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Biomedical subjects

A Sylla

Publications and source records attributed to A Sylla.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

[Self-destructive behavior in African adolescents].

The purpose of this study was to analyze self-destructive behavior in adolescents in Senegal. Based on four case reports the authors stress the central importance of family breakdown in the process leading to this behavior as opposed to the first descriptions implicating an offense against the honor of the group. The vulnerability of teenagers in the absence of structural initiation is also advanced. Systematic intervention may be recommended in such cases.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

[Progressive spinal amyotrophy type I or Werdnig-Hoffman disease. Apropos of 5 cases in Dakar (Senegal)].

Type I spinal muscular atrophy or Werdnig-Hoffman disease is rarely described in black populations. We report five such cases diagnosed in a paediatric outpatient clinic in Dakar. We conducted a retrospective study relating to patients examined for hypotonia progressing since birth for whom the electromyogram had made it possible to confirm an involvement of the peripheral nerve without nerve conduction anomaly. Mean age of diagnosis was 12.3 +/- 7.6 months. Respiratory distress was noted for 2 patients. A family background of similar symptomatology was found in 1 case and consanguinity in 2 cases. Only 1 case of death occurred whereas the 4 other patients were lost to follow-up. The diagnosis of spinal muscular atrophy must be considered in the presence of any severe hypotonia in infants.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed2001

[Echocardiographic aspects in pediatric patients with sickle cell disease].

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular involvement is not well studied in children with sickle cell disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the echocardiographic parameters of children with sickle cell disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed a transversal and case-control study including 80 subjects of six months to 16 years of age divided into four groups of 20 children each: heterozygous sickle cell disease, homozygous sickle cell anemia, anemia of other causes than sickle cell, and healthy children. All children had a complete physical examination, biological screening including hemogram and hemoglobin electrophoresis, chest x-ray, electrocardiogram, and Doppler echocardiogram. Data were compared using the chi 2 method and the Student's t-test. RESULTS: The mean age was 8.5 years and the sex-ratio was 1. Echocardiographic abnormalities were observed in seven patients with anemia unrelated to sickle cell, 15 children with heterozygous anemia and all the homozygous patients. The main abnormalities were: left ventricular enlargement (ten homozygous patients, one heterozygous subject, five of the patients with another cause of anemia), increased contractility of the heart (18 homozygous patients, seven heterozygous patients, five in the anemia group) and mild to moderate mitral or tricuspid regurgitation (12 homozygous, five heterozygous and five patients in the anemia group). One homozygous child had a dilated and hypokinetic cardiomyopathy with pulmonary hypertension. The parameters of left ventricular systolic function and left heart chamber dimensions were lower in the control group (P < 0.04). DISCUSSION: This study shows the frequency of heart chamber dilatation with left ventricular hyperkinesis usually described in the literature. The lack of case of chronic cor pulmonale may be due to the young age of our patients. One case of dilated and hypokinetic cardiomyopathy suggests that other causes than anemia should be considered, particularly myocardial ischemia, which could not be demonstrated because of our limited investigative methods. CONCLUSION: These results emphasize the frequency of the heart involvement in sickle cell disease, particularly in the homozygous type, and point out the importance of the cardiologic screening of these patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Interactions between hepatitis B virus infection and exposure to aflatoxins in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma: a molecular epidemiological approach.

Aflatoxins and hepatitis B virus (HBV) are major risk factors for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in high incidence areas for this cancer, namely southeast Asia and parts of Africa. There is evidence from both epidemiological studies and animal models that the two factors can act synergistically to increase the risk of HCC. The cellular and molecular mechanism of the interaction between these two factors is as yet undefined. However, one possible mechanism attested to by studies in HBV transgenic mice is that chronic liver injury alters the expression of specific carcinogen metabolising enzymes thus modulating the binding of aflatoxin to DNA in hepatocytes. The high levels of aflatoxin exposure which occur in many areas of the world where chronic HBV infection is endemic indicate that measures to reduce aflatoxin exposure would contribute to reducing HCC incidence. In preliminary studies, Guinea-Conakry have established baseline data for the implementation of a community-based intervention study to evaluate the effectiveness of improved post-harvest processing and storage of the groundnut crop, a major source of aflatoxins. Aflatoxin-albumin adducts were measured in 423 sera from individuals living in the four natural geographic zones of Guinea. More than 95% of the serum samples were positive for this biomarker and highest exposures were found in Lower Guinea where groundnuts are consumed as a dietary staple. Variations in mean levels between villages within a geographic region did not vary greatly. HBV infection was endemic in all regions with an overall prevalence of 16.7% chronic carriers. Thus in this population both HBV vaccination and reduction in aflatoxin exposure would be beneficial in decreasing morbidity and mortality from liver disease.

