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Objective: To investigate the carriage of HBs antigen (Ag) and hepatitis C virus in people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) at Grand-Yoff General Hospital. Materials and Methods: Sera from patients living with HIV and monitored at Grand-Yoff General Hospital have benefited from research for HBs Ag, HBe Ag, anti-H[8] Be antibodies and on these co-infected patients, a test for hepatitis C virus was also carried out. Results: This study included 147 HIV-infected patients and including 95 women (64.63%) and 52 men (35, 37%) with a median age of 46 years (16-78 years). The gender ratio is M/W was 0.54 and the age group most represented at inclusion was 30-39 years old with 31.97% of patients. 12, 25% of patients were co-infected HIV and hepatitis B including 11 women (61.11%) and 7 men (38.89%). The median age was 39.5 years (33-60 years), women were the affected by co-infection and 44.44% of them were married. Chronic hepatitis B and hepatitis C markers were tested for in HIV/HBV coinfected patients using a microparticulate chemiluminescence immunoassay technic. Investigation of hepatitis B chronicity markers indicated that all patient, except one, underwent anti-HBe seroconversion (94.4%) and no case of co-infection with HCV had been noted. During follow-up, all patients were under antiretroviral therapy with mainly tenofovir (TDF) which was the most used molecule with 83.33%, followed by lamivudine (3TC) 16.67%. Conclusion: HIV infection is a major public health problem when it is associated with hepatitis B and C virus.

Founder mutations have been reported in BRCA1 and BCRA2 in different ethnic groups with inherited breast cancer. Testing of targeted mutations in specific populations is important for cancer prevention in mutation carriers. In Sub-Saharan Africa, only a few studies have reported specific founder mutations in inherited breast cancer. The pathogenic variant c.815_824dup of BRCA1 has been reported as the most frequent among African American populations with inherited breast cancer and was supposed to have a West African origin. Recent report from Senegal identified this variant in women with inherited breast cancer at the highest frequency ever reported. The variant was linked to a common haplotype confirming its founder effect in West Africa. In this article, we review the mutation history of c.815_824dup and discuss how it spread out of Africa through the transatlantic slave trade.

BRCA1 and BRCA2 are the most incriminated genes in inherited breast/ovarian cancers. Several pathogenic variants of these genes conferring genetic predisposition have been described in different populations but rarely in sub-Saharan Africa. The objectives of this study were to identify pathogenic variants of the BRCA genes involved in hereditary breast cancer in Senegal and to search for a founder effect. We recruited after free informed consent, 27 unrelated index cases diagnosed with breast cancer and each having a family history. Mutation screening of the genes identified a duplication of ten nucleotides c.815_824dupAGCCATGTGG, (p.Thr276Alafs) (NM_007294.3) located in exon 11 of BRCA1 gene, in 15 index cases (allelic frequency 27.7%). The pathogenic variant has been previously reported in African Americans as a founder mutation of West African origin. Haplotypes analysis of seven microsatellites surrounding the BRCA1 gene highlights a shared haplotype encompassing ~400 kb between D17S855 and D17S1325. This haplotype was not detected in none of 15 healthy controls. Estimation of the age of the pathogenic variant suggested that it occurred ~1400 years ago. Our study identified a founder pathogenic variant of BRCA1 predisposing to breast cancer and enabled the establishment of an affordable genetic test as a mean of prevention for Senegalese women at risk.

The COVID-19 pandemic is shining a spotlight on the field of immunology like never before. To appreciate the diverse ways in which immunologists have contributed, Nature Reviews Immunology invited the president of the International Union of Immunological Societies and the presidents of 15 other national immunology societies to discuss how they and their members responded following the emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)., For this Viewpoint, Nature Reviews Immunology asked the presidents of 16 immunology societies from around the world to discuss how their society and its members responded to the COVID-19 pandemic. Their answers highlight the incredible contributions that immunologists around the globe have made following the emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

