Encéphalocèle occipitale : aspects épidémiologiques, cliniques et thérapeutiques : à propos de 161 cas opérés en 9 ans à l’hôpital national de niamey

Objectif Définir le profil épidémiologique et clinique de l’encéphalocèle occipital et alerter pour une stratégie préventive. MéthodeIl s’agit d’une étude prospective en série continue réalisée de janvier 1999 à Mars 2008 dans le service de neurochirurgie de l’hôpital national de Niamey au Niger. Après examen clinique de l’enfant et de lamalformation, une échographie transfontanellaire avec souvent un scanner étaient réalisés. L’intervention chirurgicale a consisté en une résection du tissu cérébral dysplasique, une coagulation systématique du plexus choroïde au sein de la malformation, et dans certains cas une conservation sans pression du tissus nerveux d’allure saine. L’évolution des patients a été analysée à J7 à 1mois, 3 mois et à 1an. RésultatsLa série comprenait 161 encéphalocèles en situation occipitale. La moyenne d’âge était de 8.34 mois. La moyenne d’âge maternel était de 17 ans. Il s’agissait d’un mariage consanguin dans 67.080% des cas ; Une échographique prénatale était faite dans 7.3% des cas. Le defect osseux était en occipital dans 67.43% des  cas, à la jonction parieto-occipitale dans 27.8% des cas et à la jonction occipito-cervicale dans 4.77% des cas. Il s’agissait d’une méningocèle dans 16.42% des cas, d’une encéphalocèle pure sans kyste dans 6.34% des cas et d’une forme mixte dans 78.81% des cas; l’hydrocéphalie était associée dans 23.60% en préopératoire et dans 49.57% des cas en postopératoire. La durée moyenne d’hospitalisation post opératoire était de 24.41 jours. La mortalité était de 22.36% à 3 mois. 48.78% des patients étaient revus à 1an et 13 patients étaient revus à 5ans soit 8.66% des cas. Conclusion L’encéphalocèle occipitale est une pathologie fréquente à Niamey ; Elle est responsable d’une mortalité et d’une morbidité importantes. Il ya urgence à élaborer une stratégie de prévention des malformations du tube neural au Niger

Assessing soil nutrient change under long-term application of mineral fertilizer micro-dosing to pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] on a sahelian sandy soil

In the Sahel, mineral fertilizer micro-dosing technique is known for its benefits to provide higher nutrient uptake and higher crop yields. A study was set up at ICRISAT research station at Sadoré in Niger, which aims at evaluating the sustainability of the technology in the long-term with emphasis on soil nutrients dynamics. The study has started since 2008 and was laid-out in a randomized complete block design that involved two pearl millet varieties, three planting densities, and four nutrients management options. For this study, a sub-set of the treatments from this long-term experiment was used. The nutrient management factor, which includes 4 levels was considered. The most important findings obtained indicated that the change in soil nutrient was markedly different on the planting hills and that from between hill. The change in soil pH-H2O values on the planting was -7.06 % for the control plots and -9.57 % for the plots applied with NPK. The total nitrogen content has dropped in the two different plots. The amplitude of drop has lowered with the application of NPK micro-dosing on the planting hills with respectively -5.11 % and -12.45 % in the control plots and the micro-dose plots. Positive change in available P was significantly observed (P≤0.05) in soil between hill with 1.08% in the control plots and 15.97 % in the amended plots. Both grain yield and total dry matter showed similar trend in which decreased yield was obvious over the time. In 2008, an average grain yield of 732 kg. ha-1 and 989 kg. ha-1 was obtained respectively for the control plots and 6g per hill of NPK plots. Whereas in 2016, 146 kg. ha-1 and 218 kg. ha-1 were produced respectively for the control plots and the mineral fertilizer micro-dosing plots. These findings indicated that in the Sahel low-input based millet cropping systems, for the mineral fertilizer micro-dosing technology to be sustainable in the long term, the improvement and maintenance of soil fertility should be considered as the cornerstone

Possibilities of sweet potato [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam] value chain upgrading as revealed by physico-chemical composition of ten elites landraces of Benin

