Biomedical subjects

R Haider

Publications and source records attributed to R Haider.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2002

Expression of the hMSH6 mismatch-repair protein in colon cancer and HeLa cells.

PRINCIPLES: 10 to 15% of human colon cancers are associated with an inherited or somatic defect of the DNA Mismatch Repair (MMR) system, which has evolved to correct biosynthetic errors such as nucleotide mis-incorporations or misalignments arising during DNA replication in the S phase of the cell-cycle. Although expression of the MMR genes was expected to be cell-cycle dependent, we and others observed that the MMR proteins hMSH2 and hMLH1 are expressed constitutively in proliferating cells. METHODS: In this study we extend our observations to another essential MMR protein, hMSH6. We used immunohistochemistry to evaluate the expression pattern of this protein in human colorectal mucosa and tumours, as well as in synchronised HeLa-S3 cells, in which we analysed its steady-state levels during the cell-cycle. RESULTS: We show that the immunohistochemical pattern of expression of hMSH6 in normal colorectal crypts and in colon cancers differs significantly from that of the other MMR proteins, with a much lower percentage of replicating cells being hMSH6-positive. This implies that hMSH6 could be cell-cycle regulated. In order to test this hypothesis in a model system, we synchronised HeLa-S3 cells with mitotic shake-off and found that the hMSH6 protein was detectable throughout the cell-cycle, but that its steady-state level increased when cells progressed from G1 to S-phase. DISCUSSION: The increase of hMSH6 steadystate level when cells enter S-phase was expected, since MMR acts during DNA replication. However, the overall low level of oscillations of hMSH6 during the cell-cycle in this cellular model apparently does not fit the immunohistochemical phenotype. We believe that this discrepancy is due to the fact that human cell lines proliferate at a much higher rate than normal and neoplastic colorectal cells in vivo.

Base Pair Mismatch↗

PubMed2000

Effect of community-based peer counsellors on exclusive breastfeeding practices in Dhaka, Bangladesh: a randomised controlled trial [see commments].

BACKGROUND: Most mothers breastfeed in Bangladesh, but they rarely practise exclusive breastfeeding. Hospital-based strategies for breastfeeding promotion cannot reach them because about 95% have home deliveries. We postulated that with the intervention of trained peer counsellors, mothers could be enabled to breastfeed exclusively for the recommended duration of 5 months. METHODS: 40 adjacent zones in Dhaka were randomised to intervention or control groups. Women were enrolled during the last trimester of pregnancy between February and December, 1996. In the intervention group, 15 home-based counselling visits were scheduled, with two visits in the last trimester, three early postpartum (within 48 h, on day 5, between days 10 and 14), and fortnightly thereafter until the infant was 5 months old. Peer counsellors were local mothers who received 10 days' training. FINDINGS: 363 women were enrolled in each group. Peer counselling significantly improved breastfeeding practices. For the primary outcome, the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding at 5 months was 202/228 (70%) for the intervention group and 17/285 (6%) for the control group (difference=64%; 95% CI 57%-71%, p>0.0001). For the secondary outcomes, mothers in the intervention group initiated breastfeeding earlier than control mothers and were less likely to give prelacteal and postlacteal foods. At day 4, significantly more mothers in the intervention group breastfed exclusively than controls. INTERPRETATION: Peer counsellors can effectively increase the initiation and duration of exclusive breastfeeding. We recommend incorporation of peer counsellors in mother and child health programmes in developing countries.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2000

Neonatal diarrhea in a diarrhea treatment center in Bangladesh: clinical presentation, breastfeeding management and outcome.

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical presentation and outcome of neonates admitted with diarrhea, and effect of counseling their mothers for exclusive breastfeeding. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Inpatient unit. RESULTS: Two hundred and forty-four neonates were studied during 1994-95. Their mean (SD) age was 18 (6.2) days, and body weight and length were 2.18 (0.52) kg and 47.5 (3.2) cm, respectively. More neonates had some dehydration than severe dehydration (78% vs. 11%), with mean (SD) serum bicarbonate values 9.6 (5.1) mmol/1. V. cholerae was isolated from 25 (12%), Shigella spp. from 8 (3%), and Salmonella spp. from 3 (1%) of the patients who had rectal swab cultures. Mean (SD) hospital stay was 3.6 (2.1) days, during which the majority (80%) recovered fully, but 29 (13%) left earlier. Eleven (4%) of the neonates had to be referred elsewhere for treatment of other problems and 7 (3%) died. None of the neonates were exclusively breastfed on admission. Excluding mothers of adopted neonates, breastfeeding counseling enabled 64% of the mothers to convert to exclusive breastfeeding during the hospital stay. CONCLUSIONS: Most of the neonates admitted with diarrhea were small and underweight, and had poor feeding practices. The majority of neonates recovered soon, and were exclusively breastfeeding when discharged from the hospital. Breastfeeding counseling should be included as an integral part of case management at all health facilities.

