Gynecological cancer profile in the Yaounde population, Cameroon

This population-based retrospective study was carried out in the Yaounde Population Cancer Registry (YPCR) at the General Hospital Yaounde, Cameroon. The aim was to find out the socio-economic, epidemiologic, anatomic and pathologic profile of patients with gynecological cancers in the Yaounde population. The database of the registry was reviewed between January 1, 2004 and June 30 2005 (18 months). All cases of microscopically confirmed gynecological cancers registered within this period were recruited. Defined as gynecological cancers are cancers of the breast (in women), ovary, uterine corpus, vulva, vagina, and cervix. The results showed that gynecological cancers have a monthly incidence of 30 cases. Whereas cancers of the placenta, vagina, breast, and ovary affect younger adults, endometrial, vulval and cervical cancers predominate in the elderly. 58% of the women were aged between 34-54 years. Most patients are from the West (30.55%), Centre (28.90%) and Littoral (10.00%) provinces respectively. The commonest cancers are the breast (48.12%), cervix (40.18%), and ovary (5.82%) at respective average ages of 42.80 years (19-76 years range), 53.08 years (24-78 years range) and 44.22 years (9-75 years range). Cancers of the uterine corpus are rare. Most patients were illiterate, of low to average socio-economic status, presenting at advanced stage of disease. Cancer of the breast is common in the upper social class; while malignancies of the cervix, endometrium, and vagina predominate in the low and middle classes. Only 17.5% of our patients had been previously screened for any form of cancer prior to present disease. We had no data on family history of cancer. We recommend intensive public health education and sensitization of women on primary and secondary prevention especially for cervical and breast cancers. Gynaecological services should be vulgarized and existing ones improved with defined referral and counter referral systems. Further in-depth studies to document trends on cancer survival are recommended. Clinics in Mother and Child Health Vol. 3(1) 2006: 437-44

Chimiotherapie des angiosarcomes de Kaposi au service d'oncologie medicale de L'hopital General de Yaounde, Cameroun

Compte tenu de la séroprévalence de l'infection à VIH/SIDA au Cameroun (5,5%), le service d'oncologie médicale de l'Hôpital Général de Yaoundé, prend en charge par chimiothérapie les patients porteurs d'angiosarcome de Kaposi. Nous avons voulu évaluer la chimiothérapie de l'angiosarcome de Kaposi dans notre service. Une étude descriptive rétrospective a été menée sur une année. Les patients recrutés ont été ceux avec un diagnostic d'angiosarcome de Kaposi. Les données collectées étaient les suivantes : le sexe, l'âge, la localisation, les pathologies associées, la chimiothérapie administrée, les réponses et la tolérance. Les deux dernières données ont été évaluées selon les critères de l'OMS. Au cours de cette année, 57 patients ont été reçus pour un angiosarcome de Kaposi dont 31 (54,4%) hommes et 26 (47,6%) femmes. Les âges extrêmes ont été 14 et 76 ans avec une moyenne de 39,05 ans. La localisation principale était tégumentaire (65,6% des localisations), diffuse pour la plupart des cas. Des 43 patients testés, 38 (88,4%) avaient une sérologie VIH positive et 5 (11,6%) négatifs. Dans notre échantillon, 84,6% ont reçu une polychimiothérapie associant la doxorubucine, la bléomycine et la vincristine. Seuls 20 patients des 38 séropositifs soit 52,6% ont reçu des antiretroviraux. La réponse partielle a été objectivée chez 16 sur 19 (84,2%) de nos patients. La toxicité observée a été hématologique et 13 patients (22,8%) ont été transfusés pour anémie. Nous concluons que la chimiothérapie est bénéfique dans le traitement du sarcome de Kaposi. Des études comparatives ultérieures précisent si le traitement de ces patients améliore la qualité de vie et la survie. Clinics in Mother and Child Health Vol. 3(1) 2006: 469-47

Antioxidant Capacity, Cytoprotection, and Healing Actions of the Leaf Aqueous Extract of Ocimum suave in Rats Subjected to Chronic and Cold-Restraint Stress Ulcers

