The HyDeploy project is the UK’s first practical project to demonstrate that hydrogen can be safely blended into the natural-gas distribution system without requiring changes to appliances and the associated disrupti...The HyDeploy project is the UK’s first practical project to demonstrate that hydrogen can be safely blended into the natural-gas distribution system without requiring changes to appliances and the associated disruption.The project is funded under Ofgem’s Network Innovation Competition and is a collaboration between Cadent Gas,Northern Gas Networks,Progressive Energy Ltd,Keele University(Keele),Health&Safety Laboratory and ITM Power.Cadent and Northern Gas Networks are the Gas Distribution Network sponsors of the project.Keele University is the host site,providing the gas-distribution network,which will receive the hydrogen blend.Keele University is the largest campus university in the UK.Health&Safety Laboratory provides the scientific laboratories and experimental expertise.ITM Power provides the electrolyser that produces the hydrogen.Progressive Energy Ltd is the project developer and project manager.HyDeploy is structured into three distinct phases.The first is an extensive technical programme to establish the necessary detailed evidence base in support of an application to the Health&Safety Executive for Exemption to Schedule 3 of the Gas Safety(Management)Regulations(GS(M)R)to permit the injection of hydrogen at 20 mol%.This is required to allow hydrogen to be blended into a natural-gas supply above the current British limit of 0.1 mol%.The second phase comprises the construction of the electrolyser and grid entry unit,along with the necessary piping and valves,to allow hydrogen to be mixed and injected into the Keele University gas-distribution network and to ensure all necessary training of operatives is conducted before injection.The third phase is the trial itself,which is due to start in the summer of 2019 and last around 10 months.The trial phase also provides an opportunity to undertake further experimental activities related to the operational network to support the pathway to full deployment of blended gas.The outcome of HyDeploy is principally developing the initial evidence base that hydrogen展开更多
Introduction-Objective: COVID-19 is a highly transmissible but often mild viral infection. However, some patients can present severe COVID-19 and subsequently die. The aim of the present study was to assess the risk f...Introduction-Objective: COVID-19 is a highly transmissible but often mild viral infection. However, some patients can present severe COVID-19 and subsequently die. The aim of the present study was to assess the risk factors for COVID-19 related death during the first three waves of the disease at the Epidemic Treatment Center (ETC) of Dakar Principal Hospital (DPH). Method: We conducted a descriptive and analytical perspective survival study from April 4, 2020 to September 25, 2021, including adult patients with COVID-19, hospitalized at the ETC of DPH. Log Rank test and multivariate Cox model were performed to identify risk factors for death. Results: We included 556 COVID-19 patients with mean age of 57 ± 17 years and a male-to-female ratio of 1.26. The number of deaths during one month of follow-up was 41, representing a cumulative risk of 7.4%. The log Rank test showed that being from the third wave (p = 0.0056), advanced age (p = 0.00098), presence of at least one comorbidity (p = 0.034), High blood pressure (p = 0.024), d-dimer level ≥ 1000 IU/L (p Conclusion: Our study showed that elderly and third-wave of COVID-19 patients were more at risk to die. Knowledge of risk factors for COVID-19 related death could improve the prognosis of these patients.展开更多
The present paper uses a two-step approach to estimate the pass-through effects of changes in international commodity prices and the RMB exchange rate on domestic consumer price inflation in China. We first estimate t...The present paper uses a two-step approach to estimate the pass-through effects of changes in international commodity prices and the RMB exchange rate on domestic consumer price inflation in China. We first estimate the pass-through effects of international commodity prices on producer prices and then estimate the pass-through effects of producer price inflation on consumer price inflation. We find that a l O-percent increase in international commodity prices would lead to China＇ s producer prices increasing by 1.2 percent 3 months later, which in turn would increase China＇ s domestic inflation by 0.24 percent over the same period. However, a 10-percent appreciation of the RMB exchange rate against the US dollar would help to reduce increases in producer prices by 4.4 percent over the following 3 months, which in turn would lead to a 0. 89-percent decline in consumer price inflation over the same period. Our findings suggest that appreciation of the RMB in an environment of rising global commodity prices and a weak US dollar could be an effective instrument to help contain inflation in China.展开更多
Button cell ingestion is a common household accident among infants, often leading to serious complications that require immediate diagnosis and urgent removal. We report five cases of button cell ingestion involving i...Button cell ingestion is a common household accident among infants, often leading to serious complications that require immediate diagnosis and urgent removal. We report five cases of button cell ingestion involving infants aged between 9 and 32 months, including four boys and one girl. The ingestion was accidentally discovered in two infants, while in the other three, it was suspected during play. In three cases, mothers attempted to induce vomiting by giving fluids, but the batteries remained in the digestive tract for 38 hours to 5 days. After confirming the diagnosis, the batteries were removed within 4 to 36 hours. The locations of the cells were the esophagus in two cases, the cardia in one, the stomach in one, and the bowel in one. One case involved a large cell in the esophagus, while the others involved smaller cells. Complications occurred in four cases, including esotracheal fistula, esophageal ulceration, and perforation of the jejunum and caecum. In one case, the digestive mucosa appeared normal upon endoscopy. One patient died.展开更多
Background: Sickle cell disease is one of the most common monogenic diseases in the world, affecting approximately 70 million people, 80% in sub-Saharan Africa and 1 in 10 in Senegal. Sickle cell anemia causes functio...Background: Sickle cell disease is one of the most common monogenic diseases in the world, affecting approximately 70 million people, 80% in sub-Saharan Africa and 1 in 10 in Senegal. Sickle cell anemia causes functional asplenia (associated with repeated thrombosis of splenic vessels), resulting in increased susceptibility to infection. However, several studies have reported differences in the spectrum of bacterial infections in malaria-endemic areas. Therefore, we proposed to conduct a study to determine the rate of positive blood cultures and the bacteriological spectrum in sickle cell patients. Materials and Method: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study of blood culture samples from patients who received a request for hemoglobin electrophoresis as part of their treatment at the Principal’s hospital in Dakar. The study took place from January 2008 to December 2021. For each patient, we collect demographic information, including age, gender, and the service from which the analysis request originated. Data were collected in the laboratory’s computer system and entered into Microsoft Excel (2007). Statistical analyzes were performed using Epi-Info 7 software. Results: Our study included 1419 patients. The most common types of hemoglobin profiles were: normal profile (n = 1025), AS profile (n = 283), SS profile (n = 104), SC profile (n = 7). This corresponds to the proportions of 72%, 20%, 0.5% and 7.5% for the profiles Normal, AS, SC and SS. The male proportion was 61.1%, 61.5%, 57.1, respectively %, 55.8% for Normal, SA, SC, and SS profiles. A total of 19,090 individual blood culture bottles were collected from 1419 impatient patients as follows: Normal profile (n = 18,042 bottles), AS profile (n = 677 culture bottles), SS profile (n = 362 bottles). The majority of blood culture orders come from pediatric services, accounting for 70% of the total number of orders. Of 19,090 vials examined in this current study, 19.6% developed a positive blood culture. Overall, the most commonly isolated bacteria were 展开更多
