Genetic Variability and Phenotypic Correlations Study among Grain Quality Traits and Mineral Elements Concentrations in Colored and Non-Colored Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Twenty-four rice genotypes were examined to assess genetic variability,heritability,and correlations for seven-grain quality traits,eight nutritional elements,and protein.ANOVA revealed significant differences for the quality traits studied.For every trait under study,the phenotypic coefficient of variation was higher than the correspon-dence genotypic coefficient of variation.Heritability in a broad sense varied from 29.75%for grain length to 98.31%for the elongation trait.Hulling percentage recovery had a highly significant positive correlation with milling and head rice percentage.Consequently,milling percentage had a highly positive correlation with head rice percentage.In amylose percentage,all the genotypes belonged to low amylose except the Hassawi-1 variety,which had intermediate amylose content.Mineral nutrition contents of magnesium(Mg),sodium(Na),potas-sium(K),calcium(Ca),copper(Cu),manganese(Mn),zinc(Zn),iron(Fe),or protein percentage gave different variations for 24 rice genotypes under all the nutritional elements.Among the 24 genotypes,ten rice genotypes–HighNutrient-1,HighNutrient-2,HighNutrient-9,HighNutrient-8,HighNutrient-3,Hassawi-2,HighNutrient-7,HighNutrient-6,Hassawi-1,and HighNutrient-4–had the highest heist value for all nutritional and protein con-tents,and could be used as a donor to improving new varieties.There was a positive and significant correlation between magnesium Mg,K,Zn and Fe.Consequently,K had a positive correlation with zinc Zn,Fe,and protein percentage.Clustering analysis was divided into two groups:thefirst group included all genotypes rich in nutri-ents,while the remaining genotypes with low nutritional content were included in the second group.

Trimethylamine N-oxide generation process was influenced by the proportion and source of macronutrients in the diet

Trimethylamine N-oxide(TMAO)is a risk factor of various chronic diseases,which was produced by metabolism from precursors to trimethylamine(TMA)in gut and the oxidation from TMA in liver.The TMA generation was influenced by diet,mainly due to the rich TMAO precursors in diet.However,it was still unclear that the effects of different proportion and source of macronutrients in different dietary pattern on the production process of TMAO.Here,the generation of TMA from precursors and TMAO from TMA was determined after single oral choline chloride and intraperitoneal injection TMA,respectively,in mice fed with carbohydrates,proteins and fats in different proportion and sources.The results suggested that the generation of TMAO was increased by low non-meat protein and high fat via enhancing the production of TMAO from TMA,and decreased by plant protein and refined sugar via reducing TMA production from precursors in gut and TMAO transformation from TMA in liver.The high fat and high sugar diets accelerating the development of atherosclerosis did not increase the production of TMAO,the risk factor for atherosclerosis,which indicated that the dietary compositions rather than the elevated TMAO level might be a more key risk factor for atherosclerosis.

The role of polymorphic cytochrome P450 gene(CYP2B6)in B-chronic lymphocytic leukemia(B-CLL)incidence and outcome among Egyptian patients

Cytochromes P450(CYPs)play a prominent role in catalyzing phase I xenobiotic biotransformation and account for about 75%of the total metabolism of commercially available drugs,including chemotherapeutics.The gene expression and enzyme activity of CYPs are variable between individuals,which subsequently leads to different patterns of susceptibility to carcinogenesis by genotoxic xenobiotics,as well as differences in the efficacy and toxicity of clinically used drugs.This research aimed to examine the presence of the CYP2B6*9 polymorphism and its possible association with the incidence of B-CLL in Egyptian patients,as well as the clinical outcome after receiving cyclophosphamide chemotherapy.DNA was isolated from whole blood samples of 100 de novo B-CLL cases and also from 100 sex-and age-matched healthy individuals.The presence of the CYP2B6*9(G516T)polymorphism was examined by PCR-based allele specific amplification(ASA).Patients were further indicated for receiving chemotherapy,and then they were followed up.The CYP2B6*9 variant indicated a statistically significant higher risk of B-CLL under different genetic models,comprising allelic(T-allele vs.G-allele,OR=4.8,p<0.001)and dominant(GT+TT vs.GG,OR=5.4,p<0.001)models.Following cyclophosphamide chemotherapy,we found that the patients with variant genotypes(GT+TT)were less likely to achieve remission compared to those with the wild-type genotype(GG),with a response percentage of(37.5%vs.83%,respectively).In conclusion,our findings showed that the CYP2B6*9(G516T)polymorphism is associated with B-CLL susceptibility among Egyptian patients.This variant greatly affected the clinical outcome and can serve as a good therapeutic marker in predicting response to cyclophosphamide treatment.

