Aims: To determine the prevalence and risk factors of heartburn in Abidjan, a black African city. Patients and Methods: cross-sectional study from June 15 to September 30, 2003. One thousand nine hundred forty (1940) persons from five health zones of the city Abidjan were included after their informed consent. Socio demographic and clinical parameters were collected using a questionnaire in an interview format. Heartburn was defined as a discomfort or burning sensation extending from the sternal manubrium to the base of the neck. Factors related to the complaint were asked such as predisposing factors, habits (tobacco, alcohol and coffee intake) and body mass index. Stepwise multiple logistic regression analyses were used to examine associations between these factors and heartburn. Results: Among 1940 respondents (mean age 28 ± 9 years; sex ratio (M:F) 0.86), heartburn occurred in 433 persons (once a week in 9.2% of case (178 persons)). Five factors were statistically associated with heartburn: male sex (p = 0.025, OR = 0.555 [CI95% 0.331-0.930]), heartburn in a family member (p = 0.010, OR = 1.765 [95%CI 1.143-2.725]), constipation (p = 0.011, OR = 2.182 [95%CI 11,953,983]), right lateral decubitus (p = 0.001, OR = 6.247 [95%CI 2.079-18.775]) and after a meal (p = 0.000, OR = 2.643 [95%CI 1.594 4.383]). Conclusion: Heartburn is common in this black African population. Male sex appears to be less associated. Constipation, right lateral decubitus and after a meal are trigger factors for heartburn. Heartburn in a family member is a risk factor.

Introduction: Very little information is available in Guinea on chronic hepatitis B infections. The objective of this study was to describe the epidemiological, clinical and biological features of patients who are chronic carriers of the hepatitis B virus. Patients and Methods: This is a retrospective study carried out from January 2017 to May 2020, based on the medical records of patients seen via consultation or hospitalized with a record of positive HBs antigen for more than 6 months. Clinical and paraclinical data were collected and analyzed. Results: Seven hundred and sixteen patients with a mean age of 35.6 ± 12.2 (sex ratio 2.05), were included. The HBs antigen was discovered incidentally in 36% of cases (n = 258). A history of dental care and surgical procedures was found in 46.3% (n = 290) and 21.1% (n = 138) of cases, respectively. The median value of ALAT enzymes was 34 (21 -47) IU/L. HBeAg was positive in 20.8% (n = 55/265) of cases. The median B viral load was 458.5 (87 -3827) IU/ml and 29% (n = 94) of patients had a viral load over 2000 IU/ml. Anti-HCV antibody was present in 10.4 % of cases (n = 39/374). HIV serology was positive in 2.7% (n = 8/298). A total of 19.4% (n = 139) of the patients had cirrhosis and 4.5% (n = 32) had hepatocellular carcinoma. Conclusion: The discovery of chronic HBs antigen was mostly fortuitous in young sexually active men, some of whom were already at the stage of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The best prevention strategy against this infection remains early detection and vaccination.

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Background: A healthy diet is essential for optimal diabetes management. However, dietary habits vary from one region to another, making it challenging to standardize practices. Objective: To describe the diet habits of patients living with diabetes in Guinea. Methods: We conducted a dietary habits survey among 102 patients living with diabetes followed-up at the University Hospital of Conakry in Guinea between January and March 2012. Data were collected by individual interview on the basis of a three-item questionnaire: diabetes data, diet mode, and food composition. Results: In total, 85% of patients were consuming 3 meals daily; 13.7% had a collation and 25% had snacking habits. The meal was individual in 82.4% and collective in 17.6% of patients. The main foods consumed daily were: rice (93.1%), fish (93.1%), palm oil (91.1%), bread (87.2%). Foods consumed regularly (2 to 3 times a week) were: meat (49%), eggs (23.5%), dairy products (34.3%), fruit (43.1%), vegetables (40.2%) and peanut oil (21.5%). The food bans reported were: regular sugar (100%), sodas (62.7%), peanuts (84.3%) and sweetened fruits (55.8%). Conclusion: Combining dietary recommendations and dietary habits is essential for appropriate management of diabetic patients. The assessment of local food glycemic indexes and the training of dietitians remains a challenge in our context.

Background: In the Ivory Coast, chronic infection by hepatitis B and C virus is the leading cause of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The absence of universal health coverage makes the treatment inaccessible to all. Objectives: To assess the efficacy of Pegylated Interferon in clinical practice in patients with chronic viral hepatitis B and C and determine the hematologic side effects. Patients and Methods: A descriptive retrospective study from January 2012 to November 2013 on a cohort of patients chronic carriers of hepatitis B virus (n = 11) treated with Pegylated Interferon to 180 mcg per week and hepatitis C virus (n = 30) treated with a combination therapy associating pegylated Interferon to 180 mcg per week and Ribavirin assayed according to the genotype. Results: Out of 1860 patients seen in hepatogastroenterology consultation 422 had viral hepatitis B or C that is a prevalence of 22.7% and 41 patients were treated (9.7%) by Pegylated Interferon. Among these 41 patients mentioned earlier, 30 had HCV (73.17%) with a case of HIV + HVC co-infection, 11 patients had HBV (26.83%) including 3 cases of HBV + HDV co-infection. Patients' age ranged from 24-69 years with an average of 49.2 ± 12.2 years including 46.5 years for HBV and 51.9 years for HCV. The sex ratio was 1.56. The original transaminases were on average 93.37 IU/l for AST and 110.47 for ALT. The average RNA HCV was 1,685,331 IU/ml and the DNA HBV 33,312,767 IU/ml. Patients with HCV were of genotype 1 in 56.66%, genotype 2 in 40% and one case of genotype 4 (3.34%) from Central Africa. Fibrosis score at institution of treatment was significant (≥A2 and/or ≥F2) in 86.9% of cases of Fibrotest®, 100% of cases of Fibrometer®. We observed 48.8% of neutropenia < 750/mm 3 , 33.3% of anemia and 29.3% of thrombocytopenia < 100,000/mm 3. There was no dose reduction of Pegylated Interferon and Ribavirin. For HBV there were 3 partial responses, 3 responders including 1 HBV + HDV co-infected non responder to HDV, 2 non responders including 1 HBV + HDV co-infected to Week 48. For HCV, there was 52.94% of cases of sustained viral response (SVR) including 44.44% of genotype 1, 83.33% of genotype 2 and 100% of genotype 4. Conclusion: The free antiviral treatment program helped treat 10% of chronic viral hepatitis B and C. Our results are not different from those of the literature. Difficulties remain in the performance of non supported diagnostic tests.