Comas non traumatiques chez l'adulte à l'Unité de soins intensifs du Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sylvanus Olympio: à propos de 484 cas / Non-traumatic comas with the adult in the intensise care unit of the Sylvanus Olympio Teaching Hospital: concerning 484 cases

Introduction : Le coma non traumatique est une urgence médicale, relativement fréquente dont les différents aspects restent encore obscurs dans les services de réanimation en Afrique. Objectif : Cette étude avait pour but de décrire les aspects épidémiologiques, étiologiques et pronostiques des comas non traumatiques (CNT). Méthodes : Il s'était agi d'une étude rétrospective descriptive menée au Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sylvanus Olympio à l'Unité des Soins Intensifs (USI) de janvier 2018 à décembre 2019. Résultats : L'étude avait concerné 484 patients hospitalisés pour comas non traumatiques sur un total de 1835 patients. Les comas non traumatiques de l'adulte représentaient 26,4% des admissions à l'USI. L'âge moyen des patients était de 52,8 ans (extrêmes de 18 et 92 ans) avec une sex-ratio (H/F) de 0,94. Plus de la moitié des patients avait été référée de structures sanitaires périphériques (55,4%). L'hypertension artérielle (HTA) était l'antécédent le plus retrouvé dans 36,4% ; suivi du diabète et de l'infection au virus de l'immunodéficience acquise (VIH) dans 14,9% chacun. Le coma était de survenue brutale dans 77,7% des cas. Les étiologies des comas étaient dominées par les causes vasculaires dans 32,2% des cas, puis les causes infectieuses dans 27,3% des cas et les comas urémiques dans 14,1% des cas. Le pronostic était défavorable avec une mortalité de 68,6%. La première étiologie de décès concernait les causes vasculaires. Conclusion : L'amélioration du pronostic des comas non traumatiques passe nécessairement par une amélioration du plateau technique pour une meilleure prise en charge des patients

Introduction: The non-traumatic coma is a medical emergency relatively frequent which different aspects remain obscure in intensive care units in Africa. Goals: The aim of this study was therefore to describe the epidemiological, etiological and prognostic aspects of non-traumatic comas. Methodology: This was a retrospective descriptive study carried out at the Sylvanus Olympio Teaching Hospital in the Intensive Care Unit (USI) from January 2018 to December 2019. Results: The study involved 484 patients hospitalized for non-traumatic comas out of 1835 patients. Non-traumatic comas in adults were 26.4% of admissions in the Intensive Care Unit. The mean age of patients was 52.8 years of a sex ratio (M / F) of 0.94. More than half of patients (55.4%) were referred from peripheral care centers. Arterial hypertension was the most common antecedent found in 36.4%, followed by diabetes and the infection of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) at 14.9% each. The coma was sudden aspect in 77.7% of the cases. Aetiologies of the comas were dominated by vascular causes in 32.2% of causes, then infectious in 27.3% of cases and uremic comas in 14.1% of cases. The prognosis was unfavorable with 68.6% mortality. The first etiology of death was related to vascular cases. Conclusion: The Improving of the prognosis of non-traumatic comas needs an improvement of modern medical technology for a better patient care.

Système National de Pharmacovigilance au Niger : a propos d'un cas de syndrome de Lyell associé au Cotrimoxazole

