A recombinant antigen-based IgG4 ELISA for the specific and sensitive detection of Brugia malayi infection.

An IgG4 ELISA based on a novel recombinant antigen was evaluated for detection of Brugia malayi infection, using 2487 sera from various institutions: 2031 samples from Universiti Sains Malaysia, 276 blinded sera from 2 other institutions in Malaysia, 140 blinded sera from India and 40 blinded sera from Thailand. These sera were from various groups of individuals, i.e.

An analysis of the safety of the single dose, two drug regimens used in programmes to eliminate lymphatic filariasis.

This review of the safety of the co-administration regimens to be used in programmes to eliminate lymphatic filariasis (albendazole + ivermectin or albendazole + diethylcarbamazine [DEC]) is based on 17 studies conducted in Sri Lanka, India, Haiti, Ghana, Tanzania, Kenya, Ecuador, the Philippines, Gabon, Papua New Guinea, and Bangladesh. The total data set comprises 90,635 subject exposures and includes individuals of all ages and both genders. Results are presented for hospital-based studies, laboratory studies, active surveillance of microfilaria-positive and microfilaria-negative individuals, and passive monitoring in both community-based studies and mass treatment programmes of individuals treated with albendazole (n = 1538), ivermectin (9822), DEC (576), albendazole + ivermectin (7470), albendazole + DEC (69,020), or placebo (1144).

Thyroid hormone metabolism and cardiac gene expression after acute myocardial infarction in the rat.

In a rat model of acute myocardial infarction (MI) produced by coronary artery ligation, thyroid hormone metabolism was altered with significant reductions (54%) in serum triiodo-L-thyronine (T(3)), the cellular active hormone metabolite. T(3) has profound effects on the heart; therefore, rats were treated with T(3) after acute MI for 2 or 3 wk, at either replacement or elevated doses, to determine whether cardiac function and gene expression could be normalized. Acute MI resulted in a 50% (P < 0.

Two-year follow-up of the microfilaraemia of asymptomatic brugian filariasis, after treatment with two, annual, single doses of ivermectin, diethylcarbamazine and albendazole, in various combinations.

Repeated, single, oral doses of combinations of ivermectin, diethylcarbamazine (DEC) or albendazole are recognized as important tools for parasite control in lymphatic filariasis. In order to assess the effects of re-treatment using these combinations in Brugia malayi infections, 40 asymptomatic microfilaraemics were re-treated at the end of the first year, with an additional, single, dose of the combination they had previously received. They were then followed-up for another year.

Apparent failure of ultrasonography to detect adult worms of Brugia malayi.

Adult worms of Wuchereria bancrofti, or rather their characteristic movements (the 'filarial dance'), can now be detected in the scrotal lymphatics of microfilaraemic males, using ultrasonography. This ability has been used to delineate the lymphatic pathology of bancroftian filariasis, guide the surgical removal of the adult worms and, most importantly, assess the macrofilaricidal effects of antifilarial drugs. In the present study, the first report of the use of ultrasonography in brugian filariasis, 22 men (aged 18-62 years) with 60-2972 (median = 370) Brugia malayi microfilariae/ml blood were subjected to ultrasonography using a linear, 7.

Treatment of the microfilaraemia of asymptomatic brugian filariasis with single doses of ivermectin, diethylcarbamazine or albendazole, in various combinations.

Several new chemotherapeutic tools are now available for the control of lymphatic filariasis. Combinations of single doses of antifilarial drugs are generally superior to single drugs. The efficacy and safety of albendazole in combination with diethylcarbamazine (DEC) or ivermectin, for the treatment of Brugia malayi infection, were investigated, for the first time, in an open, hospital-based study.

A double-blind, placebo-controlled study of the efficacy of oral penicillin, diethylcarbamazine or local treatment of the affected limb in preventing acute adenolymphangitis in lymphoedema caused by brugian filariasis.

Acute attacks of adenolymphangitis (ADL) contribute significantly to the morbidity seen in cases of filarial lymphoedema. Such cases are now being treated with multiple courses of the antifilarial drug diethylcarbamazine (DEC), either alone or in combination with antibiotics or anti-inflammatory drugs, based on anecdotal experience. In this, the first double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 150 patients with lymphoedema caused by brugian filariasis, each of whom recalled two or more ADL attacks in the previous year, were enrolled on a comprehensive foot-care programme.

Regulation of rat cardiac Kv1.5 gene expression by thyroid hormone is rapid and chamber specific.

Thyroid hormone affects the contractile and electrophysiological properties of the cardiac myocyte that result in part from changes in the expression of thyroid hormone-responsive cardiac genes, including those that regulate membrane ion currents. To determine the molecular mechanisms underlying this effect, expression of a voltage-gated K+ channel, Kv1.5, was measured in response to thyroid hormone.

Prevention of acute adenolymphangitis in brugian filariasis: comparison of the efficacy of ivermectin and diethylcarbamazine, each combined with local treatment of the affected limb.

Acute attacks of adenolymphangitis (ADL) not only force patients with lymphatic filariasis to seek medical attention but also hasten the progression of filarial oedema. Patients with filariasis-associated ADL are currently treated with repeated courses of the antifilarial drug diethylcarbamazine (DEC), with or without antibiotics and anti-inflammatory agents. In this double-blind, placebo-controlled study, the efficacy of local treatment of the affected limb combined with repeated doses of ivermectin or DEC, in preventing the occurrence of ADL in Brugia malayi lymphatic filariasis, was examined.

