Umbilical Hernias in Adults: Epidemiology, Diagnosis and Treatment

The literature on umbilical hernias in adults remains less extensive compared to other types of hernias. Adult umbilical hernias are frequently asymptomatic. The most frequent reasons for consultation are pain and esthetic discomfort. The diagnosis is most often evident on physical examination of the abdomen with tumefaction in the umbilicus. Despite the recent advances in terms of mesh varieties and minimally invasive surgery (laparoscopic and robotic surgery), there is still no real consensus on the optimal method for repair of umbilical hernia. Based on the patient characteristics and the context, “tailored and optimized surgery” should always be used to have the best results

The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance

INTRODUCTION Investment in Africa over the past year with regard to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequencing has led to a massive increase in the number of sequences, which, to date, exceeds 100,000 sequences generated to track the pandemic on the continent. These sequences have profoundly affected how public health officials in Africa have navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. RATIONALE We demonstrate how the first 100,000 SARS-CoV-2 sequences from Africa have helped monitor the epidemic on the continent, how genomic surveillance expanded over the course of the pandemic, and how we adapted our sequencing methods to deal with an evolving virus. Finally, we also examine how viral lineages have spread across the continent in a phylogeographic framework to gain insights into the underlying temporal and spatial transmission dynamics for several variants of concern (VOCs). RESULTS Our results indicate that the number of countries in Africa that can sequence the virus within their own borders is growing and that this is coupled with a shorter turnaround time from the time of sampling to sequence submission. Ongoing evolution necessitated the continual updating of primer sets, and, as a result, eight primer sets were designed in tandem with viral evolution and used to ensure effective sequencing of the virus. The pandemic unfolded through multiple waves of infection that were each driven by distinct genetic lineages, with B.1-like ancestral strains associated with the first pandemic wave of infections in 2020. Successive waves on the continent were fueled by different VOCs, with Alpha and Beta cocirculating in distinct spatial patterns during the second wave and Delta and Omicron affecting the whole continent during the third and fourth waves, respectively. Phylogeographic reconstruction points toward distinct differences in viral importation and exportation patterns associated with the Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants and subvariants, when considering both Africa versus the rest of the world and viral dissemination within the continent. Our epidemiological and phylogenetic inferences therefore underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic on the continent and highlight key insights and challenges, for instance, recognizing the limitations of low testing proportions. We also highlight the early warning capacity that genomic surveillance in Africa has had for the rest of the world with the detection of new lineages and variants, the most recent being the characterization of various Omicron subvariants. CONCLUSION Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve. This is important not only to help combat SARS-CoV-2 on the continent but also because it can be used as a platform to help address the many emerging and reemerging infectious disease threats in Africa. In particular, capacity building for local sequencing within countries or within the continent should be prioritized because this is generally associated with shorter turnaround times, providing the most benefit to local public health authorities tasked with pandemic response and mitigation and allowing for the fastest reaction to localized outbreaks. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century

Mafic and felsic magmatic mingling in the Paleoproterozoic formations of the Mako sector (Kédougou-Kéniéba Inlier, Senegal): geodynamic implications

