Ent-kaurane diterpenoids from the Annonaceae family: a review of research progress and call for further research.

The Annonaceae is one of the plant families with members that are credited with numerous pharmacological functions. Among the group of compounds responsible for these bioactivities are the ent-kaurane diterpenoids. The ent-kauranes are a group of 20-Carbon, tetracyclic diterpenoids that are widely distributed in other plant families including the Annonaceae family. This mini-review focuses mainly on the ent-kaurane diterpenoids isolated from the Annonaceae family, delineates the various biological activities of these compounds, and highlights the research gaps that exist for further scientific scrutiny.

Mastitis and breast abscess in newborns and infants.

Introduction: Mastitis and abscess of the newborn breast are serious infections. The objective of our study was to describe the epidemiological and therapeutic aspects of these infections in our context. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective study from January 2017 to December 2019. We included all children aged ≤2 months admitted for mastitis or breast abscess. The variables studied were epidemiological and therapeutic. Results: We collected 34 files, i.e., 11.3 cases/year. The sex ratio was 0.5. The mean age was 16.3 ± 6.6 days. The mean time to the consultation was 3.7 ± 2.4 days. The parents had undertaken a massage in 79.4% of cases. It was mastitis in 12 cases and abscess in 21 cases. Treatment was surgical in 26 cases. Conclusion: This affection is frequent with a female predominance. Its management must be early. The proscription of breast massage would reduce its frequency.

Impact of heat stress on reproductive performances in dairy goats under tropical sub-humid environment.

Reproductive parameters of dairy animals are generally affected by meteorological factors. This study aimed to investigate the effects of heat stress (HS) on reproductive parameters Saanen and Saanen× Red Maradi (½S½RM) dairy goats reared on a private farm in a tropical sub-humid environment in Benin. To assess the reproductive performances 103 goats (46 Saanen and 57 ½S½RM) were followed up from January 2015 to December 2019. The temperature-humidity index (THI) was obtained during the same period using meteorological data such as ambient temperature (AT) and relative humidity (RH). Pearson correlation matrix analysis was then performed between the environmental variables and the reproductive parameters. Reproductive parameters of ½S½RM goats were better than those of Saanen goats. The conception (92.09%), prolificacy (156.54%) and fecundity (117.11%) rates of ½S½RM goats were significantly higher than those of Saanen goats (67.16%; 149.41% and 89.70%). The conception rate of Saanen goats was not affected by the level of THI. The conception, prolificacy, and fertility rates of ½S½RM goats decreased from 97.22%, 161.35% and 121.52%, at moderate THI to 83.89%, 148.86%, and 110.04% at extreme THI, respectively. In summary, although Saanen goats were very efficient in milk production, their reproductive performance was affected by the level of THI. On the contrary, the ½S½RM crossbred goats had a better conception, prolificacy and fertility rates in the sub-humid tropical climate of Benin.

Vacuum pressure combined with osmosonication as an innovative pre-drying technique for Ghanaian ginger: Evidence from the metabolome and quality characteristics of the dried product.

We assessed the impact of selected pretreatment techniques, thus, vacuum-assisted osmotic dehydration (VOD), vacuum-assisted sonication (VSON) and vacuum-assisted osmosonication (VOS) on the metabolomes and quality characteristics of infrared-dried ginger slices. We found marked metabolome differences between the pretreated ginger samples, evidenced by differential amounts of 6-gingerol and 6-shogaol, total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC) and antioxidant activities. We also found distinct differences in the drying kinetics and sensory characteristics of the pretreated samples. Generally, VOS pretreatment gave the best outcomes. The VOS-pretreated samples contained the highest contents of the marker compounds, TPC, TFC and gave the best antioxidant activity. The VOS-pretreated samples also recorded the shortest drying time and exhibited the best sensory attributes. Overall, the general order observed was, VOS > VSON > VOD > control for all quality parameters examined. VOS pretreatment of ginger before drying therefore holds a great potential for large-scale industrial application.

Les malformations congénitales cliniquement visibles / Clinically visible congenital malformations

Contexte. Les malformations congénitales représentent l'une des causes majeures de mortalité infantile. La réduction de cette mortalité passe par la mise en place d'un système de surveillance épidémiologique. Le but de cette étude était d'établir les caractéristiques épidémiologiques et cliniques des malformations congénitales cliniquement visibles. Méthodes. Étude rétrospective descriptive et analytique réalisée entre janvier 2018 et décembre 2019.Elle a concerné les patients de moins de 15 ans présentant une ou plusieurs malformations congénitalescliniquement visibles.Les variables étudiées étaient d'ordre épidémiologique et clinique. Résultats. Cent trois patients présentant une malformation congénitale ont été colligés. Ils représentaient une fréquence de 6,8%. Les malformations ostéoarticulaires représentaient 43% (n=44), et celles de la paroi abdominale 25% (n=26). Les mères étaient paucipares (n=50,48%) et âgées en moyenne de 27,9+/- 2,7 ans. Aucun diagnostic anténatal n'a été fait.Les enfants étaient nés à terme dans 98% (n=101). Ils étaient de sexe masculin dans 60% (n=62).Le taux de décès était de 11%(n=10). Conclusion. les malformations congénitales étaient dominées par les anomalies ostéoarticulaires et celles de la paroi abdominale. Elles sont sous-estimées et nécessitent la mise en place d'un système d'enregistrement pour une maitrise de son épidémiologie.

Reproductive performances of the Borgou cow inseminated on natural or induced estrus with semen from Gir and Girolando at the Okpara Breeding Farm.

AIM: The current study aims to evaluate the reproductive performances of the Borgou cow inseminated on natural or induced estrus with semen from Gir and Girolando at the Okpara Breeding Farm. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Semen from exotic breeds was used to inseminate 70 Borgou cows on induced estrus with the norgestomet implant and 285 others on natural estrous. Data on the reproductive performances of inseminated cows were collected. RESULTS: In inseminated cows on induced estrus, the pregnancy rate was 30% and that of abortion was 9.52%. The fertility rate was 28.57% and those of live births and mortality were, respectively, 105.26% and 5% in these cows. As for inseminated cows on natural estrus, the pregnancy rate was 75.79% and the one of calving was 88.89%. The fertility rate recorded with natural estrous was 66.67% and was significantly higher than the one recorded with insemination on induced estrus. The live births and the birth-weaning mortality rates were, respectively, 98.96% and 11.58% in inseminated cows on natural estrus. CONCLUSION: Reproductive performances are better in Borgou cows inseminated on natural estrus than in those inseminated on induced estrus.