Etude de l'insuffisance erectile dans une population d'hommes jeunes et sexuellement actifs au Burkina FasoStudy of erectile dysfuntion in a population of young and sexually active men in Burkina Faso

Objective: This study was carried out among a young population of working men to determine the prevalence of erectile dysfunction (ED) in our environment and to evaluate the patients' knowledge about and attitude towards this problem. Patients and Methods : This study was based on a survey carried out on male subjects aged 18 and above over a period of six months. The survey was done during an annual medical check-up of men working in local companies and some civil servants. Those who agreed to participate in the investigation (855 men), had to complete two questionnaires: the 5-item questionnaire of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) evaluating the quality of erectile function and a questionnaire drawn up by our team with the aim of evaluating the participants' knowledge about and their attitude towards the problem of ED. The questionnaires were analyzed using the Epi info program. Results: The 855 subjects that took part in the investigation accounted for 80% of all men that had been asked to participate in the survey. The average age was 37,4 ± 9,1 years; more than two thirds of the participants (78%) were married and 69% were monogamous. The overall prevalence of ED was 47% and we noticed that it increased with age. Three risk factors were identified: age, arterial hypertension and hemorrhoidal disease. Age and arterial hypertension are classic risk factors for ED, while hemorrhoidal disease has so far not been considered as such. In our study, especially for the men interviewed, it has played an important role. 93,2% of the questioned subjects said that they would be ready to consult for ED, whereas in fact only 3,8% had taken medical advice.Conclusion: ED appears to be a real problem, also for younger men, in our environment. However the results of this study cannot be generalised and we are planning to undertake other studies based on the general population which will allow us to draw more valid conclusions and to better organize treatment of these patient. RsumObjectif: Notre tude avait pour objectif de dterminer la prvalence de l'insuffisance rectile (IE) dans notre environnement et d'valuer les connaissances et les attitudes des sujets qui en souffrent. Mthodologie: Il s'agissait d'une enqute transversale sur six mois concernant des sujets gs de 18 ans et plus du monde de travail, ralise au cours d'une visite annuelle des travailleurs des entreprises de la place et de quelques fonctionnaires. Les sujets ayant accept de participer l'enqute (855 hommes), avaient remplir deux questionnaires: la version 5 items de l'International Iindex of Erectile Function (IIEF5), qui value la fonction rectile et, un questionnaire labor par nous mme, dans le but d'valuer les connaissances et les attitudes des enquts, vis vis de l'IE. Les questionnaires ont ensuite t dpouills et analyss sur micro ordinateur l'aide du logiciel Epi info. Rsultats: Les 855 sujets qui ont particip l'enqute reprsentaient 80% de tous ceux qui ont t sollicits. L'ge moyen des enquts tait de 37,4 ± 9,1; plus des 2/3 (78%) taient maris et monogames dans 69%. La prvalence globale note tait de 47% et on a remarqu que celle-ci augmentait avec l'ge. Trois facteurs de risque ont t mis en exergue: l'ge, l'hypertension artrielle (HTA) et la maladie hmorrodaire. Si l'ge et l'HTA sont des facteurs de risque classiques, la maladie hmorrodaire l'est moins; par contre il a t beaucoup invoqu par de nombreux enquts. 93,2% des sujets interrogs seraient prts consulter pour IE, alors que seulement 3,8% l'avaient effectivement dj fait.Conclusion: L'insuffisance rectile s'est rvl comme un problme rel vcu dans notre environnement. Cependant nos rsultats ne peuvent pas tre gnraliss et nous envisageons d'autres tudes, en population gnrale, qui nous permettraient de tirer des enseignements et de mieux organiser la prise en charge de ces patients.African Journal of Urology Vol. 11(4) 2005: 310-31

Geotechnical properties of unprocessed soil from abandoned Mamut mine in Sabah, Borneo

