Satisfaction with health services for STIs, HIV, AIDS among a high-risk population in West Africa.

The goal of this study was to develop an instrument and assess the degree of satisfaction regarding HIV/STIs services for women working in, associated with, or living in or nearby, prostitution environments. This study took place in seven West-African countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Togo) participating in the West Africa Aids Program (AIDS3). A validated six-dimension questionnaire was used to interview 698 women. The main inclusion criterion was having had recourse to adapted services offered through the AIDS3 program in the last six months. Results showed that women surveyed are satisfied overall. Two dimensions scored low: 'Technical skills perceived' and 'Accessibility'. Regression analyses showed that those most satisfied were women who had used the adapted services many times and women connected with community groups. Although these results are consistent with results published previously in other contexts, they now allow the AIDS3 program to consider the voices of women rarely listened to: West-African women living and working in prostitution environments.

Les goitres nodulaires toxiques

Introduction : Jusqu'ici; aucune etude dans notre pays n'avait porte specifiquement sur les goitres nodulaires toxiques. Elles n'ont ete citees que dans des etudes generales des hyperthyroidies. Methodes : Il s'agit d'une etude retrospective de 62cas de goitres nodulaires toxiques colliges entre 1979 et 1999 a la clinique medicale 2 du CHU de Dakar. Le diagnostic de nodule toxique a ete retenu sur les criteres suivants : la coexistence d'un ou plusieurs nodules thyroidiens et de signes de thyrotoxicose; l'existence d'un nodule hyperfixiant a la scintigraphie thyroidienne a l'iode 131; l'elevation des hormones thyroidiennes T3 et/ou T4. Nous nous sommes interesses aux aspects epidemiologiques; cliniques; aux complications et aux aspects therapeutiques et evolutifs. Resultats : Il s'agissait de 49 nodules uniques (79;03) et de 13 goitres multi nodulaires (20;97). Dans les cas de nodules uniques; l'age moyen etait de 40 ans; le sexe ratio de 0;04 (47 femmes; 2 hommes). Le nodule etait cliniquement decelable dans 47 cas (95;9) et extinctif dans73;5; La cardiothyreose existait dans 34;6des cas. En cas de goitre multi nodulaire; l'age moyen etait de 45ans; le sexe feminin dans tous les cas. Le goitre etait cliniquement decelable chez 12 patients (95;3). La cardiothyreose existait dans 46;15des cas. 62des patients ont ete perdus de vue en cours de traitement d'equilibration de l'hyperthyroidie. Sur les 37adresses en chirurgie; seuls deux ont ete revus apres thyroidectomie. Conclusion : Cette etude confirme la predominance du goitre nodulaire toxique chez la femme jeune; sa gravite par la frequence de la cardiothyreose et souligne les difficultes liees a la prise en charge therapeutique

[Rupture of a sinus of Valsalva aneurysm into the right ventricle. A case report in the cardiology clinic at the University Hospital Center of Dakar]. / Anévrisme du sinus de Valsava rompu dans le ventricule droit. A propos d'un cas à la Clinique Cardiologique du CHU de Dakar.

We report a case with ruptured aneurysm of the sinus of Valsava into the right ventricle, diagnosed during heart failure in a 22 years old patient. Etiology and prognosis based on our observation and the literature are discussed. Our patient benefited from clinical examination, ECG (15 derivations), pulmonary X ray and standard laboratory test. Pulsed-Doppler and contrast echocardiography have been realized with an ATL MK 600 echocardiograph. These data are discussed and compared to the literature. Cardiac examination revealed a continuous murmur predominantly diastolic 5/6 and an increase of peripheral artery pulsatility. Chest x-ray showed cardiomegaly and ECG bilateral atrial and left ventricular hypertrophy. Two-dimensional echocardiography revealed the diastolic prolapse of an aneurysmal right coronary sinus in the right ventricle. The rupture was confirmed by contrast echocardiography and pulsed-Doppler. Rupture which is a major complication of aneurysm of the sinus of Valsava, is the usual feature of detection. The consequences of rupture are heart failure and pulmonary edema. Our observation shows that conventional Doppler and contrast echocardiography are important for diagnosis and follow-up of aneurysm of the sinus of Valsava. Aortography, hemodynamic and angiocardiographic data, are also important for a precise diagnosis and the detection of associated malformations when pre-operative investigations of aneurysm of the sinus of valsava are needed.