Panleucogating as an accurate and affordable flow cytometric protocol to analyse lymphocyte subsets among HIV-positive patients on HAART treatment in Mozambique.

In Africa tens of millions of people are HIV+. Prevention alone is not effective, and needs to be coupled with anti-retroviral treatment (HAART). Laboratory tests as CD4+ T cell count are fundamental tools in HIV disease monitoring, but they require costly equipment, reagents and specialised manpower. The goal of this study was to minimise and optimise the reagents needed for a reliable routine CD4+ cell count in a resource-poor setting (Mozambique). Panleucogating protocol (PLG), requires two antibodies only, CD45 and CD4, or three if CD8 is requested for special clinical reasons. PLG was compared with the current protocol used in two Mozambique hospitals, based on FSC/SSC gating and CD3/CD4/CD8 staining. 189 samples from HIV+ patients, included in the Community of Sant'Egidio's DREAM program and on HAART were processed with both protocols. The overall correlation of the lymphocyte subsets measurements was satisfactory, with r2 always >0.96. The Bland-Altman analysis of CD4+ cell count showed a negative bias when CD4+ cells were <15%, due to the imprecise FSC/SSC gating used previously. When CD4+ cells were >15% the negative bias tended to zero, further confirming the better quality of the PLG gating strategy. Two- or three color PLG protocol, in double platform, currently seems the most accurate and affordable method to monitor CD4+ lymphocytes and CD4/CD8 ratio by flow cytometry in resource-poor medical settings.

[Study of the abortifacient effects of Leptadenia hastata Pers. (Decne)]. / Etude des effets abortifs de Leptadenia hastata Pers. (Decne).

Some abortions on horses and dromedaries are chargeable to Leptadenia hastata (Asclepiadacea) by breeders from Linguere (Senegal). The aim of the study is to explore the abortifacient properties of Leptadenia hastata on mice. For thus, 25 p. 100 and 50 p. 100 of Leptadenia hastata powder have been incorporated to the ration of pregnant mices. The results obtained showed that reproduction rates are significantly (p < 0.05) reduced in groups fed with 25 p. 100 and 50 p. 100 of Leptadenia hastata than in control group. It has been concluded that Leptadenia hastata causes partial abortion in mice, probably by a toxic effect leading to the death and the resorption of the embryo.

[Study of the anti-icteric and hepatoprotective activity of Persea gratissima Gaertner (Lauraceae) seeds ]. / Etude des activités anti-ictérique et hépatoprotectrice des amandes de Persea gratissima Gaertner (Lauraceae).

The lyophilisat of Persea gratissima Gaertner almonds was administered in various quantities to eighty four rats divided in three groups of twenty eight. in the first group (negative reference group), each animal was forcefed with 5 ml of distilled water on a daily basis, in the second group (positive reference group), the rats were forcefed with 5 ml of distilled water per day, after they were intoxicated with 0,3 ml of carbon tetrachloride under cutaneous injection, in the third group (experimental animals), each animal after it was intoxicated by the same quantity of carbon tetrachloride, was forcefed on a daily basis with 14mg/100g PV of lyophilisat of avocado almonds diluted with 5 ml of distilled water. The results showed that the lyophilisat of avocado almonds have a anti-icteric activity which is reflected in the stimulation of the liver to conjugate and eliminate bilirubin, as well as hepatoprotective activity characterised by the normalisation of the aminotransferases enzymes (ASAT, ALAT) and the healing of hepatic lesions within 10 days.

[Purgative activity of Cassia italica]. / Contribution à l'étude de l'activité purgative de Cassia italica.

Twenty guinea pigs were used to study the effects of Cassia italica leaves and pods extracts on intestinal motricity in vitro. The results obtained showed that the plant stimulate intestinal contractions with dose-dependent relation. Moreover, Cassia italica contractile activity was comparable to the acetylcholine one and was inhibited by atropine. According to these results, Cassia italica purgative activity is supported at least, by it's stimulating effect on intestinal motricity.

