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Biomedical subjects

R Josse

Publications and source records attributed to R Josse.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

[Epidemiology of HTLV-I infection in its hyperendemic foci (Japan, tropical Africa, Caribbean)].

HTLV-1 infection is endemic in Japan, black Africa, the Caribbean and several regions of South America. In these foci, the infections is very heterogeneously distributed (variations from village to village, intrafamilial clustering). The virus is transmitted from mother to child, and breast feedings seems to play a major role. Sexual transmission is usually from man to woman. The frequency of transmission by blood transfusion must not be underestimated. It justifies the systematic detection of HTLV-1 infection in areas where it is economically feasible.

Africa, Eastern↗
PubMed1990

The long-term treatment of steroid osteoporosis with fluoride.

Twenty-two patients with steroid-induced osteoporosis were studied retrospectively to assess the effects on bone mass of fluoride therapy over 4 years. Thirteen of 19 patients with miscellaneous disorders and 2 with Cushing's syndrome received 1 g calcium/day, 50,000 IU vitamin D (D) weekly, and 40-60 mg/day sodium fluoride (F). Six patients with miscellaneous disorders and one with Cushing's syndrome received only Ca and vitamin D. The mean (+/- SD) cumulative dose of prednisone for fluoride-treated patients at the beginning of the study was 42 +/- 25 g, and for those patients treated with only Ca and vitamin D, 45 +/- 47 g, and during the study the cumulative dose was comparable in both groups. The bone mineral mass of the central skeleton was measured by neutron activation analysis and the results expressed as the calcium bone index (CaBI) which normalizes the results to that of young adults of the same body size (normal range 0.75-1.2). In the 13 patients with miscellaneous disorders treated with fluoride, the mean +/- SD CaBI rose from 0.65 +/- .03 to 0.75 +/- .03 after 3 years p less than 0.001) and to 0.81 +/- .11 at 4 years. Patients without fluoride had an initial mean CaBI of 0.70 +/- .08 and it was not significantly changed over 3 years, 0.68 +/- .09 and 4 years, 0.71 +/- .09. The rise in CaBI in fluoride-treated patients with steroid-induced osteoporosis including Cushing's syndrome was comparable to that of 61 patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis treated with fluoride.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Irrigation, schistosomiasis, and malaria in the Logone Valley, Cameroon.

Field studies of a rice irrigation project in Mayo-Danai, North Cameroon permitted a direct comparison between pre- and post-development data relating to schistosomiasis and malaria infection. A stratified sample of 4,000 inhabitants, representing 8% of the population living in 28 areas at the time of the first survey, was investigated 5 times between 1979 and 1985. Due to the significant population increase since 1982, 1,500 persons were added to the initial sample. The prevalence of schistosomiasis and malaria remained constant over the 6 years. No changes in the transmission sites were observed. Malacological investigations showed a decrease in the snail population in the project area. Sanitation activities (i.e., drain cleaning and well construction) and decreased rainfall contributed to this situation. The prevalence of infection among the migrants was low. High prevalence of schistosomiasis was found only in villages located along a previously contaminated temporary river.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

[Development of chemoresistance of Plasmodium falciparum to chloroquine and mefloquine in Benin between 1980 and 1989].

Resistance of P. falciparum to chloroquine has been notified in 1986 in non-immune visitors. Authors organized surveys of in vivo and in vitro tests to follow evolution of the phenomena. The increase in number of P. falciparum strains resistant to chloroquine was sudden in 1986 but stopped to rise from this date, and even seemed to decrease gently. The geographical distribution of the resistance, restricted to the region of Cotonou, could be explained by illegitimate chloroquine distribution. But authors propose further investigations on relations between chloroquine resistant strains and the 3 anopheles species involved in malaria transmission in Benin. Resistance to mefloquine is rare in Cotonou region, but higher in rural zone.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Interpretation of antibodies reacting solely with human retroviral core proteins in western equatorial Africa.

Out of 4176 sera from asymptomatic adults originating from Chad, equatorial Guinea and Gabon tested for HIV-1 antibodies, 146 (3.5%) were positive by an enzyme immunoassay (EIA). By Western blot (WB), 20 (0.5%) were positive, i.e. with antibodies to the core and the envelope proteins, 96 (2.3%) were indeterminate, i.e. with antibodies to the viral core proteins only and 30 (0.7%) were negative. On testing for HIV-2 by WB, two of the 96 indeterminate sera had antibodies to the HIV-2 envelope glycoproteins. Two complementary tests were used: a radioimmunoprecipitation assay (RIPA) and a HIV EIA recombinant assay (ENVACOR) to check 53 of these indeterminate sera. Forty-one were positive for the p25 protein in RIPA, of which 34 were negative in ENVACOR; six were positive for core proteins only and one was positive for envelope and core proteins using this assay. Twelve of the 53 indeterminate sera were negative in RIPA, of which 11 were negative and one positive for core proteins in ENVACOR. Thus, 42 of these sera remained indeterminate even after the two additional tests which did not allow a distinction between retroviral infection or non-specific reactions. We were able to isolate an unusual HIV-1 virus from lymphocyte cultures of two subjects presenting antibodies directed only against the core proteins.

Africa, Western↗
PubMed1989

Transmission of syphilis between sexual partners in Gabon.

The prevalence and transmission of syphilis was studied in a semirural community in south eastern Gabon. The overall prevalence was 8% (99/1251) and there was no difference in age adjusted prevalence between men and women. The transmission of syphilis between sexual partners occurred in 18.1% (8/44).

