7 research outputs found
Causes of visual disability among Central Africans with diabetes mellitus
Background: Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) remains a common and one of the major causes of blindness in the developed and western societies. The same situation is shown in emerging economic areas (5,6). In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) however, the issues of visual disability due to diabetes mellitus (DM) are overshadowed by the presence of the prevalent and common nutritional deficiency diseases and eye infectionsObjective: This clinic-based study was conducted to determine whether diabetic retinopathy is independently related to visual disability in black patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) from Kinshasa, Congo.Methods: A total of 299 urban patients with DM and low income including 108 cases of visual disability and matched for time admission and DM type to 191 controls, were assessed. Demographic, clinical, and ophthalmic data were assessed using univariate and multivariate analyses.Results: Age >60 years, female sex, presence of diabetic retinopathy (DR), proliferative DR, shorter DM duration, glaucoma, macular oedema, diabetic nephropathy were the univariate risk factors of visual disability. Using logistic regression model, visual disability was significantly associated with female sex and diabetic retinopathy.Conclusion: The risk of visual disability is 4 times higher in patients with diabetic retinopathy and 2 times higher in females with DM. Therefore, to prevent further increase of visual disability, the Congolese Ministry of Health should prioritize the eye care in patients with DM.Keywords: Visual disability, diabetic retinopathy, females, risk factors, Central Afric
Diagnostic performance of several biomarkers for identification of cases of non-communicable diseases among Central Africans
Background: This study determined the diagnostic performance of new
biomarkers for a composite diagnosis of non-communicable diseases
(NCDs) among Central Africans. Methods: This case-control study was
conducted at LOMO Medical Centre, Kinshasa, DR Congo (DRC) between
January \u2013 December, 2008. The cases comprised 226 participants
with concurrent presence of at least 2 or more of NCDs. Anthropometric
parameters and blood pressure were measured while blood samples were
assayed for biomarkers. The receiver operating characteristics curve
and the logistic regression model were applied. Results: Serum selenium
(Se) had specificity and sensitivity of 72.4% and 91.1%, respectively
with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.802; Nitric oxide (NO)
(specificity: 72.4%; sensitivity: 93.0%) (AUC = 0.800); Thyroid
stimulating hormone (TSH) levels > 6 Mu/L (specificity: 75%;
sensitivity: 65%) (AUC = 0.0.727); serum calcium levels of 65
110g/L (specificity: 76%; sensitivity: 75%) (AUC = 0.822); and daily
salt intake of 6510 g/day (specificity: 75%; sensitivity: 67%)
(AUC = 0.653) in the diagnosis of all NCDs, which were all highly
significant (<0.0001). Conclusion: Serum Se, NO, calcium, TSH and
daily salt intake had high diagnostic performance as biomarkers for
identification of patients with concurrent NCDs in the study
population
The use of plants in the traditional management of diabetes in Nigeria: Pharmacological and toxicological considerations
Ethnopharmacological relevance: The prevalence of diabetes is on a steady increase worldwide and it is now identified as one of the main threats to human health in the 21st century. In Nigeria, the use of herbal medicine alone or alongside prescription drugs for its management is quite common. We hereby carry out a review of medicinal plants traditionally used for diabetes management in Nigeria. Based on the available evidence on the species׳ pharmacology and safety, we highlight ways in which their therapeutic potential can be properly harnessed for possible integration into the country׳s healthcare system.
Materials and methods: Ethnobotanical information was obtained from a literature search of electronic databases such as Google Scholar, Pubmed and Scopus up to 2013 for publications on medicinal plants used in diabetes management, in which the place of use and/or sample collection was identified as Nigeria. ‘Diabetes’ and ‘Nigeria’ were used as keywords for the primary searches; and then ‘Plant name – accepted or synonyms’, ‘Constituents’, ‘Drug interaction’ and/or ‘Toxicity’ for the secondary searches.
Results: The hypoglycemic effect of over a hundred out of the 115 plants reviewed in this paper is backed by preclinical experimental evidence, either in vivo or in vitro. One-third of the plants have been studied for their mechanism of action, while isolation of the bioactive constituent(s) has been accomplished for twenty three plants.
Some plants showed specific organ toxicity, mostly nephrotoxic or hepatotoxic, with direct effects on the levels of some liver function enzymes. Twenty eight plants have been identified as in vitro modulators of P-glycoprotein and/or one or more of the cytochrome P450 enzymes, while eleven plants altered the levels of phase 2 metabolic enzymes, chiefly glutathione, with the potential to alter the pharmacokinetics of co-administered drugs.
Conclusion: This review, therefore, provides a useful resource to enable a thorough assessment of the profile of plants used in diabetes management so as to ensure a more rational use. By anticipating potential toxicities or possible herb–drug interactions, significant risks which would otherwise represent a burden on the country׳s healthcare system can be avoided
Causes of visual disability among Central Africans with diabetes
Background: Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) remains a common and one of the
major causes of blindness in the developed and western societies. The
same situation is shown in emerging economic areas (5,6). In
sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) however, the issues of visual disability due
to diabetes mellitus (DM) are overshadowed by the presence of the
prevalent and common nutritional deficiency diseases and eye infections
Objective: This clinic-based study was conducted to determine whether
diabetic retinopathy is independently related to visual disability in
black patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) from Kinshasa, Congo.
Methods: A total of 299 urban patients with DM and low income including
108 cases of visual disability and matched for time admission and DM
type to 191 controls, were assessed. Demographic, clinical, and
ophthalmic data were assessed using univariate and multivariate
analyses. Results: Age ≥60 years, female sex, presence of
diabetic retinopathy (DR), proliferative DR, shorter DM duration,
glaucoma, macular oedema, diabetic nephropathy were the univariate risk
factors of visual disability. Using logistic regression model, visual
disability was significantly associated with female sex and diabetic
retinopathy. Conclusion: The risk of visual disability is 4 times
higher in patients with diabetic retinopathy and 2 times higher in
females with DM. Therefore, to prevent further increase of visual
disability, the Congolese Ministry of Health should prioritize the eye
care in patients with DM