Physico-Chemical and Nutritional Properties of a Food Broth Based on Nere (Parkia biglobosa)

Purpose: Diet and eating habits are major risk factors for the health and the development of disease, such as, for example, metabolic disorder leading to cardiovascular pathology and cancer, decreased immunity exposing to infections. This study of the physico-chemical and nutritional properties of a soumara-based food broth was carried out with the aim of promoting the consumption of organic broth made from nere seeds (soumara). That is to alleviate certain metabolic diseases, which is a matter of food safety, and also to limit the risk for the health about the consumption of some cooking stocks on the market. Methods: Several natural ingredients such as nere seeds (soumara), ginger, black pepper, parsley and garlic were used to create a nere-based stock. All these ingredients were freeze-dried and the powder obtained was used to make the broth, regarding their physical and chemical properties. Results: The broth had a good protein content of 17.41 ± 0.367 g/100g, a lipid content of 16.80 ± 0.08 g/100g and a fiber content of 8.66 ± 0.04 g/100g. In terms of nutritional values, the broth showed good levels of calcium 184.21 ± 0.09 mg/100g, potassium 50.04 ± 1.45 mg/100g and iron and zinc. In terms of antioxidant activity, the broth also showed good antioxidant activity. Conclusion: Regarding the properties of our food broth, whose composition is based on natural ingredients, could be recommended for consumption and, its properties, could play an important role in preventing and combating certain metabolic diseases.

Human chemerin induces eryptosis at concentrations exceeding circulating levels

Introduction:Human chemerin is an adipokine that regulates chemotaxis,inflammation,and glucose metabolism.In addition,accumulating evidence suggests that chemerin promotes apoptosis,autophagy,and pyroptosis.However,there are no data on its impact on eryptosis.The current study aimed to analyze the effects of human active Glu^(21)-Ser^(157) chemerin on eryptosis in vitro.Materials and Methods:Human chemerin 0-2-10-50μg/mL was incubated for 24 h with human erythrocytes(hematocrit 0.4%)obtained from eight healthy individuals.Flow cytometry-based determination of phospholipid scrambling,reactive oxygen species(ROS)production,and intracellular Ca^(2+)levels was performed.To supplement data on ROS and Ca^(2+)signaling in chemerin-mediated eryptosis,incubation in the presence or absence of antioxidants vitamin C and N-acetylcysteine and Ca^(2+)-binding agent EGTA was carried out,respectively.Confocal microscopy-based techniques were used to detect reactive nitrogen species(RNS)generation,involvement of caspase-3 and caspase-8,as well as the state of lipid order in cell membranes of erythrocytes exposed to human Glu^(21)-Ser^(157) chemerin.Results:Our observations suggest that human Glu^(21)-Ser^(157) chemerin had no impact on eryptosis parameters at 2μg/mL.However,chemerin stimulated phosphatidylserine externalization,ROS production,and Ca^(2+)accumulation at higher concentrations suggesting activation of eryptosis.Ca^(2+)uptake turned out to be at least partly required for chemerin-mediated eryptosis.Chemerin-mediated erythrotoxicity was additionally mediated by RNS,caspase-3,and caspase-8.Moreover,Glu^(21)-Ser^(157) chemerin promoted reduction in the liquid-ordered phase of cell membranes in erythrocytes.Conclusions:The present study first discloses that human chemerin can induce eryptosis via Ca^(2+)-dependent mechanisms at concentrations noticeably exceeding circulating levels.Thus,chemerin-induced eryptosis can hardly contribute to eryptosis-mediated anemia in diseases associated with enhanced levels of chemerin in blood.

