[Wholesale distribution and delivery of plant-based medicinal products through the pharmaceutical system of Burkina Faso]. / Distribution en gros et délivrance des médicaments à base de plantes à travers le circuit pharmaceutique du Burkina Faso.

OBJECTIVE: In order to improve the contribution of medicines from traditional pharmacopoeia to health care, African countries like Burkina Faso have adopted for several years, policies and regulations organizing their distribution. This study aims to analyze the situation of the wholesale and retail sale of herbal medicines imported by the official pharmaceutical facilities. METHOD: This is a retrospective study involving all 18 drug wholesalers and 115 pharmacies in the city of Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso). It consisted of a collection of sales data of herbal medicines from 2013 to 2016 and interviews of the pharmacists responsible for the facilities surveyed. RESULTS: All the pharmacies surveyed obtain their supplies from national wholesalers, but eleven of them do so directly from manufacturers or non-wholesalers. Only 40% (44/111) of herbal medicines distributed by wholesalers and pharmacies had valid marketing authorizations. Also, although the average growth rates of annual sales by wholesalers and private pharmacies, respectively 23.67% and 11.94%, are significant, the turnover generated from their sale remains low. CONCLUSION: Supporting local producers with appropriate funding and adequate promotion of herbal medicines is still needed to boost the share of the national herbal medicines market.

Traditional treatment of human and animal salmonelloses in Southern Benin: Knowledge of farmers and traditherapists.

AIM: This study aimed to report medicinal plants that are likely to be used in the control of salmonellosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Southern Benin. Semi-structured questionnaires were administered to 150 farmers and 100 traditional therapists in seven high municipalities. This step helped to collect plants that are used in the treatment of animal salmonellosis and typhoid fever in human. RESULTS: The results revealed a low level of use of medicinal plants among breeders who prefer antibiotics such as oxytetracycline (53.55%), tylosine + sulfadimerazine (15.30%), and alphaceryl (19.13%). However, plants such as Moringa oleifera (leaves), Carica papaya (leaves and seeds), and Vernonia amygdalina (leaves) were mostly used by some farmers. From traditional therapists, 57 plant species of 32 families were identified as typhoid fever cures; among which Leguminosae, Asteraceae, and Euphorbiaceae were predominant. Persea americana (22.72%), V. amygdalina (7.57%), and Corchorus olitorius (7.57%) were the most cited by traditherapists for the treatment of typhoid fever in human. CONCLUSION: This study provides a database for further studies on the in vitro and in vivo efficacy of Benin plant species on Salmonellaspp. These evaluations will guarantee the availability of new therapeutic solutions for populations.

[Snake bites in the emergency unit of Niamey National Hospital, Niger]. / Morsures de serpent à l'hôpital national de Niamey: à propos de 53 cas.

This study was aimed at assessing envenomations caused by snakebite in Niamey National Hospital, between July 2005 and September 2006. We included 53 victims of snakebites. The wounded distribution indicated more wounded males than females (sex ratio = 1.78:1). The mean age was 29 ± 17 years. September to November seemed a period of higher risk. The snake was not identified in 60% of the cases. The bite occurred during March in 43% of the cases. Clinically, 6% of the patients showed no signs of envenomation and 7% presented bleeding disorders; 88% of the patients did not receive anti-venom. The lethality rate was 15%.

[First documented cases of rheumatoid arthritis in Niger]. / Premiers cas documentés de polyarthrite rhumatoïde au Niger.

The authors report the first eight documented cases of rheumatoid arthritis in Niger, all diagnosed during one year at the National Lamordé Hospital of Niamey. Systemic manifestations were rare.

[The treatment of lower limb varices by stripping and cross sectioning of the saphenous vein at the National Hospital of Niamey: 31 operated limbs]. / Le traitement des varices des membres inferieurs par stripping et crossectomie de la grande et petite veine saphene a l'Hopital National de Niamey: a propos de 31 membres opérés.

OBJECTIVE: The authors reported the results of surgical procedure of lower limbs varicose (LLV) by stripping and crossectomy of saphenous vein at the National hospital of Niamey. METHODS: It is a prospective study during 5 years and half from January 2001 to June 2006. It concerned the all the patients with LLV who underwent a stripping-crossectomy of the great saphenous vein (GVS) and short saphenous vein (SSV) and elastic stocking. The anaes's clinical classification is used. RESULTS: The series included 27 patients (31 limbs): 20 males and 7 females (Ratio: 2.8). The average age was 32.4 years (ranged: 21 to 58 years). The mean duration of symptoms was 4.2 years (ranged: 3 to 12 years). According the ANAES's classification we found 63% of patients in stage B, and 37% in stage C. We performed 35 stripping crossectomy (28 for GSV and 7 for SSV) with avulsions accessory veins in 6 cases (14%), incompetent perforator ligature in 2 cases (4.6%) and complementary sclerotherapy in 19 cases (61.3%). The postoperative complications including haematomas (9.7%), wound infections (6.5%) and paraesthesia of saphenous nerve (6.5%) were subsequently resolved with treatment. The mean duration of hospitalization was 11 days (ranged: 4 to 18 days). After a mean follow-up period of 3 years (ranged: 6 months to 6 years) the recurrent varices rate was 6.5% (2 cases) due to leg perforators in 1 case/2 and 4 cases (9.7%) of residual ankle oedema. CONCLUSION: The LLV concerned young people. The results were good and recurrent rate is low after stripping and crossectomy for varicose stage B and C according ANAES's classification. The surgical procedure needed minute clinical and paraclinical assessment.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) agonists decrease lipoprotein lipase secretion and glycated LDL uptake by human macrophages.

Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) acts independently of its function as triglyceride hydrolase by stimulating macrophage binding and uptake of native, oxidized and glycated LDL. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are nuclear receptors expressed in monocyte/macrophages, where they control cholesterol homeostasis. Here we study the role of PPARs in the regulation of LPL expression and activity in human monocytes and macrophages. Incubation of human monocytes or macrophages with PPARalpha or PPARgamma ligands increases LPL mRNA and intracellular protein levels. By contrast, PPAR activators decrease secreted LPL mass and enzyme activity in differentiated macrophages. These actions of PPAR activators are associated with a reduced uptake of glycated LDL and could influence atherosclerosis development associated with diabetes.

CLA-1/SR-BI is expressed in atherosclerotic lesion macrophages and regulated by activators of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors.

BACKGROUND: The scavenger receptors are cell-surface receptors for native and modified lipoproteins that play a critical role in the accumulation of lipids by macrophages. CLA-1/SR-BI binds HDL with high affinity and is involved in the cholesterol reverse-transport pathway. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are transcription factors regulating the expression of genes implicated in lipid metabolism, cellular differentiation, and inflammation. Here, we investigated the expression of CLA-1/SR-BI in macrophages and its regulation by PPARs. METHODS AND RESULTS: CLA-1 is undetectable in human monocytes and is induced upon differentiation into macrophages. Immunohistological analysis on human atherosclerotic lesions showed high expression of CLA-1 in macrophages of the lipid core colocalizing with PPARalpha and PPARgamma staining. Activation of PPARalpha and PPARgamma resulted in the induction of CLA-1 protein expression in monocytes and in differentiated macrophages. Finally, SR-BI expression is increased in atherosclerotic lesions of apoE-null mice treated with either PPARgamma or PPARalpha ligands. CONCLUSIONS: Our data demonstrate that CLA-1/SR-BI is expressed in atherosclerotic lesion macrophages and induced by PPAR activation, identifying a potential role for PPARs in cholesterol homeostasis in atherosclerotic lesion macrophages.