Kala-azar in Darfur: Evidence for indigenous transmission in Al-Malha Locality, North Darfur, western Sudan.

PubMed

Mohammed, Mohammed A; Khalid, Noteila M; Aboud, Mariam A

2018-03-06

Recent reports showed high numbers of visceral leishmaniasis cases in North Darfur, western Sudan. Due to a lack of previous studies, no information is available on local transmission of the disease in these areas. Therefore, a pilot entomological and epidemiological study was conducted in Al-Malha Locality during the year 2013, to investigate possibility of local transmission and places and times of the year where and when people contract the infection. Kala-azar incidence data were obtained from records of Ministry of Health, North Darfur; Al-Malha rural hospital; and the Federal Ministry of Health, Division of Communicable and Non-communicable Diseases. Sand flies were collected using sticky paper and rodent burrow traps from five different microhabitats during three different phases of the year. Species identification was undertaken using appropriate taxonomic keys. Data were statistically analyzed to determine the distribution of kala-azar among different age groups and between sexes, and to compare the species richness and distribution of different sandfly species between the different microhabitats. The most affected age groups with kala-azar during the period 2013-2016 were children between one and five years old and those under one year. Females were found to be more affected than males. A total of 918 sand fly specimens were collected using sticky paper and rodent burrow traps from five microhabitats. Identified specimens belong to 13 species; 5 Phlebotomus and 8 Sergentomyia. Phlebotomus orientalis, the principal vector of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in Sudan and other East African countries, was found for the first time in the area. No other known vector of VL was found in the collection. The highest number of sand flies was recorded during the summer season (63%), with S. antennata (48%) and S. schwetzi (24.1%) being the most abundant species. Among Phlebotomus species, P. orientalis showed relatively high density (8.6%). A dry seasonal water course

Lay perceptions of kala-azar, mosquitoes and bed nets in Bihar, India.

PubMed

Mishra, Rabindra N; Singh, S P; Vanlerberghe, Veerle; Sundar, Shyam; Boelaert, Marleen; Lefèvre, Pierre

2010-07-01

To describe the lay perception of kala-azar (KA) in an endemic area of Muzaffarpur District, Bihar, India: local names, symptoms, affected persons, perceived severity and modes of transmission, as well as perceived mosquito nuisance, modes of protection and use of bed nets. We held 16 focus group discussions (FGD) in eight remote villages with altogether 157 participants in March 2008. Separate FGDs were held according to gender, socio-economic status (SES) and with key informants. Kala-azar is most commonly named pilahi. Poor people were said to be the most affected. Knowledge about symptoms was satisfactory. Fever and prolonged fever were the most stated symptoms. KA was perceived as a life-threatening disease with a heavy economic burden. Mosquito bites were perceived as the main mode of transmission but in lower socio-economic groups, non-vector-related explanations were also provided. The main modes of protection from mosquitoes mentioned were the use of fumes and bed nets. Season was the strongest factor influencing the use of bed nets and non-affordability for not owning them. Although the sand fly is not recognised as the vector, the relatively good awareness of disease transmission by mosquitoes and the nuisance caused by their high density might be an entry point for adopting preventive measures to protect from mosquito bite and thereby indirectly preventing from KA. Educational campaigns targeted to the poorer segments of society are needed to enhance knowledge about KA, its mode of transmission, risks of getting infected and to increase bed net use.

Differential Decline in Leishmania Membrane Antigen-Specific Immunoglobulin G (IgG), IgM, IgE, and IgG Subclass Antibodies in Indian Kala-Azar Patients after Chemotherapy

PubMed Central

Anam, Khairul; Afrin, Farhat; Banerjee, Dwijadas; Pramanik, Netai; Guha, Subhasis K.; Goswami, Rama P.; Saha, Shiben K.; Ali, Nahid

1999-01-01

Pathogenesis in kala-azar is associated with depressed cellular immunity and significant elevation of antileishmanial antibodies. Since these antibodies are present even after cure, analysis of the parasite-specific isotypes and immunoglobulin G (IgG) subclasses in kala-azar patients may shed new light on the immune responses during progression and resolution of infection. Using leishmanial membrane antigenic extracts, we investigated the relative levels of specific IgG, IgM, IgA, IgE, and IgG subclasses in Indian kala-azar patient sera during disease, drug resistance, and cure. Acute-phase sera showed strong stimulation of IgG, followed by IgE and IgM and lastly by IgA antibodies. IgG subclass analysis revealed expression of all of the subclasses, with a predominance of IgG1 during disease. Following sodium stibogluconate (SAG) resistance, the levels of IgG, IgM, IgE, and IgG4 remained constant, while there was a decrease in the titers of IgG2 and IgG3. In contrast, a significant (2.2-fold) increase in IgG1 was observed in these individuals. Cure, in both SAG-responsive and unresponsive patients, correlated with a decline in the levels of IgG, IgM, IgE, and all of the IgG subclasses. The stimulation of IgG1 and the persistence, most importantly, of IgE and IgG4 following drug resistance, along with a decline in IgE, IgG4, and IgG1 with cure, demonstrate the potential of these isotypes as possible markers for monitoring effective treatment in kala-azar. PMID:10569788

Nested PCR Assay for Detection of Leishmania donovani in Slit Aspirates from Post-Kala-Azar Dermal Leishmaniasis Lesions

PubMed Central

Sreenivas, Gannavaram; Ansari, N. A.; Kataria, Joginder; Salotra, Poonam

2004-01-01

A nested PCR assay to detect parasite DNA in slit aspirates from skin lesions of patients with post-kala-azar dermal lesihmaniasis (PKDL) is described. PCR results were positive in 27 of 29 (93%) samples by nested PCR assay, while only 20 of 29 (69%) were positive in a primary PCR assay. The nested PCR assay allowed reliable diagnosis of PKDL in a noninvasive manner. PMID:15071047

Case Report: Treatment of Widespread Nodular Post kala-Azar Dermal Leishmaniasis with Extended-Dose Liposomal Amphotericin B in Bangladesh: A Series of Four Cases.

PubMed

Basher, Ariful; Maruf, Shomik; Nath, Proggananda; Hasnain, Md Golam; Mukit, Muhammod Abdul; Anuwarul, Azim; Aktar, Fatima; Nath, Rupen; Hossain, Afm Akhtar; Milton, Abul Hasnat; Mondal, Dinesh; Mohammad Sumsuzzaman, Abul Khair; Rahman, Ridwanur; Faiz, M A

2017-10-01

Post kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) is a skin manifestation which usually appears after visceral leishmaniasis. It is now proved that PKDL patients serve as a reservoir for anthropometric leishmanial transmission. Hence, to achieve the kala-azar elimination target set by the World Health Organization in the Indian Subcontinent, PKDL cases should be given priority. The goal of treatment for PKDL should be early reepithelizlization and rapid cure, but unfortunately this has been difficult to achieve, especially for patients with severe lesions. Therefore, we describe here four cases of PKDL who had widespread nodular and macular lesions and were treated with two cycles of LAmB doses with 20 mg/kg body weight divided into four equal doses (each dose contains 5 mg/kg) administered every alternate day. This treatment schedule achieved 100% treatment success with the minimal safety concern.

Parasite detection in patients with post kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis in India: a comparison between molecular and immunological methods

PubMed Central

Salotra, P; Sreenivas, G; Beena, K R; Mukherjee, A; Ramesh, V

2003-01-01

Aims: To evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of serological, immunohistochemical, and molecular methods in the diagnosis of post kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL). Methods: Twenty five patients with confirmed PKDL and 25 controls were included in the study. G2D10, a monoclonal antibody against Leishmania, was used for the immunohistochemical (IHC) staining of lesion sections to visualise anti-Leishmania donovani antibodies. The diagnostic usefulness of IHC was compared with enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with a recombinant (rk39) antigen, and a species specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay, amplifying a kinetoplast minicircle DNA sequence. Results: IHC detected 22 of 25 PKDL cases, giving a sensitivity of 88%. The diagnostic sensitivity of both the ELISA and PCR tests was higher (96%). All of the 25 controls examined were negative in PCR, indicating 100% specificity of the test, whereas ELISA showed 96% specificity. Conclusions: IHC with G2D10 significantly enhances the sensitivity of detection of PKDL over routine haematoxylin and eosin staining. ELISA with a recombinant antigen is an economical and practical assay. PCR is the most sensitive and specific diagnostic method for PKDL. The tests described would facilitate the recognition of patients with PKDL, enabling timely treatment, which would contribute greatly to the control of kala-azar. PMID:14600129

Evaluation of Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay for Diagnosis of Post-Kala-Azar Dermal Leishmaniasis with Crude or Recombinant k39 Antigen

PubMed Central

Salotra, P.; Sreenivas, G.; Nasim, A. A.; Subba Raju, B. V.; Ramesh, V.

2002-01-01

The diagnosis of post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL), a dermatosis that provides the only known reservoir for the parasite Leishmania donovani in India, remains a problem. Timely recognition and treatment of PKDL would contribute significantly to the control of kala-azar. We evaluated here the potential of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) as a diagnostic tool for PKDL. Antigen prepared from promastigotes and axenic amastigotes with parasite isolates that were derived from skin lesions of a PKDL patient gave sensitivities of 86.36 and 92%, respectively, in the 88 PKDL cases examined. The specificity of the ELISA test was examined by testing groups of patients with other skin disorders (leprosy and vitiligo) or coendemic infections (malaria and tuberculosis), as well as healthy controls from areas where this disease is endemic or is not endemic. A false-positive reaction was obtained in 14 of 144 (9.8%) of the controls with the promastigote antigen and in 14 of 145 (9.7%) of the controls with the amastigote antigen. Evaluation of the serodiagnostic potential of recombinant k39 by ELISA revealed a higher sensitivity (94.5%) and specificity (93.7%) compared to the other two antigens used. The data demonstrate that ELISA with crude or recombinant antigen k39 provides a relatively simple and less-invasive test for the reliable diagnosis of PKDL. PMID:11874880

Economic consequences of post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis in a rural Bangladeshi community.

PubMed

Ozaki, Masayo; Islam, Shamim; Rahman, Kazi Mizanur; Rahman, Anisur; Luby, Stephen P; Bern, Caryn

2011-09-01

Post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) is a complication of visceral leishmaniasis. Bangladesh national treatment guidelines during the study period called for 120 intramuscular injections of sodium antimony gluconate (SAG). We assessed care-seeking behavior, diagnosis and treatment costs, and coping strategies among 134 PKDL patients; 56 (42%) patients had been treated with SAG, and 78 (58%) remained untreated. The median direct cost per patient treated was US$367 (interquartile range [IQR] = 90-284), more than two times the estimated per capita annual income for the study population. The most common coping strategy was to take a loan; the median amount borrowed was US$98 (IQR = 71-150), with a median interest of US$32 (IQR = 16-95). Households lost a median of 123 work-days per patient treated. The current regimen for PKDL imposes a significant financial burden, reinforcing the link between poverty and visceral leishmaniasis. More practical shorter-course regimens for PKDL are urgently needed to achieve national and regional visceral leishmaniasis elimination goals.

77 FR 64812 - National Institute of General Medical Sciences; Notice of Closed Meetings

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-10-23

... Hilton Bethesda, 8120 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20814. Contact Person: Saraswathy Seetharam, Ph.D... Drive, Room 3An18K, Bethesda, MD 20892 (Telephone Conference Call). Contact Person: Brian R. Pike, Ph.D... Chemistry Research; 93.862, Genetics and Developmental Biology Research; 93.88, Minority Access to Research...

Economic Consequences of Post–Kala-Azar Dermal Leishmaniasis in a Rural Bangladeshi Community

PubMed Central

Ozaki, Masayo; Islam, Shamim; Rahman, Kazi Mizanur; Rahman, Anisur; Luby, Stephen P.; Bern, Caryn

2011-01-01

Post–kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) is a complication of visceral leishmaniasis. Bangladesh national treatment guidelines during the study period called for 120 intramuscular injections of sodium antimony gluconate (SAG). We assessed care-seeking behavior, diagnosis and treatment costs, and coping strategies among 134 PKDL patients; 56 (42%) patients had been treated with SAG, and 78 (58%) remained untreated. The median direct cost per patient treated was US$367 (interquartile range [IQR] = 90–284), more than two times the estimated per capita annual income for the study population. The most common coping strategy was to take a loan; the median amount borrowed was US$98 (IQR = 71–150), with a median interest of US$32 (IQR = 16–95). Households lost a median of 123 work-days per patient treated. The current regimen for PKDL imposes a significant financial burden, reinforcing the link between poverty and visceral leishmaniasis. More practical shorter-course regimens for PKDL are urgently needed to achieve national and regional visceral leishmaniasis elimination goals. PMID:21896817

Implication of vector characteristics of Phlebotomus argentipes in the kala-azar elimination programme in the Indian sub-continent.

PubMed

Chowdhury, Rajib; Kumar, Vijay; Mondal, Dinesh; Das, Murari Lal; Das, Pradeep; Dash, Aditya Prasad; Kroeger, Axel

2016-05-01

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL), also known as kala-azar in the Indian sub-continent (ISC), is a major public health concern in Bangladesh, India, and Nepal, where it is caused by Leishmania donovani transmitted by the sand fly Phlebotomus argentipes. Various ecological parameters including air temperature, rainfall, wind speed, relative humidity, soil moisture, pH, and organic carbon are known to influence the oviposition of female sand flies, as well as the survival and development of larvae. However, more detailed knowledge on vector behavior, such as biting times, breeding places, and preferred hosts are needed to design optimal evidence-based vector control interventions. In order to facilitate rational decisions regarding VL vector control, a systematic review was conducted to identify the prevailing practice and knowledge gaps in relation to vector bionomics and behavior. Search terms included 'sand fly bionomics', 'habitat', and 'visceral leishmaniasis/kala-azar vector control' using the Boolean operator AND to identify the country of interest, namely: Bangladesh, India, and Nepal. Both PubMed and Google search engines were used. Additional unpublished documents in the three countries were also analyzed. Information on the life cycle of VL vectors, their breeding behavior, infection rate with L. donovani, feeding behavior, and seasonal variation are useful for designing vector control operations. Unfortunately, none of the studies on the life cycle of P. argentipes was conducted in field settings of the ISC, so the publications from other locations had to be used for determining the duration of life cycle and development from egg to adult. However, information about breeding places, seasonal variation of vector densities, and 47 out of the selected 51 papers are available from the ISC and can be used for intelligent design of control operations. Vector control services should undertake routine insecticide resistance monitoring and adapt indoor residual spraying

Implication of vector characteristics of Phlebotomus argentipes in the kala-azar elimination programme in the Indian sub-continent

PubMed Central

Chowdhury, Rajib; Kumar, Vijay; Mondal, Dinesh; Das, Murari Lal; Das, Pradeep; Dash, Aditya Prasad

2016-01-01

Background Visceral leishmaniasis (VL), also known as kala-azar in the Indian sub-continent (ISC), is a major public health concern in Bangladesh, India, and Nepal, where it is caused by Leishmania donovani transmitted by the sand fly Phlebotomus argentipes. Various ecological parameters including air temperature, rainfall, wind speed, relative humidity, soil moisture, pH, and organic carbon are known to influence the oviposition of female sand flies, as well as the survival and development of larvae. However, more detailed knowledge on vector behavior, such as biting times, breeding places, and preferred hosts are needed to design optimal evidence-based vector control interventions. Methods In order to facilitate rational decisions regarding VL vector control, a systematic review was conducted to identify the prevailing practice and knowledge gaps in relation to vector bionomics and behavior. Search terms included ‘sand fly bionomics’, ‘habitat’, and ‘visceral leishmaniasis/kala-azar vector control’ using the Boolean operator AND to identify the country of interest, namely: Bangladesh, India, and Nepal. Both PubMed and Google search engines were used. Additional unpublished documents in the three countries were also analyzed. Results Information on the life cycle of VL vectors, their breeding behavior, infection rate with L. donovani, feeding behavior, and seasonal variation are useful for designing vector control operations. Unfortunately, none of the studies on the life cycle of P. argentipes was conducted in field settings of the ISC, so the publications from other locations had to be used for determining the duration of life cycle and development from egg to adult. However, information about breeding places, seasonal variation of vector densities, and 47 out of the selected 51 papers are available from the ISC and can be used for intelligent design of control operations. Conclusion Vector control services should undertake routine insecticide

Radio Wave Propagation through a Medium Containing Electron Density Fluctuations Described by an Anisotropic Goldreich-Sridhar Spectrum

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chandran, B. D. G.; Backer, D. C.

2002-09-01

We study the propagation of radio waves through a medium possessing density fluctuations that are elongated along the ambient magnetic field and described by an anisotropic Goldreich-Sridhar power spectrum. We derive general formulae for the wave phase structure function Dφ, visibility, angular broadening, diffraction pattern length scales, and scintillation timescale for arbitrary distributions of turbulence along the line of sight and specialize these formulae to idealized cases. In general, Dφ~(δr)5/3 when the baseline δr is in the inertial range of the turbulent density spectrum, and Dφ~(δr)2 when δr is in the dissipation range, just as for an isotropic Kolmogorov spectrum of fluctuations. When the density structures that dominate the scattering have an axial ratio R>>1 (typically R~103), the axial ratio of the broadened image of a point source in the standard Markov approximation is at most ~R1/2, and this maximum value is obtained in the unrealistic case that the scattering medium is confined to a thin screen in which the magnetic field has a single direction. If the projection of the magnetic field within the screen onto the plane of the sky rotates through an angle Δψ along the line of sight from one side of the screen to the other, and if R-1/2<<Δψ<<1, then the axial ratio of the resulting broadened image of a point source is 2(8/3)3/5/Δψ~=3.6/Δψ. The error in this formula increases with Δψ but reaches only ~15% when Δψ=π. This indicates that a moderate amount of variation in the direction of the magnetic field along the line of sight dramatically decreases the anisotropy of a broadened image. When R>>1, the observed anisotropy will in general be determined by the degree of variation of the field direction along the sight line and not by the degree of density anisotropy. Although this makes it difficult to determine observationally the degree of anisotropy in interstellar density fluctuations, observed anisotropies in broadened images

Development of a Species-Specific PCR Assay for Detection of Leishmania donovani in Clinical Samples from Patients with Kala-Azar and Post-Kala-Azar Dermal Leishmaniasis

PubMed Central

Salotra, Poonam; Sreenivas, G.; Pogue, Gregory P.; Lee, Nancy; Nakhasi, Hira L.; Ramesh, V.; Negi, N. S.

2001-01-01

We have developed a PCR assay that is capable of amplifying kinetoplast DNA (kDNA) of Leishmania donovani in a species-specific manner among Old World leishmanias. With Indian strains and isolates of L. donovani the assay was sensitive enough to detect kDNA in an amount equivalent to a single parasite or less. The extreme sensitivity of the assay was reflected in its ability to detect parasite DNA from small volumes of peripheral blood of patients with kala-azar (KA) and from skin lesions from patients with post-KA dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL). A total of 107 clinical leishmaniasis samples were analyzed. Of these 102 (95.3%) were positive by PCR. The test provided a diagnosis of KA with 96% sensitivity using patient whole-blood samples instead of bone marrow or spleen aspirates that are obtained by invasive procedures. The assay was also successful in the diagnosis of 45 of 48 PKDL cases (93.8%). Cross-reactions with pathogens prevalent in the area of endemicity, viz., Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Mycobacterium leprae, and Plasmodium spp., could be ruled out. Eighty-one control samples, including dermal scrapings from healthy portions of skin from patients with PKDL were all negative. Two of twenty controls from the area of endemicity were found positive by PCR assay; however, there was a good possibility that these two were asymptomatic carriers since they were serologically positive for KA. Thus, this PCR assay represents a tool for the diagnosis of KA and PKDL in Indian patients in a noninvasive manner, with simultaneous species identification of parasites in clinical samples. PMID:11230394

The lost hope of elimination of Kala-azar (visceral leishmaniasis) by 2010 and cyclic occurrence of its outbreak in India, blame falls on vector control practices or co-infection with human immunodeficiency virus or therapeutic modalities?

PubMed

Muniaraj, Mayilsamy

2014-01-01

The Kala-azar/visceral leishmaniasis (VL) turns epidemic form once in every 15 years in the endemic regions of Indian subcontinent. The goal of elimination of Kala-azar from India by 2010 was lost despite paramount efforts taken by the Government of India and World Health Organization and Regional Office for South East Asia. The main objective of this review was to elucidate the possible reason for the failure of Kala-azar elimination program and to suggest possible remedial measures to achieve the goal in future. The annual numbers of VL cases and deaths recorded in India since 1977 were plotted on a graph, to see if the temporal trends could be associated with changes in the vector control practices or co-infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or therapeutic modalities used against VL. The VL cases flares up whenever the effect of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) diminished after the withdrawal of spray. The fading effectiveness was clearly correlated with an increasing number of VL cases. Therapeutic modalities were found to be highly correlating with VL mortality not with VL morbidity. The diminishing efficacy of first and second line drugs and the introduction of new drugs and drugs combination were responsible for ups and downs in the VL mortality. The VL mortality is constantly declining since 1993, but cases started increasing from 2003 to 2007 and then recently again from 2010 to 2011. This shows a serious lacuna in the vector control practices applied. The extent of HIV co-infection did not show any correlation with number/trend of VL cases or death over the study period. It is concluded that, by strict vector control practices, the VL cases can be reduced and by applying proper therapeutic strategies, the VL mortality can be reduced. HIV-VL co-infection does not seem to be in a worried stage.

Electrical, structural and thermal studies of carbon nanotubes from natural legume seeds: kala chana

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ranu, Rachana; Chauhan, Yatishwar; Singh, Pramod K.; Bhattacharya, B.; Tomar, S. K.

2016-12-01

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are the carbon materials measured at nanoscale level and they are defined in two types according to the number of concentric layers, i.e. single-layer tube is single-walled nanotubes, while multi-layer tube structure is called multi-walled nanotubes. The green method synthesis for the preparation of CNTs begins with the smashing of legume seeds kala chana, and then they form complex with cobalt salt. Desiccation of the complex compound forms cobalt salt and seed protein. The complex is then decomposed at 625 °C in muffle furnace for 20 min. Purification of the decomposed sample is done through acid wash treatment and dried in vacuum oven. The confirmations of CNTs are done by nuclear magnetic resonance and Fourier transform infrared, which analyzes the denatured protein, reacted to the metal salt. X-Ray diffraction determines the MWNTs with transmission electron microscope (TEM) reports the network structure of CNTs. thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA)-differential thermal analysis (DTA)-thermogravimetric analysis (DTG) tests the amount of sample under thermal treatment. Vibrating sample magnetometer determines the paramagnetic nature of CNTs. CNTs thus prepared can be used in mechanical fields, in solar cells, in electronics fields, etc. because of their multidisciplinary properties. The synthesized CNTs are eco-friendly in nature, prepared by the legume seed natural precursor.

A third generation vaccine for human visceral leishmaniasis and post kala azar dermal leishmaniasis: First-in-human trial of ChAd63-KH

PubMed Central

Osman, Mohamed; Mistry, Anoop; Keding, Ada; Cook, Elizabeth; Wiggins, Rebecca; Di Marco, Stefania; Colloca, Stefano; Siani, Loredana; Smith, Deborah F.; Aebischer, Toni; Lacey, Charles J.

2017-01-01

Background Visceral leishmaniasis (VL or kala azar) is the most serious form of human leishmaniasis, responsible for over 20,000 deaths annually, and post kala azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) is a stigmatizing skin condition that often occurs in patients after successful treatment for VL. Lack of effective or appropriately targeted cell mediated immunity, including CD8+ T cell responses, underlies the progression of VL and progression to PKDL, and can limit the therapeutic efficacy of anti-leishmanial drugs. Hence, in addition to the need for prophylactic vaccines against leishmaniasis, the development of therapeutic vaccines for use alone or in combined immuno-chemotherapy has been identified as an unmet clinical need. Here, we report the first clinical trial of a third-generation leishmaniasis vaccine, developed intentionally to induce Leishmania-specific CD8+ T cells. Methods We conducted a first-in-human dose escalation Phase I trial in 20 healthy volunteers to assess the safety, tolerability and immunogenicity of a prime-only adenoviral vaccine for human VL and PKDL. ChAd63-KH is a replication defective simian adenovirus expressing a novel synthetic gene (KH) encoding two Leishmania proteins KMP-11 and HASPB. Uniquely, the latter was engineered to reflect repeat domain polymorphisms and arrangements identified from clinical isolates. We monitored innate immune responses by whole blood RNA-Seq and antigen specific CD8+ T cell responses by IFNγ ELISPOT and intracellular flow cytometry. Findings ChAd63-KH was safe at intramuscular doses of 1x1010 and 7.5x1010 vp. Whole blood transcriptomic profiling indicated that ChAd63-KH induced innate immune responses characterized by an interferon signature and the presence of activated dendritic cells. Broad and quantitatively robust CD8+ T cell responses were induced by vaccination in 100% (20/20) of vaccinated subjects. Conclusion The results of this study support the further development of ChAd63-KH as a novel third

A third generation vaccine for human visceral leishmaniasis and post kala azar dermal leishmaniasis: First-in-human trial of ChAd63-KH.

PubMed

Osman, Mohamed; Mistry, Anoop; Keding, Ada; Gabe, Rhian; Cook, Elizabeth; Forrester, Sarah; Wiggins, Rebecca; Di Marco, Stefania; Colloca, Stefano; Siani, Loredana; Cortese, Riccardo; Smith, Deborah F; Aebischer, Toni; Kaye, Paul M; Lacey, Charles J

2017-05-01

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL or kala azar) is the most serious form of human leishmaniasis, responsible for over 20,000 deaths annually, and post kala azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) is a stigmatizing skin condition that often occurs in patients after successful treatment for VL. Lack of effective or appropriately targeted cell mediated immunity, including CD8+ T cell responses, underlies the progression of VL and progression to PKDL, and can limit the therapeutic efficacy of anti-leishmanial drugs. Hence, in addition to the need for prophylactic vaccines against leishmaniasis, the development of therapeutic vaccines for use alone or in combined immuno-chemotherapy has been identified as an unmet clinical need. Here, we report the first clinical trial of a third-generation leishmaniasis vaccine, developed intentionally to induce Leishmania-specific CD8+ T cells. We conducted a first-in-human dose escalation Phase I trial in 20 healthy volunteers to assess the safety, tolerability and immunogenicity of a prime-only adenoviral vaccine for human VL and PKDL. ChAd63-KH is a replication defective simian adenovirus expressing a novel synthetic gene (KH) encoding two Leishmania proteins KMP-11 and HASPB. Uniquely, the latter was engineered to reflect repeat domain polymorphisms and arrangements identified from clinical isolates. We monitored innate immune responses by whole blood RNA-Seq and antigen specific CD8+ T cell responses by IFNγ ELISPOT and intracellular flow cytometry. ChAd63-KH was safe at intramuscular doses of 1x1010 and 7.5x1010 vp. Whole blood transcriptomic profiling indicated that ChAd63-KH induced innate immune responses characterized by an interferon signature and the presence of activated dendritic cells. Broad and quantitatively robust CD8+ T cell responses were induced by vaccination in 100% (20/20) of vaccinated subjects. The results of this study support the further development of ChAd63-KH as a novel third generation vaccine for VL and PKDL. This

Mapping of risk prone areas of kala-azar (Visceral leishmaniasis) in parts of Bihar State, India: an RS and GIS approach.

PubMed

Sudhakar, S; Srinivas, T; Palit, A; Kar, S K; Battacharya, S K

2006-09-01

The kala-azar fever (Visceral leishmaniasis) is continuing unabated in India for over a century, now being largely confined to the eastern part of India mainly in Bihar state and to some extent in its bordering states like West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh. Two study sites namely Patepur block in Vaishali district with high endemicity in northern part and Lohardagga block in Lohardagga district with absolute non-endemicity in southern part of Bihar were selected for the study with the following objectives : (i) to study the macro-ecosystem in relation to distribution of vector -Phlebotomus argentipes; (ii) to identify/map the risk prone areas or villages in a block for quick remedial measures; and (iii) to make use of satellite remote sensing and GIS to demonstrate the utility for rapid assessment of landuse/landcover and their relation with the incidence of kalaazar leading to the mapping of risk prone areas. Indian Remote Sensing (IRS)-1D LISS III satellite data for the periods of March and November 2000 were analysed in Silicon graphic image processing system using ERDAS software. False color composites (FCC) were generated and landuse/landcover was assessed using Maximum likelihood supervised classification techniques based on ground truth training sets. During the study the GIS functions are used to quantify the remotely sensed landscape proportions of 5 km2 buffer surrounding each known group of villages of high occurrence of sandflies in endemic and nonendemic study sites. Instead of traditional ground based survey methods to vector surveillance, the present study used a combination of remote sensing (RS) and geographical information system (GIS) approach to develop landscape predictors of sandfly abundance-an indicator of human vector contact and as a measure of risk prone areas. Statistical analysis using the remotely sensed landscape variables showed that rural villages surrounded by higher proportion of transitional swamps with soft stemmed edible plants and

Application of loop-mediated isothermal amplification assay for the sensitive and rapid diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis and post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis.

PubMed

Verma, Sandeep; Avishek, Kumar; Sharma, Vanila; Negi, Narendra Singh; Ramesh, Venkatesh; Salotra, Poonam

2013-04-01

Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) is at the forefront in the search for innovative diagnostics for rapid and specific amplification of target DNA under isothermal conditions. We have applied LAMP assay using SYBR Green for clear-cut naked eye detection of Leishmania (Leishmania) donovani in 200 clinical samples of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) and post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL). The assay was positive in 53/55 VL blood samples (sensitivity, 96.4%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 87.7-99%), 15/15 VL bone marrow aspirate samples (sensitivity, 100%; 95% CI, 79.6-100%), 60/62 PKDL tissue biopsy samples (sensitivity, 96.8%; 95% CI, 88.9-99.1%), and 1/68 control samples (specificity, 98.5%; 95% CI, 92.1-99.7%). The assay was specific for L. (L.) donovani, the causative species for VL and negative for L. (L.) infantum, L. (L.) tropica, and L. (L.) major. This is the first comprehensive clinical study demonstrating the applicability of the LAMP assay for a rapid and reliable molecular diagnosis of VL and PKDL. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Cathelicidin augments VDR-dependent anti-leishmanial immune response in Indian Post-Kala-Azar Dermal Leishmaniasis.

