Prévalence du reflux gastro-œsophagien typique à Abidjan

Aim

To determine in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, prevalence of typical gastro-esophageal reflux disease.

Patients and methods

Cross-sectional study from June 15 to September 30, 2003.Thousand nine hundred forty (1,940) persons from five health zones of the city Abidjan, were included after their agreement. Socio demographic and clinical parameters were collected using a questionnaire in an interview format. Typical gastro-esophageal reflux was defined as one of the three following association: heartburn and regurgitation, heartburn and postural syndrome, postural syndrome and regurgitation.

Results

Among 1940 respondents (mean age 28 + years ? 9 years; sex-ratio 0.86), 281 had a typical gastro-esophageal reflux disease (prevalence of 14.5% [13% CI 95%-16%]). Heartburn and/or regurgitation occurred weekly in 178 people (9.17% [8%–10% 95%]). Heartburn and regurgitation were more common in deprived areas (p=0.00). Intensity was somewhat annoying or troublesome in 56% of cases (p=0.00). Independent factors favoring episodes of gastroesophageal reflux were eating chocolate (p=0.04) and pregnancy (p=0.03). The typical gastro-esophageal reflux disease was significantly associated with cough (p=0.005) angina (p=0.001) and non cardiac chest pain (p=0.016).

Conclusion

Typical gastro-esophageal reflux disease is fairly common in Abidjan without any particularity.     

Human endometrium mRNA profile assessed by oligonucleotide three-dimensional microarray.

Our purpose, in the present work, was to further comprehend the genetic events underlying the response to steroids of human endometrium from the mRNA as well as protein expression point of view. In order to achieve this goal we undertook 10,000-oligonucleotide, three-dimensional microarray analysis, followed by immunohistochemistry, on human normal endometrium in the proliferative and secretory phases of the menstrual cycle. The results revealed that a myriad of genes involved in immune response, calcium metabolism and thyroid hormone response were frequently overexpressed in the second or luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. During the follicular phase, in contrast, overexpression of genes was mainly restricted to those encoding proteins involved in cell proliferation.     

Differences in micronutrients content found in cereals from various parts of Mali

Food samples were collected from four different regions (Mopti, Ségou, Timbuktu and Bamako) in Mali. The cereals, analyzed for iron, zinc, thiamine, riboflavin and niacin, were millet (Pennisetum glaucum), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), rice (Oryza sativa), wheat (Triticum aestivum) and fonio (Digitaria exilis). For millet the lowest coefficient of variation (CV %) between the regions was found in thiamine (15%) and the highest variation in niacin (126%). For sorghum it was the same nutrients that gave the lowest and highest CV, 34% in thiamine and 98% in niacin. For rice, however, the main variations were for zinc (lowest, CV 20%) and iron (highest, 141%). For wheat the lowest CV was in thiamine (47%) and highest in iron (115%), while for fonio the lowest CV was in zinc (9%) and highest in iron (61%). Even though the variation was very high for all nutrients except zinc in fonio, it was thiamine and zinc that differed the least and iron and niacin that differed the most. The use of different methods and laboratories could not explain the variation between different regions. The variation between ecological zones seems rather important. This raises the question of whether we can defend borrowing data on food composition from one country or area to another, with different ecological and climatic conditions. The globalization process impacting all countries actualize this question even more than before. Finally this has consequences for the design and use of the food composition table for Mali, which contain one main table giving average values, and separated tables from each region giving regional data when they are available.     

Prevalence of human papillomavirus in squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue.

Oncogenic human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are important agents in the genesis of gynecological cancer, and have also been implied in the genesis of oral cancer. With the purpose of evaluating the relationship between HPV and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the tongue, a case-control study was performed. Fifty white male patients who were smokers and had the histological diagnosis of SCC of the tongue were selected. The control group was composed of 10 matched patients with no clinical evidence of tongue lesions. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect the presence of HPV genome in fresh-frozen tissue specimens from SCC of the tongue margin. Thirty-seven patients (74%) had a positive PCR for oncogenic papillomavirus, and only 1 specimen (10%) of the control group was positive for nononcogenic papillomavirus. Based on the statistical analysis of this study there was a 25.6% higher risk for SCC of the tongue to harbor oncogenic HPV than the healthy control tongue tissue.     