Summary Merozoite surface proteins (MSPs) are critical for parasite invasion; they represent attractive targets for antibody-based protection against clinical malaria. To identify protection-associated target MSPs, the present study analysed antibody responses to whole merozoite extract (ME) and to defined MSP recombinant antigens in hospitalized patients from a low endemic urban area as a function of disease severity (mild versus cerebral malaria). Sera from 110 patients with confirmed severe cerebral malaria (CM) and 91 patients with mild malaria (MM) were analysed (mean age = 29 years) for total and subclass immunoglobulin (Ig)G to ME and total IgG to MSP1p19, MSP2, MSP3, MSP4 and MSP5 by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Functional antibody responses were evaluated using the antibody-dependent respiratory burst (ADRB) assay in a subset of sera. There was a trend towards higher IgG1 and IgG4 levels to ME in CM compared to MM; only ME IgM responses differed significantly between fatal and surviving CM patients. Increased prevalence of IgG to individual MSPs was found in the CM compared to the MM group, including significantly higher levels of IgG to MSP4 and MSP5 in the former. Sera from fatal (24·5%) versus surviving cases showed significantly lower IgG to MSP1p19 and MSP3 (P < 0·05). ADRB assay readouts correlated with high levels of anti-MSP IgG, and trended higher in sera from patients with surviving compared to fatal CM outcome (P = 0·07). These results document strong differential antibody responses to MSP antigens as targets of protective immunity against CM and in particular MSP1p19 and MSP3 as prognostic indicators.

Background and Objectives: Cervical cancer is a leading cause of cancer death in female populations. It is a virally induced carcinoma resulting from sexually transmitted high risk Human Papillomavirus infections (e.g. HPV-16, HPV-18). Previous studies have shown associations between IL-17A levels in cancer micro-environments and metastasis of tumor cells. In Africa, chemotherapy (CT) is the standard first-line treatment for cervical cancer and the prognosis remains poor for metastatic and recurrent cases. The impact of CT as a treatment option is still unclear. We investigated the prognostic relevance of IL-17A profiles in Cervical cancer patients (CP) patients treated with cisplatin in combination with 5-fluouracil (5FU) for three cycles. Methods: The study included 57 CP and 59 women with no history of malignancy as healthy controls (HC). IL-17A plasma levels were evaluated by ELISA. For each CP, three blood samples were collected at three-week intervals before initiation of the chemotherapy protocol. Results: Before chemotherapy CP showed higher serum levels of IL-17A compared to HCs (p = 0.035). No relation was detected between age and IL-17A levels. We observed a significant increase in serum IL-17A during treatment of the CP group (p < 0.05). Depending on chemotherapy’s efficacy, CP were divided into 1) non responders, 2) partial responders and 3) good responders. Non-responders patients showed significantly higher serum levels of IL-17A during the follow-up compared to partial and good responder groups both following the first CT cycle (p < 0.05) and the second CT cycle (p < 0.03). Conclusion: Our results suggest that high serum levels of IL-17A are associated with poor responses to classical chemotherapy. However, considering these results to design CC biomarkers, we need further investigations particularly about the relevant prognostic indicator following chemotherapy.

