Assessment of the Genetic Diversity of Sitophilus Zeamais in Countries of the Sahelo-Sudanian Zone (Senegal, Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Guinea Conakry)

Maize is exploited substantially in the countries of the semi-arid zone of West Africa [5] where it plays essential economic and social functions. But these functions are seriously threatened by heavy losses, caused mainly by the corn weevil (Sitophilus zeamais) (Motschusky, 1855). This article aims to assess the genetic diversity of the insect in 5 countries in the semi-arid zone. This evaluation will highlight the country (ies) where the susceptibility of S. zeamais to survive or disappear is high, because the genetic diversity of a population is positively linked to its adaptive potential [12]. Exploitation of 60 sequences of the cytochrome b gene from insects from countries in the area (Senegal, Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Guinea Conakry) has led to the conclusion that genetic diversity is high in Senegal, Guinea Conakry but especially in Burkina Faso and Niger. These countries would therefore favor the adaptability of the insect. However, it is very low in Mali. Thus this country would be unfavorable to the survival of S. zeamais

Génératrice à réluctance variable connectée au réseau alternatif monophasé pour une application éolienne

Nous avons présenté dans ce travail le contrôle de la Génératrice à Réluctance Variable (GRV) connectée au réseau alternatif monophasé pour une application éolienne. La régulation de la vitesse de rotation est assurée par le convertisseur coté génératrice et le couple est imposé par la machine à courant continu utilisée ici pour simuler la turbine éolienne. La connexion de la génératrice au réseau est réalisée par un convertisseur DC-AC qui assure le maintien de la tension du bus DC par un correcteur PI. Un correcteur résonant est utilisé pour suivre la consigne de courant sinusoïdale.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

A Randomized Exchange Algorithm for Computing Optimal Approximate Designs of Experiments

We propose a class of subspace ascent methods for computing optimal approximate designs that covers both existing as well as new and more efficient algorithms. Within this class of methods, we construct a simple, randomized exchange algorithm (REX). Numerical comparisons suggest that the performance of REX is comparable or superior to the performance of state-of-the-art methods across a broad range of problem structures and sizes. We focus on the most commonly used criterion of D-optimality that also has applications beyond experimental design, such as the construction of the minimum volume ellipsoid containing a given set of data-points. For D-optimality, we prove that the proposed algorithm converges to the optimum. We also provide formulas for the optimal exchange of weights in the case of the criterion of A-optimality. These formulas enable one to use REX for computing A-optimal and I-optimal designs.Comment: 23 pages, 2 figure

Profil clinique et évolutif des lésions de la peau et des parties molles chez les diabétiques en 2017 à la salle de pansement du Centre Marc Sankale de Dakar

Introduction: le but de notre étude était de déterminer le profil clinique et évolutif des lésions de la peau et des parties molles des sujets diabétiques suivis à la salle de pansement. Méthodes: il s'agissait d'une étude observationnelle descriptive et analytique menée du 1er janvier au 31 décembre 2017 à la salle de pansement du centre Marc Sankale de Dakar. Notre étude a porté sur les sujets diabétiques ayant consultés à la salle de pansement. Résultats: au total, 37173 actes de soins ont été enregistrés au centre Marc Sankale. Les activés de soins à la salle de pansement représentaient 16418 cas soit une prévalence de 14,16%. L'âge moyen était de 56,6 ± 12 ans et le sex ratio (H/F) de 0,88. Le diabète de type 2 prédominait (78,97%) et la durée moyenne du diabète était de 8,06 ± 7,9 ans. La glycémie capillaire moyenne était de 2,4 ± 1 g/l. La neuropathie diabétique était présente chez 72,33% des cas. Les lésions se situait aux membres dans 93,98% (1185 cas). Les lésions les plus représentatives étaient l'ulcère (46,76%), l'abcès (13,46%), le phlegmon (13,20%), la gangrène (8,41%), l'érysipèle (3,78%), le mal perforant (3,53%), l'intertrigo (3,95%). Les lésions étaient infectieuses (61,41), non infectieuses (33,50%), vasculaires pures (1,57%) et Mixtes (3,70%). Sur les 1189 patients 7,57% avaient présentés une ostéite. Les germes retrouvés étaient des bactéries grams positifs (12,70%), grams négatifs (23,80%). L'amputation était corrélée à la topographie de la lésion (p=0.00), au type de lésion (p=0.000), à l'ancienneté du diabète (p=0,02), au type de diabète (p=0,008), à la présence d'ostéite (p=0,006). L'amputation etait mineur (43,33%), et majeur (37,43%). Nous avons enregistré 70 décès (5,89%). Conclusion: les lésions de la peau et des tissus mous restent dominées par le pied diabétique. La mortalité est non négligeable et le risque d'amputation était statistiquement corrélé à la topographie, au type de lésion, à l'ancienneté et le type de diabète et à l'existence d'ostéite

