Electrolyte disturbances in diabetic patients in Cotonou, Benin

Background: As globally observed in low income countries, the incidence of diabetes rise rapidly in Benin. Electrolytes imbalance contribute to complications observed in diabetes. The aim of this study was to estimate electrolytes disturbances in diabetic patients in Cotonou, Benin.Methods: A total of 260 participants were included in the study: 150 diabetic patients and for the control group110 age and sex matched non diabetic subjects. Glucose, Ca2+, Mg2+, K+, Na+ and Cl- were determined in fasting blood samples. The proportions of subjects with abnormal values in the diabetic population and in the control group were compared using Chi-square test. The diabetic population was divided in three groups in regard of the fasting plasma glucose (FPG) level. For each group, the mean values of the parameters were compared to those of the control group using the Student’t-test.The significance level was set to 5%.Results: Near half of the diabetic patients suffered from hyperkalemia (48%). Hypocalcemia was observed in 41.3% of the diabetic patients and hypercalcemia was found in 23.3%. Hypomagnesemia and hyponatremia affected more than 40% of the diabetic subjects.  The mean values of serum potassium were significantly elevated in all three groups of diabetic patients compared to the control group.Conclusions: This study showed that electrolyte imbalances affect the diabetic patients in Cotonou

Electrolyte disturbances in diabetic patients in Cotonou, Benin

Background: As globally observed in low income countries, the incidence of diabetes rise rapidly in Benin. Electrolytes imbalance contribute to complications observed in diabetes. The aim of this study was to estimate electrolytes disturbances in diabetic patients in Cotonou, Benin.Methods: A total of 260 participants were included in the study: 150 diabetic patients and for the control group110 age and sex matched non diabetic subjects. Glucose, Ca2+, Mg2+, K+, Na+ and Cl- were determined in fasting blood samples. The proportions of subjects with abnormal values in the diabetic population and in the control group were compared using Chi-square test. The diabetic population was divided in three groups in regard of the fasting plasma glucose (FPG) level. For each group, the mean values of the parameters were compared to those of the control group using the Student’t-test.The significance level was set to 5%.Results: Near half of the diabetic patients suffered from hyperkalemia (48%). Hypocalcemia was observed in 41.3% of the diabetic patients and hypercalcemia was found in 23.3%. Hypomagnesemia and hyponatremia affected more than 40% of the diabetic subjects.  The mean values of serum potassium were significantly elevated in all three groups of diabetic patients compared to the control group.Conclusions: This study showed that electrolyte imbalances affect the diabetic patients in Cotonou

A Phase II Pilot Trial to Evaluate CoBaT-Y017 Safety and Efficacy against Uncomplicated Falciparum Malaria versus Artemether-Lumefantrine in Benin Subjects

Background. Considering the promising results of Phase I clinical trials with herbal medicine CoBaT-Y017, a Phase II study was conducted with Plasmodium falciparum malaria-infected patients, for efficacy and safety evaluation of CoBaT-Y017 compared with Artemether-Lumefantrine used as a positive control. Methods. A single-blind randomized trial was conducted on 25 eligible males aged 18–40 years randomly assigned to two treatment groups: CoBaT-Y017 or Artemether-Lumefantrine. The first group received 35 ml of CoBaT-Y017 in 1.5 L mineral water administered daily for four consecutive days; the second group received oral Artemether-Lumefantrine, using WHO-recommended therapeutic dose regimens. For both drugs, efficacy for parasite clearance and safety were evaluated clinically, haematologically, and biochemically on days 1–4, 7, 14, 21, and 28. Clinical- and laboratory-adverse events (AEs) were recorded until day 28. Results. 13 and 12 patients were randomized into CoBaT-Y017 arm and Artemether-Lumefantrine arm, respectively. In all patients, parasitaemia was adequately neutralized with CoBaT-Y017 group patients’ parasite clearance lagging slightly behind that of Artemether-Lumefantrine’s group, but without a statistically significant difference (HR = 1.08, 95% CI 0.47–2.51, P=0.85). Physical and laboratory examinations did not show any significant changes in vital signs, biochemical, and haematological parameters. In the Artemether-Lumefantrine arm, 100% (12/12) of patients experienced, at least, one adverse event versus 61.5% (8/13) in the CoBaT-Y017 arm. Conclusion. CoBaT-Y017 exhibited similar antimalarial efficacy against P. falciparum to that of Artemether-Lumefantrine, with good tolerability and safety