[Efficacy and tolerance of Latanoprost given as a first intention in the treatment of primitive open angle glaucoma in African melanoderm]. / Efficacité et tolérance du Latanoprost donné en première intention dans le traitement du glaucome primitif a angle ouvert chez le mélanoderme africain.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the reduction in IOP and ocular symptoms in patients newly diagnosed with POAG and treated with latanoprost as monotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHOD: A multicentric, cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted. We included adults newly diagnosed with POAG. All patients received one drop of preserved latanoprost 0.005% in each eye every night for 12 weeks. Changes in IOP and ophthalmic signs and symptoms were assessed during and at the end of treatment. RESULTS: A total of 524 patients were included, with a participation rate of 93% at 12 weeks. The mean age was 52.79±17.33 years, and the sex ratio M/F was 1.39. At inclusion, the mean IOP was 21.68±9.72mmHg. After 2 weeks of treatment, the mean IOP was 15.49±5.81mmHg, for a reduction of 28.55%. After 12 weeks of treatment, the mean IOP was 13.16±3.54mmHg, for a reduction of 39.30%. The main symptom recorded was a gritty foreign body sensation, the frequency of which was 4.72% at W2 and 2.45% at W12. The main sign was hyperemia (4.33% at W2 and 1.84% at W12). CONCLUSION: Latanoprost given as first-line monotherapy in POAG in blacks considerably reduces IOP. The incidence of side effects remains low; it is higher at the start of treatment.

[Safety and efficacy of peribulbar anesthesia in cataract surgery]. / Tolerance et efficacite de l'anesthesie peribulbaire dans la chirurgie de la cataracte.

INTRODUCTION: Peribulbar anesthesia (PBA) involves the injection of local anesthetic of volume around the globe and outside the fasciomuscular cone, which will then diffuse from the peribulbar space to the retrobulbar space. The goal was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of PBA in cataract surgery in Secondary Ophthalmology Center. PATIENTS AND METHOD: this was a cross-sectional study over two months. Our population consisted of all patients admitted to the anesthesia room, scheduled for cataract surgery and the PBA had been completed. The data was analyzed using Epi Info software version 7.2. The correlations were carried out using Khi2 with a threshold of significance (p <0.05). RESULTS: A total of 285 patients were included and sex-ratio H/F = 0,72. Average age of 62 +/- 12 years. Lidocaïne 2% and Bupivacaine 0.5% was used in combination at equal volume. The anesthesia was tolerated in 99,3% of patients. We observed 77,19% total analgesia and 13,33% chaemosis. CONCLUSION: Peribulbar anesthesia allows the easy realization of cataract surgery with great safety and efficiency.

INTRODUCTION: l'anesthésie péribulbaire (APB) consiste à l'injection d'anesthésique local autour du globe et en dehors du cône fasciomusculaire. Le produit diffuse ensuite de l'espace péribulbaire vers l'espace rétrobulbaire. L'objectif était d'évaluer la tolérance et l'efficacité de l'APB dans la chirurgie de la cataracte dans un centre d'ophtalmologie secondaire. PATIENTS ET MÉTHODE: il s'agissait d'une étude transversale sur deux mois. Notre population était constituée par tous les patients admis en salle d'anesthésie et programmés pour la chirurgie de la cataracte chez qui l'APB avait été réalisée. Les données ont été analysées à l'aide du logiciel Epi Info version 7.2. Les corrélations ont été réalisées à l'aide de Khi2 avec un seuil de significativité (p< 0,05). RÉSULTATS: Au total, 285 patients ont été inclus, avec un sex-ratio H/F de 0,72. L'âge moyen était de 62 ans avec un écart type de 12ans. La lidocaïne 2% et labupivacaïne 0,5% étaient utilisées en association à volume égal. L'anesthésie a été tolérée chez 99,3% des patients. Nous avons observé77,19%d'analgésie totale, 13,33% de chémosis conjonctival. CONCLUSION: L'anesthésie péribulbaire permet la réalisation facile de la chirurgie de la cataracte avec une bonne tolérance et une meilleure efficacité.