Effects of Paclobutrazol Seed Priming on Seedlings Quality,Physiological and Bakanae Disease Index Characteristics of Rice(Oryza sativa L.)

Rice(Oryza sativa L.)is one of the most important cereal crops in the world.Bakanae disease is a significant rice disease widely distributed in rice-growing regions worldwide.Therefore,the present investigation aimed to assess the optimal concentrations of paclobutrazol(PBZ)as a treatment for rice grains(cv.Sakha 108)to control bakanae disease,also evaluating its impact on grain germination,seedling growth parameters as well as disease index.Paclobutrazol concentrations had no significant impact on seed germination,regardless of whether the seeds were incubated with Fusarium fujikuroi or not.Application of PBZ,either alone or in combination with fungal pathogens,negatively impacted the rice seedlings’height.Paclobutrazol at 25,50 and 100 mg/L,combined with the fungal pathogen positively impacted root length.Paclobutrazol at 3 and 6 mg/L mitigated the adverse impact on chlorophyll pigments content in infected seedlings.The highest proline contents were achieved by 100 mg/L PBZ alone or in combination with fungal pathogens.It has been observed that the application of PBZ,either alone or in combination with a fungal pathogen,leads to the enhancement of catalase,peroxidase,and polyphenol oxidase activities.The median lethal concentration of PBZ was 0.874 mg/L;applying low concentrations of paclobutrazol effectively increased the percentage of fungal growth suppression.Application of PBZ,at higher concentrations(50 and 100 mg/L),decreased infection percentage and disease severity index(DSI)significantly.These findings suggest that PBZ can be an effective treatment for controlling bakanae disease and enhancing resistance in rice plants.

Neurocognitive Profile of People Living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus Initiating Treatment in Kinshasa in the Dolutegravir Era, Democratic Republic of Congo

Context: Antiretroviral therapies improve the prognosis of NeuroAIDS contrasting with a high frequency of Minor Neurocognitive Disorders (MND) even in aviremic subjects. Objective: The objective of this study is to present the neurological and cognitive profile of People Living with HIV (PLHIV) initiating antiretroviral treatment in Kinshasa in the era of Dolutegravir (DTG). Methods: This is a multicenter, cross-sectional study with a descriptive aim carried out in 16 HIV Outpatient Treatment Centers (OTC) in Kinshasa from October 4, 2021 to February 15, 2022. The International HIV Dementia Scale (IHDS) correlated with the Activities of Daily Living (IADL) scale facilitated the categorization of NeuroCognitive Disorders (NCD) of PLHIV evaluated after carrying out a summary neurological examination. Results: Of the 96 patients recruited, 56.3% were women with a sex ratio of 0.68. The average age was 40.1 ± 12.1 years. The secondary education level was the majority at 64.6%. Malaria (44.8%) and tuberculosis (32.3%) were more common as opportunistic infections. They were alcoholics in (30.2%). Their history was heart disease (15.6%), high blood pressure (18.8%);drug abuse (10.4%). The IHDS score was light in 55.2% of cases. The correlation between IHDS/IADL watches asymptomatic neurocognitive impairments (ANI) in 77.1%, almost all of subjects are found with normal overall functioning (94.8%) and a disturbed neurological examination in 53.1% of cases with a predominance of motor impairments in 79.1%. Conclusion: In view of these results, early and systematic screening of NCD and associated factors remains necessary in our context. .

