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Context and objective. The sperm tests explore testicular spermatogenesis, epididymal maturation and storage, prostate and seminal vesicle secretions and genital tract patency. The aim of this study was to establish a correlation between spermogram abnormalities and epididymalvesicular biomarkers of spouses in infertile couples. Methods. An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted from November 15, 2020 to October 15, 2021 at the Centre Universitaire de Diagnostic du Graben in Butembo, DRCongo. The correlation between spermogram abnormalities and epididymal biomarkers was investigated by determining the Pearson correlation coefficient. Results. One hundred ninety-two patients were involved. The alphaglucosidase concentration was low in 31.2 % of cases of altered spermograms against 7.3 % of the spouses with normal spermograms. The fructose concentration was also low in 37.5 % of cases of altered spermograms against 4.2% of normal spermograms. Semen volume was associated with reduced fructose concentration while sperm concentration, motility, vitality and morphology were correlated with reduced alphaglucosidase levels. Chlamydia (OR: 13.7), Gonorrhoea (OR: 3.8), anti-sperm antibody serology (OR: 6.05), history of STI (OR: 3.61), smoking (OR: 5.62), leukocytospermia (OR: 6.23) as well as varicocele and obesity were significantly correlated with spermogram abnormalities. The latter were dominated by oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (39.6%) and consisted of various types of abnormalities including azoospermia (15.6 %). Conclusion. The functional status of the epididymo-vesicular and genital tract influences semen quality. Genitou-inary tract infections, even if asymptomatic, are the major etiological factor of infertility. The topographical diagnosis requires the contribution of sperm biochemical markers for a judicious therapeutic approach.

Background: The practice of anaesthesia should be team work involving Obstetrician and Anesthesiologist to determine the anaesthetic and surgical needs of the patient in order to have a successful plan for the baby and mother. The aim of this survey was to evaluate the practice of anesthesia in obstetric and gynaecology department in the principal health facilities of Butembo city. Methods: A prospective and observational descriptive study was done in four health facilities of Butembo city, from January 1st, 2015 to December 31st, 2019. Results: 64.86% of obstetrical and gynaecological procedures were done under spinal anaesthesia. General anaesthesia with an endotracheal tube was performed in 2.97% of the cases, the laryngeal mask in 0.10% and intra venous anaesthesia without any airway support in 96.93% of the cases. 100% of the cases had benefited from a pre-anaesthetic consultation; 77.75% anaesthesia was administered by anaesthetic officers. 53,27% of the patients were classified as ASA I and 77.25% of cases were electives. Caesareans accounted for 87.83% of emergency cases and 70.73% of elective cases. The pre-medication consisted of atropine and diazepam in 31,02%. Bupivacaine was used for spine anaesthesia in 66.87%. Maintenance during general anaesthesia with ketamine was done in 98.72%. Pethidine was the analgesic used in intraoperative in 48.00%. Tramadol was the most used drugs for pain management in post operative period. Adverse events were recorded in 2.94% of the patients; hypotension was noted in 39,27%. 24 maternal deaths were recorded. Fifteen among them died due to complication related to anaesthesia. There is a dependency between the accidents and complications and qualification of anaesthetists. Conclusion: Anaesthesia is commonly used in the gynaecology and obstetric department. It is important to promote continuous training of Non Physician Anaesthetists as well as Consultants Anaesthesiologists in order to practice safe anaesthesia for the well being of our patients. Spinal anaesthesia was the common used predominantly with few adverse events to the mother and foetus.

Goiter is a real public health problem in the world and particularly in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo). We conducted this study with the aim of studying goiter in order to identify the profile of patients with goiter surgery. Materials and methods: We report a retrospective study, documentary analysis spread over 2 years, from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2019, on 52 cases of goiter scheduled and operated in the surgical department of the Millennium Polyclinic in Kisangani, DR Congo. The data were encoded in the Excel file and grouped together in the form of tables then analyzed after percentage calculation. Results: Surgical goiter is a disease with a significant frequency in our environment. Most of the operated patients were female with 90.3% and came from the urban area in Kisangani with 34 cases or 65.3%. The clinic was marked by left and right lobar goiter as well as dysphonia and dysphagia as a symptom of compression. Conclusion: Goiter is still a serious public health problem in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The majority of patients have large, old goiter with noticeable respiratory symptoms.

