Cameroonian Subjects Research Articles

Delayed Rebound of Glycemia During Recovery Following Short-Duration High-Intensity Exercise: Are There Lactate and Glucose Metabolism Interactions?

Lactate constitutes the primary gluconeogenic precursor in healthy humans at rest and during low-intensity exercise. Data on the interactions between lactate and glucose metabolisms during recovery after short-duration high-intensity exercise are sparse. The aim of the present study was to describe blood glucose ([glucose]b) and lactate ([lactate]b) concentration curves during recovery following short-duration high-intensity exercise. Fifteen healthy Cameroonian subjects took part in the study and performed successively (i) an incremental exercise to exhaustion to determine maximal work rate (Pmax) and (ii) a 2-min 110% Pmax exercise after which blood lactate and glucose concentrations were measured during the 80-min passive recovery. In response to the 2-min 110% Pmax exercise, [glucose]b remained stable (from 4.93 ± 1.13 to 4.65 ± 0.74 mmol.L−1, NS) while [lactate]b increased (from 1.35 ± 0.36 to 7.87 ± 1.66 mmol.L−1, p < 0.0001). During recovery, blood lactate concentrations displayed the classic biphasic curve while blood glucose concentrations displayed a singular shape including a delayed and transitory rebound of glycemia. This rebound began at 27.7 ± 6.2 min and peaked at 6.78 ± 0.53 mmol.L−1 at 56.3 ± 9.7 min into recovery. The area under the curve (AUC) of [lactate]b during the rebound of glycemia was positively correlated with the peak value of glycemia and the AUC of [glucose]b during the rebound. In conclusion, the delayed rebound of glycemia observed in the present study was associated with lactate availability during this period.

Sexual dimorphism and mandibular foramen: A CT-Scan study in a sample of Cameroonian population; clinical features

BackgroundThe mandibular foramen (MF) is an important anatomical structure during procedures such as anesthesia of the inferior alveolar nerve and surgical acts, including mandibular osteotomies. Many authors have shown that it is essential to know the morphometric characteristics of the MF because the inferior alveolar nerve which passes through it could be damaged in dental practice or explain a failure of anesthesia. Our objective is to determine the morphometric characteristics of the mandibular foramen as a function of sex in a population of Cameroonian individuals. Materials and methodsA retrospective study of CT scans of the craniofacial mass was carried out at the Yaoundé central hospital and at the Yaoundé cathedral medical center. We collected socio-demographic data and 05 dependent variables on 210 hemi mandibles (distance from the MF to the anterior edge, to the posterior edge, to the mandibular notch, to the basilar rim and to the molar occlusal plane). Student's t-test was used for data analysis with a significance level P < 0.05. ResultsIn total, it was 105 CT of the craniofacial mass of Cameroonian subjects, ie 74.2% of men and 25.8% of women. The MF was bilateral in all of our participants in our survey and positioned 19.4 mm from the anterior edge of the mandible in men and 19.2 mm in women. In our sample, 25.8% of subjects presented a left accessory mandibular foramen. Conclusionthe MF delivers passage to the inferior alveolar nerve which is called upon during anesthesia by trunk block. This study showed differences in the location of the mandibular foramen with measurements taken in Caucasian individuals.

Cephalometric Characteristics of Cameroonian Adults: Dimensional Analysis of 80 Cases

