[Research in tropical medicine].

In France, research in tropical medicine is carried out by the Institute for Research and Development (IRD), university-affiliated institutes, and other research organizations such as INSERM, CNRS and the Pasteur Institute. Currently, this research is highly fragmented and therefore inefficient. As a result, despite significant financial means, French research in this field is not sufficiently competitive.

Acceleration of tendon healing using US guided intratendinous injection of bevacizumab: first pre-clinical study on a murine model.

Purpose: Tendinopathy shows early disorganized collagen fibers with neo-angiogenesis on histology. Peri-tendinous injection of corticosteroid is the commonly accepted strategy despite the abscence of inflammation in tendinosis. The aim of our study was to assess the potential of intratendinous injection of an anti-angiogenic drug (bevacizumab, AA) to treat tendinopathy in a murine model of patellar and Achilles tendinopathy, and to evaluate its local toxicity.

Newly-diagnosed epileptic seizures in three populations: Geneva (EPIGEN), Martinique (EPIMART), and the Reunion Island (EPIREUN).

Aim: The objective was to analyse and discuss data from three studies of newly-diagnosed epileptic seizures (provoked and unprovoked) conducted in Geneva, Martinique, and the Reunion Island, in which the same methodology was used.

Methods: We extracted data from three studies in which the incidence of seizures was estimated and aetiologies identified. Data was extracted and analysed using STATA.

Preventing and managing indoor falls with home-based technologies in mild and moderate Alzheimer's disease patients: pilot study in a community dwelling.

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is known to increase the risk of falls. We aim to determine the effectiveness of home-based technologies coupled with teleassistance service (HBTec-TS) in older people with AD.

Methods: A study of falls and the HBTec-TS system (with a light path combined with a teleassistance service) was conducted in the community.

Neurological manifestations of filarial infections.

Filarial infections cause a huge public health burden wherever they are endemic. These filaria may locate anywhere in the human body. Their manifestations and pathogenic mechanisms, except the most common ones, are rarely investigated systematically.

Efficacy of intra-tendinous injection of platelet-rich plasma in treating tendinosis: comprehensive assessment of a rat model.

Objectives: To assess the potential of intra-tendinous injection of platelet rich plasma (PRP) to treat tendinosis (T+) in a rat model of patellar and Achilles T+, and evaluate its local toxicity.

Methods: Thirty rats (120 patellar and Achilles tendons) were used. We induced T+ into 80 tendons (patellar = 40, Achilles = 40) by injecting collagenase at day 0 under ultrasound (US) guidance.

Association between a low ankle-brachial index and dementia in a general elderly population in Central Africa (Epidemiology of Dementia in Central Africa Study).

Objectives: To investigate the association between peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and dementia in native elderly African populations.

Design: Two successive door-to-door cross-sectional surveys in the general population.

Settings: Representative districts of Bangui (Central African Republic) and Brazzaville (Republic of Congo).

Comprehensive evaluation of the psychosocial parameters of epilepsy: a representative population-based study in Prey Veng (Cambodia).

Purpose: We conducted a population-based study of epilepsy in Prey Veng (Cambodia) to explore self-esteem, fear, discrimination, knowledge-attitude-practice (KAP), social-support, stigma, coping strategies, seizure-provoking factors, and patient-derived factors associated with quality of life (QOL).

Methods: The results are based on a cohort of 96 cases and matched controls (n = 192), randomly selected from the same source population. Various questionnaires were developed and validated for internal consistency (by split-half, Spearman-Brown prophecy, Kuder-Richardson 20), content clarity and soundness.

Prophylaxis of catheter-related deep vein thrombosis in cancer patients with low-dose warfarin, low molecular weight heparin, or control: a randomized, controlled, phase III study.

Purpose: Whether an anticoagulant prophylaxis is needed for patients with cancer with a central venous catheter is a highly controversial subject. We designed a study to compare different prophylactic strategies over 3 months of treatment.

Methods: We performed a phase III prospective, open-label randomized trial.

Parasitic disorders.

Parasites infect the central nervous system of children, particularly in resource-poor areas and tropical countries. However, these infections are increasingly seen in the West with the increase in children travelling to these areas and immigrant populations. These conditions are important in the differential diagnosis of common neurological syndromes.

The epidemiology of seizure disorders in infancy and childhood: definitions and classifications.

Seizures are one of the most common neurological symptoms that occur in infancy and childhood. They represent many different disorders with many different causes. Neonatal seizures occur in ~1.

Is insufficient knowledge of epilepsy the reason for low levels of healthcare in the Lao PDR?

