Genetic barrier to the development of resistance to rilpivirine and etravirine between HIV-1 subtypes CRF02_AG and B.

OBJECTIVES: It has been demonstrated for some drugs that the genetic barrier, defined as the number of genetic transitions and/or transversions needed to produce a resistance mutation, can differ between HIV-1 subtypes. We aimed to assess differences in the genetic barrier for the evolution of resistance to the second-generation non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors etravirine and rilpivirine in subtypes B and CRF02_AG in antiretroviral-naive patients. METHODS: An analysis was undertaken of 25 substitutions associated with etravirine and rilpivirine resistance at 12 amino acid positions in 267 nucleotide sequences (136 HIV-1 B and 131 HIV-1 CRF02_AG subtypes) of the reverse transcriptase gene. RESULTS: The majority (7/12) of amino acid positions studied were conserved between the two HIV-1 subtypes, leading to a similar genetic barrier. Different predominant codons between the subtypes were observed in 5/12 positions (90, 98, 179, 181 and 227), with an effect on the calculated genetic barrier only at the V179D and V179F codons (2.5 versus 3.5 for V179D, and 2.5 versus 5 for V179F, respectively, for subtype B versus subtype CRF02_AG). CONCLUSIONS: The majority of amino acids involved in etravirine and rilpivirine resistance showed a high degree of conservation of the predominant codon between the B and CRF02_AG subtypes. For rilpivirine, the genetic barrier was the same between the two subtypes. Nevertheless, subtype CRF02_AG showed a higher genetic barrier to acquiring mutations V179D and V179F (mutations associated with resistance to etravirine) compared with subtype B, suggesting that it would be more difficult to produce resistance to etravirine in the CRF02_AG subtype than the B subtype.

[Internal Hemorroïd Disease In Digestive Endoscopy Center Of Chu Gabriel Toure Of Bamako]. / La Maladie Hemorroïdaire Interne Au Centre D'Endoscopie Digestive Du Chu Gabriel Toure De Bamako.

the goal of this study was to investigate the internal hemorroid disease in our endoscopic center. METHOD: This transversal study went from December 2011 to December 2012. RESULTS: Sixty cases of internal hemorroid desease were enroled with36 men and 24 women and a middle age of 47 ±14.4 years. Clinical signs were frequently: bleeding (66.7%), constipation (58.4%), anal pain (58.3%) and hemorrhoid prolapsed (18.3%). The anal and rectum scopy found only internal hemorrhoid in 78.4% of cases and the grade I was about 81.7% of cases. All patients were beneficied of medical treatement. CONCLUSION: hemorrhoid disease is a frequent pathology in general population mainly around third decade.

le but de ce travail était d'étudier la maladie hémorroïdaire interne. MÉTHODE: Il s'agissait d'une étude transversale déroulée au centre d'endoscopie digestive du CHU Gabriel Touré de Décembre 2011 à décembre 2012. RÉSULTATS: Nous avons colligé 60 cas de maladie hémorroïdaire interne dont 36 hommes et 24 femmes avec un âge moyen de 47 ±14,4 ans. Le tableau clinique était dominé par le saignement (66,7 %), la constipation (58,4 %), la douleur anale (58,3%) et le prolapsus hémorroïdaire (18,3%). L'anorectoscopie réalisée objectivait des hémorroïdes internes isolées dans 78,4% des cas et le stade I de la maladie était observé dans 81,7% des cas. Tous les patients ont bénéficié d'un traitement médical. CONCLUSION: La maladie hémorroïdaire est une pathologie relativement fréquente dans la population générale surtout vers la troisième décade.

[Mortality and morbidity of tetanus in the infectious diseases department, Point G teaching hospital, in Bamako, Mali (2004-2009)]. / Morbidité et mortalité du tétanos dans le service de maladies infectieuses du CHU du Point G à Bamako, Mali (2004-2009).

