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Introduction: Hepatitis B infection is a serious global health problem worldwide. In Cameroon, this infection shows a great variability in prevalence in the country and even within different population groups. However, the prevalence of HBV in the southwestern region is not yet known. Objectives: This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of hepatitis B, its associated factors, and the patient's knowledge about the infection at the Buea Regional Hospital. Method: We conducted a hospital-based cross-sectional study from March 29th to June 30th, 2021 involving participants of both sexes with ages ranging from 13 to 60+. A random sampling method was used to obtain a sample size of 113 participants as calculated using Lorentz's formula. The study questionnaires were administered to participants and their blood samples were collected by venous puncture. The blood samples were collected in non-hepainized test tube at the collection units of the Hospital. Diaspot one-step Hepatitis B Surface Antigen test strips with 99% sensitivity and 97% specificity were used to determine the status of the participants. The data were analysed using SPSS 25.0. Bivariate and multivariable analyses were used to obtain associated factors. The level of significance was set at p ≤ 0.05. Results: A total of 125 participants were recruited. However, only 119 provided complete data (questionnaire and blood samples). A proportion 61 (51.3%) of the participants were females in the 20-29-year age group. The prevalence of hepatitis was 8.4%. Fifty-three percent (64) of the participants had adequate knowledge of Hepatitis B. Having had more than one sexual partner in the last six months and having visited a dentist in the past was significantly associated with Hepatitis B positive status (p ≤ 0.05). Conclusion: The prevalence of Hepatitis B in the Buea Regional Hospital is 8.4% and 53.8% of the participants had adequate knowledge of the infection. Males were found to be 13.17 times more likely to be positive for Hepatitis B infection than females.
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SUMMARY: Hyperglycaemia is one of the main causes for the endothelial cell (EC) damage in diabetic patients. Even though circulating endothelial progenitor cells (CEPC) could be used as a prognosis for microvascular complications, there is very little information on the islet microvasculature. We analysed by immunohistochemistry and by flow cytometric immunophenotyping, the expression of CD34 on EC and the expressions of CD31, CD34, CD45 and CD133 on CEPC in Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Peripheral blood and tissue specimens were obtained from rats of different treatment regimens: STZ treatment, control saline (NS) and sodium citrate (CB) treatments. Blood cells were exposed to flow cytometric immunophenotyping for CD133, CD31, CD34, CD45 and CD133. While tissues from the pancreas, liver and kidney were routinely processed and stained immunohistochemically for CD34. There was a tendency of an increased in CD45-/CD133+/CD31+/CD34+ cells (0.04 ± 0.11 %) in diabetic rats compared to the controls (CB: 0.03 ± 0.04 %; Saline: 0.01 ± 0.03 %). But there was no significant statistical difference between them. The expression pattern of CD34 on the EC in the organs' vascular beds including arterioles, venules, capillaries and sinusoids was extremely heterogeneous across and within treatment regimens. The ECs in the sinusoids of the liver presented similar CD34 expression patterns across different treatment regimens, while the expression of CD34 on the ECs of sinusoidal capillaries in the pancreas vary with the treatment regimen. We conclude that the degree of endothelial cell damage is not uniform across organs' vascular beds in the rat, contrary to mice and humans. Furthermore, the sinusoids in the pancreas and the kidney may have the same degree of endothelial damage when exposed to the same deleterious causes.
RESUMEN: La hiperglucemia es una de las principales causas del daño de las células endoteliales (EC) en pacientes diabéticos. A pesar de que las células progenitoras endoteliales circulantes (CEPC) podrían utilizarse como pronóstico de las complicaciones microvasculares, hay muy poca información sobre la microvasculatura de los islotes. Se analizaron por inmunohistoquímica y por inmunofenotipificación citométrica de flujo, la expresión de CD34 en EC y las expresiones de CD31, CD34, CD45 y CD133 en CEPC en ratas diabéticas inducidas por estreptozotocina (STZ). Se obtuvieron muestras de sangre y tejidos periféricos a partir de ratas de diferentes regímenes de tratamiento: tratamiento con STZ, solución salina control (NS) y citrato de sodio (CB). Las células sanguíneas fueron expuestas a inmunofenotipado por citometría de flujo para CD133, CD31, CD34, CD45 y CD133. Mientras que los tejidos del páncreas, el hígado y el riñón fueron rutinariamente procesados y teñidos inmunohistoquímicamente para CD34. Se observó una tendencia a un aumento en las células CD45- / CD133 + / CD31 + / CD34 + (0,04 ± 0,11 %) en ratas diabéticas en comparación con los controles (CB: 0,03 ± 0,04 %; Salino: 0,01 ± 0,03 %). Pero no hubo diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre ellos. El patrón de expresión de CD34 en la EC en los lechos vasculares de los órganos incluyendo arteriolas, vénulas, capilares y sinusoides fue extremadamente heterogéneo a través de y dentro de los regímenes de tratamiento. Las EC en los sinusoides del hígado presentaron patrones de expresión de CD34 similares a través de diferentes regímenes de tratamiento, mientras que la expresión de CD34 en las CE de capilares sinusoidales en el páncreas varía con el régimen de tratamiento. Concluimos que el grado de daño de las células endoteliales no es uniforme en los lechos vasculares de los órganos en la rata, en comparación de los ratones y los seres humanos. Además, los sinusoides en el páncreas y el riñón pueden tener el mismo grado de daño endotelial cuando se exponen a las mismas causas deletéreas.
