Neutrophilic granulocyte-derived B-cell activating factor supports B cells in skin lesions in hidradenitis suppurativa

BACKGROUND

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by painful inflamed nodules, abscesses, and pus-draining tunnels appearing in axillary, inguinal, and perianal skin areas. HS lesions contain various types of immigrated immune cells.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to characterize mediators that support lesional B/plasma cell persistence in HS.

METHODS

Skin samples from several cohorts of HS patients and control cohorts were assessed by mRNA sequencing, quantitative PCR on reverse-transcribed RNA, flow cytometry, and immunohistofluorescence. Blood plasma and cultured skin biopsy samples, keratinocytes, dermal fibroblasts, neutrophilic granulocytes (neutrophils), monocytes, and B cells were analyzed. Complex systems biology approaches were used to evaluate bulk and single-cell RNA sequencing data.

RESULTS

Proportions of B/plasma cells, neutrophils, CD8+ T cells, and M0 and M1 macrophages were elevated in HS lesions compared to skin of healthy and perilesional intertriginous areas. There was an association between B/plasma cells, neutrophils, and B-cell activating factor (BAFF, aka TNFSF13B). BAFF was abundant in HS lesions, particularly in nodules and abscesses. Among the cell types present in HS lesions, myeloid cells were the main BAFF producers. Mechanistically, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in the presence of bacterial products was the major stimulus for neutrophils' BAFF secretion. Lesional upregulation of BAFF receptors was attributed to B cells (TNFRSF13C/BAFFR and TNFRSF13B/TACI) and plasma cells (TNFRSF17/BCMA). Characterization of the lesional BAFF pathway revealed molecules involved in migration/adhesion (eg, CXCR4, CD37, CD53, SELL), proliferation/survival (eg, BST2), activation (eg, KLF2, PRKCB), and reactive oxygen species production (eg, NCF1, CYBC1) of B/plasma cells.

CONCLUSION

Neutrophil-derived BAFF supports B/plasma cell persistence and function in HS lesions.

Synthesis of novel S- and O-disaccharide analogs of heparan sulfate for heparanase inhibition

Heparan sulfate (HS), a glycosaminoglycan related to heparin, is a linear polysaccharide, consisting of repeating disaccharide units. This compound is involved in multiple biological processes such as inflammation, coagulation, angiogenesis and viral infections. Our work focuses on the synthesis of simple HS analogs for the study of structure-activity relationships, with the aim of modulating these biological activities. Thioglycoside analogs, in which the interglycosidic oxygen is replaced by a sulfur atom, are very interesting compounds in terms of therapeutic applications. Indeed, the thioglycosidic bond leads to an improvement of their stability and can allow the inhibition of enzymes involved in physiological and pathological processes. In our previous work, we developed a synthetic sequence which led to a non-sulfated thiodisaccharide analog of HS. In this paper, we report our results of the development of a new synthetic method allowing access to the novel sulfated S-disaccharide, as well as to their oxygenated analogues (O-disaccharide and sulfated O-disaccharide). These 4 compounds were also tested for the inhibition of heparanase, an enzyme involved in biological processes like tumor growth and inflammation. The obtained IC₅₀ values in the micromolar range showed the impact of the interglycosidic sulfur atom and the 6-sulfate group.

[Radiochemotherapy for the treatment ofmuscle invasive bladder tumors in a west african radiotherapy service]

OBJECTIF

The aim of this study was to describe the results of radiochemotherapy in patients after transurethral resection of muscle invasive bladder tumors.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A retrospective study from May 2014 to May 2016 in the radiotherapy department of the Mali Hospital. Have been included, all patients with bladder cancer infiltrating the muscle. Secondary cancers of the bladder and metastatic forms have been excluded from our study. Transurethral resection of bladder was performed. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy with paclitaxel- carboplatin was administered every three weeks in all patients, then external phototherapy 6 MV at a dose of 66 Gy due to 2 Gy of 5 sessions per week 6MV photon of external beam radiotherapy at a dose of 66 Gy due to 2 Gy of 5 sessions per week associated with concomitant cisplatin at dose of 40mg / m2 / week.

RESULTS

Eight patients were included in ourstudy. The average age of 53.75 ± 14.84 years. The male sex was predominant 87.5% (n = 7). The history of chronic smoking wasfound in four patients. The main carcinogenic risk factor identified in our patients was urogenital bilharzia (6 cases / 8).The histological type found was urothelial carcinomain 12.5% (n = 1) and invasive squamous cell carcinomain 87.5% (n = 7). Transurethral resection of the tumor was performed in 62.5% (n = 5). Endoscopic biopsy was performed in 37.5% (n = 3). The tumor was classified pT2N0M0 in 50% (n = 4), pT3aN0M0 in 37.5% (n = 3) and pT3bN0M0 in 12.5% (n = 1). Neoadjuvant chemotherapy with paclitaxel - carboplatin every three weeks was administered to all patients. The results of radiochemotherapy (see Table: evolution).

CONCLUSION

Concomitant radiochemotherapy is a conservative curative treatment that can be proposed as a replacement for cystectomy, for non-metastatic infiltrating tumors after the most complete endoscopic resection.

[Surgical site infections at surgery service B of Point "G" hospital]

BACKGROUND

Surgical site infections (SSI) complicate most operations in developing countries. A variety of germs is responsible for it. The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of surgical site infections and the bacteriological profile.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We conducted a prospective study for descriptive purposes. The included patients were treated between August 2016 and July 2017 in the Surgery B department of the University Hospital Center Point G. The study population consisted of all patients operated on and hospitalized for at least 72 hours. Patients who had an infection of the operative site were retained. The incidence of ISOs, the different bacterial strains and their susceptibility to antibiotics were studied. Data was analyzed on SPSS 12.0.

RESULTS

The incidence of surgical site infections was 4.7%. The median age of the patients was 29.5 ± 4.34, the sex ratio was 1.66. The average time to onset of infections was 7.33 days. Of the samples taken, 4 bacterial strains were identified: Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Acinobacter baumanii and Enterobacter spp. Isolated strains of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were sensitive to Cefotaxim, Amikacin, Nitrofurantoin, but resistant to Ceftriaxon, Amoxicillin + Clavulanic acid. The species of Acinobacter baumanii and Enterococcus spp. Were sensitive to Colistin, but resistant to Ceftriaxone, Amoxicillin + clavulanic acid.

CONCLUSION

Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus are the main germs of the generally antibiotic-resistant ISOs commonly used in the service.

