Agreement between Hammersmith Neonatal Neurological Examination (HNNE) and Test of Infant Motor Performance (TIMP) in neurodevelopmental assessment of preterm infants <32 weeks' gestation at term corrected age.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the agreement between HNNE and TIMP at TCA for preterm infants born <32+0 weeks' gestation, and to evaluate their correlation to PDMS-2 at 12-month corrected age (CA). METHODS: Infants born between November 2013 to June 2022 who had both HNNE and TIMP performed at TCA of 37+0-41+6 weeks gestation, and motor outcome assessed using the PDMS-2 at 12-month old were enrolled. The HNNE and 12-month PDMS-2 findings were categorized as optimal vs sub-optimal. TIMP was categorized as typical vs atypical. Cohen's kappa was used to determine the agreement between HNNE and TIMP. Sensitivity analysis and Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves were used to evaluate the predictive values of HNNE and TIMP on motor outcome at CA of 12-months. RESULTS: HNNE and TIMP done on 125 infants at TCA do not show reliable agreement. HNNE demonstrated slight and fair agreement with the 12-month Total Motor Quotient (TMQ) and Fine Motor Quotient (FMQ) of the PDMS-2 respectively. TIMP at TCA demonstrated fair agreement with all sub-domains of motor function on PDMS-2 at 12-months. In comparison with TIMP, HNNE at TCA is more sensitive at predicting suboptimal total, gross and fine motor outcomes at 12-month CA with sensitivity of 68.4 %, 51.9 %, and 83.3 % vs 44.4 %, 31.8 % and 53.3 % respectively. Atypical TIMP at TCA is more specific for suboptimal total, gross and fine motor outcomes at 12-month CA with specificity of 90.3 %, 89 % and 90.5 % respectively. Neurobehavioral assessments at TCA using HNNE and TIMP were predictive of suboptimal fine motor quotient at CA of 12-months with AUC of 0.760 (p = 0.011) and 0.718 (p = 0.032) respectively. The difference in AUC between the 2 instruments of 0.042 was not statistically significant (p = 0.741). CONCLUSIONS: While the HNNE and TIMP done at TCA did not demonstrate significant agreement, suboptimal HNNE and atypical TIMP at TCA were predictive of suboptimal FMQ on PDMS-2 at 12-month CA.

Transcriptomic and macroevolutionary evidence for phenotypic uncoupling between frog life history phases.

Anuran amphibians undergo major morphological transitions during development, but the contribution of their markedly different life-history phases to macroevolution has rarely been analysed. Here we generate testable predictions for coupling versus uncoupling of phenotypic evolution of tadpole and adult life-history phases, and for the underlying expression of genes related to morphological feature formation. We test these predictions by combining evidence from gene expression in two distantly related frogs, Xenopus laevis and Mantidactylus betsileanus, with patterns of morphological evolution in the entire radiation of Madagascan mantellid frogs. Genes linked to morphological structure formation are expressed in a highly phase-specific pattern, suggesting uncoupling of phenotypic evolution across life-history phases. This gene expression pattern agrees with uncoupled rates of trait evolution among life-history phases in the mantellids, which we show to have undergone an adaptive radiation. Our results validate a prevalence of uncoupling in the evolution of tadpole and adult phenotypes of frogs.

Les aspects tomodensitométriques et le profil épidémio-clinique des tumeurs du foie en Afrique subsaharienne

