Ultrastructure of the spermatozoon of Helicometroides atlanticus (Digenea, Monorchiidae), an intestinal parasite of Parapristipoma octolineatum (Pisces, Teleostei) in Senegal.

The mature Helicometroides atlanticus spermatozoon exhibits an anterior electron-dense material, two axonemes of the 9+"1" pattern, a nucleus, two mitochondria, extramembranous ornamentations located at the level of the first mitochondrion and cortical microtubules arranged into two fields: a ventral field corresponding to the mitochondrial side and a dorsal field corresponding to the nuclear side. It lacks of spine-like body and a cytoplasmic expansion as in Monorchis parvus the only species of Monorchioidea which spermatozoon has been described until now. Nevertheless, it is distinguished from M. parvus by the presence of an anterior electron-dense material and two axonemes which appear one after the other.

[Therapeutics indications and prognosis of eclampsia at Dakar University Teaching Hospital]. / Indications thérapeutiques et pronostic de l'éclampsie au CHU de Dakar.

OBJECTIVE: To study the factors of risk of complications and evaluate the quality of medical and obstetrical management of eclampsia. METHODOLOGY: We performed a retrospective analysis of all cases of eclampsia recorded during the ante- or per partum period from January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2001 at the gynecological and obstetrical clinic at Dakar University Teaching Hospital. RESULTS: Eclampsia had concerned 78 patients, with an incidence of 8 per 1000 childbirth. The epidemiological profile was primipara (68%), young (average age: 20 years), 36 weeks pregnancy or more (60,3%), evacuation in a state of post critical coma (74.3%), on average after 2 seizures, without medical assistance (64%) with an average diastolic blood pressure of 100 mm Hg. Examinations with strong prognosis value like blood count, creatininemia, coagulation, hepatic transaminases and uricemia were not available in emergency (only 24% of all cases). Medicines prescribed included, nicardipine (63%) and magnesia sulfate (53%); this medical treatment was satisfactory in 34.6% of the cases. Cesarean section was performed in 50%. The prognosis was marked by 17.9% maternal mortality and a perinatal mortality of 359 per 1000 births. The principal risk factors of maternal and perinatal complications were early-onset eclampsia, large number of seizures and late obstetrical treatment. CONCLUSION: Prehospital treatment and availability of early cesarean section must be better organized to improve the prognosis of eclampsia.

[Thyrotoxic neuromyopathies]. / Neuromyopathies thyréotoxiques.

Chronic thyreotoxic neuromyopathy was observed in four patients. The first two cases were observed in a 43-year-old woman and a 60-year-old man. In the man, muscle disorders were the first manifestation and in the woman they were preceded by Graves' hyperthyroidism. Muscle signs were seen as functional impotency with amyotrophy of the girdle which was major in the man and minor in the woman. In a third case, a pyramidal syndrome was associated with polyneuropathy in a 28-year old man. Laboratory tests showed hyperthyroidism, neurological signs regressed with antithyroid drug therapy. A fourth case presented as thyrotoxic hypokaliemic periodic palsy in a 37-year-old man who had loss 12 kg over a two month period after a psychological stress. This man then experienced two acute episodes of hypokaliemia and hypotonic tetraplegia. These signs were linked to Graves' hyperthyroidism. Clinical course was good under carbimazole and then radioactive iodine. These four cases illustrate the reality of thyrotoxic neuromyopathies in black Africans.