Water entrepreneurship and financialisation: Complexities for the attainment of SDG in sub-Saharan Africa.

This study explores the potential of water financialisation and entrepreneurship in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) to supplant the traditional responsibility of national, state, and local governments in providing public water supply, aligning with SDG Goals. Despite its typical association with the global north, a shifting landscape reveals emerging financial actors and multinational companies playing a more prominent role, prompting governance and accountability inquiries. Given the dearth of investment and persisting challenges in SSA's water infrastructure, the burgeoning involvement of financial actors and capital management entities in the water cycle seems inevitable. However, this trend raises concerns about exacerbating global water stress. Through qualitative methods, the study engaged 50 SSA participants via open-ended questionnaires, analysed using thematic analysis. The findings underscore a nuanced perspective. While acknowledging the potential of water financialisation and entrepreneurship to drive essential investment in SSA's water sector, the research emphasizes the irreplaceable role of government in policy execution and safeguarding citizens' well-being. Government intervention remains crucial to ensuring equitable water access and sustainability. Additionally, the analysis suggests that overemphasizing water financialisation could divert attention from critical infrastructural and technological advancements needed in SSA's water sector. This underscores the necessity of a balanced and comprehensive approach to address the multifaceted challenges surrounding water availability, governance, and sustainability in the region.

Prevalence and direct economic losses from bovine tuberculosis in makurdi, Nigeria.

A retrospective study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of bovine tuberculosis and direct economic losses (DEL) from tuberculosis in cattle slaughtered in Makurdi abattoirs from 2008 to 2012, using abattoir records obtained from the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Out of 61654 cattle slaughtered during the study period 1172 (1.90%) were positive for tuberculosis lesions. The annual prevalence of bovine tuberculosis ranges from 0.90% in 2008 to 4.04% in 2012. There was significant (P < 0.05) difference in annual prevalence of bovine tuberculosis. It was also observed that there was no seasonal difference in the prevalence of bovine tuberculosis. A total of 1935 affected organs by BTB weighing 3046.50 kg, amounting to 2.91 × 10(6) Naira (1.82 × 10(4) USD), were condemned within the study period. Seasonal variation in organ condemnation due to bovine tuberculosis was significantly different (Mann-Whitney U statistics = 774 × 10(3), P = 0.034). It was concluded that bovine tuberculosis is prevalent in Makurdi and accounts for heavy economic losses due to condemnation of edible organs.

Assessment of carcass contamination with E. coli O157 before and after washing with water at abattoirs in Nigeria.

The study was carried out to assess the level of beef carcass contamination with Escherichia coli including O157 strains before and after washing with water. Samples of water used for washing carcasses were collected and thirty beef carcasses were swabbed within a period of one month in each of three abattoirs located in North-Western states of Nigeria. E. coli were enumerated as indicator organisms. Using conventional biochemical tests, the isolation rate of E. coli in the 120 swab samples collected in each abattoir from external and internal surfaces of the carcasses was 58.3% at Kano abattoir, 70.8% at Sokoto abattoir, while 76.7% was recorded at Zango abattoir. E. coli counts from external and internal surfaces of the carcasses were enumerated as mean log and ranged between 4.3 Log(10) and 4.6 Log(10) cfu/cm(2) before washing, while the values were 4.6 Log(10) and 4.9 Log(10) cfu/cm(2) after washing. Data analysis revealed that the increase in E. coli counts after washing carcasses with water was statistically significant (P<0.05) in all the abattoirs. However, there was no statistically significant difference (P>0.05) between the 3 abattoirs in mean log of E. coli counts from external surfaces of carcass after washing. E. coli O157 was identified from both the water and surfaces of carcasses using Latex agglutination kit. A prevalence of 2.8% of E. coli O157 was detected in 360 swab samples from 90 beef carcasses examined. E. coli counts from water used in washing carcasses were between 22 and 120 cfu/100 ml. Of the 72 water samples, 3(4.2%) were positive for E. coli O157. In conclusion, there was increased contamination of carcasses during processing and water used in washing carcasses might have contributed to carcass contamination in all the abattoirs studied due to use of non-potable water.

