Rôle hydrogéologique des linéaments structuraux en milieu cristallin et cristallophyllien : cas du bassin versant du Sassandra, Sud-Ouest de la Côte d’Ivoire

La zone d’étude est située en milieu tropical humide au sud-ouest de la Côte d’Ivoire dans les formations plutoniques et métamorphiques précambriennes. L’objectif est d’étudier l’effet des linéaments structuraux dans l’hydrodynamisme souterrain dans un tel environnement en se basant sur des données de télédétection, de forages, des teneurs SO42- et Cl- des eaux souterraines. Le traitement des images satellitaires a donné la carte des linéaments qui a servi au choix des sites d’échantillonnage d’eau souterraine et à l’individualisation des « blocs ». Les rapports de SO42- et Cl- a permis d’identifier les linéaments participant à la circulation de l’eau souterraine à l’échelle régionale. L’analyse des données géométriques des blocs et des débits des forages a permis de mettre en évidence le rôle hydrogéologique prépondérant des petits linéaments par rapport aux linéaments majeurs. Confirmant ainsi l’importance de l’horizon fissuré et la topographie dans l’écoulement souterrain en milieu de socle cristallin et cristallophyllien.Mots-clés: aquifères de socle, bloc, débit, horizon fissuré, hydrodynamisme.Hydrogeological role of structural lineaments in plutonic and metamorphic environment: Case of Sassandra Watershed (South-Western Côte d'Ivoire)The survey area is located south-west of Ivory Coast in Precambrian metamorphic and plutonic zone. The aim is to study the contribution of structural lineaments in the underground hydrodynamics in such environment. To highlight the network of kilometer-scale fractures in hard-rock, remote sensing techniques, drilling and concentrations SOSO42- and Cl- in groundwater were used. The map of lineaments obtained after processing of satellite images has been discretized into blocks aquifers which are delimited by opened or clogged fractures that can have a conducting or watertight function. Analysis of the geometric block parameters and the drilling instantaneous discharge helped highlight the leading role hydrogeological small fractures (fissured layer) compared to major lineaments in groundwater flow of in hard-rock. Thus confirming the importance of fissured topography and groundwater flow in crystallophyllian crystalline basement.Keywords: hard-rock aquifer, block, hydrodynamism, fissured zone, and yield

Aptitude of Groundwaters for Irrigation in Katiola Area

The increasing pressures of agricultural development surfaces on water resources availability of Katiola area obliged farmers to the use groundwater for food crops irrigation. However, groundwater used for irrigation makes an impact on soil quality. The aim of this study is to estimate the capability of Katiola area ground waters to irrigate food crops by using an approach based on Sodium Absorption Ratio (SAR) and Permeability Index (PI). The results show that most of the groundwater samples (67%) in the study area are suitable for irrigation, except few points located in south-east

Caractérisation hydrochimique des aquifères fissurés de la région de San- Pedro (Sud-Ouest de la Côte d’Ivoire)

La région de San-Pedro est située dans le Sud-Ouest de la Côte d’Ivoire. Son substratum est constitué de roches cristallines et métamorphiques fracturées. L’objectif de la présente étude est de mieux connaître lespropriétés hydrochimiques et les mécanismes d’acquisition de la minéralisation des eaux souterraines de la région de San-Pedro. La base de données comporte les données des analyses physico-chimiques des eaux souterraines des aquifères fissurés et des fiches techniques des forages. L’approche hydrochimique et l’Analyse en Composantes Principales Normées ont été utilisées pour le traitement de ces données. Les résultats de cette étude montrent que les eaux souterraines de San-Pedro sont caractérisées par une faible minéralisation. Elles se subdivisent en deux principaux hydrofaciès : les eaux bicarbonatées et les eaux chlorurées. D’après le système calco-carbonique, on distingue trois familles d’eau dans la zone d’étude en fonction des indices de saturation vis-à-vis des carbonates : les eaux à circulation très lente, les eaux à circulation lente et les eaux à circulation rapide. L’ACPN a permis de mettre en évidence trois phénomènes principaux gouvernant la minéralisation des eaux souterraines : le temps de séjour de l’eau dans la roche aquifère, les apports superficiels et l’hydrolyse acide. Les eaux souterraines de la région de San-Pedro sont potables pour la consommation des populations humaines d’une manière générale. Ces résultats concourent à une meilleure connaissance des propriétés hydrochimiques des ressources en eaux souterraines du socle cristallin de Côte d’Ivoire