Our study objectives were to determine annual cases of the tetanus and to describe its clinical, evolutionary and prognostic aspects. It was a transverse study from data records and medical records of patients aged 15 years and above hospitalized for tetanus in the service of infectious diseases of the Point G CHU from January 1, 2004 to December 31, 2009. The tetanus was diagnosed based on clinical (trismus, dysphagia, seizures and point consecutive to an injury) and epidemiological arguments (absence of a correct tetanus immunization, entry way). We collected a total of 119 cases of tetanus out of 1,839 hospitalizations making a prevalence of 6.5%. The hospitalization period was 5 days (73%) for most of the patients. Unskilled laborer and farmers were the most frequent with respectively 30.2 and 21.8% of cases. Tetanus occurred in the course of a traumatic road accident (16%) and from other traumatic causes (48.7%). The clinical form was a generalized type for 94.4% of the cases. A wound was the entry way for 64.7% of the patients. The entry way was located on the lower members 49.6% of the time. The co-morbidity was recorded with infection by Plasmodium falciparum (15 cases, 12.6%) and HIV (1 case). Hospital lethality was 46.2%. The death was statistically linked to clinical severity according to the Dakar score (P = 0.0005) and the Mollaret stage (P = 0.0001). A need for strengthening communication for behaviour change for the gaining of a correct and sustained immunization exists. A strategy based on the capacity building for a rapid tetanus diagnosis and a combined co-morbidities care may reduce the lethality in the context of our limited technical environment.

[Internal Hemorroïd Disease In Digestive Endoscopy Center Of Chu Gabriel Toure Of Bamako]. / La Maladie HemorroïDaire Interne Au Centre D'Endoscopie Digestive Du Chu Gabriel Toure De Bamako.

the goal of this study was to investigate the internal hemorroid disease in our endoscopic center. METHOD: This transversal study went from December 2011 to December 2012. RESULTS: Sixty cases of internal hemorroid desease were enroled with36 men and 24 women and a middle age of 47 ±14.4 years. Clinical signs were frequently: bleeding (66.7%), constipation (58.4%), anal pain (58.3%) and hemorrhoid prolapsed (18.3%). The anal and rectum scopy found only internal hemorrhoid in 78.4% of cases and the grade I was about 81.7% of cases. All patients were beneficied of medical treatement. CONCLUSION: hemorrhoid disease is a frequent pathology in general population mainly around third decade.

le but de ce travail était d'étudier la maladie hémorroïdaire interne. MÉTHODE: Il s'agissait d'une étude transversale déroulée au centre d'endoscopie digestive du CHU Gabriel Touré de Décembre 2011 à décembre 2012. RÉSULTATS: Nous avons colligé 60 cas de maladie hémorroïdaire interne dont 36 hommes et 24 femmes avec un âge moyen de 47 ±14,4 ans. Le tableau clinique était dominé par le saignement (66,7 %), la constipation (58,4 %), la douleur anale (58,3%) et le prolapsus hémorroïdaire (18,3%). L'anorectoscopie réalisée objectivait des hémorroïdes internes isolées dans 78,4% des cas et le stade I de la maladie était observé dans 81,7% des cas. Tous les patients ont bénéficié d'un traitement médical. CONCLUSION: La maladie hémorroïdaire est une pathologie relativement fréquente dans la population générale surtout vers la troisième décade.

[Neuromeningeal cryptococcosis in Mali]. / La cryptococcose neuro-méningée au Mali.

