Epidemiology of placenta previa: 10 years analysis in Bamako’s district

Background: The obstetrical haemorrhage constitutes the first cause of mother death, among the causes of these haemorrhages: the placenta previa. That is why we initiated this study for determine epidemiology of placenta previa in our service. The aim objective of this study was to determine the evolution and epidemiology of the placenta previa in our department.Methods: It was a cross-sectional and comparative study of 10 consecutive years. We compared two groups: with and without placenta previa. We performed a multivariate analysis using the logistic regression model as well as the Odds Ratio and its 95% confidence interval.Results: We recorded 504 cases of placenta previa among 30323 deliveries (1.7%). Age, parity and previous placenta praevia have been the recovered risk factors (p 0.05). Indeed, there was a significantly higher incidence of stillbirths, Apgar score <7, transfer of new-borns and small birth weights in the placenta previa group (p <0.001).Conclusions: The most significant rick factors associated with placenta previa are high maternal age, high parity and previous placenta previa, caesarean section and abortion

MORINGA OLEIFERA LEAF POWDER FOR TYPE 2 DIABETES: A PILOT CLINICAL TRIAL

Background: Moringa oleifera Lam. (Moringaceae) leaves are commonly used for diabetes in Mali. This pilot clinical study aimed to evaluate its effect on post-prandial blood glucose in preparation for a larger trial. Methods: Diabetic patients and non-diabetic healthy volunteers (35 each) were asked to fast for 13 hours on three occasions. Blood glucose was measured before and after eating 100g of white bread (at 30, 60, 90, 120, 150 and 180 minutes). On their second and third study visits, they were given 1g and 2g respectively, of M. oleifera leaf powder, 30 minutes after eating the bread.  The mean paired reduction in blood glucose at each time interval and the incremental area under the curve were calculated. Results: Ingestion of Moringa powder had no effect on blood glucose in non-diabetic participants, but in diabetic patients, it lowered blood glucose at 90 minutes. There was a trend towards lower incremental area under the curve when diabetic patients took 2g of Moringa. No side-effects were reported by any participant. Conclusions: Moringa oleifera leaf powder reduced post-prandial glycaemia in diabetic patients. A larger study is needed to define the optimal dose and to assess whether this translates into longer-term benefits

Barriers and adaptation strategies to climate change among farming households in Guinea Savanna

Identifying appropriate climate policy interventions that improve the resilience of Guinea Savanna farming systems to extreme weather conditions is crucial to reducing food insecurity and poverty. This study explored rural farming households’ encountered adaptation barriers and strategies used toward climate change. Participatory research tools and methods were used to collect data, including household surveys, focus group discussions, key informant interviews, and field observations. A multistage sampling procedure was employed in selecting 1,500 respondents in nine livelihood zones prone to drought and floods. Problem confrontation index (PCI) and relative importance index (RII) estimations were used to rank small-scale farmers’ climate adaptation barriers and strategies. Results showed that key barriers to successful climate change adaptation practices included limited access to farm inputs (PCI = 3203), poor access to agricultural machinery (PCI = 3161), and shortage of farm labour and its high cost (PCI = 3026), while the most prioritized adaptation strategies were crop diversification (RII = 0.59), planting early maturing crop varieties (RII = 0.47), and changing the timing of planting (RII = 0.42). This study provides decision-makers insights into farmers’ most adaptation barriers and prioritized strategies toward climate change to design effective and context-specific policies that aim to improve farming resilience to the adverse effects of changing climate

Progress and challenges of Guinea’s national service of risk management in building climate-induced disasters’ resilience in Guinea Savanna communities

The increased frequency and magnitude of climate-induced disasters are a huge setback for the world’s economic growth and performance. Addressing such risks has long time motivated many governments to set up disaster-based management strategies, policies, and plans to strengthen their resilience. However, the implementation of such initiatives remains challenging in developing countries due to their specific internal development issues that require timely performance appraisals to offer suitable remedial actions. This motivated the present study to use the Risk Management Index (RMI), to measure Guinea’s risk management performance and effectiveness, focusing on its institutional progress and challenges encountered in building climate-induced disasters’ resilience in Guinea Savanna communities. Data were generated through semi-structured interviews with local authorities responsible for implementing prevention measures and emergency responses to disasters in Guinea Savanna, as well as inputs from academia with activities related to disaster risk management, combined with documentary research and field observations. Analyses of the RMI showed very limited progress in risk identification (RMIRI = 0.672 – 1.00), while almost no significant progress was made in financial provision (RMIFP = 0.124 – 0.487). On the contrary, policies of disaster management (RMIDM = 0.600 – 1.934) and Risk Reduction (RMIRR = 0.791 -1.606) have shown incipient progress. While all public policies need to be improved, urgent actions are needed in financial provision and risk identification policies. Therefore, the study suggests that local authorities should be more committed to risk identification and risk financing approaches to address the priority needs for effective disaster risk management in Guinea Savanna communities

