Publications

contemplating choice: attitudes towards intervening in human reproduction in sri lanka.	to date, relatively little is known about the ethical, legal and social responses to recent advances in reproductive and genetic technology outside europe and north america. this article reports on a survey carried out among doctors (n=278) and medical students (n=1256) in sri lanka to find out more about their responses to novel interventions in human reproduction such as in-vitro fertilization, pre-implantation genetic diagnosis and genetic engineering. in the first part of the paper compariso ...	2005	16552923
[oculocutaneous albinism in french overseas territories (reunion, french guyana, martinique) and mayotte. study of 21 cases in 16 families].	the dual purpose of this study was to determine the genotype of patients with oculocutaneous albinism type 1 and 2 based on analysis of tyrosinase and p gene mutations and to attempt to establish a correlation between phenotype and genotype. this study included a total of 21 caucasian, indian and black african patients from la reunion, la martinique, french guyana and mayotte. pcr-sequencing of genomic dna was performed to detect tyrosinase gene mutations and pcr-separation of pcr products by ag ...	2005	16555521
spectrum of cftr mutations on réunion island: impact on neonatal screening.	the large heterogeneity in the cystic fibrosis (cf) gene is the main difficulty for genotype characterization. numerous studies have reported considerable variations in frequencies of cf transmembrane conductance regulator (cftr) mutations in different populations, such as african, asian, or european populations. to completely characterize the spectrum of mutations in the cftr gene in the réunion island population, we screened 228 cf chromosomes using denaturing high-pressure liquid chromatograp ...	2005	16596947
characterization and evolution of major histocompatibility complex class ii genes in the aye-aye, daubentonia madagascariensis.	major histocompatibility complex genes (mhc-dqb and mhc-drb) were sequenced in seven aye-ayes (daubentonia madagascariecsis), which is an endemic and endangered species in madagascar. an aye-aye from a north-eastern population showed genetic relatedness to individuals of a north-western population and had a somewhat different repertoire from another north-eastern individual. these observations suggest that the extent of genetic variation in mhc genes is not excessively small in the aye-aye in sp ...	2005	15322927
malarial vectors in an irrigated rice cultivation area in southern sri lanka.	entomological surveys were carried out from march 1998 to december 1999 to study the prevalence, distribution and abundance of malarial vectors in relation to selected environmental factors and potential mosquito breeding sites in irrigation channels in 15 villages in the lunugamvehera irrigation and settlement project, a malaria-endemic area of southern sri lanka. mosquito collections were made at monthly intervals using four sampling methods. thirteen anopheline species were collected. followi ...	2005	15607337
high frequency of human enterovirus species c circulation in madagascar.	four poliomyelitis outbreaks caused by vaccine-derived polioviruses have been reported recently, including one in madagascar in 2002. in all cases, the viral strains involved were recombinant between poliovirus vaccine strains and nonpoliovirus strains, probably enterovirus species c. nevertheless, little is known about the circulation and epidemiology of enteroviruses in the regions where these outbreaks occurred. to assess the circulation of enteroviruses (particularly enterovirus species c) i ...	2005	15634978
expression of human il-1alpha after intramarrow gene transfer into healthy non-human primate by adenoviral vector.	interleukin-1alpha (il-1alpha) is a multifunctional cytokine that stimulates myelopoiesis in macaque. however, daily systemic injections of il-1alpha are associated with severe side effects. we therefore investigated the feasibility of a gene therapy strategy aimed at increasing the il-1alpha local production in bone marrow with limited release of the vector into the blood circulation. intra-medullar administration of adenoviral vector containing human il-1alpha (huil-1alpha) gene resulted in en ...	2005	15667338
early outcome after glenn shunt and fontan palliation and the impact of operation during viral respiratory season: analysis of a 19-year multi-institutional experience.	this study was done to investigate the impact of season of operation, age at operation, and surgical era on short-term outcome after single ventricle palliation. one small study suggests that operation during viral respiratory season is associated with prolonged pleural effusion and hospitalization. single-institution studies also find improved outcomes after the glenn shunt and fontan over time, despite operation at a younger age.	2005	15680845
melioidosis in mauritius.	we report the first case of human melioidosis from mauritius, where burkholderia pseudomallei has never been isolated. the patient was immunocompromised, had never traveled abroad, and had a history of regular exposure to mud. she became ill at a time when rainfall was higher than the monthly average.	2005	15705340