Introduction and Objectives: The reference values used in Cephalometry to determine the orthodontic treatment to be realized are mostly of Caucasian origin. In Cameroon, the need for care is growing; but little information is available in Cephalometry. Should we treat with imported cephalometric standards? To answer this question, we conducted this study in order to determine the craniofacial morphological characteristics of a sample of Cameroonian subjects in the Yaounde Central hospital having high health standard in Cameroon. Methodology: We carried out an analytical study at the Yaounde Central Hospital from January to March 2016, on scout view scanographic images of patients, aged 20 to 50 years. 15 cephalometric variables were measured and their mean values and standard deviation calculated. To determine the reference values, we used indicator means with their 95% confidence interval as the best estimator of our population measures. Results: We included 80 subjects with an average age was 32.3years. Cameroonian subjects have sex differences only for SNB and SND measures that were higher in men. Compared with Caucasian values according to Steiner, the Cameroonian population had a protrusive dento-alveolar structure with higher average values except for inter-incisal angles 119.3o and SND 78.8o which showed a lower value against 1310 and 790 for Steiner. Conclusion: Differences between Cameroonian men and women were in SNB and SND measurements that were higher in men. The averages of the Cameroonian sample are significantly different from the Caucasian averages in most measurements. Considering these differences, this work enabled us to propose a charter of cephalometric values, thus providing clear indications as to the type of Cameroonian.

Arterial compliance in a group of normotensive and untreated hypertensive Cameroonian subjects in Yaounde.

IntroductionArterial compliance is an independent predictor of cardiovascular events. It decreases with age and this decrease is accelerated by hypertension. The objectives were to determine the arterial compliance in a group of normotensive and untreated hypertensive stage 1, 2 and 3 Cameroonian subjects.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted from August 2012 to February 2013 in Yaoundé. Our sample size was 88 participants. The PulsePen® device was used to determine cfPWV (carotid-femoral Pulse Wave Velocity) and central Augmentation Index % (AIx). Other measurements obtained were: blood pressure (BP), body mass index (BMI), fasting glycaemia, lipid profile and serum creatinine.ResultsOur sample's mean age was 35.48 years and ranged from 20 to 60 years. The means of: cfPWV, SBP, DBP, Pulse Pressure (PP) and Heart Rate (HR) showed a statistically significant increase (p-value < 0.05) across the groups from normotensive to severely hypertensive patients. cfPWV was significantly correlated (p-value< 0.05) to: Age, Central SBP, Central DBP, Central PP, HR, BMI and central Augmentation index (AIx). Furthermore, cfPWV was significantly dependent on LVH (p-value <0.05).ConclusionThis study suggests that arterial compliance decreases with increase severity of hypertension, indicating a higher risk of developing cardiovascular events in severely hypertensive patients.

Association between the rs12255372 variant of the TCF7L2 gene and obesity in a Cameroonian population.

BackgroundThe transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2) is one of the genes that have been identified as possible determinants of diabetes which is associated with obesity. Data on the genetic causes of obesity in sub-Saharan African populations are very scares. The aim of this study was to assess the association between the transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2) gene polymorphism (rs12255372 G/T) and obesity and weight-related traits in a Cameroonian population.MethodsA case–control study was conducted on 35 obese and 30 non-obese Cameroonian adults. TCF7L2 rs12255372 genotypes were determined using PCR–RFLP and correlated with BMI and weight-related traits.ResultsNo significant association was observed between the rs12255372 T allele (χ2 = 0.0684, p = 0.79) or the TT genotype (χ2 = 0.372, p = 0.54) of the TCF7L2 gene and obesity in the Cameroonian population. However, amongst the weight-related traits, triglycerides were significantly associated with the T risk allele of the TCF7L2 gene (p = 0.012).ConclusionThis study on Cameroonian subjects replicates the absence of association between the TCF7L2 rs12255372 variant and obesity as observed in European and American populations.

Investigating Broad Neutralization in HIV-1 Non-B Subtype Infection in Yaoundé, Cameroon