Re-used or New Bedding Are Not Drivers of Salmonella Levels and Serovar Emergence in Commercially Farmed Broilers in Australia

To inform Salmonella on-farm management during broiler rearing, a 2-year study on two farms compared the Australian practices of new bedding use, partial litter re-use and an alternative, full litter re-use. Six sequential commercial cycles of ~50 days each were tested on each farm, on ~day 7 from placement (litter only), prior to first thin-out, and prior to final removal (litter and ceca). A random number sample collection occurred, defined by shed supports (33, 39), different drinkers, feeders, and shed center. Across the six cycles on both farms, Salmonella levels in ceca just prior to thin-out on full re-use litter were higher (log 3.11 MPN/g, P = 0.008) than for new bedding (log 2.04 MPN/g) and partial re-use (log 2.43 MPN/g) litter (the latter two were not significantly different). Prior to final removal across all practices the Salmonella levels in ceca from new bedding (log 1.72 MPN/g), partial re-use litter (log 1.77 MPN/g), and full re-use litter (log 2.33 MPN/g) were not statistically different, suggesting no effect of litter practice. The Salmonella levels in litter prior to the first (log 1.96–2.31 MPN/g) and second (log 2.24–2.48 MPN/g) removals were also not statistically different. The emergence of Salmonella serovars in the partitioned chicken-free grow-out end (back) of all sheds at ~day 7 did not suggest carry-over. Both the pattern of emergence of Salmonella serovars and Salmonella levels in litter ~day 7 in the brooder-end with chickens (front), suggested the Salmonella present were due to flock contribution and not practice driven. The dominant Salmonella serovar across cycles on both farms was S. Sofia (75 and 77% isolates) followed by S. Typhimurium (11 and 17%). Irrespective of initial serovars, Salmonella Sofia rapidly gained dominance and displaced 14 other serovars including S. Typhimurium on both farms. This study demonstrates that the litter practices are not the major driver of Salmonella prevalence in broiler farming, supporting the commercial re-use of bedding as a sustainable farming practice in Australia. The major contributor of Salmonella load in production is the Salmonella status of the incoming flock, indicating this is the key area to focus future control measures

Santé sexuelle et reproductive des adolescentes de Bobo Dioulasso, Burkina Faso: place de la communication parents-adolescentes pour la réduction des risques

Introduction: Les adolescentes sont tr&#232;s vuln&#233;rables face aux Infections Sexuellement Transmissibles (IST) et au VIH/SIDA. Notre &#233;tude a pour objectifs d&#8217;explorer la qualit&#233; de la communication entre les adolescentes et leurs parents sur les IST/VIH/SIDA et de recueillir leurs suggestions pour l&#8217;am&#233;lioration de cette communication. M&#233;thodes: L&#8217;&#233;tude &#233;tait transversale qualitative sur 2 mois. La population de l&#8217;&#233;tude &#233;tait compos&#233;e par des adolescentes de 13 &#224; 17 ans et leurs parents habitant la ville de Bobo Dioulasso. Vingt (20) adolescentes scolaris&#233;es ont &#233;t&#233; tir&#233;s au sort dans trois &#233;tablissements secondaires et 20 autres non scolaris&#233;es choisies de fa&#231;on accidentelle dans la ville. Les informations ont &#233;t&#233; collect&#233;es &#224; l&#8217;aide de 8 focus groups. Les discussions ont &#233;t&#233; enregistr&#233;es sur cassettes, retranscrites en verbatim, et analys&#233;es &#224; l&#8217;aide du logiciel QSR NVIVO 2.0. R&#233;sultats: Les adolescentes et leurs parents communiquent tr&#232;s peu ou pas sur les questions des IST/VIH/SIDA; l&#8217;auto-information par les paires ou les m&#233;dias est la premi&#232;re source d&#8217;information. Pour les parents, l&#8217;information existe et est accessible aux adolescentes alors que pour ces derni&#232;res, leurs connaissances de ces maladies sont parfois erron&#233;es. L&#8217;abstinence, la fid&#233;lit&#233; et le d&#233;pistage volontaire comme moyen de pr&#233;vention sont tr&#232;s peu &#233;voqu&#233;s par les adolescentes de m&#234;me que par leurs parents. Conclusion: La communication parents-adolescentes est insuffisante voire absente dans certains milieux. Il est urgent de conduire des actions aupr&#232;s des adolescentes et leurs parents pour mieux les informer sur les IST/VIH/SIDA et am&#233;liorer la communication sur ces maladies

