Worldwide there is an increased prevalence of metabolic syndrome mainly due to life-style modifications, and Africans are not saved of this situation. Many markers have been studied to predict the risk of this syndrome but the most used are leptin and adiponectin. Data on these metabolic markers are scare in Africa and this study aimed to assess the association between the leptin-to-adiponectin ratio (LAR) with metabolic syndrome in a Cameroonian population. This was a cross-sectional study that included 476 adults among a general population of Cameroon. Data collected concerned the body mass index, waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, plasma lipids, adiponectin, leptin, insulin and homeostasis model for assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). To assess correlations we used Spearman’s analyses and association of the studied variables with metabolic syndrome were done using binary logistic regression analysis. The leptin to adiponectin ratio was significantly and positively correlated with the body mass index (r = 0.669, p < 0.0001), waist circumference (r = 0.595, p < 0.0001), triglycerides (r = 0.190, p = 0.001), insulin levels (r = 0.333, p < 0.0001) and HOMA-IR (r = 0.306, p < 0.0001). Binary logistic regression analysis revealed that leptin, adiponectin and LAR were significantly associated with metabolic syndrome with respective unadjusted OR of 1.429, 0.468 and 1.502. After adjustment, for age and sex, the associations remained significative; LAR was also found to be significantly associated with metabolic syndrome (OR = 1.573, p value =0.000) as well as lower levels of adiponectin (OR = 0.359, p value =0.000) and higher levels of leptin (OR = 1.469, p value =0.001). This study revealed that LAR is significantly associated with metabolic syndrome in sub-Saharan African population, independently to age and sex.

The aim of this study was to assess the epidemiology of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among the teaching staff of the University of Douala and determine their association with physical activity (PA) practice. The Nordic questionnaire was used to assess MSDs. Ricci–Gagnon questionnaire was used to determine the level of PA. We recruited 104 participants mean-aged 42 ± 8 years, 80% male. Previous 7 days and 12 months prevalence were 56.7% and 80.8%, respectively. The most affected body regions were neck, shoulders and lower back. No significant association was found between MSDs and PA. Celibacy was significantly associated with previous 7-days MSDs (p = 0.048) while age ≥ 45 years and job seniority ≥ 10 years were significantly associated with a reduced risk of previous 12-months MSDs (p = 0.039 and p = 0.016, respectively). The prevalence of MSDs among university of Douala teaching staff showed no significant effect with the practice of PA.

INTRODUCTION: L?an?mie est un probl?me de sant? publique pr?dominant chez les enfants et les femmes en ?ge de procr?er. L?objectif de cette ?tude ?tait de caract?riser et de d?terminer sa pr?valence chez les enfants ?g?s de 6 mois ? 14 ans hospitalis?s ? l'h?pital de District de Bonassama ? Douala-Cameroun. METHODES: Il s'agissait d'une ?tude descriptive transversale qui s'est d?roul?e de f?vrier ? mars 2012 avec une collecte r?trospective des donn?es de janvier 2009 ? mars 2012. Etaient inclus, les patients de 6 mois ? 14 ans hospitalis?s, quel que soit leur motif de consultation et leur diagnostic, et ayant r?alis? au moins une num?ration formule sanguine (NFS). Les patients transfus?s moins de 120 jours avant la NFS ?taient exclus. L'?ge, le sexe, les motifs de consultation, les signes cliniques, les diagnostics et les r?sultats de la NFS ?taient enregistr?s. L'an?mie ?tait d?finie selon les crit?res de l?OMS. La recherche ?tiologique ?tait guid?e par les signes cliniques et les examens compl?mentaires. RESULTATS: La pr?valence de l'an?mie ?tait de 88,5%. Le sex-ratio gar?on/fille ?tait de 1,3. La fi?vre ?tait le premier motif de consultation. L'an?mie mod?r?e pr?dominait (62,7%). Le taux moyen d?h?moglobine chez les patients an?miques ?tait de 8,6 ? 1,7 g/dl (2,3-11,4). L'an?mie microcytaire hypochrome dominait (48,5%). Le paludisme ?tait la principale pathologie (46,3%). Le taux de mortalit? des patients an?miques ?tait de 5,9%. CONCLUSION: La pr?valence de l?an?mie ?tait ?lev?e avec une pr?dominance des formes hypochromes microcytaires. La principale ?tiologie ?tait le paludisme.

Background/objective: Self-selected warm-up also called reference warmup (RWU) was reported improving the performance endurance dynamic exercise. This study aimed to assess the effects of RWU on isometric endurance contraction. Methods: Ten university level athletes performed two endurance isometric exercises on a dynamometer, with no warm-up (I-NWU) and with a self-selected warm-up (I-RWU). Skin temperature (T_sk), heart rate (HR), oxygen consumption (VO₂), blood lactate [La^-], root mean square (RMS), mean frequency (MF) and time limit (Tlim) were measured to assess the effects of RWU. Results: T_sk, HR, (VO₂) and [La^-] were significantly raised (p < 0.01) after RWU compare to resting values, and remained significantly higher (p < 0.01) at the onset of I-RWU compare to I-NWU. Tlim significantly decreased after RWU (01:19 ± 00:25 for I-RWU vs. 01:49 ± 00:27 mm:ss for I-NWU) (p < 0.0005). RMS and MF showed no significant differences between I-NWU and I-RWU (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Self-selected warm-up impairs the performance of consecutive isometric exercise. Athletes appear less able to self-perceive an optimal warm-up for endurance isometric. Metabolic and electromyogram parameters changes did not thoroughly explained the decline of performance; this gives room for a possible anticipation of central fatigue regulation, which need further investigation.