FDG-PET in the assessment of patients with follicular lymphoma treated by ibritumomab tiuxetan Y 90: multicentric study.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is the 2-[fluorine-18]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET) evaluation following radioimmunotherapy (RIT) with ibritumomab tiuxetan Y 90 in patients with non-Hodgkin's follicular lymphoma (FL). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed data from 59 relapsed or refractory FL patients treated with ibritumomab tiuxetan Y 90 in four different PET centers who had a PET scan carried out before and after RIT. Possible predictive factors of progression-free survival (PFS) were studied through univariate and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: The post-RIT PET documented 45.8% complete responders (CR), 25.4% partial responders (PR) and 28.8% nonresponders [stable disease + progressive disease], with an overall survival of 71.2% (range 59.5%-90.9%). With a median follow-up period of 23 months, the univariate analysis documented a statistically significant relation between disease extent before RIT and response to treatment with respect to PFS (P = 0.015), while all the other prognostic factors showed no significant correlation. When carrying out the multivariate analysis, post-RIT PET resulted as the lonely independent predictor of PFS (P < 0.00001). CONCLUSIONS: RIT is an effective therapy in FL patients, as confirmed in our study too. Disease extension before treatment and response to RIT, as assessed by FDG-PET, result as main predictors of PFS, with the post-RIT PET result being the only independent predictive factor.

Burden and health-related quality of life of Spanish caregivers of persons with multiple sclerosis.

Little information exists about caregivers of persons with multiple sclerosis (MS). Our aims were to describe the characteristics of a sample of caregivers of persons with MS, assess their perceived burden, health-related quality of life, and investigate factors influencing this burden. We studied 278 caregivers of persons with MS, recruited from a Spanish cross-sectional survey, measuring health-related quality of life by the 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) and burden by the Zarit Caregiver Burden Interview. Of the caregivers, 56.8% were female and their mean age was 50.1 +/- 12.6 years. Their main relationship with the person with MS was spouse/partner (52.9%) and son or daughter (25.9%). Caregiver General Health, Mental Health, Bodily Pain, and Role-emotional Functioning were the most affected dimensions on the SF-36. Multiple regression analysis showed that independent and significant predictors of burden were Role-emotional Functioning and Vitality dimensions SF-36 scores of caregivers, and the Expanded Disability Status Scale scores. The total adjusted variance explained by these variables (adjusted R(2)) was 0.512. Emotional factors and the disability of the person with MS were major predictors of burden. Psychological and social support should be considered to reduce caregiver burden.

The diagnosis and management of 689 chronic leg ulcers in a single-visit assessment clinic.

OBJECTIVES: accurate diagnosis is essential if patients with chronic leg ulceration are to receive optimal treatment. This prospective study describes the findings of a standardised assessment protocol and the initial management of a consecutive series of patients with chronic leg ulceration presenting to a single-visit leg ulcer assessment clinic. METHODS: between January 1993 and January 1999, a total of 555 patients (220 men and 335 women of median age 73, range 28-95 years) with 689 chronic leg ulcers were assessed. Full clinical assessment, ankle:brachial pressure index and lower limb venous duplex scan were performed according to a standardised protocol and diagnostic and management data were recorded prospectively on a computerised database. RESULTS: venous disease alone was responsible for 496 of 689 (72%) ulcers. Isolated superficial venous reflux (SVR) was identified in 52% of limbs and two-thirds of these had superficial venous surgery. Combined SVR and segmental deep venous reflux (DVR) was present in 13%, and full-length DVR was present in 33% of limbs. Nineteen (4%) limbs had deep venous stenosis or obstruction. Overall, superficial venous surgery was performed in 43% and compression bandages or hosiery alone were applied in 52% of limbs. Mixed arterio-venous ulceration was present in 100 (14.5%) limbs of which 56 had arterial revascularisation, 38 had superficial venous surgery and 23 had compression alone. Fifteen limbs with pure arterial ulceration had angioplasty (n=13) or simple dressings alone (n=2). Ulceration due to lymphoedema (n=17), mixed lymphoedema and venous reflux (n=11) and other causes (n=50) were managed by compression, dressings or skin grafting. CONCLUSIONS: a standardised protocol of clinical and duplex assessment can lead to a diagnosis in 97% of chronic leg ulcers. Duplex is essential to confirm or exclude potentially correctable venous disease and allow tailored surgical intervention for those patients who many benefit.

Modification of Christensen urease test as an inexpensive tool for detection of Helicobacter pylori.

