on devices. The addition of hexyls chains and benzothiophene and naphthothiophene groups improves the charge transport. The respective influence of these incorporations are investigated.LYON-Ecole Centrale (690812301) / SudocSudocFranceF

Ruminant and industrial sources of trans-fat and cardiovascular and diabetic diseases

International audienceThe various positional isomers of oleic acid (18 : 1 Delta 9c or 9c-18 : 1) may have distinct biological effects. Detrimental effects of consumption of industrial trans-fatty acids (TFA) (elaidic acid; 18 : 1 Delta 9t) from partially hydrogenated vegetable oils on CVD risk factors are well documented. In addition, epidemiological data suggest that chronic consumption of industrial sources of TFA could alter insulin sensitivity and predispose for type 2 diabetes. However, intervention studies on this issue have remained inconclusive. Moreover, very little information is available on the effect of natural sources of TFA (vaccenic acid; 18 : 1 Delta 11t) coming from dairy products and ruminant meat on the development of CVD and type 2 diabetes. The review focuses on the impact of the consumption of ruminant TFA in relation to cardiovascular risk factors, inflammation and type 2 diabetes

Vitamins and Minerals for Energy, Fatigue and Cognition: A Narrative Review of the Biochemical and Clinical Evidence

Vitamins and minerals are essential to humans as they play essential roles in a variety of basic metabolic pathways that support fundamental cellular functions. In particular, their involvement in energy-yielding metabolism, DNA synthesis, oxygen transport, and neuronal functions makes them critical for brain and muscular function. These, in turn, translate into effects on cognitive and psychological processes, including mental and physical fatigue. This review is focused on B vitamins (B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B8, B9 and B12), vitamin C, iron, magnesium and zinc, which have recognized roles in these outcomes. It summarizes the biochemical bases and actions of these micronutrients at both the molecular and cellular levels and connects them with cognitive and psychological symptoms, as well as manifestations of fatigue that may occur when status or supplies of these micronutrients are not adequate

Impaired resting muscle energetics studied by 31P-NMR in diet-induced obese rats

International audienceOBJECTIVE: Mitochondrial activity is altered in skeletal muscle of obese, insulin-resistant or type 2 diabetic patients. We hypothesized that this situation was associated with profound adaptations in resting muscle energetics. For that purpose, we used in vivo (31)P-nuclear magnetic resonance ((31)P-NMR) in male sedentary Wistar rats fed with obesogenic diets known to induce alterations in muscle mitochondrial activity. METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Two experimental diets (high sucrose and high fat) were provided for 6 weeks at two levels of energy (standard, N and high, H) and compared to control diet. The rates of the adenosine triphosphate (ATP) exchange between phosphocreatine (PCr) and gamma-ATP (k(a)) and beta-adenosine diphosphate (beta-ADP) to beta-ATP (k(b)) were evaluated using (31)P-NMR in resting gastrocnemius muscle. Muscle contents in phosphorylated compounds as well as creatine, were assessed using (31)P-NMR and biochemical assays, respectively. RESULTS: ATP content increased by 6.7-8.5% in standard-energy high-sucrose (NSU), high-energy high-fat (HF) and high-energy high-sucrose (HSU) groups compared to control (P < 0.05), whereas PCr content decreased by 4.2-6.4% (P < 0.01). Consequently, PCr to ATP ratio decreased in NSU, HF, and HSU groups, compared to control (P < 0.01). Furthermore in high-energy groups (HF and HSU) compared to control, creatine contents were decreased by 14-19% (P < 0.001), whereas k(a) and k(b) fluxes were increased by 89-133% (P < 0.001) and 243-277% (P < 0.01), respectively. DISCUSSION: Our in vivo data showed adaptations of resting skeletal muscle energetics in response to high-energy diets. Increased activity of enzymes catalyzing ATP production may reflect a compensatory mechanism to face impaired mitochondrial ATP synthesis in order to preserve intracellular energy homeostasis

Inaccuracy of Single-Target Sequencing for Discriminating Species of the Mycobacterium abscessus Group▿

We determined nucleotide sequences of rpoB, hsp65, and sodA in 59 clinical isolates (from 58 patients) of the Mycobacterium abscessus group. Identification to the species level, based on three target genes, was concordant for 44 isolates (25 M. abscessus, 13 Mycobacterium massiliense, and 6 Mycobacterium bolletii isolates) and discordant for 15 isolates which had “interspecific composite patterns.” Sequence analysis of five housekeeping genes also showed composite patterns in 8 of these 15 isolates

One year after mild injury: comparison of health status and quality of life between casualties with whiplash versus other injuries

Objectives: To compare health status, family and occupational impact and quality of life one year after an accident between casualties with whiplash versus other mild injuries, and to explore the relation between initial injury (whiplash vs. other) and quality of life. Design: Prospective cohort study. Subjects: The study used data from the ESPARR cohort (a representative cohort of road accident casualties) and included 173 casualties with “pure” whiplash and a population of 207 casualties with other mild injuries (MAIS-1). Quality of life at 1-year follow-up was assessed on the WHOQoL-Bref questionnaire. Methods: Correlations between explanatory variables and quality of life were explored by Poisson regression to provide adjusted relative risks, with analysis of variance for the various quality of life scores explored. Results: One year post-accident, more whiplash than other casualties complained of non-recovery of health status (56% vs. 43%) and of occupational impact of pain (31% vs. 23%). Quality of life and post-traumatic stress disorder were similar in the two groups. Impaired quality of life did not correlate with whiplash when models were adjusted on sociodemographic variables and history of psychological distress. Whatever the initial lesion, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was a determining factor for poorer quality of life. Conclusions: Sociodemographic factors, pre-accident psychological history prior and post-traumatic stress disorder were the main factors influencing quality of life, rather than whether or not the injury was whiplash. PTSD may also be related to pain