[Contribution of the University Clinical Research Center's laboratoryin the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 in Mali]. / Contribution du laboratoire du Centre Universitaire de Recherche Clinique (UCRC) au diagnostic de SRAS-CoV-2 au Mali.

INTRODUCTION: The rapid diagnostic capacities of laboratories in Mali have been an essential element in the response to COVID-19. The University Clinical Research center (UCRC) diagnosed the first cases of Mali COVID-19. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to describe the contribution of the UCRC in the diagnosis of Covid-19 and to clinically and epidemiologically characterize the patients tested in the UCRC laboratory. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted during eight months of intense activity. The samples were sent from the National Institute of Public Health (INSP) to the UCRC. RESULTS: The UCRC tested 12,406 contacts and suspected samples and confirmed the diagnosis in 1091 patients, or 9%. The most common symptoms were cough (48.78%), headache (34.14%), fatigue / weakness (34.14%), while (33.33%) of the patients were asymptomatic. The sample positivity rate among new cases decreased from May to September 2020, despite almost 230% of the number of samples tested. CONCLUSION: The laboratory played a major role in the response and there may be a low transmission of the virus in the Malian community.

INTRODUCTION: Les capacités de diagnostic rapide des laboratoires au Mali ont été un élément essentiel dans la riposte contre la COVID-19. Le Centre Universitaire de Recherche Clinique (UCRC)a diagnostiqué les premiers cas du Mali. OBJECTIF: Etait de décrire l'apport de l'UCRC dans le diagnostic de la Covid-19 et de caractériser cliniquement et épidémiologiquement les patients testés au laboratoire de l'UCRC. MATÉRIELS ET MÉTHODES: Une étude transversale a été conduite pendant huit mois d'activité intense. Les échantillons ont été envoyés de l'Institut National de Santé Publique (INSP) à l'UCRC. RÉSULTATS: L'UCRC a testé 12 406 échantillons contacts et suspects et a confirmé le diagnostic chez 1091 patients soit 9%. Les symptômes les plus rencontrés ont été la toux (48,78%), les maux de tête (34,14%), la fatigue/faiblesse (34,14%), tandis que (33,33%) des patients étaient asymptomatiques. Le taux de positivité des échantillons a diminué entre mai et août et avec une légère diminution en septembre 2020,avec près de 230% du nombre d'échantillons testés. CONCLUSION: Le laboratoire a joué un grand rôle dans la riposte et il y'aurait une faible transmission du virus dans la communauté Malienne.

Influence of Cosmetic Type and Distribution Channel on the Presence of Regulated Fragrance Allergens: Study of 2044 Commercial Products.

Contact dermatitis linked to cosmetic products is a very common reason for visits to the dermatologist, and in more than half the cases, it is due to an allergic reaction. Fragrances are most often the culprit. The aim of the study was to describe the common fragrance allergens in different categories of cosmetic products available on the European market. We wanted to assess the influence of cosmetic type and distribution channel on the presence of fragrance allergens. There are the allergens whose concentration exceeds 0.001% in leave-on products and 0.01% in rinse-off products. A total of 2044 commercial hygiene, care, and makeup cosmetic products were analyzed to specifically study regulated fragrance allergens. The influence that the product category and its distribution channel (retail stores and specialized stores such as beauty institutes or hairdressers and pharmacy) have on the prevalence of these allergens was evaluated. The Kruskal-Wallis test has been used for statistical data analysis. There is a wide range of fragrance allergens, the most common being limonene (found in about 30% of products tested), linalool (just over a quarter of the products tested), and benzyl alcohol (approximately 16% of the products tested). The average number of allergens found and their nature varies depending on the type of product in question (maximum number for shampoos and oral care with about 70 allergens and minimum number for nail polish and makeup for eyes with fewer than 10 allergens). In the area of hygiene, deodorants and oral hygiene products are particularly noteworthy, the former for their significantly high number of allergens and the latter for their low number. There is also a significant difference between the number of allergens found in eye makeup and foundations. Our results indicate that the number of regulated fragrance allergens is particularly influenced by the type of products.

[Ct scan diagnosis of polyostotic fibrous dysplasia with maxillofacial dysmorphia: a case report]. / Diagnostic tomodensitometrique d'une dysplasie fibreuse polyostotique avec dysmorphie maxillo-faciale : a propos d'un cas.

