Epidemiological and clinical features,treatment status,and economic burden of traumatic spinal cord injury in China:a hospital-based retrospective study

Traumatic spinal cord injury is potentially catastrophic and can lead to permanent disability or even death.China has the largest population of patients with traumatic spinal cord injury.Previous studies of traumatic spinal cord injury in China have mostly been regional in scope;national-level studies have been rare.To the best of our knowledge,no national-level study of treatment status and economic burden has been performed.This retrospective study aimed to examine the epidemiological and clinical features,treatment status,and economic burden of traumatic spinal cord injury in China at the national level.We included 13,465 traumatic spinal cord injury patients who were injured between January 2013 and December 2018 and treated in 30 hospitals in 11 provinces/municipalities representing all geographical divisions of China.Patient epidemiological and clinical features,treatment status,and total and daily costs were recorded.Trends in the percentage of traumatic spinal cord injuries among all hospitalized patients and among patients hospitalized in the orthopedic department and cost of care were assessed by annual percentage change using the Joinpoint Regression Program.The percentage of traumatic spinal cord injuries among all hospitalized patients and among patients hospitalized in the orthopedic department did not significantly change overall(annual percentage change,-0.5%and 2.1%,respectively).A total of 10,053(74.7%)patients underwent surgery.Only 2.8%of patients who underwent surgery did so within 24 hours of injury.A total of 2005(14.9%)patients were treated with high-dose(≥500 mg)methylprednisolone sodium succinate/methylprednisolone(MPSS/MP);615(4.6%)received it within 8 hours.The total cost for acute traumatic spinal cord injury decreased over the study period(-4.7%),while daily cost did not significantly change(1.0%increase).Our findings indicate that public health initiatives should aim at improving hospitals’ability to complete early surgery within 24 hours,which is associated with improved sensorimotor recovery,increasing the awareness rate of clinical guidelines related to high-dose MPSS/MP to reduce the use of the treatment with insufficient evidence.

Epidemiological survey of cystic echinococcosis in southwest China:From the Qinghai-Tibet plateau to the area of Yunnan

BACKGROUND Echinococcosis is prevalent in 9 provinces in Western and Northern China.An epidemiological survey of echinococcosis in 2012 and 2016 showed cases of echinococcosis in Yunnan Province.AIM To understand the spatial distribution and epidemiological characteristics of echinococcosis in Yunnan for the prevention and control of echinococcosis and to reduce the risk of infection in Yunnan Province.METHODS Based on the China Information System for Disease Control and Prevention(CISDCP),echinococcosis cases reported from 36 hospitals and 34 Centers for Disease Control were investigated and epidemiologically analyzed from 2021 to 2022.The exclusion criteria included suspected cases,same case only counted once and cases not from Yunnan.A total of 705 cases were investigated,of which 397 cases were suitable for statistical analysis.In these 397 cases,epidemiological investigation was tracked in 187 cases.All data were inputted using double entry in the Excel database,with error correction by double-entry comparison.The data on echinococcosis cases in Yunnan Province were analyzed by ArcGIS 10.1 software to generate a density map of echinococcosis distribution.All statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS 17.0,including the chi-square test,linear regression test and logistic univariate and multivariate regression analyses.RESULTS A total of 397 cases were found in 89 counties in Yunnan Province.The number of cases in the top three prefectures were Dali(38.1%),Diqing(10.1%),and Kunming(8.3%),and the top five counties were Jianchuan(9.1%),Shangri La(8.3%),Eryuan(7.6%),Heqing(6.9%),and Dali Districts(5.0%).There were significant differences between the different areas.The case reporting rate by CISDCP(33.8%)was low;the first case was reported by CISDCP in 2002,and the highest number of cases was 50(2017).Confirmed and clinical cases accounted for 62.5%and 37.5%,respectively.However,90.9%of the cases of hydatid disease were reported by the hospital system,and only 9.1%of the cases of hydatid disease were found in the community through active screening.The difference between the two methods of case detection was statistically significant.Most of the cases of echinococcosis were found in farmers/herdsmen(75.1%)and students(9.1%).In addition,Han(43.6%)and Bai(26.2%)had a higher incidence of infection than other nationalities,and the liver(87.7%)and lung(6.8%)were the most common sites of cyst formation.Among the analyzed cases,187 were epidemiologically analyzed and the clinical symptoms were not obvious in the early stage in 47.1%of cases.The results of logistic regression analysis showed that the age group,education level,presence of dogs in the family(either previously or currently),and handwashing(occasionally or not)were factors related to echinococcosis infection.55.6%of cases were in endemic areas,and 44.4%of cases were in non-endemic areas.Among 83 cases in non-endemic areas,only 4 cases had been to endemic areas and had a history of living,working,travelling,or hunting in echinococcosis epidemic areas.CONCLUSION Cases of echinococcosis were reported throughout the entire Yunnan province,with the majority distributed in Western Yunnan,suggesting that echinococcosis control should be strengthened in this area.We suggest that an epidemiological investigation should be carried out in the future,based on the clues from newly discovered cases in hospitals or from the CISDCP.The newly discovered cases in the hospital provided clues to comprehensively determine the location of cases and where epidemic spot investigation should be conducted.