[Evaluation of the quality of life of adult patients treated in low vision at the CHU-IOTA]. / Évaluation de la qualité de vie des patients adultes pris en charge en basse vision au CHU-IOTA.

INTRODUCTION: Visual impairment is a handicap defined as any alteration of visual function responsible for a partial or total limitation of the activities of daily living (OMS, 2004). The objective of this study is to assess quality of life in patients before and after management of low vision. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a mono-centric, transverse, analytical study over a period of 6 months. Our study population included all adult patients seen in ophthalmologic consultation and followed in the low vision unit with visual acuity less than 3/10 and greater than or equal to 1/20 in the best eye with best optical correction. The National Eye Institute's quality of life questionnaire, the NEF VFQ 25, was administered to patients on site prior to management and then a month later. RESULTS: Low-vision management improved overall the dimensions of the quality of life questionnaire. Following the end-of-care assessment, the score for ocular pain was lowest (38.20), followed by the overall vision score (44.95) and near vision difficulty score (45.33). DISCUSSION: Our sample population was distinguished by a cultural mix, with diversity of beliefs and lifestyles, and also by the relatively advanced age of the subjects constituting it. This can influence the individual's perception of him- or herself within his or her environment, modifying the patient's estimation of his or her condition and therefore his or her behavior. CONCLUSION: Low-vision rehabilitation can improve the quality of life of visually impaired patients, particularly for near vision, activities of daily living and psychological health.

[Assessment of quality of life in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma in urban areas]. / Evaluation de la qualite de vie chez les patients atteints de glaucome primitif a angle ouvert en milieu urbain.

INTRODUCTION: Quality of life is defined by the physical, emotional and social well-being of an individual. Primary Open Angle Glaucoma (POAG) is a blinding optic neuropathy, it can change the quality of life by its chronic and irreversible nature. The objective of this study was to evaluate the quality of life in patients with POAG in urban areas. PATIENTS AND METHODS: this was a quantitative cross-sectional study with a descriptive aim over 3 months. Patients followed for POAG at CHU-IOTA with an age ≥ 18 years were included and submitted to the GlauQOL-17 questionnaire for data collection. RESULTS: We collected 100 glaucomatous patients, the mean age of patients was 52 years with a standard deviation of 14.02. The extreme ages are 18 and 81 years old. There was a male predominance; (54%) with a sex ratio (M / F) of 1.7. The good visual acuities were majority (higher or equal to 3/10). Among our patients, 35% were at the stage of glaucoma starting at OD and 30% at the stage of moderate glaucoma at OG. Our patients had a poor quality of life score (score <50%) in the Anxiety and Driving dimensions. In patients younger than 70 years old, we had a poor anxiety score in all progressive stages of the disease. Scores of self-image dimensions, constraints, and management were greater than 60% in patients over 70 years of age. CONCLUSION: Alteration of some of the domains studied was proportional to evolution of POAG. This degradation can have physical, psychological and social impacts on his patients.