Sweet potato is one of the most important food security promoted root crops in the world, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. Unfortunately, the crop is still neglected and underutilized in Benin Republic. To establish baseline data for its better utilization for upgrading its value chain, 10 selected local varieties (01 cream, 02 white, 03 yellow, and 04 orange flesh-colored) were compared for their macro-nutritional composition assessed using standard Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC) procedures and spectrophotometry methods. The results indicate that sweet potato dry matter, protein, fiber, and ash content ranged from 46.11 to 25.9%, 4.09 to 1.97%, 1.81 to 3.00%, and 4.70 to 2.56%, respectively and orange flesh cultivars were found very rich. Pearson correlation analysis of variables revealed that dry mater content is positively correlated with carbohydrate and energy values, but negatively correlated with ash and fiber content, while starch content is strongly correlated with fiber content. Principal component analysis allowed us to classify the sweet potato varieties into 03 varietal groups among which Group 2 (05 varieties) exhibited rich fiber, ash, and protein contents and may be recommended for infant foods formulations. These results constitute important orientation for sweet potato processing chain organization in Benin and for the establishment of future nutrition and breeding programme.Key words: Benin, sweet potato, Ipomoea batatas, nutritional composition, orange flesh cultivar, value chain

Proximate, mineral and vitamin C composition of vegetable Gbolo [Crassocephalum rubens (Juss. ex Jacq.) S. Moore and C. crepidioides (Benth.) S. Moore] in Benin

Gbolo (Crassocephalum crepidioides and Crassocephalum rubens) is a traditional leafy vegetable highly consumed in southern and central Benin, as well as in some part of northern Benin. The nutritional potential of the two species of Gbolo were evaluated through their proximate composition, mineral and vitamin C profile using recommended AOAC method of analysis. The analysis revealed that the contents in raw protein, total lipids, ash and carbohydrates expressed in % of dry matter were  27.13±0.01%,3.45± 0.00%,19.02± 0.01%and 42.22 ± 0.04% for C. crepidioides; 26.43± 0.01%, 2.75± 0.01%, 19.76± 0.05% and 43.11±0.10 % for C. rubens respectively. The content of vitamin C for 100g of fresh leaf is of 9.17 mg for C. crepidioides and 3.60 mg for C. rubens. The moisture content (% of cool matter) and the total metabolizable energy (kcal/100 g of dried matter) were respectively 86.79± 0.04 %and 308.45 ± 0.28 for C. crepidioides and 87.95% ± 0.07 %and 302.91 ± 0.56 for C. rubens. The result of the mineral composition indicated that the sodium (Na), potassium (K), phosphorus (P), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), iron (Fe), Manganese (Mn) and Copper (Cu) contents were higher in C. rubensthan in C. crepidioides. With regard to the obtained values, the Gbolo vegetable showed a satisfactory composition and a significant variability between the mineral salts in its two species and can be valorised for a balanced nutrition of populations. Efforts should be made for the promotion of its wide cultivation and consumption. © 2013 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved.Keywords: Benin, Crassocephalum, Gbolo, mineral composition, proximate composition, vitamin C

A gene cluster in Agrobacterium vitis homologous to polyketide synthase operons is associated with grape necrosis and hypersensitive response induction on tobacco

Here, we identify a cluster of eight genes on chromosome 2 of Agrobacterium vitis that is associated with the ability of the bacterium to cause a hypersensitive response on tobacco and a necrosis of grape shoot explants. Three of these genes share a high level of structural and sequence similarity to clusters of genes in other bacteria that encode the enzymes for biosynthesis of polyketides and long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. No similar gene clusters were discovered in sequenced genomes of other members of Rhizobiale

Les malformations de Dandy-Walker : Aspects diagnostiques et apport de l’endoscopie : A propos de 77 cas

