Household food consumption and nutritional status of children aged 6 to 59 Months in Zinder, Niger Republic

Malnutrition exists in both urban and rural areas in Niger. An analysis of food and nutrition situation was carried out in the urban  municipality of Zinder in order to contribute to a better understanding of the situation. This work was done from February to March 2018, at the household level, sampled by probabilistic method. The study involved 168 children from 6 to 59 months selected from 150 households in 15neighborhoods in the urban municipalities of Zinder. An analysis of the Food Consumption Score and Household Food Diversity Score showed acceptable food consumption and high food diversity respectively in58.7% and 67.3% of households. Furthermore, the results showed that the socio-economic characteristics that determined Score of food consumption were the main activities of heads of households and their wives. Food diversity was generally acceptable, although 2.7 % of households still had low dietary diversity in the study area. Also, food diversity remained low overall for nearly 8.9% of children with a rate of 6.0% for  households headed by a woman. Nevertheless, the latter female-headed households had an estimated 13.7% of children with average individual food diversity. The prevalence of acute global malnutrition is 13.1% with the severe form at3%. It should be noted that girls were much more affected by this severe form (3.4%) compared to 2.5% for boys. However, stunting was more prevalent in males than in females with 57.5% and 46.6%,respectively. Moderate form accounting for 28.4% in females compared to 17.5% in males. This  nutritional status reflects the relatively acceptable food situation in which these children lived. Furthermore, the appreciation of different foods and modes of consumption have shown on the one hand that the diet remains monotonous. On the other hand, this analysis revealed that cereal-based dishes accompanied by vegetable/leafy sauces predominated in these households in the study area. This situation exposes the members of these households and especially young children to the risk of malnutrition. Key words: Characterization, food consumption, food diversity, nutritional status, children, household, socioeconomics, Zinde

Integrated cost-benefit analysis of tsetse control and herd productivity to inform control programs for animal African trypanosomiasis

Animal African trypanosomiasis (AAT) and its tsetse vector are responsible for annual losses estimated in billions of US dollars ($). Recent years have seen the implementation of a series of multinational interventions. However, actors of AAT control face complex resource allocation decisions due to the geographical range of AAT, diversity of ecological and livestock systems, and range of control methods available. The study presented here integrates an existing tsetse abundance model with a bio-economic herd model that captures local production characteristics as well as heterogeneities in AAT incidence and breed. These models were used to predict the impact of tsetse elimination on the net value of cattle production in the districts of Mambwe, in Zambia, and Faro et Déo in Cameroon. The net value of cattle production under the current situation was used as a baseline, and compared with alternative publicly funded control programmes. In Zambia, the current baseline is AAT control implemented privately by cattle owners (Scenario Z0). In Cameroon, the baseline (Scenario C0) is a small-scale publicly funded tsetse control programme and privately funded control at farm level. The model was run for 10 years, using a discount rate of 5%

The urethral mucosal prolapse in young girls: A series of 22 cases and a literature review

Objective: To report our experience in managing 22 cases of urethral prolapse.Matérial/Patients and méthods: This is a retrospective study conducted at Urology Department of Lamordé national hospital in a ten years period (2002-2011) and based on 22 cases of urethral prolapsed in young girls.Results: In the last ten years, 22 cases of urethral prolapse have been recorded. The mean age of patients was 6±3,3 years (ranges 3-10 years). The main reason for consultation was mild genital haemorrhage in 18 cases and 4 cases related to suspicious sexual abuse raising medico legal problems. The treatment combined psychological and medico surgical approaches. In all the cases a surgical excision of the prolapsed mucosa was performed followed by muco-mucosal stitching around indwelling Foley catheter for 72 hours. Post operative period was uneventful except one case of acute urinary retention managed by drainage and anti-inflammatory drug.Conclusion: Urethral prolapse is a rare disease that affects pre-menarcheal girls in low social and economic context. Surgical treatment gives good clinical and esthetic results

Etude de la stabilité et de l’acceptabilité du CSB ++ (Corn-Soya Blend) au Niger

L’objectif de cette étude est de tester la stabilité et l’acceptabilité du CSB++, une farine améliorée pour répondre à la crise nutritionnelle récurrente au Niger. Ainsi, une démarche à deux volets a été choisie: Un volet stabilité du CSB++ et un volet acceptabilité du produit au niveau communautaire. Ce dernier volet s’est déroulé dans 2 villages et a concerné 206 couples mères – enfants (âgés de 12 – 23 mois). Les résultats ont révélé que le CSB++, farine jaune, a une teneur en eau (9,26% - 5,5%) largement inférieure au seuil critique (12%) et uneacidité grasse (0,01 – 0,02) qui reste acceptable par rapport aux normes (< 0,05). Le CSB++ est exempt de bactéries indicatrices de mauvaises hygiènes et pratiques, et la flore totale demeure inférieure au seuil FAO.Aussi, le suivi de la stabilité révèle que la farine reste consommable et ceci plusieurs jours à la température ambiante. Par ailleurs, la bouillie du CSB++ a été consommée totalement par 87,76% d’enfants au niveau des 2 villages et le score d’acceptabilité est maximal tant pour la farine que pour la bouillie. Le CSB++ peut être considéré comme un produit alimentaire stable, efficace et accepté par la communauté.Mots clés: Stabilité, acceptabilité, CSB++, Niger

Evaluation des rendements en graines et fanes des varietes ameliorees et locales de niebe [Vigna unguiculata (l.) Walp.] en champ ecole et en champ de multiplication de semences a Karma (Niger)

