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ObjectivesThere is a growing understanding of the complexity of interplay between renal and cardiovascular systems in both health and disease. The medical profession has adopted the term "cardiorenal syndrome" (CRS) to describe the pathophysiological relationship between the kidney and heart in disease. CRS has yet to be formally defined and described by the veterinary profession and its existence and importance in dogs and cats warrant investigation. The CRS Consensus Group, comprising nine veterinary cardiologists and seven nephrologists from Europe and North America, sought to achieve consensus around the definition, pathophysiology, diagnosis and management of dogs and cats with "cardiovascular-renal disorders" (CvRD). To this end, the Delphi formal methodology for defining/building consensus and defining guidelines was utilised.MethodsFollowing a literature review, 13 candidate statements regarding CvRD in dogs and cats were tested for consensus, using a modified Delphi method. As a new area of interest, well-designed studies, specific to CRS/CvRD, are lacking, particularly in dogs and cats. Hence, while scientific justification of all the recommendations was sought and used when available, recommendations were largely reliant on theory, expert opinion, small clinical studies and extrapolation from data derived from other species.ResultsOf the 13 statements, 11 achieved consensus and 2 did not. The modified Delphi approach worked well to achieve consensus in an objective manner and to develop initial guidelines for CvRD.DiscussionThe resultant manuscript describes consensus statements for the definition, classification, diagnosis and management strategies for veterinary patients with CvRD, with an emphasis on the pathological interplay between the two organ systems. By formulating consensus statements regarding CvRD in veterinary medicine, the authors hope to stimulate interest in and advancement of the understanding and management of CvRD in dogs and cats. The use of a formalised method for consensus and guideline development should be considered for other topics in veterinary medicine.

Introduction Tuberculosis is a major cause of mortality worldwide. Prisoners in Guiana have multiple risk factors. The primary objective of this study was to describe tuberculosis occurring in prison and after release in French Guiana between 2008 and 2020. Secondary objectives were to identify tuberculosis risk factors and determine annual incidences.Methods: A retrospective cohort study of tuberculosis cases was carried out at the Guiana prison between 2008 and 2020. Data were collected from prison registers and cross-referenced with the list of tuberculosis notifications in French Guiana.Results: A total of 36 cases of tuberculosis were studied. Incidence was high, at 263/100,000 per year, higher than elsewhere in France and comparable to that in Brazil. Despite visibly effective screening on entry, with little evidence of intra-prison circulation of tuberculosis, 39% of patients were diagnosed within two years of leaving prison (76% were symptomatic). This could be explained by the high prevalence of latent forms (LTI).Discussion Continued screening on entry, in combination with annual radiological and clinical screening, and reinforced follow-up on release seem indicated to improve patient management and the search for possible LTI.

This work aimed to evaluate the potential of Trichoderma asperellum organic extract and its emulsion to control cocoa black pod disease caused by Phytophthora megakarya. Organic extract was obtained after fermentation of T. asperellum and its emulsion prepared by emulsification. The in vitro antimicrobial assays of organic extract and its emulsion were evaluated and the in situ tests were carried out on detached cocoa pods. T. asperellum inhibited the mycelia growth of P. megakarya at the rates of 52% and 100%, respectively, on dual culture and the cellophane plate. This antagonist produced lytic enzymes such as cellulase, amylase, lipase and protease. The organic extract contained alkaloid, flavonoid and phenol compounds. The emulsion obtained was stable. At 100 μg · ml -1, the extract and its formulation completely inhibited the mycelial growth of P. megakarya. Similarly, when infected detached cocoa pods were sprayed with extract or emulsion, there was a significant reduction of necrosis both for healing and prevention with the latter being the most efficient. For the preventive tests, the total inhibition was recorded at 3000 μg · ml -1 and 1000 μg · ml -1, respectively, with crude organic extract and its emulsion· For curative tests, total inhibition was obtained at 4000 μg · ml -1 and 3000 μg · ml -1, respectively, for preventive and curative tests. There was a significant and positive correlation between the content of biochemical markers and the reduction of necrosis on cocoa pods after treatment with the extract or its formulation. T. asperellum organic extract emulsion could be used as an alternative in the bio- protection of cocoa black pods disease.

We studied the role of [beta]-adrenergic receptor subtype signaling to cAMP and calcium in the genesis of catecholamine-dependent arrhythmias in German shepherd dogs that develop lethal arrhythmias at ~5 mo of age. There were three major findings in this study: 1) isoproterenol induces similar increases in cAMP in afflicted and control dogs exclusively through [[beta].sub.1]-receptors (not [[beta].sub.2]), 2) cells from afflicted dogs display prolonged relaxation kinetics at long cycle lengths and large frequent spontaneous calcium oscillations (and aftercontractions) with little increase in calcium transient amplitude in response to [[beta].sub.1]-receptor agonists, and 3) [[beta].sub.2]-receptor agonists induce a similar marked increases in calcium transient and twitch amplitude, with only rare spontaneous calcium oscillations in afflicted and control cells. These results indicate that catecholamines provide inotropic support to canine cardiomyocytes through distinct [[beta].sub.1]- and [[beta].sub.2]-receptor pathways with differing requirements for cAMP. The propensity to develop arrhythmias is not induced by [[beta].sub.2]-receptors (or a rise in calcium alone), but rather occurs in the context of [[beta].sub.1]-receptor activation of the cAMP-dependent pathway. cardiac arrhythmia; [beta]-adrenergic receptors; afterdepolarization; aftercontractions; calcium

