MedWorm: Malaria

Genotoxicity, cytotoxicity and toxicological evaluation of whole plant extracts of the medicinal plant Phyllanthus niruri (Phyllanthaceae).

Genetics and Molecular Research — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 11:24:05 +0100

We examined the geno-, cyto- and overall toxicity of P. niruri whole plant ethanolic extract. The extract was administered as a single dose of 30 or 300 mg/kg to laboratory rats by gavage, accompanied by negative (0.9% saline) and positive (10 mg/mL N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea) controls that were injected intramuscularly 48 h after extract administration. The ratio of polychromatic (PCE)/normochromatic erythrocytes (NCE) from femur bone marrow was scored for genotoxicity. Cytotoxicity was determined using descending concentrations (0.2-0.0125 g/mL) of the extract incubated with peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Lactate dehydrogenase release from damaged cells was determined and the CC(50) calculated. Subchronic administration of the extract at 30 or 300 mg/kg was done for 90 days to determine ...

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Malaria Deaths Grossly Underestimated

Health News from Medical News Today — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 10:00:00 +0100

A new analysis of malaria mortality published in The Lancet this week suggests deaths to the parasitic disease worldwide have been grossly underestimated, especially in adults. If confirmed, the study has huge implications for how large amounts of charity money are spent in controlling the disease. However, the study also finds that thanks to improved prevention and treatment, such as anti-malaria drugs and insecticide-treated bed nets, deaths to malaria are falling rapidly... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Malaria kills twice as many people than previously thought

OnMedica Latest News — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Study shows deaths are high in adults as well as youngRelated items from OnMedicaDrug-resistant TB set to become more dominantGuide helps GPs care for migrant patientsAfricans in the UK most likely to acquire malaria One or two doses of HPV jab may be enoughSharp rise of swine flu in Australia suggests pandemic (Source: OnMedica Latest News)

Malaria toll 'is twice as high'

BBC News | Health | UK Edition — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:07:13 +0100

The number of deaths worldwide from malaria has been underestimated, according to data published in the medical journal the Lancet. (Source: BBC News | Health | UK Edition)

Malaria may kill far more people than we thought

New Scientist - Health — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:03:20 +0100

Models suggest that malaria kills eight times as many adults in Africa as the World Health Organization estimates (Source: New Scientist - Health)

Community Expansion and Gene Geography of Sickle Cell Trait and G6PD Deficiency, and Natural Selection against Malaria: Experience from Tribal Land of India

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:05:42 +0100

(Source: Cardiovascular and Hematological Agents in Medicinal Chemistry (Formerly Current Medicinal Chemistry - Cardiovascular and Hematological Agents))

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Africa: Global Fund Shake-Up Signals New Direction

AllAfrica News: HIV-Aids and STDs — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 09:42:31 +0100

[PlusNews] Nainnesburg - The appointment of a new general manager, Gabriel Jaramillo, at the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis could be a "turning point" for the troubled organization, which has suffered from a funding crisis and allegations of corruption. (Source: AllAfrica News: HIV-Aids and STDs)

Ghana: Hyundai Embark On Malaria Education - Target School Children

AllAfrica News: Malaria — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 08:06:08 +0100

[Ghanaian Chronicle] The Hyundai Motor Company in collaboration with Auto Plaza embarked on malaria awareness educational programme for school pupils in Accra. The pupils were educated on the symptoms and dangers of malaria, which is a major killer among infants in the country. (Source: AllAfrica News: Malaria)

Measurement of the plasma levels of antibodies against the polymorphic vaccine candidate apical membrane antigen 1 in a malaria-exposed population

BMC Infectious Diseases — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: The current data shows that levels of naturally acquired antigen-specific antibodies, especially in infants and young children, are dependent on the antigenic allele used for measurement. This may be relevant to the interpretation of antibody titre data from measurements against single PfAMA1 alleles, especially in studies involving infants and young children who have experienced fewer infections. (Source: BMC Infectious Diseases)

Malaria kills nearly twice as many people than previously thought, but deaths declining rapidly

EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

(Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation) Malaria is killing more people worldwide than previously thought -- 1.2 million -- but the number of deaths has fallen rapidly as efforts to combat the disease have ramped up, according to new research from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington. IHME researchers say that deaths from malaria have been missed by previous studies because of the assumption that the disease mainly kills children under age five. (Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science)

Probe functionalization with a Rhop-3 antibody: toward a Rhop-3 antigen immunosensor for detection of malaria.

Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Saleh S, Moreno-Molek S, Perera I, Riga A, Sam-Yellowe T, Bayachou M Abstract The antibody specific for the malaria protein, Rhop-3, and FL-Rhop-3, were immobilized on the surface of a gold electrode modified with cysteamine. Colloidal gold was used to enhance the detection signal for Rhop-3 antigens. The Rhop-3 antibody was also immobilized on gold electrodes preactivated with dithiobis(succinimidyl proprionate) (DSP). Immobilization was performed at room temperature and at 37 °C. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) was used to monitor the interaction between the immobilized antibody and its cognate antigen in solution, using ferricyanide, K(3)Fe(CN)(6), as reporting electroactive probe. Tests indicate recognition of Rhop-3 protein by the immobilized antibody. Antigen recognition w...

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Liberia: Sirleaf Returns Home After African Union Summit

AllAfrica News: Malaria — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 21:23:27 +0100

[Liberia] President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf arrived home Tuesday evening from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where she attended the 18th Ordinary Session of Heads of State and Government of the African Union, and also assumed Chairmanship of the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA). (Source: AllAfrica News: Malaria)

Liberia: Sirleaf Elected to Head Anti-Malaria Body

AllAfrica News: Malaria — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 21:03:38 +0100

[Analyst] President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has been elected president of the Africa Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA). The Liberian President was elected by members of ALMA to succeed the founding chair, Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete. (Source: AllAfrica News: Malaria)

Bhutan brings down malaria incidence

SciDev.Net — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 10:36:30 +0100

Bhutan has successfully brought down malaria cases, but fears reversals from global warming. (Source: SciDev.Net)

Tanzania: Malaria Can Be Fought and Must Go

AllAfrica News: Malaria — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 09:14:39 +0100

[Daily News] PRESIDENT Jakaya Kikwete has been deservedly praised for his efforts towards eliminating malaria in Africa and particularly Tanzania. (Source: AllAfrica News: Malaria)

Reducing Malaria Transmission By Targeting Hotspots

Health News from Medical News Today — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 09:00:00 +0100

In this week's PLoS Medicine, Teun Bousema of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, UK and colleagues argue that targeting malaria "hotspots," small groups of households at a substantially increased risk of malaria transmission, is a highly efficient way to reduce malaria transmission at all levels of transmission intensity. The authors state: "Malaria hotspots appear to maintain malaria transmission in low transmission seasons and are the driving force for transmission in the high transmission season... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

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Africa: Global Fund for Aids, TB and Malaria Faces Challenges

AllAfrica News: HIV-Aids and STDs — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:43:20 +0100

[allAfrica.com] Cape Town - In its short 10-year history, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has saved millions of lives, but as it marks its anniversary it finds itself the subject of questions and concern, rather than celebration. (Source: AllAfrica News: HIV-Aids and STDs)

Targeting Malaria Hotspots

Medical Headlines From Ivanhoe.com — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

(Ivanhoe Newswire) – Malaria is a parasite disease that is passed from one human to another by the bite of infected Anopheles mosquitoes. (Source: Medical Headlines From Ivanhoe.com)

Can universal insecticide-treated net campaigns achieve equity in coverage and use? The case of northern Nigeria

Malaria Journal — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Using data from a post-campaign survey, the authors investigated the effect of the mass distribution campaigns in achieving equity in household ownership and use ITNs (Source: Malaria Journal)

Attractive toxic sugar bait (ATSB) methods decimate populations of Anopheles malaria vectors in arid environments regardless of the local availability of favoured sugar-source blossoms

Malaria Journal — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

This field study in the arid malaria-free oasis environment of Israel compares how the availability of a primary natural sugar source for mosquitoes - flowering Acacia trees - affects the efficacy of ATSB methods for mosquito control. (Source: Malaria Journal)

Apoptosis of the fibrocytes type 1 in the spiral ligament and blood labyrinth barrier disturbance cause hearing impairment in murine cerebral malaria

