Effects of COVID-19 Lockdown on Body Composition and Fitness Performance among Football Players in Negro African Environment

Context and Objective: The nutritional and sports dimension of the lockdown implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic is unexplored in the African environment. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of COVID-19 lockdown on body composition and fitness performance in Congolese football players. Methods: This was an observational study carried out in Brazzaville between February 9 and October 30, 2020. It included 16 male players among Congolese senior national team and 11 male football players of first division Brazzaville clubs. Two types of measurements were carried out: anthropometric measures (height, body mass, total fat percent, lean body mass);physical capacities [30 m sprint, repeated sprint, aerobic endurance (Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery test), vertical jump (Squat Jump test, Countermovement test)]. The measurements were realized at 4 times: before lockdown (month of february, T0), 1st week of june (T1), 1st week of september (T2), 1st week of october (T3). Data were compared using Student t test, Sokal S test, Anova, Newman-Keuls test (multiple contrasts) and correlation analysis. Results: A significant increase in body mass (p Conclusion: The present data suggest that COVID-19 lockdown promotes weight gain and decreased physical ability in football players.

Changes Induced by Physical Activity, Weight Loss and Calorie Restriction in Body Composition, Lipoproteins and Functional Capacity in Obese Congolese Women

Background. The effects of physical exercises combined with a low-calorie diet on weight loss, body composition, lipoproteins profile, and physical fitness had been well described. However, Central Africa’s studies investigating these kinds of diets and exercise regimens are lacking. Objective. To investigate the effects of adding 14-weeks exercises to a hypocaloric diet on changes in body composition, lipoproteins concentrations, and physical capacities in obese Congolese women. Population and Methods. In total, 34 obese women aged 30 - 39 years (mean age: 33.7 ± 2.4 years) assigned to 14-weeks training program and low energy ketogenic diet. Body composition was assessed using classic methods and impedancemetry. Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and fasting serum insulin were assessing using enzymatic colorimetric and radioim-munoradiometric methods. HOMA-IR and lipoproteins concentrations were assessed using standardized laboratory methods. VO2peak was measured on a treadmill during a progressive exercise test. Speed, cadence and stride length were measured along the 10-m level walkway. Muscular endurance was measured using the tests of sit-up and inflections-extensions of elbows. All the variables of the study were assessed at the beginning, in the 7-weeks, and in the 14-weeks of training methods. Results. Declines in body weight (16%), percent fat (12.1%), fat weight (26.4%), abdominal fat (34.2%), and waist circumference (10.4%) were found. A significant decrease in FPG (13%), fasting serum insulin (60.9%), HOMA-IR (64.7%), total cholesterol (12.2%), LDL-cholesterol (20.3%), triglycerides (92.8%), and VLDL-triglycerides (17.5%) was shown. In contrast, significant increase in HDL-cholesterol (27.13%) was found. The peak oxygen consumption VO2peak relative to body weight improved more in the 14-weeks training program (13.4%). Obese women exhibited higher values in the 14-weeks training program for speed gait (16.5%), cadence (9.1%), and stride length (15.7%) during normal walk and rapid walk. Weight loss combined with a low-calorie diet and 14-weeks training program improved significantly muscular endurance capacities. Conclusion. Exercise added to hypocaloric diet leads to decreases in body composition, to improve in insulin sensitivity, to enhancement of VO2peak and functional fitness. This may be helpful for the treatment of the metabolic complications of abdominal obesity.

Acute Genital Peritonitis in Brazzaville, Congo

Genital peritonitis is rare in daily surgical practice in Congo-Brazzaville. Clandestine abortions are incriminated. The purpose of the study is to analyze the epidemiological, etiological, diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of genital peritonitis. A retrospective and case series study was realized in departments of Digestive Surgery and Gynecology-Obstetrics of the University Hospital of Brazzaville. The inclusion criteria for the diagnosis of peritonitis were abdominal pain, fever, transit disturbances and signs of peritoneal irritation. The parameters studied were: age, etiological circumstances, anatomical lesions, type of surgical treatment and evolution. During the study period (July 1, 2015-December 31, 2017), 306 patients were admitted to both departments for acute generalized peritonitis. Among them, a genital cause was incriminated in 18 (5.9%) patients. The mean age was 27.6 ± 3.1 years. At the parity and gestational level, 93% of patients had at least two pregnancies, but not more than the second trimester. In addition, 50% of the patients had an induced miscarriage, due to uterine and intestinal lesions. Induced miscarriages accounted for half of etiological circumstances. Physical examination of the abdomen revealed abdominal contracture in 61.1% of cases. Main visceral lesions were uterine perforation (55.5%) followed by rupture of tubo-ovarian abscess (38.9%). The operative follow-up was simple in 83.33% of cases. In conclusion, genital peritonitis remains unfrequented. Median laparotomy has been the main therapeutic approach in our context where emergency laparoscopic surgery is not yet common.

Trauma Emergencies at University Hospital of Brazzaville, Congo

Background: Trauma is the main reason for consultation in the emergency unit. They deserve particular attention in the Congo where road accidents and violence of all kinds are increasingly observed. Methods: This study who carried out in the surgical emergencies at the University Hospital of Brazzaville, aims to analyze the epidemiological and etiological aspects, the anatomical lesions encountered;to describe their management, as well as to evaluate the induced mortality while emphasizing their place in all surgical emergencies. The prospective and analytical study included 2127 patients admitted to a traumatic emergency unit from January 1 to June 30, 2018. Medical records served as data sources. The measure of trauma severity was determined using Champion’s Trauma Score. The epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic parameters were studied. Results: The population most affected was adolescents and young adults (mean age, 27.3 years) with a male predominance: 1318 men (i.e. 61.9%) for 809 women (i.e. 38.1%). Road accidents (n = 819, or 38.5%) were the main cause of injuries, followed by violence (n = 702, or 33%) and falls (27.3%). The skull, limbs, thorax and abdomen are the main targets. The most observed lesions were limb fractures (n = 344, i.e. 16.1%), intracranial hematomas and contusions (n = 315, i.e. 14.8%), thoracic and abdominal wounds (n = 28, i.e. 1.3%). Mortality was evaluated at 0.6%, and was correlated with the severity of the lesions and the type of trauma. Conclusion: Trauma is very common in emergency consultations in Congo, with a hospital frequency of 75.1% of all emergencies. Preventive actions are essential to reduce their frequency.