Epidemiological and Pathological Aspects of Cervical Cancer in Ivory Coast

Abstract: Cervical cancer is the most common and the leading cause of women death in developing countries. Purpose: To specify the epidemiological and pathological characteristics of cervical cancers in Ivory Coast. Material and methods: This was a retrospective and descriptive study on the cervical cancers histologically confirmed and identified from the registers for recording laboratory of pathological anatomy of Abidjan teaching hospital. The study period was 24 years (January 1984 to December 2007). The parameters analyzed were: frequency, age, sociodemographic status, macroscopic and histological aspects and the prognosis. Results: The cervical cancer represented 78.78% (2064 cases) of gynecological cancers, 42.71% of woman cancer and 17.41% of all cancers. The average age was 48.36 years ranging from 2 to 88 years and a peak incidence between 45-54 years (29%). Multiparity was observed 57.04% (n = 231) and the low socioeconomic level was predominant (70.41%). Concerning pathological examination, the tumor lesions were predominantly budding (51.52%). Squamous cell carcinomas (92.88%) were the most frequent of histological types with 95.1% (n = 1823) of invasive carcinomas. The average age of patients with squamous cell carcinoma was 49 years with 41.5 years for intraepithelial carcinomas and 46.8 years for invasive carcinomas. At the prognosis, squamous cell carcinomas were diagnosed most often in stage pT2 (57.41%) and with extra-cervical represented 66.4% (n = 519). Conclusion: Cervical cancer is the most common cancer in Ivory Coast taking into account male and female together. Its poor prognosis associated with late diagnosis should encourage the establishment of a cytology screening program

Evaluation of sixteen reference evapotranspiration methods under sahelian conditions in the Senegal River Valley

Study region: Reference evapotranspiration (ETo) plays a key role in irrigation sys-tems design, water management under irrigated and rainfed production. Underthe sahelian conditions in the Senegal River Valley that receives less than 300 mmannual rainfall, rice crop water use should be estimated for the sustainability of theresource. Study focus: However the Penman–Monteith (PM) equation is revealed the mostaccurate one; it necessitates several climatic parameters that are not always avail-able mostly in the developing countries. The objective of this study was to evaluatethe performance of 16 ETo equations against the ASCE-PM equation under thesahelian conditions at Ndiaye and Fanaye (Senegal) for alternate equation forETo estimation with less climatic parameters. The results showed that the Har-greaves, modified Hargreaves, Ravazzani and Tralkovic equations systematicallyoverestimated ETo with the highest percentage error of estimate (PE). In contrast,Makkink–Hansen, Oudin and Turc equations systematically underestimated ETo.Temperature based equations of Romenenko and Schendel performed relativelybetter at Fanaye with 5.5% and 9.6% PE, fitting slopes of 0.92 and 1.05, and meanratio (MR) of 1.00 and 1.14, respectively. Mass transfer equations of Trabert andMahringer also had good performance compared to the Penman–Monteith equa-tion. New hydrological insights for the region: Overall, Valiantzas, Trabert, Romanenko,Schendel and Mahringer equations were the promising equations that could be usedfor reference evapotranspiration estimation in the Senegal River Valley

Caracterisation Lithostratigraphique et Sedimentologique des Depôts des Sondages de Fresco et de Grand-Lahou (Sud-Ouest de la Côte d’Ivoire) : Essai de Correlation et Paleoenvironnements

The material studied in this work comes from excavations of five hydraulic soundings in the localities of Fresco and Grand-Lahou located in the Southwest in the "onshore" part of the Ivorian sedimentary basin. These surveys are part of the national program for drinking water supply from aquifers. The lithological and sedimentological analyzes of the cuttings of these holes are carried out in order to identify the different lithological units crossed, to understand the sedimentary processes that have prevailed during the deposition of these sediments and to better characterize the paleoenvironments of deposit. The lithological study revealed mainly clay and sandy in the sedimentation. The granulometry of the sandy levels shows that they are medium to a very coarse sand, fairly well classified, with asymmetry towards the fine elements. Granulometric curves indicate a sigmoidal "S" shape showing a fluvial origin in a relatively medium to strong hydrodynamic deposition environment. The morphoscopy of the quartz grains indicates a dominance of blunted grains that are shiny compared to the rounded and unworn grains, indicating a transport in an aqueous medium far from the source. At Grand-Lahou, the high concentration of carbonate samples implies emplacement in a shallow marine environment and finer sedimentation under calm conditions. The Fresco sediments show a low carbonate content, indicating turbulent and unfavorable medium for limestone precipitation. Le matériel étudié dans ce travail est issu des déblais de cinq sondages hydrauliques implantés dans les localités de Fresco et de Grand-Lahou situées au Sud-Ouest dans la partie « onshore » du bassin sédimentaire ivoirien. Ces sondages s’inscrivent dans le cadre du programme national d’alimentation en eau potable à partir des nappes aquifères. Les analyses lithologiques et sédimentologiques des déblais de ces sondages sont réalisées en vue d’identifier les différentes unités lithologiques traversées, de comprendre les processus sédimentaires ayant prévalus lors du dépôt de ces sédiments et de mieux caractériser les paléoenvironnements de dépôt. L’étude lithologique a mis en évidence une sédimentation essentiellement argileuse et sableuse. La granulométrie des niveaux sableux montre qu’il s’agit des sables moyens à très grossiers, assez bien à mal classés, avec une asymétrie vers les éléments fins. Les courbes granulométriques indiquent une allure en forme sigmoïde « S » traduisant une origine fluviatile dans un environnement de dépôt à hydrodynamisme relativement moyen à fort. La morphoscopie des grains de quartz indique une dominance des grains émoussés luisants par rapport aux rond-mats et non usés, indiquant un transport dans un milieu aqueux loin de la source pourvoyeuse. A Grand-Lahou, la forte concentration des échantillons en carbonates suppose une mise en place dans un milieu marin peu profond et une sédimentation plus fine dans des conditions calmes. Les sédiments de Fresco montrent une teneur en carbonate faible, indiquant un milieu turbulent et défavorable à la précipitation du calcaire

