bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The early use of break-bone fever (Quebranta huesos, 1771) and dengue (1801) in Spanish.
Authors: Rigau-PÃ©rez J G
Published: May 2017

The appellation of break-bone fever for dengue is attributed to the popular name given to the disease in the first described epidemic of an illness that is clinically compatible with dengue in Philadelphia in 1780. The origin of the word dengue as the name of an illness is currently attributed to the Swahili phrase Ka dinga pepo, thought to have crossed from Africa to the Caribbean in 1827; in Cuba this phrase was popularly identified with the Spanish word dengue. This article presents documents from Spanish archives that indicate the use of quebranta huesos (break-bone) by a physician in Puerto Rico to describe a febrile illness in 1771, and the use of the term dengue by the Queen of Spain in 1801 to describe an acute febrile illness with bone and joint pains, hemorrhage, and jaundice. These texts are evidence of a more generalized use of the term break-bone than previously recognized, and conversely, the specifically Spanish origin of dengue as the name for an illness.
Treatment of congenital Chagas' disease diagnosed and followed up by the polymerase chain reaction.
Authors: Russomando G , de Tomassone M M , de Guillen I , Acosta N , Vera N , Almiron M , Candia N , Calcena M F , Figueredo A
Published: May 2017

In 1991 and 1992, a prenatal screening of Trypanosoma cruzi infection was carried out using ELISA and indirect immunofluorescence techniques. A total of 840 blood samples from pregnant women, obtained at the Maternity Ward of the Hospital de ClÃ­nicas, National University of AsunciÃ³n (AsunciÃ³n, Paraguay), and 1,022 samples from the Regional Hospital of the San Pedro Department of Paraguay were examined. It was observed that 7.7% and 10.5%, respectively, of the pregnant women were serologically positive for infection with T. cruzi. When blood samples obtained from newborns on the day of birth or, at the most, on the first few days afterwards were examined by direct microscopic observation, an incidence of congenital transmission of 3% was found. These results are consistent with those of neighboring countries. When a serologic follow-up was conducted on the newborns until six months of age, the incidence of congenital transmission reached 10%. The same incidence rate was obtained when the samples collected during the first days after birth were examined by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Fifty-eight infants born to seropositive mothers were followed-up, two of which were positive by direct microscopic observation at birth, and four who were PCR-positive, but microscopy-negative at birth. None of the infants were positive for IgM at birth. The infected babies were treated with benznidazole and were followed-up by serology and PCR for four years. We conclude that the PCR has a clear advantage over conventional techniques for the early detection of congenital transmission of T. cruzi infection, and for monitoring infants undergoing chemotherapy.
Blood transfusions for severe malaria-related anemia in Africa: a decision analysis.
Authors: Obonyo C O , Steyerberg E W , Oloo A J , Habbema J D
Published: May 2017

Severe childhood malarial anemia is commonly treated using blood transfusion. Although transfusion may decrease short-term mortality, the risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission is considerable in Africa. We constructed a decision tree to weigh the short-term mortality benefit of transfusion against HIV infection risk. Probability estimates were derived from published studies. The base-case was a two-year-old child with a 13.5% mortality risk to be transfused with screened or unscreened blood (1% or 13% HIV contamination risk, respectively), with reduction of mortality to 5.5% by transfusion (odds ratio=2.7), and a 2.4% risk of fatal transfusion complications. A sensitivity analysis was performed to assess the influence of variation in these estimates. If a child developed acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, survival was weighed as one-tenth of normal survival. For the base-case, we found that transfusion with screened blood provided a survival benefit of 5%. In contrast, transfusion with unscreened blood decreased survival by 2%. Patients with a mortality risk < 5% derived no benefit from a transfusion with screened blood. Other important factors for the benefit of transfusion were the effectiveness of transfusion in reducing mortality and the risk of blood contamination. A blood transfusion was clearly beneficial if the mortality risk was high and the risk of contamination was low. Our findings can be used as a basis for a clinical transfusion policy that limits transfusions to situations in which they are likely to be beneficial. This will in turn optimize child survival and prevent unnecessary exposure of low risk children to the transfusion risks.
Ultrasonography as an aid to diagnosis and treatment in a rural African hospital: a prospective study of 1,119 cases.
Authors: Steinmetz J P , Berger J P
Published: May 2017

The aim of this study was to assess the utility of ultrasonography in a rural African hospital in Cameroon with scarce resources. A prospective questionnaire was administered and completed for each of the 1,119 consecutive cases included in the study. Among these 1,119 cases, the diagnosis made by clinicians and by echography could be verified by another means for 323 patients. Ultrasonography showed abnormal findings in 78% of the cases. In the group of 323 patients in which the diagnosis made by echography could be verified, it was correct in 95.4% of the cases, erroneous in 4.6% of the cases, judged useful for diagnosis in 67.8% of the cases, and not contributive in 27.6% of the cases. Ultrasonography was judged useful when treatment was decided upon in 62% of the cases. This study demonstrated the value of ultrasonography in the context of a developing country and the conditions by which its use could be delineated.
Differential immunodiagnosis between cystic hydatid disease and other cross-reactive pathologies.
Authors: Poretti D , Felleisen E , Grimm F , Pfister M , Teuscher F , Zuercher C , Reichen J , Gottstein B
Published: May 2017

