Cabbage and fermented vegetables : From death rate heterogeneity in countries to candidates for mitigation strategies of severe COVID-19

Large differences in COVID-19 death rates exist between countries and between regions of the same country. Some very low death rate countries such as Eastern Asia, Central Europe, or the Balkans have a common feature of eating large quantities of fermented foods. Although biases exist when examining ecological studies, fermented vegetables or cabbage have been associated with low death rates in European countries. SARS-CoV-2 binds to its receptor, the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). As a result of SARS-CoV-2 binding, ACE2 downregulation enhances the angiotensin II receptor type 1 (AT(1)R) axis associated with oxidative stress. This leads to insulin resistance as well as lung and endothelial damage, two severe outcomes of COVID-19. The nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) is the most potent antioxidant in humans and can block in particular the AT(1)R axis. Cabbage contains precursors of sulforaphane, the most active natural activator of Nrf2. Fermented vegetables contain many lactobacilli, which are also potent Nrf2 activators. Three examples are: kimchi in Korea, westernized foods, and the slum paradox. It is proposed that fermented cabbage is a proof-of-concept of dietary manipulations that may enhance Nrf2-associated antioxidant effects, helpful in mitigating COVID-19 severity.Peer reviewe

Nrf2-interacting nutrients and COVID-19 : time for research to develop adaptation strategies

There are large between- and within-country variations in COVID-19 death rates. Some very low death rate settings such as Eastern Asia, Central Europe, the Balkans and Africa have a common feature of eating large quantities of fermented foods whose intake is associated with the activation of the Nrf2 (Nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2) anti-oxidant transcription factor. There are many Nrf2-interacting nutrients (berberine, curcumin, epigallocatechin gallate, genistein, quercetin, resveratrol, sulforaphane) that all act similarly to reduce insulin resistance, endothelial damage, lung injury and cytokine storm. They also act on the same mechanisms (mTOR: Mammalian target of rapamycin, PPAR gamma:Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor, NF kappa B: Nuclear factor kappa B, ERK: Extracellular signal-regulated kinases and eIF2 alpha:Elongation initiation factor 2 alpha). They may as a result be important in mitigating the severity of COVID-19, acting through the endoplasmic reticulum stress or ACE-Angiotensin-II-AT(1)R axis (AT(1)R) pathway. Many Nrf2-interacting nutrients are also interacting with TRPA1 and/or TRPV1. Interestingly, geographical areas with very low COVID-19 mortality are those with the lowest prevalence of obesity (Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia). It is tempting to propose that Nrf2-interacting foods and nutrients can re-balance insulin resistance and have a significant effect on COVID-19 severity. It is therefore possible that the intake of these foods may restore an optimal natural balance for the Nrf2 pathway and may be of interest in the mitigation of COVID-19 severity

Complications et résultats à long terme des cures de prolapsus par voie vaginale avec prothèses

CAEN-BU Médecine pharmacie (141182102) / SudocSudocFranceF

Prise en charge d'une infection génitale haute non compliquée

International audienceSince the 1993 French consensus conference on uncomplicated pelvic inflammatory diseases (uPID), new antibiotics appeared and bacterial resistances did evoluate. This methodic analysis of the literature updates different aspects of its treatment. Antibiotherapy must be established early (EL3). Inpatient and intravenous treatment is not superior to outpatient and oral treatment (EL1). Ofloxacine + metronidazole association can be proposed in first intention (EL1). If case of Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection, one ceftriaxone injection must be associated (EL4). All the other antibiotics associations have shown to be efficient except the metronidazole + doxycycline association, which is not indicated (EL2). Two weeks treatment seems to be a sufficient duration. Laparoscopic treatment in first intention is not justified except for diagnostic doubts or unfavorable evolution of the medical treatment (EL4). Neither non-steroidic antiinflamatorries, nor corticosteroids, have been proved to be efficient to decrease the adherence risk in uPID (EL3). Early extraction of an intra uterine device (IUD) allows symptomatologic improvement (EL2). Partners treatment with azithromycin improves the 4 months bacteriologic results (EL2). HIV positive patients do not need specific treatment (EL3)

Strategic Intelligence Monitor on Personal Health Systems Phase 3 (SIMPHS3) MACVIA-LR (France) Case Study Report

The MACVIA-LR integrated care approach deployed in the Languedoc-Roussillon region in the South of France rests on three main initiatives that put particular emphasis on the prevention of unhealthy ageing of patients suffering from chronic conditions by implementing a series of actions that range from the early diagnosis and management of chronic respiratory diseases to the detection of un-recognised co-morbidities. The initiatives form part of a set of activities as a reference site for the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing initiative in the Languedoc-Roussillon region and comprise: Integrated care pathways for airway diseases (AIRWAYS ICPs); Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA); and the Co-morbidity Clinics.JRC.J.3-Information Societ

