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Query: UMLS:C0024530 (malaria)
 44,886 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Hereditary elliptocytosis (HE) is a common disorder of erythrocyte shape, occurring especially in individuals of African and Mediterranean ancestry, presumably because elliptocytes confer some resistance to malaria. The principle lesion in HE is mechanical weakness or fragility of the erythrocyte membrane skeleton due to defects in alpha-spectrin, beta-spectrin, or protein 4.1. Numerous mutations have been described in the genes encoding these proteins, including point mutations, gene deletions and insertions, and mRNA processing defects. Several mutations have been identified in a number of individuals on the same genetic background, suggesting a "founder effect." The majority of HE patients are asymptomatic, but some may experience hemolytic anemia, splenomegaly, and intermittent jaundice.
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PMID:Hereditary elliptocytosis: spectrin and protein 4.1R. 1507 91

Although it is well established that patients suffering from malaria experience skeletal muscle problems (contracture, aches, fatigue, weakness), detailed studies have not been performed to investigate changes in the contractile function and biochemical properties of intact and skinned skeletal muscles of mammals infected with malaria. To this end, we investigated such features in the extensor digitorium longus (EDL, fast-twitch, glyocolytic) and in the soleus (SOL, slow-twitch, oxidative) muscles from mice infected with Plasmodium berghei. We first studied maximal tetanic force (T(max)) produced by intact control and malaria-infected muscles before, during and after fatigue. Triton-skinned muscle fibres were isolated from these muscles and used to determine isometric contractile features as well as a basic biochemical profile as analysed by silver-enhanced SDS-PAGE. We found that the T(max) of intact muscles and the maximal Ca2+-activated force (F(max)) of Triton-skinned muscle fibres were reduced by approximately 50% in malarial muscles. In addition, the contractile proteins of Triton-skinned muscle fibres from malarial muscles were significantly less sensitive to Ca2+. Biochemical analysis revealed that there was a significant loss of essential contractile proteins (e.g. troponins and myosin) in Triton-skinned muscle fibres from malarial muscles as compared to controls. The biochemical alterations (i.e., reduction of essential contractile proteins) seem to explain well the functional modifications resolved in both intact muscles and Triton-skinned muscle fibres and may provide a suitable paradigm for the aetiology of muscle symptoms associated with malaria.
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PMID:Functional and biochemical modifications in skeletal muscles from malarial mice. 1572 39

In sub-Saharan Africa, the etiology of anemia in early childhood is complex and multifactorial. Three community-based cross-sectional surveys were used to determine the prevalence and severity of anemia. Regression methods were used to compare mean hemoglobin (Hb) concentrations across covariate levels to identify children at risk of low Hb levels in an area with intense malaria transmission. In a random sample of 2,774 children < 36 months old, the prevalence of anemia (Hb < 11g/dL) was 76.1% and 71%, respectively, in villages without and with insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs); severe-moderate anemia (Hb < 7 g/dL) was observed in 11% (non-ITN) and 8.3% (ITN). The prevalence of anemia, high-density malaria parasitemia (21.7%), microcytosis (34.9%), underweight (21.9%), and diarrhea (54.8%) increased rapidly from age three months onwards and remained high until 35 months of age. Multivariate analyses showed that family size, history of fever, pale body, general body weakness, diarrhea, soil-eating, concurrent fever, stunting, and malaria parasitemia were associated with mean Hb levels. Prevention of severe anemia should start early in infancy and include a combination of micronutrient supplementation, malaria control, and possibly interventions against diarrheal illness.
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PMID:Factors associated with hemoglobin concentrations in pre-school children in Western Kenya: cross-sectional studies. 1572 67