Background: The treatment gap for epilepsy is considerable in low and middle-income countries. In the Lao PDR it is estimated at over 90%. Health workers play a significant role in bridging the gap between people with epilepsy (PWE) and access to epilepsy care.

Epilepsy in Asia: a Cambodian experience.

Epilepsy is particularly challenging for resource-poor countries and in turn for Asia which is likely to have greater challenges in terms of treatment cost and deficit, premature mortality, health transitions, population and poverty size, etc. Here we present an example of working in one of the resource-poor 'least-talked-about' populations to demonstrate that finding financial means and achieving cross-country cooperation over a long period of time is possible even in countries with currently limited resources. Conducting such cooperation could be a model for other initiatives.

Epidemiology of epilepsy in rural Benin: prevalence, incidence, mortality, and follow-up.

Purpose: Epilepsy is a major clinical and social issue in Africa. This study was conducted to estimate the prevalence, incidence, mortality, and therapeutic outcome in rural Djidja in Benin.

Methods: This was a two-phase study with a cross-sectional phase and 18 months of follow-up.

Tumoral hypoxia in osteosarcoma in rats: preliminary study of blood oxygenation level-dependent functional MRI and 18F-misonidazole PET/CT with diffusion-weighted MRI correlation.

Objective: The prognostic implication of oxygen concentration as a factor in recurrence of solid tumors has been proved. Hypoxic osteosarcoma, imaged with (18)F-misonidazole PET/CT, is the most frequent primary malignant bone tumor. The aim of our study was to determine the role of blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) functional MRI in an osteosarcoma rodent model by comparison of oxygenation levels in BOLD functional MRI and (18)F-misonidazole PET/CT and correlating the findings with those of diffusion-weighted MRI (DWI).

Associated factors with adherence to antiepileptic drug in the capital city of Lao PDR.

Available medical care for epilepsy and antiepileptic drugs (AED) are provided in Vientiane Municipality by district hospitals supported by a non-governmental organization, which is referred to as a community-based intervention (CB), and reference hospital which is referred to as hospital-based interventions (HB). Identifying underlying factors of AED adherence is of public health interest. A community-based cross-sectional survey among randomly selected patients with epilepsy (PWE) who were being cared in Vientiane Municipality was undertaken in 2010.

Prevalence of neurocysticercosis among people with epilepsy in rural areas of Burkina Faso.

Purpose: To estimate the lifetime prevalence of neurocysticercosis (NCC)-associated epilepsy and the proportion of NCC among people with epilepsy in three Burkina Faso villages.

Methods: Three villages were selected to represent three types of pig-rearing methods: (1) Batondo, where pigs are left to roam; (2) Pabré, where pigs are mostly tethered or penned; and (3) Nyonyogo, where the majority of residents are Muslim and few pigs are raised. In Batondo and Nyonyogo, all concessions (a group of several households) were included.

Population-based study of epilepsy in Cambodia associated factors, measures of impact, stigma, quality of life, knowledge-attitude-practice, and treatment gap.

Purpose: Identify epilepsy-associated factors and calculate measures of impact, stigma, quality of life (QOL), knowledge-attitude-practice (KAP) and treatment gap in Prey Veng, Cambodia.

Methods: This first Cambodian population-based case-control study had 96 epileptologist-confirmed epilepsy cases and 192 randomly selected matched healthy controls. Standard questionnaires, which have been used in similar settings, were used for collecting data on various parameters.

Results of an action-research on epilepsy in rural Mali.

Purpose: To evaluate the RARE (Réseau Action-Recherche sur l'Epilepsie) program, a model of managing and treating people with epilepsy (PWE) at a primary health-care level in rural areas of Mali, we assessed treatment efficacy and compliance of patients who underwent the first year follow-up.

Methods: A network of rural general practitioners (GPs) settled in six rural districts of the regions of Koulikoro, Segou and Sikasso, was involved in the diagnosis, evaluation and monitoring of all the identified PWE and in the distribution of phenobarbital (PB). All the participants were included in a prospective database and followed-up by GPs at 4 months intervals during the first year.

Epilepsy-associated stigma in Bolivia: a community-based study among the Guarani population: an International League Against Epilepsy/International Bureau for Epilepsy/World Health Organization Global Campaign Against Epilepsy Regional Project.

Epilepsy is associated with a significant burden of social stigma that appears to be influenced by psychosocial and cultural factors. Stigma has a negative effect on the management of people with epilepsy (PWE), representing one of the major factors that contribute to the burden of epilepsy. To assess stigma perception among the Guarani population, one hundred thirty-two people living in Guaraní communities in Bolivia were invited to complete the Stigma Scale of Epilepsy questionnaire.