We assessed an Echinococcus granulosus hydatid fluid antigen-ELISA (EgHF-ELISA) as a serologic prescreening test for E. granulosus infections, supplemented by more specific confirmatory tests, including arc-5 immunoprecipitation and antigen B subunit 8-kD immunoblotting. The diagnostic sensitivity of the EgHF-ELISA was 91%. With regard to the test specificity of the EgHF-ELISA (overall = 82%), we observed relatively frequent cross-reactions in tumor patients (6%) and in patients with other parasitic diseases. Cestode-related cross-reactivity can be resolved by the complementary use of E. multilocularis-specific antigens or Taenia solium cysticercosis-specific immunoblotting. Immunoblotting based upon the detection of antibody reactivity to the 8-kD antigen of EgHF, or if appropriately detectable, to the 29-kD and 34-kD bands exhibited a 91% diagnostic sensitivity and an overall specificity of 97% or 94%, respectively. Thus, immunoblotting provided a 99% discrimination between seropositive pre-operative cystic hydatid disease cases and cross-reactive non-cestode parasitic infections or malignancies.
An intranasal challenge model for testing Japanese encephalitis vaccines in rhesus monkeys.
Authors: Raengsakulrach B , Nisalak A , Gettayacamin M , Thirawuth V , Young G D , Myint K S , Ferguson L M , Hoke C H , Innis B L , Vaughn D W
Published: May 2017

Placebo-controlled field efficacy trials of new Japanese encephalitis (JE) vaccines may be impractical. Therefore, an animal model to evaluate efficacy of candidate JE vaccines is sought. Previous work has shown that exposure of monkeys to JE virus (JEV) via the intranasal route results in encephalitis. Here we report the further development of this model and the availability of titered virus stocks to assess the protective efficacy of JE vaccines. To determine the effective dose of our JE challenge virus, dilutions of a stock JEV (KE-93 isolate) were inoculated into four groups of three rhesus monkeys. A dose-dependent response was observed and the 50% effective dose (ED50) was determined to be 6.0 x 10(7) plaque forming units (pfu). Among animals that developed encephalitis, clinical signs occurred 9-14 days postinoculation. Infection with JEV was confirmed by detection of JEV in nervous tissues and IgM to JEV in the cerebrospinal fluid. Viremia with JEV was also detected intermittently throughout infection. Validation of the model was performed using a known effective JE vaccine and saline control. One ED90 of virus (2.0 x 10(9) pfu) was used as a challenge dose. Four of four animals that received saline control developed encephalitis while one of four monkeys administered the JE vaccine did so. This study demonstrates that the virus strain, route of inoculation, dose, and the outcome measure (encephalitis) are suitable for assessment of protective efficacy of candidate JE vaccines.
Malarone (atovaquone and proguanil hydrochloride): a review of its clinical development for treatment of malaria. Malarone Clinical Trials Study Group.
Authors: Looareesuwan S , Chulay J D , Canfield C J , Hutchinson D B
Published: May 2017

The continuing spread of drug-resistant malaria emphasizes the need for new antimalarial drugs. Atovaquone is a broad-spectrum antiprotozoal drug with a novel mechanism of action, via inhibition of parasite mitochondrial electron transport, and a favorable safety profile. Early studies with atovaquone alone for treatment of malaria demonstrated good initial control of parasitemia but an unacceptable rate of recrudescent parasitemia. Parasites isolated during recrudescence after treatment with atovaquone alone were resistant to atovaquone in vitro. The combination of atovaquone and proguanil is synergistic in vitro, and clinical studies demonstrated enhanced efficacy of the combination compared to either drug alone for treatment of malaria. Malarone, a fixed-dose combination of 250 mg of atovaquone and 100 mg of proguanil hydrochloride, is available in many countries for treatment of acute, uncomplicated malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum. At the recommended dose (in adults, four tablets once a day for three days), the overall cure rate was > 98% in more than 500 patients with falciparum malaria. In four randomized, controlled clinical trials, treatment with atovaquone and proguanil hydrochloride was significantly more effective than mefloquine (Thailand), amodiaquine (Gabon), chloroquine (Peru and the Philippines) or chloroquine plus pyrimethamine/sulfadoxine (Philippines). In clinical trials where the comparator drug was highly effective, treatment with atovaquone and proguanil hydrochloride was equally effective. Parasites isolated during recrudescence after treatment with the combination of atovaquone and proguanil were not resistant to atovaquone in vitro. The most commonly reported adverse events in clinical trials (abdominal pain, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and coughing) occurred with similar frequency in patients treated with a comparator drug. Malarone is a safe and effective new agent for treatment of malaria.
Differential perpetuation of malaria species among Amazonian Yanomami Amerindians.
Authors: Laserson K F , Wypij D , Petralanda I , Spielman A , Maguire J H
Published: May 2017

To determine whether malaria perpetuates within isolated Amerindian villages in the Venezuelan Amazon, we surveyed malaria infection and disease among 1,311 Yanomami in three communities during a 16-month period. Plasmodium vivax was generally present in each of these small, isolated villages; asymptomatic infection was frequent, and clinical disease was most evident among children less than five years of age (odds ratio [OR] = 6.3, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.4-29.2) and among persons experiencing parasitemias > or = 1,000 parasites/mm3 of blood (OR = 45.0, 95% CI = 5.5-370.7). Plasmodium falciparum, in contrast, was less prevalent, except during an abrupt outbreak in which 72 infections resulted in symptoms in all age groups and at all levels of parasitemia, and occasionally were life-threatening. The observed endemic pattern of P. vivax infection may derive from the capacity of this pathogen to relapse, while the epidemic pattern of P. falciparum infection may reflect occasional introductions of strains carried by immigrants or residents of distant villages and the subsequent disappearance of this non-relapsing pathogen.
Cryptosporidium infection in young children with diarrhea in Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
Authors: Iqbal J , Munir M A , Khan M A
Published: May 2017

