Antibacterial properties of TiO2–Cu composite thin films grown by a one step DLICVD process

The correlations between microstructural features, chemical compositions and antibacterial properties of coatings containing metallic Cu particles embedded in a titanium dioxide matrix have been determined. A Direct Liquid Injection Chemical Vapor Deposition (DLICVD) processwas used for the one step growth of TiO2–Cu composite coatings on various substrates. Titanium tetra-iso-propoxide (TTIP) and copper bis(2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-3,5-heptationate) (Cu(tmhd)2) were used as titanium and copper molecular sources, respectively. This growth process allows a good control of the quantity of metalorganic precursors injected into the CVD reactor and thus of the coating composition. The deposition occurs at 683 K under low pressure (800 Pa). The influence of the main features of the coatings on their antibacterial properties was investigated in order to produce bactericidal surfaces that are durable, non-toxic and containing aminimumamount of active agent. The antibacterial activity on Staphylococcus aureus without any photon activation was measured according to the JIS Z 2801:2000 standard method. An antibacterial activity was detected for a low metal content of ca. 1 at.% Cu, and was found to increasewith the Cu content. It wasmaximal for 3.5 at.% Cu, i.e. TiO2–Cu composite coatings exhibit bactericidal behavior against S. aureus for this optimal composition (relative activity = 100%). In order to better characterize the microbiological behavior of the coatings more discriminating methods derived from the literature were tested to assess the performances of these CVD coatings in terms of efficiency, release of antibacterial agent and accelerated aging

Approche isotopique pour tracer la dynamique de l’eau et des nutriments dans les sols forestiers

La fertilité des sols forestiers est généralement estimée par l’étude des cycles de l’eau et des éléments nutritifs essentiels aux êtres vivants (cycles biogéochimiques). Parmi l’ensemble des méthodes d’étude de ces cycles, une approche innovante, complémentaire des études plus classiques, consiste à utiliser des traceurs géochimiques ou isotopiques. Les démarches expérimentales et résultats de quelques études récentes dans le domaine, utilisant des traceurs naturellement présents dans les écosystèmes (ex. 18O, 13C, 26Mg) ou artificiellement apportés (ex. enrichissements en Sr, Rb, 15N, 44Ca, 26Mg, 32P) seront présentés. Ces résultats seront discutés pour faire un point sur la pertinence d’utilisation de ces outils pour définir les sources, avoir accès au temps de résidence de l’eau et des éléments, et tracer les flux de nutriments qu’ils soient d’origine organique ou minérale, internes ou externes à l’écosystème

Response to treatment in a prospective cohort of patients with large ulcerated lesions suspected to be Buruli Ulcer (Mycobacterium ulcerans disease)

BACKGROUND: The World Health Organization (WHO) advises treatment of Mycobacterium ulcerans disease, also called "Buruli ulcer" (BU), with a combination of the antibiotics rifampicin and streptomycin (R+S), whether followed by surgery or not. In endemic areas, a clinical case definition is recommended. We evaluated the effectiveness of this strategy in a series of patients with large ulcers of > or =10 cm in longest diameter in a rural health zone of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). METHODS: A cohort of 92 patients with large ulcerated lesions suspected to be BU was enrolled between October 2006 and September 2007 and treated according to WHO recommendations. The following microbiologic data were obtained: Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) stained smear, culture and PCR. Histopathology was performed on a sub-sample. Directly observed treatment with R+S was administered daily for 12 weeks and surgery was performed after 4 weeks. Patients were followed up for two years after treatment. FINDINGS: Out of 92 treated patients, 61 tested positive for M. ulcerans by PCR. PCR negative patients had better clinical improvement than PCR positive patients after 4 weeks of antibiotics (54.8% versus 14.8%). For PCR positive patients, the outcome after 4 weeks of antibiotic treatment was related to the ZN positivity at the start. Deterioration of the ulcers was observed in 87.8% (36/41) of the ZN positive and in 12.2% (5/41) of the ZN negative patients. Deterioration due to paradoxical reaction seemed unlikely. After surgery and an additional 8 weeks of antibiotics, 98.4% of PCR positive patients and 83.3% of PCR negative patients were considered cured. The overall recurrence rate was very low (1.1%). INTERPRETATION: Positive predictive value of the WHO clinical case definition was low. Low relapse rate confirms the efficacy of antibiotics. However, the need for and the best time for surgery for large Buruli ulcers requires clarification. We recommend confirmation by ZN stain at the rural health centers, since surgical intervention without delay may be necessary on the ZN positive cases to avoid progression of the disease. PCR negative patients were most likely not BU cases. Correct diagnosis and specific management of these non-BU ulcers cases are urgently needed.This study was supported by the Directorate-General for Development and Cooperation (DGDC), Brussels, Belgium, the European Commission (International Science and Technology Cooperation Development Program) (project no. INCO-CT-2005-051476-BURULICO), and by a grant from the Health Services of Fundacao Calouste Gulbenkian. K.K. was supported by a grant from DGDC. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript

