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This study examines the acquisition of French passives by L1 Burkinabè native language learners. It investigates the negative L1 transfer from languages that do not overtly mark passive constructions. The analysis also includes other factors that are strongly associated with successful acquisition of French passives. The results confi rm that L1 Burkinabè native language users have diffi culty in acquiring L2 French passive constructions. Furthermore, the data obtained from a survey and a language test showed that learners' living environment was the most infl uential factor in successful acquisition of passive constructions, with onset age of study and number of years studying being much less infl uential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Worldwide, over two million children are infected by human immunodeficiency virus type l (HIV-1). (1) Ninety per cent of them live in Africa, and only 38% of those who [...], Objective To assess 12-month survival, pharmacokinetics, immunologic and virologic efficacy, tolerance, compliance and drug resistance in HIV-infected children in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, receiving once-daily highly-active antiretroviral therapy as a combination of didanosine (DDI), lamivudine (3TC) and efavirenz (EFV). Methods In the ANRS 12103 open phase II trial, HIV-infected children were examined at inclusion and monthly thereafter. CD4+ T-lymphocyte (CD4) count, plasma concentration of ribonucleic acid (RNA) of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIM-1) and haematologic and biochemical parameters were measured at baseline and every trimester. HIV-1 resistance testing was performed in case of viral escape. Drug plasma concentrations were determined with high-performance liquid chromatography. Findings From February 2006 to November 2007, 51 children (39% girls) with a mean age of 6.8 years were enrolled and treated for 12 months. At baseline, Z scores for mean weight-for-age and mean height-for-age were -2.01 and -2.12, respectively. Mean CD4% was 9.0. Median plasma HIV-1 RNA viral load was 5.51 [log.sub.10] copies per millilitre (cp/ml). Two children (3.9%) died and another 11 (22%) suffered 13 severe clinical events. At month 12, mean WAZ had improved by 0.63 (P< 0.001) and mean HAZ by 0.57 (P< 0.001). Mean CD4% had risen to 24 (P< 0.001). Viral load was below 300 RNA cp/ml in 81% of the children; HIV resistance mutations were detected in 11 (21.6%). Conclusion The once-a-day combination of DDI + 3TC + EFV is an alternative first-line treatment for HIV-1-infected children. Dose adjustment should further improve efficacy. Objectif Evaluer sur 12 mois la survie, la pharmacocinetique, l'efficacite immunologique et virologique, la tolerance, l'observance et la resistance au medicament chez des enfants infectes par le VlH a Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, et qui recoivent une fois par jour une therapie antiretrovirale hautement active par une association de didanosine (DDI), de lamivudine (3TC) et d'efavirenz (EFV). Methodes Dans l'essai ouvert ANRS 12103 phase II, des enfants infectes par le VlH ont ete examines au moment de l'inclusion et ensuite chaque mois. Le taux de lymphocytes T CD4 (CD4), la concentration plasmatique d'acide ribonucleique (ARN) du virus de l'immunodeficience humaine type 1 (VlH-1), ainsi que des parametres hematologiques et biochimiques ont ete mesures au debut de l'etude et chaque trimesb'e. Le test de resistance au VIH-1 a ete effectue dans les cas d'evasion virale. Les concentrations plasmatiques de medicament ont ete determinees par chromatographie liquide a haute performance. Resultats De fevrier 2006 a novembre 2007, 51 enfants (39% de filles), avec une moyenne d'age de 6,8 ans, ont ete selectionnes et traites pendant 12 mois. Au debut de l'etude, les ecarts reduits pour le poids moyen par age et la taille moyenne par age etaient respectivement de -2,01 et -2,12. Le CD4 moyen etait 9,0%. La charge virale plasmatique mediane de I'ANR VIH-1 etait de 5,51 legue copies par millilitre (cp/ ml). Deux enfants (3,9%) sont decedes et 11 autres (22%) ont souffert 13 evenements cliniques severes. Au 12e mois, le WAZ moyen s'etait ameliore de 0,63 (P Conclusion L'association DDI + 3TC + EFV en une prise quotidienne est un traitement alternatif de premiere intention pour les enfants infectes au VIH-1. L'adaptation de la dose devrait encore ameliorer l'efficacite. Objetivo Evaluar a 12 meses la supervivencia, la farmacocinetica, la eficacia inmunologica y virologica, la tolerancia, el cumplimiento terapeutico y la resistencia a los medicamentos en ninos infectados con el VIH en Bobo-Dioulasso (Burkina Faso), que reciben una vez al dia un tratamiento antirretrovirico muy activo, constituido por la asociacion de didanosina (DDI), lamivudina (3TC) y efavirenz (EFV). Metodos En el ensayo clinico ANRS 12103, abierto y de fase II, se examino a los ninos infectados con el VIH en el momento de la inclusion y, a continuacion, mensualmente. Se midieron el recuento de linfocitos T [CD4.sup.