Prevalence and risk factors of pre-hypertension in Congolese pre and post menopausal women.

Objectives: We aimed to assess the prevalence of prehypertension and its associated factors in a population of Congolese pre and postmenopausal women. Methods: We had consecutively recruited 200 women (100 premenopausal and 100 postmenopausal) aged 40 \u2013 60 years at the department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University of Kinshasa Hospital, and AKRAM Medical Center in Kinshasa, DRC. An interview was carried out using a questionnaire that comprised questions related to lifestyle, menses characteristics, medical history of diabetes, CVD, hypertension, current antihypertensive medication and use of traditional medicine. In addition, physical examination and biological measurements were performed. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to assess associated factors with prehypertension. Results: Of the participants, 34% were normotensive, 38.5 % prehypertensive and 27.5% hypertensive. Compared to normal blood pressure, prehypertension was common in the older (age>50 years of age) women. Menopause, the use of traditional medicine and older age were associated with prehypertension. However, only menopause (aOR: 2.71; 95%CI: 1.10-3.52) and the use of traditional medicine (aOR: 2.24; 95% CI: 1.07-4.7) remained associated with prehypertension in a multivariate logistic regression analysis. Conclusion: This study showed that prehypertension is common among Congolese menopausal women, and that menopause and the use of traditional medicine were the main factors associated with prehypertension

Goishi tea consumption inhibits airway hyperresponsiveness in BALB/c mice

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) is one of the important traits that characterize bronchial asthma. Goishi tea is a post-heating fermented tea that has been reported to have higher free radical scavenging activity. In this study, we evaluated the prophylactic effects of Goishi tea on AHR in BALB/c mice.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The number of inflammatory cells in BAL fluid was considerably reduced in Goishi tea/<it>Der f </it>and Gallic acid/<it>Der f </it>groups as compared with Tap water/<it>Der f </it>group. Regarding inflammatory cells in BAL, a significant reduction of eosinophils and neutrophils was observed in Goishi tea-treated mice (p < 0.01), as well as in the Gallic acid/<it>Der f </it>group (p < 0.05), as compared with Tap water/<it>Der f </it>group. In asthmatic mice (Tap water/<it>Der f </it>group), the intensity of airway resistance increased simultaneously with the increase in acetylcholine concentration in a dose-dependant way. AHR was significantly inhibited in Goishi tea/<it>Der f </it>and Gallic acid/<it>Der f </it>(p < 0.01) groups as compared with the Tap water/<it>Der f </it>group. Regarding serum specific-IgG₁, significantly lower levels of this antibody were observed in Goishi tea/<it>Der f </it>and Gallic acid/<it>Der f </it>groups as compared with the Tap water/<it>Der f </it>group (p < 0.05). In addition, adiponectin level was significantly higher in the Goishi tea group as compared with the Tap water treated mice (p < 0.01).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The results suggest that Goishi tea consumption exerted an inhibitory effect on eosinophilic and neutrophilic infiltration in the lung, attenuated the increase in airway resistance and increased the production of adiponectin; thus reducing Der f induced allergic inflammatory process in mice.</p

Health and Family Support Issues of Women Refugees and Related Nursing Interventions: Literature Review

Aim:&nbsp;Migration has become one of global human security issues of the 21st century. Women refugees face a unique set of problems and their health is often compromised. The aim of this study was to describe health and family support issues encountered by women refugees in refugee setting and related nursing interventions. Methods:&nbsp;A literature review was performed using Academic Search Premier, CINAHL and Medline databases, and the following keywords were used separately and in combination to retrieve related abstracts and articles: `women refugees`, `health`, `nursing`. Only original articles from qualitative studies published in English and focusing on women\u27s health and family support in the refugee setting were selected for the review. Results:&nbsp;Three major themes related to women refugees\u27 health issues were identified: `Culture sensitivity`, `Seeking life balance` and `Gender-based violence`. In addition, nine major themes related to family support were found: `Family reunion (difficulty to emigrate)`, `Changes in family\u27s connections and roles`, `Unsatisfactory family life`, `Discrimination and contempt by community`, `Health problems in children`, `Mental health problems in family member`, `Adjustment and adaptation of life pattern in a new country`, `Family time and togetherness` and `Concern about forgetting one\u27s homeland`. On the other hand, we identified 11 major themes related to nursing interventions implemented for women refugees. Conclusion:&nbsp;Disaster nurses have important role to protect and promote human security among women refugees. Future studies should determine how disaster nurses can efficiently promote human security for women in refugee setting

Air Quality in the Working Environment and Respiratory Health of Female Congolese Stone Quarry Workers.

Environmental and occupational exposure to high dust levels are known to be associated with lung function impairment. We assessed the ambient air quality in the working environment and the respiratory health of female stone quarry workers in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in a context of severe economic, security, and health crises. This was a case-control study conducted in three stone quarry sites. Participants were 256 dust-exposed female stone quarry workers matched to 256 unexposed female office workers and market tax collectors (N = 512). They each answered a structured respiratory health questionnaire and underwent physical examination and a lung function test with the use of a spirometer and peak flow meter. Quality of ambient air in the working environment was assessed by means of a BRAMC air quality monitor (BR-AIR-329). Results showed that exposed women did not use any personal protective equipment (PPE); in quarry sites, abnormally high levels of PM &lt;sub&gt;2.5&lt;/sub&gt; (205 ± 13.2 μg/m &lt;sup&gt;3&lt;/sup&gt; vs. 31.3 ± 10.3 μg/m &lt;sup&gt;3&lt;/sup&gt; in control sites; p &lt; 0.001) and volatile organic compounds (VOC, 2.2 ± 0.2 μg/m &lt;sup&gt;3&lt;/sup&gt; vs. 0.5 ± 0.3 μg/m &lt;sup&gt;3&lt;/sup&gt; , respectively; p &lt; 0.01) were found. Furthermore, respiratory complaints were more common among exposed women (32.4% vs. 3.5% in controls; p &lt; 0.01), who had abnormal chest auscultation and reduced lung capacity than controls (mean PEFR: 344.8 ± 2.26 and 405 ± 67.7 L/s, respectively; p &lt; 0.001 Conclusion. Findings from this study show that in the midst of severe crises in the DRC, women stone quarry workers are exposed to abnormally high levels of respiratory hazards, which contribute to impaired lung function. There is a need to regulate quarry work and improve the working conditions in quarry sites in the DRC