Malaria Journal — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

The paper describes histopathological changes induced by a murine malaria infection and relates this with hearing loss. It uses a well-stablished experimental model and addresses a major issue for malaria patients. (Source: Malaria Journal)

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Africa: Ellen Elected President of Africa Leaders Malaria Alliance

AllAfrica News: Malaria — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:36:35 +0100

[Heritage] President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf has been elected President of the Africa Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA). The Liberian President was elected by members of ALMA to succeed the founding chair, Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete. The Africa Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA) is an alliance of African Heads of State and Government working to end malaria-related deaths. (Source: AllAfrica News: Malaria)

Africa: At AU Confab - Ellen Elected to Head ALMA

AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 09:59:14 +0100

New Dawn (Monrovia)-President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has been elected president of the Africa Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA). The Liberian President was elected by members of ALMA to succeed the founding chair, Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete. (Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine)

Nigeria: PATHS2, Partners Set Path to Cheap Antimalarial Drugs in Lagos, Four Others

AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 09:24:17 +0100

Vanguard (Lagos)-The dream of access to cheap Anti malaria drugs in Nigeria is about to come true at long last. This development is being facilitated by the Partnership for Transforming Health Systems, PATHS2, a United Kingdom Department for International Development, DFID funded project. (Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine)

Liberia: President Sirleaf Elected to Chair African Leaders Malaria Alliance

AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 09:12:45 +0100

Liberia (Monrovia)-President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has been elected Chairperson of the African Leaders Malaria Alliance, succeeding the founding Chair, Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete. ALMA is an alliance of African Heads of State and Government working to end malaria-related deaths. (Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine)

Africa: Malaria Fight Wins Kikwete Recognition

AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 08:40:19 +0100

Daily News (Dar es Salaam)-PRESIDENT Jakaya Kikwete was on Monday awarded for leadership excellence in the campaign aimed at eradicating malaria in Tanzania and Africa. (Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine)

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The Design Of Novel Drugs To Combat Malaria Could Result From Research On Vitamins

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 08:00:00 +0100

New research by scientists at the University of Southampton could lead to the design of more effective drugs to combat malaria. The research will enable scientists to learn more about the nature of the enzymes required for vitamin biosynthesis by the malaria causing pathogen Plasmodium. Vitamins are essential nutrients required in small amounts, the lack of which leads to deficiencies. Many pathogenic microorganisms produce vitamins, and these biosynthetic pathways may provide suitable targets for development of new drugs... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Targeting malaria hotspots key to reducing transmission

EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

(Public Library of Science) In this week's PLoS Medicine, Teun Bousema of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, UK and colleagues argue that targeting malaria "hotspots," small groups of households at a substantially increased risk of malaria transmission, is a highly efficient way to reduce malaria transmission at all levels of transmission intensity. (Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases)

The complexities of malaria disease manifestations with a focus on asymptomatic malaria

Malaria Journal — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

The pathogenesis of malaria is complex, and the clinical presentation of disease ranges from severe malaria, to mild and uncomplicated, to asymptomatic infections. Asymptomatic malaria remains a major challenge for malaria control programmes. (Source: Malaria Journal)

Febrile illness experience among Nigerian nomads

International Journal for Equity in Health — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: Understanding nomadic Fulani beliefs about pabboje is useful for planning an acceptable community participatory fever management among them. (Source: International Journal for Equity in Health)

Rwanda: Country Wins Award for Fighting Malaria

AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 03:55:43 +0100

New Times (Kigali)-President Paul Kagame, yesterday, received on behalf of Rwanda the prestigious 2012 African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA) award. (Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine)

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Rwanda: Nyagatare Grapples With Malaria

AllAfrica News: Malaria — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:46:24 +0100

[New Times] The Minister of Health, Dr Agnes Binagwaho, has called for collective efforts in the fight against malaria in Nyagatare District. (Source: AllAfrica News: Malaria)

Cameroon: Malaria - Over 7 million Nets Distributed

AllAfrica News: Malaria — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:04:19 +0100

[Cameroon Tribune] The Minister of Public Health, Andre Mama Fouda made the announcement on Saturday in Yaounde. (Source: AllAfrica News: Malaria)

Ghana: Study On Malaria Reveals Shocking Results

AllAfrica News: Malaria — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 12:34:07 +0100

[Public Agenda] Volunteer Partnerships for West Africa has released the results from its most recent case study, Knowledge, Treatment and Prevention of Malaria in Rural Ghana: A Case Study of Darmang. (Source: AllAfrica News: Malaria)

Rwanda: Malaria On the Rise Among Workers At Nyagatare Rice Scheme

AllAfrica News: Malaria — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 07:59:14 +0100

[New Times] Nyagatare - Many workers at Kilimburi Rice Scheme in Nyagatare district have been hit by Malaria due to lack of mosquito nets. (Source: AllAfrica News: Malaria)

As Global Fund Turns Ten, Lack of Political Support to Health Threatens Gains Against AIDS, TB, and Malaria

MSF News — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 07:24:00 +0100

South Africa 2011 © Chelsea Maclachlan/Le Monde A woman receives antiretroviral medication at an MSF clinic in Cape Town. While MSF relies solely on private donors, a loss of funding from the Global Fund will leave thousands without treatment. NAIROBI, JANUARY 30, 2012 - As the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria marks its tenth anniversary—and on the heels of its leadership changes—people living with HIV/AIDS and those delivering and supporting HIV and TB treatment took to the streets as they warned that the political commitment made 10 years ago to address global health is evaporating, and that drastic funding shortfalls could cause an unraveling of a decade’s progress against the three diseases. The Global Fund Board in November took t...

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Uganda: Rwanda to Invest in Quality Chemicals

AllAfrica News: Malaria — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 06:00:49 +0100

[Monitor] Rwanda's President, Paul Kagame, has said that this government will consider investing in a joint project with local drug manufacturer Quality Chemicals to set up a plant to process anti-malarial drugs raw materials. (Source: AllAfrica News: Malaria)

New Chief Unveils Plan to Revive Disease-Fighting Fund

WSJ.com: Health — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 03:10:07 +0100

The new chief of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria plans a major overhaul of operations following an assessment urging improved management. (Source: WSJ.com: Health)

A working life: the geneticist

Guardian Unlimited Science — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 23:02:30 +0100

Joe Rainger might still have been a chef, but for a degree change that took him out of the kitchen and plunged him into a world of DNA researchPeople born with abnormal eyes could – within our lifetime – benefit from replacements that match their own DNA, thanks to research by scientists like Joe Rainger.The 35-year-old geneticist is researching a mutation in human genes that causes microphthalmia (one or both eyes abnormally small), anophthalmia (absence of one or both eyes), and coloboma (a gap in the structure of the eye). The conditions are recessive; which means you need both parents to carry the defective gene for the conditions to appear. They are therefore most common in families where first cousins marry.Rainger, who works at the Medical Research Council's human genetics unit ...

3D Study Of Vitamins May Help Combat Malaria

Health News from Medical News Today — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 21:00:00 +0100

A three-dimensional study of how enzymes in the malaria parasite Plasmodium synthesize essential vitamins, could help develop new drugs to combat the disease. Using electron microscopy, a team of scientists from Germany and the UK studied how the enzymes synthesize Vitamin B6, which has already been proposed as a target for new drugs. Dr Ivo Tews, a Lecturer in Structural Biology at the University of Southampton, and colleagues, write about their findings in a paper published online in the journal Structure on 11 January... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Research on vitamins could lead to the design of novel drugs to combat malaria

ScienceDaily Headlines — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 18:59:59 +0100

New research could lead to the design of more effective drugs to combat malaria. The research will enable scientists to learn more about the nature of the enzymes required for vitamin biosynthesis by the malaria causing pathogen Plasmodium. Vitamins are essential nutrients required in small amounts, the lack of which leads to deficiencies. Many pathogenic microorganisms produce vitamins, and these biosynthetic pathways may provide suitable targets for development of new drugs. (Source: ScienceDaily Headlines)

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Congo-Kinshasa: 85 Percent of Aids Patients Lack Treatment

AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 17:18:56 +0100

CISA (Nairobi)-Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is alarmed by the situation of HIV/AIDS patients in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the lack of priority given by the Congolese authorities and the withdrawal of donors, all occurring as the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis prepares to celebrate its tenth anniversary on 28 January. (Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine)

