Elevated blood lead levels and sources of exposure in the population of Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo

The objective of this study was to determine blood lead levels (BLLs) and the possible sources of exposure in the population of Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo. A cross-sectional survey was carried out from January to May 2008 in a representative sample of the Kinshasan population. BLL was measured in 275 individuals (53.4% women) aged 1–70 years in the urban area of Kinshasa and from 60 additional subjects in the rural area. Pb was also determined in environmental specimens (air and soil, indoor and outdoor). BLL in the study population ranged from 2.9 to 49.3 μg/dl (median, 9.9 μg/dl). The median BLL among children aged <6 years was 11.5 μg/dl (range: 3.0–37.8 μg/dl). Of these children, 71% had elevated BLL (≥10 μg/dl) and 22% had BLL ≥20 μg/dl. The proportion of elevated BLL (≥10 μg/dl) was higher for children aged <3 years than for children aged 3 to 5 years (97% vs 56%). A higher prevalence of elevated BLL was observed in urban compared with rural children (71% vs 20%). Significantly higher BLLs were also found in children whose mother consumed fired clay during pregnancy. Residential informal activities in the recycling of car batteries also contributed to elevated BLL in children. The elevated background of Pb exposure in the Kinshasan population indicates a public health issue that requires corrective actions. Pb-contaminated dust and air in children's home is an issue of public health concern. The use of leaded gasoline and the activities of car battery recycling in certain residences appear to constitute the main sources of exposure in the city of Kinshasa. The traditional use of fired clay for the treatment of gastritis by pregnant women is another significant contributor for elevated BLL in children

CARACTÉRISATION DE LA SCORIE DES TERRILS DE LA GECAMINES: UTILISATION COMME GRANULAT DANS LES ENROBES ROUTIERS (Approches analytique et expérimentale)

Plusieurs types de résidus et de sous-produits industriels peuvent être utilisés comme granulats, l'usage des scories dans la construction des chaussées requiert une connaissance approfondie de ses caractéristiques. L’article donne les résultats d’une étude géotechnique de la scorie issue de la fusion réductrice des minerais cupro-cobaltifères, étude réalisée au laboratoire Géotechnique de l’EGMF LOT 9 à Kigoma Lubumbashi au Congo R.D. et au Laboratoire du Génie Civil de l’UCL en Belgique Ces résultats ont permis d’une part de catégoriser la scorie étudiée comme granulat sur base des normes P18-304, NBN EN 13043 (granulats pour mélanges hydrocarbonés), NBN EN 13242, de la classifier sur base de la norme XP P18 540 et conformément à la Directive Produits de Construction (DPC, Directive Européenne n° 89/68/CEE modifiée par la Directive 93/68/CEE) ; et d’autre part de justifier son utilisation dans les enrobés routiers

Microdeletion of the entire IRF6 gene in a Subsaharian African's family with Van der Woude syndrome

Microdeletion of the entire interferon regulatory factory 6 (IRF 6) gene is a rare cause of Van der Woude syndrome (VDW) with only few cases reported in medical literature. Its occurrence in multiple affected members of a family is exceptional. The aim of this presentation was to describe a Central African family with typical VDW phenotype carrying an IRF6 gene deletion. Here we reported phenotype features of members of a Central African family with VDW syndrome consisting of labioalveolar cleft, depressions of the lower lip with labial fistulae (lip pits), submucosal clefts and cleft palate. Mutation analysis by means of multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification and chromosomal microarray revealed a 374.070 kb, deletion encompassing the entire IRF6 gene in four affected family members. Microdeletion of the entire IRF6 gene causes the classical VDW syndrome phenotype.status: publishe

Non-syndromic cleft lip and/or cleft palate: Epidemiology and risk factors in Lubumbashi (DR Congo), a case-control study

PURPOSE: To determine the incidence and risk factors of occurrence of non-syndromic cleft lip and/or cleft palate (NSCLP) in Lubumbashi. METHOD: A case-control study was conducted in the health district of Lubumbashi from February 2012 to December 2015. An exhaustive sampling, collecting all newborns with cleft lip and/or cleft palate (CL ± P) in maternity wards was conducted. From a total of 172 cases, 162 non-syndromic cases were recruited. For each case, one clinically normal newborn control was selected. RESULTS: NSCLP had an incidence of 1/1258 live births (0.8/1000). We found significant associations with a family history of cleft lip and palate (CLP) (x2family history = 11.5, p = 0.0007), maternal alcohol intake (OR = 19.3, 95% CI: 1.9-197.1), paternal alcohol during the periconceptional period and the first trimester of pregnancy (OR = 18.7, 95% CI: 3.9-89.2), maternal educational level lower than high school (OR = 9.5, 95% CI: 2.0-44.7), clay (Pemba) consumption during pregnancy (OR = 38.3, 95% CI: 9.3-157.0), the use of insecticides in the evening (OR = 130.3, 95% CI: 13.2-1286.9), indoor cooking with charcoal (Makala) (OR = 6.5, 95% CI: 1.22-34.5), and regular consumption of Kapolowe fish, supposedly contaminated with heavy metals (OR = 29.5, 95% CI: 7.4-116.7). CONCLUSION: Several environmental risk factors highly prevalent in Central Africa for facial clefting were found.status: publishe

Preaxial polydactyly of the foot: variable expression of trisomy 13 in a case from central Africa.

Trisomy 13 is a chromosomal disorder characterized by a severe clinical picture of multiple congenital anomalies. We here describe the clinical and genetic features and prognosis observed in a newborn with trisomy 13 from Central Africa. He presented the rare feature of preaxial polydactyly of the feet

Wolf-Hirschhorn Syndrome: Clinical and Genetic Data from a First Case Diagnosed in Central Africa.

Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome (WHS) is a multiple congenital anomaly-intellectual disability syndrome caused by a deletion involving chromosome 4p16.3. We report clinical and genetic findings of the first WHS patient diagnosed in central Africa. This boy who presented with cleft palate, microcephaly, severe growth delay, and intellectual disability was 12 years old. Typical craniofacial features were present, though the characteristic "Greek helmet" appearance of the nose was less evident, probably reflecting a variable expression related to the genetic background. The clinical diagnosis of WHS was confirmed by array CGH, which revealed a terminal 4p16.3 deletion of 3.47 Mb, typically associated with a milder phenotype, contributing to the long survival of this child in a developing country

Meningocele in a congolese female with beckwith-wiedemann phenotype.

Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS) is a rare congenital syndrome characterized by an overgrowth, macroglossia, exomphalos, and predisposition to embryonal tumors. Central nervous abnormalities associated with BWS are rare. We describe a one-day-old Congolese female who presented meningocele associated with BWS phenotype