PubMed

Das, Sushmita; Sardar, Abul Hasan; Abhishek, Kumar; Kumar, Ajay; Rabidas, Vidya Nand; Das, Pradeep

2017-09-01

Indian Post kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) is the cutaneous aftermath of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) caused by L. donovani. Vitamin D-regulated cationic antimicrobial peptide cathelicidin (hCAP-18/LL-37) has microbicidal and immunomodulatory role against cutaneous infections, but its role in PKDL remains elusive. Skin snips and blood-derived monocytes of PKDL patients (n=46), before (BT) and after (AT) chemotherapy, were used for this study. Serum vitamin D3 level was evaluated by ELISA. Cathelicidin and vitamin D receptor (VDR) levels were analyzed by real-time PCR and flowcytometry in PKDL patients. The mechanistic effect of cathelicidin on macrophage differentiation and anti-leishmanial activity was assessed through RNA interference techniques followed by subsequent microscopic evaluation of in vitro parasite killing and Th1/Th2 counter-regulation by ELISA/RT-PCR. Low vitamin D3 levels were accompanied with decreased expression of cathelicidin and VDR in PKDL-BT patients. Results suggested positive induction of VDR-dependent cathelicidin in PKDL macrophages by Amphotericin B treatment, which could be due to indirect effect of drug-induced IL12 upregulation. 1,25-Vitamin D3 stimulation induced cathelicidin in PKDL-BT patients through involvement of TLR2/IL-1β, but not TLR4. Cathelicidin also augmented the anti-leishmanial effect and macrophage activating potential of Amphotericin B, attributable to regulation of VDR-dependent enhancement of CD40, p-STAT-I and MHC-II expression leading to regulation of IL10/IL12 balance in PKDL-BT patient macrophages. This study indicates that cathelicidin augments anti-leishmanial macrophage activating property of Amphotericin B in a TLR2/VDR dependent mechanism, and advocate the development of novel adjunct treatment modality of cathelicidin with conventional Amphotericin B in PKDL patients. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Paying for hospital-based care of Kala-azar in Nepal: assessing catastrophic, impoverishment and economic consequences.

PubMed

Adhikari, Shiva R; Maskay, Nephil M; Sharma, Bishnu P

2009-03-01

Households obtaining health care services in developing countries incur substantial costs, despite services generally being provided free of charge by public health institutions. This constitutes an economic burden on low-income households, and contributes to deepening their level of poverty. In addition to the economic burden of obtaining health care, the method of financing these payments has implications for the distribution of household assets. This effect on resource-poor households is amplified since they have decreased access to health insurance. Recent literature, however, ignores the importance of the method of financing health care payments. This paper looks at the case of Nepal and highlights the impact on households of paying for hospital-based care of Kala-azar (KA) by analysing the catastrophic, impoverishment and economic consequences of their coping strategies. The paper utilizes micro-data on a random selection of 50% of the KA-affected households of Siraha and Saptari districts of Nepal. The empirical results suggest that direct costs of hospital-based treatment of KA are catastrophic since they consume 17% of annual household income. This expenditure causes more than 20% of KA-affected households to fall below the poverty line, with the remaining households being pushed into the category of marginal poor; the poverty gap ratio is more than 90%. Further, KA incidence can have prolonged and severe economic consequences for the household economy due to the mechanisms of informal sector financing to which households resort. A heavy burden of loan repayments can lead households on a downward spiral that eventually becomes a poverty trap. In other words, the method of financing health care payments is an important ingredient in understanding the economic burden of disease.

An ethnobiological study in Kala Chitta hills of Pothwar region, Pakistan: multinomial logit specification

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Background This paper constitutes an important ethnobiological survey in the context of utilizing biological resources by residents of Kala Chitta hills of Pothwar region, Pakistan. The fundamental aim of this research endeavour was to catalogue and analyse the indigenous knowledge of native community about plants and animals. The study is distinctive in the sense to explore both ethnobotanical and ethnozoological aspects of indigenous culture, and exhibits novelty, being based on empirical approach of Multinomial Logit Specifications (MLS) for examining ethnobotanical and ethnozoological uses of specific plants and animals. Methods To document the ethnobiological knowledge, the survey was conducted during 2011–12 by employing a semi-structured questionnaire and thus 54 informants were interviewed. Plant and animal specimens were collected, photographed and properly identified. Distribution of plants and animals were explored by descriptive and graphical examination. MLS were further incorporated to identify the probability of occurrence of diversified utilization of plants and animals in multipurpose domains. Results Traditional uses of 91 plant and 65 animal species were reported. Data analysis revealed more medicinal use of plants and animals than all other use categories. MLS findings are also in line with these proportional configurations. They reveal that medicinal and food consumption of underground and perennial plants was more as compared to aerial and annual categories of plants. Likewise, medicinal utilization of wild animals and domestic animals were more commonly observed as food items. However, invertebrates are more in the domain of medicinal and food utilization. Also carnivores are fairly common in the use of medicine while herbivores are in the category of food consumption. Conclusion This study empirically scans a good chunk of ethnobiological knowledge and depicts its strong connection with indigenous traditions. It is important to make local

Evaluation of cellular immunological responses in mono- and polymorphic clinical forms of post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis in India.

PubMed

Kaushal, H; Bras-Gonçalves, R; Avishek, K; Kumar Deep, D; Petitdidier, E; Lemesre, J-L; Papierok, G; Kumar, S; Ramesh, V; Salotra, P

2016-07-01

Post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) is a chronic dermal complication that occurs usually after recovery from visceral leishmaniasis (VL). The disease manifests into macular, papular and/or nodular clinical types with mono- or polymorphic presentations. Here, we investigated differences in immunological response between these two distinct clinical forms in Indian PKDL patients. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells of PKDL and naive individuals were exposed in vitro to total soluble Leishmania antigen (TSLA). The proliferation index was evaluated using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)-based lymphoproliferative assay. Cytokines and granzyme B levels were determined by cytometric bead array. Parasite load in tissue biopsy samples of PKDL was quantified by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). The proportion of different lymphoid subsets in peripheral blood and the activated T cell population were estimated using flow cytometry. The study demonstrated heightened cellular immune responses in the polymorphic PKDL group compared to the naive group. The polymorphic group showed significantly higher lymphoproliferation, increased cytokines and granzyme B levels upon TSLA stimulation, and a raised proportion of circulating natural killer (NK) T cells against naive controls. Furthermore, the polymorphic group showed a significantly elevated proportion of activated CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells upon in-vitro TSLA stimulation. Thus, the polymorphic variants showed pronounced cellular immunity while the monomorphic form demonstrated a comparatively lower cellular response. Additionally, the elevated level of both activated CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells, coupled with high granzyme B secretion upon in-vitro TSLA stimulation, indicated the role of cytotoxic cells in resistance to L. donovani infection in polymorphic PKDL. © 2016 British Society for Immunology.

Development of monoclonal antibodies against axenic amastigotes of Leishmania infantum strain in Iran: implication for diagnosis of Kala-azar

PubMed Central

Nourizadeh, Ezzat; Zargar, Seyed Jalal; Alimohammadian, Mohammad Hossein; Ajdary, Soheila; Mahdavi, Mahdi

2018-01-01

Objective(s): Leishmaniasis is endemic in 88 countries. Amastigote forms of Leishmania are experts at exploiting host cell processes to establish infection. Monoclonal antibodies are key reagents used in the diagnosis of infectious and non-infectious diseases. The aim of this study was to produce monoclonal antibodies against axenic amastigotes of the Leishmania infantum strain in Iran. Materials and Methods: First, standard strains were cultured and axenic amastigote antigens of L. infantum were obtained. Since then, BALB/c smice were immunized and antibody titers were determined. For hybridoma cell formation, lymphocytes isolated from spleen of immunized mice and myeloma cells were fused at a ratio of 10 to 1 in the presence of polyethylene glycol, followed by limiting dilution for the isolation of monoclones. Subsequently, antibody isotypes were determined by using the isotyping kit. The best clone was injected intraperitoneally to pristane-primed mice for large scale production of monoclonal antibodies. The specificity of antibody was determined with Western blotting. Results: Approximately 25 positive monoclones were obtained, of which four hybrids producing anti-amastigotes L. infantum monoclonal antibodies with high optical density (OD), selected and designated as 8D2 FVI6, 8D2 FVI3, 6G2 FV4 and 6G2 FV3. Results from isotype determination showed the IgG2b sub-class in 6G2FV2 and 8D2FVI6 monoclones. Conclusion: This study produced monoclonal antibody against amastigotes of Iranian strain of L. infantum for the first time. These antibodies have reactivity against Iranian strain of L. infantum and can be used in the diagnosis of Kala-azar.

Energy Servers Deliver Clean, Affordable Power

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2010-01-01

K.R. Sridhar developed a fuel cell device for Ames Research Center, that could use solar power to split water into oxygen for breathing and hydrogen for fuel on Mars. Sridhar saw the potential of the technology, when reversed, to create clean energy on Earth. He founded Bloom Energy, of Sunnyvale, California, to advance the technology. Today, the Bloom Energy Server is providing cost-effective, environmentally friendly energy to a host of companies such as eBay, Google, and The Coca-Cola Company. Bloom's NASA-derived Energy Servers generate energy that is about 67-percent cleaner than a typical coal-fired power plant when using fossil fuels and 100-percent cleaner with renewable fuels.

A comparative evaluation of end-emic and non-endemic region of visceral leishmaniasis (Kala-azar) in India with ground survey and space technology.

PubMed

Kesari, Shreekant; Bhunia, Gouri Sankar; Kumar, Vijay; Jeyaram, Algarswamy; Ranjan, Alok; Das, Pradeep

2011-08-01

In visceral leishmaniasis, phlebotomine vectors are targets for control measures. Understanding the ecosystem of the vectors is a prerequisite for creating these control measures. This study endeavours to delineate the suitable locations of Phlebotomus argentipes with relation to environmental characteristics between endemic and non-endemic districts in India. A cross-sectional survey was conducted on 25 villages in each district. Environmental data were obtained through remote sensing images and vector density was measured using a CDC light trap. Simple linear regression analysis was used to measure the association between climatic parameters and vector density. Using factor analysis, the relationship between land cover classes and P. argentipes density among the villages in both districts was investigated. The results of the regression analysis indicated that indoor temperature and relative humidity are the best predictors for P. argentipes distribution. Factor analysis confirmed breeding preferences for P. argentipes by landscape element. Minimum Normalised Difference Vegetation Index, marshy land and orchard/settlement produced high loading in an endemic region, whereas water bodies and dense forest were preferred in non-endemic sites. Soil properties between the two districts were studied and indicated that soil pH and moisture content is higher in endemic sites compared to non-endemic sites. The present study should be utilised to make critical decisions for vector surveillance and controlling Kala-azar disease vectors.

Hyponatremia in visceral leishmaniasis.

PubMed

Verde, Frederico A Lima; Verde, Francisco A A Lima; Veronese, Francisco José V; Neto, Augusto S; Fuc, Galdino; Verde, Emir M Lima

2010-01-01

There are few reports linking hyponatremia and visceral leishmaniasis (kala-azar). This is a study of 55 consecutive kala-azar patients and 20 normal individuals as a control group. Hyponatremia and serum hypo-osmolality were detected in 100% of kala-azar patients. High first morning urine osmolality (750.0 ± 52.0 vs. 894.5 ± 30.0mOsm/kg H₂O, p < 0.05), and high 24-hour urine osmolality (426.0 ± 167.0 vs. 514.6 ± 132.0 mOsm/kg H₂O, p < 0.05) demonstrated persistent antidiuretic hormone secretion. Urinary sodium was high (82.3 ± 44.2 vs.110.3 ± 34.7 mEq/L, p < 0.05). Low seric uric acid occurred in 61.8% of patients and increased fractional urinary uric acid excretion was detected in 74.5% of them. Increased glomerular filtration rate was present in 25.4% of patients. There was no evidence of extracellular volume depletion. Normal plasma ADH levels were observed in kala-azar patients. No endocrine or renal dysfunction was detected. It is possible that most hyponatremic kala-azar patients present the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion.

Chronic Arsenic Exposure and Risk of Post Kala-azar Dermal Leishmaniasis Development in India: A Retrospective Cohort Study

PubMed Central

Das, Sushmita; Mandal, Rakesh; Rabidas, Vidya Nand; Verma, Neena; Pandey, Krishna; Ghosh, Ashok Kumar; Kesari, Sreekant; Kumar, Ashish; Purkait, Bidyut; Lal, Chandra Sekhar; Das, Pradeep

2016-01-01

Background Visceral leishmaniasis (VL), with the squeal of Post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL), is a global threat for health. Studies have shown sodium stibogluconate (SSG) resistance in VL patients with chronic arsenic exposure. Here, we assessed the association between arsenic exposure and risk of developing PKDL in treated VL patients. Methods In this retrospective study, PKDL patients (n = 139), earlier treated with SSG or any other drug during VL, were selected from the study cohort. Trained physicians, unaware of arsenic exposure, interviewed them and collected relevant data in a questionnaire format. All probable water sources were identified around the patient’s house and water was collected for evaluation of arsenic concentration. A GIS-based village-level digital database of PKDL cases and arsenic concentration in groundwater was developed and individual point location of PKDL cases were overlaid on an integrated GIS map. We used multivariate logistic regression analysis to assess odds ratios (ORs) for association between arsenic exposure and PKDL development. Results Out of the 429 water samples tested, 403 had arsenic content of over 10 μg/L, with highest level of 432 μg/L among the seven study villages. Multivariate adjusted ORs for risk of PKDL development in comparison of arsenic concentrations of 10.1–200 μg/L and 200.1–432.0 μg/L were 1.85 (1.13–3.03) and 2.31 (1.39–3.8) respectively. Interestingly, similar results were found for daily dose of arsenic and total arsenic concentration in urine sample of the individual. The multivariate-adjusted OR for comparison of high baseline arsenic exposure to low baseline arsenic exposure of the individuals in the study cohort was 1.66 (95% CI 1.02–2.7; p = 0.04). Conclusion Our findings indicate the need to consider environmental factors, like long time arsenic exposure, as an additional influence on treated VL patients towards risk of PKDL development in Bihar. PMID:27776123

Decision-making process of Kala Azar care: results from a qualitative study carried out in disease endemic areas of Nepal

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Background Analysis of consumer decision making in the health sector is a complex process of comparing feasible alternatives and evaluating the levels of satisfaction associated with the relevant options. This paper makes an attempt to understand how and why consumers make specific decisions, what motivates them to adopt a specific health intervention, and what features they find attractive in each of the options. Method The study used a descriptive-explanatory design to analyze the factors determining the choices of healthcare providers. Information was collected through focus group discussions and in-depth interviews. Results The results suggest that the decision making related to seeking healthcare for Kala Azar (KA) treatment is a complex, interactive process. Patients and family members follow a well-defined road map for decision making. The process of decision making starts from the recognition of healthcare needs and is then modified by a number of other factors, such as indigenous knowledge, healthcare alternatives, and available resources. Household and individual characteristics also play important roles in facilitating the process of decision making. The results from the group discussions and in-depth interviews are consistent with the idea that KA patients and family members follow the rational approach of weighing the costs against the benefits of using specific types of medical care. Conclusion The process of decision making related to seeking healthcare follows a complex set of steps and many of the potential factors affect the decision making in a non-linear fashion. Our analysis suggests that it is possible to derive a generalized road map of the decision-making process starting from the recognition of healthcare needs, and then modifying it to show the influences of indigenous knowledge, healthcare alternatives, and available resources. PMID:23849617

Decision-making process of Kala Azar care: results from a qualitative study carried out in disease endemic areas of Nepal.

PubMed

Adhikari, Shiva Raj; Supakankunti, Siripen; Khan, M Mahmud

2013-07-12

Analysis of consumer decision making in the health sector is a complex process of comparing feasible alternatives and evaluating the levels of satisfaction associated with the relevant options. This paper makes an attempt to understand how and why consumers make specific decisions, what motivates them to adopt a specific health intervention, and what features they find attractive in each of the options. The study used a descriptive-explanatory design to analyze the factors determining the choices of healthcare providers. Information was collected through focus group discussions and in-depth interviews. The results suggest that the decision making related to seeking healthcare for Kala Azar (KA) treatment is a complex, interactive process. Patients and family members follow a well-defined road map for decision making. The process of decision making starts from the recognition of healthcare needs and is then modified by a number of other factors, such as indigenous knowledge, healthcare alternatives, and available resources. Household and individual characteristics also play important roles in facilitating the process of decision making. The results from the group discussions and in-depth interviews are consistent with the idea that KA patients and family members follow the rational approach of weighing the costs against the benefits of using specific types of medical care. The process of decision making related to seeking healthcare follows a complex set of steps and many of the potential factors affect the decision making in a non-linear fashion. Our analysis suggests that it is possible to derive a generalized road map of the decision-making process starting from the recognition of healthcare needs, and then modifying it to show the influences of indigenous knowledge, healthcare alternatives, and available resources.

ARC-2011-ACD11-0007-001

NASA Image and Video Library

2011-01-18

NRP Exploration Lecture: 'BloomBox' Bringing NASA Technology Down to Earth by Bloom Energy CEO, Principal and Co-founder Dr. KR Sridhar.Shown here with Mejghan K Haider, Chief of Business Development, NASA Research Park Office

A report on the indoor residual spraying (IRS) in the control of Phlebotomus argentipes, the vector of visceral leishmaniasis in Bihar (India): an initiative towards total elimination targeting 2015 (Series-1).

PubMed

Kumar, V; Kesari, S; Dinesh, D S; Tiwari, A K; Kumar, A J; Kumar, R; Singh, V P; Das, P

2009-09-01

Visceral leishmaniasis, commonly known as kala-azar is endemic in Bihar state, India. Current vector control programme in Bihar focuses mainly on spraying the sandfly infested dwellings with DDT. The Government of India in collaboration with WHO has fixed the target 2015 for total elimination of kala-azar. The present study was carried out to see the impact of DDT and improved IEC in the containment of vector density vis-à-vis disease transmission. Before the start of the spraying operations training was imparted to all the medical and paramedical personnel regarding the methods of spraying operations. Pre- and post-sandfly density was monitored in four selected districts. Incidences of kala-azar cases were compared for pre- and post-spray periods. Social acceptability and perceptions of households was collected through questionnaires from 500 randomly selected households in the study districts. House index in three study districts reduced considerably during post-spray when compared to pre-spray. Kala-azar incidence in many districts was reduced after the DDT spray. Either partial or complete refusal was reported in 14.4%, while 35% were not satisfied with the suspension concentration and coverage; and 46.6% were found satisfied with the spraying procedure. Strengthening the IEC activities to sensitise the community, proper training of health personnel, monitoring of spray, good surveillance, proper treatment of cases and two rounds of DDT spray with good coverage in the endemic districts up to three years are essential to achieve the desired total elimination of kala-azar in Bihar state.

A Drug Discovery Partnership for Personalized Breast Cancer Therapy

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-09-01

flexible searches of compound databases using detailed pharmacophore and CoMFA QSAR results. (Months 9-24). 1,3,8-trihydroxyanthraquinone was taken...Cytochrome P450 Inhibitors- A Study of Their Potency and Selectivity”, J. Sridhar, J. Liu, C.L.K. Stevens, and M. Foroozesh, Society of Toxicology

Resource-Bounded Information Gathering for Correlation Clustering

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-01-01

5], budgeted learning, [4], and active learning , for example, [3]. 3 Acknowledgments We thank Avrim Blum, Katrina Ligett, Chris Pal, Sridhar...2007 3. N. Roy, A. McCallum, Toward Optimal Active Learning through Sampling Estima- tion of Error Reduction, Proc. of 18th ICML, 2001 4. A. Kapoor, R

Feasibility of a combined camp approach for vector control together with active case detection of visceral leishmaniasis, post kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis, tuberculosis, leprosy and malaria in Bangladesh, India and Nepal: an exploratory study.

PubMed

Banjara, Megha R; Kroeger, Axel; Huda, Mamun M; Kumar, Vijay; Gurung, Chitra K; Das, Murari L; Rijal, Suman; Das, Pradeep; Mondal, Dinesh

2015-06-01

We assessed the feasibility and results of active case detection (ACD) of visceral leishmaniasis (VL), post kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) and other febrile diseases as well as of bednet impregnation for vector control. Fever camps were organized and analyzed in twelve VL endemic villages in Bangladesh, India, and Nepal. VL, PKDL, tuberculosis, malaria and leprosy were screened among the febrile patients attending the camps, and existing bednets were impregnated with a slow release insecticide. Among the camp attendees one new VL case and two PKDL cases were detected in Bangladesh and one VL case in Nepal. Among suspected tuberculosis cases two were positive in India but none in the other countries. In India, two leprosy cases were found. No malaria cases were detected. Bednet impregnation coverage during fever camps was more than 80% in the three countries. Bednet impregnation led to a reduction of sandfly densities after 2 weeks by 86% and 32%, and after 4 weeks by 95% and 12% in India and Nepal respectively. The additional costs for the control programmes seem to be reasonable. It is feasible to combine ACD camps for VL and PKDL along with other febrile diseases, and vector control with bednet impregnation. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.

Visceral leishmaniasis with Roth spots

PubMed Central

Meena, Jagdish; Juneja, Monica; Mishra, Devendra; Vats, Pallavi; Pawaria, Arti

2014-01-01

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is caused by the protozoan parasite Leishmania donovani and transmitted by the bite of infected sandfly Phlebotomus argentipes. The protozoa is obliged intracellularly and causes a wide spectrum of clinical syndromes: VL (‘kala azar’), cutaneous leishmaniasis and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis (espundia). Kala azar is the most aggressive form and if untreated causes high mortality. Here, we describe a case of VL that presented to us with high-grade fever and found to have Roth spots that were resolved after 15 days of therapy. PMID:25988048

A Drug Discovery Partnership for Personalized Breast Cancer Therapy

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-09-01

antagonists) and then virtually screen the USDA Phytochemical, Chinese Herbal Medicine , and the FDA Marketed Drug Databases for new estrogens. Task 1...and antagonists that are in the registered pharmaceuticals and herbal medicine databases. The 29 analogs obtained have been characterized for...Marleesa Bastian, Technician at Xavier University (Sridhar lab and is now pursuing graduation at Meharry Medical College school of Medicine , Tennessee

Risk Zone Modelling and Early Warning System for Visceral Leishmaniasis Kala-Azar Disease in Bihar, India Using Remote Sensing and GIS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jeyaram, A.; Kesari, S.; Bajpai, A.; Bhunia, G. S.; Krishna Murthy, Y. V. N.

2012-07-01

Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) commonly known as Kala-azar is one of the most neglected tropical disease affecting approximately 200 million poorest populations 'at risk in 109 districts of three endemic countries namely Bangladesh, India and Nepal at different levels. This tropical disease is caused by the protozoan parasite Leishmania donovani and transmitted by female Phlebotomus argentipes sand flies. The analysis of disease dynamics indicate the periodicity at seasonal and inter-annual temporal scale which forms the basis for development of advanced early warning system. Study area of highly endemic Vaishali district, Bihar, India has been taken for model development. A Systematic study of geo-environmental parameters derived from satellite data in conjunction with ground intelligence enabled modelling of infectious disease and risk villages. High resolution Indian satellites data of IRS LISS IV (multi-spectral) and Cartosat-1 (Pan) have been used for studying environmentally risk parameters viz. peri-domestic vegetation, dwelling condition, wetland ecosystem, cropping pattern, Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), detailed land use etc towards risk assessment. Univariate analysis of the relationship between vector density and various land cover categories and climatic variables suggested that all the variables are significantly correlated. Using the significantly correlated variables with vector density, a seasonal multivariate regression model has been carried out incorporating geo-environmental parameters, climate variables and seasonal time series disease parameters. Linear and non-linear models have been applied for periodicity and interannual temporal scale to predict Man-hour-density (MHD) and 'out-of-fit' data set used for validating the model with reasonable accuracy. To improve the MHD predictive approach, fuzzy model has also been incorporated in GIS environment combining spatial geo-environmental and climatic variables using fuzzy membership

Immediate hypersensitivity reaction following liposomal amphotericin-B (AmBisome) infusion

PubMed Central

Nath, Proggananda; Harada, Michiyo; Sarkar, Santana; Selim, Shahjada; Maude, Richard J; Noiri, Eisei; Faiz, Abul

2014-01-01

Liposomal amphotericin-B (AmBisome) is now becoming first choice for the treatment of visceral leishmaniasis (kala-azar) patients due to high efficacy and less toxicity. The reported incidence of hypersensitivity reactions to liposomal amphotericin-B (AmBisome), especially during therapy, is very rare. We report two patients with kala-azar: one developed breathing difficulties and hypotension followed by shock and the other had facial angioedema with chest tightness during treatment. Both patients were managed with immediate action of injection: adrenaline, diphenhydramine and hydrocortisone. In our experience, AmBisome can cause severe hypersensitivity reactions that warrant proper support and close supervision. PMID:25139411

Refractory Degradation by Slag Attack in Coal Gasification

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-02-01

REFRACTORY DEGRADATION BY SLAG ATTACK IN COAL GASIFICATION Jinichiro Nakano 1,2 , Sridhar Seetharaman 1,2 , James Bennett 3 , Kyei-Sing...and two synthetic slags (coal and petcoke). Pulverized slag samples were placed at specific microstructure locations on refractory substrates and...heated to 1500 ºC at log(Po2) = -9, using a high-speed heating chamber. Cross-sections of the slag /refractory interface indicated unique slag

Automated, Certified Program-rewriting for Software Security Enforcement

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-03-05

VLC ), pages 257-260, Oak Brook, Illinois, Oc- tober 2010. [14] Aditi A. Patwardhan. Security-aware program visualization for analyz- ing in-lined...January 2010. [17] Meera Sridhar and Kevin W. Hamlen. Flexible in-lined reference moni- tor certification: Challenges and future directions. In...pages 55-60, Austin, Texas, January 2011. [18] Bhavani Thuraisingham and Kevin W. Hamlen. Challenges and future directions of software technology

Effective Network Management via System-Wide Coordination and Optimization

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-08-01

Srinath Sridhar, Matthew Streeter, Jimeng Sun, Michael Tschantz, Rangarajan Vasudevan, Vijay Vasude- van, Gaurav Veda, Shobha Venkataraman, Justin... Sharma and Byers [150] suggest the use of Bloom filters. While minimizing redundant measurements is a common high-level theme between cSamp and their...NSDI, 2004. [150] M. R. Sharma and J. W. Byers. Scalable Coordination Techniques for Distributed Network Monitoring. In Proc. of PAM, 2005. [151] S

Dose-Dependent Model of Caffeine Effects on Human Vigilance during Total Sleep Deprivation

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-05-20

does not consider the absorption of caffeine . This is a reasonable approximation for caffeine when ingested via coffee , tea, energy drinks, and most...Dose-dependent model of caffeine effects on human vigilance during total sleep deprivation Sridhar Ramakrishnan a, Srinivas Laxminarayan a, Nancy J...We modeled the dose-dependent effects of caffeine on human vigilance. The model predicted the effects of both single and repeated caffeine doses

[Visceral leishmaniasis as a threat for non-endemic countries].

PubMed

Górski, Stanisław; Wiercińska-Drapało, Alicja

2009-01-01

Global warming, globalisation, and constantly increasing number of people involved in long-distance tourism and travel to exotic destinations are likely to increase the number of cases of exotic diseases "imported" to nonendemic countries. One of the often forgotten and neglected diseases has been visceral leishmaniasis (VL or kala-azar). The disease is endemic to 62 countries, with India and Sudan accounting for the majority of the cases. It is typically fatal if left untreated. Each year about 500 000 new cases are reported worldwide, and 50 000 die as a result of the disease. Kala-azar is present in the Mediterranean Europe and 70% of cases are imported to non-endemic countries of European Union from that area. Immunocompromised status of patients, like HIV carriers are the principal prospective target for kala-azar. HIV/VL-coinfected patients have significantly higher relapse rates and decreased life expectancy. There is no formal system of reporting imported cases in Europe, except from Germany. In non-endemic countries, including Poland, there is usually the substantial delay between the onset of symptoms and the final diagnosis, with an average exceeding 3 months. This fact suggests that physicians are not familiar with leishmania infections. Despite progress in vaccine development, the only way to prevent the infection is avoiding sandfly bites. Mosquito nets, wearing appropriate clothes and repellents containing DEET (diethyl toluamide) can reduce number of bites and protect also from the other vector-borne diseases like malaria or dengue. Education concerning kala-azar risk and ways of the disease prevention is a needed for tourists and the other travelers.

Techniques for Exploiting Unlabeled Data

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-10-01

Moore, Ar- jit Singh, Jure Leskovec, Stano Funiak, Andreas Krause, Gaurav Veda, John Lang- ford, R. Ravi, Peter Lee, Srinath Sridhar, Virginia Vassilevska...information. However, in the past few decades for many tasks the supply of information has outpaced our ability to effectively utilize it. For example in...function which contains kernel functions as a sub-class and show that effective learning can be done in this framework. Although the work in this area is

Immediate hypersensitivity reaction following liposomal amphotericin-B (AmBisome) infusion.

PubMed

Nath, Proggananda; Basher, Ariful; Harada, Michiyo; Sarkar, Santana; Selim, Shahjada; Maude, Richard J; Noiri, Eisei; Faiz, Abul

2014-10-01

Liposomal amphotericin-B (AmBisome) is now becoming first choice for the treatment of visceral leishmaniasis (kala-azar) patients due to high efficacy and less toxicity. The reported incidence of hypersensitivity reactions to liposomal amphotericin-B (AmBisome), especially during therapy, is very rare. We report two patients with kala-azar: one developed breathing difficulties and hypotension followed by shock and the other had facial angioedema with chest tightness during treatment. Both patients were managed with immediate action of injection: adrenaline, diphenhydramine and hydrocortisone. In our experience, AmBisome can cause severe hypersensitivity reactions that warrant proper support and close supervision. © The Author(s) 2014 Reprints and permissions: sagepub.co.uk/journalsPermissions.nav.

Genetic dissection of black grain rice by the development of a near isogenic line.

PubMed

Maeda, Hiroaki; Yamaguchi, Takuya; Omoteno, Motoyasu; Takarada, Takeshi; Fujita, Kenji; Murata, Kazumasa; Iyama, Yukihide; Kojima, Yoichiro; Morikawa, Makiko; Ozaki, Hidenobu; Mukaino, Naoyuki; Kidani, Yoshinori; Ebitani, Takeshi

2014-06-01

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) can produce black grains as well as white. In black rice, the pericarp of the grain accumulates anthocyanin, which has antioxidant activity and is beneficial to human health. We developed a black rice introgression line in the genetic background of Oryza sativa L. 'Koshihikari', which is a leading variety in Japan. We used Oryza sativa L. 'Hong Xie Nuo' as the donor parent and backcrossed with 'Koshihikari' four times, resulting in a near isogenic line (NIL) for black grains. A whole genome survey of the introgression line using DNA markers suggested that three regions, on chromosomes 1, 3 and 4 are associated with black pigmentation. The locus on chromosome 3 has not been identified previously. A mapping analysis with 546 F2 plants derived from a cross between the black rice NIL and 'Koshihikari' was evaluated. The results indicated that all three loci are essential for black pigmentation. We named these loci Kala1, Kala3 and Kala4. The black rice NIL was evaluated for eating quality and general agronomic traits. The eating quality was greatly superior to that of 'Okunomurasaki', an existing black rice variety. The isogenicity of the black rice NIL to 'Koshihikari' was very high.