A partir de 2015, le programme national de lutte contre le paludisme (PNLP) du Niger a mis à grande échelle la chimioprévention du paludisme saisonnier (CPS) avec la sulfadoxine pyriméthamine plus amodiaquine(SPAQ). Le Ministère de la santé publique a saisie l'opportunité pour renforcer le système national des vigilances (SNV).Nous rapportons un cas de syndrome de Lyell dû au cotrimoxazole (Triméthoprime sulfaméthoxazole)dans son aspect clinique, pronostic et thérapeutique.Il s'agissait d'une patiente de soixante ans, soufrantd'une diarrhée et admise au centre de santé intégré (CSI) de Maijirgui au Niger. Elle a été traitée avec du cotrimoxazole. Quelques jours après, elle était léthargique et les yeux enfoncés. L'examen du système cutanéo-phanérien, laisse apparaitre un vaste décollement cutané faisant le tour du thorax, s'étendant à toutl'abdomen et prenant les deux membres thoraciques.Cette perte de l'épiderme laissait découvrir un derme rouge suintant à nu. Tout ceci réalisait un décollement épidermique en « linges mouillées » avec une atteinte de plus 70% de la surface corporelle. A l'examen des muqueuses, on note au niveau buccal des ulcérations muqueuses recouvertes de croutes. On notait également une érosion des paupières supérieures et une conjonctivite diffuse. Malgré son évacuation à l'hôpital national de Zinder, elle fut décédée à l'admission.Le syndrome de Lyell ou nécrolyse épidermique toxique est une dermatose bulleuse grave et rare, le plus souvent d'origine médicamenteuse. Toute distribution de masse de médicaments doit s'accompagner d'un renforcement du SNV pour rechercher, documenter et prendre en charge rapidement les évènements indésirables

Peer norms moderate the association between mental health and sexual risk behaviors among young men living in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

BACKGROUND: Young men living in Dar es Salaam's informal settlements face environmental stressors that may expose them to multiple determinants of HIV risk including poor mental health and risky sexual behavior norms. We aimed to understand how these co-occurring risk factors not only independently affect men's condom use and sexual partner concurrency, but also how they interact to shape these risk behaviors. METHODS: Participants in the study were male members of 59 social groups known as "camps" in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. We assessed moderation by changes in peer norms of the association between changes in symptoms of anxiety and depression and sexual risk behaviors (condom use and sexual partner concurrency) among 1113 sexually active men. Participants nominated their three closest friends in their camp and reported their perceptions of these friends' behaviors, attitudes, and encouragement of condom use and concurrency. Anxiety and depression were measured using the HSCL-25, and condom use and sexual partner concurrency were assessed through self-report. RESULTS: Perceptions of decreasing condom use among friends (descriptive norms) and decreasing encouragement of condom use were associated with lower levels of condom use. Perceptions of increasing partner concurrency and acceptability of partner concurrency (injunctive norms) among friends were associated with higher odds of concurrency. Changes in perceived condom use norms (descriptive norms and encouragement) interacted with changes in anxiety symptoms in association with condom use such that the negative relationship was amplified by norms less favorable for condom use, and attenuated by more favorable norms for condom use. CONCLUSIONS: These results provide novel evidence of the interacting effects of poor mental health and risky sexual behavior norms among a hard to reach population of marginalized young men in Dar es Salaam. Our findings provide important information for future norms-based and mental health promotion interventions targeting HIV prevention in this key population.

Assessment of a 16S rRNA amplicon Illumina sequencing procedure for studying the microbiome of a symbiont-rich aphid genus.

The bacterial communities inhabiting arthropods are generally dominated by a few endosymbionts that play an important role in the ecology of their hosts. Rather than comparing bacterial species richness across samples, ecological studies on arthropod endosymbionts often seek to identify the main bacterial strains associated with each specimen studied. The filtering out of contaminants from the results and the accurate taxonomic assignment of sequences are therefore crucial in arthropod microbiome studies. We aimed here to validate an Illumina 16S rRNA gene sequencing protocol and analytical pipeline for investigating endosymbiotic bacteria associated with aphids. Using replicate DNA samples from 12 species (Aphididae: Lachninae, Cinara) and several controls, we removed individual sequences not meeting a minimum threshold number of reads in each sample and carried out taxonomic assignment for the remaining sequences. With this approach, we show that (i) contaminants accounted for a negligible proportion of the bacteria identified in our samples; (ii) the taxonomic composition of our samples and the relative abundance of reads assigned to a taxon were very similar across PCR and DNA replicates for each aphid sample; in particular, bacterial DNA concentration had no impact on the results. Furthermore, by analysing the distribution of unique sequences across samples rather than aggregating them into operational taxonomic units (OTUs), we gained insight into the specificity of endosymbionts for their hosts. Our results confirm that Serratia symbiotica is often present in Cinara species, in addition to the primary symbiont, Buchnera aphidicola. Furthermore, our findings reveal new symbiotic associations with Erwinia- and Sodalis-related bacteria. We conclude with suggestions for generating and analysing 16S rRNA gene sequences for arthropod-endosymbiont studies.

