ANTIMICROBIAL DITERPENOID ALKALOIDS FROM ERYTHROPHLEUM SUAVEOLENS (GUILL. & PERR.) BRENAN

An investigation of the stem bark of Erythrophleum suaveolens (Guill. & Perr.) Brenan yielded the known amide norcassaide (1) and a new diterpenoid alkaloid named norerythrosuaveolide (2) which was characterized as 7β-hydroxy-7-deoxo-6-oxonorcassaide. The structures were established on the basis of one and two-dimensional 1H and 13C NMR spectral data. The compounds showed potent antimicrobial activities against bacteria and yeasts. KEY WORDS: Erythrophleum suaveolens (Guill. & Perr.) Brenan, Norcassaide, Diterpenoid alkaloid, Norerythrosuaveolide, Antimicrobial activities, Bacteria, Yeasts Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2005, 19(2), 221-226

Production and valorization of maggot meal: sustainable source of proteins for indigenous chicks.

The feed industry needs new sources of highly digestible protein to substitute other valuable limited protein sources of animal origin such as fishmeal in animal feed. The aim of this study was to exploit the potential of the housefly larvae (maggots) in production of a low-cost, high-quality protein source to supplement feeds for poultry farmers

Antifungal Combinations for Treatment of Cryptococcal Meningitis in Africa

Background Cryptococcal meningitis accounts for more than 100,000 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)–related deaths per year. We tested two treatment strategies that could be more sustainable in Africa than the standard of 2 weeks of amphotericin B plus flucytosine and more effective than the widely used fluconazole monotherapy. Methods We randomly assigned HIV-infected adults with cryptococcal meningitis to receive an oral regimen (fluconazole [1200 mg per day] plus flucytosine [100 mg per kilogram of body weight per day] for 2 weeks), 1 week of amphotericin B (1 mg per kilogram per day), or 2 weeks of amphotericin B (1 mg per kilogram per day). Each patient assigned to receive amphotericin B was also randomly assigned to receive fluconazole or flucytosine as a partner drug. After induction treatment, all the patients received fluconazole consolidation therapy and were followed to 10 weeks. Results A total of 721 patients underwent randomization. Mortality in the oral-regimen, 1-week amphotericin B, and 2-week amphotericin B groups was 18.2% (41 of 225), 21.9% (49 of 224), and 21.4% (49 of 229), respectively, at 2 weeks and was 35.1% (79 of 225), 36.2% (81 of 224), and 39.7% (91 of 229), respectively, at 10 weeks. The upper limit of the one-sided 97.5% confidence interval for the difference in 2-week mortality was 4.2 percentage points for the oral-regimen group versus the 2-week amphotericin B groups and 8.1 percentage points for the 1-week amphotericin B groups versus the 2-week amphotericin B groups, both of which were below the predefined 10-percentage-point noninferiority margin. As a partner drug with amphotericin B, flucytosine was superior to fluconazole (71 deaths [31.1%] vs. 101 deaths [45.0%]; hazard ratio for death at 10 weeks, 0.62; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.45 to 0.84; P=0.002). One week of amphotericin B plus flucytosine was associated with the lowest 10-week mortality (24.2%; 95% CI, 16.2 to 32.1). Side effects, such as severe anemia, were more frequent with 2 weeks than with 1 week of amphotericin B or with the oral regimen. Conclusions One week of amphotericin B plus flucytosine and 2 weeks of fluconazole plus flucytosine were effective as induction therapy for cryptococcal meningitis in resource-limited settings. (ACTA Current Controlled Trials number, ISRCTN45035509.

Reduction in mortality from HIV-related CNS infections in routine care in Africa (DREAMM): a before-and-after, implementation study

BACKGROUND: Four decades into the HIV epidemic, CNS infection remains a leading cause of preventable HIV-related deaths in routine care. The Driving Reduced AIDS-associated Meningo-encephalitis Mortality (DREAMM) project aimed to develop, implement, and evaluate pragmatic implementation interventions and strategies to reduce mortality from HIV-related CNS infection. METHODS: DREAMM took place in five public hospitals in Cameroon, Malawi, and Tanzania. The main intervention was a stepwise algorithm for HIV-related CNS infections including bedside rapid diagnostic testing and implementation of WHO cryptococcal meningitis guidelines. A health system strengthening approach for hospitals was adopted to deliver quality care through a co-designed education programme, optimised clinical and laboratory pathways, and communities of practice. DREAMM was led and driven by local leadership and divided into three phases: observation (including situational analyses of routine care), training, and implementation. Consecutive adults (aged ≥18 years) living with HIV presenting with a first episode of suspected CNS infection were eligible for recruitment. The primary endpoint was the comparison of 2-week all-cause mortality between observation and implementation phases. This study completed follow-up in September, 2021. The project was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03226379. FINDINGS: From November, 2016 to April, 2019, 139 eligible participants were enrolled in the observation phase. From Jan 9, 2018, to March 25, 2021, 362 participants were enrolled into the implementation phase. 216 (76%) of 286 participants had advanced HIV disease (209 participants had missing CD4 cell count), and 340 (69%) of 494 participants had exposure to antiretroviral therapy (ART; one participant had missing ART data). In the implementation phase 269 (76%) of 356 participants had a probable CNS infection, 203 (76%) of whom received a confirmed microbiological or radiological diagnosis of CNS infection using existing diagnostic tests and medicines. 63 (49%) of 129 participants died at 2 weeks in the observation phase compared with 63 (24%) of 266 in the implementation phase; and all-cause mortality was lower in the implementation phase when adjusted for site, sex, age, ART exposure (adjusted risk difference –23%, 95% CI –33 to –13; p<0·001). At 10 weeks, 71 (55%) died in the observation phase compared with 103 (39%) in the implementation phase (–13%, –24 to –3; p=0·01). INTERPRETATION: DREAMM substantially reduced mortality from HIV-associated CNS infection in resource-limited settings in Africa. DREAMM scale-up is urgently required to reduce deaths in public hospitals and help meet Sustainable Development Goals. FUNDING: European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership, French Agency for Research on AIDS and Viral Hepatitis. TRANSLATIONS: For the French and Portuguese translations of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section

