Evaluation of the Pharmacological Potential of Strychnos camptoneura Trunk Bark Hydroethanol Extract on Reproductive Functions in Male Guinea Pigs (Cavia porcellus) Exposed to Cypermethrin

The main objective of this study was to evaluate the pharmacological potential of the hydroethanol extract of Strychnos camptoneura trunk bark on reproductive functions in male guinea pigs exposed to cypermethrin. The results showed that administration of the hydroethanolic extract (100 and 250 mg/kg) of Strychnos camptoneura trunk bark after exposure of the animals to cypermethrin induced a highly significant (p Strychnos camptoneura trunk bark produced a highly significant (p Strychnos camptoneura trunk bark may have protective effects against cypermethrin-induced male infertility due to its androgenic, spermatogenic and antiradical properties.

Hormonal Status Assessment of Infertile Congolese Men

Background: The pathologies causing male infertility are various (congenital or acquired) and concern several hormone-producing organs: the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, testes and adrenals. The hormonal dosage includes systematically testosterone, FSH and LH. These analyses often highlight hypogonadism hypogonadotropic or hypergonadotropic. They can sometimes be normal. The present study aimed to establish the hormonal profile of infertile men residing in Brazzaville. Patients and Methods: It was a cross-sectional descriptive study during five years (from 2018 to 2023). It concerned 344 infertilemen with an abnormal spermogram and spermocytogram. The method was performed from the blood dosage of testosterone, FSH, and LH using the Elisa technique. Results: The hormonal assessment was not normal in 48.83% (168/344) of cases. Increased values of testosterone were noted in 6.10% of cases and decreased in 12.20%. Abnormal high values of FSH were observed in 14.24% of cases and decreased values in 8.13%. LH was elevated, i.e. 2.03% of cases and decreased in 6.10% of subjects. Conclusions: A hormonal disturbance was observed in almost half of the infertile men. It concerned the hypothalamus-pituitary and the testes axis and indicated mainly a state of hypogonadism with high FSH and low LH.

HPLC Profiling for Quality Control of Secondary Metabolites of Aqueous and Hydroethanolic Extract of Gardenia aqualla Stapf &Hutch

WHO strategy on traditional medicine is based on security and quality of phytomedicine. Commonly adulterated affecting mostly metabolic and sexual dysfunction drugs. Control quality of those phytomedicines requires development of strategy and techniques applicable to them. Among the techniques, Reverse Phase Liquid Chromatography is the most used and has been developed in these studies to assess a protocol to characterize Gardenia aqualla leaves extract. The method consists in determining chromatographic conditions using organic and pH gradient models based on water and acetonitrile combined with pH modifiers made up of formic acid (AF) and ammonium hydroxide (NH3). Results show that extracts contain mainly acidic compounds quickly eluted by NH3 and more retained by AF. Optimal pH range for separation is 3 - 7 corresponding to 1.59 mM of NH3 and 6.55 mM of AF. In these conditions, elution of many polar compounds could be effective using a C18 based-deactivated column in a short period of time.

Diagnostic Performance of Five Rapid Serological Tests for SARS-CoV-2

We conducted a study to evaluate the sensitivity (Se), specificity (Sp), positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of five serologic tests. Subjects with negative or positive COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PRC) test results were tested with each of the serological tests. The results were compared with the reference PCR test. For the five tests evaluated, the Se ranged from 55.0% to 70.0% and the Sp ranged from 67.2% to 86.2%. PPV ranged from 53.2% to 80% and NPV from 75.0% to 86.2%. One test, the Wantai, had better specificity and sensitivity. None of the five tests had performance values of more than 90% in the entire sample. In symptomatic positive cases, the Wantai test reported excellent sensitivity. Overall, the low level of diagnostic performance of these tests does not support their use as an alternative to PCR for COVID-19 diagnostic. Test with better performance can be used for mass screening in low prevalence populations, to limit the indiscriminate use of PCR in context of resource-limited countries. Given the excellent sensitivity of Wantai in symptomatic cases, this test could be used as a referral test only in health facilities to discriminate suspected cases before PCR confirmation.

Occurrence of Enterobacter sakazakii(Cronobacter)and Other Enterobacteriaceae in Commercial Powdered Infant Formula in Abidjan,Ivory Coast

To determine the occurrence of Enterobacter sakazakii and other Enerobateriaceae in commercial powdered infant formula (PIF), 185 packages of PIF from different manufacturers, supermarkets and drug-stores in Abidjan were analyzed. Ten g of sample was homogenized in 90 ml of buffered peptone water (PBW, Biorad, Paris) for further studies. Enterobacteriaceae (coliforms) were enumerated according to French Association of Standardization methods. E. sakazakii was detected according to Kandhai’s method. Bacteria were identified using API20 system. Thirty-eight samples (20.5%) were positive for Enterobacteriaceae. Twenty-four samples (13%) yielded Enterobacter sakazakii. Other Enterobacteriaceae isolated included Pantoea spp. 21 (11.5%), Klebsiella pneumoniae subsp. Pneumonia 8 (4.3%), Citrobacter diversus 1 (0.5%), Citrobacter freundii 1 (0.5%), Enterobacter cloacae 1 (0.5%), Salmonella reading 1 (0.5%), Serratia ficara 1 (0.5%) Serratia odorifera 1 (0.5%). This study is the first report to describe the contamination of PIF from Abidjan with E. sakazakii and several other Enterobacteriaceae that could be opportunistic pathogens. Therefore, well-controlled studies need to be conducted to assess the extent of risk associated with contaminated PIF for infants in Abidjan.