The journey towards elimination of gambiense human African trypanosomiasis: not far, nor easy.

Considering the epidemic situation of gambiense human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) at the end of the twentieth century, the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners strengthened disease control and surveillance. Over the last 15 years, the activities implemented through the National Control Programmes have brought gambiense HAT under control and now its elimination is deemed as an achievable goal. In 2012, WHO targeted gambiense HAT for elimination as a public health problem by 2020. The final goal will be the sustainable disease elimination by 2030, defined as the interruption of the transmission of gambiense HAT. The elimination is considered feasible, because of the epidemiological vulnerability of the disease, the current state of control, the availability of strategies and tools and international commitment and political will. Integration of activities in the health system is needed to ensure the sustainability of the elimination. The development of user-friendly diagnostic and treatment tools will facilitate the integration process. Adequate funding is needed to implement activities, but also to support research that will make the elimination sustainable. A long-term commitment by donors is needed and ownership of the process by endemic countries is critical.

Sexuality and fertility of women operated for obstetric urogenital fistulae.

OBJECTIFS: To study, sexuality of women victims of OUGF after surgical management in the urology department of the University Hospital Center (CHU) Point G Bamako/Mali. MéTHODES: Our study is conducted in the urology department of CHU Point G Bamako/Mali devoted for treatment of the patients affected by OUGF. It's a prospective study done over 13 months period from June 2008 to June 2009. We studied all patients who are operated at least twice for recurrence and the sociodemographic data, the variables in relation with the obstetrics, gynecologics, sexuality, procreation, and the treatment results. RéSULTATS: - Situation before treatment: More than half of the patients (52%) had not any regular sexual activity before surgical treatment. Seventeen percent of the fistular women have pregnancy against 69% who didn't have pregnancy neither before nor during the trials of surgical treatment of the fistula;- situation after treatment: in more than half of cases (62%) the patients had sexual relations with husband. 13% of patients had pregnancy during the surgical treatment of fistula. Nearly 60% of patients do not like to have more children. The declared reason in 65% of this women was that they have already enough children and other for afraid pregnancy, afraid fistula, etc. CONCLUSION: Urogenital fistulae are not a danger for life, but are a real handicap for women who suffer them. The Sexual, cultural and economic factors whom contribute together to the occurrence of this disease in women.

[Social integration of women operated for obstetric urogenital fistula]. / Intégration sociale des femmes opérées de fistule urogénitale obstétricale.

OBJECTIVE: To study the social integration of women supported in the urology department of the University Hospital of Point G for obstetric urogenital fistula. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Prospective study conducted over a period of 13 months from June 2008 to June 2009 in the Department of Urology at the University Hospital of Point G. The study included all patients who have been operated on at least twice for obstetric fistula genitourinary. Records of surgical, medical records and tracking sheets for each patient were the media database. RESULTS: Situation before treatment: before surgical treatment, 76.92% of patients were rejected by their spouses. The family attended the patient in 84.62% of cases. Situation after treatment: after treatment, 90.31% of women with fistula lived in the matrimonial home or family. The resumption of business activity was announced by 11.2% of patients. Among the women, 93.7% participated in housework. The number of patient intervention ranged from two to five. Healing (fistula closed and no sphincter dysfunction) was complete in 50% of cases. Among the women, 11.54% had sphincter dysfunction after closure of the fistula, which makes a total of fistula closed more than 61% after at least two attempts. CONCLUSION: The urogenital fistulas are not a fatal disease but is a real handicap for women who suffer to conduct a socio-cultural and economic mainstream. Generally excluded from the ongoing operations of the company, these women are more integrated after successful surgical treatment of the fistula.

FcγRIIa polymorphism and anti-malaria-specific IgG and IgG subclass responses in populations differing in susceptibility to malaria in Burkina Faso.

