UNE COLORATION SIMPLE ET RAPIDE DU FROTTIS DU SPERME

Objective To introduce a rapid simple staining method for sperm morphology.Methods Liquifiedsemen was on the glass, fixed by methanol, treated with phosphonic acid buffer, stained by A, B staining solution separately, and rinsed by running water. Results After staining, the whole sper-matozoid was very clear. The cephalic zone of spermatozoid head , acrosome area , was colored pink; its caudal zone colored violet red or violet blue. The body and tail of spermatozoid colored pink or light blue. Normal and abnormal morphology of spermatozoid could be differentiated easily. The sloughed spermatogenic cells and white blood cells could be differentiated also. Conclusion This rapid staining method of semen smear can produce the same effect of other usual staining method , but the staining time is shorter and the procedure is simpler.

Prevalence of Pulmonary Tuberculosis and Associated Factors among Patients Admitted to the Amissa Bongo University Hospital Center in Franceville, Gabon

Background: In Gabon, the epidemiology of tuberculosis has been considerably reshaped by the AIDS virus. It is in this context that the present study was conducted to assess the prevalence of pulmonary tuberculosis and associated factors among patients at the Amissa Bongo Regional Hospital in Franceville, Gabon. Patients and Methods: This prospective, cross-sectional study was conducted in the biomedical analysis laboratory of the Amissa Bongo Regional University Hospital in Franceville from 19 June 2021 to 22 January 2022. After agreeing to take part in the study, participants were asked to fill in a questionnaire to collect their socio-demographic data and habits. Clinical signs were also observed. Sputum and gastric fluid samples were collected and examined using the Xpert MTB/RIF test and BAAR smear microscopy. Data were analysed using R software version 3.6.1. The results of the univariate and multivariate analyses were considered significant for p ≤ 0.05. Results: A total of 309 patients were included in this study, 50.81% (n = 157) men and 49.19% (n = 152) women. Of these, 98 had a positive diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis, giving an overall prevalence rate of 31.72%. There were 40 women or 40.82% (95% CI: [0.30 - 0.51]) and 58 men or 59.18% (95% CI: [0.48 - 0.69]). A univariate analysis of the prevalence of tuberculosis according to risk factors and clinical signs indicated a certain association between certain variables. However, an in-depth multivariate logistic regression analysis of this prevalence, according to the risk factors and clinical signs observed in the patients in the study, indicated that the age group 15 and 49 years (Adjusted OR = 47.77;95% CI: [4.4;519.7] p = 0.001*), fever (Adjusted OR = 4.83;95% CI: [1.16, 20.12] p = 0.031*), alcohol consumption (Adjusted OR = 12.2;95% CI: 12.2 [2.5;5.9] p = 0. 002*), smoking (Adjusted OR = 9.83;95% CI: [1.78;54.24] p = 0.037), HIV infection (Adjusted OR = 4.63;95% CI: [1.25;17.1] p = 0.022), cough (Adjusted OR = 4.31;95% CI: [1.21, 15.4] p = 0. 025*), chest pain (Adjusted OR = 103.6;95% CI: [19.4;55.2] p = 0.000), night sweating cough (Adjusted OR = 10.84;95% CI: [3.18;36.98] p = 0.000*) were significant risk factors for pulmonary tuberculosis. Conclusion: The results of the present study showed that the prevalence of pulmonary tuberculosis was greatest among males in Franceville and the surrounding area. The 15 - 49 age group, fever, alcohol consumption, smoking, HIV infection, chest pain, night sweats and cough were significant risk factors for pulmonary tuberculosis. Consequently, screening for tuberculosis in HIV-positive patients, public awareness and community mobilisation should be encouraged.

A novel method for the synthesis of carbon dots assisted by free radicals

Carbon dots(CDs)have gradually become a widely favored type of fluorescent nanomaterials with unlimited and promising applications.This work reports a means of breaking the shackle of method to develop new red and white CDs by introducing free radicals.The resulting white emissive CDs in this strategy are employed to demonstrate electroluminescent white-light-emitting diodes(WLEDs)and achieve a record-high external quantum efficiency(0.95%)of one-step-produced white CDs(WCD)-LEDs,which dramatically simplifies the whole fabrication processes of WLEDs.With additional passivation treatment,the red CDs(RCD2)with excellent properties such as N and S co-doping,bright(quantum yield=49%)and stable photoluminescence(PL),large positive zeta potential(+20.5 mV),and two-photon fluorescence are obtained.Such RCD2 are used for rapid staining(5 min)of yeast cells.The two CDs synthesized via this method have outstanding performance in different aspects,which provides new promise of CDs for further functionalization and applications.