[Prevalence Of Periodontal Recessions In The Odontology Department Of The Bamako Hospital Infirmery (Ihb)]

Periodontal or gingival recession is the term used to characterize the apical displacement of the marginal gingiva on the surface of the root beyond the enamel junction.

THE OBJECTIVE

of this study was to determine the prevalence of periodontal recession in the Dentistry Department of the Bamako Hospital Infirmary.

METHOD

This study was carried out in the dentistry department of the Bamako Hospital Infirmary over a 3-month period from January 15 to April 15, 2020. The inclusion criteria concerned patients who came for consultation in the department. A survey sheet comprising socio-demographic and clinical variables was developed for this purpose.

RESULTS

The prevalence of periodontal recession was 23.64%. Men were the most represented with 63.9%. Oral hygiene was fair with 42.62%, 36% of periodontal recessions were shallow and narrow. Miller's Class I and Class II recession types were the most represented with 41%. The incisors were the most affected with a rate of 29.64%. At the community level, adequate awareness and education in maintaining oral hygiene should prove successful in the long term.

[Diagnosis and treatment of acute surgical abdomen in Koutiala]

PURPOSE

To describe the epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic aspects of acute surgical abdomens at the Koutiala Reference Health Center.

PATIENTS AND METHOD

This was a prospective and descriptive study from August 1, 2017 to May 31, 2018. It included all patients operated on for acute abdomen in the General Surgery Department of the Koutiala Reference Health Center. The study did not include the nonoperated surgical acute abdomens, the non-surgical acute abdomens. Clavien-Dindo classification was used to evaluate complications.

RESULTS

One hundred patients were registered. Acute surgical abdomens accounted for 8.4% of consultations (n = 1190), 27.7% of surgical procedures (n = 361) and 70% of surgical emergencies (n = 142). The average age was 34.4 years ± 18.5. Men were in the majority with 70%. The mean duration of change in symptomatology was 4.8 days ± 5.4. Patients consulted for abdominal pain (100%), fever (60%), vomiting (88%) and discontinuation of materials and gases (32%). The physical examination noted abdominal distension (53%), abdominal contracture (36%), abdominal defense (56%) and pain in the cul de sac of Douglas (95%). X-rays of the abdomen without preparation and abdominopelvic ultrasonography contributed to the diagnosis in 46% of cases and 18% of cases, respectively. Acute appendicitis (35%) was the most common etiology followed by acute peritonitis (31%) and acute intestinal obstruction (15%). We performed an appendectomy in 45 patients (45%), resection anastomosis (15%) and excision-suture (13%). The average duration of hospitalization was 4.7 days. The morbidity was 12%. According to the Clavien-Dindo classification, 9 patients were grade III and 3 grade V. The mortality was 3%.

CONCLUSION

Acute surgical abdomens are the most common emergencies in our practice. The diagnosis is clinical and para-clinical most often. Morbidity and mortality remain elevated. The outcome of treatment depends on early management and mastery of abdominal surgery techniques.

[Contribution Of The Cytology In The Diagnosis And Evaluation Of The Pronostic Of Metastatic Ascites]

INTRODUCTION

Metastatsic tumoral ascites are characterised by the presence of cancerous cells in peritoneal fluid. They are frequent at an advanced stage of cancer. The goal of our work was to study cytology's contribution in the diagnosis of metastatic ascites at the teaching hospital of Point G.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

It was a 3 years retrospective and prospective study, from January 2013 to December 2015. The study included every ascitic samples containing malignant cells at the teaching hospital of Point G. We looked for clinical informations in the patient's fold to find the primary cancer site, the histological diagnosis and the folllowup.

RESULTS

We collected data from 213 patients with ascite. Among them, 61 where malignant (28.6 %). Sixty-six percent (66%) of our patients were women. The most represented range age was from 46 to 60 years with a mean of 57.7 years. Housewives were the most frequent among our patients with a rate of 50.8%. Ovarian cancer was the first site with metastatic ascite (26%). It was followed by liver and stomach with respectively 20% and 18%. Ascite was the first clinical manifestation in 36% patients with cancer. It was isolated in 78%. After 6 months, the mortality rate was 76.6%.

CONCLUSION

The cytology of ascite liquid is an imortant test for the diagnostic of metastatic ascites.

[Non-traumatic digestive perforation in Koutiala: epidemiological and therapeutic aspects]

PURPOSE

the aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical and therapeutic aspects of non-traumatic digestive perforations at the Koutiala Reference Health Center.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This was a prospective and descriptive study from August 1, 2017 to December 31, 2018. Patients admitted and operated on for non-traumatic digestive perforation were included. The parameters studied were age, sex, frequency, clinical aspects, etiologies, treatment and operative follow-up.

RESULT

Sixty-one patients were registered. Non-traumatic digestive perforations accounted for 78.2% of cases of acute peritonitis (n = 78). Men were in the majority with 73.8%. The average age was 34.5 years old. The symptomatology was represented by abdominal pain in all patients, vomiting in 56 patients and fever in 42 patients. The mean duration of evolution of the symptomatology was 5.5 days. On physical examination, the most common signs were abdominal contracture with 81.9%, disappearance of prehepatic maturation (52.4%) and pain in rectal examination (95.1%). Radiological pneumoperitoneum was found in 39 patients. The serodiagnosis of Widal was positive in 15 cases. The etiologies were dominated by perforation of infectious origin with 77.0% (46). The perforation was ileal in 28 patients, appendicular in 18 patients and gastroduodenal in 11 patients. Excision-suturing of the perforation was done in 30 patients, resection anastomosis in 8 patients and appendectomy in 18 patients. Morbidity and mortality were respectively 14.7% and 6.5%.

CONCLUSION

Non-traumatic digestive perforations are the first cause of peritonitis in our department. The ileal seat is the most common and is most often secondary to typhoid fever. Morbidity and mortality remain high and this result is a reflection of late diagnosis which is the main factor of severity of digestive perforations.

[Breast Cancer: Immunohistochemistry And Prognosis At Gabriel Touré Teaching Hospital In Bamako-Mali]

Breast cancer is the second cancer of women in Mali. Immunohistochemistry is poorly performed in our African countries.

OBJECTIVES

To describe the immunohistochemical aspect and determine the prognosis of breast cancer.

METHODOLOGY

This is a retrospective descriptive study (March 2006-July 2016) in the General Surgery Department of Gabriel Toure University Hospital in Bamako, Mali. Immunohistochemistry was performed in all patients through a collaboration of our German partners.

