Nutritional status of children in the Upper East Region of Ghana

Anthropometric measurements and food consumption survey were undertaken to assess the nutritional status of children in a village of the Upper East Region of Ghana. Results showed that mean body weight and height of 3 to 12 year-old children were about 80 per cent and 90 per cent of Harvard Standard; respectively. Mean energy intake was about 70 per cent of RDA (Recommended Dietary Allowance by FAO/WHO). Though mean intake of dietary proteins was comparable to the RDA; the animal protein portion was only about 5 per cent. Iron; niacin and thiamin intakes were comparable to the RDAs. Calcium and riboflavin intakes were low; being about half of the RDAs. Wide individual variations of retinol intakes were observed among the subjects. The poor dietary situation might be a major contributory factor to the low anthropometric indices of the children in this region

ACTH - inosine pranobex in the treatment of AIDS: encouraging results

Twenty patients with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) received treatment with Inosine Pranobex and specific antibacterial and anti-parasitic therapy. Five died shortly after hospitalization, but a further fifteen who also received ACTH, survived, gained weight and improved and clinically, biochemically and haematologically