Zinc supplementation in young children with acute diarrhea in India

Article Abstract:

Zinc supplementation in young children may be effective in treating severe diarrhea. In New Delhi, India, 462 children with severe diarrhea received 20 milligrams a day of zinc supplement along with a vitamin mixture including vitamins A, B, D, and E. An additional 485 children with diarrhea received a placebo. The parents of dehydrated children in both groups were encouraged to give water and dissolved salts to their children. The risk that the diarrhea would continue on any given treatment day was reduced by 23% in the zinc group. In addition, the frequency of diarrhea episodes lasting over seven days was reduced by 39% in the zinc group. The average number of watery stools per day was reduced by 39% with zinc treatment. Zinc supplementation reduced both the intensity and the time span of diarrhea.

Care and treatment, Zinc, Zinc (Metal), Diarrhea in children, Childhood diarrhea

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Iron overload in Africa: interaction between a gene and dietary iron content

Article Abstract:

Many Africans may have a gene that predisposes them to iron overload when they consume large amounts of dietary iron. Africans in sub-Sahara drink a locally-produced beer that is fermented in steel drums. The beer contains 80 milligrams of iron per liter, and many Africans drink several liters a day. The average iron content of a typical Western diet is 15 to 20 milligrams per day. Relatives of 36 patients with documented iron overload were studied. Blood tests on relatives who regularly drank the beer showed increased transferrin saturation, a measure of iron overload. Transferrin saturation was higher in first-degree relatives than in other relatives. Genetic analysis of the families supported the presence of an iron-loading gene that interacts with dietary iron.

Africa, Metabolism, Inborn errors of, Inborn errors of metabolism

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Statewide System of Electronic Notifiable Disease Reporting From Clinical Laboratories: Comparing Automated Reporting With Conventional Methods

Article Abstract:

Electronic notices of disease outbreaks may be more timely and complete than paper reports sent by mail or fax. These reports are sent by local laboratories to state health departments when there is a disease outbreak in the community. Researchers in Hawaii compared electronic reports to traditional reports sent by three local laboratories to the state health department. Electronic reporting doubled the number of reports received by the health department. The electronic reports were more likely to be complete and arrived an average of four days earlier than paper reports.

Evaluation, Electronic mail systems, Email, Communicable diseases, Disease reporting

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