AIM:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the addition of vildagliptin to low-dose metformin and compare it to an uptitration of metformin in type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM) patients who have inadequate control with m...AIM:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the addition of vildagliptin to low-dose metformin and compare it to an uptitration of metformin in type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM) patients who have inadequate control with metformin monotherapy.METHODS:Eligible patients were randomized to receive vildagliptin 100 mg qd or metformin(500 mg qd for 2 wk and then 500 mg bid) added to open label me tformin 500 mg bid for the 24 wk.The primary endpoi nt was baseline to endpoint hemoglobin A1c(HbA1c) change.RESULTS:The adjusted mean change from baseline in HbA1c at the 24th wk was-0.51% in the vildagliptin/metformin group(mean baseline HbA1c:7.4%) and-0.37% in the metformin monothera py group(mean baseline HbA1c:7.3%).The mean diffe rence was-0.14% with 95% Confidence Interval(-0.24%,-0.05%).As non-inf e riority(margin of 0.4%) was achieved,a test for superiority was performed.This test showed statistically significant superiority of the combination over monotherapy group(P = 0.002).Gastrointestinal(GI) adverse events were signif icantly more frequent in the metformin group than the combin ation group(21.0% vs 15.4%,P = 0.032).CONCLUSION:In patients with T2DM inadequately controlled with metformin up to 1000 mg daily,the addition of vildagliptin 100 mg daily achieved larger HbA1c reduction with fewer GI events than with increa sing the metformin dose.展开更多
Introduction: Rabies is a serious disease, as it is always fatal, but it can be prevented by sero-vaccination. It is a neglected tropical disease endemic in Asia and Africa. The aim of this study was to assess knowled...Introduction: Rabies is a serious disease, as it is always fatal, but it can be prevented by sero-vaccination. It is a neglected tropical disease endemic in Asia and Africa. The aim of this study was to assess knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding rabies and to determine the factors associated with them among people aged 18 and over in the commune of Niakhène. Methods: This was a cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical survey of subjects aged 18 and over living in the commune of Niakhène. A sample of 300 individuals was drawn from a two-stage cluster survey stratified by age and sex. Bivariate analysis was performed using association tests. Results: The mean age of respondents was 35.3 ± 16.9 years. It was noted that 67% (201) of respondents had a good knowledge of rabies. The results showed that 7.3% (22) of respondents owned a dog. Of the 278 people who did not own a dog, 78.4% (218) said they would have vaccinated their dog if they had had one. It should be noted that 83.7% (251) of respondents said they would go to a health facility if an animal bit them. None of the dog owners had vaccinated their dogs against rabies. Of the 41 people exposed to rabies, 39% went to a health facility. The age and education of the respondents had statistically significant associations with knowledge of rabies. Respondents’ age and education were statistically significantly related to whether they had vaccinated a domestic dog. The age, education and economic well-being quintile of respondents’ households had statistically significant associations with the use of a health facility in the event of being bitten or scratched by an animal vector. The education of respondents who had been bitten by an animal vector was statistically significantly associated with the use of a health facility. Conclusion: It would be imperative for human and animal health authorities to collaborate in a “One Health” approach in order to increase knowledge and promote the adoption of good practices in rabies prevention.展开更多
Background: Heart failure is a chronic and severe condition that often results from various heart diseases. Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is currently a crucial component in managing this condition. The aim was to asses...Background: Heart failure is a chronic and severe condition that often results from various heart diseases. Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is currently a crucial component in managing this condition. The aim was to assess the effects of cardiac rehabilitation on physical capacity of heart failure patients. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted from February 1, 2021, to June 30, 2023. We included all patients with heart failure who underwent cardiac rehabilitation. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software version 24.0, with a significance level set at p Results: The study included 87 heart failure patients, with a male-to-female ratio of 1.8. Mean age was 57.10 years (±11.75). Coronary artery disease was the primary cause of heart failure, accounting for 75.9% of cases. Atrial fibrillation was present in 4.7% of cases. Following cardiac rehabilitation, Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction increased from 40.15% to 49.48% (p = 0.001). Resting heart rate decreased significantly from 81.4 bpm to 68.3 bpm (p = 0.000), and the number of METS increased from 4.3 to 6.57 (+56.8%;p = 0.000). The mean distance covered in the 6-minute walk test significantly increased from 337.8 meters to 522.7 meters (p = 0.000), reflecting a gain of 183.5 meters. Moreover, the increase in the number of METS was more pronounced in females (p = 0.001), non-obese individuals (p = 0.000), non-diabetics (p = 0.001), non-sedentary individuals (p = 0.000), and non-smokers (p = 0.000). The study reported a low readmissions rate of 2.2% and a mortality rate of 1.1%. Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that cardiac rehabilitation is beneficial for black African heart failure patients, resulting in significant improvements in symptoms, physical and capacity.展开更多
