Prevalence and factors associated with overweight in children under 5 years in West African countries

Background

Overweight is a risk factor for non-communicable diseases and is affecting an increasing number of children worldwide. The objective of this study was to measure the prevalence and related factors to overweight among children under 5 years in five West African countries.

Methods

This study was a secondary analysis of nationally representative cross-sectional data. These data were drawn from Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) from five countries in the West African region (Benin, Guinea, Mali, Nigeria, and Togo) from 2015 to 2018.Continuous quantitative data were categorized and all analyses were weighted according to the probability that each participant was selected in the sample. Children under 5 years of age were the study population. Multilevel logistic regression was used with Stata 16.0 software.

Results

The total sample size for the analysis was 38,657 children. The pooled prevalence of overweight among children under 5 years of age in the five countries was 3%. Guinea had the highest prevalence (6%) compared to the other countries, which had a prevalence of 2%. The likelihood of being overweight was higher among children aged 0-6 months (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 3.09; 95% confidence interval [CI] [2.41-3.95]), who had a high birth height (AOR = 1.64; 95% CI [1.29-2.09]), whose mothers were overweight (AOR = 1.35; 95% CI [1.09-1.68]), who lived in households with fewer than five members (AOR = 1.19; 95% CI [1.00-1.46]), or who lived in Guinea (AOR = 2.79; 95% CI [1.62-4.79]).

Conclusion

This study showed that overweight concerns few children under 5 years of age in West Africa. However, it does exist, and its prevalence could likely increase if its modifiable factors (maternal overweight, household size, and height at birth) are not taken into account in nutritional interventions.

Involving the health sector in the prevention and care of female genital mutilation: results from formative research in Guinea

BACKGROUND

Despite efforts to reduce the burden of female genital mutilation (FGM) in Guinea, the practice remains prevalent, and health care providers are increasingly being implicated in its medicalization. This formative study was conducted to understand the factors that facilitate or impede the health sector in providing FGM prevention and care services to inform the development of health sector-based interventions.

METHODS

Between April and May 2018, a mixed methods formative study was carried out using a rapid assessment methodology in three regions of Guinea-Faranah, Labe and Conakry. A structured questionnaire was completed by one hundred and fifty health care providers of different cadres and 37 semi-structured interviews were conducted with health care providers, women seeking services at public health clinics and key stakeholders, including health systems managers, heads of professional associations and schools of nursing, midwifery, and medicine as well as representatives of the Ministry of Health. Eleven focus group discussions were conducted with female and male community members.

RESULTS

This study revealed health systems factors, attitudinal factors held by health care providers, and other factors, that may not only promote FGM medicalization but also impede a comprehensive health sector response. Our findings confirm that there is currently no standardized pre-service training on how to assess, document and manage complications of FGM nor are there interventions to promote the prevention of the practice within the health sector. This research also demonstrates the deeply held beliefs of health care providers and community members that perpetuate this practice, and which need to be addressed as part of a health sector approach to FGM prevention.

CONCLUSION

As integral members of FGM practicing communities, health care providers understand community beliefs and norms, making them potential change agents. The health sector can support them by incorporating FGM content into their clinical training, ensuring accountability to legal and policy standards, and promoting FGM abandonment as part of a multi-sectoral approach. The findings from this formative research have informed the development of a health sector intervention that is being field tested as part of a multi-country implementation research study in Guinea, Kenya, and Somalia.

The direct cost of dialysis supported by families for patients with chronic renal failure in Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso)

Background

Chronic renal failure can lead to dialysis and/or a kidney transplant in the final stage. The number of patients under dialysis has increased considerably in the world and particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Dialysis is a very expensive care. This is the reason why this study on the costs of dialysis management was initiated in Burkina Faso. The objective of the study is to determine the direct medical and non-medical costs of managing chronic renal failure among dialysis patients in Ouagadougou in 2020.

Methods

An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted. Data were collected in the hemodialysis department of three public university hospitals in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. All dialysis patients with chronic renal failure were included in the study. Linear regression was used to investigate the determinants of the direct medical and non-medical cost of hemodialysis.

Results

A total of 290 patients participated in this study, including children, adults, and the elderly with extremes of 12 and 82 years. Almost half of the patients (47.5%) had no income. The average monthly total direct cost across all patients was 75842 CFA or US$134.41.The average direct medical cost was 51315 CFA or US$90.94 and the average direct non-medical cost was 24 527 CFA or US$43.47. Most of the patients (45.2%) funded their hemodialysis by their own source.

