Patterns of Disease and Demographic Trends in the Nomadic Population of Southern Iran (Qashqai Tribe, 1973)

The planning and development d the health service depend on the needs of the population; their appreciation of the service, and bringing these needs to the attention of the health authorities by presenting demographic data and epidemiological investigations of morbidity and mortality of predominant diseases. On this basis a cross-sectional demography and morbidity survey of the Qaahqai Tribe of Southern Iran was conducted in 1973, with the following aims:- a) To describe the demographic features of population. b) To study the health problems, morbidity and the incidence of diseases, especially those that can be prevented. c) To determine the level of utilisation of existing health services and medical facilities. All these data are needed for justifying the plans for further development of health services for tribal populations. A sample of 3,214 households was chosen by random sampling and by using the list prepared by interviewing the heads of clans and subclans plus the statistics from Malaria Eradication Department, Iran. The study was carried out in two parts: namely, household survey for demography study and medical survey for morbidity study. While the household survey covered a de facto population of 16,939 persons in 2,929 households, the medical survey covered a population of 3,153 or 18.6 per cent of the total original sample population in the household survey. In addition, blood samples were collected randomly (about 40 per cent of persons medically examined), and this amounted to a total of 1,236 persons. This report presents the results obtained by the survey from the standpoint of demographic findings, tribal population structure is considered quite young, about 46.2 per cent of the population belong to the age group under 15 years, and 50 per cent to the group 15 to 64 years. The birth rate was 48.2 per 1,000 people, and the crude death rate 12.2 per 1,000. The infant mortality ratio was 143 per 1,000 live births. Other demographic findings were described in detail in the text of the thesis. Questions regarding attitudes towards family planning and ideal family size were asked, as one would expect, a large majority of respondents desired large families, and only 2.3 per cent of all married women under survey practised birth control. From the standpoint of health and morbidity survey, a number of definitions used for the state of health and disease were described in the text of the report. According to the survey, three categories, namely healthy, moderately healthy and apparently ill, were used. At the time of the survey it was found in primary diagnosis that 46.6 per cent of the population examined were ill. of which 37.1 per cent or 1,143 persons were moderately healthy, and 9. 5 per cent or 293 persons had apparent illness. The number of sick persons found by two different methods of diagnosis (primary and final diagnosis) differ because in laboratory findings some of the healthy persons were found to be ill, moreover, primary diagnosis was not carried out on 73 persons, some of whom were found to be ill when final diagnosis was done. The sickness rate was highest (83.5 per cent) among those aged 45 years and over, and lowest among infants (25.7 per cent). The sickness rate among males and females aged 15-44 years in final diagnosis was 62.3 per cent and 63. 5 per cent respectively. Our survey showed the rate of utilisation of existing health services by nomads to be very low. The population studies was found to be in need of health care. In some cases, urgent attention was needed. Demand for public health services is essentially simple and concentrated in a few categories of medical conditions and diseases. Most of the diseases and medical conditions are theoretically preventable, but under ideal conditions. Most of the defined medical conditions have a good prognosis, especially with treatment. The proposed plan for the development of health services for the tribal population is given in the text of the report. It is based on the auxiliary thams. The members will be selected from the same clans and will be trained and supervised by a static health centre

Novel Patient Cell-Based HTS Assay for Identification of Small Molecules for a Lysosomal Storage Disease

Small molecules have been identified as potential therapeutic agents for lysosomal storage diseases (LSDs), inherited metabolic disorders caused by defects in proteins that result in lysosome dysfunctional. Some small molecules function assisting the folding of mutant misfolded lysosomal enzymes that are otherwise degraded in ER-associated degradation. The ultimate result is the enhancement of the residual enzymatic activity of the deficient enzyme. Most of the high throughput screening (HTS) assays developed to identify these molecules are single-target biochemical assays. Here we describe a cell-based assay using patient cell lines to identify small molecules that enhance the residual arylsulfatase A (ASA) activity found in patients with metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD), a progressive neurodegenerative LSD. In order to generate sufficient cell lines for a large scale HTS, primary cultured fibroblasts from MLD patients were transformed using SV40 large T antigen. These SV40 transformed (SV40t) cells showed to conserve biochemical characteristics of the primary cells. Using a specific colorimetric substrate para-nitrocatechol sulfate (pNCS), detectable ASA residual activity were observed in primary and SV40t fibroblasts from a MLD patient (ASA-I179S) cultured in multi-well plates. A robust fluorescence ASA assay was developed in high-density 1,536-well plates using the traditional colorimetric pNCS substrate, whose product (pNC) acts as “plate fluorescence quencher” in white solid-bottom plates. The quantitative cell-based HTS assay for ASA generated strong statistical parameters when tested against a diverse small molecule collection. This cell-based assay approach can be used for several other LSDs and genetic disorders, especially those that rely on colorimetric substrates which traditionally present low sensitivity for assay-miniaturization. In addition, the quantitative cell-based HTS assay here developed using patient cells creates an opportunity to identify therapeutic small molecules in a disease-cellular environment where potentially disrupted pathways are exposed and available as targets

