Allergy to latex gloves among healthcare workers in Dakar

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of latex allergy is high (to 17%) among groups at risk such healthcare workers. Our aim was to determine the prevalence and severity of allergy to latex gloves among health workers in Dakar. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study was conducted in three of the five hospitals in Dakar (Senegal). A randomized sample was constituted. All healthcare workers required to use latex gloves in their work were included. A questionnaire was administered. The analysis was performed using the Epi-info software package (6.0). RESULTS: One hundred and forty cases were included. The median age was 39 years and the sex-ratio was 0.57. Sixty-six (47%) cases had familial atopic dermatitis, 13 (9.6%) had atopic dermatitis, and 4 (2.9%) indicated food allergy (banana, avocado). Irritant dermatitis was found in 40.7% of cases, 112 healthcare workers (81.2%) used bleach and water to clean their hands. Antiseptics were used frequently: 75.5% of those interviewed used them more than three times a day. None of the healthcare workers indicated any allergy to latex condoms. Otherwise surgical procedures and bladder/rectal catheters were noted respectively in 24% and 18% cases. Fifteen healthcare workers (10.7%), of whom 12 were women, indicated appearance of clinical signs when using latex gloves. The clinical manifestations were: contact urticaria or immediate pruritus (8 cases), combined contact dermatitis and contact urticaria (2 cases), allergic conjunctivitis (1 case), allergic rhinitis (2 cases) and asthma (2 cases). We also noted 6 cases of contact dermatitis. Rechallenge tests were performed in 7 cases and were positive, 2/3 prick-tests and 1/4 patch-tests (standard European battery). The statistical analysis shows that allergy to latex gloves was significantly associated with atopy and irritant dermatitis (p<0.03). DISCUSSION: We found a prevalence of allergy to latex gloves of 11% among healthcare workers in Dakar, reflecting reports in the literature. The classical risk factors such atopic dermatitis and irritant dermatitis were found. The correlation between irritant dermatitis and frequent use of bleach and water mean that these practices should be eradicated since they play an important role in the development of contact urticaria and anaphylactic reactions.     

Lack of inhibition of the anti-malarial action of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine by folic acid supplementation when used for intermittent preventive treatment in Gambian primigravidae

Folic acid is frequently given to pregnant women at the same time as intermittent preventive treatment (IPTp) with sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine (SP), but it is not known if it interferes with the anti-malarial activity of SP. To investigate this concern, 1,035 Gambian primigravidae were randomized to receive either folic acid (500-1,500 microg/day) together with oral iron (522) or oral iron alone (513) for 14 days at the same time as they received IPTp with SP. On presentation, 261 women (25%) had Plasmodium falciparum asexual parasitemia. Prevalences of parasitemia on day 14 after treatment were similar in both groups: 5.7% (26 of 458) in the iron plus folic acid group and 4.9% (22 of 446) in the iron alone group (risk difference = 0.74%, 95% confidence interval [CI] = -2.2% to 3.7%). Parasitologic cure was observed in 116 (91%) of 128 of women who were parasitemic on presentation and who received iron and folic acid and in 122 (92%) of 133 women who received iron alone (difference = 1.1%, 95% CI = -5.6% to 8.0%). Women who received folic acid and iron had a slightly higher mean hemoglobin concentration at day 14 than women who had received iron alone (difference = 0.14 g/dL, 95% CI = 0.01-0.27 g/dL). The results of this study suggest that in an area of low SP resistance, administration of folic acid to pregnant women in a dose of 500-1,500 mug/day will not interfere with the protective effect of SP when used for IPTp.     

Résultats de la colectomie en urgence dans le traitement du volvulus du côlon au centre hospitalier universitaire (CHU) de Dakar

Purpose. - The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of emergency colectomies for the management of colon volvulus.Patients and methods. - This retrospective study was undertaken on 50 cases of colon volvulus operated in the Surgical Department of the Aristide Le Dantec teaching hospital of Dakar from January 1994 to December 2000. It concerned 42 men and 8 women with an mean age of 42 years. All patients presented an occlusive syndrome suggestive of colon volvulus, which required a laparotomy, through a xypho-pubic incision. The patients were divided into two groups. Group I concerned 13 patients who underwent an ideal colectomy and group II, 37 patients in whom we performed a colectomy associated with a temporary colostomy with either Bouilly-Volkman procedure (n = 23) or Hartman procedure (n = 14) followed one month later by intestinal continuity restoration. Mortality and morbidity were compared in the two groups.Results. - The overall mortality rate was 12% (6/50). The mortality rate was 31% (4/13) in group I and 5 % (2/37) in group II. The overall morbidity rate was 14%. In group I, the morbidity rate was 15 % (2/13) and 13,5% (5/37) in group II.Conclusion. - In our study the mortality rate was higher after colectomy with primary anastomosis than after colectomy with temporary colostomy followed by secondary anastomosis. We recommend colectomy without anastomosis for the emergency management of the colon volvulus in Africa.     

