Background: Objective was to study the transfusion practice of red blood cell concentrates (RBC) in children hospitalized in the pediatric departments of the Brazzaville University Hospital. Methods: A single-center analytical cross-sectional study on RBC transfusion in children was carried out between November 2022 and October 2023 in the pediatric departments of Brazzaville University Hospital Centre (B-UHC). Children aged 1 month to 17 years, hospitalized for severe anemia who had received a RGC transfusion were included. The study variables were sociodemographic, clinical, biological, those linked to blood transfusion (BT) of RBC and progressive. The Chi square test and odds ratio were used with significance at p<0.05. Results: A total of 300 patients (21.59%) were included, including 53% boys, sex ratio 1.13. The average age was 21.5 months (range 1 month and 17 years). Children aged 1 month to 5 years represented 49.3%. Sickle cell disease was the main cause of anemia: 57.6%. The average haemoglobin (Hb) level before transfusion was 5.9 g/dl. The most used blood was that of group O+. TS significantly improved Hb and hematocrit levels. Death occurred in 17% of cases linked to low socio-economic status (SES), a long time to transfusion and a Hb level <5 g/dl on admission. Conclusions: TS of RGCs remains a very frequent activity in the pediatric environment of the Brazzaville University Hospital in relation to the prevalence of severe anemia. The prevention of the main pathologies causing severe anemia as well as the strengthening of the capacities of the National Blood Transfusion Centre (NBTC) remain the essential therapeutic weapons.
Introduction: Psychological distress (PD) refers to a unique and uncomfortable emotional state experienced by an individual in response to a specific stressor. Objective: To assess psychological distress among general medicine students (GMS) at the Faculty of Health Sciences (FSSA) of Marien NGOUABI University in Brazzaville. Patients and methods: This was a cross-sectional analytical study. It was carried out over a period of 4 months at the FSSA. It focused on GMSs from the first to the seventh year of medicine who consented to participate in the study (653). The variables studied were sociodemographic, academic, related to lifestyle and the medical educational environment, related to psychological distress and related to the need for psychological help and stress management. Results: The prevalence of psychological distress among medical students was 63.4%. The average age of medical students was 21.5±2.8 years and the sex ratio was 0.6 in favor of women. Regular physical activity concerned 22.05% of GMSs and sleep duration was insufficient for 92.04% of them. The overall perception of the educational environment was satisfactory for 62.9% of EMGs and poor for 9.3% of them. The need for psychological help concerned 63.1%. Conclusion: The high prevalence of psychological distress among GMSs at the Faculty of Health Sciences in Brazzaville represents a real public health problem. Awareness-raising in this area appears to be necessary, and reforms would be important.
Introduction: Psychological distress (PD) is a negative emotional state resulting from prolonged exposure to a stressor or an accumulation of environmental stressors. Objective: To identify factors associated with PD among general medicine students in Brazzaville. Patients and methods: This was a cross-sectional analytical study. It was carried out over a period of 4 months at the FSSA. It focused on general medicine student (GMSs) from the first to the seventh year of medicine who consented to participate in the study. The variables studied were sociodemographic, academic, related to lifestyle and the medical educational environment, related to psychological distress and related to the need for psychological help and stress management. Results: The prevalence of psychological distress among medical students was 63.4%. The mean age of medical students was 21.5±2.8 years and the sex ratio was 0.6. Both parents were alive in 88.7%. The main source of funding was the parents in 47.5% and 70.3% of the GMSs who completed the internship had PD. In multivariate analysis, female gender (OR = 1.60; p = 0.015) and having at least one deceased parent (OR = 0.25; p = 0.036) were predictors of PD. Conclusion: PD is a concern for general medicine students in Brazzaville. Among the factors studied, female gender and poor perception of the educational environment are predictors of PD.
Introduction: Oxycodone hydrochloride can affect the nervous system, as well as other systems such as the endocrine and reproductive systems. Exposure to oxycodone hydrochloride is not without adverse effects. These adverse effects can lead to infertility. Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of oxycodone hydrochloride on reproductive functions in adult female Wistar rats. Materials and methods: Fifteen adult female Wistar rats, weighing between 100 and 300 g, were used. Treatment was administered orally for thirty days. Three batches, each containing five adult female Wistar rats, were formed and treated as follows: (1) a control batch given distilled water at 10 ml/kg; (2) and (3) batches treated with oxycodone hydrochloride at doses of 5 and 10 mg/kg respectively. The variables studied included physiological measurements, hormone assays and histological analysis of the ovaries. Results: Exposure of adult female Wistar rats to oxycodone hydrochloride at doses of 5 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg induced severe morphological alterations such as palpable adnexal masses plus a significant (p<0.05) increase in ovarian weight. A significant decrease (p<0.05) in FSH, LH and progesterone was also observed. Microscopic alterations such as cortical granuloma nodules were observed. Conclusion: Prolonged administration of oxycodone hydrochloride led to a significant increase in ovarian weight, associated with severe morphological alterations, hormone depletion and the appearance of microscopic ovarian alterations. All these disturbances are potentially linked to infertility. Keywords: oxycodone hydrochloride, infertility, hormone, ovary, histology, rats
Hospitalisation in paediatric intensive care units (PICU) is associated with a high nutritional risk. The objective of the study is to study the nutritional outcome of children hospitalised in the PICU and identify risk factors for hospital-acquired undernutrition (HAUN). We conducted a longitudinal analytical study with exhaustive inclusion from February 1 to July 31, 2023 (6 months) in the PICU of the Brazzaville Teaching Hospital Center. The sample size was determined using Schwartz’s formula. The nutritional status of the children was assessed at admission and discharge, and socio-demographic, clinical, dietary and developmental data were analysed. A logistic regression method was used for multivariate analysis. Of the 250 children selected, 51.1% were male, with a median age interquartile range of 48 (15–72) months. Nutritional status was stable or improved in 80% of the children, and 18% had developed HAUN. Wasting was the most common type of undernutrition (68.9%), and children who were undernourished on admission were more likely to be affected (42.9% vs. 14%). The risk factors for HAUN were: father unemployed ( P = 0.019 ) , primary school level ( P = 0.04), maternal age between 15 and 25 ( P < 0.001), inadequate nutritional intake ( P = 0.03) , shock ( P = 0.001), coma ( P = 0.006), severe bronchopulmonary infections ( P = 0.01), measles ( P < 0.02) and length of hospitalisation >7 days ( P < 0.000). The extent of HAUN in the PICU and its consequences require the implementation of preventive measures based on the factors identified in this study.
