Dietary intake and biomarkers of alpha linolenic acid and risk of all cause, cardiovascular, and cancer mortality: systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of cohort studies

OBJECTIVE: To examine the associations between dietary intake and tissue biomarkers of alpha linolenic acid (ALA) and risk of mortality from all causes, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and cancer. DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies. DATA SOURCES: PubMed, Scopus, ISI Web of Science, and Google Scholar to 30 April 2021. STUDY SELECTION: Prospective cohort studies that reported the risk estimates for death from all causes, CVD, and cancer. DATA SYNTHESIS: Summary relative risks and 95% confidence intervals were calculated for the highest versus lowest categories of ALA intake using random effects and fixed effects models. Linear and non-linear dose-response analyses were conducted to assess the dose-response associations between ALA intake and mortality. RESULTS: 41 articles from prospective cohort studies were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis, totalling 1 197 564 participants. During follow-up ranging from two to 32 years, 198 113 deaths from all causes, 62 773 from CVD, and 65 954 from cancer were recorded. High intake of ALA compared with low intake was significantly associated with a lower risk of deaths from all causes (pooled relative risk 0.90, 95% confidence interval 0.83 to 0.97, I2=77.8%, 15 studies), CVD (0.92, 0.86 to 0.99, I2=48.2%, n=16), and coronary heart disease (CHD) (0.89, 0.81 to 0.97, I2=5.6%, n=9), and a slightly higher risk of cancer mortality (1.06, 1.02 to 1.11, I2=3.8%, n=10). In the dose-response analysis, a 1 g/day increase in ALA intake (equivalent to one tablespoon of canola oil or 0.5 ounces of walnut) was associated with a 5% lower risk of all cause (0.95, 0.91 to 0.99, I2=76.2%, n=12) and CVD mortality (0.95, 0.91 to 0.98, I2=30.7%, n=14). The pooled relative risks for the highest compared with lowest tissue levels of ALA indicated a significant inverse association with all cause mortality (0.95, 0.90 to 0.99, I2=8.2%, n=26). Also, based on the dose-response analysis, each 1 standard deviation increment in blood concentrations of ALA was associated with a lower risk of CHD mortality (0.92, 0.86 to 0.98, I2=37.1%, n=14). CONCLUSIONS: The findings show that dietary ALA intake is associated with a reduced risk of mortality from all causes, CVD, and CHD, and a slightly higher risk of cancer mortality, whereas higher blood levels of ALA are associated with a reduced risk of all cause and CHD mortality only. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42021229487

Metformin Decreases the Incidence of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Promoted by Diet-induced Obesity in the Conditional KrasG12D Mouse Model.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a particularly deadly disease. Chronic conditions, including obesity and type-2 diabetes are risk factors, thus making PDAC amenable to preventive strategies. We aimed to characterize the chemo-preventive effects of metformin, a widely used anti-diabetic drug, on PDAC development using the KrasG12D mouse model subjected to a diet high in fats and calories (HFCD). LSL-KrasG12D/+;p48-Cre (KC) mice were given control diet (CD), HFCD, or HFCD with 5 mg/ml metformin in drinking water for 3 or 9 months. After 3 months, metformin prevented HFCD-induced weight gain, hepatic steatosis, depletion of intact acini, formation of advanced PanIN lesions, and stimulation of ERK and mTORC1 in pancreas. In addition to reversing hepatic and pancreatic histopathology, metformin normalized HFCD-induced hyperinsulinemia and hyperleptinemia among the 9-month cohort. Importantly, the HFCD-increased PDAC incidence was completely abrogated by metformin (p < 0.01). The obesogenic diet also induced a marked increase in the expression of TAZ in pancreas, an effect abrogated by metformin. In conclusion, administration of metformin improved the metabolic profile and eliminated the promoting effects of diet-induced obesity on PDAC formation in KC mice. Given the established safety profile of metformin, our findings have a strong translational potential for novel chemo-preventive strategies for PDAC

Comportement des dromadaires sur patures Sahelien et Subhumide au Mali : 2. Especes vegetales et quantites de fourrage ingerees

