BackgroundThe prevalence of peripheral artery disease (PAD) is not well known among HIV-infected patients in Africa. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and associated risk factors of PAD among HIV-infected patients at the Douala General Hospital (DGH).MethodsThis was a cross-sectional descriptive and analytic study between November 2015 and April 2016. We recruited patients aged ≥21 years, diagnosed with HIV infection, and who were receiving care at the DGH. We collected sociodemographic data and past medical history of patients. We measured their ankle-brachial index (ABI). We defined PAD as an ABI <0.9. We also measured their fasting blood glucose and lipid profile.ResultsWe recruited 144 patients for this study. The mean age was 46±9 years, and 72.2% were females. Of which, 89% were on antiretroviral treatment (ARV). Their mean CD4+ T lymphocytes count was 451±306 cells/mm3. Their mean ABI was 1.12±0.17 and 1.07±0.11, respectively, on the left and right legs (P>0.05). The prevalence of PAD was 6.9% (95% CI: 3.4–12.4), and 60% of patients with PAD were symptomatic. After adjusting for age, sex and ARV, ARV treatment was protective (aOR: 0.18, [95% CI: 0.04–0.82], P=0.034), while WHO stages III or IV was associated with PAD (aOR: 11.1, [95% CI: 2.19–55.92], P=0.004).ConclusionThe prevalence of PAD was not as high as expected in this group of patients with high cardiovascular risk infected with HIV. Advanced HIV disease was associated with PAD, while ARV was protective.

IntroductionLe virus de l'hépatite C (VHC) a plusieurs manifestations extra hépatiques parmi lesquelles la cryoglubulinémie. La cryoglobulinémie se définit par la présence anormale dans le sang d'une ou plusieurs protéines (cryoglobuline) pouvant précipiter au froid.MéthodesNous avons mené une étude transversale et analytique dans le service du laboratoire de biologie et l'unité d'hépatologie de l'Hôpital Général de Douala (HGD) pendant une durée de 6 mois. Etaient inclus dans le travail tous les patients acceptant de participer et porteurs d'un anticorps anti VHC avec ou sans traitement. Les cryoglobulines étaient recherchées par la méthode de Biuret et la classification était réalisée par une immunoélectrophorèse de Brouet. Une analyse multivariée a été réalisée, des facteurs de confusion tels que l'âge, le sexe et la durée après dépistage du VHC ont été ajustés.RésultatsNous avons inclus 116 patients. L'âge moyen était de 58,47 ± 9,95 ans. Le sexe masculin représentait 50,86% des cas. L'arthralgie était présente dans 69,80% des cas. La cryoglubiline était présente chez 63,80% des cas. Apres ajustement, le sexe féminin (ORa =2,18; IC à 95% [0,97-4, 90]; p= 0,059), l'asthénie seule (ORa =2,45; IC à 95% [1,04-5,80]; p= 0,041), l'asthénie couplée à l'arthralgie (ORa =2,84; IC à 95% [1,13-7, 10]; p= 0,026) et la présence de l'ARN du VHC (ORa =2,84; IC à 95% [1,13-7, 10]; p= 0,028) étaient des facteurs indépendamment associés à la présence de cryoglobuline.ConclusionLa prévalence de la cryoglobubine est élevée chez les patients porteurs de l'Ac anti VHC à l'HGD. Elle est recherchée par les méthodes biologiques simples. La recherche de cryoglobuline chez les patients porteurs du VHC est essentielle dans un pays à ressources limitées.

Background: The burden of peripheral artery disease (PAD) is not well known among apparently healthy people in Africa. Aim: To determine the prevalence and associated risk factors of PAD in a group of blood donors seen at the Douala General Hospital-Cameroon. Methods: Between 1 st November 2015 and 30 th April 2016, we carried out a cross-sectional study. Participants were consenting adults of both sexes, aged ≥ 21 years who presented for blood donation, and were tested HIV negative. We collected socio-demographic data and their past history. We carried out a physical examination and measured their Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI). We defined PAD as an ABI < 0.9. We also measured their fasting blood glucose and lipid profile. Results: We recruited 103 participants, 55.4% males. The mean age was 33 ± 10 years. The mean ABI on left and right leg was 1.04 ± 0.1 and 1.02 ± 0.1 respectively. ABI was higher in males than females both legs (p < 0.05). PAD was seen in 11 (10.7%) participants. This was higher in females than males (3.6% versus 19.2%, p = 0.026).

