Associations between antiretroviral regimen and changes in blood pressure: results from the D2EFT study.

In this randomised, controlled study in 14 low- and middle-income countries, individuals taking dolutegravir with darunavir/ritonavir for 48 weeks had a greater increase in systolic and diastolic blood pressure than individuals taking two nucleoside reverse transcriptase with darunavir/ritonavir. The difference remained significant after controlling for confounding factors including weight gain.

Improving early infant diagnosis for HIV-exposed infants using unmanned aerial vehicles for blood sample transportation in Conakry, Guinea: a comparative cost-effectiveness analysis.

BACKGROUND: Early infant diagnosis (EID) for HIV-exposed infants is essential due to high mortality during the first months of their lives. In Conakry (Guinea), timely EID is difficult as traffic congestion prevents the rapid transport of blood samples to the central laboratory. We investigated the cost-effectiveness of transporting EID blood samples by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), also known as drones. METHODS AND FINDINGS: Using Monte Carlo simulations, we conducted a cost-effectiveness comparative analysis between EID blood samples transportation by on-demand UAV transportation versus the baseline scenario (ie, van with irregular collection schedules) and compared with a hypothetic on-demand motorcycle transportation system. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) per life-year gained was computed. Simulation models included parameters such as consultation timing (eg, time of arrival), motorcycle and UAV characteristics, weather and traffic conditions. Over the 5-year period programme, the UAV and motorcycle strategies were able to save a cumulative additional 834.8 life-years (585.1-1084.5) and 794.7 life-years (550.3-1039.0), respectively, compared with the baseline scenario. The ICER per life-year gained found were US$535 for the UAV strategy versus baseline scenario, US$504 for the motorcycle strategy versus baseline scenario and US$1137 per additional life-year gained for the UAV versus motorcycle strategy. Respectively, those ICERs represented 44.8%, 42.2% and 95.2% of the national gross domestic product (GDP) per capita in Guinea-that is, US$1194. CONCLUSION: Compared with the baseline strategy, both transportation of EID blood samples by UAVs or motorcycles had a cost per additional life-year gained below half of the national GDP per capita and could be seen as cost-effective in Conakry. A UAV strategy can save more lives than a motorcycle one although the cost needed per additional life-year gained might need to consider alongside budget impact and feasibility considerations.

Higher diversity, denser stands and greater biomass in peri-urban forests than in adjacent agroforestry systems in Western Burkina Faso: implications for urban sustainability.

Urban and peri-urban forests greatly contribute to the well-being of urban dwellers in West Africa. However, increasing urban densification and spatial expansion negatively affect the functioning of urban ecosystems. Therefore, highlighting the negative impacts of land use change on the ecological attributes of urban landscapes is fundamental for sustainable urban planning. This study aimed to assess the impacts of land use on woody species diversity, structure and carbon storage in peri-urban areas in Burkina Faso. Forest inventories were conducted in 167 plots across two peri-urban forests and their adjacent agroforestry systems. We found a total diversity of 91 woody species representing 69 genera and 26 families. Diversity indices were significantly higher (p-value < 0.0001) in the peri-urban forests than in the agroforestry systems, highlighting a negative impacts of land use on tree diversity. Besides, peri-urban forests had significantly lower tree diameter (15.749 ± 9.194 cm), but higher basal area (5.030 ± 4.407 m2. ha-1) and denser stands (317.308 ± 307.845 ind. ha-1) compared to the agroforestry systems. Tree aboveground biomass was significantly higher (p-value < 0.0001) in the peri-urban forests (18.198 ± 23.870 Mg. ha-1) than in the agroforestry systems (7.821 ± 6.544 Mg. ha-1). Multivariate analyses revealed that denser stands hold higher diversity in peri-urban areas, and that stand basal area mostly drives carbon storage than tree density and diversity. These findings highlight the potential of peri-urban forests to conserve plant biodiversity and mitigate climate change. The study advocates for a sustainable urban land use and planning.