Fecal excretion of Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts was determined in 625 children less than five years old who presented at the pediatric clinic of a teaching hospital in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. Single stool specimens were collected from 475 children with acute diarrhea and from 150 children without diarrhea. The Cryptosporidium infection rate was significantly higher in children with diarrhea than in children without diarrhea (10.3% versus 3.3%). The C. parvum infection rate was highest in children 19-24 months of age (21.8%). There was no significant difference in the Cryptosporidium infection rate among male and female children of any age group studied. Sociodemographic information, drinking water supply, and contact with domestic animals had no significant role in the acquisition of C. parvum infection in our study population. The data suggest that C. parvum is relatively endemic in young children in the Rawalpindi area and that C. parvum may be an important pathogen associated with diarrhea.
Urine circulating soluble egg antigen in relation to egg counts, hematuria, and urinary tract pathology before and after treatment in children infected with Schistosoma haematobium in Kenya.
Authors: Kahama A I , Odek A E , Kihara R W , Vennervald B J , Kombe Y , Nkulila T , Hatz C F , Ouma J H , Deelder A M
Published: May 2017

A cohort of 117 school children infected with Schistosoma haematobium was followed-up after therapy with praziquantel (0, 2, 4, 6, 12, and 18 months) and various infection and morbidity parameters (egg counts, hematuria, soluble egg antigen [SEA] in urine, and ultrasonography-detectable pathology) were quantified. At the onset of the study, 97% of the children were positive for S. haematobium with a geometric mean egg count of 45.7 eggs/10 ml of urine. Eighty-one percent of the children were positive for SEA in urine with a geometric mean SEA concentration of 218.8 ng/ml of urine. Ninety-two percent and 56% of the children were microhematuria positive and macrohematuria positive, respectively. Two months after treatment, all infection and morbidity indicators had significantly decreased. Reinfection after treatment as determined by detection of eggs in urine was observed by four months post-treatment while the other parameters remained low. The clearance of SEA was slower than that of egg counts while pathology resolved at an even slower pace. Levels of SEA and egg output showed similar correlations with ultrasound detectable pathology; these correlations were better than the correlation between hematuria and pathology.
The fucose-mannose ligand-ELISA in the diagnosis and prognosis of canine visceral leishmaniasis in Brazil.
Authors: Cabrera G P , Da Silva V O , Da Costa R T , Reis A B , Mayrink W , Genaro O , Palatnik-de-Sousa C B
Published: May 2017

The fucose-mannose ligand (FML)-ELISA assay showed a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 100% in diagnosis of canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) (kala-azar) in sera from naturally infected dogs from SÃ£o GonÃ§alo do Amaranto, Rio Grande de Norte, Brazil. The overall prevalence of antibodies to Leishmania in the endemic area was 23% (79 of 343). Seroreactivity detected by a Leishmania chagasi immunofluorescent (IF) assay was much lower (2.9%) and similar to the percentage of dogs with kala-azar symptoms (2.6%). Twenty-one of 21 asymptomatic, FML-seropositive animals died of kala-azar in a period ranging from 0 to 6 months after diagnosis. The predictive value was 100% for the FML-ELISA, 43% for an L. mexicana ELISA, and 24% for the L. mexicana and L. chagasi IF assays, respectively. In experimentally infected dogs, all assays detected seropositivity between 90 and 120 days after infection. Since the current strategy for control of CVL is based on detection and destruction of infected dogs, the highly predictive, sensitive, and specific FML-ELISA represents a useful tool for field control of the disease.
An outbreak of acute bartonellosis (Oroya fever) in the Urubamba region of Peru, 1998.
Authors: Ellis B A , Rotz L D , Leake J A , Samalvides F , Bernable J , Ventura G , Padilla C , Villaseca P , Beati L , Regnery R , Childs J E , Olson J G , Carrillo C P
Published: May 2017

During May 1998, we conducted a case-control study of 357 participants from 60 households during an outbreak of acute bartonellosis in the Urubamba Valley, Peru, a region not previously considered endemic for this disease. Blood and insect specimens were collected and environmental assessments were done. Case-patients (n = 22) were defined by fever, anemia, and intra-erythrocytic coccobacilli seen in thin smears. Most case-patients were children (median age = 6.5 years). Case-patients more frequently reported sand fly bites than individuals of neighboring households (odds ratio [OR] = 5.8, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.2-39.2), or members from randomly selected households > or = 5 km away (OR = 8.5, 95% CI = 1.7-57.9). Bartonella bacilliformis isolated from blood was confirmed by nucleotide sequencing (citrate synthase [g/tA], 338 basepairs). Using bacterial isolation (n = 141) as the standard, sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value of thin smears were 36%, 96%, and 44%, respectively. Patients with clinical syndromes compatible with bartonellosis should be treated with appropriate antibiotics regardless of thin-smear results.
Relationship between circulating antigen level and morbidity in Schistosoma mansoni-infected children evaluated by ultrasonography.
Authors: Hassan M M , Hegab M H , Soliman S Z , Gaber O A , Shalaby M M , Kamel F M
Published: May 2017