Bangladesh↗

PubMed1999

Impact of zinc supplementation on subsequent growth and morbidity in Bangladeshi children with acute diarrhoea.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of zinc supplementation during acute diarrhoea on subsequent growth and morbidity in malnourished young children. DESIGN: Double blind randomized controlled clinical trial SETTING: International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh. SUBJECTS: Sixty-five children aged 3-24 months with acute diarrhoea for less than 3 d. INTERVENTION: Either elemental zinc (20 mg/d) in a multivitamin syrup or multivitamin syrup alone divided in three divided daily doses for a period of two weeks. Children were followed up weekly at home to assess subsequent growth and morbidity for a period of eight weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Gain in length and body weight and reduction in diarrhoea and respiratory tract infection. RESULTS: During the follow-up, zinc supplemented children showed significantly greater cumulative length gain (18.9 mm vs 14.5 mm, P <0.03) and comparable body weight gain than the children of the control group. Subsequent length gain was not correlated with initial height in the zinc-supplemented group (r=-0.13), P = 0.5), but was significantly correlated in the control group (r = -0.6, P < 0.0007). Zinc-supplemented and stunted children (< or = 90% length for age n = 18) experienced significantly fewer episodes of diarrhoea (0.07 vs 0.6, P < 0.05) and respiratory illness (1.0 vs 2.4, P < 0.01) compared to the control group. The underweight children (< or = 71% weight/age n = 38) receiving zinc-supplementation also had fewer episodes of diarrhoea (0.4 vs 1.0, P<0.04) and shorter duration of diarrhoeal episodes (1.0 vs 3.0d, P<0.04) compared to their counterparts in the control group. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that a short course of zinc supplementation to malnourished children during acute diarrhoea reduces growth-faltering and diarrhoeal and respiratory morbidity during subsequent two months.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed1999

Are breastfeeding promotion messages influencing mothers in Bangladesh? Results from an urban survey in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Despite the launching of a national breastfeeding promotion campaign in Bangladesh in 1989, exclusive breastfeeding rates remain low. To understand mothers' perceptions of the campaign messages and the reasons for current practices, a random sample of 1100 lower middle class mothers in Dhaka, with infants aged 0-6 months, were interviewed in 1995. Although 99 per cent of mothers fed colostrum within 3 days of delivery, 92 per cent also gave one or more traditional prelacteals, and 68 per cent gave postlacteals. This could be due to ambiguity of the message, which simply advocated giving colostrum without indicating its exclusive use, thereby appearing compatible with traditional perceptions that colostrum alone is insufficient. Ninety-nine per cent of mothers reported hearing the breastfeeding messages or receiving advice, and 97 per cent stated that they understood the meaning of exclusive breastfeeding. But this concept was not correctly understood, as many thought it meant feeding breastmilk and water. The prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding was 15 per cent, and complementary foods were introduced early (median 30 days). Many mothers doubted the message that breastmilk alone is sufficient for 5 months. Messages to promote improved breastfeeding practices in Bangladesh need to be revised to clear misconceptions.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Impact of zinc supplementation on persistent diarrhoea in malnourished Bangladeshi children.

