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At least 541 records · Page 30Linked to original sources
PubMed2003

Non-convulsive status epilepticus associated with tiagabine in a pediatric patient.

We report a 4-year-old patient who developed non-convulsive status epilepticus (NCSE) following tiagabine (TGB) as add-on treatment for refractory partial seizures. NCSE occurred while the patient received TGB 0.83 mg/kg/day. In our case, the TGB reduction led to a significant improvement of electroclinical features. The mechanisms of this abnormal effect are not clear. GABA-ergic hyperfunction and/or multiplicity of interlinked brain GABA systems associated with individual specific sensitivity could play a critical role in the pathogenesis of NCSE. This is the first report of NCSE documented by electroencephalogram (EEG) in a child under 12 years of age on TGB treatment.

Anticonvulsants↗
PubMed2001

A stochastic model for the aggregation of Onchocerca volvulus in nodules.

A model is presented which describes the aggregation of female Onchocerca volvulus in nodules and their distribution in the human population. The basic model is based on a single parameter, the formation probability q, which represents the probability with which incoming larvae form a new nodule. This parameter describes parasite behaviour which cannot easily be recognized in available data without modelling. The estimate for the average formation probability of muq = 0.39 suggests an attraction of the invading infective larvae to already existing nodules or resident worms with probability 0.61. No significant difference in muq was found between the forest and savanna parasite strains. The model can be used inversely to estimate the worm burden of persons from palpation data. The observed variance in the number of nodules per person requires the assumption of a variance-increasing mechanism which was implemented by heterogeneity within the host population (extended model with 2 parameters). Possible reasons for this heterogeneity are presented and its implications concerning the reproductive biology of the parasite are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Bacterial contamination of stored water and stored food: a potential source of diarrhoeal disease in West Africa.

The food and water hygiene in two Liberian communities was studied in a house-to-house diarrhoea survey. The level of contamination with enterobacteria of drinking water stored in the households was significantly higher than at the water sources. Food hygiene standards were low, particularly in the urban slum where storage of cooked food for long periods led to bacterial multiplication at high levels. Infant foods were particularly heavily contaminated. It is concluded that when water supply programmes are planned, the presence of other risk factors for water-related diseases should be investigated. To ensure maximum health benefits, water projects should as a rule be accompanied by other interventions.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed1988

High prevalence of campylobacter excretors among Liberian children related to environmental conditions.

Campylobacter was the bacterial pathogen most prevalent in 859 children, aged 6-59 months, examined in a house-to-house diarrhoea survey in two Liberian communities. 44.9% of the children from an urban slum and 28.4% from a rural area were excretors. Since the prevalence of diarrhoea was very high and consequently many convalescent carriers were found, it was not possible to evaluate the pathogenic role of campylobacter. The excretor rate increased with age and was significantly correlated to the use of supplementary feeding, inversely correlated to the quality of the water supply, and also associated with helminthic infestation. Results from re-examination of 172 children suggested a high intensity of transmission. The findings all indicate the existence of a heavy environmental contamination with campylobacter, probably of both human and animal faecal origin.

Breast Feeding↗
PubMed1992

Human infection by genetically diverse SIVSM-related HIV-2 in west Africa.

Our understanding of the biology and origins of human immunodeficiency virus type 2 (HIV-2) derives from studies of cultured isolates from urban populations experiencing epidemic infection and disease. To test the hypothesis that such isolates might represent only a subset of a larger, genetically more diverse group of viruses, we used nested polymerase chain reactions to characterize HIV-2 sequences in uncultured mononuclear blood cells of two healthy Liberian agricultural workers, from whom virus isolation was repeatedly unsuccessful, and from a culture-positive symptomatic urban dweller. Analysis of pol, env and long terminal repeat regions revealed the presence of three highly divergent HIV-2 strains, one of which (from one of the healthy subjects) was significantly more closely related to simian immunodeficiency viruses infecting sooty mangabeys and rhesus macaques (SIVSM/SIVMAC) than to any virus of human derivation. This subject also harboured multiply defective viral genotypes that resulted from hypermutation of G to A bases. Our results indicate that HIV-2, SIVSM and SIVMAC comprise a single, highly diverse group of lentiviruses which cannot be separated into distinct phylogenetic lineages according to species of origin.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Genetic regulation of human anti-malarial antibodies in twins.