Single-shot calibration of soft x-ray mirrors using a sinusoidal transmission grating.

Calibration of soft x-ray diagnostics is a challenge due to the lack of laboratory-size calibrated sources. An in situ calibration method for newly developed x-ray mirrors, is presented. The x-ray source is produced by laser-matter interaction, and twin transmission gratings which create two identical dispersion lines. The gratings have a sinusoidal transmission function, which produces a highly precise high-orders free spectrum. An x-ray mirror interacts with one of the dispersion lines, and the mirror efficiency curve as a function of wavelength is extracted. Mirror efficiency shows good agreement with the literature, and evidence of water layer may justify the need of in situ calibration.

[Traumatic brain injury and anterior pituitary dysfunction. Regarding 33 cases: Evolution profile over a six-month period]. / Traumatisme crânien et dysfonctionnements antéhypophysaires. À propos de 33 cas : profil évolutif sur 6 mois.

OBJECTIVES: To measure anterior pituitary dysfunction in traumatic brain injury (TBI) and assess the correlations between this disorder, clinical signs and brain lesions. METHOD: This was a prospective, longitudinal and analytic study conducted in the department of neurosurgery at the National Hospital of Niamey and the institute of radioisotopes of Niamey University between November 2009 and November 2010. All patients admitted for head trauma were included in the study. They were followed-up for 6 months and underwent clinical, hormonal and CT scan analysis. The hormonal studies targeted gonadotroph hormone, growth hormone (GH), corticotroph, lactotroph, and thyreotroph axes. RESULTS: Thirty-three patients were included in the study. The sex ratio was 15.4:1. The mean age was 28.21 years. Glasgow coma scale score was between 7 and 12 in 52% of cases, with brain contusions in 54.5% of cases. In the acute phase, hypogonadism was reported in 64% of cases, and growth hormone deficiency in 58% of cases. Hormonal follow-up at three months showed GH deficiency in 48% of cases with an elevated luteinizing hormone (LH) in 42% of cases. At sixth months, a rise in LH was observed in 55% with GH deficiency in 52% of cases. Surgical procedures were performed in 21% of cases. At 6 months a post-concussion syndrome was observed in 48.48% of cases. CONCLUSION: These pituitary dysfunctions are common and should be investigated into the management of TBI.

Feasibility Analysis of an evidence-based positive prevention intervention for youth living with HIV/AIDS in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.

We evaluated the feasibility of a Positive Prevention intervention adapted for youth living with HIV/AIDS (YLWH) ages 15-24 in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. We conducted in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with intervention facilitators and YLWH participants on the following four areas of a feasibility framework: acceptability, implementation, adaptation, and limited-efficacy. The adapted intervention was suitable, satisfying, and attractive to program facilitators and participants and able to be implemented effectively. It performed well with a new population and showed preliminary efficacy. However, we identified certain aspects of the intervention that must be addressed prior to wider implementation such as: (1) including more content on navigating marriage while living with HIV and disclosure; (2) adjusting intervention timing and session length; and (3) simplifying the more complicated content. An adapted evidencebased intervention was found to be feasible and lessons learned can be applied to YLWH in other low-resource settings.