Introduction L’importance des manifestations dermatologiques dans le diagnostic des deficits immunitaires primitifs a ete deja rapportee par certaines etudes mais exceptionnellement en Afrique subsaharienne. Le but de cette etude est de decrire les manifestations dermatologiques au cours des deficits immunitaires primitifs sur peau noire. Materiel et methodes Il s’agit d’une etude de cohorte ouverte portant sur des enfants presentant des manifestations dermatologiques suspectes de deficit immunitaire primitif a l’hopital d’Enfant Albert Royer de Dakar. Le diagnostic de deficit immunitaire primitif est basee sur la classification phenotypique de l’union internationale des societes d’immunologistes. Resultats Vingt huit patients ont ete suivi dont 18 filles et 10 garcons. L’âge moyen etait de 7 ans (extreme = 4 mois et 18 ans). L’âge de debut des symptomes etait inferieur a 3 ans dans 17 cas, entre 3 et 10 ans dans 6 cas, superieur a 10 ans dans 5 cas. La medecine traditionnelle etait le premier recours therapeutique dans 26 cas. Les manifestations dermatologiques etaient : condylomes ano-genitaux (n = 9) ; maladie de Kaposi (n = 2), epidermodysplasie verruciforme (n = 2), varicelle maligne (n = 1), molluscum contagiosum tumoral dissemine (n = 1) ; Candidose bucco-oesophagienne (n = 1) ; mycetome fongique cervico-facial (n = 1) ; becegite disseminee (n = 1) ; tuberculose scrofuloderme (n = 1) ; lupus aigu (n = 3) ; vitiligo extensif (n = 1) ; syndrome PAA ou Pyoderma-Acne-Arthrite (n = 1) ; erythrodermie (n = 1) ; acrodermatite enteropathique (n = 2) ; lymphome cutane (n = 1). Les manifestations extradermatologiques etaient : sepsis (n = 4) ; arthrite (n = 4) ; diarrhee (n = 3) ; pneumopathie infectieuse (n = 2) ; pericardite (n = 1) ; calcifications cardiaques (n = 1) ; crises convulsives (n = 1), thyroidite auto-immune (n = 1) ; alteration de l’etat general (n = 7). Cinq cas ont beneficie d’exploration pour le typage immunologique du deficit. Cette exploration a revele : 1 deficit d’expression de la classe CMHII, 1 syndrome d’hyper Ig E, 1 deficit primitif en complement C2 et 2 deficits congenitaux en zinc. Apres 3 ans de suivi regulier de la cohorte, nous avons eu 4 perdus de vue, 3 deces dont 2 par sepsis et 1 par metastase de neoplasie, 1 cas d’aggravation de molluscum contagiosum tumoral et 7 cas de recidive de condylome. Discussion Ces resultats montrent le deficit d’exploration des deficits immunitaires primitifs dans notre contexte d’exercice et la diversite des manifestations dermatologiques revelatrices. Cependant, tous les cas qui beneficie d’un typage immunologique ont ete confirme, suggerant une tres grande sensibilite des manifestations dermatologiques pour le diagnostic des deficits immunitaires primitifs. Ce constat devra etre confirme par d’autres etudes.

Objective: Evaluate the immunological status to hepatitis B virus of Senegalese pregnant women by screening HBs antigen. Material and methods: The selection criteria of women were presence at the laboratory for biological exams of pregnancy follow-up. All volunteers for the study were screened for HBs antigen (HBs Ag). Investigation of chronic hepatitis B markers (HBe Ag, anti-HBe, viral quantification) was performed in HBs Ag positive participants. The concentration of anti-HBs antibodies was assessed in HBs Ag negative women. Results: One hundred and fifteen (115) pregnant women were included in the study from July to October 2014. The mean age was 29 ± 6 years, ranging from 16 to 47. The seroprevalence of HBs Ag was 12% and the majority of women (90%) were not vaccinated. Any of the 14 HBs Ag-positive subjects did not express serum HBe Ag, (marker of active viral replication) and all were positive for anti-HBe antibodies. Their viral load (HBV DNA) was undetectable and serum transaminases were normal. The anti-HBs antibodies titrated in HBs-Ag negative women serum revealed that only 46 had protective levels against HBV whilst 55 of them were unprotected.

Introduction Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is highly endemic in Senegal. HBV vaccine of all children has been introduced in 1999 and included in the Expanded Programme on Immunization in 2004. The aim of this study was to assess the HBV prevalence and immunity status against HBV amongst children in Senegal. Methods Between March and August 2016, consecutive children aged from 6 months to 16 years old were recruited in outpatient department of three main children hospitals in Senegal. Serum samples were analyzed for HBV serology (HBsAg, HBcAb, HBsAb) using ARCHITECT analyzer. Children with HBsAb levels ≥ 10 IU/l) were considered as seroprotected against HBV. Results During the study period, 295 children fulfilled the criteria for the study and were further analyzed. Three children were HBsAg positive giving a seroprevalence at 1.1% (95% CI: 0.2-3.3), 12/267 (4.5%, 95% CI=2.3-7.7) had positive HBcAb and 226/295 (76.6%, 71.4-81.3) had positive HBsAb including 191 (77.3%, 71.6-82.4) with isolated HBsAb related to previous active immunization. However only 165 children (56%, CI 50-62) had seroprotective HBsAb levels (HBsAb ≥ 10 UI/L) and 63 (21.4, 16.8-26) had a strong seroprotectiondefined by HBsAb ≥ 100 IU/L. Conclusion Our results suggest that although HBV prevalence has significantly decreased in children in Senegal following a better HBV vaccine coverage, the number of children correctly seroprotected is insufficient (56%). Assessing the levels of HBsAb and providing HBV vaccine boosters should be considered in children in Senegal.

