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Biomedical subjects

M Gastellu-Etchegorry

Publications and source records attributed to M Gastellu-Etchegorry.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

[Evaluation of the pertinence of international courses on human African trypanosomiasis].

The goal of this study was to evaluate the adequacy and relevance of a training course on Human African Trypanosomiasis, targeted to reach support and coordination staff in charge of activities being carried out in related prevention and control programmes. A questionnaire was emailed to the four course organisers and the 65 participants. The response rate among the participants was 41%. The training needs expressed covered issues such as treatment, diagnostic and epidemiological techniques, improved knowledge of the disease, and control planning. The lectures given were adapted for participants' professional activities. At the time of the evaluation (one to three years after the course) 67% of the participants had begun implementing the knowledge they had acquired and applying it to their practice, particularly in the area of programme planning. The analysis of the questionnaire's results pointed to the sections of the course that would benefit from modifications, such as the need for the development of lessons and modules in the areas of patient management and planning for future training sessions.

Africa South of the Sahara↗

B-mode-guided vector-A-mode versus A-mode biometry to determine axial length and intraocular lens power.

PURPOSE: To compare prospectively the reproducibility and accuracy of B-mode-guided biometry with those of A-scan biometry using a conventional A-mode probe to calculate intraocular lens (IOL) power. SETTING: Department of Ophthalmology, Hôtel-Dieu de Paris, France. METHODS: The axial length (AL) in 87 eyes of 72 candidates for cataract surgery was determined by B-mode-guided vector-A-mode and A-mode biometry using an Ophthascan S Ultrasound imager. Patients were assigned to one of two groups based on the B-mode biometry: nonmyopic (AL < 24.5 mm; n = 54) or myopic (AL > 24.5 mm; n = 33). Postoperative refractive results were compared with attempted values. RESULTS: Mean AL variance was significantly greater when using the A-mode than the B-mode: 0.157 mm +/- 0.260 (SD) versus 0.015 +/- 0.018 mm in the myopic group (P < .001) and 0.024 +/- 0.024 +/- 0.045 versus 0.009 +/- 0.011 mm in the nonmyopic group (P < .001). More eyes having B-mode biometry achieved a final refraction within +/- 0.50 diopter (D) of the attempted refraction (63 and 43%, respectively; P < .05). No deviation greater than 1.60 D was observed with the B-mode in the myopic or nonmyopic group. Three cases with a such a deviation (up to 2.24 D) would have been observed had A-mode-based biometry been chosen for the IOL power calculation. In the myopic group, attempted postoperative refraction was within +/- 0.50 D in 78% of eyes having B-mode biometry compared with 65% having A-mode. This difference was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION> These results suggest that the reproducibility and accuracy of AL measurements are significantly better with B-mode-guided A-mode biometry than with A-mode biometry in myopic and nonmyopic eyes.

Biometry↗

[Resistance of Vibrio cholerae 0:1 to the 0/129 compound and multiresistance to antibiotics].

The authors present a study of the in vitro susceptibility to O/129 compound and usual antibiotics of 29 strains of V. cholerae O:1 biotype El Tor isolated during epidemics in miscellaneous countries over the world from 1982 to 1991. Several identical isolates from the same epidemic are represented by one strain. Susceptibility testing by diffusion method and MICs by agar dilution method are used. The data show that the resistance to O/129 compound is often associated with the resistance to usual antibiotics such as trimethoprim, sulphonamides, chloramphenicol, ampicillin and tetracycline. This resistance to the vibrostatic compound leads to a double problem of diagnosis and therapy. The nitrofuranes derivatives and tiliquinol-tilbroquinol association, an intestinal antiseptic, are the most active antimicrobial agents as well on the strains O/129 sensitive as on the strains O/129 resistant.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Measles outbreaks in the Mozambican refugee camps in Malawi: the continued need for an effective vaccine.

Between November 1988 and January 1989, measles outbreaks occurred in 11 Mozambican refugee camps in Malawi with five camps principally affected. A total of 1214 cases were reported. Despite the reduction of the age of measles vaccination to six months in 1987, attack rates were highest in children aged 6-9 months (10-26%); rates were also high in the 0-5 month age group (3-21%). The case-fatality rate was high among children less than five years old (15-21%). Children were being inappropriately vaccinated, either being vaccinated at less than six months of age (2-29%) or failing to receive a second dose if vaccinated at six months (0-25%). With vaccine coverage between 66-87%, vaccine efficacy in children less than five years old was estimated to be more than 90% in the camps principally affected. Reduction of the age of vaccination leads to logistical problems in vaccine delivery in refugee situations. These outbreaks again indicate the need to improve vaccine coverage with the existing Schwarz vaccine, and also highlight the urgent need for an effective single dose measles vaccine for children less than nine months of age.

Age Factors↗