antimicrobial resistance of neisseria gonorrhoeae in selected world health organization southeast asia region countries: an overview.	a gonococcal antimicrobial susceptibility program (gasp) under the world health organization south east asia region (who sear) is continuing in india and neighboring countries and is being coordinated by the who regional reference laboratory (rrl), vardhman mahavir medical college, and safdarjung hospital, new delhi.	2005	15729156
multifocal cutaneous mucormycosis complicating polymicrobial wound infections in a tsunami survivor from sri lanka.	a man injured in the tsunami of dec 26, 2004, returned to sydney for management of his soft-tissue injuries. despite broad-spectrum antibiotics, surgical wound debridement, and vigilant wound care, his condition worsened. muscle and fat necrosis developed in a previously debrided thigh wound, and necrotising lesions arose from previous abrasions. histological analysis showed mucormycosis in three non-contiguous sites, and apophysomyces elegans was isolated from excised wound tissue. wound infect ...	2005	15752532
cytotoxic flavanones of schizolaena hystrix from the madagascar rainforest.	bioassay-guided fractionation of an ethanol extract of a madagascar collection of schizolaena hystrix afforded three new flavanones, schizolaenone a (1), schizolaenone b (2), and 4'-o-methylbonannione a (3), as well as three known flavanones, nymphaeol a, bonannione a, and macarangaflavanone b, and the flavanol bonanniol a. the structures of compounds 1-3 were determined by various one- and two-dimensional nmr techniques. all of the isolates were tested for cytotoxicity against the a2780 human o ...	2005	15787448
the dual origin of the malagasy in island southeast asia and east africa: evidence from maternal and paternal lineages.	linguistic and archaeological evidence about the origins of the malagasy, the indigenous peoples of madagascar, points to mixed african and indonesian ancestry. by contrast, genetic evidence about the origins of the malagasy has hitherto remained partial and imprecise. we defined 26 y-chromosomal lineages by typing 44 y-chromosomal polymorphisms in 362 males from four different ethnic groups from madagascar and 10 potential ancestral populations in island southeast asia and the pacific. we also ...	2005	15793703
transitions in ancient inland freshwater resource management in sri lanka affect biota and human populations in and around coastal lagoons.	the increasing anthropogenic pressure on natural environments results in impacts that affect tropical forest areas and their biodiversity. adverse impacts on terrestrial and oceanic environments often compound in the intertidal area, where mangrove forest ecosystems thrive. in tropical coastal areas of many developing countries where people depend on wood and other mangrove forest products and services, forest degradation leads to socioeconomic problems. at the same time, increasing freshwater n ...	2005	15797030
perfluorinated organic compounds in human blood serum and seminal plasma: a study of urban and rural tea worker populations in sri lanka.	concentrations and accumulation of 13 fluorinated organic compounds (focs) in human sera and seminal plasma were measured in an asian developing country, sri lanka. six of the focs, pfos (perfluorooctanesulfonate), pfhs (perfluorohexanesulfonate), pfuna (perfluoroundecanoic acid), pfda (perfluorodecanoic acid), pfna (perfluorononanoic acid) and pfoa (perfluorooctanoic acid), were detected in all of the sera samples. measurable quantities of two main perfluorosulfonates, pfos and pfhs, were found ...	2005	15798805
abo-blood-group types and protection against severe, plasmodium falciparum malaria.	although the abo blood group of the human host has been reported to influence malarial infection, there have been few clinical observations on this effect. a hospital-based, comparative study was therefore performed to investigate the relationship between blood-group type and severe disease i nplasmodium falciparum malaria. overall, 243 cases of malaria (163 uncomplicated and 80 severe) and 65 patients with severe, non-malarial infections were studied. in terms of abo-blood-group composition, th ...	2005	15814030
ocular parastrongyliasis (=angiostrongyliasis): probable first report of human infection from a patient in ceylon (sri lanka).	what is considered to be the first case of human parastrongyliasis (angiostrongyliasis) worldwide is described from a patient in ceylon (sri lanka) in 1925. it also predates the description of the parasite in humans by chen (1935).	2004	15828436
vectors and malaria transmission in a gem mining area in sri lanka.	anopheline vectors of malaria were studied in the kaluganga gem mining area in the dry zone of central sri lanka. adult mosquitoes were collected using cattle-baited huts and nets, pyrethrum spray sheets, window exit traps and light traps and partial and full-night human landing collections over a period of 17 mo. the collections produced a total of 13,591 anophelines belonging to 14 species. using elisa for circumsporozoite proteins of plasmodium vivax and p. falciparum, anopheles culicifacies, ...	2004	15707286
