Evaluation of the Living Conditions and Health Perceptions of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Handlers in the Informal Sector in Dakar

Electrical and electronic devices are becoming an increasingly important part of our society. In Africa, and in Senegal in particular, the handling and management of electronic and electrical equipment (EEE) that has reached the end of its life is mainly informal. This professional environment is characterized by the disintegration of the sector and the social heterogeneity that can be found there. The objective of this study is to assess the standard of living of electrical and electronic equipment waste handlers in the Dakar region, as well as their perception of their health. A survey was used to obtain information on sociodemographic background, living arrangements, perception of health status, and good practices to be implemented in case of work-related health problems. Life style, perception of general health and health problems were ranged as excellent, very good, good, average and poor. Informal recyclers in the Dakar region lived mainly in rooms and buildings as tenants (49.1%), or in family homes (48.4%) before starting this activity, and 51.2% continue to live in rooms and buildings as tenants compared to 41.4% who still live in a family home. The perception of health status ranged from poor to excellent, and 4.9% believe that they are limited in work due to a disability or health problem. Informal work is a heterogeneous phenomenon that makes research and policymaking particularly complex. There are several external factors within informal WEEE re-cyclers that can cause health problems or functional disability. However, the living conditions and the perception they have of their state of health are contradictory to the working conditions and the social environment to which they belong. A biomedical approach would consolidate these achievements by confirming or invalidating them.

Components of the mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade are activated in hepatic cells by Echinococcus multilocularis metacestode

AIM: To explore the effect of Echinococcus multilocularis (E. multilocularis) on the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways and on liver cell proliferation. METHODS: Changes in the phosphorylation of MAPKs and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression were measured in the liver of patients with alveolar echinococcosis (AE). MAPKs, MEK1/2 [MAPK/ extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) kinase] and ribosomal S6 kinase (RSK) phosphorylation were detected in primary cultures of rat hepatocytes in contact in vitro with (1) E. multilocularis vesicle fluid (EmF), (2) E. multilocularis-conditioned medium (EmCM). RESULTS: In the liver of AE patients, ERK 1/2 and p38 MAPK were activated and PCNA expression was increased, especially in the vicinity of the metacestode. Upon exposure to EmF, p38, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and ERK1/2 were also activated in hepatocytes in vitro, as well as MEK1/2 and RSK, in the absence of any toxic effect. Upon exposure to EmCM, only JNK was up-regulated. CONCLUSION: Previous studies have demonstrated an influence of the host on the MAPK cascade in E. multilocularis. Our data suggest that the reverse, i.e. parasite-derived signals efficiently acting on MAPK signaling pathways in host liver cells, is actually operating.

Lithium-related neurotoxicity despite serum concentrations in the therapeutic range:risk factors and diagnosis

We would like to comment on the interesting case report of lithium intoxication reported by Jing Peng.[1]An 18-year old female with mania developed confusion,trembling extremities,slurred speech,increased muscle tension,and hyperactive tendon reflexes 20 days after initiating treatment with routine dosages of lithium bicarbonate.When admitted to the hospital due to her acute neurological condition,her serum lithium concentration was in the therapeutic range(0.57 mmol/L).Most of her symptoms spontaneously reversed one

Effects of Sarcocephalus latifolius Fruits Extract on Paracetamol-Induced Liver Damage in Wistar Rats

Background and Aim: Sarcocephalus latifolius is a medicinal plant commonly used in traditional medicine to treat various diseases. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the hepatoprotective activity of Sarcocephalus latifolius fruits aqueous extract against paracetamol-induced liver damage in rats. Material and Methods: Aqueous extract of Sarcocephalus latifolius fruits at doses of 100, 250 and 500 mg/kg were administered orally to rats with paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity (1 g/kg). The treatment with the extract and paracetamol lasted 7 days. Silymarin (50 mg/kg) was given as reference control. All tested drugs were administered orally. Results: Our results show that the Sarcocephalus latifolius fruits extract induced a significant reduction (p < 0.05) of serum enzymes alanine aminotransferase (ALAT), aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT), alkaline phosphatase (PAL) and total bilirubin (TB). Then, the extract at the dose of 500 mg/kg showed a better protection (p < 0.001) of hepatocytes with a percentage of protection of 43.59% ± 2.03%;59.43% ± 4.12%;73.29% ± 5.72% and 62.55% ± 7.48% for ALAT, ASAT, PAL and TB, respectively. The histology of livers exposed to paracetamol shows an inflammation of the hepatocytes. In addition, there was a significant alteration of the liver parenchyma. The 500 mg/kg extract showed a resorption of the inflammation. Histopathological examination showed that the extract regenerated paracetamol-induced liver damage. Conclusion: Aqueous extract of Sarcocephalus latifolius fruits has hepatoprotective activity against paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. But it would be important to evaluate the activity of aqueous extract of Sarcocephalus latifolius fruits on oxidative stress parameters in vivo in rats. .

