Evaluation of loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) for malaria diagnosis in a field setting

We used the loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) method developed by our group for malaria diagnosis with genus-specific and species-specific primers for the four human malaria parasites at a field clinic in comparison with standard microscopy. Among 110 blood samples collected from the malaria clinic in Thailand, LAMP detected 59 of 60 samples positive by microscopy (sensitivity = 98.3%) and none of the 50 microscopy-negative samples (specificity = 100%). Negative predictive value (NPV) and positive predictive value (PPV) of LAMP were 98% and 100%, respectively. These results indicate that LAMP is an effective tool for malaria diagnosis at a field clinic in a field setting.     

Continuity of Care is Associated with Higher Appointment Adherence Among HIV Patients in Low Clinician-to-Patient Ratio Facilities in Western Kenya

AIDS and Behavior - We sought to determine the relationship between continuity of care and adherence to clinic appointments among patients receiving HIV care in high vs. low clinician-to-patient...     

Effects of dietary fat source and breed on the carcass composition,n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid and conjugated linoleic acid content of sheep meat and adipose tissue

Seventy-two 8-week-old ram lambs from three breeds, Suffolk, Soay and Friesland, were offered one of four diets based on dried grass and formulated to have a similar fatty acid content (60 g/kg DM) and containing: Megalac (high in 16 : 0, control; Volac Ltd, Royston, Herts., UK), whole linseed (18 : 3n-3), fish oil (20 : 5n-3 and 22 : 6n-3) or whole linseed plus fish oil. The lambs were slaughtered at approximately half of their mature live weight (43, 21 and 43 kg for Suffolk, Soay and Friesland lambs, respectively). Fish oil reduced DM intake and lamb live-weight gain (P<0.001), while DM intake, live-weight gain and subcutaneous fat content were highest in Suffolk and lowest in Soay lambs. Linseed feeding doubled the proportion (x100) of 18 : 3n-3 in the longissimus dorsi from 1.4 to 3.1 and in the subcutaneous adipose tissue from 1.2 to 2.6 (P<0.001). Suffolk and particularly Soay lambs contained higher proportions of 18 : 3n-3 than Friesland lambs in the longissimus dorsi, while in the adipose tissue, Suffolk lambs had the highest level. Feeding fish oil increased the muscle proportion (x100) of 20 : 5n-3 from 0.7 to 2.3 and 22 : 6n-3 from 0.3 to 0.8 (P<0.001). By contrast, the proportions of the longer-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids were similar across all three breeds. All three lipid supplements containing n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids increased the content of muscle trans-18 : 1 relative to the control values, but conjugated linoleic acid (cis-9,trans-11-18 : 2) only increased in the muscle of lambs fed linseed. Feeding linseed or fish oil lowered the n-6 : n-3 ratio in sheep meat, but neither diet nor breed had much effect on the polyunsaturated fatty acid: saturated fatty acid ratio.     

Oxfendazole Treatment for Cystic Hydatid Disease in Naturally Infected Animals

Few chemotherapeutic agents are available for the medical management of hydatid disease caused by the parasite Echinococcus granulosus. In order to test the potential of oxfendazole for the treatment of infection with this parasite, nine infected goats and four sheep were given oxfendazole twice weekly at a dose of 30 mg/kg of body weight for 4 weeks and monitored by ultrasound for an additional 4 weeks. Efficacy was finally evaluated by postmortem examination, including determination of protoscolex viability and cyst wall histology. In treated animals, protoscolices were dead or absent in 97% of cysts from oxfendazole-treated animals compared to 28% of cysts from untreated control animals. On postmortem examination, 53% of cysts from treated animals were found to be grossly degenerate. A sample of those cysts that appeared potentially viable all demonstrated evidence of severe damage to the cyst wall. By light microscopy, cysts showed severe disorganization of the adventitial layer with invasion of inflammatory cells and in some cases frank necrosis with no apparent adventitial layer. The follow-up period for assessment of the drug’s ability to cause complete degeneration and resorption of cysts was relatively short. This study, however, indicates that oxfendazole is at least as effective as and is easier to administer than albendazole for the treatment of hydatid disease.     

Cytotoxicity of novel trifluoromethylquinoline derivatives on human leukemia cells

This report is a comparative study of the in vitro cell-growth inhibitory activity of six new trifluoromethylquinoline derivatives on human promyelocytic leukemic cells and the evaluation of their DNA binding characteristics. 2,8-Bis(trifluoromethyl)quinoline-4-(N(4)-ethyl-5-nitroimidazolo)methylene ketone shows the highest cell-growth inhibitory activity with IC(50) of 10+/-2.5 microM, causes extensive changes in the morphology of the HL-60 cells and appears to induce apoptosis. The other compounds are only moderately growth-inhibitory, while 8-trifluoromethylquinoline-4-(N(4)-ethyl-5-nitroimidazolo)methylene ketone is actually stimulatory to cell growth. Except for the latter, the cell growth inhibitory activity of these compounds appears to be due their ability to bind to and intercalate DNA.     