Ninety-eight Schistosoma mansoni-infected children from an endemic area in Sharkia Governorate, Egypt were evaluated by abdominal ultrasonography to determine liver and spleen sizes, grade of periportal fibrosis, and splenic vein diameter. Circulating antigen levels were measured using a double sandwich ELISA in which the sensitivity was 91.8% and specificity was > 99%, with no evidence of cross-reactivity with other parasites. No significant relationship was observed between antigen level and clinical stages of the disease as assessed by physical examination (P > 0.05). When ultrasound was used to stage disease, the mean antigen level was significantly higher among hepatosplenic cases than intestinal cases (P < 0.05). No difference in mean antigen levels were found between the splenic and hepatic cases. Furthermore, a direct correlation (P < 0.01) was observed between antigen level and disease severity as monitored by ultrasonography. Antigen level showed a positive correlation with the degree of periportal fibrosis (P < 0.05). Moreover, a significant increase in the percent of children who were antigen positive (> 80 ng/ml) was found in those with more severe periportal fibrosis (P < 0.001). The findings suggest that ultrasonography along with measurement of circulating antigen levels predict morbidity in schistosomiasis mansoni.
Short report: prevalence of antibodies against spotted fever, murine typhus, and Q fever rickettsiae in humans living in Zambia.
Authors: Okabayashi T , Hasebe F , Samui K L , Mweene A S , Pandey S G , Yanase T , Muramatsu Y , Ueno H , Morita C
Published: May 2017

The causative agents of rickettsial diseases (Rickettsia conorii, R. typhi, and Coxiella burnetii) have been reported throughout the African continent. However, there have been no reports on epidemiologic surveys of these infections in Zambia. This study was designed to clarify the prevalence of three rickettsioses in 377 humans in Zambia. The seroprevalence of antibodies against R. conorii, R. typhi, and C. burnetii was 16.7%, 5.0%, and 8.2%, respectively. The rates of antibody positivity against R. conorii and C. burnetii were higher in the eastern (23.1% and 11.8%) and western (16.8% and 7.4%) areas of Zambia than in the northern (3.0% and 3.0%) area of this country. There was little difference among the three areas in the distribution of antibodies against R. typhi. Since cattle breeding is more extensive in the western and eastern areas than in the northern area, it is thought that cattle-breeding areas are foci of R. conorii and C. burnetii infections in Zambia.
Efficacy of primaquine regimens for primaquine-resistant Plasmodium vivax malaria in Thailand.
Authors: Wilairatana P , Silachamroon U , Krudsood S , Singhasivanon P , Treeprasertsuk S , Bussaratid V , Phumratanaprapin W , Srivilirit S , Looareesuwan S
Published: May 2017

To define the current efficacy of Fansidar (F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Basel Switzerland) (pyrimethamine and sulfadoxine), primaquine in a high dose, and artesunate for treating acute Plasmodium vivax malaria, we conducted a comparative clinical trial of these 3 drugs in an open-label study. Patients (15-65 years old) were assigned to 1 of 4 treatments regimens in a serial order. Ninety percent of the patients were infected at Thailand-Myanmar border. Patients in group I (n = 23) received Fansidar (3 tablets, 75 mg of pyrimethamine and 1,500 mg of sulfadoxine, a single dose on the first day), group II (n = 23) received Fansidar (3 tablets, 75 mg of pyrimethamine and 1,500 mg of sulfadoxine, a single dose on the first day) and then received primaquine (30 mg a day for 14 days), group III (n = 23) received primaquine (30 mg a day for 14 days), and group IV (n = 23) received artesunate (200 mg once a day for 3 days) and then primaquine (30 mg a day for 14 days). Cure rates on day 28 of follow-up were 40%, 100%, 100%, and 100% in groups I, II, II, and IV, respectively. There were 4 and 5 patients in group I showing post-treatment reappearance of parasitemia at < or = 16 days and between 17 and 28 days, respectively. Patients in the other 3 groups showed negative parasitemias within 7 days after treatment. Artesunate plus primaquine (group IV) cleared parasitemia faster than the other 3 regimens. There is a high proportion of ineffectiveness of Fansidar for treatment of P. vivax malaria and it should be no longer used for treatment of P. vivax malaria acquired at the Thailand-Myanmar border. A high dose of primaquine is safe and effective in the treatment of P. vivax malaria during the 28-day follow-up period.
The epidemiology of schistosomiasis in Egypt: Fayoum Governorate.
Authors: Abdel-Wahab M F , Esmat G , Ramzy I , Narooz S , Medhat E , Ibrahim M , El-Boraey Y , Strickland G T
Published: May 2017