FcγRIIa is known to be polymorphic; and certain variants are associated with different susceptibilities to malaria. Studies involving the Fulani ethnic group reported an ethnic difference in FcγRIIa-R131H genotype frequencies between the Fulani and other sympatric groups. No previous studies have addressed these questions in Burkina Faso. This study aimed to assess the influence of FcγRIIa-R131H polymorphism on anti-falciparum malaria IgG and IgG subclass responses in the Fulani and the Mossi ethnic groups living in Burkina Faso. Healthy adults more than 20 years old belonging to the Mossi or the Fulani ethnic groups were enrolled for the assessment of selected parasitological, immunological and genetic variables in relation to their susceptibility to malaria. The prevalence of the Plasmodium falciparum infection frequency was relatively low in the Fulani ethnic group compared to the Mossi ethnic group. For all tested antigens, the Fulani had higher antibody levels than the Mossi group. In both ethnic groups, a similar distribution of FcγRIIa R131H polymorphism was found. Individuals with the R allele of FcγRIIa had higher antibody levels than those with the H allele. This study confirmed that malaria infection affected less the Fulani group than the Mossi group. FcγRIIa-R131H allele distribution is similar in both ethnic groups, and higher antibody levels are associated with the FcγRIIa R allele compared to the H allele.

Update on field use of the available drugs for the chemotherapy of human African trypanosomiasis.

Despite the fact that eflornithine was considered as the safer drug to treat human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) and has been freely available since 2001, the difficulties in logistics and cost burden associated with this drug meant that the toxic melarsoprol remained the drug of choice. The World Health Organization responded to the situation by designing a medical kit containing all the materials needed to use eflornithine, and by implementing a training and drugs distribution programme which has allowed a transition to this much safer treatment. The introduction of the combination of nifurtimox and eflornithine (NECT) has accelerated the shift from melarsoprol to the best treatment available, due to reduced dosage and treatment time for eflornithine that has significantly lessened the cost and improved the burden of logistics encountered during treatment and distribution. The decrease in the use of more dangerous but cheaper melarsoprol has meant a rise in the per patient cost of treating HAT. Although NECT is cheaper than eflornithine monotherapy, an unexpected consequence has been a continuing rise in the per patient cost of treating HAT. The ethical decision of shifting to the best available treatment imposes a financial burden on HAT control programmes that might render long-term application unsustainable. These factors call for continuing research to provide new safer and more effective drugs that are simple to administer and cheaper when compared to current drugs.

[Epidemiological, clinical and therapeutics aspects of snakebites in the Gabriel-Touré and Kati national hospitals of Mali: a ten-year retrospective study]. / Aspects épidémiologiques, cliniques et thérapeutiques des morsures de serpent dans les hôpitaux nationaux Gabriel-Touré et de Kati du Mali: étude rétrospective sur dix ans.

A retrospective study has been performed on snakebites from January 1993 to December 2002 in the national hospitals Gabriel-Touré, in Bamako, and Kati. It aimed to establish a synthesis of epidemiological, clinical, and therapeutic aspects from snakebites. Eight hundred thirty-two snakebites were recorded during this period. Men were mostly represented: 72 versus 28% of women. The average age was 28 ± 18 years. Farmers were most affected (28%). Most bites occurred between 16 and 20 hours, during the fieldwork and pasture in 44% cases. Lower limbs (73.8%) were more involved than hands (25.8%). Although the type of snake has not been determined, the clinical picture was that of viper syndrome, the severity of which was assessed by the grade of bleeding, edema, renal involvement (15.8%), and neurological disorders (13.3%). Antivenom was administered to 40.6% of patients whose case fatality rate was 2.8%, whereas it was 8.1% in its absence. The case fatality rate associated with serum therapy varied according to the antivenin, 1.5% with the antivenoms manufactured in Europe and 4% with those manufactured in Asia. Five parturients had a favorable outcome with antivenom. The initial management was carried out by traditional healers in 49.7% of cases. The annual case fatality rate decreased gradually from 12% in 1995 to 3% in 2002. The incidence of snakebite is greatly underestimated in hospitals because of inadequate records.

[Efficacy of artemether-lumefantrine in the treatment of uncomplicated malaria in children living in a rural area of Burkina Faso in 2009]. / Efficacité de l'artéméther-luméfantrine dans le traitement du paludisme simple de l'enfant en milieu rural au Burkina Faso en 2009.

In order to implement community case management of malaria strategy in a rural area of intense transmission, of children using artemether-lumefantrine combination, we assessed the therapeutic efficacy of the medicine. We conducted an open label and uncontrolled clinical trial in an unique centre from September 2009 to December 2009 in children 6-59 months old who consulted at health facilities for uncomplicated malaria. The primary endpoint was clinical and parasitological cure rate at day 28 corrected by PCR. In total 106 children were enrolled. Parasite clearance at day 2 was 99.04% and the adequate clinical and parasitological response corrected by PCR at day 28 was 90.5%. Our results confirm that artemether-lumefantrine combination is still effective.