Retention and Predictors of Attrition Among People Living With HIV on Antiretroviral Therapy in Guinea: A 13-Year Historical Cohort Study in Nine Large-Volume Sites.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to estimate the retention rate of patients in an ART program and identify the predictors of attrition. Methods: This was a historical cohort study of HIV patients who started ART between September 2007 and April 2020, and were followed up on for at least 6 months in nine large-volume sites. Kaplan Meier techniques were used to estimate cumulative retention and attrition probabilities. Cox proportional hazards models were used to identify predictors of attrition. Results: The cumulative probability of retention at 12 and 24 months was 76.2% and 70.2%, respectively. The attrition rate after a median follow-up time of 3.1 years was 35.2%, or an incidence of 11.4 per 100 person-years. Having initiated ART between 2012 and 2015; unmarried status; having initiated ART with CD4 count <100 cells/µL; and having initiated ART at an advanced clinical stage were factors significantly associated with attrition. Conclusion: The retention rate in our study is much lower than the proposed national target (90%). Studies to understand the reasons for loss to follow-up are needed.

Adaption of an ongoing clinical trial to quickly respond to gaps in changing international recommendations: the experience of D2EFT.

A rapidly changing landscape of antiretrovirals and their procurement at scale has permitted the evaluation of new optimised second-line antiretroviral therapy (ART) in low- and middle-income countries. D2EFT is an open-label randomised controlled non-inferiority phase IIIB/IV trial in people living with HIV-1 (PWH) whose first-line non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI)-based ART is failing. At inception, it compared a standard of care of boosted darunavir with two nucleos(t)ide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) to the novel NRTI-sparing regimen of boosted darunavir with dolutegravir. Implemented in 2017, participating sites were across Africa, Asia and Latin America. Around the time of implementation, the World Health Organization updated its treatment guidelines and recommended scaling up tenofovir disoproxil fumarate-lamivudine-dolutegravir (TLD). This situation pushed D2EFT investigators to consider the impact of the roll-out of TLD on the D2EFT research question. The protocol team agreed it was important to study TLD in second-line when an NNRTI regimen was failing, and focused on options to expedite the work by studying the question within the existing trial and network. All key issues (statistical, programmatic and financial) were reviewed to assess the benefits and risks of adding a third arm to the ongoing study, as opposed to developing a new randomised clinical trial with the same control arm and within the same network. The development of a new trial was deemed to be longer than adding a third arm, and to create a challenging situation with two competing clinical trials at the same sites which would slow down recruitment and impair both trials. On the other hand, adding a third arm would be demanding in terms of operationalisation, increased sample size and statistical biases to control. The optimal strategy was deemed to be the addition of a third arm, arriving retrospectively at a simplified multi-arm multi-stage clinical trial design to achieve statistical validity. The D2EFT study maintains additional value in a quickly evolving second-line ART strategy allowed by the progress in global access to ART.

HIV stigma limits the effectiveness of PMTCT in Guinea: the ANRS 12344-DIAVINA study.

BACKGROUND: Nearly half of HIV-infected children worldwide are born in West and Central African countries where access to prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) programmes is still limited. WHO recommends reinforced antiretroviral prophylaxis for infants at high risk of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (MTCT) but its implementation needs further investigation in the field. METHODS: The prospective ANRS 12344-DIAVINA study evaluated the feasibility of a strategy combining early infant diagnosis (EID) and reinforced antiretroviral prophylaxis in high-risk infants as identified by interviews with mothers at Ignace Deen Hospital, Conakry, Guinea. RESULTS: 6493 women were admitted for delivery, 6141 (94.6%) accepted HIV testing and 114 (1.9%) were HIV positive. Among these, 51 high-risk women and their 56 infants were included. At birth, a blood sample was collected for infant EID and reinforced antiretroviral prophylaxis was initiated in 48/56 infants (86%, 95% CI 77%-95%). Iron supplementation was given to 35% of infants for non-severe anaemia. Retrospective measurement of maternal plasma viral load (pVL) at delivery revealed that 52% of women had pVL < 400 copies/mL attributable to undisclosed HIV status and/or antiretroviral intake. Undisclosed HIV status was associated with self-stigmatization (85% versus 44%, P = 0.02). Based on the results of maternal pVL at delivery, 'real' high-risk infants were more frequently lost to follow-up (44% versus 8%, P < 0.01) in comparison with low-risk infants, and this was associated with mothers' stigmatization (69% versus 31%, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Reinforced antiretroviral prophylaxis and EID at birth are widely feasible. However, mothers' self-disclosure of HIV status and antiretroviral intake do not allow adequate evaluation of MTCT risk, which argues for maternal pVL measurement near delivery. Furthermore, actions against stigmatization are crucial to improve PMTCT.

