Defining the research agenda to reduce the joint burden of disease from diabetes mellitus and tuberculosis.

The steadily growing epidemic of diabetes mellitus poses a threat for global tuberculosis (TB) control. Previous studies have identified an important association between diabetes mellitus and TB. However, these studies have limitations: very few were carried out in low-income countries, with none in Africa, raising uncertainty about the strength of the diabetes mellitus-TB association in these settings, and many critical questions remain unanswered.

Large-scale preventive chemotherapy for the control of helminth infection in Western Pacific countries: six years later.

In 2001, Urbani and Palmer published a review of the epidemiological situation of helminthiases in the countries of the Western Pacific Region of the World Health Organization indicating the control needs in the region. Six years after this inspiring article, large-scale preventive chemotherapy for the control of helminthiasis has scaled up dramatically in the region. This paper analyzes the most recent published and unpublished country information on large-scale preventive chemotherapy and summarizes the progress made since 2000.

Local perceptions and practices in regard to opisthorchiasis in two villages in Lao PDR.

The aim of the present study was to assess local perceptions and practices in regard to opisthorchiasis in a village receiving treatment and health education compared to a village where no intervention was offered. The study was conducted two years after a health education campaign had been carried out. Focus group discussions and semi-structured interviews were performed among 68 men and women.

Coverage and costs of a school deworming programme in 2007 targeting all primary schools in Lao PDR.

Infections with soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) are among the commonest infections in Lao PDR. Recent investigation in this country showed that intestinal helminths currently infect the majority of school-aged children. The Lao Government has addressed the problem by organizing regular anthelminthic chemotherapy with mebendazole 500mg for school and pre-school children in conjunction with health education activities incorporated into the national school curriculum.

Improvement of PCR for detection of Opisthorchis viverrini DNA in human stool samples.

Opisthorchis viverrini is an important food-borne trematode in Southeast Asia. The infection causes significant morbidity in terms of hepatobiliary diseases and cholangiocarcinoma. The aim of this study was to improve the sensitivity of the PCR-based diagnosis of O.