[Epidemiology and prognosis aspects of upper gastrointestinal bleeding of NianankoroFomba hospital in segou]. / Aspects epidemiologiques et pronostiques des hemorragies digestives hautes a l'hôpital Nianankoro Fomba(HNF) de segou.

AIMS: The goal of our work was to clarify the epidemiologicals, clinicals, etiologicals and prognostics of upper gastrointestinal bleeding at Segou Regional Hospital. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study, which took place from October 1, 2017 to September 31, 2018, involved patients hospitalized for digestive hemorrhage. RESULTS: Upper gastrointestinal bleeding represented 9.7% of all hospitalizations. The mean age of the patients was 50, 94 ± 21, 6 years with a sex ratio of 1.6 in favor of men. Housewives and farmers were represented in 37.7% and 34% of cases. The main modes of disclosure were hematemesis and melena. Evolution was favorable with a mortality of around 34%. CONCLUSION: upper gastrointestinal bleeding is relatively common in our context. High mortality is linked to delayed treatment.

BUT: Le but de notre travail était de préciser lesaspects épidémiologiques, cliniques, étiologiques et pronostiques de l'hémorragie digestive haute à l'Hôpital Régional de Ségou(HRS). PATIENTS ET MÉTHODES: Cette étude transversalequi s'était déroulée du 1eroctobre 2017 au 31 septembre 2018 a concernéles patients hospitalisés pour hémorragie digestive. RÉSULTATS: Les hémorragies digestives hautes ont représenté 9,7% de l'ensemble des hospitalisations. L'âge moyen des patients était de 50,94 ± 21,6 ans avec un sex ratio de 1,6 en faveur des hommes. Les femmes au foyer et les cultivateurs étaient représentés dans 37,7% et 34% des cas. Les principaux modes de révélation étaient l'hématémèse et le méléna. L'évolution était favorable avec une mortalité de l'ordre de 34%. CONCLUSION: Hémorragie digestive haute est relativement fréquente dans notre contexte. Cependant, la mortalité élevée est liée à un retard de prise en charge.

Avian influenza and Newcastle disease in three risk areas for H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza in Mali, 2007-2008.

Our survey aimed to investigate avian influenza (AI) and Newcastle disease (ND) prevalence and risk factors in three areas of Mali at risk for occurrence of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza. Blood samples and cloacal and oropharyngeal swabs were collected from 1470 birds between February 2007 and May 2008 and were tested by commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to detect antibodies and real-time reverse-transcription (rRT)-PCR to detect virus. Risk factors associated with seropositivity or positive rRT-PCR were identified by random effect logistic regression. AI seroprevalence was significantly lower in birds from commercial farms (0%) than in village backyard birds (3.1%). For backyard birds, no individual risk factors (species, age, sex) were identified, but birds in the Mopti area in the Sahelian zone, where millions of wild birds migrate, were more seropositive than in the Sikasso area in the Sudano-Guinean zone (odds ratio [OR] = 2.0, P = 0.051). Among backyard birds nonvaccinated against ND, ND seroprevalence was 58.4%, and the odds of seropositivity was 2.0 higher in chickens than in ducks, 1.7 higher in females than in males, 3.1 higher in adults than in young birds, and 3.0 higher in poultry from the Sikasso area than from the Mopti area (P < 0.01 in all cases). Prevalence established by rRT-PCR was low for both AI virus (1.1%) and ND virus (2.6%) and was associated with no risk factors for AI but was higher in chickens than in ducks (OR = 5.3, P = 0.05) and in the Sikasso area than in the Mopti area (OR = 3.4, P = 0.027) for ND. For AI and ND, prevalence assessed by serology or rRT-PCR varied over time, although seasonal and interannual variation could not be clearly distinguished. The intracluster correlation coefficient for serologic data was low for AI (0.014) and higher for ND (0.222). These results are useful to optimize surveillance and control strategy for notifiable avian diseases in African countries with similar agroecological and resource-limited contexts.

A geographical approach to identify sleeping sickness risk factors in a mangrove ecosystem.

