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Biomedical subjects

A Guindo

Publications and source records attributed to A Guindo.

13 recordsLinked to original sources

National immunisation days and vitamin A distribution in Mali: has the vitamin A status of pre-school children improved?

OBJECTIVES: The impact on vitamin A status of the distribution of vitamin A during national immunisation days (NIDs) has not been well established despite strong promotion by international agencies and donors. Using a pre-post design, the change in prevalence of vitamin A deficiency was examined in pre-school children in Mali. DESIGN: Two cross-sectional surveys were conducted in Mopti region, the first in March 1997 before this strategy was adopted and the second in March 1999, four-and-a-half months after a mass distribution of vitamin A during NIDs. SUBJECTS AND SETTING: We compared the vitamin A status of children aged 12 to 66 months targeted in 1999 by NIDs with the status of children in the same age group in 1997. Infectious events of the previous two weeks were concurrently recorded. Within the 1999 sample, the status of recipient and non-recipient children was also compared. RESULTS: In 1997, the prevalence of xerophthalmia (defined by the presence of night blindness and/or Bitot spots) was 6.9% (95% confidence interval (CI) 5.1-9.2) and the modified retinol dose response (MRDR) test proved abnormal in 77.8% of 12-66-month-old children (95% CI 68.27-85.17). In 1999 this picture had improved significantly, both for xerophthalmia prevalence, 3.3% (95% CI 2.1-5.2), and abnormal MRDR test response, 63.1% (95% CI 54.25-71.23). The infectious morbidity rates between 1997 and 1999 tended to decrease. No significant improvement was found among children older than those targeted by NIDs. In 1999, children who received vitamin A had a lower risk for xerophthalmia (3.0% for recipients vs. 8.7% for non-recipients) and experienced fewer infectious events. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical and biological vitamin A status of pre-school children improved between 1997 and 1999. Mass distribution of vitamin A appears to reduce the occurrence of xerophthalmia and would seem to be associated with a decrease in other related illnesses. Vitamin A supplementation during NIDs should be given a high priority when vitamin A deficiency remains a public health problem.

Anthropometry↗

[Gastrointestinal manifestations of AIDS in adults in Mali].

Our main objective consists in evaluating the frequency of digestive signs and digestive opportunistic infections in AIDS patients with diarrhea. The prospective study occurred from January 1997 to July 1998 in Bamako hospitals. The patients underwent a clinical examination, blood and stools tests, and sometimes upper digestive endoscopy. Among 434 cases of AIDS, 426 patients (98%) had at least one digestive sign. The main digestive signs were diarrhea (80.1%), abdominal pains (62.2%), vomiting (47.2%) and dysphagea (36.6%). Isospora belli and Cryptosporidium parvum have been pointed up in respectively 9% and 16.3% of examined specimen. Echerichia coli was found in 8.6% of stool cultures and in 2.9% in the case of Salmonella Arizonae. Twenty cases of Kaposi's sarcoma were diagnosed and mycosis was found in 71.9% of patients. In conclusion, digestive change is a constant phenomenon in AIDS patients. Patients survival could be improved by early management, improvement of diagnosis and provisioning of medicines.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗

Hemoglobin C associated with protection from severe malaria in the Dogon of Mali, a West African population with a low prevalence of hemoglobin S.

The malaria hypothesis proposes a survival advantage for individuals with hemoglobin variants in areas of endemic Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Hemoglobin C (HbC) is a possible example in West Africa, where this hemoglobin has a centric distribution with high frequencies among certain populations including the Dogon ethnic group. To test whether HbC is associated with protection from malaria, we performed a case-control study in the Dogon of Bandiagara, Mali. HbC was present in 68 of 391 (17.4%) of uncomplicated malaria control cases, whereas it was detected in only 3 of 67 cases (4.5%) of severe malaria (odds ratio [OR], 0.22; P =. 01). Further, HbC was present in only 1 of 34 cases (2.9%) with cerebral manifestations, the most common presentation of severe malaria in this population (OR, 0.14; P =.03). Episodes of uncomplicated malaria and parasitemias (4800-205 050/microL) were identified in cases of homozygous HbC (HbCC), which indicates that P falciparum parasites are able to efficiently replicate within HbCC erythrocytes in vivo. These findings suggest that HbC does not protect against infection or uncomplicated malaria but can protect against severe malaria in the Dogon population of Bandiagara, Mali. The data also suggest that the protective effect associated with HbC may be greater than that of HbS in this population.

Anemia, Sickle Cell↗

Identification of complement receptor one (CR1) polymorphisms in west Africa.

