[Monitoring pregnancy of women with a previous cesarean delivery: qualitative aspects and prognostic implications]. / Suivi des grossesses sur utérus cicatriciel : aspects qualitatifs et implications pronostiques.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the quality of prenatal monitoring of pregnant women with a previous cesarean delivery and determine the maternal and neonatal prognosis in an African setting. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This prospective, descriptive, and analytical study took place at Roi Baudouin Health Center in Dakar (Senegal) and examined the records of women giving birth from November 1, 2009 to August 31, 2010. It included all women admitted for delivery at 22 weeks of gestation or more, with at least one previous cesarean, and a prenatal consultation record booklet. Women with uterine scars from a gynecological intervention were excluded. The study included a qualitative analysis of the record booklets and an interview of patients. RESULTS: Women with previous cesareans accounted for 12.5% of all women giving birth during the study period. The average age of the women in our study was 28 years, their mean parity was 3, and their mean number of prenatal examinations 3 (range: 1 to 5). Most prenatal care was provided by midwives (95.1%). The clinical characteristics were rarely completed. Not all women had undergone the laboratory tests required, and fewer than half (40.7%) had had a third-trimester ultrasound. In all, 109 (28.1%) had been referred to the hospital as an appropriate structure for their delivery. Complications of labor were observed in 28.3% of the cases. In 73% of these cases, women had repeat cesareans; 26% had vaginal deliveries. The performance of the recommended prenatal check-up was significantly correlated to how early prenatal care began (p = 0.001) and the level of the structure providing prenatal care (p = 0.027). CONCLUSION: Reducing maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality due to uterine scars requires that women be made aware of the relevant issues and that healthcare providers refer them appropriately and early.

[Nocardiosis: 4 cases in Senegal]. / Nocardiose: 4 observations au Sénégal.

The purpose of this report is to describe four cases of nocardiosis observed over an eight-year period in medical units of Principal Hospital in Dakar, Senegal. It is a rare infection occurring mainly in people with weakened immune systems. Pulmonary forms are predominate and clinical and laboratory presentation can mimic pulmonary tuberculosis. Diagnosis should be suspected in patients presenting pulmonary infections and negative sputum bacilloscopy. Nocardia bacteria should be identified before starting antibiotic treatment. Patients require long-term antibiotic treatment with third generation cephalosporins or sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim.

[Bilateral gestational macromastia: case report]. / La gigantomastie gravidique bilatérale: à propos d'un cas.

PURPOSE: We report a case of bilateral gestationnal macromastia in order to discuss the pathogeny, the diagnosis and the treatment. METHODOLOGY: It was a case of a 33-year-old woman, admitted for a bilateral massive hypertrophy of the breast occurring on pregnancy and with progressive evolution. She had three pregnancies and one born-infant. Biological exams have shown a hyperprolactinemia. Pathological exam of the mammary biopsy had shown a benign hyperplasia. RESULTS: Medical treatment of our patient by bromocriptin was inefficient. She has had a bilateral mastectomy. She is waiting for mammary plastic surgery. CONCLUSION: Gravidic macromastia is a rare pathology whose etiology and treatment are much debated. Frequent recurrence after mammary reduction justify the mastectomy followed by prothesis.

Analysis of chlorophyll fluorescence spectra in some tropical plants.

Laser-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (LICF) emission spectra of leaves of some tropical plants were measured using a compact fiber-optic fluorosensor with a continuous-wave blue diode laser as exciting source and an integrated digital spectrometer. Different chlorophyll-fluorescence signatures of light-green, fully-green, and yellow leaves were monitored at room temperature. Deconvolution procedure was used to determine fluorescence band position and width. Calibration of the fluorescence ratio F690/F730 relative to the 404 nm excitation is done from the curve-fitted parameter.

[Comparison of two cesarean techniques: classic versus Misgav Ladach cesarean]. / Comparaison de deux techniques de césarienne: césarienne classique versus césarienne Misgav Ladach.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to compare two cesarean section techniques Methodology. A prospective study was conducted UB 400 cesareans performed at the Gynecological and Obstetric Clinic of the Dakar Teaching Hospital between March 2000 and August 2000. Two hundred patients underwent the classical procedure (CL group) and the other 200 the Misgav Ladach procedure (ML group). Per- and post-operative data were compared between the two groups with Student's test and the Chi(2) test. A p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The two groups were similar for socio-demographic and clinical data. The delay between the skin incision and infant delivery was significantly shorter in the ML group (5 minutes 26 seconds versus 6 minutes 20 seconds). The same trend was found for the length of operation (36 minutes 36 seconds versus 54 minutes 38 seconds). Fewer sutures were used in the ML group (2.92 versus 4.14). There is no significant difference for dose of analgesia, post-operative complications and hospital discharge. Cost analysis demonstrated that the Misgav Ladach procedure was 10000 FCFA (15 euros) less costly. CONCLUSION: Misgav Ladach method is simple, rapid, cost-effective cesarean procedure which appears to be an attractive alternative to traditional cesarean section.