Expert’s comment concerning Grand Rounds case entitled “Closing–Opening Wedge Osteotomy for Severe, Rigid Thoraco-Lumbar Post-tubercular Kyphosis” (by S. Rajasekaran, P. Rishimugesh Kanna and Ajoy Prasad Shetty)

Prevention or correction of severe kyphotic deformity in addition to eradication of the infective focus has become the modern standard of management of tuberculosis of the spine. Circumferential excision of the kyphus is now technically feasible with the development of rigid pedicle screw fixation system and intraoperative spinal cord monitoring in the past two decades

Acceptabilite´ du test VIH propose´ aux nourrissons dans les services pe´ diatriques, en Coˆ te d’Ivoire, Significations pour la couverture du diagnostic pe´diatrique

Proble`me: Le de´pistage VIH chez les enfants a rarement e´te´ au centre des pre´occupations des chercheurs. Quand le de´pistage pe´diatrique a retenu l’attention, cela a e´te´ pour e´clairer seulement sur les performances diagnostiques en ignorant meˆme que le test pe´diatrique comme bien d’autres peut s’accepter ou se refuser. Cet article met au coeur de son analyse les raisons qui peuvent expliquer qu’on accepte ou qu’on refuse de faire de´pister son enfant.Objectif: Etudier chez les parents, les me`res, les facteurs explicatifs de l’acceptabilite´ du test VIH des  nourrissons de moins de six mois.Me´thodes: Entretien semi-directif a` passages re´pe´te´s avec les parents de nourrissons de moins de six mois dans les formations sanitaires pour la pese´e/vaccination et les consultations pe´diatriques avec proposition syste´matique d’un test VIH pour leur nourrisson.Re´sultats: Nous retenons que la re´alisation effective du test pe´diatrique du VIH chez le nourrisson repose sur trois e´le´ments. Primo, le personnel de sante´ par son discours (qui de´note de ses connaissances et  perceptions meˆme sur l’infection) oriente´ vers les me`res influence leur acceptation ou non du test. Secundo, la me`re qui par ses connaissances et perceptions meˆme sur le VIH, dont le statut particulier, l’impression de bien-eˆtre chez elle et son enfant influence toute re´alisation du test pe´diatrique VIH. Tertio, l’environnement conjugal de la me`re, particulie`rement caracte´rise´ par les rapports au sein du couple, sur la facilite´ de parler du test VIH et sa re´alisation chez les deux parents ou chez la me`re seulement sont autant de facteurs qui influencent la re´alisation effective du de´pistage du VIH chez l’enfant. Le principe pre´ventif du VIH, et le de´sir de faire tester l’enfant ne suffisent pas a` eux seuls pour aboutir a` sa re´alisation effective, selon certaines me`res confronte´es au refus du conjoint. A l’oppose´, les autres me`res refusant la re´alisation du test  pe´diatrique disent s’y opposer ; bien entendu, meˆme dans le cas ou` le conjoint l’accepterait.Discussion: Les me`res sont les principales mises en cause et craignent les re´primandes et la stigmatisation. Le pe`re, le conjoint peut eˆtre un obstacle, quand il s’oppose au test VIH du nourrisson, ou devenir le facilitateur de sa re´alisation s’il est convaincu. Le positionnement du pe`re demeure donc essentiel dans la question de l’acceptabilite´ du VIH pe´diatrique. Les me`res en ont conscience et pre´sagent des difficulte´s a` faire  de´pister ou non les enfants sans avis pre´alable du conjoint a` la fois pe`re, et chef de famille.Conclusion: La question du de´pistage pe´diatrique du VIH, au terme de notre analyse, met en face trois e´le´ments qui exigent une gestion globale pour assurer une couverture effective. Ces trois e´le´ments n’existeraient pas sans s’influencer, donc ils sont constamment en interaction et empeˆchent ou favorisent la re´alisation ou non du test pe´diatrique. Aussi, dans une intention d’aboutir a` une couverture effective du de´pistage VIH des nourrissons, faut-il tenir compte d’une gestion harmonieuse de ces trois e´le´ments: La premie`re, la me`re seule (avec ses connaissances, ses perceptions), son environnement conjugal (de  proposition du test inte´grant 1- l’e´poux et / ou pe`re de l’enfant avec ses perceptions et connaissances sur l’infection 2- la facilite´ de parler du test et sa