Ghana: Upper East Set to Arrest Malaria

AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 13:18:48 +0100

Public Agenda (Accra)-Half of the estimated one million population of the Upper East Region are to benefit from the distribution of 500,000 Long Lasting Insecticide Treated Nets (LLINs) for malaria prevention. (Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine)

Gambia: Local Authorities Sensitised On Malaria Prevention and Control

AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 11:12:01 +0100

Daily Observer (Banjul)-The Regional Health Team of the Central River Region recently sensitised the local authorities on malaria prevention and control in Janjangbureh. The sensitisation was funded by the Global Fund. (Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine)

Method Discovered By Researchers To Unravel Malaria's Genetic Secrets

Health News from Medical News Today — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 08:00:00 +0100

The parasite that causes malaria is a genetic outlier, which has prevented scientists from discovering the functions of most of its genes. Researchers at National Jewish Health and Yale University School of Medicine have devised a technique to overcome the genetic oddity of Plasmodium falciparum, the major cause of human malaria. This new approach led them discover a new gene involved in lipid synthesis, and opens the door to further genetic discovery for the entire organism... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Pathology of sickle cell disease

Seminars in Diagnostic Pathology — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 05:38:41 +0100

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a hereditary chronic hemolytic anemia with numerous clinical consequences. Intravascular sickling of red blood cells leads to multiorgan dysfunction. Although the pathophysiology of SCD has been well studied, there remains a lack of effective treatment. Refinements in overall care have improved quality of life; however, premature death is still not uncommon. SCD usually presents in childhood and is common in areas where malaria is (or was) common. The association with malaria is apparently of benefit to the individual because these individuals tend to contract a milder form of the disease. This review highlights the spectrum of pathology seen in people with SCD, with an emphasis on the pathogenesis of sudden death. (Source: Seminars in Diagnostic Pathology)

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Crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction analysis of orotate phosphoribosyltransferase from the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum

Acta Crystallographica Section F — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Orotate phosphoribosyltransferase (OPRT) catalyzes the Mg2+-dependent condensation of orotic acid (OA) with 5-α-d-phosphorylribose 1-diphosphate (PRPP) to yield diphosphate (PPi) and the nucleotide orotidine 5′-monophosphate. OPRT from Plasmodium falciparum produced in Escherichia coli was crystallized by the sitting-drop vapour-diffusion method in complex with OA and PRPP in the presence of Mg2+. The crystal exhibited tetragonal symmetry, belonging to space group P41 or P43, with unit-cell parameters a = b = 49.15, c = 226.94 Å. X-ray diffraction data were collected to 2.5 Å resolution at 100 K using a synchrotron-radiation source. (Source: Acta Crystallographica Section F)

Synthesis and Antimalarial Activity of Dihydroperoxides and Tetraoxanes Conjugated with Bis(benzyl)acetone Derivatives

Chemical Biology and Drug Design — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

AbstractDihydroperoxides and tetraoxanes derived from symmetrically substituted bis(arylmethyl)acetones were synthesized in modest to good yields using several methods. Three of these compounds exhibit important in vitro antimalarial activity (1.0 μM ≤ IC50≤ 5.0 μM) against blood forms of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum.© 2012 John Wiley & Sons A/S (Source: Chemical Biology and Drug Design)

Research on vitamins could lead to the design of novel drugs to combat malaria

EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

(University of Southampton) New research by scientists at the University of Southampton could lead to the design of more effective drugs to combat malaria. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)

Assessment of DDT, DDE, and 1-hydroxypyrene levels in blood and urine samples in children from Chiapas Mexico.

Environmental Science and Pollution Research International — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that children in these communities were exposed to DDT and its metabolites, and to other contaminants generated by the combustion of firewood. Therefore, the complex mixture studied in this study (PAHs and DDT/DDE) requires further research. PMID: 22282017 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Environmental Science and Pollution Research International)

Strengthening the policy setting process for global malaria control and elimination

Malaria Journal — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

A new Thematic Series in Malaria Journal will, after each meeting of the Malaria Policy Advisory Committee (MPAC), a new WHO committee, publish its recommendations and the evidence to support them. (Source: Malaria Journal)

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Visual and olfactory associative learning in the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae sensu stricto

Malaria Journal — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

The paper investigated associative learning in Anopheles gambiae in a laboratory bioassay using visual and olfactory cues. The results address an important knowledge gap in mosquito ecology and emphasize the role of associative memory for host finding and blood-feeding behaviour, with important potential implications for vector control. (Source: Malaria Journal)

Haematological parameters, natural regulatory CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ T cells and gammadelta T cells among two sympatric ethnic groups having different susceptibility to malaria in Burkina Faso

BMC Research Notes — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: Our findings on regulatory T cell phenotypes suggest an interesting role for immune regulatory mechanisms in response to malaria. The study also suggests that TCRgammadelta + cells might contribute to the protection against malaria in the Fulani ethnic group involving their reported parasite inhibitory activities. (Source: BMC Research Notes)

Bill Gates Donates $750 Million to Global Fund

NYT Health — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:21:29 +0100

The donation to the struggling Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria was made as a promissory note intended to tide it over regular cash shortages. (Source: NYT Health)

A Vectorial Capacity Product to Monitor Changing Malaria Transmission Potential in Epidemic Regions of Africa

Advances in Pharmacological Sciences — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 18:56:20 +0100

In this study, the vectorial capacity model (VCAP) was expanded to include the influence of rainfall and temperature variables on malaria transmission potential. Data from two remote sensing products were used to monitor rainfall and temperature and were integrated into the VCAP model. The expanded model was tested in Eritrea and Madagascar to check the viability of the approach. The analysis of VCAP in relation to rainfall, temperature and malaria incidence data in these regions shows that the expanded VCAP correctly tracks the risk of malaria both in regions where rainfall is the limiting factor and in regions where temperature is the limiting factor. The VCAP maps are currently offered as an experimental resource for testing within Malaria Early Warning applications in epidemic prone re...

Africa: The IAS Salutes Michel Kazatchkine for His Dedicated and Visionary Leadership of the Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria

AllAfrica News: HIV-Aids and STDs — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 18:47:34 +0100

IAS (Geneva)-26 January 2012 - Geneva, Switzerland. "Michel Kazatchkine has helped to save millions of lives as one of the driving forces in the creation, development and operations of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and we are extremely grateful to him for his leadership and his partnership with the IAS and our members around the world as the Global Fund's Executive Director for past five years," said IAS President Elly Katabira. (Source: AllAfrica News: HIV-Aids and STDs)

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Tetracyclines and pain

Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Archives of Pharmacology — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:45:30 +0100

Abstract Tetracyclines are natural or semi-synthetic bacteriostatic agents which have been used since late 1940s against a wide range of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria and atypical organisms such as chlamydia, mycoplasmas, rickettsia, and protozoan parasites. After the discovery of the first tetracyclines, a second generation of compounds was sought in order to improve water solubility for parenteral administration or to enhance bioavailability after oral administration. This approach resulted in the development of doxycycline and minocycline in the 1970s. Doxycycline was included in the World Health Organization Model List of Essential Medicines either as antibacterial or to prevent malaria or to treat patients with this disease. Additional development led to th...

Gates Donates $750 Million to Global Fund

NYT Health — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:30:10 +0100

The donation to the struggling fund was made as a promissory note intended to tide the fund over regular cash shortages. (Source: NYT Health)

Health Care Seeking Behavior among Caregivers of Sick Children Who Had Cerebral Malaria in Northwestern Nigeria

Journal of Oncology — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 13:25:09 +0100

Cerebral malaria is a significant cause of childhood morbidity in our region. The challenges of effective management include time and quality of treatment. The study appraised the health care seeking behavior of caregivers of sick children who developed cerebral malaria, in Zaria, northwestern Nigeria. Caregivers indentified were parents 29 (87.9%) and grandparents 4 (12.1%). Most of them were in the upper social classes. Health care options utilized before presentation at our facility were formal health facility 24 (72.7%), patent medicine seller 12 (36.4%), home treatment 10 (30.3%), and herbal concoction 6 (18.2%) with majority 24 (72.7%) using more than one option. Antimalarial therapy was instituted in 25 (75.6%) of the cases. Mortality was significantly associated with the use of her...

The Global Fund - saved and wrapped in the US flag?

