An Assessment of School Going Population Exposure Pathways to Agropesticide in the Mungo Corridor of Cameroon

Pesticide use in agricultural holdings closer to dwellings exposes the population to its noxious effects. This study is set on the premise that although pesticide seems a panacea for crop protection, it has continued to wreak havoc on farmers’ health and especially school going population who are exposed to pesticide use in nearby agroindustrial plantations in the Mungo Corridor. The study objectives are to identify students who use pesticides and why they use these toxic chemicals. In this same vein, it probes into identifying some common pesticides exposure pathways among students and the resultant effects of these toxic chemicals on them. The study employed both primary and secondary data, and key informant interviews with resource persons. Data was collected through a survey of 510 students across 10 schools in two subdivisions. Data analysis was run on Microsoft Excel 2016 and SPSS 16.0, employing descriptive (percentage indices, charts, mean, median) and inferential (Kruskal-Wallis (H-Test), Mann Whitney (U-Test), and ChiSquare test) statistics. Findings revealed that school going population is potentially exposed to pesticides via different exposure pathways, justified by the proximity of schools to agroindustrial banana plantations where pesticides are sprayed using helicopters. Also, majority of students (85%) use pesticides for various reasons with little or no knowledge on the methods of use which further broadens their exposure. A weighted analysis of data revealed that there was a significant difference between students’ education level and some hypothesized explanatory variables (p<0.05), implying that lack of information by students on how to avoid contacts with pesticides further exposes them. However, the paper concludes that receiving training in the safe use of pesticides by students and providing wind barriers in agroindustrial banana plantations to prevent spray drifts from entering into school yards and residence are key solutions to this danger

Anti-Proliferative Activity of Meroditerpenoids Isolated from the Brown Alga Stypopodium flabelliforme against Several Cancer Cell Lines

The sea constitutes one of the most promising sources of novel compounds with potential application in human therapeutics. In particular, algae have proved to be an interesting source of new bioactive compounds. In this work, six meroditerpenoids (epitaondiol, epitaondiol diacetate, epitaondiol monoacetate, stypotriol triacetate, 14-ketostypodiol diacetate and stypodiol) isolated from the brown alga Stypopodium flabelliforme were tested for their cell proliferation inhibitory activity in five cell lines. Cell lines tested included human colon adenocarcinoma (Caco-2), human neuroblastoma (SH-SY5Y), rat basophilic leukemia (RBL-2H3), murine macrophages (RAW.267) and Chinese hamster fibroblasts (V79). Antimicrobial activity of the compounds was also evaluated against Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhimurium, Proteus mirabilis, Bacillus cereus, Enterococcus faecalis and Micrococcus luteus. Overall, the compounds showed good activity against all cell lines, with SH-SY5Y and RAW.267 being the most susceptible. Antimicrobial capacity was observed for epitaondiol monoacetate, stypotriol triacetate and stypodiol, with the first being the most active. The results suggest that these molecules deserve further studies in order to evaluate their potential as therapeutic agents

The use of plants in the traditional management of diabetes in Nigeria: Pharmacological and toxicological considerations

Ethnopharmacological relevance: The prevalence of diabetes is on a steady increase worldwide and it is now identified as one of the main threats to human health in the 21st century. In Nigeria, the use of herbal medicine alone or alongside prescription drugs for its management is quite common. We hereby carry out a review of medicinal plants traditionally used for diabetes management in Nigeria. Based on the available evidence on the species׳ pharmacology and safety, we highlight ways in which their therapeutic potential can be properly harnessed for possible integration into the country׳s healthcare system. Materials and methods: Ethnobotanical information was obtained from a literature search of electronic databases such as Google Scholar, Pubmed and Scopus up to 2013 for publications on medicinal plants used in diabetes management, in which the place of use and/or sample collection was identified as Nigeria. ‘Diabetes’ and ‘Nigeria’ were used as keywords for the primary searches; and then ‘Plant name – accepted or synonyms’, ‘Constituents’, ‘Drug interaction’ and/or ‘Toxicity’ for the secondary searches. Results: The hypoglycemic effect of over a hundred out of the 115 plants reviewed in this paper is backed by preclinical experimental evidence, either in vivo or in vitro. One-third of the plants have been studied for their mechanism of action, while isolation of the bioactive constituent(s) has been accomplished for twenty three plants. Some plants showed specific organ toxicity, mostly nephrotoxic or hepatotoxic, with direct effects on the levels of some liver function enzymes. Twenty eight plants have been identified as in vitro modulators of P-glycoprotein and/or one or more of the cytochrome P450 enzymes, while eleven plants altered the levels of phase 2 metabolic enzymes, chiefly glutathione, with the potential to alter the pharmacokinetics of co-administered drugs. Conclusion: This review, therefore, provides a useful resource to enable a thorough assessment of the profile of plants used in diabetes management so as to ensure a more rational use. By anticipating potential toxicities or possible herb–drug interactions, significant risks which would otherwise represent a burden on the country׳s healthcare system can be avoided

Problématique de l’apport des Migrants Internationaux au Développement Local de Batoufam à l’Ouest-Cameroun