RESULTS

We collected 98 patients (95 women and 3 men) with an average age of 40.04 ± 13.07 years. Twenty-two patients (22.44%) had a personal history of benign breast disease. In 16 patients (16.33%), we found a family breast cancer. The most common histological types were intra ductal carcinoma with 84 (85.72%) and invasive lobular carcinoma in 9 cases (9.18%). Immunohistochemistry found a predominance of triple negative with forty nine patients (50%) followed by Luminal A subtype with 26 cases (26.23%). According to the TNM classification, 44 patients (44.90%) were received at stage III. The median survival was 60 months in the group of patients who received hormone therapy versus 28 months for the group without hormone therapy (p = 0.007).

CONCLUSION

Immunohistochemistry is essential for the adequate management of breast cancer. Its realization has allowed us to improve the prognosis of hormone-dependent cancers.

[Appendiceal Duplication In A Patient Operated For Chilled Appendix Breastplate At Gao Regional Hospital]

Appendiceal duplication is the very rare malformation. It was first described by Picoli in 1892. It is a condition that is most often seen in the first years of life, sometimes some forms may remain asymptomatic and only occur in adulthood. We report the case of appendiceal duplication in a patient operated for chilled appendix breastplate at Gao Regional Hospital.

CONCLUSION

appendiceal duplication is a rare abnormal abnormality of intraoperative discovery in general. Each surgeon must think about it during an appendectomy.

[Brachial Plexus: Dissection At The Laboratory Of Anatomy Of Bamako]

INTRODUCTION

The brachial plexus consists of the ventral twigs of the last four cervical nerves and the first thoracic nerve. It ensures the motor and sensitive innervations of the thoracic limb.

AIM

Our goal was to describe the brachial plexus of the cervical region to the middle third of the arm.

METHODOLOGY

We conducted a prospective study at the anatomy Laboratory of the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry in Bamako from September 2016 to October 2017. We dissected the brachial plexus (PB) of 13 fresh adult corpses on both sides. The inclusion criteria were: Fresh adult corpses with cervical regions and brachial without scarring. The injected or scar-carrying corpses were not included in the cervical and brachial regions.

RESULTS

Twenty-six brachial plexus of which 18 bp in men and 8 bp in women were dissected. The average age of the subjects was 42 years (extreme: 18 and 70 years). We noted nerve block variations in 3.8%, fascicular in 3.8% and late terminal in 73.1%. The involvement of the anterior branch of the fourth spinal nerve (C4) was found in 46.2%.

CONCLUSION

The brachial plexus is the seat of many anatomical variations whose knowledge is indispensable to treat its lesions.

[Epidemiological study on the visual ability of official public transport drivers in Bamako]

The aim of this work was to evaluate the public transport drivers' visual driving ability in Bamako. We carried out a descriptive cross-sectional study from May 15 to July 15, 2013. The probabilistic method was used. 385 drivers were examined at the University Hospital of the Institute of Tropical Ophthalmology of Africa (IOTA). The average age was 44.69 years. 296 drivers (76.9%) were able to drive public transport vehicles. Among drivers over 50 years old, 42.5% are unfit for driving. Color vision was normal in 98.7 % of cases. Ametropia, cataract and neuropathies accounted for 48.5%, 25.1% and 17.5% respectively, of the causes of impaired vision of drivers. According to European legislation, official transport drivers must be subject to periodic eye examinations. In the absence of such measures in Malian legislation, 42.5% of drivers over 50 years old are unfit to drive. The improvement of road safety requires the renewal and application of the texts for the delivery and renewal of the driver's license of public transport drivers.

Information about medications in the district of Bamako, Mali

The aim of our study was to investigate the quality of information about pharmaceutical products in Mali. The study surveyed 98 prescribers, 60 pharmacists, and the package inserts of a basket of 30 generic medicines, compared to those of the corresponding proprietary versions. We made a rational choice of 98 doctors from various specialties and levels of the health system and randomly selected 60 of the 215 pharmacies in the district of Bamako (Mali). A rational sampling of generic medicines provided us with a basket of 30 drug notices for the antimalarial, antibiotic, antalgic, antipyretic, and anti-inflammatory agents used most in the Republic of Mali. This study showed that the pharmaceutical industry, through its sales representatives, are the main sources of drug information and that this information is not always adequate. The study also found that the content provided with generic medicines is sometimes different from the information for the proprietary brand-name drugs.

Chemotherapy outcome predictive effectiveness by the Oncogramme: pilot trial on stage-IV colorectal cancer

Background

Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains a major public concern. While conventional chemotherapeutic regimens have proved useful against advanced/metastatic diseases, progresses are to be made to effectively cure the large portion of patients not benefiting from these treatments. One direction to improve response rates is to develop chemosensitivity and resistance assays (CSRAs) efficiently assisting clinicians in treatment selection process, an already long preoccupation of oncologists and researchers. Several methods have been described to this day, none achieving yet sufficient reliability for recommended use in the clinical routine.

Methods

We led a pilot study on 19 metastatic CRC patients evaluating capacity of the Oncogramme, a standardized process using tumor ex vivo models, to provide chemosensitivity profiles and predict clinical outcome of patients receiving standard CRC chemotherapeutics. Oncogramme responses were categorized according to the method of percentiles to assess sensitivity, specificity and concordance.

Results

We report from a primary analysis a success rate of 97.4 %, a very good sensitivity (84.6 %), a below-average specificity (33.3 %), along with a global agreement of 63.6 % and a concordance between Oncogramme results and patients’ responses (Kappa coefficient) of 0.193. A supplementary analysis, focusing on CRC patients with no treatment switch over a longer time course, demonstrated improvement in specificity and concordance.