To evaluate the impact of zinc supplementation on the clinical recovery and body weight of children with persistent diarrhoea, a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial was conducted in 190 children with persistent diarrhoea aged between 3 and 24 months. Children were randomly allocated to receive either zinc (20 mg d(-1)) syrup with multivitamin (2 x RDA) or multivitamin alone in three divided daily doses for 2 weeks. The trial was conducted in a diarrhoeal disease hospital in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Duration until clinical recovery (d), impact on body weight and serum zinc level after 2 weeks of zinc supplementation were recorded. The duration of illness was significantly reduced (33%) with zinc supplementation among children who were underweight (< or =70% wt/age, p = 0.03). Supplemented male children also had a significant reduction (27%) in duration for recovery compared with unsupplemented children (p = 0.05). From baseline to convalescence, zinc-supplemented children maintained their serum zinc concentration (13.4 vs 13.6 micromol l(-1)), whereas unsupplemented children had a decrease in serum zinc after the 2 weeks of diarrhoea (13.6 vs 11.8 micromol l(-1),p < 0.03). The mean body weight of the children in the supplemented group was maintained (5.72 vs 5.70 kg, p = 0.62) during hospitalization, unlike that of the control group, in which there was a reduction in body weight (5.75 vs 5.67 kg, p = 0.05). Five children in the unsupplemented group and one child in the zinc-supplemented group died during the 2 weeks of supplementation (p = 0.06). Zinc supplementation in persistent diarrhoea significantly reduced the length of the recovery period in malnourished children and prevented a fall in body weight and serum zinc concentration, indicating that zinc is a beneficial therapeutic strategy in this high-risk childhood illness.

Bangladesh↗

PubMed1998

Increased height gain of children fed a high-protein diet during convalescence from shigellosis: a six-month follow-Up study.

The impact of dietary supplementation on catch-up growth was evaluated in 69 malnourished children ages 24-60 mo after recovery from shigellosis. They were fed either a high-protein (HP) diet with 15% of energy as protein, or a standard-protein (SP) diet with 7.5% energy as protein, for 3 wk in a metabolic study ward. Children were followed up bi-weekly for 6 mo by trained health assistants when anthropometric measurements and information of any illness were collected. Thirty-one children in the HP group and 28 children in the SP group completed 6-mo follow-up. The increase in height (mean +/- SD) was 5.3 +/- 1.0 cm vs. 4.1 +/- 1.1 cm for HP and SP groups, respectively (P < 0.001), whereas increase in body weight was 1.39 +/- 0.58 and 1.29 +/- 0.72 kg for children fed HP and SP, respectively (P = 0.59). The proportion of children who were severely stunted (< -2 SD height-for-age) decreased from 45 to 29% in the HP group compared to 50 to 46% in the SP group (P < 0.05) at 6-mo follow-up. The number of diarrheal episodes per child tended to be lower in the HP vs. SP than in the SP group (1.9 vs. 2.3, P = 0.41). These results demonstrate that feeding an HP diet to the malnourished children during recovery from shigellosis enhanced linear growth with a modest reduction in diarrheal morbidity during the 6-mo follow-up period.

Amdinocillin Pivoxil↗

PubMed1997

Randomised controlled trial of zinc supplementation in malnourished Bangladeshi children with acute diarrhoea.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of zinc supplementation on the clinical course, stool weight, duration of diarrhoea, changes in serum zinc, and body weight gain of children with acute diarrhoea. DESIGN: Randomised double blind controlled trial. Children were assigned to receive zinc (20 mg elemental zinc per day) containing multivitamins or control group (zinc-free multivitamins) daily in three divided doses for two weeks. SETTING: A diarrhoeal disease hospital in Dhaka, Bangladesh. PATIENTS: 111 children, 3 to 24 months old, below 76% median weight for age of the National Center for Health Statistics standard with acute diarrhoea. Children with severe infection and/or oedema were excluded. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Total diarrhoeal stool output, duration of diarrhoea, rate of weight gain, and changes in serum zinc levels after supplementation. RESULTS: Stool output was 28% less and duration 14% shorter in the zinc supplemented group than placebo (p = 0.06). There were reductions in median total diarrhoeal stool output among zinc supplemented subjects who were shorter (less than 95% height for age), 239 v 326 g/kg (p < 0.04), and who had a lower initial serum zinc (< 14 mmol/l), 279 v 329 g/kg (p < 0.05); a shortening of mean time to recovery occurred (4.7 v 6.2 days, p < 0.04) in those with lower serum zinc. There was an increase in mean serum zinc in the zinc supplemented group (+2.4 v -0.3 mumol/l, p < 0.001) during two weeks of supplementation, and better mean weight gain (120 v 30 g, p < 0.03) at the time of discharge from hospital. CONCLUSIONS: Zinc supplementation is a simple, acceptable, and affordable strategy which should be considered in the management of acute diarrhoea and in prevention of growth faltering in children specially those who are malnourished.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed1997

Reasons for failure of breast-feeding counselling: mothers' perspectives in Bangladesh.