re´alisation chez les deux ou un des parents, la me`re) et les connaissances, attitudes et pratiques du personnel de l’e´tablissement sanitaire sur l’infection du VIH.Recommandations: Nos recommandations proposent une rede´finition de l’approche du VIH/sida vers des familles expose´es au VIH et une inte´gration plus accentue´e du pe`re facilitant leur propre acceptation du test VIH et celle de leur enfant.Mots cle´s: Acceptabilite´, Test VIH, Enfants, Nourrissons Problem: HIV testing in children had rarely been a central concern for researchers. When pediatric tracking retained the attention, it was more to inform on the diagnosis tools performances rather than the fact the pediatric test can be accepted or refused. This article highlights the parent’s reasons which explain why pediatric HIV test is accepted or refused.Objective: To study among parents, the explanatory factors of the acceptability of pediatric HIV testing among infant less than six months.Methods: Semi-structured interview with repeated passages in the parents of infants less than six months attending in health care facilities for the pediatric weighing/vaccination and consultations.Results: We highlight that the parent’s acceptance of the pediatric HIV screening is based on three elements.Firstly, the health care workers by his speech (which indicates its own knowledge and perceptions on the infection) directed towards mothers’ influences their acceptance or not of the HIV test. Secondly, the mother who by her knowledge and perceptions on HIV, whose particular status, give an impression of her own wellbeing for her and her child influences any acceptance of the pediatric HIV test. Thirdly, the marital environment of the mother, particularly characterized by the ease of communication within the couple, to speak about the HIV test and its realization for the parents or the mother only are many factors which influence the effective realization of the pediatric HIV testing. The preventive principle of HIV transmission and the desire to realize the test in the  newborn are not enough alone to lead to its effective realization, according to certain mothers confronted with the father’s refusal. On the other hand, the other mothers refusing the realization of the pediatric test told to be opposed to it; of course, even if their partner would accept it.Discussion: The mothers are the principal facing the pediatric HIV question and fear the reprimands and stigma. The father, the partner could be an obstacle, when he is opposed to the infant HIV testing, or also the facilitator with his realization if he is convinced. The father position thus remains essential face to the question of pediatric HIV testing acceptability. The mothers are aware of this and predict the difficulties of achieving their infant to be tested without the preliminary opinion of their partner at the same time father, and head of the family.Conclusion: The issue of pediatric HIV testing, at the end of our analysis, highlights three elements which require a comprehensive management to improve the coverage of pediatric HIV test. These three elements would not exist without being influenced; therefore they are constantly in interaction and prevent or support the realization or not pediatric test. Also, with the aim to improve the pediatric HIV test coverage, it is necessary to take into account the harmonious management of these elements. Firstly, the mother alone (with her knowledge, and perceptions), its marital environment (with the proposal of the HIV test integrating (1) the partner and/or father with his perceptions and knowledge on HIV infection and (2) facility of speaking about the test and its realization at both or one about the parents, the mother) and of the knowledge, attitudes and practices about the infection of health care workers of the sanitary institution.Recommendations: Our recommendations proposed taking into account a redefinition of the HIV/AIDS approach towards the families exposed to HIV and a more accentuated integration of the father facilitating their own HIV test acceptation and that of his child.Keywords: acceptability, HIV testing, children, infantsArticle in French

