Effet antihypertensif de BpF2, une fraction d\'extrait aqueux de feuilles de Bidens pilosa L. (Asteraceae) chez le lapin

Les feuilles de Bidens pilosa L. sont largement utilisées dans la pharmacopée traditionnelle. Nous avons cherché à mettre en évidence les effets antihypertensifs de ces feuilles. L'analyse phytochimique révèle que la fraction 2, dénommée BpF2, de l\'extrait aqueux des feuilles de Bidens pilosa L. (Asteraceae), contient des flavonoïdes, des polyphénols et des tanins catéchiques. Pour des doses comprises entre 1 et 25 mg/kg de poids corporel, cette fraction chromatographique induit une hypotension dose-dépendante chez le lapin. Cet effet explique le potentiel antihypertenseur de cette fraction. Ces effets ressemblent à ceux bien connus de l\'acétylcholine (ACh). Toutefois, alors que l\'atropine inhibe totalement l\'hypotension induite par l\'ACh, elle ne reverse que partiellement l\'hypotension provoquée par BpF2. Ces résultats suggèrent fortement la présence de deux types de principes actifs dans cette fraction active BpF2: - les principes actifs cholinomimétiques de type muscarinique, - les principes actifs non cholinomimétiques dont la nature reste à déterminer. La présence de ces substances dans la fraction active pourrait justifier, au moins en partie, l\'utilisation traditionnelle de Bidens pilosa L. contre l\'hypertension artérielle.The fraction 2, called BpF2, of the aqueous extract from Bidens pilosa L. (Asteraceae) leaves, contained flavonoids, polyphenols and catechic tannins. For doses ranging from 1 to 25 mg/kg of body weight, this chromatographic fraction induced a dose-dependent hypotension in the rabbit. This effect explained the antihypertensive potential of the fraction. These effects resembled those well-known of acetylcholine (ACh). However, whereas atropine completely inhibited the effect induced by ACh, its action remained partial on that caused by BpF2. These results suggested the presence of two types of active components in BpF2 fraction. - muscarinic and cholinomimetic activity, - non cholinomimetic activity to be clarified. The study showed at least two hypotensive activities in BpF2 fraction, justifying the traditional use of Bidens pilosa L. against hypertension. Keywords: Bidens pilosa L., acetylcholine, muscarinic cholinomimetic activity, non cholinomimetic activity.Sciences & Nature Vol. 5 (1) 2008: pp. 29-3

AFLP/SSR mapping of resistance genes to Alectra vogelii in cowpea (Vigna unguiculata l. Walp)

The parasite weed Alectra vogelii (Benth) causes significant yield reduction of cowpea in Africa. To find and map the resistance gene to A. vogelii in cowpea, a F2 population from a cross involving a resistant parent IT81D-994 and a susceptible TVX3236 was screened. Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) in combination with Single Sequence Repeat (SSR) analysis was used to identify markers that may be linked to the gene Rav3 conferring resistance to A. vogelii in the cowpea cultivar IT81D-994. The analysis of F2 individuals scored for resistance showedthat a single dominant gene conditioned A. vogelii resistance in IT81D-994 with a probability of 30 to 50%. Sixty-six AFLP/SSR markers were identified. Using MAPMAKER, four linkage groups were found. The first group showed 33 markers linked to the susceptible gene. The closest identified marker was 21.4 centimorgans away from the susceptible gene. The primer combination that showed the closest linkage was 809ACG8 (E-ACG 8 + UBC-809). The second group indicated 4 markers linked together while the third and the fourth groups showed 2 markers linkedtogether respectively. No markers were found linked to the resistance gene Rav3 conferring the resistance in the cultivated cowpea cultivar IT81D-994.La plante parasite Alectra vogelii (Benth) provoque une réduction significative du rendement de niébé en Afrique. Pour repérer et cartographier le gène de résistance à A. vogelii, une population F2 issue d’un croisement impliquant le cultivar résistant IT81D-994 et le cultivar sensible TVX3236 a été criblée. La technique Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) en combinaison avec des Séquences Simples Répétés (SSR) a été utilisée pour identifier les marqueurs qui seraient liés au gène Rav3 qui confère la résistance à A. vogelii chez le cultivar de niébé IT81D- 994. L’analyse des individus F2 montrant une résistance indique qu’un seul gène dominant conditionne la résistance à A. vogelii chez IT81D-994 avec une probabilité de 30 à 50 %. Soixante six marqueurs AFLP/SSR ont été identifiés. A l’aide de MAPMAKER, 4 groupes de liaison ont été trouvés. Le premier groupe montre 33 marqueurs liés au gène sensible. Le marqueur le plus proche identifié est à 21.4 centimorgans du gène sensible. La combinaison d’amorces ayant des liaisons les plus proches était 809ACG8 (E-ACG 8 + UBC-809). Le secondgroupe montre 4 marqueurs liés ensemble tandis que le troisième et le quatrième groupe montrent 2 marqueurs liés entre eux respectivement. Aucun marqueur n’a été trouvé lié au gène Rav3 qui confère la résistance au cultivar de niébé cultivé IT81D-994.Key words: Parasite, weeds, legumes, molecular marker

