Epidemiology and Clinical Features of Patients with Visceral Leishmaniasis Treated by an MSF Clinic in Bakool Region, Somalia, 2004–2006

Our paper describes the epidemiological features of visceral leishmaniasis in the Bakool region, South Central Somalia, over the years 2004 to 2006. Since 2000, Médecins Sans Frontières has been providing care for patients suffering from visceral leishmaniasis in Huddur, located in a region endemic for visceral leishmaniasis. By the end of 2005, we witnessed a dramatic increase in the number of patients admitted to the Huddur centre with visceral leishmaniasis. In our paper, we provide a description of the profile of patients admitted, thus giving an insight into the epidemiology of visceral leishmaniasis in a part of the world where relatively little has been documented and where the true magnitude of this neglected disease remains unknown

Detection of oligoclonal IgG kappa and IgG lambda bands in cerebrospinal fluid and serum with Hevylite™ antibodies. comparison with the free light chain oligoclonal pattern

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Oligoclonal IgG bands in cerebrospinal fluid that are absent in serum indicate intrathecal IgG synthesis and are a sensitive marker of CNS inflammatory diseases, in particular multiple sclerosis. It may be of interest to determine whether these bands are predominantly IgGκ or IgGλ.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We have used Hevylite™ antibodies and developed a technique for detection of oligoclonal IgGκ and IgGλ bands by means of isoelectric focusing followed by immunoblotting. The same technique was used for oligoclonal free κ and free λ detection. Among several techniques tested, affinity immunoblotting appears to be the most sensitive; it can detect less than 1 ng of IgGκ or IgGλ paraprotein. We compared oligoclonal IgG profiles with those of oligoclonal IgGκ and IgGλ. There was good agreement concerning the presence or absence of intrathecal synthesis. We observed the ratios between oligoclonal IgGκ and IgGλ bands, and they did not always match the ratios between free κ and free λ bands. We were also able to detect antigen-specific CSF-restricted oligoclonal IgGκ and IgGλ bands in neuroborreliosis. It remains to be determined subsequently by a clinically-oriented prospective study, whether predominant IgGκ/IgGλ or free κ/free λ can be observed more frequently in particular diseases with oligoclonal IgG synthesis.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>Very sensitive detection of oligoclonal IgGκ and IgGλ bands in cerebrospinal fluid with Hevylite antibodies is feasible; detection of antigen-specific IgGκ or IgGλ is possible as well. In particular situations, e.g. when difficulties arise in distinguishing between oligoclonal and monoclonal pattern, the test may be of considerable clinical value.</p

Diagnostic Accuracy of the Leishmania OligoC-TesT and NASBA-Oligochromatography for Diagnosis of Leishmaniasis in Sudan

The leishmaniases are a group of vector-borne diseases caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania. The parasites are transmitted by phlebotomine sand flies and can cause, depending on the infecting species, three clinical manifestations of leishmaniasis: visceral leishmaniasis (VL), post kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) and cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) including the mucocutaneous form. VL, PKDL as well as CL are endemic in several parts of Sudan, and VL especially represents a major health problem in this country. Molecular tests such as the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or nucleic acid sequence based assay (NASBA) are powerful techniques for accurate detection of the parasite in clinical specimens, but broad use is hampered by their complexity and lack of standardisation. Recently, the Leishmania OligoC-TesT and NASBA-Oligochromatography were developed as simplified and standardised PCR and NASBA formats. In this study, both tests were phase II evaluated for diagnosis of VL, PKDL and CL in Sudan

Administratieve knelpunten belemmeren innovatie van management accounting

Administratieve knelpunten belemmeren innovatie van management accountin

Measurement of ZnO Nanoparticles Using Diffusive Gradients in Thin Films: Binding and Diffusional Characteristics

Rapid growth in finding new applications for manufactured nanomaterials (MNM) has recently been accompanied by awareness about their related adverse toxicological and environmental impacts. Due to their intrinsic nature, measuring available concentrations of MNMs in the environment is a major challenge. This research is a launching point toward filling this gap, as it presents the potential of the well-established diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) technique to determine MNMs concentrations in situ. Two binding layers commonly used in DGT devices were shown to be able to bind ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO NPs). The use of different types of diffusive layers demonstrated the critical role of their pore size for selective function of the DGT devices. The ZnO NPs can pass through the open pore diffusive layer used in standard DGT devices and be retained by the binding resin layer. However, the diffusion of ZnO NPs can be prevented when a 1000 MWCO (molecular weight cut off) dialysis membrane is placed in the front of the diffusive gel layer. A combination of two or more DGT devices with known diffusive layer properties should enable deduction of concentrations of available ZnO NPs in the environment. Unlike metal ions, determining diffusion coefficient values for ZnO NPs is challenging and greatly affected by shape, morphology, and solution-induced changes of the particles. Attenuated total reflection Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) demonstrated that retention of ZnO NPs by Chelex and Metsorb binding layers occurs through chemisorption. The superior uptake kinetic for Chelex indicates that it is a better candidate for further development of DGT devices to measure ZnO NPs. These initial results are promising and important for further developing the DGT technique to measure available concentrations of manufactured nanomaterials in the different environmental media (waters, soils, and sediments). Further experiments investigating the effects of pH, ionic strength, and solution chemistry on the performance of DGT for measuring MNM concentrations are needed