Holoprosencephalie alobaire dans un contexte de syndrome polymalformatif : apport de l’imagerie, à propos d’un cas

L'holoprosencéphalie est une malformation cérébrale rare, d'étiologies multiples et souvent associée à des anomalies faciales évocatrices. Cette pathologie, résultant d'un défaut de développement précoce du prosencéphale, est de pronostic foetal extrêmement réservé en particulier pour la forme alobaire. Nous rapportons à travers ce cas clinique, une holoproséncéphalie alobaire diagnostiquée à l'imagerie (ETF, tomodensitométrie) et relevée par un syndrome polymalformatif chez un nouveau-né de 03 mois.Key words: Syndrome polymalformatif, Holoprosencéphalie, Fente labio-palatine, Echographie trans-fontanellaire, tomodensitométri

Full genome sequence and sfRNA interferon antagonist activity of Zika virus from Recife, Brazil

Background: The outbreak of Zika virus (ZIKV) in the Americas has transformed a previously obscure mosquito-transmitted arbovirus of the Flaviviridae family into a major public health concern. Little is currently known about the evolution and biology of ZIKV and the factors that contribute to the associated pathogenesis. Determining genomic sequences of clinical viral isolates and characterization of elements within these are an important prerequisite to advance our understanding of viral replicative processes and virus-host interactions. Methodology/Principal findings: We obtained a ZIKV isolate from a patient who presented with classical ZIKV-associated symptoms, and used high throughput sequencing and other molecular biology approaches to determine its full genome sequence, including non-coding regions. Genome regions were characterized and compared to the sequences of other isolates where available. Furthermore, we identified a subgenomic flavivirus RNA (sfRNA) in ZIKV-infected cells that has antagonist activity against RIG-I induced type I interferon induction, with a lesser effect on MDA-5 mediated action. Conclusions/Significance: The full-length genome sequence including non-coding regions of a South American ZIKV isolate from a patient with classical symptoms will support efforts to develop genetic tools for this virus. Detection of sfRNA that counteracts interferon responses is likely to be important for further understanding of pathogenesis and virus-host interactions

Electrochemically driven assembly of chitosan hydrogels on PEDOT surfaces

Hydrogels are attracting interest in the field of bioelectronics due to their ability to serve as coatings on electrodes, improving the electrochemical interface, addressing the mechanical mismatch, and offering potential for localized drug or cell delivery. Challenges persist in integrating hydrogels with electrodes typically composed of metals and/or organic semiconductors. Here, an electrochemically driven method is introduced for direct growth of chitosan hydrogels onto poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) surfaces. The growth of ionic gelation chitosan is triggered by electrical release of a specific dopant, tripolyphosphate (TPP), from PEDOT. As a result, chitosan hydrogels grow directly from the PEDOT surface and firmly attach to it. Although this process temporarily reduces PEDOT to the benzoid structure, its unique electroactivity allows for reversible conversion to the quinoid structure after chitosan hydrogel assembly. Once assembled, the chitosan hydrogel coating can be further functionalized. The introduction of covalent cross-links and incorporation of additional interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) are explored. Electrochemical characterization reveals that an interface with favorable properties is formed between PEDOT and ionic-covalent chitosan, functionalized with a PEDOT IPN. The electroactivity of the proposed method surpasses any other PEDOT/chitosan system reported in the literature. These results underscore the potential of this material for bioelectronics applications

Early adoption of modern groundnut varieties in West Africa Working Paper Series No. 24 Socio Economic and Policy

This study investigates the early adoption of modern groundnut varieties in the pilot sites of the Groundnut Seed Project (GSP) in Mali, Niger and Nigeria following government and donors’ investment. Seventeen varieties were disseminated in the pilot sites of the three countries. Uptake has increased significantly during the last three years partially as a result of project intervention. The proportion of area planted with modern varieties has increased by 22% in Nigeria, 12% in Mali and 10% in Niger in the pilot sites since 2003. Farmers using modern varieties have derived significant yield gains of 24%, 43% and 31% over the local varieties in Mali, Niger and Nigeria respectively. The modern varieties had significantly lower per unit cost of production estimated to 9.8%, 11% and 11% in Mali, Niger and Nigeria respectively. The net income derived by adopters is 66% higher than non-adopters in Mali, 73% in Niger and 111% in Nigeria. Relative to household types, income gains are estimated to be less than 20% compared to poor households in Mali, while it is more than 50% in Nigeria. Results from the Logit models indicate that the major determinants of adoption in the three countries include the participation of farmers to on-farm trials, the build up of social capital through the empowerment of farmers’ associations and small-scale farmers at producing and marketing seed. Constraints to adoption remain the poor access and availability of seed of modern varieties, pest and disease pressure in at least two out of three countries. Tobit results indicate that intensification of modern varieties is dependent essentially on seed availability, social capital, exposure to the varieties through farmers’ participatory variety trials

Farmer Participatory Evaluation and Dissemination of Improved Groundnut Varieties in West Africa

This report summarizes results from the Farmer Participatory Variety selection and dissemination activities conducted in Mali, Niger, Nigeria and Senegal under the CFC funded Groundnut Seed Project. Thirty-nine (39) new varieties were tested by farmers under their management and resources across the four countries. Out of the varieties tested, 17 were selected based on the farmers’ village level criteria which included high pod and fodder yield, resistance to diseases, taste, oil content, drought tolerance and marketability. More than 30 farmers’ associations and small scale seed producers emerged and are producing and distributing seed of selected varieties in the pilot areas. More than 150 tons of seed of different classes that could cover 100,000 hectares were produced. About 74% of the farmers in pilot sites are using modern varieties and about 67% of the groundnut area is planted with them. Participation of farmers in variety selection is major determinant of variety adoption

Molecular Characteristics and Epidemiology of Meningococcal Carriage, Burkina Faso, 2003

Meningococcal serogroups are genetically diverse and short-lived in the African meningitis belt

Glutathione Deficiency in Cardiac Patients Is Related to the Functional Status and Structural Cardiac Abnormalities

International audienceBACKGROUND: The tripeptide glutathione (L-gamma-glutamyl-cysteinyl-glycine) is essential to cell survival, and deficiency in cardiac and systemic glutathione relates to heart failure progression and cardiac remodelling in animal models. Accordingly, we investigated cardiac and blood glutathione levels in patients of different functional classes and with different structural heart diseases. METHODS: Glutathione was measured using standard enzymatic recycling method in venous blood samples obtained from 91 individuals, including 15 healthy volunteers and 76 patients of New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class I to IV, undergoing cardiac surgery for coronary artery disease, aortic stenosis or terminal cardiomyopathy. Glutathione was also quantified in right atrial appendages obtained at the time of surgery. RESULTS: In atrial tissue, glutathione was severely depleted (-58%) in NYHA class IV patients compared to NYHA class I patients (P = 0.002). In patients with coronary artery disease, this depletion was related to the severity of left ventricular dysfunction (P = 0.006). Compared to healthy controls, blood glutathione was decreased by 21% in NYHA class I patients with structural cardiac disease (P<0.01), and by 40% in symptomatic patients of NYHA class II to IV (P<0.0001). According to the functional NYHA class, significant depletion in blood glutathione occurred before detectable elevation in blood sTNFR1, a marker of symptomatic heart failure severity, as shown by the exponential relationship between these two parameters in the whole cohort of patients (r = 0.88). CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence that cardiac and systemic glutathione deficiency is related to the functional status and structural cardiac abnormalities of patients with cardiac diseases. These data also suggest that blood glutathione test may be an interesting new biomarker to detect asymptomatic patients with structural cardiac abnormalities