Conclusions

Results establish feasibility and usefulness of the Oncogramme, prelude to a larger-scale trial. Advantages and drawbacks of the procedure are discussed, as well as the place of CSRAs within the future arsenal of methods available to clinicians to individualize treatments and improve patient prognosis.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov database, registration number: NCT02305368

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12967-016-0765-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

[Susceptibility status of Anopheles gambiae sensu lato to insecticides commonly used for malaria control in Mali]

The objective of this work was to monitor the susceptibility of malaria vectors to insecticides in nine sentinel sites of the National Malaria Control Program in Mali. The study was performed during the rainy seasons of 2010 and 2011. WHO bioassays were conducted using F0 and/or F1 from wild collected females. The insecticides used were lambda-cyhalothrin 0.05%, DDT 4%, permethrin 0.75%, deltamethrin 0.05%, bendiocarb 0.1% and fenitrothion 1.0%. Results showed suspicion of resistance to pyrethroids and organochlorine in An. gambiae s.l. at almost all the sites except Yanfolila where the vector was susceptible to lambda-cyhalothrin (98.0%) [CI 95%, 98-99.8] and to DDT (100%). An. gambiae s.l. was susceptible to bendiocarb in five of the sites (Gao, Bougouni, Djenné, Yanfolila, Tombouctou) while there was a suspicion of resistance at the other sites (Kati, Niono, Bandiagara, Kita). Fenitrothion remains efficient except in the rice area of Niono, where there was a suspicion of resistance with a mortality rate of 92% [IC 95% 88.3-94.8]. Thus, it could be used as an alternative insecticide for IRS in Mali. These results show resistance to pyrethroids, the main insecticide family used in public health (and to some extent in agriculture). This could compromise the malaria vector control efforts in Mali where pyrethroids are used for both in bed nets and in IRS.

[Clinical and paraclinical profile of heart transplanted patients at the Thoracic and cardiovascular surgery service of the Pitié Salpétrière Hospital in 2009]

OBJECTIVE

To determine the clinical and paraclinical profile of heart transplanted patients in 2009 in the Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (TCVS) of the Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital (PS).

METHOD

It was a retrospective and descriptive study on heart transplantation patients between January 1 and December 31, 2009 in the TCVS of PS. Data collection was conducted from medical records, medical correspondence and pre-transplant assessment data and relevant laboratory tests, ultrasound, angiographic and operative reports. The collected data were entered and analyzed by Excel and analyzed by SPSS 12.

RESULTS

The sample size was 63 patients or 50.6% of patients awaiting heart transplantation. The mean age of patients was 47.66 ± 12.79 years, sex ratio Male:Female 2.70. The circumstances of transplantation were: super-emergency (37%), non-emergency (63%) and in 1/3 of redux surgery. All patients were symptomatic (average VO2 max of 12.76 ± 3.20 ml/kg/min), with 85.7% having a left ventricular ejection fraction <30% and 100% diastolic dysfunction. The primary dilated cardiomyopathy was the main causal disease with 38.1% of cases.

CONCLUSION

Heart transplantation as a last resort is practiced more and more with improved results and highlights dilated cardiomyopathy as the main cause. The clinical and paraclinical profile has not changed much over the last 5 years.

[Management of goiters in the surgery «A» department of the Point G university hospital]

The aim of this study was to evaluate the surgical treatment of goiter in the «A» surgical department of the Point G University Hospital in Bamako.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This was a retrospective and descriptive study in the «A» surgical department of the Point G University Hospital from January 2007 to August 2014. Included in the study were all the patients operated for goiter. The patients who underwent surgery for other thyroid diseases were not selected. Postoperatively patients were followed for one year. The sociodemographic, clinical, para-clinical, therapeutic aspects and the postoperative course were the study parameters. Data analysis was performed on SPSS 21. The Chi square test was used for statistical analysis. A p-value inferior to 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

A total of 378 patients' records were collected. Thyroidectomy represented 6.2% (378 cases) over 6027 operations. The mean age was 41.29 years with a standard deviation of 13.58. Extremes were 3 and 85 years. The sex ratio was 7.22 in favor of women. The frequent reason for consultation was due to antero-cervical tumor with 97.07% of cases (n = 367). We identified 118 cases (31.22%) of goiter in cooled hyperthyroidism patients, 211 cases (55.82%) of euthyroid goiter, 7 cases (1.85%) of the thyroid neoplasia and one case (0.3%) of hypothyroidism goiter. Pathological histology helped to highlight a micro-vesicular macro adenoma in 16.1% of cases (61 patients); adenocarcinoma in 0.7% of cases (3 patients) and papillary carcinoma in 1.1% of patients (4 patients). The patients classified as ASA I and ASA II represented the majority with respectively 248 cases (65.60%) and 120 cases (31.74%). The most performed surgical techniques were subtotal thyroidectomy (n=181; 49.7%), the isthmo-lobectomy (126; 33.3%), total thyroidectomy (n=11; 2.9%) and sternotomy in one case of endothoracic goiter. Intraoperative complications were marked by hemorrhage in 12.7% of cases (45 patients). The postoperative one month follow up was uneventful in 91.79% (n = 347) and transient recurrent nerve injury was found in 2% of cases (1 patient). In one year follow up the postoperative outcome was good in 94.17% (n = 356) of patients. The mean hospital stay was 4.18 days. Six deaths were recorded (1.7%).

CONCLUSION

Goiter surgery is relatively common in the surgery 'A' department of the Point G University hospital. Good patient preparation and a better postoperative monitoring could help to minimize postoperative complications.

Study of MET protein levels and MET gene copy number in 72 sinonasal intestinal-type adenocarcinomas

BACKGROUND

Sinonasal intestinal-type adenocarcinomas (ITACs) have a poor prognosis, and are defined on the basis of their morphological similarities to colorectal adenocarcinomas. MET signaling pathway is involved in oncogenesis in various cancers. Nothing is currently known about the role of MET in ITACs.

METHODS

In a series of 72 ITACs, we investigated MET protein levels by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and gene copy number by in situ hybridization. These findings were analyzed as a function of clinical data, histological typing, and patient outcome.

RESULTS

MET protein was overproduced in 64% of cases and chromosome 7 polysomy was observed in 52% of cases. No tumor displayed MET amplification. The presence of mucinous or solid histological components, T3/T4 tumors, and incomplete resection were associated with a poor outcome.

CONCLUSION

MET is overproduced in about two third of ITACs, suggesting a role for the MET signaling pathway in the oncogenesis of these tumors.

[Fatal poisoning in Mali]

AIMS

The aim of this study was to determine the epidemiological characteristics of the cases of fatal poisoning in Mali.

METHODS

This retrospective study examined the cases of fatal poisoning recorded between 2000 and 2010 in six Health Reference centers, six regional hospitals and three university hospitals in the district of Bamako.

RESULTS

During the study period, 146 cases of fatal poisoning were recorded, accounting for 4.6% of all poisoning cases during this period. The average age of patients who died was 24 ± 17.7 years with a female-male ratio of 1.05. Nearly half (43%) were younger than 20 years. The ingestion was intentional in 66.4% of cases, mainly suicide attempts (47%) and therapeutic errors (19%). The median time until arrival at hospital was 8 hours after poisoning with multiple and varied clinical signs.