The issue related to the geotechnical stability of land mining area in Malaysia had become more critical after a strong earthquake struck Sabah, Borneo in 2015 centred in Ranau District where Mamut copper mine is located. As part of safety assessment and future planning, knowledge of soil characteristics in this risky area is necessary. This paper presents some findings on geotechnical properties of unprocessed soil obtained from the abandoned mine. Results found that Mamut soil can be classified as SW and has higher coarse-grained percentage (97.4%) compared to other copper mines elsewhere. The soil also has higher permeability (3.61 x 10-3 m/s), lower organic content (0.15%), lower pH (4.53), higher specific gravity (2.75) and higher maximum dry density (1780 kg/m3). Mamut soil is found to be cohesionless, while the angle of friction shows a variation with the relative compaction. Chemical analysis shows that SiO2 and C12H10MgO6S2 are the two predominant compounds of the soil. Morphologically, Mamut soil appears to be composed of powdered and hardened particles with dark brown colour. They contain higher amount of irregular-shaped particles but well-rounded and spherical shapes are also observed. Smooth surfaces with no agglomeration between particles indicates that the strength value of the soil is low due to the weak bonding between the loose grain structure. These findings suggest that Mamut soil is suitable for chemical stabilisation or remediation method such as microbiologically induced calcite precipitation (MICP)

Influence of multiple treatment cycles on the strength and microstructure of biocemented sandy soil

The strength of sandy soil can be improved via enzyme-induced calcium carbonate (CaCO3) precipitation (EICP). This method is a sustainable and environmentally friendly soil improvement technique that forms calcium carbonate between and around the soil particles. The formation of CaCO3 is achieved through the hydrolysis of urea that is catalyzed by free enzyme urease. This paper is divided into two parts. The first part explains the test-tube tests that were conducted to determine the amount and efficiency of CaCO3 precipitation at different concentrations of the cementation reagent (CCR). The second part describes the effects of multiple treatment cycles on the unconfined compressive strength (UCS) of EICP-treated soil. The soil samples were mixed with the EICP solution and compacted into PVC moulds. It was then followed by cycles of treatment with the EICP solution via surface percolation. The effectiveness of the bio-cementation was determined through a series of UCS tests. The results revealed that the UCS increased with higher CCR and more treatment cycles. The increase in UCS was also attributed to higher amounts of CaCO3 precipitated within the soil matrix. The highest UCS value of 1712 kPa was obtained at 1 M after the 3rd cycle of treatment with 8.21% CaCO3content. In conclusion, a higher number of treatment cycles demonstrated that increased deposition of CaCO3 precipitates increases the bonding effects and strength of the treated soil. Successful use of EICP in soil improvement will help in reducing sustainability concerns related to the production of conventional stabilizers such as cement

Bio-cementation of sandy soil at different relative density

Enzyme-induced carbonate precipitation (EICP) is a bio-inspired technique used to improve the geotechnical properties of a variety of soils. The process of EICP is triggered by plant-derived urease enzyme in the presence of calcium ion to produce calcium carbonate within the soil matrix. This study aims to evaluate the influence of relative density on the strength of bio-cemented sandy soil. The mix and compact method was adopted to treat the sandy soil. Soil samples were prepared at three different relative density (loose, medium, and dense states) and three concentrations of cementation reagent (0.25, 0.5 and 1.0 M). The unconfined compressive strength tests, calcium carbonate content and FESEM analysis were carried out on the treated soil sample. The findings showed that the unconfined compressive strength (UCS) increased with higher relative density and concentration of cementation reagent (CCR). For instance, at 0.25 M UCS value of 98, 141 and 160 kPa were obtained at loose, medium and dense state, respectively. The shows that the increase in strength of bio-cemented sandy soil was not only attributed to the calcite content formed within the soil but also the extent of the denseness of the soil. The microstructural morphology further confirms the formation of CaCO3, which is partly responsible for the general improvement of strength of the sandy soil

Prise en charge des corps étrangers des voies urinaires basses à Bobo-Dioulasso (Burkina Faso): Plaidoyer pour un accès aux moyens endoscopiques

