Leaves from Four Congo-Brazzaville Regions: Antioxidant Capacity, Anti-Inflammatory Activity and Proportional Accumulation of Phytochemicals.

Oxidative stress and inflammation play a key role in the occurrence of neurodegenerative diseases. Traditionally, leaves are used in dementia treatment. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities as well as the phytochemical composition of leaves from four Congo-Brazzaville regions.

Hybrid Finite Element-Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics Modelling for Optimizing Cutting Parameters in CFRP Composites.

Carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) is increasingly being used in various applications including aerospace, automotive, wind energy, sports, and robotics, which makes the precision modelling of its machining operations a critical research area. However, the classic finite element modelling (FEM) approach has limitations in capturing the complexity of machining, particularly with regard to the interaction between the fibre-matrix interface and the cutting edge. To overcome this limitation, a hybrid approach that integrates smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPHs) with FEM was developed and tested in this study.

Chip Formation and Orthogonal Cutting Optimisation of Unidirectional Carbon Fibre Composites.

This study presents a thorough experimental investigation utilising the design of experiments and analysis of variance (ANOVA) to examine the impact of machining process parameters on chip formation mechanisms, machining forces, workpiece surface integrity, and damage resulting from the orthogonal cutting of unidirectional CFRP. The study identified the mechanisms behind chip formation and found it to significantly impact the workpiece orientation of fibre and the tool's cutting angle, resulting in increased fibre bounceback at larger fibre orientation angles and when using smaller rake angle tools. Increasing the depth of cut and fibre orientation angle results in an increased damage depth, while using higher rake angles reduces it.

Historical overview and geographical distribution of neglected tropical diseases amenable to preventive chemotherapy in the Republic of the Congo: A systematic review.

Background: Neglected Tropical Diseases amenable to Preventive Chemotherapy (PC-NTDs) affect the poorest populations around the world, especially in Africa. Scientific information on the distribution and level of endemicity of these diseases in the Republic of the Congo (RoC) is scarce in the published literature. We sought to collect all available epidemiological data on PC-NTDs in the RoC to document the historical and current situation and identify challenges in reaching the elimination of NTDs.

'It is a disease which comes and kills directly': What refugees know about COVID-19 and key influences of compliance with preventive measures.

Background: Refugees are at increased risk for COVID-19 infection in part due to their living conditions, which make it harder to adopt and adhere to widely accepted preventive measures. Little empirical evidence exists about what refugees know about COVID-19 and what they do to prevent infection. This study explored what refugee women and their health care workers understand about COVID-19 prevention, the extent of their compliance to public health recommendations, and what influences the adoption of these measures.

Inflammatory biomarkers and prediction of insulin resistance in Congolese adults.

Several studies have shown that low levels of adiponectin (ADP) and high levels of alpha tumor necrosis factor (NFT) increase the risk or severity of many cardiometabolic diseases associated with insulin resistance. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the association between plasma adipokines and IR measured by HOMA-IR. The secondary objective was to determine the biomarker of the potential inflammation to predict IR in Congolese melanoderm subjects residing in Brazzaville.

4D Printing of NiTi Auxetic Structure with Improved Ballistic Performance.

Auxetic structures have attracted attention in energy absorption applications owing to their improved shear modulus and enhanced resistance to indentation. On the other hand, four-dimensional (4D) printing is an emerging technology that is capable of 3D printing smart materials with additional functionality. This paper introduces the development of a NiTi negative-Poisson's-ratio structure with superelasticity/shape memory capabilities for improved ballistic applications.

Occurrence of human astrovirus associated with gastroenteritis among Congolese children in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo.

Introduction: Acute viral gastroenteritis is a major public health concern, especially among children younger than 5 years of age. The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence of human astrovirus infection in children with acute gastroenteritis.

Methods: Stool specimens were collected from 506 children under 5 years of age hospitalized with acute diarrhoea (289 male and 208 female), and human astrovirus was investigated by RT-PCR.

[Effects of Dacryodes edulis fruit oil on anxiety symptoms and cognitive performance in mice, after prolonged administration].

Objective: To study the effects of prolonged administration of Dacryodes edulis (G. Don) H.J.

Effect of Injection Speed on Oocyte Deformation in ICSI.

Oocyte deformation during injection is a major cause of potential cell damage which can lead to failure in the Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) operation used as an infertility treatment. Injection speed plays an important role in the deformation creation. In this paper the effect of different speeds on deformation of zebrafish embryos is studied using a specially designed experimental set-up.

Marker of coxsackievirus-B4 infection in saliva of patients with type 1 diabetes.

Background: Coxsackieviruses B (CV-B) are enteroviruses that have been reported to play a role in the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes. Enteroviral RNA was detected in the gut mucosa of patients. The mucosal immunity is an interconnected network; therefore, the response to enteroviruses possibly present in the gastrointestinal mucosa can be reflected by specific antibodies in the saliva.

Molecular Detection of Helicobacter pylori and its Antimicrobial Resistance in Brazzaville, Congo.

Back Ground: Helicobacter pylori infection is involved in several gastroduodenal diseases which can be cured by antimicrobial treatment. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of H. pylori infection and its bacterial resistance to clarithromycin, fluoroquinolones, and tetracycline in Brazzaville, Congo, by using molecular methods.

