Mapping the Risk of Anaemia in Preschool-Age Children: The Contribution of Malnutrition, Malaria, and Helminth Infections in West Africa

Ricardo Soares Magalhães and colleagues used national cross-sectional household-based demographic health surveys to map the distribution of anemia risk in preschool children in Burkina Faso, Ghana, and Mali

White Matter Development in Early Puberty: A Longitudinal Volumetric and Diffusion Tensor Imaging Twin Study

White matter microstructure and volume show synchronous developmental patterns in children. White matter volume increases considerably during development. Fractional anisotropy, a measure for white matter microstructural directionality, also increases with age. Development of white matter volume and development of white matter microstructure seem to go hand in hand. The extent to which the same or different genetic and/or environmental factors drive these two aspects of white matter maturation is currently unknown. We mapped changes in white matter volume, surface area and diffusion parameters in mono- and dizygotic twins who were scanned at age 9 (203 individuals) and again at age 12 (126 individuals). Over the three-year interval, white matter volume (+6.0%) and surface area (+1.7%) increased, fiber bundles expanded (most pronounced in the left arcuate fasciculus and splenium), and fractional anisotropy increased (+3.0%). Genes influenced white matter volume (heritability ∼85%), surface area (∼85%), and fractional anisotropy (locally 7% to 50%) at both ages. Finally, volumetric white matter growth was negatively correlated with fractional anisotropy increase (r = –0.62) and this relationship was driven by environmental factors. In children who showed the most pronounced white matter growth, fractional anisotropy increased the least and vice-versa. Thus, white matter development in childhood may reflect a process of both expansion and fiber optimization

Panel 7: otitis media:treatment and complications

Objective: We aimed to summarize key articles published between 2011 and 2015 on the treatment of (recurrent) acute otitis media, otitis media with effusion, tympanostomy tube otorrhea, chronic suppurative otitis media and complications of otitis media, and their implications for clinical practice. Data Sources: PubMed, Ovid Medline, the Cochrane Library, and Clinical Evidence (BMJ Publishing). Review Methods: All types of articles related to otitis media treatment and complications between June 2011 and March 2015 were identified. A total of 1122 potential related articles were reviewed by the panel members; 118 relevant articles were ultimately included in this summary. Conclusions: Recent literature and guidelines emphasize accurate diagnosis of acute otitis media and optimal management of ear pain. Watchful waiting is optional in mild to moderate acute otitis media; antibiotics do shorten symptoms and duration of middle ear effusion. The additive benefit of adenoidectomy to tympanostomy tubes in recurrent acute otitis media and otitis media with effusion is controversial and age dependent. Topical antibiotic is the treatment of choice in acute tube otorrhea. Symptomatic hearing loss due to persistent otitis media with effusion is best treated with tympanostomy tubes. Novel molecular and biomaterial treatments as adjuvants to surgical closure of eardrum perforations seem promising. There is insufficient evidence to support the use of complementary and alternative treatments. Implications for Practice: Emphasis on accurate diagnosis of otitis media, in its various forms, is important to reduce overdiagnosis, overtreatment, and antibiotic resistance. Children at risk for otitis media and its complications deserve special attention

The current state-of-the-art of spinal cord imaging: methods.

A first-ever spinal cord imaging meeting was sponsored by the International Spinal Research Trust and the Wings for Life Foundation with the aim of identifying the current state-of-the-art of spinal cord imaging, the current greatest challenges, and greatest needs for future development. This meeting was attended by a small group of invited experts spanning all aspects of spinal cord imaging from basic research to clinical practice. The greatest current challenges for spinal cord imaging were identified as arising from the imaging environment itself; difficult imaging environment created by the bone surrounding the spinal canal, physiological motion of the cord and adjacent tissues, and small cross-sectional dimensions of the spinal cord, exacerbated by metallic implants often present in injured patients. Challenges were also identified as a result of a lack of "critical mass" of researchers taking on the development of spinal cord imaging, affecting both the rate of progress in the field, and the demand for equipment and software to manufacturers to produce the necessary tools. Here we define the current state-of-the-art of spinal cord imaging, discuss the underlying theory and challenges, and present the evidence for the current and potential power of these methods. In two review papers (part I and part II), we propose that the challenges can be overcome with advances in methods, improving availability and effectiveness of methods, and linking existing researchers to create the necessary scientific and clinical network to advance the rate of progress and impact of the research

Sero-Evidence of Infectious Bursal Disease Transmission between Quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) and Chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus)