Introduction The main objective of any healthcare establishment must be to ensure the quality of patient care and customer satisfaction. It is necessary to regularly assess patient satisfaction. The aim of this study ...Introduction The main objective of any healthcare establishment must be to ensure the quality of patient care and customer satisfaction. It is necessary to regularly assess patient satisfaction. The aim of this study was to assess the level of satisfaction of customers aged over 18 years attending the emergency department of the health center. Methodology This was a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study of patients aged 18 years and over, who attended the Samu Municipal emergency department between 02 and 30 May 2023. The satisfaction index was determined using the adapted 2009 SAPHORA-MCO questionnaire and the Likert satisfaction scale. Results A total of 400 patients were surveyed. The average age was 35 years, with a standard deviation of 14.7. Of those surveyed, 51% were women, 87% were educated, 50% lived in Grand Yoff and 59.5% were unemployed. Satisfaction levels linked to perception of the cost of care (72%), waiting time (64.3%), information given to patients (69.1%) and pain management (74 .5%) are fair. On the other hand, the levels of satisfaction linked to administrative procedures (82.5%), staff attitudes towards patients (84%), staff availability (86.4%), patient privacy (89.2%), general atmosphere (87.2%), staff competence (87.3%), and the effectiveness of care (89.4%) were satisfactory. The average waiting time was 38 minutes. However, 32% of patients waited less than 30 minutes and 92% less than an hour. The satisfaction index linked to administration and reception was 72.9% and 79.85%, respectively. The satisfaction index linked to the administration and technical quality of care is equal to 85.8% and 83.7%, respectively. The overall satisfaction index is equal to 80.6%;the level of satisfaction of users of the health structure is satisfactory. Conclusion Patient satisfaction is an essential part of quality care. Patient satisfaction must be based on effective communication from the healthcare team and the creation of a patient-caregiver relationship.展开更多
BACKGROUND Tuberculosis is endemic in Senegal.While its extra-pulmonary localization is rare,esophageal tuberculosis,particularly the isolated form,is exceptional.We report here a case of isolated esophageal tuberculo...BACKGROUND Tuberculosis is endemic in Senegal.While its extra-pulmonary localization is rare,esophageal tuberculosis,particularly the isolated form,is exceptional.We report here a case of isolated esophageal tuberculosis in an immunocompetent patient.CASE SUMMARY A 58-year-old man underwent consultation for mechanical dysphagia that had developed over 3 mo with non-quantified weight loss,anorexia,and fever.Upper digestive endoscopy showed extensive ulcerated lesions,suggesting neoplasia.The diagnosis was confirmed by histopathology,which showed gigantocellular epithelioid granuloma surrounding a caseous necrosis.Thoracoabdominal computed tomography scan did not show another localization of the tuberculosis.The outcome was favorable with treatment.CONCLUSION Esophageal tuberculosis should be considered when dysphagia is associated with atypical ulcerated lesions of the esophageal mucosa,in an endemic area.展开更多
Neonatal thrombocytopenia accounts for 20% of neonates hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at DPH. The etiologies are multiple, but bacterial infection is the third leading cause of neonatal mortal...Neonatal thrombocytopenia accounts for 20% of neonates hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at DPH. The etiologies are multiple, but bacterial infection is the third leading cause of neonatal mortality worldwide. We therefore set out to assess the frequency of neonatal thrombocytopenia associated or not with bacterial infection in the NICU. We conducted a retrospective and prospective study with the DPH NICU, over 10 months (August 2018 and April 2019). Thrombocytopenia encountered in the NICUs, were the subject of research into bacteriological, inflammatory, and epidemiological parameters using Inlog laboratory data processing software. During this period, 1280 babies were hospitalized, 94 of whom underwent thrombocytopenia, corresponding to 7.34%, with a sex ratio of 0.92. The number of babies presenting with thrombocytopenia during the first week of hospitalization was 72, accounting for 76.6%. The clinical context was usually low birth weight in 30.8% of cases and perinatal asphyxia (25%). Thrombocytopenia ranged from 2000 to 137,000 with an average of 69,520/mm3. Among these thrombocytopenias, 64 cases (68%) were below 100,000 mm3 and 44 cases had a CRP >5 mg/l. A total of 30 bacteria were isolated, including 23 Enterobacteria, 2 Streptococci, and 1 Acinetobacter. Among these enterobacteria, 14 were multidrug-resistant (MDR). Thrombocytopenia associated with a multidrug-resistant bacterial infection is a real challenging management.展开更多
Bland-White-Garland syndrome or ALCAPA is an abnormality of birth of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery. It is a diagnostic and therapeutic emergency because it is a curable cause of hypokinetic dilate...Bland-White-Garland syndrome or ALCAPA is an abnormality of birth of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery. It is a diagnostic and therapeutic emergency because it is a curable cause of hypokinetic dilated heart disease in infants. We report through this clinical case, the fourth case of infantile ALCAPA diagnosed in Senegal in a 7-month-old infant. The symptomatology began around the age of 2 months, with a grumpy state associated with more marked crying and moaning during feedings and bowel movements. The mother reported hospitalization for a severe lung infection when she was 6 months old. The examination noted an infant in poor general condition, retarded growth and weight, and a 3/6th holosystolic murmur at the apex. Troponinemia was positive at 43.90 ng/L. The electrocardiogram showed Q waves on the lower side, a sub endocardial lesion on the upper side and a ST segment elevation in aVR. Doppler echocardiography showed dilated cardiomyopathy with a mean alteration of systolic function of the left ventricle at 37%, a mean mitral insufficiency and a strong suspicion of a birth anomaly of the left coronary artery. The CT scan confirmed the diagnosis of ALCAPA. Surgicalreimplantation of the left coronary artery at the aortic level was performed at 10 months of life with a favourable outcome at D50 postoperative.展开更多
Multiple myeloma (MM) is both a complex and heterogeneous disease. Cytogenetic and molecular abnormalities lead to resistance to treatment and transformation to plasma cell leukemia, which is defined by the presence i...Multiple myeloma (MM) is both a complex and heterogeneous disease. Cytogenetic and molecular abnormalities lead to resistance to treatment and transformation to plasma cell leukemia, which is defined by the presence in circulating blood of plasma cells over 2 G/L, or more than 20% of leukocytes. It is an uncommon hematological malignancy with a poor prognosis. Against this backdrop, we report an observation of multiple myeloma transformed into plasma cell leukemia diagnosed at the Hôpital Principal de Dakar (HPD) that occurred on a 64-year-old man with a history of thyroidectomy followed for multiple myeloma presenting with Salmon et Durie stage IIIA and ISS stage I. Despite a marked improvement in management strategy, myeloma remains an almost invariably incurable disease. However, the development of genetic and molecular biomarkers is necessary to improve its prognosis.展开更多
Macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) is linked to inappropriate stimulation of macrophage cells in the bone marrow and lymphoid system, resulting in abnormal phagocytosis of figurative blood elements and the release o...Macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) is linked to inappropriate stimulation of macrophage cells in the bone marrow and lymphoid system, resulting in abnormal phagocytosis of figurative blood elements and the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines. It is a rare and serious hyper-inflammatory condition of diagnostic and therapeutic emergency. MAS is characterized by non-specific clinical and laboratory signs associated with images of hemophagocytosis. MAS is either “primary” (familial or pediatric forms), or “secondary/reactive” to infection, neoplasia, or autoimmune disease. Hemopathies dominate MAS secondary to neoplasia. B-type acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a hematological malignancy characterized by the proliferation and accumulation of B lymphoid progenitors, blocked at an early stage of differentiation, leading to suppression of polyclonal hematopoiesis and subsequent development of signs associated with bone marrow failure. In this context, we report the observation of a macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) associated with ALL, diagnosed at Hôpital Principal de Dakar/Senegal, in a 69-year-old patient with a well-controlled type 2 diabetes under oral antidiabetic therapy (OAD) and good general condition.展开更多
