Drug-Drug Interaction Between Dihydroartemisinin-Piperaquine and Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine During Malaria Chemoprevention in Pregnant Women.

Co-administration of dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine (DP) and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) for intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in pregnancy (IPTp) may be superior in preventing adverse birth outcomes compared with either therapy alone, but potential drug-drug interactions require investigation. We conducted intensive and sparse pharmacokinetic (PK) studies in a subset of Ugandan women participating in a randomized controlled trial of monthly IPTp with SP vs. DP vs.

Targeted newborn metabolomics: prediction of gestational age from cord blood.

Objective: Our study sought to determine whether metabolites from a retrospective collection of banked cord blood specimens could accurately estimate gestational age and to validate these findings in cord blood samples from Busia, Uganda.

Study Design: Forty-seven metabolites were measured by tandem mass spectrometry or enzymatic assays from 942 banked cord blood samples. Multiple linear regression was performed, and the best model was used to predict gestational age, in weeks, for 150 newborns from Busia, Uganda.

Assessment of antigens and CRP in dried blood spots with multiplex malaria array.

Unlabelled: Dried blood spots (DBS) typically prepared on filter papers are an ideal sample type for malaria surveillance by offering easy and cost-effective methods in terms of sample collection, storage, and transport. The objective of this study was to evaluate the applicability of DBS with a commercial multiplex malaria assay, developed to concurrently measure antigens, histidine-rich protein 2 (HRP2), lactate dehydrogenase (pLDH), and a host inflammatory biomarker, C-reactive protein (CRP), in whole blood. The assay conditions were optimized for DBS, and thermal stability for measurement of antigens and CRP in dried blood were determined.

Mind the gap: scaling up the utilization of insecticide treated mosquito nets using a knowledge translation model in Isingiro district, rural south western Uganda.

: The phenomenon of Knowledge Translation (KT) is a key intervention towards bridging the 'know-do' gap. We conducted a KT initiative in Isingiro district to positively change attitude and improve on the uptake of Insecticide Treated Mosquito Nets (ITNs) as a malaria prevention strategy. : This was a community based interactive initiative that was carried out within the seventeen administrative units of Isingiro district using varied dissemination activities, namely: health talks; drama activities, and the sharing of ITNs success stories.

Age-Related Changes in Malaria Clinical Phenotypes During Infancy Are Modified by Sickle Cell Trait.

Background: Infants are protected against Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Mechanisms that drive this protection remain unclear due to a poor understanding of malaria clinical phenotypes during infancy.

Methods: We enrolled a birth cohort of 678 infants in Busia, Uganda, an area of high malaria transmission.

Multiplex Human Malaria Array: Quantifying Antigens for Malaria Rapid Diagnostics.

Malaria antigen detection through rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) is widely used to diagnose malaria and estimate prevalence. To support more sensitive next-generation RDT development and screen asymptomatic malaria, we developed and evaluated the Q-Plex Human Malaria Array (Quansys Biosciences, Logan, UT), which quantifies the antigens commonly used in RDTs--specific histidine-rich protein 2 (HRP2), specific lactate dehydrogenase ( LDH), specific LDH ( LDH), and Pan malaria lactate dehydrogenase (Pan LDH), and human C-reactive protein (CRP), a biomarker of severity in malaria. At threshold levels yielding 99.

Simultaneous Quantification of Antigens and Host Factor C-Reactive Protein in Asymptomatic Individuals with Confirmed Malaria by Use of a Novel Multiplex Immunoassay.

Malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) primarily detect antigen histidine-rich protein 2 (HRP2) and the malaria-conserved antigen lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) for and other malaria species. The performance of RDTs and their utility is dependent on circulating antigen concentration distributions in infected individuals in a population in which malaria is endemic and on the limit of detection of the RDT for the antigens. A multiplexed immunoassay for the quantification of HRP2, LDH, and all-malaria LDH (pan LDH) was developed to accurately measure circulating antigen concentration and antigen distribution in a population with endemic malaria.

Knowledge, attitude and behaviour towards the use of insecticide treated mosquito nets among pregnant women and children in rural Southwestern Uganda.

Background: The burden of malaria in Uganda remains unacceptably high, especially among children and pregnant women. To prevent malaria related complications, household possession and use of Insecticide Treated mosquito Nets (ITNs) has become a common practice in the country. Despite the availability of ITNs, malaria remains a foremost public health concern in Uganda.

Performance of a High-Sensitivity Rapid Diagnostic Test for Malaria in Asymptomatic Individuals from Uganda and Myanmar and Naive Human Challenge Infections.

Sensitive field-deployable diagnostic tests can assist malaria programs in achieving elimination. The performance of a new Alere™ Malaria Ag P.f Ultra Sensitive rapid diagnostic test (uRDT) was compared with the currently available SD Bioline Malaria Ag P.

Sociocultural and structural factors contributing to delays in treatment for children with severe malaria: a qualitative study in southwestern Uganda.

Malaria is a leading cause of pediatric mortality, and Uganda has among the highest incidences in the world. Increased morbidity and mortality are associated with delays to care. This qualitative study sought to characterize barriers to prompt allopathic care for children hospitalized with severe malaria in the endemic region of southwestern Uganda.