[Antihypertensive action of Parkia biglobosa+ (Jacq) Benth seeds in the rat]. / Etude de l'action antihypertensive des graines de Parkia biglobosa (Jacq). Benth chez le rat.

Hundred white Wistar rats have been used to evaluate the antihypertensive effects of entire seeds and decorticated, fermented seeds of a soudanian plant, Parkia biglobosa. The arterial blood pressure was measured by using bloody method in anesthizied animals. The Pham Huu Chanh method was used to determine type plant's antihypertensive activity. According to the results obtained, in both preparations, adequate doses decrease arterial blood pressure, diastolic more than systolic, but the effect of fermented seeds was more important than the entire seeds. In the two cases, the decrease in blood pressure is greated in hypertensive than in normotensive subjects, and the hypotension induced was well correlated with a bradycardia.

[Choleretic effects of Cassia alata Linn in the rat]. / Etude de l'activité cholérétique de Cassia alata Linn chez le rat.

Fifty rats weighing average 200 g were used to study choleretic activity of Cassia alata LINN extract. Bile was collected according to acute biliarly fistula technic on animals anesthetized with 1.5g/kg of ethyle carbamate (Urethane ND). After determination of the minimal active dose (15 mg/kg) and lethal dose (100mg/kg) of the extract, rats were allowed in 5 groups of 10 each one: one reference group, one group receiving 15 mg/kg of Hydroxycyclohexenyl-butyrate (Hebecol ND) a synthetic choleretic, and 3 groups receiving respectively 15 mg/kg, 30 mg/kg and 60 mg/kg of Cassia alata extract. According to results obtained, choleretic activity of Cassia alata at 15 mg/kg is better than the Hebucol ND ones. But at elevated doses, the plant tend to inhibit bile secretion.

[Influence of dietary calcium/phosphorus ratio on blood calcium, phosphate and magnesium during gestation in the rabbit]. / Influence du rapport calcium/phosphore de la ration sur la calcémie, la phosphatémie et la magnésémie de la lapine en gestation.

Sixteen Thiès strain rabbits were used to study the effect of the calcium/phosphorus ratio on plasma calcium, inorganic phosphorus and magnesium levels during pregnancy. Animals were allocated in 2 groups of 8: one receiving a diet with a Ca/P ratio of 1:0 and the other a diet with Ca/P ratio of 2:1. Water was given ad libitum for all rabbits. Results obtained showed that Ca blood level was significantly higher in rabbits receiving the diet with Ca/P ratio of 2:1 before covering and during the first week of pregnancy. During the last 15 d of pregnancy, Ca blood level decreased significantly in the 2 groups of animals. Plasma inorganic phosphorus and magnesium levels were not significantly different in the 2 groups of rabbits until the 2nd wk of pregnancy. But at the end of pregnancy, while phosphatemia and magnesemia decreased in rabbits fed a high Ca/P ratio, in the other group these parameters remained unchanged.

[Influence of the season and of gestation on the plasma concentration of thyroid hormones: triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) in Sahel Peulh ewes]. / Influence de la saison et de la gestation sur la concentration plasmatique des hormones thyroïdiennes: triiodothyronine (T3) et thyroxine (T4), chez la brebis peulh du Sahel.

Seasonal and gestational variations of triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) plasma concentrations were evaluated in 12 pregnant and 6 non pregnant adult Sahel Peulh ewes. Blood samples were drawn from all animals at different dates for radio-immunoassay. In this particular breed of sheep, plasma triiodothyronine and thyroxine levels did not present significant variations from the beginning of the cool season (December) until the end of the dry warm season (May). On the contrary, a highly significant rise of hormones (P less than 0.01) was observed at the onset of the humid warm season (June). Moreover, a significant decrease of thyroid hormone plasma levels (P less than or equal to 0.05) greater for thyroxine than triiodothyronine was observed at the end of gestation, particularly in twin pregnancies. At birth, the thyroxine plasma level was higher in single than in twin lambs (139.6 +/- 66.5 vs 110.5 +/- 43.8 ng/ml).