Utilizing the influence of protein enrichment of meal components as a strategy to possibly prevent undernutrition in the elderly: an in vitro approach

Nutritional strategies are required to limit the prevalence of denutrition in the elderly. With this in mind, fortified meals can provide more protein, but their digestibility must be ensured. Using a dynamic in vitro digester, DIDGI®, programmed with the digestion conditions of the elderly, we evaluated the supplementation of each component of a meal and assessed protein digestibility, amino acid profile, micro-nutrients and vitamins bioaccessibility for a full course meal. Higher protein digestibility was evidenced for the fortified meal, with higher release of essential amino acids. Moreover the large increase of leucine released was comparable to the range advocated for the elderly to favour protein anabolism. This in vitro study underlines the interest of using dish formulations to meet the nutritional needs of seniors, which is why this work will be completed by a clinical study in nursing home.

Toward the Prediction of the PSE-Like Muscle Defect in Cooked Hams

Pale Soft Exudative (PSE)-like muscle defect is of great importance in the cooked ham industry because of the economic losses it can cause. The flagship product is the “Jambon supérieur,” a polyphosphate-free cooked ham, usually sold sliced and packaged. Slicing is an automatic process that reveals the defect as holes in the slice leading to slicing losses. Up to now, the PSE-like defect has only been detected on raw meat after deboning the pork leg because it affects the inner part of the semimembranosus muscles and also the adductor muscles. The objective of this study was to develop innovative approaches that combine mechanistic elucidation and the discovery of potential biomarkers (i) at the level of the muscle and (ii) at the level of the live animal by analyzing proteins from plasma. The use of chemometrics for the spectral fingerprinting of pig plasma was chosen to predict the PSE-like muscle defect in raw hams.

Workflow towards the generation of bioactive hydrolysates from porcine products by combining in silico and in vitro approaches

Food-derived bioactive peptides have generated an increasing interest in the field of health and well-being research. They can act either against the metabolic syndrome, participate in regulating the oxidation balance or act on the immune system. The aim of this study is to develop a workflow to generate bioactive peptides from three porcine offals namely, heart, liver, and lung and one muscle the Longissimus Dorsi, by combining in silico and in vitro approaches. Bioinformatics tools (e.i. BIOPEP and Uniprot) permitted to orientate the choice of enzymes for generating abundant bioactive peptides from the four studied porcine products. With papain and subtilisin, the main bioactivities potentially released were ACE inhibitors, DPP4 inhibitors and antioxidant peptides. An in vitro validation study using papain and subtilisin demonstrated high DPP4 inhibitors and antioxidant bioactivities for the generation of peptides. This work allowed: i) the identification of all proteins that composed porcine heart, liver, lung and LD muscle that could be useful for the scientific community, ii) the development of a workflow to select most abundant proteins in a product while considering abundance factors and iii) the potential of porcine meat and offals to generate DPP4 inhibitors and antioxidant peptides. However, there is still a need in developing new tools in order to face limitations of mass spectrometry for the identification of peptides with less than six amino acids. Such a work may contribute to the development of the circular economy and the innovative creation of value-added products from animal production.

Safety of Yam-Derived (Dioscorea rotundata) Foodstuffs-Chips, Flakes and Flour: Effect of Processing and Post-Processing Conditions

The production of yam-derived (Dioscorea rotundata) foodstuffs is mainly performed by small and medium scale processors that employ old traditional methods. This can lead to differences in quality from processor to processor, and from location to location, with consequent safety concerns. As such, the effects of processing and post-processing phases (i.e., storage, transport, etc.) on the safety of some yam-derived foodstuffs-namely chips, flakes, and flour-has been evaluated, with a focus on bacterial and fungal contamination, aflatoxins, pesticides, and heavy metals (Pb, Ni, Cd and Hg). Yams harvested and processed in Nigeria were screened, being that the country is the largest producer of the tuber, with 70⁻75% of the world production. Results highlighted no presence of pesticides, however, many samples showed high levels of bacterial and fungal contamination, together with heavy metal concentrations above the recommended safety levels. No trend was observed between the items considered; it was noticed, however, that samples purchased from the markets showed higher contamination levels than those freshly produced, especially regarding bacterial and aflatoxins presence. The processing stage was identified as the most critical, especially drying. Nonetheless, post-processing steps such as storage and handling at the point of sale also contributed for chemical contamination, such as aflatoxin and heavy metals. The results suggested that both the processing and post-processing phases have an impact on the safety of yam chips, flakes, and flour.

