[Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the activities of the cardiology department of the Ignace Deen National Hospital at the Conakry University Hospital]. / Impact de la pandémie de COVID-19 sur les activités du service de cardiologie de l'hôpital national Ignace Deen du CHU de Conakry.

The new coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) is the main global health crisis of our time and the greatest threat we have faced in this century. According to the National Health Security Agency (ANSS), which is the national body responsible for managing epidemics and pandemics, 1927 cases of COVID-19 were confirmed, 11 deaths with more than 4000 contact subjects. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the activities of the cardiology department of the Ignace Deen National Hospital at the Conakry University Hospital. This was a descriptive retrospective study from January 2020 to April 2020, focusing on consultation and hospitalisation activities in the cardiology department of Ignace Deen National Hospital at Conakry University Hospital. The study consisted of assessing the impact of the pandemic on patient use of the service during the first weeks of the pandemic. We recorded the frequency of consultations and hospitalisations from March to April 2020, which we compared to the frequency of consultations and hospitalisations in January and February 2020. During this study from March to April 2020, we identified 130 patients in consultation against 450 patients for the two months preceding the official declaration of the pandemic in Guinea, a drop of 71.1% (320 patients). The same remark was made in hospitalisation with a drop of 75% (35 patients against 140 for the two months preceding the pandemic). At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in Guinea, it is clear that there has been a rapid and significant drop in the effective use of the cardiology service.

[Acute Flaccid Paralysis Secondary to Poliomyelitis: 11 Years of Monitoring in Guinea (2005-2015)]. / Paralysies flasques aiguës dues à des poliovirus : bilan de 11 années de surveillance en Guinée (2005-2015).

The sustained worldwide use of the two available types of polio vaccines has significantly reduced the incidence of this disease. Our main objective is to report a 11-year monitoring period for acute flaccid paralysis secondary to poliovirus in Guinea. It was a retrospective descriptive study for all cases of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) in which poliovirus was isolated by stool examination. During 11 years, 768 cases of AFP, including 8 cases of acute anterior poliomyelitis were collected at a frequency of 1%. The average age was 3.5 years with extremes of 1 year and 6 years, the most represented age group was 0-4 years with 7 cases. Six mothers were housewives doing gold panning as a revenue generating activity. The vaccine virus (serotype 2) was the most isolated with 6 cases.

L'utilisation soutenue à l'échelle mondiale des deux types de vaccins antipoliomyélitiques disponibles a considérablement diminué l'incidence de cette affection. Il s'agit ici d'une étude rétrospective de type descriptive, portant sur tous les cas de paralysie flasque aiguë (PFA) due aux poliovirus en Guinée chez lesquels le poliovirus a été isolé des selles, faisant l'état des lieux de 11 années de surveillance de la PFA. En 11 ans, 768 cas de PFA, dont huit cas de poliomyélite antérieure aiguë ont été enregistrés, soit une fréquence de 1 %. L'âge moyen était de 3,5 ans [1­6 ans]. La tranche d'âge de 0­4 ans était la plus représentée avec 7 cas. La majeure partie (6 cas) des mères des enfants étaient des agricultrices exerçant l'orpaillage. Les souches majoritairement isolées étaient dérivées du vaccin VDPV2.

Embolie pulmonaire mimant un syndrome coronarien aigu ST+ en antéro septal chez une Guinéenne

L'objectif de cette étude était de décrire la ressemblance des manifestations cliniques de l'embolie pulmonaire à celles du syndrome coronarien aigu.Il s'agissait d'une patiente de 60 ans hypertendueadmise pour douleur thoracique d'allure angineuse,dyspnée d'effort évoluant depuis deux jours. Par ailleurs la patiente rapportait une notion de voyage routier récent de plus de 6 heures. Tension artérielle à 170/100mmhg, fréquence cardiaque à 120bpm, fréquence respiratoire à 18cycles/mn , température à370C, SaO2 à 98% à l'air ambiant. L'examen physique est sans particularité. L'électrocardiogramme inscrivait une tachycardie sinusale à 121 cycles/mn,un sus décalage du segment ST en V1, V2 et V3 puis un sous décalage en V5, V6 ,DI ,DII et AVF, une hypertrophie ventriculaire gauche. L'angioscanner thoracique objectivait une embolie pulmonaire de l'artère pulmonaire droite. L'embolie pulmonaire étant la grande simulatrice des pathologies thoraciques en général et en particulier le syndrome coronarien aigu, la vigilance du clinicien est mise à rude épreuve pour ne pas confondre ces deux pathologies qui sont toutes des urgences cardiovasculaires avec une prise en charge bien distincte. Nous mettons ici en exergue les similitudes entre l'embolie pulmonaire et le syndrome coronarien aigu