Clinical benefits of corticosteroid administration during adult cardiopulmonary resuscitation: A systemic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUNDThe clinical benefits of steroid administration during cardiac arrest remain unclear. Several studies reported that patients who received steroids after achieving a return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) had better outcomes, but few studies have investigated the benefits of steroid administration during resuscitation. We hypothesized that administration of steroid during cardiac arrest would be associated with better clinical outcomes in adults with cardiac arrest.AIMTo investigate the effect of steroid administration during cardiac arrest and the outcomes of resuscitation.METHODSWe included studies of participants older than 18 years of age who experienced cardiac arrest and included at least one arm that received corticosteroids during cardiac arrest. A literature search of PubMed and Embase on 31 January 2021 retrieved placebo-controlled studies without limitation for type, location, and initial presenting rhythm of cardiac arrest. The study outcomes were reported by odds ratios (ORs) compared with placebo. The primary outcome was survival rate at hospital discharge. Secondary outcomes included a sustained ROSC, survival rate at hospital admission, and neurological outcome at hospital discharge.RESULTSSix studies including 146262 participants were selected for analysis. The risk of bias ranged from low to high for randomized-controlled trials (RCTs) and low (for non-RCTs). Steroid administration was associated with increased survival at hospital discharge [OR: 3.51, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.98-6.20, P < 0.001], and steroid administration during cardiac arrest was associated with both an increased rate of sustained ROSC (OR: 1.81, 95%CI: 1.91-4.02, P < 0.001) and a favorable neurological outcome at hospital discharge (OR: 3.02, 95%CI: 1.26-7.24, P = 0.01).CONCLUSIONSteroid administration during cardiac arrest was associated with better outcomes of resuscitation. Further study of the use of steroid in the selected circumstances are warranted.     

Direct and self-reported measures of physical activity and sedentary behaviours by weight status in school-aged children: results from ISCOLE-Kenya

Background: Previous work has shown little association between self-report and directly measured physical activity. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationships between self-reported and directly assessed measures of physical activity and sedentary time by weight status in Kenyan children.

Methods: Direct assessment of body weight, physical activity and sedentary time of 563 children was collected through anthropometry and accelerometry, while self-reported assessment was achieved by administering a questionnaire.

Results: Under/healthy weight children had significantly higher directly measured mean daily minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) compared to overweight/obese children (39 vs 20 minutes); had lower mean weekend-day minutes of sedentary time (346 vs 365 minutes); had a higher proportion who met accepted physical activity guidelines (15.3% vs 2.6%); and a higher number reported using active transportation to/from school (49.2% vs 32.4%). Self-reported time spent outside before and after school and active transport to/from school were significantly associated with mean weekday minutes of MVPA (r-value range?=?0.12–0.36), but only for the under/healthy weight children.

Conclusions: The results of this study found a number of differences in the accumulation of MVPA and sedentary time by weight status and weak-to-moderate correlations between self-report and direct measures of weekday and weekend-day physical activity among the under/healthy weight children.     

Foreign bodies in the female urinary bladder: 20-year experience in Ramathibodi Hospital

OBJECTIVE: Foreign bodies in the female urinary bladder may occur by self-insertion or migration from adjacent organs. The most common reason for this is sexual in nature, but hygienic behaviour and attempts to relieve voiding problems have been reported. Only small case series were found in the literature devoted to foreign bodies in the urinary bladder. Therefore, we reviewed our experience regarding foreign bodies in the female urinary bladder in our hospital. METHODS: Medical records of female patients who were diagnosed with a foreign body in the urinary bladder during 1985-2005 were reviewed. Demographics, causes, type of object found, clinical presentation, treatment and outcomes were noted. RESULTS: Seventy-eight patients with a mean age of 38 years were identified. The major route for ingress of foreign bodies was via the urethra. The objects found self-inserted were cotton swabs, tampons, paper clips and pen casings. As most of Thailand is an agricultural environment, some small living organisms such as leeches could be found as foreign bodies in the bladder. The majority of the cases presented with haematuria associated with frequency, urgency and pelvic pain. Almost all cases could be managed by endoscopic removal with minimal complications. Four cases were treated by open surgery. CONCLUSION: Foreign bodies in the urinary bladder represent a urological challenge that requires prompt management. The suspected history and presenting symptoms are crucial and lead to further investigations. Gentle endoscopic management is the main treatment with a high success rate.