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Biomedical subjects

A Kone

Publications and source records attributed to A Kone.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

Serum levels of the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-1 beta (IL-1beta), IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and IL-12(p70) in Malian children with severe Plasmodium falciparum malaria and matched uncomplicated malaria or healthy controls.

Inflammatory cytokines play an important role in human immune responses to malarial disease. However, the role of these mediators in disease pathogenesis, and the relationship between host protection and injury remains unclear. A total of 248 cases of severe Plasmodium falciparum malaria among children aged 3 months to 14 years residing in Bandiagara, Mali, were matched to cases of uncomplicated malaria and healthy controls. Using modified World Health Organization criteria for defining severe malaria, we identified 100 cases of cerebral malaria (coma, seizure, and obtundation), 17 cases of severe anemia (hemoglobin, <5 g/dl), 18 cases combined cerebral malaria with severe anemia, and 92 cases with hyperparasitemia (asexual trophozoites, >500,000/mm3). Significantly elevated levels (given as geometric mean concentrations in picograms/milliliter) of interleukin-6 (IL-6; 485.2 versus 54.1; P = <0.001), IL-10 (1,099.3 versus 14.1; P = <0.001), tumor necrosis factor alpha (10.1 versus 7.7; P = <0.001), and IL-12(p70) (48.9 versus 31.3; P = 0.004) in serum were found in severe cases versus healthy controls. Significantly elevated levels of IL-6 (485.2 versus 141.0; P = <0.001) and IL-10 (1,099.3 versus 133.9; P = <0.001) were seen in severe malaria cases versus uncomplicated malaria controls. Cerebral malaria was associated with significantly elevated levels of IL-6 (754.5 versus 311.4; P = <0.001) and IL-10 (1,405.6 versus 868.6; P = 0.006) compared to severe malaria cases without cerebral manifestations. Conversely, lower levels of IL-6 (199.2 versus 487.6; P = 0.03) and IL-10 (391.1 versus 1,160.9; P = 0.002) were noted in children with severe anemia compared to severe malaria cases with hemoglobin at >5 g/dl. Hyperparasitemia was associated with significantly lower levels of IL-6 (336.6 versus 602.1; P = 0.002). These results illustrate the complex relationships between inflammatory cytokines and disease in P. falciparum malaria.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

[Role of patient travel in transmission of human African trypanosomiasis in a highly endemic area of the Ivory Coast].

Human African trypanosomosis (HAT) remains a major public health problem in Subsaharan Africa. The region around the town of Bonon in middle western Côte d'Ivoire is a highly endemic HAT zone. The purpose of this study was to assess the role of travelling of infected patients in transmission of HAT. The study population included a total of 96 patients in whom HAT had been diagnosed actively or passively between 1999 and 2000. Information on each patient's residence and workplaces, i.e. water site, and farm field, was used to calculate the mean distance traveled and mean number of places visited daily by each patient. Findings indicated that both parameters, i.e., distance traveled and number of places visited, were significantly higher for patients living in Bonon than those living in hamlets or homesteads. Based on analysis of patient movements the endemic zone could be divided into three subdivisions with different modes of disease transmission. This study was performed as a preliminary step for a larger investigation designed to allow specific targeting of HAT hot spots based mainly on a geographic information system.

Cote d'Ivoire↗
PubMed2002

Microsatellite markers for population genetic studies in Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) from Côte d'Ivoire: evidence for a microgeographic genetic differentiation of mosquitoes from Bouaké.

In West Africa, Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) (Linnaeus, C., 1762. Zweyter Theil, enhalt Beschreibungen veschiedener wichtiger Naturalien. In: Hasselquist, F. (Ed.), Reise nach Palastina in den Jahren von 1749 bis 1752, Rostock, Germany, pp. 267-606) represents the principal vector of yellow fever. This study reports the use of microsatellite markers to characterise various A. aegypti populations from Côte d'Ivoire according to a north-south transect, and to perform a temporal genetic survey of the mosquitoes. Three microsatellite loci were used to analyse individuals from four different places: Kabolo, Bouaké, and two different districts of Abidjan. We found that the four populations are genetically distinct except the two Abidjan populations. In the Bouaké population, the coexistence of two cryptic species, not morphologically distinguishable, seems to account for the extensive heterozygote deficiency observed. Comparison of mosquitoes from Bouaké 1 year apart indicated that a dramatic change occurred in the structuring of this population over time. Taken together these results indicate that microsatellite markers could be useful for identifying various populations of A. aegypti on a microgeographic scale and to assess for temporal variation within mosquito populations.

Aedes↗
PubMed2001

Researcher and researched--community perspectives: toward bridging the gap.

