Malaria in Middle Childhood and Adolescence

Reviews the current burden of malaria in school-age children, its clinical consequences, and approaches to controlling the disease in this vulnerable group, focusing largely on Sub-Saharan Africa. The two approaches using antimalarial drugs for malaria prevention include chemoprophylaxis (regular administration of antimalarial drugs to those at risk over a sustained period) and intermittent preventive treatment (IPT; periodic administration of a full therapeutic dose of an antimalarial or antimalarial combination to increased risk groups). Seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) involves administration of treatment to coincide with the annual peak in malaria transmission. Intermittent screening and treatment (IST) screens individuals periodically for infection, and those infected (whether symptomatic or not) receive a full course of an antimalarial agent. Development of an effective malaria vaccine has proven a major challenge, despite the exploration of many innovative approaches, but in the longer term, vaccination may have an important role in the prevention of malaria in school-age children. Improved information on the extent of the burden of malaria and its socioeconomic consequences in this age group would enhance awareness at all levels

Genomics and drug profiling of fatal TCF3-HLF-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia identifies recurrent mutation patterns and therapeutic options.

TCF3-HLF-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is currently incurable. Using an integrated approach, we uncovered distinct mutation, gene expression and drug response profiles in TCF3-HLF-positive and treatment-responsive TCF3-PBX1-positive ALL. We identified recurrent intragenic deletions of PAX5 or VPREB1 in constellation with the fusion of TCF3 and HLF. Moreover somatic mutations in the non-translocated allele of TCF3 and a reduction of PAX5 gene dosage in TCF3-HLF ALL suggest cooperation within a restricted genetic context. The enrichment for stem cell and myeloid features in the TCF3-HLF signature may reflect reprogramming by TCF3-HLF of a lymphoid-committed cell of origin toward a hybrid, drug-resistant hematopoietic state. Drug response profiling of matched patient-derived xenografts revealed a distinct profile for TCF3-HLF ALL with resistance to conventional chemotherapeutics but sensitivity to glucocorticoids, anthracyclines and agents in clinical development. Striking on-target sensitivity was achieved with the BCL2-specific inhibitor venetoclax (ABT-199). This integrated approach thus provides alternative treatment options for this deadly disease

Hidden dynamics of an optically injected laser diode subject to threshold electromagnetic induction: coexistence of multiple stable states

In this contribution, we perform a detailed study of the effect of electromagnetic induction on the dynamical behavior of laser diode modeled by novel single-mode four-dimensional rate equations. Memristor is used to describe electromagnetic induction effect. As result, the obtained model is equilibrium free thus displays hidden dynamics. Consequently, Shilnikov method is not suitable to explain the chaos mechanism in the introduced laser model. Furthermore, there is no heteroclinic nor homoclinic orbit. Based on numerical simulations, we found that the laser model displays hidden dynamics including period doubling bifurcation, multistability (with three different stable states) and crisis phenomena when the electromagnetic strength is varied. The circuit emulator of laser model investigated in this paper has been designed in the Pspice environment to further support numerical results

Fungal Diversity and Evaluation of Ochratoxin A Content of Coffee from Three Cameroonian Regions

The present study had the objective to assess the ochratoxin A content of coffee through chromatographic analysis and design a method using PCR-DGGE to analyze at the same moment the totality of fungal flora present in the coffee samples in order to determine their geographic origin. 96 samples of coffee were collected from the west region (Bafoussam and Dschang), centre region (Bafia), and east region (Batouri) of Cameroon during two years (2017 and 2018). Two treatments (dry and wet routes) were evaluated at three different steps of coffee processing (parchment coffee, green coffee, and husk coffee). The characterization of the fungal profile was done with PCR-DGGE and sequencing. The levels of OTA were assessed using HPLC analysis. The results indicated that the toxinogenic mycoflora associated with coffee beans was mainly Aspergillus niger, A. carbonarius, and A. ochraceus. PCR-DGGE data revealed that each sampling site is characterized by a specific fungal profile. Despite the influence of the treatment on the fungal population of coffee, bands common to samples coming from the same site were observed. These bands could therefore constitute potential biological markers to trace back to the origin of coffee. OTA was detected in most of the coffee samples analyzed and only few samples contented OTA at levels higher than the maximum tolerable limit for food intended for human consumption. The OTA content of coffee was significantly influenced by the sampling step and the sampling period

Phenolic Compounds and Terpenoids from Hypericum lanceolatum

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