Digestive fungal flora in asymptomatic subjects in Bobo-Dioulasso,Burkina Faso

Objective::To identify Candida species in asymptomatic subjects in Bobo-Dioulasso(Burkina Faso) by the matrix—assisted laser desortption ionization—time of flight mass spectrometry.Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted from January to February 2013 in BohoDioulasso to coiled fecal and urine specimens from voluntary donors.Fungal strains were isolated on Sabouraud dextrose agar and analyzed using matrix—assisted laser desorption ionisation—time-of—flight mass spectrometry.Results:A total of 135 samples including stools(78.5%,106/135) and urine(21.5%,29/135) were analyzed.The results revealed that fecal specimens contained mainly Candida krusei(C.krusei)(42.5%) followed by Candida albicans(29.3%),Candida glabrata(18.0%) and Candida tropicalis(C.tropicalis)(4.7%).C.krusei(34.6%) was also found to be the most frequently identified in urine samples followed by Candida albicans(27.0%).C.tropicalis(15.4%) and Candida parapsilosis,However,uncommon species such as Candida nivariensis.Candida kefyr.Candida norvegensis,Candida parapsilosis.Candida lusitaniae and Candida robusta were also identified from fecal and urines samples.Conclusions:This study noted the emergence of species such as C.krusei,Candida glabrata,Candida parapsiolosis,C.tropicalis,Candida nivariensis,Candida norvegensis,and others.It is an imperative to take into account the existence of these species in the therapeutic management of patients in Bobo—Dioulasso.

Traumatic Floating Bone. About 11 Cases and a Literature Review

Introduction: Floating bone injury or bipolar dislocation is a concurrent dislocation at both ends of a long bone or a flat bone. It is an exceptional injury. We report 11 consecutives cases of floating bones. Objectives: The aim of the study is to analyze the frequency, the mechanism of injury and clinical forms of floating bones, and to present the results of their management. Material and Methods: A ten years ongoing retrospective study was held in four trauma departments. Eleven cases of floating bones were identified. The floating bones characteristics such as the injured bone, the patient age and sex, the mechanism of injury, the dislocations directions, the associated complications, the treatment and the outcome were studied. Results: Nine male and two female patients, with a mean age of 37 years [19 - 65 years range] presented a concurrent bipolar dislocation of one bone or a group of bones. They sustained a road traffic accident (n = 5), a workplace accident (n = 3), a fall from height (n = 2), and a sport accident (n = 1). The clavicle (n = 3) and the first metatarsal (n = 3) were the most frequently involved. The others floating bones were the radius-ulna complex (n = 1), the radius-lunatum complex (n = 1), the first metacarpal (n = 1), the first phalanx (n = 1) and the femur (n = 1). The floating bones ends displacement occurred in the sagittal plane (the forearm, the femur, the first phalanx and the first metatarsal) and in the horizontal plane (the clavicle, the first metatarsal and the first metacarpal). We defined direction displacements as bidirectional asymmetric (n = 10) or unidirectional symmetric (n = 1). Associated complications were fractures (wrist, hip, tarso-metatarsal joints) and wounds (fingers, metatarso-phalangeal joint). Dislocations were treated conservatively (n = 5) and surgically (n = 17) with excellent results (n = 13/16 joints). Three patients were lost of view. Conclusion: Our study described the characteristics of this exceptional injury. For any joint dislocation, we promote the systematic examination of the other end of the dislocated bone.

Antioxidative, anti-inflammatory potentials and phytochemical profile of Commiphora africana(A. Rich.) Engl.(Burseraceae) and Loeseneriella africana(Willd.)(Celastraceae) stem leaves extracts

Objective: To assess the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities as well as to determine the flavonoids and phenolic acids content of active fractions.Methods: Two medicinal plant samples were extracted successively in Soxhlet apparatus with n-hexane, dichloromethane, acetonitrile, ethyl acetate, methanol and n-butanol. Five methods were used to evaluate the antioxidant activity. Anti-inflammatory activity was done through the inhibition of the cyclooxygenase enzymes(COX-1 and COX-2).Polyphenolic compounds were analyzed by using a spectrophotometrical and high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry(HPLC-MS) methods.Results: The data showed that the stem leaves extracts of Commiphora africana and Loeseneriella africana possessed significant in vitro antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Polar extracts had radical scavenging effects and they reduced iron(III). The prostaglandin production was significantly stopped by acetonitrile and methanol extracts.These biological activities were supported by some bioactive compounds quantified by using the HPLC-MS. p-Coumaric acid, ferulic acid, isoquercitrin, quercitrin, quercetin,rutin, kaempferol and apigenin were the most metabolites quantified.Conclusions: The present study may explain the effectiveness of plants in traditional medicine of Burkina Faso, singularly Commiphora africana and Loeseneriella africana.The next investigation was to sub-fractionate the methanol fraction in order to isolate new antioxidant and/or anti-inflammatory compounds.

The Effect of <i>Aphthona whitfieldi</i>(Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) Populations’ Density on the Growth of <i>Jatropha curcas</i>in Burkina Faso

Aphthona whitfieldi Bryant (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) is a major insect pest of Jatropha curcas L. in Burkina Faso. This study aimed at evaluating the effect of the insect pest populations’ density on the growth of the plant. To achieve this purpose, 90-day aged single plants were caged in a randomized complete block design experiment with 5 treatments and 5 replicates. The treatments consisted of increasing numbers of adults of A. whitfieldi used to infest the caged plants: T0 (0 adult = check), T1 (100 adults), T2 (200 adults), T3 (300 adults), T4 (400 adults). All caged plants were infested 21 days after transplantation and the evaluation started 14 days later one on every 2-week basis from September 18, 2014 to February 19, 2015. The growth parameters of the plant were assessed. The results showed that the intensity of damage caused by A. whitfieldi on the growth of young plants of J. curcas varied according to the treatment (i.e., according to the number of adult individuals infesting the plant at the beginning). The higher the number, the heavier the level of damage caused by the pest. So, the growth of the J. curcas plant was inversely proportional to the number of A. whitfieldi infesting individuals. There was also a positive linear correlation between the defoliation rate and the height of the seedlings. The status of this insect pest was confirmed by the results of this study.