Background: Uterine fibroids are a common condition in Senegal and often symptomatic. Our study aims to determine the epidemiological profile, to clarify the diagnostic aspects and to evaluate the surgical management ...Background: Uterine fibroids are a common condition in Senegal and often symptomatic. Our study aims to determine the epidemiological profile, to clarify the diagnostic aspects and to evaluate the surgical management of patients with uterine fibroids. Patients and Method: We carried out a retrospective and descriptive study carried out over a period of 30 months, from August 1, 2017 to January 31, 2020, concerning all patients who underwent surgery for the treatment of uterine myomatosis in the department of Gynecology Obstetrics of the Hospital Principal of Dakar. The data was collected from the patients’ medical records and analyzed using Excel version 2016 and R version 4 software. Results: We collected 175 surgical interventions for uterine fibroids, representing 44.7% of gynecological interventions. Most of the patients were between 30 and 39 years old, with an average age of 39 years. The nulliparous were the majority with 64.6%. The clinical symptomatology was represented by genital bleeding (32.6%), pelvic pain (18.85%) and infertility (12.6%). The diagnosis was confirmed by pelvic ultrasound in all patients with variable myoma topography. A myomectomy was performed in 82.3% of cases and a total hysterectomy in 17.7%. The postoperative course was simple in 94.2% of cases, and the results of treatment revealed a disappearance of symptoms in 94.3% of cases. Conclusion: Surgery occupies a prominent place in the management of uterine fibroids.展开更多
Objective: To describe the epidemiological, clinical and prognostic factors and assess treatment of placental abruption in the obstetrics gynecology department of the Dakar Principal Hospital. Patients and Method: We ...Objective: To describe the epidemiological, clinical and prognostic factors and assess treatment of placental abruption in the obstetrics gynecology department of the Dakar Principal Hospital. Patients and Method: We carried out a retrospective observational study of 130 successive cases of placental abruption, which occurred from January 2015 to December 2017 at the Level 3 Maternity Unit of the Dakar Principal Hospital. Data were collected from non-computerized obstetric records and analyzed using Excel and Epi info software. Results: There were 130 cases of placental abruption, that is a prevalence of 1.5%. The average age of onset of placental abruption was 30 years. The history of hypertension concerned 32.3% of patients, the average gestational age of 32.5 weeks at the time of diagnosis, grade 3 of Sher was found in 48.5% of cases. The outcome of the pregnancy was a caesarean section in 79.2% of cases, the average weight of newborns was 2058 g. The management of the complications required a blood transfusion and intensive care. A haemostasis hysterectomy was performed in 6.2% of cases. Stillbirth rate was 53.7% and maternal mortality was zero. Discussion and Conclusion: Placental abruption, a severe complication of pregnancy, is associated with high perinatal morbidity and mortality linked to the severity of the clinical picture, despite an improved maternal prognosis.展开更多
Background: Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is one of the largest public health problems with nearly 350 million chronic carriers and 500,000 deaths each year. These deaths are most often associated with dis...Background: Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is one of the largest public health problems with nearly 350 million chronic carriers and 500,000 deaths each year. These deaths are most often associated with disease progression to cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma, which some studies have shown is associated with long-term viral replication in chronic carriers. Viral load quantification, a key element of disease management, is expensive and difficult to access. Viral load plays a crucial role in patient classification and treatment initiation. Four years after the implementation of viral load platform, the objective of this study was to assess viral load profile in HBs chronic carriers in a sub-Saharan Hospital and to determine the potential impact of this distribution on preventive and therapeutic strategies against hepatitis B infection. Materials and Method: The study was carried out between April 2016 and October 2020 in the laboratory of the PRINCIPAL Hospital in Dakar. All patients referred for HBV DNA viral load testing following a positive AgHBs test were included. Incomplete medical records were excluded from the study. Only the first quantification test performed on each patient is recorded. DNA extraction was performed with COBAS AmpliPrep (Roche Molecular Systems, Inc., Branchburg, NJ, USA). Amplification was performed using COBAS TaqMan48 (Roche Molecular Systems, Inc., Branchburg, NJ, USA). Data were collected from the laboratory’s computer system and entered into Microsoft Excel (2007). Statistical analyzes were performed using Epi-Info 7 software. Results: A total of 3002 patients, 76.1% (2285/3002) men and 33.9% (717/3002) women, were included in the study. Young adults were most represented among the subjects (23.2%) and (20.1%) in the age groups 25 - 30 and 30 - 35. The majority (52.7%) of patients had viral loads between 20 and 2000 IU. Patients with undetectable viral loads and patients with viral loads below 20 IU comprised 14.6% and 7.53% of the study population, respectively. P展开更多
Background: Over the past two decades, blood transfusion safety has made significant advances in the fight against infectious diseases. However, hepatitis B is still a problem in blood banks due to its high endemicity...Background: Over the past two decades, blood transfusion safety has made significant advances in the fight against infectious diseases. However, hepatitis B is still a problem in blood banks due to its high endemicity in Senegal. In this context, we proposed to first determine the prevalence of HBs antigen (HBsAg) in regular and new blood donors. Second, to determine the influence of the number of blood donations on the prevalence of hepatitis B. Materials and Method: We conducted a retrospective transversal study using data from all blood donations received at the Principal Hospital of Dakar Blood bank from July 2007 to December 31, 2021. Hepatitis B testing was carried out with Automaton E411 (Roche Diagnostics). For all donors, information on age, sex, hepatitis B serology, and the number of donations was collected through the lab’s computer system. Data entry and statistical analysis were performed with Epi-info version 7. Results: HBsAg carriers were identified in 4311 primary donors, corresponding to a prevalence of 12.39% (IC 95% = 12.04 - 12.74). The prevalence of the HBsAg antigen was higher in men (12.9%) than in women (6.85%). Men are twice as likely to be infected with HBV as women (OR = 2.00 (IC 95% = 1.85 - 2.17)). The highest prevalence (12.4%) was found in young adults (23 - 29) years old. After 10 donations, the prevalence of the HBs antigen was stable at around 1%. Individuals with a single blood donation and individuals with 2 to 5 blood donations are 9 and 7 times more likely to carry the HBs antigen than regular donors (more than 10 blood donations), respectively. Conclusion: Our results demonstrate the endemic nature of hepatitis B in Senegal. On the other hand, the non-negligible prevalence of the virus in first-time donors reminds us of the need for continuous improvement in donor selection. These first-time donors, particularly young adults, are important indicators of transmission of the virus to the general population. This study also demonstrates the need to develop strategies to mai展开更多