Prevalence, management and ethnobotanical investigation of hypertension in two Guinean urban districts.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Hypertension is an important public health challenge in low- and middle-income countries, and in many African countries including Guinea medicinal plants are still widely used for its treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of hypertension in two Guinean urban districts (Pounthioun and Dowsare), to describe its management and to collect information on traditional herbal remedies. A total of 316 participants entered the study, 28.2% (89/316) men and 71.8% (227/316) women. Of these, 181 were from Dowsare (50 men and 131 women) and 135 from Pounthioun (39 men and 96 women). The mean age of subjects was 40.8 ±â€¯14.0 years (range18 - 88years), while the majority of subjects (63.3% or 200/316) were 45-74 years old. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of hypertension was 44.9% (142/316): 46.4% (84/181) from Dowsare and 43.0% (58/135) from Pounthioun. Ethnobotanical investigations among hypertensive patients led to the collection of 15 plant species, among which Hymenocardia acida leaves and Uapaca togoensis stem bark were the most cited. Phytochemical investigation of these two plant species led to the isolation and identification of isovitexin and isoorientin from H. acida, and betulinic acid and lupeol from U. togoensis. CONCLUSION: The presence of these constituents in Hymenocardia acida leaves and Uapaca togoensis stem bark may at least in part support their traditional use against hypertension in Guinea.

Profil épidémiologique et clinique des urgences cardiovasculaires à Conakry

Objectif : décrire les aspects épidémiologiques et cliniques des urgences cardiovasculaires au service de Cardiologie de l'Hôpital National Ignace Deen de Conakry. Patients et méthode : Il s'agissait d'une étude prospective descriptive d'une durée de six (06) mois, du 28 janvier au 28 juillet 2017. Elle a porté sur l'ensemble des patients admis et hospitalisés au service pour une urgence cardiovasculaire avec des critères de définition correspondant aux normes internationales pour chaque urgence. Résultats : L'étude a porté sur 119 patients reçus en urgence dans le service pendant la période d'étude. Il y avait 69 hommes (57,9 %) et 50 femmes (42,1). Le sex-ratio H/F était de 1,38. La fréquence des UCV était de 27,9 %. Les principales urgences cardiovasculaires étaient représentées par l'insuffisance cardiaque décompensée (28,6 %) suivie des urgences hypertensives (21,8 %) et de l'infarctus du myocarde (18,5 %). Le délai entre le début des symptômes et l'hospitalisation était en moyenne de 5,7 jours. Les pathologies sous-jacentes les plus fréquentes étaient représentées par l'HTA (48,7 %), les valvulopathies (28,6 %) et les myocardiopathies (10,1 %). Le facteur de risque cardiovasculaire essentiel que nous avons observé était l'hypertension artérielle dans (27,7 %). L'évolution a été favorable dans 85,7% des cas, malheureusement 14, 3 % cas de décès ont été enregistrés. Conclusion : Ces urgences constituent un problème majeur de santé dans notre pays compte tenu de l'insuffisance du plateau technique. L'accent doit être mis sur la prévention des affections cardiovasculaires

[Ambulatory Blood Pressure Measurement's Reults And Indications At Cadiology Department At Hôpital Aristide Le Dantec]. / Indications Et Resultats De La Mesure Ambulatoire De Pression Arterielle Au Service De Cardiologie De L'Hopital Aristide Le Dantec.