CONCLUSIONS

Decreasing the mortality rate from poison ingestion requires increasing public awareness about poisons and improving emergency service equipment and health personnel training.

[Two cases reports of pancreatic endocrine microadenoma incidentally found]

A 59-year-old male, was admitted to our hospital for a tumor of the pancreatic tail. Serum CEA and CA 19-9 levels were normal. Splenopancreasectomy found a desmoid tumour. A 69-year-old male was referred to our institution for chronic anemia and inflammatory syndrome with splenomegaly. Splenectomy showed an important splenic congestion and siderosis. Both patients had a type 2 diabetes mellitus. Furthermore, histological examination revealed pancreatic endocrine microadenomas. The two patients' postoperative course was unremarkable. Eleven and 24 months respectively after the diagnosis, the patients are alive and well, with no tumor recurrence.

[Burkitt's leukemia presenting as atypical acute mastoiditis in a 7-month-old child]

A 7-month-old girl presented with left acute mastoiditis and a white blood cell count of 79,000/mm(3). A surgically obtained bacteriological sample showed Streptococcus pneumoniae. Direct blood examination revealed leukemic blast cells. Histological samples showed leukemic infiltration of the left temporal bone. The final diagnosis was Burkitt's leukemia with left temporal bone leukemic infiltration. The patient received chemotherapy according to the LMB 2001 protocol from the Société française d'oncologie pédiatrique. Clinical, biological, and imaging follow-up 30 months after the end of treatment showed remission with complete recovery in the left temporal bone. Atypical presentation of acute mastoiditis (AM) should prompt investigation into whether there is a rare underlying pathology, such as a hemopathy, histiocytosis, or solid tumor. The first sign of leukemia may be acute middle ear disease. To our knowledge, no other cases of Burkitt's leukemia with temporal bone leukemic infiltration presenting as AM have been reported in a child under 1 year of age.

Epidermal growth factor receptor expression and KRAS and BRAF mutations: study of 39 sinonasal intestinal-type adenocarcinomas

Sinonasal intestinal-type adenocarcinomas (ITACs) are uncommon tumors of poor prognosis defined by their similarities to colorectal adenocarcinomas. The involvement of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) pathway in colorectal adenocarcinoma oncogenesis is well established, and the same is expected to apply to ITACs. In a series of 39 ITACs, we investigated EGFR amplification and chromosome 7 polysomy by fluorescence in situ hybridization; EGFR, KRAS, and BRAF mutational status by polymerase chain reaction sequencing; EGFR variant messenger RNA expression by quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction; and EGFR protein expression by immunohistochemistry with antibodies targeting the extracellular domain, the intracellular domain, and the phosphorylated isoform. The findings were analyzed with respect to clinical data, histologic typing, and patient outcome. EGFR amplification was observed in 3 cases with a focal distribution. EGFR proteins were overexpressed in all these foci with both extracellular domain and intracellular domain antibodies, suggesting involvement of the whole receptor. Chromosome 7 polysomy was observed in 15 cases and was not associated with EGFR protein expression. EGFR, KRAS, or BRAF mutations were observed in 5 different cases. The EGFRvIII mutant was not detected. In all cases, EGFR variants were expressed. There was no association between these molecular features and patient survival. In conclusion, (1) our study revealed various EGFR expression patterns in ITACs, indicating tumor heterogeneity; (2) EGFR amplification should be distinguished from chromosome 7 polysomy; (3) fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis could be guided by immunohistochemistry; and (4) ITACs share common alterations of the EGFR pathway with colorectal adenocarcinomas, except for a lower frequency of KRAS and BRAF mutations.

Management of vascular malformations of the parotid area

OBJECTIVES

To describe our experience in the management of vascular malformations of the parotid area.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This was a retrospective study. Among 614 parotidectomy performed between 1998 and 2008 at our institution, 10 cases (1.6%) of vascular malformations have been identified. Clinical features and management of these patients were analyzed.

RESULTS

Clinical presentation was usually related to that of a benign, slow-growing and asymptomatic tumor. There was a marked female predominance (90%). In any case, the diagnosis of vascular malformation could be obtained with certainty preoperatively. Surgical excision was performed most often referred to diagnosis. Sixty percent of vascular malformations were located in the superficial lobe of the parotid gland. On the histological we found a classic look with benign vascular proliferation of endothelial cells in the walls. The vessel lumen was either the head of a congestion or thrombosis or calcification (phleboliths).

CONCLUSION

Vascular malformations of the parotid gland, rare disease, are mainly venous. The terminology is based on clinical data, scalable, histological and hemodynamic as classified by the International Society of Study of Vascular Anomaly (ISSVA). Despite advances in imaging including MRI they remain difficult to diagnose. The treatment of reference is surgical excision.

[Volvulus of sigmoid colon: surgical treatment and prognosis in the services of General Surgery of the Point G Teaching Hospital]

OBJECTIVE

To study the therapeutic aspects and prognosis of volvulus of the sigmoid colon in surgical departments.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Our study was retrospective from January 2000 to December 2009 (10 years). All patients who underwent sigmoid volvulus in the Point G teaching hospital surgical departments were taken into account.

RESULTS

We recorded 96 patients operated for volvulus of sigmoid over 882 cases of bowel obstruction, a rate of 10.9%. The average age was 47.2 years ± 18.9. In per-operative, there was a necrosis of the colon rate of 16.7% (14 cases). Performed surgical treatment modalities were: sigmoidectomy with primary anastomosis in 29.2% of cases (28), sigmoidectomy followed by colostomy and secondary anastomosis in 60.4% of patients (58) and 10.4% rare of simple devolvulation. The immediate postoperative period were marked by a morbidity rate of 7.3% (7 cases) and a mortality rate of 7.3% (7 cases).

CONCLUSION

In spite of various therapeutic modalities of volvulus of the sigmoid colon, the rates of postoperative morbidity and mortality are rising in the general surgery of the Point G teaching Hospital.

[Postoperative Pains: Evaluation Of Its Management In The Point G Teaching Hospital]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the management of postoperative pain in the Point G teaching hospital.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We carried out a prospective study, in 2008. Inclusion criteria for the personnel: be a staff member from the department of surgery or anaesthesia reanimation; willing to fill out the questionnaire. Inclusion criteria for patients: to be operated and hospitalized in one of the departments of surgery and anaesthesia reanimation.

RESULTS

We collated the responses of 600 patients and 113 personnel. 92% of the patients underwent post-operative analgesia. The delay between the request and treatment of the patient was extensive in 92% of cases. The medical personnel and nursing staff had not received specific training on treating the pain in respectively 55% and 70% of cases. We noted an absence of informational support and of pre-established consensual protocols, written and validated on the management of postoperative pains.