Cryptococcal meningitis is the most common fatal central nervous system infection in AIDS patients in Sub-Saharan Africa. The purpose of this prospective study conducted from March 2003 to February 2004 in the internal medicine and infectious diseases departments of the Point G University Hospital Center was to investigate the clinical, prognostic and epidemiological profile of Cryptococcus neoformans infection in patients hospitalized for brain and meningeale infection (BMI). Diagnosis of neuromeningeal cryptococcosis (NMC) was based on positive identification of Cryptococcus by direct exam of the cebrospinal fluid (CSF) after India ink staining and/or culture on Sabouraud medium without actidione. During the study period, a total of 569 patients were hospitalized including 235 (41.3%) with HIV infection. Overall C. neoformans was identified in 14 patients. Median patient age was 39 +/- 8 years. There was a male preponderance with a sex ratio of 1.8 (9 men/5 women). Patients with BMI were HIV-positive in 85.7% of cases (n=12) and HIV-negative in 14.3% (n=2). The overall and HIV-specific prevalence of BMI was 2.5% and 5.1% respectively. The CD4 lymphocyte count was between I and 49 cells/mm3 in 64.3% of cases. The main clinical symptoms were cephalea in 85.7% of cases, altered consciousness in 50% and nausea/vomiting in 35.7%. Neurological manifestations (hemiparesis and cranial nerve deficit) were noted in 14.3%. HIV infection is the main purveyor of NMC in Mali. The actual incidence of cryptococcosis is unclear due to the poor sensitivity of diagnostic techniques. This study highlights diagnostic difficulties related to clinical polymorphism and poor technical facilities. Agglutination testing of blood and CSF is recommended, but mortality remains.

High level of primary drug resistance in Mali.

BACKGROUND: As access to antiretroviral drugs increases in developing countries, it will become increasingly important to monitor the emergence of resistance and to define the molecular pathways involved to identify optimal therapeutic regimens. METHODS: We performed genotypic resistance testing on plasma obtained from 101 HIV-infected treatment-naïve individuals from Mali. Genotyping was carried out using the Virco protocols and HXB2 was used as the reference strain. RESULTS: CRF02_AG was the most common subtype, present in 71.3% of our patient population. Other subtypes included B, C, G, CRF06_CPX, CRF09_CPX, CRF01_AE, A2/CRF16_A2D, A1 and CRF13_CPX. A total of 9.9% [95% confidence interval (CI) 6.9-12.9%] of patients had at least one resistance mutation. The prevalences of mutations conferring resistance to nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs), nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) and protease inhibitors (PIs) were 5% (95% CI 0.7-9.2%), 6% (95% CI 1.3-10.6%) and 0%, respectively. The most frequent mutations were T215A/Y for NRTIs and K103N/T for NNRTIs. One patient harboured three NRTI resistance mutations and one NNRTI mutation. This is the first reported case of multi-drug-resistant viral transmission in Mali. Polymorphisms at protease codons 10I/V and 33F potentially associated with resistance were observed in 18.8% and 1% of patients, respectively. Several polymorphisms in the C-terminal domain of reverse transcriptase were observed: A371V (in 63.4% of patients), G335D (76.2%), E399D (10.9%) and G333E (1%). CONCLUSION: Primary resistance was seen in 9.9% of subjects, which is higher than previously reported in Mali. Taking into consideration other polymorphisms in protease such as L10I/V and 33F, primary resistance could reach 28.7% (95% CI 19.9-37.5%). Our study reflects the need to monitor the evolution of resistance on a regular basis and trends of transmitted resistance.

[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.

[Hyperthyroidism in children. Experience in internal medicine in Mali]. / Hyperthyroïdie chez l'enfant. Expérience d'un service de médecine interne au Mali.

INTRODUCTION: Thyroid pathology is frequent in Mali, which is an endemic zone for goiter. But this pathology rarely occurs in children. The purpose of our study was to characterize this illness among children in Mali. METHODS: We report on patients aged less than 15-year old who presented with clinical signs and symptoms with hyperthyroidism at the medicine service at Hospital de Point G from January 1999 and December 2005 to determine the characteristics of hyperthyroidism. RESULTS: The frequency was 9.6 per thousand (38/3972), with an average age of 12.5+/-3.34-year. The sex ratio was 3 girls/1 boys. The most common symptoms were tachycardia (n=30, 78.9%), palpitations (n=15, 34.4%). 31 patients (81.5%) presented with exophthalmoses, 93.5% being bilateral. Weight loss was present in 31.5% (n=12). Goiter was present in 37 patients (97.4%). The goiter was diffuse in 27 patients (73%) and nodular in 10 (27.%). The presence of goiter caused signs of compression in the neck in half of the cases: dyspnea and dysphonia were the most common consequences. TSH less than 0.05 microUI/1 was used to confirm the diagnosis. Graves's disease was the most common cause (n=32, 84.2%), followed by toxic adenoma (n=4, 10.5%). Other causes included toxic multinodular goiter and thyroiditis. Etiologies were independent of sex and age: (p=0.95). All patients were started on medical therapy upon diagnosis. 7 patients (18.4%) were lost to follow-up during the 6 months of treatment. Remission was obtained in 26 patients (83.9%), and relapse occurred in 5 patients (16.1%). CONCLUSION: The frequency of hyperthyroidism in children in Mali is a problem in a goiter endemic zone like Mali. Poor general health in children and signs and symptoms of neck compression are markers of progressive disease.

