Modulation of (-)-Epicatechin Metabolism by Coadministration with Other Polyphenols in Caco-2 Cell Model

ABSTRACT Widely consumed beverages such as red wine, tea, and cocoaderived products are a great source of flavanols. Epidemiologic and interventional studies suggest that cocoa flavanols such as (-)-epicatechin may reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases. The interaction of (-)-epicatechin with food components including other polyphenols could modify its absorption, metabolism, and finally its bioactivity. In the present study we investigate (-)-epicatechin absorption and metabolism when coexposed with other polyphenols in the intestinal absorptive Caco-2 cell model. Depending on the type of polyphenols coadministered, the total amount of 39-O-methyl-epicatechin and 39-O-sulfate-epicatechin conjugates found both in apical and basal compartments ranged from 19 to 801 nM and from 6 to 432 nM, respectively. The coincubation of (-)-epicatechin with flavanols, chlorogenic acid, and umbelliferone resulted in similar amounts of 39-O-methyl-epicatechin effluxed into the apical compartment relative to control. Coincubation with isorhamnetin, kaempferol, diosmetin, nevadensin, chrysin, equol, genistein, and hesperitin promoted the transport of 39-Omethyl-epicatechin toward the basolateral side and decreased the apical efflux. Quercetin and luteolin considerably inhibited the appearance of this (-)-epicatechin conjugate both in the apical and basolateral compartments. In conclusion, we could demonstrate that the efflux of (-)-epicatechin conjugates to the apical or basal compartments of Caco-2 cells is modulated by certain classes of polyphenols and their amount. Ingesting (-)-epicatechin with specific polyphenols could be a strategy to increase the bioavailability of (-)-epicatechin and to modulate its metabolic profile

HCV Coinfection Associated with Slower Disease Progression in HIV-Infected Former Plasma Donors Naïve to ART

It remains controversial how HCV coinfection influences the disease progression during HIV-1 infection. This study aims to define the influence of HCV infection on the replication of HIV-1 and the disease progression in HIV-infected former plasma donors (FPDs) naïve to ART.168 HIV-1-infected FPDs were enrolled into a cohort study from Anhui province in central China, and thereafter monitored at month 3, 9, 15, 21 and 33. Fresh whole blood samples were used for CD4+ T-cell counting. Their plasma samples were collected and stored for quantification of HIV-1 viral loads and for determination of HCV and Toxoplasma. Out of 168 HIV-infected FBDs, 11.9% (20 cases), 80.4% (135 cases) and 7.7% (13 cases) were infected with HIV-1 alone, HIV-1/HCV and HIV/HCV/Toxoplasma, respectively. During the 33-month follow-up, only 35% (7 out of 20 cases) HIV-1 mono-infected subjects remained their CD4+ T-cell counts above 200 cells/µl and retained on the cohort study, which was significantly lower than 56% (75 out of 135 cases) for HIV/HCV group and 69% (9 out of 13 cases) for HIV/HCV/Toxoplasma group (p<0.05). CD4+ T cells in HIV mono infection group were consistently lower than that in HIV/HCV group (p = 0.04, 0.18, 0.03 and 0.04 for baseline, month 9, month 21 and month 33 visit, respectively). In accordance with those observations, HIV viral loads in HIV mono-infection group were consistently higher than that in HIV/HCV group though statistical significances were only reached at baseline (p = 0.04).These data indicated HCV coinfection with HIV-1 is associated with the slower disease progression at the very late stage when comparing with HIV-1 mono-infection. The coinfection of Toxoplasma with HIV and HCV did not exert additional influence on the disease progression. It will be highly interesting to further explore the underlying mechanism for this observation in the future

Immuno-metabolic profile of patients with psychotic disorders and metabolic syndrome. Results from the FACE-SZ cohort

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a highly prevalent and harmful medical disorder often comorbid with psychosis where it can contribute to cardiovascular complications. As immune dysfunction is a key shared component of both MetS and schizophrenia (SZ), this study investigated the relationship between immune alterations and MetS in patients with SZ, whilst controlling the impact of confounding clinical characteristics including psychiatric symptoms and comorbidities, history of childhood maltreatment and psychotropic treatments. Method: A total of 310 patients meeting DSM-IV criteria for SZ or schizoaffective disorders (SZA), with or without MetS, were systematically assessed and included in the FondaMental Advanced Centers of Expertise for Schizophrenia (FACE-SZ) cohort. Detailed clinical characteristics of patients, including psychotic symptomatology, psychiatric comorbidities and history of childhood maltreatment were recorded and the serum levels of 18 cytokines were measured. A penalized regression method was performed to analyze associations between inflammation and MetS, whilst controlling for confounding factors. Results: Of the total sample, 25% of patients had MetS. Eight cytokines were above the lower limit of detection (LLOD) in more than 90% of the samples and retained in downstream analysis. Using a conservative Variable Inclusion Probability (VIP) of 75%, we found that elevated levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-7, IL-12/23 p40 and IL-16 and lower levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α were associated with MetS. As for clinical variables, age, sex, body mass index (BMI), diagnosis of SZ (not SZA), age at the first episode of psychosis (FEP), alcohol abuse, current tobacco smoking, and treatment with antidepressants and anxiolytics were all associated with MetS. Conclusion: We have identified five cytokines associated with MetS in SZ suggesting that patients with psychotic disorders and MetS are characterized by a specific “immuno-metabolic” profile. This may help to design tailored treatments for this subgroup of patients with both psychotic disorders and MetS, taking one more step towards precision medicine in psychiatry. © 2022 The AuthorsImmuno-Génétique, Inflammation, retro-Virus, Environnement : de l'étiopathogénie des troubles psychotiques aux modèles animauxRéseau d'Innovation sur les Voies de Signalisation en Sciences de la Vi