Management of delayed Sprengel malformation with intracanalar compressive omovertebral bone in a developing country's neurosurgery unit.

Sprengel deformity is a congenital abnormality done to the ascent of the scapular bone (which occurs probably between the 5th and 12th weeks of gestation). It can cause cosmetic or functional problems. The aim of our study was to describe this rare deformity, often neglected in our context, and its surgical management. We report a case of a 16-year-old boy with a Sprengel deformity associated with omovertebral intracanalar compressive bone seen on the CT scan. He reported neurological symptoms such as spastic paraparesis and walk disturbances. The bone was resected surgically and physiotherapy was set up. The outcome was good with noticeable neurological improvement of walk and balance, recovery of autonomy. Sprengel deformity is a rare pathology. Surgery must be done early and be adapted to the case.

[Localised tetanus with no obvious entry site: about a case in Bamako (Mali)]. / Tétanos localisé sans porte d´entrée apparente: à propos d´un cas à Bamako (Mali).

Tetanus is a major public health problem in sub-Saharan Africa. Localised tetanus is rare, unlike generalized tetanus which has been sufficiently described in the literature. We report a case of localised tetanus with no obvious entry site managed in the Department of Infectious Diseases in Bamako. The study involved a retired nurse aged 59 years who had not undergone tetanus booster immunisation within the last 10 years, corresponding to the date of her last delivery. She was referred to our Hospital with dysphagia associated with inability to open the buccal cavity. Patient's history was characterized by long-term therapy associated with many specialized consultations without any improvement. The diagnosis of localised tetanus with no obvious entry site was retained after having excluded any other local disorder. Outcome was favorable ten days after adequate management. Underdiagnosed or unknown to health-care providers, localised tetanus may mimic other diseases delaying diagnosis and management. Targeted campaign to build awareness should be implemented in order to improve adherence with immunization schedules.

Humoral and cellular immune response induced by rVSVΔG-ZEBOV-GP vaccine among frontline workers during the 2013-2016 West Africa Ebola outbreak in Guinea.

BACKGROUND: As part of a Phase III trial with the Ebola vaccine rVSVΔG-ZEBOV-GP in Guinea, we invited frontline workers (FLWs) to participate in a sub-study to provide additional information on the immunogenicity of the vaccine. METHODS: We conducted an open-label, non-randomized, single-arm immunogenicity evaluation of one dose of rVSVΔG-ZEBOV-GP among healthy FLWs in Guinea. FLWs who refused vaccination were offered to participate as a control group. We followed participants for 84 days with a subset followed-up for 180 days. The primary endpoint was immune response, as measured by ELISA for ZEBOV-glycoprotein-specific antibodies (ELISA-GP) at 28 days. We also conducted neutralization, whole virion ELISA and enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assay for cellular response. RESULTS: A total of 1172 participants received one dose of vaccine and were followed-up for 84 days, among them 114 participants were followed-up for 180 days. Additionally, 99 participants were included in the control group and followed up for 180 days. Overall, 86.4% (95% CI 84.1-88.4) of vaccinated participants seroresponded at 28 days post-vaccination (ELISA- GP) with 65% of these seroresponding at 14 days post-vaccination. Among those who seroresponded at 28 days, 90.7% (95% CI 82.0-95.4) were still seropositive at 180 days. The proportion of seropositivity in the unvaccinated group was 0.0% (95% CI 0.0-3.8) at 28 days and 5.4% (95% CI 2.1-13.1) at 180 days post-vaccination. We found weak correlation between ELISA-GP and neutralization at baseline but significant pairwise correlation at 28 days post-vaccination. Among samples analysed for cellular response, only 1 (2.2%) exhibited responses towards the Zaire Ebola glycoprotein (Ebola GP ≥ 10) at baseline, 10 (13.5%) at day 28 post-vaccination and 27 (48.2%) at Day 180. CONCLUSIONS: We found one dose of rVSVΔG-ZEBOV-GP to be highly immunogenic at 28- and 180-days post vaccination among frontline workers in Guinea. We also found a cellular response that increased with time.

