[Exposure of man to metal trace elements and alteration of sperm parameters: study conducted in the mining areas of Haut-Katanga in the Democratic Republic of Congo]. / Exposition de l'homme aux éléments traces métalliques et altération du sperme: étude menée dans les zones minières du Haut-Katanga en République Démocratique du Congo.

INTRODUCTION: Arsenic and cadmium exposures cause significant adverse effects. This study aims to determine the urinary arsenic and cadmium concentrations in men in order to analyze their profile in relation to sperm count test values. METHODES: We conducted an exposed-non-exposed analytical study of men exposed to arsenic and cadmium in a mining area in Upper Katanga, DRC and of non-exposed men living far from any mining area. RESULTS: Study results show that 48% of exposed subjects had semen pH below the threshold value of 7.2 versus 16% of non-exposed subjects. The risk of a lowering of pH below the standards was more than 4 times higher (OR=4.85[1.9-12.39]) among exposed men. The difference between the averages of the total number of spermatozoa was statistically significant to the advantage of non-exposed subjects. Abnormal number of spermatozoa was much higher in exposed subjects. It was recorded a more rapid spermatozoa mobility degradation in exposed subjects. In addition, 44% of exposed men had urinary arsenic concentration > 20 µg/L versus 8% of non-exposed subjects, the risk of excessive arsenic accumulation was nine times higher in exposed men than in non-exposed men (OR=9.04 [2.82-28.96]). Sixty percent of exposed men had urinary cadmium concentration ≥0.5µg/ml versus 38% of non-exposed subjects, with an Odd Ratio of 2.45 [1.1-5.47], reflecting a risk of excessive cadmium accumulation in exposed men. On the other hand, it was recorded that, among exposed men, high urinary arsenic and cadmium concentrations resulted in a proportional degradation of sperm count test values. CONCLUSION: This study shows, on one hand, high urinary arsenic and cadmium concentrations and, on the other hand, more rapid and more severe alterations of sperm count test values in men living in mining area. This suggests a decline in male fertility which deserves to be further documented in future studies.

[Iodine concentration in cooking salt consumed in Lubumbashi and the iodine status of vulnerable people: case study of pregnant women living in underprivileged areas]. / La teneur en iode du sel de cuisine consommé à Lubumbashi et le statut iode des personnes vulnérables: cas de femmes enceintes de milieux défavorisés.

INTRODUCTION: Consumption of low iodine salt can cause different types of disorders associated with iodine deficiency. This study aims to determine iodine content in table salt consumed in Lubumbashi and iodine status of pregnant women who are the main target of iodine deficiency. METHODS: aAdescriptive cross-sectional study was devoted to an iodometric iodine analysis of 739 salt samples collected from the households and the markets of Lubumbashi in 2014. Previously, urinary iodine concentrations were determined in 225 pregnant women received for consultation from 15 March 2009 to 25 April 2011 by mineralization technique using ammonium persulphate. RESULTS: Our survey found that 47.5% of the cooking salt samples were adequately iodized (from 15 to 40 ppm), 36,9% of the samples had low iodine levels, 7,4% of the samples had too much iodine and 8,1% of the samples were not iodized. Iodine concentration in the analyzed cooking salt reached an overall average of 54,9%, being clearly below the WHO Standards (90%). By measuring urinary iodine concentration of pregnant women, iodine deficiency (urinary iodine <150 µg/l) was observed in 52%. CONCLUSION: The low availability of iodine from consumed salt in Lubumbashi could be responsible for a large proportion of the observed iodine deficiency in pregnant women, exposing them to the major risks for disorders associated with iodine deficiency.

Mirror-image gastroschisis in monochorionic female twins.

We report a case of "mirror-image" gastroschisis in female monochorionic twins. One of the twins presents a right-sided gastroschisis, the other a left-sided gastroschisis. Both twins have anteriorly placed anus and sacral dimple. To the best of our knowledge, this represents the first case of mirror image or discordant left and right gastroschisis in monochorionic twins reported in the literature. This observation may shed further light on the pathogenesis of gastroschisis.