Search

Copyright of IBS, Immuno-analyse & Biologie Specialisee is the property of Elsevier B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of IBS, Immuno-analyse & Biologie Specialisee is the property of Elsevier B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article presents an investigation of the presence of Cytomegalovirus (CMV) DNA in semen samples of men seeking fertility evaluation in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. The article mentions that CMV serological status is not determined in the present study. The confirmation that CMV seminal shedding has no impact on sperm quality is reported.

Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is the best index for kidney function; however, the applicability of GFR estimating equations in sub-Saharan African populations remains unclear. In a cross-sectional study of adults living in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (n=210) and Abidjan, Ivory Coast (n=284), we evaluated the performance of creatinine and cystatin C-based equations using plasma clearance of iohexol as the reference standard. The race coefficient did not improve the performance of creatinine-based GFR estimates; in fact, both the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) and Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology (CKD-EPI) equations performed better without the race coefficient in participants with GFR ≥60 mL/min/1.73m 2 . The CKD-EPI and Full Age Spectrum (FAS) equations were unbiased and had similar precision (SD of 17.9 versus 19 mL/min/1.73 m 2 ) and accuracy within 30% (P30, 86.7% versus 87.4%) in participants with GFR ≥60 mL/min/1.73m 2 . Both equations performed poorly in the subgroup with measured GFR < 60 mL/min/1.73m 2 (n=80), but the FAS equation had smaller bias (-4.8 mL/min/1.73m 2 versus -7.7 mL/min/1.73m 2 for CKD-EPI) and higher P30 (56.3% versus 31.3% for CKD-EPI). The corresponding equations including cystatin C alone or in combination with creatinine had similar performance. In a sub-Saharan African population, adjustment for race did not improve the performance of GFR estimating equations. The creatinine-based FAS and CKD-EPI equations performed reasonably well and were comparable when GFR was ≥ 60 mL/min/1.73m 2 . Cystatin C did not improve performance. The FAS equation may be preferable when GFR is < 60 mL/min/1.73m 2 , but this should be confirmed in larger studies., (Copyright © 2019 International Society of Nephrology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) estimation is fundamental in clinical nephrology. It is usually estimated from equations based on serum creatinine. An ethnic factor is currently recommended for the black population for the two most used equations, i.e. the Chronic Kidney Disease-Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) and Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) study equations. However, these factors were determined from African-American subjects. Therefore, their use in the African subject (non-American) remained questionable. To date, no data are available in West Africa for the adequacy of these ethnic coefficients, as compared with a measurement of GFR by a reference method. One hundred and twenty subjects of the general population, with no nephrologic history, were included in the study (60 women and 60 men). GFR was determined by a reference method, i.e. the plasma clearance of iohexol. The performance (bias, standard deviation, accuracy within 30%) of both CKD-EPI and MDRD study equations were assessed with and without the ethnic factors. GFR measurements (mGFR) according iohexol reference method were 100±19mL/min/1.73m 2 . The MDRD study equation without any ethnic factor underestimates mGFR by -9±16mL/min/1.73m 2 , whereas the MDRD study equation with the ethnic factor overestimates mGFR by +10±18mL/min/1.73m 2 . Regarding the CKD-EPI equation, bias and accuracy within 30% are significantly better without than with the ethnic factor. Indeed, bias is 16±2mL/min/1.73m 2 and 18±17mL/min/1.73m 2 and accuracy is 93% and 76%, without and with the ethnic factor, respectively (P<0.0001). We show for the first time in African population that the performance of CKD-EPI and MDRD study equations is significantly better, in a general population, without the "African-American" ethnic factor. The "African-American" ethnic factor should not be applied in West Africa., (Copyright © 2016 Association Société de néphrologie. Published by Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.)

This study reports the comparison between two methods (chemiluminescence and enzymatic colorimetry) for revelation of apolipoprotein(a) [apo(a)] isoforms by immunoblotting in 102 Ivorian healthy subjects. Apo(a) isoform sizes were determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-agarose-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) followed by immunoblotting using enzymatic colorimetry or chemiluminescence. Within-run precision was comprised between 4.9% and 9.2% for colorimetry and between 2.9% and 4.6% for chemiluminescence. Both methods have detected apo(a) isoforms in all patients, even when lipoprotein(a) concentrations were under detection limit (0.02 g/L). The two methods were significantly correlated (r = 0.96 to 0.98, p<0.0001). Even though the chemiluminescence method exhibited better performances than the colorimetric method, both techniques could be used indifferently.

