Osteology and relationships of Rhinopycnodus gabriellae gen. et sp. nov. (Pycnodontiformes) from the marine Late Cretaceous of Lebanon

The osteology of Rhinopycnodus gabriellae gen. and sp. nov., a pycnodontiform fish from the marine Cenomanian (Late Cretaceous) of Lebanon, is studied in detail. This new fossil genus belongs to the family Pycnodontidae, as shown by the presence of a posterior brush-like process on its parietal. Its long and broad premaxilla, bearing one short and very broad tooth is the principal autapomorphy of this fish. Within the phylogeny of Pycnodontidae, Rhinopycnodus occupies an intermediate position between Ocloedus and Tepexichthys

Gladiopycnodontidae, a new family of pycnodontiform fi shes from the Late Cretaceous of Lebanon, with the description of three genera

The osteology of Gladiopycnodus karami gen. et sp. nov., of Monocerichthys scheuchzeri gen. et sp. nov. and of Rostropycnodus gayeti gen. et sp. nov., three new fossil fishes from the marine Cenomanian (Late Cretaceous) of Lebanon, is studied in detail. Some of their cranial characters and the presence of a postcoelomic bone clearly refer these fishes to the order Pycnodontiformes. However, they differ from all other described Pycnodontiformes by two important characters. Their snout is elongated as a rostrum, formed by the enlarged prefrontal and the toothless premaxilla, with this premaxilla sutured by its upper margin to the lower margin of the prefrontal. Their pectoral fin is replaced by a strong spine articulated with the cleithrum. These two apomorphies justify the erection of a new family, the Gladiopycnodontidae. The skull of Monocerichthys scheuchzeri sp. nov. does not differ greatly from a classical pycnodontiform skull and this species seems to be the more primitive member of this new family. Gladiopycnodus karami gen. et sp. nov. and Rostropycnodus gayeti gen. et sp. nov. are much more specialized. They share some apomorphies not present in Monocerichthys scheuchzeri gen. et sp. nov., i. e., an extremely long rostrum and an elongated first anal pterygiophore that sustains with the postcoelomic bone a strong and long anal spine. Gladiopycnodontidae fam. nov. and Coccodontidae share a series of apomorphies that justify the erection of a new superfamily, Coccodontoidea, grouping these two families

Veterinary Medicine Needs New Green Antimicrobial Drugs

Given that: (1) the worldwide consumption of antimicrobial drugs (AMDs) used in food-producing animals will increase over the coming decades; (2) the prudent use of AMDs will not suffice to stem the rise in human antimicrobial resistance (AMR) of animal origin; (3) alternatives to AMD use are not available or not implementable, there is an urgent need to develop novel AMDs for food-producing animals. This is not for animal health reasons, but to break the link between human and animal resistomes. In this review we establish the feasibility of developing for veterinary medicine new AMDs, termed green antibiotics, having minimal ecological impact on the animal commensal and environmental microbiomes.We first explain why animal and human commensal microbiota comprise a turnstile exchange, between the human and animal resistomes. We then outline the ideal physico-chemical, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of a veterinary green antibiotic and conclude that they can be developed through a rational screening of currently used AMD classes. The ideal drug will be hydrophilic, of relatively low potency, slow clearance and small volume of distribution. It should be eliminated principally by the kidney as inactive metabolite(s). For oral administration, bioavailability can be enhanced by developing lipophilic pro-drugs. For parenteral administration, slow-release formulations of existing eco-friendly AMDs with a short elimination half-life can be developed. These new eco-friendly veterinary AMDs can be developed from currently used drug classes to provide alternative agents to those currently used in veterinary medicine and mitigate animal contributions to the human AMR problem

Implementing funding modalities for free access: The case for a "purchasing fund system" to cover medical care

