Hypertension prevalence, associated factors, treatment and control in rural Cameroon: a cross-sectional study.

Introduction: Sub-Saharan Africa is experiencing a surge in the burden of hypertension, and rural communities are increasingly affected by the epidemic.

Objectives: We aimed to determine the prevalence of and factors associated with hypertension in rural communities of the Baham Health District (BHD), Cameroon. In addition, we sought to assess awareness, treatment and control rates of hypertension among community members.

Association of the leptin-to-adiponectin ratio with metabolic syndrome in a sub-Saharan African population.

Background: Worldwide there is an increased prevalence of metabolic syndrome mainly due to life-style modifications, and Africans are not saved of this situation. Many markers have been studied to predict the risk of this syndrome but the most used are leptin and adiponectin. Data on these metabolic markers are scare in Africa and this study aimed to assess the association between the leptin-to-adiponectin ratio (LAR) with metabolic syndrome in a Cameroonian population.

Renin angiotensin aldosterone system altered in resistant hypertension in Sub-Saharan African diabetes patients without evidence of primary hyperaldosteronism.

Background: The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system may be altered in patients with resistant hypertension. This study aimed to evaluate the relation between renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system activity and resistant hypertension in Cameroonian diabetes patients with resistant hypertension.

Methods: We carried out a case-control study including 19 diabetes patients with resistant hypertension and 19 diabetes patients with controlled hypertension matched to cases according to age, sex and duration of hypertension since diagnosis.

Exercise-induced albuminuria circadian variations in blood pressure in type 1 diabetes.

Aim: To investigated the relationship between exercise-induced ambulatory blood pressure measurement (ABPM) abnormalities in type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) adolescents.

Methods: We conducted a case-control at the National Obesity Center of the Yaoundé Central Hospital, Cameroon. We compared 24 h ABPM and urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) at rest and after a standardized treadmill exercise between 20 Cameroonian T1DM patients and 20 matched controls.

Prevalence and patterns of congenital heart diseases in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol.

Introduction: Congenital heart diseases (CHD) are common causes of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality among young children and adolescents living in Africa. Accurate epidemiological data are needed in order to evaluate and improve preventive strategies. This review aims to determine the prevalence of CHD and their main patterns in Africa.

Are Systematic Screening for Vitamin D Deficiency and Vitamin D Supplementation Currently Feasible for Ankylosing Spondylitis Patients?

Beyond its role in calcium and phosphorus metabolism for healthy bone mineralization, there is increasing awareness for vitamin D contribution in modulation of immune reactions. Given that ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory disease involving excess immune/inflammatory activity and posing great therapeutic challenges, it is conceivable to claim that vitamin D treatment may be a safe and effective treatment to influence or modify the primary disease and its related comorbidities. Nevertheless, consistent body of research supporting this hypothesis is still lacking.

Oscillating blood pressure therapeutic target in type 2 diabetes patients with hypertension.

There is controversy regarding the J-shaped curve associating low blood pressure (BP) with increased cardiovascular events and mortality in hypertensive treated patients. This has partially motivated the revision of several hypertension treatment guidelines to raise the threshold for the definition and initiation of pharmacological treatment of hypertension in diabetes patients from 130/80 to 140/90 mmHg. However, there are increasing evidence that the increase cardiovascular risk caused by lower BP is not due to hypertensive treatment itself, rather to co-morbidities, especially in patients with diabetes.

Acute glycaemic effects of co-trimoxazole at prophylactic dose in healthy adults.

Background: Cases of severe hypoglycaemia were reported in HIV/AIDS patients receiving high dose of the sulfonylurea co-trimoxazole for opportunistic infections. Whether co-trimoxazole at prophylactic dose would induce similar side effects is unknown. We aimed to investigate the acute effects of co-trimoxazole at prophylactic dose on glucose metabolism in healthy adults.

Association of insulin treatment versus oral hypoglycaemic agents with diabetic retinopathy and its severity in type 2 diabetes patients in Cameroon, sub-Saharan Africa.

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic metabolic disease associated with multiple macro and microvascular complications, diabetic retinopathy (DR) being the commonest one. Recent literature has reported an increased risk of DR with insulin use.

Methods: We carried out a cross-sectional study at the Ophthalmology Department of the Douala General Hospital (DGH) during a 2-year period to explore the association between insulin treatment and both DR and its severity as compared with oral hypoglycemic agents (OHAs) in Cameroonian T2DM patients aged ≥35 years, and who were all screened for DR through eye examination including exhaustive retinal evaluation.

Impact of a 12-week aerobic exercise training program on anthropometric and metabolic parameters of a group of type 2 diabetes Cameroonian women aged ≥50 years.

Background: We examined whether aerobic exercise could have an impact on anthropometric and metabolic parameters of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) Cameroonian women aged ≥50 years.

Methods: We enrolled 23 T2DM Cameroonian women aged ≥50 years regularly followed at the National Obesity Center of Yaounde, Cameroon, in a 12-week aerobic exercise program monitored by a pedometer. Exercise intensity was progressively set between 55% and 75% of maximum heart rate.