During the hospitalization in the Dhaka hospital of the international Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh, of a group of partially breast-fed infants aged 1-12 weeks who had been admitted with acute diarrhoea, their mothers were individually counselled by breast-feeding counsellors to start exclusive breast-feeding. The counselling was repeated 1 week later at home, and the women's infant-feeding practices were evaluated 2 weeks after their infants had been discharged from hospital. A total of 25% of the mothers failed to breast-feed exclusively despite having been counselled. The case studies of these mothers illustrate that although they generally complained about having "insufficient breast milk" various factors such as domineering grandmothers, lack of financial support by their husbands, too much housework, or disinterest contributed to their failure to breast-feed exclusively. While family support is essential for all lactating mothers, women with familial or financial problems require special attention and extra counselling sessions so that they can be helped to identify how to achieve and sustain exclusive breast-feeding.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

Early complementary feeding is associated with low nutritional status of young infants recovering from diarrhoea.

Young infants admitted to hospital for diarrhoea were studied to identify and understand the reasons for early complementary feeding and to examine its effect on nutritional status. Of 132 infants, 71 percent were being breastfed, 24 percent had already stopped, and 5 percent had never been breastfed. Complementary feeds were started by the mothers when infants' median age (range) was 27 (1-180) days. Mothers' perceptions regarding breastmilk being insufficient (53 per cent) or causing diarrhoea (19 percent), were the major reasons for complementary feeding. The mean weight-for-age of the infants given complementary feeds before the age of 2 months was 72 percent of the National Centre for Health Statistics (NCHS) standards, compared to 82 percent in those starting after 2 months of age (P = 0.01). Similarly, the mean weight-for-length in these two groups were 86 and 91 percent, respectively (P = 0.04). Initiation of early complementary feeding is associated with infant malnutrition and this alarming trend should be strongly discouraged.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1996

Breast-feeding counselling in a diarrhoeal disease hospital.

Lactation counsellors were trained to advise mothers of partially breast-fed infants who were admitted to hospital because of diarrhoea, so that they could start exclusive breast-feeding during their hospital stay. Infants (n = 250) up to 12 weeks of age were randomized to intervention and control groups. Mothers in the intervention group were individually advised by the counsellors while mothers in the control group received only routine group health education. During follow-up at home by the counsellors a week later, only the mothers in the intervention group were counselled. All the mothers were evaluated for infant feeding practices at home two weeks after discharge. Among the 125 mother-infant pairs in each group, 60% of mothers in the intervention group were breast-feeding exclusively at discharge compared with only 6% in the control group (P < 0.001); two weeks later, these rates rose to 75% and 8% in the intervention and control groups, respectively (P < 0.001). However, 49% of mothers in the control group reverted back to bottle-feeding compared with 12% in the intervention group (P < 0.001). Thus, individual counselling had a positive impact on mothers to start exclusive breast-feeding during hospitalization and to continue the practice at home. Maternal and child health facilities should include lactation counselling as an integral part of their programme to improve infant feeding practices.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

Erythromycin and trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole in the treatment of cholera in children.

To evaluate the efficacy of erythromycin and trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) in the treatment of cholera in children aged 1-8 years, a randomised clinical trial was conducted at a diarrhoea treatment centre in Bangladesh from December 1991 to June 1992. Fifteen children received erythromycin, 50 mg/kg per day, in four equally divided doses, 18 children received 10 mg/kg per day of trimethoprim and 50 mg/kg per day of sulphamethoxazole in two equally divided doses (12 hourly) for five days, and 15 children received no antibiotic; children in all three groups received intravenous cholera saline for severe dehydration and for mild to moderate dehydration, a rice-based oral rehydration solution. The mean stool volumes in mL/kg body weight in the two treatment groups were less than that of the control group, and there were no significant differences in stool volume among the two treatment groups. However, 67% of the children in the erythromycin group and 82% in the TMP-SMX group recovered within 72 hours compared to 33% in the control group (p < 0.01). Similarly, the bacteriological cures were 80% in the erythromycin group and 83% in the TMP-SMX group compared to only 27% in the control group (p < 0.001). These results confirm that both erythromycin and trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole are effective antimicrobials in the treatment of cholera. These drugs are of value specially in younger children in whom tetracycline is contraindicated or when the infecting Vibrio cholerae are resistant to tetracycline.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

PubMed1995

Trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole in the treatment of persistent diarrhoea: a double blind placebo controlled clinical trial.