Tetanus associated with road accidents in the infectious diseases department of Point G University Hospital, Bamako, Mali.

The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiological, clinical, and prognostic aspects of tetanus associated with road accidents and to make recommendations. This observational study collected retrospective clinical data over a 9-year period about adults admitted for trismus and/or generalized or localized paroxysm after a road accident. The study included 25 patients, accounting for 22.12 % of all tetanus cases. Men were massively overrepresented (sex-ratio M/F: 24/1). The median age was 34 ± 8 years. In all, vaccination status was unknown for 4 patients and known to be negative for 21. Immunoprophylaxis was nonexistent in all cases. The generalized clinical form was dominant (96 %). Severity reached level III for 12 % of patients. The points of entry included open leg fractures (4 cases), head wounds (2), mucocutaneous wounds (14), and muscle contusions (5). The mean time to referral for tetanus was 8 ± 7 days, and the median hospital stay 9.08 ± 11 days. Patients were mostly residents of urban (56 %) and suburban areas (28 %) [P = 0.04]. Two cases were complicated by severe malaria. The mortality rate was 60 %, and 52 % of the deaths occurred within the first 72 hours after hospitalization. It is essential to promote serum therapy and tetanus immunization for patients after road accidents. Increasing the awareness of traditional healers of these treatments deserves consideration.

[Intestinal parasitosis during AIDS diarrhoea]. / Parasitoses digestives au cours de la diarrhée du sida.

The main goal of this work was to study the parasitic infections during AIDS diarrhoea. A longitudinal study was carried out from October 2000 to November 2001 in the Hepato-Gastro-Enterology department of Gabriel Toure Hospital and in the Department of Epidemiology and Parasitic infections of Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy and Odonto-stomatology of Bamako (Mali), concerning HIV positive patients suffering from diarrhoea. Detecting microbes in stools has been done through direct microscopic examination and according to procedures of Henricksen Poblenz Baerman, Kato Katz and the PCR. Among the 70 patients involved, the sex-ratio was 53%, the average age was 35 +/- 8.4 years. Fever weight loss, skin affections and digestive mycosis were often associated. Opportunistic infections have been relatively frequent with Cryptosporidium parvum with 20%, Isospora belli with 8.5% and Microsporidium with 11.5% of cases. Other non-opportunistic microbes were found. Death within the first two weeks seems more important in case of infection by Cryptosporidium parvum. The frequency and the danger of those opportunistic infections require their efficient diagnosis and care management.

[Internal hemorroïd disease at the digestive endoscopy center of the Gabriel Toure University Hospital of Bamako]. / La maladie hemorroïdaire interne au centre d'endoscopie digestive du CHU Gabriel Toure de Bamako.

The goal of this study was to investigate internal hemorrhoid disease. This cross-sectional study was conducted at the digestive endoscopy center of the Gabriel Toure University Hospital from December 2011 to December 2012. Sixty cases of internal hemorrhoid disease were found - 36 men and 24 women and an average age of 47 ±14.4 years. Clinical signs were frequently: bleeding (66.7%), constipation (58.4%), anal pains (58.3%) and prolapsed hemorrhoids (18.3%). The rectoscopy found isolated internal hemorrhoids in 78.4% of cases and stage I of the illness in 81.7% of cases. All patients were given medical treatment. CONCLUSION: Hemorrhoid disease is a frequent pathology in the general population mainly around the third decade of life.