Neuralgic amyotrophy with hourglass-like constrictions:A case report

BACKGROUND Neuralgic amyotrophy(NA)is a rare disease with sudden upper limb pain followed by affected muscle weakness.The most commonly affected area in NA is the upper part of the brachial plexus,and the paraspinal muscles are rarely affected(1.5%),making these cases difficult to distinguish from cervical radiculopathy.CASE SUMMARY A 76-year-old male presented to the emergency department with left hip pain post-fall.After undergoing left femoral neck fracture surgery,he experienced sudden left shoulder pain for 10 days with subsequent left arm weakness.Cervical spine computed tomography revealed mild right asymmetric intervertebral disc bulging with a decreased C5-6disc space.Three weeks later,an electrodiagnostic study confirmed brachial plexopathy findings involving the cervical root.Magnetic resonance neurography was performed for a differential diagnosis.Contrast enhancement was identified at the upper trunk of the brachial plexus,including the C5 nerve root.A suprascapular nerve hourglass-like focal constriction(HLFC)was also identified,confirming NA.After being diagnosed with NA,the patient received 15 mg prednisolone,twice daily,for 3 weeks.Physical therapy was initiated,including left arm strengthening exercises and electrical stimulation therapy.Left shoulder muscle strength significantly improved one CONCLUSION NA's unique features like HLFC and paraspinal involvement are crucial for accurate diagnosis,avoiding confusion with cervical radiculopathy.

Soil Physico-Chemical Properties and Different Altitudes Affect Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Abundance and Colonization in Cacao Plantations of Cameroon

This study aims to investigate the abundance of AMF according to soil properties and altitudes in different cacao plantations of Cameroon. Physico-chemical analyses were made on soil samples collected from three agro-ecological zones. Soil samples were also used to evaluate directly the AMF abundance following the various altitudes and after trapping by sorghum plant. The results showed that soil properties, AMF spore abundances and colonization fluctuated significantly at different altitudes. The most represented texture was sandy loam. The bimodal zone presented a homogeneous texture (sandy loam) in all its localities. Cacao soil chemical characteristics showed that, the highest nitrogen rate (0.47%;p 0.05, Scott-Knott test) was recorded at Melong in a monomodal zone while Tonga in the Western highlands displayed the lowest rate (0.13%). Soil P concentration was significantly high in monomodal zones (Mbanga and Melong). Soil pH level indicated that the soil from Tonga in the Western highlands was neutral (pH = 6.67), and soils of other localities under study were acidic with the lowest (4.75) pH level recorded at Melong in a monomodal zone. In soil samples, the highest spore density (1.03 spores/g soil) was observed at Ntui in Bimodal zone, while the lowest spore density (0.26 spores/g soil) was observed at Bafang in the Western highlands. Root colonization showed that the sample from Bokito in a bimodal zone displayed the best frequency of mycorrhization (86.11%) while the sample from Bafang in the Western highlands recorded the lowest (27.11%). The PCA analysis highlighted that available phosphorus, pH and altitude all strongly correlated with AMF root colonization ability and can be used as a predictor of AMF colonization ability in cacao rhizosphere.

Total Fat, Fatty Acid Composition, Tocopherol and Tocotrienol Profiles in Fermented Beans of Ten Controlled Pollinated Cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) Hybrids from Cameroon

This study aimed to discriminate ten Cameroonian cocoa hybrids according to their total fat, fatty acid composition, tocopherol and tocotrienol profiles. Six cocoa clones from the gene banks of the Cameroon Cocoa Development Corporation were used to create hybrids. The determination of fatty acid composition was carried out by using a gas chromatography (GC) apparatus coupled by a flame ion detector (FID). Tocopherol and tocotrienol analysis was performed by upper high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC). Information on the impact of the genotype on the cocoa fat composition was provided. The major fatty acids (FA) in fermented samples are stearic (34.57%), palmitic (26.13%), oleic (34.13%) and linoleic (3.16%) acids. (35.05% to 35.6%). SCA12 × ICS40, SCA12 × SNK13, SNK13 × T79/501 have the least hard cocoa butters. Tocopherols analysis showed a predominance of γ-tocopherols (94.64 ± 1.51 to 292.16 ± 3.17 µg∙g−1), whereas only a small amount of β and δ-tocopherol (from 0.46 to 2.78 µg∙g−1 and 0.12 to 5.82 respectively) was observed. No γ-tocotrienol was found in fermented samples. A differentiation in terms of total fat and tocopherol content was observed amongst hybrids with the same mother-clone, suggesting an impact of pollen on these compounds.

