Early Detection of Acute Renal Lesions by Serum Cystatin C in Children at Hospital and University Centre of Brazzaville

 Introduction: Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) is considered one of the main public health problems. The effective management of these alterations is based on the early detection of renal lesions. The objective of this study was to evaluate the contribution of the Cystatin C (CysC) assay in the early diagnosis of acute kidney injury (AKI) in children hospitalized in pediatric intensive care units in Brazzaville. Materials and Methods: Sixty children at high risk of developing AKI were included. Consent form signed was obtained from parents, socio-demographic data, weight and height of children recorded. Creatinine (Cr), CysC and urea were assayed in serum 24 hours after admission. Glomerular filtration clearance was estimated using serum creatinine and CysC. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was calculated from CysC and Cr. The diagnostic accuracy was determined by comparing the results of CysC to those of Cr (considered as a reference biomarker). Results: The median age was 5 years (with extremes ranging from 1 month to 17 years). Cr, CysC, urea, and GFR/Cr (mean ± standard deviation [range]) were 0.94±1.17 (0.2–1.4 mg/dl), 0.14 ± 0.062 (0.053-0.095 mg/l), 46.65±47.75 (15.0–45.0 mg/dl), 81.85±31.90 (≥190 ml/min per 1.73 m2 , respectively. The level of CysC in patients with ARL was significantly higher than that of children with normal renal function (p<0.001). CysC detected 71.7% of children with AKI versus 26.7% with Cr. The performance characteristics (area under the curve, sensitivity, specificity) were 0.63, 89.6% and 37.5% for creatinine and 0.76, 92.9% and 54.8% for cystatin respectively. Analysis of the characteristics of the two curves revealed that CysC had a significantly higher diagnostic capacity (p<0.001). Conclusion: Our results show that the performance of serum CysC in detecting AKI early was superior to that of serum Cr in children hospitalized in pediatric intensive care units in Brazzaville

Food Ration and Mental Training for the Improvement of the Free Throw Performance in Congolese Beginners Basketball Players

Objective: Through an experimental study, the present work aims at testing the effectiveness of diet and mental imagery on the success of free throw in Congolese beginners Basketball Players. Method: 45 players participated in this experimental study in Brazzaville (Congo) .These subjects were divided into 3 groups. Group I (n=15), made up of beginner Basketball players subjected to a balanced diet to the mental training and to the practice of throwing on the ground. Group II (n=15), made up of beginner basketball players from a local team subjected to mental training of the throw and food monitoring; Group III (n=15), beginner Basketball Players participating in the district competitions. The variables studied were: flexion of the legs (FL), body orientation (BO), the extension of the arms (EA), and the success of shots (SS). Results: The results indicate that the best progress was made by the players in Group I: + 67.7% for the squat, + 38% for the orientation of the body, + 45.7% for the extension of arm, and 83.7% for successful shots. Conclusion: In summary, mental rehearsal combined with a balanced diet facilitates the practice of physical and sporting activity and significantly improves learning and performance of athletes

Production, Partial Purification and Based SDS-PAGE Profiles of Caseinolytic Enzyme in two Bacillus Strains Isolated from Fermented Cassava leaves "Ntoba mbodi" in Congo Brazzaville

Two Bacillus strains isolated from Ntoba mbodi : Bacillus megaterium (B.me NM 02) Bacillus licheniformis (B.li NM01), has shown a significant caseinolytic enzyme activity. We set optimization of growth and enzyme production conditions. Several parameters have been optimized: temperature, pH, various types of media, carbon and nitrogen sources. In both strains, growth is possible from 25 to 60 ° C with an optimum temperature at 37°C for B.li and at 35°C for B.me. Enzyme production was observed from 25 to 55 °C with an optimum temperature of 30 °C for B.li. Enzyme production was observed from 25 to 50 ° C with an optimum temperature of 35 ° C in B.me. For pH, growth and enzyme production can be at 5, 7 and 9 with an optimum at 7 for both strains. The LB medium is better for growth and enzyme production than TSB for B.li and B.me. Among the carbon sources used, fructose is better for growth after 48 hours of incubation in both strains (B.li: 0,93±0,001, B.me: 0,928±0,002), but for enzyme production fructose remains the best carbon source for B.li (14,33±1,24) , while starch is the best for B.me (14.66±1,24). Concerning nitrogen sources, in both strains the best source of growth is the yeast extracts (B.li: 0,969±0,015, B.me: 0,952±0,01). For enzyme production, the two sources can be used for B.li.(14,333±1,247) but for B .me (14,333±0,471) only the yeast extracts is the best as well as for growth and enzyme production. Furthermore, in both strains the produced enzyme was partially purified by using ammonium sulfate precipitation, and SDS-PAGE has been hold, profiles of specific bands are useful to give more information and differentiate the two strains