Study of the proximate and mineral composition of different Nigerian yam chips, flakes and flours

Yam (Dioscorea spp) is an essential tuber crop for hundreds of millions of people in many African, Asian and South American countries. Considering in particular Southwest Nigeria, chips, flakes and flours are amongst the most common shelf-stable traditionally-processed yam products. This paper reports a systematic study on the proximate (moisture, protein, carbohydrate, fibre, fat, ash and gross energy) and mineral composition of these three food commodities sold in Nigerian markets. Results showed no significant differences in the moisture, crude protein and fibre content of all samples (10.0-12.3, 2.7-4.3 and 1.3-2.0 wt%, respectively). Gross energy was also comparable for all yam derived food items (between 3300 and 3507 kcal/kg), contradicting the common belief that yam flakes have lower nutritional value than chips and flours. Considering the mineral composition, Ca, Mg, P and K were the predominant macronutrients. Micronutrients such as Zn, Co, Mn and Cu were also detected. Significant differences existed between products, and their various sources (markets). Principal component analysis showed a direct correlation between ash content of the samples and the assessed macronutrients, irrespective of the market, or the seller of the commodities. This study confirmed that yam derived food stuffs have an adequate nutritional composition, irrespective of their form and/or origin.

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) and Yam (Dioscorea spp.) Crops and Their Derived Foodstuffs: Safety, Security and Nutritional Value

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) and yam (Dioscorea spp.) are tropical crops consumed by ca. 2 billion people and represent the main source of carbohydrate and energy for the approximately 700 million people living in the tropical and sub-tropical areas. They are a guarantee of food security for developing countries. The production of these crops and the transformation into food-derived commodities is increasing, it represents a profitable business and farmers generate substantial income from their market. However, there are some important concerns related to the food safety and food security. The high post-harvest losses, mainly for yam, the contamination by endogenous toxic compounds, mainly for cassava, and the contamination by external agents (such as micotoxins, pesticides, and heavy metal) represent a depletion of economic value and income. The loss in the raw crops or the impossibility to market the derived foodstuffs, due to incompliance with food regulations, can seriously limit all yam tubers and the cassava roots processors, from farmers to household, from small-medium to large enterprises. One of the greatest challenges to overcome those concerns is the transformation of traditional or indigenous processing methods into modern industrial operations, from the crop storage to the adequate package of each derived foodstuff.

Evaluation of the interactions between rosmarinic acid and bovine milk casein

Non-covalent interactions occur between rosmarinic acid and caseins.

Extraction of high added value biological compounds from sardine, sardine-type fish and mackerel canning residues--a review

Different valuable compounds, which can be employed in medicine or in other industries (i.e. food, agrochemical, pharmaceutical) can be recovered from by-products and waste from the fish canning industries. They include lipids, proteins, bio-polymers, minerals, amino acids and enzymes; they can be extracted from wastewaters and/or from solid residues (head, viscera, skin, tails and flesh) generated along the canning process, through the filleting, cooking, salting or smoking stages. In this review, the opportunities for the extraction and the valorisation of bioactive compounds from sardine, sardine-type fish and mackerel canning residues are examined and discussed. These are amongst the most consumed fishes in the Mediterranean area; moreover, canning is one of the most important and common methods of preservation. The large quantities of by-products generated have great potentials for the extraction of biologically desirable high added value compounds.

