Search

Introduction: Dietary modification that reflects healthy eating is a notable strategy for CVD prevention on a population level. The cardioprotective role diet plays in hemostasis and thrombosis, particularly in respect to platelet function remains unclear. Hypothesis: Healthier Alternative Healthy Eating Index (AHEI) scores associate with attenuated platelet reactivity in a large-scale population cohort. Methods: Cross-sectional data was obtained from Framingham Heart Study participants (N=3,429). AHEI scores were derived from self-reported Harvard semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaires. Ranging from 0 to 110, higher AHEI scores reflect healthier overall diet quality. Five bioassays measured platelet reactivity traits across several agonists in whole blood and platelet-rich plasma samples. Linear mixed effects models adjusted for age, sex, aspirin use, family relatedness, daily energy intake, and BMI evaluated associations between platelet reactivity and AHEI scores and components. Results: Higher AHEI scores associated with attenuated platelet reactivity among 16 different traits (P Conclusions: We report that higher AHEI scores associate with decreased platelet reactivity. Effects appear strongest for EPA & DHA intake consistent with several small randomized controlled trials. However, we found that a holistic AHEI score reflects a better interpretation of diet as a modulator of platelet function compared to individual components. Our results conclude that the impact of a healthier diet in preventing thrombosis may be partially mediated through a decline in platelet reactivity through multiple independent activation pathways.

Cognitive decline, anxiety, and depression are significant contributors to human ill health and decreased quality of life. Intake of fruits including 100% juice is associated with beneficial effects on several health outcomes. The current study explored the potential associations between consumption of 100% fruit juice and neurocognitive markers in adults. Twenty-four-hour dietary recall data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1988–1994, 1999–2018 for adults 20+ years (N = 62,606) were used to assess 100% fruit juice intake, and NHANES questionnaire data were used for the assessment of neurocognition. Association of usual intake of 100% fruit juice with neurocognitive outcomes were assessed by regression analysis after adjusting for demographic, lifestyle, dietary, and health-related covariates. About 21% of adults were fruit juice consumers and the intake was a little over 2 oz per day. Consumers of 100% fruit juice had 16.3% fewer days per month of feeling anxious compared to non-consumers. There were no significant associations of 100% fruit juice usual intake with other neurocognitive measures. A large number of potential confounding variables have been identified to be associated with one or more neurocognitive measures suggesting that these may be important parameters to include in future studies.

Soil fertility, growth, nutrient uptake and yield traits of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L. var. JL24) were investigated under two organic fertilizers (indigenous microorganisms (IMO) or effective microorganisms (EM) with three replications. Application of IMO or EM fertilizers had significant effects on soils fertility compared to untreated soils. Total nitrogen, organic carbon, total phosphorus, calcium and magnesium led to a significant increase under organic fertilizers. IMO fertilizer supply at 20 g significantly increased the shoot length and the number of leaves compared to the EM fertilizer and untreated plants. In contrast, the highest values of stem diameter and leaf area were recorded at 40 g of EM supply. The highest values of pod (1.25 and 1.18 t/ha) and grain yield (0.96 and 0.98 t/ha) were recorded at 10 and 20 g for IMO and EM, respectively. Application of EM and IMO at 10 or 20 g led to a significant increase in nitrogen and phosphorus contents in leaves and roots with the highest accumulation of nitrogen at the roots level of treated plants. Nitrogen and proteins contents of peanut seeds were positively influenced by IMO and EM supply at 10 and 20 g, respectively. The use of IMO and EM fertilizers could enhance peanut growth performance in sandy ferralitic soils. Key words: Field performance, plant growth, fertilizers, yield traits, Arachis hypogaea.

The aim of this study was to propose a methodology for the assessment of non-inferiority with meta-analysis. Assessment of hypofractionated RT in prostate and breast cancers is used as an illustrative example. Non-inferiority assessment of an experimental treatment versus an active comparator should rely on two elements: (1) an estimation of experimental treatment’s effect versus the active comparator based on a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials and (2) the value of an objective non-inferiority margin. This margin can be defined using the reported effect of active comparator and the percentage of the active comparator’s effect that is desired to be preserved. Non-inferiority can then be assessed by comparing the upper bound of the 95% confidence interval of experimental treatment’s effect to the value of the objective non-inferiority margin. Application to hypofractionated RT in breast cancer showed that hypofractionated whole breast irradiation (HWBI) appeared to be non-inferior to conventionally fractionated RT for local recurrence. This was not the case for accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI). Concerning overall survival, non-inferiority could not be claimed for either HWBI or APBI. For prostate cancer, the lack of demonstrated significant superiority of conventional RT versus no RT precluded any conclusion regarding non-inferiority of hypofractionated RT.