[Tuberculosis and HIV coinfection complicated by nosocomial infection caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae: about 4 cases in a Department of Infectious diseases in Mali]. / Co-infection tuberculose-VIH compliquée d'une sur infection nosocomiale à Klebsiella pneumoniae: à propos de 4 observations dans un Service de Maladies Infectieuses au Mali.

Nosocomial infections are a real global public health problem. Pulmonary tuberculosis and HIV co-infection increases the incidence of nosocomial infections because of immunosuppression and iterative hospitalizations. We here report four cases of patients aged 28, 36, 42 and 52 years co-infected with HIV and tuberculosis (multifocal tuberculosis in 2 patients, miliary tuberculosis, bacteriologically confirmed tuberculosis), all with CD4 < 100 cells/mm3. During the intensive-phase, patients received antitubercular drugs and antiretroviral therapy (ART). They had been admitted to the Department of Infectious Diseases at the G-Point University Hospital with productive cough and/or hyperthermia following hospital stay greater than 48 hours. Patients' history revealed that one patient had not been compliant with tuberculosis treatment because of adverse reactions classified as minor. There had been no clinical improvement in the three remaining patients despite their optimal compliance to different treatments. Cytobacteriological examination of sputum and/or testing of the feeding tubes, blood cultures and specific samples allowed to identify multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae. The clinical course of these patients was favorable under specific antibiotic therapy. Nosocomial infections may be misinterpreted and associated with poor therapeutic response in patients receiving TB treatment. Cytobacteriological examination of the biological fluids should be systematic in patients co-infected with HIV and tuberculosis and hospitalized for at least 48 hours, in whom pulmonary signs and/or fever persist despite their good compliance to treatment.

Modifiable predictors of severe heart failure in Morocco: a descriptive study using routinely collected health data.

INTRODUCTION: Heart Failure (HF) is a growing public health concern in Morocco and there is a striking paucity on determinants of severe HF (SHF) in this population. The aim of this study was to identify patients admitted with HF at Ibn Rochd Hospital, Casablanca from 2011 onwards, when electronic record keeping began. METHODS: A total of 105 patients underwent a series of cardiological examinations between July 2011 and January 2014. The New York Heart Association (NYHA) criteria was used to evaluate the severity of HF. Patients with NYHA classification gradings of I and II were defined as having moderate HF (MHF) and those graded as III and IV were defined as having a SHF. Univariable and multivariable risk factors associated with SHF were explored using logistic regression. The results were reported following the RECORD (Reporting of studies Conducted using Observational Routinely-collected Data) statement. RESULTS: A total of 24 (33%) patients were identified as having a SHF. Four predictors of SHF were identified in univariate analysis: haemoglobin <12g/dL, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) >3, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) <32 picolitre, and high density lipoprotein (HDL) <0.35 (mmol/L). Only NLR>3 and HDL <0.35 mmol/L remained independent predictors in multivariable analysis. Patients with NLR >3 were at 6-fold increased odds of SHF [adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 6.78, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.40-32.80, p=0.017], and those with HDL<0.35 (mmol/L) were at 10-fold increased odds of SHF [AOR: 10.11, 95% CI: 2.26-45.27, p=0.002]. CONCLUSION: The independent biomarkers of SHF identified in this study provide valuable information to ward clinicians in resource-constrained facilities to identify patients vulnerable to developing severe heart complications.

