ALBINISM IN AFRICA: A PROPOSED CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK TO UNDERSTAND AND EFFECTIVELY ADDRESS A CONTINENTAL CRISIS

Across Africa trafficking in albino body parts is far more complicated than mightfirst be assumed, as this activity is merely the end result of a complicated process with origins far removed from the point of sale. The literature in this area tends to focus on either (a) the actual act of procuring and selling body parts; or (b) loosely-related and fairly vague reports of why this process flourishes. There is no extant overarching conceptual framework linking key underlying interrelated vectors that combine to drive severe exploitation of persons with albinism, (for instance, stigma; traditional and other cultural beliefs; the status and impact of authority figures; local, regional and national discrimination; the financial impact and economy of scale in trafficking body parts, and so forth). The absence of such a framework directly hinders proposing or implementing effective solutions, as these solutions are unlikely to succeed if they ignore the highly-symbiotic relationships among the undergirding vectors. Therefore, we propose an initial conceptual framework that unpacks crucial connections among related variables impacting trafficking in albino body parts in Africa, and then use the framework to suggest areas of emphasis to reduce and eliminate the trafficking of these body parts in Africa

ALBINISM IN AFRICA: A PROPOSED CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK TO UNDERSTAND AND EFFECTIVELY ADDRESS A CONTINENTAL CRISIS

Across Africa trafficking in albino body parts is far more complicated than mightfirst be assumed, as this activity is merely the end result of a complicated process with origins far removed from the point of sale. The literature in this area tends to focus on either (a) the actual act of procuring and selling body parts; or (b) loosely-related and fairly vague reports of why this process flourishes. There is no extant overarching conceptual framework linking key underlying interrelated vectors that combine to drive severe exploitation of persons with albinism, (for instance, stigma; traditional and other cultural beliefs; the status and impact of authority figures; local, regional and national discrimination; the financial impact and economy of scale in trafficking body parts, and so forth). The absence of such a framework directly hinders proposing or implementing effective solutions, as these solutions are unlikely to succeed if they ignore the highly-symbiotic relationships among the undergirding vectors. Therefore, we propose an initial conceptual framework that unpacks crucial connections among related variables impacting trafficking in albino body parts in Africa, and then use the framework to suggest areas of emphasis to reduce and eliminate the trafficking of these body parts in Africa.</jats:p

Platelet factor 4 is a negative autocrine in vivo regulator of megakaryopoiesis: clinical and therapeutic implications

Platelet factor 4 (PF4) is a negative regulator of megakaryopoiesis in vitro. We have now examined whether PF4 regulates megakaryopoiesis in vivo by studying PF4 knockout mice and transgenic mice that overexpress human (h) PF4. Steady-state platelet count and thrombocrit in these animals was inversely related to platelet PF4 content. Growth of megakaryocyte colonies was also inversely related to platelet PF4 content. Function-blocking anti-PF4 antibody reversed this inhibition of megakaryocyte colony growth, indicating the importance of local PF4 released from developing megakaryocytes. The effect of megakaryocyte damage and release of PF4 on 5-fluorouracil–induced marrow failure was then examined. Severity of thrombocytopenia and time to recovery of platelet counts were inversely related to initial PF4 content. Recovery was faster and more extensive, especially in PF4-overexpressing mice, after treatment with anti-PF4 blocking antibodies, suggesting a means to limit the duration of such a chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia, especially in individuals with high endogenous levels of PF4. We found that approximately 8% of 250 healthy adults have elevated (> 2 times average) platelet PF4 content. These individuals with high levels of platelet PF4 may be especially sensitive to developing thrombocytopenia after bone marrow injury and may benefit from approaches that block the effects of released PF4

Alternatively spliced vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 is an essential endogenous inhibitor of lymphatic vessel growth

Disruption of the precise balance of positive and negative molecular regulators of blood and lymphatic vessels can lead to myriad diseases that affect one in four people worldwide. Although dozens of natural inhibitors of hemangiogenesis have been identified, an endogenous selective inhibitor of lymphatic vessels has not yet been described. We report the existence of a secreted, splice variant of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (sVegfr-2) that inhibits developmental and reparative lymphangiogenesis by blocking Vegf-c. Tissue-specific loss of sVegfr-2 in mice induced, at birth, spontaneous lymphatic invasion of the normally alymphatic cornea and hyperplasia of skin lymphatics without accompanying changes in blood vasculature. sVegfr-2 inhibited lymphangiogenesis but not hemangiogenesis induced by corneal suture injury or transplantation, enhanced corneal allograft survival, and suppressed lymphangioma cellular proliferation. Naturally occurring sVegfr-2 is a molecular uncoupler of blood and lymphatic vessels whose modulation might have a therapeutic role in lymphatic vascular malformations, transplantation, and potentially in tumor lymphangiogenesis and lymphedema