Background: The increasing resistance of bacteria to various antibiotics is a worldwide public health issue. Carbapenems that have elicited great hope in treating infections caused by multidrug-resistant germs have seen their efficacy narrowed over time with the emergence of other novel resistance mechanisms, notably the production of Carbapenemases. Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted from May 2017 to May 2018 in Douala (Cameroon) to detect carbapenemase-producing Gram-negative bacilli. Isolated strains were identified using the Vitek2 TM system. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method on agar plates with 20 selected commercially available antibiotic discs. The bacterial strains were tested for the production of three Carbapenemases (OXA-48, NDM, KPC), using an immuno-chromatographic technique, with the "RESIST-3 O.K.N. K-SeT" rapid detection kit. Results: During the study period, 1687 strains of Gram-negative bacilli were isolated in selected laboratories with a total of 200 multi-resistant strains identified (11.9%). Among the multi-resistant strains, E. coli was the species most represented in Enterobacteriaceae (27.

Background: Electrophoresis of serum proteins is an orientation examination routinely used in clinical practice. For a few years, agarose gel electrophoresis has tended to be replaced with capillary electrophoresis owing to an increase in the accuracy of results. However, this technique is uncommon and is not widely used in Cameroon. Objectives: The research aimed at studying the electrophoretic profile of serum proteins using capillary technique among patients attending the Douala General Hospital, Cameroon. Methods: Capillary electrophoresis was used to carry out tests on blood samples from any inpatients and outpatients and fasting for 8-12 hours. Capillary electrophoresis of serum samples was used for the separation of proteins into six fractions and the total protidemia of each serum samples was determined using the Biuret method. Results were interpreted by observing the shape of curves and quantitative variations in each fraction of the different serum proteins. Results: A total of 311 patients participated in the study. The sampled population aged 50±18 years on average and consisted of 55.3% men and 44.7% women. All capillary electrophoresis profiles presented six protein fractions, namely, albumin, alpha (1 and 2), beta (1 and 2) and gamma globulins. Pathological disorders were diagnosed in 290 patients and 21 patients had normal results. Inflammatory syndromes accounted for 63.34% and monoclonal gammopathies for 10.29% the main pathological disorder identified. Conclusion: Capillary electrophoresis provides a more precise identification of biological syndromes and clear distinction of the six fractions of each protein. Monoclonal profiles and inflammatory syndromes were well detected. A prevalence of 10.29% was determined for gammopathies.

Introduction: Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most important agents involved in community and hospital-acquired infections. Due to the multi-drug resistance of strains to antibiotics, treatment to eradicate it is becoming more difficult and poses a global public health problem. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study conducted from March to August 2020 in hospitals in the city of Douala, including all S. aureus isolates from diagnostic samples. Strain identification and antibiotic susceptibility testing were performed using the Vitek2 Compact TM (BioMerieux). Results: During the study period,

Aim: Cancer is a real public health problem in the world, especially the so-called gastrointestinal cancers (GIC). In Cameroon, epidemiological data on these types of cancers are still poorly known. The present study aimed at determining epidemiological profile GIC in the town of Douala, Cameroon. Methodology: This was a retrospective study conducted at oncology and gastroenterology departments of two reference hospitals. Sociodemographic, clinical and toxicological information of the patients was recorded and analysed using SPSS version 26.0. The significance level was set at p-value < 0.05 for statistical tests. Results: During the study period, 479 cases of GIC cases were registered with male-to-female ratio of 1.20. The frequency of GIC cases gradually increased over study period (2016 – 2020). GIC cases were mostly found in patients aged 50-60 years (27.8%) and 60-70 years (27.3%). The main GIC types included colorectal (36.54%), liver (25.26%), stomach (15.24%) and pancreas (12.53%). A gender-specific distribution of all GIC types were found (p = 0.0016). Among men, the distribution of GIC varied with age; the majority of male patients with stomach cancer (54.3%) were aged 50 – 60 years while those diagnosed with colon cancer were mostly aged 50 – 60 years (35.4%) and 60 – 70 years (31.3%) (p = 0.0004). Finally, a statically significant association was found between GIC distribution and alcohol/tobacco consumption. Conclusion: GIC are realities in Cameroon and mainly affect the population over 30 years old. The knowledge of risk factors in the population would be useful for controlling their evolution in the country.

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