[Impact of water quality and environmental sanitation on the health of schoolchildren in a suburban area of Benin: findings in the Savalou-Banté and Dassa-Glazoué sanitary districts]. / Impact de la qualité de l'eau et de l'assainissement sur la santé des enfants en milieu périurbain au Bénin : cas des zones sanitaires Savalou-Banté et Dassa-Glazoué.

OBJECTIVE: Promotion of environmental hygiene and sanitation in school districts contributes to community health. The purpose of the present study using physicochemical and biological parameters was to show the impact of these hygiene and sanitation measures on the health of schoolchildren in Collines Departement of Benin. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective study was carried out in three selected primary schools from 28 September to 30 December 2007. A group of 210 children (100 boys and 110 girls) was obtained by careful identification of schoolchildren who benefited from the program and simple random selection. Physicochemical and bacteriologic analysis of water distributed in schools, assessment of the clinical condition of schoolchildren and screening of their hands for pathogenic bacteria allowed us to evaluate the level of hygiene in schools. Existing sanitary equipment was evaluated by on-site visual inspection. RESULTS: Hand screening identified the presence of pathogenic microorganisms on the hands of 74% of schoolchildren. Diarrhea was observed in 30% of pupils, osteomyelitis in 15% and tooth dystrophy in 25%. Water quality analysis showed fluorine and nitrate concentrations of 3.5 mg/L and 15 mg/L respectively and demonstrated contamination by fecal bacteria, especially during storage. CONCLUSION: The present study revealed a high level of pathogenic organisms on hands and confirmed their presence in water. Training teaching staff about educating and monitoring pupils regarding sanitary standards and protocols is needed to improve the level of competency and of compliance with hygiene measures.

[Contribution of ATP-dependent potassium channels, nitric oxide and prostaglandins in increase of diaphgram arteriolar blood fow during diaphgram contraction]. / Contribution des canaux potassiques ATP-dépendant, du monoxyde d'azote et des prostaglandines dans l'augmentation du débit artériolaire lors de la contraction du diaphragme.

ATP-sensitive potassium (K(ATP)) channels and nitric oxide (NO) have been suggested to contribute in mediating active hyperemia in diaphragm. However, no data is available in the current literature concerning their comparative contributions to arteriolar dilation during muscle contraction. The aim of this study was therefore to examine, by video microscopy in rats, the effects of superfusing the muscle with Krebs solution alone (group C), or Krebs solution containing either glybenclamide (3mdeltaM, a blocker of K(ATP), group GLY), or Nwdelta-nitro-L-arginine (300 mdeltaM, a NO synthase inhibitor, group NNA), or mefenamic acid (50 mdeltaM, a prostaglandin synthesis inhibitor, group MA) on second and third order of diaphragm (A2 and A3 respectively) arteriolar dilation elicited by 3 min muscle stimulation (40 Hz, train duration: 300 milliseconds, 90 cycles per min). In group C, A2 diameters increased by 67.5 +/- 1.9% referring to baseline at the end of the stimulation. This increase was significantly reduced in groups GLY and NNA (16.7 +/- 2.5% and 47.3 +/- 2.2% respectively, p < 0.001 as compared to group C) and was more important in group GLY than in group NNA (p < 0.001). By contrast, no difference in post-contraction diameter was observed between groups C and MA. Similar results were observed in A3 vessels. These results indicate that K(ATP) are more important mediators of functional diaphragm arteriolar dilation in rat than NO, whereas prostaglandins are not involved in this phenomenon.

Modulation of adipokines and cytokines in gestational diabetes and macrosomia.

CONTEXT/OBJECTIVE: Not much is known about the implication of adipokines and different cytokines in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and macrosomia. The purpose of this study was to assess the profile of these hormones and cytokines in macrosomic babies, born to gestational diabetic women. DESIGN/SUBJECTS: A total of 59 women (age, 19-42 yr) suffering from GDM with their macrosomic babies (4.35 +/- 0.06 kg) and 60 healthy age-matched pregnant women and their newborns (3.22 +/- 0.08 kg) were selected. METHODS: Serum adipokines (adiponectin and leptin) were quantified using an obesity-related multiple ELISA microarray kit. The concentrations of serum cytokines were determined by ELISA. RESULTS: Serum adiponectin levels were decreased, whereas the concentrations of leptin, inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-6 and TNF-alpha, were significantly increased in gestational diabetic mothers compared with control women. The levels of these adipocytokines were diminished in macrosomic babies in comparison with their age-matched control newborns. Serum concentrations of T helper type 1 (Th1) cytokines (IL-2 and interferon-gamma) were decreased, whereas IL-10 levels were significantly enhanced in gestational diabetic mothers compared with control women. Macrosomic children exhibited high levels of Th1 cytokines and low levels of IL-10 compared with control infants. Serum IL-4 levels were not altered between gestational diabetic mothers and control mothers or the macrosomic babies and newborn control babies. CONCLUSIONS: GDM is linked to the down-regulation of adiponectin along with Th1 cytokines and up-regulation of leptin and inflammatory cytokines. Macrosomia was associated with the up-regulation of Th1 cytokines and the down-regulation of the obesity-related agents (IL-6 and TNF-alpha, leptin, and adiponectin).

Infection patterns of Myxobolus heterospora in two tilapia species (Teleostei: Cichlidae) and its potential effects.

A Myxobolus heterospora (Baker, 1963) infection was found in 2 euryhaline tilapia species, Sarotherodon melanotheron melanotheron (Rüppel, 1853) and Tilapia zillii (Gervais, 1852), from a brackish water lake, Lake Nokoué (Benin, West Africa). The histology and ultrastructure of different levels of infection in intestinal connective tissues and wall tissues is described. A total of 391 S. melanotheron melanotheron and 222 T. zillii were examined from October 1987 to October 1989. M. heterospora was found throughout the study period, with a total prevalence of 42.19 and 26.57% for S. melanotheron melanotheron and T. zillii respectively. There was a statistically significant difference in occurrence as a function of season in S. melanotheron melanotheron but not in T. zilli, and there was a significant difference for size and sex in the former and for sex in the latter. M. heterospora induces total destruction of the intestine structure and probably leads to osmoregulatory disturbance. Further investigations of this myxosporean infection are necessary to determine its real effect on the host, since host survival and osmoregulatory rate have not yet been assessed.