Soil-transmitted helminth infections

More than a quarter of the world's population is at risk of infection with the soil-transmitted helminths Ascaris lumbricoides, hookworm (Ancylostoma duodenale and Necator americanus), Trichuris trichiura, and Strongyloides stercoralis. Infected children and adults present with a range of medical and surgical conditions, and clinicians should consider the possibility of infection in individuals living in, or returning from, endemic regions. Although safe and effective drugs are donated free to endemic countries, only half of at-risk children received treatment in 2016. This Seminar describes the epidemiology, lifecycles, pathophysiology, clinical diagnosis, management, and public health control of soil-transmitted helminths. Previous work has questioned the effect of population-level deworming; however, it remains beyond doubt that treatment reduces the severe consequences of soil-transmitted helminthiasis. We highlight the need for refined diagnostic tools and effective control options to scale up public health interventions and improve clinical detection and management of these infections

Panax ginseng has no effect on indices of glucose regulation following acute or chronic ingestion in healthy volunteers

In the absence of effective pharmacotherapy for diabetes there has been an increase in the use of, and research into, alternative treatment strategies. These include exercise, dietary interventions and the use of supplements including extracts of ginseng. Two separate, placebo-controlled, double-blind, cross-over studies investigating the effects of chronic ingestion of Panax ginseng (study 1 used G115, study 2 used Cheong Kwan Jang) on glycated Hb (HbA1c; study 1, n 18; study 2, n 11), fasting plasma insulin (study 1, n 17; study 2, n 12), fasting plasma glucose and postprandial response (following breakfast) (study 1, n 23; study 2, n 14) in healthy volunteers are reported. In both studies it was found that Panax ginseng had no effect on any gluco-regulatory parameter investigated. These results are not consistent with those reported for a diabetic sample (albeit using slightly different outcomes). These results would suggest that chronic use of Panax ginseng by non-diabetic individuals will have little long-term effect on glucose regulation. The benefits to glucose regulation associated with long-term ginseng use may only be present in populations with compromised glucose control; however, further research is needed to confirm such a speculation

International marine science research projects : second inventory of international projects at Sea Grant institutions, 1990

This inventory of marine science projects at Sea Grant institutions was completed in order to gauge the level and enhance a database of U.S./foreign collaboration in international marine research initiated at U.S. Sea Grant institutions. The inventory was done by the International Marine Science Cooperation Program at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution's Sea Grant Office. The first inventory of projects with international components at Sea Grant institutions was done in 1984-85 by the International Program. This second inventory continues in the tradition of the first to "take the pulse" of international interest at Sea Grant institutions. The pulse is very active despite the lack of direct funding accorded the formal Sea Grant International Program at the national level. Of the 122 projects at Sea Grant institutions, however, only 29 were directly funded in part or entirely by Sea Grant. The inventory analyzes data from 122 interntional projects initiated at 20 Sea Grant institutions by profiling and explicating the extent of project foreign locations, sources of funding, areas of expertise for principal investigators, and contacts at foreign and U.S. agencies and institutions. It presents one-page summaries of the 122 projects along with indexes by geographic location, funding source, PI discipline, PI name, and keywords. In addition, this report compares the data from the 1989-90 inventory with that of the 1985 inventory.This work is the result of research sponsored by NOAA, National Sea Grant College Program Offce, Departent of Commerce, under Grant No. NA90-AA-D-SG480, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Sea Grant Project Number E/L-1