Assessment of Vitamin A Status of Preschool Children in a Sub-Saharan African Setting: Comparative Advantage of Modified Relative-dose Response Test

A nationally-representative sample of 2,696 preschool children living in Congo was examined during August-September 2003 to determine the rates of vitamin A deficiency. Ninety clusters of 30 children, aged six months to six years, were selected, using a randomized two-level cluster-sampling method. Vitamin A deficiency was determined by assessing the prevalence of active xerophthalmia (nightblindness and/or Bitot spots) in the cross-over sample of 2,696 individuals. A semi-quantitative seven-day dietary questionnaire was concurrently applied to the mothers of children enrolled to estimate the latter's consumption of vitamin A-rich food. Vitamin A status was assessed by performing the modified relative dose-response test (MRDR) on dried blood spots (DBS) from a subsample of 207 children aged less than six years and the impression cytology with transfer (ICT) test on a subsample of 1,162 children. Of the children enrolled, 5.2% suffered from nightblindness, 8.0% had Bitot spots, and 2.5% had other vitamin A deficiency sequellae. Fifty-three percent of the ICT tests showed the presence of vitamin A deficiency. The biochemical MRDR test showed that the vitamin A status of 30% of the study children was critical. Twenty-seven of them had retinol levels of <10 μg/dL [mean±standard deviation (SD) 7.02±2.0 μg/dL], and 50% had retinol levels of 10-20 μg/dL (mean±SD 14.2±2.83 μg/dL). The poor health status and low rates of consumption of vitamin A-rich food are the main factors determining critical status. Vitamin A deficiency, reflecting poor nutrition and health, is a serious public-health issue among children aged less than six years in Congo

Assessment of vitamin A status of preschool children in a sub-Saharan African setting: Comparative advantage of modified relative-dose response test

A nationally-representative sample of 2, 696 preschool children living in Congo was examined during Au-gust-September 2003 to determine the rates of vitamin A deficiency. Ninety clusters of 30 children, aged six months to six years, were selected, using a randomized two-level cluster-sampling method. Vitamin A deficiency was determined by assessing the prevalence of active xerophthalmia (nightblindness and/or Bitot spots) in the cross-over sample of 2, 696 individuals. A semi-quantitative seven-day dietary question-naire was concurrently applied to the mothers of children enrolled to estimate the latter\u2032s consumption of vitamin A-rich food. Vitamin A status was assessed by performing the modified relative dose-response test (MRDR) on dried blood spots (DBS) from a subsample of 207 children aged less than six years and the im-pression cytology with transfer (ICT) test on a subsample of 1, 162 children. Of the children enrolled, 5. 2% suffered from nightblindness, 8. 0% had Bitot spots, and 2. 5% had other vitamin A deficiency sequellae. Fifty-three percent of the ICT tests showed the presence of vitamin A deficiency. The biochemical MRDR test showed that the vitamin A status of 30% of the study children was critical. Twenty-seven of them had retinol levels of &lt; 10 \u3bcg/dL [mean\ub1standard deviation (SD) 7. 02\ub1 2. 0 \u3bcg/dL], and 50% had retinol levels of 10- 20 \u3bcg/dL (mean\ub1SD 14. 2\ub1 2. 83 \u3bcg/dL). The poor health status and low rates of consumption of vitamin A-rich food are the main factors determining critical status. Vitamin A deficiency, reflecting poor nutrition and health, is a serious public-health issue among children aged less than six years in Congo

Assessment of vitamin A status of preschool children in a sub-Saharan African setting: Comparative advantage of modified relative-dose response test

A nationally-representative sample of 2, 696 preschool children living in Congo was examined during Au-gust-September 2003 to determine the rates of vitamin A deficiency. Ninety clusters of 30 children, aged six months to six years, were selected, using a randomized two-level cluster-sampling method. Vitamin A deficiency was determined by assessing the prevalence of active xerophthalmia (nightblindness and/or Bitot spots) in the cross-over sample of 2, 696 individuals. A semi-quantitative seven-day dietary question-naire was concurrently applied to the mothers of children enrolled to estimate the latter′s consumption of vitamin A-rich food. Vitamin A status was assessed by performing the modified relative dose-response test (MRDR) on dried blood spots (DBS) from a subsample of 207 children aged less than six years and the im-pression cytology with transfer (ICT) test on a subsample of 1, 162 children. Of the children enrolled, 5. 2% suffered from nightblindness, 8. 0% had Bitot spots, and 2. 5% had other vitamin A deficiency sequellae. Fifty-three percent of the ICT tests showed the presence of vitamin A deficiency. The biochemical MRDR test showed that the vitamin A status of 30% of the study children was critical. Twenty-seven of them had retinol levels of < 10 μg/dL [mean±standard deviation (SD) 7. 02± 2. 0 μg/dL], and 50% had retinol levels of 10- 20 μg/dL (mean±SD 14. 2± 2. 83 μg/dL). The poor health status and low rates of consumption of vitamin A-rich food are the main factors determining critical status. Vitamin A deficiency, reflecting poor nutrition and health, is a serious public-health issue among children aged less than six years in Congo

Ifosfamide given once every other week: A clinical and pharmacological study

13008 Background. Ifosfamide (IFM) is a bi-functional alkylator with wide spectrum of activity in solid tumors and has an auto-inductive liver metabolism through P450 cytochromes. Auto-induction might permit a better therapeutic index for combination therapy. Methods. A phase I trial with interpatient dose escalation of a single dose of IFM given every 2 wks in advanced solid tumor pts. IFM, its dechloroethylated and active 4-hydroxy metabolites, were measured at cycle 1 &amp; 2 at the end of infusion, 2 and 5h later, using gas chromatography. IFM elimination was considered as following a monocompartimental model kinetics. Results From January 2004 to June 2006; 20 pts of PS&lt;2 were included :10 F, 10 M, median age 61 years (39–78), median previous chemotherapies: 2 (0–5). Primary tumor was most often ovarian (5), peritoneal (3), sarcoma (2), melanoma (2), or miscellaneous (8). 10 pts received 2.5g/m2 and other 10 pts received 3g/m2. A total of 79 cycles were evaluable for toxicity. median number of cycles: 4 (1–8). No Grade (Gr) 3–4 hematologic toxicity, no alopecia. Gr2 nausea and fatigue were the most common toxicities at 3g/m2. No toxicity-related fatal event was noted. One objective response was noted in pancreatic cancer pt and one sustained CA125 decline in a heavily pretreated ovarian cancer pt. A slight (7–10%) but reproducible decrease of AUC was detectable at cycle 2, at both dose levels, related to auto-inductive metabolism (see table below). The other PK results are available and will be presented (Table). Intra individual variations (large SD) were noticed for each pharmacokinetic (PK) parameter. Conclusions: A slight non dose- dependent but rather patient-dependent auto-induction of IFM metabolism was detected. The toxicity profile allows the development of every 2 wks IFM-based combination therapies. [Table: see text] No significant financial relationships to disclose. </jats:p