Leishmaniasis

MedlinePlus

Kala-azar; Cutaneous leishmaniasis; Visceral leishmaniasis; Old world leishmaniasis; New world leishmaniasis ... Leishmaniasis is caused by a tiny parasite called leishmania protozoa. Protozoa are one-celled organisms. There are ...

The Birth of a Black Rice Gene and Its Local Spread by Introgression

PubMed Central

Oikawa, Tetsuo; Maeda, Hiroaki; Oguchi, Taichi; Yamaguchi, Takuya; Tanabe, Noriko; Ebana, Kaworu; Yano, Masahiro; Izawa, Takeshi

2015-01-01

The origin and spread of novel agronomic traits during crop domestication are complex events in plant evolution. Wild rice (Oryza rufipogon) has red grains due to the accumulation of proanthocyanidins, whereas most cultivated rice (Oryza sativa) varieties have white grains induced by a defective allele in the Rc basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) gene. Although the events surrounding the origin and spread of black rice traits remain unknown, varieties with black grains due to anthocyanin accumulation are distributed in various locations throughout Asia. Here, we show that the black grain trait originated from ectopic expression of the Kala4 bHLH gene due to rearrangement in the promoter region. Both the Rc and Kala4 genes activate upstream flavonol biosynthesis genes, such as chalcone synthase and dihydroflavonol-4-reductase, and downstream genes, such as leucoanthocyanidin reductase and leucoanthocyanidin dioxygenase, to produce the respective specific pigments. Genome analysis of 21 black rice varieties as well as red- and white-grained landraces demonstrated that black rice arose in tropical japonica and its subsequent spread to the indica subspecies can be attributed to the causal alleles of Kala4. The relatively small size of genomic fragments of tropical japonica origin in some indica varieties indicates that refined introgression must have occurred by natural crossbreeding in the course of evolution of the black trait in rice. PMID:26362607

The Birth of a Black Rice Gene and Its Local Spread by Introgression.

PubMed

Oikawa, Tetsuo; Maeda, Hiroaki; Oguchi, Taichi; Yamaguchi, Takuya; Tanabe, Noriko; Ebana, Kaworu; Yano, Masahiro; Ebitani, Takeshi; Izawa, Takeshi

2015-09-01

The origin and spread of novel agronomic traits during crop domestication are complex events in plant evolution. Wild rice (Oryza rufipogon) has red grains due to the accumulation of proanthocyanidins, whereas most cultivated rice (Oryza sativa) varieties have white grains induced by a defective allele in the Rc basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) gene. Although the events surrounding the origin and spread of black rice traits remain unknown, varieties with black grains due to anthocyanin accumulation are distributed in various locations throughout Asia. Here, we show that the black grain trait originated from ectopic expression of the Kala4 bHLH gene due to rearrangement in the promoter region. Both the Rc and Kala4 genes activate upstream flavonol biosynthesis genes, such as chalcone synthase and dihydroflavonol-4-reductase, and downstream genes, such as leucoanthocyanidin reductase and leucoanthocyanidin dioxygenase, to produce the respective specific pigments. Genome analysis of 21 black rice varieties as well as red- and white-grained landraces demonstrated that black rice arose in tropical japonica and its subsequent spread to the indica subspecies can be attributed to the causal alleles of Kala4. The relatively small size of genomic fragments of tropical japonica origin in some indica varieties indicates that refined introgression must have occurred by natural crossbreeding in the course of evolution of the black trait in rice. © 2015 American Society of Plant Biologists. All rights reserved.

Capabilities and the Definition of Health: Comments on Venkatapuram.

PubMed

Richardson, Henry S

2016-01-01

Sridhar Venkatapuram's Health Justice argues that health is a 'metacapability' - specifically, as the metacapability of having the ten 'central human capabilities' described by Martha Nussbaum. This cannot be right, as it provides no basis for distinguishing health from education, riches, or love. An amendment correcting this problem is suggested, namely that health is the involuntary, bodily aspect of the metacapability for the central capabilities. This amendment is defended against the objection that it fails to capture some important aspects of mental health. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

BROMODICHLOROMETHANE INHIBITS HUMAN PLACENTAL TROPHOBLAST DIFFERENTIATION

EPA Science Inventory

BROMODICHLOROMETHANE INHIBITS HUMAN PLACENTAL
TROPHOBLAST DIFFERENTIATION
Jiangang Chen, Twanda L. Thirkill, Peter N. Lohstroh, Susan R. Bielmeier, Michael
G. Narotsky, Deborah S. Best, Randy A. Harrison, Kala Natarajan, Rex A. Pegram,
Bill L. Lasley, and Gordon C. Do...

EFFECT OF BROMODICHLOROMETHANE ON CHORIONIC GONADOTROPHIN SECRETION BY HUMAN PLACENTAL TROPHOBLAST CULTURES

EPA Science Inventory

EFFECT OF BROMODICHLOROMETHANE ON CHORIONIC GONADOTROPHIN SECRETION BY HUMAN PLACENTAL TROPHOBLAST CULTURES

Jiangang Chen1, Gordon C. Douglas1?,Twanda L. Thirkill1?, Peter N. Lohstroh1, Susan R. Bielmeier2, Michael G. Narotsky3, Deborah S. Best3, Randy A. Harrison3, Kala ...

EFFECT OF BROMODICHLOROMETHANE ON HUMAN TROPHOBLAST CHORIONIC GONADOTROPHIN SECRETION

EPA Science Inventory

Effect of Bromodichloromethane on Human Trophoblast Chorionic Gonadotrophin Secretion

Jiangang Chen1, Twanda L. Thirkill1, Peter N. Lohstroh1, Susan R. Bielmeier2, Michael G. Narotsky3, Deborah S. Best3, Randy A. Harrison3, Kala Natarajan1, Rex A. Pegram3, Gordon C. Dougla...

Register of new fruit and nut cultivars list 49

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Ariana (Soft-seeded VIR-2). Tart-sweet, soft seeded red medium to large pomegranate. Origin: Open pollinated seedling number 31 by A.D. Strebkova. Selected in Turkmenistan by N.I. Zaktreger, O.F. Mizgireva, and A.D. Strebkova, VIR Kara-Kala Experimental Station. Introduced from the Turkmenistan Expe...

Antisocial Behavior and Affiliation With Deviant Peers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Toro, Paul A.; Urberg, Kathryn A.; Heinze, Hillary J.

2004-01-01

We examined the associations among gender, antisocial behavior, and peer-group affiliation in a high-risk sample of 401 homeless and matched housed adolescents (139 boys and 262 girls). The Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children (Version 2.3, 1991; Costello, Edelbrock, Kalas, Kessler, & Klaric, 1982) yielded 2 measures of adolescent antisocial…

Capabilities and Incapabilities of the Capabilities Approach to Health Justice.

PubMed

Selgelid, Michael J

2016-01-01

This first part of this article critiques Sridhar Venkatapuram's conception of health as a capability. It argues that Venkatapuram relies on the problematic concept of dignity, implies that those who are unhealthy lack lives worthy of dignity (which seems politically incorrect), sets a low bar for health, appeals to metaphysically problematic thresholds, fails to draw clear connections between appealed-to capabilities and health, and downplays the importance/relevance of health functioning. It concludes by questioning whether justice entitlements should pertain to the capability for health versus health achievements, challenging Venkatapuram's claims about the strength of health entitlements, and demonstrating that the capabilities approach is unnecessary to address social determinants of health. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Using Neural Networks to Explore Air Traffic Controller Workload

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Martin, Lynne; Kozon, Thomas; Verma, Savita; Lozito, Sandra C.

2006-01-01

When a new system, concept, or tool is proposed in the aviation domain, one concern is the impact that this will have on operator workload. As an experience, workload is difficult to measure in a way that will allow comparison of proposed systems with those already in existence. Chatterji and Sridhar (2001) suggested a method by which airspace parameters can be translated into workload ratings, using a neural network. This approach was employed, and modified to accept input from a non-real time airspace simulation model. The following sections describe the preparations and testing work that will enable comparison of a future airspace concept with a current day baseline in terms of workload levels.

Hormonal disturbances in visceral leishmaniasis (kala-azar).

PubMed

Verde, Frederico Araujo Lima; Verde, Francisco Agenor Araujo Lima; Neto, Augusto Saboia; Almeida, Paulo César; Verde, Emir Mendonça Lima

2011-05-01

This study presents a cross-sectional analysis of the hormonal alterations of patients with visceral leishmaniasis. The diagnosis was established by the bone marrow aspiration and polymerase chain reaction test. Primary adrenal insufficiency was observed in 45.8% of patients; low aldosterone/renin plasma ratio in 69.4%; low daily urinary aldosterone excretion in 61.1%; and low transtubular potassium gradient in 68.0%. All patients had normal plasma antidiuretic hormone (ADH) concentrations, hyponatremia, and high urinary osmolality. Plasma parathyroid hormone was low in 63%; hypomagnesemia was present in 46.4%, and increased Mg(++)(EF) in 100%. Primary thyroid insufficiency was observed in 24.6%, and secondary thyroid insufficiency in 14.1%. Normal follicle-stimulating hormone plasma levels were present in 81.4%; high luteinizing hormone and low testosterone plasma levels in 58.2% of men. There are evidences of hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis abnormalities, inappropriate aldosterone and ADH secretions, and presence of hypoparathyroidism, magnesium depletion, thyroid and testicular insufficiencies.

A serological study of Leishmania infantum in dogs of Khorasan Razavi province, Iran.

PubMed

Sabzevari, S; Razmi, G R; Naghibi, A; Khoshnegah, J

2013-10-01

Leishmania infantum is the principal agent of visceral leishmaniosis (kala-azar) in all areas of Iran. The disease is endemic in Fars, Ardabil, East Azerbaijan and Bushehr provinces while it is sporadic in other parts of the country. Dog as a member of canidae family is the main animal reservoir host of kala-azar. The present study was carried out to determine the sero-prevalence of canine leishmaniosis in Mashhad, the capital city of Khorasan Razavi Province, in the north east of Iran. Two-hundred and nine dogs in two different classes including stray and sheepdogs were selected for this cross-sectional study. The blood samples were collected and tested by indirect immunofluorescent antibody test for detection of anti-Leishmania infantum antibodies. The results showed that 16/209 (7.6 %) of blood samples were positive. The sero-prevalence rates in stray and sheepdogs were 11/94 (11.7 %) and 5/115 (4.3 %), respectively (p < 0.05). Based on the results obtained, it is concluded that visceral leishmaniosis is distributed among dogs of this area, also sero-prevalence of canine leishmaniosis in stray dogs higher than sheepdogs.

Inaccuracy of Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay Using Soluble and Recombinant Antigens to Detect Asymptomatic Infection by Leishmania infantum

PubMed Central

Moreno, Elizabeth Castro; Gonçalves, Andréa Vieira; Chaves, Anderson Vieira; Melo, Maria Norma; Lambertucci, José Roberto; Andrade, Antero Silva Ribeiro; Negrão-Corrêa, Deborah; Antunes, Carlos Mauricio de Figueiredo; Carneiro, Mariângela

2009-01-01

Background One of the most important drawbacks in visceral leishmaniasis (VL) population studies is the difficulty of diagnosing asymptomatic carriers. The aim of this study, conducted in an urban area in the Southeast of Brazil, was to evaluate the performance of serology to identify asymptomatic VL infection in participants selected from a cohort with a two-year follow-up period. Methodology Blood samples were collected in 2001 from 136 cohort participants (97 positive and 39 negatives, PCR/hybridization carried out in 1999). They were clinically evaluated and none had progressed to disease from their asymptomatic state. As controls, blood samples from 22 control individuals and 8 patients with kala-azar were collected. Two molecular biology techniques (reference tests) were performed: PCR with Leishmania-generic primer followed by hybridization using L. infantum probe, and PCR with specific primer to L. donovani complex. Plasma samples were tested by ELISA using three different antigens: L. infantum and L. amazonensis crude antigens, and rK39 recombinant protein. Accuracy of the serological tests was evaluated using sensitivity, specificity, likelihood ratio and ROC curve. Findings The presence of Leishmania was confirmed, by molecular techniques, in all kala-azar patients and in 117 (86%) of the 136 cohort participants. Kala-azar patients showed high reactivity in ELISAs, whereas asymptomatic individuals presented low reactivity against the antigens tested. When compared to molecular techniques, the L. amazonensis and L. infantum antigens showed higher sensitivity (49.6% and 41.0%, respectively) than rK39 (26.5%); however, the specificity of rK39 was higher (73.7%) than L. amazonensis (52.6%) and L. infantum antigens (36.8%). Moreover, there was low agreement among the different antigens used (kappa<0.10). Conclusions Serological tests were inaccurate for diagnosing asymptomatic infections compared to molecular methods; this could lead to misclassification bias

Visceral Leishmaniasis: Advancements in Vaccine Development via Classical and Molecular Approaches

PubMed Central

Joshi, Sumit; Rawat, Keerti; Yadav, Narendra Kumar; Kumar, Vikash; Siddiqi, Mohammad Imran; Dube, Anuradha

2014-01-01

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) or kala-azar, a vector-borne protozoan disease, shows endemicity in larger areas of the tropical, subtropical and the Mediterranean countries. WHO report suggested that an annual incidence of VL is nearly 200,000 to 400,000 cases, resulting in 20,000 to 30,000 deaths per year. Treatment with available anti-leishmanial drugs are not cost effective, with varied efficacies and higher relapse rate, which poses a major challenge to current kala-azar control program in Indian subcontinent. Therefore, a vaccine against VL is imperative and knowing the fact that recovered individuals developed lifelong immunity against re-infection, it is feasible. Vaccine development program, though time taking, has recently gained momentum with the emergence of omic era, i.e., from genomics to immunomics. Classical as well as molecular methodologies have been overtaken with alternative strategies wherein proteomics based knowledge combined with computational techniques (immunoinformatics) speed up the identification and detailed characterization of new antigens for potential vaccine candidates. This may eventually help in the designing of polyvalent synthetic and recombinant chimeric vaccines as an effective intervention measures to control the disease in endemic areas. This review focuses on such newer approaches being utilized for vaccine development against VL. PMID:25202307

Turbulent Heating and Fluctuation Characteristics in Alfvenic Turbulence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dorland, William

2005-10-01

Alfve'n waves are ubiquitous in natural and laboratory plasmas. In this talk, the main focus is on astrophysical plasmas that are turbulent, magnetized, hot and diffuse. The dynamically important characteristics of these plasmas are often well- described by magnetohydrodynamics [see e.g., Ref. 1]. However, much of what we actually observe is critically affected by how much of the turbulent energy is absorbed by (highly radiative) electrons [2], the amplitude of density fluctuations [3], and the spectral indices of turbulent, Alfve'nic cascades. These questions each have essentially kinetic aspects. In this talk, we present detailed simulations and analyses of of the cascade of shear Alfve'n waves, to and through scales comparable to the ion Larmor radius in the direction perpendicular to the magnetic field. We demonstrate analytically and numerically that the nonlinear gyrokinetic equations, originally developed for fusion applications, are perfectly suited to these astrophysical problems. We present extensive linear and nonlinear gyrokinetic simulation results from the GS2 code. We demonstrate accurate resolution of the damping of kinetic Alfve'n waves in plasmas with beta small, large and comparable to unity, for a wide range of electron-to-ion temperature ratios, in linear and nonlinear contexts. We have used the GS2 code to calculate the turbulent energy absorption, density fluctuation characteristics, and spectral indices for plasmas with parameters taken from hot accretion flows and from the interstellar plasma. These results will be compared with theoretical predictions [2] and to observations. Co-authors: S. C. Cowley (UCLA), G. W. Hammett (PPPL), E. Quataert and G. Howes (UC-Berkeley), and A. Scheckochihin (Cambridge) 1. S. Balbus and J. Hawley, Rev Mod Phys, Vol. 70, p. 1. 2. E. Quataert and A. Gruzinov, Ap J, Vol. 520, p. 248; E. Quataert, Ap J, Vol. 500, p. 978.3. Y. Lithwick and P. Goldreich, Ap J, Vol. 562, p. 279.4. P. Goldreich and Sridhar, Ap J

Leukodepletion Filters for Prevention of Transfusion Transmission Of Leishmania

DTIC Science & Technology

2006-11-01

living in an area of endemicity in southern France. J Clin Microbiol 1999; 37(6):1953-1957 18 Hillyer CD, Emmens RK, Zago -Novaretti M , Berkman EM...Kostmann R, Barr M , Bengtsson E, Garnham PCC, Hult G: Kala-azar transferred by exchange blood transfusions in two Swedish infants. Proceedings of the...Dabadie A, Guiguen C, Roussey M : Visceral leishmaniasis in an infant in Brittany: Discussion on the modes of transmission outside of the endemic

Bibliography of Leishmania and Leishmanial Diseases. Volume 1

DTIC Science & Technology

1980-06-01

Sea 7 Rev. Med.- Yucatan Paulo, REVISTA MEDICA DE YUCATAN . Merida. Rev, Paliclin, Caracas Rev. Menn. Med. , Brazil REVISTA DE LA POLICLINICA, CARACAc...Parasit., 41(2):126-136. 799 pp. CHAKG, P. Y.; TENG, L. T.; SUNG, Y. (1957A) Interactions T. & LIU, Y. C. (1958A) Kala-azar between nutrition and...of nutrition in experimental Infectivan. Bact. Rev. , 13:99-134. CLINTON, B. A.; STAUBER, L. A.& CLRT .(1959A) Comparative PALCZUK, N. C. (1969A

Further characterization of Chinese Leishmania isolates by isoenzyme electrophoresis.

PubMed

Xu, Z B; Liu, Z T; Long, J Y; Chai, J J; Chen, W K

1989-09-01

Ten Chinese Leishmania isolates from different endemic areas and hosts are characterized by isoenzyme electrophoresis for 9 enzymes. Seven were isolated from visceral leishmaniasis patients, one from an infected dog, one from a sandfly and one from a naturally infected racoon dog. Eight of the 10 isolates were indistinguishable in isoenzyme profile from the L infantum reference strain. The isoenzyme profiles of the remaining two isolates (from kala azar patients in Xinjiang) could not be characterized in this study and need further research.

Cedrus deodara: In vitro antileishmanial efficacy & immumomodulatory activity

PubMed Central

Narayan, Shyam; Thakur, Chandreshwar Prasad; Bahadur, Shiv; Thakur, Meenakshi; Pandey, Shashi Nath; Thakur, Ajit Kumar; Mitra, Dipendra K.; Mukherjee, Pulok K.

2017-01-01

Background & objectives: The existing antileishmanial drugs for complete cure of visceral leishmaniasis (kala-azar) are limited. The available drugs are either toxic or less effective leading to disease relapse or conversion to post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis. Several herbal extracts have been shown to have antileishmanial activity, but a herbal drug may not always be safe. In the present study, the extract of Cedrus deodara leaves has been standardized and tested for immunomodulatory antileishmanial activities. Methods: The extracts of C. deodara leaves with different solvents such as benzene, chloroform, ethyl acetate and methanol were made by soxhlation process. Solvents were removed under reduced pressure and temperature using rotary evaporator. The antileishmanial bioassay test was performed with in vitro maintained parasites. Immunomodulatory activity of different extracts was tested by flow cytometry. Standardization of the effective fraction was performed with Linalool as a marker compound through reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Results: The extract with the use of benzene solvent showed strong antileishmanial activities within a dose 25-200 μg/ml culture with non-significant haemolytic activities and significant immunomodulant activities against the host cells. Linalool was found to be 1.29 per cent in the effective extract of C. deodara. Interpretation & conclusions: The antileishmanial activity of C. deodara, as assessed by bioassay testing on Leishmania donovani parasites and immunomodulatory effect of benzene extract of leaves on host cells indicated that it might be a potential new safe therapeutic target to cure the visceral leishmaniasis. PMID:29664038

Cedrus deodara: In vitro antileishmanial efficacy & immumomodulatory activity.

PubMed

Narayan, Shyam; Thakur, Chandreshwar Prasad; Bahadur, Shiv; Thakur, Meenakshi; Pandey, Shashi Nath; Thakur, Ajit Kumar; Mitra, Dipendra K; Mukherjee, Pulok K

2017-12-01

The existing antileishmanial drugs for complete cure of visceral leishmaniasis (kala-azar) are limited. The available drugs are either toxic or less effective leading to disease relapse or conversion to post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis. Several herbal extracts have been shown to have antileishmanial activity, but a herbal drug may not always be safe. In the present study, the extract of Cedrus deodara leaves has been standardized and tested for immunomodulatory antileishmanial activities. The extracts of C. deodara leaves with different solvents such as benzene, chloroform, ethyl acetate and methanol were made by soxhlation process. Solvents were removed under reduced pressure and temperature using rotary evaporator. The antileishmanial bioassay test was performed with in vitro maintained parasites. Immunomodulatory activity of different extracts was tested by flow cytometry. Standardization of the effective fraction was performed with Linalool as a marker compound through reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. The extract with the use of benzene solvent showed strong antileishmanial activities within a dose 25-200 μg/ml culture with non-significant haemolytic activities and significant immunomodulant activities against the host cells. Linalool was found to be 1.29 per cent in the effective extract of C. deodara. The antileishmanial activity of C. deodara, as assessed by bioassay testing on. parasites and immunomodulatory effect of benzene extract of leaves on host cells indicated that it might be a potential new safe therapeutic target to cure the visceral leishmaniasis.

The Metric and the Threshold Problem for Theories of Health Justice: A Comment on Venkatapuram.

PubMed

Schramme, Thomas

2016-01-01

Any theory of health justice requires an account of what areas of social life are important enough to be of public concern. What are the goods that ought to be provided as a matter of justice? This is what I will call the metric problem. The capabilities approach puts forward a particular solution to this problem. In this article I will discuss some issues of such an approach in relation to Sridhar Venkatapuram's well-known theory. Another problem I examine is how to determine a threshold of provision within a theory of justice. What is enough in terms of health justice? I argue that we need such a threshold to avoid healthism, the expansion of the pursuit of health over and above the treatment and prevention of disease. This is an especially pertinent problem in public health, which is also the context of Venkatapuram's theory. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Giacinti, Gwenael; Kirk, John G.

We calculate the large-scale cosmic-ray (CR) anisotropies predicted for a range of Goldreich–Sridhar (GS) and isotropic models of interstellar turbulence, and compare them with IceTop data. In general, the predicted CR anisotropy is not a pure dipole; the cold spots reported at 400 TeV and 2 PeV are consistent with a GS model that contains a smooth deficit of parallel-propagating waves and a broad resonance function, though some other possibilities cannot, as yet, be ruled out. In particular, isotropic fast magnetosonic wave turbulence can match the observations at high energy, but cannot accommodate an energy dependence in the shape ofmore » the CR anisotropy. Our findings suggest that improved data on the large-scale CR anisotropy could provide a valuable probe of the properties—notably the power-spectrum—of the interstellar turbulence within a few tens of parsecs from Earth.« less

The kangaroo cation-independent mannose 6-phosphate receptor binds insulin-like growth factor II with low affinity.

PubMed

Yandell, C A; Dunbar, A J; Wheldrake, J F; Upton, Z

1999-09-17

The mammalian cation-independent mannose 6-phosphate receptor (CI-MPR) binds mannose 6-phosphate-bearing glycoproteins and insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-II. However, the CI-MPR from the opossum has been reported to bind bovine IGF-II with low affinity (Dahms, N. M., Brzycki-Wessell, M. A., Ramanujam, K. S., and Seetharam, B. (1993) Endocrinology 133, 440-446). This may reflect the use of a heterologous ligand, or it may represent the intrinsic binding affinity of this receptor. To examine the binding of IGF-II to a marsupial CI-MPR in a homologous system, we have previously purified kangaroo IGF-II (Yandell, C. A., Francis, G. L., Wheldrake, J. F., and Upton, Z. (1998) J. Endocrinol. 156, 195-204), and we now report the purification and characterization of the CI-MPR from kangaroo liver. The interaction of the kangaroo CI-MPR with IGF-II has been examined by ligand blotting, radioreceptor assay, and real-time biomolecular interaction analysis. Using both a heterologous and homologous approach, we have demonstrated that the kangaroo CI-MPR has a lower binding affinity for IGF-II than its eutherian (placental mammal) counterparts. Furthermore, real-time biomolecular interaction analysis revealed that the kangaroo CI-MPR has a higher affinity for kangaroo IGF-II than for human IGF-II. The cDNA sequence of the kangaroo CI-MPR indicates that there is considerable divergence in the area corresponding to the IGF-II binding site of the eutherian receptor. Thus, the acquisition of a high-affinity binding site for regulating IGF-II appears to be a recent event specific to the eutherian lineage.

Possibilities and challenges for developing a successful vaccine for leishmaniasis.

PubMed

Srivastava, Saumya; Shankar, Prem; Mishra, Jyotsna; Singh, Sarman

2016-05-12

Leishmaniasis is a vector-borne disease caused by different species of protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania. It is a major health problem yet neglected tropical diseases, with approximately 350 million people worldwide at risk and more than 1.5 million infections occurring each year. Leishmaniasis has different clinical manifestations, including visceral (VL or kala-azar), cutaneous (CL), mucocutaneous (MCL), diffuse cutaneous (DCL) and post kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL). Currently, the only mean to treat and control leishmaniasis is by rational medications and vector control. However, the number of available drugs is limited and even these are either exorbitantly priced, have toxic side effects or prove ineffective due to the emergence of resistant strains. On the other hand, the vector control methods are not so efficient. Therefore, there is an urgent need for developing a safe, effective, and affordable vaccine for the prevention of leishmaniasis. Although in recent years a large body of researchers has concentrated their efforts on this issue, yet only three vaccine candidates have gone for clinical trial, until date. These are: (i) killed vaccine in Brazil for human immunotherapy; (ii) live attenuated vaccine for humans in Uzbekistan; and (iii) second-generation vaccine for dog prophylaxis in Brazil. Nevertheless, there are at least half a dozen vaccine candidates in the pipeline. One can expect that, in the near future, the understanding of the whole genome of Leishmania spp. will expand the vaccine discovery and strategies that may provide novel vaccines. The present review focuses on the development and the status of various vaccines and potential vaccine candidates against leishmaniasis.

Music Signal Processing Using Vector Product Neural Networks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fan, Z. C.; Chan, T. S.; Yang, Y. H.; Jang, J. S. R.

2017-05-01

We propose a novel neural network model for music signal processing using vector product neurons and dimensionality transformations. Here, the inputs are first mapped from real values into three-dimensional vectors then fed into a three-dimensional vector product neural network where the inputs, outputs, and weights are all three-dimensional values. Next, the final outputs are mapped back to the reals. Two methods for dimensionality transformation are proposed, one via context windows and the other via spectral coloring. Experimental results on the iKala dataset for blind singing voice separation confirm the efficacy of our model.

Hinds Community College MSEIP program

NASA Image and Video Library

2005-06-24

Student Assistant Antoinette Davis (left) of Utica; Carmella Forsythe, 13, of Clinton; Terri Henderson, 14, of Clinton; Tyra Greer, 12, of Port Gibson; and Kala Battle, 14, of Edwards, answer curriculum questions about NASA's Return to Flight mission exhibit at StenniSphere, the visitor center at NASA's Stennis Space Center (SSC) near Bay St. Louis, Miss. The girls were on a field trip to StenniSphere with fellow participants in Hinds Community College's MSEIP (Minority Science Engineering Improvement Program) summer program. MSEIP encourages students to pursue and prepare for careers in science, technology, engineering and math.

Hinds Community College MSEIP program

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2005-01-01

Student Assistant Antoinette Davis (left) of Utica; Carmella Forsythe, 13, of Clinton; Terri Henderson, 14, of Clinton; Tyra Greer, 12, of Port Gibson; and Kala Battle, 14, of Edwards, answer curriculum questions about NASA's Return to Flight mission exhibit at StenniSphere, the visitor center at NASA's Stennis Space Center (SSC) near Bay St. Louis, Miss. The girls were on a field trip to StenniSphere with fellow participants in Hinds Community College's MSEIP (Minority Science Engineering Improvement Program) summer program. MSEIP encourages students to pursue and prepare for careers in science, technology, engineering and math.

Industry Update: the latest developments in therapeutic delivery.

PubMed

Steinbach, Oliver C

2013-05-01

The present industry update covers the period 2-28 February 2013, with information sourced from company press releases, regulatory and patent agencies, as well as from scientific literature. With the US presidential inauguration in January, the inevitable 'fiscal cliff' and with the healthcare reform taking shape, there are many challenges ahead for the world's largest healthcare market. Healthcare providers are preparing for the 'accountable care organizations' paradigm shift and it has been reported that the pharmaceutical industry is low in public perception; only 'for-profit' health insurers rank lower according to a survey recently published. Although in 2012 one could still observe a decline in the overall number of drug delivery partnering deals announced, there has been a slight recovery, thus, meaning a repeat of the lows of 2011 have not been witnessed. The experts expect a reversed trend in 2013 as larger companies seek to refill pipelines with new candidates and drug-delivery solutions. There is a lot of emphasis on altered oral delivery profiles to provide patient compliance. This is indicated by the recent licensing deals, such as that between Radius Health Inc. and 3M, TissueGen and Biomedical Structures, and new financing rounds of companies, such as SKL, Catalent and BioActiva. Injectable technology, including needle-free delivery, continues to be prevalent in deals, such as those between Clearside and Kala until compelling alternatives to the delivery of biologicals are available. Alternative routes of administration, such as nasal, buccal (Kala), sublingual (Stallergenes) see growing interest; however, bioavailability and reproducible dosing will continue to be a challenge in the foreseeable future.

Insecticidal effect of plant extracts on Phlebotomus argentipes (Diptera: Psychodidae) in Bihar, India.

PubMed

Dinesh, Diwakar Singh; Kumari, Seema; Pandit, Vibhishan; Kumar, Jainendra; Kumari, Nisha; Kumar, Prahlad; Hassan, Faizan; Kumar, Vijay; Das, Pradeep

2015-12-01

Phlebotomus argentipes (Diptera: Psychodidae), the established vector for kala-azar is presently being controlled by indoor residual spray of DDT in kala-azar endemic areas in India. Search for non-hazardous and non-toxic biodegradable active molecules from botanicals may provide cost-effective and eco-friendly alternatives to synthetic insecticides. The present study was aimed at evaluating various plant extracts from endemic and non-endemic areas of Bihar for their insecticidal activity against sandfly to identify the most effective plant extract. Bio-assay test was conducted with larvae and adult of P. argentipes with different plant extracts collected in distilled water, hexane, ethyl acetate, acetone and methanol. Thin layer chromatography (TLC), column chromatography and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) were conducted for detection of active molecules. Adults and larvae of sandflies exposed to the aqueous extract of Nicotiana tabacum resulted in 100 per cent mortality. The hexane extract of Clerodendrum infortunatum was found to kill 77 per cent adults but was ineffective against larvae. Bio-assay test of the ninth fraction (hexane extract-methanol phase) separated by column chromatography was found to be 63 per cent effective. The purple spot on the TLC of this fraction indicated the presence of a diterpenoid. HPLC of this fraction detected nine compounds with two peaks covering 20.44 and 56.52 per cent areas with retention time of 2.439 and 5.182 min, respectively supporting the TLC results. The column separated 9 [th] fraction of C. infortunatum extract was found to be effective in killing 63 per cent of adult P. argentipes. Compounds of this fraction need to be evaluated further for identification and characterization of the active molecule by conducting individual bio-assay tests followed by further fractionation and HPLC. Once the structure of the active molecule is identified and validated, it may be synthesized and formulated as a product.