Medium strength aluminium alloy （Al-Mg-Si alloy） has gathered wide acceptance in the fabrication of light weight structures requiring a high strength-to weight ratio, such as transportable bridge girders, military v...Medium strength aluminium alloy （Al-Mg-Si alloy） has gathered wide acceptance in the fabrication of light weight structures requiring a high strength-to weight ratio, such as transportable bridge girders, military vehicles, road tankers and railway transport systems. The preferred welding process for aluminium alloy is frequently TIG （tungsten inert gas） welding due to its comparatively easier applicability and better economy.In the case of single pass TIG welding of thinner section of this alloy, the pulsed current has been found beneficial due to its advantages over the conventional continuous current process. The use of pulsed current parameters has been found to improve the mechanical properties of the welds compared to those of continuous current welds of this alloy due to grain refinement occurring in the fusion zone. A mathematical model has been developed to predict pitting corrosion potential of pulsed current TIG welded AA6061 aluminium alloy.Factorial experimental design has been used to optimize the experimental conditions. Analysis of variance technique has been used to find out the significant pulsed current parameters. Regression analysis has been used to develop the model. Using the developed model pitting corrosion potential values have been estimated for different combinations of pulsed current parameters and the results are analyzed in detail.展开更多
文摘The HyDeploy project is the UK’s first practical project to demonstrate that hydrogen can be safely blended into the natural-gas distribution system without requiring changes to appliances and the associated disruption.The project is funded under Ofgem’s Network Innovation Competition and is a collaboration between Cadent Gas,Northern Gas Networks,Progressive Energy Ltd,Keele University(Keele),Health&Safety Laboratory and ITM Power.Cadent and Northern Gas Networks are the Gas Distribution Network sponsors of the project.Keele University is the host site,providing the gas-distribution network,which will receive the hydrogen blend.Keele University is the largest campus university in the UK.Health&Safety Laboratory provides the scientific laboratories and experimental expertise.ITM Power provides the electrolyser that produces the hydrogen.Progressive Energy Ltd is the project developer and project manager.HyDeploy is structured into three distinct phases.The first is an extensive technical programme to establish the necessary detailed evidence base in support of an application to the Health&Safety Executive for Exemption to Schedule 3 of the Gas Safety(Management)Regulations(GS(M)R)to permit the injection of hydrogen at 20 mol%.This is required to allow hydrogen to be blended into a natural-gas supply above the current British limit of 0.1 mol%.The second phase comprises the construction of the electrolyser and grid entry unit,along with the necessary piping and valves,to allow hydrogen to be mixed and injected into the Keele University gas-distribution network and to ensure all necessary training of operatives is conducted before injection.The third phase is the trial itself,which is due to start in the summer of 2019 and last around 10 months.The trial phase also provides an opportunity to undertake further experimental activities related to the operational network to support the pathway to full deployment of blended gas.The outcome of HyDeploy is principally developing the initial evidence base that hydrogen
文摘Introduction-Objective: COVID-19 is a highly transmissible but often mild viral infection. However, some patients can present severe COVID-19 and subsequently die. The aim of the present study was to assess the risk factors for COVID-19 related death during the first three waves of the disease at the Epidemic Treatment Center (ETC) of Dakar Principal Hospital (DPH). Method: We conducted a descriptive and analytical perspective survival study from April 4, 2020 to September 25, 2021, including adult patients with COVID-19, hospitalized at the ETC of DPH. Log Rank test and multivariate Cox model were performed to identify risk factors for death. Results: We included 556 COVID-19 patients with mean age of 57 ± 17 years and a male-to-female ratio of 1.26. The number of deaths during one month of follow-up was 41, representing a cumulative risk of 7.4%. The log Rank test showed that being from the third wave (p = 0.0056), advanced age (p = 0.00098), presence of at least one comorbidity (p = 0.034), High blood pressure (p = 0.024), d-dimer level ≥ 1000 IU/L (p Conclusion: Our study showed that elderly and third-wave of COVID-19 patients were more at risk to die. Knowledge of risk factors for COVID-19 related death could improve the prognosis of these patients.
文摘The present paper uses a two-step approach to estimate the pass-through effects of changes in international commodity prices and the RMB exchange rate on domestic consumer price inflation in China. We first estimate the pass-through effects of international commodity prices on producer prices and then estimate the pass-through effects of producer price inflation on consumer price inflation. We find that a l O-percent increase in international commodity prices would lead to China＇ s producer prices increasing by 1.2 percent 3 months later, which in turn would increase China＇ s domestic inflation by 0.24 percent over the same period. However, a 10-percent appreciation of the RMB exchange rate against the US dollar would help to reduce increases in producer prices by 4.4 percent over the following 3 months, which in turn would lead to a 0. 89-percent decline in consumer price inflation over the same period. Our findings suggest that appreciation of the RMB in an environment of rising global commodity prices and a weak US dollar could be an effective instrument to help contain inflation in China.
文摘Button cell ingestion is a common household accident among infants, often leading to serious complications that require immediate diagnosis and urgent removal. We report five cases of button cell ingestion involving infants aged between 9 and 32 months, including four boys and one girl. The ingestion was accidentally discovered in two infants, while in the other three, it was suspected during play. In three cases, mothers attempted to induce vomiting by giving fluids, but the batteries remained in the digestive tract for 38 hours to 5 days. After confirming the diagnosis, the batteries were removed within 4 to 36 hours. The locations of the cells were the esophagus in two cases, the cardia in one, the stomach in one, and the bowel in one. One case involved a large cell in the esophagus, while the others involved smaller cells. Complications occurred in four cases, including esotracheal fistula, esophageal ulceration, and perforation of the jejunum and caecum. In one case, the digestive mucosa appeared normal upon endoscopy. One patient died.
