Effect of anti-retroviral therapy on oxidative stress in hospitalized HIV-infected adults with and without TB.

Background: HIV infection and opportunistic infections cause oxidative stress (OS), which is associated with tissue damage. Anti-retroviral therapy (ART) is used to treat HIV and decrease the risk of opportunistic infections, but it is unclear whether ART reduces OS. Association of ART with OS was investigated.

Application of retinol-binding protein enzyme immunoassay to dried blood spots to assess vitamin A deficiency in a population-based survey: the Uganda Demographic and Health Survey 2006.

Background: Vitamin A deficiency is a public health problem in most developing countries. The technological challenges associated with the measurement of serum retinol have limited the epidemiologic assessment of vitamin A deficiency. The combination of retinol-binding protein (RBP) enzyme immunoassay and dried blood spots offers a rapid, inexpensive, and reliable tool for the population-level assessment of vitamin A deficiency in resource-poor settings.