Épidémie de syphilis dans le sud-est de la France

BACKGROUND

Since 2000, syphilis has reappeared in the form of an epidemic in France and more particularly, in the Paris region. However, there is little available data concerning other regions of France. The purpose of this study was to identify the chief characteristics of this epidemic in the Côte d'Azur region.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Between January 2001 and July 2003, cases of syphilis were collated by the Department of Dermatology and Infectious Diseases of Nice University Teaching Hospital and by the Department of Dermatology and Infectious Diseases of Fréjus hospital and based on spontaneous reports submitted by general practitioners in private practice.

RESULTS

We collected 54 reports of cases of syphilis: 37 in the Alpes-Maritimes region and 17 in the eastern Var region. The epidemic chiefly affected men since 44 of the 54 cases reported (81%) concerned males. 70% of these men were contaminated during homosexual contact (31 patients). In the majority of cases, contamination concerned local subjects. 50% of the patients in the study were infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The clinical forms observed were distributed as follows: 12 primary syphilis, 28 secondary syphilis, 13 latent syphilis, 1 case not specified. There was no difference in terms of clinical form between patients with and without HIV.

DISCUSSION

Syphilis, which had become rare in France as a whole and in our region in particular, reappeared in the form of an epidemic in the Côte d'Azur region after first resurfacing in the Paris region. This outbreak principally affected homosexual and bisexual male patients, half of whom were HIV-positive. Screening for syphilis, potentially latent, should thus be carried out routinely during initial assessment and at subsequent monitoring of HIV patients.

Hallucinations au cours d’un traitement par hydroxychloroquine

INTRODUCTION

We report an unexpected cenesthetic hallucination-type neuropsychiatric side effect with hydrochloroquine (Plaquenil) in a patient treated for an erosive plantar lichen planus.

OBSERVATION

A 75 year-old woman was hospitalized for a handicapping erosive plantar lichen. Treatment with hydrochloroquine (400 mg/day) was initiated, associated with topical corticosteroids and a short course of oral acorticosteroids (0.5 mg/kg/day of methylprednisolone). After 10 days of treatment, a short episode of temporo-spatial disorientation occurred, followed by a feeling of depersonalization and cenesthetic hallucinations with feelings in the body. These manifestations were preceded by nightmares. Hydrochloroquine was spontaneously stopped by the patient one week later and led to the progressive disappearance of the hallucinations and a return to a normal mental state within one month. Two and a half years later, no relapse of the psychiatric manifestations has been noted.

DISCUSSION

Chloroquine and hydrochloroquine may be at the origin of severe psychosis-like psychiatric side effects. Such manifestations are exceptional, little known and principally described during treatment of malaria. The clinical presentation of the psychosis induced by synthetic ani-malarials is fairly homogeneous from one case to the next: onset in a patient without psychiatric past of manifestations such as delirium, hallucinations, maniac episodes or depression after an interval of a few hours to 40 days, usually regressing one week after suspension of the synthetic antimalarial. There is no relationship between the dose of synthetic anti-malarial administered and the onset of psychiatric problems. The triggering-off mechanism is unknown and appears to be an idiosyncratic reaction. Our case report draws the dermatologists' attention to the possibility of the occurrence of potentially severe psychiatric side effects.

Bilingual signed and spoken language acquisition from birth: implications for the mechanisms underlying early bilingual language acquisition

