La figue de Barbarie: valorisation d’un produit de terroir issu d’une culture adaptée aux défis climatiques dans la région d’OuledDlim - Sud du Maroc

21-23 octobre 2014International audienc

THE EFFECT OF VANCOMYCIN DOSES GREATER THAN 2 GRAMS ON SERUM CREATININE AND VANCOMYCIN TROUGH LEVELS

Objective: To assess the effect of vancomycin doses greater than 2 grams on renal function and vancomycin trough levels Methods: This is a retrospective, pharmacokinetic study performed in a tertiary care level II trauma center. 3579 electronic charts of patients who received vancomcyin at the medical facility between January 2010 and December 2011 were reviewed. Only 30 patients met the inclusion criteria of the study. Included patients were those who were at least 18 years of age who received doses greater than 2 grams of vancomycin for at least 48 hours. Patients in the intensive care units, pregnant or on hemodialysis and were not included in the study. The mean weight for the participants was 154.67 kg. Results: Patients were dosed based on the institution's vancomycin dosing protocol such as 15-20 mg/kg per dose where the frequency was determined based on the estimated creatinine clearance using cockroft gault equation. A loading dose of 25-30 mg/kg was administered in few cases. Two out of thirty subjects had shown an increase of serum creatinine of ≥ 0.3mg/dL when receiving maintenance doses greater than 2 grams of vancomycin. A Z approximation test was used where a standard error of 0.043 with an α error equal to 0.05 and a 95% confidence interval of (-0.024-0.144) were found. The use of doses greater than 2 grams of IV vancomycin did not show a statistically significance increase in serum creatinine. The two subjects who did have a significant increase in serum creatinine were receiving concomitant nephrotoxins. Conclusion: The use of doses greater than 2 grams of IV vancomycin did not show a statistically significant increase in serum creatinine. Patients whom serum creatinine increased were on other nephrotoxin agents that could have contributed to the acute kidney injury that was seen in these patients

Valorization of Moroccan olive stones by using it in particleboard panels

The main objective of this work was to find new applications to valorize olive stones (endocarp and seed). In order to improve knowledge on olive stones, the phenolic compounds concentration of three varieties of Moroccan olive trees: Moroccan Picholine, Menara and Haouzian were studied. Olive stones of three varieties were characterized by Fourier Transform Mid Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-MIR). Total phenolic compounds are quantified after solid-liquid extraction by an assay of Folin-Ciocalteu. Moroccan Picholine stones (11.32 mg GAE/g DM) have a higher content of total phenolic compounds than Haouzia stones (4.55 mg GAE/g DM) and Menara stones (3.56 mg GAE/g DM). Thermogravimetric analysis indicates that up to 195 degrees C; there is no degradation of the stones. The biocide performance on agar-agar was tested with decay fungi. Biodegradation studies show that the most interesting results are obtained with Moroccan Picholine stones. The presence of Moroccan Picholine in a particleboard panels improves the total resistance of the particleboard panels against both Coriolus versicolor and Coniophora puteana rot fungi

A Case Report of Sandhoff Disease

Sandhoff disease is a rare and severe lysosomal storage disorder representing 7% of GM2 gangliosidoses. Bilateral thalamic involvement has been suggested as a diagnostic marker of Sandhoff disease. A case of an 18-month-old infant admitted for psychomotor regression and drug resistant myoclonic epilepsy is presented. Cerebral CT scan showed bilateral and symmetrical thalamic hyperdensity. MRI revealed that the thalamus was hyperintense on T1-weighted images and hypointense on T2-weighted images with a hypersignal T2 of the white matter. Enzymatic assays objectified a deficiency of both hexosaminidases A and B confirming the diagnosis of Sandhoff disease

Valorization of moroccan olive stones by using it in particleboard panels

The main objective of this work was to find new applications to valorize olive stones (endocarp and seed). In order to improve knowledge on olive stones, the phenolic compounds concentration of three varieties of Moroccan olive trees: Moroccan Picholine, Menara and Haouzian were studied. Olive stones of three varieties were characterized by Fourier Transform Mid Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-MIR). Total phenolic compounds are quantifi ed aft er solid-liquid extraction by an assay of Folin-Ciocalteu. Moroccan Picholine stones (11.32 mg GAE/g DM) have a higher content of total phenolic compounds than Haouzia stones (4.55 mg GAE/g DM) and Menara stones (3.56 mg GAE/g DM). Thermogravimetric analysis indicates that up to 195°C; there is no degradation of the stones. The biocide performance on agar-agar was tested with decay fungi. Biodegradation studies show that the most interesting results are obtained with Moroccan Picholine stones. The presence of Moroccan Picholine in a particleboard panels improves the total resistance of the particleboard panels against both Coriolus versicolor and Coniophora puteana rot fungi

Site selection of the Colombian antarctic research station based on fuzzy-topsis algorithm

By 2025 the Republic of Colombia aims to be an advisory member of the Antarctic Treaty System (ATS) and the installation of a scientific station is necessary to upscale the scientific capabilities. The aim of this paper is showing the results of the implementation of a Fuzzy TOPSIS algorithm for site selection of the Colombian Antarctic Scientific Station. A three-phase methodology was AQ1 proposed, and the obtained results allowed to identify the optimum location for the station, considering key success factors and regulatory constraints

Treatment outcomes of fixed-dose combination versus separate tablet regimens in pulmonary tuberculosis patients with or without diabetes in Qatar

Background: Tuberculosis is considered the second most common cause of death due to infectious agent. The currently preferred regimen for treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) is isoniazid, rifampin, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol, which has been used either as separate tablets (ST) or as fixed-dose combination (FDC). To date, no studies have compared both regimens in Qatar. We aim to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of FDC and ST regimen for treating PTB, in addition to comparing safety and efficacy of FDC and ST regimens in patients with diabetes treated for TB. Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted in two general hospitals in Qatar. Patients diagnosed with PTB received anti-tuberculosis medications (either as FDC or ST) administered by the nurse. Sputum smears were tested weekly. We assessed the time to negative sputum smear and incidence of adverse events among FDC and ST groups. Results: The study included 148 patients. FDC was used in 90 patients (61%). Effectiveness was not different between FDC and ST regimens as shown by mean time to sputum conversion (29.9 ± 18.3 vs. 35.6 ± 23 days, p = 0.12). Similarly, there was no difference in the incidence of adverse events, except for visual one that was higher in ST group. Among the 33 diabetic patients, 19 received the FDC and had faster sputum conversion compared to those who received ST (31 ± 12 vs. 49.4 ± 30.9 days, p = 0.05). Overall, diabetic patients needed longer time for sputum conversion and had more hepatotoxic and gastric adverse events compared to non-diabetics. Conclusion: ST group had higher visual side effects compared to FDC. FDC may be more effective in diabetic patients; however, further studies are required to confirm such finding.PublishedN/