The Electrophoretic Profile Myofibrillar Proteins Extracted From Camel Muscles, Kept in Various Modes

Changes in electrophoretic profiles of myofibrillar protein (MFP) in the Longissimus thoracis (LD) of young camels (2 to 4 years), preserved by refrigeration has been treated or not by lactic acid solution 4% or citric acid 1%, were followed during the post-mortem time at the following times: 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 24 and 48 hours. The cold preservation for 48 hours has not shown any particular distinctions in the protein profiles of this muscle. Changes related to the type of treatment were recorded during the storage time. Proteolysis of the myofibrillar fraction was earlier in this muscle in the case of treatment with one of two solutions of organic acids used, particularly in the case of using lactic acid. Indeed, these changes have affected at the first hour after slaughter the proteolysis of the myofibrillar proteins. Fragments of low molecular weight (42, 36, 33, 26, 23, 18, 16, 14 and 13 kDa) have been identified. The electrophoretic analysis showed that during refrigeration, LD treated with a solution of lactic acid is more sensitive to disruption phenomena and muscle protein proteolysis that lots of this muscle that even in the case of preservation by refrigeration only or by refrigeratio

Supplementary feeding and infection control in pregnant adolescents-A secondary analysis of a randomized trial among malnourished women in Sierra Leone

Undernutrition during pregnancy in adolescence confers a high risk of maternal morbidity and adverse birth outcomes, particularly in low-resource settings. In a secondary analysis, we hypothesized that younger undernourished pregnant adolescents (\u3c18 years) would benefit more than undernourished pregnant adults (\u3e20 years) from the intervention of supplementary food and anti-infective treatments. The original trial in Sierra Leone enrolled 236 younger adolescents (\u3c18 years), 454 older adolescents (aged 18-19 years), and 741 adults (≥20 years), all with a mid-upper arm circumference ≤23 cm. Younger adolescents had lower final fundal height as well as smaller newborns (-0.3 kg; 95% confidence interval [CI], -0.3, -0.2; p \u3c 0.001) and shorter newborns (-1.1 cm; 95% CI, -1.5, -0.7; p \u3c 0.001) than adults. The intervention\u27s effect varied significantly between maternal age groups: adults benefited more than younger adolescents with respect to newborn birth weight (difference in difference, 166 g; 95% CI, 26, 306; interaction p = 0.02), birth length (difference in difference, 7.4 mm; 95% CI, 0.1, 14.8; interaction p = 0.047), and risk for low birth weight (\u3c2.5 kg) (interaction p = 0.019). The differences in response persisted despite adjustments for maternal anthropometry, the number of prior pregnancies, and human immunodeficiency virus status. Older adolescents similarly benefited more than younger adolescents, though differences did not reach statistical significance. In conclusion, newborns born to younger adolescent mothers had worse outcomes than those born to adult mothers, and adults and their newborns benefited more from the intervention than younger adolescents

In vitro vasorelaxation mechanisms of bioactive compounds extracted from Hibiscus sabdariffa on rat thoracic aorta

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In this study, we suggested characterizing the vasodilator effects and the phytochemical characteristics of a plant with food usage also used in traditional treatment of arterial high blood pressure in Senegal.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Vascular effects of crude extract of dried and powdered calyces of <it>Hibiscus sabdariffa </it>were evaluated on isolated thoracic aorta of male Wistar rats on organ chambers. The crude extract was also enriched by liquid-liquid extraction. The various cyclohexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, butanol extracts obtained as well as the residual marc were subjected to Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography. The different methanolic eluate fractions were then analyzed by Thin Layer (TLC) and High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and their vascular effects also evaluated.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The H. Sabdariffa crude extract induced mainly endothelium-dependent relaxant effects. The endothelium-dependent relaxations result from NOS activation and those who not dependent to endothelium from activation of smooth muscle potassium channels. The phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of phenolic acids in the ethyl acetate extract and anthocyans in the butanolic extract. The biological efficiency of the various studied extracts, in term of vasorelaxant capacity, showed that: Butanol extract > Crude extract > Residual marc > Ethyl acetate extract. These results suggest that the strong activity of the butanolic extract is essentially due to the presence of anthocyans found in its fractions 43-67.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These results demonstrate the vasodilator potential of <it>hibiscus sabdariffa </it>and contribute to his valuation as therapeutic alternative.</p