The Potential Use of Forensic DNA Methods Applied to Sand Fly Blood Meal Analysis to Identify the Infection Reservoirs of Anthroponotic Visceral Leishmaniasis.

PubMed

Inbar, Ehud; Lawyer, Philip; Sacks, David; Podini, Daniele

2016-05-01

In the Indian sub-continent, visceral leishmaniasis (VL), also known as kala azar, is a fatal form of leishmaniasis caused by the kinetoplastid parasite Leishmania donovani and transmitted by the sand fly Phlebotomus argentipes. VL is prevalent in northeast India where it is believed to have an exclusive anthroponotic transmission cycle. There are four distinct cohorts of L. donovani exposed individuals who can potentially serve as infection reservoirs: patients with active disease, cured VL cases, patients with post kala azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL), and asymptomatic individuals. The relative contribution of each group to sustaining the transmission cycle of VL is not known. To answer this critical epidemiological question, we have addressed the feasibility of an approach that would use forensic DNA methods to recover human DNA profiles from the blood meals of infected sand flies that would then be matched to reference DNA sampled from individuals living or working in the vicinity of the sand fly collections. We found that the ability to obtain readable human DNA fingerprints from sand flies depended entirely on the size of the blood meal and the kinetics of its digestion. Useable profiles were obtained from most flies within the first 24 hours post blood meal (PBM), with a sharp decline at 48 hours and no readable profiles at 72 hours. This early time frame necessitated development of a sensitive, nested-PCR method compatible with detecting L. donovani within a fresh, 24 hours blood meal in flies fed on infected hamsters. Our findings establish the feasibility of the forensic DNA method to directly trace the human source of an infected blood meal, with constraints imposed by the requirement that the flies be recovered for analysis within 24 hours of their infective feed.

3D Anisotropy of Solar Wind Turbulence, Tubes, or Ribbons?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Verdini, Andrea; Grappin, Roland; Alexandrova, Olga; Lion, Sonny

2018-01-01

We study the anisotropy with respect to the local magnetic field of turbulent magnetic fluctuations at magnetofluid scales in the solar wind. Previous measurements in the fast solar wind obtained axisymmetric anisotropy, despite that the analysis method allows nonaxisymmetric structures. These results are probably contaminated by the wind expansion that introduces another symmetry axis, namely, the radial direction, as indicated by recent numerical simulations. These simulations also show that while the expansion is strong, the principal fluctuations are in the plane perpendicular to the radial direction. Using this property, we separate 11 yr of Wind spacecraft data into two subsets characterized by strong and weak expansion and determine the corresponding turbulence anisotropy. Under strong expansion, the small-scale anisotropy is consistent with the Goldreich & Sridhar critical balance. As in previous works, when the radial symmetry axis is not eliminated, the turbulent structures are field-aligned tubes. Under weak expansion, we find 3D anisotropy predicted by the Boldyrev model, that is, turbulent structures are ribbons and not tubes. However, the very basis of the Boldyrev phenomenology, namely, a cross-helicity increasing at small scales, is not observed in the solar wind: the origin of the ribbon formation is unknown.

Humanity and Justice in Global Health: Problems with Venkatapuram's Justification of the Global Health Duty.

PubMed

Kollar, Eszter; Laukötter, Sebastian; Buyx, Alena

2016-01-01

One of the most ambitious and sophisticated recent approaches to provide a theory of global health justice is Sridhar Venkatapuram's recent work. In this commentary, we first outline the core idea of Venkatapuram's approach to global health justice. We then argue that one of the most important elements of the account, Venkatapuram's basis of global health duties, is either too weak or assumed implicitly without a robust justification. The more explicit grounding of the duty to protect and promote health capabilities is based on Martha Nussbaum's version of the capability approach. We argue that this foundation gives rise to humanitarian duties rather than duties of justice proper. Venkatapuram's second argument from the social determinants of health thesis is instead a stronger candidate for grounding duties of justice. However, as a justificatory argument, it is only alluded to and has not yet been spelled out sufficiently. We offer plausible justificatory steps to fill this gap and draw some implications for global health action. We believe this both strengthens Venkatapuram's approach and serves to broaden the basis for future action in the area of global health. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Leishmania donovani pteridine reductase 1: comparative protein modeling and protein-ligand interaction studies of the leishmanicidal constituents isolated from the fruits of Piper longum.

PubMed

Sahi, Shakti; Tewatia, Parul; Ghosal, Sabari

2012-12-01

Visceral leishmaniasis or kala-azar is caused by the dimorphic parasite Leishmania donovani in the Indian subcontinent. Treatment options for kala-azar are currently inadequate due to various limitations. Currently, drug discovery for leishmaniases is oriented towards rational drug design; the aim is to identify specific inhibitors that target particular metabolic activities as a possible means of controlling the parasites without affecting the host. Leishmania salvages pteridin from its host and reduces it using pteridine reductase 1 (PTR1, EC 1.5.1.33), which makes this reductase an excellent drug target. Recently, we identified six alkamides and one benzenoid compound from the n-hexane fraction of the fruit of Piper longum that possess potent leishmanicidal activity against promastigotes as well as axenic amastigotes. Based on a homology model derived for recombinant pteridine reductase isolated from a clinical isolate of L. donovani, we carried out molecular modeling and docking studies with these compounds to evaluate their binding affinity. A fairly good agreement between experimental data and the results of molecular modeling investigation of the bioactive and inactive compounds was observed. The amide group in the conjugated alkamides and the 3,4-methylenedioxystyrene moiety in the benzenoid compound acts as heads and the long aliphatic chain acts as a tail, thus playing important roles in the binding of the inhibitor to the appropriate position at the active site. The remarkably high activity of a component containing piperine and piperine isomers (3.36:1) as observed by our group prompted us to study the activities of all four isomers of piperine-piperine (2E,4E), isopiperine (2Z,4E), isochavicine (2E,4Z), and chavicine (2Z,4Z)-against LdPTR1. The maximum inhibitory effect was demonstrated by isochavicine. The identification of these predicted inhibitors of LdPTR1 allowed us to build up a stereoview of the structure of the binding site in relation to

Insecticidal effect of plant extracts on Phlebotomus argentipes (Diptera: Psychodidae) in Bihar, India

PubMed Central

Dinesh, Diwakar Singh; Kumari, Seema; Pandit, Vibhishan; Kumar, Jainendra; Kumari, Nisha; Kumar, Prahlad; Hassan, Faizan; Kumar, Vijay; Das, Pradeep

2015-01-01

Background & objectives: Phlebotomus argentipes (Diptera: Psychodidae), the established vector for kala-azar is presently being controlled by indoor residual spray of DDT in kala-azar endemic areas in India. Search for non-hazardous and non-toxic biodegradable active molecules from botanicals may provide cost-effective and eco-friendly alternatives to synthetic insecticides. The present study was aimed at evaluating various plant extracts from endemic and non-endemic areas of Bihar for their insecticidal activity against sandfly to identify the most effective plant extract. Methods: Bio-assay test was conducted with larvae and adult of P. argentipes with different plant extracts collected in distilled water, hexane, ethyl acetate, acetone and methanol. Thin layer chromatography (TLC), column chromatography and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) were conducted for detection of active molecules. Results: Adults and larvae of sandflies exposed to the aqueous extract of Nicotiana tabacum resulted in 100 per cent mortality. The hexane extract of Clerodendrum infortunatum was found to kill 77 per cent adults but was ineffective against larvae. Bio-assay test of the ninth fraction (hexane extract-methanol phase) separated by column chromatography was found to be 63 per cent effective. The purple spot on the TLC of this fraction indicated the presence of a diterpenoid. HPLC of this fraction detected nine compounds with two peaks covering 20.44 and 56.52 per cent areas with retention time of 2.439 and 5.182 min, respectively supporting the TLC results. Interpretation & conclusions: The column separated 9th fraction of C. infortunatum extract was found to be effective in killing 63 per cent of adult P. argentipes. Compounds of this fraction need to be evaluated further for identification and characterization of the active molecule by conducting individual bio-assay tests followed by further fractionation and HPLC. Once the structure of the active molecule is

How to Define the Mean Square Amplitude of Solar Wind Fluctuations With Respect to the Local Mean Magnetic Field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Podesta, John J.

2017-12-01

Over the last decade it has become popular to analyze turbulent solar wind fluctuations with respect to a coordinate system aligned with the local mean magnetic field. This useful analysis technique has provided new information and new insights about the nature of solar wind fluctuations and provided some support for phenomenological theories of MHD turbulence based on the ideas of Goldreich and Sridhar. At the same time it has drawn criticism suggesting that the use of a scale-dependent local mean field is somehow inconsistent or irreconcilable with traditional analysis techniques based on second-order structure functions and power spectra that, for stationary time series, are defined with respect to the constant (scale-independent) ensemble average magnetic field. Here it is shown that for fluctuations with power law spectra, such as those observed in solar wind turbulence, it is possible to define the local mean magnetic field in a special way such that the total mean square amplitude (trace amplitude) of turbulent fluctuations is approximately the same, scale by scale, as that obtained using traditional second-order structure functions or power spectra. This fact should dispel criticism concerning the physical validity or practical usefulness of the local mean magnetic field in these applications.

Pitch angle scattering in three-dimensional "critical balance" MHD turbulence.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Forman, Miriam; Oughton, Sean; Horbury, Tim

2004-11-01

We calculated the dependence of the quasi-linear particle pitch angle scattering coefficient in general 3-dimensional turbulence axi-symmetric about the mean magnetic field. We integrate over the power spectrum tensor of the turbulence in terms of the scalar functions E, F, C, and H of the wavevector k, as described by Oughton, et al. for incompressible MHD. The application to a "slab+ 2.5D" model is trivial, and reproduces Bieber, et al.'s extremely important previous result that the 2.5D part does not do any pitch-angle scattering. However, the "slab + 2D" is a highly idealized model. One wonders how its two parts are related to actual turbulence, as observed in space or in simulations, and to the calculation of the particle scattering. Here we update the "slab + 2D" model to a more realistic distribution in k-space, specifically a modification of the inertial-range "critical balance" form introduced by Goldreich and Sridhar, and developed further by Cho, Lazarian and Vishniac. We apply the 3D quasi-linear method to calculate D and the spatial diffusion coefficient parallel to the local mean magnetic field, in the "critical balance" anisotropic turbulence. We thank the International Space Science Institute (Bern, Switzerland) for support of this work.

Efficacy and evaluation of environmental management system to control sandfly vector of Kala-azar.

PubMed

Dinesh, D S; Kumari, S; Hassan, F; Kumar, V; Singh, V P; Das, P

2017-10-01

The established vector for visceral leishmaniasis, Phlebotomus argentipes (Diptera: Psychodidae) breeds inside the human dwellings and cattle shed under crevices at the base of the wall. P. argentipes was controlled by plastering the base of wall (9″height × 9″base). The study was conducted in two phases: (i) Screening of plastering materials (ii) validation of the most suitable material. During the first phase (2014); four intervention materials were evaluated in four different arms: (i) cement (ii) brick chimney fly ash (BCFA i.e. waste material from an oven for backing raw earthen brick in charcoal) mixed with lime (95:5) (iii) wire mesh (25 holes/cm 2 ) and (iv) glazed tiles. Ten houses were selected as test and same as control in four different villages for each arm having similar ecotype and similar density of sandflies. The pre and post intervention density of sandflies were evaluated. Significant reduction in sandfly density was found with cement (46.2%) and BCFA (29.6%) plastering (P < 0.05). In the second phase of the study (2015); the two most effective interventions were validated at village level with one control. A significant reduction in the density of P. argentipes was found with cement; 60.2% (Mean ± S.D. = 2.48 ± 2.78, 95% CI = 1.93-3.02) and BCFA; 48.2% (Mean ± S.D. = 1.98 ± 2.20, 95% CI = 1.55-2.41) (P < 0.05). BCFA was found easily accessible, acceptable and cost effective that can be used in any type of wall materials at own cost. This can be implemented as one of the integrated vector control approach in the programme. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

[Surrealism and madness].

PubMed

Flora, Κ

2017-01-01

This article attempts an approach of madness by surrealism, as reflected in the pathway of the surrealist movement. In the light of enlargement of the concept of mental illness and the experience of madness, an approach is being attempted regarding the early surrealist views as they precursory appear e.g. from the case of Hieronymus Bosch to the meeting of the dominant psychiatry and the surrealist movement in the 19th and 20th century. Then, the paper attempts to present the main positions of representatives of the movement, such as Breton, Dali and Kalas. These three surrealists were chosen among others, for this brief report, as the representatives of three remarkable moments in the surrealistic route. Breton introduces the element of fiction and hyper-reality while he questions the distinction between normal and abnormal element. Dali with his paranoid critical method reconciles actual representations with mythical and symbolic elements, breaking through the limits between objectivity and subjectivity. Kalas puts forward the social origin of insanity along with the fundamental surrealist notions of individual freedom and will. For a more complete understanding of this attempt, it was considered useful to include elements of the main views on madness from the standpoint of a critical approach in psychiatry and psychology. The surrealistic view seems to be close to this critical approach which is likely to have been affected by it on the level in which the movements and scientific fields meet and interact. The relationship between surrealism, the notion and expression of madness and the absurd seems to be inherent to the very development of the movement through its core and individual pursuits. In conclusion, the relationship between surrealism and the notion and expression of the madness and the absurd seems to be inherent to the very birth of the movement through its main positions and pursuits. The question of so-called reality, its overshoot and the vision of

An assessment of arthropod prey resources at Nakula Natural Area Reserve, a potential site of reintroduction for Kiwikiu (Pseudonestor xanthophrys) and Maui `Alauahio (Parareomyza montana).

USGS Publications Warehouse

Banko, Paul C.; Peck, Robert W.; Cappadonna, Justin; Steele, Claire; Leonard, David L.; Mounce, Hanna L.; Becker, Dusti; Swinnerton, Kirsty

2015-01-01

Hawaiian forest birds have declined dramatically since humans arrived in the archipelago. Birds from all foraging guilds have been affected but insectivorous species are currently at greatest risk of extinction. On the island of Maui, populations and ranges of the insectivorous kiwikiu (Maui parrotbill; Pseudonestor xanthophrys) and Maui ‘alauahio (Maui creeper; Paroreomyza montana) have declined significantly from historic levels primarily due to habitat loss, predation,disease, and food web disruption, leading to federal listings of endangered species and species of concern, respectively. Recovery plans for these birds include reestablishment of populations in parts of their former range. Nakula Natural Area Reserve on the leeward side of HaleakalāVolcano has been targeted for release of wild-caught or captive-bred individuals. The mesic, montane koa-‘ōhi‘a (Acacia koa-Metrosideros polymorpha) forest at Nakula has been heavily impacted through grazing by feral ungulates, but recent management actions to exclude these animals are promoting forest recovery. The objective of this study was to assess the arthropod prey base at Nakula in preparation for reintroductions of kiwikiu and Maui ‘alauahio. To accomplish that goal, we compared arthropod abundances at Nakula to those at Hanawi Natural Area Reserve and Waikamoi Preserve, areas where kiwikiu and Maui ‘alauahio are currently found. We also identified diets of kiwikiu and Maui ‘alauahio from fecal samples to better understand and evaluate the prey base at Nakula. Assessment methods included clipping branch tips to sample arthropods within the foliage of koa and ‘ōhi‘a, using traps to quantify arthropods on koa and ‘ōhi‘a bark surfaces, counting exit holes to quantify abundances of beetles (Coleoptera) within dead branches of koa, and measuring the density of arthropods within the stems of ‘ākala (Rubus hawaiiensis). The diet of kiwikiu was dominated by caterpillars (Lepidoptera larvae

Transport coefficients for the shear dynamo problem at small Reynolds numbers.

PubMed

Singh, Nishant K; Sridhar, S

2011-05-01

We build on the formulation developed in S. Sridhar and N. K. Singh [J. Fluid Mech. 664, 265 (2010)] and present a theory of the shear dynamo problem for small magnetic and fluid Reynolds numbers, but for arbitrary values of the shear parameter. Specializing to the case of a mean magnetic field that is slowly varying in time, explicit expressions for the transport coefficients α(il) and η(il) are derived. We prove that when the velocity field is nonhelical, the transport coefficient α(il) vanishes. We then consider forced, stochastic dynamics for the incompressible velocity field at low Reynolds number. An exact, explicit solution for the velocity field is derived, and the velocity spectrum tensor is calculated in terms of the Galilean-invariant forcing statistics. We consider forcing statistics that are nonhelical, isotropic, and delta correlated in time, and specialize to the case when the mean field is a function only of the spatial coordinate X(3) and time τ; this reduction is necessary for comparison with the numerical experiments of A. Brandenburg, K. H. Rädler, M. Rheinhardt, and P. J. Käpylä [Astrophys. J. 676, 740 (2008)]. Explicit expressions are derived for all four components of the magnetic diffusivity tensor η(il)(τ). These are used to prove that the shear-current effect cannot be responsible for dynamo action at small Re and Rm, but for all values of the shear parameter. © 2011 American Physical Society

Transport coefficients for the shear dynamo problem at small Reynolds numbers

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Singh, Nishant K.; Joint Astronomy Programme, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560 012; Sridhar, S.

2011-05-15

We build on the formulation developed in S. Sridhar and N. K. Singh [J. Fluid Mech. 664, 265 (2010)] and present a theory of the shear dynamo problem for small magnetic and fluid Reynolds numbers, but for arbitrary values of the shear parameter. Specializing to the case of a mean magnetic field that is slowly varying in time, explicit expressions for the transport coefficients {alpha}{sub il} and {eta}{sub iml} are derived. We prove that when the velocity field is nonhelical, the transport coefficient {alpha}{sub il} vanishes. We then consider forced, stochastic dynamics for the incompressible velocity field at low Reynoldsmore » number. An exact, explicit solution for the velocity field is derived, and the velocity spectrum tensor is calculated in terms of the Galilean-invariant forcing statistics. We consider forcing statistics that are nonhelical, isotropic, and delta correlated in time, and specialize to the case when the mean field is a function only of the spatial coordinate X{sub 3} and time {tau}; this reduction is necessary for comparison with the numerical experiments of A. Brandenburg, K. H. Raedler, M. Rheinhardt, and P. J. Kaepylae [Astrophys. J. 676, 740 (2008)]. Explicit expressions are derived for all four components of the magnetic diffusivity tensor {eta}{sub ij}({tau}). These are used to prove that the shear-current effect cannot be responsible for dynamo action at small Re and Rm, but for all values of the shear parameter.« less

Stellar dynamics around a massive black hole - II. Resonant relaxation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sridhar, S.; Touma, Jihad R.

2016-06-01

We present a first-principles theory of resonant relaxation (RR) of a low-mass stellar system orbiting a more massive black hole (MBH). We first extend the kinetic theory of Gilbert to include the Keplerian field of a black hole of mass M•. Specializing to a Keplerian stellar system of mass M ≪ M•, we use the orbit-averaging method of Sridhar & Touma to derive a kinetic equation for RR. This describes the collisional evolution of a system of N ≫ 1 Gaussian rings in a reduced 5-dim space, under the combined actions of self-gravity, 1 post-Newtonian (PN) and 1.5 PN relativistic effects of the MBH and an arbitrary external potential. In general geometries, RR is driven by both apsidal and nodal resonances, so the distinction between scalar RR and vector RR disappears. The system passes through a sequence of quasi-steady secular collisionless equilibria, driven by irreversible two-ring correlations that accrue through gravitational interactions, both direct and collective. This correlation function is related to a `wake function', which is the linear response of the system to the perturbation of a chosen ring. The wake function is easier to appreciate, and satisfies a simpler equation, than the correlation function. We discuss general implications for the interplay of secular dynamics and non-equilibrium statistical mechanics in the evolution of Keplerian stellar systems towards secular thermodynamic equilibria, and set the stage for applications to the RR of axisymmetric discs in Paper III.

PREVALENCE OF LYMPHATIC FILARIASIS, MALARIA AND SOIL TRANSMITTED HELMINTHIASIS IN A COMMUNITY OF BARDIYA DISTRICT, WESTERN NEPAL.

PubMed

Ranjitkar, Samir; Alifrangis, Michael; Adhikari, Madhav; Olsen, Annette; Simonsen, Paul E; Meyrowitsch, Dan Wolf

2014-11-01

Lymphatic filariasis (LF), malaria and soil transmitted helminthiasis (STH) cause major health problems in Nepal, but in spite of this very few stud- ies have been carried out on these parasitic infections in Nepal. A cross sectional survey of all three categories of parasitic infections was carried out in Deuda- kala Village of Bardiya District, western Nepal. A total of 510 individuals aged 5 years and above were examined from finger prick blood for circulating filarial antigen (CFA), malaria antigen using a rapid diagnostic test (RDT), and malaria DNA using a PCR-based assay. In addition, 317 individuals were examined for soil-transmitted helminth (STH) eggs by the Kato-Katz technique. Prevalence of LF, malaria (antigen) and STH infection was 25.1%, 0.6% and 18.3%, respectively. PCR analysis did not detect any additional malaria cases. The prevalence of LF and STH infections differ significantly among different age groups and ethnic communities. The high prevalence of LF in the community studied indicates an immediate need for implementing a mass drug administration program for its control in this particular geographical area of Nepal.

Venkatapuram's Capability theory of Health: A Critical Discussion.

PubMed

Tengland, Per-Anders

2016-01-01

The discussion about theories of health has recently had an important new input through the work of Sridhar Venkatapuram. He proposes a combination of Lennart Nordenfelt's holistic theory of health and Martha Nussbaum's version of the capability approach. The aim of the present article is to discuss and evaluate this proposal. The article starts with a discussion of Nordenfelt's theory and evaluates Venkatapuram' critique of it, that is, of its relativism, both regarding goals and environment, and of the subjectivist theory of happiness used. Then the article explains why Nordenfelt's idea of a reasonable environment is not a problem for the theory, and it critiques Venkatapuram's own incorporation of the environment into the concept of health, suggesting that this makes the concept too wide. It contends, moreover, that Venkatapuram's alternative theory retains a problem inherent in Nordenfelt's theory, namely, that health is conceived of as a second-order ability. It is argued that health should, instead, be defined as first-order abilities. This means that health cannot be seen as a capability, and also that health cannot be seen as a meta-capability of the kind envisioned by Venkatapuram. It is, furthermore, argued that the theory lacks one crucial aspect of health, namely, subjective wellbeing. Finally, the article tries to illustrate how health, in the suggested alternative sense, as first-order abilities, fits into Nussbaum's capability theory, since health as an 'actuality' is part of all the 'combined capabilities' suggested by Nussbaum. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Elevated 2,3-diphosphoglycerate concentrations and alteration of structural integrity in the erythrocytes of Indian cases of visceral leishmaniasis.

PubMed

Biswas, T; Ghosh, D K; Mukherjee, N; Ghosal, J

1995-08-01

The visceral leishmaniasis (VL) known as kala-azar in India is characterized by severe anaemia. The anaemia seems to be the result, at least in part, of the relatively short life-time of the erythrocytes, which have weakened cell membranes, possibly because of elevated concentrations of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG). There is a negative correlation (r = 0.91; P < 0.01) between erythrocytic 2,3-DPG concentrations and the blood concentration of haemoglobin, and the erythrocytes from infected patients display higher osmotic fragility than those from uninfected controls. Spectrofluorometry, using 1,6-diphenyl 1,3,5-hexatriene as a probe, indicated that fluorescence depolarization and microviscosity are also higher in the erythrocytic membranes from VL cases than in those from the controls. The cholesterol/phospholipid ratio is also relatively high in the membranes from the VL cases and there is degradation of the skeletal components and the major integral protein (band 3). The enhanced concentration of 2,3-DPG may be related to the altered structural integrity of the erythrocytes and this may lead to anisocytosis and the reduction in the erythrocytic half life.

John Alexander Sinton, MD FRS VC (1884-1956).

PubMed

Cook, G C

2016-05-01

Brigadier John Sinton is the only individual in history to have been both awarded the Victoria Cross and also elected to the Royal Society. He qualified at Belfast and afterwards joined the Indian Medical Service (IMS). Serving before and during the Great War (1914-18), he was first posted to the North-West Frontier province, and afterwards as a captain in the Indian Expeditionary force in Mesopotamia (now Iraq). It was there in 1916 that, shot in both arms during an engagement and under heavy gunfire, he remained steadfastly at his post; for this bravery he received the Victoria Cross. Following the war he carried out major researches into malaria in India, and became Director of the Malaria Survey of India Both there and shortly afterwards, Sinton published about 200 papers on various aspects of malaria and leishmaniasis. In England, he later worked at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and the Ministry of Health's laboratory at Horton, Epsom. In 1946, he was elected to the Royal Society for his researches into malaria and kala-azar, and following retirement he underwent another distinguished career in Northern Ireland. © The Author(s) 2014.

[Uncommon cutaneous presentation of visceral Leishmaniasis associated with HIV].

PubMed

Cossart, C; Le Moal, G; Garcia, M; Frouin, E; Hainaut-Wierzbicka, E; Roblot, F

2016-12-01

Visceral leishmaniasis is not normally expressed in skin. Herein, we describe the case of an HIV-positive patient who developed two unusual skin manifestations during an episode of visceral leishmaniasis. A 48-year-old female patient consulted initially for infiltrated purpura of all four limbs. Skin biopsy revealed leukocytoclastic vasculitis with Leishman-Donovan bodies. Laboratory tests showed medullary, splenic, gastric and colic involvement, suggesting systemic disease, and enabling visceral leishmaniasis to be diagnosed. Two years later, despite prolonged treatment, the patient presented maculopapular exanthema, and histology revealed persistent Leishman-Donovan bodies. We report herein an association of two rare skin manifestations in an HIV-positive patient with visceral leishmaniasis: infiltrated purpura and maculopapular exanthema. However, the underlying mechanisms remain hypothetical. The initial leukocytoclastic exanthema could be secondary to either polyclonal hypergammaglobulinaemia or to IgA deposits, or possibly to mechanical impairment of blood vessels by the actual parasite. The maculopapular exanthema occurring later raised the possibility of post-Kala-Azar leishmaniasis due to blood-borne dissemination in an anergic subject or perhaps even immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Positive Influence of Behavior Change Communication on Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices for Visceral Leishmaniasis/Kala-azar in India.

PubMed

Srinivasan, Raghavan; Ahmad, Tanwir; Raghavan, Vidya; Kaushik, Manisha; Pathak, Ramakant

2018-03-21

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is endemic to 54 districts in 4 states of India. Poor awareness of the disease and inappropriate health-seeking behavior are major challenges to eliminating the disease. Between February 2016 and March 2017, we implemented a behavior change communication (BCC) intervention in 33 districts of Bihar, 4 districts of Jharkhand, and 3 districts of West Bengal using a mix of channels, including group and interpersonal communication, to improve knowledge, attitudes, and practices of communities, frontline health workers, and opinion leaders. We conducted an impact assessment in October 2016, after the second indoor residual spraying (IRS) round, in Bihar and Jharkhand to evaluate the effect of the BCC intervention. Villages in 10 districts of Bihar and 4 districts in Jharkhand were selected for inclusion in the assessment. Selected villages were categorized as either intervention or control based on where project activities were conducted. Households were randomly selected proportional to caste composition, and interviewers surveyed the head of the household on whether the house was sprayed during the last IRS round and on knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to VL. We interviewed 700 households in intervention villages and 350 households in control villages and conducted correlation analysis to explore the association between IRS refusal and socioeconomic variables, and tested for association between IRS refusal and exposure to BCC activities. Odds ratios (ORs) were calculated. We reached an estimated 3.3 million contacts in Bihar and Jharkhand through the intervention's BCC activities. IRS refusal rates were significantly lower in intervention households than control households (mean=7.95% vs. 24.45%, respectively; OR, 0.27; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.11 to 0.62; P <.001). Households in intervention villages were more aware than those in control villages that VL is spread by sand flies (68.4% vs. 7.4%, respectively; P <.001) and of IRS as an effective control measure (82.3% vs. 41.7%, respectively; P <.001). A greater percentage of households in intervention villages than control villages indicated they would encourage a patient to go to primary health centers for diagnosis and treatment of VL (77.0% vs. 39.4%, respectively) and to encourage others to accept IRS (78.6% vs. 44.6%, respectively; P <.001). Households that were exposed to community-based BCC activities largely using group and interpersonal communication had better knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to VL, including acceptance of IRS as a preventive measure, than households not exposed. BCC activities are thus an important component of VL elimination strategies. © Srinivasan et al.

TURBULENT MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMIC RECONNECTION MEDIATED BY THE PLASMOID INSTABILITY

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Huang, Yi-Min; Bhattacharjee, A., E-mail: yiminh@princeton.edu

2016-02-10

It has been established that the Sweet–Parker current layer in high Lundquist number reconnection is unstable to the super-Alfvénic plasmoid instability. Past two-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic simulations have demonstrated that the plasmoid instability leads to a new regime where the Sweet–Parker current layer changes into a chain of plasmoids connected by secondary current sheets, and the averaged reconnection rate becomes nearly independent of the Lundquist number. In this work, a three-dimensional simulation with a guide field shows that the additional degree of freedom allows plasmoid instabilities to grow at oblique angles, which interact and lead to self-generated turbulent reconnection. The averaged reconnectionmore » rate in the self-generated turbulent state is of the order of a hundredth of the characteristic Alfvén speed, which is similar to the two-dimensional result but is an order of magnitude lower than the fastest reconnection rate reported in recent studies of externally driven three-dimensional turbulent reconnection. Kinematic and magnetic energy fluctuations both form elongated eddies along the direction of the local magnetic field, which is a signature of anisotropic magnetohydrodynamic turbulence. Both energy fluctuations satisfy power-law spectra in the inertial range, where the magnetic energy spectral index is in the range from −2.3 to −2.1, while the kinetic energy spectral index is slightly steeper, in the range from −2.5 to −2.3. The anisotropy of turbulence eddies is found to be nearly scale-independent, in contrast with the prediction of the Goldreich–Sridhar theory for anisotropic turbulence in a homogeneous plasma permeated by a uniform magnetic field.« less

Effect of untreated bed nets on blood-fed Phlebotomus argentipes in kala-azar endemic foci in Nepal and India.