Contexte : La pathologie tumorale hépatique est marquée par la hantise du cancer primitif avec son pronostic effroyable. Son exploration fait appel à l'imagerie médicale de façon incontournable notamment le scanner qui est de plus en plus disponible dans nos contrées.Objectif : Décrire le profil épidémio-clinique et les aspects scanographiques des tumeurs hépatiques rencontrées en Afrique subsaharienne notamment à Abidjan.Méthodologie : Etude rétrospective descriptive, basée sur les scanners hépatiques réalisés sur la période de janvier 2012 à Décembre 2012, selon le protocole de la triple acquisition après injection de produit de contraste iodé. Tous les examens ont été réalisés à l'aide d'un scanner Toshiba de 64 barrettes. Tous les patients ayant une tumeur hépatique dont le type a été confirmé à l'anatomopathologie ont été retenus.Résultats : L'âge moyen des patients était de 61,7 ans avec des extrêmes de 41 et de 82 ans. Le sex ratio était de 2/3. Les principales indications étaient les foies hétéronodulaires (38,9%) et les bilans d'extension (27,7%). Nous avons dénombré 25 cas de tumeurs hépatiques. Il s'agissait de tumeurs malignes dans 64% versus 36% de tumeurs bénignes. Les tumeurs malignes étaient représentées par les hépatocarcinomes (40%), les métastases (24%) et le cholangiocarcinome (4%). Les tumeurs bénignes quant à elles étaient les kystes biliaires (28%), et l'angiome (4%).Conclusion : Les tumeurs malignes du foie sont plus fréquemment explorées au scanner. Elles sont dominées par le carcinome hépatocellulaire dans un contexte de cirrhose

Prise en charge des douleurs abdominales aigues non traumatiques de l'enfant à Abidjan : le couple radiographie standard/échographie est-il encore d'actualité ?

Objectif : Evaluer l'apport du couple radiographie standard-échographie dans le bilan des douleurs abdominales aigues non traumatiques de l'enfant.Méthodologie : Etude rétrospective effectuée sur une période de 02 ans dans les services radiologie et de chirurgie pédiatrique du CHU de Yopougon (Abidjan-Côte d'Ivoire). Elle a concerné le dossier médical de 93 enfants hospitalisés pour douleur abdominale aigue non traumatique chez qui il a été réalisé une laparotomie après un diagnostic radiologique.Résultats : La moyenne d'âge était de 6,8 ans et le sex-ratio était de 1,5. La douleur abdominale diffuse était le motif d'admission le plus fréquent (43,3%) et l'échographie abdominal, l'examen le plus demandé (51 ,6%). Les étiologies objectivées étaient respectivement l'appendicite (32,2%), la péritonite (27,9%), l'invagination intestinale aigue (13,9%), l'occlusion (12,9%), la sténose hypertrophique du pylore (7,5%), la cholécystite (3,2%) et l'adénolymphite mésentérique (3,2%). La valeur prédictive positive des résultats radiologiques était supérieure à 85% Conclusion : Le couple radiographie standard-échographie demeure incontournable dans la prise en charge de la douleur abdominale non traumatique de l'enfant avec une valeur prédictive positive de plus de 85%

Opposing Patterns of Seasonal Change in Functional and Phylogenetic Diversity of Tadpole Assemblages.

Assemblages that are exposed to recurring temporal environmental changes can show changes in their ecological properties. These can be expressed by differences in diversity and assembly rules. Both can be identified using two measures of diversity: functional (FD) and phylogenetic diversity (PD). Frog communities are understudied in this regard, especially during the tadpole life stage. We utilised tadpole assemblages from Madagascan rainforest streams to test predictions of seasonal changes on diversity and assemblage composition and on diversity measures. From the warm-wet to the cool-dry season, species richness (SR) of tadpole assemblages decreased. Also FD and PD decreased, but FD less and PD more than expected by chance. During the dry season, tadpole assemblages were characterised by functional redundancy (among assemblages-with increasing SR), high FD (compared to a null model), and low PD (phylogenetic clustering; compared to a null model). Although mutually contradictory at first glance, these results indicate competition as tadpole community assembly driving force. This is true during the limiting cool-dry season but not during the more suitable warm-wet season. We thereby show that assembly rules can strongly depend on season, that comparing FD and PD can reveal such forces, that FD and PD are not interchangeable, and that conclusions on assembly rules based on FD alone are critical.