Objective: This study aimed at highlighting the extent to which Uganda and the Eastern DR Congo are ready for safe surgical care provision during the double burden of Ebola and COVID-19. Methods: An online cross-sectional study was conducted in selected National, Regional Referral and General Hospital facilities of Uganda and in the Eastern part of D.R. Congo from 1st August 2020 to 30 October 2020. Data was analysed using Stata version 14.2. Results: A participation rate of 37.5% for both countries (72/192). The mean bed capacity of participating health facilities (HF) was 184 in Eastern DR. Congo and 274 in Uganda with an average surgical ward bed capacity of 22.3% (41/184) of the beds in the DR. Congo and 20.4% (56/274) in Uganda. The mean number of operating rooms was 2 and 3 in Eastern DR. Congo and Uganda respectively. Nine hospitals (12.5%) reported being able to test for Ebola and 25 (34.7%) being able to test for COVID-19. Only 7 (9.7%) hospitals reported having a specific operating room for suspect or confirmed cases of Ebola or COVID-19. Provision of appropriate Personal Protection Equipment to personnel were reported to be available in 60 (83.3%) hospitals. The mean of readiness score for provision of surgical care was 7.8/16 (SD: 2.3) or 60% in both countries with no statistical significance in multiple linear regression analysis (p>0.05). Conclusion: The majority of participating hospitals in both countries had a low level of readiness to provide safe surgical care due to lack of supplies to limit the exposure of Healthcare workers (HCW) to Ebola and Covid-19 viral infections, and poor funding. Governments and non-governmental organizations should work together to enhance health facility supplies and readiness for safe surgical provision in resource-limited settings.

AIMS Kisangani is an area with intense malaria transmission and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine resistance. Alternative antimalaria prophylaxis medication and protocols are needed, particularly with pregnant individuals. In this study, we compare the tolerance and effectiveness of mefloquine regimen as a split dose with a meal vs. sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine for the intermittent preventive treatment in pregnant individuals in Kisangani. METHODS This study was conducted from 15 May to 30 November 2019 as a single-blind, randomized clinical trial comparing 2 regimens of intermittent preventive treatment during pregnancy. The first regimen consisted of 4 doses of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine, and the second of 2 doses of mefloquine taken as a split dose with meal. RESULTS The occurrence of major or minor side-effects among patients treated with mefloquine and those treated with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine were not statistically significant (major side effects: Fisher exact = 0.5014; minor side effects: P = .0961). Intermittent preventive treatment using mefloquine significantly reduced the risk of placental malaria (risk ratio [RR]: 0.4315, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.2201-0.8460), maternal peripheral parasitaemia (RR: 0.4397, 95% CI: 0.2377-0.8132) and low birth weight (RR: 0.4708, 95% CI: 0.2455-0.9029). CONCLUSION Splitting dose and intake with a meal increased mefloquine tolerability while keeping its efficacy higher compared to sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine. Intermittent preventive treatment during pregnancy using mefloquine reduces the risk of placental malaria, maternal peripheral parasitaemia and low birth weight, compared to sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine. Thus, mefloquine is a good alternative to intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: Cryptorchidism is a common congenital malformation characterized by unilateral or bilateral undescended testis in the scrotum. It is a common disease in pediatric urology although the prevalence is yet to be determined in the East DR Congo. The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence, clinical and therapeutic features of cryptorchidism at the Panzi General Hospital.METHODS: Medical records of patients who underwent pediatric surgery between January 2011 and December 2016 were reviewed. The prevalence of cryptorchidism, associated malformations, sociodemographic features of patients and therapeutic protocols were examined. Collected data were analyzed using SPSS software.RESULTS: A total of 5066 children were received during the study period in the service, of which 76 suffered from cryptorchidism giving a prevalence of 1.50% and an annual incidence of 12.70. Unilateral cases were found in 53(69.74%) patients among which 66.04% and 33.96% had unilateral right and left cryptorchidism respectively. Cryptorchidism was associated with other malformations in 71.1% of patients. The age of patients ranged from 0 to 15 years and 78.9% were older than two years. Surgery was the only therapeutic approach and fixation of cryptorchid testis in dartos through inguinal incision was the preferred therapeutic used method.CONCLUSION: This study indicates that cryptorchidism is a relatively common and neglected disease in the Est-DR Congo, due to late consultation. Therefore, the local population and pediatricians should be sensitized on scrotal palpation techniques in order to shorten the consultation delay and prevent testis damages.

