Crystal structure of new quaternary intermetallic compounds R2MoSi2C (R = Y, Gd).

The discovery of novel quaternary intermetallic compounds R2MoSi2C (R = Y, Gd) in the R-Mo-Si-C system is reported. Their crystal structure was investigated using single-crystal X-ray diffraction. It is shown that the Y2MoSi2C and Gd2MoSi2C compounds crystallize in the tetragonal space group P4/mbm (Pearson symbol tP12) with unit-cell parameters a = 6.9525 (18) Å, c = 4.1962 (16) Å, and a = 6.9945 (16) Å, c = 4.2020 (14) Å, respectively.

Persistent carriage of subpatent Plasmodium falciparum parasites associated with clinical malaria in a low transmission area in Senegal.

OBJECTIVES: In low malaria transmission areas, the elimination of the disease has been hampered partly by the existence of a reservoir of subpatent Plasmodium falciparum infections within communities. This reservoir, often undetected, serves as a source of parasites and contributes to ongoing transmission and clinical malaria cases. METHODS: This study, spanning a period of 9 years from June 2014 to December 2022, examined individual variations and long-term subpatent P. falciparum carriage in two matched cohorts of 44 individuals each living in Dielmo village in the Sudanian area of Senegal. Biannual blood samples, collected in June/July and December of each year, underwent P. falciparum diagnosis by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. QGIS and R analytical tools were used to map infections, assess the occurrence and clustering of subpatent and clinical P. falciparum infections, and determine the risk of infection in the vicinity of asymptomatic P. falciparum carriers. RESULTS: The point frequency and long-term P. falciparum carriage were significantly higher among the quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) positive cohort compared to the negative cohort across the 16 cross-sectional surveys analyzed in this study (19.76% vs 10.99%, P-value <0.001). Asymptomatic carriage events in qPCR-positive group were 18.86 ± 1.72% and significantly greater (P-value = 0.001) than in the qPCR-negative group (11.32 ± 1.32%). The relative risk of P. falciparum infection or clinical malaria calculated with a 95% confidence interval significantly increased in the vicinity of infected individuals and was 1.44 (P-value = 0.53) and 2.64 (P-value = 0.04) when at least one individual in the direct (household) or indirect (block of households) vicinity is infected, respectively. The risk increased to 3.64 (P-value <0.001) if at least 1/5 of individuals in the indirect vicinity were P. falciparum-infected. CONCLUSIONS: The study provides a detailed qualitative and quantitative analysis of the asymptomatic P. falciparum reservoir and its temporal and spatial dynamics within two subgroups of P. falciparum-infected and non-infected individuals in Dielmo village. It identified high-risk populations known as "hotpops" and hotspots that could be targeted by innovative interventions to accelerate the elimination of malaria in Dielmo village.

Effects of Hemodialysis on Intraocular Pressure and Ocular Perfusion Pressure.

INTRODUCTION: Elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) and reduced ocular perfusion pressure (OPP) related to hemodialysis (HD) are risk factors for the development and progression of glaucoma. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of HD on IOP and OPP in our patients. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional, descriptive, and analytical study conducted between January 2 and February 5, 2024, in the HD and ophthalmology departments of the Heinrich Lübke Regional Hospital in Diourbel. The IOP of both eyes was measured one hour before the start of the HD session and within 30 minutes after the end of the session, by the same ophthalmologist, for all included patients, using a Goldmann applanation tonometer. OPP were calculated and other socio-demographic data collected. RESULTS: Fifty-eight eyes from 29 chronic HD patients were included. The mean age of the patients was 47.58±12.94 years, with a predominance of women (17 women or 58.6%; sex ratio 0.71). In the left eye, mean IOP increased significantly from 12.21±2.96 mmHg before the HD session to 14.10±4.27 mmHg at the end of the session (p=0.04). For the right eye, the IOP also increased with a strong tendency to significance from 12.97±3.79 mmHg before the HD session to 15.03±5.23 mmHg at the end of the session (p=0.05). OPP did not change significantly after the HD session. CONCLUSION: The HD session significantly increased IOP with no significant change in OPP.

