Role of environmental parameters on the density of intermediate host snails of human schistosoma during the year in the commune of Richard-Toll, Senegal.

The implementation and expansion of development projects (dams and irrigation schemes) in the Senegal River valley have led to a significant proliferation of snails. We conducted a one-year (2014) study project, monitoring their density in the commune of Richard Toll, to assess the role of environmental parameters on mollusc population dynamics. Four species involved in the transmission of human schistosomiasis were found: Bulinus globosus, B. truncatus, B. senegalensis, and Biomphalaria pfeifferi. Among the intermediate hosts, B. truncatus is the most abundant species, followed by B. globosus. Snail density depends on the nature of the water point but also on environmental parameters such as vegetation. This study showed that vegetation, water level (flood), and flow velocity influence the dynamics of the snail populations that are intermediate hosts of human schistosomes.

Asphyxie périnatale au Centre Hospitalier Universitaire pour enfants de Diamniadio, Dakar, Sénégal

Introduction : L'asphyxie périnatale représente la deuxième cause de mortalité néonatale après la prématurité. Elle est souvent liée dans notre contexte aux circonstances de l'accouchement.Objectifs : Décrire les aspects épidémiologiques, cliniques et pronostiques de l'asphyxie périnatale chez des nouveau-nés à terme à l'unité de néonatologie de l'Hôpital pour Enfants de Diamniadio (Dakar).Patients et méthode : Etude rétrospective, descriptive et analytique menée d'octobre 2014 à novembre 2015. Etaient inclus tous les nouveau-nés à terme hospitalisés dans un contexte d'asphyxie.Résultats : Nous avons colligé 50 cas d'asphyxie, soit une fréquence de 19,5% des nouveau-nés à terme. Le sex-ratio était de 1,5. La majorité des mères soit 80% avait un âge compris entre 18-35 ans. Les pathologies obstétricales rencontrées étaient dominées par la rupture prématurée des membranes 28%, l'infection maternelle 18%, l'HTA 16% et les accidents funiculaires 12%. La naissance par césarienne concernait 1 enfant sur 5. La présentation de siège était la plus fréquente. Le liquide amniotique avait un aspect pathologique (teinté, méconial, purée de pois, hématique) dans 54% des cas. Cinquante-quatre pour cent (54%) des patients avaient un score d'Apgar à 7 à la cinquième minute. L'encéphalopathie anoxo-ischémique, la détresse respiratoire et le choc ont été les complications les plus retrouvées avec 88%, 28% et 22% des cas. Le retentissement biologique était surtout rénal et hépatique dans 24% et 38%. Le phénobarbital était l'anticonvulsivant le plus administré (52%) lors du traitement initial. La mortalité était de 32% (16 patients) ; l'âge moyen de décès était de 36 jours. Le liquide amniotique (p = 0,022), les convulsions (p = 0,041), les troubles de la conscience (p = 0,022), l'EAI au stade 2 et 3 (p = 0,036) et la rupture prématurée des membranes (p = 0,019) étaient significativement associés au risque de décès. Des séquelles étaient observées chez 34,2% des patients : une IMC (11), un trouble du langage (7) et une épilepsie (2).Conclusion : L'asphyxie périnatale reste une pathologie grave. La mortalité élevée et la gravité des séquelles rappellent qu'il est impératif de renforcer la prévention par un bon suivi des grossesses et de l'accouchement

Biermer anemia: Hematologic characteristics of 66 patients in a Clinical Hematology Unit at Senegal.

Hematological manifestations can lead to diagnosis of pernicious anemia, also known as Biermer disease and Biermer anemia. This disease has been little studied among black Africans. Our aim is to describe its diagnostic and therapeutic aspects and outcome in our practice. This descriptive study retrospectively examined the records of 66 patients with pernicious anemia seen at the Clinical Hematology Unit of Le Dantec Hospital in Senegal from January 1, 2000, to June 30, 2014. Symptoms were anemic syndrome (40 cases), hemolytic anemia (13), anemic heart failure (7), isolated pallor of the mucous membranes (5), and venous thrombosis (2). Their mean hemoglobin on diagnosis was 6.52 g/dL [1.3-15.2 g/dL], macrocytosis (52), normocytosis (14), hypochromia (4), thrombocytopenia (39), and leukopenia (28 cases). Cytopenia was associated with pancytopenia (25) and bicytopenia (18). Cytologic abnormalities were documented in 42 cases: megaloblastic erythrosis (37 cases) and hypersegmented neutrophils (24 cases). After vitamin B12 therapy - intramuscular (52) or oral (14) -, a reticulocyte crisis was noted on the 8th day and followed by correction of the blood count. Macrocytic anemia, frequently associated with thrombocytopenia and/or leukopenia, is the main hematologic sign evoking pernicious anemia. Venous thrombosis is a rare circumstance of diagnosis that must not be ignored. Intramuscular or oral vitamin B12 is recognized to be effective in these cases and reverses hematological manifestations.