L’étude portant sur « la problématique de l’apport des migrants internationaux au développement local de Batoufam à l’Ouest-Cameroun», s’inscrit dans la relation migration internationale/développement qui est au cœur de nombreux débats en Sciences Sociales. Plusieurs études ont montré et démontré que nonobstant la distance physique entre leurs pays d’origine et celui d’accueil, les migrants internationaux sont des acteurs du développement local via leurs différentes interventions. Cependant, la politique actuelle d’intervention des migrants internationaux souffre de nombreuses faiblesses. Cette étude a pour objectif d’analyser ces différentes faiblesses. Elle s’appuie sur des enquêtes par questionnaires auprès de 50 migrants internationaux, 226 personnes pour la population locale, des entretiens avec les administrateurs locaux et l’observation directe. Comme résultats, plusieurs interventions des migrants ne sont toujours pas en adéquation avec les besoins prioritaires de la population locale. 47% de la population locale interrogée affirment qu’il y a inadéquation entre les projets de développement initiés par les migrants et leurs attentes ponctuelles. 41% affirment que l’adéquation est partielle. Cette population locale pense que l’inadéquation est due au fait qu’elle soit marginalisée dans la mise sur pied des projets de développement. Non seulement elle n’est pas consultée avant l’initiation d’un projet, mais aussi elle n’y participe presque pas. Il arrive parfois que les interventions des migrants soient une source de conflits entre les migrants et les autres acteurs locaux du développement local. L’implication des migrants en zone de départ est très souvent aussi la source de nouveaux besoins pour la population locale (dépossessions foncières). L’on note également la dépendance financière et matérielle des bénéficiaires vis-à-vis des donneurs. Ceci entraine des répercussions sur la production nationale. Toutes ces faiblesses conduisent à une faible appréciation des interventions des migrants et une faible visibilité du migrant comme acteur à part entier du développement local.   This paper focuses on the "issues of international migrant’s contribution to the local development of Batoufam in Western-Cameroon". It goes in line with the relationship between international migration and development which is the heart of many debates in Social Sciences. Several studies showed that despite the physical distance between their country of origin and their immigration country, international migrants are actors of the local development through their various interventions. The current policy of migrant’s intervention is suffering from many weaknesses, and this study aims to analyze those weaknesses. It was conducted using questionnaires survey on 50 international migrants and 226 people of the local population, interview with the local authorities, and direct observation. The results show that several migrant’s interventions are still not inadequate with the priority needs of the local population. 47% of the local population affirms that there is an  inadequacy between the development projects initiated by migrants and their priority needs. 41% affirms that the adequacy is partial. This population thinks that this inadequacy is due to the fact that they are marginalized in the setting up of development projects. Not only are they not consulted before the initiation of a project, but they do not also take part in it. Sometimes, migrant’s interventions create conflicts between migrants and other local development actors. Migrant’s implication in starting zone is also a source of new needs for the local population (land dispossessions). The financial and material dependence of beneficiaries toward donors was also noted. This has effects on the national production. All those weaknesses led to a weak appreciation of migrant’s interventions and a low visibility of the migrant as an integral actor of local development

Recurrent deletions of the X chromosome linked CNV64, CNV67, and CNV69 shows geographic differences across China and no association with idiopathic infertility in men

<div><p>A recent study found that three recurrent deletions of X chromosome linked copy number variations (CNVs), CNV64, CNV67 and CNV69 were associated with idiopathic male infertility in Spanish and Italian populations, especially CNV67 resembling the azoospermia factor deletions. That merits further investigations among different populations. This study was conducted to examine the prevalence of the three CNVs deletions and their associations with idiopathic male infertility in Chinese Han population. The present study included a large population of 1550 Chinese Han subjects recruited between 2014 and 2016. In total, 714 infertile participants were diagnosed as idiopathic infertility with different conditions (288 with non-obstructive azoospermia, 210 oligozoospermia and 216 asthenospermia) and 836 fertile participants (vasectomized men). The fertile participants were recruited from the representative areas: the north (Hebei and Shanxi), center (Hubei and Jiangsu), and south (Guangdong) of China. All patients were recruited from Hubei province. A multiplex PCR system was established to screen the deletion of the three CNVs, and deletion was confirmed by general PCR. Similar rates of these deletions were observed in infertile men and fertile participants (Hubei), and among the different conditions of infertility. Moreover, CNV64 and CNV67 map distribution geographically differed across China. The three CNVs in fertile groups of other regions were similar, except for Guangdong. No association between the three CNVs deletions and idiopathic male infertility was observed. CNV67 is rare in central China, albeit large sample size study for confirmation is warranted. It seems that the association between these CNVs deletions and idiopathic male infertility is ethnic dependent. There is still need to screen the CNVs deletions in other ethnicities. We suggested to consider the stratification patterns and geographic differences when prescribing CNVs deletions screening as a test in male infertility.</p></div

Geographic distribution of the three CNVs across China.

<p>Geographic distribution of the three CNVs across China.</p

Differences in Knowledge, Attitude, and Behavior towards HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections between Sexually Active Foreign and Chinese Medical Students

Although the prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) decreased in the last decade worldwide, the number of deaths due to HIV/AIDS and communicable diseases including syphilis, hepatitis, and tuberculosis had dramatically increased in developing countries. Education and behavior are incredibly important factors to prevent these diseases’ spread. This study highlights the range of differences in knowledge, attitude, and behavior of 434 sexually active medical students towards HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Because the surveyed population constitutes the forefront of healthcare providers and was originated from different area of the world, this is the first time a study sought to investigate the behavioral attitude of this group of population irrespective of the three levels of their academic and professional knowledge. Several factors including sociodemographic characteristics, sexual behavior, HIV/AIDS, and STIs related patterns play a key role in medical student attitude and behavior towards people infected with HIV/AIDS and STIs. Our findings add consistent value in prior studies which aimed to stop new infections and also imply further investigations on the management of the studied infections by medical students. The present study arouses much interest among participants and provides evidence of reinforcing medical students’ education on HIV/AIDS and STIs