The multivariate analysis showed that the presence of an accompanying person during treatment, residing in a rural area, ambulatory care, use of personal cars, and treatment at the dialysis center of Yalgado Teaching Hospital were associated with higher direct costs.

Conclusion

The average cost of dialysis services borne by the patient and his family is very high in Burkina Faso, since it is 2.1 times higher than the country's minimum interprofessional wage (34664 CFA or US$61.4). It appears that the precariousness of the means of subsistence increases strongly with the onset of chronic renal failure requiring dialysis. Thus, to alleviate the expenses borne by dialysis patients, it would be important to extend the government subsidy scheme to the cost of drugs and to promote health insurance to ensure equitable care for these patients.

Cutoff Points for Grip Strength in Screening for Sarcopenia in Community-Dwelling Older-Adults: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Currently, different cutoff points for handgrip strength (HGS) have been used to estimate the prevalence of sarcopenia. In addition, the variability of equipment and protocols for this assessment can significantly influence the early detection of this important public health problem. Thus, this review aims to identify the different cutoff points for HGS adopted for older men and women in screening for sarcopenia.

OBJECTIVES

this review aims to identify the different cutoff points for HGS adopted for older men and women in screening for sarcopenia.

METHODS

In accordance with the PRISMA 2020 recommendations, which included published studies from the last 10 years, from 6 databases, in 3 different languages.

RESULTS

19.730 references were identified, of which 62 were included for the review. All references analyzed used algorithms and definitions of sarcopenia already known in the literature. Of the studies found, 16 chose to develop cutoff values for HGS based on their own population. The variation in cutoff points was evident when compared between gender and regions of the world.

CONCLUSION

It has become evident that there is a variability of normative values for HGS in sarcopenia screening. In addition, this systematic review shows the difference in the cutoff points used between the consensuses and those developed for each population.

Predictors of mortality, ICU hospitalization, and extrapulmonary complications in COVID-19 patients

OBJECTIVE

A major coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak occurred in Northeastern France in spring 2020. This single-center retrospective observational cohort study aimed to compare patients with severe COVID-19 and those with non-severe COVID-19 (survivors vs. non-survivors, ICU patients vs. non-ICU patients) and to describe extrapulmonary complications.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We included all patients with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 admitted to Colmar Hospital in March 2020.

RESULTS

We examined 600 patients (median age 71.09 years; median body mass index: 26.9 kg/m²); 57.7% were males, 86.3% had at least one comorbidity, 153 (25.5%) required ICU hospitalization, and 115 (19.1%) died. Baseline independent factors associated with death were older age (>75 vs. ≤75 years), male sex, oxygen supply, chronic neurological, renal, and pulmonary diseases, diabetes, cancer, low platelet and hemoglobin counts, and high levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum creatinine. Factors associated with ICU hospitalization were age <75 years, oxygen supply, chronic pulmonary disease, absence of dementia, and high levels of CRP, hemoglobin, and serum creatinine. Among the 600 patients, 80 (13.3%) had an acute renal injury, 33 (5.5%) had a cardiovascular event, 27 (4.5%) had an acute liver injury, 24 (4%) had venous thromboembolism, eight (1.3%) had a neurological event, five (0.8%) had rhabdomyolysis, and one had acute pancreatitis. Most extrapulmonary complications occurred in ICU patients.

CONCLUSION

This study highlighted the main risk factors for ICU hospitalization and death caused by severe COVID-19 and the frequency of numerous extrapulmonary complications in France.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and neurotrophin 3 (NT3) levels in post-mortem brain tissue from patients with depression compared to healthy individuals - a proof of concept study

