Effect of an oral supplementation with a proprietary melon juice concentrate (Extramel®) on stress and fatigue in healthy people: a pilot, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Recent studies have demonstrated a correlation between perceived stress and oxidative stress. As SOD is the main enzyme of the enzymatic antioxidant defence system of the body, we evaluated the effect of an oral daily intake of a proprietary melon juice concentrate rich in SOD (EXTRAMEL^®) on the signs and symptoms of stress and fatigue in healthy volunteers.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This randomized, double blind, placebo controlled clinical study was conducted with seventy healthy volunteers aged between 30 and 55 years, who feel daily stress and fatigue. They took the dietary supplement based on the melon juice concentrate (10 mg Extramel^®corresponding to 140 IU SOD per capsule) or a placebo one time daily during 4 weeks. Stress and fatigue were measured using four observational psychometric scales: FARD, PSS-14, SF-12 and Epworth scale. The study was conducted by Isoclin, a clinical research organization, located in Poitiers, France.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>No adverse effect was noted. The supplementation with the proprietary melon juice concentrate bringing 140 IU SOD/day significantly improved signs and symptoms of stress and fatigue linked to performance, physical (pain, sleep troubles), cognitive (concentration, weariness, sleep troubles) or behavioural (attitude, irritability, difficulty of contact) compared to the placebo. In the same way, quality of life and perceived stress were significantly improved with SOD supplementation.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This pilot study showed that an oral supplementation with a proprietary melon juice concentrate rich in SOD may have a positive effect on several signs and symptoms of perceived stress and fatigue.</p

South Atlantic intermediate water advances into the North-east Atlantic with reduced Atlantic meridional overturning circulation during the last glacial period

The Nd isotopic composition (epsilon Nd) of seawater and cold-water coral (CWC) samples from the Gulf of Cadiz and the Alboran Sea, at a depth of 280-827 m were investigated in order to constrain middepth water mass dynamics within the Gulf of Cadiz over the past 40 ka. epsilon Nd of glacial and Holocene CWC from the Alboran Sea and the northern Gulf of Cadiz reveals relatively constant values (-8.6 to -9.0 and -9.5 to -10.4, respectively). Such values are similar to those of the surrounding present-day middepth waters from the Mediterranean Outflow Water (MOW; epsilon Nd approximate to -9.4) and Mediterranean Sea Water (MSW; epsilon Nd approximate to -9.9). In contrast, glacial epsilon Nd values for CWC collected at thermocline depth (550-827 m) in the southern Gulf of Cadiz display a higher average value (-8.90.4) compared to the present-day value (-11.70.3). This implies a higher relative contribution of water masses of Mediterranean (MSW) or South Atlantic origin (East Antarctic Intermediate Water, EAAIW). Our study has produced the first evidence of significant radiogenic epsilon Nd values (approximate to -8) at 19, 23-24, and 27 ka, which are coeval with increasing iceberg discharges and a weakening of Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). Since MOW epsilon Nd values remained stable during the last glacial period, it is suggested that these radiogenic epsilon Nd values most likely reflect an enhanced northward propagation of glacial EAAIW into the eastern Atlantic Basin

Transports de Na&quot;+ entre les cellules de la racine et la seve du xyleme

SIGLEAvailable from INIST (FR), Document Supply Service, under shelf-number : T 78983 / INIST-CNRS - Institut de l'Information Scientifique et TechniqueFRFranc

«Antoinette» en procès : Le chantage sexuel en accusation

Desbois Josette, Lacan Dominique. «Antoinette» en procès : Le chantage sexuel en accusation. In: Cahiers du féminisme, n°36, 1986. Dossier : Sois patiente et tais-toi (été 1986) pp. 4-5

A melon pulp concentrate rich in superoxide dismutase reduces stress proteins along the gastrointestinal tract of pigs

