BackgroundSeveral micronutrients are essential for adequate growth of children. However, little information is available on multiple micronutrient status of school children in Ethiopia. The present study was designed to evaluate the relationship between multiple micronutrient levels and nutritional status among school children.MethodIn this cross-sectional study, anthropometric data, blood and stool samples were collected from 100 children at Meseret Elementary School in Gondar town, Northwest Ethiopia. Serum concentration of magnesium, calcium, iron, copper, zinc, selenium and molybdenum were measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer. Anthropometric indices of weight-for-age, height-for-age and BMI-for-age were used to estimate the children's nutritional status. Stool samples were examined by standard microscopic methods for intestinal parasites.ResultsThe prevalence of stunting, underweight, wasting and intestinal parasitoses among school children was 23%, 21%, 11% and18%, respectively. The mean serum levels of magnesium, calcium, iron, copper, zinc, selenium and molybdenum were 2.42±0.32 (mg/dl), 15.31±2.14 (mg/dl), 328.19±148.91 (μg/dl), 191.30±50.17 (μg/dl), 86.40±42.40 (μg/dl), 6.32±2.59 (μg/dl), and 0.23±0.15 (μg/dl), respectively. Selenium deficiency, zinc deficiency and magnesium deficiency occurred in 62%, 47%, and 2% of the school children, respectively. Height-for-age showed significant positive correlation with the levels of copper and molybdenum (p = 0.01) and with the levels of magnesium (p = 0.05).ConclusionDeficiencies of selenium and zinc were high among the school children although the deficiencies were not significantly related with their nutritional status. The prevalence of both malnutrition and intestinal parasitism was not negligible. These calls for the need to undertake multicentre studies in various parts of the country to substantiate the data obtained in the present study so that appropriate and beneficial strategies for micronutrient supplementation and interventions on nutritional deficiencies can be planned.

Little is known about the effect of removable orthodontic appliances on oral colonisation by mutans streptococci (MS). In the present study, the frequency of isolation and serotype distribution of MS were evaluated in two groups of children, one undergoing therapy with removable appliances and the other not subjected to any kind of orthodontic treatment, respectively. Streptococci isolated from dental plaque samples from both groups of children were identified as mutans streptococci on the basis of their morphological and biochemical properties and were then serotyped in an enzyme immuno-assay using monoclonal antibodies. The number of subjects harbouring MS in their dental plaque was statistically higher in the group of orthodontic children without caries experience (CF) in comparison with CF children of the control group (10/12, 83.3% vs. 15/44, 34%). No clear difference was observed in the distribution of the different MS serotypes between the experimental and control group: S. mutans c,f serotype was the most frequently isolated in both groups of children followed by S. mutans serotype e and S. sobrinus serotype g. Such results suggest that the use of removable appliances may lead to the creation of new retentive areas and surfaces, which favour the local adherence and growth of MS. The data obtained stress the importance of a careful monitoring of patients treated orthodontically for risk of caries development.

Roles of type II pneumocytes in macrophage (Mphi)-mediated host resistance to pulmonary Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) and M. avium complex (MAC) infections were studied. Electron microscopy of the lung sections of mice given intratracheal infection indicated that the organisms invaded both Mphis and type II pneumocytes. When Mono-Mac-6 Mphis(MM6-Mphis) and A-549 type II pneumocytes (A-549 cells) were cocultivated, bacterial growth in MM6-Mphis was reduced by A-549 cell-derived soluble factors, indicating the roles of type II pneumocytes in Mphi-mediated host resistance to mycobacteria. MTB- or MAC-infected A-549 cells showed increased mitochondrial RNA expression of cytokines and surfactant proteins (SPs), in the order tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) > or = granulocyte-Mphi colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) > Mphi chemoattractant protein > or = interleukin-8 > SP-D. Anti-TNF-alpha and anti-GM-CSF antibodies attenuated A-549 cell-dependent inhibition of intramacrophage mycobacteria, indicating their crucial roles in A-549 cell-mediated potentiation of Mphi antimycobacterial activity.

BackgroundParasitic infections have been shown to have deleterious effects on host nutritional status. In addition, although helmintic infection can modulate the host inflammatory response directed against the parasite, a causal association between helminths and allergy remains uncertain. The present study was therefore designed to evaluate the relationship between nutritional status, parasite infection and prevalence of allergy among school children.MethodsA cross sectional study was performed involving school children in two elementary schools in Gondar, Ethiopia. Nutritional status of these children was determined using anthropometric parameters (weight-for-age, height-for-age and BMI-for-age). Epi-Info software was used to calculate z-scores. Stool samples were examined using standard parasitological procedures. The serum IgE levels were quantified by total IgE ELISA kit following the manufacturer’s instruction.ResultA total of 405 children (with mean age of 12.09.1 ± 2.54 years) completed a self-administered allergy questionnaire and provided stool samples for analysis. Overall prevalence of underweight, stunting and thinness/wasting was 15.1%, 25.2%, 8.9%, respectively. Of the total, 22.7% were found to be positive for intestinal parasites. The most prevalent intestinal parasite detected was Ascaris lumbricoides (31/405, 7.6%). There was no statistically significant association between prevalence of malnutrition and the prevalence of parasitic infections. Median total serum IgE level was 344 IU/ml (IQR 117–2076, n = 80) and 610 IU/ml (143–1833, n = 20), respectively, in children without and with intestinal parasite infection (Z = −0.198, P > 0.8). The prevalence of self reported allergy among the subset was 8%. IgE concentration was not associated either with the presence of parasitic infection or history of allergy.ConclusionThe prevalence of malnutrition, intestinal parasitism and allergy was not negligible in this population. In addition, there was no significant association between the prevalence of allergy and their nutritional status, and parasite infection. Further research prospective observational and intervention studies are required to address the question of causality between nutritional factors, parasites, and allergy.

The level of HIV infection and intestinal parasitoses among TB patients was assessed in a hospital-based cross-sectional study involving 257 patients in Gondar, Ethiopia. In TB patients, our study reported co-infection with HIV (52.1%) and intestinal parasites (40.9%) The high prevalence of HIV and intestinal parasites indicates an increased morbidity inTB patients and emphasized the importance of continued HIV sero-surveillance, stool analysis and treatment.