The neurotrophic factors (NTF) hypothesis of depression was postulated nearly a decade ago and is nowadays widely acknowledged. Previous reports suggest that cerebral concentrations of NTF may be reduced in suicide victims who received minimal or no antidepressant pharmacotherapy. Recent evidence suggests that antidepressant treatment may improve or normalise cerebral concentrations of neurotrophic factors. Therefore, we examined the concentration of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and neurotrophin 3 (NT3) in different brain regions (cortex, cingulate gyrus, thalamus, hippocampus, putamen and nucleus caudatus) of 21 individuals - 7 patients of which 4 patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and overall age 86.8±5 years who received antidepressant pharmacotherapy (selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors [SSRI]; tricyclic antidepressants [TCA]), 3 patients with MDD without antidepressant treatment and overall age 84.3±5 years versus 14 unaffected subjects at age 70.3±13.8. We detected significant elevation of BDNF (parietal cortex) and NT3 (parietal, temporal and occipital cortex, cingulate gyrus, thalamus, putamen and nucleus caudatus regions) in MDD patients who received antidepressant medication compared to MDD untreated patients and controls. Moreover, we detected a significant decrease of NT3 levels in the parietal cortex of patients suffering from MDD non-treated patients without treatment compared to healthy individuals. Although the limited statistical power due to the small sample size in this proof of concept study corroborates data from previous studies, which show that treatment with antidepressants mediates alterations in neuroplasticity via the action of NTF. However, more research using post-mortem brain tissue with larger samples needs to be carried out as well as longitudinal studies to further verify these results.

[Lack of bioavailability of generic lopinavir/ritonavir not prequalified by WHO marketed in Africa (Congo Brazzaville)]

Although second-line generic antiretroviral drugs are of great value in developing countries there are concerns regarding their quality and safety. This study is a case report and pharmacological study in healthy volunteers. A French subject of sub-saharan origin who visited Republic of Congo received a post-exposure treatment with AZT+3TC and LPV/r (200/50 mg, Arga-L®, India) following unprotected sexual intercourse. Two days later, in France, tests showed that plasma concentrations of lopinavir and ritonavir were undetectable. The WHO prequalification list showed Arga-L® was not prequalified. A pharmacological study in healthy volunteers evaluated oral bioavailability: plasma concentrations of generic LPV/r Arga-L® and LPV/r Kaletra® (400/100 mg) were measured after one single dose at 7 days apart in four healthy volunteers. Concentrations of Arga-L® at 12 h after intake were considerably lower than those of Kaletra®, revealing very low oral bioavailability of generic lopinavir and ritonavir (<10%) compared to the brand-name drug. We found that Arga-L®, despite having adequate qualitative and quantitative drug contents, had very poor bio availability compared to Kaletra®. In order to avoid the selection and the spread of drug-resistant HIV strains, rigorous pharmacological monitoring of generic antiretroviral drugs that are not pre-qualified by WHO, but are marketed in Africa, must be a priority for health authorities.

Avian influenza and Newcastle disease in three risk areas for H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza in Mali, 2007-2008

Our survey aimed to investigate avian influenza (AI) and Newcastle disease (ND) prevalence and risk factors in three areas of Mali at risk for occurrence of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza. Blood samples and cloacal and oropharyngeal swabs were collected from 1470 birds between February 2007 and May 2008 and were tested by commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to detect antibodies and real-time reverse-transcription (rRT)-PCR to detect virus. Risk factors associated with seropositivity or positive rRT-PCR were identified by random effect logistic regression. AI seroprevalence was significantly lower in birds from commercial farms (0%) than in village backyard birds (3.1%). For backyard birds, no individual risk factors (species, age, sex) were identified, but birds in the Mopti area in the Sahelian zone, where millions of wild birds migrate, were more seropositive than in the Sikasso area in the Sudano-Guinean zone (odds ratio [OR] = 2.0, P = 0.051). Among backyard birds nonvaccinated against ND, ND seroprevalence was 58.4%, and the odds of seropositivity was 2.0 higher in chickens than in ducks, 1.7 higher in females than in males, 3.1 higher in adults than in young birds, and 3.0 higher in poultry from the Sikasso area than from the Mopti area (P < 0.01 in all cases). Prevalence established by rRT-PCR was low for both AI virus (1.1%) and ND virus (2.6%) and was associated with no risk factors for AI but was higher in chickens than in ducks (OR = 5.3, P = 0.05) and in the Sikasso area than in the Mopti area (OR = 3.4, P = 0.027) for ND. For AI and ND, prevalence assessed by serology or rRT-PCR varied over time, although seasonal and interannual variation could not be clearly distinguished. The intracluster correlation coefficient for serologic data was low for AI (0.014) and higher for ND (0.222). These results are useful to optimize surveillance and control strategy for notifiable avian diseases in African countries with similar agroecological and resource-limited contexts.