The efficacy of an absorbable antimicrobial agent trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) in the management of children with persistent diarrhoea was evaluated in a double blind, randomised, and placebo controlled trial. Of the 55 patients studied, 28 received TMP-SMX, and 27 received placebo. A trend in stool weight reduction was observed from the third day after the drug was started, and the reduction was statistically significant on day 6 and day 7. However, the difference in total stool output (g/kg) up to day 7 was not significantly different between the two groups. The proportion of children whose diarrhoea resolved by day 7 (therapeutic success) was significantly more in the treatment group compared with the placebo group (23 v 15). Additionally, mean duration of diarrhoea in the group that received TMP-SMX was less compared with the placebo group (6.0 v 8.3 days); this difference, however, was not significant. Hospital infection (probably nosocomial infection) was significantly less in the TMP-SMX treated group (1 v 10). The results of our study indicate that TMP-SMX has a clinical benefit in respect of reducing the stool output, and higher recovery rate within seven days of treatment. In addition, it prevented possible hospital acquired infection.

Child↗

PubMed1995

Working women, maternity entitlements, and breastfeeding: a report from Bangladesh.

Early infant feeding practices and facilities available for supporting breastfeeding in workplaces in Dhaka, Bangladesh were studied through interviews with working women (n = 238) with children younger than 30 months of age. Of the women interviewed, 20 percent were aware of the benefits of, and had exclusively breastfed in the first month, 13 percent in the second month, and two percent in the fifth month of employment. The median age of starting complementary feeds was 41 days (range, 1-210) preparatory to resuming work. Total duration of breastfeeding was significantly shorter in mothers who had started these feeds before 41 days of age as compared to those who started later (mean +/- SD) 275 +/- 216 days versus 361 +/- 223 days (p = 0.003). Ninety-nine percent of the mothers were unaware of their maternity entitlements, and only 20 percent had taken breaks for breastfeeding, those breaks being treated as "unofficial." Working women should be informed through health personnel and communication media, about the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding and about maternity entitlements. Provision of facilities to support breastfeeding in the workplace must also be encouraged so that maternal employment does not hamper breastfeeding.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1994

Management of acute diarrhoea in diabetic patients using oral rehydration solutions containing glucose, rice, or glycine.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the risk of hyperglycaemia with two standard oral rehydration solutions that contain carbohydrate compared with a carbohydrate free solution during rehydration of diabetic patients with acute diarrhoea. DESIGN: Prospective randomised allocation to one of three oral rehydration solutions (World Health Organisation (glucose), rice, or glycine) groups after admission to hospital with acute diarrhoea. SETTING: Dhaka hospital of the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh. SUBJECTS: 45 diabetic patients aged between 15 and 60 who had had diarrhoea for fewer than three days on admission. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Fluctuation of blood glucose concentrations measured three times a day, daily stool output, and time taken for recovery from diarrhoea. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in blood glucose concentrations, stool output, and duration of recovery from diarrhoea among the three groups. CONCLUSIONS: Oral rehydration solutions containing glucose, rice powder, or glycine can be safely administered to diabetic patients with acute diarrhoea and some dehydration.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed1994

Persistent diarrhoea: efficacy of a rice-based diet and role of nutritional status in recovery and nutrient absorption.