Background. Management of clinical malaria requires the development of reliable diagnostic methods and efficient biomarkers for follow-up of patients. Protection is partly based on IgG responses to parasite antigens exposed at the surface of infected erythrocytes (iRBCs). These IgG responses appeared low during clinical infection, particularly in severe disease.Methods. We analyzed the IgG binding capacity to the surface of live erythrocytes infected by knob positive FCR3 strain. Sera from 69 cerebral malaria (CM) and 72 mild malaria (MM) cases were analyzed by ELISA for IgG responses to five antigens from iRBC and by flow cytometry for IgG binding as expressed in labeling index ratio (LIR). The relationship between IgG levels, LIR, parasitemia, age, and the clinical outcomes was evaluated.Results. We found a significant decrease of LIR in adult CM fatal cases compared to surviving patients (p=0.019). In MM, LIRs were correlated to IgG anti-iRBC and anti-PfEMP3/5 levels. In CM, no correlation was found between LIR, IgG levels, and parasitemia.Conclusion. The IgG binding assay was able to discriminate outcome of cerebral malaria cases and it deserves further development as a potential functional-associated assay for symptomatic malaria analysis.

Les caracteristiques cliniques et le profil des auto-anticorps de 35 patients senegalais suivis pour lupus erythemateux (LES) ont ete analyses apres dosage des anticorps antinucleaires (AAN) par IFI, des Ac anti-ADN natif par Elisa et des Ac anti-Sm, anti-RNP, anti-SSA anti-SSB, anti-CCP2, anti-J0, anti-Scl70 par immunodot. Un âge moyen de 33 ans (18-50 ans) et un sex-ratio F/M de 16 ont ete retrouves. Les atteintes rhumatologiques (85,7 %) et cutanees (79,4 %) ont ete les manifestations les plus frequentes. Les AAN et les Ac anti-ADNn etaient positifs respectivement chez 85,7 % et 62,5 % des patients. Les Ac anti-RNP, les anti-Sm, les anti-SSA, les anti-SSB et anti-CCP2 ont ete retrouves chez 30 a 70 % des malades. Chez les jeunes patients, les taux d’Ac anti-ADNn et Ac anti-Sm (P < 0,05) sont plus eleves que chez les patients de plus de 40 ans. La presence simultanee de signes cutanes et rhumatologiques est caracterisee par la hausse des taux d’Ac anti-ADNn, anti-SSA et anti-SSB chez les patients concernes. Notre etude montre l’interet du dosage des Ac anti-ADNn, anti-SSA et anti-SSB dans le suivi des patients lupiques, surtout en cas d’association de signes cutanes et rhumatologiques.

Pro‐inflammatory cytokines induced by glycosylphosphatidylinositols (GPIs) of Plasmodium falciparum contribute to malaria pathogenesis and hence, the naturally acquired anti‐GPI antibody thought to provide protection against severe malaria (SM) by neutralizing the stimulatory activity of GPIs. In previous studies, the anti‐GPI antibody levels increased with age in parallel with the development of acquired immunity, and high levels of anti‐GPI antibodies were associated with mild malaria (MM) cases. In the present study, the relationship between the levels of pro‐inflammatory cytokines and anti‐GPI IgG antibody responses, parasitemia, and the clinical outcomes were evaluated in SM and mild malaria (MM) patients. Sera from a total of 110 SM and 72 MM cases after excluding of ineligible patients were analyzed for the levels of anti‐GPI antibodies, IgG subclasses, and cytokine responses by ELISA. While the total anti‐GPI antibody levels were similar in overall SM and MM groups, they were significantly higher in surviving SM patients than in fatal SM cases. In the case of cytokines, the TNF‐α and IL‐6 levels were significantly higher in SM compared to MM, whereas the IL‐10 levels were similar in both groups. The data presented here demonstrate that high levels of the circulatory pro‐inflammatory, TNF‐α, and IL‐6, are indicators of malaria severity, whereas anti‐inflammatory cytokine IL‐10 level does not differentiate SM and MM cases. Further, among SM patients, relatively low levels of anti‐GPI antibodies are indicators of fatal outcomes compared to survivors, suggesting that anti‐GPI antibodies provide some level of protection against SM fatality.