Nitrogen and Fiber Digestion in Sheep Fed Fresh-Frozen and Field-Dried High and Low Tannin Sericea Lespedeza

Field-drying reduces extractable condensed tannin (CT) of sericea lespedeza [Lespedeza cuneata (Dum-Cours) G. Don], but effects on specific bound and unbound forms of CT and the relationship to protein and fiber digestion in ruminants are unclear. Intake and digestibility of fresh-frozen and field-dried high- and low-tannin sericea were investigated in a feeding trial with sheep (Ovis spp.). Field-drying had no effect on crude protein (CP) and fiber content of sericea, but shifted CT from extractable to bound forms. Digestion coefficients for CP, neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and acid detergent fiber (ADF) were lower for high-tannin sericea than the low-tannin type. Field-drying had no effect on fiber digestibility but increased CP digestibility and N retention in sheep fed high-tannin forage. Apparent digestion of CT was high for all treatments, but this is likely due to difficulty in analyzing CT in fecal material. Nutritional effects of CT in sericea lespedeza are related to both total CT and proportion of bound and unbound CT in the forage

Application De L’ultrason A L’étude De L’homogénéité Des Briques Réfractaires

The quality of refractory bricks such as their ability to resist to thermal shocks essentially depends on the homogeneity of their structure. The imperfections observed in the structure of some refractory bricks arise from the mode of their preparation. Thus, the homogeneity of bricks manually elaborated with refractory clays and sintered at 1280°C was studied. The speed of ultrasounds in different areas of the bricks was measured with an ultrasound auscultation device. The results point out the speeds of ultrasounds may vary from one zone to another revealing heterogeneities into some bricks. This technique allows showing the distribution of possible heterogeneities in these materials

Management and prognosis of uterine rupture during labor in an under-medicalized country: about 513 cases collected at the Cocody University Hospital Center (Abidjan-Cote d'Ivoire)

Background: Even today, uterine rupture is necessary as an indicator of health status in developing countries, like Cote d’Ivoire. The objective of this study was to describe the factors influencing the management and the prognosis of this pathology in a level III maternity of a third world country.Methods: The study was made in Cocody University Hospital Center (Abidjan-Cote d’Ivoire). A retrospective descriptive study of all women with ruptured uterus during labor managed between January 2002 and December 2014 was conducted. It covered 513 cases of uterine ruptures collected in 13 years.Results: The overall incidence of uterine ruptures was 0.95% or 1 in 105 deliveries. Most cases occurred in women with unscarred uterus (76.8%) and 23.2% of women had a scarred uterus. Surgical treatment was radical by hysterectomy in 35.3% of all women. Treatment was more conservative by uterine suture in women from the communes of Abidjan and its suburbs (71%) versus 25% of women who came from inland towns (p=0.000). Maternal mortality rate was 5.8% and was significantly influenced by the type of surgery (p=0.000), by the time of uterine rupture (p=0.000) and by the transportation distance (p=0.000). Fetal mortality was 94.1% for all women.Conclusions: Uterine rupture still poses a major public health problem in under-developed countries. The multiplication of obstetric surgical units but also the availability of blood products and the effectiveness of free care will be a vital contribution to effectively and sustainably improve the prognosis of this serious pathology when just constituted