A diet based on rice powder, soya-bean oil, glucose, egg-white and salts was given to twenty-six patients of different nutritional status aged 4-18 months with persistent diarrhoea and twenty-five age-matched controls without diarrhoea. Clinical response was monitored during 1 week of dietary treatment and absorption of macronutrients was estimated during a 72 h balance study. Twenty-one patients (81%) recovered from diarrhoea within 7 d. There were significant relationships between nutritional indices, recovery, and absorption of total energy, fat and N. The absorption of fat, protein and carbohydrate in the better nourished controls without diarrhoea was significantly higher than in patients with persistent diarrhoea with better nutrition or malnutrition. The duration of diarrhoea was significantly longer in lighter patients (weight-for-age < 65% NCHS (1976) standard), in wasted patients (weight/height < 80% of NCHS) and those with mid upper arm circumference (MUAC) less than 110 mm. There were negative relationships between the period of recovery and the coefficient of absorption of fat (P < 0.001), total energy intake (P < 0.01) and MUAC (P < 0.05). Weight-for-age and MUAC showed most effective discriminative power for absorption of nutrients. However, the coefficients of absorption for carbohydrate were not different for any pair of nutritional groups. Absorption of all nutrients was also correlated negatively with severity of persistent diarrhoea on admission. The results of the present study indicate that a rice-based diet is highly effective in the management of persistent diarrhoea and less malnutrition aggravates nutrient malabsorption, increases duration and severity of diarrhoea and less severely malnourished patients do not absorb nutrients as well as healthy controls. Malnutrition and the initial severity of diarrhoea are significant determinants of clinical prognosis and nutrient absorption in persistent diarrhoea.

Body Weight↗

PubMed1993

Effects of drill cooling and bone structure on IMZ implant fixation.

Alternating use of the original method of internal drill cooling with manual external cooling, one IMZ implant was placed in the diaphysis (compact bone) and metaphysis (spongy bone) of the left distal tibia in each of six sheep. After polyfluorochrome sequential labeling, two animals survived for 4, 8, and 16 weeks without functional loading of the implants. The drill holes and bone-implant reactions were evaluated in undecalcified ground sections and microradiographs, using computer-aided histomorphometry. At least 30% of all drill holes were incongruent, but up to 25% of the implant surfaces had primary bone contacts. Four weeks after implantation, distinct differences in the bone reactions could be determined between the experimental conditions. After both cooling methods, osteoclastic resorption had extended up to 0.5 mm into peri-implant compact bone and up to 0.18 mm into spongy bone. Based on the percentage of newly formed bone-to-implant contacts, external cooling proved superior at all superficial drill hole levels in compact bone and in all spongy bone beds, while internal cooling was only better at the deeper drill hole levels in compact bone. After 8 and 16 weeks, peri-implant bone remodeling led to further increased new bone-implant contacts, irrespective of incongruent drill holes or cooling methods. At all time periods, abraded titanium particles were observed within interfacial foreign body cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

PubMed1992

Impact of zinc supplementation on intestinal permeability in Bangladeshi children with acute diarrhoea and persistent diarrhoea syndrome.

Zinc has been shown to enhance intestinal mucosal repair in patients suffering from acrodermatitis enteropathica; but the impact on mucosal integrity during acute (AD) or persistent (PD) diarrhoea is unknown. One hundred eleven children with AD and 190 with PD aged between 3 and 24 months received, randomly and blind to the investigators, either an elemental zinc supplement of 5 mg/kg body wt/day or placebo in multivitamin syrup for 2 weeks while intestinal permeability and, biochemical and anthropometric markers were serially monitored. The permeability test was administered as an oral dose of 5 g lactulose/l g mannitol in a 20-ml solution followed by a 5-h urine collection. The ratio of the urinary probe sugars was correlated to clinical, biochemical, and microbiological parameters. At presentation, lactulose excretion was increased and mannitol excretion decreased in both AD and PD as compared with age-matched asymptomatic children. The lactulose/mannitol ratio (L/M) was higher in subjects with mucosal invasive pathogens (rotavirus and enteropathogenic Escherichia coli) compared with children excreting Vibrio cholera and enterotoxigenic E. coli. Two-week zinc supplementation significantly reduced lactulose excretion in both AD and PD, whereas the change in mannitol excretion and L/M was similar between study groups in both studies. Changes in lactulose excretion were significantly influenced by zinc supplementation in children with E. coli, Shigella sp., and Campylobacter jejuni stool isolates. The greatest reduction in total lactulose excretion was seen in supplemented children who on presentation were lighter (wt/age less than 80%), thinner (wt/ht less than 85%), and undernourished [middle upper arm circumference (MUAC) less than 12.5 cm] or with hypozincaemia (less than 14 mumol/L).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acrodermatitis↗