Sustainable Use of Macrotermes spp. to Improve Traditional Poultry Farming through an Efficient Trapping System in Burkina Faso

This study aimed to promote the use of termites as feed in traditional poultry farming by developing sustainable and inexpensive termite trapping techniques. Various tests were carried out in Burkina Faso to improve the traditional technique of trapping termites of the genus Macrotermes using a reversed container filled with organic matters. We studied the effect of containers’ types, substrates, habitats, harvesting times, duration of trap deposition, and season on the quantity of termites trapped. Calabashes and terra cotta pots trapped more termites than iron boxes, but calabashes were quickly destroyed by termites. The quantity of termites harvested increased proportionally with the volume of the pot and was higher in a cultivated habitat than in a forest, despite the higher number of termite mounds in the forest. The quantity of termites harvested was lowest in the cold-dry season and highest during the rainy season, however, sizeable amounts of termites were collected throughout the year. Among six substrates and mixtures of substrates tested, maize cobs trapped the highest number of termites and cow dung the lowest. The best time of harvest varied among seasons and, if substrates are abundant, it is more efficient to empty the containers on a daily basis.

Survival of Hybrid Laminate Veneers using two different tooth preparation techniques: Randomized Clinical Trial

The aim of this study was to evaluate the survival of laminate veneers constructed using a recent polymer-infiltrated ceramic network material following the aesthetic pre-evaluative temporary (APT) technique of tooth preparation in comparison to traditional technique. Six patients received 54 laminate veneers. They were divided into two equal groups (n=27) according to the technique of tooth preparation: group T: traditional technique and group A: aesthetic pre-evaluative temporary technique. VITA ENAMIC material was used for CAD/CAM construction of laminate veneers. Cementation was performed using a light cured resin cement. The laminate veneers were evaluated at baseline, after 3, 6 and 12 months according to the modified United States Public Health Service (USPHS) criteriea. The data was collected, tabulated and statistically analyzed. Secondary caries, endodontic complications, cracks and loss of retention were not noted in any laminate veneer. Extensive fractures were not detected in both study groups through the study period. There was a statistically significant decrease of color match criteria between the two groups at the 6 and 12 months recalls. Based on this study, both preparation techniques resulted in successful clinical performance. After 12 months, all the veneers in both groups showed no post-operative sensitivity and all patients were highly satisfied regarding their veneers. However, there was a deterioration in color match criteria through the study period in both study groups.

Inverted ovariosalpingohisterectomy technique in cats: advantages and limitations

The inverted ovariosalpingohysterectomy (OSH) technique involves initial uterine removal, followed by ovarian disinsertion. The objective of this study was to compare the inverted technique with the traditional technique, characterized by initial removal of the ovaries followed by uterine resection, for evaluating the performance of the inverted OSH technique in cats. For this, 24 healthy, female cats, aged between 7 months and 5 years, with a body condition score of up to 6 points (9-point scale), divided into two equal groups: the traditional technique (TT) and the inverted technique (IT). Procedures were performed by the same veterinarians (surgeon and their assistant) as well as semi-quantitative analysis of the techniques (questionnaire related to the ease of uterine and ovarian manipulation as well as of intestinal and urinary vesicle manipulation) and descriptive qualitative analysis (technical report with the opinion of surgeons and an external evaluator). In addition, the total surgical time and positive pain response were evaluated, indicated by the changes in vital parameters observed by the anesthesiologist during surgery. Inverted technique it promoted greater ovarian exposure, allowing uterine cranial flexion to perform the ligatures, thus facilitating their manipulation, hemostasis, and section of the pedicle. Free the uterus from its ligaments to the abdominal cavity allowed greater mobilization of the conjoint. Both techniques required short operation time (average time of 16’± 1.321’ in the IT group and 15’± 0.525’ in the TT group). The presence of algetic stimulus was similar in the techniques, three animals in each group suffered analgesic rescue.