Health questionnaires and parasitologic examinations of urine and stool were performed upon a stratified random sample of 7,710 individuals from 1,109 households in 21 rural communities in Fayoum Governorate, Egypt in 1992 to investigate the prevalence of, risk factors for, and changing pattern of, infection with Schistosoma sp. in the governorate. A subset, every fifth household, or 1,038 subjects, had physical and ultrasound examinations to investigate prevalence of, and risk factors for, morbidity. The prevalence of S. haematobium ranged from 0% to 27.1% and averaged 13.7%. The geometric mean egg count (GMEC) was 10.0 eggs/10 ml of urine. Age-stratified prevalence and intensity of infection were 18-25% and 10-15 eggs/10 ml of urine in those 5-25 years of age. Schistosoma mansoni were detected in inhabitants of 13 communities, but 78.5% of the infections were focally present in a group of 4 satellite hamlets around a single village. The overall prevalence of S. mansoni in the governorate was 4.3% and the GMEC was 44.0 ova/g of stool. Risk factors for infection with either species were male gender, an age <20 years, living in smaller communities, and exposures to canal water by males. Histories of burning micturation, blood in the urine, or prior schistosomiasis and reagent strip-detected hematuria and proteinuria were risks for S. haematobium, but not for S. mansoni. Both urinary tract and higher grades of hepatic morbidity were rare. Obstructive uropathy was present in 6.3% of the subjects and was more common in males and older people. Ultrasonography-detected bladder lesions were present in 5.2% and correlated with S. haematobium only in younger subjects and in those with hematuria and proteinuria. The prevalences of hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, and periportal fibrosis (PPF) were associated with each other and increased with age and in males. Ultrasonography-detected hepatomegaly and splenomegaly were weakly associated with S. mansoni infections only in children. The prevalence of PPF was greater in the 4 communities with >25% S. mansoni infection rates in comparison with the 17 other villages and ezbas. Transmission of S. mansoni is focally well established in Fayoum, which also has the highest prevalence of S. haematobium in the governorates surveyed by the Epidemiology 1, 2, 3 Project. However, both urinary tract and hepatic morbidity are relatively rare in the governorate. This probably results from the long-standing schistosomiasis control program in Fayoum, which suppressed intensity more than prevalence of infection, leading to less community morbidity.
Hepatitis C in a community in Upper Egypt: I. Cross-sectional survey.
Authors: Nafeh M A , Medhat A , Shehata M , Mikhail N N , Swifee Y , Abdel-Hamid M , Watts S , Fix A D , Strickland G T , Anwar W , Sallam I
Published: May 2017

The prevalence of antibody to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) was determined in a cross-sectional survey in a village in Upper Egypt. Exposure and demographic characteristics were obtained through a questionnaire. Antibody to hepatitis C virus was assessed using a second generation enzyme immunoassay, and the presence of HCV RNA was tested using a reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Collection of blood samples was targeted at those > or = 5 years old, and obtained from 62.8%. This report describes the community, the HCV infection characteristics of the subjects, and evaluates some factors associated with presence of anti-HCV. Of the 6,031 participants, 522 (8.7%) were anti-HCV positive. Prevalence was higher among males than females (11.3% versus 6.5%; P < 0.001). It was greater among those > 30 years of age than among those < or = 30 years of age (20.0% versus 3.6%; P < 0.001). Those who were less educated, farmed, provided health care, and were currently married had a significantly higher anti-HCV prevalence than those who were not; however, these associations were not significant after adjusting for age. Although active infections with Schistosoma haematobium were not associated with anti-HCV, a history of past infection was (age-adjusted risk ratio [RR] = 2.1, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.8, 2.4); 134 persons who had a history of receiving parenteral anti-schistosomal therapy had a higher age-adjusted RR (3.0; 95% CI = 2.5, 3.7) for anti-HCV than those who did not. Hepatitis C virus RNA was detected in 62.8% of the anti-HCV positive subjects, without significant variation by age, gender, education, or marital status. The prevalence of anti-HCV in Upper Egypt is high, albeit lower than in Lower Egypt, with continuing but limited transmission indicated by the lower prevalence in residents < or = 30 years old.
Clinical, epidemiologic, and virologic features of dengue in the 1998 epidemic in Nicaragua.
Authors: Harris E , Videa E , PÃ©rez L , Sandoval E , TÃ©llez Y , PÃ©rez M L , Cuadra R , Rocha J , Idiaquez W , Alonso R E , Delgado M A , Campo L A , Acevedo F , Gonzalez A , Amador J J , Balmaseda A
Published: May 2017

From July to December 1998, a hospital- and health center-based surveillance system for dengue was established at selected sites in Nicaragua to better define the epidemiology of this disease. Demographic and clinical information as well as clinical laboratory results were obtained, and virus isolation, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, and serologic assays were performed. World Health Organization criteria were used to classify disease severity; however, a number of patients presented with signs of shock in the absence of thrombocytopenia or hemoconcentration. Therefore, a new category was designated as "dengue with signs associated with shock" (DSAS). Of 1,027 patients enrolled in the study, 614 (60%) were laboratory-confirmed as positive cases; of these, 268 (44%) were classified as dengue fever (DF); 267 (43%) as DF with hemorrhagic manifestations (DFHem); 40 (7%) as dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF); 20 (3%) as dengue shock syndrome (DSS); and 17 (3%) as DSAS. Interestingly, secondary infection was not significantly correlated with DHF/DSS, in contrast to previous studies in Southeast Asia. DEN-3 was responsible for the majority of cases, with a minority due to DEN-2; both serotypes contributed to severe disease. As evidenced by the analysis of this epidemic, the epidemiology of dengue can differ according to geographic region and viral serotype.
Prospective risk of morbidity in relation to malaria infection in an area of high endemicity of multiple species of Plasmodium.
Authors: Smith T , Genton B , Baea K , Gibson N , Narara A , Alpers M P
Published: May 2017

