Methanol related death in National Institute of Forensic Medicine, Hospital Kuala Lumpur: A case series.

INTRODUCTION: Methanol is a widely available chemical with a range of uses including as solvent, as a fuel, in chemical synthesis and anti-freeze preparations. Most of the cases are accidental exposures to drinking beverages contaminated with methanol. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In mid-September 2018, there was a single outbreak of methanol poisoning in Malaysia especially involving the state of Federal Territory Kuala Lumpur and Selangor. There were 33 reported deaths suspected due to methanol poisoning in this current outbreak where 11 of them were brought in to the Institute of Forensic Medicine (NIFM), Kuala Lumpur. The last outbreak was in the year 2013 with 29 deaths reported out of 44 cases. RESULTS: There were 3 cases (27.2%) died in hospital and the remaining 8 cases (72.8%) were found dead at home and were later brought in dead to the hospital. A full autopsy was carried out for each case. Autopsy findings, as well as lab results pertaining to cases that survived and directly brought in dead, were of a different spectrum. CONCLUSION: Methanol related deaths are almost always as a result of greed. The running truism is 'methanol poisoning is a result of deliberate addition/adulteration with industrial methanol'. Prevention of the illegal production of methanol and methylated spirits should be established to curb this matter in the future.

Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 1 burden in the African meningitis belt: exploration of functionality in specific antibodies.

Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 1 (Sp1) constitutes an important cause of seasonal endemic meningitis in all age groups in the African meningitis belt. Despite a higher meningitis incidence, the Burkinabé population has an Sp1-specific antibody seroprevalence similar to that reported in the United Kingdom (UK). We aimed to establish whether the opsonophagocytic activity (OPA) of pneumococcal IgG naturally present in Burkina Faso differs from that seen in individuals in the UK and to compare the OPAs generated by natural and vaccine-induced immunity. Samples collected from pneumococcal vaccine-naive Burkinabé and UK subjects were matched for age (1 to 39 years) and anti-Sp1 IgG level, analyzed for OPA to 3 S. pneumoniae serotypes (1, 5, and 19A), and compared to postvaccine samples. Furthermore, the Burkinabé samples were assessed for IgG avidity and serotype-specific IgM concentrations. One hundred sixty-nine matched serum samples from both populations were selected. A greater proportion of Burkinabé subjects aged 1 to 19 years had functional Sp1 activity (OPA ≥ 8) compared to UK subjects (12% versus 2%, P < 0.001); however, the proportions were similar among adults (9%). The correlation between Sp1 IgG concentration and OPA was good (P < 0.001), but many individuals had nonfunctional IgG, which was not related to avidity. While the Sp1 IgM concentrations correlated with OPA, not all of the function in serum samples with low IgG could be attributed to IgM. Finally, vaccine-induced Sp1-specific IgG was more functional than equivalent amounts of naturally occurring IgG. In conclusion, despite a substantially higher pneumococcal meningitis incidence, no decreased functional immunity to Sp1 could be evidenced in the Burkinabé population compared to that in the population from the UK. Furthermore, the naturally induced antibodies were less functional than vaccine-induced antibodies.

[Impact of a conjugated anti meningococcal A vaccine on notification of bacterial meningitis in West Burkina Faso (2009-2012)]. / Impact d'un vaccin conjugué antiméningococcique « A ¼ sur les méningites bactériennes notifiées à l'ouest du Burkina Faso (2009-2012).

