Les handicaps de l'obésite massive [Handicaps of massive obesity]

Massive obesity results in psychological--internal, relational, behavioural and psychosocial--handicaps due, to a great extent, to a society which encourages the occurrence of obesity but does not tolerate those who present with this condition. As the weight increases, the quality of life diminishes. Moreover, the mental performances of very obese individuals seem to be inferior to those of subjects with normal weight. Treatments which include a restrictive diet are the sources of depressive symptoms related to the chronic restriction. So far, only those patients who were operated upon, and particularly those who underwent gastroplasty, enjoy a dramatic improvement in their quality of life. As for those massively obese subjects who are not concerned with this solution, long-term supporting measures should be developed

Les préférences alimentaires sont-elles influencées par l'index de masse corporelle, l'âge, le sexe ou le tabac [Are food preferences affected by body mass index, age, sex or tobacco?].

In recent decades the percentage of energy derived from dietary fat has increased. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between food taste preferences, BMI, age, gender and smoking habits. A computerized questionnaire using a hedonic scale (range 0 to 8) to quantify the liking for sweet and savoury, lean and fat foods, was filled by 233 adults: 171 normal weight (131 women, 40 men) and 62 overweight subjects (BMI > 25 kg/m2 42 women, 20 men). The majority of the subjects had a general preference for savoury lean food irrespective of their BMI or gender. Similarly, preference for sweet lean food was not influenced by the magnitude of the BMI. In contrast, overweight subjects had a preference for sweet fat food (p = 0.05) as well as for savoury fat food (p < 0.05). At any age or BMI, men preferred sweet fat food (p < 0.01). This was not the case for women. Overweight men over forty preferred savoury fat food, in contrast to overweight women of the same age (p < 0.01). The same difference existed between normal weight smokers and non-smokers. This study demonstrates that fat food preference plays a potential role in the development of obesity

Interferon-free antiviral treatment in B-cell lymphoproliferative disorders associated with hepatitis C virus infection

Regression of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-associated lymphoma with interferon-based antiviral treatment supports an etiological link between lymphoma and HCV infection. In addition, a favorable impact of antiviral treatment on overall survival of patients with HCV-related lymphoma has been reported. Data on IFN-free regimens combining direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) in HCV-associated lymphoproliferative disorders are scanty. We analyzed virological and lymphoproliferative disease response (LDR) of 46 patients with indolent B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL) or chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and chronic HCV infection treated with DAAs. Histological distribution was: 37 marginal zone lymphomas (MZL), 2 lymphoplasmacytic lymphomas, 2 follicular lymphomas, 4 CLL/small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL), 1 low-grade NHL not otherwise specified. Thirty-nine patients received a Sofosbuvir-based regimen and 7 patients other DAAs. Median duration of DAA therapy was 12 weeks (range 6-24 weeks). A sustained virological response at week 12 after finishing DAAs was obtained in 45 patients (98%); overall LDR rate was 67% including 12 patients (26%) achieving a complete response. LDR rate was 73% among patients with MZL while no response was observed in CLL/SLL patients. Seven patients cleared cryoglobulins out of 15 initially positive. After a median follow up of 8 months, 1-year progression-free and overall survival were 75% [95% confidence interval: 51% - 88%] and 98% [86-100%], respectively. DAA therapy induces a high LDR rate in HCV-associated indolent lymphomas. These data provide a strong rationale for prospective trials with DAAs in this setting

Epidemiologic study of low back pain in 1398 Swiss conscripts between 1985 and 1992.

The two objectives of this study, based on a sample of 1398 Swiss army conscripts born in 1966 who participated in a first study in 1985, were to measure the prevalence of low back pain (LBP) at age 26 years and its incidence between 19 and 26 years and to analyze the relationship between LBP and occupational, nonoccupational, or physical risk factors. The lifetime prevalence of LBP at age 26 was 69.1% and the incidence of LBP between 19 and 26, 44.7%. A history of LBP or a pathological physical examination result at age 19 did not predict the prevalence or the incidence at age 26. Standing, twisting, vibration, and heavy work were significantly associated with chronic LBP and/or the 1-year prevalence of LBP at age 26 (P < 0.05). The evolution of sport and leisure-time activities from age 19 to 26 did not differ between people with or without LBP. The ergonomic organization of the workplace should represent a major element of future strategies to prevent LBP