Strawberry (Fragaria spp.): Cultivation, Production, Consumption, and Marketing in Cameroon

Strawberry (Fragaria spp.) is one of the most important fruits classified as exotic fruits imported into Cameroon. To have an inventory of its cultivation in Cameroon, a survey study was carried out among eight farms of Fragaria spp. from January 2021 to February 2022. The plant was introduced in Cameroon in 2018. There are 13 varieties of Fragaria spp. currently cultivated. Among these 13 varieties, eleven are hybrids of Fragaria x ananassa (“Amiga”, “Amine”, “Camarosa”, “Chandler”, “Charlotte”, “Elsanta”, “Gariguette”, “Madame Moutot”, “Ostara”, “Ruby gem” and “San Andreas”), and two of the hybrids of Fragaria vesca (“Maestro” and “Mara des bois”). The cropping system, irrigation system, and type of fertilizers applied differ from one strawberry farm to another. Biofertilizers (such as mycorrhizal), inorganic and organic fertilizers are actually used to improve production. The potential annual production of strawberries from January 2021 to February 2022, estimated based on the survey data, was 21.216 tons for all growers. Among these eight production farms, the Lolodorf BIO Farm presents 6000 kg (six tons) of strawberries and 100,000 stolons (seedlings) produced, from seven varieties of Fragaria spp. cultivated, with 6 varieties which are hybrids variety Fragaria x ananassa (“Amiga”, “Amine”, “Chandler”, “Gariguette”, “Madame Moutot”, and “Ruby gem”), and one which is a hybrid of Fragaria vesca (“Mara des bois”). Certain diseases were also observed and recorded depending on the growing areas.

Conventional Breeding and Molecular Markers for Blast Disease Resistance in Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Monogenic lines,which carried 23 genes for blast resistance were tested and used donors to transfer resistance genes by crossing method.The results under blast nursery revealed that 9 genes from 23 genes were susceptible to highly susceptible under the three locations(Sakha,Gemmeza,and Zarzoura in Egypt);Pia,Pik,Pik-p,Piz-t,Pita,Pi b,Pi,Pi 19 and Pi 20.While,the genes Pii,Pik-s,Pik-h,Pi z,Piz-5,Pi sh,Pi 3,Pi 1,Pi 5,Pi 7,Pi 9,Pi 12,Pikm and Pita-2 were highly resistant at the same locations.Clustering analysis confirmed the results,which divided into two groups;the first one included all the susceptible genes,while the second one included the resistance genes.In the greenhouse test,the reaction pattern of five races produced 100%resistance under artificial inoculation with eight genes showing complete resistance to all isolates.The completely resistant genes:Pii,Pik-s,Piz,Piz-5(=bi2)(t),Pita(=Pi4)(t),Pita,Pi b and Pi1 as well as clustering analysis confirmed the results.In the F1 crosses,the results showed all the 25 crosses were resistant for leaf blast disease under field conditions.While,the results in F2 population showed seven crosses with segregation ratio of 15(R):1(S),two cross gave segregated ratio of 3 R:1 S and one gave 13:3.For the identification of blast resistance genes in the parental lines,the marker K3959,linked to Pik-s gene and the variety IRBLKS-F5 carry this gene,which was from the monogenic line.The results showed that four genotypes;Sakha 105,Sakha 103,Sakha 106 and IRBLKS-F5 were carrying Pik-s gene,while was absent in the Sakha 101,Sakha 104,IRBL5-M,IRBL9-W,IRBLTACP1 and IRBL9-W(R)genotypes.As for Pi 5 gene,the results showed that it was present in Sakha 103 and Sakha 104 varieties and absent in the rest of the genotypes.In addition,Pita-Pita-2 gene was found in the three Egyptian genotypes(Sakha 105,Sakha 101 and Sakha 104)plus IRBLTACP1 monogenetic.In F2 generation,six populations were used to study the inheritance of blast resistance and specific primers to confirm the ratio and identify the resistance genes.However,the ratios in molecular markers were the same of the ratio under field evaluation in the most population studies.These findings would facilitate in breeding programs for gene pyramiding and gene accumulation to produce durable resistance for blast using those genotypes.