Treatment of microfilaraemia in asymptomatic brugian filariasis: the efficacy and safety of the combination of single doses of ivermectin and diethylcarbamazine.

Although combinations of ivermectin and diethylcarbamazine (DEC) have been shown to be superior to either drug alone in the suppression of bancroftian microfilariae, their efficacy against infections with Brugia malayi has never been investigated. The present, open trial is the first on the efficacy and safety of a combination of single doses of ivermectin and DEC when used against microfilaraemias of brugian filariasis. Twenty-one, asymptomatic but microfilaraemic (109-6934 microfilariae/ml blood, with a median of 841/ml) men, aged 18-48 years, each received oral doses of ivermectin (400 micrograms/kg) and DEC (6 mg/kg) as a single treatment.

The efficacy, tolerability and safety of diethylcarbamazine-fortified salt in the treatment of the microfilaraemias of brugian filariasis: an open, hospital-based study.

Cooking salt fortified with diethylcarbamazine (DEC) has been successfully used to control lymphatic filariasis in several parts of the world. The kinetics and efficacy of DEC-fortified salt in clearing microfilaraemias of Brugia malayi and the salt's tolerability and safety are examined in this study. Twenty individuals with B.

Estimation of ASO titer as an indicator of streptococcal infection precipitating acute adenolymphangitis in brugian lymphatic filariasis.

Recurrent episodes of acute adenolymphangitis (ADL) are important clinical manifestations of lymphatic filariasis which contribute significantly to the progression of lymphedema. It is increasingly being recognized that secondary bacterial infections play an important role in the etiology of ADL. We examined the role of streptococcal infection as a precipitating factor of ADL in brugian filariasis, by determining the anti-streptolysin O (ASO) titers and by isolating the causative organism wherever possible.

Characterization of determinants for envelope binding and infection in tva, the subgroup A avian sarcoma and leukosis virus receptor.

Tva is the cellular receptor for subgroup A avian leukosis and sarcoma virus (ALSV-A). The viral interaction domain of Tva is determined by a 40-residue, cysteine-rich module closely related to the ligand binding domain of the human low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR). In this report, we examined the role of the LDLR-like module of Tva in envelope binding and viral infection by mutational analysis.

Indications for penetrating keratoplasty in India.

Indications for penetrating keratoplasty (PK) in the developing world from a large series are not well documented. This study was done to evaluate the indications for PK in a major eye care institution in India. The records for a consecutive series of 1,964 PKs were analysed and multiple logistic regression was used to study the effect of age, socioeconomic status and sex on the indications for PK.

Stomach as a conduit for esophagus--a study of 105 cases.

Background: The stomach is a well known esophageal substitute. To analyze the mortality and morbidity following total laryngopharyngoesophagectomy (TLPE) with pharyngogastric anastamosis done as a single-stage procedure.

Methods: The technique employed was esophageal extraction by stripping method followed by gastric pull up.

Stomach as a conduit for esophagus--a study of 105 cases.

Background: The stomach is a well known esophageal substitute. To analyze the mortality and morbidity following total laryngopharyngoesophagectomy (TLPE) with pharyngogastric anastamosis done as a single-stage procedure.

Method: The technique employed was esophageal extraction by stripping method followed by gastric pull up.

The sheath of the microfilaria of Brugia malayi from human infections has IgG on its surface.

Microfilariae (mf) of Brugia malayi from microfilaraemic people had human IgG on their sheath. Fluorescent antibody studies showed that the predominant IgG isotype was IgG3, with IgG4 and IgG1 being present in lower quantities. Human albumin could not be detected.

Biplanar exposure of the radius and ulna through a single incision.

The surgical approaches used to expose fractures of both bones of the forearm vary depending on the site and type of fracture and the degree of comminution; all have limitations. An exposure is described which allows access to most of the radius and ulna through a single skin incision.

A preliminary study of filariasis related acute adenolymphangitis with special reference to precipitating factors and treatment modalities.

Episodic adenolymphangitis (ADL) is one of the important clinical manifestations of lymphatic filariasis. Recurrent ADLs contribute to the progress of the disease and also have important socioeconomic implications since they cause significant loss of man days. The present study was conducted in order to identify the precipitating factors responsible for ADL attacks and also to examine the different modalities of treatment.

A comparative study of the efficacy and tolerability of single and split doses of ivermectin and diethylcarbamazine in periodic brugian filariasis.

The use of ivermectin in lymphatic filariasis (both bancroftian and brugian) has been recently explored in several studies. We report in this paper, for the first time, a direct comparison of the efficacy and tolerability of single doses of ivermectin and diethylcarbamazine (DEC) in brugian filariasis. We also present our findings on the use of split doses of ivermectin and DEC on microfilaraemia levels and the occurrence of adverse reactions.

Ivermectin for the treatment of periodic malayan filariasis: a study of efficacy and side effects following a single oral dose and retreatment at six months.

Ivermectin, a new antifilarial drug and currently the drug of choice for the treatment of onchocerciasis, has been shown to be effective in bancroftian filariasis. We report here, for the first time, the efficacy and safety of the drug in the treatment of filariasis caused by periodic Brugia malayi. Sixty male, asymptomatic microfilaraemics of Alleppey district, Kerala, South India, received single oral doses of ivermectin in a double blind study.