Establishing African genomics and bioinformatics programs through annual regional workshops.

The African BioGenome Project (AfricaBP) Open Institute for Genomics and Bioinformatics aims to overcome barriers to capacity building through its distributed African regional workshops and prioritizes the exchange of grassroots knowledge and innovation in biodiversity genomics and bioinformatics. In 2023, we implemented 28 workshops on biodiversity genomics and bioinformatics, covering 11 African countries across the 5 African geographical regions. These regional workshops trained 408 African scientists in hands-on molecular biology, genomics and bioinformatics techniques as well as the ethical, legal and social issues associated with acquiring genetic resources.

Refining the Myostatin Gene Polymorphism through Worldwide Whole-Genome Sequencing.

Myostatin () is a highly conserved negative regulator of skeletal muscle in mammals. Inactivating mutations results in a hyper-muscularity phenotype known as "double muscling" in several livestock and model species. In , the gene structure organization and the sequence polymorphisms have been previously investigated, using Sanger and Next-Generation Sequencing technologies on a limited number of animals.

Five cases of sprue-like enteropathy in patients treated by olmesartan.

We describe five cases of sprue-like enteropathy during treatment with olmesartan, an angiotensin II receptor antagonist indicated for the treatment of hypertension. Patients presented severe diarrhoea, significant weight loss or dehydration, with or without intestinal villous atrophy. Clinical signs ceased upon drug discontinuation in all cases; olmesartan was reintroduced in two cases and rechallenge was positive in both.

Design of a bovine low-density SNP array optimized for imputation.

The Illumina BovineLD BeadChip was designed to support imputation to higher density genotypes in dairy and beef breeds by including single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that had a high minor allele frequency as well as uniform spacing across the genome except at the ends of the chromosome where densities were increased. The chip also includes SNPs on the Y chromosome and mitochondrial DNA loci that are useful for determining subspecies classification and certain paternal and maternal breed lineages. The total number of SNPs was 6,909.

Treatment of active gastroesophageal variceal bleeding with terlipressin or hemostatic balloon in patients with cirrhosis. A randomized controlled trial.

Gastroesophageal variceal bleeding due to portal hypertension should be treated by endoscopic sclerotherapy. This procedure, however, has some limitations. It has been established that vasoactive drugs are effective for controlling active variceal bleeding.

Sonographic assessment of the normal and abnormal bowel wall in nondiverticular ileitis and colitis.

Background: To assess the value of high resolution sonography (HRS) in identifying normal and inflammatory bowel wall in nondiverticular ileitis and colitis by using a segment-by-segment analysis.

Methods: Thirty-five HRS were performed in patients with nondiverticular inflammatory bowel disease, without knowledge of clinical, endoscopic, and radiologic data. HRS evaluated separately five intestinal segments (terminal ileum, cecum/ascending colon, transverse, descending colon, and sigmoid colon) and was considered positive for inflammation when wall thickness during compression exceeded 3 mm.

[Familial transmission of hepatitis C virus].

Objectives: The intrafamilial transmission of hepatitis C virus infection was assessed in the family members of patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Methods: The presence of serum anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies and epidemiological features were studied in 193 relatives (104 heterosexual partners, 89 children) of 113 patients with chronic hepatitis C. The presence of serum anti-HCV antibodies was detected by an ELISA 2 test and confirmed by a RIBA 2 test.

[Acute pancreatitis caused by foreign bodies. 2 cases].

We report the cases of two patients with acute pancreatitis caused by the insertion of foreign bodies in the ampulla of Vater: vegetal residues in the first case and beltbuckle in the second case. The acute pancreatitis was revealed by severe epigastric pain, jaundice and a serum amylase increase to more than 9 times the upper limit of normal level. The presence of foreign bodies was detected by endoscopic retrograde cholangiography and pancreatography in the first case and by abdominal X-ray examination in the second case.

[The value of laparoscopy in the staging of digestive system cancers].

Sixty two patients with a gastrointestinal carcinoma were evaluated pre-operatively by ultrasonography, CT scan and laparoscopy to seek liver metastases and/or peritoneal carcinomatosis. Performance levels of laparoscopy, ultrasonography and CT scan were comparable regarding the diagnosis of liver metastases. Laparoscopy was markedly better than CT scan and ultrasonography in the diagnosis of peritoneal carcinomatosis.