文摘Background: Sickle cell disease is one of the most common monogenic diseases in the world, affecting approximately 70 million people, 80% in sub-Saharan Africa and 1 in 10 in Senegal. Sickle cell anemia causes functional asplenia (associated with repeated thrombosis of splenic vessels), resulting in increased susceptibility to infection. However, several studies have reported differences in the spectrum of bacterial infections in malaria-endemic areas. Therefore, we proposed to conduct a study to determine the rate of positive blood cultures and the bacteriological spectrum in sickle cell patients. Materials and Method: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study of blood culture samples from patients who received a request for hemoglobin electrophoresis as part of their treatment at the Principal’s hospital in Dakar. The study took place from January 2008 to December 2021. For each patient, we collect demographic information, including age, gender, and the service from which the analysis request originated. Data were collected in the laboratory’s computer system and entered into Microsoft Excel (2007). Statistical analyzes were performed using Epi-Info 7 software. Results: Our study included 1419 patients. The most common types of hemoglobin profiles were: normal profile (n = 1025), AS profile (n = 283), SS profile (n = 104), SC profile (n = 7). This corresponds to the proportions of 72%, 20%, 0.5% and 7.5% for the profiles Normal, AS, SC and SS. The male proportion was 61.1%, 61.5%, 57.1, respectively %, 55.8% for Normal, SA, SC, and SS profiles. A total of 19,090 individual blood culture bottles were collected from 1419 impatient patients as follows: Normal profile (n = 18,042 bottles), AS profile (n = 677 culture bottles), SS profile (n = 362 bottles). The majority of blood culture orders come from pediatric services, accounting for 70% of the total number of orders. Of 19,090 vials examined in this current study, 19.6% developed a positive blood culture. Overall, the most commonly isolated bacteria were
基金Supported by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, NC-T00396357
文摘AIM:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the addition of vildagliptin to low-dose metformin and compare it to an uptitration of metformin in type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM) patients who have inadequate control with metformin monotherapy.METHODS:Eligible patients were randomized to receive vildagliptin 100 mg qd or metformin(500 mg qd for 2 wk and then 500 mg bid) added to open label me tformin 500 mg bid for the 24 wk.The primary endpoi nt was baseline to endpoint hemoglobin A1c(HbA1c) change.RESULTS:The adjusted mean change from baseline in HbA1c at the 24th wk was-0.51% in the vildagliptin/metformin group(mean baseline HbA1c:7.4%) and-0.37% in the metformin monothera py group(mean baseline HbA1c:7.3%).The mean diffe rence was-0.14% with 95% Confidence Interval(-0.24%,-0.05%).As non-inf e riority(margin of 0.4%) was achieved,a test for superiority was performed.This test showed statistically significant superiority of the combination over monotherapy group(P = 0.002).Gastrointestinal(GI) adverse events were signif icantly more frequent in the metformin group than the combin ation group(21.0% vs 15.4%,P = 0.032).CONCLUSION:In patients with T2DM inadequately controlled with metformin up to 1000 mg daily,the addition of vildagliptin 100 mg daily achieved larger HbA1c reduction with fewer GI events than with increa sing the metformin dose.
文摘Introduction: Rabies is a serious disease, as it is always fatal, but it can be prevented by sero-vaccination. It is a neglected tropical disease endemic in Asia and Africa. The aim of this study was to assess knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding rabies and to determine the factors associated with them among people aged 18 and over in the commune of Niakhène. Methods: This was a cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical survey of subjects aged 18 and over living in the commune of Niakhène. A sample of 300 individuals was drawn from a two-stage cluster survey stratified by age and sex. Bivariate analysis was performed using association tests. Results: The mean age of respondents was 35.3 ± 16.9 years. It was noted that 67% (201) of respondents had a good knowledge of rabies. The results showed that 7.3% (22) of respondents owned a dog. Of the 278 people who did not own a dog, 78.4% (218) said they would have vaccinated their dog if they had had one. It should be noted that 83.7% (251) of respondents said they would go to a health facility if an animal bit them. None of the dog owners had vaccinated their dogs against rabies. Of the 41 people exposed to rabies, 39% went to a health facility. The age and education of the respondents had statistically significant associations with knowledge of rabies. Respondents’ age and education were statistically significantly related to whether they had vaccinated a domestic dog. The age, education and economic well-being quintile of respondents’ households had statistically significant associations with the use of a health facility in the event of being bitten or scratched by an animal vector. The education of respondents who had been bitten by an animal vector was statistically significantly associated with the use of a health facility. Conclusion: It would be imperative for human and animal health authorities to collaborate in a “One Health” approach in order to increase knowledge and promote the adoption of good practices in rabies prevention.
文摘Background: Heart failure is a chronic and severe condition that often results from various heart diseases. Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is currently a crucial component in managing this condition. The aim was to assess the effects of cardiac rehabilitation on physical capacity of heart failure patients. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted from February 1, 2021, to June 30, 2023. We included all patients with heart failure who underwent cardiac rehabilitation. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software version 24.0, with a significance level set at p Results: The study included 87 heart failure patients, with a male-to-female ratio of 1.8. Mean age was 57.10 years (±11.75). Coronary artery disease was the primary cause of heart failure, accounting for 75.9% of cases. Atrial fibrillation was present in 4.7% of cases. Following cardiac rehabilitation, Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction increased from 40.15% to 49.48% (p = 0.001). Resting heart rate decreased significantly from 81.4 bpm to 68.3 bpm (p = 0.000), and the number of METS increased from 4.3 to 6.57 (+56.8%;p = 0.000). The mean distance covered in the 6-minute walk test significantly increased from 337.8 meters to 522.7 meters (p = 0.000), reflecting a gain of 183.5 meters. Moreover, the increase in the number of METS was more pronounced in females (p = 0.001), non-obese individuals (p = 0.000), non-diabetics (p = 0.001), non-sedentary individuals (p = 0.000), and non-smokers (p = 0.000). The study reported a low readmissions rate of 2.2% and a mortality rate of 1.1%. Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that cardiac rehabilitation is beneficial for black African heart failure patients, resulting in significant improvements in symptoms, physical and capacity.