Falciparum malaria infection is associated with significant destruction of erythrocytes. This leads to the release of toxic metabolic products, including oxidant compounds. We measured the serum concentration of the antioxidant, ascorbic acid, in 129 patients presenting with acute falciparum malaria infection and in 65 healthy individuals. None of the study subjects administered any form of ascorbic acid supplementation within one week prior to participation in this study. The mean serum ascorbate concentration in infected adult males (n = 49, age range 18-50 years) was found to be 2.02 +/- 0.20 mg/dL, and it was 2.03 +/- 0.24 mg/dL in infected adult females (n = 56, age range 18-50 years). These values were significantly greater than the serum ascorbate levels (1.54 +/- 0.10 mg/dL) in healthy adult males (n = 28) and females (n = 28) (p < 0.05). In children (age range 3 to 5 years), the serum ascorbate concentration was significantly lower (1.95 +/- 0.20 mg/dL) during infection (n = 25) than in their healthy counterparts (2.9 +/- 0.24 mg/dL, n = 9) (p < 0.05). It is evident therefore that ascorbic acid plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of acute falciparum malaria in adults. Infected children also need to be given supplemental doses of ascorbate in view of the weakness of their immune system.
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PMID:Serum ascorbic acid concentration in patients with acute Falciparum malaria infection: possible significance. 1579 14

Typhoid fever is an acute infectious disease caused by Salmonella serotype Typhi, leading to endemic or epidemic outbreaks in tropical/ subtropical countries (especially in India, Southeast Asia, Central and South Africa). In this report, a 27 years old male patient with malaria has been presented. The patient was diagnosed to have malaria while working in Afghanistan, and received malaria treatment since one month. He admitted to our hospital because of still continuing high fever, and other complaints (weight loss, night sweats, weakness, anorexia). His fever was 39.5 degrees C at admission, and blood smears were negative for Plasmodium sp. On the third day of admission, rose spots were detected on the skin of the abdomen and chest, and group agglutination tests gave positive results for S. Typhi O (titer: 1/800), and S. Typhi H (titer: 1/3200). Blood cultures revealed growth of Salmonella enterica serotip Typhi. The isolate was found to be resistant to ampicillin, chloramphenicol, tetracyclin and trimethoprimsulfamethoxazole, and sensitive to ciprofloxacin. The patient was treated successfully with ciprofloxacin for 14 days.
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PMID:[A case with fever of unknown origin during treatment for malaria: multi-drug resistant Salmonella typhi infection]. 1590 Aug 41

Transfusion-induced malaria is a problem because of the large number of parasites infused and the weakness of transfused patients. Screening of blood donors or treatment of transfused patients or prospective donors does not eliminate this hazard. It is essential to kill the parasite in vitro in the blood of donors before transfusion. A total of 4,484 blood donors were screened for malaria parasite microscopically using the Giemsa staining technique. Only 30 matched the inclusion criteria of this study. Blood samples were divided into four equal samples. Three concentrations of sulfadoxine-pyremthamine (SP) were added to 90 specimens, and none was added to 30 specimens (controls). Blood specimens were then tested by parasitic, biochemical, and hematologic techniques on the day of collection and after 24 and 48 hours of storage in a blood bank refrigerator. The reduction of malaria parasites was proportional to the concentrations of SP and to the storage period. Blood samples without SP had steady number of the parasites. The lethal dose of SP (the dose that killed 99% of the malaria parasites within 24 hours) was 179.65 mug/L and was highly effective within the 24-hour storage period. This dose did not affect constituents of the stored blood. Thus, for eradication of transfusion-induced malaria by in vitro processing of donors blood, SP is a safe and effective drug. It is recommended that optimal doses of SP be added to donated blood prior to phlebotomy.
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PMID:In vitro processing of donor blood with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine for eradication of transfusion-induced malaria. 1668 65

Understanding treatment-seeking practices for malaria in pregnancy is necessary in designing effective programmes to address the high malaria morbidity in pregnancy. This study assessed women's perceptions on malaria in pregnancy, recognition of early signs of pregnancy and of malaria, and the cultural context in which treatment seeking takes place in Mukono District. Focus group discussions (FGD) and key informant interviews were conducted among pregnant women, non-pregnant women, adolescents and men. The results showed that malaria, locally known as omusujja, was perceived as the most common cause of ill health among pregnant women. Although malaria commonly presents with fever, some pregnant women feel hot in the womb with or without signs of fever and this illness, locally known as nabuguma, may lead to progressive weakness and occasionally to miscarriage and few respondents associated it with malaria. Primigravidae, adolescents and men were not considered at risk of omusujja or nabuguma. Similarly anaemia and low birth weight were not associated with malaria; in fact paleness was described as a normal sign of pregnancy. There are cultural and social pressures on married women to get pregnant and this forces them to conceal symptoms like feeling feverishness, backache, nausea, general weakness, loss of appetite and vomiting until they are sure these are due to pregnancy. Most women, however, could not differentiate symptoms of malaria from those of early pregnancy. There is a belief that omusujja is a normal sign of pregnancy and this is coupled with a strong cultural practice of using herbs and clays as a first resort to treat pregnancy ailments including malaria. The cultural beliefs and practices regarding delivery of twin and first births, coupled with the high cost of care, prevent women from delivering and using other services at health units.
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PMID:Treatment-seeking practices for malaria in pregnancy among rural women in Mukono district, Uganda. 1649 Jan 55

