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Abstract: An EC/DEC [40:60% (v/v)] solvent mixture has been added in various amounts to the ionic liquid (IL) hexyltrimethylammonium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (N1116-NTf2) in the presence of LiNTf2 (lithium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide) as lithium salt for possible use as electrolytes in lithium-ion batteries. These electrolytes exhibit a larger thermal stability than the reference electrolyte EC/DEC [40:60]+LiNTf2 1M when the percentage of the IL exceeds 30% (v/v). All studied electrolytes are glass forming ones with an ideal glass transition temperature of ca. −85°C(±5°C), which has been determined by application of the VTF theory to conductivity and viscosity measurements and confirmed by DSC (T g =−90±5°C). An electrochemical window of about 5V versus Li/Li+ was measured at a glassy carbon electrode. The cycling ability of the optimized electrolyte N1116-NTf2/EC:DEC (40/60% (v/v))+1M LiNTf2 has been investigated at a titanate oxide (Li4Ti5O12) and a cobalt oxide (Li x CoO2) electrodes. Cycling the positive and the negative electrodes was conducted successfully with a high capacity and without any significant fading. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: γ-Butyrolactone (BL) has been mixed to the room temperature ionic liquid (RTIL) 1-butyl 3-methyl-imidazolium tetrafluoroborate (BMIBF4) (ratio: 3/2, v/v) in the presence of lithium tetrafluoroborate (LiBF4) for use as electrolyte in lithium-ion batteries. This mixture exhibits a larger thermal stability than the reference electrolyte EC/DEC/DMC (2/2/1)+LiPF6 (1M) and can be considered as a new RTIL as no free BL molecules are present in the liquid phase. The cycling ability of this electrolyte has been investigated at a graphite, a titanate oxide (Li4Ti5O12) and a cobalt oxide (Li x CoO2) electrodes. The ionic liquid is strongly reduced at the graphite electrode near 1V and leads to the formation of a blocking film, which prevents any further cycling. The titanate oxide electrode can be cycled with a high capacity without any significant fading. Cycling of the positive cobalt oxide electrode was unsuccessfully owing to an oxidation reaction at the electrode surface, which prevents the intercalation or de-intercalation of Li ions in and from the host material. Less reactive cathode material than cobalt oxide must be employed with this RTIL. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Ionic liquids like 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (IMIBF4) or hexafluorophosphate (IMIPF6) and 1-butyl-4-methylpyridinium tetrafluoroborate (PyBF4) were mixed with organic solvents such as butyrolactone (BL) and acetonitrile (ACN). A lithium salt (LiBF4 or LiPF6) was added to these mixtures for possible application in the field of energy storage (batteries or supercapacitors). Viscosities, conductivities and electrochemical windows at a Pt electrode of these electrolytes were investigated. All studied electrolytes are stable toward oxidation and exhibit a vitreous phase transition, which has been determined by application of the VTF theory to conductivity measurements. Mixtures containing the BF4 − anion exhibit the lowest viscosity and the highest conductivity. Two mixtures have been optimized in terms of conductivity: BL/IMIBF4 (60/40, v/v) and ACN/IMIBF4 (70/30, v/v). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Some basic parameters for equine in vitro embryo production have not yet been established, including the optimum temperature for maturation and embryo culture, and the optimum CO2 concentration and pH during early embryo development. To explore this, we first performed cultures in incubators set at 37.2°C, 37.7°C or 38.2°C. At these temperatures, the corresponding maturation rates were 33%, 38% and 42%; cleavage rates were 84%, 86% and 88%; and blastocyst rates were 35%, 44% and 44% per injected oocyte. These rates did not differ significantly (P > 0.2). We then evaluated three different CO2 concentrations (6%, 6.5% or 7% CO2) in 5% O2 for culture over Days 0–5 after intracytoplasmic sperm injection, using a commercial human embryo medium with added serum, at 38.2°C. The pH values of these media were 7.36, 7.33 and 7.29 respectively. In the presence of 6%, 6.5% or 7% CO2, cleavage rates were 68%, 80% and 70% respectively, and blastocyst rates per injected oocyte were 42%, 54% and 27% respectively. The blastocyst rate for the 7% CO2 treatment was significantly lower than that for the 6.5% CO2 treatment (P < 