Cryopreservation of swine ovarian tissue : effect of different cryoprotectants on the structural preservation of preantral follicle oocytes

The present study aimed to test different cryoprotectants on cryopreservation of pig ovarian tissue. Pig ovaries (n = 3) were collected at a local slaughterhouse. From each ovary, ten cortex samples were taken. One was immediately fixed (control) and another placed in short-term tissue incubation (STTI control). The other 8 samples were cryopreserved, in pairs, using 4 different cryoprotectants: dimethyl sulphoxide (Me2SO – 1.5 M), ethylene glycol (EG – 1.5 M), propanediol (PROH – 1.5 M) and glycerol (GLY – 10%), all with 0.4% sucrose. Samples were slow cooled and stored in liquid nitrogen for 7 days. After thawing and cryoprotectant removal, one sample from each treatment was immediately fixed and the other was placed in short-term tissue incubation (STTI) for 2 h and then fixed. Samples were processed for histology and transmission electron microscopy. The percentages of morphologically normal follicles (MNF) in cryopreserved tissue using Me2SO (67.0 ± 4.9), EG (81.8 ± 1.4) and PROH (55.9 ± 9.9) were significantly lower (P < 0.05) than observed in fresh control tissue (97.7 ± 1.2). When ovarian tissue was cryopreserved with GLY, no morphologically normal follicles could be found (0%). After STTI, PROH showed a significantly lower percentage of MNF when compared with all other treatments and the control. After ultrastructural analysis, follicles cryopreserved with Me2SO and EG showed some small alterations, but no signs of advanced degeneration. Overall, these were similar to follicles from the control group. In conclusion, it is possible to cryopreserve preantral follicles from pig ovarian tissue using Me2SO or EG

Aptitude of Groundwaters for Irrigation in Katiola Area

The increasing pressures of agricultural development surfaces on water resources availability of Katiola area obliged farmers to the use groundwater for food crops irrigation. However, groundwater used for irrigation makes an impact on soil quality. The aim of this study is to estimate the capability of Katiola area ground waters to irrigate food crops by using an approach based on Sodium Absorption Ratio (SAR) and Permeability Index (PI). The results show that most of the groundwater samples (67%) in the study area are suitable for irrigation, except few points located in south-east

Health status in the TORCH study of COPD: treatment efficacy and other determinants of change

BACKGROUND: Little is known about factors that determine health status decline in clinical trials of COPD. OBJECTIVES: To examine health status changes over 3 years in the TORCH study of salmeterol+fluticasone propionate (SFC) vs. salmeterol alone, fluticasone propionate alone or placebo. METHODS: St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) was administered at baseline then every 6 months. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Data from 4951 patients in 28 countries were available. SFC produced significant improvements over placebo in all three SGRQ domains during the study: (Symptoms -3.6 [95% CI -4.8, -2.4], Activity -2.8 [95% CI -3.9, -1.6], Impacts -3.2 [95% CI -4.3, -2.1]) but the pattern of change over time differed between domains. SGRQ deteriorated faster in patients with Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) stages III & IV relative to GOLD stage II (p < 0.001). There was no difference in the relationship between deterioration in SGRQ Total score and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) decline (as % predicted) in men and women. Significantly faster deterioration in Total score relative to FEV1 % predicted was seen in older patients (≥ 65 years) and there was an age-related change in Total score that was independent of change in FEV1. The relationship between deterioration in FEV1 and SGRQ did not differ in different world regions, but patients in Asia-Pacific showed a large improvement in score that was unrelated to FEV1 change. CONCLUSIONS: In addition to treatment effects, health status changes in clinical trials may be influenced by demographic and disease-related factors. Deterioration in health status appears to be fastest in older persons and those with severe airflow limitation