PubMed

Picado, Albert; Kumar, Vijay; Das, Murari; Burniston, Ian; Roy, Lalita; Suman, Rijal; Dinesh, Diwakar; Coosemans, Marc; Sundar, Shyam; Shreekant, Kesari; Boelaert, Marleen; Davies, Clive; Cameron, Mary

2009-12-01

Observational studies in the Indian subcontinent have shown that untreated nets may be protective against visceral leishmaniasis (VL). In this study, we evaluated the effect of untreated nets on the blood feeding rates of Phlebotomus argentipes as well as the human blood index (HBI) in VL endemic villages in India and Nepal. The study had a 'before and after intervention' design in 58 households in six clusters. The use of untreated nets reduced the blood feeding rate by 85% (95% CI 76.5-91.1%) and the HBI by 42.2% (95% CI 11.1-62.5%). These results provide circumstantial evidence that untreated nets may provide some degree of personal protection against sand fly bites.

Oviposition behaviour of Phlebotomus argentipes--a laboratory-based study.

PubMed

Kumar, Vijay; Rama, Aarti; Kesari, Shreekant; Bhunia, Gouri Sankar; Dinesh, Diwakar Singh; Das, Pradeep

2013-12-01

The breeding habitat of sandflies is a little studied and poorly understood phenomenon. More importantly, oviposition behaviour is a largely neglected aspect of sandfly biology and this knowledge gap further undermines our understanding of the biology of sandflies. Pheromones released by the eggs play an important role in identifying good sites for oviposition by female insects. Several recent studies have examined the oviposition pheromone. The present study provides a preliminary report on the oviposition behaviour of Phlebotomus argentipes, the only vector of kala-azar (or visceral leishmaniasis) on the Indian sub-continent. Sandflies prefer to oviposit their eggs on surfaces that contain organic substances, especially substances with an odour of decaying animal products and the remains of conspecific eggs. The results presented here suggest that the odour released by the organic substances of old sandfly colony remains that contain dead flies, old unhatched eggs, larval food containing vertebrate faeces, frass and other organic matter serves as an attractant for the ovipositing females of P. argentipes and hence greatly increases the number of oviposited eggs compared to eggs deposited in controlled oviposition pots. This result will be helpful in maintaining an efficient colony of P. argentipes and may be a promising tool for monitoring and controlling the target insect as part of a synergistic approach.

Comparative clinical evaluation of Kshara Sutra ligation and hemorrhoidectomy in Arsha (hemorrhoids).

PubMed

Gupta, Meva Lal; Gupta, S K; Bhuyan, Chaturbhuja

2011-04-01

Arsha (hemorrhoids) is engorgement of the hemorrhoidal venous plexus, characterized by bleeding per rectum, constipation, pain, prolapse and discharge. It is manifested due to improper diet, prolonged standing and faulty habits of defecation causing derangement of tridosha, mainly vata dosha. Vitiated dosha localizes in guda vali, pradhana dhamani and mansdhara kala and vitiates twak, mansa, meda and rakta, resulting in the annavaha sroto dushti. Modern management of arsha needs, mainly, a surgical approach, i.e. hemorrhoidectomy, wherein the result was found to be less satisfactory. In this regard, to determine a solution for satisfactory cure, the kshara sutra ligation method in arsha was studied in comparison with hemarrhoidectomy. Kshara sutra ligation in arsha was employed in 35 patients, and 26 patients were dealt with hemorrhoidectomy. The study revealed a better result of the kshara sutra ligation-treated group in comparison with hemorrhoidectomy. The observations revealed that maximum advantages like minimum hospital stay, no bleeding during or after operation, no post-operative anal stenosis, a low cost-effective and more acceptable to different categories of people, etc. were recorded in the kshara sutra-treated group. Statistically, kshara sutra ligation for arsha was found to be highly significant and effective management. No adverse effects were noted during the follow-up period.

Comparative clinical evaluation of Kshara Sutra ligation and hemorrhoidectomy in Arsha (hemorrhoids)

PubMed Central

Gupta, Meva Lal; Gupta, S. K.; Bhuyan, Chaturbhuja

2011-01-01

Arsha (hemorrhoids) is engorgement of the hemorrhoidal venous plexus, characterized by bleeding per rectum, constipation, pain, prolapse and discharge. It is manifested due to improper diet, prolonged standing and faulty habits of defecation causing derangement of tridosha, mainly vata dosha. Vitiated dosha localizes in guda vali, pradhana dhamani and mansdhara kala and vitiates twak, mansa, meda and rakta, resulting in the annavaha sroto dushti. Modern management of arsha needs, mainly, a surgical approach, i.e. hemorrhoidectomy, wherein the result was found to be less satisfactory. In this regard, to determine a solution for satisfactory cure, the kshara sutra ligation method in arsha was studied in comparison with hemarrhoidectomy. Kshara sutra ligation in arsha was employed in 35 patients, and 26 patients were dealt with hemorrhoidectomy. The study revealed a better result of the kshara sutra ligation-treated group in comparison with hemorrhoidectomy. The observations revealed that maximum advantages like minimum hospital stay, no bleeding during or after operation, no post-operative anal stenosis, a low cost-effective and more acceptable to different categories of people, etc. were recorded in the kshara sutra-treated group. Statistically, kshara sutra ligation for arsha was found to be highly significant and effective management. No adverse effects were noted during the follow-up period. PMID:22408307

Childhood visceral leishmaniasis.

PubMed

Bhattacharya, S K; Sur, Dipika; Karbwang, Juntra

2006-03-01

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is caused by the protozoan parasite Leishmania donovani and transmitted by the bite of infected sandfly Phlebotomus argentipes. Nearly half of the VL cases occur in children (childhood or paediatric VL). The clinical manifestations of childhood VL are more or less same as in the adults. Prolonged fever with anorexia and loss of appetite are the major presenting features. Marked enlargement of the spleen and liver (spleen larger than liver) with moderate to severe anaemia and changes in hair take place. Bacterial infection is a common coinfection and intestinal parasitic infestations are very common in children with VL. Liver function tests, blood, urine and stool may show abnormalities. Confirmation of diagnosis is made by demonstration of parasite by microscopic examination and culture of materials obtained by bone marrow aspiration or splenic puncture. Sodium antimony gluconate (stibogluconate) has been the drug of choice for over past 50 yr. Pentamidine isothionate, though effective is relatively toxic. Amphotericin B is the most effective drug for the treatment of VL. Miltefosine is the first-ever oral drug, is highly effective. Post kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) in children poses a therapeutic challenge. In the absence of an ideal vaccine for VL, control measures would essentially include prevention of transmission through vector control and community awareness.

The popularity of injections in the Third World: origins and consequences for poliomyelitis.

PubMed

Wyatt, H V

1984-01-01

Paralysis from poliomyelitis may follow injections yet injections are extremely popular in the Third World. Some injections are given by hospital doctors and nurses but the majority are given by traditional healers, pharmacists and paramedical workers who have acquired syringes. Many injections may be given to a sick child. I suggest that the early use of vaccines did not persuade people of the mystic of injections and that the mystic predated the use of penicillin. The earliest mystical result would have been the injection of quinine for malaria and antrypal for sleeping sickness. The words brilliant, spectacular and dramatic were first used to describe the mass campaigns against yaws and kala-azar in the 1920s and 1930s. A single injection healed the ugly lesions in a week: cause and effect were visible. In the 1950s penicillin was used in mass eradication campaigns. The countries where injections are so popular correspond roughly with the areas of mass eradication programmes. Many or perhaps most of the injections are not sterile and present a great risk of attendant paralysis. Proof that injections are causal may be impossible. Meanwhile we need to know why injections are so popular and how they can be less so.

Genetically modified organisms and visceral leishmaniasis.

PubMed

Chhajer, Rudra; Ali, Nahid

2014-01-01

Vaccination is the most effective method of preventing infectious diseases. Since the eradication of small pox in 1976, many other potentially life compromising if not threatening diseases have been dealt with subsequently. This event was a major leap not only in the scientific world already burdened with many diseases but also in the mindset of the common man who became more receptive to novel treatment options. Among the many protozoan diseases, the leishmaniases have emerged as one of the largest parasite killers of the world, second only to malaria. There are three types of leishmaniasis namely cutaneous (CL), mucocutaneous (ML), and visceral (VL), caused by a group of more than 20 species of Leishmania parasites. Visceral leishmaniasis, also known as kala-azar is the most severe form and almost fatal if untreated. Since the first attempts at leishmanization, we have killed parasite vaccines, subunit protein, or DNA vaccines, and now we have live recombinant carrier vaccines and live attenuated parasite vaccines under various stages of development. Although some research has shown promising results, many more potential genes need to be evaluated as live attenuated vaccine candidates. This mini-review attempts to summarize the success and failures of genetically modified organisms used in vaccination against some of major parasitic diseases for their application in leishmaniasis.

The Extensional Rheology of Non-Newtonian Materials

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Spiegelberg, Stephen H.; McKinley, Gareth H.

1996-01-01

The evolution of the transient extensional stresses in dilute and semi-dilute viscoelastic polymer solutions are measured with a filament stretching rheometer of a design similar to that first introduced by Sridhar, et al. The solutions are polystyrene-based (PS) Boger fluids that are stretched at constant strain rates ranging from 0.6 less than or equal to epsilon(0) less than or equal to 4s(exp -1) and to Hencky strains of epsilon greater than 4. The test fluids all strain harden and Trouton ratios exceeding 1000 are obtained at high strains. The experimental data strain hardens at lower strain levels than predicted by bead-spring FENE models. In addition to measuring the transient tensile stress growth, we also monitor the decay of the tensile viscoelastic stress difference in the fluid column following cessation of uniaxial elongation as a function of the total imposed Hencky strain and the strain rate. The extensional stresses initially decay very rapidly upon cessation of uniaxial elongation followed by a slower viscoelastic relaxation, and deviate significantly from FENE relaxation predictions. The relaxation at long times t is greater than or equal to 5 s, is compromised by gravitational draining leading to non-uniform filament profiles. For the most elastic fluids, partial decohension of the fluid filament from the endplates of the rheometer is observed in tests conducted at high strain rates. This elastic instability is initiated near the rigid endplate fixtures of the device and it results in the progressive breakup of the fluid column into individual threads or 'fibrils' with a regular azimuthal spacing. These fibrils elongate and bifurcate as the fluid sample is elongated further. Flow visualization experiments using a modified stretching device show that the instability develops as a consequence of an axisymmetry-breaking meniscus instability in the nonhomogeneous region of highly deformed fluid near the rigid endplate.

Documentation for Preservation: Methodology and a GIS Database of Three World Heritage Cities in Uzbekistan

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vileikis, O.; Escalante Carrillo, E.; Allayarov, S.; Feyzulayev, A.

2017-08-01

The historic cities of Uzbekistan are an irreplaceable legacy of the Silk Roads. Currently, Uzbekistan counts with four UNESCO World Heritage Properties, with hundreds of historic monuments and traditional historic houses. However, lack of documentation, systematic monitoring and a digital database, of the historic buildings and dwellings within the historic centers, are threatening the World Heritage properties and delaying the development of a proper management mechanism for the preservation of the heritage and an interwoven city urban development. Unlike the monuments, the traditional historic houses are being demolished without any enforced legal protection, leaving no documentation to understand the city history and its urban fabric as well of way of life, traditions and customs over the past centuries. To fill out this gap, from 2008 to 2015, the Principal Department for Preservation and Utilization of Cultural Objects of the Ministry of Culture and Sports of Uzbekistan with support from the UNESCO Office in Tashkent, and in collaboration with several international and local universities and institutions, carried out a survey of the Historic Centre of Bukhara, Itchan Kala and Samarkand Crossroad of Cultures. The collaborative work along these years have helped to consolidate a methodology and to integrate a GIS database that is currently contributing to the understanding of the outstanding heritage values of these cities as well as to develop preservation and management strategies with a solid base of heritage documentation.

Emergence periodicity of Phlebotomus argentipes annandale and brunetti (Diptera: psychodidae): A laboratory study.

PubMed

Dinesh, D S; Singh, A; Kumar, V; Kesari, S; Kumar, A J; Kishore, K; Roy, S P; Bhattacharya, S K; Das, P

2009-12-01

Phlebotomus argentipes Annandale and Brunetti (Diptera: Psychodidae) is the vector for visceral leishmaniasis in India. The aspects of its biology such as feeding and man vector contact are associated with emergence periodicity of the adult. Hence, the present study was made to find out the actual emergence period of P. argentipes. Wild caught P. argentipes were confined in the rearing pots inside laboratory. The newly emerged adults were collected at hourly intervals and released in to separate polythene bags and were held at 4°C till death. Sand flies were segregated sex-wise after the death under a microscope. The emergence of adult was observed throughout the day. However, the male preferred dawn emergence and the female the dusk. Two peaks of emergence were found in a day; first one in the morning (0900h) and the second one in the evening (1800h). The ratio of both sexes was found to be about equal. The emergence of adult was found to be 77% out of total eggs laid, which was completed within 7-10 days from the 1st day of emergence under laboratory conditions (25°C to 31°C and 70% to 75% relative humidity). This study has important bearings to find out the actual time for personal protection against biting of sand flies to prevent the transmission of Kala-azar.

Health status assessment of workers during construction phase of highway rehabilitation projects around lahore, Pakistan.

PubMed

Abrar, Amina; Cheema, Kausar Jamal; Saif, Samia; Mahmood, Asim

2017-01-24

The study focused on assessment of the health status of workers during construction phase of highway rehabilitation projects at six selected sites of N5 around Lahore, including Kala Shah Kaku, Muridke, Kamuki, Bhaipheru, Pattoki, and Okara. The study was based on multi-methods approach involving hazard identification through survey and checklist as well as a questionnaire for health status assessment and measurements of health parameters including peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) and audiometric screening of 300 subjects. The study revealed non-congenial working conditions at the sites. Noise, vibrations, dust, asphalt fumes, poor work postures, and injuries were found to be major health hazards. PEFR of most of the workers was found to be significantly lower than the reference value. Average PEFR±SEM values were 187±5.1 l/min, 178±4.3 l/min, and 266±5.3 l/min in ground preparation workers, asphalt workers, and heavy vehicle drivers, respectively. The highest rate (29%) of hearing loss was recorded among heavy vehicle drivers. Musculoskeletal problems were found to be more common among ground preparation workers. Data revealed unsatisfactory health status of most of the workers. Direct relationship between health outcomes and the type of construction activities were observed. The current study focuses on the importance of including occupational health and safety plan in the execution phase of every developmental project that involves construction activities.

Transporter genes identified in landraces associated with high zinc in polished rice through panicle transcriptome for biofortification

PubMed Central

Kulkarni, Kalyani S.; Madhu Babu, P.; Sanjeeva Rao, D.; Surekha, K.; Ravindra Babu, V

2018-01-01

Polished rice is poor source of micronutrients, however wide genotypic variability exists for zinc uptake and remobilization and zinc content in brown and polished grains in rice. Two landraces (Chittimutyalu and Kala Jeera Joha) and one popular improved variety (BPT 5204) were grown under zinc sufficient soil and their analyses showed high zinc in straw of improved variety, but high zinc in polished rice in landraces suggesting better translocation ability of zinc into the grain in landraces. Transcriptome analyses of the panicle tissue showed 41182 novel transcripts across three samples. Out of 1011 differentially expressed exclusive transcripts by two landraces, 311 were up regulated and 534 were down regulated. Phosphate transporter-exporter (PHO), proton-coupled peptide transporters (POT) and vacuolar iron transporter (VIT) showed enhanced and significant differential expression in landraces. Out of 24 genes subjected to quantitative real time analyses for confirmation, eight genes showed significant differential expression in landraces. Through mapping, six rice microsatellite markers spanning the genomic regions of six differentially expressed genes were validated for their association with zinc in brown and polished rice using recombinant inbred lines (RIL) of BPT 5204/Chittimutyalu. Thus, this study reports repertoire of genes associated with high zinc in polished rice and a proof concept for deployment of transcriptome information for validation in mapping population and its use in marker assisted selection for biofortification of rice with zinc. PMID:29394277

Identification of L. infantum chagasi proteins in VL patients' urine: a promising antigen discovery approach of vaccine candidates

PubMed Central

Kashino, Suely S.; Abeijon, Claudia; Qin, Lizeng; Kanunfre, Kelly A.; Kubrusly, Flávia S.; Silva, Fernando O.; Costa, Dorcas L.; Campos, Dioclécio; Costa, Carlos H.N.; Raw, Isaias; Campos-Neto, Antonio

2012-01-01

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a serious lethal parasitic disease caused by Leishmania donovani in Asia and by Leishmania infantum chagasi in Southern Europe and South America. VL is endemic in 47 countries with an annual incidence estimated to be 500,000 cases. This high incidence is due in part to the lack of an efficacious vaccine. Here, we introduce an innovative approach to directly identify parasite vaccine candidate antigens that are abundantly produced in vivo in humans with VL. We combined RP-HPLC and mass spectrometry and categorized three L. infantum chagasi proteins, presumably produced in spleen, liver, and bone marrow lesions and excreted in the patients’ urine. Specifically, these proteins were the following: Li-isd1 (XP_001467866.1), Li-txn1 (XP_001466642.1), and Li-ntf2 (XP_001463738.1). Initial vaccine validation studies were performed with the rLi-ntf2 protein produced in E. coli mixed with the adjuvant BpMPLA-SE. This formulation stimulated potent Th1 response in BALB/c mice. Compared to control animals, mice immunized with Li-ntf2 + BpMPLASE had a marked parasite burden reduction in spleens at 40 days post-challenge with virulent L. infantum chagasi. These results strongly support the proposed antigen discovery strategy of vaccine candidates to kala-azar and opens novel possibilities for vaccine development to other serious infectious diseases. PMID:22443237

Visceral Leishmaniasis in Ethiopia: An Evolving Disease

PubMed Central

Leta, Samson; Dao, Thi Ha Thanh; Mesele, Frehiwot; Alemayehu, Gezahegn

2014-01-01

Visceral leishmaniasis (also known as kala-azar) is classified as one of the most neglected tropical diseases. It is becoming a growing health problem in Ethiopia, with endemic areas that are continually spreading. The annual burden of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in Ethiopia is estimated to be between 4,500 and 5,000 cases, and the population at risk is more than 3.2 million. There has been a change in the epidemiology of VL in Ethiopia. Over the last decades, almost all cases and outbreaks of VL were reported from arid and semi-arid parts of the country; however, recent reports indicated the introduction of this disease into the highlands. Migration of labourers to and from endemic areas, climatic and environmental changes, and impaired immunity due to HIV/AIDS and malnutrition resulted in the change of VL epidemiology. HIV spurs the spread of VL by increasing the risk of progression from asymptomatic infection towards full VL. Conversely, VL accelerates the onset of AIDS. In Ethiopia, VL epidemiology remains complex because of the diversity of risk factors involved, and its control is becoming an increasing challenge. This paper reviews the changes in epidemiology of VL in Ethiopia and discusses some of the possible explanations for these changes. The prospects for novel approaches to VL control are discussed, as are the current and future challenges facing Ethiopia's public health development program. PMID:25188253

Effect of kshara basti and nirgundi ghana vati on amavata (rheumatoid arthritis).

PubMed

Thanki, Krishna; Bhatt, Nilesh; Shukla, V D

2012-01-01

Ayurveda has taken the foremost place in the management of crippling disease, one of them is Amavata which can be compared with Rheumatoid Arthritis due to its clinical appearance. Due to wide spectrum of disease, much prevalence in the society and lack of effective medicament, the disease is being chosen for the study. The line of treatment described for the disease in Chakradatta can be summarized under following captions. i.e to bring Agni to normal state to digest Ama, and eliminate vitiated Vata and Ama. Thus, here Kshara Basti is selected for the present study as Samshodhana process which corrects all of above captions. It is mentioned in Chikitsa Sutra described by Chakradatta. Nirgundi has Amavatahara property which is stated by Bhavaprakasha, considering which Nirgundi Patra Ghanavati is selected as Shamana drug. Total 50 randomly selected patients of Amavata were registered among them 45 were completed the treatment. Kshara Basti in the format of Kala Basti was given to these patients and Nirgundi Ghana Vati was given for one month. Statistically significant improvement was found in ESR, RA factor (quantitative) and also highly significant results were found in symptoms of Amavata. Moderate improvement was seen in 40% of patients, 35.56% patients got marked improvement, while mild improvement was found in 24.44% of patients.

Effect of Kshara Basti and Nirgundi Ghana Vati on Amavata (Rheumatoid Arthritis)

PubMed Central

Thanki, Krishna; Bhatt, Nilesh; Shukla, V. D.

2012-01-01

Ayurveda has taken the foremost place in the management of crippling disease, one of them is Amavata which can be compared with Rheumatoid Arthritis due to its clinical appearance. Due to wide spectrum of disease, much prevalence in the society and lack of effective medicament, the disease is being chosen for the study. The line of treatment described for the disease in Chakradatta can be summarized under following captions. i.e to bring Agni to normal state to digest Ama, and eliminate vitiated Vata and Ama. Thus, here Kshara Basti is selected for the present study as Samshodhana process which corrects all of above captions. It is mentioned in Chikitsa Sutra described by Chakradatta. Nirgundi has Amavatahara property which is stated by Bhavaprakasha, considering which Nirgundi Patra Ghanavati is selected as Shamana drug. Total 50 randomly selected patients of Amavata were registered among them 45 were completed the treatment. Kshara Basti in the format of Kala Basti was given to these patients and Nirgundi Ghana Vati was given for one month. Statistically significant improvement was found in ESR, RA factor (quantitative) and also highly significant results were found in symptoms of Amavata. Moderate improvement was seen in 40% of patients, 35.56% patients got marked improvement, while mild improvement was found in 24.44% of patients. PMID:23049184

Molecular and Serological Evidence of Leishmania Infection in Stray Dogs from Visceral Leishmaniasis-Endemic Areas of Bangladesh.

PubMed

Akter, Shirin; Alam, Mohammad Zahangir; Nakao, Ryo; Yasin, Golam; Kato, Hirotomo; Katakura, Ken

2016-10-05

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL), or kala-azar, is mainly caused by two closely related Leishmania species, Leishmania infantum and Leishmania donovani Leishmania infantum is responsible for zoonotic VL, with dogs as the main reservoir host in the Mediterranean, the Middle East, Asia, and South America. In the Indian subcontinent, VL is caused by L. donovani and is considered anthroponotic, although the only known vector, the sand fly, is zoophilic in nature. The role of domestic and stray dogs in VL transmission is still unclear in this area. We screened 50 stray dogs from VL-endemic areas of Bangladesh for serological and molecular evidence of Leishmania infection. We detected anti-Leishmania antibodies in six (12%) dog serum samples using rK39 immunochromatographic tests. We observed Leishmania kinetoplast DNA in 10 (20%) buffy coat DNA samples by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), five of which were positive based on internal transcribed spacer 1-PCR. A sequencing analysis of the amplified products confirmed that the parasitic DNA was derived from L. donovani Our findings support the hypothesis that stray dogs are an animal reservoir for L. donovani in this endemic region. Further studies are required to determine the precise role of dogs in the epidemiology of VL in Bangladesh. © The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.

Validation of the use of an artificial mitochondrial reporter DNA vector containing a Cytomegalovirus promoter for mitochondrial transgene expression.

PubMed

Yamada, Yuma; Ishikawa, Takuya; Harashima, Hideyoshi

2017-08-01

Mitochondria have their own gene expression system that is independent of the nuclear system, and control cellular functions in cooperation with the nucleus. While a number of useful technologies for achieving nuclear transgene expression have been reported, only a few have focused on mitochondria. In this study, we validated the utility of an artificial mitochondrial DNA vector with a virus promoter on mitochondrial transgene expression. We designed and constructed pCMV-mtLuc (CGG) that contains a CMV promotor derived from Cytomegalovirus and an artificial mitochondrial genome with a NanoLuc (Nluc) luciferase gene that records adjustments to the mitochondrial codon system. Nluc luciferase activity measurements showed that the pCMV-mtLuc (CGG) efficiently produced the Nluc luciferase protein in human HeLa cells. Moreover, we optimized the mitochondrial transfection of pCMV-mtLuc (CGG) using a MITO-Porter system, a liposome-based carrier for mitochondrial delivery via membrane fusion. As a result, we found that transfection of pCMV-mtLuc (CGG) by MITO-Porter modified with the KALA peptide (cationic amphipathic cell-penetrating peptide) showed a high mitochondrial transgene expression. The developed mitochondrial transgene expression system represents a potentially useful tool for the fields of nanoscience and nanotechnology for controlling the intracellular microenvironment via the regulation of mitochondrial function and promises to open additional innovative research fields of study. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Clinical and Laboratory Analysis of Patients with Leishmaniasis: A Retrospective Study from a Tertiary Care Center in New Delhi

PubMed Central

GUPTA, Nitin; KANT, Kamla; MIRDHA, Bijay Ranjan

2017-01-01

Background: Leishmaniasis manifests as visceral (VL), cutaneous (CL) or a dermal sequel of VL, known as Post kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL). The aim of the study was to analyze the clinical and laboratory features of cases diagnosed with leishmaniasis. Methods: This hospital-based retrospective study included all cases of VL, PKDL, and CL diagnosed between Jan 2011 to Jan 2016 at All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. Clinical and laboratory profile of the diagnosed cases were analyzed in detail. All diagnosed cases were mapped according to the state and the district from which the cases originated. Results: A total of 91 VL cases and 4 PKDL cases were reviewed. Only one case of CL (1 female) and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis (1 female) were observed during the study period. Majority of the cases of VL (75/91) originated from Bihar. The most common presenting symptoms in all our patients were fever (97.8%), weight loss (40.6%) and abdominal discomfort (17.6%) while the most common presenting signs were hepatosplenomegaly (45.8%), isolated splenomegaly (23.1%) and skin pigmentation (11%). The most common laboratory abnormality was anaemia followed by thrombocytopenia and leucopenia. Conclusion: VL is globally recognized as a neglected tropical disease. Even after continued effort to bring down its transmission in India, it continues to affect the endemic states with reports from new pockets. PMID:29317889

Applicability and importance of Caraka’s concept of Aaturaparijnana Hetawah in understanding a patient

PubMed Central

Wadher, Rupesh; Dwivedi, Rambabu R.

2012-01-01

Many concepts in Ayurveda are untouched or unexplored till date. One of such concepts to understand the healthy and unhealthy persons is that of the Aaturaparijnana Hetawah (APH), which is only mentioned in Caraka Samhita. The descriptions about Dushya, Desha, Bala, Kala, Prakriti, etc. are mentioned very briefly in all the classics. But no standard figure or pattern is maintained while considering them. It is only in the description of Aaturaparijnana Hetawah mentioned in Vimana Sthana that all the factors are pre-arranged in a chronological order to understand an individual according to one’s Desha as from birth till grown up stage, and also to understand about the illness and most common disorders. In this article, it is aimed at presenting an in-depth evaluation about description of Aaturaparijnana Hetawah in Ayurveda. For this study, the references of Aturaparijnana Hetu have been collected through the Ayurvedic texts along with their commentaries. By making use of 14 factors described in Aaturaparijnana Hetawah, it is possible to have an in depth understanding about the patient’s nature and factors that may be contributing to his health and illness. Aaturaparijnana Hetawah helps in an in-depth understanding of a patient’s disease and heath status. More in-depth evaluation studies and application in the modern medical science should be done in order to avail the benefits of this approach. PMID:23559788

Status of vaccine research and development of vaccines for leishmaniasis.

PubMed

Gillespie, Portia M; Beaumier, Coreen M; Strych, Ulrich; Hayward, Tara; Hotez, Peter J; Bottazzi, Maria Elena

2016-06-03

A number of leishmaniasis vaccine candidates are at various stages of pre-clinical and clinical development. Leishmaniasis is a vector-borne neglected tropical disease (NTD) caused by a protozoan parasite of the genus Leishmania and transmitted to humans by the bite of a sand fly. Visceral leishmaniasis (VL, kala-azar) is a high mortality NTD found mostly in South Asia and East Africa, while cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a disfiguring NTD highly endemic in the Middle East, Central Asia, North Africa, and the Americas. Estimates attribute 50,000 annual deaths and 3.3 million disability-adjusted life years to leishmaniasis. There are only a few approved drug treatments, no prophylactic drug and no vaccine. Ideally, an effective vaccine against leishmaniasis will elicit long-lasting immunity and protect broadly against VL and CL. Vaccines such as Leish-F1, F2 and F3, developed at IDRI and designed based on selected Leishmania antigen epitopes, have been in clinical trials. Other groups, including the Sabin Vaccine Institute in collaboration with the National Institutes of Health are investigating recombinant Leishmania antigens in combination with selected sand fly salivary gland antigens in order to augment host immunity. To date, both VL and CL vaccines have been shown to be cost-effective in economic modeling studies. Copyright © 2016 World Health Organization. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Transporter genes identified in landraces associated with high zinc in polished rice through panicle transcriptome for biofortification.

PubMed

Neeraja, C N; Kulkarni, Kalyani S; Madhu Babu, P; Sanjeeva Rao, D; Surekha, K; Ravindra Babu, V

2018-01-01

Polished rice is poor source of micronutrients, however wide genotypic variability exists for zinc uptake and remobilization and zinc content in brown and polished grains in rice. Two landraces (Chittimutyalu and Kala Jeera Joha) and one popular improved variety (BPT 5204) were grown under zinc sufficient soil and their analyses showed high zinc in straw of improved variety, but high zinc in polished rice in landraces suggesting better translocation ability of zinc into the grain in landraces. Transcriptome analyses of the panicle tissue showed 41182 novel transcripts across three samples. Out of 1011 differentially expressed exclusive transcripts by two landraces, 311 were up regulated and 534 were down regulated. Phosphate transporter-exporter (PHO), proton-coupled peptide transporters (POT) and vacuolar iron transporter (VIT) showed enhanced and significant differential expression in landraces. Out of 24 genes subjected to quantitative real time analyses for confirmation, eight genes showed significant differential expression in landraces. Through mapping, six rice microsatellite markers spanning the genomic regions of six differentially expressed genes were validated for their association with zinc in brown and polished rice using recombinant inbred lines (RIL) of BPT 5204/Chittimutyalu. Thus, this study reports repertoire of genes associated with high zinc in polished rice and a proof concept for deployment of transcriptome information for validation in mapping population and its use in marker assisted selection for biofortification of rice with zinc.

Nocturnal activities and host preferences of Phlebotomus orientalis in extra-domestic habitats of Kafta-Humera lowlands, Kala-azar endemic, Northwest Ethiopia.