Epidemiological and Diagnostic Profile of Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B Virus from 2017 to 2021 in Parakou, Republic of Benin

Introduction: Viral hepatitis B is a public health problem worldwide. The objective of this study was to determine the epidemiological and diagnostic profile of chronic carriers of hepatitis B virus seen for gastroenterology consultations in Parakou, Republic of Benin. Patients and Methods: This was a cross-sectional and descriptive study with retrospective data collection. Patients seen for gastroenterology consultations from January 1, 2017 to June 30, 2021 at the Regional Teaching Hospital of Borgou/Alibori (CHUD-B/A) and having been diagnosed as chronic carriers of hepatitis B virus were included. A minimum initial assessment was required to be included. The minimum sample size was calculated with Schwartz formula. The variable of interest was the detection of HBsAg twice and at least 6 months apart. The other variables studied were sociodemographic, clinical and paraclinical data. The data collected were analyzed using SPSS 17 software. Results: A total of 2786 patients were seen for gastroenterology consultations, including 1126 (40.4%) HBsAg-positive patients. Among them, 417 patients met the inclusion criteria and were the subject of the present study. The average age of the patients was 34.8 ± 10.5 years. Two hundred and forty-seven patients (65.7%) were male, representing a sex ratio of 1.9. The discovery of positive HBsAg status was made during systematic screening in 231 patients (55.4%). Scarifications were noted in 373 patients (89.4%). Asthenia was reported in 184 patients (44.1%). Co-infections with human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis C and D viruses were 0% (0 in 92), 2.8% (4 in 146) and 14.3% (2 in 146), respectively. During the initial assessment, 274 patients (65.7%) were sero-negative for chronic HBeAg infection, 21 (5%) had clinically significant fibrosis including 16 (3.8%) at the stage of cirrhosis and 7 patients (5.4%) had hepatocellular carcinoma. Conclusion: In Parakou, chronic hepatitis B virus infection is common and affects young people with a male predominance. Asthenia is a non-specific symptom and the most reported by the patients. Around 5 out of 100 patients are seen for consultations at the stage of complication. Emphasis must be placed on early detection and subsidy for pre-therapeutic assessment.

Epidemiological and Hemato-Biochemical Profiles of Diabetic Patients at the Diabetology, Endocrinology, and Metabolic Diseases Department of the Alpha Oumar Diallo Regional Hospital, Kindia (Republic of Guinea)

This study aims to enhance the healthcare services for diabetic patients in the administrative region of Kindia by suggesting dietary interventions to assist diabetics in better managing their condition. Conducted over a period of six months, from February 18 to July 18, 2021, this prospective and descriptive cross-sectional study involved 220 diabetic patients. Among these, 48 patients (22%) maintained balanced glucose levels (2 g/l). Positive glycosuria was observed in 54% of the patients, whereas 46% demonstrated normal glycosuria. An analysis of urinary parameters revealed that 15% of the patients had abnormal Ketone Bodies. Normal HbA1c levels (9%) HbA1c levels. Hematological assessments indicated significant variation: 56% of the patients had low hemoglobin levels, 4% suffered from hyper-eosinophilia, and 1% each from hyper-basophilia and hyper-hemoglobinemia. The anemic profile was characterized as mild anemia in 75%, moderate anemia in 20%, and severe anemia in 5%. Furthermore, 25% of patients were affected by Microcytic anemia and 75% by Normocytic anemia. Demographically, women constituted 65% of the study group compared to 35% of men. The most represented age bracket was 41 to 60 years, accounting for 52% of the patients, while those between 61 and 80 years comprised 36%. Every district in Kindia was impacted by diabetes.