The dominant Anopheles vectors of human malaria in the Asia-Pacific region: occurrence data, distribution maps and bionomic précis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The final article in a series of three publications examining the global distribution of 41 dominant vector species (DVS) of malaria is presented here. The first publication examined the DVS from the Americas, with the second covering those species present in Africa, Europe and the Middle East. Here we discuss the 19 DVS of the Asian-Pacific region. This region experiences a high diversity of vector species, many occurring sympatrically, which, combined with the occurrence of a high number of species complexes and suspected species complexes, and behavioural plasticity of many of these major vectors, adds a level of entomological complexity not comparable elsewhere globally. To try and untangle the intricacy of the vectors of this region and to increase the effectiveness of vector control interventions, an understanding of the contemporary distribution of each species, combined with a synthesis of the current knowledge of their behaviour and ecology is needed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Expert opinion (EO) range maps, created with the most up-to-date expert knowledge of each DVS distribution, were combined with a contemporary database of occurrence data and a suite of open access, environmental and climatic variables. Using the Boosted Regression Tree (BRT) modelling method, distribution maps of each DVS were produced. The occurrence data were abstracted from the formal, published literature, plus other relevant sources, resulting in the collation of DVS occurrence at 10116 locations across 31 countries, of which 8853 were successfully geo-referenced and 7430 were resolved to spatial areas that could be included in the BRT model. A detailed summary of the information on the bionomics of each species and species complex is also presented.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This article concludes a project aimed to establish the contemporary global distribution of the DVS of malaria. The three articles produced are intended as a detailed reference for scientists continuing research into the aspects of taxonomy, biology and ecology relevant to species-specific vector control. This research is particularly relevant to help unravel the complicated taxonomic status, ecology and epidemiology of the vectors of the Asia-Pacific region. All the occurrence data, predictive maps and EO-shape files generated during the production of these publications will be made available in the public domain. We hope that this will encourage data sharing to improve future iterations of the distribution maps.</p

Field Experiment with the Use of Gamma-BHC for the Control of DLN and DDT Resistant A. Stephensi Mysorensis in the Khesht Area, Kazeroun, South of Iran

In o rder to stud v the possible use o r BHC against DLN resistant A. stephensi mysorensis and with a view to determining the va lue of this insecticide in the control or malaria transmitted by th is vector, a Field Experiment (a rea sca le) was ca rried o ut in the Khesht Area. Kazcroun, southern Iran. during 1963. 32 vi llages with a population or 11 . 173 persons were sprayed wit h gamma-BHC (Lindane) at the ra te o r 1000 mg. base per sq. m., during Jul y 1963. T he eff ectiveness o r the insecticide was assessed by the a pplication o r various entomological techniques a nd a monthly pa rasite survey o r the entire population o r the experimental a rea was performed; some epidemiologica l facto rs related to the potentiality o r transmission were wo rked out to sec whether o r not BHC was able to in terrupt malaria transmission. These studies have shown that BHC, at the rate used in thi s experiment. can reasonably control the natural population or A . stephens! mysorensis 1&apos;01&apos; a period o r about 2 mo nths. d uri ng which the transmission or malaria was a lso interrupted or a t least reduced to much lower ra tes. It is concluded that, under th e prevailing epidemiological and environ menta l conditio ns or the experimental a re (and simila r areas) BHC can be used as an emergency spray against DLN resistantmalaria vectors

RESIDUAL AND AIR - BORNE EFFECTS OF PIRIMIPHOS - METHYL ON DIFFERENT SURFACES IN SOUTH OF IRAN

An investigation was made to study the residual activity and air- borne effect of pirimiphos- methyl, at 2g a.i./m2 in hut scale trials on different surfaces in kazeroun, and Bandar-Abbas, south of Iran. In Kazeroun area, bio-assay contact mortality test with pirimiphos methyl on mud, wood, cement and plaster surfaces, 54 days after hut spraying, decreased from 100% to 46.7%, 61.25%, 36.6% and 40%, respectively. In Baridar-Abbas area, after 72 days of hut spraying, the mortalities on cement and plasters surfaces decreased from 100% to 63.4% and 45.4%, respectively. The fumigation effect of pirirnlphosmcthyl on mud and plaster walls with wooden ceiling were studied in Kazeroun. ‘The activity of pirimiphos- methyl on mud and plaster surfaces dropped from 100% to 52% and 46.53% after 54 days of hut spraying respectively. The results suggested that pirimiphos-methyl has effective contact and vapour effect at least for about 50 days on different surfaces in south of Iran