International audienceThe Mako area is composed of a wide variety of greenschist facies metamorphosed rocks(Bassot, 1966; Dabo et al., 2017). These rocks are of mafic, ultramafic, intermediate and felsicnature associated with low sedimentary levels (Ngom, 1995). This ensemble is intersected byEburnean granitoids which locally contain mafic enclaves.In the Mako sector these granitoids are composed of Niéméniké pink granite, Lamé microgranite,Soukourtou granodiorite (Bananeraie), Niéméniké leucocratic diorite and mesocraticquartz diorite. The mafic enclaves trapped in these granitoids present varied petrographicand structural characteristics. Indeed, they show microlitic to granular textures, millimetric tomulti-centimetric dimensions with elongated, ovoid or even ellipsoidal shapes. Most of theenclaves observed, generally have curvilinear boundaries which are crenulated in the detail.Some rare cases show straight boundaries with their host rock.The mineralogy of the enclaves is dominated by primary minerals (plagioclase, amphiboleand pyroxene) associated with secondary minerals resulting from the uralitization of pyroxenesand the saussuritization of plagioclase.In view of all these characteristics, it appears that most of these mafic enclaves, which essentiallycorrespond to metagabbros and metabasalts, were not at solid state when incorporatedinto the granitoids. We argue in this respect that the granitoids and the majority of the enclavesare derived from two contemporaneous magmatic liquids. These liquids have taken the samepath during their ascent with one more mafic giving the enclaves and the other more felsicgiving the granitoids. In this case, the mafic magma would be less important than the felsicmagma. However, the well-defined straight-line enclaves would be linked to an already consolidatedmagma before being fragmented, ripped and carried away as enclaves in the granitoids.In the latter case, the mafic enclaves result from the surrounding outcrops of metabasaltsand metagabbros, which are locally cross-cut by granitoids (leucocratic diorite of Niéméniké).The alteration of some of these enclaves reveals empty cavities within the granitoids.The existence of at least two generations of mafic enclaves (ante- and syn-granitoids)within the granitoids suggests a recurrence of at least two mafic magmatism events in the Paleoproterozoicformations of the Kédougou-Kéniéba Inlier

Mafic and felsic magmatic mingling in the Paleoproterozoic formations of the Mako sector (Kédougou-Kéniéba Inlier, Senegal): geodynamic implications

International audienceThe Mako area is composed of a wide variety of greenschist facies metamorphosed rocks(Bassot, 1966; Dabo et al., 2017). These rocks are of mafic, ultramafic, intermediate and felsicnature associated with low sedimentary levels (Ngom, 1995). This ensemble is intersected byEburnean granitoids which locally contain mafic enclaves.In the Mako sector these granitoids are composed of Niéméniké pink granite, Lamé microgranite,Soukourtou granodiorite (Bananeraie), Niéméniké leucocratic diorite and mesocraticquartz diorite. The mafic enclaves trapped in these granitoids present varied petrographicand structural characteristics. Indeed, they show microlitic to granular textures, millimetric tomulti-centimetric dimensions with elongated, ovoid or even ellipsoidal shapes. Most of theenclaves observed, generally have curvilinear boundaries which are crenulated in the detail.Some rare cases show straight boundaries with their host rock.The mineralogy of the enclaves is dominated by primary minerals (plagioclase, amphiboleand pyroxene) associated with secondary minerals resulting from the uralitization of pyroxenesand the saussuritization of plagioclase.In view of all these characteristics, it appears that most of these mafic enclaves, which essentiallycorrespond to metagabbros and metabasalts, were not at solid state when incorporatedinto the granitoids. We argue in this respect that the granitoids and the majority of the enclavesare derived from two contemporaneous magmatic liquids. These liquids have taken the samepath during their ascent with one more mafic giving the enclaves and the other more felsicgiving the granitoids. In this case, the mafic magma would be less important than the felsicmagma. However, the well-defined straight-line enclaves would be linked to an already consolidatedmagma before being fragmented, ripped and carried away as enclaves in the granitoids.In the latter case, the mafic enclaves result from the surrounding outcrops of metabasaltsand metagabbros, which are locally cross-cut by granitoids (leucocratic diorite of Niéméniké).The alteration of some of these enclaves reveals empty cavities within the granitoids.The existence of at least two generations of mafic enclaves (ante- and syn-granitoids)within the granitoids suggests a recurrence of at least two mafic magmatism events in the Paleoproterozoicformations of the Kédougou-Kéniéba Inlier

Mafic and felsic magmatic mingling in the Paleoproterozoic formations of the Mako sector (Kédougou-Kéniéba Inlier, Senegal): geodynamic implications