文摘Introduction The main objective of any healthcare establishment must be to ensure the quality of patient care and customer satisfaction. It is necessary to regularly assess patient satisfaction. The aim of this study was to assess the level of satisfaction of customers aged over 18 years attending the emergency department of the health center. Methodology This was a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study of patients aged 18 years and over, who attended the Samu Municipal emergency department between 02 and 30 May 2023. The satisfaction index was determined using the adapted 2009 SAPHORA-MCO questionnaire and the Likert satisfaction scale. Results A total of 400 patients were surveyed. The average age was 35 years, with a standard deviation of 14.7. Of those surveyed, 51% were women, 87% were educated, 50% lived in Grand Yoff and 59.5% were unemployed. Satisfaction levels linked to perception of the cost of care (72%), waiting time (64.3%), information given to patients (69.1%) and pain management (74 .5%) are fair. On the other hand, the levels of satisfaction linked to administrative procedures (82.5%), staff attitudes towards patients (84%), staff availability (86.4%), patient privacy (89.2%), general atmosphere (87.2%), staff competence (87.3%), and the effectiveness of care (89.4%) were satisfactory. The average waiting time was 38 minutes. However, 32% of patients waited less than 30 minutes and 92% less than an hour. The satisfaction index linked to administration and reception was 72.9% and 79.85%, respectively. The satisfaction index linked to the administration and technical quality of care is equal to 85.8% and 83.7%, respectively. The overall satisfaction index is equal to 80.6%;the level of satisfaction of users of the health structure is satisfactory. Conclusion Patient satisfaction is an essential part of quality care. Patient satisfaction must be based on effective communication from the healthcare team and the creation of a patient-caregiver relationship.
文摘BACKGROUND Tuberculosis is endemic in Senegal.While its extra-pulmonary localization is rare,esophageal tuberculosis,particularly the isolated form,is exceptional.We report here a case of isolated esophageal tuberculosis in an immunocompetent patient.CASE SUMMARY A 58-year-old man underwent consultation for mechanical dysphagia that had developed over 3 mo with non-quantified weight loss,anorexia,and fever.Upper digestive endoscopy showed extensive ulcerated lesions,suggesting neoplasia.The diagnosis was confirmed by histopathology,which showed gigantocellular epithelioid granuloma surrounding a caseous necrosis.Thoracoabdominal computed tomography scan did not show another localization of the tuberculosis.The outcome was favorable with treatment.CONCLUSION Esophageal tuberculosis should be considered when dysphagia is associated with atypical ulcerated lesions of the esophageal mucosa,in an endemic area.
文摘Neonatal thrombocytopenia accounts for 20% of neonates hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at DPH. The etiologies are multiple, but bacterial infection is the third leading cause of neonatal mortality worldwide. We therefore set out to assess the frequency of neonatal thrombocytopenia associated or not with bacterial infection in the NICU. We conducted a retrospective and prospective study with the DPH NICU, over 10 months (August 2018 and April 2019). Thrombocytopenia encountered in the NICUs, were the subject of research into bacteriological, inflammatory, and epidemiological parameters using Inlog laboratory data processing software. During this period, 1280 babies were hospitalized, 94 of whom underwent thrombocytopenia, corresponding to 7.34%, with a sex ratio of 0.92. The number of babies presenting with thrombocytopenia during the first week of hospitalization was 72, accounting for 76.6%. The clinical context was usually low birth weight in 30.8% of cases and perinatal asphyxia (25%). Thrombocytopenia ranged from 2000 to 137,000 with an average of 69,520/mm3. Among these thrombocytopenias, 64 cases (68%) were below 100,000 mm3 and 44 cases had a CRP >5 mg/l. A total of 30 bacteria were isolated, including 23 Enterobacteria, 2 Streptococci, and 1 Acinetobacter. Among these enterobacteria, 14 were multidrug-resistant (MDR). Thrombocytopenia associated with a multidrug-resistant bacterial infection is a real challenging management.
文摘Bland-White-Garland syndrome or ALCAPA is an abnormality of birth of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery. It is a diagnostic and therapeutic emergency because it is a curable cause of hypokinetic dilated heart disease in infants. We report through this clinical case, the fourth case of infantile ALCAPA diagnosed in Senegal in a 7-month-old infant. The symptomatology began around the age of 2 months, with a grumpy state associated with more marked crying and moaning during feedings and bowel movements. The mother reported hospitalization for a severe lung infection when she was 6 months old. The examination noted an infant in poor general condition, retarded growth and weight, and a 3/6th holosystolic murmur at the apex. Troponinemia was positive at 43.90 ng/L. The electrocardiogram showed Q waves on the lower side, a sub endocardial lesion on the upper side and a ST segment elevation in aVR. Doppler echocardiography showed dilated cardiomyopathy with a mean alteration of systolic function of the left ventricle at 37%, a mean mitral insufficiency and a strong suspicion of a birth anomaly of the left coronary artery. The CT scan confirmed the diagnosis of ALCAPA. Surgicalreimplantation of the left coronary artery at the aortic level was performed at 10 months of life with a favourable outcome at D50 postoperative.
文摘Multiple myeloma (MM) is both a complex and heterogeneous disease. Cytogenetic and molecular abnormalities lead to resistance to treatment and transformation to plasma cell leukemia, which is defined by the presence in circulating blood of plasma cells over 2 G/L, or more than 20% of leukocytes. It is an uncommon hematological malignancy with a poor prognosis. Against this backdrop, we report an observation of multiple myeloma transformed into plasma cell leukemia diagnosed at the Hôpital Principal de Dakar (HPD) that occurred on a 64-year-old man with a history of thyroidectomy followed for multiple myeloma presenting with Salmon et Durie stage IIIA and ISS stage I. Despite a marked improvement in management strategy, myeloma remains an almost invariably incurable disease. However, the development of genetic and molecular biomarkers is necessary to improve its prognosis.
文摘Macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) is linked to inappropriate stimulation of macrophage cells in the bone marrow and lymphoid system, resulting in abnormal phagocytosis of figurative blood elements and the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines. It is a rare and serious hyper-inflammatory condition of diagnostic and therapeutic emergency. MAS is characterized by non-specific clinical and laboratory signs associated with images of hemophagocytosis. MAS is either “primary” (familial or pediatric forms), or “secondary/reactive” to infection, neoplasia, or autoimmune disease. Hemopathies dominate MAS secondary to neoplasia. B-type acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a hematological malignancy characterized by the proliferation and accumulation of B lymphoid progenitors, blocked at an early stage of differentiation, leading to suppression of polyclonal hematopoiesis and subsequent development of signs associated with bone marrow failure. In this context, we report the observation of a macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) associated with ALL, diagnosed at Hôpital Principal de Dakar/Senegal, in a 69-year-old patient with a well-controlled type 2 diabetes under oral antidiabetic therapy (OAD) and good general condition.