Complement receptor one (CR1) is a ligand for the rosetting of Plasmodium falciparum infected red cells with uninfected cells. Since CR1 exhibits three known polymorphisms, we studied European-Americans (n = 112) and African-Americans (n = 330) and Malians (n = 158) to determine if genetic differences existed in an area endemic for malaria that could offer a survival advantage. The frequencies of Knops blood group phenotypes McC(b+) and Sl(a-) were greatly increased in Africans vs Europeans. Although the frequency of McC(b+) was similar between Africans from the USA or Mali, the Sl(a-) phenotype was significantly higher in Mali (39% vs 65%, respectively). There was an increased frequency of the largest size (250 kD) of CR1 in Mali, but this did not differ significantly from the USA (P = 0.09). Both cohorts of Africans had higher expression of red cell CR1 than European-Americans but this showed little difference between the USA and Mali groups. Thus, the most important CR1 polymorphism relevant to rosetting of malaria infected cells appears to be the Knops blood group.

Blood Group Antigens↗

[ORL manifestations observed in AIDS. Apropos of 65 cases].

We realized a clinical study in 65 patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, aged from 3 to 62 years old (mean, 34 years) (34 males and 31 females) interned or showed in consultations at the hospital Gabriel Touré in Bamako, Mali (departments of ENT diseases and of internal medicine), in order to analyse and to state precisely different otorhinolaryngologic manifestations in AIDS. Oropharyngeal candidiasis was the most prevalent otorhinolaryngologic manifestation (57 %). Other less common lesions were suppurative otitis media (29 %), atrophic pharyngitis (18,5 %), sinusitis (11 %), Kaposi's sarcoma (5 %) localized above all on the palate: they are however a frequent sign of infection by HIV. The manifestations merit a particular attention by otorhinolaryngologist because, although they have few influence on the general evolution of the disease, they appear as additional manifestations of infectious risks in AIDS patients.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

[Anatomo-clinical study of chronic gastritis in Mali].

The aim of our study was to evaluate the frequency of chronic gastritis and its anatomoclinical aspects in Mali. Within thirteen months of prospective study, we have recorded seventy four chronic gastritis histologically confirmed which represented 3.28% of the total oesogastroduodenal pathologies registered during the same period (2256 cases). Chronic gastritis has been most observed between 31 to 40 years (24.3%) and women were affected (sex ratio = 0.6). Households and civil servants were predominant. The precocious burning epigastralgy just after the meal was the main motive of the examination and chronic gastritis has been a fortuitous discovery. The basic alimentation included smoked or dried fish, peanuts, "tô" and salt. The most frequent endoscopic aspect was the congestive one. The duodenogastric reflux was not negligible. The diffuse form and antral localisation were more frequent. Five displasiae and four intestinal metaplasiae have been found.

Adolescent↗

[Seroprevalence of human immunodeficiency virus infection (HIV) in Mali on 3,496 sera].

Our main objective has been geared toward the appreciation of the importance of the infection by human immunodeficiency virus in Mali. Our study was based on 3,496 sera deducted from March 1987 to January 1989. All positive sera at ELISA have been confirmed by Western Blot. The total seroprevalence of the study is 8.41%. This fact has been noticed higher in prostitutes, young men, more in women than in men in widows and divorced couples, in traders, in travellers of high endemic countries. The seropositivity is proportional to the number of sexual partners. The heterosexual way of transmission has been dominant. There has been no relationship between seropositivity and transfusion, antecedent of surgery, sexually transmitted diseases, of sexual intercourse type. The HIV2 has been more frequent than HIV1. Taking into account the importance of this infection, precautionary measures must be taken to avoid an evolution toward a catastrophic situation.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Case report: life-threatening hypoglycaemia associated with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine, a commonly used antimalarial drug.

Due to chloroquine resistance, several African countries have changed their first-line malaria treatment to sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP). In this report, we present a case of hypoglycaemic coma associated with SP, an adverse reaction that is likely to be underreported and expected to occur with greater frequency as the use of SP increases.

Antimalarials↗

[Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in Mali].

This review summarises epidemiological and clinical data of HIV infection who was recognized in Mali since 1985. The most important rate of seropositivity for HIV is observed in the prostitutes group (40%). The estimated seroprevalence for adult population is between 1% and 5%. 46 cases for AIDS are reported in both sexes. The mean age is 35 years. Main signs are weight loss (91%), fever (80%), diarrhea (70%) and lymphadenopathy (50%). Three among the five cases of Kaposi's sarcoma are aggressive. 19.5% of AIDS have antibodies to HIV1, 41.3% to HIV2 and 39.1% to HIV1 and HIV2. Death rate is more than 50%. These data are compared with other countries of Africa.

AIDS Serodiagnosis↗