The principle of free access to ARVs was recognized in Senegal in 2003. Debate now focuses on its expansion to cover all therapeutic care (consultations, exams, treatment for opportunistic infections). Expenditures incurred by this complementary packet often impede access to care. The main difficulty does not really arise from the need for funding but rather from how this treatment is managed and its impact on the current financing systems. In fact, four types of possible funding exist: (1) provision in kind of products necessary for the consumption of free services; (2) providing equipment that allows other revenues in compensation for losses created by free access; (3) increased public budgetary grants; (4) reimbursement for services by a third party. In this last solution, the third party may be the State or an ad hoc organism (NGO, insurance, designated fund). The study compares these different modalities across specific conditions in Senegal and describes their possible impact on the present and future health system. In effect, this analysis fits into a much broader debate since the principle of free access has already expanded to other domains, particularly childbirth (2003) and care for the elderly (2006). The study shows that the multiplication of parallel supplies, the coexistence of various “free” stocks and insufficient accounting of services might create serious disturbances in current management and financing systems. On the other hand, invoice reimbursements set up in some districts by various partners preserve financial autonomy and strengthen the managerial capacities of health structures. Nevertheless, with the increased number of people who are treated and the expansion of free access to other services, there is a risk of letting the number of individual mechanisms multiply when common services would be more effective. Given the financial limitations of community financing schemes and the difficulties to develop insurance systems in a very informal economy, it is now necessary to envisage the implementation of “purchasing funds,” for which the study proposes basic guidelines. Based on the logic of insurance, they rely on purchasing a predetermined service package (contractualization and accreditation), using the sectoral approach (by “pooling” public, private and international resources), funding based on results (a payment for services rendered) and management that is independent of public budgetary blockages (with the participation of civil society). Complete medical treatment for PLWHA may be the best way to progressively start this process because the service package is clearly predetermined, its cost has been assessed and the number of beneficiaries, in a country like Senegal, is still low. Moreover, if proper management of this fund can be ensured, institutional sustainability will ensure its financial sustainability. Therefore the fight against HIV/AIDS could contribute to reflection on health system reform.VIH ; sida ; accès aux soins ; financement de la santé ; fonds d'achat ; gratuité ; Sénégal

Participatory methods, guidelines and good practice guidance to be applied throughout the project to enhance problem definition, co-learning, synthesis and dissemination

Research Methods/ Statistical Methods,

Ostéologie et relations phylogénétiques de <i>Steurbautichthys ("Pholidophophorus") aequatorialis</i> gen. nov. (Teleostei, "Pholidophoriformes") du Jurassique moyen de Kisangani, en République Démocratique du Congo

The osteology of Steurbautichthys ("Pholidophorus") aequatorialis gen. nov. from the Middle Jurassic of Kisangani (Stanleyville Formation, Songa Limestones) in the Democratic Republic of Congo is studied in detail. This fish, about 25 cm long, is marked by a large head, a rather aquiline snout and a small oval median rostral, which does not reach to the tip of the snout. The broad nasals meet on the mid-line anteriorly, but are separated by the frontals posteriorly. The anterior extremity of the frontals remains broad and is partly covered by the nasals. The parietals are large quadrangular bones meeting medially and bearing a small pit-line, prolonging the supraorbital sensory canal. The orbitosphenoid joins the lateral ethmoids anteriorly. The interorbital opening between the orbitosphenoid, the pleurosphenoids and the parasphenoid is well developed. The parasphenoid is toothless, and shows well-developed basipterygoid processes. The foramen for the efferent pseudobranchial artery is perforated in the parasphenoid at the root of the basipterygoid process. The jaws bear small conical teeth. The toothed narrow anterior parts of the laterodermethmoids compose the tip of the upper jaw and separate the two premaxillae from each other. The nasal processes of the laterodermethmoids are enlarged and cover the greatest part of the underlying mesethmoid. The premaxillary is small and devoid of an ascending process. The maxillary is long and exhibits a slightly curved oral border. There are two supramaxillaries. The lower jaw is elongated and articulates with the quadrate at the level of the orbital posterior border. The dentary increases in height posteriorly but its oral border is almost rectilinear with a small notch just behind the toothed region. The long and stout meckelian bone rests in a groove of the internal face of the lower jaw. The surangular forms a weakly pronounced coronoid process. The entopterygoid is broad and partly toothed. The ectopterygoid is longer, narrower and toothless. The quadrate exhibits a well-developed quadratic process. The preopercle possesses a long dorsal branch and a broad but very short ventral branch. The preopercular sensory canal bears only a few secondary tubules. The caudal skeleton is nearly homocercal. The two ventral hypurals are narrow. The first dorsal hypurals are fused in a plate. There are at least 3 uroneurals. There are only very few fringing fulcra on the fins. The scales are of lepisosteid shape, with a peg and socket articulation. The surface of the ganoin is feebly ornamented and the posterior border of the scale is smooth. Comparisons are made with Pholidophorus sensu strict, some species of Pholidophorus sensu lato, other pholidophorid genera and other pholidophoriform families. The generic validity of Steurbautichthys is demonstrated. A new pholidophoriform phylogeny is proposed in which Steurbautichthys is referred to the Ankylophoridae, a family of primitive Pholidophoriformes characterized by its laterodermethmoids with an enlarged nasal process and a smaller anterior toothed or tuberculated tip, rejecting laterally the premaxillae. The genera Eurycormus, Ankylophorus, Lehmanophorus, Pholidophoristion, Neopholidophoropsis, Siemensichthys, the species "Pholidophorus" germanicus and probably the genera Pholidorhyncodon and Eopholidophorus also belong to this family

