Hypolipidemic and anti-atherosclerogenic effects of aqueous extract of Ipomoea batatas leaves in diet-induced hypercholesterolemic rats

Objective:Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.is a food plant used in African traditional medicine to treat cardiovas-cular diseases and related conditions.We assessed the...     

Prevalence and factors associated with hypertension among school children and adolescents in urban and semi‐urban areas in Cameroon

Few data to date exist on pediatric hypertension (PH) prevalence and risk factors in semi‐urban areas in Cameroon, and they are believed to be the same as urban areas. These data are needed to design targeted preventive strategies and contribute to reducing the burden of PH in Cameroon and countries with equivalent standards of care. The authors conducted a cross‐sectional study, from November, 2017 to June, 2018, in primary and secondary schools, from semi‐urban (Bamboutos, West Region) and urban (Mfoundi, Center Region) settings in Cameroon, including children and adolescent aged between 3 and 19 years, recruited on a stratified probability sampling. PH was defined according to the American Academy of Pediatrics 2017. Overall, 1001 and 842 participants were, respectively, included in urban and semi‐urban areas. The overall average age was 13.9 ± 4.03 years, and two‐thirds were girls. Overweight and obesity were more prevalent in urban area (overweight: 17.1%; obesity: 5.9%), compared to semi‐urban (overweight: 1.1% and obesity: 0.8%) (p < .001). The prevalence of hypertension was higher in urban (12%) than semi‐urban areas (8.6%) (p = .01). We have identified as factors associated with PH: age > 14 years (OR = 3.18 [1.6; 6.2]) and secondary level of education (OR = 2.5 [1.2; 5.5]) in urban areas; family history of hypertension (OR 1.93 [1.1; 3.4] in semi‐urban areas. PH prevalence is higher in urban than semi‐urban areas, and the associated factors are not the same. Policies to address hypertension in the pediatric population must be targeted and tailored to the different population profiles.     

Effects of propoxur on the reproductive system of male rats

The reproductive toxicity of propoxur (2-isopropoxy-phenyl-N-methylcarbamate), a carbamate pesticide, was investigated in adult male Wistar rats exposed to 0, 1.73, 2.6, and 5.2 mg/kg body weight/day for 90 successive days. Results obtained from this study showed a significant (p < 0.05) concentration-dependent increase in food consumption, relative weights of testis, epididymis and kidneys with maximum effects observed at the highest dose of propoxur (5.2 mg/kg) compared to the control. On the contrary, there was a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in the body weight gain, sperm density, serum and intratesticular total cholesterol concentrations, and intratesticular total proteins in rats treated with propoxur at the dose of 5.2 mg/kg body weight. Propoxur had no significant effect on gestation, fertility and parturition indices, average birth weight, litter size and pups sex ratio of untreated female rats mated with treated males rats. These results suggested that propoxur increased food consumption, relative weight of reproductive and detoxication organs, decreased body weight gain and sperm density per gram of cauda epididymis without affecting the reproductive performances.     

Recurrence of achondrogenesis type II within the same family: evidence for germline mosaicism

Achondrogenesis type II is a lethal skeletal dysplasia caused by new dominant mutations within the type II collagen gene (COL2A1). Here we report on two pregnancies of a healthy, nonconsanguineous young couple. In the first pregnancy, severe micromelia and generalized edema were noted on ultrasound at 21 weeks' gestation. Clinical, radiological, and histological evaluation of the fetus after termination of the pregnancy showed typical findings of achondrogenesis type II. In the second pregnancy, fetal hygroma was noted at 11 weeks' gestation. Similar clinical, radiographic, and histologic findings were observed in the second fetus, suggesting the recurrence of achondrogenesis II within this family. Molecular analysis of genomic DNA extracted from amniotic cells of the second fetus revealed heterozygosity for a 1340G > A missense mutation (G316D) in the COL2A1 gene. This mutation was not found in the parents. Although, we could not evaluate the presence of this mutation in the first fetus, we strongly believe that our data are in favor of germline mosaicism as the most likely explanation for the recurrence of type II achondrogenesis in both sibs.     

Characteristics of patients co-infected with HIV at the time of inpatient tuberculosis treatment initiation in Yaoundé, Cameroon: a tertiary care hospital-based cross-sectional study

Background

Knowledge of the characteristics of patients co-infected with tuberculosis (TB) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) when TB treatment is initiated would allow clinicians to improve care and help policy-makers develop relevant and realistic guidelines. The aim of this study was to describe socio-demographic, clinical, and laboratory characteristics of TB/HIV co-infected patients starting inpatient TB treatment in Yaoundé, Cameroon.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study, collecting data from medical records of HIV-infected patients with TB, aged 15 years old or more, hospitalized in the Infectious Diseases Unit of the Yaoundé Central Hospital, Cameroon from January 1, 2006 to June 30, 2013.

Results

The mean age of 337 patients meeting study inclusion criteria was 39.3 years. More than half were female (53.4%). Most (89.3%) resided in urban areas, 44.2% had a secondary education, and 46.0% were married. The majority was receiving co-trimoxazole prophylaxis (79.5%), and two thirds were taking antiretroviral therapy (67.4%). The mean duration of known HIV infection before TB treatment was 8.4 months. Most (88.1%) had newly diagnosed TB, rather than relapsed disease. Smear-positive pulmonary TB was documented in a third, (35.3%). Laboratory data revealed a median white blood cell count of 5,100 cells/mm³ (IQR 3,300-7,990 cells/mm³), a median hemoglobin level of 8 g/dl (IQR 7–10 g/dl), and a median CD4 cell count of 102 cells/mm³ (IQR 33–178 cells/mm³). Sex differences in our study included older age in the men (p < 0.001), more of whom were married (p < 0.001) and had achieved a higher level of education (p = 0.042). Men had fewer diagnoses of smear-positive pulmonary TB (p = 0.020). They weighed more than the women (p = 0.001) and had higher hemoglobin levels (p = 0.003).

Conclusions

Suboptimal adherence to WHO treatment recommendations in our Cameroonian study reinforces the importance of prescribing co-trimoxazole in HIV infection and ART for all TB/HIV co-infected persons. We urge that Ministries of Health continue implementing and disseminating guidelines for management of TB/HIV co-infected patients, and we call for measures ensuring that healthcare facilities’ stocks of ART and co-trimoxazole are sufficient to meet the need for both.