Relationship between Younger Age, Autoimmunity, Cardiometabolic Risk, Oxidative Stress, HAART, and Ischemic Stroke in Africans with HIV/AIDS

Background and Purpose. It now appears clear that both HIV/AIDS and antiretroviral therapy (HAART) use are associated with higher risk of cardiovascular disease such as stroke. In this study, we evaluated the prevalence, the risk factors, and the cardiometabolic comorbidities of stroke in HIV/AIDS Central African patients. Methods. This hospital-based cross-sectional study collected clinical, laboratory, and imaging data of black Central African heterosexual, intravenous drug nonuser, and HIV/AIDS patients. Results. There were 54 men and 62 women, with a female to male ratio of 1.2 : 1. All were defined by hypercoagulability and oxidative stress. Hemorrhagic stroke was reported in 1 patient, ischemic stroke in 17 patients, and all stroke subtypes in 18 patients (15%). Younger age <45 years (P = .003), autoimmunity (P < .0001), and metabolic syndrome defined by IDF criteria (P < .0001) were associated with ischemic stroke. Conclusions. Clustering of several cardiometabolic factors, autoimmunity, oxidative stress, and lifestyle changes may explain accelerated atherosclerosis and high risk of stroke in these young black Africans with HIV/AIDS. Prevention and intervention programs are needed

Profil épidémio-clinique et évolutif des cardiomyopathies dilatées au Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Brazzaville, Congo

L'objectif de cette étude est de contribuer à l'amélioration de la prise en charge des patients porteurs de cardiomyopathies dilatées (CMD) à Brazzaville. Cette étude prospective et analytique, a été réalisée au CHU de Brazzaville entre le 1er&nbsp;Janvier 2014 et le 30 Juin 2015. Elle a inclus les patients hospitalisés dans le service de cardiologie pour une insuffisance cardiaque (IC) en rapport avec une CMD. L'étude a porté sur 100 patients. La fréquence hospitalière de la CMD était de 32,1%. Il s'agissait de 38 hommes (38%) et 62 femmes (62%), âgés en moyenne de 52,9 ± 17,1 ans. L'IC était globale dans 72 cas (72%). L'ECG s'inscrivait en rythme sinusal (95%), et objectivait une hypertrophie ventriculaire gauche (40%), un bloc de branche gauche (16%), et une fibrillation auriculaire (5%). La fraction d'éjection du ventricule gauche (VG) était en moyenne de 33,4 ± 6,8%, et le diamètre télédiastolique du VG de 65,5 ± 7,0 mm. Le traitement comportait un diurétique de l'anse (100%), un IEC/ARA2 (100%), un bêtabloquant (38%), un digitalique (30%), un anti-aldostérone (16%), et un anti-vitamine K (11%). Au terme d'un suivi de 12 mois, le taux de létalité globale était de 9%, le taux de réhospitalisation de 12%, et le taux de perdus de vue de 41%. Cette étude a montré que la CMD est une affection fréquente, et une des principales causes d'insuffisance cardiaque. La durée de suivi brève et le nombre important de perdus de vue ne permettent pas d'en évaluer la survie dans notre contexte

Assessing clustering of metabolic syndrome components available at primary care for Bantu Africans using factor analysis in the general population

The original publication is available at http://www.biomedcentral.com/1756-0500/6/228Bibliography.ABSTRACT: To provide a step-by-step description of the application of factor analysis and interpretation of the results based on anthropometric parameters(body mass index or BMI and waist circumferenceor WC), blood pressure(BP), lipid-lipoprotein(triglycerides and HDL-C) and glucose among Bantu Africans with different numbers and cutoffs of components of metabolic syndrome(MS). This study was a cross-sectional, comparative, and correlational survey conducted between January and April 2005, in Kinshasa Hinterland, DRC. The clustering of cardiovascular risk factors was defined in all, MS group according to IDF(WC, BP, triglycerides, HDL-C, glucose), absence and presence of cardiometabolic risk(CDM) group(BMI,WC, BP, fasting glucose, and post-load glucose). RESULTS:Out of 977 participants, 17.4%( n = 170), 11%( n = 107), and 7.7%(n = 75) had type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM), MS, and CDM, respectively. Gender did not influence on all variables. Except BMI, levels of the rest variables were significantly higher in presence of T2DM than non-diabetics. There was a negative correlation between glucose types and BP in absence of CDM. In factor analysis for all, BP(factor 1) and triglycerides-HDL(factor 2) explained 55.4% of the total variance. In factor analysis for MS group, triglycerides-HDL-C(factor 1), BP(factor 2), and abdominal obesity-dysglycemia(factor 3) explained 75.1% of the total variance. In absence of CDM, glucose (factor 1) and obesity(factor 2) explained 48.1% of the total variance. In presence of CDM, 3 factors (factor 1 = glucose, factor 2 = BP, and factor 3 = obesity) explained 73.4% of the total variance. CONCLUSION: The MS pathogenesis may be more glucose-centered than abdominal obesity-centered in not considering lipid-lipoprotein , while BP and triglycerides-HDL-C could be the most strong predictors of MS in the general population. It should be specifically defined by ethnic cut-offs of waist circumference among Bantu Africans.Publishers' Versio

Intake of Gnetum africanum and Dacryodes edulis, imbalance of oxidant/antioxidant status and prevalence of diabetic retinopathy in central Africans.