Throughout the world and particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, deficiencies in trace elements constitute a real public health problem because of the insufficient nutritional quality of food. These trace elements are necessary for many of the body's biochemical reactions. The role of microelements such as vitamin A and zinc has been established in the functioning of the immune system and secretion of inflammatory reaction proteins, but the role of iron in these functions remains to be elucidated. The sample consists of 186 children (3/4) 80 with an iron deficiency and 106 with normal iron status. They range in age from 5 to 15 years and all attend school in the department of Adzope. The study excluded all children with parasites that might affect blood iron, protein and other hematological indicators, in particular, Plasmodium falciparum, Giardia intestinalis, Trichomonas intestinalis, Ascaris lumbricoides, and Ancylostoma. Inflammatory, immune and nutritional proteins were measured by radial immunodiffusion (Mancini's method). Ferritin was measured by a specific immunoenzymatic assay. Hematological indicators were tested by an automatic blood cell counter. Nutritional status was estimated by the weight/height ratio (W/H). This analysis showed that iron deficiency was associated with reduced IgG levels (p < 0.05), although immunoglobulins A and M remained stable (p > 0.05. Iron deficiency was also associated with reduced levels of thyroxine-binding prealbumin (TBPA) and albumin (p < 0.05). Inflammatory proteins did not differ significantly between the two groups (p > 0.05). Furthermore, the prognostic inflammatory and nutritional index (PINI) did not show any inflammatory, vital or nutritional risk, because it was lower than or equal to 2. Finally, malnutrition was not observed in the iron-deficient children: the difference in the weight/height ratio (W/H = 96.58 +/- 2.4%) between the children with iron deficiency and those with normal iron status (98.7 +/- 4.3%) did not differ significantly. The reduced IgG associated with iron deficiency may be attributed to the role that iron plays in the proliferation and maturation of lymphocytes. Reduced iron levels would thus lead to slowing down the hematopoietic mechanism, resulting in a decrease in B lymphocyte production and thus inevitably a reduction in IgG synthesis. The reduction in albumin and TBPA associated with the iron deficiency but in the absence of any sign of malnutrition (W/H > 96%) or inflammatory risk (PINI < 2) in either study group shows that iron may play a dominant role during protein synthesis. Iron deficiency might limit the energy of cellular tissues, leading to a reduction in RNA activity (transcription and translation), which would in turn decrease ribosome activity in tissues and thus reduce amino acid synthesis in cells, resulting in the reduction observed in protein synthesis. The lack of difference between the study groups in inflammatory proteins, notably CRP and alpha1-GPA, indicates that iron deficiency does not appear to be related to an inflammatory process. This study of children without any apparent clinical signs of iron deficiency shows that such a deficiency may be associated with a disruption in protein production. The proteins concerned include IgG, TBPA and albumin. The public authorities should pay particular attention to improving children's diets, especially their micronutrient levels, including for iron, vitamin A and zinc.

Objectives: To determine the relationship between apo(a) size and Lp(a) concentration in healthy Ivorian subjects., Methods: Serum Lp(a) was measured by immunonephelometry and electroimmunodiffusion, and apo(a) size determined by immunoblotting., Results: Both assay methods provided comparable information. Lp(a) concentrations showed a non-Gaussian distribution and skewed towards higher values. Apo(a) isoform size distribution exhibited three frequency peaks at 18, 22 and 25 kringles. Single and double apo(a) isoforms were detected in 36% and 64% of subjects, respectively. Lp(a) values were higher in subjects with double isoforms, the major isoform being of lower size. An inverse correlation between apo(a) size and Lp(a) concentration was found, apo(a) size accounting for more than 30% of Lp(a) concentration in "single-band" group, whereas being weaker in "double-band" group. Low size isoforms were associated with higher Lp(a) concentrations, high size isoforms with higher variability., Conclusions: Lp(a) concentrations were inversely correlated to apo(a) size. This study has shown the relationship between apo(a) size and Lp(a), the influence of apo(a) size varying according to the phenotype. Apo(a) "double isoform" phenotype confers elevated levels to Lp(a) in healthy Ivorian subject.

