BackgroundIn Côte d’Ivoire, multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is a serious public health problem with a prevalence estimated at 2.5% in 2006. Zinc and copper are essential Trace element needed to strengthen the immune system and also useful in the fight against tuberculosis. The Cu / Zn ratio is a good indicator of oxidative stress.The principal aim of this study was to evaluate the serum concentration of some trace element and determine the Cu / Zn ratio in patients with multidrug resistant pulmonary tuberculosis (MDR-TB) before and after second line treatment of TB.MethodsBlood samples were obtained from 100 MDR-TB patients after confirmation of their status through the microscopic and molecular diagnosis of resistance to Isoniazid and Rifampicin by GeneXpert. The concentration level of zinc and copper were determined using flame air / acetylene atomic absorption spectrometer (AAS) Type Varian Spectr AA-20 Victoria, Australlia.ResultsA significant decrease in zinc levels (P < 0.05) and an increased Cu / Zn ratio (P < 0.05) was observed in MDR-TB patients compared to controls TB free. During treatment a significant reduction in Cu / Zn ratio (P < 0.05) was observed compared to the initial result.ConclusionsThe decrease in serum zinc level and the high Cu / Zn ratio could explain the immune system dysfunction and the high level of oxidative stress in patients with MDR-TB. Therefore the evaluation of the zinc and copper status could represent essential parameters in monitoring of TB second line treatment for better treatment management.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12879-017-2343-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Background: Hibiscus sabdariffa is a medicinal plant rich in phytochemical compounds, which is the source of its biological properties. This study on the aqueous extract of H. sabdariffa (AEHS) was conducted to assess its hepatoprotective and antioxidant properties. Methods: It was carried out with 25 Wistar rats divided into five groups. Two groups were treated with a solution of NaCl 0.9%. One group was treated with silymarin at a dose of 25 mg/kg body weight (BW). Two other groups were treated with the AEHS at different doses (100 and 200 mg/kg BW). The treatments were carried out via oral route and at single dose for 7 days. After injection of 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH), blood samples were collected for the carrying out of biochemical analyses of oxidative stress markers (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, ferric reduction antioxidant parameter, and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) and hepatotoxicity (albumin, total and direct bilirubin, alanine transaminase, aspartate aminotransferase, and lactate dehydrogenase). Results: Three major results were obtained. The hepatotoxicity of DNPH expressed by the rats of Group 1 was significantly different (p<0.05) from those of the other groups (control, 2-4) for both hepatotoxicity and oxidative stress markers. The hepatoprotective and antioxidant properties of the AEHS and confirmation of those of silymarin through the rats of Groups 2-4 were statistically identical (p<0.05) to the control group for markers of hepatotoxicity and oxidative stress. Conclusion: These results confirm and reinforce certain therapeutic virtues of H. sabdariffa.

This study aims to improve the nutritional quality of traditional porridge intended for young children with moderate malnutrition. The biochemical and nutritional characteristics of three supplement porridges enriched with dried leaves Corchorus olitorius and Anacardium occidental were determined according to standard methods. The results revealed that enrichment with these two ingredients significantly improved the proportion of dry matter of porridges enriched with high contents in those containing only Western Anacardium BC2 (17.33 ± 0.83%) and that enriched with both Corchorus olitorius and Anacardium occidental BC4 (18.0 ± 0.5%) compared to the traditional non-enriched porridge BC1 (13.23 ± 0.41%) and that enriched with Corchorus olitorius only BC3 (14.63±0.56%). With regard to fat, the three enriched porridges showed significantly high levels: 16.00±0.00% (BC2); 13.75±0.25% (BC3); 19.25±0.35% (BC4) compared to porridge BC1 (12.75±0.25%). As for carbohydrates, enrichment did not lead to a significant increase in levels. On the other hand, the levels of proteins experienced a significant increase between 2.66 ± 0.08% (BC3) and 3.08 ± 0.05% (BC4). All the porridges showed high energy densities with values ​​ranging between 463.43±1 Kcal/100 g (BC1) and 488.21±1 Kcal/100 g (BC4). Regarding micronutrients, the results indicated a significant increase in trace elements with higher mineral values ​​in the porridge BC4 (Zinc: 05.05±0.06) and BC3 (Calcium: 60.91±0.07 mg /100 g; Iron: 21.80±0.20 mg/100 g; Copper: 01.57±0.04 mg/100 g; Phosphorus: 280.41±0.48 mg/100 g). The contents of fat-soluble vitamins, in particular vitamin A (BC2: 25.10±0.14 µg/100 g; BC3: 41.00±0.45 µg/100 g; BC4: 33.59± 0.12 µg/100 g) and water-soluble vitamins B2 (BC2: 12.39±0.01 mg/ 100g; BC3: 10.81±0.01 mg/100 g; BC4: 15.01±0.01 mg/100 g) and B9 (BC2: 23.05±0.25 mg/100 g; BC3: 27.13±0.29 mg/100 g; BC4: 35.16±0.36 mg/100 g) experienced a significant increase in the enriched porridge compared to the control. There is also a significantly high content of essential amino acid (leucine) with values ​​between (37.78±0.05 and 78.31±0.9 g/100 g) in the enriched porridge compared to the control (18.51±0. 05 g/100 g). All the porridges are very rich in essential fatty acids, linoleic acid (Ω6) with contents between 19.73±0.01 and 22.59±0.01 g/100 g and linolenic acid (Ω3) with contents between 01.20±0.00 and 07.95±0.00 g/100 g, and this in accordance with the recommended values ​​for moderate acute malnutrition (MAM). This nutritional supplementation also significantly improved their antioxidant properties with DPPH values ​​varying between 47.52±3 and 56.91±1.55% compared to the control (41.58±4.34%). Enriching these porridges with Corchorus olitorius and Anacardium occidental improved their nutritional quality in accordance with the recommended dietary intakes for my moderately malnourished for most essential nutrients. These enriched porridges could then be recommended not only for the nutritional rehabilitation of MAMs and also to prevent certain chronic diseases such as obesity and cardiovascular diseases.

Aims: The present study was to evaluate the serum calcium level, phosphorus and 25 (OH) vitamin D subjects during HIV infection; precisely in patients living with HIV (PLHIV). Study Design: Prospective and experimental study, involving a cohort of blood samples from HIVnegative and positive subjects.