MyMedR

Effect of intestinal helminthiasis on intestinal permeability of early primary schoolchildren

Raj SM, Sein KT, Anuar AK, Mustaffa BE

Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg, 1996 11 1;90(6):666-9.

Intestinal permeability of 246 early primary schoolchildren at 2 schools (106 of whom were infected with intestinal helminths) was assessed by using the lactulose/mannitol differential absorption test. The ratio of the urinary recoveries of lactulose and mannitol was determined after oral administration of a standard solution of the 2 sugars. Assessment of intestinal permeability was repeated on 100 infected children after treatment and on a cohort of 68 uninfected children. Infected and uninfected groups were compared with respect to baseline lactulose/mannitol ratio (L/M1) and change in lactulose/mannitol ratio between assessments (delta L/M). The correlations between baseline intensity of infection and L/M1, and between fall in intensity and delta L/M, were evaluated. Based on a crude index of socioeconomic status, each child was assigned to one of 3 socioeconomic groups; all but 3 children belonged to either groups 2 or 3. Trichuris trichiura and Ascaris lumbricoides were the 2 predominant infections; the hookworm infection rate was relatively low. The results suggested that helminthiasis exerted only a marginal effect on intestinal permeability, the impact of which in children from lower socioeconomic backgrounds was negligible in comparison with the cumulative effects of other factors.

Effect of intestinal helminthiasis on school attendance by early primary schoolchildren

Raj SM, Sein KT, Anuar AK, Mustaffa BE

Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg, 1997 3 1;91(2):131-2.

PMID: 9196748

Stool examination of 249 early primary schoolchildren at 2 schools in north-eastern peninsular Malaysia revealed that 73 were infected with Ascaris lumbricoides, 103 with Trichuris trichiura, and 18 with hookworms. Infected children were treated with a single dose of 400 mg of albendazole. The school attendance records during a 60 d period before treatment and 2 consecutive 60 d periods after treatment were examined. The absenteeism rate did not improve more among infected children after treatment than it did among the uninfected control children. The correlation between worm intensity and the number of lost school-days was poor. There was no evidence that intestinal helminthiasis caused school absenteeism among this group of children.

Efficacy and safety of chloroquine for treatment in patients with uncomplicated Plasmodium vivax infections in endemic countries

Naing C, Aung K, Win DK, Wah MJ

Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg, 2010 Nov;104(11):695-705.

PMID: 20850161 DOI: 10.1016/j.trstmh.2010.08.009

Chloroquine (CQ) is a relatively inexpensive drug for treatment of malaria. If efficacy of CQ is still assumed, then it should be indicated in malaria treatment policies as the drug of choice for uncomplicated Plasmodium vivax malaria in endemic countries with resource constraints. The objective of this review is to summarize the existing evidence on the relative efficacy and safety of CQ in treating patients with uncomplicated P. vivax malaria in endemic countries. We searched online data bases (PUBMED, MEDLINE, EMBASE, The Cochrane Library) and the reference lists of the retrieved articles. Fifteen randomized controlled trials (n=6215) assessing the relative efficacy and safety of CQ for treatment of uncomplicated P. vivax malaria were included. CQ monotherapy was compared to CQ plus primaquine (PQ), artemisinin/artemether, artemisinin based combination therapy, quinine, CQ plus tafenoquine, chlorguanil plus dapsone, azithromycin, or placebo. Treatment efficacy was not significantly different between the CQ monotherapy group and that of the CQ with PQ 14 day group at 28 day follow-up (55/711, 7.7% vs 35/712, 4.9%; P=0.16). Evidence from the trials identified for this review draw a fairly clear conclusion about the relative efficacy and safety of CQ for treating uncomplicated P. vivax malaria infection. However, further research in this field with well powered, randomized, non-inferiority design, using the standardized protocol is needed.

Efficacy and safety of dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine for treatment of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria in endemic countries: meta-analysis of randomised controlled studies

Naing C, Mak JW, Aung K, Wong JY

Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg, 2013 Feb;107(2):65-73.