[Assessment of the use of partogram at the district maternity hospital of commune II in Bamako area]

OBJECTIVE

To estimate the use of the partogram at the district hospital of commune II in Bamako area; to identify the risk factors by pregnant women and her newborn babies ; to appreciate the filling quality of the partogram; to determine the sensibility, the specificity and the predictive worth of the alert line.

METHOD

Our study has been conducted at the district hospital of commune II in Bamako area because of his high examination rate. The study was retrospective, analytic and transversal, conducted during 12 months (from first January 2005 to 31 st December 2005). Were considered in this study, partograms of all pregnant women, who have been admitted to delivery in the hospital during the study period and whom labor was monitored with partogram from latence phase or active phase. Were excluded, partograms of women, who has delivered at home, the one who have suffered prophylactic cesarean and the one who have been admitted with a cervix dilatation ≥8 cm.

RESULTS

287 partograms ( 18,85%) were correctly filled; 64% of the deliveries were performed left of the alert line; 31,3% right of the alert line; 4,7% right of the action line. 83,04% of the pregnant women performed at least one prenatal examination, the age bracket of 15 to 19 years shows a little predominance with 27% of cases; 46,71% among them have delivered right of the alert line. The primigravidas represent 32% of the sample; among them, 38% got over the alert line and 7,93% the action line. Women smaller than 150 cm represent 1,05% ( 16 cases). In this bracket 68,75% ( 11 cases) suffered caesarean, 31,25% (5 cases) delivered normal. The caesarean has been performed again by 61,45% of the pregnant women, who had a previous cesarean, 29,52% have delivered normal. Concerning the newborn babies, 1,24% coming from the 84,95% deliveries whom labor time was lower than 10 hours, 51,98% those coming from the 13,27% deliveries whom labor time was between 11 and 24 hours, 100% of those coming from the 1,77% deliveries whom labor time was over 24 hours, had a low Apgar score at birth. 65,06% of the newborn babies delivered from the 5,45% women with greenish amniotic liquid have a low Apgar score against 3,32% of those from 73,32% with clear amniotic liquid.

[Assessment of the use of partogram at the district maternity hospital of commune II in Bamako area]

OBJECTIVE

To estimate the use of the partogram at the district hospital of commune II in Bamako area; to identify the risk factors by pregnant women and her newborn babies; to appreciate the filling quality of the partogram; to determine the sensibility, the specificity and the predictive worth of the alert line.

METHODOLOGY

Our study has been conducted at the district hospital of commune II in Bamako area because of his high examination rate. The study was retrospective, analytic and transversal, conducted during 12 months (from first January 2005 to 31 st December 2005). Were considered in this study, partograms of all pregnant women, who have been admitted to delivery in the hospital during the study period and whom labor was monitored with partogram from latence phase or active phase. Were excluded, partograms of women, who has delivered at home, the one who have suffered prophylactic cesarean and the one who have been admitted with a cervix dilatation ≥ 8 cm.

RESULTS

287 partograms (18.85%) were correctly filled; 64% of the deliveries were performed left of the alert line; 31.3%right of the alert line; 4.7% right of the action line. 83.04% of the pregnant women performed at least one prenatal examination, the age bracket of 15 to 19 years shows a little predominance with 27% of cases; 46.71% among them have delivered right of the alert line. The primigravidas represent 32% of the sample; among them, 38% got over the alert line and 7.93% the action line. Women smaller than 150 cm represent 1.05% ( 16 cases). In this bracket 68.75% (11 cases) suffered caesarean, 31.25% (5 cases) delivered normal. The caesarean has been performed again by 61.45% of the pregnant women,who had a previous cesarean, 29.52% have delivered normal. Concerning the newborn babies, 1.24% coming from the 84.95% deliveries whom labor time was lower than 10 hours, 51.98% those coming from the 13.27% deliveries whom labor time was between 11 and 24 hours, 100% of those coming from the 1.77% deliveries whom labor time was over 24 hours, had a low Apgar score at birth. 65.06% of the newborn babies delivered from the 5.45% women with greenish amniotic liquid have a low Apgar score again 3.32% of those from 73.32% with clear amniotic liquid.