OBJECTIVES: To provide a better understanding of sleeping sickness transmission and spread in mangrove areas to optimize its control. METHODS: In the Forecariah mangrove area, Guinea, 19 sleeping sickness cases and 19 matched controls were followed up in their living areas (at home, in fields and at water points). All occupational sites and pathways were mapped and then placed in their environmental context. RESULTS: The sleeping sickness cases displayed a significantly broader and more diverse spatial occupation than the controls. They covered double the daily walking distances of controls and had on average two more occupational sites, most of which were located in mangrove forests. Activities with a higher transmission risk (rice culture, attendance of pirogue jetties) were identified as well as high-risk areas and pathways. CONCLUSIONS: An entomological control strategy targeting transmission risk areas is proposed. Its implementation in a control programme would reduce by 86% the efforts needed for a classical vector control programme throughout the area. Medical surveys set up at specific locations, such as pirogue jetties and high-risk paths, should also enable better targeting of the population at highest risk.

[Superior lumbar hernia or hernia of GRYNFELTT, a case study]. / Hernie de GRYNFELTT au CHU gabriel toure a propos d'un cas.

The superior lumbar hernia or hernia of GRYNFELTT is a rare pathology. It accounts for less than 1.5% of all hernias in the abdomen. An 84 year-old man with upper right lumbar swelling. The clinical examination revealed a right upper lumbar swelling of 5 cm in diameter, soft, gurgling, reducible, impulsive to cough and expansive to intra-abdominal hyperpressure. There was no history of trauma, surgery, tuberculosis or dysuria. The diagnosis of an uncomplicated upper lumbar hernia was retained. Intra-operatively, the sac was dissected up to the hernia opening, separated from the edges of the hernia orifice and discharged. The repair was performed by suturing the back of the hernia opening with a non absorbable thread. The patient was released on day 1 postoperatively. The suites were simple.

La hernie lombaire supérieure ou hernie de GRYNFELTT est une pathologie rare. Elle représente moins de 1,5% de toutes les hernies de l'abdomen. Un homme de 84 ans a été reçu pour une tuméfaction lombaire supérieure droite. L'examen clinique a permis de mettre en évidence une tuméfaction lombaire supérieure droite de 5cm de diamètre, molle, gargouillante, réductible, impulsive à la toux et expansive à l'hyperpression intra-abdominale. Il n'y avait pas d'antécédents de traumatisme, de chirurgie, de tuberculose ou de dysurie. Le diagnostic d'une hernie lombaire supérieure non compliquée a été retenu. En peropératoire, le sac a été disséqué jusqu'à l'orifice herniaire, séparé des bords de l'orifice herniaire et refoulé. La réparation a été faite par suture en surjet aller-retour des berges de l'orifice herniaire avec du fil non résorbable. Le malade a été libéré à J1 post-opératoire. Les suites ont été simples.

[Surgical site infections at Bocar Sidy Sall University Hospital Center of Kati]. / Infections du site operatoire en chirurgie generale du Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Bocar Sidy Sall de Kati.

INTRODUCTION: Surgical site infections (SSI) are frequent and dangerous in the surgical ward. They represent an obsession for the surgeon. The objectives were to determine the frequency of ISOs and risk factors, to identify the germs and to study their sensitivity to different antibiotics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study with prospective data collection, performed at the general surgery department of the Bocar Sidy Sall University Hospital Center (Kati CHU) from January 2015 to December 2018. RESULTS: During this period of study we recorded 55 cases of ISO out of 650 operated patients with a frequency of 8.46%. 450 patients were operated on the cold operating program (69.23%) and 200 patients on emergency (30.77%). The average age was 39, the sex ratio was 2.66. Among the 55 cases of ISO, 60% of these patients were operated in emergency and 40% in the operating program. The most common strains found were Escherichia coli (E. coli) in 38.3% of cases, Staphylococcus aureus in 23.4% and Klebsiella pneumonia in 13.3%. Hemoglobin levels were normal in 70% of cases. 4 of our patients or 7.27% were diabetic. We did not have any cases of obesity. Of the 55 cases of ISO, 66% were of class 3 and 4 of Altemeier, 59% were of ASA score 2 and ASA 3, 55% were of score 2 of NNISS (National Nosocomial Infection Surveillance System), 5.45% were NNISS score 3 or 3 cases and these 3 cases developed ISO. The ISOs were parietal in 49 cases, ie 89%. The recovered germs were 100% sensitive to imipenem. The most informative interventions of the ISOs were peritonitis 25 cases (45.45%), intestinal occlusions 12 cases (21.82%), appendicular abscess 8 cases (14.55%). We had 2 death cases, 3.64%, the average hospital stay was 13 days. CONCLUSION: Escherichia coli was the common germ found in the ISO in general surgery at Kati BSS Hospital. The usual resistance to antibiotics must provoke effective preventive actions.