PMID: 23222952 DOI: 10.1093/trstmh/trs019

The present review aimed to synthesise available evidence on the efficacy of dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine (DP) in treating uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria in people living in malaria-endemic countries by performing a meta-analysis of relevant studies. We searched relevant studies in electronic data bases up to December 2011. Published results from randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing efficacy of DP with other artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs), or non-ACTs, or placebo were selected. The primary endpoint was 28-day and 42-day treatment failure. We identified 26 RCTs. Many of the studies included in the present review were of high quality. Overall, DP, artesunate-mefloquine (MAS3) and artemether-lumefentrine (AL) were equally effective for reducing the risk of recurrent parasitaemia. The PCR confirmed efficacy of DP (99.5%) and MAS3 (97.7%) at day 28 exceeded 90%; both are efficacious. Comparable efficacy was also found for DP (95.6%) and AL (94.3%). The present review has documented that DP is comparable to other currently used ACTs such as MAS3 and AL in treating uncomplicated falciparum malaria. The better safety profile of DP and once-daily dosage improves adherence and its fixed co-formulation ensures that both drugs are taken together. Our conclusion is that DP has the potential to become a first-line antimalarial drug.

Fulltext Epidemiological profile and outcomes of snakebite injuries treated in emergency departments in South Korea, 2011-2016: a descriptive study

Senek MZF, Kong SY, Shin SD, Sun KM, Kim J, Ro YS

Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg, 2019 10 11;113(10):590-598.

PMID: 31225621 DOI: 10.1093/trstmh/trz050

BACKGROUND: Snakebite is a global public health crisis, but there are no nationwide data on snakebite in South Korea. The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiological profile and outcomes of snakebite cases in South Korea seasonally.

METHODS: The selected subjects were patients of all ages with a chief complaint of snakebite who presented to participating emergency departments (EDs) between 1 January 2011 and 31 December 2016.

RESULTS: A total of 1335 patients were eligible for the study. There were an average of 223 snakebite cases reported each year. Most snakebites occurred during the summer months (55.9%) in patients aged 40-59 y (36.3%) and males (61.5%). Snakebites occurred most frequently on Mondays (22.9%) between 12:00 and 17:59 h (42.0%) outdoors (57.9%) and in farm areas (20.7%). Over 82% of the bites were by venomous snakes across all seasons, and 66% of the patients visited EDs without using emergency medical services. Based on the excess mortality ratio-adjusted injury severity score, 88, 9.2 and 2.8% had mild, moderate and severe injuries, respectively. There were 10 fatalities during the study period.

CONCLUSION: This study provides essential information to understand and assess the burden and distribution of snakebites in South Korea and provides valuable information for developing appropriate prevention and control interventions to address it.

Epidemiology of adenovirus respiratory infections among hospitalized children in Seremban, Malaysia

Foong Ng K, Kee Tan K, Hong Ng B, Nair P, Ying Gan W

Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg, 2015 Jul;109(7):433-9.

PMID: 26038572 DOI: 10.1093/trstmh/trv042

There is scarcity of data regarding epidemiology and clinical aspects of human adenovirus acute respiratory infection (ARI) among children in developing countries.

Epidemiology of malaria in Attapeu Province, Lao PDR in relation to entomological parameters

Vythilingam I, Sidavong B, Chan ST, Phonemixay T, Vanisaveth V, Sisoulad P, et al.

Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg, 2005 Nov;99(11):833-9.

PMID: 16112154

Surveys were conducted in malaria-endemic villages in the southern province of Attapeu, Lao PDR during various seasons over a 3-year period. All-night mosquito landing collections, blood surveys and a case-control study were conducted. Plasmodium falciparum was the predominant species, and slide positivity rates were higher during the transition/dry season compared with the wet season. Anopheles dirus A was found to be the primary vector, and sporozoite rates were highest during the transition/dry season. Anopheles dirus was found to be endophagic and endophilic. Not using insecticide-treated bed nets, houses close to breeding sites and sleeping away from home were risk factors associated with malaria.

Eye signs of vitamin A deficiency in the Ipoh district of Perak, Malaya

THOMSON FA

Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg, 1953 Mar;47(2):159.