Safety of the rVSV ZEBOV vaccine against Ebola Zaire among frontline workers in Guinea.

BACKGROUND: As part of the ring vaccination trial in Guinea, Front Line Workers were invited to participate in a sub-study to provide additional information on the immunogenicity and safety of rVSVΔG/ZEBOV-GP. Here we summarize the information on the safety follow-up. METHODS: An open-label, non-randomized, immunogenicity evaluation of one dose of rVSVΔG/ZEBOV-GP was conducted in Conakry, Guinea between March 2015 and July 2016. Front-line workers refusing vaccination were invited to participate as a control group. Participants were followed for 3 months with a subset followed-up for 6 months after vaccination. Women becoming pregnant during the follow-up were followed until pregnancy outcome. Solicited and unsolicited adverse events were monitored at each contact with participants using standardized study forms. RESULTS: 2016 vaccinated participants and 99 controls were included in the safety cohort. On the 3 days post-vaccination visit adverse events were very common, with over 70% of participants reporting at least one adverse event. The most frequently reported symptoms were headache, fatigue, arthralgia, subjective fever and myalgia. Among participants that completed fever diaries (n = 887), post-vaccination fever was reported by 15.22%. Comparing to the unvaccinated group, local reaction, fatigue, headache, arthralgia, myalgia and subjective fever occurring within the first 3 days post-vaccination were statistically significantly different in the vaccinated group compared to the unvaccinated. A total of 8 Serious Adverse Events were identified during follow-up. 2 SAEs were related to pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: Results confirm that adverse events 3 days after vaccination with the rVSV candidate vaccine are common. The occurrence of fever is of particular concern in the context of ongoing Ebola transmission. Additional studies should address important data gaps regarding the use of the vaccine in pregnancy and other vulnerable populations.

Prevalence and factors associated with hepatitis B in a cohort of HIV-infected children in the Pediatric Department at Donka National Hospital, Guinea.

INTRODUCTION: children pay a heavy price for infection with the hepatitis B virus (HBV). The objective of this work was to determine the prevalence of hepatitis B and describe the associated factors in children at the pediatric department of Donka Hospital. METHODS: this was a cross-sectional study of a cohort of children in the pediatric department of Donka Hospital. HBsAg was performed by using an immunochromatographic method. The analysis of the data was done with software R. The proportions were compared using the Chi-square test or the Fisher test at the significance level of 5%. A logistic regression model was used to explain the prevalence of hepatitis B. RESULTS: one hundred and forty-nine children were recruited between February and July 2017. HBsAg was present in 12 children, i.e. 8.16% (95% CI: 4.29-13.82). The average age was 93.32 months (IQR: 6-180). Male children were the most affected (n = 11, P <0.05), with a sex ratio of 1.01. The majority (51.35%) were on AZT + 3TC + NVP pediatric form and 25% were on AZT + 3TC + NVP adult form and 23.65% on TDF + FTC + EFV. In univariate analysis, ALT, HBsAg positivity, and maternal HBV vaccination status were associated with the prevalence of HBsAg (P <0.05). CONCLUSION: the prevalence of co-infection in children and adults is almost identical in our context. Hence the importance of strengthening preventive measures at all levels, especially the vaccination of children and mothers.

Surveillance of transmitted HIV-1 antiretroviral drug resistance in the context of decentralized HIV care in Senegal and the Ebola outbreak in Guinea.

