Neurodegenerative diseases and psychiatric disorders are one of the most important pathologies that lead to increased morbidity in populations. Both mood and anxiety disorders include mental disorders not caused by detectable organic abnormalities of the brain. At the molecular level, affective spectrum symptomatology is due to neurotransmitter dysregulation including receptor or transporter impairments and also due to faulty intracellular signaling that generally leads to impaired neurotransmission. Also, recent studies have shown the relationship between oxidative stress and the development of affective disorders. Since classical medication can cause major side effects and alternative approaches tend to be more and more trusted, it seems that plant extracts-based complementary therapies may offer superior yielding and safety compared to traditional medication.
Background: Intestinal parasites induce an immunological alteration that favors progression from HIV to AIDS. These enteric parasitic agents vary from patient to patient and from country to country depending on endemicity, seasonal variation of pathogens, and also the immune status of the patient. Therefore, studies are required to evaluate the spectrum of these parasites in specific locations to better plan their control. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors associated with intestinal parasitosis in HIV/AIDS patients on Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART). Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out from the month of March to July 2018 on HIV patients on HAART in the Ndop Health District, Cameroon. Three centers were selected for this study using a two-stage stratified sampling technique. Stool and blood were collected from 347 participants. Stool was examined for intestinal parasites using direct microscopy, fomol-ether concentration technique, and modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining technique. Blood collected was analyzed using a Pima Alere CD4+ T cell counter. A structured questionnaire was administered to collect socio-demographic and clinical data. Data were analyzed with SPSS version 20 and p value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Three hundred and forty-seven (347) consented individuals were recruited into the study. The ages of study participants ranged between 22-78 years. The mean (±SD) age of the study participants was 42 (±10) years. Among the 347 participants, 67 (19.3% (CI = 15.3%-23.9%)) were infected with at least one intestinal parasite. Forty-two (12.1% (CI =8.9%-15.9%)) of study participants were infected with protozoan while 28 (8.1% (CI= 5.2%-11.0%)) were infected with helminths. Intestinal parasites identified included; Ascaris lumbricoides, Hookworm, Taenia spp, Schistosoma mansoni, Entamoeba histolytica/dispar, Cryptosproridum spp, Blastocystis hominis, Cyclospra spp, Isospora belli, Gardia intestinalis, and Entamoeba coli. Low CD4+ T lymphocyte cell counts were significantly associated (P< 0.01) with intestinal parasitic infection in HIV/AIDS patients on HAART. Conclusion: Intestinal parasites are a problem to HIV/AID patient on HAART. Screening for intestinal parasites in HIV/AIDS patients on HAART must be highlighted and awareness created among HIV/AIDS patients.
Diabetic Kidney Disease (DKD) is a complication of diabetes that often leads to the End Stage Renal Disease. It is characterised by the presence of persistent albuminuria and a reduction of the Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) in diabetic condition. No study has revealed the prevalence of DKD in Cameroon. This cross-sectional study was conducted in Buea and Ngaoundere to determine the prevalence of DKD and characterize its biochemical profile in diabetic population under medical care. A total of 250 diabetics were enrolled with a mean age of 56.78±12.06 years, out of which 59.6% were diagnosed with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), 32.8% presented micro-albuminuria and 3.6% were diagnosed with macroalbuminuria. The prevalence of DKD was 15.2% out of which 78.9% were females (p=0.002). The prevalence of the co-morbidity hypertension and DKD was 8.8%. Significant association was found between DKD and two variables: female gender (OR: 2.28 (1.21-4.29); p=0.002) and hyper-creatinemia (OR: 3.47 (2.13-5.66); p < 0.001). The high prevalence of micro-albuminuria found in this study may reflect a high frequency of micro-albuminuria in diabetic population in Cameroon. This study is the first, to assess DKD in Cameroon according to the ADA consensus on CKD and diabetes. The findings showed that, diabetic complication is a serious problem in Cameroon and, more actions should be taken to improve its management.
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