INTRODUCTION: La qualité de vie se définit par le bien-être physique, émotionnel et social d'un individu. Le Glaucome Primitif à Angle Ouvert (GPAO) est une neuropathie optique cécitante, il peut modifier la qualité de vie de par son caractère chronique et irréversible. L'objectif de cette étude était d'évaluer la qualité de vie chez les patients atteints de GPAO en milieu urbain. PATIENTS ET MÉTHODES: il s'agissait d'une étude quantitative transversale à visée descriptive sur 3 mois. Les patients suivis pour GPAO au CHU-IOTA avec un âge ≥ 18 ans ont été inclus et soumis au questionnaire GlauQOL-17 pour la collecte des données. RÉSULTATS: Nous avons colligé 100 patients glaucomateux, la moyenne d'âge des patients était de 52 ans avec un écart type de 14,02. Les extrêmes d'âges sont de 18 et 81 ans. Il y avait une prédominance masculine ; (54%) avec un sex-ratio (M/F) de 1.7. Les acuités visuelles bonnes étaient majoritaires (supérieures ou égales à 3/10).Parmi nos patients 35% étaient au stade de glaucome débutant à OD et 30% au stade de glaucome modéré à OG. Nos patients avaient un mauvais score qualité de vie (score < à 50%) dans les dimensions Anxiété et conduite. Chez les patients de moins de 70 ans nous avons noté un mauvais score d'anxiété dans tous les stades évolutifs de la maladie. Les scores des dimensions image de soi, contraintes, et prise en charge étaient supérieurs à 60% chez les patients de plus de 70 ans. CONCLUSION: L'altération de certains domaines étudiés était proportionnelle à l'évolution du GPAO. Cette dégradation peut avoir des impacts physiques, psychologiques et sociaux sur ses patients.

[Domestic accidents: epidemiological aspects in a District of Bamako]. / Accidents domestiques: aspects épidémiologiques dans une Commune de Bamako.

AIMS: To study the epidemiological, clinical and prognostic aspects of domestic accidents in the health center of reference of one district in Bamako. MATERIEL AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study of domestic accidents received at the health center of reference of "commune V" in Bamako district from September 2009 to February 2010. All cases of domestic accident that came to the health center and followed up were included. The Chi2 was used for the statistical test with P ≤ 0,05 considered significant. RESULT: During the study period (September 2009 to February 2010), we gathered 192 cases of domestic accident for 7425 out patients or 2.6% of the reasons for consultation. The sex-ratio was 1.49 in favor of men. The occurrence of burns was more frequent in the age group 6-14 years and 15-24 years with respectively, p= 0,002 and p= 0.00002. Overall mortality was 2.6% and all deaths were due to the burn. CONCLUSION: Domestic accidents are frequent and take an important place in overall reasons for admission. In this context, the burn is more responsible for deaths.

OBJECTIF: Etudier les aspects épidemio-cliniques et pronostiques des accidents domestiques dans le Centre de Santé de référence d'une commune de Bamako. MATÉRIEL ET MÉTHODE: Il s'agissait d'une étude transversale portant sur des accidents domestiques reçus au centre de Santé de Référence de la commune V du district de Bamako de septembre 2009 à février 2010. Tous les cas d'accidents domestiques qui se sont présentés au Centre de Santé de Référence pris en charge et suivis ont été inclus. Le Khi2 a été utilisé pour le test statistique avec un P < 0,05 considéré comme significatif. RÉSULTATS: Durant la période d'étude de septembre 2009 à février 2010, nous avons colligé 192 cas d'accidents domestiques pour 7425 consultations externes soit 2,6% des motifs de consultation. Le sex-ratio était de 1,49 en faveur des hommes. La survenue des brulures était plus fréquente dans les tranches d'âges 6­14 ans et 15­24 ans avec respectivement P = 0,002 et P= 0,00002. La mortalité globale était de 2,6% et tous les décès étaient imputables à la brulure. CONCLUSION: Les accidents domestique sont fréquents et occupent une place non négligeable dans les motifs d'admission. Dans ce contexte la brulure est beaucoup plus responsable de décès.

Antimalarial activity of four plants used in traditional medicine in Mali.

Mitragyna inermis (De Willd.) O. Kuntze Rubiaceae, Nauclea latifolia (Sm.) Rubiaceae, Glinus oppositofolius (Linn) Molluginaceae and Trichilia roka (Forsk.) Chiv. Meliaceae were investigated for their in vitro antimalarial activity. Leaves, roots and stem barks were submitted to aqueous, hydromethano and chloroform extractions and antimalarial activity was evaluated by microscopic and flow cytometric analysis. The results present evidence that the alkaloids contained in chloroform extracts and ursolic acid, purified from the hydromethanol extract of M. inermis induced a significant decrease of parasite proliferation. However, aqueous extracts, traditionally used for medication did not show high antimalarial activity. Statistical comparison between microscopic and cytometric analysis demonstrated the validity of this new technique for the screening of active antimalarial compounds isolated from plants.

