We aimed to (1) describe sickle cell disease (SCD) knowledge and health literacy levels in parents of children with SCD, (2) examine associations with socio-demographic factors and (3) analyse the association with hospital admissions and frequency of occurrence of painful episodes. Parents who presented with their child at routine hospital consultation at the National Sickle Cell Disease Centre in Benin were administered a questionnaire assessing SCD knowledge, health literacy (newest vital sign [NVS]) and socio-demographic and clinical characteristics. In total, 117 parents participated (108, 92.3% females). The predominant SCD genotype was HbSS (79.5%). The average SCD knowledge score was 13.6 (standard deviation [SD] = 2.0). Only 34 (29.1%) participants correctly answered ≥70% of the questions, indicating good knowledge. Health literacy was relatively low (mean NVS score = 3.3; SD = 1.1). SCD knowledge was higher in parents with older children (
La Déshydratation Imprégnation par Immersion (DII) est une technique de conservation à long terme déjà appliquée sur certains fruits comme la mangue, l’ananas, la banane, etc. Le présent travail est une application de la DII à la conservation de la tomate (Lycopercicon esculentum Mill.) variété locale Tounvi largement cultivée au Bénin. Ainsi, dans les conditions expérimentales de production, une augmentation de la teneur en matière sèche soluble de 5% à 80,79% sous l’effet de la chaleur au cours de l’obtention des tomates séchées, s’est traduite par une élévation subséquente de la teneur en cendres qui passe de 0,51% pour le produit frais à 0,75% à la fin de la DII. L’acidité des tomates également varie de 4,5 g/L à 5,72 g/L, ce qui entraîne une légère diminution du pH qui passe de 4,36 à 4,12 à la fin de la DII. Nous notons également une diminution de la teneur en vitamine C qui passe de 335,41 mg/L (produit frais) à 178,25 mg/L (produit séché), soit une réduction de 53,14%. Sur le plan microbiologique, pendant une période de sept (7) semaines, une conformité à la norme AFNOR (NFV-08-402) est notée ; ce qui justifie une bonne stabilité des produits, caractérisée par l’absence des Anaérobies Sulfito-Réducteurs (ASR) et la présence de 35 UFC de germe aérobie mésophile/g et de 20 UFC Levures et Moisissures/g de tomates séchées.Mots clés: Tomate, conservation, qualité, stabilité microbiologique
Background: Group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus (ABHS) tonsillitis is an acute disease that is often benign but sometimes serious due to its locoregional and general complications. It is a frequent cause of consultation among general practitioners, ENT and paediatrics. The choice and interest of our work was motivated by the fact that one of the most important acute upper respiratory infections is tonsillitis with the risk of serious complications. This study aims to determine the sensitivity and specificity of RDOT in the diagnosis of ABHA tonsillitis in southern Benin. Methods: This was a prospective analytical and descriptive study carried out at the Vallée de Grâce Medical Clinic (CM VG) and at the Padre Pio Humanitarian Health Center (CSVH), at the Laboratory of Biology and Molecular Typing in Microbiology / UAC, in Benin over 12 months (July 2, 2022 and June 31, 2023). It included patients diagnosed with tonsillitis. All the patients included underwent a RDOT and a cytobacteriological examination of the throat swab (Gold Standard). We studied the following variables: age, sex, months, clinical signs, cytobacteriological examination of the throat swab and TROD results. Results: We recorded 272 tonsillitis cases. 60 cases of group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal (ABHS) tonsillitis are confirmed by bacterial culture. Group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal tonsillitis accounted for 22.06% of tonsillitis. 133 men (49%) and 139 women (51%) were registered. 32 men (53.33%) and 28 women (46.67%) had SBHA tonsillitis. The highest frequency of isolation of group A streptococcus was observed in the age group [0 to 5[years with 27 cases out of 60, i.e. a proportion of 45%. SBHA tonsillitis are more frequent in the months of December and August with the respective proportions of 16.67% and 10%. The SBHA TROD performed showed a Sensitivity of 95%, a Specificity of 94%, a positive predictive value of 92% and a negative predictive value of 98%. Conclusion: Streptococcal etiology represents 22.06% of tonsillitis in Benin. Our results reinforce the interest of RDOT and especially cytobacteriological examination in the etiological diagnosis of tonsillitis.