Neurological complications of sickle cell disease in Africa: protocol for a systematic review.

Introduction: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is highly prevalent in Africa. Considered as a public health problem, it is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Neurological complications of SCD can cause significant disability with important socioeconomic and psychological impact on the patients and their families, and can even lead to death if not properly managed.

Abstracts reporting of HIV/AIDS randomized controlled trials in general medicine and infectious diseases journals: completeness to date and improvement in the quality since CONSORT extension for abstracts.

Background: Sufficiently detailed abstracts of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are important, because readers often base their assessment of a trial solely on information in the abstract. We aimed at comparing reporting quality of RCTs in HIV/AIDS medicine before and after the publication of the 2008 CONSORT extension for abstracts and to investigate factors associated with better reporting quality.

Methods: We searched PubMed/Medline for HIV/AIDS RCTs published between 2006-07 (Pre-CONSORT) and 2014-15 (Post-CONSORT) in 40 leading general medicine and infectious diseases journals.

Patterns and trends in mortality among HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected patients in a major Internal Medicine Unit in Yaoundé, Cameroon: a retrospective cohort study.

Objective: To describe the trends in mortality and the spectrum of disease in HIV-infected and -uninfected inpatients in a population in Yaoundé.

Design: A retrospective study.

Setting: Internal Medicine Unit, University Hospital Centre, Yaoundé, Cameroon.

The highly neglected burden of resistant hypertension in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: The hypertension epidemic in Africa collectively with very low rates of blood pressure control may predict an incremented prevalence of resistant hypertension (RH) across the continent. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of RH and associated risk factors in Africa.

Data Sources: We conducted a comprehensive search of electronic databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Africa Wide Information and Africa Index Medicus) completed by manual search of articles, regardless of language or publication date.

Rates and drivers of progression to pre-diabetes and diabetes mellitus among HIV-infected adults on antiretroviral therapy: a global systematic review and meta-analysis protocol.

Introduction: With the new 'test and treat' policy of the WHO, it is obvious that the number of HIV-infected patients taking antiretroviral therapy (ART) will grow exponentially, with consequential increase in the burden of diabetes mellitus (DM). Our aim is to summarise existing data on the incidence of pre-diabetes and DM, and associated risk factors among HIV-infected adults.

Methods And Analysis: This systematic review will include cohort studies reporting the incidence of pre-diabetes and/or DM, and associated risk factors among HIV-infected adults on ART, with these patients being free of any impaired glucose metabolism at study baseline.

Prevalence and incidence of pulmonary hypertension among HIV-infected people in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: Patients infected with HIV have a direly increased risk of developing pulmonary hypertension (PH), and of dying from the condition. While Africa carries the greatest burden of HIV infection worldwide, there is unclear data summarising the epidemiology of PH among HIV-infected people in this region. Our objective was to determine the prevalence and incidence of PH among HIV-infected people living across Africa.

Maternal hyperglycemia during labor and related immediate post-partum maternal and perinatal outcomes at the Yaoundé Central Hospital, Cameroon.

Background: Data on the prevalence and complications of gestational diabetes are very scarce in Cameroon. The aim of this study was to evaluate the uptake of screening for gestational diabetes and assess the immediate post-partum outcome of hyperglycemic parturient mothers and perinatal outcome of their babies.

Methods: A prospective cohort study was held at the Maternity of the Yaoundé Central Hospital from March to June 2013.

Takayasu's arteritis in an adult female from Cameroon: diagnosis via Doppler echocardiography.

Takayasu arteritis is rare in black people. Doppler echocardiography may assist in its diagnosis with good response to steroids.

Prevalence and correlates of depressive symptoms in adult patients with pulmonary tuberculosis in the Southwest Region of Cameroon.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a global health challenge and depression is a significant contributor to the global burden of disease. Current evidence suggests that there is an association between depressive symptoms and TB, lower adherence to treatment, and increased morbidity and mortality. However, there is paucity of data regarding these associations in Cameroon.

Seasonality in diabetes in Yaounde, Cameroon: a relation with precipitation and temperature.

Background: Diabetes is a growing health concern in developing countries, with Cameroon population having an estimated 6% affected. Of note, hospital attendees appear to be increasing all over the country, with fluctuating numbers throughout the annual calendar. The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between diabete hospitalization admission rates and climate variations in Yaounde.

The Pro12Ala polymorphism in the PPAR-γ2 gene is not associated to obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus in a Cameroonian population.

Background: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma 2 (PPAR-γ2) is a transcription factor with a key role in adipocyte differentiation, lipid storage and glucose homeostasis. The Ala allele of the common Pro12Ala polymorphism in the isoform PPAR-γ2 is at the center of many controversies because in some populations, it has been observed to be associated with T2DM or obesity but, not in others. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of Pro12Ala polymorphism in the PPAR-γ2 gene with susceptibility to obesity or T2DM in a Cameroonian population.