Guardian Unlimited Science — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 12:12:00 +0100

Bill Gates promises $750m for the troubled fund, its executive director quits, and a new general manager is about to arrive. The Global Fund may be revitalised, but it could look a little differentAre we watching the rebirth of the troubled Global Fund to Fight Aids, TB and Malaria, perhaps in a new, more US-flavoured guise?The Fund has been in the mire now for some time after revelations that some of its grants fell into corrupt hands, left short of money and unable to agree new grants to developing countries badly in need of disease-fighting programmes. There are real fears not only that countries like Zambia and Malawi will be unable to put more people on Aids drugs (which are now known also to prevent infections) but that they might even run short of cash to keep critical supplies goin...

Gates donates $750 million to fight AIDS, TB and malaria

CNN.com - Health — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 11:48:09 +0100

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will inject $750 million into the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates announced Thursday at the World Economic Forum. (Source: CNN.com - Health)

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Malaria Knowledge, Concern, Land Management, and Protection Practices among Land Owners and/or Managers in Lowland versus Highland Ecuador

Clinical and Developmental Immunology — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 11:22:23 +0100

This study presents a comparative, quantitative, interview-based study of land owners and/or managers (n=262) in the Ecuadorian lowlands (presently considered malarious) (n=131) and highlands (potentially malarious in the future) (n=131). Although respondents had a strong understanding of where the disease occurs in their own country and of the basic relationship among standing water, mosquitoes, and malaria, about half of respondents in potential risk areas denied the current possibility of malaria infection on their own property. As well, about half of respondents with potential anopheline larval habitat did not report its presence, likely due to a highly specific definition of suitable mosquito habitat. Most respondents who are considered at risk of malaria currently use at least one ty...

FcγRIIa polymorphism and anti‐malaria specific IgG and IgG subclass responsese in populations differing in susceptibility to malaria in Burkina Faso

Scandinavian Journal of Immunology — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 11:14:17 +0100

AbstractFcγRIIa is known to be polymorphic; and certain variants err associated with differt susceptibilities to malaria. Studies involving the Fulani ethnic group reported an ethnic difference in FcγRIIa‐R131H genotype frequencies between the Fulani and other sympatric groups. No previous studies have addressed these questions in Burkina Faso. The present study aimed to assess the influence of FcγRIIa‐R131H polymorphism on anti‐ falciparum malaria IgG and IgG subclass responses in the Fulani and the Mossi ethnic groups living in Burkina‐Faso.Healthy adults more than 20 years old belonging to the Mossi or the Fulani ethnic groups were enrolled for the assessment of selected parasitological, immunological and genetic variables in relation to their susceptibility to malaria. The a...

Africa: Areas With Low Malaria Rates 'Need Mass Vaccination'

AllAfrica News: Malaria — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 10:10:27 +0100

SciDev.Net (London)-The most promising malaria vaccine candidate should be rolled out through mass vaccination campaigns - rather than the WHO's routine infant vaccinations - in parts of Africa with low malaria transmission, says a study. (Source: AllAfrica News: Malaria)

Gambia: President of Pharmaceutical Society on Fake Malaria Drugs

AllAfrica News: Malaria — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 06:16:08 +0100

Foroyaa (Serrekunda)-Following the announcement made over the BBC that fake malaria drugs have entered into the territory of 10 countries in West Africa and could put the lives of millions at risk, which was published by Foroyaa in our last edition, this reporter made efforts to contact and get the views of concern officials and operators in the pharmaceutical business on the matter. (Source: AllAfrica News: Malaria)

Peripheral hemophagocytosis in malaria infection

Blood — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

(Source: Blood)

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Hyponatraemia in imported malaria: the pathophysiological role of vasopressin

Malaria Journal — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

This is a retrospective study of 519 cases of imported malaria, examining patterns and mechanisms of associated hyponatraemia. The results, which builds on work by the same authors published last year, is timely, because the issue of fluid resuscitation of patients with malaria controversial. (Source: Malaria Journal)

Intermittent Preventive Treatment with Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine does not modify plasma cytokines and chemokines or intracellular cytokine responses to Plasmodium falciparum in Mozambican Children

BMC Immunology — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: Our work has confirmed that IPTi-SP does not negatively affect the development of cellular immune response during early childhood. This study has also provided new insights as to how these cytokine responses are acquired upon age and exposure to P. falciparum, as well as their associations with malaria susceptibility.Trial RegistrationRegistry's URL, http://clinicaltrials.gov; trial registration number, NCT00209795. (Source: BMC Immunology)

Enhancement of naturally-acquired immunity against malaria by drug-use.

Journal of Medical Microbiology — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Bijker E, Sauerwein RW Abstract Combination of chemoprophylaxis with chloroquine and so-called 'controlled human malaria infections' has been shown to induce sustained and fully protective immunity against malaria in experimental settings. This opens possibilities of translating this approach into an effective and applicable strategy for the field. We review the different ways in which anti-malarial drugs have been used for prevention of malaria in endemic settings and will discuss possibilities and challenges of applying a strategy of drug use and natural acquired infection in the field. PMID: 22282458 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Journal of Medical Microbiology)

Discover Magazine Ranks Malaria Study in Top 100 Stories of 2011

Public Health News Headlines from Johns Hopkins — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 20:54:03 +0100

(Source: Public Health News Headlines from Johns Hopkins)

Global Fund chief quits after funding cuts

Reuters: Health — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 18:22:38 +0100

GENEVA (Reuters) - The head of the Global Fund, the largest backer of the fight against AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, will step down in March after a misuse of funds led it to cut back on new grants to battle the diseases. (Source: Reuters: Health)

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Areas with low malaria rates 'need mass vaccination'

SciDev.Net — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 17:30:35 +0100

A modelling study of a promising malaria vaccine finds low transmission areas would benefit the most from mass vaccination. (Source: SciDev.Net)

DRC: Majority of People Living with HIV Denied Treatment

MSF News — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 15:57:00 +0100

DRC 2011 © Robin Meldrum Michel Kongawi, head lab tech, prepares a CD4 test in the laboratory at Lubutu hospital, Maniema Province. KINSHASA, JANUARY 25, 2012 – The vast majority of people living with the AIDS virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are deprived of lifesaving treatment, due to a withdrawal of international donor support and the lack of national prioritization of the crisis, the international medical humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) said today. The number of HIV-positive people in DRC is currently estimated at more than one million, 350,000 of whom could benefit from antiretroviral (ARV) treatment. However, only 44,000 people are currently receiving treatment, translating into a 1...

Africa: Saudi Arabia Donates U.S.$25 Million to Fight TB, Aids, Malaria

AllAfrica News: Malaria — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 10:18:10 +0100

Daily Trust (Abuja)-The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has announced the donation of US $25 million to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. (Source: AllAfrica News: Malaria)

Tanzania: From Zanzibar House of Representatives

AllAfrica News: Malaria — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 08:24:46 +0100

Daily News (Dar es Salaam)-A POLICE sniffer dog, which was being used to detect illicit drugs in luggage at the Zanzibar international Airport has died, the Minister of the State Ms Fatma Abdulhabib Fereji confirmed to the House on Tuesday. (Source: AllAfrica News: Malaria)

Angola: Who Acknowledges Govt Effort to Combat Malaria

AllAfrica News: Malaria — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 06:33:31 +0100

ANGOP (Luanda)-The World Health Organisation (WHO) representative to Angola, Rui Gomes Vaz, has congratulated the Angolan Government on its effort to combat malaria over the last years, which has led to a drop in death caused by the disease in the country. (Source: AllAfrica News: Malaria)

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Angola: USAID Committed to Continued Support in Fight Against Malaria

AllAfrica News: Malaria — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 06:33:28 +0100

ANGOP (Luanda)-The representative of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to Angola, Janifer Weber Tuesday in Luanda reiterated a continued technical and financial support from U.S. government in combat and reduction of malaria in Angola. (Source: AllAfrica News: Malaria)

Angola: Use of Mosquito Nets Helps Reduce Malaria

AllAfrica News: Malaria — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 06:33:23 +0100

ANGOP (Luanda)-The deputy minister of Health, Evelize Frestas, said Tuesday in Luanda that proper use of mosquito nets contributes to reduce the transmission of malaria and other vector-borne diseases. (Source: AllAfrica News: Malaria)

Angola: Malaria Cases Reduce to 10 Percent

AllAfrica News: Malaria — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 06:33:15 +0100

