Localisation rare du melanome muqueux

Purpose: Mucosal melanoma of the upper respiratory tract is rare. Nasopharyngeal involvement is extremely rare. The diagnosis and management of this tumour still remain difficult. We present a new case of mucosal nasopharyngeal melanoma, to discuss diagnosis and therapeutic modalities.Observation: A 15-year-old girl was referred to the department of otolaryngology because of bilateral cervical mass with bilateral nasal obstruction, right otalgia and chronic headache. Nasopharyngeal tumour was observed endoscopically. The histologic examination showed mucosal melanoma. No distant metastatic localisations were identified. The patientunderwent cervical lymph node dissection followed by 6 courses of chemotherapy, but she died 9 months later because of loco-regional failures.Conclusion: The primary malignant melanoma of nasopharyngeal is extremely rare disease particularly among child. Its histologic diagnosis is challenging. The treatment still remains controversial. The prognosis is poor because of anatomic localisation and high frequency of distant metastasis.Key words: Melanoma, nasopharynx, immuno-histochemistry

Is diet partly responsible for differences in COVID-19 death rates between and within countries?

Correction: Volume: 10 Issue: 1 Article Number: 44 DOI: 10.1186/s13601-020-00351-w Published: OCT 26 2020Reported COVID-19 deaths in Germany are relatively low as compared to many European countries. Among the several explanations proposed, an early and large testing of the population was put forward. Most current debates on COVID-19 focus on the differences among countries, but little attention has been given to regional differences and diet. The low-death rate European countries (e.g. Austria, Baltic States, Czech Republic, Finland, Norway, Poland, Slovakia) have used different quarantine and/or confinement times and methods and none have performed as many early tests as Germany. Among other factors that may be significant are the dietary habits. It seems that some foods largely used in these countries may reduce angiotensin-converting enzyme activity or are anti-oxidants. Among the many possible areas of research, it might be important to understand diet and angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2) levels in populations with different COVID-19 death rates since dietary interventions may be of great benefit.Peer reviewe

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

Relationships betwenn high intensity running and outcome of technical-tactical skill in professional soccer players during match play

This study aimed to investigate the relationships between high-intensity activities (HIA: speed, acceleration, Metabolic Power) and the outcomes of some technical-tactical skills in professional soccer players (n=610, age 26.8±7.0) during 50 games of the Italian “SERIE A” season 2013-2014. The analysis was carried out through a semi-automatic match analysis video-system. Each technical skill was automatically recognized and the number of events that overcame the threshold values we set as significant for high intensity activities, within 5s before the execution. Shots on goal showed that the HIA might be a discriminant factor in the outcomes (71.1% Success vs 61.5% Not Success, χ2 test, p<0.001). Crossing is clearly influenced by one preceding HIA (p<0.001). This study provides important insights referring to the different physical components occurring before performing a technical skill, highlighting the need of a close cooperation among coaches and physical trainers when assessing a match and designing the training programs

Dramatic effect of thermal expansion mismatch on the structural, dielectric, ferroelectric and pyroelectric properties of low-cost epitaxial PZT films on SrTiO 3 and Si (001) subtrates.

Version preprint soumise à la revue CrystEngComm et publiée après correctionsInternational audienceBecause of different thermal expansion mismatches between the film and the substrate, either mainly c-oriented or a-oriented tetragonal epitaxial PZT layers are obtained on SrTiO3 or Si (001) substrates, respectively. The resulting large differences in the dielectric, ferroelectric and pyroelectric properties are measured along the out-of-plane direction