Le but de ce travail était d'étudier la maladie hémorroïdaire interne. Il s'agissait d'une étude transversale déroulée au centre d'endoscopie digestive du CHU Gabriel Touré de Décembre 2011 à décembre 2012.Nous avons colligé 60 cas de maladie hémorroïdaire interne dont 36 hommes et 24 femmes avec un âge moyen de 47 ±14,4 ans. Le tableau clinique était dominé par le saignement (66,7 %),la constipation (58,4 %), la douleur anale (58,3%) et le prolapsus hémorroïdaire (18,3%). L'anorectoscopie réalisée objectivait des hémorroïdes internes isolées dans 78,4% des cas et le stade I de la maladie était observé dans 81,7% des cas. Tous les patients ont bénéficié d'un traitement médical. CONCLUSION: La maladie hémorroï-daire est une pathologie relativement fréquente dans la population générale surtout vers la troisième décade.

Lack of ultrasonographic evidence for severe hepatosplenic morbidity in schistosomiasis mansoni in Mali.

The inhabitants of four villages endemic for Schistosoma mansoni in central Mali (n = 1,106 of both sexes, age range 2-80 years) and of two nonendemic villages in another part of the country were examined parasitologically and ultrasonographically to establish the prevalence of periportal liver fibrosis (PF) and other features of hepatosplenic schistosomiasis. The prevalence of S. mansoni infection ranged from 36% to 93% in the endemic villages. A severe infection (> 400 eggs/g of stool) was found in 16% of the infected individuals. No case of grade III PF (echogenic bands usually > 10 mm in diameter around the central part and major branches of the portal vein and streak-like fibrous bands that extended into the periphery of the liver) and only eight cases of grade II PF (echogenic bands usually > 10 mm in diameter around the central part and major branches of the portal vein) were found; no other signs of severe hepatosplenic disease were encountered. However, grade I PF (echogenic bands usually > 4 mm in diameter that were best visible in the area of the portal vein bifurcation and gall bladder neck) was detected in 21% of all individuals, mainly in adults. In the nonendemic villages, the prevalence of grade I PF in adults was 9%. Generally, there was no significant correlation between the grade of PF and S. mansoni egg output. In one village with a high endemicity level, however, the prevalence of grade PF I increased with the intensity of infection. Morphometric data revealed no significant influence of S. mansoni infection on portal vein stem diameter and spleen size.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Nitazoxanide in the treatment of cryptosporidial diarrhea and other intestinal parasitic infections associated with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome in tropical Africa.

Eighteen patients hospitalized with intestinal parasitic infections associated with diarrhea and dehydration completed a study of nitazoxanide in the treatment of Cryptosporidium parvum and other intestinal parasitic infections. Seventeen of the 18 patients were positive for human immunodeficiency virus. Twelve patients were diagnosed with clinical Stage 4 acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) according to the 1990 World Health Organization proposed clinical classification system and cryptosporidiosis. Nitazoxanide (500 mg tablets) were administered orally, one tablet twice a day for seven consecutive days. Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts were eradicated or reduced by more than 95% in seven of the 12 Stage 4 AIDS patients who completed the study based upon two post-treatment fecal examinations conducted on days 7 and 14 following the initiation of treatment. The elimination or reduction of C. parvum oocysts was associated with a complete resolution of diarrhea in four of the seven patients. The test drug was also effective against cases of Isospora belli, Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia lamblia, Ascaris lumbricoides, Enterobius vermicularis, Hymenolepis nana, and Dicrocoelium dentriticum. Treatment with nitazoxanide was well tolerated by the patients. There were no abnormalities in blood chemistry or hematology data that were considered to be attributable to nitazoxanide therapy. Transient episodes of vomiting were observed in four patients, all with Stage 4 AIDS and cryptosporidiosis, which resolved spontaneously without discontinuation of treatment and were not considered to be related to administration of nitazoxanide.