Burkina Faso is a sub-saharan African country completely included in the meningococcal meningitis belt. The western part of the country suffered from many meningococcal A epidemics, in spite of reactive collective campaigns with polysaccharide A vaccine. On 6th December 2010, Burkina Faso was the first African country to conduct a collective vaccination campaign of all the 1-29 years old population with a new conjugated meningococcal Avaccine (MenAfriVac™). Before this campaign, in Western Burkina (4,064,928 inhabitants, 27.5% of total population), a rehearsal of the staff of all peripheral medical laboratories has been conducted, with delivery of laboratory equipment, reactants, and possibility to transfer CSF specimens at the central level to confirm bacteriologic species in cause by latex, culture and PCR analysis. For this campaign, an administrative coverage of 100.3% was reached. A nearly complete disappearance of meningitis due to meningococcus A was recorded, but an increase of cases due to meningococcus X, W135. With the increase of quality of surveillance, and MenAfriVac™ vaccination showed its beneficial effect on meningococcus A meningitis. If we want however to impact on the number of recorded acute bacteriological meningitis, we will have to use multi-antigenic, if possible conjugated, meningococcal vaccines against locally circulating meningococcal species, the number of pneumococcal meningitis being contained by the recent inclusion in EPI of a 13-valent conjugated pneumococcal vaccine.

Are healthcare workers at higher risk of HIV infection than the general population in Burkina Faso?

In order to assess the HIV prevalence in healthcare workers (HCWs) in Burkina Faso, we conducted a national survey in 97 health facilities from urban and rural areas. Of 1570 HCWs who agreed to participate, 1013 (64·5%) provided a urine sample for HIV testing. The crude prevalence of HIV in HCWs was 3·5% (95% CI 2·3-4·6). HIV prevalence was 0·7% in students and trainees, 3·8% in nurses and midwives, 4·5% in administrative workers, and 4·6% in laboratory workers. After age and area standardization, men from the Demographic Health Survey (DHS) had a similar HIV prevalence (2·3%, 95% CI 1·4-2·9) as male HCWs (2·5%, 95% CI 1·1-4·0), while female HCWs were more infected (4·5%, 95% CI 2·5-6·0) than women from the DHS (2·1%, 95% CI 1·3-2·4). A voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) programme should be specifically implemented and adapted for female HCWs.

Computation of many-particle quantum trajectories with exchange interaction: application to the simulation of nanoelectronic devices.

Following Oriols (2007 Phys. Rev. Lett. 98 066803), an algorithm to deal with the exchange interaction in non-separable quantum systems is presented. The algorithm can be applied to fermions or bosons and, by construction, it exactly ensures that any observable is totally independent of the interchange of particles. It is based on the use of conditional Bohmian wave functions which are solutions of single-particle pseudo-Schrödinger equations. The exchange symmetry is directly defined by demanding symmetry properties of the quantum trajectories in the configuration space with a universal algorithm, rather than through a particular exchange-correlation functional introduced into the single-particle pseudo-Schrödinger equation. It requires the computation of N(2) conditional wave functions to deal with N identical particles. For separable Hamiltonians, the algorithm reduces to the standard Slater determinant for fermions (or permanent for bosons). A numerical test for a two-particle system, where exact solutions for non-separable Hamiltonians are computationally accessible, is presented. The numerical viability of the algorithm for quantum electron transport (in a far-from-equilibrium time-dependent open system) is demonstrated by computing the current and fluctuations in a nano-resistor, with exchange and Coulomb interactions among electrons.

[Epidemiological situation of yellow fever in Burkina Faso from 2003 to 2008]. / Situation épidémiologique de la fièvre jaune au Burkina Faso de 2003 à 2008.

Despite the existence of antiamaril vaccine in the routine Expanded Program of Immunization (EPI) in Burkina Faso, yellow fever cases still occur in the country. In collaboration with WHO, the national health authorities set up a surveillance system through the national reference laboratory in Centre Muraz (Bobo-Dioulasso). All samples of feverish icterus cases of the 63 health districts of the country were analysed in this lab for M Immunoglobulin using Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (Elisa). Positive Elisa samples were sent to Pasteur Institute of Dakar (Senegal) for confirmation using a Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) assay. From 2003 to 2005, the number of confirmed cases of yellow fever was respectively of 1/413 (0.24%), 14/616 (2.27%) and 19/618 (3.07%). This increasing of the proportion was statistical different. Then, from 2006 to 2008, the confirmed case proportion was respectively 0.35%, 0.27 and 0.54% without significant difference (P = 0.69). The entomological investigations conducted in 2004 in Bobo-Dioulasso showed that the water pots constitute 48.11% mosquitoes lodgings, followed by metal drums with a strong representation of Culex quinquefasciatus (48.7%), followed by Aedes aegypti (43.3%), as vectors in domestic areas with sectorial variations. These results suggest that more attention must be paid by the national health authorities and international community regarding this disease.