High blood pressure (HTA) is a public health problem. It affects more than one billion people around the world, more than a quarter of the world's population. In recent years the ABPM (Ambulatory Blood Pressure Measurement) has become a valuable and widely used tool for the diagnosis and management of hypertension. The aims of this study were to determine the indications of MAPA to the cardiology department of Aristide le Dantec Hospital; to determine the results and to evaluate the blood pressure profile of our patients. METHODS: We carried out a retrospective study, over 37 months from December 2010 to December 2013 covering all the results of the ABPMs recorded during this period. Was included any patient over 18 years of age with an ABPM. All ABPMs with less than 50 good measures per 24 hours were not included. RESULTS: A total of 204 MAPA results were included of a total of 307. The mean age was 49.6 ± 11.5 years with extremes of 25 years and 78 years. The sex ratio was 1.5 in favour of women. Indications were dominated by labile HTA (34.8%); masked HTA (27.9%) and suspicious of the white coat effect (12.3%). The analysis of the results showed that MAPA was normal in 49.5%. The white coat effect was found in 32% (65 patients) of ABPM. In patients with abnormal ABPM, permanent systolic-diastolic hypertension predominated (57%). HTA masked was noted in 25.7% of our patients and HTA white coat was found in 3.8% of cases. In the hypertensive patients treated, MAPA revealed a poor blood pressure balance in 42.1%. Among the HTA prognostic factors we noted32.4% of patients were "Non Dippers", a pulse pressure greater than or equal to 60 mmHg in 59%. CONCLUSION: The use of this exploration is an important aid to practitioners in the diagnostic, therapeutic and prognosis phase of the management of hypertension. It should become more important as it provides better information on the blood pressure profile for the patients.

INTRODUCTION: L'hypertension artérielle(HTA) représente un problème de santé publique. Elle concerne plus d'un milliard d'individus à travers le monde, soit plus du quart de la population mondiale. Ces dernières années la MAPA (mesure ambulatoire de la pression artérielle) est devenue un outil précieux et largement utilisé pour le diagnostic et la prise en charge de l'HTA. Les objectifs de ce travail étaient de déterminer les indications de la MAPA au service de cardiologie de l'hôpital Aristide le Dantec ; d'en déterminer les résultats et d'évaluer le profil tensionnel de nos patients. MÉTHODES: Nous avons réalisé une étude rétrospective, sur 37 mois allant de Décembre 2010 à Décembre 2013 portant sur l'ensemble des résultats des MAPA enregistrées durant cette période. Était inclus tout patient âgé de plus de 18 ans chez qui une MAPA a été enregistré Toutes les MAPA ayant moins de 50 bonnes mesures par 24 heures n'ont pas été inclus. RÉSULTATS: Au total 204 résultats de MAPA ont été inclus sur un total de 307. L'âge moyen était de 49,6 ± 11,5 ans avec des extrêmes de 25 ans et 78 ans. Le sex ratio était de 1,5 en faveur des femmes. Les indications étaient dominées par l'HTA labile (34,8%) ; l'HTA masquée (27,9%) et la recherche de l'effet blouse blanche (12,3%). L'analyse des résultats avait montré que la MAPA était normale dans 49,5% des cas. L'effet blouse blanche était retrouvé dans 32% (65 patients) des MAPA réalisées à visée diagnostique. Chez les patients dont les résultats étaient anormaux l'HTA systolo-diastolique permanente prédominait (57%) avec une différence significative (p=0,003). L'HTA masquée étaient notée chez 25,7% de nos patients et l'HTA blouse blanche était retrouvée dans 3,8% des cas. Chez les hypertendus traités, la MAPA avait révélé un mauvais équilibre tensionnel dans 42.1% des cas et cela au dépens de la systolique avec une différence significative (p=0,02). Parmi les facteurs pronostiques on retrouvait 32,4% de patients « Non Dippers ¼, une pression pulsée supérieure ou égale à 60 mm Hg dans 59%. Le caractère adrénergique était retrouvé chez 65,7% de nos patients. CONCLUSION: L'utilisation de cette exploration constitue une aide importante aux praticiens à la phase diagnostique, thérapeutique, et pronostique de la prise en charge de l'HTA. Elle devrait occuper de plus en plus de place car elle donne de meilleurs renseignements sur le profil tensionnel dans l'environnement quotidien habituel du patient.

Influence of the 2014-2015 Ebola outbreak on the vaccination of children in a rural district of Guinea.