In an area of Papua New Guinea with high prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum (39.6%), Plasmodium vivax (18.3%), and Plasmodium malariae (13.8%), cross-sectional analysis found P. falciparum infection to be independent of the other species despite heterogeneities in transmission. Plasmodium vivax and P. malariae infections were negatively correlated. Plasmodium malariae infection was positively associated with homologous infection four months previously and with prior P. falciparum, but not P. vivax infection. There were no other indications that any Plasmodium species protected against heterologous infection. Prospective analysis of health-center morbidity supported the idea that P. malariae infection protects against disease, but indicated greater protection against non-malaria than P. falciparum-associated fevers. Plasmodium vivax appeared to protect against P. falciparum disease but not against other forms of morbidity. Covariate adjustment had considerable effects on estimated relationships between species, and confounding variables may account for many differences among reports of inter-species interactions in human malaria.
Interleukin levels in cerebrospinal fluid from children with neurocysticercosis.
Authors: Aguilar-Rebolledo F , Cedillo-Rivera R , Llaguno-Violante P , Torres-LÃ³pez J , MuÃ±oz-Hernandez O , Enciso-Moreno J A
Published: May 2017

No information about the levels of pro-inflammatory interleukins has been described in children with neurocysticercosis (NCC). The levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin (IL)-5, IL-6, and IL-12 in the cerebrospinal fluid from children with NCC were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Twelve children with NCC, six with active and six with inactive disease, and six children without NCC were studied. TNF-alpha was undetectable in CSF from controls and five children with inactive NCC, whereas the levels were significantly higher (median 22.1 pg/ml; P = 0.008) in all children with active NCC. Levels of IL-6 were low in active and inactive NCC patients but two subjects with active subarachnoid disease had high levels. IL-5 and IL-12 were not detected. This study shows that high levels of TNF-alpha are present in CSF from children with active NCC. IL-6 levels are higher when infection occurs in the subarachnoid space.
Comparison of methods for the rapid laboratory assessment of children with malaria.
Authors: Planche T , Krishna S , Kombila M , Engel K , Faucher J F , Ngou-Milama E , Kremsner P G
Published: May 2017

Rapid diagnosis and accurate quantification of Plasmodium falciparum parasitemia are important for the management of malaria. The assessment of disease severity also depends on evaluation of metabolic indexes such as blood glucose and lactate concentrations. Here we describe an accurate and rapid alternative to conventional thick film examination (LambarÃ©nÃ© method). We also assess near-patient methods for measuring blood glucose (OneTouch) and lactate (Accusport). The accuracy of the LambarÃ©nÃ© method is similar to that of thin films. Results from the OneTouch glucose meter also are in good agreement with a YSI 2300 reference meter. Overall, the Accusport lactate meter agrees poorly with the YSI 2300 reference meter. However, the sensitivity and specificity to detect hyperlactatemia (blood lactate > or = 5 mmol/L) are 0.94 and 0.98, respectively.
Comparative safety and immunogenicity of two yellow fever 17D vaccines (ARILVAX and YF-VAX) in a phase III multicenter, double-blind clinical trial.
Authors: Monath Thomas P , Nichols Richard , Archambault W Tad , Moore Linda , Marchesani Ron , Tian Jason , Shope Robert E , Thomas Nicola , Schrader Robert , Furby Dean , Bedford Philip
Published: May 2017

Yellow fever (YF) is a significant health problem in South America and Africa. Travelers to these areas require immunization. The United States, infested with Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, is at risk of introduction of this disease. There is only a single U.S. manufacturer of YF 17D vaccine, and supplies may be insufficient in an emergency. A randomized, double-blind outpatient study was conducted in 1,440 healthy individuals, half of whom received the U.S. vaccine (YF-VAX) and half the vaccine manufactured in the United Kingdom (ARILVAX). A randomly selected subset of approximately 310 individuals in each treatment group was tested for YF neutralizing antibodies 30 days after vaccination. The primary efficacy endpoint was the proportion of individuals who developed a log neutralization index (LNI) of 0.7 or higher. Seroconversion occurred in 98.6% of individuals in the ARILVAX group and 99.3% of those in the YF-VAX group. Statistically, ARILVAX was equivalent to YF-VAX (P = .001). Both vaccines elicited mean antibody responses well above the minimal level (LNI 0.7) protective against wild-type YF virus. The mean LNI in the YF-VAX group was higher (2.21) than in the ARILVAX group (2.06; P = .010) possibly because of the higher dose contained in YF-VAX. Male gender, Caucasian race, and smoking were associated with higher antibody responses. Both vaccines were well tolerated. Overall, the treatment groups were comparable with respect to safety except that individuals in the ARILVAX group experienced significantly less edema, inflammation, and pain at the injection site than those in the YF-VAX group. No serious adverse events were attributable to either vaccine. YF-VAX participants (71.9%) experienced one or more nonserious adverse events than ARILVAX individuals (65.3%; P = .008). The difference was due to a higher rate of injection site reactions in the YF-VAX group. Mild systemic reactions (headache, myalgia, malaise, asthenia) occurred in roughly 10% to 30% of participants during the first few days after vaccination, with no significant difference across treatment groups. Adverse events were less frequent in individuals with preexisting immunity to YF, indicating a relationship to virus replication.
An outbreak of West Nile virus in a New York City captive wildlife population.
Authors: Ludwig George V , Calle Paul P , Mangiafico Joseph A , Raphael Bonnie L , Danner Denise K , Hile Julie A , Clippinger Tracy L , Smith Jonathan F , Cook Robert A , McNamara Tracey
Published: May 2017