Lead accumulation in surface soils and components of Balenites aegyptica specie in a Katsina urban area, Nigeria.

OBJECTIVE: The main objective of this paper is to assess the impact of various vehicular traffic densities on lead (Pb) accumulations in some environmental components in Katsina, a semi-arid urban area of Nigeria. METHODS: This was achieved by collecting and analyzing samples of surface soils, fruits, kernels, leaves, and barks of Balanites aegyptica from locations of different vehicular traffic densities in the area, and analyzing them for lead, using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. RESULTS: The results obtained revealed that the Pb concentration in the high, medium, low, and zero traffic density areas are, 75, 53, 35, and 12 microg x g(-1) respectively for the fruit pulp. They are also16, 13, 8, and 6 microg x g(-1) for fruit kernel and 44, 28, 17, and 9 microg x g(-1) respectively for leaves. For tree barks, the values are 138, 97, 64, and 18 microg x g(-1) respectively while for under-tree-canopy soil samples the mean values are 99, 74, 44, and 17 microg x g(-1). In the case of outside-canopy soil samples, the mean values are 113, 91, 50, and 18 microg x g(-1) respectively for the various classes of vehicular traffic density. CONCLUSION: These results indicate a strong influence of vehicular traffic density on Pb emission into surrounding atmosphere and its subsequent precipitation on soil and components of B. aegyptica specie in the area. Of all the samples, tree bark should be the best index of assessing Pb pollution in the area, as it maintains the closest contact with the surrounding atmosphere. Since Pb has no known lower limit for human tolerance, there is an urgent need for Pb pollution control in the area to be effectively enforced.

Review of STI and HIV epidemiological data from 1990 to 2001 in urban Burkina Faso: implications for STI and HIV control.

OBJECTIVES: To better understand the sexually transmitted infection (STI)/HIV dynamics in an urban west African setting in order to adapt STI/HIV control efforts accordingly. METHODS: Review of STI and HIV epidemiological studies performed over the past decade in Bobo-Dioulasso, the second city of Burkina Faso. Trends in STI prevalence among commercial sex workers and the general population were assessed over time through studies that used the same recruitment and laboratory diagnostic procedures. Variations in aetiologies of vaginal discharge, urethral discharge, and genital ulcers were also evaluated among patients consulting for genital infection complaints. Antenatal clinic based surveys provided data to assess HIV trend among the general population. RESULTS: We observed an important decline of classic bacterial STI such as syphilis, Neisseria gonorrhoea, Chlamydia trachomatis, and Haemophilus ducrey infections in all study groups. Trichomoniasis also declined but to a lesser extent. HIV infection followed the same trend at the same time, with a significant decline in the 15-19 year age group of pregnant women, suggesting a possible decrease of HIV incidence. Although no evidence of a causal relation can be drawn from this review, adoption of safer sex behaviour, introduction of the syndromic management (SM) approach, or higher antibiotic use may have contributed to these changes. CONCLUSIONS: Classic bacterial STI declined over the past decade in parallel with a stabilisation of HIV infection. Variations in syndromes aetiology and sexual behaviours should be monitored as part of STI surveillance in order to improve STI syndromic management algorithms and to adapt HIV/STI prevention efforts.

Cu, Mn, Fe, and Zn levels in soils of Shika area, Nigeria.