Clinical signs of malaria are the combined expression of several biological mechanisms. During this parasite infection, anaemia can be the consequence of several different pathogenic mechanisms. It can be an acute haemolytic anaemia due to a mechanical and immune action of the parasite or an inflammation. Besides, in Africa malaria matches with iron deficiency area. So, malarial anaemia in tropical area can be a characteristic of iron deficiency The purpose of this survey was to define the features of malarial anaemia and elucidate the link of all biological processes involved. A black population living in tropical urban areas, with fever and diagnosed Plasmodium-infection was assessed. Parasitaemia, haemoglobin, hematocrit, average corpuscular volume and average corpuscular haemoglobin were determined. For each patient, iron index status and acute phase protein were assessed with the plasmatic iron, ferritin, haptoglobin, transferrin and C-reactive protein. Regardless of gender and age, the characteristics of malarial anaemia are microcythaemia and hypochromia. Anaemia occurs as frequently as parasitaemia is high. When parasitaemia is low anaemia gets a haemolytic feature. When parasitaemia is high, anaemia gets haemolytic and inflammatory features. Anaemia occurs more often with a good iron index status.

We have determined the concentration of Lp(a) in an Ivory Coast population (n=102) using two immunochemical methods: Laurell's monodimensional electro-immunodiffusion (EID) and immunonephelometry (IN). Within-run and between-run precision was respectively 3.07% and 3.97% by IN and 1.52% and 4.48% by EID method. As regard the exactitude, the bias goals in two methods were 3.5% and 3.0% respectively with IN and EID. The two methods were correlated (r=0.84; p=0.006). Mean values of Lp(a) were significantly (p=0.0007) higher by IN than EID: 0.48+/-0.34 g/L versus 0.32+/-0.19 g/L. The Lp(a) distributions were non-Gaussian, skewed towards high values, with median value of 0.47 g/L and 0.32 g/L respectively for IN and EID methods. Therefore, we conclude that although both methods showed a satisfactory precision, and results were correlated, Lp(a) values were higher by INP. Furthermore, mean values of Lp(a) in presumed healthy Ivorian is higher than in Caucasians.

Background: Little is known about the semen shedding of human papillomaviruses (HPV) in African men., Objectives: To detect and identify HPV types in semen samples from men seeking fertility evaluation in Abidjan, Ivory Cost., Study Design: Sixty-three semen samples were tested by PCR using consensus primers and HPV types were determined by PCR product sequencing or by line probe assay (LiPA) when sequencing was inconclusive., Results: A total of 19 HPV isolates belonging to 11 HPV types were identified in semen samples from 18 (28.6%) men. Ten (55.5%) of the HPV-positive men shed oncogenic HPV types. An association of borderline significance (P=0.06) was observed between HPV semen shedding and a lower sperm count., Conclusion: HPV shedding in semen is common in African men. The relationship between HPV semen shedding and sperm quality merits to be further investigated.

Our survey concerned seventy seven (77) patients suffering from Buruli ulcer and who have been classified according to two clinical situations: native ulcer, cleaned and clean ulcer The biochemical survey including about thirteen (13) parameters mainly conducted in clinic didn't show meaningful disturbance, apart from the CRP that proved to be positive in patients carrier of a native ulcer.