PubMed

Lemma, Wossenseged; Tekie, Habte; Abassi, Ibrahim; Balkew, Meshesha; Gebre-Michael, Teshome; Warburg, Alon; Hailu, Asrat

2014-12-17

Phlebotomus orientalis feeds on a variety of wild and domestic animals and transmits Leishmania donovani from hitherto unknown reservoir hosts to humans in extra-domestic habitats in the Metema-Humera lowlands. The aim of this study was to determine the nocturnal activities of P. orientalis and its preferred blood meal hosts. Collections of Phlebotomus orientalis were made by using CDC light traps to determine the density as P. orientalis/hour CDC trap and preference to rodents by using Turner's traps in agricultural fields, animal shelters and thickets of Acacia seyal in Baeker site-1 and Gelanzeraf site-2. The blood meal sources were detected by Reverse Line Blot (RLB) of cytochrome b polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification in August, 2012 from collections of sand flies in thickets of A. seyal (March 2011) and dense mixed forest (July 2011) in Baeker site 1. RLB PCR involved first amplification of animal specific sequences of cytochrome b using PCR techniques. Then the amplified sequence was hybridized with 11 species-specific probes for domestic animals adsorbed on nitrocellulose membrane for calorimetric color detection. A total of 6,083 P. orientalis (2,702 males and 3,381 females) were collected at hourly intervals using 22 CDC traps from January to May 2013. The peak activities of P. orientalis were at 1.00 a.m (134.0 ± 7.21) near animal shelters, 3.00 a.m (66.33 ± 46.40) in agricultural fields and 21:00 pm (40.6 ± 30.06) in thickets of A. seyal. This species was not attracted to the different species of rodents in trials carried out in March and April 2013. RLB PCR identified 7 human (28%), 9 mixed (human and cattle) (36%) and 2 cattle (8%) blood meals while 7 were unknown (28%). Female P. orientalis can bite humans in extra-domestic habitats of Kafta-Humera lowlands at any hour of the night with peak biting after midnight.

Insecticide susceptibility of Phlebotomus argentipes & assessment of vector control in two districts of West Bengal, India.

PubMed

Kumar, Vijay; Shankar, Lokesh; Kesari, Shreekant; Bhunia, Gouri Shankar; Dinesh, Diwakar Singh; Mandal, Rakesh; Das, Pradeep

2015-08-01

Kala-azar or visceral leishmanisis (VL) is known to be endemic in several States of India including West Bengal (WB). Only meager information is available on the vector dynamics of its vector species, Phlebotomus argentipes particularly in relation to control measure from this State. Hence, a pilot study was undertaken to assess the control strategy and its impact on vector in two endemic districts of WB, India. Two villages each from the two districts, Maldah and Burdwan, were selected for the study. Seasonal variation of sandflies was observed during pre-monsoon, post-monsoon and winter seasons. Susceptibility test of P. argentipes against DDT and bioassay on DDT sprayed wall and on long lasting insecticide nets (LN) Perma Net [®] 2.0 were conducted as per the WHO standard methods. P. argentipes density was high during March to October. Susceptibility status of P. argentipes ranged from 40 to 61.54 per cent. Bioassay test showed 57.89 per cent mortality against LN PermaNet [®] -2.0. and 50 per cent against DDT on wall within 30 min of exposure. Despite the integrated vector management approach, the sandfly population was high in the study area. The reason could be development of resistance in P. argentipes against DDT and low effectiveness of LN PermaNet [®] -2.0. The more pragmatic step will be to conduct large studies to monitor the susceptibility level in P. argentipes against DDT.

Ecological differentiation of members of the Culex pipiens complex, potential vectors of West Nile virus and Rift Valley fever virus in Algeria.

PubMed

Amara Korba, Raouf; Alayat, Moufida Saoucen; Bouiba, Lazhari; Boudrissa, Abdelkarim; Bouslama, Zihad; Boukraa, Slimane; Francis, Frederic; Failloux, Anna-Bella; Boubidi, Saïd Chaouki

2016-08-17

We investigated the ecological differentiation of two members of the Culex pipiens complex, Cx. p. pipiens form pipiens and Cx. p. pipiens form molestus in three sites, El-Kala, M'Sila and Tinerkouk in Algeria. These two forms are the most widespread mosquito vectors in temperate regions exhibiting important behavioural and physiological differences. Nevertheless, this group of potential vectors has been poorly studied, particularly in North Africa. Ten larval populations of Cx. p. pipiens were sampled from various above- and underground habitats in three zones representing the three bioclimatic regions in Algeria. The reproduction characteristics were also investigated in the laboratory to define the rates of autogeny and stenogamy. Identification of Cx. p. pipiens members present in Algeria was achieved using a molecular analysis with the microsatellite CQ11 locus. We detected larvae of Cx. p. pipiens in all areas suggesting that the species is a ubiquitous mosquito well adapted to various environments. To our knowledge, this study provides the first molecular evidence of the presence of the Cx. p. pipiens form molestus and hybrids (molestus/pipiens) in Algeria with a high proportion of molestus form (48.3 %) in comparison with hybrids (36.8 %) and pipiens form (14.9 %). Some unexpected correlations between the proportion of forms pipiens, molestus and hybrids, and mosquito biological characteristics were observed suggesting some epigenetic effects controlling Cx. p. pipiens mating and reproduction. Consequences for pathogen transmission are discussed.

MAGELLAN AO SYSTEM z ′, Y{sub S}, AND L ′ OBSERVATIONS OF THE VERY WIDE 650 AU HD 106906 PLANETARY SYSTEM

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wu, Ya-Lin; Close, Laird M.; Males, Jared R.

2016-05-20

We analyze archival data from Bailey and co-workers from the Magellan adaptive optics system and present the first 0.9 μ m detection ( z ′ = 20.3 ± 0.4 mag; Δ z ′ = 13.0 ± 0.4 mag) of the 11 M {sub Jup} circumbinary planet HD 106906AB b, as well as 1 and 3.8 μ m detections of the debris disk around the binary. The disk has an east–west asymmetry in length and surface brightness, especially at 3.8 μ m where the disk appears to be one-sided. The spectral energy distribution of b, when scaled to the K{sub S}more » -band photometry, is consistent with 1800 K atmospheric models without significant dust reddening, unlike some young, very red, low-mass companions such as CT Cha B and 1RXS 1609 B. Therefore, the suggested circumplanetary disk of Kalas and co-workers might not contain much material, or might be closer to face-on. Finally, we suggest that the widest ( a ≳ 100 AU) low mass ratio ( M {sub p}/ M {sub ⋆} ≡ q ≲ 0.01) companions may have formed inside protoplanetary disks but were later scattered by binary/planet interactions. Such a scattering event may have occurred for HD 106906AB b with its central binary star, but definitive proof at this time is elusive.« less

Serological Survey and Associated Risk Factors of Visceral Leish-maniasis in Qom Province, Central Iran.

PubMed

Rakhshanpour, Arash; Mohebali, Mehdi; Akhondi, Behnaz; Rahimi, Mohammad Taghi; Rokni, Mohammad Bagher

2014-01-01

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) or kala-azar is considered as a parasitic disease caused by the species of Leishmania donovani complex which is intracellular parasites. This systemic disease is endemic in some parts of provinc-es of Iran. The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of VL in Qom Province, central Iran using di-rect agglutination test (DAT). Overall, 1564 serum samples (800 males and 764 females) were collected from selected subjects by random-ized cluster sampling in 2011-2012. Sera were tested and analyzed by DAT. Before sampling; a questionnaire was filled out for each case. Data were analyzed using Chi-square test and multivariate logistic regression for risk factors analysis. Of 1564 individuals, 53 cases (3.38%) showed Leishmania specific antibodies as follows: with 1:400 titer 16 cases (1.02%), with 1:800 titer 20 cases (1.27%), with 1:1600 titer 16 cases (1.02%) whereas only one subject (0.06%) showed titers of ≥ 1:3200. There was no significant association between VL seropositivity and gender, age group and occupation. Binary logistic regression showed that rural areas was 0.44 times at higher risk of infection than urban areas (OR= 0.44; %95 CI= 0.25- 0.78). Although the seroprevalence of VL is relatively low in Qom Province, yet due to the importance of the disease, the surveillance system should be monitored by health authorities.

Serological Survey and Associated Risk Factors of Visceral Leish-maniasis in Qom Province, Central Iran

PubMed Central

RAKHSHANPOUR, Arash; MOHEBALI, Mehdi; AKHONDI, Behnaz; RAHIMI, Mohammad Taghi; ROKNI, Mohammad Bagher

2014-01-01

Abstract Background Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) or kala-azar is considered as a parasitic disease caused by the species of Leishmania donovani complex which is intracellular parasites. This systemic disease is endemic in some parts of provinc-es of Iran. The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of VL in Qom Province, central Iran using di-rect agglutination test (DAT). Methods Overall, 1564 serum samples (800 males and 764 females) were collected from selected subjects by random-ized cluster sampling in 2011-2012. Sera were tested and analyzed by DAT. Before sampling; a questionnaire was filled out for each case. Data were analyzed using Chi-square test and multivariate logistic regression for risk factors analysis. Results Of 1564 individuals, 53 cases (3.38%) showed Leishmania specific antibodies as follows: with 1:400 titer 16 cases (1.02%), with 1:800 titer 20 cases (1.27%), with 1:1600 titer 16 cases (1.02%) whereas only one subject (0.06%) showed titers of ≥ 1:3200. There was no significant association between VL seropositivity and gender, age group and occupation. Binary logistic regression showed that rural areas was 0.44 times at higher risk of infection than urban areas (OR= 0.44; %95 CI= 0.25- 0.78). Conclusion Although the seroprevalence of VL is relatively low in Qom Province, yet due to the importance of the disease, the surveillance system should be monitored by health authorities. PMID:26060679

Magellan AO System z‧, Y S , and L‧ Observations of the Very Wide 650 AU HD 106906 Planetary System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Ya-Lin; Close, Laird M.; Bailey, Vanessa P.; Rodigas, Timothy J.; Males, Jared R.; Morzinski, Katie M.; Follette, Katherine B.; Hinz, Philip M.; Puglisi, Alfio; Briguglio, Runa; Xompero, Marco

2016-05-01

We analyze archival data from Bailey and co-workers from the Magellan adaptive optics system and present the first 0.9 μm detection (z‧ = 20.3 ± 0.4 mag; Δz‧ = 13.0 ± 0.4 mag) of the 11 M Jup circumbinary planet HD 106906AB b, as well as 1 and 3.8 μm detections of the debris disk around the binary. The disk has an east-west asymmetry in length and surface brightness, especially at 3.8 μm where the disk appears to be one-sided. The spectral energy distribution of b, when scaled to the K S -band photometry, is consistent with 1800 K atmospheric models without significant dust reddening, unlike some young, very red, low-mass companions such as CT Cha B and 1RXS 1609 B. Therefore, the suggested circumplanetary disk of Kalas and co-workers might not contain much material, or might be closer to face-on. Finally, we suggest that the widest (a ≳ 100 AU) low mass ratio (M p/M ⋆ ≡ q ≲ 0.01) companions may have formed inside protoplanetary disks but were later scattered by binary/planet interactions. Such a scattering event may have occurred for HD 106906AB b with its central binary star, but definitive proof at this time is elusive. This paper includes data gathered with the 6.5 m Magellan Clay Telescope at Las Campanas Observatory, Chile.

Health status assessment of workers during construction phase of highway rehabilitation projects around lahore, Pakistan

PubMed Central

Abrar, Amina; Cheema, Kausar Jamal; Saif, Samia; Mahmood, Asim

2016-01-01

Objective: The study focused on assessment of the health status of workers during construction phase of highway rehabilitation projects at six selected sites of N5 around Lahore, including Kala Shah Kaku, Muridke, Kamuki, Bhaipheru, Pattoki, and Okara. Methods: The study was based on multi-methods approach involving hazard identification through survey and checklist as well as a questionnaire for health status assessment and measurements of health parameters including peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) and audiometric screening of 300 subjects. Results: The study revealed non-congenial working conditions at the sites. Noise, vibrations, dust, asphalt fumes, poor work postures, and injuries were found to be major health hazards. PEFR of most of the workers was found to be significantly lower than the reference value. Average PEFR±SEM values were 187±5.1 l/min, 178±4.3 l/min, and 266±5.3 l/min in ground preparation workers, asphalt workers, and heavy vehicle drivers, respectively. The highest rate (29%) of hearing loss was recorded among heavy vehicle drivers. Musculoskeletal problems were found to be more common among ground preparation workers. Conclusion: Data revealed unsatisfactory health status of most of the workers. Direct relationship between health outcomes and the type of construction activities were observed. The current study focuses on the importance of including occupational health and safety plan in the execution phase of every developmental project that involves construction activities. PMID:27853055

Elevated Serum ADA Activity as a Marker for Diagnosis and Prognosis of Visceral Leishmaniasis and Post Kala-Azar Dermal Leishmaniasis in Indian Patients

PubMed Central

Vijayamahantesh; Amit, Ajay; Dikhit, Manas R.; Pandey, Raj K.; Singh, Kuljit; Mishra, Ritesh; Das, V. N. R; Das, Pradeep; Bimal, Sanjiva

2016-01-01

Serum adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity increases in diseases where cellular immunity is involved. Since cell-mediated immune responses play a paramount role in the pathogenesis and healing of the visceral leishmaniasis, therefore, the present study was undertaken to evaluate the serum ADA activity in different pathological conditions. Adenosine deaminase was determined in sera of active visceral leishmaniasis (VL) patients (n = 39), active postkala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) cases (n = 34) at the point of diagnosis and after treatment stages along with healthy controls (n = 30), endemic healthy subjects (n = 34) and endemic asymptomatic subjects (n = 34).Our in-vitro result revealed that monocytes secrete significant ADA level in response to Leishmania donovani (L.donovani) stimulation. The serum ADA activity in active VL and PKDL subjects were found to be significantly higher than that of respective treated cases and healthy controls. We also observed a marginal number (17.6%) of endemic asymptomatic subjects showed elevated serum ADA activity. Further, the ADA activity in PKDL was found to be decreased gradually during the different phases of treatment. Interestingly, 2 out of 32 treated VL cases found to have high serum ADA activity during follow up period were relapsed within few days. These results suggest the possibility of ADA as a marker of clinical pathogenesis and can be used as a surrogate marker in the diagnosis and prognosis of VL and PKDL. PMID:27186641

Elevated Serum ADA Activity as a Marker for Diagnosis and Prognosis of Visceral Leishmaniasis and Post Kala-Azar Dermal Leishmaniasis in Indian Patients.

PubMed

Vijayamahantesh; Amit, Ajay; Dikhit, Manas R; Pandey, Raj K; Singh, Kuljit; Mishra, Ritesh; Das, V N R; Das, Pradeep; Bimal, Sanjiva

2016-01-01

Serum adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity increases in diseases where cellular immunity is involved. Since cell-mediated immune responses play a paramount role in the pathogenesis and healing of the visceral leishmaniasis, therefore, the present study was undertaken to evaluate the serum ADA activity in different pathological conditions. Adenosine deaminase was determined in sera of active visceral leishmaniasis (VL) patients (n = 39), active postkala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) cases (n = 34) at the point of diagnosis and after treatment stages along with healthy controls (n = 30), endemic healthy subjects (n = 34) and endemic asymptomatic subjects (n = 34).Our in-vitro result revealed that monocytes secrete significant ADA level in response to Leishmania donovani (L.donovani) stimulation. The serum ADA activity in active VL and PKDL subjects were found to be significantly higher than that of respective treated cases and healthy controls. We also observed a marginal number (17.6%) of endemic asymptomatic subjects showed elevated serum ADA activity. Further, the ADA activity in PKDL was found to be decreased gradually during the different phases of treatment. Interestingly, 2 out of 32 treated VL cases found to have high serum ADA activity during follow up period were relapsed within few days. These results suggest the possibility of ADA as a marker of clinical pathogenesis and can be used as a surrogate marker in the diagnosis and prognosis of VL and PKDL.

Pro-apoptotic effect of the landrace Bangla Mahoba of Piper betle on Leishmania donovani may be due to the high content of eugenol.

PubMed

Misra, Pragya; Kumar, Awanish; Khare, Prashant; Gupta, Swati; Kumar, Nikhil; Dube, Anuradha

2009-08-01

In the absence of effective and safe treatment for visceral leishmaniasis or Kala-azar - a devastating parasitic disease caused by Leishmania donovani - the search for anti-leishmanial agents from natural resources in common use is imperative. Recently, the comparative in vitro anti-leishmanial activity of methanolic extracts from two landraces of Piper betle - P. betle landrace Bangla Mahoba (PB-BM) and P. betle landrace Kapoori Vellaikodi (PB-KV) - has been reported. Here, the putative pathway responsible for death induced by the effective extract of PB-BM methanolic extract in promastigotes, as well as the intracellular amastigote form of L. donovani, was assessed using various biochemical approaches. It was found that PB-BM was capable of selectively inhibiting both stages of Leishmania parasites by accelerating apoptotic events by generation of reactive oxygen species targeting the mitochondria without any cytotoxicity towards macrophages. The study was extended to determine the presence or absence of activity of the methanolic extract of PB-BM and PB-KV on the basis of differences in essential oil composition present in the extract assessed by GC and MS. The essential oil from PB-BM was found to be rich in eugenol compared with that from PB-KV. The anti-leishmanial efficacy of PB-BM methanolic extract mediated through apoptosis is probably due to the higher content of eugenol in the active landrace. This observation emphasizes the need to extend studies related to traditional medicines from bioactive plants below the species level to the gender/landrace level for better efficacy and reproducibility.

Assessment of quality of life in patients with post kalaazar dermal leishmaniasis.

PubMed

Pal, Biplab; Murti, Krishna; Siddiqui, Niyamat Ali; Das, Pradeep; Lal, Chandra Shekhar; Babu, Rajendra; Rastogi, Manoj Kumar; Pandey, Krishna

2017-07-24

Post kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) is a dermatological disorder caused by protozoal parasite Leishmania donovani. PKDL cases are thought to be a reservoir of parasites and may increase cases of visceral leishmaniasis. The disease is not life threatening but cosmetic disfigurement associated with it may impair the patients' quality of life. This study aimed to assess the health related quality of life in patients with post kalaazar dermal leishmanasis for the first time. A total of 92 PKDL cases and 96 healthy participants filled out the questionnaires. The Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) and SF 36 questionnaire were used to assess the quality of life. Data on socio-demographic and clinical features were also collected. The collected data were analyzed by using SPSS software (version 16), Student's t-test, analysis of variance (ANOVA) was applied for comparison of means. PKDL patients experienced very large impact on their quality of life. The mean score of DLQI was 11.41. Highest impact was found in symptoms and feelings and lowest impact was observed for personal relationship domain. Patients below 20 years age group found to have lower quality of life. There was a significant difference in mean DLQI scores with regard to age and severity of lesions (P < 0.05). No significant difference was observed with respect to gender, duration and location of lesions (p > 0.05). PKDL significantly impaired the patient's quality of life. Further studies to assess the impact of treatment on quality of life in these patients are recommended.

How effective is dog culling in controlling zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis? A critical evaluation of the science, politics and ethics behind this public health policy.

PubMed

Costa, Carlos Henrique Nery

2011-01-01

Zoonotic kala-azar, a lethal disease caused by protozoa of the genus Leishmania is considered out of control in parts of the world, particularly in Brazil, where transmission has spread to cities throughout most of the territory and mortality presents an increasing trend. Although a highly debatable measure, the Brazilian government regularly culls seropositive dogs to control the disease. Since control is failing, critical analysis concerning the actions focused on the canine reservoir was conducted. In a review of the literature, a historical perspective focusing mainly on comparisons between the successful Chinese and Soviet strategies and the Brazilian approach is presented. In addition, analyses of the principal studies regarding the role of dogs as risk factors to humans and of the main intervention studies regarding the efficacy of the dog killing strategy were undertaken. Brazilian political reaction to a recently published systematic review that concluded that the dog culling program lacked efficiency and its effect on public policy were also reviewed. No firm evidence of the risk conferred by the presence of dogs to humans was verified; on the contrary, a lack of scientific support for the policy of killing dogs was confirmed. A bias for distorting scientific data towards maintaining the policy of culling animals was observed. Since there is no evidence that dog culling diminishes visceral leishmaniasis transmission, it should be abandoned as a control measure. Ethical considerations have been raised regarding distorting scientific results and the killing of animals despite minimal or absent scientific evidence.

BioXSD: the common data-exchange format for everyday bioinformatics web services

PubMed Central

Kalaš, Matúš; Puntervoll, Pæl; Joseph, Alexandre; Bartaševičiūtė, Edita; Töpfer, Armin; Venkataraman, Prabakar; Pettifer, Steve; Bryne, Jan Christian; Ison, Jon; Blanchet, Christophe; Rapacki, Kristoffer; Jonassen, Inge

2010-01-01

Motivation: The world-wide community of life scientists has access to a large number of public bioinformatics databases and tools, which are developed and deployed using diverse technologies and designs. More and more of the resources offer programmatic web-service interface. However, efficient use of the resources is hampered by the lack of widely used, standard data-exchange formats for the basic, everyday bioinformatics data types. Results: BioXSD has been developed as a candidate for standard, canonical exchange format for basic bioinformatics data. BioXSD is represented by a dedicated XML Schema and defines syntax for biological sequences, sequence annotations, alignments and references to resources. We have adapted a set of web services to use BioXSD as the input and output format, and implemented a test-case workflow. This demonstrates that the approach is feasible and provides smooth interoperability. Semantics for BioXSD is provided by annotation with the EDAM ontology. We discuss in a separate section how BioXSD relates to other initiatives and approaches, including existing standards and the Semantic Web. Availability: The BioXSD 1.0 XML Schema is freely available at http://www.bioxsd.org/BioXSD-1.0.xsd under the Creative Commons BY-ND 3.0 license. The http://bioxsd.org web page offers documentation, examples of data in BioXSD format, example workflows with source codes in common programming languages, an updated list of compatible web services and tools and a repository of feature requests from the community. Contact: matus.kalas@bccs.uib.no; developers@bioxsd.org; support@bioxsd.org PMID:20823319

Immunotherapy and Immunochemotherapy in Visceral Leishmaniasis: Promising Treatments for this Neglected Disease

PubMed Central

Roatt, Bruno Mendes; Aguiar-Soares, Rodrigo Dian de Oliveira; Coura-Vital, Wendel; Ker, Henrique Gama; Moreira, Nádia das Dores; Vitoriano-Souza, Juliana; Giunchetti, Rodolfo Cordeiro; Carneiro, Cláudia Martins; Reis, Alexandre Barbosa

2014-01-01

Leishmaniasis has several clinical forms: self-healing or chronic cutaneous leishmaniasis or post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis; mucosal leishmaniasis; visceral leishmaniasis (VL), which is fatal if left untreated. The epidemiology and clinical features of VL vary greatly due to the interaction of multiple factors including parasite strains, vectors, host genetics, and the environment. Human immunodeficiency virus infection augments the severity of VL increasing the risk of developing active disease by 100–2320 times. An effective vaccine for humans is not yet available. Resistance to chemotherapy is a growing problem in many regions, and the costs associated with drug identification and development, make commercial production for leishmaniasis, unattractive. The toxicity of currently drugs, their long treatment course, and limited efficacy are significant concerns. For cutaneous disease, many studies have shown promising results with immunotherapy/immunochemotherapy, aimed to modulate and activate the immune response to obtain a therapeutic cure. Nowadays, the focus of many groups centers on treating canine VL by using vaccines and immunomodulators with or without chemotherapy. In human disease, the use of cytokines like interferon-γ associated with pentavalent antimonials demonstrated promising results in patients that did not respond to conventional treatment. In mice, immunomodulation based on monoclonal antibodies to remove endogenous immunosuppressive cytokines (interleukin-10) or block their receptors, antigen-pulsed syngeneic dendritic cells, or biological products like Pam3Cys (TLR ligand) has already been shown as a prospective treatment of the disease. This review addresses VL treatment, particularly immunotherapy and/or immunochemotherapy as an alternative to conventional drug treatment in experimental models, canine VL, and human disease. PMID:24982655

In vitro permissiveness of bovine neutrophils and monocyte derived macrophages to Leishmania donovani of Ethiopian isolate.

PubMed

Tasew, Geremew; Gadisa, Endalamaw; Abera, Adugna; Zewude, Aboma; Chanyalew, Menberework; Aseffa, Abraham; Abebe, Markos; Ritter, Uwe; van Zandbergen, Ger; Laskay, Tamás; Tafess, Ketema

2016-04-18

Epidemiological studies in Ethiopia have documented that the risk of visceral leishmaniasis (VL, Kala-azar) is higher among people living with domestic animals. The recent report on isolation of Leishmania donovani complex DNA and the detected high prevalence of anti-leishmanial antibodies in the blood of domestic animals further strengthen the potential role of domestic animals in the epidemiology of VL in Ethiopia. In mammalian hosts polymorphonuclear cells (PMN) and macrophages are the key immune cells influencing susceptibility or control of Leishmania infection. Thus to substantiate the possible role of cattle in VL transmission we investigate the permissiveness of bovine PMN and monocyte derived macrophages (MDM) for Leishmania (L.) donovani infection. Whole blood was collected from pure Zebu (Boss indicus) and their cross with Holstein Friesian cattle. L. donovani (MHOM/ET/67/HU3) wild and episomal green fluorescent protein (eGFP) labelled stationary stage promastigotes were co-incubated with whole blood and MDM to determine infection of these cells. Engulfment of promastigotes by the cells and their transformation to amastigote forms in MDM was studied with direct microscopy. Microscopy and flow cytometry were used to measure the infection rate while PCR-RLFP was used to confirm the infecting parasite. L. donovani infected bovine whole blood PMN in the presence of plasma factors and all cellular elements. Morphological examinations of stained cytospin smears revealed that PMN engulfed promastigotes. Similarly, we were able to show that bovine MDM can be infected by L. donovani, which transformed to amastigote forms in the cells. The in vitro infection of bovine PMN and MDM by L. donovani further strengthens the possibility that cattle might serve as source of L. donovani infection for humans.

Therapeutic immunization with radio-attenuated Leishmania parasites through i.m. route revealed protection against the experimental murine visceral leishmaniasis.

PubMed

Datta, Sanchita; Manna, Madhumita; Khanra, Supriya; Ghosh, Moumita; Bhar, Radhaballav; Chakraborty, Anindita; Roy, Syamal

2012-07-01

After our promising results from prophylactic and therapeutic study (i.p. route) with the radio-attenuated Leishmania donovani parasites against experimental murine visceral leishmaniasis, we prompted to check their therapeutic efficacy through i.m route. BALB/c mice were infected with highly virulent L. donovani parasites. After 75 days, mice were treated with gamma (γ)-irradiated parasites. A second therapeutic immunization was given after 15 days of first immunization. The protection against kala-azar was estimated with the reduction of Leishman-Donovan unit from spleen and liver that scored up to 80% and 93%, respectively, while a twofold increase in nitric oxide (NO) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) productions has been observed in the immunized groups of animals. These groups of mice also showed disease regression by skewing Th2 cytokines (IL-10) towards Th1 cytokine (IFN-γ) bias along with the increased generation of NO and ROS, while the infected control group of mice without such treatment surrendered to the disease. Establishment of Th1 ambience in the treated groups has also been supported from the measured antileishmanial antibody IgG subsets (IgG2a and IgG1) with higher anti-soluble Leishmania antigen-specific IgG2a titer. As seen in our previous studies, doses of attenuation by γ-radiation should be taken into serious consideration. Attenuation of parasites at 50 Gy of absorbed dose of gamma rays has not worked well. Thus, therapeutic use of L. donovani parasites radio-attenuated at particular doses can be exploited as a promising vaccine agent. Absence of any adjuvant may increase its acceptability as vaccine candidate further.

Spatial correlations of population and ecological factors with distribution of visceral leishmaniasis cases in southwestern Iran.

PubMed

Ghatee, Mohammad Amin; Sharifi, Iraj; Haghdoost, Ali Akbar; Kanannejad, Zahra; Taabody, Zahra; Hatam, Gholamreza; Abdollahipanah, Abbas

2013-09-01

Leishmaniasis as a dynamic disease may be markedly influenced by demographic and ecological factors. A geospatial information system study was developed to determine the distribution of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) cases in relation to population, climatic and environmental factors in Fars province, southwest of Iran. The dwelling addresses of 217 VL patients were obtained from hospital files. A hazard map produced by unifying buffers (5 km) around nomads travel routes (NTR) was developed to survey the effect of close proximity to NTR on the distribution of VL. Mean annual rainfall (MAR), mean annual temperature (MAT), four months temperature mean (T4), elevation, slope and landcover were climatic and environmental factors that have been analysed. Finally, data of dwelling foci were extracted from maps and analysed using logistic regression models. Close proximity to NTR was the most important factor influenced on the disease distribution. Climatic factors were in second rank. Among them, temperature especially T4 is the most effective variable and rainfall was also shown to be another effective climatic agent. Most cases of VL were reported from temperate and semiarid areas in western and central regions while arid condition was a confined factor. The environmental factor of landcovers including urban, dry farm and thin forest regions was revealed as the third rank effective factor. Altitude importance was only shown when its effect was studied independently from other factors. These findings present the distribution of VL in Fars province is influenced by combination of ecological and nomads demographical variables although closeness to NTR and nomads role in distribution and continuance of kala-azar are the most important factors.

Impact of vectorborne parasitic neglected tropical diseases on child health.

PubMed

Barry, Meagan A; Murray, Kristy O; Hotez, Peter J; Jones, Kathryn M

2016-07-01

Chagas disease, leishmaniasis, onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis are all vectorborne neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) that are responsible for significant disease burden in impoverished children and adults worldwide. As vectorborne parasitic diseases, they can all be targeted for elimination through vector control strategies. Examples of successful vector control programmes for these diseases over the past two decades have included the Southern Cone Initiative against Chagas disease, the Kala-azar Control Scheme against leishmaniasis, the Onchocerciasis Control Programme and the lymphatic filariasis control programme in The Gambia. A common vector control component in all of these programmes is the use of adulticides including dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane and newer synthetic pyrethroid insecticides against the insect vectors of disease. Household spraying has been used against Chagas disease and leishmaniasis, and insecticide-treated bed nets have helped prevent leishmaniasis and lymphatic filariasis. Recent trends in vector control focus on collaborations between programmes and sectors to achieve integrated vector management that addresses the holistic vector control needs of a community rather than approaching it on a disease-by-disease basis, with the goals of increased efficacy, sustainability and cost-effectiveness. As evidence of vector resistance to currently used insecticide regimens emerges, research to develop new and improved insecticides and novel control strategies will be critical in reducing disease burden. In the quest to eliminate these vectorborne NTDs, efforts need to be made to continue existing control programmes, further implement integrated vector control strategies and stimulate research into new insecticides and control methods. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/

Specific gene transfer mediated by galactosylated poly-L-lysine into hepatoma cells.