Trois expériences ont été conduites entre 2014 et 2015 sur 12 dromadaires mâles adultes à Niono et 12 à Sotuba pour identifier les espèces broutées et la quantité de matière sèche ingérée correspondante en zones sahélienne et subhumide. Les données ont été collectées par suivi quotidien de 4 dromadaires porteurs de sac de collecte de fèces choisis au hasard, conduits avec le reste du troupeau durant 12 jours. A Niono, 32 espèces végétales ont été broutées et 71 espèces à Sotuba. A Niono, les espèces les plus broutées ont été Acacia seyal (19 %), Acacia senegal 14,8%), Balanites aegyptiaca (12,6 %) pour les ligneux et Zornia glochidiata (12,6 %) et Schoenefeldia gracilis (6,1 %) pour les graminées. A Sotuba, ce sont Ziziphus mauritiana (14,9 %), Vitellaria paradoxum (10,5 %) et les graminées Cassia tora (7,4 %) et Hiptis suaveolens (6,2 %). Dans le menu figuraient les feuilles, les rameaux, les fleurs et les fruits des espèces végétales consommées. Le taux moyen de protéines de l’ingéré a été de 13,3 % à Niono contre 8,7 % à Sotuba. La digestibilité de la matière sèche a été de 47,9 % à Niono contre 41,2 % à Sotuba. La teneur en protéines digestibles a été de 66,8 ± 0,8 g/kg MS à Niono contre 62,0 ± 0,7 g/kg MS à Sotuba. La quantité de matière sèche ingérée a été de 5,6 ± 0,2 kg à Niono et 5,1 ± kg à Sotuba. La connaissance de ces informations permettra de mieux organiser la complémentation alimentaire des dromadaires afin d’optimiser  leurs productions en zones sahélienne et subhumide du Mali. Mots clés : dromadaires, ingestion pâturage, sahel, subhumide, Mali English Title: Dromedary behaviour on Sahelian and subhumid pasture of Mali: 2. Plant species and feed intake Three experiments were conducted on 30 adult male camels to identify species grazed and the amount of dry matter ingested in the Sahelian (Niono) and sub-humid (Sotuba), zones during the rainy, cold dry and hot dry, seasons. Data were collected by monitoring 4 camels carrying faeces collection bags conducted with the rest of the herd. In Niono, 32 plant species were grazed and 71 species in Sotuba. The menu included leaves, twigs, flowers and fruits of consumed plant species. The average protein level of ingest was 13.3% in Niono and 8.7% in Sotuba. The digestibility of the material was 47.9% in Niono and 41.2% in Sotuba. The digestible protein content was 66.8 ± 0.8 g / kg of dry matter (DM) at Niono and 62.0 ± 0.7 g / kg DM at Sotuba. The amount of dry matter ingested was 5.6 ± 0.2 kg at Niono and 5.1 ± kg at Sotuba. Knowledge of this information is a key element to better organize animal feed supplementation in order to optimize camel production in the sahelian and sub-humid zones of Mali. Keywords: camels, grazing ingestion, Sahel, subhumid, Mal

Comportement des dromadaires adultes sur paturages sahelien et subhumide en station au Mali: 1. Description des principales activites

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Micromegas detector developments for MIMAC

The aim of the MIMAC project is to detect non-baryonic Dark Matter with a directional TPC. The recent Micromegas efforts towards building a large size detector will be described, in particular the characterization measurements of a prototype detector of 10 $\times$ 10 cm$^2$ with a 2 dimensional readout plane. Track reconstruction with alpha particles will be shown.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figures Proceedings of the 3rd International conference on Directional Detection of Dark Matter (CYGNUS 2011), Aussois, France, 8-10 June 2011; corrections on author affiliation

Preventing type 2 diabetes mellitus in Qatar by reducing obesity, smoking, and physical inactivity: mathematical modeling analyses.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to estimate the impact of reducing the prevalence of obesity, smoking, and physical inactivity, and introducing physical activity as an explicit intervention, on the burden of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), using Qatar as an example. METHODS: A population-level mathematical model was adapted and expanded. The model was stratified by sex, age group, risk factor status, T2DM status, and intervention status, and parameterized by nationally representative data. Modeled interventions were introduced in 2016, reached targeted level by 2031, and then maintained up to 2050. Diverse intervention scenarios were assessed and compared with a counter-factual no intervention baseline scenario. RESULTS: T2DM prevalence increased from 16.7% in 2016 to 24.0% in 2050 in the baseline scenario. By 2050, through halting the rise or reducing obesity prevalence by 10-50%, T2DM prevalence was reduced by 7.8-33.7%, incidence by 8.4-38.9%, and related deaths by 2.1-13.2%. For smoking, through halting the rise or reducing smoking prevalence by 10-50%, T2DM prevalence was reduced by 0.5-2.8%, incidence by 0.5-3.2%, and related deaths by 0.1-0.7%. For physical inactivity, through halting the rise or reducing physical inactivity prevalence by 10-50%, T2DM prevalence was reduced by 0.5-6.9%, incidence by 0.5-7.9%, and related deaths by 0.2-2.8%. Introduction of physical activity with varying intensity at 25% coverage reduced T2DM prevalence by 3.3-9.2%, incidence by 4.2-11.5%, and related deaths by 1.9-5.2%. CONCLUSIONS: Major reductions in T2DM incidence could be accomplished by reducing obesity, while modest reductions could be accomplished by reducing smoking and physical inactivity, or by introducing physical activity as an intervention