Insights into the Molecular Mechanisms of the Anti-Atherogenic Actions of Flavonoids in Normal and Obese Mice

Obesity is a major and independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease and it is strongly associated with the development of dyslipidemia, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Flavonoids, a diverse group of polyphenol compounds of plant origin widely distributed in human diet, have been reported to have numerous health benefits, although the mechanisms underlying these effects have remained obscure. We analyzed the effects of chronic dietary supplementation with flavonoids extracted from cranberry (FLS) in normal and obese C57/BL6 mice compared to mice maintained on the same diets lacking FLS. Obese mice supplemented with flavonoids showed an amelioration of insulin resistance and plasma lipid profile, and a reduction of visceral fat mass. We provide evidence that the adiponectin-AMPK pathway is the main mediator of the improvement of these metabolic disorders. In contrast, the reduced plasma atherogenic cholesterol observed in normal mice under FLS seems to be due to a downregulation of the hepatic cholesterol synthesis pathway. Overall, we demonstrate for the first time that the molecular mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of flavonoids are determined by the metabolic state

Particulate flow at the mouth of the Soummam watershed (Algeria)

International audienceIn Algeria, the particulate flow in rivers is poorly quantified in the wadi due to the absence and the non‐standardization of the acquisition of measurement data. Most studies on particulate flows are quantified from time series of hydrometric stations. The present study is based on weekly sampling of water at the mouth of the Soummam watershed for the hydrological year 2011/2012. The sediment flux is analyzed from measurements of suspended solids (SS). The determination coefficients between the annual and seasonal “ liquid flow–solid flow‐” relationships vary from 75% to 82%, respectively. During this period, the watershed of 9125 km2 has provided a solid input estimated to 4.9 × 106 t yr−1, hence a specific flow of 538 t km−2 yr−1. In general, autumn floods were characterized by high concentrations of SS, which varies from 820 to 1275 mg L−1. The most important sediment transport volumes were observed during the period of December to February, this period is characterized by strong turbulence, due to extreme flows, favoring the largest volumes of solid transport