About half the world population is infected with Helicobacter pylori. Most live in developing countries where clinical studies face the constraints of high costs of imported rapid diagnostic tests. In this work, we describe and validate a simple local urease test (LUT) to determine the presence of the bacterium in gastric biopsies, and report the incidence of infection among symptomatic patients in Caracas, Venezuela. Statistical comparison of LUT and CLOtest (Delta West, Bentley, Australia) (N = 216 patients) showed that the probability of 95% agreement between the two test was 0.936. Overall incidence of infection determined by the LUT was 65% (N = 229), and it was higher in patients from public (72%; N = 153) than from private (50%; N = 76) hospitals (p = .001). Therefore, the incidence of infection differs in two socioeconomic groups that coexist in the same city. LUT may represent an affordable tool in clinical studies needed to identify social factors that increase the risk of infection by H. pylori.

[Stener lesions: ultrasonography assessment in 12 cases]. / Lesione di Stener: valutazione ecografica in 12 casi.

We investigated the ultrasonographic (US) features of Stener injury and thus the role of US in the diagnosis of this condition. Stener injuries are characterized by the tear of the cubital ligament system of the first metacarpophalangeal joint during hyperabduction. This condition may be associated with the displacement of the ligament proximal stump above the thumb adductor muscle. We examined 12 patients (9 men and 3 women) with a clinical diagnosis of joint instability due to hyperabduction of the first metacarpophalangeal joint. All the US exams were performed with a linear probe (7.5-10 MHz); a 13-MHz probe was also used in 7 patients. All the patients were submitted to radiography in the standard projections, to detect associated bone injuries. US allowed the identification of a round lesion surrounded by a hypoechoic halo, between the distal edge of the dorsal interosseous muscle of the first finger and the first metacarpal bone (the proper Stener injury) in 4/12 patients. In contrast, no typical sign was shown in the other 8 patients. US results were then compared with surgical findings. The diagnosis of proper Stener injury was surgically confirmed in 4 patients. Only 2 patients with clinical signs of thumb instability, who were negative for Stener injuries at US, were submitted to surgery which demonstrated the ligament tear responsible for joint instability, but ruled out the displacement. To conclude, US must be integrated with clinical signs because this imaging method accurately shows complete tears with displaced proximal stump of the cubital ligament.

[Neoadjuvant intralesional chemotherapy for breast neoplasm in advanced stage. Assessment of its efficacy with Doppler color]. / Chemioterapia neoadiuvante intralesionale del carcinoma mammario in fase avanzata. Valutazione d'efficacia con color Doppler.

Twenty women with breast cancer confirmed at cyto-histology, 4 of them with axillary lymph node metastases, were submitted to neo-adjuvant chemotherapy with the conventional systemic treatment combined with intralesion drug administration and monitored by means of color-Doppler ultrasonography (CDU). Before treatment, CDU demonstrated marked color signal increase in 18 cases. After treatment, tumor vascularity clearly decreased and response was more apparent since treatment had been local rather than systemic. In this paper, the consistent semiology of breast cancer is discussed together with the progressive changes in CDU color signal, the latter a valuable parameter for surgical timing. Histology, performed during treatment and on the surgical specimen, allowed treatment results to be monitored, showing a rich proliferation of connective tissue and the persistence of rare neoplastic nests. In 2/4 patients with lymph node metastases, the latter lesions reduced in size. The postoperative follow-up of these patients, which was the object of our study, currently ranges 4 to 36 months, in which period of time no relapses have been observed. The results obtained so far suggest the effectiveness of combined parenteral and local drug administration in the preoperative treatment of breast cancer. Moreover, this approach makes surgery feasible even in the most advanced forms (T3-T4). CDU is the most accurate method to monitor neo-adjuvant treatment effectiveness.

A combined Markov random field and wave-packet transform-based approach for image segmentation.

The author formulates a novel segmentation algorithm which combines the use of Markov random field models for image-modeling with the use of the discrete wavepacket transform for image analysis. Image segmentations are derived and refined at a sequence of resolution levels, using as data selected wave-packet transform images or "channels". The segmentation algorithm is compared with nonmultiresolution Markov random field-based image segmentation algorithms in the context of synthetic image example problems, and found to be both significantly more efficient and effective.