Novel polyomaviruses of nonhuman primates: genetic and serological predictors for the existence of multiple unknown polyomaviruses within the human population.

Polyomaviruses are a family of small non-enveloped DNA viruses that encode oncogenes and have been associated, to greater or lesser extent, with human disease and cancer. Currently, twelve polyomaviruses are known to circulate within the human population. To further examine the diversity of human polyomaviruses, we have utilized a combinatorial approach comprised of initial degenerate primer-based PCR identification and phylogenetic analysis of nonhuman primate (NHP) polyomavirus species, followed by polyomavirus-specific serological analysis of human sera. Using this approach we identified twenty novel NHP polyomaviruses: nine in great apes (six in chimpanzees, two in gorillas and one in orangutan), five in Old World monkeys and six in New World monkeys. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that only four of the nine chimpanzee polyomaviruses (six novel and three previously identified) had known close human counterparts. To determine whether the remaining chimpanzee polyomaviruses had potential human counterparts, the major viral capsid proteins (VP1) of four chimpanzee polyomaviruses were expressed in E. coli for use as antigens in enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA). Human serum/plasma samples from both Côte d'Ivoire and Germany showed frequent seropositivity for the four viruses. Antibody pre-adsorption-based ELISA excluded the possibility that reactivities resulted from binding to known human polyomaviruses. Together, these results support the existence of additional polyomaviruses circulating within the human population that are genetically and serologically related to existing chimpanzee polyomaviruses

Using detergent to enhance detection sensitivity of African trypanosomes in human CSF and blood by Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP)

<p><b>Background:</b> The loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay, with its advantages of simplicity, rapidity and cost effectiveness, has evolved as one of the most sensitive and specific methods for the detection of a broad range of pathogenic microorganisms including African trypanosomes. While many LAMP-based assays are sufficiently sensitive to detect DNA well below the amount present in a single parasite, the detection limit of the assay is restricted by the number of parasites present in the volume of sample assayed; i.e. 1 per µL or 103 per mL. We hypothesized that clinical sensitivities that mimic analytical limits based on parasite DNA could be approached or even obtained by simply adding detergent to the samples prior to LAMP assay.</p> <p><b>Methodology/Principal Findings:</b> For proof of principle we used two different LAMP assays capable of detecting 0.1 fg genomic DNA (0.001 parasite). The assay was tested on dilution series of intact bloodstream form Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense in human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) or blood with or without the addition of the detergent Triton X-100 and 60 min incubation at ambient temperature. With human CSF and in the absence of detergent, the LAMP detection limit for live intact parasites using 1 µL of CSF as the source of template was at best 103 parasites/mL. Remarkably, detergent enhanced LAMP assay reaches sensitivity about 100 to 1000-fold lower; i.e. 10 to 1 parasite/mL. Similar detergent-mediated increases in LAMP assay analytical sensitivity were also found using DNA extracted from filter paper cards containing blood pretreated with detergent before card spotting or blood samples spotted on detergent pretreated cards.</p> <p><b>Conclusions/Significance:</b> This simple procedure for the enhanced detection of live African trypanosomes in biological fluids by LAMP paves the way for the adaptation of LAMP for the economical and sensitive diagnosis of other protozoan parasites and microorganisms that cause diseases that plague the developing world.</p&gt