PubMed

Han, J; Il Yeom, Y

2000-07-20

Plasmid DNA/galactosylated poly-L-lysine(GalPLL) complex was used to transfer luciferase reporter gene in vitro into human hepatoma cells by a receptor-mediated endocytosis process. DNA was combined with galPLL via charge interaction (DNA:GalPLL:fusogenic peptide, 1:0.4:5, w/w/w) and the resulting complex was characterized by dynamic light scattering, gel retardation assay and zeta potential analyzer to determine the particle size, electrostatic charge interaction, and apparent surface charge. The complex was tested for the efficiency of gene transfer in cultured human hepatoblastoma cell line Hep G2 and fibroblast cells NIH/3T3 in vitro. The mean diameter of the complex (DNA:GalPLL=1:0.4, w/w) was 256+/-34.8 nm, and at this ratio, it was positively charged (zeta potential of this complex was 10.1 mV). Hep G2 cells, which express a galactose specific membrane lectin, were efficiently and selectively transfected with the RSV Luc/GalPLL complex in a sugar-dependent manner. NIH/3T3 cells, which do not express the galactose-specific membrane lectin, showed only a marginal level of gene expression. The transfection efficiency of GalPLL-conjugated DNA complex into Hep G2 cells was greatly enhanced in the presence of fusogenic peptide that can disrupt endosomes, where the GalPLL-DNA complex is entrapped with the fusogenic peptide. With the fusogenic peptide KALA, the luciferase activity in Hep G2 cells was ten-fold higher than that of cells transfected in the absence of the fusogenic peptide. Our gene transfer formulation may find potential application for the gene therapy of liver diseases.

Elimination of neglected tropical diseases in the South-East Asia Region of the World Health Organization.

PubMed

Narain, Jai P; Dash, A P; Parnell, B; Bhattacharya, S K; Barua, S; Bhatia, R; Savioli, L

2010-03-01

The neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), which affect the very poor, pose a major public health problem in the South-East Asia Region of the World Health Organization (WHO). Although more than a dozen NTDs affect the region, over the past five years four of them in particular - leprosy, lymphatic filariasis, visceral leishmaniasis (kala-azar) and yaws - have been targeted for elimination. These four were selected for a number of reasons. First, they affect the WHO South-East Asia Region disproportionately. For example, every year around 67% of all new leprosy cases and 60% of all new cases of visceral leishmaniasis worldwide occur in countries of the region, where as many as 850 million inhabitants are at risk of contracting lymphatic filariasis. In addition, several epidemiological, technological and historical factors that are unique to the region make each of these four diseases amenable to elimination. Safe and effective tools and interventions to achieve these targets are available and concerted efforts to scale them up, singly or in an integrated manner, are likely to lead to success. The World Health Assembly and the WHO Regional Committee, through a series of resolutions, have already expressed regional and global commitments for the elimination of these diseases as public health problems. Such action is expected to have a quick and dramatic impact on poverty reduction and to contribute to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. This paper reviews the policy rationale for disease control in the WHO South-East Asia Region, the progress made so far, the lessons learnt along the way, and the remaining challenges and opportunities.

Therapy with radio-attenuated vaccine in experimental murine visceral leishmaniasis showed enhanced T cell and inducible nitric oxide synthase levels, suppressed tumor growth factor-beta production with higher expression of some signaling molecules.

PubMed

Datta, Sanchita; Roy, Syamal; Manna, Madhumita

2015-01-01

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) or Kala-Azar (KA) is one of the most deadly forms of disease among all neglected tropical diseases. There are no satisfactory drugs or vaccine candidates available for this dreaded disease. Our previous studies showed promising therapeutic and prophylactic efficacy of the live, radio-attenuated parasites through intramuscular (I.M.) and intraperitoneal (I.P.) route in BALB/c mice model. The T-cell proliferation level, the mRNA expression level of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and tumor growth factor-beta (TGF-β) genes and finally the phosphorylation levels of phosphoinositide dependent kinase 1 (PDK1), phosphoinositide 3 kinase (PI3K) and p38 mitogen activated protein kinase (p38MAPK) molecules were checked in BALB/c mice model immunized with radio-attenuated Leishmania donovani parasites through I.M. route. Higher T-cell proliferation, increased iNOS level, and suppressed TGF-β level were found in treated infected animal groups (100 and 150Gy) in relation to untreated infected animals. Likewise, phosphorylation levels of PDK1, PI3K and p38MAPK of these two groups were increased when compared to untreated infected controls. The clearance of the parasites from treated infected groups of animals may be mediated by the restoration of T-cell due to therapy with radio-attenuated L. donovani parasites. The killing of parasites was mediated by increase in nitric oxide release through PDK1, PI3K and p38MAPK signaling pathways. A lower TGF-β expression has augmented the restored Th1 ambience in the 100 and 150Gy treated animal groups proving further the efficacy of the candidate vaccine. Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier Editora Ltda.

Leishmania donovani tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase structure in complex with a tyrosyl adenylate analog and comparisons with human and protozoan counterparts.

PubMed

Barros-Álvarez, Ximena; Kerchner, Keshia M; Koh, Cho Yeow; Turley, Stewart; Pardon, Els; Steyaert, Jan; Ranade, Ranae M; Gillespie, J Robert; Zhang, Zhongsheng; Verlinde, Christophe L M J; Fan, Erkang; Buckner, Frederick S; Hol, Wim G J

2017-07-01

The crystal structure of Leishmania donovani tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase (LdTyrRS) in complex with a nanobody and the tyrosyl adenylate analog TyrSA was determined at 2.75 Å resolution. Nanobodies are the variable domains of camelid heavy chain-only antibodies. The nanobody makes numerous crystal contacts and in addition reduces the flexibility of a loop of LdTyrRS. TyrSA is engaged in many interactions with active site residues occupying the tyrosine and adenine binding pockets. The LdTyrRS polypeptide chain consists of two pseudo-monomers, each consisting of two domains. Comparing the two independent chains in the asymmetric unit reveals that the two pseudo-monomers of LdTyrRS can bend with respect to each other essentially as rigid bodies. This flexibility might be useful in the positioning of tRNA for catalysis since both pseudo-monomers in the LdTyrRS chain are needed for charging tRNA Tyr . An "extra pocket" (EP) appears to be present near the adenine binding region of LdTyrRS. Since this pocket is absent in the two human homologous enzymes, the EP provides interesting opportunities for obtaining selective drugs for treating infections caused by L. donovani, a unicellular parasite causing visceral leishmaniasis, or kala azar, which claims 20,000 to 30,000 deaths per year. Sequence and structural comparisons indicate that the EP is a characteristic which also occurs in the active site of several other important pathogenic protozoa. Therefore, the structure of LdTyrRS could inspire the design of compounds useful for treating several different parasitic diseases. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. and Société Française de Biochimie et Biologie Moléculaire (SFBBM). All rights reserved.

Apoptosis-like death in Leishmania donovani promastigotes induced by eugenol-rich oil of Syzygium aromaticum.

PubMed

Islamuddin, Mohammad; Sahal, Dinkar; Afrin, Farhat

2014-01-01

Leishmaniasis consists of a complex spectrum of infectious diseases with worldwide distribution of which visceral leishmaniasis or kala-azar caused by Leishmania donovani is the most devastating. In the absence of vaccines, chemotherapy remains the mainstay for the control of leishmaniasis. The drugs of choice are expensive and associated with multiple adverse side effects. Because of these limitations, the development of new antileishmanial compounds is imperative and plants offer prospects in this regard. The present work was conducted to study the antileishmanial potential of oil from Syzygium aromaticum flower buds (clove). The S. aromaticum oil was characterized by gas chromatography and GC-MS and eugenol as well as eugenyl acetate were found to be the most abundant compounds, composing 59.75 % and 29.24 %, respectively of the oil. Our findings have shown that eugenol-rich essential oil from S. aromaticum (EROSA) possesses significant activity against L. donovani, with 50 % inhibitory concentration of 21 ± 0.16 µg ml(-1) and 15.24 ± 0.14 µg ml(-1), respectively, against promastigotes and intracellular amastigotes. Alterations in cellular morphology and growth reversibility assay substantiated the leishmanicidal activity of EROSA. The leishmanicidal effect was mediated via apoptosis as confirmed by externalization of phosphatidylserine, DNA nicking by TdT-mediated dUTP nick-end labelling (TUNEL) assay, dyskinetoplastidy, cell cycle arrest at sub-G0-G1 phase, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and reactive oxygen species generation. EROSA presented no adverse cytotoxic effects against murine macrophages even at 200 µg ml(-1). Our studies authenticate the promising antileishmanial activity of EROSA, which is mediated by programmed cell death, and, accordingly, EROSA may be a source of novel agents for the treatment of leishmaniasis.

Leishmania and human immunodeficiency virus coinfection: the first 10 years.

PubMed Central

Alvar, J; Cañavate, C; Gutiérrez-Solar, B; Jiménez, M; Laguna, F; López-Vélez, R; Molina, R; Moreno, J

1997-01-01

Over 850 Leishmania-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) coinfection cases have been recorded, the majority in Europe, where 7 to 17% of HIV-positive individuals with fever have amastigotes, suggesting that Leishmania-infected individuals without symptoms will express symptoms of leishmaniasis if they become immunosuppressed. However, there are indirect reasons and statistical data demonstrating that intravenous drug addiction plays a specific role in Leishmania infantum transmission: an anthroponotic cycle complementary to the zoonotic one has been suggested. Due to anergy in patients with coinfection, L. infantum dermotropic zymodemes are isolated from patient viscera and a higher L. infantum phenotypic variability is seen. Moreover, insect trypanosomatids that are currently considered nonpathogenic have been isolated from coinfected patients. HIV infection and Leishmania infection each induce important analogous immunological changes whose effects are multiplied if they occur concomitantly, such as a Th1-to-Th2 response switch; however, the consequences of the viral infection predominate. In fact, a large proportion of coinfected patients have no detectable anti-Leishmania antibodies. The microorganisms share target cells, and it has been demonstrated in vitro how L. infantum induces the expression of latent HIV-1. Bone marrow culture is the most useful diagnostic technique, but it is invasive. Blood smears and culture are good alternatives. PCR, xenodiagnosis, and circulating-antigen detection are available only in specialized laboratories. The relationship with low levels of CD4+ cells conditions the clinical presentation and evolution of disease. Most patients have visceral leishmaniasis, but asymptomatic, cutaneous, mucocutaneous, diffuse cutaneous, and post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis can be produced by L. infantum. The digestive and respiratory tracts are frequently parasitized. The course of coinfection is marked by a high relapse rate. There is a lack

Monthly activity of Phlebotominae sand flies in Sistan-Baluchistan Province, Southeast Iran.

PubMed

Kassiri, H; Javadian, E; Sharififard, M

2013-01-01

The monthly activity of sand flies, which are vectors of leishmaniasis, was studied from May to October 1997 in three regions (plains, mountainous, coastal) of the Sistan-Bluchistan Province using sticky paper traps. In each village, three houses were selected. 30 sticky traps were installed indoors (bedroom, guestroom, toilet, bathroom) and 30 were installed outdoors (rodent burrows, wall cracks). In total, 8,558 and 1,596 sand fly specimens were collected and identified from outdoors and indoors, respectively. Ten species of Phlebotomus and eight species of Sergentomyia were collected outdoors, and nine species of Phlebotomus and 10 species of Sergentomyia were collected indoors. Phlebotomus papatasi (Scopoli) (Diptera: Psychodidae) was the predominant species found indoors in the plains region (58.4% of insects caught in the region) and was active during the whole study period. The P. papatasi peaks of activity were in early May and early October. Sergentomyia clydei (Sinton) was found to be the most abundant species outdoors in the plains region and comprised 64.7% of the total insects caught in the region. Sergentomyia clydei and S. tiberiadis (Alder, Theodor, and Lourie) were the predominant indoor and outdoor, respectively, species from the mountainous region, making up 19.8% and 35%, respectively, of all the insects caught in the region. Phlebotomus sergenti Parrot is a proven vector of urban cutaneous leishmaniasis, and P. alexandri (Sinton) is a probable vector of Kala-Azar, and both were collected during this study. Phlebotomus papatasi was the most predominant species collected indoors in the coastal region (50.8%), its peak activity was in May. Sergentomyia sintoni Pringle was the most predominant species collected outdoors in the coastal region (36.4%), and its peak activity was in October. Awareness of the peak activity times of sand flies can be useful in developing strategies to control the flies.

Monthly Activity of Phlebotominae Sand Flies in Sistan-Baluchistan Province, Southeast Iran

PubMed Central

Kassiri, H.; Javadian, E.; Sharififard, M.

2013-01-01

The monthly activity of sand flies, which are vectors of leishmaniasis, was studied from May to October 1997 in three regions (plains, mountainous, coastal) of the Sistan-Bluchistan Province using sticky paper traps. In each village, three houses were selected. 30 sticky traps were installed indoors (bedroom, guestroom, toilet, bathroom) and 30 were installed outdoors (rodent burrows, wall cracks). In total, 8,558 and 1,596 sand fly specimens were collected and identified from outdoors and indoors, respectively. Ten species of Phlebotomus and eight species of Sergentomyia were collected outdoors, and nine species of Phlebotomus and 10 species of Sergentomyia were collected indoors. Phlebotomus papatasi (Scopoli) (Diptera: Psychodidae) was the predominant species found indoors in the plains region (58.4% of insects caught in the region) and was active during the whole study period. The P. papatasi peaks of activity were in early May and early October. Sergentomyia clydei (Sinton) was found to be the most abundant species outdoors in the plains region and comprised 64.7% of the total insects caught in the region. Sergentomyia clydei and S. tiberiadis (Alder, Theodor, and Lourie) were the predominant indoor and outdoor, respectively, species from the mountainous region, making up 19.8% and 35%, respectively, of all the insects caught in the region. Phlebotomus sergenti Parrot is a proven vector of urban cutaneous leishmaniasis, and P. alexandri (Sinton) is a probable vector of Kala-Azar, and both were collected during this study. Phlebotomus papatasi was the most predominant species collected indoors in the coastal region (50.8%), its peak activity was in May. Sergentomyia sintoni Pringle was the most predominant species collected outdoors in the coastal region (36.4%), and its peak activity was in October. Awareness of the peak activity times of sand flies can be useful in developing strategies to control the flies. PMID:24784790

Transmission Dynamics of Visceral Leishmaniasis in the Indian Subcontinent – A Systematic Literature Review

PubMed Central

Boelaert, Marleen; Matlashewski, Greg; Mondal, Dinesh; Arana, Byron; Kroeger, Axel; Olliaro, Piero

2016-01-01

Background As Bangladesh, India and Nepal progress towards visceral leishmaniasis (VL) elimination, it is important to understand the role of asymptomatic Leishmania infection (ALI), VL treatment relapse and post kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) in transmission. Methodology/ Principal Finding We reviewed evidence systematically on ALI, relapse and PKDL. We searched multiple databases to include studies on burden, risk factors, biomarkers, natural history, and infectiveness of ALI, PKDL and relapse. After screening 292 papers, 98 were included covering the years 1942 through 2016. ALI, PKDL and relapse studies lacked a reference standard and appropriate biomarker. The prevalence of ALI was 4–17-fold that of VL. The risk of ALI was higher in VL case contacts. Most infections remained asymptomatic or resolved spontaneously. The proportion of ALI that progressed to VL disease within a year was 1.5–23%, and was higher amongst those with high antibody titres. The natural history of PKDL showed variability; 3.8–28.6% had no past history of VL treatment. The infectiveness of PKDL was 32–53%. The risk of VL relapse was higher with HIV co-infection. Modelling studies predicted a range of scenarios. One model predicted VL elimination was unlikely in the long term with early diagnosis. Another model estimated that ALI contributed to 82% of the overall transmission, VL to 10% and PKDL to 8%. Another model predicted that VL cases were the main driver for transmission. Different models predicted VL elimination if the sandfly density was reduced by 67% by killing the sandfly or by 79% by reducing their breeding sites, or with 4–6y of optimal IRS or 10y of sub-optimal IRS and only in low endemic setting. Conclusion/ Significance There is a need for xenodiagnostic and longitudinal studies to understand the potential of ALI and PKDL as reservoirs of infection. PMID:27490264

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bhaskar,; Kumari, Neeti; Goyal, Neena, E-mail: neenacdri@yahoo.com

Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer The study presents cloning and characterization of TCP1{gamma} gene from L. donovani. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer TCP1{gamma} is a subunit of T-complex protein-1 (TCP1), a chaperonin class of protein. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer LdTCP{gamma} exhibited differential expression in different stages of promastigotes. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer LdTCP{gamma} co-localized with actin, a cytoskeleton protein. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer The data suggests that this gene may have a role in differentiation/biogenesis. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer First report on this chapronin in Leishmania. -- Abstract: T-complex protein-1 (TCP1) complex, a chaperonin class of protein, ubiquitous in all genera of life, is involved in intracellular assembly and folding of various proteins. The gamma subunit of TCP1 complexmore » (TCP1{gamma}), plays a pivotal role in the folding and assembly of cytoskeleton protein(s) as an individual or complexed with other subunits. Here, we report for the first time cloning, characterization and expression of the TCP1{gamma} of Leishmania donovani (LdTCP1{gamma}), the causative agent of Indian Kala-azar. Primary sequence analysis of LdTCP1{gamma} revealed the presence of all the characteristic features of TCP1{gamma}. However, leishmanial TCP1{gamma} represents a distinct kinetoplastid group, clustered in a separate branch of the phylogenic tree. LdTCP1{gamma} exhibited differential expression in different stages of promastigotes. The non-dividing stationary phase promastigotes exhibited 2.5-fold less expression of LdTCP1{gamma} as compared to rapidly dividing log phase parasites. The sub-cellular distribution of LdTCP1{gamma} was studied in log phase promastigotes by employing indirect immunofluorescence microscopy. The protein was present not only in cytoplasm but it was also localized in nucleus, peri-nuclear region, flagella, flagellar pocket and apical region. Co-localization of LdTCP1{gamma} with actin

Climate change and threat of vector-borne diseases in India: are we prepared?

PubMed

Dhiman, Ramesh C; Pahwa, Sharmila; Dhillon, G P S; Dash, Aditya P

2010-03-01

It is unequivocal that climate change is happening and is likely to expand the geographical distribution of several vector-borne diseases, including malaria and dengue etc. to higher altitudes and latitudes. India is endemic for six major vector-borne diseases (VBD) namely malaria, dengue, chikungunya, filariasis, Japanese encephalitis and visceral leishmaniasis. Over the years, there has been reduction in the incidence of almost all the diseases except chikungunya which has re-emerged since 2005. The upcoming issue of climate change has surfaced as a new threat and challenge for ongoing efforts to contain vector-borne diseases. There is greater awareness about the potential impacts of climate change on VBDs in India and research institutions and national authorities have initiated actions to assess the impacts. Studies undertaken in India on malaria in the context of climate change impact reveal that transmission windows in Punjab, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir and north-eastern states are likely to extend temporally by 2-3 months and in Orissa, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu there may be reduction in transmission windows. Using PRECIS model (driven by HadRM2) at the resolution of 50 x 50 Km for daily temperature and relative humidity for year 2050, it was found that Orissa, West Bengal and southern parts of Assam will still remain malarious and transmission windows will open up in Himachal Pradesh and north-eastern states etc. Impact of climate change on dengue also reveals increase in transmission with 2 C rise in temperature in northern India. Re-emergence of kala-azar in northern parts of India and reappearance of chikungunya mainly in southern states of India has also been discussed. The possible need to address the threat and efforts made in India have also been highlighted. The paper concludes with a positive lead that with better preparedness threat of climate change on vector-borne diseases may be negated.

A review of visceral leishmaniasis during the conflict in South Sudan and the consequences for East African countries.

PubMed

Al-Salem, Waleed; Herricks, Jennifer R; Hotez, Peter J

2016-08-22

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL), caused predominantly by Leishmania donovani and transmitted by both Phlebotomus orientalis and Phlebotomus martini, is highly endemic in East Africa where approximately 30 thousands VL cases are reported annually. The largest numbers of cases are found in Sudan - where Phlebotomus orientalis proliferate in Acacia forests especially on Sudan's eastern border with Ethiopia, followed by South Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya and Uganda. Long-standing civil war and unrest is a dominant determinant of VL in East African countries. Here we attempt to identify the correlation between VL epidemics and civil unrest. In this review, literature published between 1955 and 2016 have been gathered from MSF, UNICEF, OCHA, UNHCR, PubMed and Google Scholar to analyse the correlation between conflict and human suffering from VL, which is especially apparent in South Sudan. Waves of forced migration as a consequence of civil wars between 1983 and 2005 have resulted in massive and lethal epidemics in southern Sudan. Following a comprehensive peace agreement, but especially with increased allocation of resources for disease treatment and prevention in 2011, cases of VL declined reaching the lowest levels after South Sudan declared independence. However, in the latest epidemic that began in 2014 after the onset of a civil war in South Sudan, more than 1.5 million displaced refugees have migrated internally to states highly endemic for VL, while 800,000 have fled to neighboring countries. We find a strong relationship between civil unrest and VL epidemics which tend to occur among immunologically naïve migrants entering VL-endemic areas and when Leishmania-infected individuals migrate to new areas and establish additional foci of disease. Further complicating factors in East Africa's VL epidemics include severe lack of access to diagnosis and treatment, HIV/AIDS co-infection, food insecurity and malnutrition. Moreover, cases of post-kala-azar dermal

Noninvasive Diagnosis of Visceral Leishmaniasis: Development and Evaluation of Two Urine-Based Immunoassays for Detection of Leishmania donovani Infection in India

PubMed Central

Ejazi, Sarfaraz Ahmad; Bhattacharya, Pradyot; Bakhteyar, Md. Asjad Karim; Mumtaz, Aquil Ahmad; Pandey, Krishna; Das, Vidya Nand Ravi; Das, Pradeep; Rahaman, Mehebubar; Goswami, Rama Prosad; Ali, Nahid

2016-01-01

Background Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL), a severe parasitic disease, could be fatal if diagnosis and treatment is delayed. Post kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL), a skin related outcome, is a potential reservoir for the spread of VL. Diagnostic tests available for VL such as tissue aspiration are invasive and painful although they are capable of evaluating the treatment response. Serological tests although less invasive than tissue aspiration are incompetent to assess cure. Parasitological examination of slit-skin smear along with the clinical symptoms is routinely used for diagnosis of PKDL. Therefore, a noninvasive test with acceptable sensitivity and competency, additionally, to decide cure would be an asset in disease management and control. Methodology/principal findings We describe here, the development of antibody-capture ELISA and field adaptable dipstick test as noninvasive diagnostic tools for VL and PKDL and as a test of cure in VL treatment. Sensitivity and specificity of urine-ELISA were 97.94% (95/97) and 100% (75/75) respectively, for VL. Importantly, dipstick test demonstrated 100% sensitivity (97/97) and specificity (75/75) in VL diagnosis. Degree of agreement of the two methods with tissue aspiration was 98.83% (κ = 0.97) and 100% (κ = 1), for ELISA and dipstick test, respectively. Both the tests had 100% positivity for PKDL (14/14) cases. ELISA and dipstick test illustrated treatment efficacy in about 90% (16/18) VL cases when eventually turned negative after six months of treatment. Conclusions/significance ELISA and dipstick test found immensely effective for diagnosis of VL and PKDL through urine samples thus, may substitute the existing invasive diagnostics. Utility of these tests as indirect methods of monitoring parasite clearance can define infected versus cured. Urine-based dipstick test is simple, sensitive and above all noninvasive method that may help not only in active VL case detection but also to ascertain treatment response

Pathogenicity of Leishmania donovani is associated with the high expression of a group low molecular weight proteins

PubMed Central

Mitra, Partha

2015-01-01

Background: With few exceptions, members of the Leishmania donovani complex such as L. donovani, L. infantum and L. chagashi are the etiological agents of visceral leishmaniasis or kala-azar. Promastigotes of Leishmania spp. lose their Pathogenicity; the ability to establish infection in a susceptible host, after prolonged culture. The molecular basis of this evolution of pathogenic to nonpathogenic culture has not been very well understood. It has been proposed that the loss of pathogenicity is associated with the gradual disappearance of selective parasite proteins. An alternative hypothesis is that during prolonged culture, the pathogenic clonal population of the parasite is deleted from the mixed population due to their selection pressure. This clonal deletion is proposed to be responsible for the emergence of the nonpathogenic population. Study Methodology and Results: We have a done a series of two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by western blot experiments to study the antigenic profile of few L. donovani isolates of Indian origin. We observed a gradual and significant downregulation of expression of a group of low molecular weight proteins (LMW, molecular weight 20–30 kDa) which are associated with loss of pathogenicity. These proteins are recognized only by antiserum raised against the whole cell extract of one of the pathogenic Indian L. donovani isolates, Ag83, and remained undetected by antiserum raised against the nonpathogenic AG83 isolates. These LMW proteins were also present in the nonpathogenic extract in very low levels and remained undetected by the virulent serum, indicating a phenomenon of simultaneous downregulation of the expression and altered immunogenicity. LMW proteins were universally expressed in all early passage Indian isolate we tested and also detected in two clones obtained from pathogenic parasite culture. The antigenic patterns of none of the eight clones obtained from nonpathogenic culture were not

Pathogenicity of Leishmania donovani is associated with the high expression of a group low molecular weight proteins.

PubMed

Mitra, Partha

2015-01-01

With few exceptions, members of the Leishmania donovani complex such as L. donovani, L. infantum and L. chagashi are the etiological agents of visceral leishmaniasis or kala-azar. Promastigotes of Leishmania spp. lose their Pathogenicity; the ability to establish infection in a susceptible host, after prolonged culture. The molecular basis of this evolution of pathogenic to nonpathogenic culture has not been very well understood. It has been proposed that the loss of pathogenicity is associated with the gradual disappearance of selective parasite proteins. An alternative hypothesis is that during prolonged culture, the pathogenic clonal population of the parasite is deleted from the mixed population due to their selection pressure. This clonal deletion is proposed to be responsible for the emergence of the nonpathogenic population. We have a done a series of two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by western blot experiments to study the antigenic profile of few L. donovani isolates of Indian origin. We observed a gradual and significant downregulation of expression of a group of low molecular weight proteins (LMW, molecular weight 20-30 kDa) which are associated with loss of pathogenicity. These proteins are recognized only by antiserum raised against the whole cell extract of one of the pathogenic Indian L. donovani isolates, Ag83, and remained undetected by antiserum raised against the nonpathogenic AG83 isolates. These LMW proteins were also present in the nonpathogenic extract in very low levels and remained undetected by the virulent serum, indicating a phenomenon of simultaneous downregulation of the expression and altered immunogenicity. LMW proteins were universally expressed in all early passage Indian isolate we tested and also detected in two clones obtained from pathogenic parasite culture. The antigenic patterns of none of the eight clones obtained from nonpathogenic culture were not exactly similar with the pathogenic clones

Mobile suitcase laboratory for rapid detection of Leishmania donovani using recombinase polymerase amplification assay.

PubMed

Mondal, Dinesh; Ghosh, Prakash; Khan, Md Anik Ashfaq; Hossain, Faria; Böhlken-Fascher, Susanne; Matlashewski, Greg; Kroeger, Axel; Olliaro, Piero; Abd El Wahed, Ahmed

2016-05-13

Leishmania donovani (LD) is a protozoan parasite transmitted to humans from sand flies, which causes Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL). Currently, the diagnosis is based on presence of the anti-LD antibodies and clinical symptoms. Molecular diagnosis would require real-time PCR, which is not easy to implement at field settings. In this study, we report on the development and testing of a recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) assay for the detection of LD. A genomic DNA sample was applied to determine the assay analytical sensitivity. The cross-reactivity of the assay was tested by DNA of Leishmania spp. and of pathogens considered for differential diagnosis. The clinical performance of the assay was evaluated on LD positive and negative samples. All results were compared with real-time PCR. To allow the use of the assay at field settings, a mobile suitcase laboratory (56 × 45.5 × 26.5 cm) was developed and operated at the local hospital in Mymensingh, Bangladesh. The LD RPA assay detected equivalent to one LD genomic DNA. The assay was performed at constant temperature (42 °C) in 15 min. The RPA assay also detected other Leishmania species (L. major, L. aethiopica and L. infantum), but did not identify nucleic acid of other pathogens. Forty-eight samples from VL, asymptomatic and post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis subjects were detected positive and 48 LD-negative samples were negative by both LD RPA and real-time PCR assays, which indicates 100 % agreement. The suitcase laboratory was successfully operated at the local hospital by using a solar-powered battery. DNA extraction was performed by a novel magnetic bead based method (SpeedXtract), in which a simple fast lysis protocol was applied. Moreover, All reagents were cold-chain independent. The mobile suitcase laboratory using RPA is ideal for rapid sensitive and specific detection of LD especially at low resource settings and could contribute to VL control and elimination programmes.

Induction of IL-10 and TGFβ from CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ T Cells Correlates with Parasite Load in Indian Kala-azar Patients Infected with Leishmania donovani

PubMed Central

Bhattacharya, Pradyot; Ghosh, Smriti; Ejazi, Sarfaraz Ahmad; Rahaman, Mehebubar; Pandey, Krishna; Ravi Das, Vidya Nand; Das, Pradeep; Goswami, Rama Prosad; Saha, Bibhuti; Ali, Nahid

2016-01-01

Background Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is distinguished by a complex interplay of immune response and parasite multiplication inside host cells. However, the direct association between different immunological correlates and parasite numbers remains largely unknown. Methodology/Principal Findings We examined the plasma levels of different disease promoting/protective as well as Th17 cytokines and found IL-10, TGFβ and IL-17 to be significantly correlated with parasite load in VL patients (r = 0.52, 0.53 and 0.51 for IL-10, TGFβ and IL-17, respectively). We then extended our investigation to a more antigen-specific response and found leishmanial antigen stimulated levels of both IL-10 and TGFβ to be significantly associated with parasite load (r = 0.71 and 0.72 for IL-10 and TGFβ respectively). In addition to cytokines we also looked for different cellular subtypes that could contribute to cytokine secretion and parasite persistence. Our observations manifested an association between different Treg cell markers and disease progression as absolute numbers of CD4+CD25+ (r = 0.55), CD4+CD25hi (r = 0.61) as well as percentages of CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ T cells (r = 0.68) all correlated with parasite load. Encouraged by these results, we investigated a link between these immunological components and interestingly found both CD4+CD25+ and CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ Treg cells to secrete significantly (p<0.05) higher amounts of not only IL-10 but also TGFβ in comparison to corresponding CD25- T cells. Conclusions/Significance Our findings shed some light on source(s) of TGFβ and suggest an association between these disease promoting cytokines and Treg cells with parasite load during active disease. Moreover, the direct evidence of CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ Treg cells as a source of IL-10 and TGFβ during active VL could open new avenues for immunotherapy towards cure of this potentially fatal disease. PMID:26829554

A Powder Delivery System (PoDS) for Mars in situ Science

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bryson, C.; Blake, D.; Saha, C.; Sarrazin, P.

