Synthesis, Characterization and Antimicrobial Activities of 1,4- Disubstituted 1,2,3-Triazole Compounds.

BACKGROUND: 1,2,3-triazoles are five-membered heterocyclic scaffold; their broad-spectrum biological activities are known. Researchers around the world are increasingly being interested in this emerging area, owing to its immense pharmacological scope. OBJECTIVE: This work summarizes the synthesis of 1,2,3-triazoles and the significance of this pattern as a lead structure for new drug molecules discovery. METHODS: 1,2,3-triazoles can be obtained on a multigram scale through "click chemistry" under ambient conditions. RESULTS: Sixteen compounds were synthesized and evaluated on five microbial strains E. coli, E. faecalis, P. aeruginosa, S. aureus and C. albicans. NMR, MS and IR were used to characterize all compounds. They were evaluated with their Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations (MICs) and interesting results were obtained with compounds 12a, 12b, 3, 2a and 2c, with MIC 0.14 µM (P. aeruginosa), 1.08 µM (E. coli), 1.20 µM (E. faecalis and C. albicans), 3.5 µM (E. faecalis) and 4.24 µM (C. albicans), respectively. P. aeruginosa and C. albicans were the most sensitive among all the strains. CONCLUSION: The synthesized compounds were found as potential antimicrobial agents against Gram (+), Gram (-) strains and fungi.

Acceptability and Utilization of Three Nutritional Supplements during Pregnancy: Findings from a Longitudinal, Mixed-Methods Study in Niger.

Nutritional status in pregnancy is a key determinant of birth outcomes. In low-income countries, maternal diets are often limited, and daily nutrient supplements are recommended to fill nutrient gaps. As a result, it is important to understand the factors influencing acceptability and utilization of nutrient supplements in these settings. Qualitative data (individual interviews and focus group discussions with pregnant women, household members, and study staff) and quantitative data (unannounced household spot checks) were collected in 24 villages in the Maradi region of south-central Niger. Each village was randomly assigned to one of three study arms, with pregnant women receiving either iron and folic acid (IFA) supplements, multiple micronutrient (MMN) supplements, or medium-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplements (MQ-LNS) for daily consumption during pregnancy. Data were collected longitudinally to capture changes in perspective as women progressed through their pregnancy. Participants accepted all three supplement types, and perceived a wide range of health benefits attributed to supplement consumption. However, several important barriers to appropriate consumption were reported, and rumors about the supplements leading to childbirth complications also decreased utilization. The household spot checks suggested that IFA had the highest level of correct consumption. Overall, despite a stated high level of acceptance and enthusiasm for the supplements among participants and their household members, certain fears, side effects, and organoleptic factors led to decreased utilization. The effectiveness of future programs to improve maternal nutritional status through supplementation may be improved by understanding perceived barriers and facilitating factors among participants and tailoring communication efforts appropriately.

Determinants of dietary practices during pregnancy: A longitudinal qualitative study in Niger.

Undernutrition is associated with maternal morbidity and poor pregnancy outcomes. This qualitative study seeks to understand the multilevel factors influencing maternal dietary practices in Niger, including the impact of pregnancy illnesses on diet. Criterion-based, purposive sampling was used to select pregnant women and household members from 24 villages in a rural district of the Maradi Region in south-central Niger. Semistructured interviews (n = 153) and focus group discussions (n = 38) explored 4 primary themes: (a) perceptions of ideal diet during pregnancy, (b) barriers to consuming the ideal diet, (c) coping strategies including dietary responses related to pregnancy illnesses, and (d) changes in perceptions from early to late pregnancy. Longitudinal data collection allowed for repeated interviews of pregnant women to document changes in dietary practices throughout pregnancy. Transcripts were coded using an inductive approach informed by grounded theory methodology. Participants categorized foods into 4 primary dietary taxonomies when discussing ideal maternal diets but cited constraints related to accessibility and availability impeding routine consumption of these foods. Perceptions of "modern," urban foods as healthy, coupled with key structural barriers such as food costs, were identified. Maternal morbidity influenced food consumption, as women reported reducing food intake early in pregnancy in response to illness episodes. Although awareness of optimal foods for supporting healthy pregnancies was moderately high, some misconceptions were observed and multilevel barriers to food security restricted opportunities for consuming these foods. Nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive interventions could improve access and availability of acceptable foods for supporting increased dietary intake during pregnancy.

