Insulin resistance and arterial stiffness: impact of gestational diabetes on pulse wave velocity

Background: Gestational diabetes is an intolerance of glucose with the first appearance during the pregnancy. This hyperglycaemia status, because of the pre-existing insulin-resistance, constitute a favourable land of arterial stiffness. The aim of this study is to determine the impact of non obese gestational diabetes on arterial stiffness by measuring the pulse wave velocity (PWV).Methods: We recruited 60 pregnant women aged from 20 to 35 years old. They were between twentieth four and thirtieth five weeks of gestational age. Subjects were divided into two groups: the first group (G1), considered as control group, included 25 normoglycemic pregnant subjects without any history of illness or risk factors of gestational diabetes; the second group (G2) included 35 women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM). All pregnant women had not history of smoking, were not taking decoction or medicine, which could disturb pregnancy evolution. Anthropo-physiological and biochemical parameters studied, were: age, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure (BP), triglyceride, cholesterol and HOMA-IR index. The PWV between finger and toe (PWVft) was measured by pOpmètre®.Results: The two groups are matched by age (G1:28±4ans; G2:29±3ans) and BMI (G1:25.6±1.27; G2:26.9±1.3). Blood pressure (BP) values are in normal interval (systolic BP: [110-132mmHg]; diastolic BP: [63-87mmHg]; mean BP: [79-103mmHg]). Total cholesterol (G1:0.95±0.08;G2:2.4±0.7; p˂0.0001), HDL cholesterol (G1:0.44±0.02; G2:0.76±0.2; p˂0.0001, LDL cholesterol (G1:0.40±0.05; G2:1.3±0.5; p˂0.0001), triglyceride (G1:0.57±0.45; G2:1.6±0.4;p˂0.0001), HOMA.IR (G1:1.31±1.05; G2:7.4±1.07; p˂0.01), PWVft (G1:5.99±1.23; G2:10.3±1.9; p˂0.0001) are significantly higher in diabetic group. PWVft is positively correlate to HOMA-IR index, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides (r=0.3348, p=0.032; r=0.5275, p˂0.0001; r=0.4855,p˂0.0001; r=0.5581, p˂0.0001respectively).Conclusions: Gestational diabetes might induce an increase of pulse wave velocity expressing increment of arterial stiffness. This last constitute an early underlying cardiovascular risk.

Effects of lenten fasting on body composition and biochemical parameters

Background: The catholic lenten fasting is the period of 40 days of fasting that precedes Easter. It is one of religious fasting less documented in the scientific literature. Thus the aim of our study was to evaluate the evolution of anthropometric and body composition and biochemical profile during Catholic lenten fasting.Methods: We conducted a prospective study, which took place during the period between one week before at the end of lenten fasting. Eleven fasters (4 women and 7 men), aged between 18 and 59 years were included in present study. Anthropometric, body composition parameters and biochemical profile were evaluated one week before, at 15th day and at the end of Lenten fasting.Results: Weight, body mass index (BMI) and visceral fat decreased significantly at the end of Lenten fasting. Lipid profile changed significantly during this fasting period. Total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein – cholesterol (LDL-C) and triglycerides decreased significantly with fasting. High density lipoprotein – cholesterol (HDL-C) was remained unchanged during this fasting period while TC/HDL ratio was significantly decreased at the end of Lent.Conclusions: Present study showed that the fasting of Lent seems to have beneficial effects on reducing cardiovascular risk factors. Further studies are required to better understand the physiological mechanisms involved for a therapeutic use

Common good and emergence of citizenship in the roman Republic (according Cicero, Sallust and Livy)

Les notions de Bien commun et de citoyenneté ont été au centre des préoccupations des acteurs politiques comme des philosophes de la Rome antique. Elles constituent l’essence de toute République. Cette Thèse a comme objectif de montrer, à partir des œuvres de Cicéron, Salluste et Tite-Live, que la grandeur et la décadence de la République romaine sont intrinsèquement liées à la gestion du Bien commun. Notre démarche a donc été de remonter, avec nos auteurs, au passé de Rome, pour voir, à partir des valeurs qui ont fait la grandeur de la République, pourquoi ce déclin a pu s’amorcer. Le résultat auquel nous avons abouti a été de montrer que la principale cause de la décadence de la République romaine est la propension qu’ont eue les Romains, à partir de la fin de la Deuxième Guerre punique, à privilégier leurs intérêts et ambitions personnels au détriment de l’intérêt général. Ces faits nouveaux, selon nos auteurs, ont été rendus possibles par une crise sans précédent due à une ouverture démesurée de la citoyenneté qui rendit non opérationnelles des institutions prévues pour une cité.The notions of common good and citizenship were at the centre of the preoccupations of political stakeholders as well as Ancient Rome philosophers. They constitute the essence of every Republic. Based on the works of Cicero, Sallust and Livy, this thesis aims at showing that the greatness and decline of the Roman Republic are intrinsically linked to common good management. Our approach was therefore to go back, with our authors, to the past of Rome, to see, from the values that have made the greatness of the Republic, how this decline happened. Our research made it possible to conclude that the main cause of the decline of the Roman Republic was the propensity of Romans, from the end of the Second Punic War, to privilege their personal interests and ambitions to the detriment of general interest. According to our authors, these new events were caused by an unprecedented crisis due to a disproportionate openness of Citizenship that had paralysed the institutions, initially planned for just a city like Rome

Comparison between standing and adjusted heights in Senegalese women

International audienc

Comparison between standing and adjusted heights in Senegalese women

International audienc

Prevalence and impact of adiposity and sarcopenia during rheumatoid arthritis: rapid and non-invasive evaluation in Sub-Saharan African women

Background: Body composition plays a fundamental role in the occurrence of complications in rheumatoid arthritis. Authors conducted this study, which aimed to determine body composition and its effects on physiological status in African sub-Saharan polyarthritis women.Methods: The anthropometric parameters were measured after an interview and a complete physical examination. The body composition was evaluated using a Tanita® brand bioimpedance meter. Finally, all the patients had a dosage of certain biochemical parameters.Results: An excess of percent fat mass was noted in more than half of women (59.52%) without loss of muscle mass. At the same time, 30% of women had a significant decrease in the percentage of body water. The BMI did not appear to be an adequate proxy for these changes. Visceral fat level was elevated just in 16% of women, however it would be a determinant of physiological aging of subjects. Dual therapy methotrexate and corticosteroid would have varying effects depending on the duration and the dose of treatment. The basic metabolism in polyarthritic subjects would be dependent on two parameters namely muscle mass and inflammatory state.Conclusions: Evaluating changes in body composition quickly, non-invasively and inexpensively is possible. It could be useful in the follow-up of rheumatoid arthritis. Managing these changes can reduce cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in rheumatoid arthritis