An outbreak of West Nile virus (WNV) in and around New York City during the late summer of 1999 was the cause of extensive mortality among free-ranging birds. Within the Bronx Zoo/Wildlife Conservation Park, viral activity was also observed and produced some morbidity and mortality among specimens in the zoo's bird collection and probably caused morbidity in at least one specimen from the zoo's mammal collection. To determine the extent of the outbreak and attempt to ascertain the temporal appearance of virus within the park, a serologic survey of birds and mammals was performed. The survey showed that 34% of tested birds (125 of 368; 124 species) were positive for antibody to WNV. The virus caused a disease to infection ratio of 22% (27 of 125) among birds with a 70% (19 of 27) case fatality rate. In contrast, only 8% of the mammals (9 of 117; 35 species) possessed antibody to WNV and there was no virus-associated mortality. Testing of banked and fresh sera obtained from both birds and mammals revealed that there was no evidence of WNV circulation before the 1999 outbreak and that birds introduced into the park were not the source of the New York outbreak. West Nile virus RNA was detected in tissues from one bird that died in February 2000, long after the end of the mosquito transmission season. The potential importance of zoologic parks as possible sentinels for emerging diseases is discussed.
FINANCIAMENTO CULTURAL NO BRASIL CONTEMPORÂNEO
Authors: Barbosa da Silva Frederico Augusto
Published: May 2017

Este texto discute a dinâmica do financiamento cultural no governo federal brasileiro de 1995 a 2013. Descreve o contexto histórico e enfrenta alguns dos argumentos presentes no debate público sobre os princípios que podem justificar reformas na administração da cultura e da reconfiguração do modelo de financiamento da ações públicas na área. Além disso, enfrenta o debate destas ideias gerais à luz da pluralidade de critérios e instrumentos utilizados pela administração pública. A dialética entre as ideias gerais, instrumentos e práticas permite a delimitação mais precisa entre os paradigmas de financiamento ou modelos..
JURISDIÇÃO VOLUNTÁRIA NO CPC/2015 COMO MEIO DE RESOLUÇÃO DE ‘CONTROVÉRSIAS’ COM A ADMINISTRAÇÃO PÚBLICA
Authors: Guedes Jefferson Carús
Published: May 2017

ABSTRACT: And this brief study reflects on the expansion of the Voluntary Jurisdiction or noin the CPC / 2015 on the concensuality and a non-adversary field and of homologation, previously rejected, contained in the hypotheses in which one goes to court only in search of the seal of approval and peace of the agreement Extrajudicial, now expressly introduced in the VIII of art. 725 of the CPC / 2015.

It provides art. 725 of CPC / 2015, which shall "proceed in the manner set forth in this Section", that is, by voluntary jurisdiction, "the request for" (...) "homologation of out-of-court settlement of any kind or value" .

The detailed examination of the Voluntary Jurisdiction shows that this is another non-adjudicatory, non-conflicting, consensual and concerted judicial alternative for the solution of misconduct between any interested parties, but also between the administration and the Administration. It is true that there are other functions tha
JUDICIALIZAÇÃO DE POLÍTICAS PÚBLICAS EM PROL DOS ANIMAIS: UMA VISÃO DE SAÚDE ÚNICA
Authors: Gonçalves Ribeiro Luiz Gustavo , Marotta Clarice Gomes
Published: May 2017

A preocupação básica deste artigo é refletir sobre a necessidade ou não de pensar-se em políticas públicas em prol dos animais e o papel do Judiciário na sua efetivação. Para tanto, foi empregado o raciocínio dedutivo, com utilização da técnica de pesquisa documental e bibliográfica. A partir da questão posta, foi realizado estudo das normas, da doutrina e de correntes filosóficas aplicáveis. Fez-se um breve resumo sobre políticas públicas em geral e discutiu-se brevemente algumas que seriam aplicáveis aos animais. Em seguida, estudou-se o conceito de saúde única, que considera a interdependência entre saúde humana, saúde animal e saúde ambiental. Por fim, foi analisada a questão da judicialização de políticas públicas para que, então, restasse concluído que o Estado e a coletividade têm o dever de tutelar os animais e que proteger a fauna é, de forma indireta, defender o ser humano. Assim, nesse artigo, buscou-se enfatizar a necessidade de efetivação públicas à luz da visão de saúde única, assim como a relevância da atuação do Judiciário na implementação dessas políticas.
DESENVOLVIMENTO SUSTENTÁVEL, EDUCAÇÃO E DEMOCRACIA: O CASE “ESCOLA SEM PARTIDO”
Authors: Muniz Veyzon Campos
Published: May 2017

O presente artigo tem por objetivo refletir sobre o direito ao desenvolvimento, partindo da premissa de que o aludido direito humano sofre um déficit de efetividade quando se depara com contextos de crise, voltando olhar para um componente bastante sensível de sua constituição: a educação. Na primeira parte, expõe-se a necessidade de uma afirmação não retórica do direito ao desenvolvimento. Segue-se explorando a educação inclusiva, equitativa e de qualidade como objetivo de desenvolvimento sustentável (ODS) e asseverando-se a importância da adoção de políticas para a sua implementação. Passa-se, oportunamente, a se refletir sobre o caso concreto da proposição legislativa “Escola Sem Partido”, a partir da análise de seu conteúdo e justificativa. Por conseguinte, ponderam-se perspectivas sobre o tema e posiciona-se no sentido de que o esvaziamento do direito ao desenvolvimento, a partir da violação à garantia de um ensino democrático e pluralista, é catalisador do estado de crise.
UTILIZAÇÃO DA COMPUTAÇÃO EM NUVEM NO PODER LEGISLATIVO: PERCEPÇÕES DOS GESTORES E ENTRAVES AO USO
Authors: Diniz Igor Vinicius de Lucena , Costa Lucas Dos Santos , MEDEIROS MARCOS FERNANDO M.
Published: May 2017