Boscia Senegalensis (Pers.) Lam. ex Poir., une Espèce Ligneuse à Fortes Potentialités Ethnobotaniques et Bien Adaptée à la Sécheresse au Sahel : Synthèse Bibliographique

L’exploitation des ressources végétales notamment ligneuses constitue l’une des stratégies paysannes adoptées pour faire face aux déficits alimentaires surtout pour les ménages vulnérables. Cette synthèse bibliographique dresse l’état des lieux de quelques contributions scientifiques et techniques relatives à l’importance socio-économique et environnementale ainsi que quelques caractéristiques écologiques de Boscia senegalensis (Pers.) Lam. ex Poir.. L’exploitation minutieuse de documents scientifiques en ligne notamment des articles scientifiques et des thèses ainsi que les documents fournis par Sahara Sahel Food a servi à la réalisation de cette étude. Il ressort de l’analyse bibliographique que cette ressource revêt une importance capitale pour les communautés sahéliennes. Il s’agit de son importance dans l’alimentation humaine (surtout en période de soudure), son usage dans la pharmacopée traditionnelle, son importance dans le stockage traditionnel du niébé ainsi que son rôle dans l’alimentation du bétail. La grande particularité de l’espèce réside aussi dans sa forte capacité de résilience. En effet, au Sahel cet arbuste polycaule de la famille des Capparaceae occupe souvent des écosystèmes au stade ultime de dégradation. Cependant quelques cas de menaces ont été évoqués sur cette espèce. L’analyse de l’état des lieux des connaissances existantes sur B. senegalensis a permis ainsi de mettre en évidence le besoin urgent d’entreprendre des recherches scientifiques approfondies sur l’état actuel de ses peuplements, ses stratégies de reproduction ainsi que la caractérisation de ses variétés. Ces nouvelles connaissances, une fois acquises contribueront à formuler des recommandations soutenues pour sa valorisation au Niger. The exploitation of woody plant resources is one of the peasant strategies adopted in dealing with food shortages, especially for vulnerable households. This paper focuses on the inventory of some scientific and technical contributions relating to the socio-economic and environmental importance as well as some ecological characteristics of Boscia senegalensis (Pers.) Lam. ex Poir. Detailed study of scientific documents including scientific articles and theses as well as the documents provided by Sahara Sahel Food was used in this study. It, however, emerges based on the bibliographic analysis that this resource is of capital importance for Sahelian communities. This importance can be seen in human nutrition (especially in lean season), traditional pharmacopoeia, traditional cowpea storage as well as its role in livestock feed. The great peculiarity of the species also lies in its strong capacity for resilience. Indeed, in the Sahel this polycaule shrub of the Capparaceae family often occupies ecosystems at the final stage of degradation. However, some cases of threats have been mentioned in this species. The analysis of the current state of knowledge on B. senegalensis has thus made it possible to highlight the urgent need to undertake an in-depth scientific research on the current state of its stands, his reproductive strategies, and the characterization of its varieties. This new knowledge, once acquired, will help in formulating sustained recommendations for its valorization in Niger