Epidemiological, Clinical, and Evolutionary Profile of Type 1 Diabetics in the Internal Medicine Department of the Abass Ndao Hospital from 2010 to 2021 (about 659 Cases)

Introduction: Type 1 diabetes can have acute complications, sometimes requiring hospitalization. The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiological, clinical and evolutionary aspects of type 1 diabetes in patients at the Abass Ndao National Hospital in Dakar. Patients and Methods: This was a cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study conducted from January 01, 2010 to December 31, 2021. It focused on hospitalized type 1 diabetic patients. Epidemiological, clinical and evolutionary data were evaluated. Results: Six hundred and fifty-nine (659) patients were enrolled, representing a frequency of 11.5%. The mean age was 29.47 years, giving a sex ratio (m/f) of 0.95. Average hospital stay was 6.1 days. One hundred and forty-four (144) patients (21.8%) had inaugural diabetes. The average consultation time was 14.89 days. Acute metabolic complications were ketoacidosis in 353 patients (56%), and hypoglycemia in 1.2%. Simple hyperglycemia was noted in 113 patients (18.0%). Infection was present in 522 patients (58.3%), of whom 95 (28.2%) had a skin infection.55 patients (16.3%) had a respiratory infection. 12.3% had a dietary imbalance.176 cases (27.7%) had no imbalance.26 patients (3.9%) died, with infectious pathologies accounting for the majority of decompensation factors among the deceased (57.7%). Conclusion: Type 1 diabetes is a cause of morbidity and mortality. It is essential to develop and implement a prevention and management program.

Congenital Heart Disease Referred for Surgery: Analysis and Epidemiological Description in the Cardiology Department of CHU Ignace Deen

Introduction: Congenital heart disease includes all cardiac and vascular malformations. It accounts for approximately one third of all congenital malformations and is a public health problem, particularly in developing countries. The aim of this study was to analyze the epidemiological, clinical and paraclinical aspects of congenital heart disease. Methods: This was a retrospective descriptive and analytical study based on the records of 135 patients referred for surgery and followed up in the cardiology department of the Ignace Deen University Hospital, collected in November 2022. Results: Hospital prevalence was 5%. The mean age was 71 months, ranging from 1 month to 19 years. The age group over 24 months was the most represented (62%). The M/F sex ratio was 1.36. Urban origin was predominant (58%). The rate of children not attending school or dropping out was high (16%). Siblings with fewer than 4 children were the most common (88%). A heart murmur was the most frequent sign (78%), followed by cyanosis (36%) and heart failure (29%). The association between heart murmurs and CHD was proven with a p-value Conclusion: CHDs represent the main indication for paediatric cardiac surgery and follow-up (95%). We stress the importance of implementing a screening and management strategy for congenital heart disease.

Acute Kidney Injury in the Nephrology Department of the Brazzaville University Hospital: Epidemiological, Clinical and Evolutionary Aspects

Introduction: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is defined as a sudden and reversible deterioration in renal function. It is a life-threatening condition in hospitalized patients. Our objectives were to determine the prevalence of AKI in a nephrology department, list the causes, describe the evolutionary profile and identify the factors associated with death. Patients and Methods: We reviewed the records of patients hospitalised between 1 January 2016 and 31 October 2020 in the nephrology department of Brazzaville University Hospital. We included patients aged at least 18 years whose discharge diagnosis included the item AKI. Study variables were socio-demographic data, clinical and paraclinical signs, stage and type of AKI, etiology and evolutionary profile. Results: Of the 1823 patients hospitalised, 244 (13.38%) were hospitalised for AKI. Of these, 60.2% were boys and 39.8% girls, with an average age of 47 19 years. The average consultation time was 10 6.5 days. AKI was stage 3 in 69.57% of cases. It was functional, organic and obstructive in the order of 55.28%, 36.02% and 8.69%. Dialysis was indicated in 62 patients (38.51%) and performed in 24 patients (14.9%). In-hospital mortality was 27.95%, with an average hospital stay of 9.6 5.8 days. Metabolic acidosis and anemia were the main causes of death in 14.28% and 4.35% of patients respectively. Factors associated with death were male sex, socioeconomic level, coma, indication for dialysis and absence of dialysis, with a p Conclusion: AKI is more common in young adult males. Mortality is relatively low. Improving prognosis requires early management and access to dialysis.

