Determinants of CD4 Counts Among HIV-Negative Ethiopians: Role of Body Mass Index,Gender, Cigarette Smoking,Khat (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Catha Edulis</Emphasis>) Chewing,and Possibly Altitude?

To study the determinants of CD4% and CD4 counts among HIV-negative Ethiopians, and to identify factors susceptible to explain the low CD4 counts observed among Ethiopian subjects. Cohort studies among factory workers in Akaki and Wonji, Ethiopia. Clinical and laboratory examinations, including determination of HIV serological status and T-cell subsets, were performed during follow-up visits every six months. In addition, micronutrients (retinol, carotenoids, tocopherol, transferrin receptor, and selenium) plasma concentrations were determined in a subset of 38 HIV-positive and 121 HIV-negative participants. HIV-negative participants with at least one CD4 count measurement were 157 females in Akaki, 203 males in Akaki, and 712 males in Wonji. CD4 counts were independently and positively associated with body mass index (through an increase in lymphocyte counts), female gender (through an increase in CD4%), cigarette smoking (through an increase in CD4%), khat chewing (through an increase in both lymphocyte counts and CD4%), and Akaki study site (through a large increase in lymphocyte counts compensating a decrease in CD4%). Intestinal parasitic infections were not associated with CD4% or CD4 counts. Retinol, carotenoids, and -tocopherol plasma concentrations decreased with HIV infection and advancing immunosuppression, but were not associated with CD4 counts among HIV-negative subjects. Low body mass index among Ethiopians may have contributed to their overall low CD4 counts. Other factors remain to be elucidated.     

The goitre rate,its association with reproductive failure,and the knowledge of iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) among women in Ethiopia: Cross-section community based study

Background  

Iodine deficiency is severe public health problem in Ethiopia. Although urinary iodine excretion level (UIE) is a better indicator for IDD the goitre rate is commonly used to mark the public health significance. The range of ill effect of IDD is however beyond goitre in Ethiopia. In this study the prevalence of goitre and its association with reproductive failure, and the knowledge of women on Iodine Deficiency were investigated.     

Social and behaviour change communication to improve child feeding practices in Ethiopia

Social and behaviour change communication (SBCC) interventions can positively affect optimal nutritional practices. This study evaluated the added value of a virtual facilitator tool to an enhanced community conversation (ECC) programme to improve infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practice among children under the Growth through Nutrition Activity programme in Ethiopia. The study used a quasi‐experimental design with a control group. Pregnant and/or lactating women were the study population for both study groups. The intervention (ECC + VF) group received all the same components as the control group but had the addition of in‐person ECC meetings supplemented with audio‐recorded virtual facilitators (VF) sessions designed to complement the monthly meeting lesson or topic. A difference in difference analysis was employed using generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) in Stata version 15.0 (Stata Corporation, College Station, TX). A p‐value of less than or equal to 0.05 was considered significant for all tests. Accordingly, a 13.6% change in iron folic acid (IFA) intake for 3 months and above was observed in the intervention group. Even though not statistically significant, large to moderate positive changes in child minimum diet diversity (20%), minimum acceptable diet (18%) and women diet diversity (7.9%) were observed in the intervention group. This study identified the use of virtual facilitators as a modality to transmit standard nutrition messages during ECC programmes for optimal IYCF practices. The findings strengthen the notion that using a combination of SBCC approaches has advantage over a single method in improving important nutritional practices.     

Cat scratch disease presenting as acute encephalopathy

An unusual case of primary meningo-encephalitis followed by partial complex seizure in a 9-year-old boy was found to be a symptom of cerebral Bartonella henselae infection or cat scratch disease. Despite one clinical relapse at 4 weeks post-presentation, he remained seizure free on carbamazepine for one year. Six months after stopping carbamazepine, however, he developed deja vu phenomena and absence seizures with EEG abnormality. Restarting carbamazepine improved his symptoms.