This study was carried out to determine possibility of infectious bursal disease transmission between quail and chicken. In the study, non vaccinated cockerel chicks were put together with infectious bursal disease viral inoculated quails sharing the same feeders and drinkers. The two bird groups were monitored and observed for symptoms and clinical signs of infectious bursal disease (IBD). There was no clinical sign observed however, a strong positive serological evidence of IBD infection from the test result. In this work the chickens mixed with unexposed quail did not show any clinical sign of the disease (IBD) or any sign of infection serologically. As shown in this study serological means of diagnosis is one of the simple and accurate diagnostic procedures which can not only yield quick result but may even detect a subclinical infection among birds, which may ultimately lead to timely intervention in curtailing the disease spread.Keywords: Sero-evidence, infectious bursal disease, quail; chicke

Response of Domestic Pigeons (Columba livia) to Experimental Infection with Chicken Isolate of Infectious Bursal Disease (IBD) Virus

The susceptibility of pigeons (Columba livia) to chicken isolate of infectious bursal disease (IBD) virus was investigated under arid zone condition. Thirty pigeons, 15 adults and 15 young ones were acquired from the Maiduguri Monday Market and some households in Maiduguri. The pigeons were divided into two groups thus: Group A, which is the experimental group and consisted of ten (10) adults and ten (10) young pigeons. Group B that served as the control group was made up of five (5) adults and five (5) young pigeons. Pigeons in group A were infected with 3 drops of IBD virus inoculum orally while those in group B were given same quantity of normal saline per os. All the pigeons in groups A and B did not manifest any clinical sign throughout the period of the study. However, some of the serum samples from the infected group were positive for presence of precipitin antibody on day 7 and 14 PI, while all the samples became negative on 21 days PI. The study revealed that pigeons (young and adults) are resistant to experimental infection with chicken isolate of IBD virus. However, the birds seroconverted following exposure to the virus despite the absence of clinical signs. This showed that there was “virus take” following exposure of the species to IBD virus. The possible role of pigeons in the epidemiology of IBD in Nigeria need to be further investigated. Keywords: Domestic pigeon, experimental infection, IBD virusSahel Journal of Veterinary Sciences Vol. 5 (1) 2006 pp. 59-6

Antibacterial efficacy of ethyl acetate fraction of Psidium guajava leaf aqueous extract on experimental Escherichia coli (O78) infection in chickens

Aim: This study was desingned to examine the efficacy of ethyl acetate fraction of aqueous extracted Psidium guajava leaves on chicks experimentally-infected with diarrheagenic strain of Escherichia coli O78. Methods: A total of 60 ISA brown male chicks were randomly divided into 6 Groups of ten chicks each in separate cages. Group A was not infected and not treated. Groups B, C and D were infected and treated with extracts at a dose of 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg respectively for 10 days. Group E was infected and treated with oxytetracycline while Group F was infected, but left untreated. Chicks from all groups were closely monitored for clinical signs, body weight change and fecal bacterial shedding load during the course of the experiment. Results: Diarrhea, vents pasted with feces, drop in feed intake accompanied by slow weight gain and decreased activity was observed in infected untreated groups. Groups treated with graded doses of the extract experienced a dose-dependent decreased in severity of the clinical signs shown compared to the infected untreated group. Bacterial shedding load was found to be lower in groups treated with the extract and oxytetracycline than those without intervention. Conclusion: Ethyl acetate soluble fraction of leaf extract of Psidium guajava effectively controlled diarrhea and decreased the severity of other clinical signs caused by experimental E. coli infections in chicks

Prevalence of Brucella,/i> antibodies in donkeys (Equus asinus) in Borno and Yobe states, Nigeria

A cross-sectional study was designed to study the serological prevalence of antibodies against Brucella spp by using Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBPT) and Microtitre Serum Agglutination Test (MSAT). A total of six hundred (600) adult donkeys comprising of 393 males and 207 females were sampled from three local government areas each, of Konduga, Monguno and Ngala in Borno state and Bursari, Geidam and Machina in Yobe state. Overall prevalence of brucellosis was 33 (5.50%), out of which 14 (2.33%) male and 19 (3.17%) female donkeys were positive by both RBPT and MSAT. There was statistically significant association between female sex of donkeys and positive serological reaction (p<0.05). Out of the 300 sera sampled from Borno state, comprising of 193 male and 107 female donkeys, 18 (6.0%) tested positive. Whereas, 15 (5.0%) of the 300 (200 males and 100 females) sera sampled from Yobe state were positive. It can be concluded that the overall prevalence of brucellosis among donkeys in Borno and Yobe states in north eastern Nigeria in this study was 5.5%. The prevalence rate was higher among female donkeys than in males.Keywords: Borno, Brucellosis, Donkey, Nigeria, Yobe