Australian bat lyssavirus infection in two horses

In May 2013, the first cases of Australian bat lyssavirus infections in domestic animals were identified in Australia. Two horses (filly-H1 and gelding-H2) were infected with the Yellow-bellied sheathtail bat (YBST) variant of Australian bat lyssavirus (ABLV). The horses presented with neurological signs, pyrexia and progressing ataxia. Intra-cytoplasmic inclusion bodies (Negri bodies) were detected in some Purkinje neurons in haematoxylin and eosin (H&amp;E) stained sections from the brain of one of the two infected horses (H2) by histological examination. A morphological diagnosis of sub-acute moderate non-suppurative, predominantly angiocentric, meningo-encephalomyelitis of viral aetiology was made. The presumptive diagnosis of ABLV infection was confirmed by the positive testing of the affected brain tissue from (H2) in a range of laboratory tests including fluorescent antibody test (FAT) and real-time PCR targeting the nucleocapsid (N) gene. Retrospective testing of the oral swab from (H1) in the real-time PCR also returned a positive result. The FAT and immunohistochemistry (IHC) revealed an abundance of ABLV antigen throughout the examined brain sections. ABLV was isolated from the brain (H2) and oral swab/saliva (H1) in the neuroblastoma cell line (MNA). Alignment of the genome sequence revealed a 97.7% identity with the YBST ABLV strain

Antimicrobial resistance in outpatient Escherichia coli urinary isolates in Dakar, Senegal.

International audienceBACKGROUND: Data regarding the evolution of antimicrobial resistance are needed to suggest appropriate empirical treatment of urinary tract infections (UTI) in developing countries. To assess the antimicrobial susceptibility of Escherichia coli, the predominant pathogen in community-acquired UTI, a prospective multicenter study was carried out in Dakar, Senegal. METHODOLOGY: From February 2004 to October 2006, 1010 non-duplicate E. coli strains were collected from four centres. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using disk diffusion method according to the recommendations of the CA-SFM (2004). RESULTS: Most of the isolates were resistant to amoxicillin (73.1%), amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (67.5%), cephalothin (55.8%), and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (68.1%). Extended spectrum beta-lactamase was detected in 38 strains. The overall resistance rates to nalidixic acid, norfloxacin and ciprofloxacin were 23.9%, 16.4% and 15.5%, respectively. Most of the strains were susceptible to gentamicin, nitrofurantoin and fosfomycin (respective susceptibility rates, 93.8%, 89.9%, and 99.3%). During this period, a significant decrease in sensitivity was observed for cephalothin, fluoroquinolones and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole may no longer be used as empirical treatment for community-acquired UTI in Dakar. In order to preserve the activity of fluoroquinolones for future years, alternatives such as fosfomycin or nitrofurantoin should be considered

Field-based evidence of fast and global increase of Plasmodium falciparum drug-resistance by DNA-microarrays and PCR/RFLP in Niger

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Over the last years, significant progress has been made in the comprehension of the molecular mechanism of malaria resistance to drugs. Together with <it>in vivo </it>tests, the molecular monitoring is now part of the survey strategy of the <it>Plasmodium </it>sensitivity. Currently, DNA-microarray analysis allows the simultaneous study of many single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) of <it>Plasmodium </it>isolates. In December 2005, the International Federation of the Red Cross distributed two million three hundred thousand long-lasting insecticide nets to pregnant women and mothers of under five years children in the whole Niger. Then, Niger adopted artemisinin-based combination therapy as first-line treatment.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Thirty four SNPs of <it>pfcrt, pfdhfr, pfdhps, pfmdr </it>and <it>pfATPase </it>were analysed by DNA-microarray and PCR/RFLP in two villages – Zindarou and Banizoumbou – with different durations of malaria transmission. The main objective of the study was to measure the dynamics <it>of Plasmodium falciparum </it>resistant strains and associated factors.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>This study shows a global and clear increase of the drug-resistance associated molecular markers frequencies during a relatively short-time period of four years. Markers associated with resistance to chloroquine and sulphonamids were more frequently found in the short transmission zone than in the long transmission one. The <it>pfcrt76T </it>mutation is significantly more present at Banizoumbou than Zindarou (38.3% vs 25.2%, p = 0.013).</p> <p>This work allowed the screening of several field strains for five SNPs of <it>PfATPase6 </it>gene. The <it>pfATPase6S769N</it>, candidate mutation of resistance to artemisinin was not found. However the <it>pfATPsaeA623E </it>mutation was found in 4.7% of samples.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>A significant increase of several SNPs frequencies was highlighted over a four-year period. The polymorphism of five <it>PfATPase6 </it>gene SNPs was described. The global, large and fast increase of the molecular resistance is discussed in the context of current changes of health policy and malaria control in Niger.</p