Potential risk of regional disease spread in west Africa through cross-border cattle trade

Transboundary animal movements facilitate the spread of pathogens across large distances. Cross-border cattle trade is of economic and cultural importance in West Africa. This study explores the potential disease risk resulting from large-scale, cross-border cattle trade between Togo, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Benin, and Nigeria for the first time.; A questionnaire-based survey of livestock movements of 226 cattle traders was conducted in the 9 biggest cattle markets of northern Togo in February-March 2012. More than half of the traders (53.5%) operated in at least one other country. Animal flows were stochastically simulated based on reported movements and the risk of regional disease spread assessed. More than three quarters (79.2%, range: 78.1-80.0%) of cattle flowing into the market system originated from other countries. Through the cattle market system of northern Togo, non-neighbouring countries were connected via potential routes for disease spread. Even for diseases with low transmissibility and low prevalence in a given country, there was a high risk of disease introduction into other countries.; By stochastically simulating data collected by interviewing cattle traders in northern Togo, this study identifies potential risks for regional disease spread in West Africa through cross-border cattle trade. The findings highlight that surveillance for emerging infectious diseases as well as control activities targeting endemic diseases in West Africa are likely to be ineffective if only conducted at a national level. A regional approach to disease surveillance, prevention and control is essential

Some Permanent Hearing Loss is Missed When Switched Ear Passes Are Used to Determine Screening Results

A common practice in Universal Newborn Hearing Screen (UNHS) programs is rolling up non-simultaneous passing results in each ear (SW_EAR) from repeat automated screens into a bilateral pass. This study aims to provide evidence-based criteria for best practices regarding SW_EAR screens. From January 2010 to May 2013, infants with SW_EARs results were prospectively monitored by MEDNAX-Pediatrix’s nationwide UNHS program, which combine inpatient/outpatient screens utilizing automated auditory brainstem response (AABR). The tracked audiologic evaluations of 16,129 refer infants (2,334 due to SW_EAR) out of the total infant population screened (2,492,314) were analyzed retrospectively. A high proportion of hearing loss (354/2334, 15%) was identified in infants with SW_EAR screens. Of those identified, 159 infants had a permanent hearing loss (PHL), 98 infants were fit with hearing aids and 7 received cochlear implants. When including SW_EARs as a criterion for referral, the screening protocol identified one more infant with PHL in every one hundred screened positive, maintaining referral and false positive rates of \u3c 0.7 % an

Résultats du traitement chirurgical des fractures malléolaires de l’adulte au CHR Sokodé

Introduction : Les fractures malléolaires sont fréquentes et leur traitement est de plus en plus chirurgical. Le but de l’étude était d’évaluer les résultats cliniques, radiologiques et fonctionnels des fractures bimalléolaires opérées dans un hôpital régional du Togo. Matériels et Méthode : Il s’agissait d’une étude rétrospective portant sur les patients pris en charge entre Janvier 2019 et Décembre 2022 dans le service d’Orthopédie du Centre Hospitalier Régional de Sokodé. Les dossiers des patients suivis pour fractures bimalléolaires étaient exploités. Les patients suivis et revus pendant au moins 06 mois étaient inclus. Résultats : Le délai de chirurgie était de deux semaines en moyenne avec des extrêmes de 24h et 40 jours.  L’évaluation sur le plan anatomique selon les critères de Leeds et Ehrlich a trouvé 85% de bonnes réductions. Selon le score de Kitaoka à 06 mois, 52,5%(n=20) de scores excellents et bons correspondant aux fractures initialement fermées et 39,5 %(n=15) de scores bons et moyens correspondant aux fractures initialement ouvertes et 08%(n=03) de scores mauvais. Les fractures ouvertes étaient sujettes à des complications secondaires à type d’arthrose précoce , d’ostéoarthrite et de pseudarthrose.  L’évaluation de la survenue de l’arthrose selon les critères de Magnusson et Harper au 18ème mois chez 28 patients a noté une absence d’arthrose dans 47% des cas (n=18), une arthrose modérée dans 10% des cas (n=04) et une arthrose sévère dans 16% des cas (n=06). Conclusion : Le traitement chirurgical des fractures fermées bimalléolaires donnait de bons et excellents résultats fonctionnels. Les fractures ouvertes étaient sujettes à des complications précoces avec un pronostic fonctionnel médiocre.   Introduction: Malleolar fractures are frequent and their treatment is increasingly surgical. The aim of the study was to evaluate the clinical, radiological and functional results of malleolar fractures operated on in a secondary hospital in Togo. Materials and Method: This was a retrospective study of patients managed between January 2019 and December 2022 in the Orthopedic Department of the Regional Hospital of Sokode. The records of patients followed for bimalleolar fractures were exploited. Patients followed and reviewed for at least 6 months were included. Results: The average time to surgery was two weeks with extremes of 24 hours and 40 days.  Anatomical evaluation according to the Leeds and Ehrlich criteria found 85% good reductions. According to the Kitaoka score at 6 months, 52,5%(n=20) of the scores were excellent for close fracture and 39,5%(n=15) were good or fair for open fracture and 08%(n=03) of bad score. Open fractures were prone to secondary complications such as early osteoarthritis and ankle infection. Evaluation of the occurrence of osteoarthritis according to the Magnusson and Harper criteria at 18 months in 28 patients noted no osteoarthritis in 47% (n=18), moderate osteoarthritis in 10% (n=04) and severe osteoarthritis in 16% (n=06) of cases. Conclusion: Surgical treatment of closed bimalleolar fractures gave good and excellent functional results. Open fractures were prone to early complications with a poor functional prognosis