[Giant lipoma of the back: a case report and litterature review]. / Lipome géant du dos: rapport de cas avec revue de la littérature.

Lipoma is a benign soft tissue tumour. It is a benign proliferation of mature adipocytes. It is described as giant when its weight exceeds 1 kg or its diameter exceeds 5 cm. Functional and aesthetic impairment may be a major reason for surgical excision. It can be located everywhere, but it mainly occurs in the posterior segment of the chest. We here report a case of giant lipoma of the left posterior-superior segment of the chest.

Lithopedion as a factor in post-traumatic intestinal perforation.

Lithopedion is a rare condition secondary to retention and calcification of an unrecognized intra-abdominal (usually ectopic) pregnancy after a fetal death, which occurred after three months of gestation. It accounts for 1.5%-2% of cases of ectopic pregnancy. We report the case of a 72-year-old nulligravida woman who died about 72 h after being kicked in the abdomen during a fight. At autopsy, an intra-abdominal calcified fetus, acute generalized peritonitis, and ileal perforation were observed. The estimated gestational age of the fetus was 37 weeks (based on femur length) and the lithopedion had a weight of 750 g and a size of 15 × 12 × 9 cm. The age of menopause and the duration of retention are not known. This is the first case of this entity identified in Senegal.

[Superior mesenteric artery syndrome in gastric cancer: a case report]. / Syndrome de la pince aorto-mésentérique sur cancer gastrique: à propos d'un cas.

Superior mesenteric artery syndrome or Wilkie syndrome is due to the compression of the third duodenum between the superior mesenteric artery and the aorta. It causes acute or chronic upper bowel occlusion. Abdominal CT scan facilitates the diagnosis. Severe malnutrition is its main etiological factor. Medical treatment can be based on aspiration of gastric contents and parenteral nutrition. If this fails, surgery is necessary. We here report the case of a 46-year-old patient, with a history of smoking, presenting with profuse postprandial bile and food vomiting. He had had weight loss of 7% over a period of 6 months. Upper GI endoscopy revealed non-stenotic antro-pyloric tumour mass. Histological examination showed poorly differentiated tubular gastric adenocarcinoma. Staging was without any peculiarity and allowed for the detection of superior mesenteric artery syndrome at an angle of 8°C. The patient received parenteral nutrition for 10 days, followed by inferior pole gastrectomy and gastrojejunal anastomosis (omega loop). The postoperative course was uneventful. Adjuvant chemotherapy was indicated.

Enterobacteriaceae, coliform, yeast, and mold contamination patterns in peanuts compared to production, storage, use practices, and knowledge of food safety among growers in Senegal.

Peanuts and peanut products are significant revenue sources for smallholder farmers in the Senegalese peanut basin. However, microbial contamination during production and storage can greatly affect market access for producers. Peanut products have emerged as possible sources of foodborne illness, encouraging discussions on international standards for peanuts. In this study, we interviewed 198 households throughout the Senegalese peanut basin to assess current production practices, storage methods, and producers' prior knowledge of microbial contamination using a 162-question survey. A member of each household orally completed the survey with a trained enumerator and the results were compared to microbiological results obtained from peanut samples collected at the time of the interview using linear regression and an analysis of variance model. Samples were collected from stored peanuts at each household; peanuts were shelled and total Enterobacteriaceae, coliform, and yeast and mold populations were enumerated. Of the 198 samples analyzed, 13.0% and 13.6% were greater than the upper detection limits for Enterobacteriaceae and coliforms, respectively. A total of 21.2% of samples were above the detection limit for yeast and mold populations. Only 22.7% and 18.7% of producers were aware of pathogenic bacteria or aflatoxins, respectively; there were no significant differences in observed microbial populations between household who took preventative measures against microbial contamination and those who did not. Additionally, four households reported washing their kitchen utensils before using them to eat and 60.1% reported always washing their hands before eating. Enumerators were asked to report peanut storage container type and if the containers were stored off the ground at the time of collection. While the interaction between storage container type and if the container was stored off the ground was significant for Enterobacteriaceae and coliforms, it was not significant for yeast and mold. Additionally, when storage container type and if peanuts were stored off the ground were included in the regression model, these methods were predictive of contamination levels for Enterobacteriaceae and coliforms. To our knowledge, this is the first study to analyze the relationship among Enterobacteriaceae, coliforms, and yeast and mold contamination and producer knowledge of Senegalese peanuts. These results provide preliminary data to inform future studies to determine pathogen prevalence and impactful preventative measures to minimize microbial contamination of peanuts produced in Senegal.