O objetivo deste trabalho é avaliar a aderência da computação em nuvem ao Poder Legislativo do Rio Grande do Norte/RN. Foi realizada uma pesquisa com gestores de TI, por meio da aplicação de questionários e posterior entrevista com o dirigente da unidade. Realizou-se um levantamento das ações já realizadas no Brasil que favorecem o seu uso. Os resultados foram divididos em categorias como capacitação, implantação, infraestrutura, modelo, organizacional, políticas públicas e recursos. A análise foi comparativa aos estudos já realizados sobre o tema na esfera governamental, em destaque para os trabalhos de Medeiros (2014) e Medeiros e Sousa Neto (2016). Os principais resultados encontrados foram de que não há ainda um entendimento unanime quanto ao uso da computação em nuvem e que boa parte dos respondentes não compreendem o contexto atual, as regulamentações e normas existentes, se fazendo necessário investir em maior capacitação. Cabe destacar a atuação inovadora do órgão, que já possui parte de sua operação funcionando em um ambiente de computação em nuvem. Em termos de limitações, destaca-se a amostra limitada do estudo, correspondendo a apenas uma unidade do Poder Legislativo. Este trabalho inédito se insere em uma seara de aplicação prática de um conteúdo à uma realidade organizacional, em específico trata de uma aplicação tecnológica recente e seus impactos no serviço público.
PHOTOGRAMMETRY IN 3D MODELLING OF HUMAN BONE STRUCTURES FROM RADIOGRAPHS
Authors: Hosseinian S. , Arefi H.
Published: May 2017

Abstract. Photogrammetry can have great impact on the success of medical processes for diagnosis, treatment and surgeries. Precise 3D models which can be achieved by photogrammetry improve considerably the results of orthopedic surgeries and processes. Usual 3D imaging techniques, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), have some limitations such as being used only in non-weight-bearing positions, costs and high radiation dose(for CT) and limitations of MRI for patients with ferromagnetic implants or objects in their bodies. 3D reconstruction of bony structures from biplanar X-ray images is a reliable and accepted alternative for achieving accurate 3D information with low dose radiation in weight-bearing positions. The information can be obtained from multi-view radiographs by using photogrammetry. The primary step for 3D reconstruction of human bone structure from medical X-ray images is calibration which is done by applying principles of photogrammetry. After the calibration step, 3D reconstruction can be done using efficient methods with different levels of automation. Because of the different nature of X-ray images from optical images, there are distinct challenges in medical applications for calibration step of stereoradiography. In this paper, after demonstrating the general steps and principles of 3D reconstruction from X-ray images, a comparison will be done on calibration methods for 3D reconstruction from radiographs and they are assessed from photogrammetry point of view by considering various metrics such as their camera models, calibration objects, accuracy, availability, patient-friendly and cost.
SIMULATION OF THE «COSMONAUT-ROBOT» SYSTEM INTERACTION ON THE LUNAR SURFACE BASED ON METHODS OF MACHINE VISION AND COMPUTER GRAPHICS
Authors: Kryuchkov B. I. , Usov V. M. , Chertopolokhov V. A. , Ronzhin A. L. , Karpov A. A.
Published: May 2017

Abstract. Extravehicular activity (EVA) on the lunar surface, necessary for the future exploration of the Moon, involves extensive use of robots. One of the factors of safe EVA is a proper interaction between cosmonauts and robots in extreme environments. This requires a simple and natural man-machine interface, e.g. multimodal contactless interface based on recognition of gestures and cosmonaut’s poses. When travelling in the "Follow Me" mode (master/slave), a robot uses onboard tools for tracking cosmonaut’s position and movements, and on the basis of these data builds its itinerary. The interaction in the system "cosmonaut-robot" on the lunar surface is significantly different from that on the Earth surface. For example, a man, dressed in a space suit, has limited fine motor skills. In addition, EVA is quite tiring for the cosmonauts, and a tired human being less accurately performs movements and often makes mistakes. All this leads to new requirements for the convenient use of the man-machine interface designed for EVA. To improve the reliability and stability of human-robot communication it is necessary to provide options for duplicating commands at the task stages and gesture recognition. New tools and techniques for space missions must be examined at the first stage of works in laboratory conditions, and then in field tests (proof tests at the site of application). The article analyzes the methods of detection and tracking of movements and gesture recognition of the cosmonaut during EVA, which can be used for the design of human-machine interface. A scenario for testing these methods by constructing a virtual environment simulating EVA on the lunar surface is proposed. Simulation involves environment visualization and modeling of the use of the "vision" of the robot to track a moving cosmonaut dressed in a spacesuit.
GAIT RECOGNITION BASED ON CONVOLUTIONAL NEURAL NETWORKS
Authors: Sokolova A. , Konushin A.
Published: May 2017

Abstract. In this work we investigate the problem of people recognition by their gait. For this task, we implement deep learning approach using the optical flow as the main source of motion information and combine neural feature extraction with the additional embedding of descriptors for representation improvement. In order to find the best heuristics, we compare several deep neural network architectures, learning and classification strategies. The experiments were made on two popular datasets for gait recognition, so we investigate their advantages and disadvantages and the transferability of considered methods.