[Social aspects of natural methods (author's transl)]. / Aspectos sociales de los métodos naturales.

PIP: It is rather difficult to distinguish between "natural methods" and "no natural methods" or "unnatural methods". "Natural methods" should therefore be defined as those which are used without any additional product. Use and success depend on the motivation and control of the couple. These methods are: postcoital douching, prolonged lactation, rhythm method according to Knaus or to Ogino by observing BBT, observation of cervical mucus according to Billings, coitus interruptus, and coitus reservatus. As far as we know, these methods have been used since primeval times and have been commented on during different periods and at different places as being used with the support of all 3 monotheistic religions until the era of Augustinus and Thomas of Aquinas. From then on the Christian and later on the Catholic faith saw human production as the purpose of matrimony and therefore banned all methods with the exception of the rhythm method. It has been assumed that the decrease of fertility in Europe since the industrial revolution was a result of using these methods--primarily coitus interruptus, which still seems to be widely spread. It is therefore unintelligible why so little is known about the impact of these methods on the medical and social sector. As long as the ideal method is not available the natural methods should be given a place in the development of a contraceptive methodology. Since the natural methods do not cost anything, they could help to carry forward family planning in countries with low-income population. But before employing them for the purpose they have to be studied in view of their medicobiological as well as their social aspects in order to learn more about these old and much used methods. (Author's)^ieng

[Hematological features of sickle-cell disease (author's transl)]. / Aspects hématologiques de la sicklémie.

The diagnosis of S hemoglobin is easy and always given by the laboratory. It must be performed in every black individual. Three tests are commonly used: Emmel test, in vitro solubility test and electrophoresis which, is necessary to differenciate homozygotic and heterozygotic individuals. The others blood data are liable to vary according to the homo or heterozygotic condition and to the evolutive periods of the disease. One must always consider the eventuality of an association of S hemoglobin with an another abnormal hemoglobin or with various hematological conditions.

[Hepatitis B virus and primary liver carcinoma: evidences for a filiation hepatitis B, cirrhosis and primary liver cancer].

Many arguments have been developed for a filiation hepatitis B, cirrhosis and primary liver cancer (PLC). The hypothesis in favour of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) as an indirect agent of PLC was supported by epidemiological and anatomo-clinical data. The study of the serological markers of HBV has been performed in groups of Senegalese patients who were suffering from hepatitis B, cirrhosis or PLC and two control groups (blood donors and other cancers). The results concern the sequence leeding from hepatitis B to PLC.

[Primary liver cancer and hepatitis B infection in Senegal. Comparison of cancer patients with 2 control groups]. / Cancer primitif du foie et infection par l'hépatite B au Sénégal. Comparaison des sujets cancéreux avec deux groupes témoins

A case/control study has been carried out to determine the prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibody (anti-HBs) in patients with primary liver cancer (PLC), and age/sex matched hospital controls with cancers of other sites (OCC) and similarly matched controls without cancer (NCC). HBsAg was found in 61.2% of 165 cases of PLC, as compared to 11.7% of 154 OCC and 11.3% of 328 NCC. The frequency of HBsAg in PLC patients was significantly higher (72.2%) in those with detectable alpha-fetoprotein as compared to those without (40.3%).