Study of intracellular anabolism of 5-fluorouracil and incorporation in nucleic acids based on an LC-HRMS method

5-Fluorouracil(5-FU)is an anticancer drug extensively used for different cancers.Intracellular metabolic activation leads to several nucleoside and nucleotide metabolites essential to exert its cytotoxic activity on multiple cellular targets such as enzymes,DNA and RNA.In this paper,we describe the development of a method based on liquid chromatography coupled with high resolution mass spectrometry suitable for the simultaneous determination of the ten anabolic metabolites(nucleoside,nucleotide and sugar nucleotide)of 5-FU.The chromatographic separationwas optimized on a porous graphitic carbon column allowing the analysis of the metabolites of 5-FU as well as endogenous nucleotides.The detection was performed on an Orbitrap■tandem mass spectrometer.Linearity of the method was verified in intracellular content and in RNA extracts.The limit of detection was equal to 12 pg injected on column for nucleoside metabolites of 5-FU and 150 pg injected on column for mono-and tri-phosphate nucleotide metabolites.Matrix effect was evaluated in cellular contents,DNA and RNA extracts for nucleoside and nucleotides metabolites.The method was successfully applied to i)measure the proportion of each anabolic metabolite of 5-FU in cellular contents,ii)follow the consequence of inhibition of enzymes on the endogenous nucleotide pools,iii)study the incorporation of metabolites of 5-FU into RNA and DNA,and iv)to determine the incorporation rate of 5-FUrd into 18 S and 28 S sub-units of rRNA.

Anti-Melanogenesis Effect of Daniellic Acid Isolated from <i>Daniellia oliveri</i>(Rolfe) Hutch. &Dalziel (Leguminosae) Oleoresin of Burkina Faso

Over the past years, natural products have been used as useful candidates for prevention and treatment of skin disorders such as skin darkening. In this current research, Daniellia oliveri which was a potential source of cosmeceutical agent was selected to investigate its active components. Daniellic acid isolated from the oleoresin was characterized by using data from 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, HSQC, IR, and online chemo-informatic analysis. The daniellic acid antioxidant, anti-proliferative, and tyrosinase inhibition capabilities were evaluated. This compound possessed an anti-DPPH and iron (III) reducing effect compared to quercetin. It was able to inhibit 9 tumor cells with IC50 going from 0.03 mM (U373) to 0.14 mM (Malme-3M). Interestingly daniellic acid inhibits tyrosinase activity with 1.20 mM as IC50. The tyrosinase inhibition mechanism was noncompetitive mixed-type with un-significant effect on cell melanogenesis. Daniellic acids induced a half-reduction of melanin production in B16F10 cell in IBMX stimulation (p < 0.05). The same observation was effective in Malme-3M melanin production with a significant daniellic acid action than kojic acid (p < 0.05) without reducing cell viabilities. This bioactive daniellic acid could explain the traditional uses of oleoresins from Daniellia oliveri for genitor-urinary tract diseases treatments, wound healing, and skin ailments in Burkina Faso.

Identification of adrafinil and its main metabolite modafinil in human hair.Self-administration study and interpretation of an authentic case

For several years,the misuse of stimulant substances is increasingly observed both in the field of sport,to improve the functions of the body and therefore to be more performant,and also by non-athletes to make life more tolerable on a daily basis.Adrafinil,2-((diphenylmethyl)sulfinyl)-N-hydroxyacetamide,is a drug designed for the treatment of narcolepsy by promoting an awakened state,and to treat alertness and neurological symptoms in the elderly.It is primarily metabolized in vivo to an active form,i.e.modafinil,2-((diphenylmethyl)sulfinyl)acetamide.The World Anti-Doping Agency(WADA)banned these two drugs in sports in 2004.The authors report an authentic case involving adrafinil and modafinil.The laboratory was requested to test for adrafinil in a hair strand collected from a woman found in posses-sion of vials of adrafinil and suspected of trafficking.A specific method was developed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry(LC-MS/MS).Unlike modafinil(varying from 6.8 to 13.9ng/mg),adrafinil was not identified in the strand.The interpretation of the results was difficult because this is the first case describing human hair analysis.In order to be able to interpret the results,a self-administration study was conducted after an oral administration to a volunteer(200 mg)whose beard hair was collected 10days after adminis-tration.The analysis of this specimen highlighted the presence of adrafinil at 0.8ng/mg and modafinil at 0.5 ng/mg.These results demonstrate the dual identification of both compounds after a single consumption,even after administration of a low dose.According to these results,the analysis of the hair strand from the authentic case does not match with a con-sumption of adrafinil,in accordance with abuse of modafinil alone.Intelligence considered that this was a trafficking case of adrafinil,with no self-consumption.