Variation of the Consumption of Mushrooms by Pygmies and Bantus in the North of Gabon

A comparative study of the number of taxa and fungal biomass consumed by the Pygmies and the Bantus of Gabon has been realized in two Gabon north regions (Ogooue-Ivindo and the Woleu-Ntem). This study has allowed not only to establish the list of consumed fungal sorts by those populations, but also to estimate the daily consumed fungal biomasses by each ethnical group. The study has revealed a significant difference between a numbers of taxa and the quantity of mushrooms consumed by various ethnical groups: the Pygmies of the area who live especially by hunting and fishing consumed 96% of the recorded taxa with some high mushrooms quantities (around 3 kg/day/family);the Bantus who live nearby Pygmies also consumed some high mushrooms quantities (around 2 kg/day/family) but a low taxa number (56% of taxa counted by the Fang;69% by the Kota;39% by the Kwele);on the other hand, the Bantus living nearest the Pygmies consumed a high taxa number as much as Pygmies (around 90% of taxa counted) but eat a lower mushrooms quantities than theirs distant congeners Pygmies (around 800 g/day/family).

Determination of the Root Canal Length of Teeth of Bantu Patients Attending the Teaching Hospital of Kinshasa University

Background: There is paucity of literature on the determination of the root canal length of Bantu subjects in dental professional practicing in Africa and Democratic Republic of Congo in particular. Aims: The aim of the present study was to determine the root canal length of teeth of Bantu patients extracts attending the Teaching Hospital of Kinshasa University. Methods and Material: Prospective cross-sectional study was carried out in the service of Conservative Dentistry. The patients suffering with pulpitis of permanent teeth which were selected for root canal treatment during the period of January 2014 to December 2016 were included. All patients whose main root canals were inaccessible, teeth carrying prosthesis, teeth with large coronal decay, teeth having periapical periodontitis, supernumerary teeth, wisdom and primary teeth were excluded. Results: The upper canines presented some significant longer canals compared to the lower canine (23.4 ± 2.3 mm and 21.6 ± 1.8 mm). Palatal canals of the first and second molar were respectively longer as compared to the superior teeth canals (21.5 ± 1 mm, 21.3 ± 2 mm). The distal canals of the first and second molar were the longest in the mandibular arch respectively measuring 20.7 ± 2.0 mm and 21.5 ± 1.7 mm. Conclusion: Data obtained from Bantu patients show slightly shorter roots compared to some European populations, but longer than some Asian populations.

Average Odontometric Value of the Width of the Upper Central Incisor in the Congolese Bantu of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the average values of width of the upper central incisor (WUCI) in Congolese Bantu and compare them to those of Caucasians and Asiatic. Material and Methods: It was a prospective cross-sectional study carried out at the Université de Kinshasa on the Congolese Bantu, Department of Dental Medicine, from March 2020 to March 2021. A maxillary imprint was taken by Jeltrate-type alginate. The measurement of two healthy upper central incisors (UCI) was carried out by the hard plaster casting type 4, with a brand caliper, carbon fiver composite mark. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the School of Public Health in the Université de Kinshasa and verbal consent was obtained from each participant. Results: The Average Width of the UCI was 8.74 mm ± 0.56. The average width of the right Upper Central incisor (RUCI) and the left UCI (LUCI) was 8.71 mm ± 0.57 and 8.77 mm ± 0.56, respectively. The average width of the RUCI and LUCI was not the same for men and women (p 0.001). A significant difference was observed between the average of the RUCI and the 18 - 28 and 40 - 50 age group (p = 0.056) as well as for the average LUCI (p = 0.085). The width average of UCI between the Congolese Bantu with those of Caucasians and Asians was significantly different (p = 0.000 and p = 0.009). Conclusion: The average width of the RUCI and LUCI was different among sex and age group. The average width of UCI of the Congolese Bantu is different from that of Caucasians and Asians.

Spirometric Reference Equations for Semi-Urban and Urban Bantu Cameroonians

Background: Spirometric reference values vary substantially across ethnic groups, and remain largely poorly characterized among Africans. We derived spirometric reference equations for adult Cameroonians and compared their performance with those derived from other ethnic groups. Methods: Spirometric variables according to the American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society 2005 guidelines were acquired in voluntary healthy non-smoker subjects in Yaounde (Capital City) and Foumbot (semi-urban area in West Region), in Cameroon during November 2011 to January 2012 (Yaounde) and August 2012 (Foumbot). Reference equations were derived separately for men and women from multiple linear regressions. Results: A total of 411 subjects (206 men) met the inclusion criteria. The mean age was 39.5 ± 16.1 years (min - max: 18 - 85 years) for men and 39.2 ± 14.1 years (18 - 90 years) for women. Age and height were the only variables significantly associated with spirometric values in the final linear regression models. Derived reference values were lower than those derived from Global Lung Initiative 2012 equations for different ethnic groups, except for the forced expiratory volume in 1 second/forced vital capacity ratio (FEV1/FVC ratio). The mean FEV1/FVC ratio was 0.88 ± 0.07 for Cameroonian men and 0.89 ± 0.07 for Cameroonian women. Variations in the performance of derived models in bootstrap internal validation were marginal. Conclusion: This study highlights the importance of deriving specific predictive equations for each ethnic group. The use of adjustment factors applied to Caucasian equations when compared with the values derived in our study leads to an overestimation of the values for FEV1 and FVC.