Gut bacterial communities across tadpole ecomorphs in two diverse tropical anuran faunas.

Animal-associated microbial communities can play major roles in the physiology, development, ecology, and evolution of their hosts, but the study of their diversity has yet focused on a limited number of host species. In this study, we used high-throughput sequencing of partial sequences of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene to assess the diversity of the gut-inhabiting bacterial communities of 212 specimens of tropical anuran amphibians from Brazil and Madagascar. The core gut-associated bacterial communities among tadpoles from two different continents strongly overlapped, with eight highly represented operational taxonomic units (OTUs) in common. In contrast, the core communities of adults and tadpoles from Brazil were less similar with only one shared OTU. This suggests a community turnover at metamorphosis. Bacterial diversity was higher in tadpoles compared to adults. Distinct differences in composition and diversity occurred among gut bacterial communities of conspecific tadpoles from different water bodies and after experimental fasting for 8 days, demonstrating the influence of both environmental factors and food on the community structure. Communities from syntopic tadpoles clustered by host species both in Madagascar and Brazil, and the Malagasy tadpoles also had species-specific isotope signatures. We recommend future studies to analyze the turnover of anuran gut bacterial communities at metamorphosis, compare the tadpole core communities with those of other aquatic organisms, and assess the possible function of the gut microbiota as a reservoir for protective bacteria on the amphibian skin.

Diversity of the strongly rheophilous tadpoles of Malagasy tree frogs, genus Boophis (Anura, Mantellidae), and identification of new candidate species via larval DNA sequence and morphology.

This study provides detailed morphological descriptions of previously unknown tadpoles of the treefrog genus Boophis Tschudi and analyses of habitat preferences of several of these tadpoles in Ranomafana National Park. A total of twenty-two tadpoles determined via DNA barcoding are characterized morphologically herein, fourteen of them for the first time. Twelve of these tadpoles belong to taxonomically undescribed candidate species which in several cases are so far only known from their larval stages. Our data show that the larvae of some of these candidate species occur syntopically yet maintaining a clearly correlated genetic and morphological identity, suggesting that they indeed are true biological and evolutionary species. Tadpoles considered to belong to the "adherent" ecomorphological guild inhabit fast-running waters and their oral disc is commonly to continuously attached to the rocky substrate, supposedly to keep their position in the water current. Some of these species are characterized by the presence of a dorsal gap of papillae and the absence of an upper jaw sheath. This guild includes the tadpoles of the Boophis albipuncatus group (Boophis ankaratra, Boophis schuboeae, Boophis albipunctatus, Boophis sibilans, Boophis luciae), and of the Boophis mandraka group (Boophis sambirano and six candidate species related to this species and to Boophis mandraka). Tadpoles considered belonging to the "suctorial" guild inhabit fast-running waters where they use frequently their oral disc to attach to the substrate. They have an enlarged oral disc without any dorsal gap, including two nominal species (Boophis marojezensis, Boophis vittatus), and five candidate species related to Boophis marojezensis. An ecological analysis of the tadpoles of Boophis luciae, Boophis schuboeae and Boophis marojezensis [Ca51 JQ518198] from Ranomafana National Park did not provide evidence for a clear preference of these tadpoles to the fast flowing microhabitat sections of the stream, although the tadpoles discussed in this study are typically caught in this habitat.

[Contribution of transvaginal ultrasound to hysterosalpingography in the etiological research on female infertility in Abidjan]. / Apport de l'echographie transvaginale associée a l'hystérosalpingographie dans la recherche etiologique de l'infertilité féminine a Abidjan (Côte d'Ivoire).