exacerbation of symptoms due to diltiazem in a patient with lambert-eaton myasthenic myopathic syndrome.	a 65-year old man on treatment for ischaemic heart disease presented with a history of pain and weakness of all four limbs and dry mouth. he had clinical and neurophysiological features of lambert-eaton myasthenic syndrome. his symptoms improved after withdrawal of diltiazem, although neurophysiological changes remained even after 3 months.	2004	15693452
socio-economic and behavioural factors affecting the prevalence of ascaris infection in a low-country tea plantation in sri lanka.	the identification of the factors that affect the prevalences of geohelminthiases should help to maximize the effectiveness of programmes for the control of these diseases. in the present study, the relationships between the prevalence and intensity of human infection with ascaris and the availability of sanitary facilities, socio-economic status and personal health habits have been explored in sri lanka. the 176 subjects, who lived on a low-country tea plantation, were aged 2-50 years (median = ...	2004	15324467
genetic variation in beacon influences quantitative variation in metabolic syndrome-related phenotypes.	the beacon gene (also known as ubl5) was identified as differentially expressed between lean and obese psammomys obesus, a polygenic animal model of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and dyslipidemia. the human homologue of beacon is located on chromosome 19p, a region likely to contain genes affecting metabolic syndrome-related quantitative traits as established by linkage studies. to assess whether the human beacon gene may be involved in influencing these traits, we exhaustively analyzed the complete ...	2004	15331561
chryseobacterium meningosepticum infections in a dialysis unit.	chryseobacterium species are gram-negative bacteria with an unusual antibiotic profile. chryseobacterium meningosepticum is the species most commonly encountered as a human pathogen.	2004	15334801
seroprevalence of toxoplasma gondii in wild toque macaques (macaca sinica) at polonnaruwa, sri lanka.	from a natural population that inhabits the dry evergreen forest at polonnaruwa, serum samples of 170 toque macaques were examined for antibodies to toxoplasma gondii by the modified agglutination test. of these, 21 (12%) were found with titers of 1:16 in 9, 1:32 in 9, 1:256 in 1, 1:1,024 in 1, and 1:4,096 in 1. there was no evidence of maternal transmission of antibodies or congenital toxoplasmosis. none of the infected macaques died within 1 yr after sampling. toxoplasma gondii infection was c ...	2004	15357087
economic development, income inequality and environmental degradation of fisheries resources in mauritius.	this article examines how environmental degradation of fisheries resources in the context of mauritius is linked up with human investment in education, economic growth, and income inequality. empirical evidence shows that public-sector investment in education promotes economic growth, but at the expense of greater inequality of income. among the vulnerable groups affected by this type of development process lies the fisherman community. in fact, children of poor families in coastal mauritius hav ...	2004	15383878
[rickettsia africae, the agent of african tick-bite fever: an emerging pathogen in the west indies and reunion island (indian ocean)].	rickettsia africae is the agent of african tick bite fever, an emerging disease transmitted by amblyomma ticks in sub-saharan africa. in 1998, we reported the first documented case of r. africae in the new world, in a patient who had returned from guadeloupe. in order to confirm the presence of r. africae in the west indies, entomologic surveys were conducted from 1999 to 2003 to collect amblyomma, which are considered as potential vectors and reservoirs of the bacteria. ticks were used as epide ...	2004	15462202
constraints on conceptual development: a case study of the acquisition of folkbiological and folksociological knowledge in madagascar.	how different are the concepts held by children who grow up in a north american middle class neighborhood and by children who grow up in a rural malagasy fishing village? by probing malagasy children's and adults' conceptual representations of human and animal kind, biological inheritance, innate potential and family relations, the studies presented in this monograph address current debates about the acquisition and the nature of concepts in the domains of folkbiology and folksociology. cross-cu ...	2004	15566544
malaria transmission in southern madagascar: influence of the environment and hydro-agricultural works in sub-arid and humid regions. part 1. entomological investigations.	a 4-year entomological study was carried out in southern madagascar to identify malaria vectors, evaluate the transmission and compare the influence of irrigation in the sub-arid and adjacent humid regions. three villages were involved in this entomological survey: androvasoa (located in the natural sub-arid ecosystem), pépiniére (sited at the centre of an irrigated rice scheme in the sub-arid region) and esana (bordered with rice fields in the humid region). mosquitoes were collected inside and ...	2004	14732241
