[Epidemiological aspects of cutaneous mycosis of HIV-infected patients in the National Referral Center of Burkina Faso, West Africa]. / Aspects épidémiologiques des mycoses cutanéo-phanériennes chez les patients infectés par le VIH au Centre national de référence du Burkina Faso, Afrique de l'Ouest.

AIM: Our study aimed to analyze the epidemiological aspects of cutaneous mycosis in people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLHIV). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a descriptive study of 382 patients living with HIV. Following an investigation into the risk factors, mycological samples have been performed. Each sample underwent direct examination and cultivation for the identification of fungal species. The Blastese test is used for the identification of Candida albicans. RESULTS: One hundred and six (106) of the 382 people living with human immunodeficiency virus undergo a mycological collection of which 76 gave a positive result. The overall prevalence of cutaneous mycosis was 19.9 %. It was significantly higher in women and in patients who had a CD4 count ≤500/mm3. C. albicans and Trichophyton rubrum were the most isolated species with 22.4 and 19.8 % of all fungal species isolated, respectively. CONCLUSION: Cutaneous mycoses are common among people living with human immunodeficiency virus and whose CD4 count ≤ 500/mm(3).

Increasing complexity of resistance in host populations through intermating to manage rust of pearl millet.

ABSTRACT Pearl millet inbreds Tift 23DB, Tift 85DB, PS748BC, and Tift 89D(2) were used to develop three categories of host mixtures (physical mixtures, random-mated populations, and mixtures of two-way and three-way crosses) representing different levels of complexity of resistance through increased heterogeneity within populations and through stacking of resistance genes within the heterogeneous populations. The potential of these mixtures to reduce rust epidemics was evaluated in the field. Area under the disease progress curves (AUDPCs) of all physical mixtures were less than the mean of the components in 1995 and were less than the mean of the components for five of the six mixtures in 1997. In 1996, AUDPCs of the physical mixtures were consistently greater than the mean of their components. AUDPCs of the random-mated mixtures and the mixtures of crosses were consistently less than the mean of the components in 1996 and 1997, with reductions ranging from 12 to 71%. Dry matter yield (DMY) of physical mixtures relative to the mean DMY of the components was inconsistent, ranging from 18% less to 50% more than the mean of the components. The random-mated populations and the mixtures of crosses yielded 18 to 40% more DMY than the mean yield of the pure stands of their components.

Effects of Temperature and Light on Germination of Urediniospores of the Pearl Millet Rust Pathogen, Puccinia substriata var. indica.

Germination of urediniospores of Puccinia substriata var. indica was evaluated after 2, 4, 6, and 8 h of incubation in petri dishes containing 2% water agar under 10, 16, 20, 25, 30, and 35°C in light (1650 lux, cool white fluorescent), dark, alternate light-dark, and alternate dark-light. Less than 1% germination occurred at 35°C. At 30°C, percent germination did not significantly change after 4 h. At 10°C, percent germination increased with longer incubation. Under all illumination conditions, percent maximum germination after 4 to 8 h occurred at 20-25°C. Response surface analysis indicated that under all four illumination regimes, urediniospore germination greater than 90% occurs between 19 and 22°C after 6-7 h of incubation. Two hours of continuous light appeared to significantly delay germination, but exposure to light during the first hour of incubation was stimulatory when followed by 1 h dark.

Oral health status of 12-year-old schoolchildren in the province of Kadiogo, Burkina Faso.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the oral health status of 12-year-old schoolchildren in Kadiogo province, Burkina Faso. DESIGN: A cross-sectional epidemiological study in which a trained dentist performed clinical examinations. SETTING: Twenty primary schools in Kadiogo Province. SUBJECTS: Three hundred randomly selected children. OUTCOME MEASURES: Oral health status was recorded according to WHO criteria. Demographic characteristics (gender, type of school and geographic location) were also recorded. RESULTS: The results showed that 50% of the subjects examined were caries-free. The mean DMFT was 1.72+/-0.12 with a significant difference between urban and rural areas (P<0.05). Decayed teeth were untreated in this population, only 7% of whom had a healthy periodontium. Statistically significant differences were observed according to gender (P<0.02) and area (P<0.04). In the whole sample, 81% presented no malocclusion and only two questionable cases of fluorosis were observed. The rate of need for periodontal treatment was 83 to 100% in rural areas; 21% of the children needed at least one extraction and approximately 50% required conservative care. CONCLUSIONS: The mean DMFT found in this study placed the Kadiogo province in the low DMFT category defined by WHO and within the global goal of Health for All by the Year 2000 at 12 years old. However, decayed teeth were untreated, and periodontal status was very poor. There is therefore a need for appropriate preventive measures.

[Oral-dental health in the national health system of Burkina Faso]. / La santé bucco-dentaire dans le système national de santé au Burkina Faso.

