MyMedR

[Scattered impressions from a stay in Malaya]

ANDERSEN WT

Medd Sundhedsstyr Beredskabsafdelingen, 1963 Jun 28;5:933-5.

PMID: 14041509

Matched MeSH terms: Tropical Medicine*

Medical problems of the operational infantry soldier in Malaya

ARCHER TC

J R Army Med Corps, 1958 Jan;104(1):1-13.

PMID: 13502878

Matched MeSH terms: Tropical Medicine*

Fulltext Neglected tropical diseases among the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN): overview and update

Hotez PJ, Bottazzi ME, Strych U, Chang LY, Lim YA, Goodenow MM, et al.

PLoS Negl Trop Dis, 2015 Apr;9(4):e0003575.

PMID: 25880767 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003575

The ten member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) constitute an economic powerhouse, yet these countries also harbor a mostly hidden burden of poverty and neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). Almost 200 million people live in extreme poverty in ASEAN countries, mostly in the low or lower middle-income countries of Indonesia, the Philippines, Myanmar, Viet Nam, and Cambodia, and many of them are affected by at least one NTD. However, NTDs are prevalent even among upper middle-income ASEAN countries such as Malaysia and Thailand, especially among the indigenous populations. The three major intestinal helminth infections are the most common NTDs; each helminthiasis is associated with approximately 100 million infections in the region. In addition, more than 10 million people suffer from either liver or intestinal fluke infections, as well as schistosomiasis and lymphatic filariasis (LF). Intestinal protozoan infections are widespread, while leishmaniasis has emerged in Thailand, and zoonotic malaria (Plasmodium knowlesi infection) causes severe morbidity in Malaysia. Melioidosis has emerged as an important bacterial NTD, as have selected rickettsial infections, and leptospirosis. Leprosy, yaws, and trachoma are still endemic in focal areas. Almost 70 million cases of dengue fever occur annually in ASEAN countries, such that this arboviral infection is now one of the most common and economically important NTDs in the region. A number of other arboviral and zoonotic viral infections have also emerged, including Japanese encephalitis; tick-borne viral infections; Nipah virus, a zoonosis present in fruit bats; and enterovirus 71 infection. There are urgent needs to expand surveillance activities in ASEAN countries, as well as to ensure mass drug administration is provided to populations at risk for intestinal helminth and fluke infections, LF, trachoma, and yaws. An ASEAN Network for Drugs, Diagnostics, Vaccines, and Traditional Medicines Innovation provides a policy framework for the development of new control and elimination tools. Together with prominent research institutions and universities, the World Health Organization (WHO), and its regional offices, these organizations could implement important public health improvements through NTD control and elimination in the coming decade.

Matched MeSH terms: Tropical Medicine*

Sepsis in tropical regions: Report from the task force on tropical diseases by the World Federation of Societies of Intensive and Critical Care Medicine

McGloughlin S, Richards GA, Nor MBM, Prayag S, Baker T, Amin P

J Crit Care, 2018 08;46:115-118.

PMID: 29310974 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcrc.2017.12.018

Sepsis and septic shock in the tropics are caused by a wide array of organisms. These infections are encountered mainly in low and middle-income countries (LMIC) where a lack of infrastructure and medical facilities contribute to the high morbidity and mortality. Published sepsis guidelines are based on studies primarily performed in high income countries and as such recommendations may or may not be relevant to practice in the tropics. Failure to adhere to guidelines, particularly among non-intensive care specialists even in high-income countries, is an area of concern for sepsis management. Additionally, inappropriate use of antimicrobials has led to significant antimicrobial resistance. Access to rapid, low-cost, and accurate diagnostic tests is critical in countries where tropical diseases are prevalent to facilitate early diagnosis and treatment. Implementation of performance improvement programs may improve outcomes for patients with sepsis and the addition of resuscitation and treatment bundles may further reduce mortality. Associated co-morbidities such as malnutrition and HIV influence outcomes and must be considered.

Matched MeSH terms: Tropical Medicine/organization & administration

Disease, race, and empire

Anderson W

Bull Hist Med, 1996;70(1):62-7.

