Nutri-Score and NutrInform Battery: Effects on Performance and Preference in Italian Consumers

In May 2020, the European Commission announced a proposal for a mandatory front-of-pack label (FoPL) for all European Union (EU) countries. Indeed, FoPLs have been recognized by several public institutions as a cost-effective measure to guide consumers toward nutritionally favorable food products. The aim of this study was to compare the performance and consumer preference of two FoPLs currently proposed or implemented in EU countries, the interpretive format Nutri-Score and the non-interpretive format NutrInform Battery, among Italian consumers. The experimental study was conducted in 2021 on a representative sample of 1064 Italian adults (mean age = 46.5 ± 14.1 years; 48% men). Participants were randomized to either Nutri-Score or NutrInform and had to fill out an online questionnaire testing their objective understanding of the FoPL on three food categories (breakfast products, breakfast cereals and added fats) as well as purchase intention, subjective understanding and perception. Multivariable logistic regressions and t-tests were used to analyze the answers. In terms of the capacity of participants to identify the most nutritionally favorable products, Nutri-Score outperformed NutrInform in all food categories, with the highest odds ratio being observed for added fats (OR = 21.7 [15.3–31.1], p < 0.0001). Overall, with Nutri-Score, Italian participants were more likely to intend to purchase nutritionally favorable products than with NutrInform (OR = 5.29 [4.02–6.97], p < 0.0001). Focusing on olive oil, participants of the Nutri-Score group had higher purchase intention of olive oil compared to those in the NutrInform group (OR = 1.92 [1.42–2.60], p < 0.0001) after manipulating the label. The interpretive format Nutri-Score appears to be a more efficient tool than NutrInform for orienting Italian consumers towards more nutritionally favorable food choices.     

Mortalin/Hspa9 involvement and therapeutic perspective in Parkinson’s disease

By controlling the proper folding of proteins imported into mitochondria and ensuring crosstalk between the reticulum and mitochondria to modulate intracellular calcium fluxes, Mortalin is a chaperone protein that plays crucial roles in neuronal homeostasis and activity. However, its expression and stability are strongly modified in response to cellular stresses, in particular upon altered oxidative conditions during neurodegeneration. Here, we report and discuss the abundant literature that has highlighted its contribution to the pathophysiology of Parkinson’s disease, as well as its therapeutic and prognostic potential in this still incurable pathology.Key Words: chaperone, Hspa9, mitochondria, Mortalin, neurodegeneration, oxidative stress, Parkinson’s disease, prognostic and therapeutic potential     

Tolerance induction to deferasirox in a child with transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia

Beta thalassemias are autosomal recessive hemoglobin disorders related to a defect in the beta-globin chain production. Most of the major forms of beta-thalassemia are transfusion dependent leading to iron overload. Today, three iron chelators are available in France. We report the case of a patient suffering from β⁺ major transfusion-dependent thalassemia who presented with severe skin reactions to deferoxamine and deferasirox as well as with agranulocytosis after deferiprone administration. The patient benefited from successful tolerance induction to deferasirox. With the increasing number of children suffering from iron overload, we believe that our protocol can be useful to pediatric hematology teams confronted with multiple iron chelator reactions.     

Incidence of root resorption after concussion,subluxation, lateral luxation,intrusion, and extrusion: a systematic review

Traumatic dental injuries often affect the dental hard tissues, periodontal tissues, and dental pulp. Root resorption (RR) is a significantly concerning ph     

Use of non-carbapenem antibiotics to treat severe extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae infections in intensive care unit patients

Objectives

The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of non-carbapenem antibiotics to treat severe extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-E) infections in intensive care unit (ICU) patients.

High-Functioning Autistic Students Speak About Their Experience of Inclusion in Mainstream Secondary Schools

School Mental Health - An increasing number of autistic students attend mainstream secondary schools in both France and Quebec. The importance of considering their views on subjects that affect...     