Beaches are major sites of microbiological pollution. Assessment of the abundance of resistant forms of enteric protozoa on these recreational waters is important for the prevention and management of health risks. Based on sedimentation and flotation methods, this study found that Kribi beach waters concentrate considerable amounts of enteric protozoa, which are potentially pathogenic. They include Coccidia (Cryptosporidium sp. and Cyclospora cayetanensis), Amoebae (Endolimax nana, Entamoeba histolytica and Entamoeba coli) and Flagellates (Giardia intestinalis). In general, seasonal changes and tidal cycles have significantly impacted the spread of these parasites along Kribi beaches. Thus, at all sites surveyed (Mpalla, Ngoyè and Mboamanga), maximum protozoan abundances were recorded at low tide and during the rainy seasons. It should also be noted that at each sampling site, significant correlations were recorded between certain protozoa and certain physico-chemical variables (p < 0.05). At Mboamanga, for example, Cryptosporidium sp. and Endolimax nana were positively correlated during the Short Rainy Season with temperature (r = 0.601, p = 0.044 and r = 0.632, p = 0.042). At Mpalla, a positive and significant correlation was observed during the Short Rainy Season between Entamoeba coli and pH (r = 0.605, p = 0.033). The high concentration of resistant forms of these enteric protozoa at Kribi beaches is a real public health threat for bathers. Therefore, in this tourist town, it is urgent to put in place an effective plan for the collection and sustainable treatment of solid and liquid waste, which are the main sources of contamination.

AbstractSand dams (SDs) are rainwater harvesting methods in East-African drylands for rural water supplies and small-scale irrigation practices. However, little information exists on their ability to maintain the harvested water in the right quantity and quality. Three SDs were selected from south-eastern Kenya’s semi-arid zone as a case study to evaluate their operational performance. Water and sediment samples were collected and analyzed in both the field and laboratory. Six performance indicators, namely stormwater-capture efficiency (SCE), water-saving efficiency (WSE), volume-based and time-based reliabilities, water demand satisfaction rate (WDSR), water loss percentage, physicochemical water pollution index (WPI) and microbial non-compliance rate (NCR), were computed. Results showed that water storage in SDs is quite low and unfit for direct human consumption. In fact, three experimental SDs harvested 7,356 m3 during the long-rains season (March–May 2018) for an estimated water demand of 8,990 m3 (June–September). About 4,505 m3 (61.24%) was lost through evaporation (64.11%) and seepage (35.89%). These SDs exhibited low WDSR (31.72%), inadequate SCE (3.09%), low WSE (30.85%), dismal volume reliability (24.56%), and undependable time reliability (24.91%). Shallow-well water was less polluted than scoop-hole water but both didn’t meet the bacterial water quality standard (0 CFU/100 mL). The former scored a low WPI of 1.86 (reasonably clean) compared to clean water (WPI ≤ 1), while the latter scored a high WPI of 12.91 (considerably polluted). Furthermore, NCRs for total coliforms were 60% in shallow wells and 90.79% in scoop holes. Therefore, this water should be treated and disinfected for domestic use.

On August 15, 1984 at Lake Monoun and on August 21, 1986 at Lake Nyos, 37 and 1,746 people, respectively, died from gas fumes. Lakes Monoun and Nyos are peculiar aquatic ecosystems located on the Cameroon Volcanic Line, a strategic site, which continue to draw the attention of scientists, stakeholders, policy makers, public authorities as well as local communities and indigenous. It has been clearly demonstrated that these two lakes store large quantities of toxic gasses in dissolved form in their bottom. Indeed, the extremely diverse microbial communities that colonizes these lakes are capable of producing, storing and releasing gasses. These particularities have earned these lakes the name “killer lakes”. Although relevant results have been obtained after the installation of degassing devices on these lakes, these results are less popularized and Cameroonian society, in particular natives of the disaster-stricken areas have remained skeptic and divided on the origin of gasses: 9.4% of survivors and residents interviewed said it was a nuclear test. Also, 78.13% supported the thesis of a mystical-religious phenomenon. Only 12.47% of the interviewees understood that it was a scientifically explainable phenomenon. Clearly, the gap between science, scientists and societies is quite perceptible. Based on the deadly catastrophes of these two lakes, we present here the fracture that exists between science and African societies still anchored in indigenous beliefs.

Presents a study which examined upconversion processes in erbium&sup3+; ions in CAF[sub2]. Theoretical analysis; Details of the conversion pumping experiment; Results and discussion.