INTRODUCTION: Les infections du site opératoires (ISO) sont fréquentes et redoutables, au service de chirurgie. Elles représentent une hantise pour le chirurgien. Les objectifs étaient de déterminer la fréquence des ISO et les facteurs de risque, d'identifier les germes et étudier leur sensibilité aux différents antibiotiques. MATÉRIELS ET MÉTHODES: il s'agissait d'une étude transversale avec recueil prospectif des données, réalisée au service de chirurgie générale du Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Bocar Sidy Sall (CHU BSS) de Kati allant de janvier 2015 à décembre 2018. Elle a concerné tous les patients opérés dans le service pendant cette période d'étude. N'ont pas été inclus dans cette étude les cas de biopsie. RÉSULTATS: Au cours de cette période d'étude nous avons enregistré 55 cas d'ISO sur 650 malades opérés soit une fréquence de 8,46%. 450 malades ont été opérés au programme opératoire à froid (69,23%) et 200 malades en urgence (30,77%). L'âge moyen était de 39 ans, le sex-ratio à 2,66. Parmi les 55 cas d'ISO, 60% de ces malades ont été opérés en urgence et 40% au programme opératoire. Les différentes souches les plus retrouvées étaient l'Escherichia coli (E. coli) dans 38,3% des cas, le staphylococcus aureus dans 23,4%, klebsiella pneumonia dans 13,3%. Le taux d'hémoglobine était normal dans 70% des cas. 4 de nos patients soit 7,27% étaient diabétiques. Nous n'avions pas enregistré de cas d'obésité. Parmi les 55 cas des ISO, 66 % étaient de classe 3 et 4 d'Altemeier, 59% étaient de score ASA 2 et ASA 3, 55% étaient de score 2 de NNISS (National Nosocomial Infection Surveillance System), 5,45% étaient de score 3 de NNISS soit 3 cas et ces 3 cas ont développé des ISO. Les ISO étaient pariétales dans 49 cas soit 89%. Les germes retrouvés étaient sensibles à 100% à l'imipénème. Les interventions les plus pourvoyeuses des ISO étaient les péritonites 25 cas (45,45%), les occlusions intestinales 12 cas (21,82%), les abcès appendiculaires 8 cas (14,55%). Nous avions enregistré 2 cas de décès soit 3,64%, la durée moyenne d'hospitalisation a été de 13 jours. CONCLUSION: L'Escherichia coli était le germe fréquemment rencontré dans les ISO en chirurgie générale au CHU BSS de Kati. La résistance aux antibiotiques usuels doit susciter des actions préventives efficaces.

Humoral and cell-mediated immunity to MSP3 peptides in adults immunized with MSP3 in malaria endemic area, Burkina Faso.

We performed a single-blind, randomized phase 1 trial of the long synthetic peptide (LSP) of merozoite surface protein-3 (MSP3) in adults living in Burkina Faso. Thirty eligible volunteers were randomized to receive either the MSP3-LSP candidate vaccine or tetanus toxoid vaccine as a control. A dose of each vaccine was administered on days 0, 28 and 112 and the vaccine was formulated with aluminium hydroxide. Humoral immune responses were assessed by ELISA at days 0, 28, 56, 112, 140, 252 and 365 and cell-mediated immune responses by lymphoproliferation assay and by ELISA on days 0, 56 and 140. IgG responses to four peptides of MSP3 were similar in both vaccine groups. Higher IgG concentrations were recorded after the beginning of malaria high transmission season in both vaccine groups. The lymphocyte proliferation and the production of IFN-gamma in response to stimulation with the four overlapping peptides increased following vaccination in the MSP3-LSP vaccine group, but did not change appreciably in the control group. In contrast to natural infection, MSP3-LSP did not boost humoral responses to the four overlapping peptides of MSP3 to any detectable degree in our semi-immune adult. MSP3-LSP may be more immunogenic in young children with little or no acquired immunity.

