Prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders among taxi drivers in Yaoundé, Cameroon: preventive effect of physical activity.

Background: Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) are very common conditions in the workplace. Among professional drivers, there would be an increased risk of developing these disorders. Identifying the associated factors would allow us to better devise effective prevention strategies.

Short term optimization of glycaemic control using insulin improves sympatho-vagal tone activities in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Introduction: Diabetic cardiac autonomic neuropathy (CAN) is potentially life threatening and its severity might further be aggravated by poor glycaemic control. A decrease in Heart rate variability (HRV) is the earliest finding of CAN even at the sub clinical stage. While intensive glycaemic control prevents the development of CAN in patients with type 1 diabetes, it is not known whether the intensification of glycaemic control using insulin would improve cardiovascular autonomic functions in type 2 diabetes patients.

Heart rate variability in hyperthyroidism on sub Saharan African patients: a case-control study.

Objective: We aimed to determine heart rate variability in freshly diagnosed untreated hyperthyroidism patients. We enrolled 10 patients (9 females) and 10 matched controls for sex and age. Each eligible patient underwent five different tests according to Ewing battery tests for cardiac autonomic dysfunction assessment.

Poor glycemic control impacts heart rate variability in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a cross sectional study.

Objective: We aimed to determine and compare HRV parameters in poorly and well controlled type 2 diabetes. 54 normotensive type 2 diabetes patients without clinical signs of CAN were enrolled; 29 poorly controlled (HbA1c ≥ 7%) and 25 controls matched for age, sex and BMI. HRV analysis was performed using 24-h ambulatory ECG, with automatic estimation of the time and frequency domain ranges.

Human herpesvirus 8 infection DNA positivity is associated with low insulin secretion: A case-control study in a sub-Saharan African population with diabetes.

Background: Viruses have been considered potential triggers for the development of diabetes. This study assessed insulin secretion and insulin sensitivity in human herpesvirus 8 (HHV8)-infected and uninfected sub-Saharan African people with diabetes.

Methods: In all, 173 people with non-autoimmune diabetes were enrolled consecutively: 124 with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and 49 with ketosis-prone diabetes (KPD) admitted in hyperglycemic crisis.

Effect of propranolol on heart rate variability in hyperthyroidism.

Objectives: We aimed to determine the effect of propanolol on heart rate variability (HRV) in hyperthyroidism before antithyroid treatment. This was a before and after study, on ten patients presenting overt hyperthyroidism naïve to treatment. In each patient, a resting electrocardiogram was done followed by estimation of cardiac autonomic dysfunction during five maneuvers (Ewing battery tests).

Reproducibility of the 75 g oral glucose tolerance test for the diagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus in a sub-Saharan African population.

Objective: To evaluate the reproducibility of the 75 g oral glucose tolerance test and factors associated with non-reproducible results in Cameroonian pregnant women.

Results: Twenty-seven of the 84 participants (32.1%) who did the first oral glucose tolerance test were diagnosed with gestational diabetes mellitus.

Cameroonian professional soccer players and risk of atherosclerosis.

Background: Elevated titers of antibodies against oxidized low-density lipoproteins-cholesterol (ox-LDL-Ab) have been reported among professional athletes, paradoxically reflecting an increased risk of developing atherogenic and/or cardiovascular events. This study aimed to determine titers of ox-LDL-Ab in a group of Cameroonian professional soccer players, and evaluate their evolution during part of a competition season as well as the plasmatic antioxidant status to find out if this latter correlates with ox-LDL-Ab .

Methods: We conducted a descriptive cohort study in 2012 including 18 healthy male soccer players.

Antioxidant and Synergistic Antidiabetic Activities of a Three-Plant Preparation Used in Cameroon Folk Medicine.