PIP: The effectiveness of nitazoxanide in the treatment of Cryptosporidium parvum and other intestinal parasitic diseases was assessed in 18 patients hospitalized at Point G. National Hospital in Bamako, Mali, with parasite-related diarrhea, dehydration, and weight loss. 17 of the 18 patients were infected with HIV, and 12 of these had progressed to clinical stage 4 AIDS. 500 mg tablets of nitazoxanide were administered twice a day for 7 days. After completion of treatment, Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts were eradicated or reduced by more than 95% in 7 of the stage 4 AIDS patients; diarrhea was completely resolved in 4 of these patients. Nitazoxanide was also effective against other parasites common in AIDS patients, including Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia lamblia, and Isospora belli. The test drug was well tolerated by all recipients, with no blood chemistry abnormalities.

The public health significance of urinary schistosomiasis as a cause of morbidity in two districts in Mali.

Schistosoma haematobium-related morbidity was studied in the perennial irrigation area of Office du Niger and the small reservoirs area of Plateau Dogon in Mali. Questionnaire, clinical, parasitologic, and ultrasound examination data were collected from 1,041 individuals at the baseline survey in 1991; 705 were re-examined one year after treatment. At baseline, the overall prevalence of S. haematobium infection was 55.2%; half of those infected had no clinical symptoms and 30% had pathologic lesions. Both infection and morbidity were more frequent in children than in adults, with a peak prevalence at 7-14 years of age. The rates of lesions were more than twice as high in those heavily infected as in lightly infected individuals. Reagent strip testing for microhematuria was more sensitive in detecting individuals with pathologic lesions than in detecting individuals with infection. One year after treatment with praziquantel, more than 80% of the urinary tract lesions had cleared. It is concluded that S. haematobium-related morbidity is frequent in Mali, but passive case detection for treatment would not cover a great deal of early stages of the disease; active intervention using reagent strip testing for microhematuria at the most peripheral levels would be an efficient system for morbidity control and monitoring of control operations.

[Role of cryptosporidiosis in diarrhea among hospitalized adults in Bamako]. / Place de la cryptosporidiose au cours des diarrhées chez les adultes hospitalisés à Bamako.

Etiologies of infectious diarrhoeas in hospitalised adults have been studied during one year; research of cryptosporidium and isospora oocysts is being made with Henriksen-Pohlenz and Kato methods. Diarrhoea is associated with a positive HIV serology in 40% cases. Cryptosporidium spp is found in 38% of cases. In 91% cases of cryptosporidiosis HIV serology is positive. Cryptosporidiosis is the main cause of AIDS diarrhoeas in Mali. 3 cases of isosporiasis are associated with cryptosporidiosis in AIDS patients. Emaciation and dehydration are the main signs of severity. Diarrhoea's profusion, its chronicity and inefficiency of the treatments explain the heavy death rate of cryptosporidiosis among seropositive patients, which reaches 40% during the first two weeks of hospitalisation.

[Short treatment of hepatic amebiasis by tinidazole. Apropos of 10 cases]. / Traitement court de l'amibiase hépatique par le tinidazole. A propos de 10 cas.

Ten cases of hepatic amoebiasis are notified in Bamako during 14 months among hospitalized adults. The diagnosis has aimed from clinical signs, specific antibodies seen through hemagglutination and echography. These patients are treated by tinidazole: 2 g/day in unique dose during 3-9 days. The duration of treatment depends on clinical evolution. In any cases the recovery is obtained within subsequent range from 1 to 9 months. This leading is compared with other treatments proposed in the literature. The briefness of treatment, its quick efficacy and the absence of secondary effects have helped to reduce the duration of stay in hospital and its cost. A short recovery by tinidazole is proposed as tentative treatment against hepatic amoebiasis in rural area's medicine.

[Gastrointestinal manifestations of AIDS in adults in Mali]. / Manifestations digestives du sida chez l'adulte au Mali.

