Pharmacodynamic interaction between lumefantrine and desbutyl-benflumetol in Plasmodium falciparum in vitro

The pharmacodynamic interaction between lumefantrine and monodesbutyl-benflumetol has been investigated in 44 fresh isolates of patients with a Plasmodium falciparum infection from the region of Mae Sot (Thailand). Both substances proved to be effective against parasite maturation within the test concentration range, with monodesbutyl-benflumetol being effective at a lower concentration than lumefantrine. Synergism between the two substances was evaluated with a combination of lumefantrine and monodesbutyl-benflumetol at a ratio of 4.25:1. The geometric mean values for complete inhibition of schizont maturation were 1035.7 nM for lumefantrine, 655 nM for monodesbutyl-benflumetol and 222.5 nM for the combination of both. An analysis for interaction according to the method of Berenbaum indicates a moderate synergism at the IC(50), which gets stronger with increasing ICs and reaches the highest level at the IC(99). The geometric mean of the sums of the FIC(50) is 0.73, of the FIC(90) it is 0.37 and of the FIC(99) it is 0.25.     

Active case detection with pooled real-time PCR to eliminate malaria in Trat province, Thailand

We conducted contact tracing and high-risk group screening using pooled real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to support malaria elimination in Thailand. PCR detected more Plasmodium infections than the local and expert microscopists. High-throughput pooling technique reduced costs and allowed prompt reporting of results.     

The Optimal Cut-Off Level of The Fecal Immunochemical Test For Colorectal Cancer Screening in a Country with Limited Colonoscopy Resources: A Multi-Center Study from Thailand

Background: Selecting the cut-off point for the fecal immunochemical test (FIT) for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening programs is of prime importance. The balance between the test performance for detecting advanced neoplasia and the available colonoscopy resources should be considered. We aimed to identify the optimal cut-off of FIT for advanced neoplasia in order to minimize colonoscopy burden. Methods: We conducted a multi-center study in 6 hospitals from diverse regions of Thailand. Asymptomatic participants, aged 50-75 years, were tested with one-time quantitative FIT (OC-SENSOR, Eiken Chemical Co.,Ltd., Tokyo, Japan) and all participants underwent colonoscopy. We assessed test performance in detecting advanced neoplasia (advanced adenoma and CRC) and measured the burden of colonoscopy with different cut-offs [25 (FIT25), 50 (FIT50), 100 (FIT100), 150 (FIT150), and 200 (FIT200)ng/ml]. Results: Among 1,479 participants, advanced neoplasia and CRC were found in 137 (9.3%) and 14 (0.9%), respectively. From FIT25 to FIT200, the positivity rate decreased from 18% to 4.9%. For advanced neoplasia, an increased cut-off decreased sensitivity from 42.3% to 16.8% but increased specificity from 84.2% to 96.3%. The increased cut-off increased the positive predictive value (PPV) from 21.5% to 31.5%. However, all cut-off points provided a high negative predictive value (NPV) (>90%). For CRC, the miss rate for FIT25 to FIT 150 was the same (n=3, 21%), whereas that with FIT200 increased to 35% (n=5). Conclusions: In a country with limited-colonoscopy resources, using FIT150 may be preferred because it offers both high PPV and NPV for advanced neoplasia detection. It could also decrease colonoscopy workload, while maintaining a CRC miss rate similar to those with lower cut-offs.     

Overall and Cause-Specific Mortality of Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Olmsted County,Minnesota, From 1970 Through 2016

Objective

To determine the mortality of Crohn disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) and temporal trends in mortality.

A Cluster-Randomized Trial of Insecticide-Treated Curtains for Dengue Vector Control in Thailand

The efficacy of insecticide-treated window curtains (ITCs) for dengue vector control was evaluated in Thailand in a cluster-randomized controlled trial. A total of 2,037 houses in 26 clusters was randomized to receive the intervention or act as control (no treatment). Entomological surveys measured Aedes infestations (Breteau index, house index, container index, and pupae per person index) and oviposition indices (mean numbers of eggs laid in oviposition traps) immediately before and after intervention, and at 3-month intervals over 12 months. There were no consistent statistically significant differences in entomological indices between intervention and control clusters, although oviposition indices were lower (P < 0.01) in ITC clusters during the wet season. It is possible that the open housing structures in the study reduced the likelihood of mosquitoes making contact with ITCs. ITCs deployed in a region where this house design is common may be unsuitable for dengue vector control.