Epidemiological, Clinical Aspects and Factors Associated with Typical Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease in the General Population of Parakou, Republic of Benin

Introduction: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a benign and chronic disease that can impair the quality of life. Objective: To study the epidemiological, clinical aspects and factors associated with typical GERD in the general population of Parakou in the Republic of Benin. Methods: This was a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study with prospective data collection which took place from May 1, 2019 to June 30, 2019. The study population consisted of any subject aged at least 15 years and living in Parakou. Subjects aged at least 15 years, present on the day of the survey and having given their free and informed verbal consent were included. The Short form of QRS®(Reflux-Qual Short form) questionnaire and the “Hospital Anxiety and Depression” score were used to assess the quality of life and anxiety/depression, respectively. The sampling was probabilistic through a 2-stage cluster sampling. The variable of interest was the presence of GERD. Results: Out of 390 subjects surveyed, 28 had symptoms of typical GERD, representing a prevalence of 7.18%. The average age of these subjects was 27.11 ± 7.88 years. Fifteen subjects (53.57%) were male, giving a sex ratio of 1.15. Fourteen (50%) had a secondary level of education, 12 (42.86%) were pupils/students, 18 (64.29%) were single. The monthly income of 22 subjects (78.57%) was lower than the guaranteed interprofessional minimum wage (40,000 FCFA). The average duration of progression of symptoms was 15.89 ± 4.97 months. Symptoms occurred less than twice a week in 22 subjects (78.57%). The clinical manifestations were both diurnal and nocturnal in 12 subjects (42.86%). None of the 28 subjects with GERD had clinical warning signs. Asthma, diabetes, consumption of high fat or spice foods, carbonated drinks, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, alcoholic beverages and tobacco were statistically associated with the occurrence of GERD. Each of the 28 subjects had at least one associated factor. A significant impair in quality of life was observed in 27 patients (96.43%). Conclusion: Typical GERD is relatively common in the general population of Parakou in the Republic of Benin. It often affects young males. Among the risk factors identified, the most common are carbonated drinks, spicy meals and diabetes. GERD significantly impairs quality of life. Raising awareness about the disease and its associated factors is necessary among the general population.

Eyelid Wounds: Epidemiological, Clinical and Etiological Aspects

Purpose: The aim is to show epidemiological, clinical and etiological characteristics of palpebral wounds. Methodology: This was a retrospective study focusing on patients with an eyelid wound, over a 10-year period from 2012 to 2021. We collected and analyzed the data using Excel. Results: The frequency of eyelid wounds was 0.1%. The average age of our patients was 19.38 years with a range of 1 and 62 years. The sex ratio was 3.7. Eighty-one percent of patients lived in Dakar. Fifty-seven percent (57%) of patients consulted less than 24 hours after the trauma and 7% of patients on D1. The circumstances were brawls (11%), domestic accidents (9%), road accidents (6%), and work accidents (6%). We noted 1 case of dog bite. Thirteen patients presented with post-traumatic decreased visual acuity. Involvement of the isolated upper eyelid was noted in 40% of cases and both eyelids in 15% of cases. Involvement of the lacrimal ducts was noted in 17% of cases, and that of the free edge in 21% of cases. Eyelid wounds were associated with eyeball damage in 21% of cases. Various associated lesions were observed. Ninety-one percent of patients received surgical treatment. Three cases of superinfections, 1 case of conjunctival granuloma and 1 case of phthysis of the eyeball with postoperative retinal detachment were noted. Conclusion: Eyelid sores are relatively common in our context. They require rapid surgical treatment in order to preserve the functional and aesthetic prognosis. .