PMID: 13077713

Factors affecting transmission of Wuchereria bancrofti by anopheline mosquitoes. 4. Facilitation, limitation, proportionality and their epidemiological significance

Southgate BA, Bryan JH

Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg, 1992 9 1;86(5):523-30.

PMID: 1475823

Quantitative understanding of the transmission dynamics of lymphatic filarial parasites is essential for the rational planning of control strategies. One of the most important determinants of transmission dynamics is the relationship between parasite yield, the success rate of ingested microfilariae (mf) becoming infective larvae in a mosquito vector, and mf density in the source of the human blood meal. Three types of relationship have been recognized in human filaria/mosquito couples--limitation, facilitation and proportionality; facilitation has hitherto been observed only in the couple Wuchereria bancrofti/Anopheles gambiae in Burkina Faso, in experimental studies on a high density mf carrier. The present paper demonstrates facilitation in W. bancrofti/An. gambiae and W. bancrofti/An. arabiensis in lower mf density carriers in The Gambia and Tanzania, and in W. bancrofti/An. funestus in Tanzania. Facilitation was not found in An. melas in The Gambia nor in An. merus in Tanzania. Analysis of published data shows limitation at low level mf densities in W. bancrofti/Culex quinquefasciatus in Sri Lanka, and in the same couple in India. Limitation also occurs in Brugia malayi/Aedes togoi in experimental cats; proportionality occurs in B. malayi/Mansonia bonneae in Malaysia. The epidemiological significance of these host/parasite relationships is discussed, and supporting evidence for its validity is presented from the published results of large-scale control programmes.

Fansidar resistant falciparum malaria acquired in South East Asia

Black F, Bygbjerg I, Effersøe P, Gomme G, Jepsen S, Jensen GA

Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg, 1981;75(5):715-6.

PMID: 7036431

A case of Plasmodium falciparum malaria resistant to Fansidar (sulphadoxine plus pyrimethamine) at a level corresponding to R III and resistant to chloroquine is reported. The infection was most certainly acquired in Malaysia, but diagnosed and treated in a non-malarious area. Normal resorption and elimination rates of the Fansidar components excludes cure failure due to abnormal drug fate in the host. P. falciparum parasites from the patient have been maintained in vitro cultures. The patient was permanently cured with mefloquine.

Filarial antibodies and eosinophilia in human subjects in an endemic area

Wong MM, Guest MF

Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg, 1969;63(6):796-800.

PMID: 5368008

Filariasis in Malaya--a general review

WILSON T

Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg, 1961 Mar;55:107-34.

PMID: 13785709

First case of Acanthamoeba keratitis in Malaysia

Kamel AG, Norazah A

Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg, 1995 11 1;89(6):652.

PMID: 8594684

Further evidence for an exceptionally low prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection among peptic ulcer patients in north-eastern peninsular Malaysia

Raj SM, Yap K, Haq JA, Singh S, Hamid A

Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg, 2001 3 31;95(1):24-7.

PMID: 11280057

The Helicobacter pylori infection rate was determined in 124 consecutive patients with duodenal ulcers (DU), gastric ulcers (GU), duodenal erosions or gastric erosions diagnosed by endoscopy at a single institution in north-eastern peninsular Malaysia in 1996-97. Biopsies of the gastric antrum and body were subjected to the urease test, Gram staining of impression smears, culture and histopathological examination. Serology was undertaken on all patients using a locally validated commercial kit. Infection was defined as a positive result in at least one test. The infection rates were 20% (10/50), 21.2% (7/33), 16.7% (1/6) and 17.1% (6/35) in DU, GU, duodenal erosion and gastric erosion patients, respectively. The infection rate among Malays [7.0%, (6/86)] was lower than in non-Malays [47.4% (18/38)] (P < 0.001). There was a higher infection rate among males, who constituted 62.1% (77/124) of the sample. Seventy-eight patients (62.9%) were receiving non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and 33 patients (26.6%) were neither receiving NSAIDs nor were infected with H. pylori. The H. pylori infection rate among peptic ulcer patients in this predominantly Malay rural population appears to be the lowest reported in the world thus far. Empirical H. pylori eradication therapy in peptic ulcer patients is clearly not indicated in this community. The possible reasons for the low prevalence of H. pylori infection are discussed.

