Infection with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is common in developing countries such as Benin. This germ can cause several gastroduodenal diseases such as gastritis, ulcer, adenocarcinoma or gastric MALT lymphoma. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of H. pylori infection and gastric pre-neoplastic histological lesions in patients admitted for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (UGE) and to identify factors associated with this infection.Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive and analytical study, with prospective data collection, conducted from October 2014 to December 2015. We included all patients admitted to Menontin Hospital for UGE in whom a gastric biopsy has been done. H. pylori research was conducted in anatomy-pathology, either in a medical laboratory in Cotonou or at the CERBA laboratory in Paris, France, depending on the patient's choice. The microscopic study was carried out after staining with Haematoxyline-Eosine-Safran (HES) and the search for H. pylori using Giemsa staining.Results: H. pylori was investigated in 137 patients, 67 men (48.9%) and 70 women (51.1%). The mean age was 48.3±14.6years with extremes of 10 and 83years. Some patients had had at least one previous H. pylori eradication treatment (63 cases or 46%). For the general population, the test was positive in 98 cases, i.e. a prevalence of 71.5%. Depending on whether or not patients had been pre-treated for H. pylori, the test was positive in 40 out of 63 (63.5%) pre-treated patients, versus 58 out of 74 (78.4%) patients who were naïve to any eradication treatment (p=0.057). The pre-neoplastic lesions noted were gastric atrophy in 35 patients (including 25 H. pylori positive), intestinal metaplasia in 13 patients (including 10 H. pylori positive) and low grade dysplasia in 14 patients (including 12 H. pylori positive); high grade dysplasia was found in one patient who was H. pylori negative. Only the type of prior eradicant treatment appeared to be associated with H. pylori infection (p=0.182). Conclusion:H. pylori infection is common in our patients admitted for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Gastric atrophy was the most common pre-neoplastic lesion.

No abstract

Background: Constipation is considered rare in sub-Saharan Africa because of the high fiber content of the local diet. However, certain factors could intervene in this pathology. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of constipation in the general population in Cotonou and to determine the associated socio-demographic factors. Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive and analytical study conducted from July to August 2017 in 7 districts of the township of Cotonou, according to a cluster sampling. We included anyone over the age of 15 living in the city of Cotonou for at least 6 months. Constipation was either self-reported or functional (meeting the Rome IV criteria). Results: A total of 1058 participants were included: 574 men (sex ratio of 1.2), mean age of 29 years [range 15-92]. Self-reported constipation was noted in 512 patients (48.5%). It was functional in 256 cases (24.2%). In the latter category, there was a predominance of women (138, 53.9%), of secondary education (46.5%), of self-employed professionals (50.4%), from the Ouémé-Plateau (41.8%). Were associated with the occurrence of functional constipation (univariate analysis), age ≥ 60 years (p = 0.049), female gender (p = 0.003), and subjects living alone (166, 64.8%) vs. those living in a relationship (90, 35.2%, p = 0.001). Conclusion: Constipation was not as rare in Cotonou. It was more common in women, subjects over 60 years old or living alone.

No abstract

Introduction: Viral hepatitis B (VHB) is a serious and global public health issue, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa where it is endemic. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) in the treatment of chronic VHB in Cotonou. Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study with a retrospective collection of data from January 1st, 2015 to December 31st, 2016 (24 months) and prospective from May to August 2017 (4 months). Chronic VHB patients treated with TDF for at least 6 months were included. The non-detectability of HBV DNA and the normalization of aminotransferases defined the virological and biochemical responses, respectively. The evaluation of the treatment response on liver fibrosis was done by using APRI score. Renal impairment was assessed by a reduction in glomerular filtration rate according to MDRD (Modifications of the Diet in Renal Disease) formula below 90 mL/min/1.73 m 2. Results: In all, 42 patients treated with TDF were included. The average age was 46.7 ± 13.8 years. The study population was predominantly male with a sex ratio of 2.5. Among the 42 patients treated with TDF for an average of 60 weeks (24 to 96 weeks), 36 patients (85.7%) had a virological response; 21 patients (50%) had a biochemical response. Virologic response was 70% at week 24 (W24), 92.6% at W48, 87.5% at W72 and 100% at W96 without significant difference between W24 and W48; between W48 and W72 then between W72 and W96. There was a regression of fibrosis and cirrhosis but not significantly. Renal involvement occurred in 3 out of 19 cases (15.