Background HIV infection is a concern in the army troupes because of the risk behaviour of the military population. In order to allow regular access to CD4+ T cell enumeration of military personnel as well as their dependents and civilians living with HIV, the Senegalese Army AIDS program is implementing PIMATM Alere technology in urban and semi-urban military medical centres. Validation such device is therefore required prior their wide implementation. The purpose of this study was to compare CD4+ T cell count measurements between the PIMATM Alere to the BD FACSCountTM. Methodology We selected a total of 200 subjects including 50 patients with CD4+ T-cells below 200/mm3, 50 between 200 and 350/mm3, 50 between 351 and 500/mm3, and 50 above 500/mm3. CD4+ T-cell count was performed on venous blood using the BD FASCountTM as reference method and the PIMATM Point of Care technology. The mean biases and limits of agreement between the PIMATM Alere and BD FACSCountTM were assessed with the Bland-Altman analysis, the linear regression performed using the Passing-Bablok regression analysis, and the percent similarity calculated using the Scott method. Results Our data have shown a mean difference of 22.3 cells/mm3 [95%CI:9.1-35.5] between the BD FACSCountTM and PIMATM Alere CD4 measurements. However, the mean differences of the two methods was not significantly different to zero when CD4+ T-cell count was below 350/mm3 (P = 0.76). The Passing-Bablok regression in categorized CD4 counts has also showed concordance correlation coefficient of 0.89 for CD4+ T cell counts below 350/mm3 whilst it was 0.5 when CD4 was above 350/mm3. Conclusion Overall, our data have shown that for low CD4 counts, the results from the PIMATM Alere provided accurate CD4+ T cell counts with a good agreement compared to the FACSCountTM.

Laboratory follow-up of HIV patients in resource-limited settings requires appropriate instruments for CD4 T cell enumeration. In this study, we evaluated the application of a simplified, mobile and robust flow cytometry system, the Apogee Auto 40 analyzer (Auto40) using thermoresistant reagents, for CD4 T cell enumeration. We measured the absolute CD4 counts in fresh whole blood samples from 170 Senegalese subjects, including 129 HIV-positive (HIV+) patients and 41 HIV-negative (HIV−) controls. Based on volumetric primary CD4 gating, cells were stained with commercially available reagents (Easy MoAb CD4;Bio-D, Valenzano, Italy) and analyzed on the Auto40. The results were compared with those from the FACSCount system (Becton Dickinson, San Jose, USA). Repeatability analysis was performed on duplicate testing of 49 samples on both FACSCount and Auto40. The intra-run precision was measured by 10 replicates using 3 clinical blood samples with low, intermediate and high CD4 concentrations. The results from the two instruments were in good agreement. The percent similarity between the results of both instruments was 99% ± relative standard deviation of 12.7%. The concordance correlation coefficient was 0.99. The absolute bias and limits of agreement (LOA) between the two instruments, calculated by BlandAltman analysis, were clinically acceptable (bias: + 4 cells/μl; LOA: −111 to + 120 cells/μl). The clinical agreement between the two instruments at a cutoff of 200 CD4 cells/μl was 94%. The repeatability of measurements on the Auto40 was also similar to that observed with FACSCount system (bias + 0.1 cells/μl, coefficient of variation 2.5% vs bias − 1.1 cells/μl, coefficient of variation 2.9% respectively). In conclusion, our results indicate that the Auto 40 system, using thermoresistant reagents, is suitable for CD4 T cell enumeration and will be a helpful tool to improve HIV laboratory monitoring in resource-limited settings.

Nephropathy is one of the complications occuring during diabetes and it is diagnosed via microalbuminuria. From 1992 to 1999, five hundred and eighty seven (587) diabetic patients were recruited and distributed into two groups, A (n = 270) and B (n = 317). Microalbuminuria was determined by immunonephelemetry for group A and immunoturbidimetry for group B. The results showed respectively 15.5% and 20.19% pathological cases in the two groups (NS). Considering the distribution of patients with microalbuminuria according to the type of diabetes, there were 16.12% type 1 and 15.07% type 2 in group A against 22.60% and 18.13% in group B; no statistically significant differences were observed either in the same group or from one group to another. These frequencies might reflect the situation in the nineties; they are lower than those encountered in other populations. Nevertheless monitoring is needed through a regular schedule to prevent nephropathy.