P16.03 Background: A hallmark of HIV is its variability, which within group M viruses includes 9 subtypes and over 50 circulating recombinant forms (CRF)s. Cameroon is an epicenter of the disease known for circulation of many subtypes and CRFs, which provides a unique setting to study the immune response to HIV. It is crucial for a successful vaccine to elicit an adaptive immune response against a broad range of viral subtypes. Methods: We have performed subtype analysis of viral RNA isolated from the plasma of 63 HIV-1 infected Cameroonian subjects to verify non-B subtype infection and to monitor for recombination. From the non-B, drug naive cohort, we have isolated IgG (N=264) to screen for neutralization using a tier 2, pseudovirus panel including subtypes A1, B, C, and 01_AE. Samples capable of neutralizing multiple pseudoviruses at high potency were selected for further study to determine neutralization capacity against an extended panel and their ability to bind gp160 envelope peptides. Results: Subtypes A, D, F, G, and K were identified as well as many recombinant forms including the predominant subtype CRF02_AG. The neutralization screen concluded that 9.5% of the IgG samples were able to neutralize at least 2 pseudoviruses at low IgG concentrations. Neutralization of the extended panel revealed that these IgG samples were also able to neutralize 02_AG,G, and AC subtypes. We found that all of the broadly neutralizing IgG samples bound envelope protein gp41, over 80% bound gp120 proteins, 79% bound a scaffolded V1V2 peptide, and 100% of the samples bound cyclic V3 constructs. Conclusions: We have taken the first look at broad neutralization in a cohort infected with non-B subtype viruses and numerous CRFs. IgG from these patients is capable of neutralizing pseudoviruses across clades with high breadth and potency. We have shown that these samples bind strongly to envelope peptides and hope to continue to elucidate how these antibodies are conferring neutralization in order to guide future vaccine design.

PM254 Trend and predictors of arterial compliance in a group of normotensive and untreated hypertensive cameroonian subjects in yaounde

PM254 Trend and predictors of arterial compliance in a group of normotensive and untreated hypertensive cameroonian subjects in yaounde

Frequencies of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in Cytochrome P450 Genes (CYP1A2, 2A6, 2B6, 3A4 and 3A5) in a Rwandan Population: Difference to Other African Populations

The cytochrome P450 (CYP450) enzymes play a key role for interindividual variability in drug response. No comprehensive pharmacogenetic data are yet available for the Rwandan population in regards to single nucleotide polymorphisms in CYP450s of major importance for personalized medicine. This study investigated the genotype and allele frequencies with respect to relevant SNPs for CYP1A2, CYP2A6, CYP2B6, CYP3A4 and CYP3A5 genes in Rwandan subjects (n=80). Results were compared with data from South African and Cameroonian populations using Pearson’s Χ 2 and Fisher’s Exact statistical tests. Genetic variation was observed in 11 out of the 13 SNPs in the above CYP450 genes. There were significant differences in the distribution of the allelic variants when the Rwandan sample was compared to the Cameroonian and the South African groups, with respect to CYP2A6 1093G#62;A SNP (P=0.0033 and 0.019, respectively) and CYP3A4 -392A#62;G SNP (P=0.0001 and 0.0084, respectively). The distribution of the CYP1A2 -163C>A SNP differed between the Rwandans and the South Africans (P=0.0001), and CYP3A5 6986A#62;G SNP between the Rwandan and the Cameroonian subjects (P=0.017). The polymorphisms CYP2B6 516G>T and 785A>G did not show significant differences (P>0.05) between the Rwandans, Cameroonians and South Africans in the distribution of the 516T and the 785G variants. This is the first study evaluating the allele and genotype frequencies of these key CYP450 genes in Rwandan subjects. The results demonstrate the need to further characterize individual African populations with respect to genetic variations in order for personalized medicine to be realized among Africans. These data will also help illuminate the future planning of pharmacodynamic studies aimed at associations of these pharmacogenetic variants with drug safety and efficacy in Rwanda.

Increased burden and severity of metabolic syndrome and arterial stiffness in treatment na&amp;iuml;ve HIV+&amp;nbsp;patients from Cameroon