Mapping sleeping sickness in Western Africa in a context of demographic transition and climate change.

Human population growth, climate change and economic development are causing major environmental modifications in Western Africa, which will have important repercussions on the epidemiology of sleeping sickness. A new initiative, the Atlas of human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), aims at assembling and geo-referencing all epidemiological data derived from both active screening activities and passive surveillance. A geographic database enables to generate up-to-date disease maps at a range of scales and of unprecedented spatial accuracy. We present preliminary results for seven West African countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Mali and Togo) and briefly discuss the relevance of the Atlas for future monitoring, control and research activities.

[Change of antimalarial first-line treatment in Burkina Faso in 2005]. / Les raisons d'un changement de médicaments de première intention pour le traitement du paludisme simple au Burkina Faso en 2005.

Burkina Faso has recently changed the antimalarial drug policy to artesunate/amodiaquine or artemether/lumefantrine as the first-line antimalarial drug and sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine for the intermittent preventive treatment in pregnant woman. Before the implementation of this new strategy we conducted an in vivo efficacy study with chloroquine or sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine for treatment of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria in urban area of Burkina from September to December 2003. Chloroquine (25 mg/kg over 3 days) or sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine (25 mg/kg + 0.025 mg/kg single dose) was administered respectively to 137 and 125 children aged from 6 to 59 months old in a randomized, opened study. Follow up extended over 28 days using modified WHO protocol. After adjusting the results by PCR, treatment failures rates were 63.4% (83/131) and 13.8% (17/123) respectively for chloroquine and sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine. These results with other observations have justified the change of malaria therapy policy in Burkina Faso in 2005.

[Fracture of the penis at teaching university hospital Luxemburg in Mali : two cases report]. / La fracture de la verge a propos de 2 cas au service d'urologie du CHU Luxembourg/Mali.

The fracture of the penis is a rare andrological emergency. We report 2 cases of fracture of the penis including one by false-no coitus. These were young adults aged 34 and 40 respectively. The painful swelling with deviation of the penis was the dominant symptomatology of the clinical picture of the 2 patients. Surgical management was performed with favorable functional results in both cases. The long-term functional prognosis of the fracture of the penis depends on the speed of its management.

La fracture de la verge est une urgence andrologique rare. Nous rapportons 2 cas de fracture de la verge dont un par faux-pas de coït. Il s'agissait d'adultes jeunes âgés respectivement de 34 ans et 40 ans. La tuméfaction douloureuse avec déviation de la verge a été la symptomatologie dominante du tableau clinique des 2 patients. Une prise en charge chirurgicale a été réalisée avec des résultats fonctionnels favorables dans les 2 cas. Le pronostic fonctionnel à long terme de la fracture de la verge dépend de la célérité de sa prise en charge.

Do antibody responses to malaria vaccine candidates influenced by the level of malaria transmission protect from malaria?

OBJECTIVES: To examine whether the humoural response to malaria vaccine candidate antigens, Plasmodium falciparum [circumsporozoite repetitive sequence (NANP)(5) GLURP fragments (R0 and R2) and MSP3] varies with the level of malaria transmission and to determine whether the antibodies (IgG) present at the beginning of the malaria transmission season protect against clinical malaria. METHODS: Cross-sectional surveys were conducted to measure antibody response before, at the peak and at the end of the transmission season in children aged 6 months to 10 years in two villages with different levels of malaria transmission. A cohort study was performed to estimate the incidence of clinical malaria. RESULTS: Antibodies to these antigens showed different seasonal patterns. IgG concentrations to any of the four antigens were higher in the village with high entomological inoculation rate. Multivariate analysis of combined data from the two villages indicated that children who were classified as responders to the selected antigens were at lower risk of clinical malaria than children classified as non-responders [(NANP)(5) (incidence rate ratio (IRR) = 0.65, 95% CI: 0.46-0.92; P = 0.016), R0 (IRR = 0.69, 95% CI: 0.48-0.97; P = 0.032), R2 (IRR = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.50-1.06; P = 0.09), MSP3 (IRR = 0.52, 95% CI: 0.32-0.85; P = 0.009)]. Fitting a model with all four antibody responses showed that MSP3 looked the best malaria vaccine candidate (IRR = 0.63; 95% CI: 0.38-1.05; P = 0.08). CONCLUSION: Antibody levels to the four antigens are affected by the intensity of malaria transmission and associated with protection against clinical malaria. It is worthwhile investing in the development of these antigens as potential malaria vaccine candidates.