The hope of salvation, a dominant preoccupation of the Cathar believers, seems to leave little place for heretical theses. Many of the depositions made before the Inquisition show them ignorant of the most fundamental doctrines. One must take care in drawing radical conclusions, because it only takes one simple believer to have a serious knowledge of heresy to invalidate this opinion. In the middle of the XIIIth century, the dossier compiled against Pierre Garcias du Bourget Nau is a brilliant proof of this. He often deploys a subtle argument to give the texts from Scripture a meaning consistent with his convictions. All these propositions find precise echoes in the Traité cathare anonyme, in the Summa quadripartite of Alain de Lille, and equally in the treatise of Moneta of Cremona. A simple believer, he is probably of oral culture, and his knowledge comes from long frequenting of heretical circles. He gives the name of those he holds responsible for his education, which leads one to believe that, as a believer who has a good knowledge of heresy, he is not alone., L’espérance du salut, préoccupation dominante des croyants cathares semble laisser peu de place aux thèses hérétiques. Bien des dépositions devant l’Inquisition les montrent ignorants des doctrines les plus fondamentales. Il faut se garder d’en tirer des conclusions radicales car il suffit qu’un simple croyant ait une connaissance sérieuse de l’hérésie pour infirmer cette opinion. Au milieu du XIIIe siècle le dossier réuni contre Pierre Garcias du Bourget Nau en apporte la preuve éclatante. Il use d’une argumentation souvent subtile pour donner aux textes de l’Écriture un sens conforme à ses convictions. Tous ses propos trouvent des échos précis dans le Traité cathare anonyme, dans la Summa quadripartita d’Alain de Lille et également dans le traité de Moneta de Crémone. Simple croyant, il est vraisemblablement de culture orale et son savoir vient d’une longue fréquentation des cercles hérétiques. Il donne le nom de ceux dont il tient sa formation ce qui laisse entendre qu’un croyant qui a une bonne connaissance de l’hérésie n’est pas seul., Paul Jacques. Foi et doctrines chez les croyants des hérétiques. In: Le « catharisme » en questions. Toulouse : Éditions Privat, 2020. pp. 301-329. (Cahiers de Fanjeaux, 55)

Background: Identifying circulating proteins associated with healthy dietary patterns may offer novel insights into the key biological processes underlying diet-related chronic disease. As a first step toward achieving this goal, we examined the relations between a proteomic score of healthy dietary patterns and the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Methods: We evaluated up to 1713 Framingham Offspring Study participants (1991-1995, mean age 54yr, 55% women) who had plasma proteins assayed using the SomaLogic platform and diet assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire. We regressed three healthy dietary pattern indices (Alternative Healthy Eating Index, Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension [DASH], and Mediterranean-style diet) on 103 diet-related proteins using elastic net regression (separate model for each diet index) with a 10-fold cross-validation (CV). Protein selection was based on the minimum mean CV error. A proteomic score was created by summing (concentration*β coefficient) of selected proteins, and validated in 862 Framingham Third Generation Cohort participants (2008-2011, mean age 46yr, 56% women). We used multivariable Cox proportional hazard models to relate the proteomic score and dietary pattern indices (separate models) to CVD in participants free of CVD (n=2459). All models adjusted for age, sex, smoking, and lipid medication use. Additional models adjusted for 1) both the proteomic score and dietary pattern indices and 2) body mass index, total cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio, triglycerides, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension. Results: Across three dietary patterns, 11 proteins characterized the proteomic score. Partial correlations of the proteomic score with the healthy dietary patterns ranged from r=0.33-0.36 (adjusted for age, sex, and total energy) in the validation sample, with the strongest correlation for the DASH index. Over a mean follow-up of 20 years, 510 participants developed CVD. Adjusting for age, sex, smoking, and lipid medication, a 1-SD unit increase in the proteomic score was associated with a 22% lower risk of CVD (hazard ratio [95% CI] 0.78 [0.72, 0.84]) and a 1-SD unit increase in the DASH index was associated with a 15% lower risk of CVD (hazard ratio 0.85 [0.77, 0.93). In mutually-adjusted models, relations of the proteomic score with CVD (0.80 [0.73, 0.87]), and of the DASH index with CVD were maintained (0.89 [0.82, 0.97]). Upon further adjustment for metabolic risk factors, relations of the proteomic score and CVD were attenuated (0.96 [0.87, 1.05]), but relations of the DASH index with CVD were unchanged (0.89 [0.80, 0.98]). Conclusion: We characterized a distinct proteomic score of healthy dietary patterns in a community-based cohort of adults. A healthy diet proteomic score may represent variation in the proteome that influences CVD risk.

Based on the Cloude/van Zyl decomposition of reflection symmetric polarimetric SAR data we present a version for full/quad polarisation data. We demonstrate both versions on X-band F-SAR data over Vejers, Denmark. Differences between the original and our version of the decomposition occur especially for very bright man-made targets. These differences come with lower entropy for our version giving an improved focus on a more pronounced dominant scattering mechanism for these objects. Interpretation of the scattering mechanism related to the full/quad pol version of the decomposition is facilitated by means of the Cloude/Pottier ¯α angle.

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) causes significant morbidity and mortality in patients with traumatic injuries, despite thromboprophylaxis. To decrease both thrombotic and bleeding risks, some authors suggest adjusting the thromboprophylactic doses of low-molecular-weight heparins (LMWH), in particular according to body weight at treatment initiation or to changes in anti-factor Xa level during treatment. Our objective was to estimate in trauma patients the efficacy and safety of such adjustments, compared with the conventional strategy of fixed-dose LMWH thromboprophylaxis.A systematic review and a meta-analysis were conducted to identify and assess randomised control trials and observational studies with prospective enrolment that included trauma patients and compared adjustment of LMWH thromboprophylaxis versus no adjustment. The primary and secondary endpoints were VTE and bleeding, respectively. The Odds Ratio (OR) and 95% Confidence Interval (95% CI) were calculated using the Mantel-Haenszel method.Nine studies were included in the meta-analysis. No significant reduction in the risk of VTE was observed with adjusted doses of LMWH compared with fixed doses when considering only randomised control trials (OR 1.02 [95% CI, 0.09 to 11.6]) or all trials (OR 0.70 [95% CI, 0.34 to 1.42]). Similarly, there was no significant difference in bleeding risk (OR 1.36, 95% CI 0.59 to 3.10).This meta-analysis shows that, to date, there is no evidence to justify adjusting LMWH doses, in agreement with the recommendations of the American College of Chest Physicians.