We evaluated the qualitative chemical composition and tested the antiulcer actions on cold/restraint stress ulcers, the healing effect on chronic acetic acid-induced gastric ulcers, and the in vivo and in vitro antioxidant capacity of Ocimum suave extract. Triterpenes, flavonoids, sugars, phenols, sterols, and multiple bonds were among the phytochemicals detected. The extract (250–500 mg/kg) dose-dependently inhibited the formation of gastric ulcers induced by cold/restraint stress (52.30%–83.10%). The prophylactic actions were associated with significant increases in gastric mucus production. There was significant histological healing of chronic ulcers following 14-day treatment with O. suave extract (250–500 mg/kg). We also evaluated the efficacy of O. suave extract in cold/restraint-induced oxidative stress in rat stomach tissue. O. suave (500 mg/kg) ameliorated the decreased levels of reduced glutathione from 0.85 (control group) to 2.08 nmol/g tissue. The levels of SOD and catalase were also improved in rats treated with O. suave extract. The extract had a high phenol content (899.87 mg phenol/g catechin equivalent), in vitro DPPH radical scavenging activity (89.29%), and FRAP (antioxidant capacity) (212.64 mg/g catechin equivalent). The cytoprotective and ulcer healing effects of the extract are attributed to enhanced mucus production and the antioxidant properties which may likely be associated with the high presence of flavonoids and polyphenols

Prevalence and associated risk factors of urinary tract infection in pregnancy at the Douala General Hospital, Cameroon: a case–control study

Introduction. The burden of urinary tract infection (UTI) in pregnancy has been understudied in Cameroon.Aim: to determine the prevalence and risk factors of UTI in pregnancy in a tertiary hospital in Cameroon.Materials and methods. A hospital-based matched case-control study of pregnant women with evidence of UTI and those without who underwent antenatal care and gave birth at the Douala General Hospital from January 2014 to December 2018. Demographic, reproductive health/clinical data were collected using a pre-tested questionnaire and analyzed with SPSS.Results. The prevalence of UTI in pregnancy was 4.41 %. Poor antenatal care uptake (AOR = 5.64; 95 % CI = 2.21–14.33), multiple weekly sexual intercourses (AOR = 4.64; 95 % CI = 0.22–96.94), a history of UTI (AOR = 3.01; 95 % CI = 1.12–8.04) and drying the genitals from back to front (AOR = 5.50; 95 % CI = 1.95–15.44) were associated factors.Conclusion. The prevalence of UTI in pregnancy is low amid multiple associated factors. Screening for UTI in pregnancy should be made the standard of obstetric care in Cameroon

Healing and Antisecretory Effects of Aqueous Extract of Eremomastax speciosa (Acanthaceae) on Unhealed Gastric Ulcers

Objective. This work investigated the healing and antisecretory effects of the aqueous extract of Eremomastax speciosa on “unhealed gastric ulcers” associated with gastric acid hypersecretion. Materials and Methods. “Unhealed gastric ulcers” were induced using indomethacin following the establishment of acetic-acid-induced chronic gastric ulcers. The extract (200 and 400 mg/kg, per os) was administered concomitantly with indomethacin (1 mg/kg, subcutaneously). The effects of the extract on both basal and histamine-stimulated gastric acid secretion were determined. Mucus secretion and oxidative stress parameters were measured, and histological assessment of ulcer healing was carried out. Results. The extract significantly promoted the healing process in rats subjected to “unhealed gastric ulcers” (82.4–88.5% healing rates). Treatment with the extract significantly reduced the basal (25.95–49.51% reduction rates) and histamine-stimulated (24.25–47.41%) acid secretions. The healing effect of the extract was associated with a significant (p<0.05) increase of mucus secretion and concentrations of antioxidant enzymes compared with the controls. The extract at the highest dose showed normalization of the mucosa, without glandular destruction and with the disappearance of fibrosis and lymphocyte infiltration. Conclusion. The abilities of the extract to increase mucus secretion, to reinforce antioxidant status, and to inhibit acid secretion would be some of the mechanisms by which this extract would accelerate the healing process in “unhealed gastric ulcers.