Similarity of Binding Potentials Between Plant DUF538 and Animal Lipocalin: Cholesterol Binding Ability of DUF538

Objective DUF538(domain of unknown function 538) domain containing proteins are known as putative hypothetical proteins in plants. Until yet, there is no much information regarding their structure and function. Methods In the present research work, the homologous structures and binding potentials were identified between plant/mammalian lipocalins and plant DUF538 protein by using bioinformatics and experimental tools including molecular dynamics simulation, molecular docking and recombinant technology-based techniques. Results Molecular docking analysis of their interactions with lipidic ligands including cholesterol and palmitic acid revealed the similar and comparable binding potentials between DUF538 and lipocalin proteins. Both the test proteins were found to have more affinity to cholesterol molecule in compare to palmitic acid. By using recombinant technology-based experiments, the heterologously expressed and purified fused product of DUF538 protein exhibited about 61% cholesterol binding ability. Conclusion As a conclusion, plants DUF538 protein family was predicted to be the structural and may be the functional homologues of plants/animals lipocalin superfamily.

Elemental Assessments in Paddy Soil for Geographical Traceability of Rice from Peninsular Malaysia

This investigation aimed to establish the geographical traceability of Malaysian rice by assessing the elemental composition in paddy soil.Multi-element determination in combination with a chemometric approach was applied to evaluate the elemental concentrations of paddy soil from granaries cultivated with the same rice variety and to assess the relationship between elements in the soil and rice(SAR) system.A total of 29 elements(aluminum,arsenic,barium,bromine,calcium,chlorine,cobalt,chromium,cesium,europium,iron,gallium,hafnium,potassium,lanthanum,lutetium,magnesium,manganese,sodium,rubidium,antimony,scandium,samarium,thorium,titanium,uranium,vanadium,ytterbium and zinc) were successfully determined in paddy soil from Kedah,Selangor and Langkawi by neutron activation analysis.A significant difference(P < 0.05) between 18 elements in the soil samples was obtained.The chemometric approaches of principal component and linear discriminant analyses demonstrated clear discrimination and highly corrected classification(100%) of the soil samples.A high classification(98.1%) was also achieved by assessing 10 elements(aluminum,arsenic,bromine,chlorine,potassium,magnesium,manganese,sodium,rubidium and zinc),which similarly applied to rice geographical origin determination.Similar elements in SAR were also observed for differences in the pattern of correlation and bioaccumulation factor between the granaries.Furthermore,the generalized Procrustes analysis showed a 98% consensus between SAR and clear differences between the studied regions.The canonical correlation analysis demonstrated a significant correlation between the chemical profile of SAR(r~2 = 0.88,P < 0.001).Therefore,the current work model provides a reliable assessment to establish rice provenance.

Hydroxysafflor yellow A protects against thioacetamide-induced liver fibrosis in rats via suppressing proinflammatory/fibrogenic mediators and promoting hepatic stellate cell senescence and apoptosis

Objective:To evaluate the effect of hydroxysafflor yellow A(HSYA)on thioacetamide-induced liver fibrosis.Methods:Thioacetamide was administered to rats intraperitoneally in doses of 200 mg/kg twice a week for 12 weeks.Thioacetamide-intoxicated rats were given silymarin(50 mg/kg)or HSYA(5 mg/kg)orally every day for 8 weeks.Liver enzymes,fibrosis markers,histological changes as well as immunohistochemistry of TNF-α,IL-6,p21,α-SMA,and caspase-3 were examined.The effect of HSYA on HSC-T6 activation/proliferation and apoptosis was also determined in vitro.Results:HSYA decreased liver enzymes,TNF-α,IL-6,and p21 expressions,hepatic PDGF-B,TIMP-1,TGF-β1,and hydroxyproline levels,as well as fibrosis score(S2 vs.S4)compared to the thioacetamide group.HSYA also downregulatedα-SMA while increasing caspase-3 expression.Surprisingly,at 500μg/mL,HSYA had only a slightly suppressive effect on HSC proliferation,with a 9.5%reduction.However,it significantly reduced TGF-β1,inhibitedα-SMA expression,induced caspase-3 expression,and promoted cell senescence.Conclusions:HSYA may be a potential therapeutic agent for delaying and reversing the progression of liver fibrosis.More research on HSYA at higher doses and for a longer period is warranted.