We performed hysterosalpingography (HSG) and transvaginal ultrasound (TVU) in 124 Ivorian women as part of an infertility evaluation. The aim was to investigate the causes of infertility and show the advantages of combining HSG and TVU as part of a comprehensive evaluation of infertility in African woman. TVU and HSG were normal in 35.5% of cases, while in 64.5% of cases, at least one disease was demonstrated. This included uterine pathology in 50.3%, tubal disease in 25.2%, ovarian pathology in 7.5% and peritoneal pathology in 7% of cases. Of all the diseases identified by the association HSG and TVU, 71.3% were found by TVU, while 61.5% were confirmed by HSG. TVU was more efficient in identifying uterine and ovarian pathologies while HSG excelled in tubal pathology. HSG and TUV had identical performances on the peritoneal pathology. The association HSG-ETV should be systematic in the full assessment of female infertility in sub-Saharan Africa.

Acoustic underwater signals with a probable function during competitive feeding in a tadpole.

Acoustic communication is widespread among adult stages of terrestrial animals and fish and has also been observed in insect larvae. We report underwater acoustic communication in the larvae of a frog, Gephyromantis azzurrae, from Isalo, a sandstone massif in western Madagascar. According to our field data, these tadpoles live in streams and prefer habitats characterized by comparatively low temperatures, shallow water depth, and a relatively fast current. Feeding experiments indicated that the tadpoles are carnivorous and macrophagous. They consumed insect larvae and, to a lesser extent, small shrimps, and conspecific as well as heterospecific tadpoles. Calls of these tadpoles consisted either of single click notes or of irregular series of various clicks. Some complex calls have a pulsed structure with three to nine indistinct energy pulses. Production of the pulses coincided with rapid closure of the jaw sheaths and often with an upward movement of the body. Calls were emitted while attacking prey and occurred significantly more often when attacking conspecifics. Tadpoles that had not been fed for some time emitted sounds more frequently than those that had been regularly fed. The spectral frequency of the calls differed in tadpole groups of different size and was higher in groups of smaller tadpoles, suggesting that spectral frequency carries some information about tadpole size which might be important during competitive feeding to assess size and strength of competitors. This report differs from those for the larvae of South American horned frogs, Ceratophrys ornata. These are the only other tadpoles for which sound production has reliably been reported but the calls of Ceratophrys tadpoles occur mainly in a defensive context.

The world's richest tadpole communities show functional redundancy and low functional diversity: ecological data on Madagascar's stream-dwelling amphibian larvae.

BACKGROUND: Functional diversity illustrates the range of ecological functions in a community. It allows revealing the appearance of functional redundancy in communities and processes of community assembly. Functional redundancy illustrates the overlap in ecological functions of community members which may be an indicator of community resilience. We evaluated patterns of species richness, functional diversity and functional redundancy on tadpole communities in rainforest streams in Madagascar. This habitat harbours the world's most species-rich stream tadpole communities which are due to their occurrence in primary habitat of particular interest for functional diversity studies. RESULTS: Species richness of tadpole communities is largely determined by characteristics of the larval habitat (stream structure), not by adult habitat (forest structure). Species richness is positively correlated with a size-velocity gradient of the streams, i.e. communities follow a classical species-area relationship. While widely observed for other taxa, this is an unusual pattern for anuran larvae which usually is expected to be hump-shaped. Along the species richness gradient, we quantified functional diversity of all communities considering the similarity and dissimilarity of species in 18 traits related to habitat use and foraging. Especially species-rich communities were characterised by an overlap of species function, i.e. by functional redundancy. By comparing the functional diversity of the observed communities with functional diversity of random assemblages, we found no differences at low species richness level, whereas observed species-rich communities have lower functional diversity than respective random assemblages. CONCLUSIONS: We found functional redundancy being a feature of communities also in primary habitat, what has not been shown before using such a continuous measure. The observed species richness dependent pattern of low functional diversity indicates that communities with low species richness accumulate functional traits randomly, whereas species in species-rich communities are more similar to each other than predicted by random assemblages and therefore exhibit an accumulation of stream-specific functional traits. Beyond a certain species richness level, therefore, stream-specific environmental filters exert influence whereas interspecific competition between species does not influence trait assemblage at any species richness level.