Chronic infection during placental malaria is associated with up-regulation of cycloxygenase-2

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Placental malaria (PM) is associated with poor foetal development, but the pathophysiological processes involved are poorly understood. Cyclooxygenase (COX) and lipoxygenase (LOX) which convert fatty acids to prostaglandins and leukotrienes, play important roles in pregnancy and foetal development. COX-2, currently targeted by specific drugs, plays a dual role as it associates with both pre-eclampsia pathology and recovery during infection. The role of COX during PM was questioned by quantifying at delivery COX-1, COX-2, 15-LOX, and IL-10 expression in two groups of malaria infected and uninfected placenta.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Placental biopsies were collected at delivery for mRNA isolation and quantification, using real time PCR.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>COX-2 and IL-10 mRNAs increased mainly during chronic infections (nine- and five-times, respectively), whereas COX-1 transcripts remained constant. COX-2 over-expression was associated with a higher birth weight of the baby, but with a lower rate of haemoglobin of the mother. It was associated with a macrophage infiltration of the placenta and with a low haemozoin infiltration. In the opposite way, placental infection was associated with lower expression of 15-LOX mRNA. A high degree of haemozoin deposition correlates with low birth weight and decreased expression of COX-2.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These data provide evidence that COX-2 and IL-10 are highly induced during chronic infection of the placenta, but were not associated with preterm delivery or low birth weight. The data support the involvement of COX-2 in the recovery phase of the placental infection.</p

Prevalence of Mutations in the \u3ci\u3ePfdhfr\u3c/i\u3e, \u3ci\u3ePfdhps\u3c/i\u3e, and \u3ci\u3ePfmdr1\u3c/i\u3e Genes of Malarial Parasites Isolated from Symptomatic Patients in Dogondoutchi, Niger

The effectiveness of artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) depends not only on that of artemisinin but also on that of partner molecules. This study aims to evaluate the prevalence of mutations in the Pfdhfr, Pfdhps, and Pfmdr1 genes from isolates collected during a clinical study. Plasmodium genomic DNA samples extracted from symptomatic malaria patients from Dogondoutchi, Niger, were sequenced by the Sanger method to determine mutations in the Pfdhfr (codons 51, 59, 108, and 164), Pfdhps (codons 436, 437, 540, 581, and 613), and Pfmdr1 (codons 86, 184, 1034, and 1246) genes. One hundred fifty-five (155) pre-treatment samples were sequenced for the Pfdhfr, Pfdhps, and Pfmdr1 genes. A high prevalence of mutations in the Pfdhfr gene was observed at the level of the N51I (84.97%), C59R (92.62%), and S108N (97.39%) codons. The key K540E mutation in the Pfdhps gene was not observed. Only one isolate was found to harbor a mutation at codon I431V. The most common mutation on the Pfmdr1 gene was Y184F in 71.43% of the mutations found, followed by N86Y in 10.20%. The triple-mutant haplotype N51I/C59R/S108N (IRN) was detected in 97% of the samples. Single-mutant (ICS and NCN) and double-mutant (IRS, NRN, and ICN) haplotypes were prevalent at 97% and 95%, respectively. Double-mutant haplotypes of the Pfdhps (581 and 613) and Pfmdr (86 and 184) were found in 3% and 25.45% of the isolates studied, respectively. The study focused on the molecular analysis of the sequencing of the Pfdhfr, Pfdhps, and Pfmdr1 genes. Although a high prevalence of mutations in the Pfdhfr gene have been observed, there is a lack of sulfadoxine pyrimethamine resistance. There is a high prevalence of mutation in the Pfmdr184 codon associated with resistance to amodiaquine. These data will be used by Niger’s National Malaria Control Program to better monitor the resistance of Plasmodium to partner molecules in artemisinin-based combination therapies