+] (CD4), la concentracion plasmatica de acido ribonucleico (ARN) del virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana de tipo 1 (VlH-1) y los parametros hematologicos y bioquimicos, al inicio y cada trimestre. Las pruebas de resistencia al VIH-1 se realizaron en el caso de escape virico. Las concentraciones plasmaticas del farmaco se determinaron con cromatografia en fase liquida de alta resolucion. Resultados Desde febrero del 2006 a noviembre del 2007, 51 ninos (39% ninas) con una edad media de 6,8 anos fueron registrados y tratados durante 12 meses. Al inicio del estudio, las puntuaciones Z del peso medio por edad y la altura media por edad fueron -2,01 y -2,12 respectivamente. El % medio de CD4 fue 9,0. La carga virica media de RNA del HIV-1 en plasma fue de 5,51 [log.sub.10] copias por mililitro (cp/ml). Dos ninos (3,9%) murieron y otros 11 (22%) sufrieron 13 acontecimientos clinicos graves. En el mes 12, el WAZ medio (peso por edad segun la puntuacion Z) habia mejorado en un 0,63 (p < 0,001) y el HAZ medio (altura por edad segun la puntuacion Z) en 0,57 (p < 0,001). El % medio de CD4 habia subido a 24 (p < 0,001). La carga virica estaba por debajo de 300 ARN cp/ml en el 81% de los ninos; se detectaron mutaciones de resistencia al VlH en 11 (21,6%). Conclusion La asociacion de DDI + 3TC + EFV una vez al dia es un tratamiento alternativo de primera linea para los ninos infectados con el VIH-1. Un ajuste de la dosis deberia mejorar todavia mas la eficacia.

Background. Public health and clinical strategies for meningitis epidemics in sub-Saharan Africa usually assume that Neisseria meningitidis infection causes most disease. Methods. During 24 months from 2002 to 2005, we collected clinical and laboratory information for suspected acute bacterial meningitis cases from 3 districts in Burkina Faso. Streptococcus pneumoniae was identified by culture, polymerase chain reaction, or antigen detection in cerebrospinal fluid. Pneumococcal genotyping was performed on strains using multilocus variable-number tandem repeat typing and multilocus sequence typing. Results. Samples of cerebrospinal fluid were collected from 1686 persons; 249 (15%) had S. pneumoniae identified (annual incidence, 14 cases per 100,000 persons). Of these patients, 115 (46%) died, making S. pneumoniae the most commonly identified organism and responsible for two-thirds of deaths due to bacterial meningitis. During the meningitis epidemic season, an average of 38 cases of S. pneumoniae infection were identified each month, compared with an average of 8.7 cases during other months. Of 48 pneumococci that were tested, 21 (44%) were identified as serotype 1, and the remaining 27 (56%) were identified as 15 different serogroups and/or serotypes. Both serotype 1 and other serogroups and/or serotypes were seasonal. The genotypes of serotype 1 isolates were closely related but diversified over the study period and were similar to, but not identical to, the predominant genotypes found previously in Ghana. Conclusions. Intervention strategies during the epidemic season in Burkina Faso (and perhaps elsewhere) must now account for pneumococcal meningitis occurring in an epidemic pattern similar to meningococcal meningitis. Although a serotype 1 clone was commonly isolated, over half of the cases were caused by other serogroups and/or serotypes, and genetic diversification increased over a relatively short period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Today, thanks to the HAART, HIV has become a chronic disease. In most cases, HIV positive women are of reproductive age and at present, the vertical transmission rate is around 0.1% for women with an undetectable viral load. So, it is normal that the question of seropositive women's desire to have children is on the table., Methods: In this experimental study, 50 HIV-seropositive and 44 seronegative women were interviewed about their desire to have children. Some of the questions asked were: "How many children did you want to have before you got married/at 15 years of age if you aren't married?" "How many children would you like to have today, considering your present situation?". In case of a difference between "before" and "now", we asked them: "What are the reasons for this difference?". This study was performed in Burkina Faso., Results: The positive women tend to desire more children "before" and fewer children "now" than negative women (OR: 1.33; C.I. 95%: 0.86-2; p= 0.19 vs OR: 0.78; C.I. 95%: 0.51-1.21; p= 0.27). 62% of HIV positive women mention multiple reasons directly linked to their seropositivity to explain the difference between "before" and "now". 70% of HIV positive women still want to have children. We have noted that the positive women who still want children are more likely to be younger (p < 0.05 by Two-Sample T tests), in a relationship (p < 0.01 by Chi-Square Test) and to have been diagnosed earlier than the positive women who don't want any children (p=0.01 by Wilcoxon Rank Sum Test)., Conclusion: Even if the results of this pilot study are preliminary, they show that HIV positive and negative women have a relatively similar desire for children, even though seropositive women seem to want fewer children than their uninfected counterparts. Most of the reasons which reduce HIV positive women's desire to have children are directly linked to HIV. This is why getting these women informed about materno-fetal transmission risks and existing treatments is really important to give them the opportunity to make a conscious choice.