ABSTRACT
Aim: To investigate if any mutations in hepatitis C virus (HCV) internal ribosome entry site (IRES) can inhibit the translation of viral polyprotein. Materials and Methods: A 26-year-old male patient infected with HCV 10 years ago was followed up. After 9 years of chronic infection. The patient had managed to resolve the infection for a period of 9 months, after which the patient experienced a viral recurrence characterized by high viral load and diverse HCV quasispecies. The IRES structures of the viral strains that disappeared were comparable with those that are currently active using structural mutational analysis. Results: A novo mutational position 254 combined with a rarely observed mutation at position 253 in the stem of the IIId subdomain were observed and the new conformation had an octa-apical loop (AGUGUUGG) and a shift in the 3 ` GU from the loop to the stem. Conclusions: These mutations were found to be highly deleterious, and they affected the direct binding of the IIId loop to the 40S ribosomal subunit with a subsequent inhibition of translation of viral polyprotein and clearance of the virus.
ABSTRACT
Currently, the International Diabetes Federation estimates that 194 million people live with diabetes worldwide are 5.1% of the adult population and this number is estimated at 333 million in 2025. In Africa, there are about 13.6 million people suffering from diabetes. Despite many discoveries made about his treatment, cost of drug prescriptions is very high to justify the continued inaccessibility to medicine for the population living below a dollar daily income per person. The use of medicinal plants is accessible to all strata of society contributing to health for all. This study focuses on the inventory, identification and use of medicinal plants in the treatment of diabetes in Douala town. The ethnobotanical survey conducted in 2009 has enabled the identification of 41 plant species belonging to 36 genera and grouped into 26 families. These plants have led to the establishment of 47 medicinal recipes and some of which have already been cited by other authors. Ten species are common for the treatment of diabetes. These are: Alluim cepa, Aloe vera, Alstonia boonei, Catharanthus roseus, Costus afer, Cassia occidentalis, Ceiba pentandra, Citrus limon, Mangifera indica and Persea americana. The recipes which are more effective to apply every day are: one to two glasses of juice of Brassica oleracea L., a half glass of juice Phaseolus vulgaris L., three glasses of juice made from one to two handfuls of dry beard Zea mays L. boiled in a liter of water for 15 minutes and two glasses of boiled water with Eucalyptus sailgna Smith. Decoction and maceration are the main modes of preparation and oral mode is the only administration way met. The plants most used are harvested in forests, home gardens or crops and the organs used are the bark or leaf. Woody plants are most prevalent. Some plants are not recommended for pregnant women: Gynostemma pentaphyllum, Mormodica charantica, Panax ginseng, aloe vera because of the risk of miscarriage.
ABSTRACT
La famille des Loranthaceae est largement distribuee dans les zones tropicales en Afrique; Amerique; Asie; Australie et s'etend en zones temperees. Les Loranthaceae appartiennent a l'ordre des Santalales. Dans cette famille sont reconnus 950 especes et 77 genres. Au Cameroun 26 especes distribuees dans 7 genres sont citees. L'objectif de ce travail est d'evaluer; l'impact des Loranthaceae dans la pharmacopee traditionnelle des paysans. A travers un questionnaire semi-structure; 150 tradipraticiens en activite ont ete interviewes en 2008 a Logbessou (quartier peripherique de la ville de Douala). Les reponses de l'enquete mise sur pied revelent des informations selon lesquelles; les Loranthaceae sont des plantes parasites connues pour les degats considerables; occasionnes sur les essences ligneuses sauvages ou cultivees. Cependant; leur interet pour la pharmacopee traditionnelle est atteste. Les Loranthaceae fortifient le metabolisme et se presentent comme une panacee. Toutefois; l'ingestion des pseudobaies provoque des vomissements; de l'hypotension et des troubles nerveux. Les parties du vegetal utilisees dans le traitement sont les feuilles; les rameaux et la tige sous forme d'extraits aqueux. Les allergies severes sont rares. Le mode d'action des extraits aqueux des Loranthaceae europeennes aux niveaux cellulaire et moleculaire est discute