Objectif: Présenter l’expérience du service d’urologie de la prise en charge des corps étrangers du bas appareil urinaire. Patients et Méthodes: Il s’agissait d’une revue rétrospective des corps étrangers des voies urinaires basses pris en charge dans le service d’urologie du CHUSS de Bobo-Dioulasso sur la période du 1er Septembre 2013 au 31 Octobre 2015. Le consentement éclairé des patients a été obtenu. A travers une revue de la littérature, les caractéristiques cliniques et la prise en charge des patients ont été discutées. Résultats: Trois cas de corps étrangers des voies urinaires basses ont été enregistrés et pris en charge dans notre service en deux ans. Les trois patients étaient respectivement âgés de 16 ans, 37 ans et 23 ans. Il s’agissait de deux patientes de sexe féminin, présentant chacune un corps étranger intra vésical introduit lors de manœuvre abortive pour l’une et lors d’une agression sexuelle pour l’autre. Pour le troisième patient, de sexe masculin, il s’agissait d’un corps étranger intra urétral auto introduit lors de pratique masturbatoire. Il s’agissait d’un tube en caoutchouc introduit dans un but abortif, d’une pointe (clou) lors d’une agression sexuelle et d’une tige métallique sur laquelle a été enroulé un fil de fer chez le dernier patient. Tous les trois patients ont subi une chirurgie à ciel ouvert ayant permis l’extraction des corps étrangers. Une consultation psychiatrique à la recherche d’une pathologie psychiatrique sous-jacente a été réalisée chez le dernier patient. La patiente ayant été victime de l’agression sexuelle a bénéficié d’un soutien psychologique. Les suites opératoires ont été simples. Conclusion: Les corps étrangers des voies urinaires basses sont relativement peu fréquents dans notre pratique, leur diagnostic est aisé avec des circonstances de survenue et la nature de ces corps étrangers variables. Malgré les progrès de l’endoscopie urologique, leur prise en charge dans notre pratique est faite par la chirurgie à ciel ouvert

The role of the axial substituent in subphthalocyanine acceptors for bulk-heterojunction solar cells

\u3cp\u3eFour hexachlorosubphthalocyanines SubPcCl\u3csub\u3e6\u3c/sub\u3e-X bearing different axial substituents (X) have been synthesized for use as novel electron acceptors in solution-processed bulk-heterojunction organic solar cells. Subphthalocyanines are aromatic chromophoric molecules with cone-shaped structure, good solution processability, intense optical absorption in the visible spectral region, appropriate electron mobilities, and tunable energy levels. Solar cells with subphthalocyanines as the electron acceptor and PTB7-Th as the electron donor exhibit a power conversion efficiency up to 4% and an external quantum efficiency approaching 60% due to significant contributions from both the electron donor and the electron acceptor to the photocurrent, indicating a promising prospect of non-fullerene acceptors based on subphthalocyanines and structurally related systems.\u3c/p\u3

Integration of ethnobotany and population genetics uncovers the agrobiodiversity of date palms of Siwa Oasis (Egypt) and their importance to the evolutionary history of the species

Crop diversity is shaped by biological and social processes interacting at different spatiotemporal scales. Here we combined population genetics and ethnobotany to investigate date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) diversity in Siwa Oasis, Egypt. Based on interviews with farmers and observation of practices in the field, we collected 149 date palms from Siwa Oasis and 27 uncultivated date palms from abandoned oases in the surrounding desert. Using genotyping data from 18 nuclear and plastid microsatellite loci, we confirmed that some named types each constitute a clonal line, i.e. a true-to-type cultivar. We also found that others are collections of clonal lines, i.e. ethnovarieties, or even unrelated samples, i.e. local categories. This alters current assessments of agrobiodiversity, which are visibly underestimated, and uncovers the impact of low-intensity, but highly effective, farming practices on biodiversity. These hardly observable practices, hypothesized by ethnographic survey and confirmed by genetic analysis, are enabled by the way Isiwans conceive and classify living beings in their oasis, which do not quite match the way biologists do: a classic disparity of etic vs. emic categorizations. In addition, we established that Siwa date palms represent a unique and highly diverse genetic cluster, rather than a subset of North African and Middle Eastern palm diversity. As previously shown, North African date palms display evidence of introgression by the wild relative Phoenix theophrasti, and we found that the uncultivated date palms from the abandoned oases share even more alleles with this species than cultivated palms in this region. The study of Siwa date palms could hence be a key to the understanding of date palm diversification in North Africa. Integration of ethnography and population genetics promoted the understanding of the interplay between diversity management in the oasis (short-time scale), and the origins and dynamic of diversity through domestication and diversification (long-time scale)