Assessment of nutritional status in children from eastern Sudan

Malnutrition is a very important risk factor leading illness and death in children worldwide. The aim of this study was to assess the nutritional status and relevant haematological and biochemical parameters in school children. Cross sectional study, was conducted in 120 [70 boys and 50 girls] school going children of 6-7 years of age, for the assessment of their nutritional status. The haemogloblin concentration [Hb%] was measured by equation method, packed cell volume [PCV] was estimated by scale of microhameatocrit reader, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration [MCHC] was calculated. Serum total protein, albumin, iron, total iron binding capacity and transferrin were measured by colorimetric methods. Weight [kg] and height [cm] were measured and body mass index was calculated. Data were analyzed using SPSS version13.0. The mean values for hematological, biochemical and anthropometrical measurements were much below the normal ranges. The anthropometric percentile measured in the children showed malnutrition cases in 32 [26.7%] and malnutrition and underweight in 73 [60.8%] while the body mass index showed underweight in males in 23 [19.2%] and in females 11 [9.2%]. Malnutrition is common in our study population and was seen in 48.3 of children. It was accompanied by anaemia in 60.8 % of children

Effect of low-dose oral contraceptives on lipid profile levels in Sudanese women using oral contraceptive pills

Oral contraceptives provide highly reliable contraceptive protection even though imperfect use is considered, and are widely used worldwide. This study aimed to assess the effect of low dose combined oral contraceptive pills use on lipid profile levels in Sudanese women, and to find its correlation with age, BMI and duration of using oral contraceptive. A clinically-based descriptive study was conducted during the period from May to October 2013. Sixty six women using low dose combined oral contraceptive were selected as a test group compared to sixty six apparently healthy non users as a control, attending the family planning center of Omdurman Maternity Hospital in Khartoum state, Sudan. Blood specimens were collected from both groups and serum levels of Total Cholesterol, Triglyceride and High Density Lipoprotein [HDL] were estimated and Low Density Lipoprotein [LDL] was calculated using Friedewaled equation. Results showed a significant increase in the mean serum levels of Total Cholesterol, Triglyceride and HDL in the test group compared with the control group [p <0.05] and insignificant increase in the mean serum levels of LDL in the test group [P = 0.327]. HDL levels decreased with age [P value 0.000] while Cholesterol, Triglyceride and LDL levels were not affected. The study also showed significant increase in Cholesterol, Triglyceride and decrease in HDL with duration of oral contraceptive use [P <0.05].The BMI was significantly higher in users than non-users [P 0.025]. Combined oral contraceptive pills adversely affect the lipid profile. This may be due to drug responsiveness, as well as increased BMI. There isa correlation between duration of oral contraceptive use and lipid profile among the studied cases

Biochemical parameters in relation to tuberculosis in Sudanese patients

Malnutrition and wasting are associated with TB and HIV infection. Malnutrition and tuberculosis are both problems of considerable magnitude in most of the underdeveloped regions of the world. Nutritional status is significantly lower in patients with active tuberculosis compared with healthy controls. Both, protein-energy malnutrition and micronutrients deficiencies increase the risk of tuberculosis. To investigate the concentration of serum albumin, total protein, glutamate oxalo acetate transaminase [GOT], glutamate pyruvate transaminase [GPT] and zinc in Sudanese tuberculosis patients [TB], attending the Tropical Diseases Teaching Hospital, Khartoum State. The study was performed on 60 tuberculosis patients, compared with 40 healthy individual age and sex matched used as control group .The study period was from April to August 2011. Serum albumin, total protein, GOT and GPT levels were determined by using clinical chemistry analyzer while zinc level was analyzed by atomic absorption spectro-photometers. Among TB patients the mean [+/-]SD of plasma albumin, total protein, GOT, GPT and zinc respectively were 3.29[+/-]0.91, 7.55[+/-]1.59, 21.24[+/-]8.33, 9.12[+/-]6.34 and 0.47[+/-]0.17. The mean [+/-]SD of plasma albumin, total protein, GOT, GPT and zinc for control group respectively were 4.19[+/-]0.93, 8.0[+/-]0.98, 26.0[+/-]9.08, 13.3[+/-]8.15, and 0.55[+/-]0.14. Statistically significant association was observed in all parameters between the patients and control group [P<0.05]. This study concluded that TB patients had significant decreased levels of all parameters; however albumin and GPT were more significant as compared to others