Potentials of Hydrocarbon Utilization by Wood-Digesting Bacteria Isolated from the Lagos Lagoon, Nigeria

There is a continuous search for environmental–friendly methods to address oil-polluted environments, hence this study aimed to establish the potential of using tropical estuarine bacterial strains for degradation of crude oil in polluted environ-ment. Microbial degradation of hydrocarbons has been considered a promising, natural, less toxic and cost-effective technology. Lignocellulose-utilizing bacterial strains (Bacillus megaterium strain NOB, Streptomyces pseudogriseolus strain EOB and Paenibacillus sp. strains ROB) were isolated from decomposing wood residues in a tropical lagoon. They were identified on the basis of morphological and biochemical characteristics, observation under scanning electron microscope and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Microbial growth assessment coupled with bio-surfactant production were performed in triplicates under aerobic batch conditions in Erlenmeyer flasks containing mineral salts medium fortified with trace elements and crude oil as the sole carbon source. The generation times of strains NOB, EOB and ROB were 28.3, 44.9 and 46.8 h respectively; with specific growth rates of 14.2, 8.9 and 8.6 h-1, respectively on crude oil. Gas chromatographic analysis of residual hydrocarbons from the growth cultures of isolates revealed that the three strains had degraded the oil by 89.34, 86.33 and 79.37%, respectively at the end of 21 days. The cell hydrophobicity of the bacterial strains also reached 83.6, 79.4 and 69.4%, respectively. The results from this study suggest that wood-digesting bacterial strains from a tropical lagoon possess hydrocarbon utilization capabili-ties. They could therefore have potentials for deployment in the bioremediation of petrochemical spills in polluted environments

Évaluation externe du Centre régional pour le développement et la santé (CREDESA), République du Bénin

Le Centre régional pour le développement et la santé (CREDESA) oeuvre depuis 1983 auprès de la population d'une partie du district de Ouidah au Bénin. Ce centre a mis en place un système rationalisé de soins de santé primaires avec recouvrement partiel des coûts à un niveau abordable par les communautés concernées, des programmes de formation et de recherche opérationnelle. Le Projet de Développement sanitaire de Pahou a été le berceau de l'Initiative de Bamako. La mission du CREDESA ne se limite pas au seul district de Ouidah; en effet, celui-ci joue un rôle de projet pilote pour l'ensemble du Bénin et même pour l'Afrique Occidentale

Increasing the uptake of cervical screening at cornerstone medical practice

BackgroundNationally, cervical screening uptake is suboptimal, even though research shows that the programme is highly effective at preventing cervical cancer.Local problemCornerstone is a small practice located in Salford in the North West of England. Historically, screening uptake here has been lower than average. There were 656 eligible women on our practice list and 177 of them were unscreened at the start of the project. The largest group of non-white British or Irish people on our list (13) spoke Polish as their first language.MethodsWe used quality improvement methods: the model for improvement, a driver diagram and Plan, Do, Study, Act cycles. Specifically, we targeted 177 women who were previously non-responders, as well as keeping up the regular screening service. We managed to contact 120 women during the project.InterventionsWe tested different methods of inviting women to attend cervical screening: telephone calls, text messages and letters. Later, a video link was also included in the text invitation. Information leaflets about the tests were added to letters. The letter was also translated into Polish.ResultsUptake improved and the aim was reached. Telephone calls from the nurse increased uptake but took time away from other work, so was not a sustainable change for our practice. A letter stating evidence basis for the test, and a letter translated into Polish showed limited improvement. Sending letters with information leaflets and text messages with video links achieved similar response rates with no statistical significance when we analysed the data. Offering extended hours and flexible appointment times showed very positive results.ConclusionsThe text message with a video attached was adopted as an effective method for targeting persistent non-responders.The project in its second year is being scaled up across the Primary Care Network.</jats:sec