5 research outputs found
Functional Foods and the Gut Microbiome
The diversity of microorganisms that inhabits the gut play vital roles as determinants of human health. Among other factors, diet has a significant impact on gut microbial composition and function. This is as a result of the biotransformation of food components and the production of metabolites by the microorganisms. Examples of gut microbiota include Bifidobacterium, Lac-tobacillus, Streptococcus, Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The interplay between the diet, gut micro-biota, and the host occurs as the diet changes the gut microbiota composition and function, which in turn affects the host biochemical processes. Thus, diet is currently considered one of the most critical factors that control microbiota structure and metabolism. Functional foods such as probiotic products, prebiotics, symbiotic and dietary polyphenols can modulate the microbio-ta. This is a result of the health benefits associated with these foods. More knowledge of the interactions between functional foods and specific intestinal bacteria could contribute to a better understanding of both positive and negative interactions in vivo and the identification of new microorganisms inhabiting the gut
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An Assessment of Ovarian Cancer Histotypes Across the African Diaspora
ObjectiveOvarian cancer in Black women is common in many West African countries but is relatively rare in North America. Black women have worse survival outcomes when compared to White women. Ovarian cancer histotype, diagnosis, and age at presentation are known prognostic factors for outcome. We sought to conduct a preliminary comparative assessment of these factors across the African diaspora. MethodsPatients diagnosed with ovarian cancer (all histologies) between June 2016-December 2019 in Departments of Pathology at 25 participating sites in Nigeria were identified. Comparative population-based data, inclusive of Caribbean-born Blacks (CBB) and US-born Blacks (USB), were additionally captured from the International Agency for Research on Cancer and Florida Cancer Data Systems. Histology, country of birth, and age at diagnosis data were collected and evaluated across the three subgroups: USB, CBB and Nigerians. Statistical analyses were done using chi-square and student's t-test with significance set at pResultsNigerians had the highest proportion of germ cell tumor (GCT, 11.5%) and sex-cord stromal (SCST, 16.2%) ovarian cancers relative to CBB and USB (p=0.001). CBB (79.4%) and USB (77.3%) women were diagnosed with a larger proportion of serous ovarian cancer than Nigerians (60.4%) (p<0.0001). Nigerians were diagnosed with epithelial ovarian cancers at the youngest age (51.7 +/- 12.8 years) relative to USB (58.9 +/- 15.0) and CBB (59.0 +/- 13.0,p<0.001). Black women [CBB (25.2 +/- 15.0), Nigerians (29.5 +/- 15.1), and USB (33.9 +/- 17.9)] were diagnosed with GCT younger than White women (35.4 +/- 20.5, p=0.011). Black women [Nigerians (47.5 +/- 15.9), USB (50.9 +/- 18.3) and CBB (50.9 +/- 18.3)] were also diagnosed with SCST younger than White women (55.6 +/- 16.5, p<0.01). ConclusionThere is significant variation in age of diagnosis and distribution of ovarian cancer histotype/diagnosis across the African diaspora. The etiology of these findings requires further investigation