ANGOP (Luanda)-The malaria infection rate in the country has reduced to 10 percent, as a result of the actions developed by the Health Ministry and its partners aiming at combating the sickness in the communities. (Source: AllAfrica News: Malaria)

Angola: Over Two Million Malaria Cases Registered in 2011

AllAfrica News: Malaria — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 06:14:45 +0100

ANGOP (Luanda)-At least 2.9 million cases of malaria were registered last year all over the country, announced the coordinator of Malaria Combat Programme, Filomeno Fortes. (Source: AllAfrica News: Malaria)

Researchers discover method to unravel malaria's genetic secrets

EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

(National Jewish Health) Researchers at National Jewish Health have devised a technique to overcome a genetic oddity of Plasmodium falciparum, the major cause of human malaria, which has stymied research into the organism's genes. The technique opens the door to genetic discovery for the entire organism, which should foster a greater understanding of the parasite, and facilitate discovery of new medications for a disease that infects 200 million people and kills nearly 700,000 every year. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)

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Comparing changes in haematologic parameters occurring in patients included in randomized controlled trials of artesunate-amodiaquine vs single and combination treatments of uncomplicated falciparum in sub-Saharan Africa

Malaria Journal — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Effect of different antimalarial treatments on haematologic parameters comparing artesunate-amodiaquine against various single treatment lines and combination therapies. (Source: Malaria Journal)

Global Fund’s Executive Director Steps Down

NYT Health — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 02:16:28 +0100

The executive director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria resigned after two months of struggle over the future direction of the fund. (Source: NYT Health)

Africa: Global Fund on Aids, TB, Malaria Transforms Itself After Turmoil

AllAfrica News: HIV-Aids and STDs — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:50:01 +0100

GFO (Nairobi)-It has been a year of turmoil for the Global Fund. Round 11 has been officially cancelled, preceded by months of negative publicity about corruption and fraud. (Source: AllAfrica News: HIV-Aids and STDs)

Africa: Chief of Global Fund on Aids, TB, Malaria to Resign

AllAfrica News: HIV-Aids and STDs — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:45:00 +0100

GFO (Nairobi)-Board Had Concerns Regarding Managerial Leadership; Gabriel Jaramillo, Brazilian Banker, to Serve as General Manager (Source: AllAfrica News: HIV-Aids and STDs)

Latest attacks in Jonglei State perpetuate a pattern of extreme violence

MSF News — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 17:19:00 +0100

In the state of Jonglei in South Sudan, civilians continue to bear the brunt of intercommunal fighting. Wounded patients are still arriving at the Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) hospital in Pibor, three weeks after the violent attack on the town and outlying villages in Pibor County. Many were injured in the bush, where thousands have remained, afraid to come out of hiding. MSF medical teams are now treating serious wound infections, some several weeks old. Since re-launching emergency medical activities in Pibor on Jan. 7, MSF has treated 47 patients with gunshot wounds – 16 women and eight children. A further 43 patients have so far been treated for stab wounds, beatings or wounds sustained while fleeing in the bush. South Sudan © Heather Whelan/MSFAn MSF nurse takes a baby’s ...

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"Even Running Away Is Not Enough": Attacks in Jonglei, South Sudan, Perpetuate Extreme Violence

MSF News — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 16:07:00 +0100

South Sudan 2012 © Heather Whelan/MSF An MSF doctor examines a baby in Pibor, in Jonglei State in South Sudan, where people who went into hiding following recent attacks continue to come in for urgently needed medical care at MSF's re-opened facilities. "Our team here in Pibor was evacuated on 23 December ..." var flashvars = {}; flashvars.file = "http://av.doctorswithoutborders.org/av/2012/Karel-Janssens-Pibor-23-Jan-12.mp3"; var params = {}; params.wmode = "transparent"; params.allowfullscreen = "true"; params.allowscriptaccess = "always"; var attributes = {}; attributes.id = "myFlashPlayer"; swfobject.embedSWF("/includes/players/mediaplayer.swf", "player", "200", "20", "10.0.0", false, flashvars, params, attributes); January 23, 2012...

Falciparum malaria in a patient with sickle cell trait with hemophagocytosis and secondary pancytopenia

Annals of Hematology — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 12:25:50 +0100

Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Letter to the EditorPages 1-2DOI 10.1007/s00277-012-1408-3Authors Jalil Ur Rehman, Department of Oncology, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Po Box 40047, Jeddah, 21499 Kingdom of Saudi ArabiaNezar Bhabri, Department of Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi ArabiaAhmed Waleed, Department of Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi ArabiaA. Maulawi, Department of Pathology, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi ArabiaM. Aslam, Department of Oncology, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Po Box 40047, Jeddah, 21499 Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Journal Annals of HematologyOnline IS...

Nigeria: Seeking to Fight HIV/Aids for Maximum Impact

AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 10:49:58 +0100

Daily Trust (Abuja)-Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM), an international Financing organ supporting large-scale prevention, treatment and care programmes against AIDS, tuberculosis (TB) and malaria in low-income countries, relies on Nigeria's National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) as its principal recipient in Nigeria to oversee sub-recipients which directly deliver GFATM's grant interventions to communities. In a brief ceremony during the weekend, NACA released a batch of vehicles to implemen (Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine)

New Malaria Maps To Guide Battle Against The Disease

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 10:00:00 +0100

A new suite of malaria maps has revealed in unprecedented detail the current global pattern of the disease, allowing researchers to see how malaria has changed over a number of years. In a study published in the Malaria Journal, a multinational team of researchers from the Malaria Atlas Project (MAP), funded mainly by the Wellcome Trust, present the results of a two-year effort to assemble all available data worldwide on the risk of Plasmodium falciparum malaria, the most deadly form of the disease... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Uganda: Control It - Don't Eradicate It

AllAfrica News: Malaria — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 08:23:27 +0100

Independent (Kampala)-Fighting malaria the wrong way kills 20 people every minute in Uganda (Source: AllAfrica News: Malaria)

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Researchers Report Fundamental Malaria Discovery

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 08:00:00 +0100

A team of researchers led by Kasturi Haldar and Souvik Bhattacharjee of the University of Notre Dame's Center for Rare and Neglected Diseases has made a fundamental discovery in understanding how malaria parasites cause deadly disease. The researchers show how parasites target proteins to the surface of the red blood cell that enables sticking to and blocking blood vessels. Strategies that prevent this host-targeting process will block disease. The research findings appear in the journal Cell, the leading journal in the life sciences... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

$5.8 million Gates grant targets child-killing bacteria diseases in Africa

EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

(Michigan State University) Bacteria infections -- most of which are preventable via vaccines readily available in the developed world -- and not malaria are the leading cause of death for children in sub-Saharan Africa. A new Michigan State University project based in Nigeria and funded by a $5.8 million grant aims to help prevent these diseases by collecting local data on the ailments, spurring vaccine use and development. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)

Angelo Celli and research on the prevention of malaria in Italy a century ago

JRSM — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

(Source: JRSM)

Enhancing humoral responses to a malaria antigen with nanoparticle vaccines that expand Tfh cells and promote germinal center induction [Applied Biological Sciences]

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

For subunit vaccines, adjuvants play a key role in shaping immunological memory. Nanoparticle (NP) delivery systems for antigens and/or molecular danger signals are promising adjuvants capable of promoting both cellular and humoral immune responses, but in most cases the mechanisms of action of these materials are poorly understood. Here, we studied the immune response elicited by NPs composed of multilamellar “stapled” lipid vesicles carrying a recombinant Plasmodium vivax circumsporozoite antigen, VMP001, both entrapped in the aqueous core and anchored to the lipid bilayer surfaces. Immunization with these particles and monophosphoryl lipid A (MPLA), a US Food and Drug Administration–approved immunostimulatory agonist for Toll-like receptor-4, promoted high-titer, high-avidity anti...

Synthesis and Evaluation of 1-Amino-6-halo-β-carbolines as Antimalarial and Antiprion Agents.

ChemMedChem — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Thompson MJ, Louth JC, Little SM, Jackson MP, Boursereau Y, Chen B, Coldham I Abstract Malaria is one of the world's most devastating parasitic diseases, causing almost one million deaths each year. Growing resistance to classical antimalarial drugs, such as chloroquine, necessitates the discovery of new therapeutic agents for successful control of this global disease. Here, we report the synthesis of some 6-halo-β-carbolines as analogues of the potent antimalarial natural product, manzamine A, retaining its heteroaromatic core whilst providing compounds with much improved synthetic accessibility. Two compounds displayed superior activity to chloroquine itself against a resistant Plasmodium falciparum strain, identifying them as promising leads for future development. F...