Information for chemical management. The approach of the International Register of Potentially Toxic Chemicals.

The International Register of Potentially Toxic Chemicals (IRPTC) chemical data bank system was developed with the view to covering all the sets of information needed for the identification of hazard and providing a useful tool for risk assessment. The IRPTC data bank has been conceived to allow countries to establish their own information management system for national chemical management and to serve a worldwide information exchange network. The electronic search facilities help to provide tailor made data sets to fit the information needs of the different groups and individuals. There is a great variety of information users, ranging from those dealing with the hazard assessment and risk management to the exposed workers and citizens concerned about the effects of the emissions from the smokestack of the neighbouring factory. The need for authoritative information is particularly crucial for developing countries which do not have the advanced technological means or resources to establish mainframe computing links with IRPTC. A personal computer version has therefore been developed to give these governments and institutions access to the same data at an extensively reduced cost.

Critical selection of toxicological data on chemicals. The example of the International Register of Potentially Toxic Chemicals data bank.

Although chemicals provide important benefits, they can also represent hazards to human health or the environment. However, due to number of chemicals involved, clearly no country can deal alone with the evaluation of existing scientific, technical and legal information on chemicals. This implies a need for countries to work together to assess the risk posed by chemicals and to share the results in a compatible and understandable way. In 1973 the governing council of United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) decided to proceed with the creation of the International Register of Potentially Toxic Chemicals (IRPTC). The core activity of IRPTC is the collection of information on chemicals into a computerized data bank and the dissemination of these data in the form of chemical data profiles. The data profiles focus on selected chemicals with a potential to affect human health and the environment, excluding chemicals whose sole use is as a pharmaceutical or which are radioactive substances. The data collection and selection activities of IRPTC are driven by two key issues: data quality and data quantity. The objective of IRPTC in this respect is to provide decision-makers and other users with the most pertinent data available to substantiate their assessment of hazard. Providing reliable and detailed data in manageable amounts was the strategy chosen to achieve this objective.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The management of information: storage and retrieval of data.

Internationally harmonized and cost-effective control of chemicals marketed worldwide greatly depend both on the generation of and easy access to reliable and comparable experimental information. Stored data are of use only if information can be retrieved quickly in an understandable form. Some models and theories of information retrieval (e.g. fuzzy set theory, probabilistic approach, artificial intelligence) are briefly discussed first, then followed by applications (such as indexing and clustering techniques). Finally the structure of databases is briefly reviewed.

Distribution of onchocerciasis in selected river basins of four west African countries.

Detailed epidemiological mapping of eight river basins was conducted in four West African countries as part of an effort to identify the communities at risk of onchocercal blindness to guide a programme of large scale ivermectin distribution, attempting control of eye disease. The results show a surprising variability of pattern in the geographical distribution of intensity of onchocerciasis infections in the communities of the river basins investigated. These patterns were at time very different from what was expected on the basis of the available entomological and demographic information. The technique of detailed mapping proved very useful in achieving an excellent coverage of the communities at risk of onchocercal blindness where, so far, satisfactory treatment coverage has been attained for four consecutive yearly treatments.

Onchocerciasis distribution and severity in five West African countries.