Several plant preparations like a mixture of aqueous extracts of ; and are currently utilized in Foumban (West Cameroon) to manage diabetes. The aim of this study is to investigate the antidiabetic property of the aqueous mixture of three plant extracts (1 : 1 : 1) on streptozotocin induced diabetes rats. Diabetes was induced to rats by intraperitoneal (i.

Acute glycaemic effects of co-trimoxazole at prophylactic dose in healthy adults.

Background: Cases of severe hypoglycaemia were reported in HIV/AIDS patients receiving high dose of the sulfonylurea co-trimoxazole for opportunistic infections. Whether co-trimoxazole at prophylactic dose would induce similar side effects is unknown. We aimed to investigate the acute effects of co-trimoxazole at prophylactic dose on glucose metabolism in healthy adults.

Impact of a 12-week aerobic exercise training program on anthropometric and metabolic parameters of a group of type 2 diabetes Cameroonian women aged ≥50 years.

Background: We examined whether aerobic exercise could have an impact on anthropometric and metabolic parameters of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) Cameroonian women aged ≥50 years.

Methods: We enrolled 23 T2DM Cameroonian women aged ≥50 years regularly followed at the National Obesity Center of Yaounde, Cameroon, in a 12-week aerobic exercise program monitored by a pedometer. Exercise intensity was progressively set between 55% and 75% of maximum heart rate.

Impact of daily supplementation of Spirulina platensis on the immune system of naïve HIV-1 patients in Cameroon: a 12-months single blind, randomized, multicenter trial.

Background: Micronutrient deficiencies occur early in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infections they have reverse effects on the nutritional status. The diet supplementation with a natural nutraceutical rich in proteins and micronutrient like Spirulina platensis, may be effective and efficient in delaying HIV disease progression by frequently reported improvement in immune response.

Methods: A prospective single-blind, randomized, multicenter study conducted on 320 HIV-1 ARV-naïve participants for 12 months.

Effects of Spirulina platensis supplementation on lipid profile in HIV-infected antiretroviral naïve patients in Yaounde-Cameroon: a randomized trial study.

Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and metabolic alterations are among the majors public health concern that have been reported in people living with HIV infections. Factors contributing to cardio metabolic syndrome in HIV include body fat distribution, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, cardiovascular dysfunction and inflammation. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of Spirulina platensis (Cyanobacteriaceae) supplementation versus local diet on lipid profile in HIV-infected antiretroviral-naive patients.

The effect of Arthrospira platensis capsules on CD4 T-cells and antioxidative capacity in a randomized pilot study of adult women infected with human immunodeficiency virus not under HAART in Yaoundé, Cameroon.

Dietary supplements are often used to improve the nutritional status of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV). Arthrospira platensis (Asp), also known as Spirulina, is a cyanobacterium rich in proteins and micronutrients. Cell and animal trials described immune-modulating, antiretroviral and antioxidant activities.

Cardiac output, O2 delivery and VO2 kinetics during step exercise in acute normobaric hypoxia.

We hypothesised that phase II time constant (τ2) of alveolar O2 uptake ( [Formula: see text] ) is longer in hypoxia than in normoxia as a consequence of a parallel deceleration of the kinetics of O2 delivery ( [Formula: see text] ). To test this hypothesis, breath-by-breath [Formula: see text] and beat-by-beat [Formula: see text] were measured in eight male subjects (25.4±3.

The effect of Spirulina platensis versus soybean on insulin resistance in HIV-infected patients: a randomized pilot study.

Unlabelled: HIV-infected patients develop abnormalities of glucose metabolism due to the virus and antiretroviral drugs. Spirulina and soybean are nutritional supplements that are cheap, accessible in our community and affect glucose metabolism. We carried out a randomized study to assess the effect of Spirulina platensis versus soybean as a food supplement on HIV/HAART-associated insulin resistance (IR) in 33 insulin-resistant HIV-infected patients.

Hospital-based injury data from level III institution in Cameroon: retrospective analysis of the present registration system.