[Neuromeningeal cryptococcosis in non-HIV patients to CHU ward of Point G in Bamako (Mali): 3 case report]. / Cryptococcose neuroméningée chez des patients VIH négatif au CHU du Point G de Bamako (Mali): à propos de trois observations cliniques.

We report 3 clinical observations of neuromeningeal cryptococcosis which occurred without any immunodepression related to HIV infection. Our patients were male. They did not present any particular medical history indicating a diagnosis of cryptococcosis. Nevertheless we found a professional exposure to the risk of inhalation of C. neoformans capsules. The diagnosis was based on presence of encapsulated yeast of Cryptococcus in the direct exam by China ink and culture on Sabouraud medium. CD4 lymphocytic count was done in two patients (case 1:899 cells/mm3; case 2:347 cells/mm3). Idiopathic lymphocytopenia was noted in one case. Co-morbidity of 5. pneumoniae meningitis was reported in one patient (case 3). Treatment was based on injectable amphotericin B in monotherapy (case 1), followed by perfusion of fluconazole cure (case 2). Case 3 was treated by perfusion of amphotericin B associated with ceftriaxone (case 2). No secondary prophylactic treatment was administered. Evolution was favorable after follow-up of 5 years (case 1) and of 4 years (case 2). The third patient died during hospitalization.

[Comparative impact of three malaria preventive regimens during pregnancy on maternal anemia due to malaria in Burkina Faso]. / Impact comparatif de trois schémas de prévention du paludisme pendant la grossesse sur l'anémie maternelle, associée à l'infection palustre au Burkina Faso.

OBJECTIVES: The main objective of this study was to compare the efficacy of three regimens of malaria prevention during pregnancy for the reduction of anemia between the first and third antenatal consultations. The first treatment arm was the classical weekly chemoprophylaxis with chloroquine; the other two were the intermittent preventive treatment using either three doses of chloroquine or sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine. DESIGN: We conducted an open, randomized, three-arm study in a rural district of Burkina Faso. A cohort was constituted by 648 pregnant women of any parity. RESULTS: The hemoglobin gain was more significant with the intermittent preventive treatment using sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine compared to the other treatment arms. The hemoglobin increased from 10.3g/dl (at the first antenatal consultation) to 11.4 g/dl (at the third antenatal consultation). In the three arms of treatment, the chemoprophylaxis reduced the prevalence of moderate anemia and severe anemia. The reduction of moderate anemia was more substantial in the sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine arm (65.6 to 36.7%) at second antenatal consultation (p=0.069) and third antenatal consultation (p=0.014). Conversely, in the two chloroquine arms, there was no significant reduction either at second antenatal consultation (p=0.72) or third antenatal consultation (p=0.55). The prevalence of peripheral parasitemia decreased in all treatment groups. However, it was significantly higher in the sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine group (44.3%). CONCLUSIONS: Intermittent preventive treatment with three doses of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine is a more effective strategy to prevent maternal anemia during pregnancy in Burkina Faso.

Surgical treatment by percutaneous anterior screw fixation of scaphoid fractures.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of percutaneous screw fixation of scaphoid waist fractures in our surgery unit by comparing them with recent data from the literature. This was a retrospective, descriptive study conducted between January 2010 and September 2016. Patients operated due to a recent scaphoid fracture and treated by percutaneous anterograde screw fixation with a Herbert screw were included in this study. Our cohort was a sub-set from a scaphoid fracture group; other fracture sites, other treatment techniques and fractures associated with scapholunate ligament lesions were excluded. The time to union and union rate were recorded. The Youm and McMurtry indices, scaphoid and scapholunate angles were measured on radiographs. A total of 21 patients were included. The mean age was 30 years (18-44) and the sex ratio (male/female) was 9.5. The union rate was 95% with an average follow-up of 24 months. Four patients had a mobility deficit in the sagittal plane of about 9°. No malunion was found, and no major complications were observed. Based on this study, percutaneous fixation of the scaphoid with Herbert's screw is a reliable technique that leads to union in most cases with limited postoperative immobilization.