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Study reveals malaria origin in South America

SciDev.Net — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 03:04:13 +0100

The origin of two genetic sub-types of the malaria parasite P. falciparum in South America has been traced back slaves arriving from Africa, a study says. (Source: SciDev.Net)

Malaria hopes rise as chemists produce cheap artemisinin

SciDev.Net — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 17:44:48 +0100

The key malaria drug, artemisinin, can now be produced in greater quantities ― from a waste material of the current production process. (Source: SciDev.Net)

Antimalarial Effects of Iranian Flora Artemisia sieberi on Plasmodium berghei In Vivo in Mice and Phytochemistry Analysis of Its Herbal Extracts

Clinical and Developmental Immunology — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 11:22:21 +0100

The aim of this study is pharmacochemistry of Iranian flora Artemisia sieberi and its antimalarial effects on Plasmodium berghei in vivo. This is the first application of A. sieberi for treatment of murine malaria. A. sieberi were collected at flowering stage from the Khorassan and Semnan provinces of Iran; the aerial parts were air-dried at room temperature and then powdered. The powder was macerated in methanol, filtered with Bokhner hopper and solvent was separated in rotary evaporator. Total herbal extract was subsequently processed for ether and chloroform extracts preparation. The toxicity of herbal extract was assessed on naive NMRI mice with high, average and low doses; then pathophysiological signs were assessed. Finally, the antimalarial efficacy was investigated on two groups of...

Medicinal Plants Used by Various Tribes of Bangladesh for Treatment of Malaria

Clinical and Developmental Immunology — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 11:22:21 +0100

The objective of the present study was to conduct an ethnomedicinal survey among various tribes of Bangladesh to identify the plants that they use for treatment of the disease. Surveys were conducted among seven tribes, namely, Bawm, Chak, Chakma, Garo, Marma, Murong, and Tripura, who inhabit the southeastern or northcentral forested regions of Bangladesh. Interviews conducted with the various tribal medicinal practitioners indicated that a total of eleven plants distributed into 10 families were used for treatment of malaria and accompanying symptoms like fever, anemia, ache, vomiting, and chills. Leaves constituted 35.7% of total uses followed by roots at 21.4%. Other plant parts used for treatment included barks, seeds, fruits, and flowers. A review of the published scientific l...

Kenya: Alarm Sounded As Fake Malaria Drugs Found to Contain Viagra

AllAfrica News: Malaria — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 10:50:43 +0100

Nation (Nairobi)-The government will on Monday receive findings from market surveillance on the safety and efficiency of anti-malaria drugs in the country. (Source: AllAfrica News: Malaria)

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Tanzania: Mosquito Trap With a Difference

AllAfrica News: Malaria — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 09:41:04 +0100

Daily News (Dar es Salaam)-THE odour of stinky socks is repulsive to humans, but an African inventor, Fredros Okumu of Ifakara Health Institute in Tanzania, has discovered it's as sweet and seductive as roses to mosquitoes. Canadian tax dollars are helping the young Tanzanian scientist build a sophisticated mosquito trap that is poised to play a major role in the global war on malaria. (Source: AllAfrica News: Malaria)

Sudan: Malaria and Whooping Coughs Kill 36 in Jonglei's Duk County

AllAfrica News: Malaria — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 09:03:37 +0100

Sudan Tribune (Paris)-A Malaria and whooping cough outbreak in Jonglei State's Duk County, has reportedly killed 36 people with a further 761 cases are under medical care in Pajut clinic. (Source: AllAfrica News: Malaria)

10 Most read articles week 15 January 2012

ICMCC: The International Council on Medical and Care Compunetics — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 08:40:00 +0100

Source: Lodewijk Bos, ICMCC Content: The effect of mobile phone text-message reminders on Kenyan health workers’ adherence to malaria treatment guidelines: a cluster randomised trial 3 ways social media is transforming the doctor-patient relationship Why Personal Health Records Have Flopped Teens to control own e-health records Using robotic telecommunications to triage pediatric disaster victims Unease over patient [...] (Source: ICMCC: The International Council on Medical and Care Compunetics)

Nigeria: World Malaria Report 2011 (part Two)

AllAfrica News: Malaria — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 08:21:29 +0100

Daily Trust (Abuja)-Last week I provided a summary of the World Malaria Report 2011which provided information received from 106 malaria-endemic countries and also highlighted continued progress made towards meeting the international targets for malaria control set for 2010 and 2015. I concluded by making a pledge to comment about the Nigeria's progress as well as ask some pertinent questions that will ginger stakeholders towards concerted efforts to address the burden of Malaria in our dear country. (Source: AllAfrica News: Malaria)

New malaria maps to guide battle against the disease

EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

(Wellcome Trust) A new suite of malaria maps has revealed in unprecedented detail the current global pattern of the disease, allowing researchers to see how malaria has changed over a number of years. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)

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Aging partially restores the efficacy of malaria vector control in insecticide-resistant populations of Anopheles gambiae s.l. from Burkina Faso

Malaria Journal — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

The main finding here is that older mosquitoes are more susceptible to insecticides. This has important implications for understanding the epidemiological impact of resistance in field-based vector control interventions. (Source: Malaria Journal)

Early experiences on the feasibility, acceptability, and use of malaria rapid diagnostic tests at peripheral health centres in Uganda--insights into some barriers and facilitators

Implementation Science — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: mRDTs were found to be acceptable to and used by the target users, provided clear policy guidelines exist, ancillary tools are easy to use and health supplies beyond the diagnostic tools are met. Based on our results, health workers' needs for comprehensive case management should be met, and specific guidance for managing febrile patients with negative test outcomes should be provided alongside the new health technology. The extent to which the implementation process of mRDT-led, parasite-based diagnosis accommodates end user beliefs, attitudes, perceptions, and satisfaction, as well as technology learnability and suitability, influences the level of acceptance and use of mRDTs. The effectiveness of the health system in providing the enabling environment and the integration of...

Low and seasonal malaria transmission in the middle Senegal River basin: identification and characteristics of Anopheles vectors.

Parasites and Vectors — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

This study, conducted in the Middle Senegal River basin demonstrates that, although various malaria vectors are present all the year round in this region, malaria transmission remains low and limited to the short rainy season. Image: Senegal River in Guede village. (Source: Parasites and Vectors)

Tube-wrapped lamp makes malaria drug

Chemistry World | Latest News — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 17:45:37 +0100

Continuous flow photochemistry enables critical singlet oxygen hydroperoxidation, raising hopes of cheap artemisinin production (Source: Chemistry World | Latest News)

The British charity saving lives of African children with a new vaccination programme

Telegraph Health — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 15:02:44 +0100

A British charity with ties to The Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry is introducing a vaccination programme to protect 750,000 African children. (Source: Telegraph Health)

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Charity linked to Duke of Cambridge saving lives of African children

Telegraph Health — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 15:02:44 +0100

British charity Absolute Return for Kids, which has ties to The Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry, is introducing a vaccination programme to protect 750,000 African children. (Source: Telegraph Health)

A fundamental malaria discovery

Medicineworld.org: New Article Alert — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 23:50:22 +0100

A team of scientists led by Kasturi Haldar and Souvik Bhattacharjee of the University of Notre Dame's Center for Rare and Neglected Diseases has made a fundamental discovery in understanding how malaria parasites cause deadly disease. The scientists show how parasites target proteins to the surface of the red blood cell that enables sticking to and blocking blood vessels. Strategies that prevent this host-targeting process will block disease........ (Source: Medicineworld.org: New Article Alert)

Fundamental malaria discovery

ScienceDaily Headlines — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 23:45:45 +0100

Researchers have made a fundamental discovery in understanding how malaria parasites cause deadly disease. (Source: ScienceDaily Headlines)

Fundamental malaria discovery: How parasites target proteins to surface of red blood cells

ScienceDaily Headlines — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 23:45:45 +0100

Researchers have made a fundamental discovery in understanding how malaria parasites cause deadly disease. The researchers show how parasites target proteins to the surface of the red blood cell that enables sticking to and blocking blood vessels. Strategies that prevent this host-targeting process will block disease. (Source: ScienceDaily Headlines)

