Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to A Hountondji.
We report on the experimental observation of a spatiotemporal resonance phenomenon, in which a temporal excitation locks with a spatial pattern in an open flow system. The observation is made in a microfluidic system. We obtain the expected regimes--mixing and resonant patterns--in qualitative agreement with the theory. As an application, we realized a dual system particle extraction-micromixer.
The authors analyse the results of esophago-gastro-duodenal fibroscopy in 930 symptomatic patients. Ninety one per cent of them had lesions. Inflammatory pathology was predominant: esophagitis, gastritis and duodenitis were seen in 21.5%, 47% and 29.08% respectively of the patients investigated. Gastritis accompanied 75.13% of cases of esophagitis and 76.4% of duodenitis, and was associated with the demonstration of the presence of Helicobater pylori in gastric biopsies in 56.41% of patients with that lesion. The relatively high incidence of carcinoma of the esophagus (2.7%) is a particular feature of this study, while that of carcinoma of the stomach (1%) was in accordance with classical data. Duodenal ulcer was found in 18% of patients as compared with 5.16% for gastric ulcer. From a pathophysiological standpoint, mention is made of traditional diet (hot, highly spiced), self-medication and intestinal parasite infestation in causing inflammatory lesions. Finally, emphasis is placed upon the role of Helicobacter infection in the development of chronic gastritis. The high rate of infection with this organism and its involvement in the mechanisms of duodenal ulcerogenesis could explain the high incidence of duodenal ulcers in our group and in studies emanating from developing countries.
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Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
To evaluate the frequency of clinical manifestations and to study the etiological aspects of hypothyroidism in hypothyroid patients in Cotonou, we carried out a retrospective analysis of the medical reports on hypothyroid patients followed in our clinical practice. A total of 33 patients was thus studied, comprising 8 men (24%) and 25 women (76%) with mean age of 45,8 years for men and 40,4 years for women. The more frequent clinical manifestations observed were: face edema (45%), weight gain (45%), paresthesia (42%), fatigue (39%), lethargy (30%) and bradycardia (24%). Constipation (12%), sensation of cold (9%), depilation (6%) and dry skin (6%) were less frequently observed. Myalgia, hoarseness and menstrual irregularities were present in 15% of the cases respectively. Regarding the etiology, 82% of the cases were primary hypothyroidism and only 18% were of central origin. Thyroidectomy was the leading cause in our hypothyroid patients, representing 70% of all cases and 85% of primary hypothyroidism. Radioiodine treatment and autoimmune thyroiditis were equally found in 6% of the cases. Central hypothyroidism was related to a pituitary adenoma in four cases (12%) and to Sheehan syndrome in two cases (6%). As it can be expected, hypercholesterolemia was present in 82% of the patients but creatine phosphokinase elevation was more frequent (94% of the patients). Compared to the data reported in the literature, the frequency of the symptoms and signs of hypothyroidism seems to be underevaluated in our study and the frequency of autoimmune thyroiditis as a cause of hypothyroidism is low.
This four year evaluation at the CNHU in Cotonou had the aim to assess the frequency and to define any particular aspects of liver disease as diagnosed by ultrasound examination. The study included 632 patients, aged from 15 to 87 years, who came from throughout Benin for examination by abdominal echography. Abdominal pains, abdominal masses and hepatalgia were the most common justifications for the examination. However, there was no clinical information for 8.08% of the patients. Homogeneous hepatomegalies were comprised of steatosis (3.78%), cardiac congestive liver (2.69%) and cirrhosis (2.53%) which could be diagnosed only in homogeneous forms. The heterogeneous cirrhosis forms were compounded with hepatocellular carcinoma (5.06%) in diffuse and micronodular forms. To improve the diagnosis of these two diseases it is necessary to develop the biopsy-puncture procedure as part of the pathological examination.
From the 1st of March, 1991 to the 31st of December, 1995, 577 patients had abdominal echographic examinations which enabled the diagnosis of 33 cases of liver amebic abscesses. This study evaluated to what extent echography can facilitate the diagnosis and surveillance of patients during treatment in a region where immunological diagnosis of amebiasis is not yet performed and where percutaneous puncture is just beginning. Patients were suffering from chronic hepatic pain and fever in 28 cases. Seventeen patients had hepatomegaly and 14 patients had lost weight. Echographic images changed with time. In the beginning, there were diverse blurred structures which were 4 to 6 cm in diameter. Subsequently, the content of the abscesses became more homogeneous and in 3 cases the posterior area intensified. Also, the evolution of the disease during treatment by metronidazole could be followed by progressive echographic imaging. All the patients recovered without after-effects and only four of them showed hyperechogenic cicatrization. Two patients had an evacuation of their abscess which resulted in distinct improvement. The authors recommend generalization of that technique in all the hospitals across the country. Echography can thus improve both the diagnosis of liver amebic abscesses and the surveillance during the treatment.