International audienceThe Mako area is composed of a wide variety of greenschist facies metamorphosed rocks(Bassot, 1966; Dabo et al., 2017). These rocks are of mafic, ultramafic, intermediate and felsicnature associated with low sedimentary levels (Ngom, 1995). This ensemble is intersected byEburnean granitoids which locally contain mafic enclaves.In the Mako sector these granitoids are composed of Niéméniké pink granite, Lamé microgranite,Soukourtou granodiorite (Bananeraie), Niéméniké leucocratic diorite and mesocraticquartz diorite. The mafic enclaves trapped in these granitoids present varied petrographicand structural characteristics. Indeed, they show microlitic to granular textures, millimetric tomulti-centimetric dimensions with elongated, ovoid or even ellipsoidal shapes. Most of theenclaves observed, generally have curvilinear boundaries which are crenulated in the detail.Some rare cases show straight boundaries with their host rock.The mineralogy of the enclaves is dominated by primary minerals (plagioclase, amphiboleand pyroxene) associated with secondary minerals resulting from the uralitization of pyroxenesand the saussuritization of plagioclase.In view of all these characteristics, it appears that most of these mafic enclaves, which essentiallycorrespond to metagabbros and metabasalts, were not at solid state when incorporatedinto the granitoids. We argue in this respect that the granitoids and the majority of the enclavesare derived from two contemporaneous magmatic liquids. These liquids have taken the samepath during their ascent with one more mafic giving the enclaves and the other more felsicgiving the granitoids. In this case, the mafic magma would be less important than the felsicmagma. However, the well-defined straight-line enclaves would be linked to an already consolidatedmagma before being fragmented, ripped and carried away as enclaves in the granitoids.In the latter case, the mafic enclaves result from the surrounding outcrops of metabasaltsand metagabbros, which are locally cross-cut by granitoids (leucocratic diorite of Niéméniké).The alteration of some of these enclaves reveals empty cavities within the granitoids.The existence of at least two generations of mafic enclaves (ante- and syn-granitoids)within the granitoids suggests a recurrence of at least two mafic magmatism events in the Paleoproterozoicformations of the Kédougou-Kéniéba Inlier

The complete mitochondrial genome of the critically endangered Atlantic humpback dolphin, Sousa teuszii (Kükenthal, 1892)

The Atlantic humpback dolphin remains an understudied, critically endangered cetacean species. Here, we describe the first complete mitogenome of Sousa teuszii, derived from an animal stranded on Île des Oiseaux, Sine Saloum, Senegal. The S. teuszii mitogenome is composed of 16,384 base pairs and is 98.1% identical to its closest relative with a mitogenome, Sousa chinensis. Phylogenetic analysis confirms its placement with S. chinensis, as well as the placement of the genus Sousa within subfamily Delphininae

Acute mesenteric ischemia: A case report

Acute mesenteric ischemia is a rare life-threatening diagnostic and therapeutic emergency. Lack of clinical and biological specificity makes the diagnosis difficult. Imaging, particularly computed tomography can help confirm the diagnosis. An underlying cause is identified in about 30%-70% of cases and should always be sought. We report a case of a 51-year-old man with chronic alcoholic liver disease admitted to the emergency department for abdominal pain. Computed tomography showed mesenteric venous thrombosis with signs of small bowel ischemia and cirrhosis with portal hypertension. Through this observation, we describe the imaging aspects of mesenteric ischemia and emphasize the necessity of seeking underlying pathological condition

Pylephlebitis complicating acute calculous cholecystitis: A case report

Pylephlebitis is a complication of intra-abdominal infections. Its occurrence during cholecystitis is a rare situation. We report the case of a 43-year-old female patient who presented with septic thrombosis of the right portal branch following acute calculous cholecystitis diagnosed on abdominal CT. The clinical evolution was favorable under antibiotic therapy and a cholecystectomy was scheduled

Small bowel obstruction due to congenital band in an adult: Radio-surgical correlation

Congenital band is a rare cause of bowel obstruction, most commonly occurring in childhood. We report a case of a young adult with no medical and surgical previous history who had symptoms of bowel obstruction evolving for 2 days. Computed tomography (CT) found an adhesive band causing a small bowel obstruction. An open laparotomy was performed, and the intraoperative findings were consistent with a congenital band compressing the ileum. Through this clinical case, we illustrate an uncommon cause of bowel obstruction and the interest of the CT for the management