We report a rare case of polyostotic fibrous dysplasia with maxillofacial dysmorphia diagnosed in the radiology department at Hopital Sominé Dolo of Mopti. The aim was to describe the role of medical imaging including the CT scan in its diagnosis. He was a 42-year-old man of rural origin with poor socio-economic conditions. He was sent to us for a craniofacial CT scan for assessment of a maxillofacial mass. This CT scan showed a thickening of the diploid of the vault and the cranial base with osteocondensation and osteolytic lesions at the maxillofacial level. An extension assessment showed polyostotic involvement. His diagnosis is based on medical imaging and in particular CT scan. Three types of radiological aspects are evocative: a homogeneous or heterogeneous clarity, a smoke-like appearance and a slightly condensed appearance. Complications observed were deformities, fracture of the femoral neck and aesthetic damage.

Nous rapportons un cas rare de dysplasie fibreuse polyostotique avec dysmorphie maxillo-faciale diagnostiqué au service de radiologie à l'hôpital Sominé Dolo de Mopti. Le but était de décrire le rôle de l'imagerie médicale notamment le scanner dans son diagnostic. Il s'agissait d'un homme âgé de 42 ans, de provenance rurale avec des conditions socio-économiques défavorables. Il nous a été adressé pour un scanner crâniofacial pour bilan d'une masse maxillo-faciale. Cette exploration scanographique avait objectivé un épaississement du diploé de la voûte et de la base crânienne avec ostéocondensation et des lésions ostéolytiques soufflantes au niveau maxillo-facial. Un bilan d'extension a objectivé une atteinte polyostotique. Son diagnostic repose sur l'imagerie médicale et en particulier la tomodensitométrie. Trois types d'aspects radiologiques sont évocateurs: une clarté homogène ou hétérogène, un aspect en volutes de fumée et un aspect légèrement condensé. Les complications observées étaient les déformations, la fracture du col fémoral et le préjudice esthétique.

Effect of friction between powder and tooling on the die-wall pressure evolution during tableting: Experimental and numerical results for flat and concave punches.

Tablet final properties are mainly determined during the compaction process by the evolution of the stresses applied to the powder. Any process or product parameter that may influence this stress evolution may have a direct impact on the tablet final properties. In this article, we studied the influence of the friction between the tooling and the powder on the evolution of the die-wall pressure during compaction using flat and concave punches. Experimental studies were performed on microcrystalline cellulose as well as numerical studies using finite element method (FEM) simulation. Both methodologies indicate that increasing the friction between the powder and the tooling promotes an increase in the die-wall pressure during tableting. This is in contradiction with results that can be found in the literature. Moreover, the results of this study showed that for flat punches, the stress evolution is mainly driven by the die/powder friction. On the contrary, for concave punches, changing the punches/powder friction have also a consequence in the evolution of the die-wall pressure. This could have practical consequences in sticking situations where, due film formation on the punches, the friction between the punches and the powder may change during tableting.

Shear strength of pharmaceutical tablets: Theoretical considerations, evaluation and relation with the capping tendency of biconvex tablets.

Capping is a major industrial issue during pharmaceutical powder compression, especially in the case of biconvex tablets. Several articles proposed that capping was in fact a failure in shear. Shear strength should thus be interesting to study the capping tendency of a formulation. In this work, the ratio between the shear strength and the tensile strength obtained by diametral compression was first studied from a theoretical point of view considering different failure criteria. Then, a shear test usually performed on bilayer tablets was adapted to monolayer tablets. The shear strength obtained for 5 products, 2 of them having a known capping tendency, were compared with the strengths obtained during diametral compression test and uniaxial compression test. The results indicated that, for the formulations with a capping tendency, the ratio between the shear strength and diametral compression strength was lower than for the other products. Considering the mechanism of capping, the weakness in shear of these formulations explained their capping tendency. This was also linked with the mechanical anisotropy of the same formulations which was shown in the literature. In the cases studied in this article, the fundamental reason for the capping tendency was the anisotropic strength of the tablets.

Reevaluation of the diametral compression test for tablets using the flattened disc geometry.

Mechanical strength is an important critical quality attribute for tablets. It is classically measured, in the pharmaceutical field, using the diametral compression test. Nevertheless, due to small contact area between the tablet and the platens, some authors suggested that during the test, the failure could occur in tension away from the center which would invalidate the test and the calculation of the tensile strength. In this study, the flattened disc geometry was used as an alternative to avoid contact problems. The diametral compression on both flattened and standard geometries was first studied using finite element method (FEM) simulation. It was found that, for the flattened geometry, both maximum tensile strain and stress were located at the center of the tablet, which was not the case for the standard geometry. Experimental observations using digital image correlation (DIC) confirmed the numerical results. The experimental tensile strength obtained using both geometries were compared and it was found that the standard geometry always gave lower tensile strength than the flattened geometry. Finally, high-speed video capture of the test made it possible to detect that for the standard geometry the crack initiation was always away from the center of the tablet.