Optimal Deep Transfer Learning Based Colorectal Cancer Detection and Classification Model

Colorectal carcinoma(CRC)is one such dispersed cancer globally and also prominent one in causing cancer-based death.Conventionally,pathologists execute CRC diagnosis through visible scrutinizing under the microscope the resected tissue samples,stained and fixed through Haematoxylin and Eosin(H&E).The advancement of graphical processing systems has resulted in high potentiality for deep learning(DL)techniques in interpretating visual anatomy from high resolution medical images.This study develops a slime mould algorithm with deep transfer learning enabled colorectal cancer detection and classification(SMADTL-CCDC)algorithm.The presented SMADTL-CCDC technique intends to appropriately recognize the occurrence of colorectal cancer.To accomplish this,the SMADTLCCDC model initially undergoes pre-processing to improve the input image quality.In addition,a dense-EfficientNet technique was employed to extract feature vectors from the pre-processed images.Moreover,SMA with Discrete Hopfield neural network(DHNN)method was applied for the recognition and classification of colorectal cancer.The utilization of SMA assists in appropriately selecting the parameters involved in the DHNN approach.A wide range of experiments was implemented on benchmark datasets to assess the classification performance.A comprehensive comparative study highlighted the better performance of the SMADTL-CDC model over the recent approaches.

Clinical and Anthropometric Evolution of People Living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus during 6 Months of Dolutegravir Treatment in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo

Background: AntiRetroViral Treatment (ART) remains an important tool for reducing morbidity and mortality and improving the quality of life of people living with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (PLHIV). Under the pressure of ART, several parameters of PLHIV change and are the subject of different evaluations. Objective: The objective of this work was to study the clinical and anthropometric evolution of PLHIV after 6 months of ART based on Dolutegravir (DTG). Methods: The present study was a non-interventional prospective cohort to assess the clinical and anthropometric evolution of PLHIV after 6 months of ART in the Ambulatory Treatment Center (CTA) for HIV in Kinshasa. The patients included were followed for 6 months in compliance with the schedule promulgated by the National Program. The parameters of interest were: Age, Sex, Marital Status, Weight, Height, Body Mass Index and Clinical Status. Results: On inclusion, 119 patients (56.3% women;43.7% men) were selected. During the consultation appointments, 42 patients (66.7% women;33.3% men) were present at M1, 37 patients (70.3% women;29.7% men) at M3, and 67 patients (61.3% women and 38.7% men) in M6. On inclusion, 41.5% of patients were at Stage 3 and 47.0% had a normal clinical condition. In M1, 48.7% of patients were at Stage 1 and 65.8% had a normal clinical condition. At M3, 41.7% of patients were at Stage 3 and 67.6% had a normal clinical condition. At M6, 61.8% of patients were at Stage 3 and 67.9% had a normal clinical condition. On D0, 45.5% of patients were in the 45 to 55 kg range and 56.5% had a normal Body Mass Index (BMI). At M1, 45.7% were in the 45 to 55 kg range and 50.0% had a normal BMI. At M3, 34.4% were in the 45 to 55 kg range and 64.3% had a normal BMI. At M6, 31.8% were in the range of 45 to 55 kg and, respectively, 37.5% of patients were lean and had a normal BMI. Conclusion: The clinical and anthropometric parameters evolve in saw tooth. Improvements are easily visible up to the third month of AntiRetroViral Treatment (ART). At the sixth month, with the pressure of the infection by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), the evolution of the patients is compromised.

Virological Profile of People Living with HIV after 12 Months of Treatment with Dolutegravir in Kinshasa

Context: The evaluation of plasma Viral Load constitutes an indicator of the progression of the infection, the effectiveness and the tolerance of the treatment. Objective: The objective of this study is to present the virological profile of Patients Living with HIV (PLHIV) after 12 months of AntiRetro Viral Treatment (ART) based on Dolutegravir (DTG) in Kinshasa. Method: The present study is a cross-sectional view of the virological profile of the twelfth month of a prospective cohort of PLHIV at M12 of DTG-based ART in Kinshasa. During the M12 appointment, a blood sample was taken for Molecular Biology analyses from all PLHIV included. Result: During the M12 appointment, 28 patients were registered, including 16 (57.1%) women. Nine (9) patients (45.0%) had an undetectable Viral Load (VL). The median VL value was 3.18 log10 RNA copies/mL (1530 RNA copies/mL). The mutations K65R, T69P/N, K70R and M184V have been listed as mutations conferring resistance to Nucleotide Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors. No mutations associated with Dolutegravir were observed at M12. Conclusion: After 12 months of AntiRetroViral Treatment based on Dolutegravir, half of the Patients on first-line ART are in a state of virological failure.