Transmission of Staphylococcus aureus between mothers and infants in an African setting.

Staphylococcus aureus colonization is a risk factor for invasive disease. There is a need to understand S. aureus colonization in infancy as the burden of S. aureus infections in infants is high. We aimed to investigate the transmission of S. aureus between mothers and their newborns during the first year after delivery in an African setting. In a longitudinal cohort study, colonization of Gabonese mother-infant pairs was assessed at delivery and after 1, 9 and 12 months. Swabs were taken from mothers (nares, mammillae) and infants (nares and throat). Isolates were characterized and risk factors for colonization were assessed using a standardized questionnaire. We recruited 311 mothers and 318 infants including seven sets of twins. Maternal and infant colonization rates declined synchronously following a peak after 1 month at 40% (mothers) and 42% (infants). Maternal colonization was a risk factor for S. aureus carriage in infants. Based on spa typing, direct mother-to-infant transmission was evident in 5.6%. Of all methicillin-resistant isolates (n = 9), 44.4% were related to the USA300 clone; 56.7% (n = 261) of all S. aureus carried Panton-Valentine leukocidin encoding genes. Direct mother-to-infant transmission was rare and cannot explain the increase of carriage in infants within the first month. A transmission from external sources is likely and challenges the S. aureus infection control in newborns and infants in an African setting. The detection of USA300-related MRSA fuels the concern about the spread of this clone in Central Africa.

Accuracy evaluation in temperature-dependent EXAFS measurements of CdTe.

The evaluation of uncertainty in temperature-dependent EXAFS measurements is discussed, considering the specific case of a recent experiment performed on CdTe. EXAFS at both Cd and Te K-edges was measured at different times and at different beamlines in a temperature range from 5 to 300 K. Attention is focused on the nearest-neighbours parameters: bond thermal expansion, parallel and perpendicular mean-square relative displacements and the third cumulant. Different causes of uncertainty, a comparison of experimental results with theoretical models, the difference between EXAFS and crystallographic thermal expansions and the meaning of the third cumulant are discussed.

Epidemiology and management of group B streptococcal colonization during pregnancy in Africa.

Group B streptococcal infections are a leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. Maternal microbiological screening during pregnancy and intrapartum antimicrobial treatment of maternal group B streptococcus (GBS) colonization constitutes an effective prevention strategy to reduce early neonatal invasive disease due to GBS in the European and North American setting. Data on the prevalence of GBS colonization in pregnancy and incidence of neonatal invasive GBS disease are very limited for low-income regions. However, the first reports from sub-Saharan Africa indicate that GBS colonization rates may be comparable to industrialized countries and that related neonatal morbidity and mortality is of significance. Prior to the development of suitable prevention strategies, which are undoubtedly needed in resource poor settings, more evidence on GBS epidemiology in sub-Saharan Africa and assessment of cost effectiveness of different prevention strategies are essential.

Negative thermal expansion in crystals with the zincblende structure: an EXAFS study of CdTe.

The extended x-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) has been measured at both the K edges of cadmium and tellurium in CdTe, from liquid helium to room temperature, in order to investigate the local thermodynamic behaviour. The temperature dependences of the structural parameters obtained from the separate analysis of the two edges are perfectly consistent. The positive contribution to the thermal expansion due to the bond stretching and the negative contribution due to the tension effects are disentangled and quantified in terms of the bond thermal expansion and the perpendicular mean square relative displacement. The comparison with previous EXAFS results for Ge and CuCl shows that relevant correlations can be established between a number of local parameters measured by means of EXAFS and the properties of the lattice negative thermal expansion of tetrahedrally bonded semiconductors. The effective force constants derived from the EXAFS are compared with the force constants of a valence force field model.

[Predictive factors of chronic complications in adult sickle cell anemia patients in Dakar, Senegal]. / Facteurs prédictifs des complications chroniques de la drépanocytose homozygote chez l'adulte à Dakar (Sénégal).