Safety of a heat-stable rotavirus vaccine among children in Niger: Data from a phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Rotavirus remains a major cause of diarrhea among children under 5 years of age. The efficacy of RotaSIIL, a pentavalent rotavirus vaccine, was shown in an event-driven trial in Niger. We describe the two-year safety follow-up of this trial. METHODS: Follow-up of safety outcomes began upon administration of the first dose of RotaSIIL or placebo. Adverse events were followed until 28 days after the third dose, and serious adverse events were followed until 2 years of age. Suspected cases of intussusception were evaluated at first point of contact and then referred to hospital for surgical evaluation. Causes of death were obtained by chart review and verbal autopsy. Passive surveillance was carried out in health centers. Community health workers carried out active surveillance in villages. Between-group differences were evaluated using the chi-squared test and Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: A total of 4092 children were randomized, and 4086 received at least one dose of RotaSIIL or placebo, constituting the intention-to-treat population, who accrued a total of 7385 child-years of follow-up time. At two years of follow-up, 58 (2.8%) participants who received RotaSIIL and 49 (2.4%) participants who received placebo had died (p = 0.38). Most deaths were due to infectious causes common to the study area. One participant had confirmed intussusception, 542 days after receiving the third dose of RotaSIIL. A total of 395 (19.3%) participants receiving RotaSIIL and 419 (20.5%) participants receiving placebo experienced any serious adverse event (p = 0.36). Most serious adverse events were hospitalizations due to infection (malaria, lower respiratory tract infection and gastroenteritis) or marasmus. Overall, 1474 (72.1%) participants receiving RotaSIIL and 1456 (71.1%) participants receiving placebo had at least one adverse event (p = 0.49) in the follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: At two years of follow-up, RotaSIIL was found to be safe. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02145000.

Antioxidant and antiglycation properties of two mango (Mangifera indica L.) cultivars from Senegal

Objective: To evaluate the total phenolic contents, antioxidant and antiglycation activities of leaves, barks, roots and kernels from two cultivars of Mangifera indica (Anacardiaceae). Methods: Total phenolic contents were determined by using Folin-Ciocalteu's method. The antioxidant activities were assessed by three different protocols including DPPH, oxygen radical absorbance capacity and iron (II) chelation assays. In addition, in vitro bovine serum albumin/D-ribose assay was chosen to evaluate the antiglycation properties of the extracts. Results: All the investigated extracts were found to contain high level of total phenols as well as potent antioxidant activities. Kernel extracts showed the highest total phenol contents and DPPH radical scavenging activities whereas higher oxygen radical absorbance capacity values were observed for leave, root and bark extracts. Besides, extracts from leaves, roots and barks from both cultivars exhibited potent inhibitory effects against the formation of advanced glycation end products, with IC

Efficacy of a Low-Cost, Heat-Stable Oral Rotavirus Vaccine in Niger.

BACKGROUND: Each year, rotavirus gastroenteritis is responsible for about 37% of deaths from diarrhea among children younger than 5 years of age worldwide, with a disproportionate effect in sub-Saharan Africa. METHODS: We conducted a randomized, placebo-controlled trial in Niger to evaluate the efficacy of a live, oral bovine rotavirus pentavalent vaccine (BRV-PV, Serum Institute of India) to prevent severe rotavirus gastroenteritis. Healthy infants received three doses of the vaccine or placebo at 6, 10, and 14 weeks of age. Episodes of gastroenteritis were assessed through active and passive surveillance and were graded on the basis of the score on the Vesikari scale (which ranges from 0 to 20, with higher scores indicating more severe disease). The primary end point was the efficacy of three doses of vaccine as compared with placebo against a first episode of laboratory-confirmed severe rotavirus gastroenteritis (Vesikari score, ≥11) beginning 28 days after dose 3. RESULTS: Among the 3508 infants who were included in the per-protocol efficacy analysis, there were 31 cases of severe rotavirus gastroenteritis in the vaccine group and 87 cases in the placebo group (2.14 and 6.44 cases per 100 person-years, respectively), for a vaccine efficacy of 66.7% (95% confidence interval [CI], 49.9 to 77.9). Similar efficacy was seen in the intention-to-treat analyses, which showed a vaccine efficacy of 69.1% (95% CI, 55.0 to 78.7). There was no significant between-group difference in the risk of adverse events, which were reported in 68.7% of the infants in the vaccine group and in 67.2% of those in the placebo group, or in the risk of serious adverse events (in 8.3% in the vaccine group and in 9.1% in the placebo group); there were 27 deaths in the vaccine group and 22 in the placebo group. None of the infants had confirmed intussusception. CONCLUSIONS: Three doses of BRV-PV, an oral rotavirus vaccine, had an efficacy of 66.7% against severe rotavirus gastroenteritis among infants in Niger. (Funded by Médecins sans Frontières Operational Center and the Kavli Foundation; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02145000 .).