[HIV Disclosure to the Child/Adolescent in Central and West Francophone Africa]

We report the attitudes and practices of health care workers involved in the disclosure process to adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV) in a network including West and Central African French-speaking countries, and the experiences of young living with HIV (YLHIV). During a three-day workshop in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, caregivers (doctors, psychologists, social workers) from 19 pediatric HIV treatment sites shared their practices and difficulties, and four YPLHIV their own disclosure experience. Thirty five participants from eight West/Central African countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Mali, Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal, Togo) contributed: 14 doctors, eight psychologists, six counselors, three social workers. The experience of the centers was variable, but the age at disclosure was late: 34% of 1296 adolescents between 10 and 12 years of age knew their status. The median age at disclosure was 13 years (range: 11-15 years). The practice of the disclosure was often complex, because of multiple factors (fear of the parents of the breaking of the secrecy, lack of communication between professionals). The individual disclosure was the main practice. Four centers practiced HIV disclosure in group sessions to facilitate mirror support, and one used peer-to-peer support. YPLHIV have advocated for an earlier disclosure, from 10 years. In West and Central Africa, the process of HIV disclosure remains complex for parents and caregivers, and occurs too late. The development of a good practice guideline for HIV disclosing adapted to socio-cultural contexts should help to improve this process.

Dermal fibroblasts respond to mechanical conditioning in a strain profile dependent manner

Fibroblasts within tissues are exposed to a dynamic mechanical environment, which influences the structural integrity of both healthy and healing soft tissues. Various systems have been proposed to subject such cells to mechanical stimulation in culture. However the diverse nature of the studies, in terms of the strain profiles and the cell types, makes direct comparisons almost impossible. The present study addresses this issue by examining the metabolic response of two cell types subjected to three well defined strain profiles.A young fibroblast cell population, represented by HuFFs, showed both greater cell proliferation and collagen production than adult dermal fibroblasts under unstrained conditions. The three strain profiles produced differing effects on both cell types. Uniaxial strains enhanced [(3)H]-thymidine incorporation for both cell types, whilst biaxial strains either inhibited or had no effect on its incorporation. In contrast, [(3)H]-proline incorporation was inhibited under biaxial and uniaxial strains for the adult fibroblasts, whilst the HuFF cells showed a small increase in proline incorporation under non-uniform and uniaxial strains.

A system for monitoring the response of uniaxial strain on cell seeded collagen gels

The success of cell seeded constructs for the repair of collagenous tissues may be improved by the use of mechanical stimulation in vitro. A mechanical loading apparatus, termed the cell straining system, was developed according to a set of design criteria, to enable cell seeded constructs to be cyclically loaded in tension. A suitable cell seeded collagen gel model system was used to characterise the apparatus. These gels were subjected to a cyclic strain of 10% superimposed on two separate tare loads of 2 and 10 mN, while being maintained in cell culture conditions. The computer controlled apparatus was shown to be capable of monitoring the individual loads on six specimens simultaneously, to an accuracy of 0.02 mN. Results indicated a wide variability between individual specimens. Following cyclic loading, the cell seeded collagen gels exhibited an increase in structural stiffness compared with the unloaded controls. This novel and versatile apparatus will provide a means of enhancing structural and mechanical integrity of tissue engineered repair systems.

Potential of surface laser scanning to measure facial movement

Linear and area measurements on the surface contour of the face have been recorded in a variety of chosen facial postures using surface laser scanning techniques on healthy volunteers. Subjects were scanned before and after active and voluntary (against resistance) movements. Quantitative measurements of changes in these lengths and areas were made by computer integration to provide an impression of the changes that accompany facial expression. Lip movements were found to be associated with dimensional changes at all facial locations tested, imposed by the action of the underlying muscles. The system has a potential value for dynamic monitoring of facial movement.

Patterns of coordinated lower facial muscle function and their importance in facial reanimation

Coordinated patterns of lower facial muscle activity have been observed using 8-channel electromyography (surface electrodes in a bipolar configuration) on 11 healthy volunteers to provide a picture of the patterns of muscle activity during function. Measurements of integrated electrical activity were made to allow comparison of different muscle groups during active, active-against-resistance, and passive movements. A contraction reflex was assessed by an electromechanical device and noted in 8 of 11 subjects. Lower facial movements were found to involve simultaneous bilateral activity in all the muscle groups tested bilaterally and to require a balance between dilator and constrictor forces. The significance for facial reanimation surgery is that it is desirable to reconstruct balanced constrictor and dilator forces, the latter having vector pulls upwards, downwards and laterally to reconstruct the normal mechanism of lower facial movement.

Effects of plane mechanical forces in wound healing in humans

The effects of the application of external forces acting in the plane of the skin on early scars during healing were investigated. A simple apparatus was developed for this purpose. The scars were followed up for a minimum of 12 months postoperatively and all settled well.