PURPOSE: Chronic complications of sickle cell disease (SS) usually involve irreversible organ damage. Several genetic factors have been shown to have predicative value for chronic complications but these data are not always available. The purpose of this study was to assess the value of sociodemographic and clinicobiological features in predicting chronic complications. METHODS: This study included a total of 229 adult SS patients who underwent quarterly follow-up examinations for at least 10 years (range, 10 - 16). All sociodemographic and clinicobiological data were recorded. Screening for complications was performed at least once every three years. The risk of developing chronic complications was analyzed in function of patient follow-up data. RESULTS: Mean patient age was 28.6 years (range, 20 - 57) and sex ratio was 1.3. Prevalence of chronic complications was 34.9% (80/229). The most common complication was bone necrosis in 27 cases (11.7%) followed by gallstones in 24 (10.4%). The only sociodemographic factor with predictive value was patient age (p=0.0008). Multivariate analysis identified two clinicobiological factors with predictive value. History of transfusion was associated with a 3-fold higher risk while hemoglobin F level was associated with decreased risk. CONCLUSION: In this study, age and low hemoglobin F level were the only predictive factors of chronic complications in SS patients.

[Tuberculosis in the mother and child]. / La Tuberculose dans le couple mère-enfant.

INTRODUCTION: Tuberculosis is a scourge in our region; it is particularly dangerous in young children, above all those of tuberculous mothers. The object of this study is to evaluate the prevalence of tuberculosis in the children of tuberculous mothers and to determine how to increase their chances of survival and healthy development. METHODS: Between 1 January and 31 July 2002, 45 women were admitted to hospital with a child of less than 5 years. They received (mothers and children) an intradermal tuberculin test (IDTT) of 10 i.u., chest x-ray, and sputum examination for the mothers. RESULTS: 45 women (aged from 18 to 45 years) were hospitalised for sputum positive tuberculosis, an average IDTT of 13 mm and a high bacterial load (1 to>10 bacilli/hpf). Almost all (96%) presented with cavitating parenchymatous disease. We found no cases positive for HIV. Progress was satisfactory in 43 mothers treated with SRHZ. There were 2 deaths. In the children who were systematically examined, 82% (37) were less than 20 months old, there were 23 boys (51%), and 26 children (58%) were symptomatic at the first consultation. All the children were breast fed, explaining their admission with their mother. Evidence of tuberculous contact was found, 6 times with the father and 4 times with the grandparents. The most common physical signs were fever (92%) cough and weight loss (77%), malnutrition (69%). The IDTT was positive in 38/45 (84.5%) and pustular in 16/38 (42%). The chest x-ray was normal in 16/45 (35.6%), revealed mediastinal adenopathy in 19/29 (65.5%), accompanied by ipsilateral ventilatory problems in 11/29 (38%) and by parenchymal involvement in 3/29 (10.3%). Progress was satisfactory in 44 children on antituberculous treatment (RHE). There was one death on account over severe malnutrition. CONCLUSION: Treatment of tuberculosis in the mother and child is a guarantee of recovery for the mother and healthy development for the child. S: streptomycin, R: rifampicin, H: isoniazid, E: ethambutol, Z: pyrazinamide.

[Antibiotic resistance of the most frequently isolated germs at the Fann University Teaching Hospital between January 1999 and December 2000]. / Résistances aux antibiotiques des principaux germes isolés au CHU de Fann entre Janvier 1999 et Décembre 2000.

Bacterial infections take up an important place in tropical pathology and have an increased death-rate. Among the causes of this strong mortality, the resistance of bacteria to antibiotics keeps a dominant part. We carried out, between January 1999 and December 2000 a study aiming to establish the distribution of the most frequently isolated germs at the Laboratory of Bacteriology of Fann Hospital, their sensibility to antibiotics and the different phenotypes of resistance. We noticed a predominance of enterobacteria (69.30%), notably Escherichia coli (56.76%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (47.69%), but also Staphylococcus aureus (13.91%). Enterobacteria present 39.7% of resistant phenotypes to beta-lactams (E. coli: 61.75% and K. pneumoniae: 47.69%). Only the third generation cephalosporins and fluoroquinolons are constantly actives on enterobacteria, and 69% of S. aureus strains are resistant to methicillin, and so to all beta-lactams. Pseudomonas aeruginosa become difficult to overcome: 51.13% of the strains produce beta-lactamase. The quinolons are the most active antibiotics on this germ. It is very important to settle network that will be in charge to survey the evolution of these bacterial resistances.

[Management of recurrent post thyroidectomy abductor vocal cord paralysis at the Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) department of the Dakar University Teaching Hospital: report of 14 cases]. / Prise en charge des paralysies recurrentielles post thyroïdectomie en adduction au service d'ORL du CHU de Dakar: a propos de 14 observations.