BackgroundHuman immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and its therapy are associated with increased aortic stiffness and metabolic syndrome (MetS) phenotype in Caucasian patients. We hypothesized that, independently of antiretroviral therapy, HIV infection in native black African patients is associated with increased burden of cardiometabolic risk factors that may accelerate arterial structural damage and translate into increased aortic stiffness.Patients and methodsNinety-six apparently healthy Cameroonian subjects (controls) were compared to 108 untreated Cameroonian HIV+ patients (HIV-UT) of similar age. In each participant, pulse wave velocity (Complior), aortic augmentation index (SphygmoCor), brachial blood pressure (Omron 705 IT), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), and lipids were recorded, as well as the prevalence and severity of MetS, based on the American Heart Association/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute score ≥3/5.ResultsPrevalence of impaired fasting glucose (FPG 100–125 mg · dL−1) and of diabetes (FPG > 125 mg · dL−1) was higher in HIV-UT than in controls (47% versus 27%, and 26% versus 1%, respectively; both P < 0.01). Fasting triglycerides and the atherogenic dyslipidemia ratio were significantly higher in HIV-UT than in controls. Hypertension prevalence was high and comparable in both groups (41% versus 44%, respectively; not significant). HIV-UT patients exhibited a twice-higher prevalence of MetS than controls (47% versus 21%; P = 0.02). Age- and sex-adjusted pulse wave velocity was higher in HIV-UT than in controls (7.5 ± 2.2 m/s versus 6.9 ± 1.7 m/s, respectively; P = 0.02), whereas aortic augmentation index was significantly lower (6% ± 4% versus 8% ± 7%, respectively; P = 0.01).ConclusionSimilar to Caucasian populations, native Cameroonian HIV-UT patients showed a higher prevalence of MetS and its phenotype, associated with increased aortic stiffness, an early marker of atherosclerosis.

Aspects of Cameroon Francophone English (CamFE) Phonology

This paper analyses some aspects of English pronunciation of French-Speaking Cameroonians termed Cameroon Francophone English (CamFE) to show that this variety of New Englishes has stable features. The data come from the oral reading of some selected words and sentences (see the appendix) by 50 French-speaking Cameroonian subjects of different levels of education, radio broadcasts ( especially Morning Safari 1), TV debates, political speeches, casual conversations and seminar sessions.The focus is on the production of plural forms / 3rd person singular markers ‘-s, -es, -ies, -oes’, the simple past tense and past participle morpheme ‘-ed’, consonant clusters, word stress, and the frenchified reading of some English words. The analysis is done from the contrastive analysis, interlanguage and language transfer perspective. Findings show that although the subjects have different levels of education and speak varied mother tongues, they produce the areas of English phonology studied in the same way. The study concludes that, although some features of this variety of New Englishes are common to all Cameroonian learners/speakers of English as well as to many other world Englishes, there are some hallmarks proper to CamFE, and draws the pedagogical implications.

Rapid Molecular Assays for Specific Detection and Quantitation of Loa loa Microfilaremia

BackgroundAccurate diagnosis of Loa loa infection is essential to the success of mass drug administration efforts to eliminate onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis, due to the risk of fatal encephalopathic reactions to ivermectin occurring among highly microfilaremic Loa-infected individuals living in areas co-endemic for multiple filarial species.Methodology/Principal FindingsFrom a pool of over 1,800 L. loa microfilaria (mf) expressed sequence tags, 18 candidate L. loa mf-specific PCR targets were identified. Real-time PCR (qPCR) assays were developed for two targets (LLMF72 and LLMF269). The qPCR assays were highly specific for L. loa compared with related filariae and also highly sensitive, with detection limits of 0.1 pg genomic DNA, or 1% of DNA extracted from normal blood spiked with a single L. loa microfilaria. Using various DNA extraction methods with dried blood spots obtained from Cameroonian subjects with parasitologically proven loiasis, the LLMF72 qPCR assay successfully estimated mf burden in 65 of 68 samples (50–96,000 mf/mL by microscopy), including all 12 samples subjected to a simple 10-minute boiling extraction. Additionally, the assay detected low-level microfilaremia among 5 of 16 samples from patients thought to be amicrofilaremic by microscopy.Conclusions/SignificanceThis novel, rapid, highly sensitive and specific qPCR assay is an important step forward in the laboratory diagnosis of L. loa infection.

