TRADITIONAL MEDICINE: PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROSPECTS AND INTEGRATION IN THE NATIONAL HEALTH SYSTEM OF CAMEROON.

Traditional medicine refers to health practices, approaches, knowledge and beliefs incorporating plant, animal and mineral based medicines, spiritual therapies, manual techniques and exercises, applied singularly or in combination to treat, diagnose and prevent illnesses or maintain well-being. In the last decade traditional medicine has become very popular in Cameroon, partly due to the long unsustainable economic situation in the country. The high cost of drugs and increase in drug resistance to common diseases like malaria, bacteria infections and other sexually transmitted diseases has caused the therapeutic approach to alternative traditional medicine as an option for concerted search for new chemical entities (NCE). The World Health Organisation (WHO) in collaboration with the Cameroon Government has put in place a strategic platform for the practice and development of TM in Cameroon. This platform aims at harmonizing the traditional medicine practice in the country, create a synergy between TM and modern medicine and to institutionalize a more harmonized integrated TM practices by the year 2012 in Cameroon. An overview of the practice of TM past, present and future perspectives that underpins the role in sustainable poverty alleviation has been discussed. This study gives an insight into the strategic plan and road map set up by the Government of Cameroon for the organisational framework and research platform for the practice and development of TM, and the global partnership involving the management of TM in the country

Combined Tumor Cell-Based Vaccination and Interleukin-12 Gene Therapy Polarizes the Tumor Microenvironment in Mice

Tumor progression depends on tumor milieu, which influences neovasculature formation and immunosuppression. Combining immunotherapy with antiangiogenic/antivascular therapy might be an effective therapeutic approach. The aim of our study was to elaborate an anticancer therapeutic strategy based on the induction of immune response which leads to polarization of tumor milieu. To achieve this, we developed a tumor cell-based vaccine. CAMEL peptide was used as a B16-F10 cell death-inducing agent. The lysates were used as a vaccine to immunize mice bearing B16-F10 melanoma tumors. To further improve the therapeutic effect of the vaccine, we combined it with interleukin (IL)-12 gene therapy. IL-12, a cytokine with antiangiogenic properties, activates nonspecific and specific immune responses. We observed that combined therapy is significantly more effective (as compared with monotherapies) in inhibiting tumor growth. Furthermore, the tested combination polarizes the tumor microenvironment, which results in a switch from a proangiogenic/immunosuppressive to an antiangiogenic/immunostimulatory one. The switch manifests itself as a decreased number of tumor blood vessels, increased levels of tumor-infiltrating CD4+, CD8+ and NK cells, as well as lower level of suppressor lymphocytes (Treg). Our results suggest that polarizing tumor milieu by such combined therapy does inhibit tumor growth and seems to be a promising therapeutic strategy

The Tumor-Immune Microenvironment and Response to Radiation Therapy

Chemotherapy and radiation therapy (RT) are standard therapeutic modalities for patients with cancer, including breast cancer. Historic studies examining tissue and cellular responses to RT have predominantly focused on damage caused to proliferating malignant cells leading to their death. However, there is increasing evidence that RT also leads to significant alterations in the tumor microenvironment, particularly with respect to effects on immune cells infiltrating tumors. This review focuses on tumor-associated immune cell responses following RT and discusses how immune responses may be modified to enhance durability and efficacy of RT

Characterization and modelling the mechanical behaviour of poly (l-lactic acid) for the manufacture of bioresorbable vascular scaffolds by stretch blow moulding

Bioresorbable Vascular Scaffolds (BVS) manufactured from poly (l-lactic acid) (PLLA) offer an alternative to metal scaffolds for the treatment of coronary heart disease. One of the key steps in the manufacture of these scaffolds is the stretch blow moulding process where the PLLA is biaxially stretched above glass transition temperature (Tg), inducing biaxial orientation and thus increasing ductility, strength and stiffness. To optimise the manufacture and performance of these scaffolds it is important to understand the influence of temperature and strain rate on the constitutive behaviour of PLLA in the blow moulding process. Experiments have been performed on samples of PLLA on a custom built biaxial stretch testing machine to replicate conditions typically experienced during blow moulding i.e. in a temperature range from 70 °C to 100 °C and at strain rates of 1 s−1, 4 s−1 and 16 s−1 respectively. The data is subsequently used to calibrate a nonlinear viscoelastic material model to represent the deformation behaviour of PLLA in the blow moulding process. The results highlight the significance of temperature and strain rate on the yielding and strain hardening behaviour of PLLA and the ability of the selected model to capture it

Challenges and innovations brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic regarding medical and pharmacy education especially in Africa and implications for the future