The purpose of this transverse prospective study was to determine blood nutritional, immunity and inflammatory proteins change in vitamin A deficiency in children of school-age (262 children, aged 7 to 15 years). Blood vitamin A has been determined by HPLC with UV detection. Proteins have been measured by radial immunodiffusion according to Mancini. Results showed that 96 children (36.6%) presented a vitamin A deficiency (vitamin A < 200 microg/L with a retinol binding protein/transthyretin molar ratio = 0.29 +/- 0.06) while 166 (63.3%) children presented normal blood concentrations of vitamin A (vitamin A > or = 200 microg/L with a Retinol Binding Protein/Transthyretin molar ratio = 0.40 +/- 0.08). This study showed that the retinol binding protein and the immunoglobulin A are lower in children with vitamin A deficiency. On the other hand, an isolated increase of alpha-1 glycoprotein acid has been observed in boys with vitamin A deficiency. The vitamin A deficiency observed in this survey is due to a micronutrients deficiency in the diet which is essentially based on glucides. The positive correlation between vitamin A and immunoglobulin A concentrations might be the result of the vitamin A inductive effect during immunoglobulins A synthesis. The isolated increasing of alpha-1 glycoprotein acid in boys with vitamin A deficiency has been assigned to the ecosensitiveness of the unfavourable environment. We therefore concluded that, in Ivorian primary-school-aged children with vitamin A deficiency, nutritional, immunity and inflammatory proteins which are modified are respectively retinol binding protein, immunoglobulin A and alpha-1 glycoprotein acid.

In West Africa intestinal parasites diseases and lack of food are quoted among the main causes of childhood morbidity. This study aimed to assess both the frequency and the relationships between anthropometric values and haemogramme troubles among children living in a West tropical forest area. A cross-sectional survey was tested on a sample of 262 children drawn at two levels. The parameters studied were the weight, height, age, sex, percentiles at height per age and weight per height ratios, haemogramme and intestinal parasites. The results revealed that microcyte hypochrome anemia is generally dominant in the haematological profile. The intestinal parasites carriage has a frequency higher than 68%, but has no influence on either the haematological profile or the anthropometric status. However, the haematological troubles found during that experience revealed a strong association with weight-height ratio troubles. Furthermore, malnutrition signs were observed.

The presence of antiphospholipid antibodies (APL) has been investigated in 68 African women presenting obstetrical complications versus a control group of 22 pregnant healthy women. Patients inclusion criterias were recurrent foetal loss, pre eclampsia, retroplacental haematoma and chronic foetal suffering. Eight of patients (11.8%) had a positive APL diagnosis, versus 0% in controls, using the combination of diluted thromboplastin test and Staclot LA These results argue for the systematic APL screening in African women with obstetrical complications, and could further improve the management of patients at risk.

This study was carried out in order to determine the potability of drinking water sold in bags near 26 primary schools in Abidjan. Samples of this water revealed its poor microbiological and chemical quality. This exposes consumers to health risks. Consumers should be informed of the danger involved while vendors should be educated and their activities monitored by the Municipal Health services.

Plasma apolipoprotein AI, apolipoprotein B, cholesterol and triglycerides in 114 Ivorian patients with homozygous sickle cell anaemia (HbSS) were compared to 40, age and sex matched controls with normal haemoglobin (HbAA). Except for plasma triglycerides, lipid and apolipoprotein levels were found to be lower in patients with sickle cell anaemia as compared to normal control subjects. The differences between the two groups were found to be statistically significant (p < 0.05 Student's t test). In addition, a highly significant decrease of plasma apolipoprotein AI (p < 0.01) was observed during painful crisis as compared to the steady state (0.78 g.L-1 versus 1.01 g.L-1), whereas triglyceride levels were found to be higher (1.02 g.L-1 versus 0.78 g.L-1). Although the metabolism of lipoproteins is being altered, the results of this cross-sectional study do not suggest that patients with sickle cell anaemia are at higher risk of developing coronary artery disease.

Prospectively assessment of nutritional status, besides anthropometric parameters measurements, included determination of the following plasma proteins: albumin, transferrin, retinol-binding protein and thyroxine-binding prealbumin, usually regarded as useful indices of protein depletion states. Patients' inflammatory or infectious diseases were investigated by measuring the two most reliable acute-phase reactants (orosomucoid and c-reactive protein). This study was conducted on a group of 56 pediatric patients malnourished and 54 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects as controls. Data showed a higher prevalence of inflammatory process during the course of malnutrition as revealed progressive but severe alteration of the Prognostic Inflammatory and Nutritional Index (PINI) or CRP x a1-GPA/Alb x TBPA. On the other hand, kwashiorkor and marasmus seemed to be a precipitating cause of infectious or/and inflammatory process. We, therefore, conclude that the PINI scoring system should be for the pediatricians, a sensitive and precious tool allowing the correct follow-up of inflammatory pole in nutritional disorders in developing countries.