Oral health has a low priority in the health care and national health policies of Burkina Faso because of the high mortality rate and the occurrence of endemic and epidemic diseases. However, Burkina Faso, like other developing countries, is now having to cope with increases in the incidence of oral diseases. The World Health Organization has emphasized the need to develop national oral health plans into integrated general health plans based on primary health care, to achieve its "Health for All" targets by the year 2000. The aim of this paper is to highlight the political, administrative and economic constraints involved in implementing oral health policies within the framework of primary health care in this country. The organization of oral health services, understanding and compliance with a multidisciplinary approach by oral health care staff and the promotion of oral health in a community-based approach are vital for the integration of oral health care into the general health plan.

[Behavior linked to orodental health in 12-year-old students in the province of Kadiogo, Burkina Faso]. / Comportements liés à la santé bucco-dentaire des élèves de 12 ans de la province du Kadiogo, Burkina Faso.

The authors present the results of a study carried out within the context of a diagnosis of the state of dental health among 300 twelve years old students in school in the province of Kadiogo (Burkina Faso). The data collected by questionnaires explore the range of behaviours linked to dental health: dental hygiene, eating habits, use of fluoride and use of dental health services. Half of students report that they brush their teeth at least once a day. Among them, there are 2 girls out of three, and one boy out of two. For half of the children, their mothers are the main people who teach them how to brush their teeth. For three children out of four, a tooth brush and tooth paste are the most common methods. Roughly 17% understand the usefulness of fluoride and 70% have never heard of it. Four children out of five consume sugared drinks on a daily basis. 85% say they have never been to the dentist. The information collected could serve as a base for the development and implementation of health promotion and education programmes for dental health within schools.

[Promotion of orodental health in adolescents in Africa]. / Promotion de la santé bucco-dentaire des adolescents en Afrique.

Bad dental hygiene in adults is usually the result of bad care during childhood. Within the framework of Health for All, WHO and the International Dental Federation defined global objectives for dental health which allow for monitoring progress in different countries. The most common dental problems, such as dental cavities, can be prevented by simple and inexpensive methods. Dental health is based on dental hygiene, nutrition, fluoride intake and dental service utilisation. Dental health promotion aims to create an environment favourable to the adoption of these healthy behaviours. The principle recommended dental health measures are through fluoridation of water, salt, and milk, a low consumption of sweets, and modification of the amount of sugar in the diet; implementation of monitored dental hygiene activities in schools; the organisation of regular dental services in schools/workplaces; and adopting legislative texts or laws requiring certain measures of prevention. In the past several years, certain African countries have set up national dental health programmes (there were 12 in 1993), However, the implementation of dental health promotion generally doesn't result from a national initiative, but from a regional or local scale. This is largely due to the lack of integration of dental health in activities of education and health promotion in general. Programmes planned at a national level and then implemented at a local level on a multisectoral base have had more success. This article presents examples of dental health promotion activities in several African countries, mainly focusing on programmes aimed at 12-13 year olds in primary school. Programmes from Morocco, Kenya, Madagascar, Côte d'Ivoire, Benin, and Tanzania are briefly presented and show that in Africa, dental health promotion has mostly consisted of the implementation of health education actions and that there are no consistent policies, unlike in other developing countries, for fluoridation of water, salt, and milk. In terms of dental health promotion, WHO recommends the promotion of traditional methods of dental hygiene (such as plants or sticks for cleaning), especially among adolescents living in rural and low income communities. In turn, the identification and promotion of the positive aspects of hygiene and traditional care will allow for the implementation of more culturally acceptable approaches.

Factor analytic study of two questionnaires measuring oral health-related quality of life among children and adults in New Zealand, Germany and Poland.

A questionnaire designed to measure oral health-related quality of life (OHRQOL) in adults and children was assessed for its factorial structure and reliability using data from the Second International Collaborative Study on Oral Health Outcomes in New Zealand, Poland and Germany. Principal component analysis with orthogonal and oblique rotation was applied. The three-factor structure hypothesized for the children's questionnaire (self-reported oral disease symptoms, perceived oral well-being, social and physical functioning) was confirmed in New Zealand and Poland, and two self-reported oral disease symptom dimensions emerged in Germany. Five factors instead of the three hypothesized were identified for adults: two dimensions of symptoms were identified, and social and physical functioning appeared to be independent dimensions of OHRQOL. Similarity between the factors was demonstrated in all three countries. The reliability of the questionnaire ranged from moderate to excellent depending on the dimension and the country. These findings provide preliminary evidence of the cross-cultural stability of the OHRQOL questionnaire in New Zealand, Poland and Germany, for both children and adults. Further investigations by the present authors of the properties of the instrument in other samples will focus on demonstrating the stability and replicability of the factor structure identified here.