Comparative analysis of calcium-binding protein-immunoreactive neuronal populations in the auditory and visual systems of the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) and the macaque monkey (Macaca fascicularis)

This study compares the distribution of three calcium-binding protein-immunoreactive (CaBP-immunoreactive) neuronal populations (calretinin-, calbindin- and parvalbumin-immunoreactive) in the visual and auditory systems in two mammalian species which are fundamentally different in their evolutionary traits and ecology, the aquatic toothed whale Tursiops truncatus (bottlenose dolphin) and the terrestrial Old World primate, Macaca fascicularis (long-tailed macaque). Immunocytochemical analyses, combined with computerized morphometry revealed that in the visual and auditory systems of the bottlenose dolphin, calretinin and calbindin are the prevalent calcium-binding proteins, whereas parvalbumin is present in very few neurons. The prevalence of calretinin and calbindin-immunoreactive neurons is especially obvious in the auditory system of this species. In both auditory and visual systems of the macaque monkey, the parvalbumin-immunoreactive neurons are present in comparable or higher densities than the calretinin and calbindin-immunoreactive neurons. In some structures of the visual and auditory systems of the macaque monkey, the calretinin- and calbindin-immunoreactive neurons are nearly absent. The prevalence of parvalbumin-immunoreactive over calretinin- and calbindin-immunoreactive neurons is particularly prominent in the visual system of primates. Thus, the dominant sensory systems in both aquatic and terrestrial mammals are enriched in specific phenotypes of calcium-binding protein-immunoreactive neurons.     

Effect of protein malnutrition on hippocampal kindling: Electrographic and behavioral measures

Rats born to dams fed either a 6% (malnourished) or a 25% (control) casein diet during gestation and lactation and maintained on the diet of the dam after weaning were tested for electrographic and behavioral responses to electrically induced kindling of the CA1 field of the hippocampus beginning at 44 days of age. Animals in the 6% diet group had a significantly lower threshold to afterdischarge (AD), a significantly faster spread of AD activity to distal recording sites, significantly longer average duration of AD activity at all recording sites and a markedly altered behavioral progression toward seizure activity compared to control animals. These findings indicate that prenatal protein malnutrition results in hippocampal dysfunction as evidenced by both the electrographic and behavioral correlates of the kindling process. The data presented suggest that prenatal proteins malnutrition alters the response of hippocampal CA1 pyramids to electrical stimulation and that this alteration results in marked changes to both the electrographic and behavioral correlates of kindling.     

Patients and spouses coping with inflammatory arthritis: Impact of communication and spousal perceived social support and burden

ObjectivesTo guide Therapeutic Patient Education (TPE) programs to improve patients’ and spouses’ perceived health, we aimed to analyze the effect of the spouse health state and patient–spouse relationship on functional impairment, mental health and self-efficacy of patients with RA or SpA.MethodsIn this observational cross-sectional study, inclusion criteria were age ≥ 18 years and diagnosis of RA or SpA. The outcome criteria were functional impairment and mental health measured by the Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form 12-item version (SF-12-MCS); mental health measured by the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12); and self-efficacy by the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE Scale). Caregiver–patient relationship was assessed by the Personal Assessment of Intimacy in Relationships (PAIR) questionnaire and the Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS); social support by the Social Support Questionnaire-6 and spousal burden by the Zarit questionnaire.ResultsA total of 88 patient–spouse couples were included. Patients were mostly female (n = 68, 77%), with mean age 59 (SD 12.6) years; 69% had RA. On bivariate analyses, only spousal burden was associated with patients’ functional impairment. Patients’ mental health was associated with satisfaction with social support and the dyad relationship. Self-efficacy of patients was associated with spousal burden, satisfaction with social support, spousal anxiety/depression and the dyad relationship. On multivariate analysis, improved mental health and perceived self-efficacy of patients were associated with spousal satisfaction with social support (Beta = 0.8, P = 0.1 with GHQ-12) good communication in the couple (Beta = 0.5, P = 0.04 with SF-12-MCS and Beta = 0.4, P = 0.04 with GSE Scale) and low spousal-assessed burden (Beta = ?0.2, P = 0.003 with GSE Scale).ConclusionThis study has identified potential focus for intervention. It has highlighted the importance of recognizing the role of couple communication (experiencing an open and fluent exchange of ideas) in the patient's mental health and self-efficacy but also perceived satisfaction with social support of both members of the couple on the patient's mental health.