Bisphenol A differentially affects male reproductive function biomarkers in a reference population and agro pesticides users from Djutitsa, Cameroon.

The consequences of bisphenol A (BPA) exposure on male reproductive function were studied in two populations from Cameroon, farmers using agro pesticides in Djutitsa (rural area) and townsmen in Yaoundé (urban area, Centre region). Urinary BPA concentration from all participants was measured, and the values were correlated with biochemical markers of male reproductive function. The data showed that BPA could be detected in 92.6% of urine participants, with an average concentration of 2.18 ± 1.97 µg/g creatinine but with no significant difference between the urinary BPA concentration from rural and urban populations. From BPA urinary concentration, the BPA average daily intake was estimated to be 0.06 ± 0.05 µg/kg/day (3.51 µg/day per individual) in the Cameroon population. Interestingly, free and bioavailable testosterone concentrations and estradiol/testosterone ratio correlated with BPA levels in the overall population. When data were analysed according to residence, BPA correlated with total testosterone levels ( r = -0.433) and estradiol/testosterone ratio ( r = 0.338) in the urban residents only, while the rural population exhibited significant increases in sex-hormone-binding globulin with increased BPA exposure. Our data showed that the male Cameroon population is exposed to BPA but that inconstant BPA association to endocrine reproductive markers suggests that other environmental factors in combination with BPA exposure might influence testicular function.

Indicators Predicting Inpatient Mortality in Post-Stroke Patients Admitted to a Chronic Care Hospital: A Retrospective Pilot Study.

Evidence concerning the mortality of post-stroke patients admitted to a chronic-phase hospital seems to be lacking. This pilot study aimed to identify mortality-related clinical variables in the admission of post-stroke patients from a retrospective perspective. A group of 38 non-survival stroke patients and another group of 46 survival stroke patients in a chronic-phase ward of the single center were recruited. Clinical variables including age, sex, stroke type, and Barthel index (BI) score were collected. The difference in the age and BI scores on admission were statistically significant between the two groups (p < 0.01). Polytomous logistic regression analysis revealed that age (odds ratio = 1.09, p = 0.03, and 95% confidence interval: 1.01−1.07), male sex (odds ratio = 5.04, p = 0.01, and 95% confidence interval: 1.39−18.27), and BI scores on admission (odds ratio = 0.90, p = 0.01, and 95% confidence interval: 0.83−0.97) could be prognostic variables. The percentage of correct classification was 83.3%. Age, male sex, and BI scores on admission may be prognostic indicators. The result of this study could lay the groundwork for palliative care for such a clinical population.