International audienceObjective: A melon (Cucumis melo LC.) pulp concentrate (MPC) rich in superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was tested for its ability to decrease stress protein expressions along the gastrointestinal tract in a swine model. Methods: Pig sextuplets weaned at 21 d of age were selected from among six litters (n = 36). After a 2-d fasting period, the pigs were fed at similar levels of intake of the control, MPC1, and MPC2 diets, which provided 0, 12.5, and 50 IU of added SOD per kilogram of food, respectively. One triplet of pigs per litter was slaughtered at 7 d and the second triplet at 14 d after weaning. SOD, catalase, and digestive enzymes were determined enzymatically and stress protein expressions by western blotting. Results: Plasma SOD increased with MPC dose at day 14 (P < 0.05). Mucosal weights in the proximal and mid small intestine were lower at day 14 (P < 0.05), cecum tissue weight was greater (P < 0.05), and sucrase-specific activity in mid and distal small intestine mucosa was lower (P = 0.05) in the MPC2 group than in the control group. MPC supplementation essentially decreased (P < 0.05 to P < 0.001) stress proteins in the stomach (all), the mid small intestine (heat-shock protein-27, neuronal nitric oxide synthase) and the colon (heat-shock protein-70, neuronal nitric oxide synthase). Conclusion: A SOD-rich MPC provided at the dose of 50 IU/kg of food for up to 12 d was effective in lowering the level of stress proteins along the gastrointestinal tract of pigs after weaning

Late Pleistocene folding above the Mail Arrouy Thrust, North-Western Pyrenees (France)

International audienceThe Western Pyrenees have experienced several major earthquakes in the last 400. years. Herein, we investigate the ongoing tectonic activity of the Arudy area affected by one of the largest earthquakes (M = 5.1; 1980) registered in the instrumental seismicity catalogue in the Western Pyrenees. Folding of alluvial terraces younger than 17 +/- 3. ky above the Mail Arrouy Thrust (MAT), Attest from a Late Pleistocene tectonic activity. This deformation resulted in a shallow fold with a wavelength of 2800. m and amplitude of 7 to 8. m. The MAT is rooted above a former normal fault of the Cretaceous Iberian margin, which is a potential seismogenic source.Such observations suggest that the northern flank of the Western Pyrenees is still subjected to shortening in response to a compressional stress regime. This compression is consistent with the African-Eurasian plate kinematics and the Arudy 1980 earthquake. Nonetheless, recent seismological data suggest the presence of an extensional stress regime in the range. This extension is indicated by some seismic events mostly observed in the Pyrenean high chain. Our hypothesis is that these extension-driven events could be due to a local stress-field induced by the elevation of the range. On the contrary, the compression, associated with the regional stress regime, could prevail in the outermost domain of the range

Dietary Supplementation with a Superoxide Dismutase-Melon Concentrate Reduces Stress, Physical and Mental Fatigue in Healthy People: A Randomised, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Background: We aimed to investigate effects of superoxide dismutase (SOD)-melon concentrate supplementation on psychological stress, physical and mental fatigue in healthy people. Methods: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was performed on 61 people divided in two groups: active supplement (n = 32) and placebo (n = 29) for 12 weeks. Volunteers were given one small hard capsule per day. One capsule contained 10 mg of SOD-melon concentrate (140 U of SOD) and starch for the active supplement and starch only for the placebo. Stress and fatigue were evaluated using four psychometric scales: PSS-14; SF-36; Stroop tests and Prevost scale. Results: The supplementation with SOD-melon concentrate significantly decreased perceived stress, compared to placebo. Moreover, quality of life was improved and physical and mental fatigue were reduced with SOD-melon concentrate supplementation. Conclusion: SOD-melon concentrate supplementation appears to be an effective and natural way to reduce stress and fatigue. Trial registration: trial approved by the ethical committee of Poitiers (France), and the ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier is NCT01767922

Short-term assessment of toxicological aspects, oxidative and inflammatory response to dietary melon superoxide dismutase in rats

The protective effects of SODB, a gastro-resistant encapsulated melon superoxide dismutase, on haematological and biochemical parameters and inflammatory and oxidative status, were evaluated in the blood and liver tissue. The study consisted in a 28-day experiment on rats supplemented with three doses (10, 40 and 160 U SOD/day) of SODB-M, SODB-D or SODB-S, different depending on the nature of the coating (palm oil, shellac or gum Arabic respectively). No mortality, abnormal clinical signs, behavioural changes or macroscopic findings were observed whatever the groups. Haematological parameters (total red blood cell count, haemoglobin content, haematocrit, red cell indices, white blood cell count and platelets count) were not modified in SODB treated-groups. No marked change was recorded in biochemical parameters (plasma urea, creatinine, lipids, electrolytes, bilirubin, transaminases and gamma-glutamyl transferase). The liver endogenous antioxidant enzymes (copper/zinc and manganese superoxide dismutase) expressions were significantly increased in the rats receiving the highest dose of SODB (160 U SOD/day) whatever the coating. Moreover, interleukin-6, a marker of inflammation, was significantly decreased in these high dose-treated-groups