Effectiveness of the medicinal plant R019 in the treatment of HIV infection: an observational study.

This study aims to evaluate the in vivo antiviral, immunologic, clinical effects and safety of a supposedly anti-HIV phytotherapy, code-named R019 used for the treatment of HIV/AIDS. This is an open observational study, which involved 32 HIV-1 infected patients, who were followed over a 3-month period. The efficacy evaluation was based on CD4 count, determination of viral load and clinical status. The safety evaluation was based on renal and liver function tests, fasting lipid and glycaemia levels as well as the frequency of other adverse events. The CD4 values increased significantly (mean±SD, 99.03±22.87 cells/μL; P<0.001), as well as Weight and Karnofsky score (2.94±0.67 kg, p<0.001; 4.9, p=0.005 respectively). The viral load decreased significantly (0.91±0.12 log viral load, P<0.0001). R019 did not impair renal or liver functions. Improvement of creatinine clearance was observed (p=0.02). Hemoglobin levels increased (0.38±0.16 gr/dL) whereas cholesterol and glucose levels decreased under R019 treatment (p=0.031, p=0.018 respectively). Main adverse effects were recorded: polyuria (40.5%), drowsiness (21.4%), orexis (19.1%). Immunological, anti-viral and clinical status improved under R019 treatment and a good safety profile was observed for this compound. Further studies would be required to optimize its efficacy and to define its appropriateness for the treatment of HIV disease.

The use of medicinal plants in self-care in the Agonlin Region of Benin

The interview was carried out to collect information on the first stage of the therapeutic itinerary. The questionnaire survey examined the extent and type of medicinal plants used in self-care by the Agonlin community. One thousand mothers were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. The prevalence of the use of herbal drugs in self-care was found to be 47.6. 114 plant species belonging to 69 families were reported; each with local names; methods of preparation; and parts used. Medical indications were reported for the use of these plants in traditional medicine. The most frequent ailments reported were fever; headache; abdominal pain; and vomiting. The highest usage was reported for the treatment of malaria (22). The part of the plants most frequently used was the leaves. This study showed that self-care using medicinal plants is a major part of health care in the Agonlin area

Analyse rétrospective de la prise en charge thérapeutique du VIH-SIDA pédiatrique au Bénin

Objectif : L'étude avait pour objectif principal de décrire le profil de prescription du traitement antirétroviral chez les enfants infectés par le VIH au Bénin. Secondairement, l'étude devait décrire les modalités de changement de la trithérapie antirétrovirale initiale et les causes du changement. Méthodes : Etude rétrospective descriptive de janvier 2002 à juillet 2013 ayant pris en compte 237 enfants dans le service de pédiatrie du Centre National Hospitalier et Universitaire Hubert Koutoukou Maga (CNHU-HKM) de Cotonou. Résultats : Le schéma thérapeutique le plus utilisé était : deux inhibiteurs nucléosidiques de la transcriptase inverse (INTI) + un inhibiteur non nucléosidique de la transcriptase inverse (INNTI). La trithérapie la plus utilisée était lamivudine-zidovudine-efavirenz ou 3TC+AZT+EFV (25,23%). Les associations lamivudine-zidovudine-névirapine (24,62%) et 3TC+AZT+NFV (20%) étaient les moins tolérées. La cause de modification de traitement la plus fréquente était les ruptures de stocks. Conclusion : Au Bénin, l'initiation des ARV chez les enfants est assez fréquemment tardive avec des changements forcés de protocoles et même l'utilisation d'associations d'ARV déconseillées à cause de rupture de certains médicaments