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Jatropha curcas is a versatile plant with medicinal, energy, and cosmetic potential. The ethno-botanical survey was carried out using a stratified sampling technique. J. curcas oil was extracted using the standard method, while its characterization was carried out in accordance with Standard DIN 51605 for Rapeseed Oil Fuel. The antiviral activity was evaluated in silico using molecular docking. The study found that the majority of respondents were over 50 years old, with the leaves being the most used parts. Twenty-seven illnesses are treated, of which the 5 most treated are gastritis, cough, haemorrhoids, yellow fever, and tooth decay. The Budja and the Yaka are the only ones who reached a consensus on 6 illnesses. Physico-chemical analyses showed that J. curcas oil complies with the DIN V 51605 standard. The biodiesel obtained gave a better cetane number (109). Molecular modelling indicated that the oil inhibited 2 molecular targets involved in Monkeypox virus DNA replication. J. curcas is a plant with high medicinal, energy and cosmetic potential that should be exploited in the context of sustainable development. J. curcas can be a source of income for rural areas. Bio-clinical studies should therefore be carried out to validate the efficacy and safety of this plant in the treatment of diseases.

Abstract Psychiatric symptoms are common in neurodevelopmental movement disorders, including some types of dystonia. However, research has mainly focused on motor manifestations and underlying circuits. Myoclonus-dystonia is a rare and homogeneous neurodevelopmental condition serving as an illustrative paradigm of childhood-onset dystonias, associated with psychiatric symptoms. Here, we assessed the prevalence of psychiatric disorders and the severity of depressive symptoms in patients with myoclonus-dystonia and healthy volunteers (HV). Using resting-state functional neuroimaging, we compared the effective connectivity within and among non-motor and motor brain networks between patients and HV. We further explored the hierarchical organization of these networks and examined the relationship between their connectivity and the depressive symptoms. Comparing 19 patients to 25 HV, we found a higher prevalence of anxiety disorders and more depressive symptoms in the patient group. Patients exhibited abnormal modulation of the cerebellum on the cerebral cortex in the sensorimotor, dorsal attention, salience, and default mode networks. Moreover, the salience network activity was directed by the cerebellum in patients and was related to depressive symptoms. Altogether, our findings highlight the role of the cerebellar drive on both motor and non-motor cortical areas in this disorder, suggesting cerebellar involvement in the complex phenotype of such neurodevelopmental movement disorders.

Abstract Background Eave spaces are major entry points through which malaria vectors enter houses. Interventions that target mosquitoes at the eaves have recently been developed. However, most of these interventions are based on insecticides for which resistance has been reported. Here we evaluated the efficacy of mosquito electrocuting eave tubes (MEETs) against Anopheles gambiae sensu stricto (An. gambiae s.s.) and Anopheles funestus s.s. under semi-field conditions. Methods Experiments were conducted in two semi-field chambers, each containing one experimental hut. Six electrocuting eave tubes were installed in each hut to assess their impact on laboratory-reared An. gambiae s.s. and An. funestus s.s.. Each species was assessed separately over 10 nights by releasing 200 unfed females per night into each chamber. One volunteer slept in each hut from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. Mosquitoes were collected indoors and outdoors using mouth and Prokopack aspirators. Results The placement of MEETs significantly reduced the nightly An. gambiae s.s. indoor and outdoor biting, by 21.1% and 37.4%, respectively. Indoor-biting An. funestus s.s. were reduced by 87.5% while outdoor-biting numbers of An. funestus s.s. declined by 10.4%. Conclusions MEETs represent a promising tool for controlling mosquitoes at the point of house entry. Further validation of their potential under natural field conditions is necessary. Several advantages over insecticide-based eave tubes are indicated and discussed in this article. Graphical Abstract

Abstract Objective Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) often exhibits suboptimal treatment response despite early diagnosis and treatment. This study aimed to analyze Early Rheumatoid Arthritis (ERA) synovial biopsies through histology and immunohistochemistry (IHC) to identify predictive factors for treatment response to Methotrexate (MTX). Methods 140 ERA patients from the UCLouvain Arthritis Cohort underwent synovial biopsy and were monitored after initiating Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drug (DMARD) therapy. Histological features [Synovial Hyperplasia, Fibrinoid Necrosis (FN), Hypervascularization and Inflammatory Infiltrate] and IHC (CD3, CD20, CD138, CD68) were each semi-quantitatively assessed on a 0–3 scale with 7 levels. Results A strong association was observed between synovial CD68 and Fibrinoid Necrosis scores [r = 0.44 (0.27 − 0.56); p

Morocco is considered to be one of the main diversity hotspots of bees in the Mediterranean basin. However, this fauna remains largely understudied in both urban and natural eco-systems. Bee monitoring primarily conducted during 2023 in an urban area (i.e. Safi) has unveiled three new bee species for Morocco: Lithurgus tibialis, Tetralonia aff. lanzarotensis and Coelioxys ruficauda as well as records of 28 new bee species for the region Marrakech Safi. This work provides descriptions of the spatial distribution, the diagnostic characters, and host plants of these three species. We also take the opportunity to highlight the quality of urban areas as habitats for bees and the importance of implementating bee-friendly management practices to preserve bee species.

Introduction: Burn injuries represent a significant public health challenge in Ghana, highlighting the need for an improved surveillance system to improve the quality of epidemiological data for an informed decision making. This study aimed to present the incidence, trends, and distribution of burns in the Volta region of Ghana from 2019 to 2023. Method: A retrospective secondary data analysis of burns data from the District Health Information Management System (DHIMS-2) was conducted from 2019 to 2023. Burn injuries were retrieved from the OPD morbidity report form whiles deaths from burns were retrieved from the cause of death report. Data was analysed descriptively with Microsoft Excel and Quantum Geographical Information System (QGIS), with results presented in tables and graphs. Results: A total of 4,441 cases of burn injuries were reported between 2019 and 2023 with 20 cases resulting in death. Nearly 59 % of burns involved females. About a third (33.9 %) of cases involved persons aged 0–4 years. The overall average incidence of burn injuries was 51 per 100,000 population, with the highest incidence of 80 per 100,000 population reported in 2019. Conclusion: Burns are an important cause of morbidity and mortality in the Volta Region of Ghana. There is however scanty data on the epidemiology of the condition in the region.

The formation of a lytic immunological synapse (IS) is crucial for cytotoxic lymphocytes to accurately target and effectively eliminate malignant cells. While significant attention has been focused on the lymphocyte side of the IS, particularly its role as a secretory domain for lytic granules, the cancer cell side of the IS has remained relatively underexplored. Recent findings have revealed that cancer cells can rapidly polarize their actin cytoskeleton toward the IS upon interaction with natural killer (NK) cells, thereby evading NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity. In this Brief Research Report, we present preliminary findings suggesting that actin cytoskeleton remodeling at the cancer cell side of the IS is associated with the targeted secretion of small extracellular vesicles towards the interacting NK cell. We observed that multivesicular bodies (MVBs) preferentially accumulate in the synaptic region in cancer cells exhibiting synaptic accumulation of F-actin, compared to those lacking actin cytoskeleton remodeling. Extracellular immunofluorescence staining revealed increased surface exposure of CD63 at the cancer cell side of the IS, suggestive of the fusion of MVBs with the plasma membrane. This hypothesis was supported by a pH-sensitive probe demonstrating dynamic trafficking of CD63 to the extracellular region of the IS. Collectively, our data support the notion that cancer cells can engage in targeted secretion of extracellular vesicles in response to NK cell attack, underscoring the need for further research into the potential role of this process in facilitating cancer cell immune evasion.