Setting: All health centres in Macenta District, rural Guinea. Objective: To compare stock-outs of vaccines, vaccine stock cards and the administration of various childhood vaccines across the pre-Ebola, Ebola and post-Ebola virus disease periods. Design: This was an ecological study. Results: Similar levels of stock-outs were observed for all vaccines (bacille Calmette-Guérin [BCG], pentavalent, polio, measles, yellow fever) in the pre-Ebola and Ebola periods (respectively 2760 and 2706 facility days of stock-outs), with some variation by vaccine. Post-Ebola, there was a 65-fold reduction in stock-outs compared to pre-Ebola. Overall, 24 facility-months of vaccine stock card stock-outs were observed during the pre-Ebola period, which increased to 65 facility-months of stock-outs during the Ebola outbreak period; no such stock-out occurred in the post-Ebola period. Apart from yellow fever and measles, vaccine administration declined universally during the peak outbreak period (August-November 2014). Complete cessation of vaccine administration for BCG and a prominent low for polio (86% decrease) were observed in April 2014, corresponding to vaccine stock-outs. Post-Ebola, overall vaccine administration did not recover to pre-Ebola levels, with the highest gaps seen in polio and pentavalent vaccines, which had shortages of respectively 40% and 38%. Conclusion: These findings highlight the need to sustain vaccination activities in Guinea so that they remain resilient and responsive, irrespective of disease outbreaks.

Contexte: Tous les centres de santé de la Préfecture de Macenta, en Guinée rural.Objectif: Comparer la rupture en vaccins, en cartes de stock de vaccins et l'administration des différents vaccins d'enfance pendant les périodes pré-Ebola, Ebola et post-Ebola.Schéma: Une étude écologique.Résultats: Des niveaux similaires de rupture étaient observés pour tous les vaccins (bacille Calmette-Guérin [BCG], pentavalent, polio, rougeole, fièvre jaune) dans les périodes pré-Ebola et Ebola (respectivement 2760 et 2706 jours-structure de rupture), avec quelques variations par vaccin. Post-Ebola, il y avait 65 fois plus de réduction en rupture, comparé à la période pré-Ebola. Un total de 24 mois-structure de rupture en cartes de stock de vaccins était observé pendant la période pré-Ebola, qui a augmenté à 65 mois-structure de rupture pendant la période Ebola ; une telle rupture ne s'est pas produite dans la période post-Ebola. Excepté la fièvre jaune et la rougeole, l'administration de vaccin a diminué universellement pendant la période de pointe de l'épidémie (août­novembre 2014). L'arrêt complet de l'administration de vaccin pour le BCG et une baisse marquée pour la polio (diminution de 86%) étaient observés en avril 2014, correspondant à une rupture de vaccins. Post-Ebola, l'administration globale de vaccins n'a pas atteint les niveaux pré-Ebola, avec les plus grands écarts observés aux niveaux de la polio et du pentavalent (respectivement des baisses de 40% et 38%).Conclusion: Ces résultats soulignent le besoin de maintenir les activités de vaccination en Guinée afin qu'elles restent résilientes et réactives, indépendamment de l'épidémie d'une maladie.

Marco de referencia: Todos los centros de atención de salud del distrito de Macenta en una zona rural de Guinea.Objetivo: Comparar el desabastecimiento de vacunas, las tarjetas de existencias de vacunas y la administración de las diversas vacunas de la infancia durante diferentes períodos, en función de la epidemia de fiebre hemorrágica del Ébola, a saber: antes, durante el brote y después del mismo.Método: Un estudio ecológico.Resultados: Se observaron niveles equivalentes de desabastecimientos de todas las vacunas (BCG, pentavalente, antipoliomielítica, antisarampionosa y antiamarílica) antes de la epidemia del Ébola y durante la misma (2760 y 2706 días de desabastecimiento por establecimiento, respectivamente), con alguna variación en función de las vacunas. En el período posterior a la epidemia se presentó una tasa de desabastecimientos 65 veces menor, en comparación con el período anterior a la epidemia. En general, se observaron 24 meses-centro de desabastecimiento en las tarjetas de existencias vacunales durante el período pre-Ébola, que aumentaron a 65 meses-centro de desabastecimiento durante la epidemia; en el período posterior al brote no ocurrió este tipo de desabastecimiento. Con la excepción de la vacuna antiamarílica y la antisarampionosa, la administración de vacunas disminuyó globalmente durante el período de máxima actividad de la epidemia (de agosto a noviembre del 2014). Se observó una interrupción total de la administración de BCG y una tasa considerablemente baja de administración de vacuna antipoliomielítica (disminución de un 86%) en abril del 2014, que correspondió con el desabastecimiento de vacunas. Después de la epidemia del Ébola, la administración general de vacunas no recuperó el nivel anterior al brote y las mayores carencias se observaron con la vacuna antipoliomielítica y la pentavalente (40% y 38% de déficit, respectivamente).Conclusión: Los resultados del presente estudio destacan la necesidad de sostener las actividades de vacunación en Guinea, de manera que conserven su capacidad de recuperación y de respuesta, con independencia de los brotes epidémicos.