Further evidence of ethnic and gender differences for Helicobacter pylori infection among endoscoped patients

Sasidharan S, Uyub AM, Azlan AA

Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg, 2008 Dec;102(12):1226-32.

PMID: 18586289 DOI: 10.1016/j.trstmh.2008.05.006

HeIicobacter pylori infection rate was determined in 697 consecutive patients with ulcer, gastritis, duodenitis and non-ulcer dyspepsia by endoscopy at a Malaysian hospital in 1999-2002. Biopsies of the gastric antrum and body were subjected to the urease test, Gram staining of impression smears and culture examination. Infection was defined as a positive result in at least one test. The infection rates were 32.1, 10.4, 20.0 and 16.2% in ulcer, gastritis, duodenitis and non-ulcer dyspepsia patients, respectively. Overall, the prevalence of H. pylori infection was 14.6%, with the rate among the Indian (21.7%), Chinese (19.2%) and Bangladeshi foreign worker (23.1%) groups significantly higher (P<0.05) than that of the Malays (5.8%). Generally, the prevalence rate among males (18.9%) was significantly higher (P<0.001) than that among females (9.0%), but for a particular ethnic group, such trend and significant differences (P<0.05) were observed only among the Malays. In terms of gender, the prevalence rates of Malay males and females were also significantly lower (P<0.05) than those of Chinese and Indians. In conclusion, there is a significant difference in H. pylori infection prevalence rates among ethnic groups (highest in Indians, then Chinese and unusually low in Malays) and gender groups (highest in males) in Malaysia.

Further observations in an area with an exceptionally low prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection

Raj SM, Lee YY, Choo KE, Noorizan AM, Zulkifli A, Radzi M, et al.

Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg, 2008 Nov;102(11):1163-4.

PMID: 18678380 DOI: 10.1016/j.trstmh.2008.06.015

Geohelminth infection of children from rural plantations and urban slums in Malaysia

Kan SP, Guyatt HL, Bundy DA

Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg, 1989 11 1;83(6):817-20.

PMID: 2617652

This study compares levels of geohelminth infection in children living in rural estates and urban slum areas of Malaysia. The statistical characteristics of geohelminth infection in 1499 children from birth up to 15 years of age, living in rural estates, were analysed according to age, sex and ethnic origin and compared with the same statistics for 1574 slum-dwelling children of similar age groups and ethnic origins. The prevalence and intensity of ascariasis and trichuriasis were significantly higher among children from the urban slums. Slum-dwelling ethnic Indians and Malays had higher levels of infection with Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura than their rural counterparts, but the infection status of the ethnic Chinese in the 2 areas was similar. Hookworm infection was similar in both areas, indicating that hookworm infection is neither necessarily nor solely a rural disease. These results suggest that urban slum children are at greater risk of ascariasis and trichuriasis than their rural counterparts.

Giardiasis as a predictor of childhood malnutrition in Orang Asli children in Malaysia

Al-Mekhlafi MS, Azlin M, Nor Aini U, Shaik A, Sa'iah A, Fatmah MS, et al.

Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg, 2005 Sep;99(9):686-91.

PMID: 15992838

A cross-sectional study to examine the association of giardiasis with protein-energy malnutrition, vitamin A deficiency and iron deficiency anaemia was conducted among Orang Asli children in Selangor, Malaysia. A total of 281 children aged 2-15 years were studied. The data were collected using structured questionnaires, anthropometric measurements and laboratory analysis of blood and faecal samples. The results showed that 24.9% of the children were infected with Giardia duodenalis, while 56.5, 61.3 and 15.1% had significant underweight, stunting and wasting, respectively. Giardiasis was statistically identified as a strong predictor of significant wasting in this study population.

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency in Malayans

Lie-Injo LE, TI TS

Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg, 1964 Nov;58:500-2.

PMID: 14217007 DOI: 10.1016/0035-9203(64)90105-1

Haemoglobin L in Indians in Malaya

VELLA F, SINGH RB

Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg, 1959 Nov;53:534-5.

PMID: 13841618

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