DEVENIR DES MACRO-AMPUTES TRAUMATIQUES DU MEMBRE THORACIQUE : CAS D’UN PAYS EN DEVELOPPEMENT

Major upper limb trauma are rare lesions that management should be done in a specialized center. Faced with complex trauma of the upper limb, the orthopedist wonders if everything must be done to maintain a sometimes very functional upper limb amputated. We report the case of three male patients aged 18, 26 and 30 years of crash victims of upper limb accidents from the public road and work. The dominant member was diagnosed in a patient. Two patients underwent arm amputation stump and regularization forearm was performed in the third. Infection of amputation stump with surgery to stabilize, was recorded in a patient. One had a prosthesis made on the spot with his socio-professional reintegration, other patients are waiting

Primary Malignant Musculosqueletal Tumors of Members in Adult in Togo

Abstract Purpose: Primary malignant musculosqueletal tumors in adult are rare affections group and its treatment is still a real challenge today. The aim of this work was to describe the epidemiologic and treatment aspects of these tumors in the national reference center of our country. Materiel and Methods: It was a retrospective review of primary malignant musculosqueletal tumors treated in orthopedics and trauma unit of Sylvanus Olympio teaching hospital of Lomé, Togo from January 2000 to December 2014. Results: During the study period, 28 cases were selected and reviewed. There were 17 men (60.71%) and 11 women (39.29%). The average age was 32.7 years. There were 20 cases (71%) of primary malignant bone tumors (PMBT) and 8 cases (29%) of primary malignant soft tissues tumors (PMSTT). There were 6 (30%) of osteosarcoma. The tumor was located in the bones of the forearm and wrist/hand in 2 (10%) patients for each anatomical site; for the lower limb, around knee in 7 (35%) patients. Eight patients had PMSTT (28, 57%). There were three cases of rhabdomyosarcoma, 2 cases of fibrosarcoma. Tumors were located around knee in 4 cases and around ankle/foot in 3 cases. In the two groups of tumor, tumor resection was performed in 5 patients (17.86%) and limb amputation indicated in 23 patients (82.14%), was performed in 15 (53.57%) and 8 patients (37.78%), rejected it and left hospital against medical advice. Conclusion: Malignant musculoskeletal tumors are relatively rare in Togo. Their treatment is based on radical surgery which is often not supervised by adjuvant therapies. Ignorance, poverty of the population and embryonic state of diagnostic and treatment infrastructures are the obstacles to their care. Education and awareness must be integrated to care and fight against this group of diseases

Detection and dynamics of circulating tumor cells in patients with high-risk prostate cancer treated with radiotherapy and hormones: a prospective phase II study