Production et transformation du manioc

De son nom scientifique Manihot esculenta, le manioc est l’une des cultures vivrières les plus cultivées et les plus consommées dans de nombreuses régions du monde. Arbuste de 1 à 4 mètres de hauteur environ, il est cultivé pour ses tubercules et ses feuilles. Les tubercules sont très riches en amidon. Les tiges sont quant à elles utilisées comme matériel de plantation. Consommé tant pour l’alimentation humaine qu’animale, le manioc est très utilisé dans l’industrie alimentaire (pâtisseries, tapioca, pâtes alimentaires, cossettes, …). Avec plus de vingt produits dérivés, le manioc sert également dans l’industrie textile, la production du papier, de colles, d’alcool ou d’amidon

DETECTION OF NON-INFLUENZA VIRUSES IN ACUTE RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS IN CHILDREN UNDER FIVE-YEAR-OLD IN COTE D’IVOIRE (JANUARY – DECEMBER 2013)

Background: Influenza sentinel surveillance in Cote d’Ivoire showed that 70% of Acute Respiratory Infections (ARI) cases remained without etiology. This work aims to describe the epidemiological, clinical, and virological pattern of ARI that tested negative for influenza virus, in children under five years old. Materials and Methods: one thousand and fifty nine samples of patients presenting influenza Like Illness (ILI) or Severe Acute Respiratory Infections (SARI) symptoms were tested for other respiratory viruses using multiplex RTPCR assays targeting 10 respiratory viruses. Results: The following pathogens were detected as follows, hRV 31,92% (98/307), hRSV 24.4% (75/329), PIV 20.5% (63/307), HCoV 229E 12,05% (37/307), hMPV 6.2% (19/307), HCoVOC43 1.0% (3/307) and EnV 1.0% (3/307). Among the 1,059 specimens analyzed, 917 (86.6%) were ILI samples and 142 (23.4%) were SARI samples. The proportion of children infected with at least one virus was 29.8% (273/917) in ILI cases and 23.9% (34/142) in SARI cases. The most prevalent viruses, responsible for ILI cases were hRV with 35.89% (98/273) and hRSV in SARI cases with 41.2% (14/34) of cases. Among the 1,059 patients, only 22 (2.1%) children presented risk factors related to the severity of influenza virus infection. Conclusion: This study showed that respiratory viruses play an important role in the etiology of ARI in children. For a better understanding of the epidemiology of ARI and improved case management, it would be interesting in this context to expand the surveillance of influenza to other respiratory viruses

Revisiting the Immune Trypanolysis Test to Optimise Epidemiological Surveillance and Control of Sleeping Sickness in West Africa

Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) due to Trypanosoma brucei (T.b.) gambiense is usually diagnosed using two sequential steps: first the card agglutination test for trypanosomiasis (CATT) used for serological screening, followed by parasitological methods to confirm the disease. Currently, CATT will continue to be used as a test for mass screening because of its simplicity and high sensitivity; however, its performance as a tool of surveillance in areas where prevalence is low is poor because of its limited specificity. Hence in the context of HAT elimination, there is a crucial need for a better marker of contact with T.b. gambiense in humans. We evaluated here an existing highly specific serological tool, the trypanolysis test (TL). We evaluated TL in active, latent and historical HAT foci in Guinea, Côte d'Ivoire and Burkina Faso. We found that TL was a marker for exposure to T.b. gambiense. We propose that TL should be used as a surveillance tool to monitor HAT elimination