Vaginal microbiota stability over 18 months in young student women in France

International audiencePurpose. Non-optimal vaginal microbiota lacking lactobacilli and comprising a wide array of anaerobic bacteria, typified by community state type (CST) IV, have been associated with adverse gynecological and pregnancy outcomes. Here, we investigate the stability of the vaginal microbiota sampled every 6 months over 18 months and how samples distantly collected combined with exposures could provide insight on future microbiota compositional changes.Methods. Vaginal microbiota dynamics were analyzed in 241 female students aged 18-24 years and negative for Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae. The vaginal microbiota was characterized using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and assigned to CSTs. Vaginal microbiota longitudinal profiles were determined through hierarchical clustering. Results. At baseline, 11.2% of participants had a CST IV, 40.5% a CST I (Lactobacillus crispatus-dominated), and 38.1% a CST III (Lactobacillus iners-dominated). A total of 345 CST transitions were observed over the study period. Pain during sexual intercourse was associated with a higher probability of transition from CST III to CST IV, while self-reported yeast infection was associated with a higher probability of transition from CST IV to CST I. Over the study period, 32.0% participants displayed a stable CST trajectory. Composition of the vaginal microbiota of a single sample predicted with good accuracy the CST trajectory over the following 18 months.Conclusion. Vaginal longitudinal CST patterns over 18 months could be clustered into three main groups of trajectories. Performing molecular characterization at a single time point could contribute to improved preventive care and optimization of young women’s reproductive and sexual health

Combination of nutritional polyphenols supplementation with exercise training counteracts insulin resistance and improves endurance in high-fat diet-induced obese rats

International audienceSeparately, polyphenols and exercise are known to prevent insulin resistance (IR) but their combined curative effects on established obesity and IR require further investigation. Therefore, we compared the metabolic effects of a combination of exercise and grape polyphenols supplementation in obese IR rats with high-fat diet (EXOPP) to the effect of high-fat diet alone (HF) or with a nutritional supplementation of grape polyphenols (PP) or with endurance exercise (EXO) during 8 wks. We observed an improvement of systemic and skeletal muscle insulin sensitivity in EXO and EXOPP rats. EXOPP rats compared to HF rats presented a lower insulinemia and HOMA-IR with higher liver and muscle glycogen contents. Interestingly, EXOPP rats had a 68% enhanced endurance capacity compared to EXO rats with also a higher activation of AMPK compared to sedentary and EXO rats with increased lipid oxidation. Together, our results suggest that grape polyphenols supplementation combined with exercise has a synergistic effect by increasing muscle lipid oxidation and sparing glycogen utilization which thus enhances endurance capacity. Our data highlight that in cases of established obesity and IR, the combination of nutritional grape polyphenols supplementation and exercise heighten and intensify their individual metabolic effects

No Additive Effects of Polyphenol Supplementation and Exercise Training on White Adiposity Determinants of High-Fat Diet-Induced Obese Insulin-Resistant Rats

One of the major insulin resistance instigators is excessive adiposity and visceral fat depots. Individually, exercise training and polyphenol intake are known to exert health benefits as improving insulin sensitivity. However, their combined curative effects on established obesity and insulin resistance need further investigation particularly on white adipose tissue alterations. Therefore, we compared the effects on different white adipose tissue depot alterations of a combination of exercise and grape polyphenol supplementation in obese insulin-resistant rats fed a high-fat diet to the effects of a high-fat diet alone or a nutritional supplementation of grape polyphenols (50 mg/kg/day) or exercise training (1 hr/day to 5 days/wk consisting of treadmill running at 32 m/min for a 10% slope), for a total duration of 8 weeks. Separately, polyphenol supplementation and exercise decreased the quantity of all adipose tissue depots and mesenteric inflammation. Exercise reduced adipocytes’ size in all fat stores. Interestingly, combining exercise to polyphenol intake presents no more cumulative benefit on adipose tissue alterations than exercise alone. Insulin sensitivity was improved at systemic, epididymal, and inguinal adipose tissues levels in trained rats thus indicating that despite their effects on adipocyte morphological/metabolic changes, polyphenols at nutritional doses remain less effective than exercise in fighting insulin resistance

Updated French guidelines for diagnosis and management of pelvic inflammatory disease

International audienceBackground: Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is commonly encountered in ă clinical practice. Objectives: To provide up-to-date guidelines on ă management of PID. Search strategy: An initial search of the Cochrane ă database, PubMed, and Embase was performed using keywords related to PID ă to identify reports in any language published between January 1990 and ă January 2012, with an update in May 2015. Selection criteria: All ă identified reports relevant to the areas of focus were included. Data ă collection and analysis: A level of evidence based on the quality of the ă data available was applied for each area of focus and used for the ă guidelines. Main results: PID must be suspected when spontaneous pelvic ă pain is associated with induced adnexal or uterine pain (grade C). ă Pelvic ultrasonography is necessary to exclude tubo-ovarian abscess ă (grade B). Microbiological diagnosis requires vaginal and endocervical ă sampling for molecular and bacteriological analysis (grade B). ă First-line treatment for uncomplicated PID combines ofloxacin and ă metronidazole for 14 days (grade B). Treatment of tubo-ovarian abscess ă is based on drainage if the collection measures more than 3 cm (grade ă B), with combined ceftriaxone, metronidazole, and doxycycline for 14-21 ă days. Conclusions: Current management of PID requires easily ă reproducible investigations and treatment, and thus can be applied ă worldwide. (C) 2016 International Federation of Gynecology and ă Obstetrics. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved