Retinoblastoma: Assessing the Level of Knowledge of Tumour By Midwives in Brazzaville

Objective: To assess the level of knowledge of this tumour by midwives in two hospitals (Talangaï and Makélékélé) in Brazzaville.Design : An analytical cross-sectional study.Setting : Two maternity units (government hospitals) in the outskirts of BrazzavilleSubjects: One hundred midwives who responded to a questionnaire in the form of multiple-choice question  (MCQ). These midwives were randomly selected based on their availability to respond to questions. Each  midwife was seen once and had 30 minutes to answer three questions, define the retinoblastoma and recognise its two main early clinical signs (leucocoria, strabismus).Results: Forty percent were able to define the retinoblastoma. For 60% leucocoria was the only sign suspect of retinoblastoma, for 80% strabismus was the only sign of retinoblastoma, only 10% had associated  leucocoria and strabismus as two early signs of this cancer. Twelve percent had a score equal to 3/3, eight (8%) had a score equal to 2/3, and 80% had a score of less than or equal to 1/3.Conclusion: midwives in Brazzaville poorly understand the retinoblastoma. Training programmes should be tailored to effectively fight against mortality of this pathology

Ophthalmoplegia, Dysphonia and Tetraparesis Due to Guillain-Barre's Syndrome in Pregnant at 14 Weeks of Gestation: Case Report

Guillain-Barre’s syndrome (GBS) or inflammatory/post-infectious acute polyradiculoneuropathy is due to  demyelination of nerves, causing a progressive paresis or paralysis. It usually begins in the legs and  sometimes goes up to the respiratory muscles and cranial nerves. The exact mechanism of GBS occurrance is still unclear. An autoimmune disease is the assumption with the largest consensus to date. Autoantibodies  related to a viral or bacterial infection in the days or weeks before the onset of symptoms damage the myelin sheaths of nerve fibers. These infections can range from a simple cold with sore throat to gastrointestinal disorders. In very rare cases, it is also recognised that the use of some drugs (streptokinase, Captopril ...) can cause GBS. The gestation is a relative immunological rest period in which autoimmune pathologies have, in their majority, a true clinical lull related to the acceptance of the embryo and the foetus by the woman's body. The onset of the GBS in the period is exceptional. We report a case of paralysis of the nerve VI  accompanied by dysphonia and tetraparesis due to GBS in a pregnant of 24 year old with 14 weeks of gestation

Conjunctival cancers in HIV patients at the university hospital of Brazzaville

Background: Conjunctival cancers are masses raised or flat, located in or directly under the conjunctival mucous membrane covering the anterior sclera, tarsus and conjunctival dead-end. These tumours usually occur in the elderly or in cases of HIV/AIDS.Objective: To list the different types of conjunctival cancer in cases of HIV/AIDS at the University Hospital of Brazzaville.Design: It was a descriptive and transversal study, conducted between January 2008 and December 2012.Setting: The University Hospital of Brazzaville.Subjects: HIV patients under anti-retroviral treatment or not seen for conjunctival cancer histologically proven were selected.Results: Twenty-eight patients (28) were selected including a woman at 30 weeks of gestation. Two types of cancers were diagnosed, Carcinoma in situ (28.57%) and Squamous Cell Carcinoma (71.43%), no secondary tumour. There were anti-retroviral treatment failure in 89.29% of the cases.Conclusion: Squamous Cell Carcinoma was the most common conjunctival cancer. Better compliance of anti-retroviral treatment can reduce the prevalence of these tumours

Laparoscopic surgery of ovarian cyst in comparison with laparotomy at university hospital of Brazzaville

Background: Laparoscopy in the treatment of ovarian cysts is new in most African countries. In 2009 we performed the first ovarian cysts operations by laparoscopy at the University Hospital of Brazzaville (UHB).Objective: To show the contribution of laparoscopic surgery in the management of ovarian cysts.Design: Retrospective comparative study.Setting: Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department of the UHB, from 1st August 2009 to 31st August 2012.Subjects: All patients operated on at the UHB for suspected ovarian cyst.Results: Laparoscopic surgery for ovarian cyst represented 30.3% of operated cases. The average age of patients was 32.2 years versus 33 years in laparoscopy to laparotomy. The average rate was similar in both groups (1.78 ± 1.57 vs. 2.17 ± 1.8; p> 0.05). The most surgery was the intraperitoneal cystectomy in both groups, with no significant difference.The mean duration of surgery was reduced by laparoscopy (45.7 ± 17 min vs. 30 ± 7 min, p <0.05); as well as hospitalisation (4.2 ± 0.2 vs. 1.5 ± 0.5; p <0, 05). Postoperative pain was minimised by laparoscopy, significantly reducing the use of pain-killers. The average direct cost of the intervention was reduced by laparoscopy (123 445 ± 46 versus 192 ± 78 (160 CFA francs) (p <0.05). The aesthetic profit was significantly better in laparoscopy compared to laparotomyConclusion: The results of the treatment of ovarian cysts by laparoscopic surgery are significantly better compared to laparotomy. This practice therefore deserves to be popularised to the great benefit of patients.