In Situ Real-Time Quantification of Microbial Communities: Applications to Cold and Dry Volcanic Habitats

We report field tests of an instrument using multi-wavelength excitation and detection of fluorescence capable of detection and discrimination of viable cells, non-viable cells (not metabolically active but not decomposed), and spores in extreme arid environments where low microbial abundances are expected. These new results are presented for cold and dry volcanic habitats worldwide, e.g., the arid core of the Atacama Desert, Mt. Kilimanjaro glacier and Kibo area, Pali Aike caldera, and the western US volcanic and desert soils in Utah, Idaho, Nevada, and California. Our results are comparable to previous studies reported in the literature for the same environments. We find these extreme environments there have a base level of ∼103 - 104 cells/g. This is the lower limit of detectable life on terrestrial soils, as we did not observe any quantities less than this, even though the described instrumentation is capable of such measurements. Samples from more conventional environments show much higher microbial cell densities, ca. 108 cells/g or higher, with this same instrument. This base level of microbial life is nearly equal in all the measurements from the extreme environments both hot and cold, and is likely controlled primarily by the sparse nutrients rather than temperature

In Situ Real-Time Quantification of Microbial Communities: Applications to Cold and Dry Volcanic Habitats

We report field tests of an instrument using multi-wavelength excitation and detection of fluorescence capable of detection and discrimination of viable cells, non-viable cells (not metabolically active but not decomposed), and spores in extreme arid environments where low microbial abundances are expected. These new results are presented for cold and dry volcanic habitats worldwide, e.g., the arid core of the Atacama Desert, Mt. Kilimanjaro glacier and Kibo area, Pali Aike caldera, and the western US volcanic and desert soils in Utah, Idaho, Nevada, and California. Our results are comparable to previous studies reported in the literature for the same environments. We find these extreme environments there have a base level of ∼103 - 104 cells/g. This is the lower limit of detectable life on terrestrial soils, as we did not observe any quantities less than this, even though the described instrumentation is capable of such measurements. Samples from more conventional environments show much higher microbial cell densities, ca. 108 cells/g or higher, with this same instrument. This base level of microbial life is nearly equal in all the measurements from the extreme environments both hot and cold, and is likely controlled primarily by the sparse nutrients rather than temperature

Association between childhood diarrhoeal incidence and climatic factors in urban and rural settings in the health district of Mbour, Senegal

We assessed the association between childhood diarrhoeal incidence and climatic factors in rural and urban settings in the health district of Mbour in western Senegal. We used monthly diarrhoeal case records among children under five years registered in 24 health facilities over a four-year period (2011-2014). Climatic data (i.e., daily temperature, night temperature and rainfall) for the same four-year period were obtained. We performed a negative binomial regression model to establish the relationship between monthly diarrhoeal incidence and climatic factors of the same and the previous month. There were two annual peaks in diarrhoeal incidence: one during the cold dry season and one during the rainy season. We observed a positive association between diarrhoeal incidence and high average temperature of 36 °C and above and high cumulative monthly rainfall at 57 mm and above. The association between diarrhoeal incidence and temperature was stronger in rural compared to urban settings, while higher rainfall was associated with higher diarrhoeal incidence in the urban settings. Concluding, this study identified significant health-climate interactions and calls for effective preventive measures in the health district of Mbour. Particular attention should be paid to urban settings where diarrhoea was most common in order to reduce the high incidence in the context of climatic variability, which is expected to increase in urban areas in the face of global warming

Research Brief: Value chain and market potential of fonio to strengthen climate resilience, food security and women’s incomes in Mali

This value chain analysis was carried out by Charlie Mbosso in collaboration with Aminata Berthe Niang, Youssoufa Mohamadou, Stefano Padulosi, Amadou Sidibe, and Gennifer Meldrum as part of the project "Linking Value Chains of Agricultural Biodiversity to Adaptation to Climate Change and Nutrition: Empowering the Poor for Risk Management "funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the European Union (EU) and the Research Programs of CGIAR Centers on Climate Change, Agriculture and Security (CCAFS) and Agriculture for Nutrition and Health (A4NH)

