Albert Schweitzer Hospital

About: Albert Schweitzer Hospital is a healthcare organization based out in Lambaréné, Gabon. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Plasmodium falciparum. The organization has 1029 authors who have published 1568 publications receiving 43581 citations.

A comparison of treatment of oral lichen planus with topical tacrolimus and triamcinolone acetonide ointment.

Abstract: Treatment of symptomatic oral lichen planus remains a challenging problem. This study compared the efficacy of topical tacrolimus ointment with triamcinolone acetonide ointment in patients with oral lichen planus. Twenty patients (group I) were treated with topical tacrolimus 0.1% ointment 4 times daily, and 20 (group II) were treated with triamcinolone acetonide 0.1% ointment 4 times daily. The clinical effect was graded after 6 weeks. In group I, 6 patients healed, 12 showed improvement and 2 showed no improvement. In group II, 2 patients healed, 7 improved and 11 showed no improvement. The most commonly reported side-effect in both groups was temporary burning or stinging at the site of application. Unfortunately, oral lesions recurred within 3-9 weeks of cessation of treatment in 13 of the 18 patients who had initially shown an improvement or were healed in group I and in 7 of the 9 patients in group II. Topical tacrolimus 0.1% ointment induced a better initial therapeutic response than triamcinolone acetonide 0.1% ointment. However, relapses occurred frequently within 3-9 weeks of the cessation of treatment.

Homocysteine, a risk factor for coronary artery disease or not? A meta-analysis.

Abstract: This meta-analysis suggests that homocysteine may not be as harmful for the heart as it seems. At the same time, however, homocysteine may be an indicator for unhealthy lifestyles, and therefore, an important variable for cardiologists to take into account when assessing coronary artery disease.

Recognition of Variant Rifin Antigens by Human Antibodies Induced during Natural Plasmodium falciparum Infections

Abstract: Antibodies from individuals living in areas where malaria is endemic are known to react with parasite-derived erythrocyte surface proteins. The major immunogenic and clonally variant surface antigen described to date is Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP-1), which is encoded by members of the multicopy var gene family. We report here that rifin proteins (RIF proteins), belonging to the largest known family of variable infected erythrocyte surface-expressed proteins, are also naturally immunogenic. Recombinant RIF proteins were used to analyze the antibody responses of individuals living in an area of intense malaria transmission. Elevated anti-rifin antibody levels were detected in the majority of the adult population tested, whereas the prevalence of such antibodies was much lower in malaria-exposed children. Despite the high degree of diversity between rif sequences and the high gene copy number, it appears that P. falciparum infections can induce antibodies that cross-react with several variant rifin molecules in many parasite isolates in a given community, and the immune response is most likely to be stable over time in a hyperendemic area. The protein was localized by fluorescence microscopy on the membrane of ring and young trophozoite-infected erythrocytes with antibodies from human immune sera with specificities for recombinant RIF protein.

Risk factors associated with encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis in dutch eps study

Abstract: ♦ Objective: Encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis (EPS) is a serious complication of peritoneal dialysis (PD) with a multifactorial pathophysiology and possible increasing incidence. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the independent associations of PD duration, age, dialysis fluids, and kidney transplantation with EPS. ♦ Methods: A multicenter case–control study was performed in the Netherlands from 1 January 1996 until 1 July 2007. The population comprised 63 patients with EPS and 126 control patients. Control patients were selected from the national registry and were matched for date of PD start. Associations were analyzed using a log linear regression model. Primary outcome was appearance of EPS. ♦ Results: Compared with control patients, patients with EPS were younger at the start of PD (34.7 ± 15.4 years vs. 51.5 ± 14.7 years, p < 0.0001). The cumulative period on PD was longer in EPS patients than in control patients (78.7 ± 37.8 months vs. 32.8 ± 24 months, p < 0.0001), and the cumulative period on icodextrin was also longer in EPS patients (32.7 ± 23.3 months vs. 18.1 ± 15.7 months, p = 0.006). Compared with control patients, more EPS patients underwent kidney transplantation (47 vs. 59, p < 0.0001). With regard to the period after transplantation, the yearly probability of EPS increased in the year after transplantation to 7.5% from 1.75%. In multivariate regression analysis, cumulative PD duration, age at PD start, transplantation, time from last transplantation to EPS, calendar time, time on icodextrin, and ultrafiltration failure were independently associated with EPS. Transfer from PD to hemodialysis for reasons other than suspected EPS could not be identified as a risk factor for EPS. ♦ Conclusions: Duration of PD, age at PD start, kidney transplantation, time since last transplantation, ultrafiltration failure, and time on icodextrin were associated with a higher risk of EPS.