Genetic evidence of regulatory gene variants of the STAT6, IL10R and FOXP3 locus as a susceptibility factor in uncomplicated malaria and parasitaemia in Congolese children.

Background: Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are a subset of T cells that play an important role in modulating T effector responses during infectious challenges. The aim of this study was to evaluate possible associations between regulatory gene polymorphisms and the risk of uncomplicated malaria and the control of Plasmodium falciparum parasite density levels.

Methods: Twelve regulatory single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the promoter regions of FOXP3 (ss270137548, rs11091253), IL10RA (rs56356146, rs7925112), IL10RB (rs8178433, rs8178435, rs999788), STAT6 (rs3024941, rs3024943, rs3024944) and TNFRSF18 (ss2080581728, rs3753344) were genotyped in a cohort of Congolese children.

In vitro evaluation of antiplasmodial activity of extracts of Acanthospermum hispidum DC (Asteraceae) and Ficus thonningii Blume (Moraceae), two plants used in traditional medicine in the Republic of Congo.

The aim of this study was to evaluate extracts from two medicinal plants, Acanthospermum hispidum and Ficus thonningii, used in traditional medicine in Congo Brazzaville, for in vitro antiplasmodial activities against two laboratory strains of Plasmodium falciparum: the chloroquine sensitive 3D7 and the chloroquine resistant Dd2. ELISA HRP2 assay was used to evaluate the in vitro inhibitory activity of the extracts alone or in combination with chloroquine. Cytotoxicity was assessed on human HeLa cell line and reflected by the selectivity index.

Analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of Cassia siamea Lam. stem bark extracts.

Aim Of The Study: The present study was carried out to investigate analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of Cassia siamea Lam stem bark extracts. We have also determined the cytotoxicity of each extract.

Materials And Methods: C.

Effect of Tectona grandis on phenylhydrazine-induced anaemia in rats.

Traditional oral report indicates that Tectona grandis is used in the treatment of anaemia in Togo. For this purpose, the extract of T. grandis leaves is evaluated on anaemia model of rat induced by intraperitoneal injection of phenylhydrazine at 40 mg/kg for 2 days.

Racial/ethnic disparities in the acceptance of Medicaid patients in dental practices.

Objectives: Medicaid enrollees disproportionately experience dental disease and difficulties accessing needed dental care. However, little has been documented on the factors associated with the acceptance of new Medicaid patients by dentists, and particularly whether minority dentists are more likely to accept new Medicaid patients. We therefore examined the factors associated with the acceptance of new Medicaid patients by dentists.

Comparative chemical and analgesic properties of essential oils of Cymbopogon nardus (L) Rendle of Benin and Congo.

The chemical and analgesic comparison of essential oils of Cymbopogon nardus (L) Rendle of Benin and Congo was investigated. The chemical analysis wa carried out by using GS/MS for identification of components of the two essential oils while acetic acid-induced writhings, hot plate and tail flick test models were used for analgesic activity. The results showed that the two essential oils exhibited comparable activity on acetic acid-induced writhings, however, the essential oil of Benin induced more significant effect on hot plate model while the Congolese specie showed more effect in the tail flick test.

Chemical composition and pharmacological activity of essential oil of Canarium schweinfurthii.

The essential oil obtained by hydrodistillation of the resin of Canarium schweinfurthii growing in Central African Republic, was analysed by GC and GC/MS and its analgesic and antiinflammatory effects were studied. The major constituents of the essential oil were octylacetate (60%) and nerolidol (14%). At the doses of 1, 2 and 3 ml/kg i.

Hypoglycemic and antihyperglycemic effects of diethyl ether fraction isolated from the aqueous extract of the leaves of Cogniauxia podoleana Baillon in normal and alloxan-induced diabetic rats.

Cogniauxia podoleana Baillon (Cucurbitaceae family) leaves are used in Congolese traditional medicine for the treatment of diabetes mellitus. Based on an increasing number of reports on blood glucose level reduction associated with some saponins and flavonoids isolated from medicinal plants, the hypoglycemic and antihyperglycemic effects of flavonoid and saponin fractions were investigated. Saponin fractions were obtained by the fractionation of aqueous extract of leaves using benzene and ethyl acetate.

Evaluation of analgesic effect of Datura fastuosa leaves and seed extracts.

The aqueous extracts of Datura fastuosa leaves and seeds were evaluated for the analgesic effect on acetic acid-induced writhing and hot plate reaction in mice. According to the results, D. fastuosa leaves and seeds extracts at oral doses of 400 and 800 mg/kg are effective as analgesic.

Analgesic, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory effects of essential oil of Lippia multiflora.

The essential oil of Lippia multiflora Moldenke (Verbenaceae) produced by conventional hydrodistillation was analyzed and studied for its analgesic, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory activities in rats and mice. At the doses used (2, 4 and 8 ml/kg o.s.

[Psychopharmacological properties of crude extract and essential oil of Lippia multiflora].

Psychopharmacological properties of crude extract and essential oil of Lippia multiflora (Lm), a verbenacea of african traditional pharmacopea were investigated in rat using classical methods. The extract of Lm is constituted by an infusion of dried leaves. The essential oil is obtained by hydrodistillation of the dried leaves of Lm with a yield of 0.

[Psychopharmacologic properties of Lippia multiflora].

Lippia multiflora (L.m.) is a verbenacea used in Congo as conventional tea decoction.