Our main objective consists in evaluating the frequency of digestive signs and digestive opportunistic infections in AIDS patients with diarrhea. The prospective study occurred from January 1997 to July 1998 in Bamako hospitals. The patients underwent a clinical examination, blood and stools tests, and sometimes upper digestive endoscopy. Among 434 cases of AIDS, 426 patients (98%) had at least one digestive sign. The main digestive signs were diarrhea (80.1%), abdominal pains (62.2%), vomiting (47.2%) and dysphagea (36.6%). Isospora belli and Cryptosporidium parvum have been pointed up in respectively 9% and 16.3% of examined specimen. Echerichia coli was found in 8.6% of stool cultures and in 2.9% in the case of Salmonella Arizonae. Twenty cases of Kaposi's sarcoma were diagnosed and mycosis was found in 71.9% of patients. In conclusion, digestive change is a constant phenomenon in AIDS patients. Patients survival could be improved by early management, improvement of diagnosis and provisioning of medicines.

[Ultrasonographic aspects of urinary schistosomiasis in children of the Dogon plateau and the Niger office; impact of praziquantel treatment]. / Aspects échographiques de la schistosomose urinaire chez les enfants du plateau Dogon et de l'office du Niger, impact du traitement par le praziquantel.

Urinary bilharziasis is a parasitic infection responsible for vesical, urethral and renal lesions. The authors demonstrate the importance of ambulatory echography on a large scale and describe various echographic lesions. Vesical attacks occurred in 27% of the wall irregularity, 44% of the masses and polyps. Pyelic and urethral abnormalities occurred in 16.6% and 29.9% of cases respectively at the baseline in 1991. These prevalence rates decreased after seven years, in 1998. The authors discuss the utility of chemotherapy with praziquantel and the necessity of a periodical mass treatment in the areas with high bilharziasis endemicity in Mali.

[Echographic morbidity due to Schistosoma haematobium in a peripheral district of Bamako in Mali, Missabougou]. / Morbidité échographique due à Schistosoma haematobium dans un quartier périphérique de4 Bamako au Mali, Missabougou.

Frequency of urologic lesions was evaluated in 408 children from 6-15 years old in a suburban area of Bamako district in Mali, Missabougou; 65.2% from children were infected by Schistosoma haematobium, 13% by Schistosoma mansoni and 0.2% by Schistosoma intercalatum. Urologic lesions have been demonstrated in 223 cases among which 66 cases of urinary bladder lesions, 108 cases of hydronephrosis and 49 cases of mixed lesions. In order of the frequency we had the following uropathic lesions: wall thickening, wall irregularities, localised hypertrophies and hydronephrosis. We did not found any lesions in 185 children. Infection due to S. haematobium did not varied significantly in spite of age group, sex, schooling of children or the profession of the parents. Lesions were strongly correlated with age group (47.8 and 61.3% in 6-9 and 10-15 years old respectively) (p < 0.01) and with intensity of infection as measured by urinary egg counts (p = 0.0017).

[Study of antigen HBs and antivirus antibodies of hepatitis C during hepatopathies in Mali]. / Etude de l'antigène HBs et des anticorps anti-virus de l'hépatite C au cours des hépatopathies chroniques dans des services hospitaliers a Bamako, Mali.

A prospective study carried out in Bamako, Mali between July 1998 and January 1999 has assessed the seroprevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in 91 carrier patients of chronic hepatopathy at a cirrhrosis stage (53) or of hepato-cellular carcinoma (38) and to compare with in 92 blood donors as a control population. Only seroprevalence confirmed by a complementary test has been taken into account (RIBA). HCV seroprevalence reached 25% including all hepatopathies, 24% in cirrhrosis and 26% in hepato-cellular carcinomae (HCC) versus 4% in blood donors. Antigen HBs of hepatitis B virus has been found in 55% of patients, versus 25% of the control cases (p = 0.0006). On the whole, the two markers have been notified a little more often in HCC than in cirrhosis and the combination of the two markers has been more frequent during cirrhosis as well. The role of HCV played in cirrhosis and HCC onset in Mali appears to be important.