Université de Kasa-Vubu

BackgroundPrevious research suggests that an ageing‐associated remodelling and loss of motor units due to motor neuron death contributes significantly to muscle weakness in old age. In histological sections, motor unit remodelling is reflected by increased fibre type grouping. While regular exercise may not attenuate the loss of motor units during ageing, it has been suggested to facilitate reinnervation resulting in larger motor units, and a higher number and larger fibre type groups in histological sections of muscles from aged individuals.MethodsIn a 10‐year follow‐up study, we assessed changes in the prevalence and size of fibre type groups in the vastus lateralis muscle from 34 male masters sprinters (40–85 years at start).ResultsOver the 10 years, there was an ageing‐related reduction in performance in the 60‐m sprint (P < 0.001) without significant changes in fibre type composition and fibre cross‐sectional area. Neither the number of fibre type groups, defined as a fibre surrounded exclusively by fibres of the same type, nor the group size changed significantly in the 10‐year period.ConclusionsThese histological data show that there is limited to no significant fibre type grouping over a 10‐year period in masters athletes who continued sprint run training. This observation challenges the paradigm that ageing, at least in systematically trained sprinters, is associated with motor unit remodelling.

The exploitation of groundwater by drilling in the Mitendi South-East district constitutes a solution to the water shortage in this peripheral part of the Mont-Ngafula township in Kinshasa, the capital of the DR Congo. Individuals exploit groundwater in boreholes to serve the population without taking into account certain necessary aspects such as the origin of the groundwater table and the quality which constitute the major problems of this work such as: What is the quantity of water from the recharge of our aquifer? What is the state of the Mitendi South-East aquifer water in relation to some physico-chemical parameters? The cardinal objective of this work is to provide chemical data and trace elements in each analyzed borehole and determine the type of recharge of the underground aquifer. The specific objectives are as follows: analyze the potability of groundwater on a physico-chemical level and their chemical facies, take the geographical coordinates of water samples from the aquifer in each targeted borehole in order to develop the sampling map of the area under study; also check each parameter analyzed in relation to WHO standards. We carried out a general investigation of the study area by carrying out observations, sampling and in-situ measurements of each borehole, as well as the good conservation of the samples taken in a cooler. The various measurements that we took in-situ: pH, electrical conductivity, turbidity, salinity, temperature, and TDS were carried out by using a multi-parameter probe in the laboratory of appropriate methods such as titled-sorting, spectrophotometry, atomic absorption spectrometry, ArcGise and Excel software. With regard to the results from laboratory analysis (physical and chemical analysis), the parameters showed that the standards recommended by the WHO were not respected. We affirm that the water consumed in the Mitendi South-East district in Mont-Ngafula town ship is not drinkable. Since, it can cause several water-borne diseases. It would be better to treat that water before being drunk.

The objective of the study was to determine the coverage of basic malaria control interventions in the Tshopo province. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from August 24 to December 24, 2022 among 820 women with a child under 5 years old, selected using the multistage probability sampling technique, in the Wanyerukula , Bengamisa , Tshopo health zones and Mangobo in Tshopo province . The results of this study showed that poor knowledge of malaria by pregnant women did not favor the use of Mosquito Nets Impregnated with Long-Lasting Insecticide the day before the survey (P: 0.01), the number of prenatal consultations ≥ 4 and taking at least 3 doses of SP as part of IPT less than 3 doses. Low newborn birth weight was statistically linked to low SP3 consumption. The prevalence of malaria among children under 5 years old remains high. Despite the WHO recommendations concerning means of prevention against malaria in pregnant women, this study shows significantly associated factors in particular: the level of study, marital status, occupation of the woman and low consumption of MS during ANC, occupancy still remains a problem. These determinants hamper

Abstract Objective: To identify independent determinants of selected emerging cardiometabolic risk factors of increased carotid intima – media thickness (CIMT) in uncontrolled hypertensive patients in a hospital setting in Kinshasa. Material and method: A cross-sectional study was performed between September 2018 and January 2021 in hypertensive patients admitted to Cliniques Universitaires de Kinshasa (CUK), Centre Hospitalier Mère et Enfant Monkole (CHME) and Hôpital Biamba Marie Mutombo (HBMM) to measure CIMT on ultra sonography. Some cardiometabolic and atherogenic markers were evaluated by Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) and logistical regression. Results: 280 hypertensive patients were examined with 72.9% uncontrolled hypertension. The CMIT threshold &gt;0.8 mm associated with uncontrolled hypertension was significantly and independently predictive of subclinical atherosclerosis. Conclusion: The present study identified independent determinants of increased CIMT in globally uncontrolled hypertensive patients in a hospital setting in Kinshasa, DR Congo. Thus, the optimal and specific thresholds for subclinical atherosclerosis were: urinary albumin/creatinine ratio, TyG Index, BMI and LVMI in the direction of health promotion and atherosclerosis prevalence in the management of hypertensive patients in the hospital setting of Kinshasa, DR Congo.

Aim: To determine the factors associated with the increase in the proportion of HIV-infected TB patients of Kiamvu and Baobab Tuberculosis Screening and Treatment Health Center (TSTHC) in the Nzanza HZ, Matadi, between January 2012 and December 2017. Methods: This was a control case study of 187 HIV-positive TB patients and 187 HIV-negative TB patients followed at the Nzanza HZ Tuberculosis Screening and Treatment Health Center (TSTHC) from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2017. We used Pearson's Khi square test and homogeneity as well as logistic regression. This identified the factors associated with TB/HIV co-infection. Results: HIV-positive TB patients had a high daily household income [OR: 2.90; p: 0.000]) than HIV-negative people. The majority of HIV-positive TB patients had unprotected sex with a casual partner prior to diagnosis [OR: 1.82; p: 0.000]) than HIV-negative. After adjustment, alcohol intake [OR: 12.2; p: 0.004]) and extra pulmonary forms of tuberculosis [OR: 31.5; 0.002] were associated with increased TB/HIV co-infection. Conclusion: Alcohol intake and extra-pulmonary forms of tuberculosis were factors associated with increased TB/HIV co-infection. Awareness of TB patients may help reduce the risk of HIV infection.