The Dental Absces: Epidemiological, Clinical and Therapeutic Aspects at the Dental Office of the Prefectoral Hospital of Siguiri in 2021 in the Republic of Guinea

Introduction: A dental abscess is a collection of pus located in the tissues surrounding the tooth roots. The aim of this work is to describe the epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic aspects of dental abscess in order to contribute to the management of patients suffering from this pathology at the dental office of the Siguiri Prefectural Hospital. Methods: This was a retrospective descriptive study lasting 2 months carried out on the registers of patients received between October 2017 and October 2020 at the dental office of the Siguiri prefectural hospital. Results: 4690 patient files were identified during the study, of which 546 met our selection criteria, i.e. a frequency of 11.64%. During our study, we found 51.83% female compared to 48.17% male, i.e. a sex ratio of 1.07. 54.21% of our patients resided in rural communes compared to 45.76% for the urban commune. The age group most affected was that of 16 - 25 years old or 33.69%. Swelling, pain and functional discomfort were the reasons for consultation in all patients followed by other associated reasons in 41.21%. The premolar-molar group was the most represented, i.e. 86.70%. 80.04% of our patients presented an acute abscess compared to 19.96% of chronic cases. Antibiotic, analgesic, and mouthwash were prescribed in all patients during the study followed by 96.37% of cases prescription of steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. 93.04% of causal teeth were extracted followed by 6.78% of cases of conservative treatment in our study. In our study, 80.95% of our patients had a good post-therapeutic outcome. Conclusion: This study highlights the need for prevention and early management of dental abscesses.

Early-onset gastrointestinal cancer:An epidemiological reality with great significance and implications

During the last few years,epidemiological data from many countries suggest that the incidence and prevalence of many cancers of the digestive system are shifting from the older to the younger ages,the so-called“early-onset cancer”.This is particularly evident in colorectal cancer and secondarily in other malignant digestive neoplasms,mainly stomach and in a lesser degree pancreas,and biliary tract.It should be emphasized that data concerning digestive neoplasms,except for those referring to the colon and stomach,could be characterized as rather insufficient.The exact magnitude of the shift in younger ages is expected to become clearer shortly,as long as relevant epidemiological data from many parts of the world would be available.The most important question concerns the etiology of this phenomenon,since its magnitude cannot be explained solely by the better diagnostic methodology and the preventive programs applied in many countries.The existing data support the assumption that a number of environ-mental factors may play a primary role in influencing carcinogenesis,sometimes from childhood.Changes that have appeared in the last decades related mainly to eating habits,consistency of gut microbiome and an increase of obese people interacting with genetic factors,ultimately favor the process of carcinogenesis.Even these factors however,are not entirely sufficient to explain the age-related changes in the frequency of digestive neoplasms.Studies of the individual effect of each of the already known factors or factors likely to be involved in the etiology of this phenomenon and studies using state-of-the-art technologies to accurately determine the degree of the population exposure to these factors are required.In this article,we attempt to describe the epidemiological data supporting the age-shifting of digestive malignancies and their possible pathogenesis.Finally,we propose some measures regarding the attitude of the scientific community to this alarming phenomenon.

Epidemiological Study of Ametropia at the CHU-BSS of Kati

Introduction: Ametropias or refractive errors are pathologies commonly encountered in ophthalmology characterized by the projection on the retina of a blurry image. There are several types of ametropia and each of them has a specific means of correction. In the literature, numerous data have been reported on the issue through studies that were mostly carried out on infant populations. To better treat ametropia in a more formal way, it is important to know their general characteristics within a larger population, hence the present investigation, the aim of which is to carry out an epidemiological study of ametropia at the Kati University Hospital-BSS. Materials and Methods: The study was carried out at Kati University Hospital-BSS between January 1 and December 31, 2022 and included 663 ametropic patients of all ages. Results: During the study period, 663 cases of ametropia were diagnosed out of 1678 new consultations, representing an incidence of 39.51%. Patients aged between 21 and 40 years were more affected. Depending on the type, these ametropias were dominated by compound astigmatism with 68.75% followed by isolated hyperopia and isolated astigmatism. Visual fatigue was the most mentioned reason for consultation. The female gender was in the majority with 70.9%. Low ametropia (Discussion: The growing visual needs of young people, especially with new information and communication technologies, would push them to consult the ophthalmologist more, and therefore to want optical correction in the event of a refractive anomaly, which would partly explain their high frequency in this age group. Conclusion: It is important to know the general characteristics of ametropia in the general population in order to improve the quality of life of patients affected by it through efficient therapeutic solutions.