0.05). We conclude that equine in vitro embryo production is equally effective within the range of 37.2–38.2°C, but that equine early cleavage stage development is sensitive to small changes in CO2 atmosphere and/or medium pH. Some basic parameters for equine embryo culture are not yet established. We found that blastocyst development after intracytoplasmic sperm injection was not affected by incubator temperature between 37.2°C and 38.2°C, but was reduced under high CO2 tension (7%), associated with lower medium pH (7.29), during cleavage stage culture. These findings will help optimise the culture environment for in vitro equine embryo production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Impact of the prescription and delivery of benzodiazepines in the occurrence of addictions in the district of Mbour. Introduction: Benzodiazepines (BZD) are widely used nowadays and are at the origin of an addiction. Objectives: The objective was to evaluate the quality of benzodiazepine prescribing and delivery in the Mbour department of Senegal and subsequently to implement an addictovigilance strategy. Thus, we studied the prescribing habits, the quality of delivery and identified the consumption habits of these drugs. Materials and methods: It was a cross-sectional, prospective study with two questionnaires: addressed to patients and prescribers, conducted in pharmacies, hospitals, districts and Mbour health posts. Results: 44% of BZD prescriptions were prescribed by doctors and especially général practitioner. 31.1% did not comply with the rules of prescription (marketing authorization). As for the dispensing rules, (85.3%) were dispensed without a prescription. The level of consumption was high in the 30-40 age group (43.95%) predominantly female (59%). Insomnia predominated as a reason for prescription (16.4%) on anxiety (11.94%) with (65.5%) dependence. Conclusion: The abuses observed in the prescription, the delivery and consumption of BZD, constitutes a real health problem. Half of the consumers become addicted, hence the need for a national addictovigilance program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

La drépanocytose est l'une des maladies génétiques les plus fréquentes au monde. Elle entraîne la production d'une hémoglobine (Hb) anormale, l'HbS, à l'origine d'une hémolyse périphérique chronique [1]. L'anémie a été identifiée comme un facteur de morbi-mortalité de la drépanocytose dans plusieurs études, à la fois dans des pays du Nord [2] et du Sud [3] , mais peu d'études ont analysé les déterminants du taux d'Hb dans le contexte africain. L'objectif de notre étude était d'analyser les facteurs associés au taux d'Hb chez les patients drépanocytaires africains notamment les facteurs spécifiques de la maladie comme l'hémolyse mais aussi des facteurs non spécifiques comme l'inflammation ou les facteurs socioéconomiques. Nous avons réalisé une étude transversale nichée dans une cohorte prospective multinationale. Nous avons réalisé nos analyses dans 3 groupes de patients selon le phénotype drépanocytaire : SS/Sβ0, SC et Sβ+. Nous avons étudié l'association entre le taux d'Hb avec les facteurs démographiques (pays, sexe, âge), l'indice de masse corporelle (IMC), l'hémolyse (ictère clinique, bilirubine, LDH, réticulocytes) et l'inflammation (leucocytes, plaquettes) à l'aide de modèles de régression linéaire. Nous avons réalisé des analyses en sous-groupe : (1) au sein de la population avec des marqueurs biologiques d'hémolyse disponibles (LDH et/ou bilirubine) ; (2) chez les enfants et les adultes en ajustant sur le niveau d'éducation des patients chez les adultes et sur le niveau d'étude paternel chez les enfants. Les variables avec ≤ 20 % de données manquantes ont été imputées par la méthode des imputations multiples. Au total, 4206 patients ont été inclus avec différents phénotypes drépanocytaires : SS/Sβ0 (n = 3425, 81 %), SC (n = 600, 14 %) et Sβ+ (n = 181, 5 %) avec un taux d'Hb médian de 7,9, 11,3 et 11,2 g/dL respectivement. Parmi les patients, 56,3 % étaient originaires d'Afrique de l'Ouest (Mali, Sénégal et Côte d'Ivoire) tandis que 43,7 % étaient originaires d'Afrique Centrale (Cameroun, Gabon et République Démocratique du Congo). En analyse multivariée, chez les patients SS/Sβ0, être originaire d'un pays d'Afrique Centrale (β = −0,5, p < 0,001), un IMC plus faible (β = 0,15, p < 0,001), la présence d'un ictère clinique (β = −0,24, p < 0,001) et un taux plus élevé de leucocytes (β = −0,21, p < 0,001) étaient associés de façon négative et indépendante au taux d'Hb tandis que chez