CONCLUSION

The treatment of the postoperative pains shows important shortcomings within the Point G teaching hospital and these insufficiencies are found across levels.

[Colon amyloidosis secondary to tuberculosis: Case report and review of the literature]

The authors report the first case of amyloidosis diagnosed by histology and documented in Mali. The patient was a young lady of 31 years old who was hospitalized in internal medicine at the University Hospital of "Point G" for edema and ascites syndrome. She had a history of diarrhea, fever, vomiting, exercise dyspnea and diffused abdominal pain. The biological assessment such as HIV serology was negative. The research of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in sputum was positive. The diagnosis hypothesis of amyloidosis has been evoked and a biopsy of the rectal mucosa has been performed. The fragments showed by histology an acellular band between the basal membrane and the periglandular area. This band was stained in red by Rouge Congo. That confirmed the diagnosis of amyloidosis.

[Atypical fibrous epulis: Surgical treatment of 1 case]

Benign tumors are frequently encountered pathologies on the oral mucosa. They comprise a number of different lesions, including fibrous epulis. Its diagnosis is only possible by histological examination. We are presenting the case of a patient who consulted for an externalized maxillary swelling. Clinical examination showed an oval, painless swelling of solid consistency, independent of the alveolar bone, covered by a fibrous grayish membrane, prolonging the gingival fibro-mucosa at the vestibular level. The treatment was surgical excision of the tumor. Histological examination concluded that there was a lack of cytonuclear atypia and retained the diagnosis suggesting atypical fibrous epulis. We reviewed the clinical data, diagnosis and treatment of this type of tumor.

[Common mesentery: discovered two cases of intestinal obstruction]

The purpose of this study was to describe the common mesentery in its occlusive form and practice driving before this emergency. The mesentery is a common abnormality of rotation of the primitive intestinal loop or omphalomesenteric loop during embryonic development. Two cases of intestinal obstruction by strangulation were received in urgency. They were a 55 year old man who checked himself into the emergency department and a 14 year old girl brought in by her parents. These were 2 cases of acute intestinal obstruction on incomplete common mesentery. The intestine was turned to complete common mesentery in both cases. Embryologically, it is anomalies of rotation and joining of the primitive intestine that are causing the incomplete common mesentery , the source of acute intestinal obstruction due to strangulation.

CONCLUSION

The common mesentery poses a diagnostic and therapeutic problem. Its symptomatology is that of occlusion by strangulation and the surgeon must note this before any obstruction.

[Postoperative peritonitis in the Surgery B department of the Point G hospital]

OBJECTIVE

To determine the incidence of postoperative peritonitis, and describe their clinical, paraclinical and therapeutic aspects.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This was a retrospective study conducted between 1980 and 2010 in the Department of Surgery B of the Point G University Hospital. It focused on all patients who underwent surgical intra-abdominal in the Surgery B department.

RESULTS

We collected 25 cases of postoperative peritonitis, 84% were male subjects. The average age of patients was 37.2 years ± 17.0. The clinical picture was dominated by abdominal pain (92%), abdominal defense (92%), and fever (84%). Abdominal ultrasound played an important role in diagnosing 72% of cases. Etiologies were dominated by anastomotic leak (32%), infection of the collection phrenic, iatrogenic perforation (28%). Interventions made at surgery were: suture of the perforation or anastomotic recovery plus peritoneal cleansing and drainage in 36% of cases, peritoneal cleansing and drainage in 36%. There were postoperative complications in five patients. The mortality rate was 4%.

CONCLUSION

Postoperative peritonitis are rare in our service. When they occur their rate of morbidity and mortality are high.

[Peritonitis by perforation on gastric cancer at the Gabriel Touré teaching hospital]

OBJECTIVE

Describe the therapeutic and diagnostic aspects of gastric cancer perforations at the general surgery department of the Gabriel Touré teaching hospital.

PATIENTS AND METHOD

A retrospective survey was conducted over 11 years (January 1999 to December 2010). It included all patients having had surgery for peritonitis by gastric cancer perforation at the service during that time frame.

RESULTS

We found 14 cases of peritonitis due to gastric perforation, of which 9 were male and 5 female. The main clinical symptoms were abdominal pain (100%), weight loss (100%) and abdominal contraction (98.8%). Endoscopy allowed to note a pyloric antrum budding tumor in 4 patients before perforation. Radiography of the abdomen without preparation showed pneumoperitoneum in 8 cases. In all cases, the histological type recorded was adenocarcinoma. The antral seat was the most common (64.3%). Palliative surgery was immediately performed in all cases. We recorded two cases of fistula tract and 3 cases of infection of the lining, as well as 2 cases of postoperative mortality.

CONCLUSION

Gastric cancer perforation is rare and of bad prognosis as it survives on advanced cancer.

[Peritonitis by typhoid ileal perforation: evolutionary aspects in the Teaching Hospital of Bamako and Kati in Mali]

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to determine the frequency of peritonitis by typhoid ileal perforation in the teaching hospitals of Bamako and Kati.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We conducted a retrospective study over a 24 years period (1984-2007). Every patient admitted and operated in urgency for peritonitis by ileal perforation were listed and included in this study.

RESULTS

During the study period, 1868 acute peritonitis were operated on in the three major health centres of Bamako and Kati. We collected data concerning 543 typhoid ileal perforations which represented 29.0% of all peritonitis. The peritonitis by typhoid perforation constituted 28.5% of the peritonitis in the teaching hospital of the Point G, 30.6% in the Gabriel Touré teaching hospital and 6.4% in the teaching hospital of Kati. Among the peritonitis by typhoid perforation, 56.7% were listed in the Point G teaching hospital, 43.0% in the Gabriel Torre teaching hospital and 0.3% in the Kati teaching hospital. Between 1984-2004 we collected data from two hundred and fifty seven (257) patients suffering from peritonitis by typhoid ileal perforation, a total of 24.4% of the peritonitis recorded. Between 2005-2007, the data for two hundred eighty six (286) patients suffering from peritonitis by typhoid ileal perforation was collected, a total of 35% of the peritonitis recorded. The typhoid ileum perforation remains the 2nd overall cause of generalized peritonitis after that of appendicular origin.

CONCLUSION

Peritonitis by typhoid ileum perforation has seen a significant increase from 2004 in the teaching hospitals of Bamako and Kati.

