This case-control study compared sociodemographic variables, lifestyle and certain anthropometric parameters of 50 patients hospitalized with colorectal cancer with those of 50 ageand sex-matched controls at a referral hospital in Riyadh. Among cases, females were generally more affected by gastrointestinal symptoms and 4% of male patients had a family history of colorectal cancer. Unlike weight and height, body mass index did not differ between cases and controls, but poor knowledge of high-fibre diets was a significant factor. Regression analysis showed low education level, unemployment and not taking exercise regularly were significant risk factors for colorectal cancer. Better education and awareness of colorectal cancer screening is recommended.Cancer colorectal : une étude cas/témoins des paramètres sociodémographiques, relatifs au mode de vie et anthropométriques à Riyad RÉSUMÉ Cette étude cas/témoins a comparé les variables sociodémographiques, le mode de vie et certains paramètres anthropométriques de 50 malades hospitalisés pour un cancer colorectal, par rapport à 50 témoins appariés sur l'âge et le sexe dans un hôpital de recours de Riyad. Parmi les cas, les femmes étaient généralement plus concernées par les symptômes gastro-intestinaux et 4 % des hommes avaient des antécédents familiaux de cancer colorectal. Contrairement au poids et à la taille, l'indice de masse corporelle n'était pas différent entre les cas et les témoins, mais la méconnaissance des régimes riches en fibres était un facteur significatif. L'analyse de régression a montré que le faible niveau d'instruction, le chômage et le manque d'exercice régulier étaient des facteurs de risque significatifs du cancer colorectal. Il est recommandé de renforcer l'information et la prise de conscience à propos du dépistage du cancer colorectal.

We compared the effects of three levels of dietary protein, i.e., 7% (low protein; LP); 17.5% (adequate protein; CON); or 30% (high protein; HP) on growth of functionally overloaded muscle in Sprague-Dawley male rats. Growth of plantaris and soleus muscles was induced by the surgical removal of gastrocnemius muscles in one hindlimb; muscles in the other leg were used as sham-operated, intra-animal controls. After 4 wk, rats fed the 7% LP diet gained less weight (-29%) and had lighter livers (-20%) and kidneys (-16%) than rats fed the CON diet (P < 0.05). Measurements of rats fed the 30% HP diet were not different from those of CON rats except that their kidneys were larger (+6%) (P < 0.05). The level of dietary protein did not affect the experimentally induced muscular growth in either plantaris or soleus muscles. Gains in overloaded plantaris muscles over sham-operated muscles were not different among rats fed LP, CON and HP diets for muscle mass (+42 to +45%), total protein (+42 to +46%) and myofibrillar protein (+40 to +44%). Soleus muscles also did not differ among diet groups for gains in mass (+20 to +33%), total protein (+20 to +33%) and myofibrillar protein (+21 to +33%). No dietary protein effects were found on myosin heavy chain isoform (I, IIa, IIx, IIb) expression in either plantaris or soleus muscles. We conclude that gains in plantaris and soleus muscle mass, total protein and myofibrillar protein induced by functional overload are not affected by low (7%) or high (30%) protein feeding in young male rats for 4 wk.

We evaluated the effects of three levels of energy intake, 73 % (CON73), 81 % (CON81) and 100 % (CON100) of the ad libitum intake of the control diet, on skeletal muscle growth induced by functional overload in male rats. Unlike most previous studies which have employed chronic or acute food restriction where all nutrients are reduced in the diet, the present study tested the effects of energy deprivation as a single factor without inducing other nutritional deficiencies. Muscular growth of plantaris and soleus muscles was induced by removal of synergist gastrocnemius muscles in one hindlimb; muscles in the other leg were used as sham-operated intra-animal controls. After 30 d, rats on the energy-restricted CON73 and CON81 diets gained less weight and had smaller livers, kidneys, hearts and fat pads (epididymal, retroperitoneal and omental) than CON100 rats (P<0·05). They also had smaller sham-operated plantaris muscles (CON73 -13 %, CON81 -9 %) containing less total protein (CON73 -14 %; CON81 -10 %) than CON100 rats (P<0·05). However, the same measurements in overloaded plantaris muscles were similar among groups. Soleus muscle mass and protein contents were not significantly affected by energy restriction in our study. Percentage distributions of myosin heavy-chain isoforms (types I, IIa, IIx and IIb) were similar among rats in CON100, CON81 and CON73 groups for both plantaris and soleus muscles. We conclude that the growth reduction of plantaris muscle induced by energy restriction at 73 % and 81 % for 30 d was prevented by functional overload in male rats.

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