Severe local and systemic haematotoxic envenoming caused by a Malayan pit viper (Calloselasma rhodostoma) in a pregnant woman in Lao People's Democratic Republic.

Snakebite envenoming in pregnant women is rare, accounting for approximately 0.5-1.8% of all snakebite cases.

Experience of using expired lyophilized snake antivenom during a medical emergency situation in Lao People's Democratic Republic--A possible untapped resource to tackle antivenom shortage in Southeast Asia.

Objectives: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of expired lyophilized snake antivenom of Thai origin during a medical emergency in 2020/2021 in Lao People's Democratic Republic.

Methods: Observational case series of patients with potentially life-threatening envenoming who consented to the administration of expired antivenom between August 2020 and May 2022.

Results: A total of 31 patients received the expired antivenom.

Efficacy of careHPV™ human papillomavirus screening versus conventional cytology tests for the detection of precancerous and cancerous cervical lesions among women living with HIV-1 in Lao People's Democratic Republic.

Background: In the Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), cervical cancer is the third leading cause of women cancer.

Aims: The objective of this cross-sectional study was to compare the efficacy of careHPV™ test versus conventional Pap smear or Siriraj liquid-based cytology in the detection of cervical cancer in women living with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1).

Materials & Methods: Overall, 631 women consented to participate.

Serum IgE against galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose is common in Laotian patients with snakebite envenoming but not the major trigger for early anaphylactic reactions to antivenom.

Snake antivenom is the only specific treatment for snakebite envenoming, but life-threatening anaphylaxis is a severe side effect and drawback for the use of these typically mammalian serum products. The present study investigates the hypotheses whether serum IgE antibodies against the epitope galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose (α-gal) located on the heavy chain of non-primate mammalian antibodies are a possible cause for hypersensitivity reactions to snake antivenom. Serum samples from 55 patients with snakebite envenoming were obtained before administration of snake antivenom and tested for serum IgE (sIgE) against α-gal and total IgE.

Intestinal parasitic infections in HIV-infected patients, Lao People's Democratic Republic.

Background: HIV infection is an emerging problem in Laos. We conducted the first prospective study on intestinal parasites, including opportunistic protozoa, in newly diagnosed HIV infected patients, with or without diarrhea. The aims were to describe the spectrum of infections, to determine their prevalence and to assess their associations with diarrhea, CD4 cell count, place of residence and living conditions.