Adherence to anti-retroviral drugs in pregnant and lactating HIV Positive women in Brazzaville

Background: Anti-retroviral drugs reduce morbidity and mortality due to HIV and prevent transmission  from mother to child. But compliance on anti-retroviral treatment is an essential element for the success of therapeutic goals.Objective: To assess the level of compliance of anti-retroviral treatment in pregnant and lactating HIV women and identify factors of non-compliance in Brazzaville.Design: An analytical and transversal study conducted in three specialised centres from March to June 2014.Setting: Three support centres for HIV patients in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo.Subjects: It had interested pregnant and lactating HIV women and having given consent. The variables studied were: socio-demographic, related to treatment and linked to the health system. Five statistic tests were used: Yates’ chi², Fisher, Student, Kruskal-Wallis and Bartlett.Results: One hundred and thirty patients were included, the mean age was 32 years, 92.3% had good education level, and 72.3% lived as couple. The adherence to antiretroviral treatment within seven days before the survey was 77.7%. Factors significantly influencing non-adherence were: ignorance of HIV status by the partner (RR = 2.10 (1.12 - 3.92)), traditional treatment (RR = 1.77 (0.92 - 3.41), forgetfulness to take drugs (RR = 5.10 (2.07 - 12.55), and discomfort with side effects (RR = 2.12 (1.13 - 3.95).Conclusion: Several factors influence the non-adherence of anti-retroviral treatment. Improving   compliance with treatment requires multi-sectoral participation

Fabrication of 30 nm inter-electrode gap co-planar tunnel junctions with buried electrodes

Co-planar tunnel junctions with a gap length in the 30 nm range have been fabricated using a 20 keV scanning electron microscope and a Au-Pd lift-off. The junction electrodes are less than 200 nm in width and are buried in the SiO$_2$ substrate. This makes the gap surface accessible for atomic force microscope characterization and for local modification.Des jonctions tunnels co-planaires avec une largeur de coupure inférieure à 30 nm ont été fabriquées en utilisant un masqueur électronique à 20 keV et un procédé de lift-off d'un alliage Au-Pd. Les électrodes de la jonction ont moins de 200 nm de largeur et sont enterrées à la surface de SiO$_2$. La mesure de la topographie de la surface de la coupure avec un microscope à force atomique montre une rugosité de moins de 1 nm

Étude de la productivité et la conformation d’une bande de poulet de chair soumise à trois types de densité.

Objectif : La présente étude a été réalisée dans le but de connaître les performances zootechniques d’une bande de poulets de chair Derco soumise à trois densités dans les poussinières et les poulaillers afin de proposer la densité qui permettrait aux animaux d’extérioriser leurs performances. Les objectifs spécifiques se résument à : • déterminer dans les poussinières la productivité des poussins et leur conformation selon différentes densité ; • déterminer dans les poulaillers la productivité et la conformité de poulets de chair élevés à différentes densités. Méthodologie et résultats : Pour atteindre ces objectifs, les sujets ont été repartis en trois groupes de densité à savoir 20, 25, 30 poussins au m² pour une durée de 28 jours et 6, 10, 15 poulets au m², ceci pour une durée de 30 jours. Les résultats de cette étude relèvent que le poids moyen des poussins au transfert a été de 732,36 ±50 g, 686,70 ±91 et 666,41 ±68 g, respectivement dans les élevages à 20, 25 et 30 poussins au m2. En ce qui concerne le poids des poulets à l’abattage, il a été très faible, et plus faible encore dans le poulailler tenu à 15 poulets par m² (1568,86 ±131 g). Les cas d’inflammations des articulations tibia –tarse –métatarses et ceux de noircies et de rougies ont été plus prononcées significativement dans les élevages à 15 sujets au m² (6% et 5%). Le même constat a été pour les blessures de l’aile et les lésions du bréchet (4% et 6%). Conclusion et application: Au regard de nos résultats, la densité joue un rôle important dans la productivité et la conformation des poulets de chair au Congo. La densité maximale de 10 poulets et de 20 poussins au m² serait le meilleur peuplement. Ces normes doivent être proposées et appliquées dans tous les élevages des poulets de chair au Congo, visant le bien être des animaux et une meilleure productivité. Mots clés : productivité-conformation-densité-poulet-Cong

Fabrication of Buried Co-Planar Metal-Insulator-Metal Nanojunctions with a Gap Lower than 10 nm

An improvement of a process to fabricate co-planar metal-insulator-metal nanojunctions is presented to reach a gap length much lower than 10 nm using a 20 keV e-beam and an AuPd lift-off. The electrodes of the nanojunction are less than 100 nm in width and are buried in the SiO$_2$ substrate. For the 8 nm nanojunctions, the gap is still filled with SiO$_2$ if care is taken about the SiO$_2$ etching step of the process.Un procédé de fabrication est proposé pour obtenir des nanojonctions métal-isolant-métal co-planaires d'une largeur d'isolant bien inférieure à 10 nm en utilisant un masqueur électronique à 20 keV et un “lift-off” à l'or-palladium. Les électrodes de la nanojonction enterrées dans la silice ont une largeur de moins de 100 nm et sont distantes de 8 nm. En optimisant l'étape de sous gravure, il est possible de conserver de la silice comme isolant entre les électrodes