Epidemiological Aspects of Stillbirth and Neonatal Deaths in the Delivery Room at the Libreville Mother-Child University Hospital from 2019 to 2022

Introduction: Stillbirths are estimated at 2 million each year, of which more than 40% occur during labour. Our objective was to study the epidemiological aspects of stillbirth and neonatal deaths in the delivery room in our health facility. Patients and methods: Prospective, descriptive and analytical study, conducted at the Jeanne Ebori Foundation Mother-Child University Hospital over 4 years (January 2019-December 2022). All neonatal deaths in the delivery room or foetal death in utero, were included. Results: Among the 18,346 deliveries performed, 512 newborns were declared dead in the delivery room (27.9‰ live births), divided into in utero foetal death (19.0‰) and immediate neonatal death (8.9‰). The mean age was 34.3 weeks of amenorrhea. The rate of preterm birth was 60.4%. The sex ratio was 1.1. The average weight was 2186.6. The main causes were vascular (46.1%), foetal (20.2%), adnexal (17.1%) and asphyxia per partum (16.6%). Foetal causes were more likely to result in IUFD than other causes (OR = 6.4 [2.4 - 15.7], p < 0.001). After birth, partum asphyxia was more likely to lead to death before 15 minutes of life than other causes (OR = 11 [6.1 - 18.9], p Conclusion: The causes of stillbirth and early neonatal mortality are dominated by maternal vascular pathologies. However, the proportion of childbirth-related causes remains worrying. Better monitoring of pregnancy and labour will minimize this prevalence in our hospital.

Epidemiological and Anatomo Path Ological Aspects of Stomach Cancers at the Koutiala District Hospital

Aim: This paper aims to evaluate the epidemiological and pathological aspects of stomach cancer at Koutiala District Hospital. Methods: This was a retrospective study carried out in the General Surgery Department of the Koutiala District Hospital Health Centre. The records of patients admitted for stomach cancer in the period from August 1, 2017 to December 31, 2022 were collected. Patients who underwent surgery for stomach cancer were included in the study. Patients who had not undergone surgery were excluded. Results: We collected records from 40 patients operated on for stomach cancer. The median age was 58.4 years ± 5.7. Men were in the majority with 72.5% The sex ratio was 2.6. The incidence rate of stomach cancer in the general population in the circle was 4.9 cases per 100,000 population. Patients had a history of gastric ulcer in 90%, Helicobacter pylori infection in 47.5% and a notion of excessive salt consumption in 47.5%. The median duration of disease progression was 5 years ± 2.3. The seat was antro-pyloric in 77.5%. The cancer was ulcerative budding in 23 patients. Adenocarcinoma was the histological type in all patients. The cancer was classified as stage III in 30 cases and stage IV in 10 cases. Palliative surgical treatment was the most performed (47.5%). Postoperative morbidity was 15% and mortality was 42.5% at one year. Conclusion: Stomach cancer is common in the ward. Most patients consult at the stage of metastasis. Palliative surgery remains the most practical. Postoperative morbidity and mortality is very high.

Epidemiological and Clinical Aspects of Male Infertility in Patients Consulting at the Urology Department of the Yaounde Central Hospital