Latrogenic injury of the recurrent laryngeal nerve is a serious accident in the thyroid gland surgery. Bilateral losses of the abduction of the larynx, occurring during thyroidectomy, determine several dyspneas which often necessitate emergency tracheostomy. In second hand, 14 patients, who had undergone thyroidectomy, were admitted in the Ear, Nose and throat departement of Dakar university hospital with bilateral abductor vocal cord paralysis. Material consits of 12 women and 2 men. They were aged between 15 and 58 years old. Clinically, laryngeal dyspnea was noticed for all the patients and, emergency tracheostomy was performed for 10 patients (71,42%). Bilateral abductor vocal cord paralysis occurred after total or subtotal thyroidectomy in 12 cases. In the most cases (71,42%), the treatment was carried out, with arytenoidopexy, by extralaryngeal route. Successful results were noticed for 11 cases (78,6%) and decanulation was realised between 2 to 26 days after procedure operative. If results were satisfied for respiration, voice quality was bad.

Definition, classification, and pathophysiology of acute coronary ischemic syndromes.

The acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is now used to describe a spectrum of clinical presentations that share an underlying pathophysiology, replacing the previous nomenclature of ischemic chest pain. The accurate diagnosis and proper management of patients with these entities require the emergency medicine physician to consider the entire spectrum of ACS, with emphasis placed on early diagnosis and rapid treatment. Each of these syndromes has its own prognosis, pathophysiology, and specific management strategy.

[Aspects of genital tuberculosis in women]. / Aspects de la tuberculose génitale de la femme.

Thirteen cases of genital tuberculosis are reported to make emphasis onto the difficulties of diagnosis, management and prognosis of the disease. The average age of the patients is 31 years. Most of them were under 30. The circumstances of diagnosis were variable. The diagnosis was essentially made thanks to histology. The evolution was favorable under antibiotics. But clinical sequels as amenorrhea and infertility are frequent.

Anatomical relationship between position of the sigmoid sinus and regional mastoid pneumatization.

In order to examine the relationship between the location of the sigmoid sinus (SS) and mastoid pneumatization, 25 adult temporal bones were dissected. Pneumatization was evaluated according to findings during dissections of three separate regions of the mastoid: i.e., the sinodural angle (SDA) area, inter-sinofacial area and mastoid apex. In addition, the SDA and distance between the SS and vertical portion of the facial nerve, were measured at the second genu (G) of the facial nerve, the junction (J) of the nerve and digastric ridge and the midpoint between G and J.A good correlation was observed between pneumatization of the cells surrounding the SDA and the distance between the SS and facial nerve at the mid-point of its vertical segment. However, pneumatization of the inter-sinofacial air cell tract could not be correlated with this distance. A significant decrease in the values of the SDA was found when the air cells surrounding the SDA were poorly pneumatized. This study indicated a correlation between the position of the SS and pneumatization of the mastoid in the area of the SDA.

[Antibiotic sensitivity of Salmonella strains isolated in a pediatric population in Dakar. Research of beta-lactamase and plasmids]. / Sensibilité aux antibiotiques des souches de Salmonella isolées en milieu pédiatrique dakarois. Recherche de bêta-lactamase et de plasmides.

114 strains of Salmonella were isolated from many samples in the Pediatric Hospital (Hôpital d'Enfants Albert Royer) of Dakar between January 1985 and December 1991. The sensibility to antibiotics were tested, and we studied the production of beta-lactamase and the presence of plasmids in the resistant strains. 27 serovars of Salmonella were identified and Salmonella typhi predominates with 45%. Only 28% of the strains were susceptible to all of the antibiotics, and 17% were found multiresistant; 8% of the strains produce beta-lactamase and plasmids were found in 6 multiresistant strains.

Antibodies to hepatitis C virus in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

To study the potential relationship between the hepatitis C virus (HCV), the major etiologic agent of parenterally transmitted non-A, non-B hepatitis, and the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), we tested the presence of anti-HCV antibodies in sera from a large panel of HCC patients of different racial and geographical origins. Anti-HCV antibodies were detected in 82 out of 114 (71.9%) HBsAg-negative HCC patients and in 15 out of 53 (28.3%) HBsAg-positive patients. No significant difference in the prevalence of anti-HCV antibodies was found in the HBsAg-negative HCC patients when they were divided according to presence of anti-HBs and/or anti-HBc antibodies, or absence of all hepatitis B virus (HBV) serological markers. The prevalence of anti-HCV antibodies was similar in HCC patients of Caucasian and African origin. No differences were noted when the patients were grouped according to sex. The mechanisms by which HCV might contribute to the development of HCC need to be further investigated. As for HBV infection, the necro-inflammation associated with HCV infection may induce cirrhosis, regeneration and eventually malignant transformation. The finding that few anti-HCV patients had HCC which is not superimposed on cirrhosis suggests that HCV could, however, exert some direct effect on the development of HCC.