Are tropical mangroves a sink for litter leaking from land-and sea-based sources? Evidence from selected Kenyan mangroves.

Marine litter surveys were carried out to determine the role of mangroves as a sink for litter. General litter density in the mangroves was 0.088 ± 0.076 items m-2, composed mainly of plastic (85.9 %). Higher litter densities occurred in the middle (0.162 ± 0.150 items m-2) compared to the landward (0.066 ± 0.049 items m-2) and the seaward zones (0.036 ± 0.028 items m-2), indicating the important role played by the middle zone in providing a sink for litter from both land and sea-based sources. Landward zones were a sink for heavier litter from land that could easily be trapped by mangrove roots (plastic and clothing). The middle zones retained mainly the litter that are not easily trapped by the mangroves' roots in seaward and landward zones, particularly soft plastics. The seaward zones acted as a sink for litter from sea-based sources mainly marine and fishing gears, and materials used for fishing and boat repairs.

[Behavioral disorders in Parkinson's disease: from pathophysiology to the mastery of dopaminergic treatment]. / Maladie de Parkinson: de la physiopathologie des troubles psychiques à la maîtrise du traitement dopaminergique.

INTRODUCTION: Behavioral changes in Parkinson's disease are complex and their pathophysiology is not yet fully understood. The dopaminergic system seems to play a major role and most of the behavioral disorders in Parkinson's disease can be classified into either hypodopaminergic if related to the disease itself or hyperdopaminergic if related to dopaminergic treatment. STATE OF THE ART: Subthalamic stimulation, which enables withdrawal of dopaminergic medication at an advanced stage in the disease, provides a model for the study of certain nonmotor, dopamine-sensitive symptoms. Such a study has shown that apathy, which is the most frequent behavioral problem in Parkinson's disease, is part of a much broader hypodopaminergic behavioral syndrome which also includes anxiety and depression. Nonmotor fluctuations--essential fluctuations in the patient's psychological state--are an expression of mesolimbic denervation, as shown in positron emission tomography. Drug-induced sensitization of the denervated mesolimbic system accounts for hyperdopaminergic behavioral problems that encompass impulse control disorders that can be alternatively classified as behavioral addictions. The association of impulse control disorders and addiction to the dopaminergic medication has been called dopamine dysregulation syndrome. While L-dopa is the most effective treatment for motor symptoms, dopamine agonists are more effective in improving the nonmotor levodopa-sensitive symptoms. On the other hand, L-dopa induces more motor complications and dopamine agonist more behavioral side effects. There is increasing data and awareness that patients' quality of life appears to be dictated by hypo- and hyperdopaminergic psychological symptoms stemming from mesolimbic denervation and dopaminergic treatment rather than by motor symptoms and motor complications related to nigrostriatal denervation and dopaminergic treatment. PERSPECTIVES: Better management requires knowledge of the clinical syndromes of hyper- and hypodopaminergic behaviors and nonmotor fluctuations, a better understanding of their underlying mechanisms and the development of new evaluation tools for these nonmotor symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: The neurologist who strives to gain mastery of dopaminergic treatment needs to fine tune the dosage of levodopa and dopamine agonists on an individual basis, depending on the presence of motor and nonmotor signs respectively.

[Course of pulmonary tuberculosis in diabetics]. / Evolution de la tuberculose pulmonaire chez les diabétiques.

This retrospective study on the impact of diabetes on the course of pulmonary tuberculosis was conducted in 32 diabetic patients with tuberculosis treated at the Brazzaville University Hospital between January 1994 and December 1998. This group was compared with a control group of 100 non-diabetic patients with tuberculosis. HIV-positive patients were excluded from the study. Diabetes appeared to have an induction and aggravating effect on tuberculosis. Tuberculosis is more frequent in diabetics than in non-diabetics. Radiological signs of tuberculosis are more pronounced in diabetics. Treatment failure and death are also more frequent. Tuberculosis aggravates diabetes and increases the frequency of complications compared with diabetics without tuberculosis.