Objective: To evaluate serum concentrations of trace elements in tuberculosis (TB) patients with or with out human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) coinfection before and after anti-TB chemotherapy. Subjects: A total of 155 TB patients, 74 of which were coinfected with HIV, and 31 healthy controls from Gondar, Ethiopia. Methods: Serum levels of copper, zinc, selenium and iron were determined using an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer from all subjects at baseline and from 44 TB patients (22 with HIV coinfection) at the end of an intensive phase of anti-TB chemotherapy. Results: Compared with the control group, the concentrations of iron, zinc and selenium were significantly lower (Po0.05) while that of copper and copper/zinc ratio was significantly higher (Po0.05) in the serum of TB patients. TB patients with HIV coinfection had significantly lower serum zinc and selenium concentrations and significantly higher copper/zinc ratio compared to that in TB patients without HIV coinfection (Po0.05). The serum concentration of zinc had significantly increased at the end of intensive phase of anti-TB chemotherapy in patients without HIV coinfection (Po0.05). An increase in serum selenium level was observed in TB patients with or without HIV coinfection after therapy. On the contrary, serum copper concentration and copper/zinc ratio declined significantly after anti-TB chemotherapy irrespective of HIV serostatus (Po0.05). Conclusions:The results indicate that TB patients have altered profile of trace elements in their sera. This warrants the need for further investigations so that strategies for trace elements supplementation can be planned in addition to their potential as diagnostic parameters in monitoring responses to anti-TB chemotherapy.

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Using cells of the type Ba (2-phase amalgam) | BaCl2 (m) | Hg2Cl2 | Hg, e. m. f. measurements have been made at 0, 15, 25, 35 and 45°.2. A modification of the method of Jones and Dole for the calculation of the constants of the Hiickel equation, by the method of least squares, has been developed and applied to the data obtained.3. Calculations have been made of the activity coefficients, relative partial molal heat contents and heat capacities of barium chloride in aqueous solution.West Lafayette, Indiana

SUMMARY Tuberculosis remains a major health problem worldwide in the era of HIV/AIDS. Co‐infection with intestinal parasites has been suggested to worsen the outcome of infection by polarizing the immune response towards Th2. This study investigated serum IgE levels of 241 tuberculosis patients and compared the IgE profiles in the tuberculosis patients either with or without intestinal helminthic infection and/or HIV infection. The serum levels of IgE in tuberculosis patients before initiation of antimycobacterial chemotherapy were found to be 1722 ± 1290 IU/ml (Mean ± SD) in HIV seronegatives and 2366 ± 1849 IU/ml in HIV seropositives. Further, the IgE level was significantly higher in patients coinfected with intestinal helminthes and HIV compared to those infected with helminthes or without coinfection (P < 0·05). Anti‐tuberculosis chemotherapy significantly reduced serum IgE levels in HIV seronegative tuberculosis patients (P < 0·05). These findings might indicate an active role of therapy in shifting the immune response towards Th1 which is crucial for prognosis in tuberculosis patients.

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