Background: Data on the epidemiology of trauma in Cameroon are scarce. Presently, hospital records are still used as a primary source of injury data. It has been shown that trauma registries could play a key role in providing basic data on trauma.

Ethics of human genetic studies in sub-saharan Africa: the case of Cameroon through a bibliometric analysis.

Unlabelled: Many ethical concerns surrounding human genetics studies remain unresolved. We report here the situation in Cameroon.

Objectives:   To describe the profile of human genetic studies that used Cameroonian DNA samples, with specific focus on i) the research centres that were involved, ii) authorship, iii) population studied, iv) research topics and v) ethics disclosure, with the aim of raising ethical issues that emerged from these studies.

Day-to-day variation of insulin requirements of patients with type 2 diabetes and end-stage renal disease undergoing maintenance hemodialysis.

Objective: To evaluate day-to-day variations of insulin needs in type 2 diabetic patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on maintenance hemodialysis.

Research Design And Methods: We developed a 24-h euglycemic clamp in patients who received an average of 2,200 calories in a standardized three-meal and two-snack regimen per day, adjusted to body size and sex. Intravenous insulin was adjusted every 30 min to achieve 5.

Inauguration of the cameroonian society of human genetics.

The conjunction of "hard genetics" research centers, with well established biomedical and bioethics research groups, and the exceptional possibility to hold the 6th annual meeting of the African Society of Human Genetics (AfSHG, 13th-15th March 2009) was an excellent opportunity to get together in synergy the entire Cameroonian "DNA/RNA scientists" . This laid to the foundation of the Cameroonian Society of Human Genetics (CSHG) that was privilege to hold its inaugural meeting in conjunction to the 6th annual meeting of the AfSHG. The theme was "Human Origin, Genetic Diversity and Health".

Phase I dynamics of cardiac output, systemic O2 delivery, and lung O2 uptake at exercise onset in men in acute normobaric hypoxia.

We tested the hypothesis that vagal withdrawal plays a role in the rapid (phase I) cardiopulmonary response to exercise. To this aim, in five men (24.6+/-3.

Simultaneous determination of the kinetics of cardiac output, systemic O(2) delivery, and lung O(2) uptake at exercise onset in men.

We tested whether the kinetics of systemic O(2) delivery (QaO(2)) at exercise start was faster than that of lung O(2) uptake (Vo(2)), being dictated by that of cardiac output (Q), and whether changes in Q would explain the postulated rapid phase of the Vo(2) increase. Simultaneous determinations of beat-by-beat (BBB) Q and QaO(2), and breath-by-breath Vo(2) at the onset of constant load exercises at 50 and 100 W were obtained on six men (age 24.2 +/- 3.

Correction of cardiac output obtained by Modelflow from finger pulse pressure profiles with a respiratory method in humans.

The beat-by-beat non-invasive assessment of cardiac output (Q litre x min(-1)) based on the arterial pulse pressure analysis called Modelflow can be a very useful tool for quantifying the cardiovascular adjustments occurring in exercising humans. Q was measured in nine young subjects at rest and during steady-state cycling exercise performed at 50, 100, 150 and 200 W by using Modelflow applied to the Portapres non-invasive pulse wave (Q(Modelflow)) and by means of the open-circuit acetylene uptake (Q(C2H2)). Q values were correlated linearly ( r = 0.

Cardiac output by Modelflow method from intra-arterial and fingertip pulse pressure profiles.

Modelflow, when applied to non-invasive fingertip pulse pressure recordings, is a poor predictor of cardiac output (Q, litre x min(-1)). The use of constants established from the aortic elastic characteristics, which differ from those of finger arteries, may introduce signal distortions, leading to errors in computing Q. We therefore hypothesized that peripheral recording of pulse pressure profiles undermines the measurement of Q with Modelflow, so we compared Modelflow beat-by-beat Q values obtained simultaneously non-invasively from the finger and invasively from the radial artery at rest and during exercise.