Soil greenhouse gas fluxes following conventional selective and reduced-impact logging in a Congo Basin rainforest

Selective logging is among the main causes of tropical forest degradation, but little is known about its effects on greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes from highly weathered Ferralsol soils in Africa. We measured soil CO2, N2O, and CH4 fluxes, and their soil controlling factors at two forests that had undergone conventional selective logging and reduced-impact logging in Cameroon. Each logging system had four replicate plots, each included the disturbed strata (road, logging deck, skidding trail, and felling gap) and an undisturbed reference area. Measurements were conducted monthly from September 2016 to October 2017. Annual GHG fluxes ranged from 4.9 to 18.6 Mg CO2–C, from 1.5 to 79 kg N2O–N, and from − 4.3 to 71.1 kg CH4–C ha−1 year−1. Compared to undisturbed areas, soil CO2 emissions were reduced and soil CH4 emissions increased in skidding trails, logging decks and roads (P < 0.01) whereas soil N2O emissions increased in skidding trails (P = 0.03–0.05). The combined disturbed strata had 28% decrease in soil CO2 emissions, 83% increase in soil N2O emissions, and seven times higher soil CH4 emissions compared to undisturbed area (P ≤ 0.01). However, the disturbed strata represented only 4–5% of the area impacted in both logging systems, which reduced considerably the changes in soil GHG fluxes at the landscape level. Across all strata, soil GHG fluxes were regulated by soil bulk density and water-filled pore space, indicating the influence of soil aeration and gas diffusion, and by soil organic carbon and nitrogen, suggesting the control of substrate availability on microbial processes of these GHG.Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100001659Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100001655Georg-August-Universität Göttingen (1018)https://doi.org/10.25625/TWSFR

ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITIES OF THE EXTRACTS AND CONESSINE FROM HOLARRHENA FLORIBUNDA G. DON. (APOCYNACEAE)

The methanolic extract and conessine isolated from the stem bark of Holarrhena floribunda (Hf) were tested for their antibacterial activities on Bacillus: Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus megaterium and Bacillus stearothermophilus using the disc diffusion method. Phytochemical analysis of the crude extract and fractions was also conducted. The inhibition parameters of the crude methanol extract and the total alkaloid fraction were determined using the macrodilution method. The results showed that the crude extract, the total alkaloid fraction and conessine exhibited a significant antibacterial effect against all the strains studied. The antibacterial effect of conessine is almost similar to that of chloramphenicol used as reference. The ratio of the minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) over the minimal inhibitive concentration (MIC) indicates the bactericidal effect of the plant. These results support common use of stem bark of Hf and conessine isolated from Hf in the treatment of some infectious diseases

Activit&#233 antifongique des extraits de quelques plantes m&#233dicinales Camerounaises

No Abstract.Nigerian Journal of Natural Products and Medicine Vol. 10 () 2006: pp.94-9

Soil greenhouse gas fluxes following conventional selective and reduced-impact logging in a Congo Basin rainforest

Selective logging is among the main causes of tropical forest degradation, but little is known about its effects on greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes from highly weathered Ferralsol soils in Africa. We measured soil CO₂, N₂O, and CH₄ fluxes, and their soil controlling factors at two forests that had undergone conventional selective logging and reduced-impact logging in Cameroon. Each logging system had four replicate plots, each included the disturbed strata (road, logging deck, skidding trail, and felling gap) and an undisturbed reference area. Measurements were conducted monthly from September 2016 to October 2017. Annual GHG fluxes ranged from 4.9 to 18.6 Mg CO₂–C, from 1.5 to 79 kg N₂O–N, and from − 4.3 to 71.1 kg CH₄–C ha⁻¹ year⁻¹. Compared to undisturbed areas, soil CO₂ emissions were reduced and soil CH₄ emissions increased in skidding trails, logging decks and roads (P &amp;lt; 0.01) whereas soil N₂O emissions increased in skidding trails (P = 0.03–0.05). The combined disturbed strata had 28% decrease in soil CO₂ emissions, 83% increase in soil N₂O emissions, and seven times higher soil CH₄ emissions compared to undisturbed area (P ≤ 0.01). However, the disturbed strata represented only 4–5% of the area impacted in both logging systems, which reduced considerably the changes in soil GHG fluxes at the landscape level. Across all strata, soil GHG fluxes were regulated by soil bulk density and water-filled pore space, indicating the influence of soil aeration and gas diffusion, and by soil organic carbon and nitrogen, suggesting the control of substrate availability on microbial processes of these GHG