[Electrocardiographic recording of long duration (Holter) of 24 hours during idiopathic cardiomyopathy of the peripartum]

The idiopathic myocardiopathy of the peripartum (IMPP) is a frequent disease in the Soudano-Sahelian zone of Africa whose evolution is loaded with many complications hemodynamic, thrombo-embolic and rhythmic. The prevalence and the meaning of the rhythm disorders are unknown. The aims of this prospective study are to measure and to describe the prevalence of the anomalies observed in Holter ECG of 24 hours. It's about a description cross-sectional study realized at the Cardiology Department (CHU Dakar) and 19 patients with IMPP were included, from October 2000 to July 2002. A recording ECG of 24 hours (Holter) was realized on all the patients. The average age was 29.4+/-6.9 years with a low socio-economic level (100%). The diagnosis of IMPP done before childbirth in 4 cases (21%) and the post partum on 15 patients (78.9%). The dyspnea was constant, the chest pain in 12 cases (63.1%) and palpitations in 8 cases (42%). The average rate of hemoglobin was of 10.85+/-2.05 g/dL. The standard electrocardiogram recorded a sinusal tachycardia (68.4%), a cavitary hypertrophy (78.8%), and disorders of the repolarization (47.3%). The cardiac echo-Doppler noted a cavitary dilatation (84.2%), a constant alteration of the left ventricular systolic function with a fraction of average ejection of 29.7+/-10.3%. The anatomy of the valves was normal. The recording Holter ECG of 24 hours recorded a sinusal tachycardia in 17 cases (89.4%), ventricular extrasystoles on 7 patients (36.8%), 4 cases of ventricular tachycardia non-sustained and double ventricular extrasystole on 1 patient, auricular extrasystoles in 4 cases (21%) and 1 case of auriculo-ventricular block of the first degree. The study of heart rate variability founded a mean value of 106 ms.

[Wilson's disease: study of 6 neurologic forms observed at the University Hospital in Conakry]

This report describes 6 cases of Wilson's disease observed at the University Hospital Center in Conakry, Guinea. Presenting symptoms involved extrapyramidal syndrome in 4 cases, psychomotor epilepsy in 1, and confusional syndrome in 1 case. Diagnosis was based on neuropsychic manifestations, Kayser-Fleicher corneal ring, liver failure, and impaired copper metabolism. Brain CT-scan depicted normal features in 3 cases, symmetric hypodensity of the lenticular nucleus in one, discrete ventricular dilatation of in one a and cortico-subcoetical atrophy in one.

Pathological and immunohistochemical study of the abomasum and abomasal lymph nodes in goats experimentally infected with Haemonchus contortus

Histopathological changes and the distributions of T and B lymphocytes and IgG producing plasma cells were recorded in the abomasum and abomasal lymph nodes of goats 3, 7 and 21 weeks post-infection (wpi) after an experimental infection with H. contortus. The low rate of worm recovery by 3 wpi (5.6%) might have been due to larvae death as suggested by the presence of granulomas in the abomasal mucosa at 3 and 7 wpi, or simply due to a poor larval establishment. Marked increase in the secretion of mucus by mucous cells together with an abundant infiltration of eosinophils, mast cells, CD3+ T lymphocytes, CD79a+ B cells, IgG+ plasma cells and globule leukocytes were recorded in the abomasal mucosa, especially at 7 wpi. Except for the globule leukocytes, this reaction decreased substantially by week 21, suggesting this cell type may have been involved in rejection of adult nematodes. The abomasal lymph nodes showed marked hyperplasia, particularly of CD79a+ B cells and IgG+ plasma cells in all infected goats. These reactions may have been responsible for the reduction in the number of worms found in the abomasum between 3 and 7 wpi.

[Mortality caused by traffic accidents at the Traumatology and Orthopedics Center of Grand-Yoff. A 2-year study. Apropos of 156 cases]

Most of road accident casualties are directed to the "Centre de Traumatologie et d'Orthopedie" between March 1989 and March 1991, the emergency Department received 8250 casualties treated by a team core comprising anesthetist-intensive care doctors and orthopaedic surgeons supplemented when necessary by other specialists. Out of those 8250 casualties aged 30 in average, 156 died at the hospital in varying time limits. The authors of present study intend to assess the efficiency of the medical and surgical care provided to identify the most frequent death causes and to suggest ways means of reducing the death toll. Forensic autopsies revealed the following lesions by order of prevalence: brain traumas 68, polytraumatisms 58, cervical vertebral traumas 13, abdomen traumas 7, polyfractures 3. In despite of the working conditions improvement at this specialized center (intensive care, technical facilities and staff) the mortality rate remains high, specially in polytraumatisms and brain traumas. The authors insist upon the need for a medically assisted transport unit which would take care of casualties before their arrival at hospital and for the acquisition of modern diagnosis means (tomodensitometry).