To estimate the prevalence of DR and to correlate cardiometabolic, sociodemographic, and oxidant/antioxidant imbalance data to the prevalence of DR.This case-control study included type 2 DM (T2 DM) patients with DR (n = 66), T2 DM patients without DR (N = 84), and healthy controls (n = 45) without DR, in Kinshasa town. Diet, albuminemia, serum vitamins, and 8-isoprostane were examined.No intake of safou (OR = 2.7 95% CI 1.2-5.8; P = 0.014), low serum albumin <4.5 g/dL (OR-2.9 95% CI 1.4-5.9; P = 0.003), no intake of fumbwa (OR = 2.8 95% CI 1.2-6.5; P = 0.014), high 8-isoprostane (OR = 14.3 95% CI 4.5-46; P<0.0001), DM duration ≥ 5 years (OR = 3.8 95% CI 1.6-9.1; P = 0.003), and low serum vitamin C (OR = 4.5 95% CI 1.3-15.5; P = 0.016) were identified as the significant independent determinants of DR.The important role of oxidant/antioxidant status imbalance and diet is demonstrated in DR

Left Ventricle Pseudoaneurysm: Contribution of Multimodality Imaging to the Diagnosis

The left ventricle pseudoaneurysm is an anomaly of the left ventricle and is severed and joined with a pocket look. There may be secondary to a myocardial infarction, trauma, or surgical procedure. Sometimes the cause is not found. Complications are heart failure, arrhythmias, vascular embolism, and sudden death. The treatment is surgical only. The authors report the case of a black patient of 64 years old, without medical history, had seen to a deformation of the cardiac shadow in radiography. The left ventricle pseudoaneurysm and in situ thrombus are visualized in echocardiography and CT scan. The patient is waiting for heart surgery

Prehypertension and Hypertension among Schoolchildren in Brazzaville, Congo

Background. To determine the prevalence and associated factors of prehypertension (pre-HT) and hypertension (HT) in schoolchildren at Brazzaville (Congo). Methods. This cross-sectional study was conducted from March to May 2011 in five representative urban schools in Brazzaville. American Pediatric Society’s definition of pre-HT and HT was used. The measurement of blood pressure was obtained using auscultator method. Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed to establish associations between blood pressure levels and sociobiographical factors. Results. 603 children were included. The mean age was 11.8±3.6 years (range 5–18 years). The prevalence of pre-HT was 20.7% (n=125). Factors associated with pre-HT were secondary school (P=0.02), private schools (P<0.004), migrants (P=0.03), the obese (P=0.004), high socioeconomic level (P<0.01), and overweight (P=0.02). In logistic regression, the independent determinants of pre-HT were secondary school (P=0.0001), migration (P=0.04), obesity (P=0.004), and overweight (P=0.01). The prevalence of HT was 10.1% (n=61) during the first screening and 3.3% (n=20) in second screening. The independent determinants of HT were obesity (P=0.0001) and overweight (P=0.0001). Conclusion. Pre-HT and HT are emerging as a mass problem in Congolese schoolchildren with urban migration and overweight/obesity to be controlled and prevented

Apport du Holter ECG dans le bilan étiologique des infarctus cérébraux à Brazzaville, Congo

Déterminer la prévalence des troubles rythmiques au cours des infarctus cérébraux et identifier les facteurs prédictifs de la fibrillation atriale (FA) paroxystique. Il s'est agi d'une étude transversale, descriptive et analytique, menée à Brazzaville entre janvier 2012 et décembre 2016. Elle a porté sur une série consécutive de 267 patients victimes d'un accident vasculaire cérébral ischémique transitoire (n = 17) ou constitué (n = 250), documenté par un scanner cérébral. Tous ces patients ont bénéficié d'un enregistrement Holter ECG dès 24h, réalisé dans le cadre de la recherche étiologique. Les principales anomalies rythmiques enregistrées ont été répertoriées et la régression logistique a permis l'identification des facteurs prédictifs de survenue de la FA paroxystique. Il s'agissait de 164 hommes (61,4%) et 103 femmes (38,6%), âgés en moyenne de 60,2 ± 12,1 ans (extrêmes: 22 et 94 ans). Les principaux facteurs de risque cardiovasculaire identifiés étaient une hypertension artérielle (HTA) dans 214 cas (80,1%), un diabète sucré dans 36 cas (13,5%), et un tabagisme dans 18 cas (6,7%), avec un taux de cumul de 1,5 facteur par individu. L'examen Holter ECG, normal dans 216 cas (81%), était pathologique dans 51 cas (19%). Les principales anomalies enregistrées consistaient en des extrasystoles ventriculaires bénignes (n = 32), une FA paroxystique (n = 7), des extrasystoles supraventriculaires (n = 5), une tachycardie ventriculaire (TV) non soutenue (n = 4), une TV soutenue (n = 2) et un bloc auriculo-ventriculaire type Mobitz II (n = 1). La fréquence de la FA paroxystique était de 2,6%. En analyse bivariée, il n'a pas été noté de corrélation entre la FA paroxystique et le sexe (p = 0,890), l'HTA (p = 0,818), le diabète (p = 0,839), le tabac (p = 0,969). En analyse multivariée, seul l'âge était prédictif de la survenue d'une FA paroxystique au cours des infarctus cérébraux (OR = 1,11;p = 0,0134). Il ressort de cette étude préliminaire que les troubles du rythme emboligènes sont relativement rares au cours des infarctus cérébraux à Brazzaville. La FA paroxystique, quoique peu fréquente, reste essentiellement corrélée à l'âge. Sa recherche systématique chez les sujets âgés contribue à améliorer la prise en charge

Independent determinants of DR among Central Africans with T2 DM.

<p>Independent determinants of DR among Central Africans with T2 DM.</p

Photos of Fumbwa leaves (A) and Africanum pear Safou fruit (B).

<p>Photos of Fumbwa leaves (A) and Africanum pear Safou fruit (B).</p