Cystic mesenteric lymphangioma: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Cystic lymphangioma is a benign malformative tumor. The abdominal localization is rare. The diagnosis is not easy in preoperative period. The surgery is the choice in the abdominal and symptomatic localization. PRESENTATION OF CASE: We report a 26 years old women. She consulted with left hypochondrial pain. The exam found left hyphochondrial swelling with 10 cm of diameter. The biologic screeming was normal. The ultrasound showed a multiloculated cyst which measured 130*80 mm. the CT scan showed a mesenteri cyst mass measured 15 cm. A fine needle aspiration cytology guided by abdominal ultrasound was realized and the cytology doesn't show malignant cell. A median laparotomy found a mesenteric cystic mass measured 15 cm of diameter. A resection was realized. The histologic exam membranous fibrosis cyst limited by an endothelium. CONCLUSION: Mesenteric localization of cyst lymphagioma is rare. The surgery is safe and efficiency for the treatment.

Splenic lymphangioma.

INTRODUCTION: Abdominal localization of cyst lymphangioma is rare. The splenic involvement is exceptional. CASE PRESENTATION: A 63-year-old woman, who was followed for martial anemia evolving associated with abdominal pain in the past 12 months. On clinical examination, she had pallor conjunctival mucosa, with a normal abdominal and lymph node examination. The abdominal ultrasound showed multiple splenic cysts. The abdominal CT scan showed a normal-sized spleen with multiples hypodense cystic lesions. At the laparotomy exploration a multinodular spleen was found which measured 18 cm*15 cm*6 cm. The histological exam results showed concluded to a splenic cavernous lymphangioma without malignity signs. The follow-up after 12 months was normal. CONCLUSION: splenic lymphangioma is rare and benign tumor. Total splenectomy under laparotomy or laparoscopy is the appropriate treatment.

Inclusion Complex of O-phthalaldehyde-Buprofezin with Dimethyl-ß-Cyclodextrin Using Thermochemically-Induced Fluorescence Derivatization (TIFD) Method and its Analytical Application in Waters.

Improvement of the TIFD method to determine buprofezin (BUP) founded on the O-phthalaldehyde (OPA)-thermoproduct complex of buprofezin (OPA-BUP) with dimethyl-ß-cyclodextrin (DMßCD) was investigated at 25 °C. The TIFD method developed in DMßCD medium, was optimized with respect to the reaction time, DMßCD concentration and pH. Based on the inclusion reaction, the OPA-BUP: DMßCD inclusion complex was developed in two aqueous media pH 7 and pH 13. A 1:1 stoichiometric ratio of OPA-BUP: DMßCD complex was obtained. The binding constants (K) and Gibbs energy (ΔG°) values increasing and decreasing with pH, respectively, show the spontaneous and thermodynamically favorable at 25 °C of the inclusion complexes formation. Normalized TIFD spectra were measured at 425 nm for emission and at 345 nm for excitation. Limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) obtained, according to the pH, were in the ranges 0.05-0.1 ng mL ̶ 1 and 0.2-0.4 ng mL ̶ 1, respectively. Relative standard deviation (RSD) values, less than 1.3% corroborated TIFD method repeatability in DMßCD medium. Solid phase extraction (SPE) procedure which was used for quantitative analysis of natural water samples collected from Niayes area, led to satisfactory recovery rates values 99.5-117.3%.