2004-12-01

the aerosol stream. Results of a number of tests of the prototype PoDS will be presented. [1] Blake D. F., Sarrazin P., Bish D. L., Feldman S., Chipera S. J, Vaniman D.T., and Collins S., 2004, Definitive Mineralogical Analysis of Mars Analog Rocks Using the CheMin XRD/XRF Instrument, LPSC XXXV abstr. #1794 (CD-ROM). [2] Finn J. E., McKay C. P. and Sridhar R. K., 1999, Martian Atmosphere Utilization by Temperature-Swing Adsorption, University of Arizona, Publication No.961597, http://stl.ame.arizona.edu/publications/961597.pdf [3] Hinds W. C., 1999, Aerosol Technology - Properties, Behavior, and Measurement of Airborne Particles, Second edition, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., pp 15-67, 111-136.

Antimony resistant Leishmania donovani but not sensitive ones drives greater frequency of potent T-regulatory cells upon interaction with human PBMCs: role of IL-10 and TGF-β in early immune response.

PubMed

Guha, Rajan; Das, Shantanabha; Ghosh, June; Sundar, Shyam; Dujardin, Jean Claude; Roy, Syamal

2014-07-01

In India the sand fly, Phlebotomus argentipes, transmitted parasitic disease termed kala-azar is caused by Leishmania donovani (LD) in humans. These immune-evading parasites have increasingly developed resistance to the drug sodium antimony gluconate in endemic regions. Lack of early diagnosis methods for the disease limits the information available regarding the early interactions of this parasite with either human tissues or cell lineages. We reasoned that peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from healthy human beings could help compare some of their immune signatures once they were exposed for up to 8 days, to either pentavalent antimony sensitive (Sb(S)-LD) or resistant (Sb(R)-LD) Leishmania donovani isolates. At day 2, PBMC cultures exposed to Sb(S)-LD and Sb(R)-LD stationary phase promastigotes had four and seven fold higher frequency of IL-10 secreting monocyte-macrophage respectively, compared to cultures unexposed to parasites. Contrasting with the CD4(+)CD25-CD127- type-1 T-regulatory (Tr1) cell population that displayed similar features whatever the culture conditions, there was a pronounced increase in the IL-10 producing CD4(+)CD25(+)CD127low/- inducible T-regulatory cells (iTregs) in the PBMC cultures sampled at day 8 post addition of Sb(R)-LD. Sorted iTregs from different cultures on day 8 were added to anti-CD3/CD28 induced naïve PBMCs to assess their suppressive ability. We observed that iTregs from Sb(R)-LD exposed PBMCs had more pronounced suppressive ability compared to Sb(S)-LD counterpart on a per cell basis and is dependent on both IL-10 and TGF-β, whereas IL-10 being the major factor contributing to the suppressive ability of iTregs sorted from PBMC cultures exposed to Sb(S)-LD. Of note, iTreg population frequency value remained at the basal level after addition of genetically modified Sb(R)-LD lacking unique terminal sugar in surface glycan. Even with limitations of this artificial in vitro model of L. donovani-human PBMC

Frequency of Acute Hepatitis Following Acute Paraphenylene Diamine Intoxication.

PubMed

Ishtiaq, Rizwan; Shafiq, Sadaf; Imran, Ali; Masroor Ali, Qazi; Khan, Raheel; Tariq, Hassan; Ishtiaq, Daniyal

2017-04-21

Paraphenylene diamine (PPD) ingestion is manifesting as one of the more common ways of committing suicide in Southern Punjab, Pakistan, especially Bahawalpur. PPD is an ingredient of a compound commonly known "Kala Pathar" which means "Black Stone" in Urdu. It is readily available in the market at low cost and is used to dye hair and fur. Its intoxication inhibits cellular oxidation and affects the muscles causing rhabdomyolysis. This leads to myoglobinuria followed by renal failure and edema of face and throat resulting in respiratory difficulty. Very little is known about the impact of PPD intoxication on liver tissue. The purpose of the study was to find out the frequency of acute hepatitis following PPD intoxication. We reviewed the medical records of 109 patients with PPD intoxication admitted to Medical Unit-2, Bahawalpur Victoria Hospital from January 1, 2015, to June 30, 2015, in a descriptive, cross-sectional study. We noted the frequency of acute hepatitis and other complications, and we recorded the demographic features, clinical features, and outcomes of these patients. Our study included 32 men (29%) and 77 women (71%). The mean age was 22 ± 3.4 years, and most patients were young women aged 15 to 24 years. Suicidal ingestion was the leading cause of admission for 101 patients (93%). The most common clinical presentation was cervicofacial edema (95%), throat pain (88%), dysphonia (95%), cola-colored urine (100%), and oliguria (95%). Rhabdomyolysis (86%), acute hepatitis (51%), and acute renal failure (63%) were the most common clinical conditions following poisoning. Overall mortality was noted in 39 patients (36%) while all other patients achieved complete clinical recovery (64%). In patients with mortality, 20 of 39 (51%) developed acute hepatitis. Most patients (95%) in our study underwent tracheostomy. The frequency of acute hepatitis in PPD intoxication is high in this population, especially in young women. Measures need to be instituted

Cholesterol Corrects Altered Conformation of MHC-II Protein in Leishmania donovani Infected Macrophages: Implication in Therapy

PubMed Central

Chakrabarti, Saikat; Roy, Syamal

2016-01-01

Background Previously we reported that Kala-azar patients show progressive decrease in serum cholesterol as a function of splenic parasite burden. Splenic macrophages (MΦ) of Leishmania donovani (LD) infected mice show decrease in membrane cholesterol, while LD infected macrophages (I-MΦ) show defective T cell stimulating ability that could be corrected by liposomal delivery of cholesterol. T helper cells recognize peptide antigen in the context of class II MHC molecule. It is known that the conformation of a large number of membrane proteins is dependent on membrane cholesterol. In this investigation we tried to understand the influence of decreased membrane cholesterol in I-MΦ on the conformation of MHC-II protein and peptide-MHC-II stability, and its bearing on the antigen specific T-cell activation. Methodology/Principal Findings MΦ of CBA/j mice were infected with Leishmania donovani (I-MΦ). Two different anti-Aκ mAbs were used to monitor the status of MHC-II protein under parasitized condition. One of them (11.5–2) was conformation specific, whereas the other one (10.2.16) was not. Under parasitized condition, the binding of 11.5–2 decreased significantly with respect to the normal counterpart, whereas that of 10.2.16 remained unaltered. The binding of 11.5–2 was restored to normal upon liposomal delivery of cholesterol in I-MΦ. By molecular dynamics (MD) simulation studies we found that there was considerable conformational fluctuation in the transmembrane domain of the MHC-II protein in the presence of membrane cholesterol than in its absence, which possibly influenced the distal peptide binding groove. This was evident from the faster dissociation of the cognate peptide from peptide-MHC complex under parasitized condition, which could be corrected by liposomal delivery of cholesterol in I-MΦ. Conclusion The decrease in membrane cholesterol in I-MΦ may lead to altered conformation of MHC II, and this may contribute to a faster dissociation of

Utilizing Remote Sensing to Explore Hydrological and Climatic Factors of Visceral Leishmaniasis in South Sudan

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kruczkiewicz, A.; Sweeney, A.; Reid, C.; Seaman, J.; Abubakar, A.; Ritmeijer, K.; Jensen, K.; Schroeder, R.; McDonald, K. C.; Lessel, J.; Thomson, M. C.; Elnaiem, D.; Ceccato, P.

2014-12-01

Recent epidemics of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in Sudan and South Sudan (locally known as Kala Azar) have caused an estimated 100,000 deaths and have renewed the impetus for defining the ecological boundaries of this vector borne disease. In the past 30 years outbreaks have occurred cyclically within this country, but recent shifts in endemicity have necessitated a more robust understanding of the drivers of the disease. Previous work (e.g. Gebre-Michael et al., 2004; Ashford & Thomson, 1991; Hoogstraal & Heyneman, 1969) has suggested that the primary biological vector in this region, the female sand fly Phlebotomus orientalis, exhibits sensitivities to environmental and climatic variables. Results of this study showed a relationship between precipitation and inundation during months of the transmission season (April-July) and the number of confirmed cases in the following September-January period. Particular months of the transmission season with below-average precipitation were better indicators of lagged reports of VL than others. During VL epidemics (2009, 2010, 2011) the month of June exhibited below average precipitation. The two largest epidemics (2010, 2011) were associated with years of below average precipitation in the month of April. Inundation during April-July (AMJJ) also exhibited a strong inverse relationship with reported VL cases in the following September- January (SONDJ). This relationship was best explored when comparing the VL case data of a specific medical center to the inundation anomalies. Results are typified by the Lankien Medical Center analysis where below average inundation during April displays an inverse relationship with VL cases in the following SONDJ. Drought may lead to below average inundation, which could allow for soils to maintain their fissures, thus maintaining the sand fly breeding habitat, resulting in a sustained breeding season for the sandflies (Quate, 1964). Above-average precipitation and inundation might have the

Development of a rapid loop-mediated isothermal amplification assay for diagnosis and assessment of cure of Leishmania infection.

PubMed

Verma, Sandeep; Singh, Ruchi; Sharma, Vanila; Bumb, Ram Avtar; Negi, Narendra Singh; Ramesh, V; Salotra, Poonam

2017-03-23

Leishmaniasis is a spectrum of diseases with great relevance to public health. Conventional diagnostic methods are time consuming, needing trained personnel. A robust, rapid and cost effective diagnostic test is warranted for on-time diagnosis and field application. We have developed a loop mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay with primers (n = 6) based on Leishmania donovani kDNA for detection of Leishmania infection, using a closed tube to prevent cross-contamination. The assay was used to detect Leishmania infection in biological samples obtained from patients of visceral leishmaniasis (VL), post kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) and cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL). The assay was positive for L. donovani, L. tropica and L. major parasites, with the highest sensitivity towards L. donovani (1 fg DNA). The high sensitivity of the assay for detection of L. donovani was reflected in its ability to detect parasite DNA within 30 min of amplification time with a threshold detection limit of ≥25 copies per reaction. The assay detected parasite in 64 of 66 VL blood samples (sensitivity, 96.9%; 95% CI: 89.6-99.2%), 15 of 15 VL bone marrow aspirate samples (sensitivity, 100%; 95% CI:79.6-100%), 65 of 67 PKDL tissue biopsy samples (sensitivity, 97%; 95% CI:89.7-99.2%). The assay was evaluated in a few cases of CL wherein it was found positive in 8 of 10 tissue biopsies (sensitivity, 80%; 95% CI: 49-94.3%). The assay was negative in all control blood (n = 76) and tissue biopsy (n = 24) samples (specificity, 100%; 95% CI: 96.3-100%). Further, the assay was evaluated for its utility in assessment of cure in treated VL and PKDL patients. The assay detected parasite DNA in 2 of 20VL blood samples and 2 of 21 PKDL tissue samples. Out of 4 cases that were positive for parasite DNA at post treatment stage, 2 patients (1VL and 1 PKDL) returned with relapse. The study demonstrated a Leishmania genus specific closed tube LAMP assay for reliable and rapid

Glycoproteins in circulating immune complexes are biomarkers of patients with Indian PKDL: A study from endemic districts of West Bengal, India

PubMed Central

Jaiswal, Priyank; Datta, Souvik; Sardar, Bikash; Chaudhuri, Surya Jyoti; Maji, Dipankar; Ghosh, Manab; Saha, Bibhuti

2018-01-01

Background Post Kala Azar Dermal Leishmaniasis (PKDL) occurs as dermal consequence of previous Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) infection and serves as an important reservoir for transmission of VL. Diagnosis of PKDL is often challenging for its symptomatic resemblance to other co-endemic diseases like Leprosy or Vitiligo. Parasitological examination by slit-skin smear and culture are the standard methods but lack high sensitivity. Thus, for efficient control of VL, reliable diagnostic and prognostic assay of PKDL are required. Objective Previously, glycoproteins (9-OAcSA) have been reported as promising biomarkers of Indian VL patients. However, till date, the status of glycans in Indian PKDL patients remains unexplored. Accordingly, in this study, the glyco-profile of PKDL Circulating Immune Complexes (CICs) as compared to other cross diseases like Vitiligo and Leprosyhas been investigated. Further, a novel Glyco CIC assay has been developed for efficient Indian PKDL patient diagnosis. Methods/principal finding In the present study, 90 PKDL patients were enrolled from 3 VL endemic districts of West Bengal during 2015–16. Glycosylation profile of isolated CICs from sera of PKDL patients were initially analyzed through gradient SDS gel electrophoresis followed by PAS silver double staining, which revealed the presence of several glycan rich PKDL specific proteins of varying molecular weights. To further characterize the glyco-profile of acid dissociated affinity purified immuno-reactive antigens present in the CICs, glycosylation was demonstrated in these purified CIC antigens by DIG glycan differentiation kit with or without glycosidase as well as neuraminidase treatment. Diagnostic evaluation of the newly developed colorimetric Glyco CIC assay through Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis revealed excellent (0.99) AUC value as compared to other conventional serodiagnostic assays like PEG CIC, Parasite ELISA (IgG and IgM). Additionally, longitudinal

Risk factors of visceral leishmaniasis: a case control study in north-western Ethiopia.

PubMed

Yared, Solomon; Deribe, Kebede; Gebreselassie, Araya; Lemma, Wessenseged; Akililu, Essayas; Kirstein, Oscar D; Balkew, Meshesha; Warburg, Alon; Gebre-Michael, Teshome; Hailu, Asrat

2014-10-14

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL, also called ''kala-azar"), is a life threatening neglected tropical infectious disease which mainly affects the poorest of the poor. VL is prevalent in Ethiopia particularly in the northwest of the country. Understanding the risk factors of VL infection helps in its prevention and control. The aim of the present study was to identify the factors associated with VL. A case-control study was carried out during the period of January-July 2013 in northwest Ethiopia. Cases and controls were diagnosed using clinical presentation, the rk39 rapid diagnostic test and Direct Agglutination Test (DAT). A total of 283 (84.8% males versus 15.2% females) participants were interviewed. 90 cases and 193 controls were involved, matched by age, sex and geographical location with a ratio of 1:2 (case: controls). Univariate and backward multivariate conditional logistic regression were used to identify risk factors of VL. Elevated odds of VL was associated with goat ownership (OR = 6.4; 95%: confidence interval [Cl]: 1.5-28.4), living in houses with cracked wall (OR = 6.4; 95% Cl: 1.6-25.6), increased family size (OR = 1.3; 95% Cl: 1.0-1.8) and the number of days spent in the farm field (OR = 1.1; 95% Cl: 1.0-1.2). However, daily individual activities around the home and farm fields, mainly sleeping on a bed (OR = 0.2; 95%: Cl 0.03-0.9), sleeping outside the house under a bed net (OR = 0.1; 95% Cl: 0.02-0.36)] and smoking plant parts in the house during the night time (OR = 0.1; 95% Cl: 0.01-0.6) were associated with decreased odds of being VL case. Our findings showed that use of bed net and smoke could be helpful for the prevention of VL in the area particularly among individuals who spend most of their time in the farm. VL control effort could be focused on improving housing conditions, such as sealing cracks and crevices inside and outside houses. Further research is warranted to elucidate the role of goats in the transmission

Real-time PCR in detection and quantitation of Leishmania donovani for the diagnosis of Visceral Leishmaniasis patients and the monitoring of their response to treatment

PubMed Central

Ghosh, Prakash; Khan, Md. Anik Ashfaq; Duthie, Malcolm S.; Vallur, Aarthy C.; Picone, Alessandro; Howard, Randall F.; Reed, Steven G.

2017-01-01

Sustained elimination of Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) requires the reduction and control of parasite reservoirs to minimize the transmission of Leishmania donovani infection. A simple, reproducible and definitive diagnostic procedure is therefore indispensable for the early and accurate detection of parasites in VL, Relapsed VL (RVL) and Post Kala-azar Dermal Leishmaniasis (PKDL) patients, all of whom are potential reservoirs of Leishmania parasites. To overcome the limitations of current diagnostic approaches, a novel quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) method based on Taqman chemistry was devised for the detection and quantification of L. donovani in blood and skin. The diagnostic efficacy was evaluated using archived peripheral blood buffy coat DNA from 40 VL, 40 PKDL, 10 RVL, 20 cured VL, and 40 cured PKDL along with 10 tuberculosis (TB) cases and 80 healthy endemic controls. Results were compared to those obtained using a Leishmania-specific nested PCR (Ln-PCR). The real time PCR assay was 100% (95% CI, 91.19–100%) sensitive in detecting parasite genomes in VL and RVL samples and 85.0% (95% CI, 70.16–94.29%) sensitive for PKDL samples. In contrast, the sensitivity of Ln-PCR was 77.5% (95% CI, 61.55–89.16%) for VL samples, 100% (95%CI, 69.15–100%) for RVL samples, and 52.5% (95% CI, 36.13–68.49%) for PKDL samples. There was significant discordance between the two methods with the overall sensitivity of the qPCR assay being considerably higher than Ln-PCR. None of the assay detected L. donovani DNA in buffy coats from cured VL cases, and reduced infectious burdens were demonstrated in cured PKDL cases who remained positive in 7.5% (3/40) and 2.5% (1/40) cases by real-time PCR and Ln-PCR, respectively. Both assays were 100% (95% CI, 95.98–100) specific with no positive signals in either endemic healthy control or TB samples. The real time PCR assay we developed offers a molecular tool for accurate detection of circulating L

PREFACE: Preface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Audoin, Bertrand; Dehoux, Thomas; Guillet, Yannick

2011-02-01

and the gala dinner took place in a wine chateau in the medieval village. We hope this experience will remain in the attendees' memories as a pleasant and convivial time. We would like to express our thanks to the members of the organizing committee, the scientific committee, and all our generous sponsors, either institutions or companies, for their help in making this event possible. We would also like to thank the scientists involved for their confidence in our organization, and for their contributions. As unanimously decided by the attendees, the next symposium will be held in Japan, most likely in 2012. The papers published in this volume of the Journal of Physics: Conference Series provide a collection of state-of-the-art and recent advances in research and applications of laser ultrasonics as presented at this second Symposium. Bertrand Audoin - Conference ChairThomas Dehoux - Conference proceedings co-editorYannick Guillet - Conference proceedings co-editor Conference photograph Scientific committee Bertrand AudoinUniversité Bordeaux 1, France Alain BlouinNRC, Canada Christ GlorieuxKatholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium Vitalyi GusevUniversité du Maine, France Peter HessUniversity of Heidelberg, Germany Alexander A KarabutovMoscow State University, Russia Sridhar KrishnaswamyNorthwestern University, USA Humphrey MarisBrown University, USA Jean-Pierre MonchalinNRC, Canada Todd MurrayBoston University, USA Makoto OchiaiToshiba Corp, Japan Menglu QianTongji University, China Daniel RoyerEcole Supérieure de Physique et de Chimie, France Hervé TrétoutDassault Aviation, France Hubert VoillaumeEADS, France Oliver B WrightHokkaido University, Japan Shu-yi ZhangNanjing University, China Organizing committee Bertrand AudoinChair Sandrine GuitLocal administrator Christophe Aristégui Thomas Dehoux Evelyne Dewayse Yannick Guillet Armelle Guilloux

On the AU Microscopii debris disk. Density profiles, grain properties, and dust dynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Augereau, J.-C.; Beust, H.

2006-09-01

Context: . AU Mic is a young M-type star surrounded by an edge-on optically thin debris disk that shares many common observational properties with the disk around β Pictoris. In particular, the scattered light surface brightness profile falls off as ˜ r-5 outside 120 AU for β Pictoris and 35 AU for AU Mic. In both cases, the disk color rises as the distance increases beyond these reference radii. Aims: . In this paper, we present the first comprehensive analysis of the AU Mic disk properties since the system was resolved by Kalas et al. (2004, Science, 303, 1990). We explore whether the dynamical model, which successfully reproduces the β Pictoris brightness profile (e.g., Augereau et al. 2001, A&A, 370, 447), could apply to AU Mic. Methods: . We calculate the surface density profile of the AU Mic disk by performing the inversion of the near-IR and visible scattered light brightness profiles measured by Liu (2004, Science, 305, 1442) and Krist et al. (2005, AJ, 129, 1008), respectively. We discuss the grain properties by analysing the blue color of the disk in the visible (Krist et al. 2005) and by fitting the disk spectral energy distribution. Finally, we evaluate the radiation and wind forces on the grains. The impact of the recurrent X-ray and UV-flares on the dust dynamics is also discussed. Results: . We show that irrespective of the mean scattering asymmetry factor of the grains, most of the emission arises from an asymmetric, collisionally-dominated region that peaks close to the surface brightness break around 35 AU. The elementary scatterers at visible wavelengths are found to be sub-micronic, but the inferred size distribution underestimates the number of large grains, resulting in sub-millimeter emissions that are too low compared to the observations. From our inversion procedure, we find that the V- to H-band scattering cross sections ratio increases outside 40 AU, in line with the observed color gradient of the disk. This behavior is expected if

L-shell bifurcation of electron outer belt at the recovery phase of geomagnetic storm as observed by STEP-F and SphinX instruments onboard the CORONAS-Photon satellite

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dudnik, Oleksiy; Sylwester, Janusz; Kowalinski, Miroslaw; Podgorski, Piotr

2016-07-01

's magnetic field asymmetry and/or fast radial and pitch-angle particle diffusion from the outer edge of the magnetosphere. 1. P.Podgórski, O.V.Dudnik, J.Sylwester, S.Gburek, M.Kowaliński, M.Siarkowski, S.Plocieniak, J.Bąkala. Joint analysis of SphinX and STEP-F instruments data on magnetospheric electron flux dynamics at low Earth orbit / in: Abstracts of 39th Scientific Assembly of COSPAR, Mysore, India, July 14-22, 2012, Panel PSW.3: "Space Weather Data: Observations and Exploitation for Research and Applications", STW-C-119 PSW.3-0028-12, P.112. 2. O.V.Dudnik, P.Podgórski, J.Sylwester, S.Gburek, M.Kowalinski, M.Siarkowski, S.Plocieniak, and J.Bakala. X-Ray Spectrophotometer SphinX and Particle Spectrometer STEP-F of the Satellite Experiment CORONAS-PHOTON. Preliminary Results of the Joint Data Analysis / Solar System Research, 2012, V.46, No.2, P.160-169, doi:10.1134/S0038094612020025. 3. O.V.Dudnik, P.Podgórski, J.Sylwester. New perspectives to study the splitting of drift shells at the outer magnetosphere by using STEP-F and SphinX instruments on board the CORONAS-Photon satellite / in: Abstract Book of the Conference "Progress on EUV&X-ray spectroscopy and imaging II", Wroclaw, Poland, November 17-19, 2015, P.8, doi:10.13140/RG.2.1.1872.4889.

Design of the detector to observe the energetic charged particles: a part of the solar X-ray spectrophotometer ChemiX onboard Interhelio-Probe mission

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dudnik, Oleksiy; Sylwester, Janusz; Kowalinski, Miroslaw; Bakala, Jaroslaw; Siarkowski, Marek; Evgen Kurbatov, mgr..

2016-07-01

-layer detector stack: first two layers consist of silicon detectors; the third one is based on the p-terphenyl scintillation detector coupled with pixelated silicon photomultiplier. Coincidence logic allows collecting systematic data on particle variety and their energy with 1 and/or 10 s time resolutions. Digital processing unit is constructed based on FPGA Actel ProAsic M1A3PE1500, and contains each event processing logic, forms telemetry data and housekeeping frames, communicates with ChemiX digital processing unit and executes received telecommands. In order to increase the reliability and time resource of the BPM its digital processing unit and secondary power supply unit has backup sets. Switching between backup sets is commanded by externally orders. The BPM is capable to sort out in situ abundances of individual particle constituents from electrons up to oxygen nuclei. 1. O.V.Dudnik, E.V.Kurbatov, V.O.Tarasov, L.A.Andryushenko, I.L.Zajtsevsky, J.Sylwester, J.Bąkala, M.Kowaliński. Background particle detector for the solar X-ray photometer ChemiX of space mission "Interhelioprobe": an adjustment of breadboard model modules (in Russian) / ISSN 1561-8889: Kosmichna Nauka I Tekhnologiya, 2015, Vol.21, No.2, P.3-14. 2. O.V.Dudnik, E.V.Kurbatov, J.Sylwester, M.Siarkowski, P.Podgórski, M.Kowaliński. Background Particle Monitor - a part of the solar X-ray spectrophotometer ChemiX: principles of the operation and construction / in: Abstracts of 15th Ukrainian conference on space research, Odesa, Ukraine, August 24-28, 2015, P.80, doi:10.13140/RG.2.1.2284.2649. 3. O.V.Dudnik, E.V.Kurbatov, M.Kowaliński, M.Siarkowski, P.Podgórski, J.Sylwester. Operational features of Background Particle Monitor, a vital part of the solar X-ray spectrophotometer ChemiX / in: Abstract book of the Conference "Progress on EUV&X-ray spectroscopy and imaging II", Wroclaw, Poland, November 17 19, 2015, P.9, doi:10.13140/RG.2.1.1184.3604.

The origin of the Dargom canal in the oasis of Samarkand (Uzbekistan). A new scenario from geoarcheological data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marconi, V.; Mantellini, S.; Picotti, V.; Gabbianelli, G.; Tosi, M.

2009-04-01

As the main oases developed in the arid regions of Central Asia, the region of Samarkand is the outcome of large hydraulic works carried out since the past times. The main result of such a great landscape transformation is a complex irrigation network formed by several artificial channels and useful for both urban water supply and irrigation purposes. Within the framework of the Italo-Uzbek Archaeological Project begun in 2001, a specific study was aimed to reconstruct the history of Dargom, the primary canal on the South of the city, and its relationships with the settlement dynamics. According to the most accepted theories, the Dargom was dug during the Achaemenid Age (6th-4th c. BC) as a consequence of a master plan linked to a strong central political power. The new investigations carried out by a joined team of Archaelogists and Geologists from the University Bologna allowed a new hypothesis on the way of digging and the chronology of the Dargom itself. The analyses on the historical settlement patterns seem to suggest a low development of Samarkand's territory during the Achaemenid times, whilst the increasing of sites during the Early Middle Age (5th-8th c.) can be explained throughout the rich trades along the Silk Road as well as the development of irrigated agriculture. The present-day Dargom is a high sinuosity channel deeply incised into the bedrock flowing to the east, strongly resembling a natural channel. It has been excavated for around 70 km along an apron of alluvial fans sourced by a southern mountain range. Its morphology clearly document a natural evolution after excavation: incision and meandering took place, likely due to the increasing gradient related to the headward migration of lowering of the base-level and the decrease of the bed load through time. Field survey around the fortress of Kafir Kala, the main archeological site geographically linked to the Dargom, allowed reconstructing the original bed of the canal, marked by a layer of

Availability and distribution of low flow in Anahola Stream, Kauaʻi, Hawaiʻi

USGS Publications Warehouse

Cheng, Chui Ling; Wolff, Reuben H.

2012-01-01

Anahola Stream is a perennial stream in northeast Kauaʻi, Hawaiʻi, that supports agricultural, domestic, and cultural uses within its drainage basin. Beginning in the late 19th century, Anahola streamflow was diverted by Makee Sugar Company at altitudes of 840 feet (upper intake) and 280 feet (lower intake) for irrigating sugarcane in the Keālia area. When sugarcane cultivation in the Keālia area ceased in 1988, part of the Makee Sugar Company’s surface-water collection system (Makee diversion system) in the Anahola drainage basin was abandoned. In an effort to better manage available surface-water resources, the State of Hawaiʻi Department of Hawaiian Home Lands is considering using the existing ditches in the Anahola Stream drainage basin to provide irrigation water for Native Hawaiian farmers in the area. To provide information needed for successful management of the surface-water resources, the U.S. Geological Survey investigated the availability and distribution of natural low flow in Anahola Stream and also collected low-flow data in Goldfish Stream, a stream that discharges into Kaneha Reservoir, which served as a major collection point for the Makee diversion system. Biological surveys of Anahola Stream were conducted as part of a study to determine the distribution of native and nonnative aquatic stream fauna. Results of the biological surveys indicated the presence of the following native aquatic species in Anahola Stream: ʻoʻopu ʻakupa (Sandwich Island sleeper) and ʻoʻopu naniha (Tear-drop goby) in the lower stream reaches surveyed; and ʻoʻopu nākea (Pacific river goby), ʻoʻopu nōpili (Stimpson’s goby), and ʻōpae kalaʻole (Mountain shrimp) in the middle and upper stream reaches surveyed. Nonnative aquatic species were found in all of the surveyed stream reaches along Anahola Stream. The availability and distribution of natural low flow were determined using a combination of discharge measurements made from February 2011 to May 2012

Rapid tests for the diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis in patients with suspected disease

PubMed Central

Boelaert, Marleen; Verdonck, Kristien; Menten, Joris; Sunyoto, Temmy; van Griensven, Johan; Chappuis, Francois; Rijal, Suman

2014-01-01

KE16 ICT) recruiting 4271 participants (2605 with VL) were included. We carried out a meta-analysis for the rK39 ICT (including 18 studies; 3622 participants) and the latex agglutination test (six studies; 1374 participants). The results showed considerable heterogeneity. For the rK39 ICT, the overall sensitivity was 91.9% (95% confidence interval (95% CI) 84.8 to 96.5) and the specificity 92.4% (95% CI 85.6 to 96.8). The sensitivity was lower in East Africa (85.3%; 95% CI 74.5 to 93.2) than in the Indian subcontinent (97.0%; 95% CI 90.0 to 99.5). For the latex agglutination test, overall sensitivity was 63.6% (95% CI 40.9 to 85.6) and specificity 92.9% (95% CI 76.7 to 99.2). Authors' conclusions The rK39 ICT shows high sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis in patients with febrile splenomegaly and no previous history of the disease, but the sensitivity is notably lower in east Africa than in the Indian subcontinent. Other rapid tests lack accuracy, validation, or both. PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY Rapid diagnostic tests for visceral leishmaniasis Visceral leishmaniasis (or kala-azar) is caused by a parasite, results in fever, a large spleen and other health problems, occuring in India, Bangladesh and Nepal, east Africa, the Mediterranean region and Brazil. Without treatment people die, and proper treatment can result in cure, so diagnosis is important. Many of the tests that are used to determine if a person has visceral leishmaniasis are complicated, costly, painful and sometimes dangerous for the patients. Now rapid diagnostic tests that are safe and easy to perform are available. This Cochrane review describes how accurate these rapid diagnostic tests are for diagnosing visceral leishmaniasis. We summarize those studies that evaluated the rapid tests in people who, according to their physicians, could have the disease. We only included studies in which the researchers had used established methods to distinguish the people with visceral