Molecular diversity and polymerase gene genotypes of HIV-1 among treatment-naïve Cameroonian subjects with advanced disease

Background The progress of antiretroviral treatment roll-out programs in developing countries requires extensive monitoring of primary drug resistance prior to initiation of therapy. This is particularly relevant for Cameroon where a high HIV diversity has been reported. Objectives To determine HIV diversity in Yaoundé, Cameroon, in a cohort of HIV-infected subjects with advanced disease. To characterize HIV-1 mutations conferring primary drug resistance and to assess primary resistance patterns in the RNase H domain of the reverse transcriptase of these viruses. Study design HIV-1 RNA was extracted from plasma of 59 HIV-1 infected, drug-naïve subjects with CD4 + T-cell counts < 200/μl. HIV-1 pol (PR, RT and RNase H) regions were sequenced for subtyping and for identifying drug resistance mutations in pol (PR, RT and RNase H). Results A complex HIV-1 diversity was seen, with multiple subtypes (A1, A2, C, D, F2, H, group O), CRFs (02_AG, 09_cpx, 11_cpx, 13_cpx, 22_01A1, 30_0206, 43_02G) and URFs. Primary drug resistance was low in PR (2%) and in RT regions (4%). RNase H mutations Q509L and Q547K were found in non-CRF02_AG strains. Conclusions A high HIV-1 diversity was already present in Cameroon in the early 90s, when the subjects were likely infected. Primary HIV-1 drug resistance was low. Occurrence of RNase H mutations with proven phenotypic effect on susceptibility to antiretrovirals encourages further assessment of their impact in treatment outcome in the context of complex HIV genetic diversity and in a subtype-specific fashion.

Carrefour de la Joie: Popular Deconstruction of the African Postcolonial Public Sphere

AbstractAfrican postcolonial rulers have made of the public sphere a space where through the production of violence and coercion they attempt to bring their subjects' bodies under an endless process of tight discipline, subordination and servitude.Moreover, they havemanaged to set up a politically structured sphere that not only restricts citizens' freedom of movement, speech and assembly, but also rationalizes their way of standing, speaking and walking. But the governmental claim to exercise full control over the public sphere is incessantly challenged by popular practices of insubordination and impoliteness. This paper which focuses on thecarrefour de la joie(‘space for pleasure’) in Cameroon demonstrates how through ‘immoral’ and ‘indecent’ behaviour such as drunkenness, debauchery and indiscipline, Cameroonian subjects have been striving not only to evade the suffocating restrictions that the ferocious Cameroon People's Democractic Movement (CPDM) regime imposes on their rights, but also to formulate a sharp critique of this postcolonial power.

The prevalence of hypertension in rural and urban Cameroon.

The quickening pace of change and adoption of western lifestyles by people in developing countries has led to a sharp rise in the incidence of hypertension. Yet epidemiological studies using validated methods are rare especially in Central Africa. The prevalence of hypertension, according to the World Health Organization definition (systolic blood pressure [SBP] > or = 160, diastolic [DBP] > or = 95 mmHg), was estimated by a population-based survey in 1798 Cameroonian subjects aged 25-74 years. There were 746 individuals from a rural area (308 men, 438 women) and 1052 (461 men, 591 women) from an urban area. The response rate was 95% and 91% for the rural and urban populations respectively. The age-standardized prevalence of hypertension was significantly higher in the urban than in the rural area. It was 16.4% (95% CI: 11.6-21.2) in urban men and 12.1% (95% CI: 7.9-16.2) in urban women, while it was 5.4% (95% CI: 2.9-8.0) in rural men and 5.9% (95% CI: 3.8-8.0) in women. Borderline hypertension (SBP 140-160, DBP 90-95 mmHg) was detected in 7.4% (95% CI: 4.4-10.4) and 6.6% (3.1-10.2) of urban, and 7.3% (95% CI: 4.7-9.9) and 2.9% (95% CI: 1.5-4.4) of rural men and women respectively. These results indicate that hypertension is still uncommon in rural Cameroon but occurs frequently in the urban community, reaching a proportion comparable with industrialized urban communities.