OBJECTIVES: Disruption in HIV care provision may enhance the development and spread of drug resistance due to inadequate antiretroviral therapy. This study thus determined the prevalence of HIV-1 transmitted drug resistance (TDR) in settings of decentralized therapy and care in Senegal and, the Ebola outbreak in Guinea. Antiretroviral-naïve patients were enrolled following a modified WHO TDR Threshold Survey method, implemented in Senegal (January-March 2015) and Guinea (August-September 2015). Plasma and dried blood spots specimens, respectively from Senegalese (n = 69) and Guinean (n = 50) patients, were collected for direct sequencing of HIV-1 pol genes. The Stanford Calibrated Population Resistance program v6.0 was used for Surveillance Drug Resistance Mutations (SDRMs). RESULTS: Genotyping was successful from 54/69 (78.2%) and 31/50 (62.0%) isolates. In Senegal, TDR prevalence was 0% (mean duration since HIV diagnosis 4.08 ± 3.53 years). In Guinea, two patients exhibited SDRMs M184V (NRTI), T215F (TAM) and, G190A (NNRTI), respectively. TDR prevalence at this second site, however, could not be ascertained because of low sample size. Phylogenetic inference confirmed CRF02_AG predominance in Senegal (62.96%) and Guinea (77.42%). TDR prevalence in Senegal remains extremely low suggesting improved control measures. Continuous surveillance in both settings is mandatory and, should be done closest to diagnosis/transmission time and with larger sample size.

[Multifocal tuberculosis associated with cerebral toxoplasmosis in an African immigrant immunocompromised patient due to HIV-infection at the Hospital Centre in Soissons, France]. / Tuberculose multifocale associée à une toxoplasmose cérébrale sur terrain immunodéprimé à VIH chez un patient immigré africain au Centre Hospitalier de Soissons, France.

In the industrialized countries and, in particular, in France, given the means of prevention, early screening and treatment of HIV infection, there is almost no evidence of opportunistic infections among immigrants and in some disadvantaged socio-professional groups. We here report the case of a 42-year old African immigrant HIV1 positive man with impaired general condition hospitalized for infectious syndrome. He had received antiretroviral therapy for 2 years and stopped it four months before admission. He had had pulmonary tuberculosis treated and declared cured in February 2017. Clinical examination showed slow ideation, a temperature of 39.6°C and weight loss. The patient had nadir CD4 cell counts 12/mm3 and HIV viral load log value 5.80. Thoracoabdominal CT scan and brain MRI showed intra-abdominal and thoracic lesions as well as brain lesions before diagnostic confirmation of tuberculosis and toxoplasmosis. The patient underwent triple antiretroviral therapy on day 15 of antituberculosis treatment. Then he underwent toxoplasmosis treatment with favorable outcome.

Prognostic and Predictive Factors of Ebola Virus Disease Outcome in Elderly People during the 2014 Outbreak in Guinea.

Elderly people occupy a prominent position in African societies; however, their potential linkage to high case fatality rate (CFR) in Ebola virus disease (EVD) was often overlooked. We describe the predictive factors for EVD lethality in the elderly. A total of 2,004 adults and 309 elderly patients with confirmed EVD were included in the analysis. The median age (interquartile range) was 35 years (23-44) in adults and 65 years (60-70) in the elderly. The proportion of funeral participation was significantly higher in the elderly group than in the adult group. Duration (in days) between the onset of symptoms and admission was significantly longer in elderly. CFR in the elderly people was also significantly higher (80.6%) than in the adult group (66.2%). Funeral participation constituted a risk factor for the transmission of EVD in elderly people.

Assessing the outcomes of HIV-infected persons receiving treatment for Kaposi sarcoma in Conakry-Guinea.