Pour résoudre les problèmes de production de niébé, la recherche a mis au point des variétés améliorées. L’objectif de ce travail est d’évaluer les rendements en graines et fanes de deux variétés améliorées et une variété locale de niébé [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.]. Les données ont été collectées au niveau du champ école, du champ de multiplication de semences et du champ témoin à Karma (Niger). Des carrés de rendement ont été posés selon un dispositif en blocs complet randomisés à quatre répétitions. Les données ont fait l’objet d’une analyse de la variance (ANOVA). Les résultats montrent que le rendement en graine tout comme en fane est statistiquement différent entre les trois variétés en champ école paysan. Au niveau du champ de multiplication de semence, le rendement est statistiquement différent d’une part entre la variété locale et la IT98K205 - 8, d’autre part entre IT97K499 - 35 et IT98K205 - 8. Grace à la technologie champ école, le taux d’augmentation du rendement en graines est de 21 % et 25 % pour IT97K - 499 - 35 et IT98K - 205 - 8. En fanes, le taux d’augmentation du rendement est de 17 % et 19 % pour IT97K - 499 - 35 et IT98K - 205 - 8. Ces variétés contribuent à la sécurité alimentaire des producteurs.Mots-clés : Rendement, variétés améliorées, niébé, champ école, champ de multiplicatio

Coinage metals trinuclear metallocycles: old and new aspects of this class of compounds

Coinage metals trinuclear metallocycles: old and new aspects of this class of compounds Galassi R. a, Oumarou C. S. a, Omary A. M. b, Nesterov V. b, Burini A.a aSchool of Science and Technology, Chemistry Division, University of Camerino, Via S. Agostino 1, 62032 Camerino; e-mail: [email protected] b Department of Chemistry, University of North Texas, Denton, 1155 Union Circle, TX 76203, USA; e-mail: [email protected] Azoles such as imidazoles and pyrazoles are optimal bridging ligands to obtain C,N or N,N trinuclear coinage metals metallocycles. Since past decade till now, few worldwide research groups including us have focused their attention to their synthesis and characterization.[1] Moreover, the photophysical properties[2] the extended network of metallophilic bondings in the supramolecular structure and the pi-acid/pi-base chemistry[3] of these compounds directed the research to theoretical studies bringing to a better interpretation of the experimental behaviors.[4] Here we report the synthesis of new coinage metals metallocycles and their spectroscopic characterizations highlighting points of continuity with the previous analogs and new features for new perspective research lines. As in example, the 1-vinylimidazole resembles the acid-base chemistry of the 1-benzylimidazole gold(I) metallocycle, while substitution in position 4,5 of 1-benzylimidazole with electron-withdrawing group, do not allow the formation of metallocycles with the same synthethic route and mononuclear gold(I) derivatives have been obtained. The nature of the heterocycle and of the substituents, in addition to their position in the azolate ligand defines and tunes the properties of the final products. References: 1) Galassi, R.; Burini, A.; Omary-Rawanashed, M., Omary, M. A., Comm. Inorg. Chem. 2014, in submission. 2) Rawashdeh-Omary, M. A.; Omary, M. A.; Fackler Jr, J. P, Galassi R., Pietroni, B. R.; Burini, A. J. Am. Chem. Soc 2001, 123; 9689-9691. 3) Burini, A.;. Fackler Jr, J. P; Galassi R., Grant, T. A.. Omary, M. A; Rawashdeh-Omary, M. A.; Pietroni, B. R.; Staples R. J. J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2000; 11264-11265. 4) Galassi, R.; Ricci, S.; Burini, A.; Macchioni, A; Marmottini, F.; Tekarli, S. M.; Nesterov, N.V.; Omary, M. A. Inorg. Chem. 2013, 52, 14124-14137

Effectiveness of ready-to-use therapeutic food compared to a corn/soy-blend-based pre-mix for the treatment of childhood moderate acute malnutrition in Niger.

Standard nutritional treatment of moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) relies on fortified blended flours though their importance to treat this condition is a matter of discussion. With the newly introduced World Health Organization growth standards, more children at an early stage of malnutrition will be treated following the dietary protocols as for severe acute malnutrition, including ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF). We compared the effectiveness of RUTF and a corn/soy-blend (CSB)-based pre-mix for the treatment of MAM in the supplementary feeding programmes (SFPs) supported by Médecins Sans Frontières, located in the Zinder region (south of Niger). Children measuring 65 to <110 cm, newly admitted with MAM [weight-for-height (WHM%) between 70% and <80% of the NCHS median] were randomly allocated to receive either RUTF (Plumpy'Nut®, 1000 kcal day(-1)) or a CSB pre-mix (1231 kcal day(-1)). Other interventions were similar in both groups (e.g. weekly family ration and ration at discharge). Children were followed weekly up to recovery (WHM% ≥ 85% for 2 consecutive weeks). In total, 215 children were recruited in the RUTF group and 236 children in the CSB pre-mix group with an overall recovery rate of 79.1 and 64.4%, respectively (p < 0.001). There was no evidence for a difference between death, defaulter and non-responder rates. More transfers to the inpatient Therapeutic Feeding Centre (I-TFC) were observed in the CSB pre-mix group (19.1%) compared to the RUTF group (9.3%) (p = 0.003). The average weight gain up to discharge was 1.08 g kg(-1) day(-1) higher in the RUTF group [95% confidence interval: 0.46-1.70] and the length of stay was 2 weeks shorter in the RUTF group (p < 0.001). For the treatment of childhood MAM in Niger, RUTF resulted in a higher weight gain, a higher recovery rate, a shorter length of stay and a lower transfer rate to the I-TFC compared to a CSB pre-mix. This might have important implications on the efficacy and the quality of SFPs