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Seroepidemiological survey of HTLV-I infection among randomized populations of western central African countries.

Between 1987 and 1988, a survey to determine the distribution of HTLV-I infection was conducted in a representative population of adults, living in southern Chad, Cameroon, and Equatorial Guinea. Populations studied were selected by the cluster sampling technique. Sera were tested for IgG antibodies to HTLV-I by ELISA. ELISA-positive sera were retested by Western blot. The study comprised 2,301 adults, all apparently healthy. Crude prevalence rates range from 0.5 to 11.8%. We found three clearly different areas of HTLV-I seroprevalence rates. An area of low seropositivity in southern Chad and northern Cameroon (0.5-2.0%), an area of moderate seropositivity in the savannah region of Ngaoundere, Cameroon (4.2%) and in Bata, Equatorial Guinea (6.5%), and lastly an area of high seropositivity (8.6-11.8%) in the equatorial forest area of Equatorial Guinea and southern Cameroon. HTLV-I seroprevalence rates increased with age up to 12.6% after 40 years old in the areas of high seropositivity. There was no difference between male and female age-adjusted prevalence rates in all of the areas studied.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Hepatitis B and delta infection in Gabon: a seriological survey in a representative sample of the province of Haut-Ogooue.

Hepatitis B virus markers and antibodies to delta agent were studied in adult people (15-54 years) in the province of Haut-Ogooue (Gabon), randomly selected by cluster sampling technique. Of the 384 people, 37 (9.6%) were positive for HBsAg, of which 23 (62.2%) were positive for HBeAg; 246 (65.3%) had anti-HBs and 53 (13.8%) had anti-HBc as the only marker. Chronic carriage of HBV defined as presence of HBsAg or exclusive anti-HBc was observed in 90 people (32%). At least one of the HBV markers was found in 89% of the people. Women were more frequently positive than men. No difference in relation to age was observed. Anti-delta was found in 12 (3.5%) of the 341 people with HBV markers and 7/12 of these could be considered as chronic HBV carriers.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Epidemiology of HTLV-I in Gabon (Western Equatorial Africa).

In 1986 a survey to determine the distribution of HTLV-I infection was conducted in Gabon in a representative sample of adults and children. Five samples were taken in adults and 2 samples in children living in urban and rural areas. Samples were taken by the cluster sampling technique, i.e., clusters of randomly selected households. Sera were tested for IgG antibodies to HTLV-I by ELISA. ELISA-positive sera were retested by Western blot. The study comprised 1,874 adults and 684 children, all apparently healthy. In the adults the crude prevalence rates of anti-HTLV-I antibodies ranged from 5.0% in urban areas to 10.5% in the southern province. In rural areas, the age-adjusted prevalence rate (9.1%) was significantly higher than in urban areas (5.0%) (p less than 0.01). In children there was no significant difference between urban (2.4%) and rural (2.0%) prevalence rates. Prevalence increased with age but was not related to sex. This survey shows that HTLV-I infection is common in Gabon but varies considerably by region.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

[Seroprevalence of syphilis in urban and semi-rural populations of Gabon].

The seroprevalence of syphilis was studied in an urban and a semi-rural community in Gabon by a cluster sampling technique. The crude prevalence rate of treponemal infection in the semi-rural population was estimated to be 13.3 +/- 5.0% and in the urban population 19.4 +/- 4.6%. The age-adjusted prevalence rate was significantly higher in the urban than in the semi-rural population. In both areas, it was significantly higher in men than in women. No significant difference was observed according to age. These high rates indicate the need for a control program for sexually transmitted diseases.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

The effect of exercise on bone mass of osteoporotic patients on fluoride treatment.

The study was conducted in order to determine the effect of exercise on osteoporotic patients with a mean age of 65 years. The majority of these patients had been on sodium fluoride for at least 2 years. Thirty-eight patients were assigned to either the hospital or home group. Nineteen were in the former group, which performed the 1 hour exercise twice weekly in the Hospital. The patients in the latter group were taught the exercises and were expected to continue them at home. The exercise protocol consisted of muscle-strengthening and aerobic activities. Bone mineral mass was determined by neutron activation analysis, which measured total calcium in the trunk and pelvis. It is expressed as a calcium bone index (CaBI), with a normal range of 0.75 to 1.2. The level of physical performance was determined by calculating the maximum oxygen uptake, VO2max, attained by a graded exercise test on the treadmill. Calcium bone index and VO2max were obtained before and after the 12.5 month study. Prior to the study, the hospital and home groups had low calcium bone index values (0.68 and 0.66 respectively). Both groups showed a significant increase in calcium bone index (p less than 0.001 for the hospital group, p less than 0.01 for the home group) after the study. When compared to the home group the hospital group was found to have a significantly higher post-study calcium bone index value (p less than 0.02).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗
PubMed1986

[Evaluation of immunological and entomotological indices of yellow fever in Pointe-Noire, People's Republic of Congo].

The authors report the results of a serological sample survey managed to evaluate the prevalence of two types of yellow fever antibodies, connected with an entomological survey, in the town of Pointe-Noire in the People's Republic of Congo. According to the high rate of non protected people, the high level of entomological indices and the characteristics of local environment, this densely populated town may be considered as an area exposed to a potential hazard of a yellow fever outbreak. A vaccinal strategy ought to be planned according to this situation.

Adolescent↗