Ethnomedical and ethnobotanical investigations on the response capacities of Guinean traditional health practioners in the management of outbreaks of infectious diseases: The case of the Ebola virus epidemic.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The recent outbreak of Ebola virus infections has mostly remained confined to the West African countries Guinea-Conakry, Sierra-Leone and Liberia. Due to intense national and international mobilizations, a significant reduction in Ebola virus transmission has been recorded. While international efforts focus on new vaccines, medicines and diagnostics, no coherent national or international approach exists to integrate the potential of the traditional health practitioners (THPs) in the management of infectious diseases epidemics. Nevertheless, the first contact of most of the Ebola infected patients is with the THPs since the symptoms are similar to those of common traditionally treated diseases or symptoms such as malaria, hemorrhagic syndrome, typhoid or other gastrointestinal diseases, fever and vomiting. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In an ethnomedical survey conducted in the 4 main Guinean regions contacts were established with a total of 113 THPs. The socio-demographic characteristics, the professional status and the traditional perception of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) were recorded. RESULTS: The traditional treatment of the main symptoms was based on 47 vegetal recipes which were focused on the treatment of diarrhea (22 recipes), fever (22 recipes), vomiting (2 recipes), external antiseptic (2 recipes), hemorrhagic syndrome (2 recipes), convulsion and dysentery (one recipe each). An ethnobotanical survey led to the collection of 54 plant species from which 44 identified belonging to 26 families. The most represented families were Euphorbiaceae, Caesalpiniaceae and Rubiaceae. Literature data on the twelve most cited plant species tends to corroborate their traditional use and to highlight their pharmacological potential. CONCLUSIONS: It is worth to document all available knowledge on the traditional management of EVD-like symptoms in order to evaluate systematically the anti-Ebola potential of Guinean plant species.

High prevalence, low awareness, treatment and control rates of hypertension in Guinea: results from a population-based STEPS survey.

Hypertension is a major and fast-growing public health problem in Africa. We determined the prevalence of hypertension and assessed the levels of awareness, treatment and control in Guinea. A cross-sectional study based on a stratified cluster random sampling was conducted. In all, 2491 adults (1351 women) aged 15-64 years were selected and screened during September-December 2009. Hypertension (systolic (and/or diastolic) blood pressure ⩾140 (90) mm Hg or use of antihypertensive medications) and diabetes mellitus (fasting capillary glucose ⩾110 mg dl(-1) or use of antidiabetic medications) were determined. Logistic regressions were used to investigate the determinants of hypertension. The mean body mass index was 22.4 kg m(-2) (s.d.=4.5). The prevalence of hypertension and diabetes was, respectively, 29.9% (95% confidence interval (CI) 29.8-30.0) and 3.5% (95%CI 3.4-3.5). The prevalence of hypertension was 29.4% (29.3-29.5) in men and 30.4% (30.4-30.6) in women. The prevalence was 62.5% in the 44-64 years age group. Overall, 75.8% of hypertensive participants were undetected before the survey and 34.9% of those aware of their hypertensive status were receiving treatment, of whom 16.3% were at target control levels. Age, education, diabetes and obesity were the main factors associated with hypertension. There was a high prevalence of hypertension among the adults in Guinea, but with low awareness, treatment and control rates. Urgent response is needed in the form of integrated and comprehensive action targeting major non-communicable diseases in the country.