Gratuité ! Appliquer la recommandation

International audienceEn 2006, l'OMS a déclaré que la gratuité des médicaments et des soins constituait l'un des piliers de la stratégie de santé publique devant permettre l'accès universel au traitement dans les pays à ressources limitées. L'OMS recommande d'adopter une politique de gratuité d'accès, sur le lieu de prestation du service, au traitement antirétroviral et aux soins associés à la prise en charge. Cette recommandation s'appuie sur des données scientifiques solides. La gratuité de la prise en charge médicale est un impératif de santé publique. Malgré son caractère historique (10 ans après l'annonce de l'efficacité des trithérapies –1996– alors que l'on disait à l'époque que les traitements ne seraient pas utilisables en Afrique parce que trop chers), cette recommandation est néanmoins passée inaperçue. Elle est méconnue des associations de PVVIH et des professionnels de santé dans les pays du Sud, mais aussi bien souvent des associations des pays du Nord. Le militantisme en faveur de l'accès aux traitements pour les PVVIH des pays pauvres n'a pas investi –sauf rare exception– le domaine des modalités d'accès aux soins. En 2008, dans plusieurs pays d'Afrique les médicaments antirétroviraux sont distribués gratuitement, mais très rares sont les pays à s'être engagés dans la voie d'une prise en charge médicale totalement gratuite. La gratuité est une décision qui doit être organisée, c'est un engagement de santé publique, et au-delà un engagement politique (national & international). La gratuité peut être revendiquée par les associations de PVVIH dans les pays du Sud, ces dernières peuvent contribuer de manière active à sa mise en place. Les associations du Nord – telles Sidaction – doivent soutenir, accompagner, se faire l'écho de cette revendication

Considerations about the Late Cretaceous genus <i>Chirocentrites</i> and erection of the new genus <i>Heckelichthys</i> (Teleostei, Ichthyodectiformes) - A new visit inside the ichthyodectid phylogeny

The author describes briefly the osteology of the three valid species of the Late Cretaceous genus Chirocentrites. He shows that only the type species, C. coroninii, belongs to this genus. He creates the new genus Heckelichthys for the two other species, C. microdon and C. vexillifer, with the latter as type species. The phylogeny of the Ichthyodectidae is studied. The systematic position of Chirocentrites and Heckelichthys is specified

<i>Ridewoodichthys</i>, a new genus for <i>Brychaetus caheni</i> from the marine Paleocene of Cabinda (Africa): re-description and comments on its relationships within the Osteoglossidae (Teleostei, Osteoglossomorpha)

The marine osteoglossid “Brychaetus” caheni from the Lower Paleocene of Cabinda (Africa) is re-studied. It does not belong to the genus Brychaetus because of differences in teeth and premaxilla shape. It is assigned to the new genus Ridewoodichthys on the basis of its caudal skeleton, which differs from that of all other known fossil and Recent Osteoglossidae