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Humans and other living organisms require small quantities of trace elements throughout life. Both insufficient and excessive intakes of trace elements can have negative consequences. However, there is little information on serum level of trace elements in different populations. This study examines serum levels of trace elements in Ethiopian, Japanese, and Vietnamese women.Random samples of healthy women who were referred for routine hospital laboratory examinations in the cities of Hanoi, Sapporo, and Gondar were invited to participate in the study. Serum levels of magnesium, zinc, copper, iron, selenium, and calcium were determined using an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer. Furthermore, body mass index of each study participant was determined.The mean ± SD serum concentrations of zinc (μg/dL), copper (μg/dL), iron (μg/dL), selenium (μg/dL) and calcium (mg/dL), respectively, were 76.51 ± 39.16, 152.20 ± 55.37, 385.68 ± 217.95, 9.15 ± 4.21, and 14.18 ± 3.91 in Ethiopian women; 111.49 ± 52.92, 105.86 ± 26.02, 155.09 ± 94.83, 14.11 ± 3.41, and 11.66 ± 2.51 in Vietnamese women; and 60.69 ± 9.76, 107 ± 156, 268 ± 128, 8.33 ± 3.65, and 11.18 ± 0.68 in Japanese participants. Ethiopian women had significantly higher level of serum calcium than Vietnamese and Japanese women (both P0.05). Although the mean calcium concentration in Vietnamese women was higher than in women from Japan, the difference was not statistically significant (P0.05). Furthermore, compared with Japanese women, Ethiopian women had significantly high iron and copper concentrations (P0.05). Serum selenium and zinc levels were higher in Vietnamese than Ethiopian women.The study revealed a remarkable difference in serum concentrations of trace elements in women from different countries, implying differences in trace elements in the food or soil.

Background: Pregnancy is a period of great physiological changes to the mother and fetus in which every malfunction of the body as the result of drug use may lead to serious consequences in both. It is a period that demands special care to the health care service providers. Therefore, the objective of this project is to conduct across sectional study on drug utilization pattern during pregnancy in Nekemte referral hospital, Ethiopia from 2012-2013 that could lay base for the maternal care programs.Methods: A purposive sampling was used to draw 100 pregnant women from the source population. Data were collected from the documented drug administration record of Nekemte referral hospital for all stages of pregnancy, types of drugs, roots of administration and dosage forms for all the pregnant female who were admitted to the hospital. Results: Among the pregnant women, who visited Nekemte referral hospital during the study period, the majority (96%) had a record for drug (s) and almost similar pattern of records were found in all wards for drug use. Of all the pregnant women, there was a high record for drug utilization of the women in the first trimester. Unemployed and uneducated pregnant females make the highest proportion. There was also a prescription of potentially dangerous drugs during pregnancy in Nekemte referral hospital.Conclusions: Many pregnant women were found using drugs during pregnancy in Nekemte referral hospital, including potentially harmful drugs. Therefore, there should be intensive assessment of pregnant women treatment in line with the US food and drug administration agency (FDA) risk category and locally operating regulations by considering risks and benefits to both mothers and the foetus in drug prescription and administration.

Background The co-existence of viral hepatitis caused by HBV and HCV become common causes of severe liver complication and immunological impairment among HIV infected individuals. The aim of this study was to assess the seroprevalence of HBV and HCV and their correlation with CD4 and liver enzyme levels among HAART naïve HIV positive individuals. Method A Cross-sectional study was conducted from March-May, 2011 at University of Gondar Teaching Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia. HBV and HCV serological tests and liver enzymes as well as CD4 T cell level determination were assessed following the standard procedures. Socio-demographic data was collected by using structured questionnaire. The data was entered and analyzed by using SPSS version 20.0 statistical software and p

Background People concentrated in congregated systems, such as prisons, are important but often neglected reservoirs for TB transmission, and threaten those in the outside community. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the prevalence of tuberculosis in a prison system of North Gondar Zone. Methods An active case-finding survey in North Gondar Prison was carried out from March to May 2011. All prison inmates who had history of cough for at least a week were included in the study. Three morning sputum samples were collected from suspected inmates and examined through fluorescence microscopy. Fine needle aspiration cytology was done for those having significant lymphadenopathy. Pre and post HIV test counseling was provided after written consent. Binary logistic and multivariable analysis was performed using SPSS version 16. Results A total of 250 prisoners were included in the survey. Among these, 26 (10.4%) prisoners were found to have TB giving a point prevalence of 1482.3 per 100,000 populations of smear positive TB among the TB suspects. All the inmates who participated in the study volunteered for HIV testing and a total of 19(7.6%) inmates were found to be reactive for the HIV antibody test amongst of which 9(47.4%) had TB co-infection. The prevalence of HIV infection in the TB infected inmates was found to be 34.6% (9/26). From the 26 TB cases identified 12 (46.2%) were having under nutrition (BMI 2). Conclusions There is high prevalence of TB in North Gondar Prison with possible active transmission of TB within the prison. There was a high prevalence of HIV among the TB suspects. Strong cooperation between prison authorities and the national tuberculosis control programmes is urgently required to develop locally appropriate interventions to reduce transmission. The determinants for poor nutrition in the prison need also further investigation.