Une lesion cutanée persistante non cicatricielle depuis 3 ans: le pyoderma gangrenosum

Le pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) est une dermatose neutrophilique non infectieuse rare souvent méconnue. Il se présente généralement par des ulcérations cutanées inflammatoires, très douloureuses et d'évolution rapide. Il est fréquemment retrouvé dans un contexte de néoplasie, de pathologies inflammatoires digestives, rhumatologiques et/ou hématologiques. Son diagnostic est très souvent tardif après de multiples échecs thérapeutiques. Nous rapportons un cas de pyoderma gangrenosum dont le diagnostic n'a pas été criant. Un patient a été admis dans notre service pour une lésion dermatologique persistante et d'évolution défavorable malgré les débridements et l'administration d'antibiotiques. Il était suivi pour un cancer de la prostate, une hypertension artérielle et un asthme. Du fait des anomalies biologiques observées telles qu'une hyperleucocytose à polynucléaires neutrophiles avec myélémie à myélocytes et métamyélocytes, sans blastose sanguine et une anémie normochrome normocytaire, une leucémie myéloïde chronique a été évoquée chez ce patient. Elle a par la suite été infirmée devant les différents examens complémentaires non concluants. C'est ainsi que le diagnostic de PG a été évoqué et confirmé à l'examen anatomopathologique montrant un aspect histopathologique d'un tissu de granulation concordant avec un pyoderma gangrenosum et une absence de signe histologique de malignité. L'institution d'un traitement à base de corticothérapie a abouti à la guérison

Maternal Malaria Induces a Procoagulant and Antifibrinolytic State That Is Embryotoxic but Responsive to Anticoagulant Therapy

Low birth weight and fetal loss are commonly attributed to malaria in endemic areas, but the cellular and molecular mechanisms that underlie these poor birth outcomes are incompletely understood. Increasing evidence suggests that dysregulated hemostasis is important in malaria pathogenesis, but its role in placental malaria (PM), characterized by intervillous sequestration of Plasmodium falciparum, proinflammatory responses, and excessive fibrin deposition is not known. To address this question, markers of coagulation and fibrinolysis were assessed in placentae from malaria-exposed primigravid women. PM was associated with significantly elevated placental monocyte and proinflammatory marker levels, enhanced perivillous fibrin deposition, and increased markers of activated coagulation and suppressed fibrinolysis in placental plasma. Submicroscopic PM was not proinflammatory but tended to be procoagulant and antifibrinolytic. Birth weight trended downward in association with placental parasitemia and high fibrin score. To directly assess the importance of coagulation in malaria-induced compromise of pregnancy, Plasmodium chabaudi AS-infected pregnant C57BL/6 mice were treated with the anticoagulant, low molecular weight heparin. Treatment rescued pregnancy at midgestation, with substantially decreased rates of active abortion and reduced placental and embryonic hemorrhage and necrosis relative to untreated animals. Together, the results suggest that dysregulated hemostasis may represent a novel therapeutic target in malaria-compromised pregnancies