ObjectifDécrire les malformations kystiques de la fosse postérieure chez l’enfant et évaluer les indications et résultats thérapeutiques.MéthodeIl s’agit d’une étude prospective en série continue réalisée dans le service de neurochirurgie de l’hôpital national de Niamey (Niger) entre janvier 2007 et février 2012. Etaient inclus, les enfants de 0 à 5ans admis pour macrocranie ou retard psychomoteur sans antécédents de méningite chez qui un kyste malformatif de la fosse postérieure a été découvert au scanner. Une évaluation clinique et une classification scannographique a été réalisée pour chaque patient. L’indication opératoire a été retenue en présence de syndrome de la fosse postérieure associé ou non à une hydrocéphalie. En présence d’une hydrocéphalie le traitement était endoscopique de première intention (VCS + fenestration du kyste dans le ventricule latérale (VL) + cautérisation plexuelle partielle). Certains patients ont été classés selon les critères prédictifs des résultats de la VCS selon Warf. Une fontanelle non affaissée et tendue à 1mois post opératoire était considérée comme un échec. Seuls les patients suivis pendant au moins 6 mois ont été inclus dans l’étude.RésultatsLa série comportait 144 patients porteurs de kyste de la fosse postérieure soit 11,076% des enfants de 0 à 5 ans ayant réalisé un scanner en 5ans. La moyenne d’âge était de 8,7 mois (7 jours - 5 ans) avec un sexe ratio de 1,4. Il s’agissait de 67 cas de malformation de Dandy Walker (46,52%), de 21 cas de Dandy Walker variant (14,58%) et de 56 cas de kyste de la fosse postérieure considérés comme megacisterna magna ou kyste de la valecula ou Dandy Walker complex (38,88%). Sur les 144 patients porteurs de malformation kystique de la fosse postérieure l’hydrocéphalie était associée dans 128 cas soit dans 88,88% des cas. L’indication opératoire était retenue chez 77 patients suivis pendant au moins 6 mois (53,47%) dont 8 n’avaient pas d’hydrocéphalie (5,55%). Il s’agissait de 49 cas/ 67 de malformation de Dandy Walker, de 7 cas/21 de Dandy Walker variant, et de 21 cas/56 retenus comme des megacisterna magna ou de kyste de la valecula ou Dandy Walker complex. Le suivi moyen était de 16,4 mois (6 mois- 59 mois) avec au moins un scanner de contrôle à 6 mois post- opératoire. Le taux de succès du traitement endoscopique seul était de 57% à 6 mois.ConclusionLorsque l’indication opératoire est retenue pour une malformation kystique de la fosse postérieure associée à une hydrocéphalie, le traitement endoscopique peut être de première intention

Effect of water deficit at different stages of development on the yield components of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) genotypes

Cowpea cultivation is widespread in West Africa where it is an important source of protein. This study is aimed at determining the effects of water deficit applied at different stages of cowpea development on yield and its components (pod number, seed number, seed yield, aerial biomass yield, harvest index and root biomass of the plant). The experiments were carried out in pots during the rainy season of 2016 under natural conditions of illumination, temperature and relative humidity. Three water regimes were applied to plants at different stages of cowpea development: total suspension of watering at flowering phase (43 days after sowing) (S1); suspension of watering at the beginning of pod formation on the 46th day after sowing (S2); and normal watering as control until harvest (S0). At the water regime level, yield components had higher values in S0 followed by S2. The lowest values were obtained at S1 level. The root to aerial biomass ratios was higher under water deficit than in the control. In conditions of water deficiency, Suvita2, IT96D-610, and ISV128 genotypes gave the highest seed yields and Tiligré the lowest yield. The harvest index showed a genotypic variation according to the water regime. Suvita2 and ISV128 gave the best harvest index in all water regimes. This study may have contributed to the selection of genotypes adapted to drought

Past as global trade governance prelude: reconfiguring debate about reform of the multilateral trading system

This paper peers backwards into the history of the multilateral trading system and its development over the past half century as a means of considering what may lie beyond the horizon for the future of global trade governance. Its purpose is to underscore the necessity and urgency for root-and-branch reform of the multilateral trading system. It achieves this by comparing and contrasting the global trading system of 50 years ago with its modern-day equivalent and its likely future counterpart half-a-century hence. In so doing, the paper throws into sharp relief not only the inadequacies of global trade governance today but also the damaging consequences of not fundamentally reforming the system in the near future, with a particular emphasis on the past, present and future development of the world’s poorest and most marginalised countries

Implementing Preventive Chemotherapy through an Integrated National Neglected Tropical Disease Control Program in Mali

Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a group of chronic infections that affect the poorest group of the populations in the world. There are currently five major NTDs targeted through mass drug treatment in the affected communities. The drug delivery can be integrated to deliver different drug packages as these NTDs often overlap in distribution. Mali is endemic with all five major NTDs. The integrated national NTD control program was implemented through the primary health care system using the community health center workers and the community drug distributors aiming at long-term sustainability. After a pilot start in three regions in 2007 without prior examples to follow on integrated mass drug administration, treatment for the five targeted NTDs was gradually scaled up and reached all endemic districts by 2009, and annual drug coverage in the targeted population has since been maintained at a high level for each of the five NTDs. Around 10 million people received one or more drug treatments each year since 2009. The country is on the way to meet the national objectives of elimination or control of these diseases. The successes and lessons learned in Mali are valuable assets to other countries looking to start similar programs