Optimization of the Implementation Process and Physical Properties of Cotton (<i>Gossipium hirsutum </i>) and Kenaf (<i>Hibiscus cannabinus </i>L.) Wooden Chipboard

The present study aims at valorizing two residues types of the foodless vegetable biomass which are abundant and very pollutant in Burkina Faso. To do it, first we try to identify the optimal values of chipboard elaboration parameters with kenaf and cotton stems by using a natural binder (the bone glue). Next we proceed to the elaboration of two panels types with optimized elaboration parameters. Besides we determine mechanical and thermal characteristics of elaborated panels with a view of an indoor thermal insulation application. Also it becomes necessary for us to determine by experimenting the thermal conductivity, Young’s modulus, Coulomb’s modulus, and the water inflation rate, taking into account some elaboration parameters on one hand and the correlation between mechanical and thermal properties on the other hand. Finally, the obtained results are compared with the panels properties values required by ANSI A 208.1-1999 standard.

Compliance of Computed Tomography Scan Requests in Sub-Saharan Africa

>Objective: To investigate the compliance of computed tomography (CT) scan requests in the X-ray units of Sub-Saharan Africa. Methods: Multi-centric, exhaustive, descriptive and cross-sectional study (Burkina Faso and Benin) focused on CT scan requests implemented and interpreted from May 1 to July 31, 2014. Request compliance was assessed according to the criteria of the French High Authority for Health to which was added a criterion for fulfillment of description of patient clinical information. An exam was deemed compliant when all criteria were met. Ratios were compared by means of Chi2 test at 0.05% significance level. Results: Among the 426 colligated computed tomography prescriptions, the least filled fields were allergy concept (0%), creatinine-mia (0.3%), examination purpose (50.2%). The overall compliance rate was 35%. The requests made by medical specialists were more compliant than those made by general practitioners and students (p = 0.003). Fulfillment of clinical information description was also better among medical specialists compared to the other prescribers (p = 0.002). Conclusion: It is important to improve the quality of computed tomography (CT) scan requests in the hospitals of Bobo-Dioulasso (Bur-kina Faso) and Parakou (Benin).

Integration of Post Abortion Care Package in the Activity of 56 Health Facilities by the Burkina Faso Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (SOGOB)

Introduction: This article is an analysis of post-abortion care in 56 health facilities after their capacity building by the Burkina Faso Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (SOGOB). Patients and Methods: In 2012, with funds from Safe Abortion Action Fund, the SOGOB trained care providers and equipped 56 health facilities for post abortion care. Statistical data on the management of incomplete abortions after the capacity building were analyzed. The significance level was set at 0.05. Results: There were 6316 cases of abortion that have been managed in 56 health facilities. The evacuation of the uterine contents for incomplete abortion has been provided to 6167 patients. Manual vacuum aspiration (MVA) and misoprostol were used respectively in 69.4% and 26.9% of cases to evacuate uterine content. Post-treatment complications were 1.8% for MVA and 0.9% for misoprostol (p = 0.004). MVA’s complication rate in the health facilities of the 1st level of care (1.7%) was not different from the third level of care (1.2%) with p = 0.21. A modern method of contraception was provided after abortion to 65.7% of the patients. In addition to the post abortion care, 7.3% of the patients received other reproductive health services. The community was involved in the development process of post abortion care in the facilities of the first level of care. Conclusion: The support of health facilities by SOGOB has provided post abortion care to thousands of women with little complications. Given the good results, an extension to other health facilities is desirable.

Structure of Vegetables Farming and Farmer’s Perception of Soil and Water Degradation in Two Periurban Areas in Yaounde Cameroon

Vegetable farming is an activity sensitive to the dynamism of the population and to the level of intensification in the use of soil resources. A study was conducted in the peri-urban zones of Yaoundé to present the socioeconomic characteristics of vegetable farming and the farmers’ perception of soil and water degradation as a result of this activity. A semi-structured questionnaire was administered to this purpose in 2016 in two vegetable farming sites in Yaoundé, namely Nkolbisson and Nkolondom III. Results showed that most vegetable farmers from both sites (around 75%) lack training in agriculture while 74 and 90 didn’t benefit from training on management of pesticides. Spreading and landfilling of amendments are the two most popular ways of applying fertilizers. In fact, while the majority (35.4%) of these fertilizers is applied at planting time, the minority (4.9%) is applied several months before planting. Besides young plots are more exploited (52.4% and 30%) compared to older ones (2.4% and 5%) in Nkolondom III and Nkolbisson respectively, as they are more responsive to fertilizer application. As consequence, high rates of fertilizers are applied to the oldest farms. As for irrigation water, it is altogether polluted. Base on the above, the farmers’ perception of degradation is seen through the degradation of soils properties with time in the order of 14.3% to 60% and 15% to 44% at Nkolbisson and Nkolondom III respectively resulting in a gradual decrease of crop production (up to 50%). It is also seen through the polluted produce obtained from irrigation and cleaning water.