Evolutionary Profile of Opportunistic Infections in People Living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus during Six Months of Dolutegravir Based Antiretroviral Treatment in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo

Background: Opportunistic infections (OI), which are still a major problem in the care of People Living with HIV (PLHIV), occur in situations of immunosuppression. The AntiRetroViral Treatments (ART) used allow a spectacular reduction in the frequency of Opportunistic Infections. Objective: The objective of this study is to present the evolution of Opportunistic Infections in People Living with HIV under AntiRetroViral Treatment in Kinshasa in the era of Dolutegravir. Methods: The present study is a prospective cohort to present the evolutionary profile of OIs in PLHIV on ART for 6 months in Outpatient Treatment Centers (OTC) in Kinshasa. Sixteen OTCs had been included. The population of the present work was patients over 18 years of age at inclusion, infected with HIV-1 and initiating ART in the selected OTC. Results: On inclusion, 119 patients were included of which 56.3% were women. Malaria (45.4%), tuberculosis (29.4%) and cutaneous pruritus (23.5%) were the most common Opportunistic Infections (OIs). In the third month of ART, 37 patients came for the consultation of which 70.3% were women. Non-specific STIs (97.3%), skin pruritus (37.8%) and malaria (24.3%) were the dominant OIs among patients. At the sixth month of ART, 62 patients came for the medical consultation of which 61.3% were women. Skin pruritus (25.8%), dermatitis (22.6%) and rash (21%) were the most common OIs. Conclusion: The evolutionary profile is marked by the conservation of Opportunistic Infections such as dermatitis (pruritus and rashes) and malaria.

Influence of Harvest Periods on Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) Agronomic Traits and Physiological Response to Post-Harvest Physiological Deterioration

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is the third largest source of calories in tropical countries and the sixth most important food crop in the World. However, the short shelf life of its storage roots after harvest due to a rapid post-harvest physiological deterioration (PPD) makes the roots to be considered as a risky product to market. The objectives of this work were to investigate the influence of two harvest periods on cassava agronomic parameters and their physiological response to PPD. Three cassava cultivars 96/1414, I070593 and LMR were selected for the experiment and harvested at 10 and 12 months after planting (MAP). The response to PPD was assessed during storage at 0, 3, 8 and 15 days after harvest (DAH). Total proteins content, soluble sugars and starch, total polyphenols compounds, polyphenoloxidase and peroxidase activities were recorded during storage. Results showed large variation among the parameters at the two harvest periods across the cultivars. High number of tubers was recorded in all the cultivars at 12 MAP and a significant increase in storage roots length was observed in 96/1414 and LMR from 10 MAP to 12 MAP (25 ± 5.1 to 41.3 ± 5.9 and 22.6 ± 3.3 to 27.9 ± 4.8) respectively. A reduction of about 49% of tubers weight was observed in I070593 from 10 to 12 MAP while an increase of about 36% and 11% were recorded in LMR and 96/1414 respectively. Tubers from I070593 showed less susceptibility to PPD when harvested at 10 MAP compared to those from LMR and 96/1414 where less susceptibility to PPD were recorded at 12 MAP. An increase in soluble sugars content, total proteins content and peroxidase activity subsequently to a decrease in starch content were recorded during storage from 8 to 15 days after harvest especially at 10 MAP in I070593 and at 12 MAP in LMR and 96/1414. High content of total phenolic compounds and less activity of polyphenol oxidase were correlated to PPD susceptibility. This work opens a new insight issue of the consideration of the appropriate harvest time of the cultivars as a tool to better control the onset of postharvest physiological deterioration.