Point of contact and cervical-proximal margin of occlusal-proximal restorations using amalgam. A clinical evaluation]

The occluso-proximal restorations should restore a coronary morphology permitting a normal physiology. The radiological evaluation of 55 occluso-proximal restorations with the amalgam done by 4th and 5th years students at the Odonto-Stomatology Institute, and judged clinically acceptable, has shown 63,63% of incorrect restorations with faults: of inter-dental contact (absence of contact or large contact area) and of cervico-proximal limit (hiatus or excess. The identified iatrogenic faults come from choice of matrixing material in accordance with the clinical situation, to use of separators or inter-dental wedges. The radiographic control of these restorations has permit an immediate correction of excesses and some big areas of contacts, by improving appreciably the success score (up to 20% without re-doing the obstrusion with the amalgam). The retro-alveolar radiography is a clinical evaluation instrument for a better periodontal integration of occlusoproximal restorations in the biological space and inter-proximal space.     

Role of Pfmdr1 in In Vitro Plasmodium falciparum Susceptibility to Chloroquine,Quinine, Monodesethylamodiaquine,Mefloquine, Lumefantrine,and Dihydroartemisinin

The involvement of Pfmdr1 (Plasmodium falciparum multidrug resistance 1) polymorphisms in antimalarial drug resistance is still debated. Here, we evaluate the association between polymorphisms in Pfmdr1 (N86Y, Y184F, S1034C, N1042D, and D1246Y) and Pfcrt (K76T) and in vitro responses to chloroquine (CQ), mefloquine (MQ), lumefantrine (LMF), quinine (QN), monodesethylamodiaquine (MDAQ), and dihydroartemisinin (DHA) in 174 Plasmodium falciparum isolates from Dakar, Senegal. The Pfmdr1 86Y mutation was identified in 14.9% of the samples, and the 184F mutation was identified in 71.8% of the isolates. No 1034C, 1042N, or 1246Y mutations were detected. The Pfmdr1 86Y mutation was significantly associated with increased susceptibility to MDAQ (P = 0.0023), LMF (P = 0.0001), DHA (P = 0.0387), and MQ (P = 0.00002). The N86Y mutation was not associated with CQ (P = 0.214) or QN (P = 0.287) responses. The Pfmdr1 184F mutation was not associated with various susceptibility responses to the 6 antimalarial drugs (P = 0.168 for CQ, 0.778 for MDAQ, 0.324 for LMF, 0.961 for DHA, 0.084 for QN, and 0.298 for MQ). The Pfmdr1 86Y-Y184 haplotype was significantly associated with increased susceptibility to MDAQ (P = 0.0136), LMF (P = 0.0019), and MQ (P = 0.0001). The additional Pfmdr1 86Y mutation increased significantly the in vitro susceptibility to MDAQ (P < 0.0001), LMF (P < 0.0001), MQ (P < 0.0001), and QN (P = 0.0026) in wild-type Pfcrt K76 parasites. The additional Pfmdr1 86Y mutation significantly increased the in vitro susceptibility to CQ (P = 0.0179) in Pfcrt 76T CQ-resistant parasites.     

Impact of the coronavirus pandemic on mental prosperity of medical care laborers in tertiary consideration hospital: A case report

Since the outbreak of the Corona pandemic in December 2019, many people affected, especially medical care laborers, who deal with the treated cases. Coronavirus disease 2019 not only affects the body parts, but also extends to the psychological symptoms. The purpose of this research is to explore the impact of the pandemic on the mental prosperity of the laborers.Clinical staff members from the administration emergency clinic, Lahore, were enlisted. A poll was used to collect data on the segment information, a sleeping disorder, despondency and stress manifestations. Correlation of the segment information and the mental factors were done among the sleeping and non-sleeping disorder samples.All 356 medical service laborers were selected for this investigation. There were manifestations of misery in 222 (62.35%), nervousness in 227 (64.76%), stress in 197 (55.33%) and sleep deprivation in 190 (53.37%) of members. Gentle to extreme side effects of melancholy (91.65% vs 28.9%), nervousness (83.1% vs 41.6%) and stress (84.26% vs 22.22%) were seen predominately in the sleep deprivation gathering (P < .001). Insomnia was more pronounced in the members with low training levels (78.08%) versus post-advanced education (30.9%). Paramedics, attendants, and medical service laborers in confinement/serious consideration units were more inclined to the sleep deprivation (P < .001). Mental prosperity of medical care laborers was influenced because of Coronavirus pandemic. Attendants, paramedics, and those working in the detachment unit showed a critical sleeping disorder.The results and indicators have proven that there is a relationship between the infection with the Corona pandemic and occurrence of disorders in psychological behavior. Therefore, the psychological rehabilitation sessions must be conducted for those infected and those in contact with the Corona cases to relieve the burden of that patients to raise their psychological conditions and support the immune system such that resist against the infection.