Background: Multiple measures introduced early to restrict COVID-19 have dramatically impacted the teaching of medical and pharmacy students, exacerbated by the lack of infrastructure and experience with e-learning at the start of the pandemic. In addition, the costs and reliability of the Internet across Africa pose challenges alongside undertaking clinical teaching and practical programmes. Consequently, there is a need to understand the many challenges and how these were addressed, given increasingly complex patients, to provide future direction. Method: An exploratory study was conducted among senior-level medical and pharmacy educators across Africa, addressing four key questions, including the challenges resulting from the pandemic and how these were dealt with. Results: Staff and student members faced multiple challenges initially, including adapting to online learning. In addition, concerns with the lack of equipment (especially among disadvantaged students), the costs of Internet bundles, and how to conduct practicals and clinical teaching. Multiple activities were undertaken to address these challenges. These included training sessions, developing innovative approaches to teaching, and seeking ways to reduce Internet costs. Robust approaches to practicals, clinical teaching, and assessments have been developed. Conclusions: Appreciable difficulties to teaching arising from the pandemic are being addressed across Africa. Research is ongoing to improve education and assessments

Bio-composting oil palm waste for improvement of soil fertility

Sources of bio-compost as agro-industrial wastes includes wide range of oil palm wastes viz. waste, biomass, palm kernels, empty fruit bunch, mill effluent, trunk and frond compost. Various composting processes are summarized in brief with distinct reference of oil–palm composting covering aerated static pile, and co-composting with earthworms (vermicomposting). However, in-vessel composting and windrow composting has meritorious advantages in composting. This review article refers to various significant roles played by microorganisms associated. Noteworthy study of bio-compost applications and procedures are correspondingly glosses framework of ecological, economical and agro-ecosystemic benefits

P14 Criblage phytochimique, toxicité aiguë et évaluation de l'activité antidiabétique de l'écorce du tronc de Cylicodiscus gabunensis (Fabaceae)

Introduction : Les plantes médicinales à l’instar de Cylicodiscus gabunensis sont une alternative aux traitements conventionnels du diabète au Cameroun. La présente étude a pour but d’évaluer l’activité antidiabétique de cette plante. Matériel et méthodes : L’écorce de tronc de C. gabunensis a été récoltée puis identifiée à l’Herbier National du Cameroun avec la référence N°1490/SRF/G. L’écorce a été entièrement rincée à l’eau courante puis séchée à l’abri du soleil et de l’humidité pendant 21 jours avant d’être pulvérisée. Trois cent grammes de matériel végétal ont été noyés respectivement dans 3000 mL d’éthanol 95°, d’un mélange hydro-éthanolique (70:30), et d’eau distillée pendant 72 heures. Après filtration au papier Whatmann n°1, les extraits secs ont été obtenus par séchage à l’étuve à 40 °C pendant 36 heures. Le criblage phytochimique a été réalisé selon les méthodes décrites par Harbone, Odebeyi et Sofowora, Trease et Evans. L’évaluation de la toxicité orale aiguë de l’extrait aqueux réalisée selon la li directrice 423 de l’OCDE (2002). Le test de suivi glycémique a été effectué selon la méthode décrite par Mukherjee et al. (2016). Résultats : Le criblage phytochimique de l’extrait aqueux a révélé la présence d’alcaloïdes, de flavonoïdes, d’anthocyanines, de saponines, tanins et glycosides. Aucune différence significative de poids n’a été observée entre les deux groupes (p>0,05). Les coupes de microphotographies du foie des rats femelles montrent une architecture normale du foie et du rein. Il a été observé de la première à la cinquième heure une baisse significative de la glycémie chez les témoins positifs (H0 :70,33 mg/dL ; H1 :36 mg/dL ; H2 :26,33 mg/dL ; H3 : 20 mg/dL ; H5 :27mg/dL) en comparaison au témoin négatif. CG 100 a présenté un effet hypoglycémiant (80,66 mg/dL) dès la cinquième heure en confrontation à sa glycémie de base (102 mg/dL). L’effet hypoglycémiant de CG 200 s’est révélé dès la troisième heure (93,66 mg/dL) en parallèle à sa glycémie de base (107mg/dL). Une hyperglycémie significative a été observée 30 minutes après l’administration du D-glucose chez tous les animaux. Le témoin positif a présenté une baisse significative de la glycémie (70 mg/dL) dès la soixantième minute. Les animaux exposés à la dose de 100 mg/Kg d’extrait ont présenté une baisse de la glycémie à 60 (118,33 mg/dL) et 90 minutes (107,33mg/dL) qui n’était pas significative en comparaison au témoin négatif. Seule la glycémie mesurée à 120 minutes (87,66mg/dL) avait considérablement baissé en confrontation au témoin négatif. Le traitement à CG 200mg/Kg a permis d’observer une baisse de la glycémie à 90 (100,66mg/dL) et 120 minutes (98mg/dL) qui n’était pas significativement différente du témoin négatif. Conclusion : Le criblage phyto-chimique de l’extrait aqueux de tronc de C. gabunensis a révélé la présence de métabolites secondaires possédant des propriétés antidiabétiques. A la dose unique 2000 mg/Kg aucun signe de toxicité n’a été observé. Aucune activité hypoglycémiante n’a été observée en revanche il a été relevé un effet anti- hyperglycémiant. Les résultats de ce travail vérifient ainsi l’hypothèse selon laquelle, la consommation d’extrait aqueux d’écorce de tronc de C. gabunensis abaisse la glycémie et justifient son usage en médecine traditionnelle