[Editorial] Global health in 2012: development to sustainability

LANCET — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 23:31:01 +0100

In 2012 there will be a major strategic shift in global health, away from development and towards sustainability. Since 2000, the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), driven by a macroeconomic diagnosis of global poverty, have focused on investment in a small number of diseases as the most effective approach to decrease poverty. Institutions such as the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, Roll Back Malaria, and GAVI have been created to respond to that diagnosis. (Source: LANCET)

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Epidemiology: clues to the pathogenesis of Burkitt lymphoma

British Journal of Haematology — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 21:51:02 +0100

SummaryThe two major epidemiological clues to the pathogenesis of Burkitt lymphoma (BL) are the geographical association with malaria – BL incidence relates to the malaria transmission rate – and early infection by Epstein–Barr virus (EBV). Both agents cause B cell hyperplasia, which is almost certainly an essential component of lymphomagenesis in BL. The critical event in lymphomagenesis is the creation of a MYC translocation, bringing the MYC gene into juxtaposition with immunoglobulin genes and causing its ectopic expression, thereby driving the proliferation of BL cells. It is highly likely that such translocations are mediated by the activation‐induced cytidine deaminase (AID) gene, which is responsible for hypervariable region mutations as well as class switching. Stimulation...

Africa: African Press Review 20 January 2012

AllAfrica News: Malaria — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 15:31:44 +0100

RFI (Paris)-Police corruption in Nigeria, Gambia's President Jammeh's re-election promises, the arrest of Uganda's opposition leader Kizza Besigye and protests against women wearing trousers in Malawi grab the headlines in the African media. (Source: AllAfrica News: Malaria)

Africa: Progress Towards a Food-Secure Africa

AllAfrica News: Malaria — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 15:30:35 +0100

IPS (Johannesburg)-A growing number of African countries are making significant progress towards eradicating extreme hunger and poverty. Ghana, Liberia, Malawi, Rwanda, Sierra Leone and South Africa are some of the countries that have made tremendous achievements towards achieving these goals. (Source: AllAfrica News: Malaria)

Congo-Kinshasa: Displaced Face Malaria Outbreak

AllAfrica News: Malaria — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 15:09:03 +0100

Monusco (Kinshasa)-In their already dire living conditions, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) at Shasha camp, Masisi terriroty, in Nord Kivu province, are now facing another difficulty: malaria. (Source: AllAfrica News: Malaria)

Improved Understanding Of Malaria's 'Cloak Of Invisibility'

Health News from Medical News Today — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 09:00:00 +0100

The discovery by researchers from the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of a molecule that is key to malaria's 'invisibility cloak' will help to better understand how the parasite causes disease and escapes from the defenses mounted by the immune system. The research team, led by Professor Alan Cowman from the institute's Infection and Immunity division, has identified one of the crucial molecules that instructs the parasite to employ its invisibility cloak to hide from the immune system, and helps its offspring to remember how to 'make' the cloak... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

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Genetic Code Cracked For A Devastating Blood Parasite

Health News from Medical News Today — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 08:00:00 +0100

Scientists have cracked the genetic code and predicted some high priority drug targets for the blood parasite Schistosoma haematobium, which is linked to bladder cancer and HIV/ AIDS and causes the insidious urogenital disease schistosomiasis haematobia in more than 112 million people in Africa. Schistomiasis is recognised by the World Health Organization as one of the most socioeconomically devastating diseases, besides malaria, and is in urgent need of extensive research and improved control... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

research paperTransfer of 4‐hydroxynonenal from parasitized to non‐parasitized erythrocytes in rosettes.Proposed role in severe malaria anaemia

British Journal of Haematology — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

In conclusion, 4‐HNE transfer from pRBCs to npRBCs in rosettes is suggested to play a role in the phagocytic removal of large numbers of npRBCs, the hallmark of severe malaria anaemia. (Source: British Journal of Haematology)

Development of a TaqMan Allelic Discrimination Assay for detection of Single Nucleotides Polymorphisms associated with anti-malarial drug resistance

Malaria Journal — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Paper reporting the development of a TaqMan Real Time PCR assay for the detection of SNPs associated with anti-malarial resistance. This assay has promise as a convenient and efficient way to examine patient samples in resource-constrained settings. (Source: Malaria Journal)

HSP20 Regulates Plasmodium Motility [Microbiology]

Journal of Biological Chemistry — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

In this study, we identify HSP20 as a novel player in Plasmodium motility and provide molecular genetics evidence for a critical role of a small heat shock protein in cell traction and motility. We demonstrate that HSP20 ablation profoundly affects sporozoite-substrate adhesion, which translates into aberrant speed and directionality in vitro. Loss of HSP20 function impairs migration in the host, an important sporozoite trait required to find a blood vessel and reach the liver after being deposited in the skin by the mosquito. Our study also shows that fast locomotion of sporozoites is crucial during natural malaria transmission. (Source: Journal of Biological Chemistry)

Notre Dame researchers report fundamental malaria discovery

EurekAlert! - Biology — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

(University of Notre Dame) A team of researchers led by Kasturi Haldar and Souvik Bhattacharjee of the University of Notre Dame's Center for Rare and Neglected Diseases has made a fundamental discovery in understanding how malaria parasites cause deadly disease. (Source: EurekAlert! - Biology)

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Endoplasmic Reticulum PI(3)P Lipid Binding Targets Malaria Proteins to the Host Cell

Cell — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0100

Souvik Bhattacharjee, Robert V. Stahelin, Kaye D. Speicher, David W. Speicher, Kasturi Haldar. Hundreds of effector proteins of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum constitute a “secretome” carrying a host-targeting (HT) signal, which predicts their export from the intrac.... (Source: Cell)

Genetic diversity and genotype multiplicity of Plasmodium falciparum infections in symptomatic individuals in the maritime region of TogoDiversité génétique et multiplicité génotypique des infections àPlasmodium falciparum chez les sujets symptomatiques dans la région maritime du TogoDiversidad genética y multiplicidad de genotipos en las infecciones por Plasmodium falciparum de individuos sintomáticos en la región marítima de Togo

Tropical Medicine and International Health — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 09:54:05 +0100

Conclusion The severity of malaria was not associated with higher multiplicity of infections and did not appear restricted to particular genotypes. More comprehensive explorations including immunity, genetic factors, nutritional and sociologic status of the population could clarify the situation.Objectif: Evaluer la prévalence génotypique et la multiplicité des infections àPlasmodium falciparum dans la région maritime du Togo.Méthodes: Nous avons recruté 309 enfants symptomatiques âgés de 6 mois à 15 ans à Bè/Lomé et à Tsévié, deux zones endémiques pour le paludisme. Le nombre et les proportions des génotypes des protéines de surface du mérozoïte (msp) ‐1, 2 et 3 chez les patients ont été déterminés en utilisant le génotypage par électrophorèse en cap...

Preliminary enquiry into the availability, price and quality of malaria rapid diagnostic tests in the private health sector of six malaria‐endemic countriesEnquête préliminaire sur la disponibilité, le prix et la qualité des Tests de Diagnostic Rapide du paludisme dans le secteur privé de santé dans six pays endémiquesPrimera encuesta sobre la disponibilidad, precio y calidad de las pruebas de diagnóstico rápido para la malaria en el sector sanitario privado en seis países endémicos

Tropical Medicine and International Health — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 09:54:03 +0100

Conclusions In the private outlets sampled, the availability of RDTs was limited. Some of the RDTs whose quality we tested demonstrated inadequate sensitivity. This presents a number of risks. Given the more widespread distribution of antimalarials currently planned for private sector facilities, parasite‐based diagnosis in this sector will be essential to adhere to the WHO guidelines for effective case management of malaria. Considerable regulation and quality control are also necessary to assure the availability of accurate and reliable RDTs, as well as adequate case management and provider adherence to RDT results. Public sector engagement is likely to be essential in this process.Objectifs: Cette enquête visait à fournir une vue rapide sur la disponibilité, le prix et la qua...