PMID: 8850070

Matched MeSH terms: Tropical Medicine/history*

Where is the postcolonial history of medicine? Essay review

Anderson W

Bull Hist Med, 1998;72(3):522-30.

PMID: 9780451

Matched MeSH terms: Tropical Medicine/history*

Fulltext Ceiling geometry and daylighting performance of side lit historical museum galleries under tropical overcast sky condition

Sabarinah Sh Ahmad, Noraini Ahmad, Anuar Talib

Pertanika Journal of Science & Technology, 2017;25(107):287-298.

MyJurnal

Safe level of daylighting for artefact conservation in historic buildings is a difficult task to achieve. Previous studies indicated that lighting problems in historic museum galleries were mainly due to unshaded walls that allowed direct sun penetration over the display areas. Ceiling geometry can also affect the daylighting performance significantly, particularly on the interior distribution of light. Malaysia, with hot and humid climate, and tropical sky conditions receives plenty of natural light all year around. The fluxes in natural lighting exposures confirm the need for strategic daylight control programme in the exhibition gallery. The study aims to assess the ceiling geometry contribution for four orientations; North, East, South and West through computer simulations. The research approach was based on comparisons between pitched and flat ceiling simulation output data. Further comparisons were performed with the recommended lighting limits for conservation of artefacts. The comparisons allowed better understanding of light damage issues and highlight the control of daylighting distributions through realistic predictive images and ceiling geometry designs. The results showed that the types of exhibits materials and its placement are affected by the ceiling geometry and constant changes in natural lighting exposure. The study confirms that ceiling geometry can act as a control mechanism with the environment physical features as part of preventive conservation criteria in the exhibition gallery. Thus, a systematic light-monitoring programme in the exhibition gallery is necessary to control illuminance level and cumulative exposure limits, for artefact preservation.

Matched MeSH terms: Tropical Medicine

Fulltext Anti-Wolbachia therapy for onchocerciasis & lymphatic filariasis: Current perspectives

Wan Sulaiman WA, Kamtchum-Tatuene J, Mohamed MH, Ramachandran V, Ching SM, Sazlly Lim SM, et al.

Indian J Med Res, 2019 06;149(6):706-714.

PMID: 31496523 DOI: 10.4103/ijmr.IJMR_454_17

Onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis (LF) are human filarial diseases belonging to the group of neglected tropical diseases, leading to permanent and long-term disability in infected individuals in the endemic countries such as Africa and India. Microfilaricidal drugs such as ivermectin and albendazole have been used as the standard therapy in filariasis, although their efficacy in eliminating the diseases is not fully established. Anti-Wolbachia therapy employs antibiotics and is a promising approach showing potent macrofilaricidal activity and also prevents embryogenesis. This has translated to clinical benefits resulting in successful eradication of microfilarial burden, thus averting the risk of adverse events from target species as well as those due to co-infection with loiasis. Doxycycline shows potential as an anti-Wolbachia treatment, leading to the death of adult parasitic worms. It is readily available, cheap and safe to use in adult non-pregnant patients. Besides doxycycline, several other potential antibiotics are also being investigated for the treatment of LF and onchocerciasis. This review aims to discuss and summarise recent developments in the use of anti-Wolbachia drugs to treat onchocerciasis and LF.

Matched MeSH terms: Tropical Medicine

Fulltext Collaborate or Collapse: Capacity Building in Zoonotic and Neglected Tropical Disease Modelling

Mohd Zain SN, Basáñez MG

Trends Parasitol, 2018 05;34(5):356-358.

PMID: 29358040 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2017.12.009

We share the insights from a successful collaboration in organizing and implementing an international scientific capacity-building workshop in Malaysia titled Mathematical Modelling of Neglected Infectious Diseases: Capacity Building in Southeast Asia. This workshop focused on the delivery of technical know-how and on essential soft skills related to effective grant proposal writing and networking.

Matched MeSH terms: Tropical Medicine/trends*

[The Medical Research Institute in Kuala Lumpur and its significance for tropical medicine in East Asia]

Bierdrager J

Ther Ggw, 1977 Oct;116(10):1950-64.