La mortalité maternelle à l'hôpital régional de Kindia : facteurs épidémiologiques et axes stratégiques d'intervention

Objectifs. Calculer le ratio de la mortalité maternelle, identifier les caractéristiques épidémiologiques et proposer des axes stratégiques d'intervention. Méthodes. Il s'agit d'une étude descriptive et analytique à recrutement rétrospectif, réalisée du 1erJanvier 1998 au 31 Décembre 2001 à l'Hôpital Régional de Kindia (HRK). Elle a concerné tous les cas de décès maternels survenus au service de gynécologie obstétrique de l'Hôpital Régional de Kindia. Les caractéristiques épidémiologiques, la provenance, la période du décès et le caractère évitable ou non du décès ont été analysés. Le calcul statistique a été fait à l'aide du test de chi² avec une signifi cativité p < 0,05. Résultats. Il y a eu 128 cas de décès matériels pour 6586 naissances vivantes soit 1944 décès pour 100.000 nouveaux-nés. L'âge moyen de patientes était 28,2 ans avec un écart type de 10 ans et des extrêmes de 15 et 44 ans. Les patientes de la tranche d'âge 15-19 ans (31,3%) analphabètes (62,5%), primipares (42,9%), évacuées (76,6%) et celles n'ayant effectuées aucune CPN (56,3%) étaient les plus touchées. Conclusion. La réduction de la mortalité passerait par l'identification des causes de décès, l'offre des soins obstétricaux et néonataux d'urgences complets

[Evaluation of a new polyvalent antivenom against snakebite envenomation (Inoserp® Panafricain) in two different epidemiological settings: Northern Benin and Maritime Guinea]. / Évaluation d'un nouvel antivenin polyvalent contre les envenimations ophidiennes (Inoserp(®) Panafricain) dans deux contextes épidémiologiques: le Nord Bénin et la Guinée Maritime.

OBJECTIVES: The authors evaluated the safety and efficacy of Inoserp(®) Pan Africa, a new polyvalent antivenom composed of highly purified and lyophilized fragments of F(ab')2 immunoglobulins, recently registered in Benin and Guinea. METHODS: We treated 100 patients in northern Benin (Atacora) and 109 in Maritime Guinea (Kindia) with confirmed envenomation. Treatment consisted of intravenous administration of 1 vial for uncomplicated envenomation, and 2 vials for hemorrhagic or neurotoxic envenomation. The dose was repeated when bleeding or signs of neurotoxicity persisted or appeared. RESULTS: In Atacora, on arrival at the hospital, 90% of patients had incoagulable blood, and 50% were bleeding. The resolution of these bleeding disorders was obtained in less than 3 hours for 50% of the patients and in less than 24 hours for 98%. Four patients died. In Kindia, 96 patients (88%) presented viper bites with pain + edema and 13 (12 %) others showed elapid (ptosis, dyspnea) envenomation. One patient bitten by a member of the Elapidae family, died despite early treatment. In Benin, protocol deviations for 60% of patients led to significant underdosing of the antivenom; the proportion was much lower (2%) in Guinea. Signs of intolerance after Inoserp(®) Pan Africa administration were reported in 8% of patients. All these symptoms were mild and disappeared rapidly after an antihistamine or corticosteroid treatment. CONCLUSION: Treatment using intravenous Inoserp(®) Pan Africa appeared to be well tolerated and effective against snakebite envenomation in both epidemiological settings.

Ethnobotanical survey on medicinal plants used by Guinean traditional healers in the treatment of malaria.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The objective of the present study was to collect and document information on herbal remedies traditionally used for the treatment of malaria in Guinea. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The survey was carried out from May 2008 to September 2010 and targeted traditional medical practitioners and herbalists. The questionnaire and oral interviews were based on the standardized model which was prepared by the "Centre de Recherche et de Valorisation des Plantes Médicinales (CRVPM) - Dubréka". RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: A total of 258 people (141 males and 117 females) from which 150 traditional healers and 108 herbalists were interviewed. The age of informants ranged from 28 to 82 years old. 57% (149/258) of the interviewees were more than 50 years old. The respondents had good knowledge of the symptoms of malaria, and a fairly good understanding of the causes. One hundred thirteen plant species were recorded, out of which 109 were identified. They belonged to 84 genera and 46 families. The most frequently cited plants were Vismia guineensis, Parkia biglobosa, Nauclea latifolia, Harungana madagascariensis, Terminalia macroptera, Crossopteryx febrifuga, Terminalia albida, Annona senegalensis, and Nauclea pobeguinii. The leaves were most frequently used (80/113 species), followed by stem bark (38/113 species) and roots (4/113 species). The remedies were mostly prepared by decoction (111 species), followed by maceration (seven species). Only one species was prepared by infusion. CONCLUSION: The present study showed that traditional healers in Guinea have a consistent knowledge of antimalarial plants. Further research should be carried out to compare the anti-malarial activity of the different species, and to check if their use against malaria can be scientifically validated.