文摘Background: Uterine fibroids are a common condition in Senegal and often symptomatic. Our study aims to determine the epidemiological profile, to clarify the diagnostic aspects and to evaluate the surgical management of patients with uterine fibroids. Patients and Method: We carried out a retrospective and descriptive study carried out over a period of 30 months, from August 1, 2017 to January 31, 2020, concerning all patients who underwent surgery for the treatment of uterine myomatosis in the department of Gynecology Obstetrics of the Hospital Principal of Dakar. The data was collected from the patients’ medical records and analyzed using Excel version 2016 and R version 4 software. Results: We collected 175 surgical interventions for uterine fibroids, representing 44.7% of gynecological interventions. Most of the patients were between 30 and 39 years old, with an average age of 39 years. The nulliparous were the majority with 64.6%. The clinical symptomatology was represented by genital bleeding (32.6%), pelvic pain (18.85%) and infertility (12.6%). The diagnosis was confirmed by pelvic ultrasound in all patients with variable myoma topography. A myomectomy was performed in 82.3% of cases and a total hysterectomy in 17.7%. The postoperative course was simple in 94.2% of cases, and the results of treatment revealed a disappearance of symptoms in 94.3% of cases. Conclusion: Surgery occupies a prominent place in the management of uterine fibroids.
文摘Objective: To describe the epidemiological, clinical and prognostic factors and assess treatment of placental abruption in the obstetrics gynecology department of the Dakar Principal Hospital. Patients and Method: We carried out a retrospective observational study of 130 successive cases of placental abruption, which occurred from January 2015 to December 2017 at the Level 3 Maternity Unit of the Dakar Principal Hospital. Data were collected from non-computerized obstetric records and analyzed using Excel and Epi info software. Results: There were 130 cases of placental abruption, that is a prevalence of 1.5%. The average age of onset of placental abruption was 30 years. The history of hypertension concerned 32.3% of patients, the average gestational age of 32.5 weeks at the time of diagnosis, grade 3 of Sher was found in 48.5% of cases. The outcome of the pregnancy was a caesarean section in 79.2% of cases, the average weight of newborns was 2058 g. The management of the complications required a blood transfusion and intensive care. A haemostasis hysterectomy was performed in 6.2% of cases. Stillbirth rate was 53.7% and maternal mortality was zero. Discussion and Conclusion: Placental abruption, a severe complication of pregnancy, is associated with high perinatal morbidity and mortality linked to the severity of the clinical picture, despite an improved maternal prognosis.
文摘Background: Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is one of the largest public health problems with nearly 350 million chronic carriers and 500,000 deaths each year. These deaths are most often associated with disease progression to cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma, which some studies have shown is associated with long-term viral replication in chronic carriers. Viral load quantification, a key element of disease management, is expensive and difficult to access. Viral load plays a crucial role in patient classification and treatment initiation. Four years after the implementation of viral load platform, the objective of this study was to assess viral load profile in HBs chronic carriers in a sub-Saharan Hospital and to determine the potential impact of this distribution on preventive and therapeutic strategies against hepatitis B infection. Materials and Method: The study was carried out between April 2016 and October 2020 in the laboratory of the PRINCIPAL Hospital in Dakar. All patients referred for HBV DNA viral load testing following a positive AgHBs test were included. Incomplete medical records were excluded from the study. Only the first quantification test performed on each patient is recorded. DNA extraction was performed with COBAS AmpliPrep (Roche Molecular Systems, Inc., Branchburg, NJ, USA). Amplification was performed using COBAS TaqMan48 (Roche Molecular Systems, Inc., Branchburg, NJ, USA). Data were collected from the laboratory’s computer system and entered into Microsoft Excel (2007). Statistical analyzes were performed using Epi-Info 7 software. Results: A total of 3002 patients, 76.1% (2285/3002) men and 33.9% (717/3002) women, were included in the study. Young adults were most represented among the subjects (23.2%) and (20.1%) in the age groups 25 - 30 and 30 - 35. The majority (52.7%) of patients had viral loads between 20 and 2000 IU. Patients with undetectable viral loads and patients with viral loads below 20 IU comprised 14.6% and 7.53% of the study population, respectively. P
文摘Background: Over the past two decades, blood transfusion safety has made significant advances in the fight against infectious diseases. However, hepatitis B is still a problem in blood banks due to its high endemicity in Senegal. In this context, we proposed to first determine the prevalence of HBs antigen (HBsAg) in regular and new blood donors. Second, to determine the influence of the number of blood donations on the prevalence of hepatitis B. Materials and Method: We conducted a retrospective transversal study using data from all blood donations received at the Principal Hospital of Dakar Blood bank from July 2007 to December 31, 2021. Hepatitis B testing was carried out with Automaton E411 (Roche Diagnostics). For all donors, information on age, sex, hepatitis B serology, and the number of donations was collected through the lab’s computer system. Data entry and statistical analysis were performed with Epi-info version 7. Results: HBsAg carriers were identified in 4311 primary donors, corresponding to a prevalence of 12.39% (IC 95% = 12.04 - 12.74). The prevalence of the HBsAg antigen was higher in men (12.9%) than in women (6.85%). Men are twice as likely to be infected with HBV as women (OR = 2.00 (IC 95% = 1.85 - 2.17)). The highest prevalence (12.4%) was found in young adults (23 - 29) years old. After 10 donations, the prevalence of the HBs antigen was stable at around 1%. Individuals with a single blood donation and individuals with 2 to 5 blood donations are 9 and 7 times more likely to carry the HBs antigen than regular donors (more than 10 blood donations), respectively. Conclusion: Our results demonstrate the endemic nature of hepatitis B in Senegal. On the other hand, the non-negligible prevalence of the virus in first-time donors reminds us of the need for continuous improvement in donor selection. These first-time donors, particularly young adults, are important indicators of transmission of the virus to the general population. This study also demonstrates the need to develop strategies to mai
文摘Medium strength aluminium alloy （Al-Mg-Si alloy） has gathered wide acceptance in the fabrication of light weight structures requiring a high strength-to weight ratio, such as transportable bridge girders, military vehicles, road tankers and railway transport systems. The preferred welding process for aluminium alloy is frequently TIG （tungsten inert gas） welding due to its comparatively easier applicability and better economy.In the case of single pass TIG welding of thinner section of this alloy, the pulsed current has been found beneficial due to its advantages over the conventional continuous current process. The use of pulsed current parameters has been found to improve the mechanical properties of the welds compared to those of continuous current welds of this alloy due to grain refinement occurring in the fusion zone. A mathematical model has been developed to predict pitting corrosion potential of pulsed current TIG welded AA6061 aluminium alloy.Factorial experimental design has been used to optimize the experimental conditions. Analysis of variance technique has been used to find out the significant pulsed current parameters. Regression analysis has been used to develop the model. Using the developed model pitting corrosion potential values have been estimated for different combinations of pulsed current parameters and the results are analyzed in detail.
