[Multiple brain abscesses complicating Enterobacter cloacae sepsis in a premature infant]. / Abcès cérébraux multiples à Enterobacter cloacae chez un prématuré. Intérêt de la ciprofloxacine.

A neonatal infection with Enterobacter cloacae was diagnosed at day 21 in a premature infant. Five cerebral abscesses were discovered 6 days while a treatment with cefotaxim and amikacin was administered. We switched for axepim during 4 weeks and ciprofloxacin until complete regression of cerebral abscesses. At 13 months of age, the infant neurodevelopmental outcome was normal. Ciprofloxacin indications and tolerance during neonatal period are discussed.

A simple soil organic-matter model for biomass data assimilation in community-level carbon contracts.

Soil carbon (C) sequestration has been proposed as a transitional win-win strategy to help replenish organic-matter content in depleted agricultural soils and counter increases in atmospheric greenhouse gases. Data assimilation and remote sensing can reduce uncertainty in sequestered C mass estimates, but simple soil organic carbon (SOC) models are required to make operational predictions of tradeable amounts over large, heterogenous areas. Our study compared the performance of RothC26.3 and a reduced compartmental model on an 11-year fertilizer trial in subhumid West Africa. Root mean square error (RMSE) differences of 0.05 Mg C/ha between models on total SOC predictions suggest that for contractual purposes, SOC dynamics can be simulated by a two-pool structure with labile and stable components. Faster (seasonal) and slower (semicentennial and beyond) rates can be approximated by constants as instantaneous and infinite decay. In these systems, simulations indicate that cereal residue incorporation holds most potential for mitigation of transient C loss associated with recent land conversion to agriculture.

Niger-wide assessment of in situ sorghum genetic diversity with microsatellite markers.

Understanding the geographical, environmental and social patterns of genetic diversity on different spatial scales is key to the sustainable in situ management of genetic resources. However, few surveys have been conducted on crop genetic diversity using exhaustive in situ germplasm collections on a country scale and such data are missing for sorghum in sub-Saharan Africa, its centre of origin. We report here a genetic analysis of 484 sorghum varieties collected in 79 villages evenly distributed across Niger, using 28 microsatellite markers. We found a high level of SSR diversity in Niger. Diversity varied between eastern and western Niger, and allelic richness was lower in the eastern part of the country. Genetic differentiation between botanical races was the first structuring factor (Fst = 0.19), but the geographical distribution and the ethnic group to which farmers belonged were also significantly associated with genetic diversity partitioning. Gene pools are poorly differentiated among climatic zones. The geographical situation of Niger, where typical western African (guinea), central African (caudatum) and eastern Sahelian African (durra) sorghum races converge, explained the high observed genetic diversity and was responsible for the interactions among the ethnic, geographical and botanical structure revealed in our study. After correcting for the structure of botanical races, spatial correlation of genetic diversity was still detected within 100 km, which may hint at limited seed exchanges between farmers. Sorghum domestication history, in relation to the spatial organisation of human societies, is therefore key information for sorghum in situ conservation programs in sub-Saharan Africa.

[Homonymous lateral hemianopsia revealing cerebral thrombophlebitis. Role of a deficiency of protein S induced by l-asparaginase]. / Hémianopsie latérale homonyme révélant une thrombophlébite cérébrale. Rôle d'un déficit en protéine S induit par la l-asparaginase.

BACKGROUND: Cerebral thrombosis associated with protein S deficiency is very rare and is mainly related to hereditary form of protein S deficiency. CASE REPORT: A 19-year-old girl with acute lymphoblastic leukemia presented hemianopsy within a few days after the first administration of L-asparaginase. Magnetic resonance of the brain showed a cortical infarct. A marked decrease of the level of protein S was documented. Few days later, the patient was free of symptoms and protein S level was restored to the normal suggesting that the cerebral thrombosis was caused by transient protein S deficiency induced by L-asparaginase administration. DISCUSSION: Patients with neurological complication caused by L-asparaginase should be tested for protein S and other anticoagulant deficiencies.