Improving reproductive health care services for women with a physical disability: Insights from a community survey of women with spinal cord injury in Switzerland

Objective: To describe a cohort of women with a physical disability in various reproductive life stages to support the development of specific management targets, especially during the fertile stage. Design: Community survey. Population / Sample: We analysed data from 440 female participants with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI) aged over 16 years from the cross-sectional community survey of the Swiss Spinal Cord Injury Cohort Study (SwiSCI) in 2017. Methods: The full cohort was analysed using descriptive analysis. For women in the fertile reproductive life stage, a regression technique was used to identify the predictors of becoming a mother after SCI. Results: More than 50% of the sample were aged over 56, and approximately one fourth were in the fertile (16-45 years) age group. Motherhood after SCI was most prevalent in women with low and incomplete lesions and those who sustained an SCI at a young age. The chances of giving birth significantly decreased when sustaining an SCI after the age of 35. The mean age at first delivery after SCI (age 31.2±5 years) was five years higher compared to women with an SCI who gave birth before sustaining SCI (age 26.2±5 years). Conclusions: The study provides evidence for the need for tailored and specific lifespan adjusted obstetric and gynaecological services for women with SCI and for women with a disability in general

Selective immunocytochemical localisation of calretinin in the human ovary1

Calretinin is a calcium-binding protein which is primarily expressed by certain cells of the nervous system, both central and peripheral. Its presence in nonexcitable cells has been little studied. Using a polyclonal antibody and paraffin sections we have analysed the presence of calretinin in the human ovary of different ages, and in polycystic ovaries. Our results revealed the selective presence of calretinin, specifically localised in the cells of the germinal epithelium, those of the theca interna and the theca lutein cells, in the cells of the neurovaso-epithelial association and of the canalicular structures of the mesovarium. Calretinin was also present in a few cells of the theca externa and some interstitial cells. No appreciable quantitative differences in the strength of the positive reaction were seen between the ovaries of different ages or between the normal and the polycystic ovaries. The presence of calretinin was confirmed by western blot analysis. The selective presence of calretinin in the human ovary, in androgenic cells and in the cells of the germinal epithelium is discussed in relation to its possible function as a Ca2+ buffe

Psychopathological Dissection of Bipolar Disorder and ADHD: Focussing on Racing Thoughts and Verbal Fluency&#x202F;

Gilles Bertschy,1– 3 Emilie Martz,2 Sebastien Weibel,1,2 Luisa Weiner1,4,5 1Pôle de Psychiatrie, santé mentale & addictologie des Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, F-67000, France; 2INSERM U1114, Strasbourg, F-67000, France; 3Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle de Strasbourg, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, F-67000, France; 4Laboratoire de Psychologie des Cognitions, Strasbourg, F-67000, France; 5Faculté de Psychologie, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, F-67000, FranceCorrespondence: Gilles Bertschy, Pôle de Psychiatrie, santé mentale & addictologie des Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, 1 Place de L’hôpital, BP 426, Strasbourg Cedex, F-67091, France, Tel +33 388 11 65 48, Fax +33 388 11 54 23, Email [email protected]: In the present study, we propose a review and a synthesis of the work of our group about the phenomenology and the cognitive mechanisms of racing thoughts in bipolar disorder (BD) and ADHD. Contrary to the mainstream idea according to which racing thoughts are pathognomonic of BD, our work suggests that racing thoughts are enhanced in ADHD compared to hypomanic episodes of BD, whereas in euthymic episodes of BD self-reported racing thoughts are similar to the rates reported by healthy controls. Using verbal fluency tasks, we found many similarities between bipolar and ADHD subjects with one clear difference: lexical search strategy in hypomania is based on phonemic similarities rather than semantic-relatedness. However, this distinction observed in this cognitive task is certainly difficult to grasp during a clinical interview aiming to differentiate mild hypomania from combined ADHD presentation. The main landmark to distinguish them remains the episodic nature of bipolar disorders as opposed to the lifelong presentation of ADHD symptoms, a dichotomous view that is not so clear-cut in clinical practice.Keywords: bipolar disorders, ADHD, racing thoughts, verbal fluency, adul

Chemically-mediated attraction of three parasitoid species to mealybug-infested cassava leaves

We investigated whether cassava plants that are infested by the cassava mealybug, Phenacoccus herreni (Pseudococcidae, Sternorrhyncha), emit attractants for the encyrtid parasitoids Aenasius vexans Kerrich, Apoanagyrus (Epidinocarsis) diversicornis Howard, and Acerophagus coccois Smith. Bioassays with a Y-tube olfactometer showed for all three species that female wasps were most responsive and selective when they were 1.5 to 2.5 days old. Females of these age groups were used to test their ability to distinguish between the odor of plants with and without mealybugs. The wasps were offered choices between infested cassava leaves vs. healthy ones, infested leaves vs. clean air, and healthy leaves vs. clean air. A. vexans and A. diversicornis were strongly attracted to infested leaves and preferred these over healthy ones. In contrast, A. coccois was significantly attracted to either healthy or infested leaves, and did not distinguish between the two. The results suggest that A. coccois, which has the broadest known host range of the three, may be responsive only to general plant odors, while A. vexans and A. diversicornis respond more specifically to odors associated with mealybug infestation