Adaptation of a U.S. evidence-based Positive Prevention intervention for youth living with HIV/AIDS in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Effective HIV prevention programs for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWH) are important to reduce new infections and to ensure PLWH remain healthy. This paper describes the systematic adaptation of a U.S.-developed Evidence Based Intervention (EBI) using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Map of Adaption Process for use at a Pediatric Hospital in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The adapted intervention, Supporting Youth and Motivating Positive Action or SYMPA, a six-session risk reduction intervention targeted for youth living with HIV/AIDS (YLWH) in Kinshasa was adapted from the Healthy Living Project and guided by the Social Action Theory. This paper describes the process of implementing the first four steps of the ADAPT framework (Assess, Select, Prepare, and Pilot). Our study has shown that an EBI developed and implemented in the U.S. can be adapted successfully for a different target population in a low-resource context through an iterative process following the CDC ADAPT framework. This process included reviewing existing literature, adapting and adding components, and focusing on increasing staff capacity. This paper provides a rare, detailed description of the adaptation process and may aid organizations seeking to adapt and implement HIV prevention EBIs in sub-Saharan Africa and beyond.

Barriers to Provider-Delivered Sexual Behavior Counseling for Youth Living with HIV/AIDS in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

AIMS: The study aimed to understand providers' role in delivering HIV transmission prevention counseling to youth living with HIV (YLWH). METHODS: We conducted 14 in-depth interviews with providers in Kinshasa, DRC. RESULTS: Providers' lack of knowledge and comfort in talking to youth about sex because of cultural and religious beliefs about sexuality, coupled with confusion about legal issues related to youth and contraception, made it difficult for them to effectively counsel youth. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE AND POLICY: In order for providers to deliver effective prevention counseling to YLWH, clinics should follow adolescent-friendly clinic standards, provide counseling in an adolescent-friendly style, and institute an effective referral system for additional prevention services. CONCLUSION: HIV prevention services can be improved through the creation of an adolescent-friendly environment and by providing "values clarification" and skill-based trainings so that providers are able to assess the role of their own beliefs and learn new skills.

Monitoring adverse events following immunization with a new conjugate vaccine against group A meningococcus in Niger, September 2010.

INTRODUCTION: MenAfriVac is a new conjugate vaccine against Neisseria meningitidis serogroup A, the major cause of meningitis outbreaks in sub-Saharan Africa. In Niger, the MenAfriVac introduction campaign was conducted in the District of Filingue, during September 2010, targeting 392,211 individuals aged 1-29 years. We set up an enhanced spontaneous surveillance system to monitor adverse events following immunization (AEFI) during the campaign period and 42 days thereafter. METHODS: All the 33 health centres of the district have been designated as surveillance units, which reported AEFIs on a daily basis to the health district headquarters. Health care workers were instructed to screen patients presenting with predefined conditions of interest and patients spontaneously presenting at units or at vaccination posts with complaints after vaccination. Cases were classified as serious (resulting in death, hospitalization or long-term disability) or minor. A National Expert Committee was established to determine if serious cases were causally associated with the vaccine. RESULTS: In total, 356,532 vaccine doses were administered. During 61 days of monitoring, 82 suspected AEFIs were reported: 16 severe and 66 minor. The cumulative incidence was of 23.0 per 100,000 doses. Among severe cases, 14 were classified as coincidences, one urticaria complicated by respiratory distress was classified as a probable vaccine reaction, and one death was unclassifiable because post-mortem information was unavailable. The number of units that reported at least one case was 19/33 (57.6%). CONCLUSIONS: Although these results are limited by underreporting of cases, we did not identify safety concerns with MenAfriVac. The lessons learned from this experience should be used to reinforce the national pharmacovigilance system in Niger to make it complaint with international standards. In order to do so, we recommend using a lighter system for routine; and conducting regular training and supervisory activities to increase its acceptance among local health workers.

HIV risk perceptions, knowledge and behaviours among female sex workers in two cities in Turkmenistan.