Immune responses to defined antigens may differ between individuals in a population as the reflection of differences in genetic regulation. In experimental animals, variation in responsiveness to a given epitope may be due to major histocompatibility complex (HLA, in humans) class II restrictions, implying serious limitations for the development of subunit vaccines. For human populations, knowledge of the relative importance of genetic as opposed to environmental factors affecting the immune response is scarce. We have compared antibody levels after immunization through repeated infections to a major malarial antigen (Pf155/RESA) in monozygotic twins with those in dizygotic twins, siblings, or unrelated controls. Antibody responses to the intact antigen and to some of its immunodominant epitopes were found to be more concordant within monozygotic twin pairs than in dizygotic pairs or age- and sex-matched siblings living under similar environmental conditions. The results support the conclusion that the antibody responses were genetically regulated. When the responses were assessed for possible associations with different HLA class II DRB, DQA, and DQB alleles had haplotypes, no associations were found. This suggests that the regulation of the Pf155/RESA antibody responses seen in this study reflects the impact of factors encoded by genes outside the HLA class II regions.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

HLA-D alleles associated with generalized disease, localized disease, and putative immunity in Onchocerca volvulus infection.

Human infections with the tissue nematode Onchocerca volvulus result in a variety of clinical conditions that possibly include protective immunity. In a West African area hyperendemic for human onchocerciasis, 120 residents were classified according to clinical and laboratory findings as presenting with generalized onchocerciasis, localized onchocerciasis, or as being putatively immune. The three groups differed in the distribution of HLA-D variants as determined by DNA typing. The most pronounced differences were found among alleles of the DQ loci. The haplotype DQA1*0501-DQB1*0301 was significantly more frequent among putatively immune individuals than among patients with generalized or localized disease. Conversely, DQA1*0101-DQB1*0501 and, independently, the allele DQB1*0201 were more frequent in generalized disease than in localized disease or putative immunity. In these correlations, the frequencies of allelic variants were in localized disease intermediate to those of the two other groups. The only distinct association found with localized disease was that of the DP allele DPB1*0402. The findings indicate that HLA-D variants influence the course of O. volvulus infection and help to define a state that may reflect protective immunity.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

Habits of malaria chemoprophylaxis and an analysis of breakdowns in a West African mining town.

In a West African community approximately 80% of the non-African personnel were taking malaria prophylactics in the recommended manner. The non-takers stated that they were afraid of side-effects of the drugs and/or under-estimated the risks of the disease. During one year 123 patients with clinically suspected malaria were studied. All patients with positive slides were cured with regular dose of 1.5 g chloroquine base. No chloroquine resistance was therefore demonstrated, although 4-aminoquinoline prophylaxis had been given for almost 20 years to thousands of non-African non-immunes as well as in pregnant women and children in the town. Common reasons for 'breakdowns' were febrile disease other than malaria, false positive diagnosis and improper chemoprophylaxis.

Chloroquine↗
PubMed1984

Is the working capacity of Liberian industrial workers increased by regular malaria prophylaxis?

In a study of the impact of malaria prophylaxis upon the physical working capacity of Liberian industrial workers, two groups of men, one with and the other without malaria prophylaxis, were compared over a period of one year. At the beginning and at the end of the study, the haemoglobin concentration, haematocrit, blood volume and physical performance--measured by bicycle ergometry and expressed as work load at heart rate 170--were compared. No significant differences were found, either within or between the two groups. Routinely distributed malaria prophylaxis thus seems to be of little importance with respect to working capacity in this type of community, where malaria is meso-endemic.

Blood Volume↗