OBJECTIVE: Heavy metals presented in toxic amounts can become injurious to human health. In areas where there is a high level of human activities on soils (such as agriculture and grazing) studies are therefore required from time to time to monitor levels of such metals in the soils in order to identify the point in time when toxicity problems become real. The objective of this paper is to determine the concentrations of some trace metals (Cu, Mn, Fe, and Zn) in soils under cultivation and grazing practices in Shika, a rural area of Kaduna state of Nigeria. METHOD: In this study, soil samples collected from three different categories of locations (cultivated, grazed, and uncultivated/non-grazed serving as a control) across Shika area, Nigeria, were analysed for some trace metal levels (Cu, Mn, Fe, and Zn) using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. For each category, multiple sites were chosen to accommodate all possible intra-category variations, especially in terms of land use and management history and topographic characteristics. Topsoil (0-15 cm) and subsoil (20-30 cm) samples were collected from every site and analysed for the above metals. Averaged values of the metals for the three categories revealed that Zn is the most abundant metal, followed by Fe, then Mn and Cu the least. RESULTS: The results obtained indicate that the cultivation practices, and to a lesser extent grazing, in the area result in higher levels of all the metals than in the control, suggesting that crop immobilization of the metals from soils of the area is low, and that their systematic accumulation is taking place in cultivated soils of the area. Prospects of having elevated soil levels of the metals due to cultivation practices in the area therefore seem quite high. CONCLUSION: On the basis of the results obtained, it was concluded that grazing and cultivation practices have in general caused some significant elevations in the bioavailable (i.e the plant available forms) levels of Zn, Fe, Mn, and Cu in soils of the area.

Sexual and reproductive life of women informed of their HIV seropositivity: a prospective cohort study in Burkina Faso.

BACKGROUND: In the context of the DITRAME-ANRS 049 research program that evaluated interventions aimed at reducing mother-to-child transmission of HIV (MTCT) in Bobo-Dioulasso (Burkina Faso), Voluntary HIV counseling and testing (VCT) services were established for pregnant women. HIV-infected women were advised to disclose their HIV serostatus to their male partners who were also offered VCT, to use condoms to reduce sexual transmission, and to choose an effective contraception method to avoid unwanted pregnancies. This study aimed at assessing how HIV test results were shared with male sexual partners, the level of use of modern contraceptive methods, and the pregnancy incidence among these women informed of the risks surrounding sexual and reproductive health during HIV infection. METHODS: From 1995 to 1999, a quarterly prospective follow-up of a cohort of HIV-positive women. RESULTS: Overall, 306 HIV-positive women were monitored over an average period of 13.5 months following childbirth, accounting for a total of 389 person-years. The mean age at enrollment in the cohort was 25.1 (standard deviation, 5.2 years). In all, 18% of women informed their partners, 8% used condoms at each instance of sexual intercourse to avoid HIV transmission, and 39% started using hormonal contraception. A total of 48 pregnancies occurred after HIV infection was diagnosed, an incidence of 12.3 pregnancies per 100 person-years. Pregnancy incidence was 4 per 100 person-years in the first year of monitoring and this rose significantly to 18 per 100 person-years in the third year. The only predictor of the occurrence of a pregnancy after HIV diagnosis was the poor outcome of the previous pregnancy (stillbirth, infant death). Severe immunodeficiency and change in marital status were the only factors that prevented the occurrence of a pregnancy after HIV diagnosis. CONCLUSION: Our study shows a poor rate of HIV test sharing and a poor use of contraceptive methods despite regular advice and counseling. Pregnancy incidence remained comparable with the pregnancy rate in the general population. To improve this situation, approaches for involving husbands or partners in VCT and prevention of MTCT interventions should be developed, evaluated, and implemented.

Stabilization of HIV infection rates in urban Burkina Faso, 1995-1999.

The objectives of this study were to monitor the trends of the HIV epidemic between 1995 and 1999 among pregnant women in Bobo-Dioulasso, the second largest town of Burkina Faso, and to discuss the possible effect of preventive interventions (condom availability) on sexual transmission of HIV in this context. Age-specific trends in HIV prevalence obtained from sentinel surveillance programme were analysed. Among antenatal clinic attendees, HIV prevalence was 7.5% (n=401) in 1995, 10% (n=200) in 1996, 7.6% (n=448) in 1997, 8.4% (n=642) in 1998 and 5.3% (n=716) in 1999 without demonstrated temporal trend (P=0.12). The average number of condoms available per person (aged 15-49 years) per year increased from 0.6 in 1992 to 5.7 in 1995 and 6.0 in 1999. Anonymous surveys are less subject to selection bias and suggest a stabilization of the HIV prevalence around 7.3% in Bobo-Dioulasso. Distribution of condoms could explain at least, partly, this stabilization of the HIV epidemic.