Effect of the product type, of the amount of applied sunscreen product and the level of protection in the UVB range on the level of protection achieved in the UVA range.

Using a topical product is part of the overall strategy for skin cancer prevention. The level of protection attainable when using commercial products is indicated by the Sun Protection Factor (SPF) value, in use everywhere. This value reflects the level of protection primarily in the UVB range. However, UVA radiation also has deleterious effects on the skin, and it is essential to prevent it, which is why products must offer a wide spectrum of protection. Tests conducted in vivo, before any marketing, are done by applying the studied product at a rate of 2.0 mg cm(-2), while users, in practice, only use 1.0-1.5 mg cm(-2). We now know that this reduction in the amount of applied product greatly affects the SPF. To complete the state of knowledge in this area, we sought to evaluate the effect of a decrease in the amount of applied sunscreen product by studying sunscreen creams and oils on the level of protection attainable in the UVA range. We have shown that the PF-UVA is divided by a factor of 2.2, on average, when the amount of applied product is reduced by half, with differences depending on the product type under consideration (cream or oil) and depending on the SPF of the preparation.

Lamination of pharmaceutical tablets due to air entrapment: direct visualization and influence of the compact thickness.

Capping and lamination are two problems that are often faced during the industrial manufacturing of pharmaceutical tablets. Several reasons have been proposed to explain these phenomena. Among them, air entrapment is supposed to play a role in some cases. Nevertheless, no direct proof were given to prove that air entrapment can promote lamination or capping and various publications have questioned this hypothesis. In this article, using a model product compacted on a compression simulator, a direct proof of the implication of air entrapment during lamination was given. In fact, at the surface of the compact, defects with a spherical shape, clearly linked with an entrapped bubble of air, began to appear on the surface of the compact just below the pressure level to which lamination was observed. Moreover it was also observed that, when the compact thickness increased, the lamination pressure decreased, meaning that the compact thickness can promote lamination. As a conclusion, contrary to what is said in some publications, air entrapment can be involved when problems of lamination occur, and, in this case, powder desaeration should be considered.

The surface layer of pharmaceutical compacts: the role of the punch surface and its impact on the mechanical properties of the compacts.

During pharmaceutical compaction, the interaction between the punch and the powder determines the formation and the aspect of the surface of the compact. In industry, the properties of the punch surface, which play a key role in this interaction, are sometimes changed by fixing an intermediate layer onto the punch to prevent sticking problems. In this article, the case of a polymer insert layer was studied. Firstly, sugar spheres were compacted with and without the polymer insert fixed onto the punches. After compaction with uncovered punches, the surface particles, which had been subjected to high deformation, were flattened on one side. However, it was observed, using confocal X-ray microfluorescence, that this kind of deformation was limited to the surface and that the bulk particles, which underwent a more isotropic deformation, still exhibited an approximately round shape. Secondly, the influence of the surface structure on the mechanical properties of the compacts was studied. The indentation hardness and the tensile strength of compacts of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) and anhydrous calcium phosphate (aCP) were studied. No differences were found for the compacts of MCC produced with the two kinds of punches, but the compacts of aCP obtained with uncovered punches presented a higher hardness and a higher tensile strength than those obtained with covered punches.

Prediction of the compressibility of complex mixtures of pharmaceutical powders.

The development of predictive models for the pharmaceutical compaction process is of great interest for not only the formulation step but also in the context of the quality by design development. This paper deals with the prediction of the compressibility, i.e. the prediction of the evolution of the density and the porosity of the compact along with the compaction pressure, both "in-die" (during the compaction) and "out-of-die (after the ejection of the compact). For this purpose, four different mixtures composed of five different pharmaceutical products were studied using a rotative press simulator. The excipients and formulations were chosen to be as near as possible to real industrial formulations. Using the volume as an additive property and a reformulation of the Kawakita equation as a function of the density, it was possible to predict the density of the compact both "in-die" and "out-of-die" with a good accuracy (residuals <3.5%). In most of the cases, for the pressure levels used in the pharmaceutical industry, the absolute error on the prediction of the porosity was below 2%. This study demonstrates that this approach could be well suited to predict the compressibility of real pharmaceutical formulations in the industrial context.