PMID: 918885

Matched MeSH terms: Tropical Medicine*

Tropical pulmonary diseases

Bovornkitti S

Respirology, 1996 Mar;1(1):11-21.

PMID: 9432400

The term 'tropical' refers to the region of the Earth lying between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. Located between these equatorial parallels demarcating the Torrid Zone are several underdeveloped and developing countries: Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, southern India, Sri Lanka, Brazil, Cuba, Ethiopia, Sudan and Nigeria, to name but a few considered to be 'tropical'. The climate in most of these countries is characterized by high temperatures and high humidity. The tropical climate and general state of socio-economic underdevelopment in such countries provide an ideal environment for pathogenic organisms, their vectors and intermediate hosts to flourish. Furthermore, the cultural habits and educational background of the people living in such countries expose them to pathogens and, when these people become infected, they readily become reservoirs for, or carriers of, those organisms. Ultimately, the adverse socioeconomic conditions of underdeveloped countries impede attempts to eradicate or control tropical diseases.

Matched MeSH terms: Tropical Medicine*

The cause of true or tropical beri-beri

Braddon L

Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg, 1909;2(5):212-225.

DOI: 10.1016/S0035-9203(09)90065-7

Matched MeSH terms: Tropical Medicine

Charles Wilberforce Daniels, FRCP (1862-1927): underrated pioneer of tropical medicine

Cook GC

Acta Trop, 2002 Mar;81(3):237-50.

PMID: 11835901

Charles Wilberforce Daniels was a major pioneer in the early days of the newly-formed medical specialism--tropical medicine. At the London School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) of which he was a leading stalwart, he took an active part in research, teaching and administration. But like others in the new discipline he spent a great deal of time at various tropical locations: Fiji, British Guiana--where he made important observations on various forms of filariasis-- east Africa, and Malaya. However, his most important research contribution was arguably confirmation of Ronald Ross' 1898 discovery of the complete life-cycle of avian malaria, in Calcutta.

Matched MeSH terms: Tropical Medicine/history*

Fulltext Pneumonia in the tropics: Report from the Task Force on tropical diseases by the World Federation of Societies of Intensive and Critical Care Medicine

Nor MBM, Richards GA, McGloughlin S, Amin PR, Council of the World Federation of Societies of Intensive and Critical Care Medicine

J Crit Care, 2017 12;42:360-365.

PMID: 29129538 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcrc.2017.11.004

The aetiology of community acquired pneumonia varies according to the region in which it is acquired. This review discusses those causes of CAP that occur in the tropics and might not be readily recognizable when transplanted to other sites. Various forms of pneumonia including the viral causes such as influenza (seasonal and avian varieties), the coronaviruses and the Hantavirus as well as bacterial causes, specifically the pneumonic form of Yersinia pestis and melioidosis are discussed.

Matched MeSH terms: Tropical Medicine

Intensive care in severe malaria: Report from the task force on tropical diseases by the World Federation of Societies of Intensive and Critical Care Medicine

Karnad DR, Nor MBM, Richards GA, Baker T, Amin P, Council of the World Federation of Societies of Intensive and Critical Care Medicine

J Crit Care, 2018 Feb;43:356-360.

PMID: 29132978 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcrc.2017.11.007

Severe malaria is common in tropical countries in Africa, Asia, Oceania and South and Central America. It may also occur in travelers returning from endemic areas. Plasmodium falciparum accounts for most cases, although P vivax is increasingly found to cause severe malaria in Asia. Cerebral malaria is common in children in Africa, manifests as coma and seizures, and has a high morbidity and mortality. In other regions, adults may also develop cerebral malaria but neurological sequelae in survivors are rare. Acute kidney injury, liver dysfunction, thrombocytopenia, disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (DIC) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) are also common in severe malaria. Metabolic abnormalities include hypoglycemia, hyponatremia and lactic acidosis. Bacterial infection may coexist in patients presenting with shock or ARDS and this along with a high parasite load has a high mortality. Intravenous artesunate has replaced quinine as the antimalarial agent of choice. Critical care management as per severe sepsis is also applicable to severe malaria. Aggressive fluid boluses may not be appropriate in children. Blood transfusions may be required and treatment of seizures and raised intracranial pressure is important in cerebral malaria in children. Mortality in severe disease ranges from 8 to 30% despite treatment.