Oxygen And Light Utilized In The Synthesis Of Anti-Malaria Drug

Health News from Medical News Today — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 08:00:00 +0100

The most effective anti-malaria drug can now be produced inexpensively and in large quantities. This means that it will be possible to provide medication for the 225 million malaria patients in developing countries at an affordable price. Researchers at the Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces in Potsdam and the Freie Universitat Berlin have developed a very simple process for the synthesis of artemisinin, the active ingredient that pharmaceutical companies could only obtain from plants up to now... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

A new therapeutic strategy for malaria: targeting T cell exhaustion

Nature Immunology — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Gordon J Freeman & Arlene H Sharpe Boosting immune responses during malaria remains a challenge. Overcoming T cell exhaustion by blocking coinhibitory receptors offers a promising lead. (Source: Nature Immunology)

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PfSET10, a Plasmodium falciparum Methyltransferase, Maintains the Active var Gene in a Poised State during Parasite Division.

Cell Host and Microbe — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

We report the identification of a parasite protein, designated PfSET10, which localizes exclusively to the perinuclear active var gene expression site. PfSET10 is a histone 3 lysine 4 methyltransferase required to maintain the active var gene in a poised state during division for reactivation in daughter parasites, and as such is required for P. falciparum antigenic variation. PfSET10 likely maintains the transcriptionally permissive chromatin environment of the active var promoter and thus retains memory for heritable transmission of epigenetic information during parasite division. PMID: 22264509 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Cell Host and Microbe)

Malaria var Gene Expression: Keeping Up with the Neighbors.

Cell Host and Microbe — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Kim K Abstract Plasmodium falciparum PfEMP1 is a malaria virulence protein whose expression is epigenetically regulated. The parasite's ability to express exclusively only one of the sixty var genes that encode PfEMP1 is essential for disease pathogenesis. Two recent papers identify key molecular players in determining whether a var gene is active or silenced (Volz et al., 2012; Zhang et al., 2011). PMID: 22264506 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Cell Host and Microbe)

Risk Factors for Gametocyte Carriage in Uncomplicated Falciparum Malaria in Children before and after Artemisinin-Based Combination Treatments

Chemotherapy — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 23:00:00 +0100

Chemotherapy 2011;57:497–504 (DOI:10.1159/000334126) (Source: Chemotherapy)

[Video] Chad: MSF Malaria Village Workers

MSF Multimedia — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 23:00:00 +0100

(Source: MSF Multimedia)

Ruthenium(II) arene complexes with chelating chloroquine analogue ligands: Synthesis, characterization and in vitro antimalarial activity

RSC - Dalton Trans. latest articles — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 18:44:05 +0100

Dalton Trans., 2012, Advance ArticleDOI: 10.1039/C2DT12083F, PaperLotta Glans, Andreas Ehnbom, Carmen de Kock, Alberto Martinez, Jesus Estrada, Peter J. Smith, Matti Haukka, Roberto A. Sanchez-Delgado, Ebbe NordlanderNew piano stool [small eta]6-arene RuII complexes with bidentate chloroquine analogue ligands are reported. One of the complexes showed promising antimalarial activity against P. falciparum malaria parasites.To cite this article before page numbers are assigned, use the DOI form of citation above.The content of this RSS Feed (c) The Royal Society of Chemistry (Source: RSC - Dalton Trans. latest articles)

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Malaria Drugmakers See the Light

ScienceNOW — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 18:37:38 +0100

New photochemical reaction system could make key medicine cheaper (Source: ScienceNOW)

Prospects and Pitfalls of Pregnancy-Associated Malaria Vaccination Based on the Natural Immune Response to Plasmodium falciparum VAR2CSA-Expressing Parasites

Comparative and Functional Genomics — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:29:36 +0100

Pregnancy-associated malaria, a manifestation of severe malaria, is the cause of up to 200,000 infant deaths a year, through the effects of placental insufficiency leading to growth restriction and preterm delivery. Development of a vaccine is one strategy for control. Plasmodium falciparum-infected red blood cells accumulate in the placenta through specific binding of pregnancy-associated parasite variants that express the VAR2CSA antigen to chondroitin sulphate A on the surface of syncytiotrophoblast cells. Parasite accumulation, accompanied by an inflammatory infiltrate, disrupts the cytokine balance of pregnancy with the potential to cause placental damage and compromise foetal growth. Multigravid women develop immunity towards VAR2CSA-expressing parasites in a gravidity-dependent mann...

Africa: Fighting Malaria Through Afcon 2012

AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 11:19:14 +0100

Public Agenda (Accra)-United Against Malaria (UAM) in collaboration with the Malaria Control Program(NMC), the John Hopkins University Centre for Communication Programs(JHC/CCP),Voices for Malaria-Free Future and the Ghana Football Association(GFA)is expected to hold a special media event on Monday January 23, 2012 in Accra to promote advocacy for malaria elimination during the forthcoming 2012 African Cup of Nation to be hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. (Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine)

Potential Malaria Vaccination: New Model Suggests Mass Vaccination For Low Transmission Areas

Health News from Medical News Today — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 10:00:00 +0100

In the event that a vaccine for the prevention of malaria is licensed and ready for use (such as the research malaria vaccine RTS,S, which currently looks promising), distributing and giving the vaccine to three-month old infants via the World Health Organization's Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) will be the most efficient mechanism in high transmission areas but for lower transmission areas, mass vaccination every 5 years might be a more efficient vaccination strategy, a new study has found... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Unveiling malaria's 'cloak of invisibility'

EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

(Walter and Eliza Hall Institute) The discovery by researchers from the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of a molecule that is key to malaria's 'invisibility cloak' will help to better understand how the parasite causes disease and escapes from the defenses mounted by the immune system. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)

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Plate-based transfection and culturing technique for genetic manipulation of Plasmodium falciparum

Malaria Journal — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Paper describing a series of semi-automated protocols that will facilitate transfection of P. falciparum. (Source: Malaria Journal)

Microbiology: How parasites get sticky

Nature — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Nature 481, 7381 (2012). doi:10.1038/481241b To invade host cells, one group of parasites relies on a protein that promotes the release of sticky molecules from a specialized organelle called a microneme.Parasites of the phylum Apicomplexa, which includes those responsible for malaria (Plasmodium falciparum) and toxoplasmosis (Toxoplasma (Source: Nature)

Population Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Piperaquine in Children With Uncomplicated Falciparum Malaria.

Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Tarning J, Zongo I, Somé FA, Rouamba N, Parikh S, Rosenthal PJ, Hanpithakpong W, Jongrak N, Day NP, White NJ, Nosten F, Ouedraogo JB, Lindegardh N Abstract Dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine is being increasingly used as a first-line artemisinin combination treatment for malaria. The aim of this study was to describe the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of piperaquine in 236 children with uncomplicated falciparum malaria in Burkina Faso. They received a standard body weight-based oral 3-day fixed-dose dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine regimen. Capillary plasma concentration-time profiles were characterized using nonlinear mixed-effects modeling. The population pharmacokinetics of piperaquine were described accurately by a two-transit-compartment absorption model an...

Breakthrough for anti-malaria drug

Health News - UPI.com — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 04:05:31 +0100

GOLM, Germany, Jan. 17 (UPI) -- An anti-malaria drug whose supply has been restricted by limited availability of a Chinese herb can now be made in large quantities, German researchers say. (Source: Health News - UPI.com)

Fake malaria drugs threaten millions

Health News - UPI.com — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 02:15:36 +0100

OXFORD, England, Jan. 17 (UPI) -- Criminals are circulating counterfeit and substandard drugs meant to control malaria, threatening millions of lives in Africa, scientists warn. (Source: Health News - UPI.com)

Fake Antimalarial Medications Undermine Africa Malaria Drive

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 23:00:00 +0100

Fraudulent and substandard antimalarial drugs could be wrecking the chances of winning the war against malaria in Africa, researchers from the Wellcome Trust-Mahosot Hospital-Oxford University Tropical Medicine Research Collaboration reported in the Malaria Journal. The authors add that millions of lives could be lost over the next twelve months unless urgent action is taken both within the African continent and elsewhere in the world... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Month in Focus - January 2012

MSF Multimedia — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 21:55:51 +0100

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) or Doctors Without Borders' monthly video digest of updates from recent field activities. An attack on MSF field teams in Somalia. 20000 refugees from the north flee to South Sudan. Improving tuberculosis (TB) detection in Cambodia. Village workers in Chad improve malaria care. Treating children in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). and a view on past and present activities in Haiti, 2 years after the devastating earthquake. From: MSFCanada Views: 0 0 ratings Time: 08:10 More in Nonprofits & Activism (Source: MSF Multimedia)