The Onchocerciasis Control Programme in West Africa recently extended its operation to Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, the western part of Mali, Senegal and Sierra Leone. To estimate the number of people infected and blinded by the disease and to determine its distribution and severity in the extension area, 215 villages were selected, using a stratified random sampling procedure, and surveyed. All the relevant entomological information available at the time was used in the sampling procedure and in the selection of 92 non-representative villages that were surveyed to confirm the findings. In addition, the populations of 608 villages were examined to map out in detail the distribution of onchocerciasis in the areas at a high risk of onchocercal blindness. The study estimated that 1,475,367 people were infected and 23,728 were blinded from onchocerciasis out of a rural population of 4,464,183. The northern and western part of the study area and the lower Niger basin presented a low or no risk of onchocercal blindness. The upper Niger basin, the south-central part of Sierra Leone, and three small foci in the Gambia, Bakoye, and lower Niger river basins were areas with a high risk of onchocercal blindness. The other parts of the study area presented a medium risk of onchocercal blindness. By detecting the communities at risk of onchocercal disease this study permits the selection of populations for disease control based on mass distribution of ivermectin, a microfilaricide.

Detailed epidemiological mapping of three onchocerciasis foci in West Africa.

Detailed epidemiological mapping of three isolated foci of hyperendemic blinding onchocerciasis was undertaken in three West African countries as part of community trials of ivermectin, a new microfilaricide for the treatment of human onchocerciasis. The results show that the geographical distribution of the prevalence and intensity of onchocerciasis infection in the community can be very different from what was expected on the basis of demographic and entomological information. The technique of detailed epidemiological mapping is an important tool for the identification of target populations for large scale ivermectin treatment of onchocerciasis. It is being used extensively in the Onchocerciasis Control Programme in West Africa.

A community trial of ivermectin in the onchocerciasis focus of Asubende, Ghana. II. Adverse reactions.

A community trial of the microfilaricide ivermectin undertaken in an hyperendemic focus of blinding onchocerciasis in Ghana. One objective was to investigate the safety of this new drug when used in mass treatments. 14,911 persons (61.5% of the census population) were treated with ivermectin. Of these, 15% reported with adverse reactions which were generally similar to those reported in the clinical trials. However, cutaneous reactions were relatively less frequent while brawny oedema of the limbs and inguinal gland pain were important. The severe reactions consisted of 37 cases of Severe Symptomatic Postural Hypotension (SSPH), 13 cases of severe fever and two cases of severe dyspnoea. The latter two cases represented life threatening situations, but there was no evidence that they were complications of ivermectin treatment. Only four of the SSPH cases required treatment. All severe adverse reactions were managed successfully and recovered within one day, usually within a few hours. The incidence of adverse reactions was highest the first day after treatment. Thirteen cases of delayed reactions were reported during a four-week follow-up. There was a highly significant relationship between incidence of adverse reactions and intensity of infection but no relation with ivermectin dosage within the range of 130-200 mcg/kg. The results suggest that ivermectin is sufficiently safe to be used in mass treatments. However, mass distribution of this drug should not be undertaken without adequate monitoring.

Adverse reactions after large-scale treatment of onchocerciasis with ivermectin: combined results from eight community trials.

Eight community trials were carried out by the Onchocerciasis Control Programme in West Africa to determine the safety of the new microfilaricide ivermectin during large-scale treatment of onchocerciasis. The trial areas were located in eight different countries and varied greatly in endemicity level; a total of 50,929 persons were treated and monitored for 72 hours. Overall treatment coverage was 60% of the census population, the main reasons for non-treatment being the exclusion criteria. Of those treated, 9% reported with adverse reactions, 2.4% with moderate reactions, and 0.24% with severe reactions. Most reactions were reported during the first day of follow-up, the most frequent severe reaction being severe symptomatic postural hypotension (in 49 cases). Three cases of severe dyspnoea were life-threatening but their relationship with ivermectin treatment is uncertain. The incidence of adverse reactions was directly related to skin microfilarial load and was highest in the foci with the highest endemicity levels. Treatment resulted in 98% reductions in mean microfilarial loads at all endemicity levels. The benefit of treatment largely compensated for the discomfort due to adverse reactions, which were all transient and managed successfully. Ivermectin thus appears to be sufficiently safe for large-scale treatment but monitoring by resident nurses for at least 36 hours is recommended.