Introduction: About 10 to 15% of couples in the world and 20 to 30% in Cameroon consult for infertility problems. Infertility is of male origin in 40% of cases. Our objective was to evaluate the epidemiological and clinical aspects of male infertility in our setting. Methods: This was a cross-sectional and descriptive study, with retrospective data collection from the files of patients received for male infertility, over 5 years and 6 months (from January 1st, 2016 to April 30th, 2021) at the Urology Department of the Yaounde Central Hospital. Phone calls were made to patients with incomplete records for completion following a verbal consent. Data reported on data collection forms were entered into a data entry form designed on CSPro software version 7.2. The database was later exported for descriptive statistics using the IBM SPSS software version 23. Qualitative variables were summarized in frequencies and percentages while quantitative variables were summarized in means with their standard deviations for normally distributed data, or medians and interquartile ranges otherwise. Results: Out of 110 patients whose records were analyzed, the median age was 37.0 years, with an interquartile range of 8.3, with 55.5% in the age group 30 to 39 years. Of these 95 (86.4%) were married, 58 (52.7%) were from the West region, 76 (69.1%) were employed. Past history was dominated by mumps 40 (36.4%), varicocele surgery 25 (22.7%), alcoholism 87 (79.1%) and smoking 15 (13.6%). A disorder of spermatogenesis was found in all our patients: 37 (33.6%) azoospermia, 27 (24.6%) asthenospermia and 26 (23.7%) oligospermia patients. Paraclinical evidence of chlamydia and gonococcal infections were found respectively in 38 (34.5%) and 14 (12.7%) patients, varicocele and testicular dystrophy respectively in 95 (86.4%) and 38 (34.5%) patients. Infertility was primary in 67 (60.9%) patients. Conclusion: Most patients with infertility were in their thirties, had risky social habits and comorbidities. An early start of health promotion activities, comorbidities prevention and early detection of spermogram abnormalities would make it possible to reduce the frequency of male infertility.

Epidemiological, Clinical, Therapeutic, and Evolutionary Aspects of Chronic End-Stage Renal Failure in the Nephrology Department of the University Hospital of Brazzaville in 2023

Objective: Chronic end-stage renal failure is a major public health problem in developing countries and is poorly documented. The objective of this study was to describe the epidemiological, diagnostic, therapeutic, and evolutionary aspects of patients admitted for end-stage renal failure to the Department of Nephrology at the University Hospital of Brazzaville. Patients and Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study collecting prospective data that took place over 10 months. We included 128 patients who were exhaustively identified. Sociodemographic, clinical, therapeutic and developmental data were collected using a standardized and pretested pre-established survey form. The EPI info software enabled the analysis and processing of the data. Results: We reported a male predominance with a sex ratio of 2.5. The median age was 50 years. The first cause found was diabetes (55%) followed by hypertension (46%). The majority of patients had a dialysis emergency and half could not be dialyzed for financial reasons. Conclusion: Our results highlighted that certain epidemiological parameters of end-stage renal failure are constantly changing, such as frequency, while others remain static, including the main etiologies, gender, and age. However, mortality continues to increase and deserves more attention.

Latest insights into the global epidemiological features,screening,early diagnosis and prognosis prediction of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

As a highly invasive carcinoma,esophageal cancer(EC)was the eighth most prevalent malignancy and the sixth leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide in 2020.Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC)is the major histological subtype of EC,and its incidence and mortality rates are decreasing globally.Due to the lack of specific early symptoms,ESCC patients are usually diagnosed with advanced-stage disease with a poor prognosis,and the incidence and mortality rates are still high in many countries,especially in China.Therefore,enormous challenges still exist in the management of ESCC,and novel strategies are urgently needed to further decrease the incidence and mortality rates of ESCC.Although the key molecular mechanisms underlying ESCC pathogenesis have not been fully elucidated,certain promising biomarkers are being investigated to facilitate clinical decision-making.With the advent and advancement of highthroughput technologies,such as genomics,proteomics and metabolomics,valuable biomarkers with high sensitivity,specificity and stability could be identified for ESCC.Herein,we aimed to determine the epidemiological features of ESCC in different regions of the world,especially in China,and focused on novel molecular biomarkers associated with ESCC screening,early diagnosis and prognosis prediction.

Radical Hysterectomy in Cervical Cancer: Patients’ Epidemiological and Clinical Profiles and Perioperative Outcome in Two Referral Hospitals in Cameroon