HIV-1 and HIV-2 infection associated with AIDS in Abidjan, C?te d'Ivoire

In September 1987, a seroprevalence study of HIV-1 and HIV-2 infection was conducted among 956 people from different groups in Abidjan, C?te d'Ivoire. Groups examined were hospitalized patients (Internal Medicine and Infectious Disease Departments, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Treichville, Abidjan), outpatients at tuberculosis treatment centers, blood donors, women attending an antenatal clinic, and patients attending sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinics. Total HIV infection prevalence ranged from 10% in STD clinic patients and pregnant women to 45% in hospitalized patients on an infectious diseases service. Within groups, HIV-1 infection was 2-6.5 times more prevalent than infection with HIV-2. One-quarter of HIV-seropositive people were serologically reactive to both HIV-1 and HIV-2 on enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western blot. Clinical conditions previously observed in patients with HIV-1 infection were observed in people infected with HIV-2 only, as well as in those with HIV-1 infection and dual serologic reactivity. An isolate of HIV-2 was obtained on culture from a person with wasting disease and chronic fever. The results of this study suggest that infection with HIV-1 and HIV-2 is epidemic in C?te d'Ivoire, and that HIV-2 may be associated with AIDS.     

Treatment of Superficial and Deep-seated Mycoses with Oral Ketoconazole

Oral ketoconazole was given to 50 patients, 36 with superficial and 14 with deep-seated mycoses. Satisfactory results were obtained in dermatophytoses, pityriasis versicolor, and chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis. Paracoccidioidomycosis also responded well to ketoconazole therapy. The authors' experience in patients with histoplasmosis and aspergillosis does not make it possible to express a firm view on the efficacy of the drug. Ketoconazole is not the recommended drug for treatment of sporotrichosis.     

Inhibition of breast cancer cell growth and induction of cell death by 1,1-bis(3'-indolyl)methane (DIM) and 5,5'-dibromoDIM

1,1-Bis(3'-indolyl)methane (DIM) and the 5,5'-dibromo ring substituted DIM (5,5'-diBrDIM) inhibited growth of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells, and IC50 values were 10-20 and 1-5 microM, respectively, in both cell lines. DIM and 5,5'-diBrDIM did not induce p21 or p27 protein levels or alter expression of Sp1 or Sp3 proteins in either cell line. In contrast, 10 microM 5,5'-diBrDIM downregulated cyclin D1 protein in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells 12 and 24 h after treatment. DIM (20 microM) also decreased cyclin D1 in MCF-7 (24 h) and MDA-MB-231 (12 h), and the DIM/5,5'-diBrDIM-induced degradation of cyclin D1 was blocked by the proteasome inhibitor MG132. Both DIM and 5,5'-diBrDIM induced apoptosis in MCF-7 cells and this was accompanied by decreased Bcl-2, release of mitochondrial cytochrome c, and decreased mitochondrial membrane potential as determined by the red/green fluorescence of JC-1. DIM and 5,5'-diBrDIM induced extensive necrosis in MDA-MB-231 cells; however, this was accompanied by decreased mitochondrial membrane potential primarily in cells treated with 5,5'-diBrDIM but not DIM. Thus, DIM and 5,5'-diBrDIM induce cell death in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells by overlapping and different pathways, and the ring-substituted DIM represents a novel class of uncharged mitochondrial poisons that inhibit breast cancer cell and tumor growth.     

Impact of Extracellular Protein Binding on Passive and Active Drug Transport Across Caco-2 Cells

Aim The objective of the study is to evaluate the mechanism behind alterations in passive and active transport of drugs in the presence of basolaterally applied extracellular protein using the Caco-2 cell model. Methods The permeation across Caco-2 monolayers of two groups of compounds, transported either solely by passive diffusion or partly also by active transport in the secretory direction, was studied at two donor concentrations in the absence or presence of bovine serum albumin (BSA, 0–4%). Each group contained compounds with high or low protein binding (PB) capabilities and high or low absorption in humans (fraction absorbed, f_a). The unbound fraction (f_u) of each compound was determined by ultrafiltration. Results The transport rate of the passively permeating compounds was the same in both apical-to-basolateral (absorptive) and basolateral-to-apical (secretory) directions in the absence of BSA. Basolaterally applied BSA increased the transport rate in the absorptive direction and decreased it in the secretory direction for all compounds, in direct proportion to the extent of PB. The efflux ratios for the actively transported compounds were reduced in the presence of BSA. Conclusions Basolaterally applied BSA, which mimics in vivo PB, alters both passive and active drug transport in the Caco-2 cell model. Using C_u in the calculations of transport rate allowed elucidation of the different mechanisms behind these alterations. Our data also suggest that active secretory transport for highly protein-bound compounds might have less effect in vivo than predicted from traditional Caco-2 cell models (without BSA).