[Clinical study of tolerance and effectiveness of a F(ab')(2) polyvalent antienom for African snake bites in Kindia, Guinea]. / Étude clinique de la tolérance et de l'efficacité d'un sérum anti-ophidien polyvalent F(ab')(2) pour l'Afrique à Kindia, Guinée.

An open, pragmatic, phase IV clinical trial was undertaken to measure tolerance and assess the effectiveness of Antivipmyn® Africa, antivenom composed of lyophilized F(ab')(2) fragments of immunoglobulin G in field conditions. The study was conducted at the Institut Pasteur of Guinea (IPG) from August 2009 to February 2010. Two hundred twenty-eight victims of snakebites presented at the processing center of the IPG during this period, including one hundred fifty (65.8%) envenomations, mostly young men. One hundred twenty-four of them (82.7%) suffered from viper envenomations and 26 (17.3%) from elapid ones. All patients were treated by intravenous Antivipmyn® Africa, averaging 1.4 (± 1.0) vials, more in patients with neurotoxic envenomation than others (P < 10(-5)). Four patients (2.7%), showing cobralike envenomation, died shortly after their arrival at the IPG despite the administration of the antivenom. Ten patients showed mild side effects (rash or pruritus), out of which 5 (3.3%) were probably due to treatment. This study confirms the efficacy and safety of Antivipmyn® Africa.

[A survey on the venomous snakes of the vicinity of Kindia (Guinea) and considerations on the treatment of snakebite]. / Etude epidémiologique des serpents venimeux et prise en charge des envenimations a Kindia (Guinée).

Between June and December 2004, snake collections were undertaken in eight villages of the vicinity of Kindia, an area of Guinea Conakry where the incidence of snakebite is among the highest reported in the world. A total of 916 specimens were collected, including 90 Elapidae (9.8 %) and 174 Viperidae (19.0%). The Black Mamba Dendroaspis polylepis was represented by eight specimens, i.e. almost 1% of the snakes collected. This species, which is considered as very rare in West Africa, appears common in this area of Guinea. The current difficulties for the treatment of snakebite due to the high increase of the cost of antivenom therapy are discussed.

Etude epidemiologique des serpents venimeux et prise en charge des envenimations a Kindia (Guinee)

De juin a decembre 2004 une collecte de serpents a ete organisee dans huit localites des environs de Kindia; une region de Guinee Conakry ou l'incidence des morsures de serpents et des deces qu'elles occasionnent sont parmi les plus elevees signalees dans le monde. Un total de 916 specimens a ete recolte; dont 90 Elapides (9;8) et 174Viperides (19;0). Le Mamba noir Dendroaspis polylepis etait represente par huit specimens; soit pres de 1de l'ensemble des serpents collectes. Cette espece consideree comme tres rare en Afrique de l'Ouest apparait comme frequente dans cette region de Guinee. Les difficultes actuelles de prise en charge des victimes de morsure de serpents provoquees par la forte augmentation du cout du traitement antivenimeux sont discutees

[African trypanosomiasis in the Republic of Guinea].