[Acute intestinal occlusion revealing abdominal pregnancy: a case study]. / Occlusion intestinale aiguë révélant une grossesse abdominale: à propos d'un cas.

Abdominal pregnancy (AP) is defined as the implantation and the development of the fertilized egg in the peritoneal cavity. It is a rare type of ectopic pregnancy, whose detection can be fortuitous, mimicking surgical emergency. We report a rare case of acute febrile bowel obstruction revealing abdominal pregnancy in a 27-year old patient, with no particular past medical history, admitted to hospital for the treatment of occlusive syndrome evolving over the last week. Physical examination showed shiny, distended, meteoric, completely sensitive abdomen. Laboratory tests showed white blood cell count 20300, haemoglobin 7,2g/dL. Surgical exploration showed hemoperitoneum 2000ml, retrouterine encapsulated mass, strongly adherent to the mesosigmoid and to the sigmoid, responsible of a stenosis of the descending colon. The patient underwent monobloc exeresis, which showed a portion of placenta next to the mesosigmoid attached to the fetus, right annexectomy and colostomy.

Genome-wide analysis of cytosine DNA methylation revealed salicylic acid promotes defense pathways over seedling development in pearl millet.

Cytosine DNA methylation is an epigenetic regulatory system used by plants to control gene expression. Methylation pattern always changes after abiotic stresses, pathogens and pest infections or after a treatment with salicylic acid (SA). The latter is a key player in plant development and defense against insect herbivores, pathogens, and abiotic stresses. The roles of SA on the methylation patterns and the plant development were performed in 4 pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) varieties. Seedlings of 4 early-flowering photosensitive genotypes (PMS3, PMI8, PMG, and PMT2) were grown on MS medium supplemented with null or different doses of SA. Root growth was used as a parameter to evaluate the effects of SA at early stage development. DNA from these seedlings was extracted and Methylation-Sensitive Amplified Polymorphism (MSAP) was measured to assess the effects of SA on methylome. The methylation analysis revealed that SA treatment decreased the methylation, while inhibiting the root growth for all varieties tested, except in PMG at 0.5 mM, indicating a dose and a genotype response-dependence. The methylation level was positively correlated with the root growth. This suggests that SA influences both the methylome by demethylation activities and the root growth by interfering with the root development-responsive genes. The demethylation process, induced by the REPRESSOR OF SILCENCING 1 (ROS1) may activate R genes, or GH3.5 and downregulate the hormonal pathway under root development. These findings showed the pearl millet metabolism prioritized and promoted the defense pathways over vegetative development during stress.

Population models for threshold-based control of Tetranychus urticae in small-scale Kenyan tomato fields and for evaluating weather and host plant species effects.

The spatial distribution of motile life stages of the two-spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae Koch in Kenyan small-scale tomato fields was described by Taylor's power law and an enumerative sampling plan was designed for research purposes. The exponential increase of T. urticae populations during three growing seasons permits the development and use of a simple exponential model for the design of a threshold-based chemical control system. For this purpose, a critical threshold of 440 motile mites per sample unit at the end of the growing season (12 weeks after transplanting) was translated into a proportion of 0.83 infested units in sample 3, i.e. five weeks after transplanting. A sequential binomial sampling plan with respect to the proportion of 0.83, five weeks after transplanting, was designed. The exponential model was extended to account for the influence of weather and host plant species. Model development and parameter estimation were based on three data sets (Kenyan tomato fields, Italian and Californian strawberry fields). The model satisfactorily predicted a positive influence on growth rates by (i) changing the host plant from tomato to strawberry, and (ii) temperature, while a negative effect resulted from (iii) rainfall; both (ii) and (iii) are controlled by temperature-rainfall interactions. In contrast, the estimated parameter values did not satisfactorily describe the expected responses at specific temperature and rainfall values. Nevertheless, the model allowed the rating of host plant species in the field. A fourth data set from Swiss apple orchards was used to test the model, and population build-up on the apple host plant appeared to be higher than on tomatoes but lower than on strawberry.