BACKGROUND: Médecins Sans Frontières is supporting comprehensive HIV care and treatment for Kaposi Sarcoma (KS) in Guinea, where antiretroviral coverage is low and access to KS treatment is very limited. We aimed to evaluate treatment response and survival outcomes of epidemic KS in this setting. METHODS: Retrospective survival analysis of routinely collected clinical data of HIV-infected patients with clinically diagnosed KS, receiving ART and chemotherapy consisting of a combination of bleomycin and vincristine at the Donka National Hospital in Conakry between 2012 and 2015. RESULTS: A total of 225 patients were enrolled for KS treatment within the three-year period. Late presentation with stage T1 disease was common (82.7%). At the end of a median of 8 cycles of chemotherapy (IQR: 2-12), complete remission was observed in 65 (28.9%), partial remission in 53 (23.6%), stable disease in 15 (6.7%) and unknown response for all 92 (40.9%) patients who dropped out of care. The chances of achieving complete remission doubled after each additional cycle of chemotherapy (aOR = 2.09 95% CI: 1.44-3.01) but were reduced by about two-thirds for each additional month delay between treatment and onset of KS (aOR = 0.31, 95% CI: 0.11-0.86). Treatment response was seriously compromised in patients with woody skin oedema (aOR = 0.05, 95% CI: 0.01-0.38) and those with prior chemotherapy (aOR = 0.21, 95% CI: 0.05-0.80). The median survival time was 7.6 months (95% CI: 5.9-9.8). Attrition from care was reduced by 22% for every additional cycle of chemotherapy administered (aH0R = 0.78, 95% CI: 0.71-0.84) and was lower in those with complete remission compared with those with partial or no response (aHR = 0.05, 95% CI: 0.007-0.43). CONCLUSION: There has been an increased access to KS treatment. The overall response rate is 52.4%, which is considered a satisfactory result. Poor outcomes were common and were largely due to late presentation and defaulting on treatment. Efforts towards early HIV/KS diagnosis and adherence to a full round of chemotherapy are needed for optimising outcomes. Newer drugs may be required for patients previously exposed to chemotherapy.

Ebola virus disease in children during the 2014-2015 epidemic in Guinea: a nationwide cohort study.

The most recent epidemic of Ebola virus disease (EVD) has resulted in more than 11,000 deaths in West Africa. It has threatened child health in the affected countries, including Guinea. This nationwide retrospective cohort study included all children under 20 years of age with laboratory-confirmed EVD in Guinea during the 2014-2015 Ebola outbreak for analysis. Of 8,448 children with probable or suspected EVD, 695 cases were laboratory-confirmed EVD. The overall case fatality rate (CFR) was 62.9%. Pediatric patients with younger age had a significantly higher rate of death (adjusted OR = 0.995; 95%CI = 0.990-1.000; p = 0.046), with the highest CFR of 82.9% in children aged less than 5 years. Fever (91%), fatigue (87%), and gastrointestinal signs and symptoms (70%) were common clinical features on admission of the pediatric patients, while bleeding signs were not occurring often (24%). None of clinical features and epidemiologic risk factors for Ebola were associated with mortality outcome in our cohort study. CONCLUSION: EVD is a major threat to child health, especially among children under 5 years of age. To date, none of demographic and clinical features, except younger age, have been consistently shown to affect mortality outcome in children infected with Ebola virus. What is Known: • The 2014-2015 West Africa Ebola epidemic is the largest and most widespread outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in history, with more than 11,000 deaths in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. • During ongoing outbreak investigations, it is suggested that young children aged less than 5 years are particularly vulnerable and highly susceptible to death. What is New: • Demographic and clinical characteristics of the nationwide cohort of pediatric patients with laboratory-confirmed EVD in Guinea are reported. • The results confirm the high rate of death among EVD children under 5 years of age, while none of demographic and clinical features, except younger age, could serve as a predictor of mortality outcome in pediatric patients with EVD.

[Narrow lumbar channel due to epidural lipomatosis: case report and literature review]. / Canal lombaire étroit par lipomatose épidurale: à propos d'un cas et revue de la littérature.

Epidural lipomatosis is characterized by the abnormal accumulation of non-encapsulated grease in the epidural space. Although rare, it is a possible cause of lombosciatica or narrow lumbar channel. It is often associated with contributing factors such as prolonged corticosteroid therapy or obesity. We report the case of a patient presenting with disabling lombosciatalgias. Radiological evaluation confirmed the diagnosis of compressive epidural lipomatosis. Patient's evolution was favorable after surgical decompression.