Aflatoxins↗
PubMed1999

[Apropos of 1 attempted suicide with a fire arm in an adolescent].

This is the presentation of an adolescent's clinical case who tried to commit suicide with a fire arm during a depressive crisis. An emphasis is placed on the family interaction model and on a more global approach of the patient's personality. The authors underlined some of the problems raised by the diagnostic approach linked to the delirious syndrome, full of psychotic elements: themes of persecution, mystico-religious themes associated with impulsive escapade, all of them going with a depressive state. They gave also an important place to a pluridisciplanary treatment in those particular stages of crisis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

[Immunologic thrombopenic purpura associated with an autoimmune hemolytic anemia or Fisher-Evans syndrome: apropos of a case].

We report one case of thrombocytopaenia purpura associated with an auto-immune haemolytic anaemia (positive erythrocyte Coombs test) or Fisher-Evans syndrome, found in a child aged 6 and a half years. Etiopathogenic, clinical, therapeutic as well as evolutive aspects are discussed. Response to corticoids is satisfactory in case our patient, in opposite to most cases described in the literature.

Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune↗
PubMed1998

[Risk factors for low birth weight: influence of maternal age, parity, gestational age, nutritional status and maternal pathology].

A retrospective study carried on between april 1st and september 31st 1997 has helped in collecting. 69 cases of low birth weight new-born (weight < 2500 g) at Abass Ndao hospital center in Dakar. The above population has been compared to 79 eutrophic new-born of mean birth weight equal to 3047.7 +/- 311 g (witnesses). The goal of this study is to appreciate the relationship between the maternal age, the number of the gestation, the parity, the nutritional status, the maternal pathologies during pregnancy and the low weight at birth. There was no difference between both groups as regards to the mean age (p = 0.44), the mean number of gestation (p = 0.7) and the mean parity (p = 0.48). On the other hand, the weight of the mother is smaller as for the group of low birth weight but the mean body mass index stand at normal in both groups. The pathologies during pregnancy period were obviously more frequent in the group of low birth weight new-born. There is a real need to insist on the preventive measures to be taken and the treatment of the maternal pathologies during pregnancy.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

[Staphylococcus aureus purulent pleurisy in children. Experience of the Albert Royer Hospital for Children of the Fann University Hospital Center in Dakar].

The authors report here by a retrospective study 58 cases of Staphylococcus aureus empyema at Albert ROYER child hospital located in the Fann University Teaching Hospital of Fann between January 1st 1992 and December 31, 1995. In this study staphylococcus aureus is the bacterium involved in pleural effusions of the children (54%) a long way ahead Streptococcus pneumoniae (16%). Infant less than 30 month is more affected (86%). The average age of the patients is 16.8 month +/- 16.6. The resistance of the germ to usual antibiotics, the precariousness of the research field and mechanical complications linked to the outpouring explain their seriousness. The treatment lies upon an adapted antibiotic and bactericidal therapy associated to closed chest tube drainage.

Age Distribution↗
PubMed1998

[Malaria in the infant in a rural area of maritime Guinea (Guinea Conakry). I. Immune and parasitic status of the mother and the newborn].

Among 216 women who had given birth in the rural health maternity centre of Maférinyah (Guinea), 32% had parasitemia with no clinical signs. Antimalarial antibodies could be measured only for 156 women and were present in all of them. Serological antimalarial tests were carried out on 133 newborns, all of whom had antibodies. The serological results of 122 mother infant pairs are given in this article. The absence of parasitemia in 122 newborns confirms the rarity of congenital malaria and would seem to favour the protective role of transmitted maternal antibodies.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

[Malaria in infants in a rural area of maritime Guinea (Guinea Conakry). II. Development of antimalarial antibodies and malaria during the first year of life].

A transversal investigation carried out on 551 children and a longitudinal study of 55 infants showed the disappearance of maternal anti-plasmodium antibodies during the first year of life. Out of 212 new-borns surveyed for one year, 59 (28%) were infested by Plasmodium, but never during the first two months of life. This infestation was not related to the age of the infant nor to the season. For 46% of cases, infestation was completely asymptomatic, for 18% of cases respiratory signs were present and for 20% digestive signs not specific to malaria. Fever was present in 14 cases (24%) and isolated in 6 cases. Only 7 infants received a specific antimalarial treatment. Evolution under medical surveillance was favourable in all cases. These findings prove the difficulties inherent to the diagnosis of malaria, especially in the absence of laboratories for diagnosing other infections--such as typhoid--which do not appear in sanitary statistics. The findings also raise the question as to the efficiency of systematic antimalarial treatment in case of fever in the infant or child. Asymptomatic parasitemia can be explained by the existence of antitoxic immunity different from antiplasmodia immunity.

Aging↗