This paper describes HIV risk behaviour patterns among street- and bar-based female sex workers in the Turkmenistan cities of Ashgabat and Mary. Street-based sex workers had little to no knowledge of HIV and primarily used condoms when condom use was initiated by clients. Bar-based sex workers had HIV knowledge and reported regularly using condoms mainly with first-time clients. While sex workers perceived themselves to be at low risk for acquiring HIV, they were aware of other sexually transmitted infections (STI) and expressed a strong desire for free STI testing and treatment services.

Skinning the goat and pulling the load: transactional sex among youth in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Transactional sex has been associated with risk of HIV infection in a number of studies throughout sub-Saharan Africa. Urban young women are economically vulnerable and at heightened risk of HIV infection in Tanzania; yet there are few studies that have explored relationship dynamics, including transactional sex, in this setting. This paper sheds light on the broader context of sexual relationships among youth at risk for HIV, how transactional sex plays out in these relationships, and how the transactional nature of relationships affects women's risk for HIV. We conducted 60 in depth interviews and 14 focus group discussions with young men and women, 16-24 years old, in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. These data guided the development of a community based HIV and violence prevention intervention for young men. Youth described the exchange of sex for money or other material goods in all types of sexual relationships. While the exchange was explicit in casual relationships, young women voiced material and monetary expectations from their committed partners as well. Young men described their pursuit of multiple partners as sexually motivated, while women sought multiple partners for economic reasons. Young men were aware of the expectations of material support from partners, and acknowledged that their ability to provide for a partner affected both the longevity and exclusivity of their relationships. Youth described a deep mistrust of the motivations and commitment of their sexual partners. Furthermore, young women's financial dependence on men impacted their ability to negotiate safe sexual behaviors in both casual and committed relationships. Programs designed to reduce HIV risk among Tanzanian youth need to take into account the transactional component of sexual relationships and how such exchanges differ according to partner type.

[Value of ultrasound detection of post-Mammotome scar for preoperative localization of breast microcalcifications]. / Intérêt de la recherche échographique de cicatrice post-Mammotome pour le repérage préopératoire des foyers de microcalcifications mammaires.

PURPOSE: We attempted to find ultrasound scar subsequent to vacuum assisted breast biopsy (Mammotome system) previously performed, and to enhance its value for preoperative localization. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our study included 34 females requiring needle localization prior to surgery. They previously had Mammotome core biopsies for clustered microcalcifications. US examination was systematically performed before insertion of the metallic marker, in order to detect a scar. Identification of the scar allowed ultrasonographic guided localization. The accuracy was correlated with histologic findings. RESULTS: Ultrasonography detected a scar in 21 of the 34 patients (63%). Among all these cases, a perfect correlation could be established between ultrasound target and histologic scar revealed by microscopic examination. CONCLUSION: Ultrasound detection of scar allows ultrasonographic guidance and can therefore be the only alternative in cases of absence or displacement of the marker clip.

Women's barriers to HIV-1 testing and disclosure: challenges for HIV-1 voluntary counselling and testing.

In view of the ever-increasing HIV/AIDS epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa, the expansion of HIV-1 voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) as an integral part of prevention strategies and medical research is both a reality and an urgent need. As the availability of HIV-1 VCT grows two limitations need to be addressed, namely: low rates of HIV-1 serostatus disclosure to sexual partners and negative outcomes of serostatus disclosure. Results from a study among men, women and couples at an HIV-1 VCT clinic in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania are presented. The individual, relational and environmental factors that influence the decision to test for HIV-1 and to share test results with partners are described. The most salient barriers to HIV-1 testing and serostatus disclosure described by women include fear of partners' reaction, decision-making and communication patterns between partners, and partners' attitudes towards HIV-1 testing. Perception of personal risk for HIV-1 is the major factor driving women to overcome barriers to HIV-1 testing. The implications of findings for the promotion of HIV-1 VCT programmes, the implementation of partner notification policies and the development of post-test support services are discussed.

The intersections of HIV and violence: directions for future research and interventions.