Background : In order to reduce malaria-related morbidity and mortality during pregnancy, WHO recommends : Insecticide-treated mosquito nets, Intermittent Preventive Treatment of malaria in pregnancy, Prompt and effective case management. Nevertheless, several cases of resistance to Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine, used in intermittent preventive treatment, and to Chloroquine are reported in sub-Saharan Africa and in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The prevalence of malaria among pregnant women remains high in Africa in general, and in the Democratic Republic of Congo in particular. This issue leads us to conduct this study, which aims at proposing an alternative to SP for preventing malaria in pregnant women. Materials and methods : From June 1 to October 31, 2019, we enrolled pregnant women from five health facilities in Kisangani for randomized, single-blind controlled clinical trials to compare the efficacy of two intermittent preventive treatment regimens in Kisangani pregnant women, selected before 18 th weeks of amenorrhea. The first regimen consists of 4 doses of Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine starting at the selection time and spaced at least 4 weeks during pregnancy. Each dose is made of 3 tablets of 525 mg Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine. The second regimen consists of 2 doses of Mefloquine during pregnancy. The first dose is taken at the selection time and the second dose between the 28 th and 32 nd weeks of amenorrhea. Each dose is made of 3 tablets of 250 mg Mefloquine. The efficacy criteria for these two regimens are placental malaria parasitemia, low birth weight of newborn and maternal anemia at delivery. The safety criterion was the occurrence of major side effects. Discussion : There are not enough randomized clinical trials assessing the efficacy of Mefloquine for the intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in African pregnant women, hence the recommendation for clinical trials. The present study is the only one that conducts such assessment in a hyper-endemic area with resistance to Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine and Chloroquine. The findings are therefore intended to promote the use of Mefloquine as the best alternative to Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine in the intermittent preventive treatment of malaria. Clinical trial registration : PACTR201905899965726. Key words : Intermittent preventive treatment, efficacy, safety, Mefloquine, Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine, Kisangani.

Uterine ruptures with their deplorable sequelae constitute a major obstetrical problem in the rural areas of Africa. The maternal and perinatal mortality remain high as a result, mainly due to the lack of early and adequate care for these patients. Grandemultiparity is one of the major predisposing factors. Prevention must necessarily include the availability of family planning advice, improved organization of and access to maternal care, and good supervision during delivery and the post-partum period. The general improvement of the overall socio-economic condition is a pre-condition to the improvement of access to care.

A B S T R A C T Introduction: There is major maldistribution of physicians in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). While 70% of Congolese live in rural areas, relatively few doctors practice there. Of the 25 medical schools in the DRC (14 public and 11 private) only one private medical school is located in a rural area. The purpose of this article was to analyse and compare the graduates of an urban- and a rural-located university in DRC. Methods: The 6 first classes of the Catholic University of Graben (UCG) Medical School at Butembo (rural) and Universite Evangelique en Afrique (UEA) at Bukavu (urban) (43 and 120 graduates, respectively) were compared according to their rural or urban employment, among other variables. Results: In total, 97.7% of graduates from the rural-located medical school were employed in the province where they trained, the majority (81.4%) in rural areas. In contrast, 40.0% of graduates from the urban-located school were employed in the province where they trained, with 23.7% working in a rural area. Over 55% of all graduates worked 78 km of their training medical school. Only 2.5% of the rural-school graduates entered residency programs, compared with 15.2% for urban-school graduates. Conclusions: The results support the policy of establishing medical schools in rural areas, and also provide indications of approaches likely to increase the number and expertise of rural-located physicians.

The Eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is currently undergoing a brutal war. Armed groups from the DRC and neighbouring countries are committing atrocities and systematically using sexual violence as a weapon of war to humiliate, intimidate and dominate women, girls, their men and communities. Armed combatants take advantage with impunity, knowing they will not be held to account or pursued by police or judicial authorities. A particularly inhumane public health problem has emerged: traumatic gynaecological fistula and genital injury from brutal sexual violence and gang-rape, along with enormous psychosocial and emotional burdens. Many of the women who survive find themselves pregnant or infected with STIs/HIV with no access to treatment. This report was compiled at the Doctors on Call for Service/Heal Africa Hospital in Goma, Eastern Congo, from the cases of 4,715 women and girls who suffered sexual violence between April 2003 and June 2006, of whom 702 had genital fistula. It presents the personal experiences of seven survivors whose injuries were severe and long-term, with life-changing effects. The paper recommends a coordinated effort amongst key stakeholders to secure peace and stability, an increase in humanitarian assistance and the rebuilding of the infrastructure, human and physical resources, and medical, educational and judicial systems.