RETRACTED ARTICLE: Hydrologic evaluation on the ERA-Interim output using observed river discharge data

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Diagnosis of seeds supply of leafy vegetables in Yaoundé, Cameroon

The traditional leafy vegetables play a major role in the Cameroonian diet. In the metropolitan zone of Yaoundé, these vegetables are produced year round in family and commercial exploitations. The quality of the seeds, their mode of production and their system of distribution are little known. With the aim to better understand the seed system of traditional  vegetables, a study on the supply, the production and the quality of these seeds was carried out. The data were collected using questionnaires on a sample of 133 traditional leafy vegetable producers of the urban and peri-urban zone of Yaoundé. The data were analyzed using SNAP 9  software. The study showed that the most produced species are amaranth (Amaranthus cruentus), nightshade (Solanum scabrum) and jute mallow (Corchorus olitorius). The market-gardeners are influenced in their choice of vegetable to cultivate by the preference of the customers (85.7% of the respondents) and the productivity of the cultivars (66.2% of the  respondents). More than 40% of the respondents buy seeds in the  markets while 7.5% buy seed from other producers and 10.5% in the agricultural inputs stores. About half (47.4%) of the respondents produce seeds by leaving plants in the field after the first or the second harvest while 36.8% of the market-gardeners select the most vigorous plants for seed production. On average, 58.7% of respondents preserve the seeds in hermetically closed bottles and plastic bag. Storage on field is practiced by a significant part of market-gardeners (41.4%). A total of 79.7% of the producers reported constraints with the produced seeds. Poor seed  germination (81.1% of respondents) and the non uniformity of the seed (48.1% of the producers) were reported as the major constraints. The principal source of seed supply in the metropolitan zone of Yaoundé is the self production with rudimentary production and storage techniques subject to many qualitative constraints.Key words: leafy, vegetables, seeds, supply, qualit

Electrolyte imbalance in type 2 diabetes: a case study from the West region of Cameroon

Background: Diabetes mellitus remains a global public health challenge despite advances in medicine, with Cameroon harboring about half a million patients. Electrolyte imbalance has been reported to contribute to the complications observed in diabetes. The aim of this study was to investigate electrolyte disturbances in type 2 diabetic (T2D) patients under follow up in two health facilities (Dschang District Hospital and Bafoussam Regional Hospital) of the West Region of Cameroon.Methods: The study involved 200 T2D patients and 50 non-diabetic control subjects. A questionnaire was used to acquire demographic, anthropometric, clinical and psychosocial data. Fasting blood samples were collected for the determination of fasting plasma glucose (FPG), glycated haemoglobin, calcium, potassium and sodium levels. The diabetic population was divided into two and three groups according to their glycated hemoglobin and FPG levels respectively. The Student’s t-test was used to compare mean values between patients and controls, while the chi square test was used to assess for differences between categorical variables. The significance level was set at 5%.Results: Almost all diabetic patients were diagnosed of hypernatremia (98%) versus 70% for the control group (p<0.001). There was no record of hyponatremia. Hypercalcemia was observed in 30% of the diabetic patients and hypocalcemia in 48%. The prevalence of hyperkalemia was comparable between patients and controls, while control subjects tended to be more hypokalemic (p=0.038). For all three electrolytes investigated, more than 70% of the imbalances were observed in patients with hyperglycemia when compared to patients having normal FPG or hypoglycemia.Conclusions: Electrolyte imbalance is common in type 2 diabetic patients from the West Region of Cameroon, especially those presenting with hyperglycemia

Liver function tests of HIV/AIDS patients at the nylon district hospital, Douala, Cameroon

Background: Antiretroviral therapy (ART) which substantially reduces morbidity and mortality in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seropositive patients has been associated with hepatotoxicity. This study was aimed at investigating the effects of HIV infection and ART on liver function amongst HIV seropositive patients in Douala, Cameroon.Methods: A cross- sectional study was conducted from March to August, 2012 at the Nylon District Hospital, Douala. Demographic data were collected using a structured questionnaire.  Serum alanine and aspartate aminotransferases (ALT and AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) activities were determined using colorimetric techniques.Results: The mean age of the study participants was 37.9 ± 6.02 years. A majority of the study participants (68.0%) were females. The mean CD4+ T lymphocyte cell count of HIV/AIDS patients on ART was significantly higher than the ART- naïve patients (p<0.05). The mean serum AST and ALT activities of ART-naïve patients were significantly higher than the control subjects (p<0.05). Similarly, the mean serum transaminases and GGT activities of HIV/AIDS patients on ART were significantly higher than the control subjects (p<0.05). The mean serum ALP and GGT activities of HIV/AIDS patients receiving ART were significantly higher than the ART- naïve patients (p<0.05).Conclusions: The present study provides evidence to suggest that both infection with HIV and treatment with ART are associated with liver injury.