RISQUES SOCIO-ECONOMIQUE, SANITAIRE ET DEMOGRAPHIQUE LIES AU REFUS DES TESTS PRENUPTIAUX PAR LES JEUNES DE LA COMMUNE DE NGABA, VILLE PROVINCE DE KINSHASA, CAPITALE DE LA RDCONGO

L’accessibilité et l’acceptabilité des tests prénuptiaux par les  couples  et jeunes en particulier, leurs évitent les  risques d’avoir des grossesses non désirées, des enfants malades, le taux élevé de la mortalité maternelle et infantile, le taux élevé de demande des divorces ayant les répercussions fâcheuses sur la vie de la progéniture et réduit sensiblement la prévalence de la transmission de la maladie à VIH/SIDA dans une communauté. Une communauté bien portante active la productivité, l’économie domestique  est garantie et la survie  de la famille est assurée.L’accessibilité et l’acceptabilité des tests prénuptiaux par les  couples  et jeunes en particulier, leurs évitent les  risques d’avoir des grossesses non désirées, des enfants malades, le taux élevé de la mortalité maternelle et infantile, le taux élevé de demande des divorces ayant les répercussions fâcheuses sur la vie de la progéniture et réduit sensiblement la prévalence de la transmission de la maladie à VIH/SIDA dans une communauté. Une communauté bien portante active la productivité, l’économie domestique  est garantie et la survie  de la famille est assurée

Motivation, Une Source Efficace Pour Ameliorer La Performance d’Une Organisation, Cas De La Societe f.Compta. Sarl

Dans son discours ne cessait d’affirmer que  pour un Manager, les intérêts privés dans  une organisation doivent disparaitre au profit des intérêts collectifs, s’appuyant sur quelques théories des organisations, notamment celles de Mc GREGOR, d’Abraham MASLOW et celle de son maitre, oscar NSAMAN,[Godé ATSHWEL,2019]. En tant que chercheur, nous avons compris ce message et avons  voulu l’expérimenter au titre de management sectoriel, en étudiant le style managérial de monsieur Blaise MASIALA. Dans cette étude, nous avons parlé des théories de la motivation et de la performance, les liens entre la motivation, l’équipe de travail et la performance de l’organisation. Nous avons analysé le style managérial du top Manager et avons recueillis les opinions des agents dudit cabinet fudiciaire. Nous avons trouvé qu’il utilise le leadership situationnel au-delà de quelques vœux formulés par les agents et  avons conclus que la motivation reste, la source efficace qui améliore la performance d’une organisation.Dans son discours ne cessait d’affirmer que  pour un Manager, les intérêts privés dans  une organisation doivent disparaitre au profit des intérêts collectifs, s’appuyant sur quelques théories des organisations, notamment celles de Mc GREGOR, d’Abraham MASLOW et celle de son maitre, oscar NSAMAN,[Godé ATSHWEL,2019]. En tant que chercheur, nous avons compris ce message et avons  voulu l’expérimenter au titre de management sectoriel, en étudiant le style managérial de monsieur Blaise MASIALA. Dans cette étude, nous avons parlé des théories de la motivation et de la performance, les liens entre la motivation, l’équipe de travail et la performance de l’organisation. Nous avons analysé le style managérial du top Manager et avons recueillis les opinions des agents dudit cabinet fudiciaire. Nous avons trouvé qu’il utilise le leadership situationnel au-delà de quelques vœux formulés par les agents et  avons conclus que la motivation reste, la source efficace qui améliore la performance d’une organisation

Multicentric assessment of the efficacy and tolerability of dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine compared to artemether-lumefantrine in the treatment of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria in sub-Saharan Africa