[Renal insufficiency: comparison of ultrasound and laboratory profiles in HIV-negative and HIV-positive patients]. / Insuffisance rénale: comparaison des profils échographique et biologique de sujets VIH-négatifs et VIH-positifs.

The purpose of this study was to examine whether HIV infection affects either the echographic or laboratory profiles of renal insufficiency. This prospective study compared both echographic (kidney size, Hricak's cortical echogenicity grades) and laboratory (blood urea and creatine) profiles in two groups of patients with renal insufficiency: one group HIV-positive (25 cases) and the other HIV-negative (86 patients). Kidney size was generally normal in the HIV-negative group. In the HIV-positive group, it was either normal or enlarged, especially in thickness, with a spherical appearance. Echogenicity grades were high in both groups, and no HIV-positive patients were at grade I; 25.6% of the seronegative patients and 20% of seropositive patients were at grade II, and 57% and 68%, respectively, were at grade III. The correlation between ultrasound grades and laboratory results did not differ significantly between the two groups (p = 0.0669 for creatinemia and p = 0.0560 for uremia), although the rates tended to increase with echogenicity grade and were slightly lower in the HIV-positive group. The authors conclude that HIV infection does not seem to affect the ultrasound or laboratory profiles of renal insufficiency. Thickening of the kidney and any spherical aspect should however suggest to the practitioner that the renal insufficiency may be related to HIV.

[Pediatry imaging in Abidjan]. / Etat des lieux de l'imagerie pédiatrique à Abidjan (Côte d'Ivoire).

UNLABELLED: The purpose of this study was to inventory the infrastructure and equipment available in Abidjan for paediatric radiology, identify the principal problems of radiological exploration of children and offer suggestions to improve it. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We identified the functional radiological material and the practitioners working in radiological services from 1 July through 31 December 1997. We also examined the records of all paediatric examinations performed during a one-year period in Yopougon University Hospital. RESULTS: The population of Abidjan was estimated (by the National Institute of Statistics) at 3,323,214 in 1998, including 1,208,924 children (36%). There were 31 radiologists, that is, 1 per 101, 526 inhabitants, and 1 X-ray technician for 82,824 inhabitants. The equipment inventory revealed 1 ultrasound scan per 42,531 inhabitants, 1 standard imaging table per 112,403, 1 remote-control table per 242,000, 1 dental radiological system per 1,049,099, and 1 computed tomography system per 1,573,648. Children accounted for 17.4% (1836) of the 10,561 patients examined over one year at the teaching hospital, but there was no specific material for children's examinations. CONCLUSION: Neither human resources nor functional equipment are available in adequate numbers. Radiological equipment appropriate for paediatric exploration must be a priority in the future. .

[Systematic preventive antibiotic therapy during hysterosalpingography in an African tropical environment: is this practice justified?]. / La pratique de l'antibiothérapie préventive systématique au cours de l'hystérosalpingographie en milieu tropical africain est-elle justifiée ?

To find out whether preventive antibiotic therapy can be justified in the practice of hysterosalpingography in a tropical environment where the infectious risk is notoriatly high, the authors performed a prospective study concerning 49 females patients. The patients in genital activity period, were willing and volunteers and were aged from 20 to 44 years. They were examined by hysterosalpingography during a period of three months. Patients were distributed in two homogenous group, one group of 25 patients who had a preventive antibiotic therapy and the second group with 24 patients with no preventive antibiotic therapy. Hysterosalpingography examinations were performed with sterile and single-use equipment. All patients were clinically examined for medical record purposes: gynaecologic, obstetric, pelvic infection, oral contraception, previous hysterosalpingography. Biologic dosages were realized, including blood count and erythrocyte sedimentation, culture of vaginal sampling, C reactive protein rate. The results obtained showed no significant difference between the two groups. The authors conclude that hysterosalpingography can be also performed in a tropical environment without using systematic preventive antibiotic therapy provided that asepsisrules are strictly observed.