[Impaired fertility in women infected with HIV-1. Implications for sentinel serosurveillance]. / Réduction de la fertilité chez les femmes infectées par le VIH-1. Implications pour la sérosurveillance sentinelle.

BACKGROUND: Given the relationship between HIV infection and fertility, antenatal clinic-based HIV prevalence may not provide a good estimate of the community HIV prevalence. The objective of this work was to evaluate the impact of HIV infection on fertility among women attending antenatal clinics in Bobo-Dioulasso (Burkina Faso), and to discuss possible implications on HIV sentinel surveillance. METHODS: In the context of a phase II/III clinical trial of a short course of Zidovudine during pregnancy (DITRAME - ANRS 049 trial) we consecutively proposed voluntary counselling and HIV testing (VCT) to 1349 women aged at least 18 years, carrying a pregnancy of 7 months or less and living in Bobo-Dioulasso. During pre-test counselling session, a standardised questionnaire was administered to collect detailed information regarding socio-demographic characteristics and obstetrical history. Blood samples were then taken and tested for HIV after written informed consent. RESULTS: Mean age (+/- standard deviation) at first sexual intercourse was similar among HIV-infected (HIV+) (16.7+/- 2; n=83) and HIV-negative (HIV-) women (16.9+/- 2; n=1336). However, HIV+ women aged 25 years and above had, on the average fewer pregnancies (3.8+/- 1.5; n=37) than HIV- women (5.0+/- 2.3; n=567), p<0.01. Similarly, these HIV+ women had, on average, less live births (2.8+/- 1.3; n=35) than HIV- ones (3.7+/- 2.1; n=555), p=0.02. Other sexual and obstetrical characteristics such as maternal age, proportion of primigravidae, stillbirths or spontaneous abortions were comparable between HIV+ and HIV- women. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that the level of fertility of HIV+ women aged 25 years and above is significantly lower than for HIV- women. Therefore, HIV+ women in this age group are likely to be under-represented among antenatal clinic attendees. These findings suggest adjusting antenatal clinic-based HIV sentinel surveillance data for age and fertility in order to derive a good estimate of the community HIV prevalence.

Seroprevalence of syphilis among women attending urban antenatal clinics in Burkina Faso, 1995-8. The DITRAME Study Group. DIminunation de la TRAnsmission Mère-Enfant.

OBJECTIVES: To describe annual trends in syphilis seroprevalence and to identify risk factors of syphilis among pregnant women receiving antenatal care in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso. METHODS: Women were recruited between January 1995 and July 1998 in three antenatal clinics where counselling and HIV testing services had been established in the context of a trial evaluating a short course of zidovudine to reduce mother to child transmission of HIV (ANRS 049 trial). Sociodemographic variables were collected during HIV pretest counselling sessions. Syphilis diagnosis was considered when serum was positive with both rapid plasma reagin and Treponema pallidum haemagglutination assay (TPHA) tests. RESULTS: Overall, 10,980 pregnant women were screened. Syphilis seroprevalence was 0.24% (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.15-0.35) without changes over time. HIV prevalence was 8.8% (CI: 8.3-9.3). In a multivariable analysis, having casual sex partners (odds ratio (OR) = 4.48; CI: 1.62-12.38), being HIV seropositive (OR = 2.62; CI: 1.02-6.74), and being illiterate (OR = 3.78; CI: 1.24-11.48) were independent risk factors for syphilis infection. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests low syphilis seroprevalence in this city of Burkina Faso. Sexually transmitted disease programmes should be reinforced to offer free access to syphilis screening and treatment in order to eliminate this disease, in coordination with HIV prevention and care.