Matched MeSH terms: Tropical Medicine*

Indirect hemagglutination with extracts of various helminths in eosinophilic lung (tropical eosinophilia)

Pacheco G, Danaraj TJ

Am J Trop Med Hyg, 1966 May;15(3):355-8.

PMID: 5938434

Saline extracts of ether-treated Dirofilaria immitis, Ascaris suum, and Ancylostoma spp. were used in indirect hemagglutination tests of serum from 164 patients with a diagnosis of eosinophilic lung and 114 persons with other diseases or no disease (blood donors). In the first group, positive reactions with one, two or all three antigens were obtained in 89 percent of cases and the titers, at medium or high levels in 77 percent, decreased after treatment with diethylcarbamazine. In the other group, antibodies were demonstrable in the serum of only 22 percent of cases and titers usually were low. These observations indicate the presence of several antigen-antibody systems, some of which appear to be specific. With extracts of Dirofilaria the indirect hemagglutination and the complement-fixation tests were similar in sensitivity and specificity, but the results from neither test appeared to indicate infection with a specific worm.

Matched MeSH terms: Tropical Medicine

Iron deficiency in the tropics

Fleming AF

Clin Haematol, 1982 Jun;11(2):365-88.

PMID: 7042157

Matched MeSH terms: Tropical Medicine*

John Desmond Gimlette: "one of God's own"

Fleming PR

J Med Biogr, 1998 Nov;6(4):222-6.

PMID: 11623507

Matched MeSH terms: Tropical Medicine/history*

Fulltext Cinnamon: a multifaceted medicinal plant

Rao PV, Gan SH

Evid Based Complement Alternat Med, 2014;2014:642942.

PMID: 24817901 DOI: 10.1155/2014/642942

Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum, and Cinnamon cassia), the eternal tree of tropical medicine, belongs to the Lauraceae family. Cinnamon is one of the most important spices used daily by people all over the world. Cinnamon primarily contains vital oils and other derivatives, such as cinnamaldehyde, cinnamic acid, and cinnamate. In addition to being an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, anticancer, lipid-lowering, and cardiovascular-disease-lowering compound, cinnamon has also been reported to have activities against neurological disorders, such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases. This review illustrates the pharmacological prospective of cinnamon and its use in daily life.

Matched MeSH terms: Tropical Medicine

Fulltext Filariasis of the axilla in a patient returning from travel abroad: a case report

Roethlisberger M, Wuerstlein R, Majores M, Müller-Stöver I, Seitz HM, Rhiem K, et al.

Breast care (Basel, Switzerland), 2012 Dec;7(6):487-9.

PMID: 24715832 DOI: 10.1159/000345471

BACKGROUND: The term filariasis comprises a group of parasitic infections caused by helminths belonging to different genera in the superfamily Filaroidea. The human parasites occur mainly in tropical and subtropical regions, but filariae are also found in temperate climates, where they can infect wild and domestic animals. Humans are rarely infected by these zoonotic parasites.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: A 55-year-old patient presented with a new-onset, subcutaneous, non-tender palpable mass in the right axilla. Ultrasonography showed a 1.3-cm, solid, singular encapsulated node. Sonography of the breast on both sides, axilla and lymphatic drainage on the left side, lymphatic drainage on the right side, and mammography on both sides were without pathological findings. The node was excised under local anesthesia as the patient refused minimal invasive biopsy.

RESULTS: On histopathological examination, the tail of a parasite of the group of filariae was found. The patient revealed that she had stayed in Africa and Malaysia for professional reasons. 6 months before the time of diagnosis, she had also suffered from a fever and poor general condition after a trip abroad. The patient was referred for further treatment to the Institute for Tropical Medicine at the University of Dusseldorf, where a treatment with ivermectin was conducted on the basis of positive staining with antibodies against filariae.

CONCLUSION: Our case demonstrates the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration between breast center, pathology, and other specialties such as microbiology and tropical medicine.

Matched MeSH terms: Tropical Medicine

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