The information on the Gambian form of African human trypanosomiasis (AHT), collected in Guinea, is analyzed. The fauna of tsetse flies currently numbers at least 8 species. Two species are the vectors of AHT. These include G.(N.) palpalis and G.(N.) tachinoides, the latter of which is the vector of animal trypanosomiasis ("nagana" cattle disease) as well. In the period of 1991 to 1997, the country's incidence of AHT was 9.6:100,000. The highest morbidity was established in the natural region of Lower Guinea (23.4:100,000, with mortality rates of 1.1 to 18.5%). A clinical study of the population of a few villages in this region revealed 6 patients with AHT. Its clinical diagnosis was parasitologically verified. Preliminary studies suggest the circulation of the pathogen of AHT in Guinea, the most active foci of which are in Lower Guinea. The epidemiological features of AHT and its epidemic significance for Guinea are yet to be studied.

[Hypokalaemia and paralysis: think about the thyroid]. / Hypokaliémie et paralysie: penser à la thyroïde.

Periodic hypokalemic paralysis can be of genetic origin or secondary to other causes of hypokalaemia. The thyreotoxic hypokalemic periodic paralysis (THPP) usually occurs among asian subjects. It is a diagnostic and therapeutic emergency which may lead to life-threatening complications due to hypokalaemia and muscle weakness. The potassium supplementation is followed by a complete recovery after a few hours. We underlined the interest of thyroid assays in patients having an acute muscular paralysis associated with hypokalaemia.

Diabetes and impaired fasting glucose in rural and urban populations in Futa Jallon (Guinea): prevalence and associated risk factors.

AIM: The authors present the results of the first survey conducted among the population of the Futa Jallon province in Guinea on the prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) and impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and associated risk factors for diabetes. METHOD: A random sample of the study population selected by cluster house sampling method included 1537 Guineans (807 women and 730 men) aged 35 years and above in urban (Labé) and rural (Fellö Koundoua-Tougué) areas. Participants were examined and administered a capillary whole blood glycemia test. RESULTS: The mean age of subjects was 49.4 years. Participation rate was 77%. Overall crude diabetes and IFG prevalence were 6.1% and 13.4%, respectively. The age-adjusted prevalence of diabetes using the standardized age distribution of Segi was 6.7% (95% CI: 5.5-7.9%). Subjects in the urban area had twice as much DM as in the rural area (OR 2.0, 95% CI: 1.3-3.2). Out of the 94 subjects with DM, 66 had no prior history of disease. Urban location, age, waist to hip ratio, excess waist circumference, hypertension, raised systolic and diastolic blood pressures were significantly positively associated with DM. In multivariate analysis, only age (P=0.002) and waist circumference (P<0.05) remained independently associated with DM. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of DM was higher than expected in urban and rural areas. The data support the conclusion that prevalence of DM is expected to increase with the aging of the population. The factors associated with diabetes are potentially modifiable. Therefore, primary prevention through lifestyle modifications may play a critical role in the control of DM.

[Frequency of diabetic microangiopathy in newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus in Conakry: late diagnosis and lack of screening]. / Frequence de la micro-angiopathie a la decouverte du diabete a Conakry: diagnostic tardif et insuffisance du dépistage.

INTRODUCTION: Diabetes morbidity is not only connected to a scarce therapeutic care. It is especially the fact of late diagnosis of diabetes, at a time where complications are already present. The aims were to estimate the frequency of microangiopathy observed at the time of diabetes diagnosis within diabetic patients received in Conakry University Hospital and to describe the clinical characteristics of patients who had this complication. PATIENTS AND METHOD: We prospectively examined 116 patients [76 men (65.5%) and 40 women (34.5%); 11% type 1 diabetes and 89% type 2 diabetes] consecutively received and for whom known evolution of diabetes was lower or equal to three-months. All patients were interrogated (in search of cardiovascular risk factors), had a systematic check for retinopathy (exam done by ophthalmologist) or nephropathy (by measure of creatinine, urea and proteinuria). RESULTS: Diabetic retinopathy was present in 29 cases (24.8%) and diabetic nephropathy in 9 cases (7.8%), one at the stage of chronic renal failure. The patients who had microangiopathy were older than the others (p = 0.003) and have more frequently Type 2 diabetes (p = 0.005). However, glycaemia level and cardiovascular risk factors (nicotine addiction, arterial high blood pressure, obesity and sedentary) were not statistically different between both groups. CONCLUSION: Diabetic microangiopathy is frequent at the time of diabetes diagnosis in Guinea. Thus need for a check-up at the diabetes discovery time, as these results point the therapeutic choices and justify patient's compliance.