A neuronal storage disease affecting 5 captive Humboldt penguins is described. One bird died after 3 days of lethargy and anorexia. The 4 remaining birds died after a slowly progressing course of disease with signs that included lethargy, weakness, and neurologic dysfunction. Neurologic signs included dysphagia and ataxia. Gross lesions in the first animal to die consisted of hepatosplenomegaly indicative of avian malaria, which was confirmed histologically. The 4 remaining animals were mildly to moderately emaciated. Moderate to marked vacuolation of the neuronal perikarya was observed in Purkinje cells, neurons of the brainstem nuclei, and motorneurons of the spinal cord in all birds. By electron microscopy the vacuoles represented multilayered concentric lamellar structures. These findings were indicative of sphingolipidosis. All animals had been prophylactically treated for avian malaria, aspergillosis, and possible bacterial infections with chloroquine, itraconazole, and enrofloxacin. Circumstantial evidence implicates chloroquine therapy as the possible cause of the storage disease.
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PMID:Neuronal storage disease in a group of captive Humboldt penguins (Spheniscus humboldti). 1709 67

Post-malaria neurological syndrome (PMNS) is a rare complication of malaria. It follows recovery from an episode of Plasmodium falciparum malaria and is characterised by symptoms and signs of encephalopathy. Patients usually improve without any specific treatment. The pathogenesis is unknown, but it is probably immunologically mediated. The objective of this case study is to describe the first Italian patient with PMNS. A 60-year-old Italian man developed acute P. falciparum malaria after a stay in French Guinea. Twenty days after recovering from malaria, he became confused, developed generalised weakness, limb tremors, shivering and dizziness. These symptoms continued for three days, then resolved spontaneously. Neuroimaging was normal. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis revealed breakdown of the blood/brain barrier, without oligoclonal bands and normal IgG index. Our patient presented a mild diffuse encephalopathy suggestive of a generic activation of the immune system without any specific reaction against antigens within the CNS.
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PMID:Post-malaria neurological syndrome: clinical and laboratory findings in one patient. 1720 33

The aim of this report was the presentation of a falciparum malaria case originated from Mozambique and the evaluation of diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. Sixty years old Canadian male patient who has been working in Mozambique for 13 years was admitted to hospital with the complaints of high fever (39.6 degrees C), weakness, nausea and vomiting, when returned to Turkey. The patient was sleepiness and has undulating confusions with the laboratory findings of thrombocytopenia, hypoglycemia, hyperlactatemia, increased BUN/creatinine levels, increased LDH levels and hypocholesterolemia. The diagnosis was based on the detection of multiple ring formed trophozoites in the thick blood film and the presence of multiple ring forms inside the erythrocytes and the absence of trophozoite and shizont forms in the thin blood film. His medical history revealed that he experienced another falciparum malaria infection one year ago, although he has been using mefloquine prophylaxis during his stay in Mozambique. Since chloroquine resistance was thought to be high in this region, the patient was treated with quinine sulphate and doxycycline. Six days after the onset of therapy, the biochemical markers turned to normal and 14 days later the blood films were free of the parasite. The patient was given doxycycline prophylaxis since he would return to Mozambique. In conclusion, the followings should be taken into consideration for the diagnosis and therapy: (i) cyclic type of fever which is characteristic for malaria, might not be detected in falciparum malaria; (ii) some of the clinical symptoms might be blocked by partial immune response in case of recurrent infections; (iii) thrombocytopenia and hypocholesterolemia might indicate the presence of falciparum malaria; and when falciparum malaria is confirmed by parasitological examinations the patient should be treated as if he/she is accepted as resistant to chloroquine.
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PMID:[A plasmodium alciparum malaria case originated from Mozambique: clues for the diagnosis and therapy]. 1720 1


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