Can we use local climate zones for predicting malaria prevalence across sub-Saharan African cities?

Malaria burden is increasing in sub-Saharan cities because of rapid and uncontrolled urbanization. Yet very few studies have studied the interactions between urban environments and malaria. Additionally, no standardized urban land-use/land-cover has been defined for urban malaria studies. Here, we demonstrate the potential of local climate zones (LCZs) for modeling malaria prevalence rate (Pf PR2-10) and studying malaria prevalence in urban settings across nine sub-Saharan African cities. Using a random forest classification algorithm over a set of 365 malaria surveys we: (i) identify a suitable set of covariates derived from open-source earth observations; and (ii) depict the best buffer size at which to aggregate them for modeling Pf PR2-10. Our results demonstrate that geographical models can learn from LCZ over a set of cities and be transferred over a city of choice that has few or no malaria surveys. In particular, we find that urban areas systematically have lower Pf PR2-10 (5%-30%) than rural areas (15%-40%). The Pf PR2-10 urban-to-rural gradient is dependent on the climatic environment in which the city is located. Further, LCZs show that more open urban environments located close to wetlands have higher Pf PR2-10. Informal settlements-represented by the LCZ 7 (lightweight lowrise)-have higher malaria prevalence than other densely built-up residential areas with a mean prevalence of 11.11%. Overall, we suggest the applicability of LCZs for more exploratory modeling in urban malaria studies.

Geometric morphometric analysis of the effect of temperature on wing size and shape in Aedes albopictus.

Wing geometry helps to identify mosquito species, even cryptic ones. On the other hand, temperature has a well-known effect on insect metric properties. Can such effects blur the taxonomic signal embedded in the wing? Two strains of Aedes albopictus (laboratory and field strain) were examined under three different rearing temperatures (26, 30 and 33 °C) using landmark- and outline-based morphometric approaches. The wings of each experimental line were compared with Aedes aegypti. Both approaches indicated similar associations between wing size and temperature. For the laboratory strain, the wing size significantly decreased as the temperature increased. For the field strain, the largest wings were observed at the intermediate temperature. The two morphometric approaches describing shape showed different sensibilities to temperature. For both strains and sexes, the landmark-based approach disclosed significant wing shape changes with temperature changes. The outline-based approach showed lesser effects, detecting significant changes only in laboratory females and in field males. Despite the size and shape changes induced by temperature, the two strains of Ae. albopictus were always distinguished from Ae. aegypti. The present study confirms the lability of size. However, it also suggests that, despite environmentally-induced variation, the architecture of the wing still provides a strong taxonomic signal.

Invited review: Animal models of tauopathies and their implications for research/translation into the clinic.

Our aims are to review animal models of tauopathies, which include a number of brain disorders with various aetiologies, including ageing, genetics, infectious diseases, toxins, trauma and other unknown factors. Tauopathies are characterized by the accumulation of filaments of the microtubule-associated tau protein. The different aetiopathogeneses and distinct molecular events involved in tau aggregation have led to the development of various animal models for these diseases. In this review, rather than listing all current models, we focus on specific animal models addressing, among others, the question of tau hyperphosphorylation, tau aggregation and tau spreading. Physiological conditions, including normal ageing and hibernation, may exhibit tau phosphorylation and some aspects of tauopathies. However, most of the models of tauopathies involve genetically modified animals (mostly rodents, but also fruit fly, zebrafish and worm). Some of these models have been crucial for the development of therapeutic approaches in humans. The present review shows the difficulty in pinpointing a specific mechanism that may be targeted in tauopathies but also opens up new avenues for innovative therapeutic strategies.

Suspected "t-cell-mediated" hypereosinophilic syndrome presenting with cerebral watershed infarcts.

We describe a case of suspected "T-cell-mediated" hypereosinophilic syndrome presenting with cerebral watershed infarcts. An extensive search for potential embolic sources was negative, supporting the hypothesis that cerebrovascular endothelial dysfunction could have caused the infarcts.

[A technic using MRI. A comparative study of 3 anesthetic technics of the inferior alveolar nerve]. / Approche en I.R.M. D'une etude comparative de 3 techniques d'anesthesie du nerf alveolaire inferieur.

In our study we used M.R. sectional imaging in the axial and coronal planes to investigate three alveolar nerve anaesthesia techniques: Gow Gates, Akinosi and Classical techniques. Furthermore, anatomic sections were made using cadaveric specimens in axial and coronal planes to visualize anatomical relations of the anaesthetic drug. The present study showed the more or less important and quick spreading of the anaesthetic drug through the infra temporal area depending on the anaesthesia technique. Possible incidents are also discussed.