ABSTRACT
Objectives: This work was aimed at investigating, by means of ultrasonography, the influence of training altitudes on haemodynamic parameters of the right heart and the impact of these parameters on the performances of runners participating in endurance races. Experimental Design: This was a cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of the Study: The study was carried out in Cameroon. Echocardiographic parameters were recorded at the Regional Hospital annex of Buea (Cameroon) on the 12th and 13th February while race times were recorded at Molyko Stadium of Buea, on the 15th February 2014. Methodology: Out of 241 runners who finished the senior Mount Cameroon Race of Hope, 68 who were at least at their second participation, had voluntarily participated in the study. Right heart parameters such as the Mid Right Ventricle Diameter (MRVD), the right ventricle Base-To-Apex Length (BAL), the Right Wall Motion (RWM), the Free Wall Thickness (FWT), the tricuspid annular plan systolic excursion (TAPSE) were collected through 2D transthoracic ultrasonography. Mann-Withney or Kruskal-Wallis tests and Spearman’s correlation were used for statistical analysis. The significance level was set at p-value<0.05. Results: Performances improved with the increasing number of participation in the race. From all the above echocardiographic parameters only the values of TAPSE were significantly different (p=0.035), with respect to genders (1.8±0.3 vs. 1.6±0.3 cm/m2, for males and females respectively). The Spearman’s correlation analysis did not show any relationship between training altitude and MRVD (r=-0.19; p=0.19), TAPSE (r=0.14; p=0.35) or FWT (r=-0.04; p=0.77). However, there was a correlation, although weak, between training altitude and BAL (r=-0.33; p=0.02). BAL decreased as training altitude was getting higher. None of these haemodynamic parameters seemed to impact the performances of runners. Conclusion: The training altitudes can impact right ventricle BAL, but not TAPSE and the latter is affected by gender. However, these parameters seem not to impact the performances of high altitude endurance runners.
ABSTRACT
Objectives: This work was aimed at investigating, by means of ultrasonography, the impact of cardiovascular parameters on the physical endurance of runners participating in high altitude race. Experimental Design: This was a cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of the Study: The study was carried out in Cameroon. Anthropometric and cardiovascular parameters were recorded at the Regional Hospital annex of Buea (Cameroon) on the 12th and 13th February while race times were recorded at Molyko Stadium of Buea, on the 15th February 2014. Methodology: Out of 241 runners who finished the senior Mount Cameroon Race of Hope, 69 who were at least at their second participation, had voluntarily participated in the study. Haemodynamic parameters were collected through 2D transthoracic ultrasonography. Mann-Withney or Kruskal-Wallis tests and linear regression were used for statistical analysis. The significance level was set at p-value<0.05. Results: The mean LVEDD, LVDV, LVSV, LVMMI, SF/EF and TAPSE were 2.7±0.3 cm/m2, 88.5±49.3 mL/m2, 53.4±30.7 mL/m2, 131.1±28.6 g/m2, 69.3±9.4% and 1.7±0.3 cm/m2 respectively. In males and females, LVDV (mL/m2) was 98.6±55.3 vs. 64.2±12.6 (p=0.011) while LVSV (mL/m2) was 61.6±33.2 vs. 33.9±6.2 (p=0.0004), respectively. The linear regression model revealed that the lower the altitude, the greater the race time i.e. the weaker the performance (p=0.005; r2=0.12). In addition increase of LVDV related with increase of residential (p=0.025; r2=0.12) and training (p=0.021; r2=0.13) altitudes. Conclusion: Optimal values of haemodynamic parameters and/or high training altitude could be boosters of performance in endurance race at high altitude.
ABSTRACT
Introduction/Aim: Malaria is a major public health problem and can lead to fatal consequences within few days if not diagnosed and promptly treated. The aim of this study was to determine the malaria parasite prevalence and assess the performance characteristics of the Partec CyScope® rapid diagnostic test (RDT) in Tole. Experimental Design, Place and Duration of Study: The study was a cross-sectional survey, carried out in Tole, Southwest Cameroon in July 2014. Methodology: A total of 231 children were studied. Information on demographic data, temperature and malaria risk factors was recorded. Capillary blood was collected by finger pricking. Thick and thin blood films were prepared for malaria parasite detection and speciation. Ten μL of blood was added unto the DAPI coated slides and read under the Partec CyScope®. Haemoglobin values were determined. Results and Conclusion: The overall prevalences of malaria parasites, fever and anaemia were 66.2%, 35.9% and 86.6% respectively. Although not statistically significant, malaria parasite prevalence was highest in children aged 1 – 5 years, higher in females, those that had stagnant water and bushes around their homes as well as those who did not use insecticide-treated bed nets and insecticide residual spraying when compared with their respective counterparts. Overall geometric mean parasite density (GMPD) was 3691 (range = 100 - 48000) parasites/μL of blood). GMPD was significantly higher (P = 0.03) in febrile than afebrile children. Prevalence of anaemia was significantly higher (P = 0.01) in malaria positive (68.5%) than negative (45.2%) children. More cases of infections were detected by light microscopy than by Partec CyScope®. The sensitivities and specificities of Partec CyScope® were 87.6% (CI = 81.4-91.1%) and 94.9% (CI = 87.5-98.0%) respectively while the positive and negative predictive values were 97.1% and 79.6% respectively. Partec CyScope® can therefore be used for mass malaria surveillance.
ABSTRACT
Aim: This study was aimed at assessing the use of the CyScope® fluorescence microscope to determine the prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis (US) and malaria in Kotto Barombi. Experimental Design: The study was a cross-sectional survey. Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out in Kotto Barombi, Cameroon from April to May, 2013. Methodology: Urine and blood samples were collected from 216 pupils. US eggs were detected in urine by centrifugation and CyScope® methods for schistosome eggs. Malaria parasites were detected using Giemsa-stained blood films and CyScope® methods. The performance characteristics of the CyScope® for both infections were determined using light microscopy as gold standard. Results: Overall prevalence of US was 43.4% and 48.5% by light microscopy and CyScope® respectively. Prevalence of US was significantly higher (P<0.01) in the Kotto Barombi Island (78.3%) than Mainland (33.8%). US prevalence was not affected by age, sex and socio-economic class (SEC). Mean intensity of US was 8.1 eggs/10 ml urine (Confidence interval, CI = 4.3–11.9). It was significantly higher (P =.01) in pupils from Island (36.5 eggs/10 ml, CI: 17.7–55.3) than Mainland (8.8 eggs/10 ml; 7.1–10.5), males (19.2 eggs/10 ml urine; CI: 9.2–29.2) than females (17.8 eggs/10 ml urine; CI: 13.1–22.5) and highest (P = .046) in the ≤6 years age group (36.9 eggs/10 ml; CI: 20.4–53.4) when compared with pupils in other age groups. Sensitivity and specificity of CyScope® for US were 90.6% and 83.8% respectively. Overall prevalence of malaria was 19.0% and 41.2% by light microscopy and CyScope® respectively and the difference was significant (P = .01). Malaria prevalence and density were not influenced by age; sex and SEC. Sensitivity and specificity of CyScope® for malaria were 68.3% and 64.9% respectively. Conclusion: The CyScope® could be a useful tool for active case detection of both diseases especially in areas that lack electricity.