Untreated Human Infections by Trypanosoma brucei gambiense Are Not 100% Fatal

The final outcome of infection by Trypanosoma brucei gambiense, the main agent of sleeping sickness, has always been considered as invariably fatal. While scarce and old reports have mentioned cases of self-cure in untreated patients, these studies suffered from the lack of accurate diagnostic tools available at that time. Here, using the most specific and sensitive tools available to date, we report on a long-term follow-up (15 years) of a cohort of 50 human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) patients from the Ivory Coast among whom 11 refused treatment after their initial diagnosis. In 10 out of 11 subjects who continued to refuse treatment despite repeated visits, parasite clearance was observed using both microscopy and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Most of these subjects (7/10) also displayed decreasing serological responses, becoming progressively negative to trypanosome variable antigens (LiTat 1.3, 1.5 and 1.6). Hence, in addition to the “classic” lethal outcome of HAT, we show that alternative natural progressions of HAT may occur: progression to an apparently aparasitaemic and asymptomatic infection associated with strong long-lasting serological responses and progression to an apparently spontaneous resolution of infection (with negative results in parasitological tests and PCR) associated with a progressive drop in antibody titres as observed in treated cases. While this study does not precisely estimate the frequency of the alternative courses for this infection, it is noteworthy that in the field national control programs encounter a significant proportion of subjects displaying positive serologic test results but negative results in parasitological testing. These findings demonstrate that a number of these subjects display such infection courses. From our point of view, recognising that trypanotolerance exists in humans, as is now widely accepted for animals, is a major step forward for future research in the field of HAT

Classification of large-scale environments that drive the formation of mesoscale convective systems over southern West Africa

Mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) are frequently observed over southern West Africa (SWA) throughout most of the year. These MCS events are the dominant rain-bearing systems, contributing over 50 % of annual rainfall over SWA. However, it has not yet been identified what variations in typical large-scale environments of the seasonal cycle of the West African monsoon may favour MCS occurrence in this region. Here, nine distinct synoptic states are identified and are further associated with being a synoptic-circulation type of either a dry, transition, or monsoon season using self-organizing maps (SOMs) with inputs from reanalysis data. We identified a pronounced annual cycle of MCS numbers with frequency peaks in April and October that can be associated with the start of rainfall during the major rainy season and the maximum rainfall for the minor rainy season across SWA, respectively. Comparing daily MCS frequencies, MCSs are most likely to develop during transition conditions featuring a northward-displaced moisture anomaly (2.8 MCSs per day), which can be linked to strengthened low-level westerlies. Considering that these transition conditions occur predominantly during the pre- and post-monsoon period, these patterns may in some cases be representative of monsoon onset conditions or a delayed monsoon retreat. On the other hand, under monsoon conditions, we observe weakened low-level south-westerlies during MCS days, which reduce moisture content over the Sahel but introduce more moisture over the coast. Finally, we find a majority of MCS-day synoptic states exhibiting positive zonal wind shear anomalies. Seasons with the strongest zonal wind shear anomalies are associated with the strongest low-level temperature anomalies to the north of SWA, highlighting that a warmer Sahel can promote MCS-favourable conditions in SWA. Overall, the SOM-identified synoptic states converge towards high-moisture and high-shear conditions on MCS days in SWA, where the frequency at which these conditions occur depends on the synoptic state.</p

Comparison of aerosol optical properties above clouds between POLDER and AeroCom models over the South East Atlantic Ocean during the fire season

Aerosol properties above clouds have been retrieved over the South East Atlantic Ocean during the fire season 2006 using satellite observations from POLDER (Polarization and Directionality of Earth Reflectances). From June to October, POLDER has observed a mean Above-Cloud Aerosol Optical Thickness (ACAOT) of 0.28 and a mean Above-Clouds Single Scattering Albedo (ACSSA) of 0.87 at 550 nm. These results have been used to evaluate the simulation of aerosols above clouds in 5 AeroCom (Aerosol Comparisons between Observations and Models) models (GOCART, HadGEM3, ECHAM5-HAM2, OsloCTM2 and SPRINTARS). Most models do not reproduce the observed large aerosol load episodes. The comparison highlights the importance of the injection height and the vertical transport parameterizations to simulate the large ACAOT observed by POLDER. Furthermore, POLDER ACSSA is best reproduced by models with a high imaginary part of black carbon refractive index, in accordance with recent recommendations

Rate-Dependent Nucleation and Growth of NaO2 in Na-O2 Batteries

Understanding the oxygen reduction reaction kinetics in the presence of Na ions and the formation mechanism of discharge product(s) is key to enhancing Na–O2 battery performance. Here we show NaO2 as the only discharge product from Na–O2 cells with carbon nanotubes in 1,2-dimethoxyethane from X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. Sodium peroxide dihydrate was not detected in the discharged electrode with up to 6000 ppm of H2O added to the electrolyte, but it was detected with ambient air exposure. In addition, we show that the sizes and distributions of NaO2 can be highly dependent on the discharge rate, and we discuss the formation mechanisms responsible for this rate dependence. Micron-sized (∼500 nm) and nanometer-scale (∼50 nm) cubes were found on the top and bottom of a carbon nanotube (CNT) carpet electrode and along CNT sidewalls at 10 mA/g, while only micron-scale cubes (∼2 μm) were found on the top and bottom of the CNT carpet at 1000 mA/g, respectively.Seventh Framework Programme (European Commission) (Marie Curie International Outgoing Fellowship, 2007-2013))National Science Foundation (U.S.) (MRSEC Program, award number DMR-0819762)Robert Bosch GmbH (Bosch Energy Research Network (BERN) Grant)China Clean Energy Research Center-Clean Vehicles Consortium (CERC-CVC) (award number DE-PI0000012)Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech-MIT Center for Electochemical Energy Storage