Divergent hypotheses exist concerning the types of knowledge underlying early bilingualism, with some portraying a troubled course marred by language delays and confusion, and others portraying one that is largely unremarkable. We studied the extraordinary case of bilingual acquisition across two modalities to examine these hypotheses. Three children acquiring Langues des Signes Québécoise and French, and three children acquiring French and English (ages at onset approximately 1;0, 2;6 and 3;6 per group) were videotaped regularly over one year while we empirically manipulated novel and familiar speakers of each child's two languages. The results revealed that both groups achieved their early linguistic milestones in each of their languages at the same time (and similarly to monolinguals), produced a substantial number of semantically corresponding words in each of their two languages from their very first words or signs (translation equivalents), and demonstrated sensitivity to the interlocutor's language by altering their language choices. Children did mix their languages to varying degrees, and some persisted in using a language that was not the primary language of the addressee, but the propensity to do both was directly related to their parents' mixing rates, in combination with their own developing language preference. The signing-speaking bilinguals did exploit the modality possibilities, and they did simultaneously mix their signs and speech, but in semantically principled and highly constrained ways. It is concluded that the capacity to differentiate between two languages is well in place prior to first words, and it is hypothesized that this capacity may result from biological mechanisms that permit the discovery of early phonological representations. Reasons why paradoxical views of bilingual acquisition have persisted are also offered.

Current spectrum of intestinal obstruction

In a 12-month prospective study incorporating four neighbouring district general hospitals, 228 patients required a total of 236 admissions with intestinal obstruction. The aetiological factors included adhesions 75 (32 per cent), malignant disease 61 (26 per cent), strangulated hernias 59 (25 per cent), volvulus 10 (4 per cent), acquired megacolon 6 (3 per cent), pseudo-obstruction 4 (2 per cent), faecal impaction 6 (3 per cent) and miscellaneous 15 (6 per cent). The peak incidence for obstruction due to adhesions, malignant disease and strangulated hernias each occurred in the eighth decade. Surgery was performed within 48 h of admission in 29 per cent adhesive obstructions (22), 30 per cent obstructions due to malignant disease (18) and 68 per cent strangulated hernias (40)--bowel resection rates in these three groups were 13.5, 50 and 29 per cent, respectively. The overall mortality was 11.4 per cent (26 deaths) and postoperative mortality was 12.3 per cent (19 deaths). During the 12-month study period, 228 patients required a total of 2993 inpatient hospital days as a result of intestinal obstruction. Postoperative adhesions have become the commonest cause of intestinal obstruction but strangulated hernias and intra-abdominal malignant disease still account for 50 per cent of all cases and mortalities. Obstruction due to strangulated hernias and intra-abdominal malignant disease typically occurs in the elderly age group where a more aggressive policy of elective surgical intervention is likely to be associated with increased postoperative morbidity and mortality.

A ten year prospective experience with semi-elective shunt in selected patients for bleeding oesophageal varices

In a prospective study from 1972 to 1982, 38 patients with bleeding oesophageal varices and relatively good liver function were treated by semi-elective or emergent shunt 2-4 weeks after admission. There were no deaths within 3 months of surgery. This constituted 30% of the total 125 patients admitted with bleeding varices during that period. No referred case for treatment of portal hypertension was included in this study. The procedures performed were end-to-side portacaval shunt in 30 cases, lieno renal shunt in seven cases and interposition mesenterico-caval shunt in one case. All patients were admitted to a special unit with a two stage policy of management. Immediate endoscopic diagnosis and balloon tamponade in those with continued bleeding was followed by shunt in selected cases. Follow-up of the 38 patients showed a cumulative survival at 1 year of 89%, at 3 years of 75% and 5 years of 65%. In four cases (13%) a clinical diagnosis of portal systemic encephalopathy was made, all were controlled by medical management. In four of ten follow-up deaths, liver failure was the cause, in none of these cases was encephalopathy a problem. It is concluded that with a policy of early diagnosis and control of haemorrhage, 30% of a typical series of prospectively studied patients admitted with bleeding varices can be treated without mortality by definitive surgery. There was low incidence of encephalopathy and no cases of incapacitating mental confusion. Centralization of treatment and prospective study is essential for the implementation of such a policy of management.

Perforation in Crohn's disease of the small bowel

During a five-year period, three patients with general peritonitis, secondary to perforation of the small bowel in Crohn's disease, were successfully treated by resection and primary anastomosis. During this period, 30 patients presented with small bowel or ileocaecal Crohn's disease. The possibility of perforation should be considered when evaluating the need for surgery in patients with Crohn's disease with symptoms of obstruction.