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The choice of appropriate artemisinin-based combination therapy depends on several factors (cost, efficacy, safety, reinfection rate and simplicity of administration). To assess whether the combination dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine (DP) could be an alternative to artemether-lumefantrine (AL), the efficacy and the tolerability of the two products for the treatment of uncomplicated falciparum malaria in sub-Saharan Africa have been compared.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A multicentric open randomized controlled clinical trial of three-day treatment of DP against AL for the treatment of two parallel groups of patients aged two years and above and suffering from uncomplicated falciparum malaria was carried out in Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire and Senegal. Within each group, patients were randomly assigned supervised treatment. DP was given once a day for three days and AL twice a day for three days. Follow-up visits were performed on day 1 to 4 and on day 7, 14, 21, 28 to evaluate clinical and parasitological results. The primary endpoint was the recovery rate by day 28.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Of 384 patients enrolled, 197 were assigned DP and 187 AL. The recovery rates adjusted by genotyping, 99.5% in the DP group and 98.9% in the AL group, were not statistically different (p = 0.538). No Early Therapeutic Failure (ETF) was observed. At day 28, two patients in the DP group and five in AL group had recurrent parasitaemia with <it>Plasmodium falciparum</it>. In the DP group, after PCR genotyping, one of the two recurrences was classified as a new infection and the other as recrudescence. In AL group, two recurrences were classified after correction by PCR as recrudescence. All cases of recrudescence were classified as Late Parasitological Failure (LPF). In each group, a rapid recovery from fever and parasitaemia was noticed. More than 90% of patients did no longer present fever or parasitaemia 48 hours after treatment. Both drugs were well tolerated. Indeed, no serious adverse events were reported during the follow-up period. Most of the adverse events which developed were moderate and did not result in the treatment being stopped in either treatment group.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine was as effective and well-tolerated as artemether-lumefantrine in the treatment of uncomplicated falciparum malaria. In addition, dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine, a single daily dose, could be an advantage over artemether-lumefantrine in Africa because of better treatment observance.</p

An Orthotopic Model of Glioblastoma Is Resistant to Radiodynamic Therapy with 5-AminoLevulinic Acid

Radiosensitization of glioblastoma is a major ambition to increase the survival of this incurable cancer. The 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) is metabolized by the heme biosynthesis pathway. 5-ALA overload leads to the accumulation of the intermediate fluorescent metabolite protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) with a radiosensitization potential, never tested in a relevant model of glioblastoma. We used a patient-derived tumor cell line grafted orthotopically to create a brain tumor model. We evaluated tumor growth and tumor burden after different regimens of encephalic multifractionated radiation therapy with or without 5-ALA. A fractionation scheme of 5 × 2 Gy three times a week resulted in intermediate survival [48-62 days] compared to 0 Gy (15-24 days), 3 × 2 Gy (41-47 days) and, 5 × 3 Gy (73-83 days). Survival was correlated to tumor growth. Tumor growth and survival were similar after 5 × 2 Gy irradiations, regardless of 5-ALA treatment (RT group (53-67 days), RT+5-ALA group (40-74 days), HR = 1.57, p = 0.24). Spheroid growth and survival were diminished by radiotherapy in vitro, unchanged by 5-ALA pre-treatment, confirming the in vivo results. The analysis of two additional stem-like patient-derived cell lines confirmed the absence of radiosensitization by 5-ALA. Our study shows for the first time that in a preclinical tumor model relevant to human glioblastoma, treated as in clinical routine, 5-ALA administration, although leading to important accumulation of PpIX, does not potentiate radiotherapy

Syndrome occlusif post-opératoire précoce : facteurs prédictifs tomodensitométriques d'une reprise chirurgicale

Objectif : L'occlusion digestive post-opératoire précoce est une complication fréquente dans les suites d'une chirurgie abdomino-pelvienne. L'objectif de notre travail est de rechercher les facteurs prédictifs tomodensitométriques d'une reprise chirurgicale dans ce contexte. Matériel et méthodes : Nous avons recruté les patients ayant présenté une occlusion digestive diagnostiquée par un scanner dans les suites précoces d'une chirurgie abdomino-pelvienne (Résultats : 109 patients ont été recrutés (âgés de 20 à 92 ans avec une médiane à 63 ans). 33 patients ont bénéficié d'une prise en charge chirurgicale et 76 patients n'ont pas nécessité de prise en charge chirurgicale. Seuls les mécanismes d'occlusion par bride (p=0,0031) et par hernie/éventration/éviscération étranglée (p=0,002) identifiés en tomodensitométrie présentaient une association significative qui favorise la reprise en charge chirurgicale. Les éléments associés à la chirurgie première (voie d'abord chirurgicale, contexte chirurgical, drain ou collection abdominale) et ceux habituellement associés à une reprise chirurgicale (pneumopéritoine, aspect de péritonite) n'ont pas présenté pas d'association significative. Conclusion : Dans le contexte post-opératoire précoce d'une chirurgie abdomino-pelvienne, les mécanismes d'occlusion digestive par bride, et par hernie/éventration/éviscération étranglée identifiés en tomodensitométrie sont prédictifs d'une reprise en charge chirurgicale