Epidemiological, clinical features and susceptibility pattern of shigellosis in the buea health district, Cameroon

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Shigellosis is an acute invasive enteric infection caused by bacteria belonging to the genus <it>Shigella</it>; it is clinically manifested by bloody diarrhoea. Shigellosis is endemic in many developing countries including Cameroon and also occurs in epidemics causing considerable morbidity and mortality. This study evaluated the epidemiological and clinical features of <it>Shigella </it>and the resistance pattern of isolates to commonly used antibiotics in the Buea Health District in Cameroon, from April to August, 2010.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Of the 223 stool samples cultured, 10 (4.5%) yielded <it>Shigella </it>species. Isolation rate was observed to be more in children below 15 years (7.89%), and also higher in rural areas (6.35%). All 10 isolates showed resistance to at least two antibiotics and 9 (90%) were multi-drug resistant. The highest resistance rates were encountered with cotrimoxazole (90%) and amoxicillin (80%). Least resistance was observed with azithromycin (10%).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Shigellosis is more prevalent in children below 15 years in the Buea District. There is a high level of resistance to most of the antibiotics used for the treatment of shigellosis including extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) as well as evidence of resistance to quinolones. Azithromycin was found to be the drug of choice for shigellosis in this setting.</p

Interactions between human immunodeficiency virus and herpes viruses within the oral mucosa

ABSTRACTThere is evidence from clinical case reports and epidemiological studies that human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) can be transmitted through oral sex. Herpes viruses that appear in the oral mucosa might influence the oral replication of HIV. A review of data suggesting that interactions occur between HIV and herpes viruses indicates that such interactions might operate in the oral mucosa. Defining the mechanisms by which herpes viruses interact with HIV in the oral mucosa should permit intervention measures to be targeted more precisely

Evaluation of the single platform Muse® Auto CD4/CD4 % system in Cameroon

Background: according to who revised guidelines for scaling up antiretroviral therapy (ART) in adults and children living in resource-limited settings, there is an urgent need for laboratory monitoring, including the numeration of CD4 T cells.Objective: the study compared the muse® auto CD4/CD4% System for CD4 t cell enumeration in absolute counts and in percentages, to the Guava® AutoD4/CD4% System.Design: This was a prospective study using adults, adolescents, children and infant’s samples.Setting: The Centre International de Diagnostic Medical (CIDM), Yaounde, a research laboratory devoted to HIV screening and monitoring affiliated to the University of Yaounde I.Subjects: K3-EDTA-blood samples from 111 patients (77 adults, 12 adolescents, 18 children and 4 infants) were collected and tested. All participants signed an informed consent form whereas the guardian and parent of children signed the assent form.Results: the absolute CD4 t lymphocyte counts as well as the percentage CD4 lymphocyte of the Muse® AutoCD4/CD4% and GuavaAutoCD4/CD4% Systems, were highly correlated with an interclass correlation coefficient of 0.997 (95%CI: 0.996-0.998) and 0.991 (95% CI: 0.987-0.994) respectively. The Bland-Altman analysis limits of agreement were -5.79 cells/μl (95%CI: [-97.77; 86.19]) for the absolute CD4 T lymphocyte counts and -1.93 (95%CI: [-7.29; – 3.43]) for CD4 T lymphocyte percentage. The numbers of outliers were similar (6/111=5.41%) both for CD4 T lymphocyte counts and percentage. In addition, Cohen’s Kappa ranged from 0.95 to 1 according to CD4 T lymphocyte counts thresholds (p&lt;0.001), showing agreement between both methods. Conclusion: this study demonstrates that the muse™ auto CD4/CD4% system constitutes a promising system for CD4 t cell counting comparable to existing reference methods, and should facilitate wider access to CD4 T cell enumeration for adults and children with HIV infection living in resource-limited countries

The Dutch Citizen's Understanding and Perception of the Actors Involved in the Netherlands' COVID-19 Pandemic Response:A Focus Group Study During the First Pandemic Wave

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic was a public health emergency (PHE) of unprecedented magnitude and impact. It provided the possibility to investigate the Dutch citizens' understanding and perception of the actors involved in the Dutch pandemic response as a PHE unfolded. Methods: Three focus groups (FGs) were held with 16 Dutch citizens in June 2020. Citizens were recruited using the Dutch Health Care Consumer Panel. During the FGs, participants were asked to fill in a table with actors they thought were involved in the management of the COVID-19 pandemic. They also received information on actors involved in Dutch outbreak responses. Then, the actors named and omitted by the participants were discussed. Results: An analysis of the FGs suggests that the Dutch citizens participating in the study were not fully aware of the scope of actors involved in the Dutch COVID-19 pandemic response. Some participants would have appreciated more information on the actors involved. This would help them have an informed opinion of the actors involved in the decision-making process, and accept non-pharmaceutical interventions implemented. Lastly, most participants recognised that they played a role in limiting the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, very few spontaneously mentioned themselves as actors within the COVID-19 pandemic response. Conclusion: This study suggests that early in the COVID-19 pandemic, the Dutch citizens participating in this study's FG did not have a complete understanding of the scope of actors involved in the Dutch COVID-19 pandemic response, or the potential role of the citizen. Future research can build on these results to explore the citizen's perception of their role during PHEs of another origin, as well as other geographical and historical contexts. Patient or Public Contribution: The public participated in the focus groups and received a non-expert report summarising the outcomes of the focus groups.</p