EVALUATION OF THE QUALITY OF DIFFERENT BRANDS OF ASCORBIC ACID IN FREETOWN, SIERRA LEONE

Objective: This study evaluates the registration status and the quality of nine brands of Vitamin C sold in Freetown, Sierra Leone, using official and non-official methods of analysis. Methods: The parameters taken into consideration during the study include non-official methods (friability and disintegration) and the official methods (identification test, uniformity of dosage unit, and assay by titrimetric and colorimetric tests). The different brands of vitamin C were selected and classified as registered and unregistered based on the data derived from the National Medicines Regulatory Authority. Results: One vitamin C product collected was unregistered at the National medicines regulatory authority (Pharmacy Board of Sierra Leone). All nine vitamin C products met the requirements for uniformity of dosage unit. The vitamin C products also conformed to the BP specification for friability and identification test (retention factor). The identification test showed that each brand contained vitamin C (ascorbic acid). The disintegration test was not applicable for chewable tablets. Three of the four non-chewable vitamin C products complied with the BP specification for disintegration, while one failed and did not meet the requirement. The assay results for ascorbic acid using titration and colourimetric method were comparable and appropriate for determining vitamin C. Out of a total of nine samples; seven met the requirement for BP specification (Passed) for assay. In contrast, one product did not meet the BP requirement (failed), and one sample had more vitamin C than the Pharmacopoeia limit. Conclusion: Periodic quality evaluation and routine checks for pharmaceutical products can ascertain the quality of products, their storage conditions and identify potential counterfeit medications

Prevalence of diarrhoea and risk factors among children under five years old in Mbour, Senegal: a cross-sectional study

Diarrhoeal diseases remain an important cause of mortality and morbidity among children, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. In Senegal, diarrhoea is responsible for 15% of all deaths in children under the age of five and is the third leading cause of childhood deaths. For targeted planning and implementation of prevention strategies, a context-specific understanding of the determinants of diarrhoeal diseases is needed. The aim of this study was to identify risk factors of diarrhoeal diseases in children under the age of five in Mbour, Senegal.; Between February and March 2014, a cross-sectional survey was conducted in four zones of Mbour to estimate the burden of diarrhoeal diseases (i.e. diarrhoea episodes in the 2 weeks preceding the survey) and associated risk factors. The zones covered urban central, peri-central, north peripheral and south peripheral areas. Overall, 596 households were surveyed by a questionnaire, yielding information on sociodemographic, environmental and hygiene behavioural factors. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to identify risk factors associated with the occurrence of diarrhoea.; The reported prevalence of diarrhoea among children under the age of five during the 2 weeks preceding the survey was 26%. Without adjustment, the highest diarrhoea prevalence rates were observed in the peri-central (44.8%) and urban central zones (36.3%). Multivariable regression revealed significant associations between diarrhoeal diseases and unemployment of mothers (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.62, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.18-2.23), use of open bags for storing household waste (aOR = 1.75, 95% CI: 1.00-3.02), evacuation of household waste in public streets (aOR = 2.07, 95% CI: 1.20-3.55), no treatment of stored drinking water (aOR = 1.69, 95% CI: 1.11-2.56) and use of shared toilets (aOR = 1.69, 95% CI: 1.11-2.56).; We found a high prevalence of diarrhoea in children under the age of five in Mbour, with the highest prevalence occurring in the central and peri-central areas. These findings underscore the need for public health interventions to alleviate the burden of diarrhoea among vulnerable groups. Promotion of solid waste disposal and reduction of wastewater exposure should be implemented without delay

Mémoire de recherche: La chaine de valeur et le potentiel de marché du fonio « Fini » pour renforcer la résilience climatique, la sécurité alimentaire et les revenus des femmes au Mali.

Cette analyse de la chaine de valeur a été effectuée par Charlie Mbosso avec la collaboration de Aminata Berthe Niang, Youssoufa Mohamadou, Stefano Padulosi, Amadou Sidibe and Gennifer Meldrum comme une partie du projet intitulé “ Connecter les chaînes de valeur de la biodiversité agricole à l'adaptation au changement climatique et la nutrition: autonomisation des pauvres pour la gestion des risques ” financé par le Fonds International du Développement Agricole (FIDA), l’Union Européenne (UE) et le Programmes de Recherche des centres CGIAR sur le changement climatique, l’agriculture et la sécurité alimentaire (CCAFS) ainsi que l’Agriculture pour la Nutrition et la santé (A4NH