Analyzing Thiol-Dependent Redox Networks in the Presence of Methylene Blue and Other Antimalarial Agents with RT-PCR-Supported in silico Modeling

Background

In the face of growing resistance in malaria parasites to drugs, pharmacological combination therapies are important. There is accumulating evidence that methylene blue (MB) is an effective drug against malaria. Here we explore the biological effects of both MB alone and in combination therapy using modeling and experimental data.

Results

We built a model of the central metabolic pathways in P. falciparum. Metabolic flux modes and their changes under MB were calculated by integrating experimental data (RT-PCR data on mRNAs for redox enzymes) as constraints and results from the YANA software package for metabolic pathway calculations. Several different lines of MB attack on Plasmodium redox defense were identified by analysis of the network effects. Next, chloroquine resistance based on pfmdr/and pfcrt transporters, as well as pyrimethamine/sulfadoxine resistance (by mutations in DHF/DHPS), were modeled in silico. Further modeling shows that MB has a favorable synergism on antimalarial network effects with these commonly used antimalarial drugs.

Conclusions

Theoretical and experimental results support that methylene blue should, because of its resistance-breaking potential, be further tested as a key component in drug combination therapy efforts in holoendemic areas.

From qualitative community data collection to program design: health education planning in niger

In order to develop health education programs which are adapted to specific sociocultural contexts, in-depth, qualitative data are necessary for program planning. For this purpose, informal data collection techniques are often more appropriate than conventional, formal research methods. In addition to the type of data collection used as a basis for program planning, three other aspects of the program planning process contribute to the quality of programs developed: who is involved in preliminary data collection and program planning; the degree of contact between program planners and target communities; whether program planning is viewed as a top-down, mechanical process or as a collaborative, problem-solving process. This article describes the methodology used to develop a diarrhoeal disease health education program in the Zinder region of Niger in which particular attention was given to these four aspects of the planning process.

Paranasal sinus rhabdomyosarcoma: a rare tumor of poor prognosis

INTRODUCTION

Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is a rare sarcoma, in which paranasal sinus locations are exceptional in adults.

CASE REPORT

We report a case of ethmoid metastatic RMS in a 48-year-old patient, discovered in connection with recurrent epistaxis associated with exophthalmia and ophthalmoplegia. The tumor was inoperable and chemotherapy based on adriamycin was initiated. The course was, however, marked by rapid worsening of symptoms and the patient's death.

DISCUSSION

Paranasal sinus RMS shows no specific clinical signs, and diagnosis is mainly based on immunohistochemical analysis. The association of surgery and chemo-radiotherapy is the optimal attitude, but surgical resection is often impossible due to local extension. Prognosis in adults is poor.

Constitutive activation and accelerated maturation of peripheral blood T cells in healthy adults in Burkina Faso compared to Germany: the case of malaria?

OBJECTIVE

It is not exactly known how frequent exposure to Plasmodium falciparum shapes the peripheral blood T-cell population in healthy West Africans.

METHODS

The frequency of peripheral blood CD4(+) lymphocytes responding to Plasmodium falciparum merozoite surface protein 1 (PfMSP-1) by production of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), interleukin-2 (IL-2) or tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) was determined using a commercially available flow cytometric activation assay (FastImmune) in 17 healthy adults in Nouna, Burkina Faso. T-cell activation and maturation in peripheral blood of healthy adults in Burkina Faso (n=40) and Germany (n=20) were compared using immunophenotyping and three-colour flow cytometry.

RESULTS

Significant numbers of PfMSP-1 -specific CD4(+) lymphocytes producing IFN-γ, IL-2 and/or TNF-α were detected in 14 healthy adults in Nouna. Cytokine profiles showed predominant production of IFN-γ and TNF-α. Compared to Germans, Burkinabé showed markedly lower proportions of CCR7+ CD45RA+ naive CD4(+) cells and slightly higher frequencies of CD95(+)CD4(+) T-cells and of CD38(+) CD8(+) T-cells. The median antibody-binding capacity of CD95(dim) CD4(+) T-cells in Burkinabé was more than twice the value observed in Germans (263 vs. 108 binding sites per cell, p<0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

We hypothesize that an IFN-γ-induced increase in the expression level of CD95 on CD4(+) lymphocytes may lower the activation threshold of resting naive CD4(+) T-cells in healthy adults living in Burkina Faso. Bystander activation of these cells deserves further study as a molecular mechanism linking strong IFN-γ responses against Plasmodium falciparum to decreased susceptibility to parasitemia observed in specific ethnic groups in West Africa.

Comparative efficacy of uncontrolled and controlled intermittent preventive treatment during pregnancy (IPTp) with combined use of LLTNs in high resistance area to sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine in Côte d'Ivoire

Introduction

In recent years, intermittent preventive treatment for pregnancy (IPTp) with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) has become policy in much of sub-Saharan Africa. But resistance to SP has been spreading across sub-Saharan Africa and thus the effectiveness of IPTp-SP has been questioned. The present study therefore sought to assess the incidence of placental malaria, low birth weight, and anemia of two IPTp-SP approaches (directly observed treatment scheme versus no directly observed treatment) in Anonkoua-Kouté and Samo, Côte d’Ivoire where the reported prevalence of dfr single mutant 108 was 62% and 52.2%, respectively.

Methods

The study was a longitudinal design involving pregnant women and was conducted in Anonkoua-Kouté, a suburban area, and Samo, a rural area, from January 2008 through March 2009. Women of a pregnancy less than 28 weeks duration were randomized to receive SP (1.5 g/0.075 g SP) in a single intake twice and were followed up monthly until delivery. Doses were administered under supervision in the controlled IPTp group, while SP was given free to women in the uncontrolled IPTp group with a recommendation to take it at home. The primary end point was the proportion of low birth weight infants (body weight < 2500 g) and the secondary end point was the rate of severe anemia and placental malaria detected at delivery.

Results

A total of 420 pregnant women were enrolled (212 and 208, respectively, in the controlled and uncontrolled groups). Delivery outcome was available for 378 women. In the modified intention-to-treat analysis, low birth weight infants were born from 15.5% of women of the uncontrolled IPTp group and from 11.9% of women in the controlled IPTp group (P = 0.31). The per-protocol population analysis showed consistent results. The proportion of women with placental malaria infection, moderate anemia (hemoglobin < 11 g/dL), and severe anemia (hemoglobin < 8 g/dL) at delivery were similar between the two groups (P > 0.05).