les patients SC et Sβ+, les facteurs associés de façon significative au taux d'Hb étaient le sexe féminin (p < 0,001), un IMC plus faible (p = 0,007 et p = 0,02), la présence d'un ictère clinique (p = 0,02 et p = 0,016) et un taux plus élevé de plaquettes (p < 0,001). Dans le sous-groupe de patients avec une évaluation biologique de l'hémolyse, les LDH et le taux de réticulocytes étaient associés de façon négative et indépendante au taux d'Hb dans tous les phénotypes mais de façon plus importante chez les patients SS/Sβ0 (β = −0,17 et −0,1 respectivement versus −0,09 et −0,07 chez les patients SC et, −0,09 et −0,04 chez les patients Sβ+). Dans le population adulte, un plus haut niveau d'éducation était associé de façon positive au taux d'Hb chez les patients SC seulement. Dans la population pédiatrique, le niveau d'éducation paternel n'était pas associé de façon significative au taux d'Hb quel que soit le phénotype. Nous avons identifié des interactions significatives entre : (1) le sexe et la classe d'âge avec un écart du taux d'Hb entre les hommes et les femmes plus important chez les adultes, et chez les patients SC et Sβ+ par rapport aux patients SS/Sβ0 ; (2) entre le pays d'origine et la présence d'un ictère clinique chez les patients SS/Sβ0 avec un impact négatif de l'ictère sur le taux d'Hb plus important chez les patients originaires d'Afrique Centrale par rapport aux patients originaires d'Afrique de l'Ouest. Nous avons pu montrer dans une large cohorte de patients drépanocytaires africains une association du taux d'Hb avec des facteurs liés à la drépanocytose comme l'hémolyse, mais aussi avec d'autres facteurs plus complexes et moins spécifiques de la maladie comme le pays d'origine et l'inflammation, et ce de façon indépendante de l'hémolyse. Nos résultats suggèrent aussi la présence de facteurs de confusion non mesurés associés à la région d'origine comme la malnutrition, la pression infectieuse et les facteurs génétiques autres que le phénotype comme les haplotypes de la β-globine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Haemoperitoneum is a rarely reported but life-threatening complication of a multitude of disease processes that can affect horses. This report describes an unusual case of haemoperitoneum in a pregnant mare attributed to a unilateral ovarian haematoma during early gestation. The mare was treated with supportive care and discharged 8 days after initial presentation. Following discharge, the mare maintained her pregnancy to term and delivered a live colt at 321 days of gestation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Macpherson, M. L., Giguère, S., Hatzel, J. N., Pozor, M., Benson, S., Diaw, M., Sanchez, L. C., Vickroy, T. W., Tell, L., Wetzlich, S., Sims, J. Disposition of desfuroylceftiofur acetamide in serum, placental tissue, fetal fluids, and fetal tissues after administration of ceftiofur crystalline free acid (CCFA) to pony mares with placentitis. J. vet. Pharmacol. Therap. 36, 59-67. The objective of this study was to determine the pharmacokinetics of CCFA in mares with placentitis and evaluate the disposition of the drug in fetal fluids, fetal membranes, colostrum, and serum of foals. A secondary objective was to obtain pilot data regarding the efficacy of CCFA for improving foal survival in mares with placentitis. Twelve pregnant pony mares were enrolled in the study, inoculated with Streptococcus zooepidemicus, intracervically and assigned to one of three groups: CEFT (n = 3; administered CCFA only; 6.6 mg/kg, IM, q96h); COMBO (n = 6; administered combination therapy of CCFA, altrenogest, and pentoxifylline); UNTREAT (n = 3, no treatment). Treatment was initiated at the onset of clinical signs. Concentrations of desfuroylceftiofur acetamide (DCA), the acetamide derivative of ceftiofur and desfuroylceftiofur metabolites, were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography. Maximum and minimum serum concentrations of DCA at steady state in treated mares were 2.40 ± 0.40 μg/mL and 1.06 ± 0.29 μg/mL, respectively. Concentration of DCA in colostrum was 1.51 ± 0.60 μg/mL. DCA concentrations in placenta and fetal tissues were very low (median = 0.03 μg/mL) and below the minimum inhibitory concentration of relevant pathogens. DCA was not detected in amniotic fluid or foal serum. Treatment did not appear to improve foal survival (CEFT: 0/3; COMBO: 2/6; UNTREAT: 2/3). Bacteria were recovered from the uterus of most mares postpartum and from blood cultures of most foals regardless of treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]