Fabrication of Mambong Pottery by Using Slip Casting Method

Mambong pottery in Kuala Krai, Kelantan is one of the types of potteries in Malaysia other than Sayong, Terenang and Sarawak pottery. Mambong pottery was being made by traditional technique like pinching and throwing. In this research, Mambong pottery was made by using slip casting method. This method used porous mould which can absorb the water content from the clay slip. Different composition of water and clay was used and its effect on product properties was investigated. Samples with different composition of water and clay were labelled as 50C50W, 60C40W, 70C30W and 80C20W samples with addition of 0.7% of sodium silicate, Na2SiO3. The samples were characterized by its specific gravity (S.G.) of clay slip, drying and firing linear shrinkage, density and porosity and strength of the clay samples. Finding from this research showed that 70C30W sample is the optimum composition in fabricating pottery by using slip casting among other samples.

Clinical efficacy of closed reduction and percutaneous parallel K-wire interlocking fixation of first metacarpal base fracture

Background This study aimed to explore the clinical efficacy of treating a first metacarpal base fracture by closed reduction and percutaneous parallel K-wire interlocking fixation between the first and second metacarpals. Methods Twenty patients treated by the abovementioned modified technique (modified technique group) and ten patients treated by the traditional percutaneous K-wire fixation technique (traditional technique group) from October 2015 to November 2019 at our institution were retrospectively reviewed. The patients’ average age was 38 years (range, 16–61 years). The mean follow-up period was 13 months (range, 10–18 months). At the final follow-up, the functional recovery of the injured hand was assessed and compared between the modified and traditional technique groups. In addition, the functional recovery of the injured hand was compared with that of the uninjured hand within the modified technique group. Results All patients recovered well, with no cases of infection or nonunion. Compared with the traditional technique group, the modified technique group had a shorter operative time, lower postoperative visual analogue scale pain score, better effective range of motion score of the first carpometacarpal joint (Kapandji score), and had almost no need for auxiliary plaster fixation, enabling functional exercise to be started earlier. Within the modified technique group, the mean hand grip strength, pinch strength, and Kapandji score on the injured side did not significantly differ to the values on the uninjured side in both the extra-articular and intra-articular fracture subgroups. While the abduction and flexion–extension arcs of the thumb on the injured hand were significantly smaller than those on the uninjured hand in both the extra-articular and intra-articular fracture subgroups, the patients felt clinically well with respect to daily activities and strength. Conclusion The percutaneous parallel K-wire and interlocking fixation technique is simple, effective, and economical for first metacarpal base fractures.

Needle Adjustment Free (NAF) running suture technique (PAN suture) in laparoscopic partial nephrectomy

Background It is proposed a new running suture technique called Needle Adjustment Free (NAF) technique, or PAN suture. The efficiency and the safety were evaluated in laparoscopic partial nephrectomy. Methods This new running suture technique avoids the Needle Adjustment method used in traditional techniques. The new continuous suture technique (11 patients) was compared with the traditional continuous suture method (33 patients) used in both transperitoneal and retroperitoneal laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN) in terms of suture time (ST), warm ischemia time (WIT), blood loss (BL), open conversion rate and post-op discharge time, post-op bleeding, post-op DVT, ΔGFR (affected side, 3 months post-op). Differences were considered significant when P < 0.05. Results ST in the PAN suture group was 30.37 ± 16.39 min, which was significant shorter (P = 0.0011) than in the traditional technique group which was 13.68 ± 3.33 min. WIT in the traditional technique group was 28.73 ± 7.89 min, while in the PAN suture group was 20.64 ± 5.04 min, P = 0.0028. The BL in entirety in the traditional technique group was 141.56 ± 155.23 mL, and in the PAN suture group was 43.18 ± 31.17 mL (P = 0.0017). BL in patients without massive bleeding in the traditional technique group was significantly greater than in the PAN suture group at 101.03 ± 68.73 mL versus 43.18 ± 31.17 mL (P = 0.0008). The open conversion rate was 0 % in both groups. There was no significant difference between the two groups in postoperative discharge time, post-op bleeding, post-op DVT, ΔGFR (affected side, 3 months post-op). Conclusions The NAF running suture technique, or PAN suture, leading to less ST, WIT and BL, which was shown to be more effective and safer than the traditional technique used for LPN. A further expanded research with larger sample size is needed.