In the process of initiating a new community-based research project, the authors wanted to understand the experiences of community members and researchers in community-based research projects and to develop guidelines to improve future projects. They conducted qualitative, key informant interviews with 41 people involved at all levels of community-based research projects in Seattle. Respondents were identified using a snowball sampling technique. More problems than successes were discussed by informants, including dissatisfaction with the focus of research, which some said is marked by a lack of cultural appropriateness and relevance. Power imbalances, lack of trust, and communication difficulties impeded collaboration. According to respondents, many problems could be avoided if the community were involved from the beginning in setting research priorities and developing and implementing interventions. Meaningful collaboration between communities and researchers is characterized by early involvement of communities, power sharing, mutual respect, community benefit, and cultural sensitivity.

Attitude to Health↗
PubMed2001

[Integration of demographic factors in the characterization of risk areas for sleeping sickness in Côte d'Ivoire].

The purpose of this study was to classify the risk for transmission of African human trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) according to population and settlement densities in four different areas of Zoukougbeu, Cote d'Ivoire, where the exact location of cases reported since 1990 is known. Epidemiological risk indexes were calculated from entomological data obtained from three surveys and analyzed with respect to presence of patients and occupancy rate in each area. Results indicated that there was a risk of transmission near the village of Bahigbeu II where the population density is between 30 and 40 inhabitants per km2 and settlement density is 4 per km2. There was also a risk in less inhabited areas such as Ouatigbeu where the population density is less than 30 inhabitants per km2 and dwelling density less than 4 per km2. In fact, cases are regularly reported in Ouatigbeu but never in Bahigbeu II. Based on these findings, we conclude that, while land occupancy can be considered as a risk factor for sleeping sickness, other factors such as human mobility must be taken into account to characterize risk areas and predict outbreaks.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Origin and prevention of airport malaria in France.

Since 1969, 63 cases of airport malaria have been reported in Western Europe, 24 of which occurred in France. Most were due to Plasmodium falciparum. In 1994, 7 cases occurred in and around Roissy Charles de Gaulle airport (CDG), showing 4 types of contamination: among employees working on airstrips or opening containers, among residents living near the airport, among people living at some distance from the airport after a secondary transport of vectors, and by vectors transported in luggage. In-flight or stop-over infection is not considered as airport malaria. The infective anophelines originated from airports where malaria transmission occurs, mostly in subsaharan Africa. A tentative list is given taking into account aerial traffic with France. Surveys in the airports of Dakar (Senegal), Cotonou (Benin), Abidjan (Cote d'Ivoire) and Yaoundé (Cameroun) found potential vectors in all of these from July to September. After 1994, the Contrôle Sanitaire aux Frontières (CSF) in charge at CDG concentrated its efforts on the flights at risk, as well as information and sensitization of airline companies, which resulted in 73% and 87% of the flights at risk being properly disinsected in 1995 and 1996. Despite pyrethroid resistance in Anopheles gambiae s.s. in West Africa, the efficacy of aircraft spraying with permethrin aerosols is still acceptable. However, surveillance of resistance should be improved and search for nonpyrethroid insecticides suitable for aircraft strongly encouraged.

Africa, Western↗
PubMed1993

[Purulent pleurisy in a specialized hospital environment in Bamako].

We report the results of a retrospective study of 108 cases of pleural empyema collected in the Pneumo-Phthisiology Department of the National Hospital of "Point G" from September 1984 to August 1990. The sex-ratio is 3/1 in favour of males with a mean age of 35.5 years. The pleural empyema represent 2.2% of all patients admitted in the Hospital and 20.2% of liquid effusions of the Pleura observed during the study period. The causal common germ has been placed in a proeminent position in 18 cases (16.7%) including 14 cases of gram-positive germs. Tuberculous aetiology has been proven in 16 cases (27.6%) against 67 cases of bacterial pleuresies (62%). The initial treatment has consisted in an empirical antibiotherapy of a large spectrum associated with repeated washing punctions. A short-term antituberculous chemotherapy (8 months, 2RHZS(6TH)) has been administrated each time the tuberculous aetiology has been proven or strongly presumed. The therapeutic results have been favourable in 85 cases (78.7%) and unfavourable in 23 cases (21%) including 10 deaths (9.2%).

Adolescent↗
PubMed1975

[Myocardial bridge compressing the anterior inter-ventricular artery. Apropos of a successfully operated case].

Report of the case of a 26-year-old male patient, presenting with left-sided thoracic pains combined with electrocardiographic changes. Coronary arteriography demonstrated the presence, during systole, of a long, semi-localized stenosis of the anterior interventricular artery. Operation consisted only in the section of the myocardial bridge enclosing the artery on 4 cm. The clinical and coronary arteriographic result was perfect. No report of a similar case could be found in the literature.

Adult↗