The purpose of this paper is to review the available literature on the intersections between HIV and violence and present an agenda for future research to guide policy and programs. This paper aims to answer four questions: (1) How does forced sex affect women's risk for HIV infection? (2) How do violence and threats of violence affect women's ability to negotiate condom use? (3) Is the risk of violence greater for women living with HIV infection than for noninfected women? (4) What are the implications of the existing evidence for the direction of future research and interventions? Together this collection of 29 studies from the US and from sub-Saharan Africa provides evidence for several different links between the epidemics of HIV and violence. However, there are a number of methodological limitations that can be overcome with future studies. First, additional prospective studies are needed to describe the ways which violence victimization may increase women's risk for HIV and how being HIV positive affects violence risk. Future studies need to describe men's perspective on both HIV risk and violence in order to develop effective interventions targeting men and women. The definitions and tools for measurement of concepts such as physical violence, forced sex, HIV risk, and serostatus disclosure need to be harmonized in the future. Finally, combining qualitative and quantitative research methods will help to describe the context and scope of the problem. The service implications of these studies are significant. HIV counseling and testing programs offer a unique opportunity to identify and assist women at risk for violence and to identify women who may be at high risk for HIV as a result of their history of assault. In addition, violence prevention programs, in settings where such programs exist, also offer opportunities to counsel women about their risks for sexually transmitted diseases and HIV.

Interference between stretched and original pulses.

An off-axis holographic recording method for fast-moving objects that has a time resolution of several picoseconds and a large depth of field is suggested. Two different but mutually coherent laser pulses, the original pulse (20 ps) and a stretched pulse (60 ps), are interfered. The short pulse determines the resolution, and the stretched pulse increases the field depth. Interference patterns between the short and the expanded pulses, for lambda = 1.064 microm and lambda = 0.532 microm, are demonstrated.

Foundations for effective strategies to control sexually transmitted infections: voices from rural Kenya.

Achieving maximal benefit from clinic-based, sexually transmitted infection (STI) control strategies requires that persons seek treatment at public clinics. Community-based, ethnographic research methods were used to examine patterns of health-seeking behavior for sexually transmitted infections in western Kenya. Illness narratives of sexually transmitted infections provided the basis for an analysis of sequential steps in health-seeking behavior, namely recognition, classification, overcoming stigma, identification of treatment options and selection of a course of therapy. A variety of terms were used to identify STI, including multiple terms referring to "women's disease". The stigma associated with STI, reflected in the terminology, was based on a set of beliefs on the causes, contagiousness and sequelae of STI, and resulted in delays in seeking treatment. Five commonly used treatment options were identified, with multiple sources of care often used concurrently. The desire for privacy, cost and belief in the efficacy of traditional medicines strongly influenced health-seeking behaviour. A belief that sexually transmitted infections must be transmitted in order to achieve cure was professed by several respondents and promoted by a traditional healer. Implications for STI control strategies are derived, including the development of educational messages and the design of clinics.

PIP: Data on health-seeking behavior were collected in Vihiga and Homa Bay Districts of western Kenya, as part of formative research for a sexually transmitted disease (STD) control and HIV/AIDS home care project with the main goal of securing information to guide project design and implementation. Community-based, ethnographic research methods were used from January 1995 to June 1996, including key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and in-depth interviews. Illness narratives of STDs provided the basis for an analysis of sequential steps in health-seeking behavior, namely recognizing, classifying, overcoming stigma, identifying treatment options, and selecting a course of therapy. A range of terms were used to identify STDs, including multiple terms referring to "women's disease." Stigma associated with STDs was based upon a set of beliefs of the causes, contagiousness, and sequelae of STDs, and resulted in treatment seeking delays. 5 commonly used treatment options were identified, with multiple sources of care often used concurrently. The desire for privacy, cost, and belief in the efficacy of traditional medicines strongly influenced health-seeking behavior. The belief that STDs must be transmitted in order to achieve cure was held by several respondents and promoted by a traditional healer. Implications for STD control strategies are considered, including the development of educational messages and clinic design.