[Treatment of child hydrocephalus by endoscopic third ventriculostomy in Senegal]. / Traitement de l'hydrocéphalie de l'enfant par ventriculocisternostomie endoscopique au Sénégal.

INTRODUCTION: Since its advent, endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) has been an effective alternative to shunt placement for the treatment of hydrocephalus. The aim of this study was to report the results of our experience with this technique in children in Senegal. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective study of 70 cases of children aged between 5 months to 15 years who were treated by ETV in the Neurosurgery Department of Fann Hospital in Dakar, between January 2010 to December 2012. The results were evaluated based on the clinical criteria of Drake and the Canadian Pediatric Neurosurgery Study Group. The mean follow-up duration was 24 months (9-32 months). RESULTS: The mean age at diagnosis was 29 months. A male predominance (sex-ratio 1/3) was observed. We also noted a macrocephaly in 64.4 % of cases, psychomotor retardation in 40 % and decreased vision in 31.4 %. Headache and vomiting were found in 42.8 % and 61.4 % respectively. The main etiology was a stenosis of the mesencephalon aqueduct (30 %), followed by a Dandy-Walker malformation (25.7 %). Significant intraoperative bleeding was found in 2.8 % of patients. The most common postoperative complication was CSF leakage (18.6 %), followed by infections (14.2 %). The success rate according to the clinical criteria of Drake was 71.4 %. This success rate was influenced by the age of patients and the hydrocephalus etiology. No deaths occurred. CONCLUSION: The endoscopic third ventriculostomy is a simple, safe and effective technique. Its advantages in terms of quality of life and morbidity compared with bypass valves makes it the technique of choice, particularly in developing countries.

[Contamination by aflatoxins of local peanut oils prepared in Senegal]. / Contamination par les aflatoxines des huiles d'arachide artisanales préparées au Sénégal.

Aflatoxins are mycotoxins produced by certain strains of fungus (Aspergillus) which develop in peanut seeds. Peanut oil and peanut meal are widely used in Senegal. The risk of intoxication is quite real. We determined aflatoxin contamination levels in peanut oil and food prepared by small scale production plants in the Kaolack and Diourbel regions of Senegal. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) of the different samples showed that 80% of them were contaminated. Aflatoxin B(1), B(2), G(1) and G(2) were detected. The pattern of contamination was similar for the two regions. Aflatoxin B(1) was prevalent and found in over 85% of the samples. The mean content of this mycotoxin (the most dangerous toxin) was about 40 ppb, a value which largely exceeds specifications for allowable levels.

[Vascular parkinsonian syndrome in 21 case studies, two of which were anatomic]. / Syndromes parkinsoniens vasculaires à propos de 21 observations dont 2 cas anatomiques.

A clinicopathological study of parkinsonian syndrome witch occurred after stroke, is done by the authors. That is a retrospective study concerning 2 anatomic cases from 21 vascular parkinsonism. All the patients were admitted in the clinique neurologique de Fann from 1970 to 1990. They were 15 men and 6 women. Their age ranged between 45 to 75 years (mean 59.66). The 2 autopsied cases had lesions located in the thalamus as the superior part and a discreet cortical atrophy in the one case, and in the other case, we can see similar lesions in the right external capsule and in the inferior part of the putamen. Another lesion of haemorrhage infarct was located in the left temporal lobe. The locus niger was macroscopically normal in the 2 cases. Anatomical lesions observed have been localized in the putamen and in the external capsule in the associatical cerebral cortex in the second case and in the first one, lesions are located in the thalamus and in the cortex. These lesions were not well correlated with neurological signs. The different clinical aspects are discussed. From this study, it results that arterial damages associated with hypertension and atheromatosis might touch dopaminergic structures responsible of parkinsonism with sometime good sensitivity to levodopa.

[Mango leaves (Manguifera indica, Anacardiacea) used as biomarker of pollution by pp'Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (pp'DDT)]. / Utilisation des feuilles de manguier (Manguifera indica, Anacardiacea) comme bioindicateur de pollution par le pp'Dichlorodiphényltri-Chloroéthane (pp'DDT).

Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), organochlorine pesticide, byanother way cumulative pesticide is banned in mostdeveloped countries. Whatever, it is still used in many countries in the Third World. This work consist to check whether this chemical compound is still used in Senegal. The biomarker of pollution by this pesticide for this research was mango leaves (mango tree is widespread in Senegal) open to accumulate halogenated hydrocarbons. Leaves sample were taken in many sites in the centerline of Dakar-Thiès (Senegal), then analysed by gas chromatography. The results allowed to note the presence of DDT and its metabolites [(dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethylen (DDE), (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDD)] in most of samples. The comparison of DDT content in relation to those of the principal metabolite allowed to make the difference according to sample sites, an old contamination of an utilisation more or less recent of this pesticide. From those results, we can conclude that DDT, typical pesticide by its big persistence is still used in some spherical zones in this country, in particular in farming gardening zones.

[Pesticide bioaccumulation: measurement and levels of organochlorine residues in products of vegetable origin]. / Bioaccumulation des pesticides: recherche et dosage de résidus d'organochlorés dans les produits d'origine végétale.

Because of their lipophilic properties and their persistence, organochlorine pesticides residues can be accumulated in human body by consuming regularly plants products. This study consisted of the monitoring of the contamination level of pesticides residues from various plants products, in order to assess the long- term intoxication risk to which Senegalese consumer is exposed ant identify throughout these plants some indicators of atmospheric pollution. The chromatographic analysis of medicinal plants, fruits and vegetables extracts showed that they could be contaminated by organochlorine residues. About ten of these pesticides residues were found confirming that the analysed plants were really contaminated. The residues level in medicinal plants (from 0.1 to 45 micrograms/kg) were widely below the maximum allowed concentrations and were also lower than those in fruits and vegetables (from 0.1 microgram/kg to 460 micrograms/kg). Heptachlorine residues contents of tomatoes and citrus fruits were higher than FAO/WHO norms, so that, a regular monitoring of the plants products is recommended for better protection of consumers.

[Measurement and levels of aflatoxins in small-scale pressed peanut oil prepared in the Diourbel and Kaolack regions of Senegal]. / Recherche et dosage des aflatoxines dans l'huile de pression artisanale préparée dans les regions de Diourbel et Kaolack (Sénégal).

Aflatoxins are mycotoxins produced by some strains of fungus (Aspergillus) which develops in peanuts seeds. Peanuts oil and past are very used up in Senegal, then the aflatoxins poisoning risk are very actual. This study relates to the determination of contamination levels by aflatoxins from peanut oil food prepared by small scale production in areas of Kaolack and Diourbel. High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) analysis of the different samples showed that 80% of them were contaminated in the areas of Kaolack and Diourbel. Aflatoxin B1, B2, G1 and G2 has been detected with a profile of contamination almost identical in the both areas. Aflatoxin B1 was prevalent and has been found in over 85% of samples. Mean contents of this mycotoxin (the most dangerous toxin) is about 40 ppb, value widely superior to allowable specifications.