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Biomedical subjects

A Sylla

Publications and source records attributed to A Sylla.

26 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
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↗
PubMed1996

[Suicidal attempts without borders?].

A series of 450 subjects having committed suicidal attempts were examined at the Principal Hospital in Dakar, Senegal between January 1992 and June 1996. Study of the resulting data confirms previous findings indicating that suicidal attempts occur essentially in younger and younger women, rarely after the age of 40. In 42% of cases, the triggering factor involved familial problems, the leading motive being conjugopathy in 15% of cases. At the present time, 90% of people attempting suicide are interviewed by a hospital psychiatrist. In a systemic approach the family is involved as soon as possible. In most cases the acting out implicates a concept of social misconduct. It is linked to the notion of belonging and, while this problem constitutes of marker of social disarray, it is in this area that a transcultural point of view can lead to a more productive dialogue between societies where this warning signal is even stronger and more persistent.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1995

Prevalence of exposure to aflatoxin and hepatitis B and C viruses in Guinea, West Africa.

The prevalence of exposure to aflatoxin, hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV), three important risk factors for hepatocellular carcinoma, was examined in Guinea, West Africa. A total of 75 sera were collected from men living in the Kindia region of lower Guinea. The sera were analysed by immunoassay for aflatoxin covalently bound to serum albumin as a marker of aflatoxin exposure. Over 90% of the sera contained detectable adduct levels, the highest level being 385 pg aflatoxin B1-lysine equivalent per mg albumin. Eleven subjects (14.7%) were positive for hepatitis B surface antigen in the serum and these subjects had a tendency to have higher aflatoxin-albumin adduct levels than the other subjects (mean level 70.4 pg/mg compared to 44.1 pg/mg), but the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.23). Eight subjects were positive for antibodies to HCV antigens and, interestingly, seven of these were from one ethnic group, Mandinka (25% prevalence). These data demonstrate that all three exposures are prevalent in Guinea and that the prevalence of these risk factors is comparable to that observed in other countries in West Africa. It is now important to assess the public health impact of these exposures in this country.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

[A new combined vaccine against yellow fever and measles in infants aged 6 to 24 months in Mali].

In a rural area in Mali, 453 children were randomly enrolled in a study comparing the safety and the immunogenicity of a combined yellow-fever-measles freeze dried vaccine with each yellow-fever and measles separate administration. Children were divided in 2 populations 4-8 and 12-24 month old. 249 were controlled for measles (inhibition of hemagglutination) and yellow-fever (seroneutralization) antibodies. Seroconversion rates for measles were 82% when administrated before 9 months and 100% when given in 12-24 months period. Measles GMT is similar whatever the schedule or the age group; so, early vaccination does not impair the immunogenetic response. Moreover, 96% of the children vaccinated before 9 months still have detectable measles protective antibodies 8 months after. Among the initially seronegative children, the yellow-fever response is satisfactory with 92 to 96% seroconversion rate and post-immunization GMT ranging 16.5 to 29.5 without any statistical difference between the vaccine and age groups. The safety of the combined yellow-fever-measles vaccine is assessed by the rare number of reactions which are equivalent with the normally expected reactions with each vaccine administered separately. The results demonstrate the satisfactory immunogenicity and safety of the combined yellow-fever-measles vaccine. Combine yellow-fever-measles vaccination could help to improve the feasibility of EPI.

Age Factors↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Empyema caused by Staphylococcus aureus in children: the experience of the Albert Royer Children's Hospital at Fann University Hospital, Dakar].

We report a retrospective study of 58 cases of empyema caused by Staphylococcus aureus at the Albert Royer Children's Hospital at the Fann University Hospital, between January 1st 1992 and December 31st 1995. Staphylococcus aureus is the principal bacterium responsible for pleural effusions in children (54%), way ahead of Streptococcus pneumoniae (19%). Most of the children affected (86%) are less than 30 months old. Theses infections are often serious due to the resistance of the bacterium to the usual antibiotics, the lack of solid research data and mechanical complications associated with the effusion. Treatment is based on the use of an appropriate bactericidal antibiotic treatment and pleural drainage.

Age Factors↗