Effects of dipyridamole on the short-term evolution of glomerulonephritis

The aim of the present study is to evaluate the effect of dipyridamole (300 mg/day) versus placebo in a double-blind randomized trial on membranous glomerulonephritis (M-GMN), mesangial IgA glomerulonephritis (IgA-GMN), and segmentary and focal hyalinosis glomerulonephritis (SFH-GMN) during the first 3 months of treatment. In the case of M-GMN, proteinuria dropped by 60% of the basal value in patients treated with dipyridamole; in the case of IgA-GMN it dropped by 65-70%; and in the case of SFH-GMN it dropped by 40% of the basal value. Inhibition of proteinuria in M-GMN was correlated to platelet response, and above all, to the ADP-induced platelet aggregation in whole blood.

[Mycetoma of the fingers. Apropos of 5 case reports]

The authors report 5 cases of mycetomas of the fingers observed over a period of 5 years in a series of 18 mycetomas of the hand. In 3 cases, the lesion only involved the soft tissues, which were excised with 2 apparent cures after 2 and 5 years and one recurrence. In the other 2 cases, the bone was invaded and 2 digital amputations were performed without recurrence after 2 and 6 years. The authors review the epidemiology and histopathology of this disease as well as the absence of any truly effective medical treatment. In the presence of bone invasion, only excision can ensure cure.

[Neurotraumatic emergencies at the University Hospital Center in Dakar. Apropos of 120 injuries of the cervical spine]

In Senegal, traumas of spinal column are characterized not only by their high frequency and their etiology, but also and mainly by the extreme severity of their neurological lesions. A review of 120 traumas of cervical spine revealed: The importance of the neurological lesions (75%). The influence of the factors of severity and of the treatment. Global mortality rate of 35% raises to 46.46%, consequent on neurological lesion and to 85.71% consequent on total tetraplegia.

Platelet aggregation in human whole blood after chronic administration of aspirin

We have used the impedance aggregometer to study the "ex vivo" effect of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) in whole blood (WB) versus platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in 35 male healthy volunteers after 10 days of treatment with 25, 50, 125, 250, and 500 mg/day of ASA. Percent of inhibition of platelet aggregation was determinated at the end of treatment. A greater inhibition of platelet aggregation was observed in WB than in PRP when ASA was administrated at almost all doses. Maximal differences were at 25, 50, and 125 mg/day of ASA on adrenaline, collagen and arachidonic acid induced aggregation, and with 250 and 500 mg/day of ASA when ADP was used as aggregating agent. In the "in vitro" trials, IC-50 values of ASA on ADP and collagen induced aggregation were determined in platelet aggregation by the impedance method in both WB and PRP. ASA shows a lower IC-50 in WB than in PRP. When leucocytes were incubated in PRP samples, it effect was similar to the percent of inhibition in WB.

Effects of acetylsalicylic acid on platelet aggregation in male and female whole blood: an in vitro study

We have used the impedance aggregometer to study the in vitro effect of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) in whole blood (WB) versus platelet-rich plasma (PRP) using blood samples from 24 male and 24 female healthy volunteers. IC50 was calculated from dose-response curves of ADP-, adrenaline-, collagen- and arachidonic acid-induced aggregation. ASA inhibited platelet aggregation in WB with a lower IC50 than PRP in male and female samples; the greater differences between WB and PRP inhibitory effect of ASA were in collagen- and archidonic acid-induced aggregation. A higher ASA concentration was needed in order to produce half maximal inhibition of platelet aggregation in female than in male samples with both WB and PRP method, except when ADP was used as the aggregating agent in PRP.

[Human activities, hydro-agricultural management and urinary schistosomiasis. Methodological approach and results (a preliminary study in Upper-Volta)]

In the schistosomiasis endemic sub-sahelian region, a study of the prevalence of the disease was carried out on three different areas: the highest was around a small river, the lowest in the hydro-agricultural management region, mean prevalence was noted around a natural lake. Human activities have been classified with regards to the areas of transmission. Activity is closely linked to prevalence. For the populations, symptoms of urinary schistosomiasis (Rudzenga) constitute a real disease, traditional healers are the masters of earth (Tengsoba), water has hardly any importance in transmission.