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When to switch for antiretroviral treatment failure in resource-limited settings? [editorial]
No full textNot the final published versio
Influence of Leishmania (Viannia) species on the response to antimonial treatment in patients with American tegumentary leishmaniasis
No full textBACKGROUND: Pentavalent antimonials (SbV) are the first-line chemotherapy for American tegumentary leishmaniasis (ATL). There are, however, reports of the occurrence of treatment failure with these drugs. Few studies in Latin America have compared the response to SbV treatment in ATL caused by different Leishmania species. METHODS: Clinical parameters and response to SbV chemotherapy were studied in 103 patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in Peru. Leishmania isolates were collected before treatment and typed by multilocus polymerase-chain-reaction restriction fragment-length polymorphism analysis. RESULTS: The 103 isolates were identified as L. (Viannia) peruviana (47.6%), L. (V.) guyanensis (23.3%), L. (V.) braziliensis (22.3%), L. (V.) lainsoni (4.9%), L. (Leishmania) mexicana (1%), and a putative hybrid, L. (V.) braziliensis/L. (V.) peruviana (1%). L. (V.) guyanensis was most abundant in central Peru. Of patients infected with the 3 former species, 21 (21.9%) did not respond to SbV chemotherapy. The proportions of treatment failure (after 12 months of follow-up) were 30.4%, 24.5%, and 8.3% in patients infected with L. (V.) braziliensis, L. (V.) peruviana, and L. (V.) guyanensis, respectively. Infection with L. (V.) guyanensis was associated with significantly less treatment failure than L. (V.) braziliensis, as determined by multiple logistic regression analysis (odds ratio, 0.07 [95% confidence interval, 0.007-0.8]; P=.03). CONCLUSIONS: Leishmania species can influence SbV treatment outcome in patients with CL. Therefore, parasite identification is of utmost clinical importance, because it should lead to a species-oriented treatment
Equivalence trial of melarsoprol and nifurtimox monotherapy and combination therapy for the treatment of second-stage Trypanosoma brucei gambiense sleeping sickness
No full textBACKGROUND: Treatment of second-stage sleeping sickness relies mainly on melarsoprol. Nifurtimox has been successfully used to cure melarsoprol-refractory sleeping sickness caused by Trypanosoma brucei gambiense infection. METHODS: An open, randomized trial was conducted to test for equivalence between the standard melarsoprol regimen and 3 other regimens, as follows: standard melarsoprol therapy (3 series of 3.6 mg/kg/day intravenously [iv] for 3 days, with 7-day breaks between the series); 10-day incremental-dose melarsoprol therapy (0.6 mg/kg iv on day 1, 1.2 mg/kg iv on day 2, and 1.8 mg/kg iv on days 3-10); nifurtimox monotherapy for 14 days (5 mg/kg orally 3 times per day); and consecutive 10-day melarsoprol-nifurtimox combination therapy (0.6 mg/kg iv melarsoprol on day 1, 1.2 mg/kg iv melarsoprol on day 2, and 1.2 mg/kg/day iv melarsoprol combined with oral 7.5 mg/kg nifurtimox twice a day on days 3-10). Primary outcomes were relapse, severe adverse events, and death attributed to treatment. RESULTS: A total of 278 patients were randomized. The frequency of adverse events was similar between the standard melarsoprol regimen and the other regimens. Encephalopathic syndromes occurred in all groups and caused all deaths that were likely due to treatment. Relapses (n=48) were observed only with the 3 monotherapy regimens. CONCLUSION: A consecutive 10-day low-dose melarsoprol-nifurtimox combination is more effective than the standard melarsoprol regimen
To retain or remove user fees? Reflections on the current debate in low- and middle-income
No full textEen overzicht van de nutritionele beleidsplannen in de lidstaten van de Europese Unie
No full textObesity has reached epidemiological proportions in Europe and the burden of diseases attributable to nutrition is substantial. Under the impetus of the World Health Organisation (WHO), member states have been urged to develop national action plans for nutrition and physical activity. This study describes what has been done in terms of nutrition policy at national level in the member states of the European Union right before its enlargement in 2004. It is a critical review of publicly available policy documents on nutrition and physical activity. The background idea was to assist the initiative of the Belgian food industry to play a proactive role in the development of a Belgian nutrition action plan. At the time of writing, in total six out of the fifteen EU member states namely Sweden, Finland, Denmark, France, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, reported to have an operational national nutrition plan. By the end of the year 2004, another four countries are expected to have their plan finalised. In line with WHO guidelines, all nutrition plans in this study acknowledge the importance of a multidisciplinary approach and promote stakeholder involvement at some point. Most of the plans however, do not elaborate on their specific role and strategies that will be used to do so. It seems that stakeholder mobilisation is largely restricted to the implementation phases. All operational nutrition plans envisage reducing social disparities. Long-established vulnerable groups in society such as pregnant women, children and elderly are targeted. Considerable variability was observed for nutritional objectives and dietary recommendations between the different countries. Nutrition surveillance and monitoring activities seem to vary considerably between the different action plans. None of the countries except Denmark documents the theoretical foundations and development process of their nutritional surveillance system. National nutrition policy in Europe is clearly in a state of flux and the centre of gravity seems to move away from Scandinavia. Although the importance of nutritional surveillance, comprehensive approach to nutritional problems and stakeholder involvement is recognised by the action plans, the rationale, justification and mechanisms for it is vaguely described. Our findings call for increased efforts to strengthen the evidence base of public health nutrition policy. To achieve this however, systematic evaluations and proper reporting of which health and nutrition promotion strategies work in the different countries in the EU are urgently needed
Visceral leishmaniasis in southeastern Nepal: a cross-sectional survey on Leishmania donovani infection and its risk factors
No full textThe definitive version is available at www3.interscience.wiley.comOBJECTIVE: To document the frequency of Leishmania donovani infection at community level in a highly endemic region in southeastern Nepal, and to assess socioeconomic and environmental risk factors. METHODS: A random cross-sectional population survey was held in two visceral leishmaniasis (VL) foci in Morang District in April to May 2003, enrolling individuals 2 years or older and residing in the endemic area for at least 12 months. Leishmania infection was defined as a direct agglutination test (DAT) titre equal to or higher than 1:3200. Risk factors were identified by logistic regression. RESULTS: The direct agglutination test was positive in 7.5% (95% CI: 5.1-10.8) and the leishmanin skin test (LST) in 13.2% (95% CI: 9.9-17.2) of the 373 study participants. No case of current kala-azar was found, but 5.1 % (95% CI: 3.1-7.8) reported having suffered from VL. Independent risk factors for Leishmania infection were proximity of the house to ponds [odds ratio (OR) 3.7, 95% CI: 1.6-8.5], family size (OR 4.4, 95% CI: 1.6-12.6), age > or =15 years (OR 5.5, 95% CI: 1.2-25.0) and house constructed in mud (OR 3.0, 95% CI: 1.1-7.6). Bednets, not impregnated and in poor condition, were used by 95.2% (95% CI: 92.3-97.0) of the population, but did not show any protective effect. CONCLUSION: This study shows that there is a serious problem of transmission of VL in this area of Nepal. The risk factors identified are linked with the socioeconomic level and the environment. The population would benefit from a community intervention to improve the environmental and housing conditions in the villages