Conclusion

The study showed that the two approaches were equivalent, suggesting that unsupervised IPTp-SP free of charge should be used in areas where implementation of the directly observed treatment scheme suffers from many constraints.

[Mucoepidermoid carcinomas of salivary glands: prognostic significance of immunohistochemistry. A study of 49 cases]

INTRODUCTION

Mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) is considered as the most common malignant salivary gland tumor. Its prognosis is dominated by the presence of high-grade forms involving life-threatening. The aim of our study was to evaluate the usefulness of immunohistochemistry to identify the most aggressive forms and allow better discrimination between low grade, intermediate grade and high grade tumors.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This was a retrospective study of 49 cases of mucoepidermoid carcinomas of salivary glands. Two immunohistochemical markers have mainly been studied: a marker of proliferation (Ki-67) and a growth factor receptor (EGFR). Additional analyzes were performed with other markers (p53, ACE, bcl2, CD 117 and her2). Statistical analysis investigated the existence of a correlation between the presence of these factors and the histopathological grade on one hand and survival of patients on the other hand.

RESULTS

Regarding the results of immunohistochemical Ki-67 and EGFR, it was observed a better survival rate when the immunostaining was less than 10%. The expression of Ki-67 and EGFR was correlated with the histological grade, but did not, in our study, allow discrimination between low-grade, intermediate grade and high grade. Our results are consistent with data of the literature, including Ki-67, which appears to be a useful but not powerful marker of prognosis of MEC. Other markers studied (p53, ACE, bcl2, CD 117 and her2) showed no contributory results.

CONCLUSION

The prognosis of MEC is appreciated satisfactorily following histological criteria: histological grade, surgical margins, perineural invasion or vascular emboli. The integration of immunohistochemistry in a therapeutic algorithm could be particularly useful for the challenging assessment of prognosis of intermediate grades.

[Implementation of in vitro culture of Mycobacterium ulcerans from clinical samples versus detection of acid-fast bachilli and bacterial genome in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire]

Mycobacterium ulcerans infections are a public health problem in Céte d'Ivoire. The etiological diagnosis of this disease made by culture remains a big concern due to the slowness and difficulties encountered. This detection by culture of M. ulcerans represents a big interest as it allows obtaining the circulating strains for research. The purpose of this study was to determine on a routine basis in a poorly equipped laboratory, in vitro culture of M. ulcerans from exudates of skin ulcerations and from biopsy of patients with suspected Buruli ulcer. A particular attention was paid to the conditioning of the sample forwarded to the laboratory and inoculation in Lowenstein-Jensen medium supplemented with glycerol. The results of the three methods for the analysis showed 26.7, 57.4 and 17.8% positive rate respectively in the microscopy examination by nested PCR and by culture. In all the analysis, the positive rate from biopsy is higher than that obtained from exudates. The overall contamination rate by invasion of the three tubes of culture by fungi is 15.8 with 14.3 and 19.4% respectively,from exudates and biopsies. All positive samples in Ziehl-Neelsen staining and in culture were also positive by nested PCR. The nested PCR confirmed the positive strains found in culture, which were responsible for skin ulcerations. After culture, only one strain was nPCR negative. This strain was identified as Mycobacterium Gordonae. Our culture conditions showed that M. ulcerans was not the only strain identified and that other strains were present in the culture. We can conclude that the culture of M. ulcerans, in spite of the growth difficulties of the bacterium can be performed in laboratory in developing countries despite the lack of reagent and consumables. The implementation of this culture is the only way to determine sensitivity tests in vitro and in vivo in order to treat patients with Buruli ulcer.

[A rare cause of sudden cardiac failure: histiocytoid cardiomyopathy]

Histiocytoid cardiomyopathy is a rare disease which occurs predominantly in the first two years of life, with a female preponderance. We report the cases of two girls (11 and 15-month-old) which were respectively referred to our institution for ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation without prodroma. Etiologic findings only showed mild cardiomyopathy. Autopsy and histologic examination led to the diagnosis of histiocytoid cardiomyopathy. Furthermore, in the first observation, agenesis of the corpus callosum was found.

[Pituitary melanocytoma mimicking an adenoma]

A 62-year-old woman was referred for a pituitary tumour diagnosed because of a chronic asthenia and visual disorders. Cerebral MRI showed a pituitary tumour compressing the optic chiasm and enhanced after gadolinium injection. Biological findings showed panhypopituitarism and hyperprolactinemia. The diagnostic of pituitary macro-adenoma was performed and the patient was treated with hormone replacement therapy and dopaminergic agonist. Six months later, she presented visual disorders worsening leading to surgical excision. The diagnosis of pituitary melanocytoma was performed after anatomo-clinical confrontation. Post-operative radiation was done.

Coffin-Siris syndrome with multiple congenital malformations and intrauterine death: towards a better delineation of the severe end of the spectrum

Coffine-Siris syndrome or "fifth digit" syndrome is a multiple congenital anomaly-mental retardation syndrome with severe developmental delay, coarse facial features, hirsutism and absent fifth fingernails or toenails or fifth distal phalanges. The etiology of this syndrome remains uncertain. Here we report a stillborn male baby born from consanguineous parents who might represent a very severe form of Coffine-Siris syndrome with cardiac defect and multiple brain malformations including corpus callosum agenesis and Dandy Walker malformation. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first case leading to intrauterine death. Karyotype and array comparative genomic hybridization were normal; these results give additional support to mendelian inheritance for this syndrome. In our family, the most likely mode of inheritance is autosomal recessive and the recurrence is probably as high as 25%.

A geographical approach to identify sleeping sickness risk factors in a mangrove ecosystem

OBJECTIVES

To provide a better understanding of sleeping sickness transmission and spread in mangrove areas to optimize its control.

METHODS

In the Forecariah mangrove area, Guinea, 19 sleeping sickness cases and 19 matched controls were followed up in their living areas (at home, in fields and at water points). All occupational sites and pathways were mapped and then placed in their environmental context.

RESULTS

The sleeping sickness cases displayed a significantly broader and more diverse spatial occupation than the controls. They covered double the daily walking distances of controls and had on average two more occupational sites, most of which were located in mangrove forests. Activities with a higher transmission risk (rice culture, attendance of pirogue jetties) were identified as well as high-risk areas and pathways.

CONCLUSIONS

An entomological control strategy targeting transmission risk areas is proposed. Its implementation in a control programme would reduce by 86% the efforts needed for a classical vector control programme throughout the area. Medical surveys set up at specific locations, such as pirogue jetties and high-risk paths, should also enable better targeting of the population at highest risk.