Iron is an essential trace element subject to tight regulation to ensure adequate running of biological processes. In sub-Saharan Africa where hemoglobinopathies are common, iron homeostasis is likely to be impaired by these conditions. Here, we assessed and compared key serum proteins associated with iron metabolism between sub-Saharan African children with sickle cell disease (SCD) and their unaffected siblings. Complete blood counts and serum concentrations of four key proteins involved in iron regulation (ferritin, transferrin, sTfR, and hepcidin) were measured for 73 children with SCD and 68 healthy siblings in Benin, West Africa. We found significant differences in concentration of transferrin, sTfR, and ferritin between the two groups. Hepcidin concentrations were found at unusually high concentrations but did not differ among the two groups. We found a significant negative correlation between hepcidin levels and both MCH and MCV in the SCD group and report that sTfR concentrations show a correlation with MCV and MHC in opposite directions in the two groups. These results highlight the unusually high levels of hepcidin in the Beninese population and the patterns of differential iron homeostasis taking place under SCD status. These results lay the foundation for a systematic evaluation of the underlying mechanisms deregulating iron homeostasis in populations with SCD or high prevalence of iron deficiency.
Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a congenital blood disease, affecting predominantly children from sub-Saharan Africa, but also populations world-wide. Although the causal mutation of SCD is known, the sources of clinical variability of SCD remain poorly understood, with only a few highly heritable traits associated with SCD having been identified. Phenotypic heterogeneity in the clinical expression of SCD is problematic for follow-up (FU), management, and treatment of patients. Here we used the joint analysis of gene expression and whole genome genotyping data to identify the genetic regulatory effects contributing to gene expression variation among groups of patients exhibiting clinical variability, as well as unaffected siblings, in Benin, West Africa. We characterized and replicated patterns of whole blood gene expression variation within and between SCD patients at entry to clinic, as well as in follow-up programs. We present a global map of genes involved in the disease through analysis of whole blood sampled from the cohort. Genome-wide association mapping of gene expression revealed 390 peak genome-wide significant expression SNPs (eSNPs) and 6 significant eSNP-by-clinical status interaction effects. The strong modulation of the transcriptome implicates pathways affecting core circulating cell functions and shows how genotypic regulatory variation likely contributes to the clinical variation observed in SCD.
The host mechanisms responsible for protection against malaria remain poorly understood, with only a few protective genetic effects mapped in humans. Here, we characterize a host-specific genome-wide signature in whole-blood transcriptomes of Plasmodium falciparum -infected West African children and report a demonstration of genotype-by-infection interactions in vivo. Several associations involve transcripts sensitive to infection and implicate complement system, antigen processing and presentation, and T-cell activation (i.e., SLC39A8 , C3AR1 , FCGR3B , RAD21 , RETN , LRRC25 , SLC3A2 , and TAPBP ), including one association that validated a genome-wide association candidate gene ( SCO1 ), implicating binding variation within a noncoding regulatory element. Gene expression profiles in mice infected with Plasmodium chabaudi revealed and validated similar responses and highlighted specific pathways and genes that are likely important responders in both hosts. These results suggest that host variation and its interplay with infection affect children’s ability to cope with infection and suggest a polygenic model mounted at the transcriptional level for susceptibility.
Thirty-eight jackfruit genotypes including check varieties ‘Muttom Varikka’ and ‘Sindhoor’ selected from homesteads of farmers across Kerala, were characterized for their dessert quality. Results revealed that the TSS and total sugar contents of AH-32, AH-18, AH-33 and AH-36 were 32, 25.5, 25.9 and 29.7 °Brix, whereas, the total sugars were 34.75, 25.92, 21.9 and 25%, respectively. Among the accessions, AH-2 recorded the highest total carotenoids (3131.88 μg 100g-1), which, was higher than check varieties ‘Muttom Varikka’ and ‘Sindhoor’. The genotypes viz., AH-18, AH-32, AH-33 and AH-36 can be considered ideal for dessert purpose and can also be used for development of value added products. However, the promising ones can be utilized in breeding programmes to improve quality and yield.
A long-term study of six children suffering idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis (IPH) was realized, in order to evaluate prognostic factors and the best therapy. The treatment was initiated with prednisone 1-2 mg/kg/day which was gradually decreased until total suppression. Clinical remission was always achieved but relapses were frequently observed. All but one of the patients suffered more episodes which were controlled by the initial treatment. In three cases the additional use of immunosuppressors drugs was needed, chlorambucil 0.2 mg/kg/day during a period of 3-6 months or cyclophosphamide 2.5 mg/kg/day for four months, thereby obtaining a better control of the disease and also a decreased number of crises. Two patients died during acute exacerbations. It is suggested that the main risk factors are the male sex and onset before three years of age. The outcome was also worse when the first crisis was more severe.
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