Influence of Soil and Rain on the Levels of Inorganic Anions in Amaranth Leaves from Selected Parts of Kenya

The aim of this work was to determine the level of inorganic anions (NO3-, Cl-, SO42-, PO43-, F- and I-) in the leaves of two species of amaranth (Amaranthus hypochondriacus and Amaranthus cruentus) planted in Kenya. The mean levels of inorganic anions, nitrate (NO3-), chloride (Cl-), sulphate (SO42-), phosphate (PO43-), fluoride (F-) and iodide (I-), in the soil from four study regions (Kenyatta University (KU), Bureti, Kisii and Elgon) of Kenya were quantitatively determined. The levels were determined using spectrophotometric, potentiometric and titrimetric methods. The mean levels of  Cl-, SO42-, PO43-, NO3-, F- and I- in soils ranged from 1146.54 to 2733.31 mg/100 g, 1821.60 to 2185.33 mg/100 g, 828.54 to 1111.36 mg/100 g, 1015.55 to 1910.66 mg/100 g, 66.95 to 79.77 mg/100 g and  8.00 to 12.57 mg/kg respectively. The levels of most anions in leaves of A. hypochondriacus and A. cruentus were not significantly different. The means levels of the anions in leaves of the two species indicated that Cl- ion had range of 503.74 to 673.81 mg/100 g, SO42- 701.61 to 955.17 mg/100 g, PO43 532.36 to 629.46 mg/100 g, NO3- 495.79 to 880.99 mg/100 g, F- 7.22 to 9.67 mg/100 g while I- ranged from 2.54 mg/kg to 5.26 mg/kg dry weight. The levels of all inorganic anions determined were found to be within the allowed daily intake (ADI) values. Based on the results of this study, it is recommended that leaves and grains from both species of amaranthus grown in most regions in Kenya may be consumed for nutritional requirements. The consumption of between 250 g and 300 g of fresh amaranthus leaves is sufficient to provide the required daily intake of all the anions considered in this study for all healthy individuals. Keywords: Amaranth, Anions, Amaranthus, Tonui

Esophageal Cancer in Young People: A Case Series of 109 Cases and Review of the Literature

Certain geographically distinct areas of the world have very high rates of esophageal cancer (EC). Previous studies have identified western Kenya as a high risk area for EC with an unusual percentage of cases in subjects 30 years of age or younger. To better understand EC in these young patients, we abstracted available data on all 109 young patients diagnosed with EC at Tenwek Hospital, Bomet District, Kenya from January 1996 through June 2009, including age at diagnosis, sex, ethnicity, tumor histology, residence location, and medical interventions. We also attempted to contact all patients or a family member and obtained information on ethnicity, tobacco and alcohol use, family history of cancer, and survival. Sixty (55%) representatives of the 109 young patients were successfully interviewed. The median survival time of these 60 patients was 6.4 months, the most common tumor histology was esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) (98%), the M:F ratio was 1.4∶1, and only a few subjects used tobacco (15%) or alcohol (15%). Seventy-nine percent reported a family history of cancer and 43% reported having a family history of EC. In summary, this case series describes the largest number of young EC patients reported to date, and it highlights the uniqueness of the EC experience in western Kenya

Home villages of young esophageal cancer patients.

<p>Locations of the home villages of the 109 esophageal cancer patients ≤30 years of age seen at Tenwek Hospital (star) from January 1996 through June 2009.</p

Distributions of risk factors overall and by sex for esophageal cancer among patients ≤30 years of age seen at Tenwek Hospital from January 1996 through June 2009 who had follow-up information.

<p>Distributions of risk factors overall and by sex for esophageal cancer among patients ≤30 years of age seen at Tenwek Hospital from January 1996 through June 2009 who had follow-up information.</p

Distributions of 60 esophageal cancer patients ≤30 years of age seen at Tenwek Hospital from January 1996 through June 2009 who had follow-up information.

<p>Distributions of 60 esophageal cancer patients ≤30 years of age seen at Tenwek Hospital from January 1996 through June 2009 who had follow-up information.</p

Summary of age, sex and histologic data from published reports of esophageal cancer in young persons, overall and separately in developing and developed countries.

<p>Summary of age, sex and histologic data from published reports of esophageal cancer in young persons, overall and separately in developing and developed countries.</p

Survival with esophageal cancer in young patients by sex.

<p>Survival by sex of the 60 esophageal cancer patients ≤30 years of age seen at Tenwek Hospital from January 1996 through June 2009 who had follow-up information.</p