Sickle cell anemia does not cause martial deprivation per se, but may worsen when iron deficiency exists, notably in tropical zone where infectious diseases and malnutrition are endemic mainly during childhood. This study was aimed to assess iron deficiency prevalence among children with sickle cell disease (SCD) and to determine the best parameters for its diagnosis. In addition to classical parameters, we measured transferrine's soluble receptors which can reveal an iron deficiency, either isolated or associated to another condition since its level is not influenced by chronic anemia. Assays were carried out in 40 homozygous SCD patients, aged 3 to 18 years, having an hemoglobin level11 g/dL and in 30 age-paired controls assumed to be healthy and having a negative Emmel test and an hemoglobin level11 g/dL. The results showed hyposideremia (serum iron60 microg/dL) in 17.5% of the patients. Ferritinemia, transferrinemia as well as total iron fixation capacity were in the normal range for the majority of SCD patients in spite of the frequency of hyposideremia and microcytic anemia (20%). Transferrine's saturation coefficient was low in 22.5% of patients, which can be due to martial deprivation or to inflammatory status. These results confirm the limitations of usual biochemical parameters in the diagnosis of iron deficiency in homozygous drepanocytosis. Soluble receptors' levels were increased in 60% of controls; that proves that iron deficiency prevalence is high in our countries. Higher levels were found in 97.5% of patients. However, receptors' levels are increased during haemolysis, thus it is difficult to ascertain the origin of the increase, but taking into account its index value can reduces misinterpretation. In addition, considering simultaneously microcytosis, hypochromia, transferrine's soluble receptor level and its index, we can speculate that martial deficiency occurs in 20% of SCD patients, a percentage close to the 17.1% obtained by other authors using only the combination of microcytosis and hypochromia. It results from this study that associating microcytosis and hypochromia could validly assess iron deficiency during drepanocytosis.

The calcitonin is the most specific and the most sensitive marker of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) both for screening and postoperative follow-up of the patients. Its measurement is made either remotely , or after stimulation of pentagastrin secretion which the answer is amplified at the carrier of CMT. The aim of this study was to estimate a chimioluminescent method by comparing it with an immunoradiological method, manual, used as reference. Correlation study was done.Two hundred and sixty three serums (263) were tested among which 64 resulting of healthy subjects and 199 resulting of patients affected) by medullary thyroid carcinoma. Statistical analysis of results was made by a study of correlation with the software OriginLab version 7.0. The manual technique used as reference method is radioimmunological (Elsa hCT, international Cisbio, Gif on Yvette, France). It was compared with a chimioluminescent technique (Nichols Advantage, Nichols Institute Diagnostics, CA, the USA).The coefficients of correlation obtained between both tests were: r = 0.76 (exactness study), r = 0.91 (after stimulation), r = 0.95 and 0.79 (staged samples), r = 0.99 (M TC patients).Both techniques correlate strictly and significantly. The correlation coefficients we obtained show us that Nichols Advantage Calcitonin is completely reliable and sensitive for the measurement of the hCT in the follow-up of the CMT.

Monoclonal gammapathies are detected because of clinical symptoms and biological tests confirm their presence. Wishing to investigate these diseases, we carried out a series of biochemical tests on 14 patients from October 1995 to July 1996: protein, cryoglobulin, electrophoresis of proteins, proteinuria of BENCE JONES, C-reactive protein, weight measuring of immunoglobulins (Ig), immunofixation of Ig, creatinine and calcium. The results we obtained confirmed the presence of 14 cases of myeloma with: -9 IgG myelomas with 6 kappa light chains and 3 lambda light chains -4 IgA myelomas with 2 kappa light chains and 2 lambda light chains -1 IgG kappa, Ig lambda biclonal gammapathy united to a cryoglobulin of class I. We observed a predominance of the IgG over the others Ig and the kappa over the alpha light chains. The proteinuria of BENCE JONES was present among 3 patients, hypercalcemia among 4 patients and hypercreatininemia in 1 patient with chronic renal failure.