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Why should the business community be preoccupied by prevailing international health policies? Any alternative option?
No full textLivestock against risk and vulnerability: multifunctionality of livestock keeping in Burundi
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Comparison of two LED fluorescence microscopy build-on modules for acid-fast smear microscopy
No full textSETTING: National Reference Laboratory, Benin. OBJECTIVES: To compare the performance of Fraen FluoLED and LW Lumin light-emitting diode (LED) fluorescence microscopy modules. DESIGN: Acid-fast bacilli (AFB) smears, routinely examined with a classical fluorescence microscope, were blindly re-read with both LED systems at 200x magnification. Smears with discordant results were rechecked on all systems at 200x, and 100 randomly chosen smears were read again at 400x. Confirmed presence of AFB with any system was accepted as a true positive. RESULTS: A total of 1937 smears were examined by all systems. The Fraen and LW detected 895 (46.2%) and 817 (42.2%) positive and scanty positive smears. After rechecking 201 smears, 15 false-positive and 61 false-negative results were declared for Fraen, against 11 and 135 for LW. The systems had similar false-positive rates (1.7% for Fraen and 1.4% for LW), but differed significantly regarding detection of confirmed microscopy positives (93.5% and 85.6% respectively, P < 0.00001). A high correlation between both LED systems was found at 400x magnification. CONCLUSIONS: The Fraen LED fluorescence microscopy module performed significantly better than the LW LED at the most efficient 200x magnification. It was also more appreciated by all users. The LW module may perform equally well at higher magnification
The effect of food consumption on lumefantrine bioavailability in African children receiving artemether–lumefantrine crushed or dispersible tablets (Coartem) for acute uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria
No full textSummary Objectives Artemether-lumefantrine (AL) is first-line treatment for uncomplicated malaria in many African countries. Concomitant food consumption may affect absorption of lumefantrine but data in the most important target population, i.e. children, are lacking. Therefore, we evaluated the effect of food intake on oral lumefantrine bioavailability in African children with malaria. Methods In a randomised, investigator-blinded, multicentre phase III efficacy trial, 899 infants and children with acute uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria received six doses of AL according to body weight over 3 days either as crushed tablets (Coartem((R))) or as dispersible tablets. Single blood samples were obtained for lumefantrine plasma concentration determination in a subset of 621 patients, and a two-compartment pharmacokinetic model was constructed. Results The mean observed lumefantrine plasma concentration for crushed tablet and dispersible tablet, respectively, was 100% and 55% higher with a concomitant meal at the time of dose intake than when taken alone. Similarly, consumption of milk (the most common meal) increased model-estimated lumefantrine bioavailability by 57% (90% CI: 29-96%) with crushed tablets and 65% (90% CI: 28-109%) with dispersible tablets compared to no food. The 28-day PCR-corrected cure rate (primary study endpoint) in the evaluable population was 582/587 [99.1% (95% CI: 98.0-99.7%)] and was not related to food intake. Conclusions AL was highly efficacious. Concomitant food intake increased lumefantrine absorption in children with malaria
