Prevalence, Features and Risk Factors for Malaria Co-Infections amongst Visceral Leishmaniasis Patients from Amudat Hospital, Uganda

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) and malaria are two major parasitic diseases sharing a similar demographic and geographical distribution. In areas where both diseases are endemic, such as Sudan, Uganda, India and Bangladesh, co-infection cases have been reported, but features and risk factors associated with these co-morbidities remain poorly characterized. In the present study, routinely collected data of VL patients admitted to Amudat Hospital, Uganda, were used to investigate the magnitude of VL-malaria co-infections and identify possible risk factors. Nearly 20% of the patients included in this study were found to be co-infected with VL and malaria, indicating that this is a common condition among VL patients living in malaria endemic areas. Young age (≤9 years) was identified as an important risk factor for contracting the VL-malaria co-infection, while being anemic or carrying a skin infection appeared to negatively correlate with the co-morbidity. Co-infected patients presented with slightly more severe symptoms compared to mono-infected patients, but had a similar prognosis, possibly due to early diagnosis of malaria as a result of systematic testing. In conclusion, these results emphasize the importance of performing malaria screening amongst VL patients living in malaria-endemic areas and suggest that close monitoring of co-infected patients should be implemented

Electron capture phosphoranyl radicals in x-irradiated diphosphine disulfides. A single crystal ESR and ab initio quantum chemical study

An electron spin resonance (ESR) study of phosphorus centered electron capture radicals trapped in single crystals of substituted diphosphine disulfides [R2P(S)P(S)R2, R=Me, Et, Ph] irradiated with x rays at 77 K is reported. The principal values and direction cosines of the hyperfine and g tensors were determined. It is shown that in all three compounds a three-electron P-P bond radical is formed. The unpaired electron is found to be symmetrically distributed over the two phosphorus atoms. The direction of the phosphorus hyperfine coupling makes an angle of 20°-30° with the P-P bond. The alkyl substituted diphosphine disulfides reveal furthermore a radical in which the unpaired electron is asymmetrically distributed over the two phosphorus atoms. The electronic configuration of these radicals is best described as trigonal bipyramidal (TBP) with a central phosphorus atom and the unpaired electron in an equatorial position (TBP-e). The second phosphorus atom and a sulfur substituent are located on the apical sites of the TBP. Irradiation yields for R=Et, Ph also a three-electron P-S bond radical and a number of dissociation products. Ab initio quantum chemical calculations of the isotropic and anisotropic hyperfine couplings for the three-electron P-P bond radicals are in good agreement with the experimental values and support the assignment

Electron capture phosphoranyl radicals in x‐irradiated diphosphine disulfides. A single crystal ESR and a

An electron spin resonance (ESR) study of phosphorus centered electron capture radicals trapped in single crystals of substituted diphosphine disulfides [R2P(S)P(S)R2, R=Me, Et, Ph] irradiated with x rays at 77 K is reported. The principal values and direction cosines of the hyperfine and g tensors were determined. It is shown that in all three compounds a three-electron P-P bond radical is formed. The unpaired electron is found to be symmetrically distributed over the two phosphorus atoms. The direction of the phosphorus hyperfine coupling makes an angle of 20°-30° with the P-P bond. The alkyl substituted diphosphine disulfides reveal furthermore a radical in which the unpaired electron is asymmetrically distributed over the two phosphorus atoms. The electronic configuration of these radicals is best described as trigonal bipyramidal (TBP) with a central phosphorus atom and the unpaired electron in an equatorial position (TBP-e). The second phosphorus atom and a sulfur substituent are located on the apical sites of the TBP. Irradiation yields for R=Et, Ph also a three-electron P-S bond radical and a number of dissociation products. Ab initio quantum chemical calculations of the isotropic and anisotropic hyperfine couplings for the three-electron P-P bond radicals are in good agreement with the experimental values and support the assignment