Cardiovascular risk factors among patients with chronic kidney disease attending a tertiary hospital in Uganda

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease; which is the primary cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with CKD. Local data about cardiovascular risk factors among CKD patients is generally scanty. Objective: To determine the prevalence of the common cardiovascular risk factors among patients with CKD attending the nephrology out-patient clinic in Mulago national referral hospital in Uganda. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study in which 217 patients with a mean age of 43 years were recruited over a period of nine months. Data on demographic characteristics; risk factors for cardiovascular disease; complete blood count; renal function tests/electrolytes; and lipid profiles were collected using a standardised questionnaire. Results: One hundred and eleven (51.2%) of the participants were male. Hypertension was reported in 90% of participants while cigarette smoking was present in 11.5%. Twenty-two participants (10.2%) were obese and 16.1% were diabetic. A total of 71.9% had a haemoglobin concentration 11 g/dl; with the prevalence of anaemia increasing with advancing renal failure (p 0.001); 44.7% were hypocalcaemic and 39.2% had hyperphosphataemia. The prevalence of abnormal calcium and phosphate levels was found to increase with declining renal function (p

Rationale and Design of the Pan-African Sudden Cardiac Death Survey: the Pan-African SCD Study : Cardiovascular Topic

Background: The estimated rate of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in Western countries ranges from 300 000 to 400 000 annually; which represents 0.36 to 1.28 per 1 000 inhabitants in Europe and the United States. The burden of SCD in Africa is unknown. Our aim is to assess the epidemiology of SCD in Africa. Methods: The Pan-Africa SCD study is a prospective; multicentre; community-based registry monitoring all cases of cardiac arrest occurring in victims over 15 years old. We will use the definition of SCD as 'witnessed natural death occurring within one hour of the onset of symptoms' or 'unwitnessed natural death within 24 hours of the onset of symptoms'. After approval from institutional boards; we will record demographic; clinical; electrocardiographic and biological variables of SCD victims (including survivors of cardiac arrest) in several African cities. All deaths occurring in residents of districts of interest will be checked for past medical history; circumstances of death; and autopsy report (if possible). We will also analyse the employment of resuscitation attempts during the time frame of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) in various patient populations throughout African countries. Conclusion: This study will provide comprehensive; contemporary data on the epidemiology of SCD in Africa and will help in the development of strategies to prevent and manage cardiac arrest in this region of the world

Effect of carvedilol on distribution and expression of connexin43 / 中华急诊医学杂志

Objective To observe the effect of carvedilol on the expression of Cx43 in rabbits with myocardial infarction and its association with ventricular arrhythmia.Method Thirty-six rabbits were randomly divided into three groups in equal number(n=12),namely,myocardial infarction(MI)group,carvedilol group and sham MI group.Rabbits of carvedilol group were administered with carvedilol 5 mg kg~(-1)?d~(-1)after MI induced,while no carvedilol was administered to the MI group.The following observations were made:(1)Cx43 density of the epicardial border zone measured by quantitative immnuoconfocal laser scanning,and(2)cx43 protein expression analyzed by western blot.Results(1)Under immunoconfocal laser microscope,the relative density of Cx43 was(0.16?0.06)% in the infarction group and was(0.32?0.11)% in the sham MI group [(0.68?0.15)%,both P