Foodomics Approaches to Facilitate the Verification of the Authenticity of Foods: A Possible Strategy to Screen,Validate, and Standardize Food Matrices / Enfoques de Foodomics para facilitar la verificación de la autenticidad de los alimentos: una posible estrategia para evaluar, validar y estandarizar matrices alimentarias

The complexity of globalization, including the global food trade market, has the side effect that various raw foodstuffs are vulnerable to intentional and unintentional adulteration. However, food validation and standardization approaches are still unclear and challenging and need to be explored. Through this opinion article, the author would like to introduce a foodomics approach (Food, -Omics) to facilitate integrated food authenticity verification through biosensors. This approach is potentially suitable and offers more valuable accuracy as it combines biological analysis methods spanning genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics. Meanwhile, several subdisciplines of Foodomics, such as metallomics, volatomics, and lipidomics, which are considered feasible to facilitate the verification of food authenticity, are also explored in this critical opinion. Foodomics consists of four main omics technologies, namely genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics. This is an integration of promising approaches to provide standardized food matrices, thus becoming the most likely strategy to verify the authenticity of food. However, after trying to uncover this food authentication problem and provide a Foodomics approach, we felt the need for synergies in building a database capable of storing food matrices in the form of unique genes, bioactive peptides, and secondary metabolites. We hope that through this opinion article, the target database can be formed, although databases such as MEDLINE and PubChem have provided this data facility. In particular, we suggest the development of nanobiosensors that should undoubtedly be environmentally friendly and portable (making use of smartphones) and creating a cloud database capable of storing food matrices in the form of unique genes, bioactive peptides, and secondary metabolites, integrated with smartphone biosensors.(AU)

[Canine and human rabies in Conakry: epidemiology and preventive aspects]. / La rage canine et humaine à Conakry : aspects épidémiologique et prophylactique.

In Guinea, stray dogs are present in large numbers in public places and around landfills. The objectives of this study were to determine the frequency of human exposure to rabies risk, the cases of human and canine rabies and to describe the epidemiological profile of the cases. This retrospective and descriptive study was conducted in health and veterinarian facilities within the city of Conakry. All records of patients admitted in these facilities because of animal bites and veterinary records for aggression by domestic animals from 2002 to 2012, so, during an 11-year period, were collected. During the study period, 7 994 people were concerned by domestic animal bites. Males were the most affected with 60.4% of all cases. Students represented the higher class with 36.0%, followed by workers (18%). The majority of injuries were to the lower limbs (54.4%). The dog has been implicated in the attacks in 98.8% of cases. Among the 2 916 biting dogs which were placed under observation, 14 developed clinical rabies. Among those assaulted, 11 cases of rabies were reported. From 7 994 victims of domestic animal bites, 2 634 received post-exposure prophylaxis and the dropout rate was 51%. Rabies is a real risk in Conakry. Provisions in terms of public health strategy must be taken to minimize it.

[The hospital-borne tetanus in the reference service of the Donka National Hospital in Conakry (2001-2011)]. / Le tétanos nosocomial dans le service de référence de l'hôpital National Donka à Conakry (2001-2011).

Become almost non-existent in the developed countries, the hospital-borne tetanus always stays of current events in our country in spite of the forensic problem which it puts. The objectives of this study were to determine prevalence of this affection, to describe its clinical picture and to determine its lethality. It is about a retrospective study of a duration of 11 years realized in the service of the infectious diseases of Conakry. Among 8649 hospitalizations from 2001 till 2012 we brought together 239 cases of tetanus (2.7%) among which 60 hospital-borne tetanus (0.7%). Men represented 73% of these cases, with a sex-ratio M/F of 2.7. The age bracket of 20-40 years was the most affected with 32 cases (53.3%). A single patient had begun his vaccinal calendar which had remained incomplete. Both national hospitals of the CHU of Conakry and private hospitals were the biggest suppliers of this hospital-borne tetanus with respectively 22 and 27 cases (36.6 and 45%). Tetanus related to IM of quinine represented 26 cases (43.3%) whereas the hernial cure was found in 16 cases (26.6%). The average duration of invasion and incubation was respectively 1.5 days and 6 days for the dead (n = 45.7%) and 2 days and 10.5 days for the survivors. Three-quarters of 60 patients died. The fight against this type of tetanus passes inevitably by an improvement of the working conditions, a strict application of the rules of asepsis and the in-service training of the medical and paramedical staff.

Herbal medicine and treatment of diabetes in Africa: an example from Guinea.

AIM: Use of medicinal plants is widespread in Africa, particularly in Guinea where oral transmission of practices is part of the social ritual. The purpose of this study was to determine the proportion of diabetic patients who use herbal medicine and identify the types of plants in use. Reasons for using herbal medicine and the formulations employed were also noted. METHODS: A questionnaire on use of herbal medicine was proposed to all diabetic patients hospitalized or consulting the Endocrinology Unit of the Conakry University Hospital between April 1 and June 30, 2003. RESULTS: A total of 397 patients responded; 33% declared they used herbal medicine. They proposed many motivations, sometimes in association: belief in its efficacy (74%), easy access to medicinal plants (70%), lower cost (48%), and search for complete cure of diabetes (37%). Hearing about a positive experience had convinced 78% of the users to use herbal medicine. The majority of the users were satisfied (85%). One or more clinical manifestations occurring concomitantly with use of herbs was observed in 23 patients (18%), particularly gastrointestinal disorders (n = 10) and skin problems (n = 8). Two cases of hypoglycaemia were noted. CONCLUSION: Herbal medicine plays an important role in anti-diabetes treatment in Guinea. This type of treatment should be based on scientific evidence but very few studies have been conducted. Conditions of use should be better defined and patients should be informed of potential adverse effects.