BACKGROUND: Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are an established prognostic marker in castration-resistant prostate cancer but have received little attention in localized high-risk disease. We studied the detection rate of CTCs in patients with high-risk prostate cancer before and after androgen deprivation therapy and radiotherapy to assess its value as a prognostic and monitoring marker. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed a prospective analysis of CTCs in the peripheral blood of 65 treatment-naive patients with high-risk prostate cancer. EpCAM-positive CTCs were enumerated using the CELLSEARCH system at 4 timepoints. A cut off of 0 vs >/= 1 CTC/7.5 ml blood was defined as a threshold for negative versus positive CTCs status. RESULTS: CTCs were detected in 5/65 patients (7.5%) at diagnosis, 8/62 (12.9%) following neoadjuvant androgen deprivation and 11/59 (18.6%) at the end of radiotherapy, with a median CTC count/7.5 ml of 1 (range, 1-136). Only 1 patient presented a positive CTC result 9 months after radiotherapy. Positive CTC status (at any timepoint) was not significantly associated with any clinical or pathologic factors. However, when we analyzed variations in CTC patterns following treatment, we observed a significant association between conversion of CTCs and stages T3 (P = 0.044) and N1 (P = 0.002). Detection of CTCs was not significantly associated with overall survival (P > 0.40). CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed a low detection rate for CTCs in patients with locally advanced high-risk prostate cancer. The finding of a de novo positive CTC count after androgen deprivation therapy is probably due to a passive mechanism associated with the destruction of the tumor. Further studies with larger samples and based on more accurate detection of CTCs are needed to determine the potential prognostic and therapeutic value of this approach in non-metastatic prostate cancer. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT01800058

Irinotecan-Induced Gastrointestinal Dysfunction Is Associated with Enteric Neuropathy, but Increased Numbers of Cholinergic Myenteric Neurons

Gastrointestinal dysfunction is a common side-effect of chemotherapy leading to dose reductions and treatment delays. These side-effects may persist up to 10 years post-treatment. A topoisomerase I inhibitor, irinotecan (IRI), commonly used for the treatment of colorectal cancer, is associated with severe acute and delayed-onset diarrhea. The long-term effects of IRI may be due to damage to enteric neurons innervating the gastrointestinal tract and controlling its functions. Balb/c mice received intraperitoneal injections of IRI (30 mg/kg-1) 3 times a week for 14 days, sham-treated mice received sterile water (vehicle) injections. In vivo analysis of gastrointestinal transit via serial x-ray imaging, facal water content, assessment of gross morphological damage and immunohistochemical analysis of myenteric neurons were performed at 3, 7 and 14 days following the first injection and at 7 days post-treatment. Ex vivo colonic motility was analyzed at 14 days following the first injection and 7 days post-treatment. Mucosal damage and inflammation were found following both short and long-term treatment with IRI. IRI-induced neuronal loss and increases in the number and proportion of ChAT-IR neurons and the density of VAChT-IR fibers were associated with changes in colonic motility, gastrointestinal transit and fecal water content. These changes persisted in post-treatment mice. Taken together this work has demonstrated for the first time that IRI-induced inflammation, neuronal loss and altered cholinergic expression is associated with the development of IRI-induced long-term gastrointestinal dysfunction and diarrhea

Extracellular vesicles-based biomarkers represent a promising liquid biopsy in endometrial cancer

Tumor-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) are secreted in large amounts into biological fluids of cancer patients. The analysis of EVs cargoes has been associated with patient´s outcome and response to therapy. However, current technologies for EVs isolation are tedious and low cost-e cient for routine clinical implementation. To explore the clinical value of circulating EVs analysis we attempted a proof-of-concept in endometrial cancer (EC) with ExoGAG, an easy to use and highly e cient new technology to enrich EVs. Technical performance was first evaluated using EVs secreted by Hec1A cells. Then, the clinical value of this strategy was questioned by analyzing the levels of two well-known tissue biomarkers in EC, L1 cell adhesion molecule (L1CAM) and Annexin A2 (ANXA2), in EVs purified from plasma in a cohort of 41 EC patients and 20 healthy controls. The results demonstrated the specific content of ANXA2 in the purified EVs fraction, with an accurate sensitivity and specificity for EC diagnosis. Importantly, high ANXA2 levels in circulating EVs were associated with high risk of recurrence and non-endometrioid histology suggesting a potential value as a prognostic biomarker in EC. These results also confirmed ExoGAG technology as a robust technique for the clinical implementation of circulating EVs analysesThis research was funded by Instituto de Salud Carlos III, grant PI17/01919, co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER), and by Fundación Científica de la Asociación Española Contra el Cáncer (AECC), Grupos Clínicos Coordinados 2018. Carolina Herrero is supported by a predoctoral i-PFIS fellowship from Instituto de Salud Carlos III (IFI17/00047); Laura Muinelo is supported by Asociación Española Contra el Cáncer (AECC)

The Journal of Microelectronic Research 2008

https://scholarworks.rit.edu/meec_archive/1016/thumbnail.jp