Background: Cervical cancer (CC) is one of the most frequent cancers and the leading cause of death from gynecological cancer in Low and middle income countries, Cameroon inclusive. Surgery is the primary treatment modality when the disease is diagnosed at early stage. Radical hysterectomy in cervical cancer has not been evaluated in recent years in Cameroon. The purpose of this study is thus to evaluate the epidemiological and clinical features and short term outcomes of patients who underwent surgery. Patients and methods: This retrospective study was conducted at the Douala Gynaeco-obstetric and Pediatric Hospital and the Douala General Hospital. Cervical cancer patients who underwent Radical hysterectomy between January 2015 and December 2020 were included. A pre-established data collection tool was used to record socio-demographic, clinical and outcomes information from patients’ files;additional outcome information was obtained from phone calls. Descriptive analysis was done using the SPSS version 26. Bivariate analysis was used to determine associations between disease and patients characteristics and occurrence of adverse postoperative outcome. P value of 0.05 was considered. Results: Sixty one patients were enrolled. Their ages ranged from 33 to 74 years with a mean age of 51.95 ± 10.29 years. Over 85% of women were married, 65.57% were unemployed and 86.88% were multiparous. Only 28% had never done cervical cancer screening. Most patients had stage IB1 to IB2 stage disease (57.1%). Less than 9% underwent radical hysterectomy and 8 of those (13.11%) suffered intraoperative complications. Twenty-five patients (40.98%) presented immediate and short term complications. There was no significant association between the disease or patients’ characteristics and adverse outcomes. Conclusion: Cervical cancer patients are relatively young in our settings and only 9% of them reach the hospital at early stage. Postoperative adverse outcomes rate is higher than that reported in the literature. Sensitization on screening and awareness of early symptoms can reverse the situation.

Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of lung cancer in Saudi Arabia:a retrospective study in single oncology center

Background:Lung cancer(LC)is one of the most common neoplastic diseases and a leading cause of death in Saudi Arabia.Its incidence in Saudi Arabia has increased by more than 3%within two decades.Our study aimed to describe the epidemiological and genetic landscapes of LC in Al-Madinah city in Saudi Arabia.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the medical records of 65 patients diagnosed with lung cancer between 2015 and 2021 at a single medical oncology center in Al-Madinah city of Saudi Arabia.Results:The mean patients’age was 59.2 years,with 50(76.9%)males and 15(23.1%)females;37(57%)smokers,and 28(43%)non-smokers.The number of cases per year has increased gradually over six years from 2015(n=3)to 2020(n=13).The most prevalent histopathological diagnosis was non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC)(n=58,89%)followed by small cell lung cancer(SCLC)(n=5,7.8%).NSCLC was frequently more common in smokers while squamous cell carcinoma was more frequent in non-smokers.Around 89%(n=58)of the cases were diagnosed in late stage IV and the most common metastatic sites were to pleura and lymph nodes(n=32,49.2%).Program Death Legend-1(PDL-1)was fairly expressed in 7/10(70%)patients.Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor(EGFR)was mutated in 5/17(29%)patients.Other mutations detected include Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase(ALK)and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PIK3C)mutations in two patients.Conclusions:Our study revealed that lung cancer is a significant burden in AlMadinah city of Saudi Arabia.If the risk factors are not controlled,the number of cases may increase considerably.Health education about the risk factors and cancer prevention helps in early lung cancer detection.

Prostate Cancer in the Thies Region, Senegal: Epidemiological, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Aspects

Introduction: Prostate cancer is the leading urological cancer. It is the most common cancer in men over 50. Objective: To determine the epidemiological, diagnostic and therapeutic characteristics of prostate cancer in hospitals in the Thiès region. Patients and Methods: We conducted a descriptive study from January 1st, 2015 to December 31st, 2020. We included all cases of primary prostate cancer confirmed on histology. Results: We collected data on 318 cases of primary prostate cancer during the study period. Mean patient age was 72.7 years (Range: 49;94 years). Family history of prostate cancer was found in 22 patients (6.91%). The average consultation time was 18.6 months. The circumstances of discovery were dominated by obstructive voiding disorders (97.16%). Digital Rectal examination was suggestive in 55.40% of patients. PSA level was above 20 ng/ml in 76.7% of patients. Prostatic adenocarcinoma was the only histological type (100%). Localized cancer represented 7.2% and locally advanced cancer occurred in 36.5% of cases, while metastatic cancer accounted for 56.3%. Radical prostatectomy was performed in 3.18% of cases. Mortality rate was estimated at 8.50% after 1 year. Conclusion: Prostate cancer is the leading urological cancer in the Thies region. It is characterized by the predominance of locally advanced and metastatic forms.