antineoplastic agents. 522. hernandia peltata (malaysia) and hernandia nymphaeifolia (republic of maldives).	bioassay (p388 lymphocytic leukemia cell line and human tumor cell lines)-guided separation of the extracts prepared from the tropical and coastal trees hernandia peltata (malaysia) and hernandianymphaeifolia (republic of maldives) led to the isolation of a new lignan designated as hernanol (1) and 12 previously known lignans: (-)-deoxypodophyllotoxin (2), deoxypicropodophyllin (3), (+)-epiaschantin (4), (+)-epieudesmin (5), praderin (6), 5'-methoxyyatein (7), podorhizol (8), deoxypodorhizone (9 ...	2004	14987061
human bertiella studeri (family anoplocephalidae) infection of probable southeast asian origin in mauritian children and an adult.	morphologic studies on preserved and recently collected bertiella specimens obtained from mauritian children and an adult indicate that human infection is caused by bertiella studeri instead of b. mucronata. this cestode might have been accidentally introduced onto the island of mauritius from the southeast asia along with monkeys in the 17th century. we present information that will help identify b. studeri and provide a correct diagnosis. the case reports indicate gastrointestinal disturbances ...	2004	14993637
cytotoxic compounds from mundulea chapelieri from the madagascar rainforest.	bioassay-guided fractionation of methanolic extracts of mundulea chapelieri resulted in the isolation of two new flavonoids, isomundulinol (1) and 3-deoxy-ms-ii (2), in addition to the eight known flavonoids 8-(3,3-dimethylallyl)-5,7-dimethoxyflavanone, ms-ii, mundulinol, mundulone, munetone, rotenolone, rotenone, and tephrosin, and one known sesquiterpenoid, 8alpha-acetoxyelemol. the structures of the new flavonoids 1 and 2 were determined by 1d and 2d nmr experiments. all the isolated compound ...	2004	15043430
[anopheles and malaria transmission in ambohimena, a village in the occidental fringe of madagascar highlands].	the anopheline vectors and malaria transmission were investigated in the middle west of madagascar, in the village of ambohimena (at the altitude of 940 meters) during two years (august 1996 to july 1998). this village is located outside the vector control area, where yearly ddt house spraying campaigns have been conducted between 1993 and 1998. collection of mosquitoes was mainly based on all night man billing collections (650 man-nights), pyrethrum spray catches (224 bedrooms) and direct colle ...	2004	15071831
hermansky-pudlak syndrome type 4 in a patient from sri lanka with pulmonary fibrosis.	hermansky-pudlak syndrome (hps) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by oculocutaneous albinism and a platelet storage pool deficiency. some patients also develop fatal pulmonary fibrosis and some have granulomatous colitis. six human genes hps1, adb3a, hps3, hps4, hps5, and hps6 have been identified as cause of the six known subtypes of hps. while there exist nearly 500 puerto rican and non-puerto rican hps-1 patients, very few hps-4 patients have been reported, and most of thes ...	2004	15108212
new cytotoxic terpenoids from the wood of vepris punctata from the madagascar rainforest.	continuation of the chemical examination of the cytotoxic constituents of the wood of vepris punctata resulted in the isolation of the two new terpenoids 1 and 2 and eight known compounds, glechomanolide (3), isogermafurenolide, (e,e)-germacra-1(10),4,7(11)-triene, alpha-amyrin, lupeol, lupeyl acetate, taraxerol, and 3-epi-taraxerol, in addition to the alkaloids reported reported previously. the structures of the two new compounds were established on the basis of 1d and 2d nmr spectroscopic data ...	2004	15165160
human otoacariasis: a retrospective study from an area of sri lanka.	intra-aural ticks were present in 870 (15.2%) of 5714 patients who reported with ear-related complaints to the ear, nose and throat ward at ratnapura hospital, sabaragamuwa province, sri lanka, from january 2000 to december 2001. a retrospective study of 383 of these otoacariasis cases showed that the majority (70.8%) of surgically-removed ticks were nymphal amblyomma integrum, together with nymphal and adult rhipicephalus haemaphysaloides, r. sanguineus, hyalomma brevipunctata, h. marginatum, a ...	2004	15186938
focal epithelial hyperplasia (heck's disease): report of two cases with pcr detection of human papillomavirus dna.	focal epithelial hyperplasia (feh) (heck's disease) is essentially a benign oral infection produced by the human papillomavirus (hpv). although this condition is known to exist in numerous populations and ethnic groups, it is relatively rare in south-east asia. the following report is based on two cases of adult feh with histopathological features in favour of the disease. in addition, polymerase chain reaction was performed to detect the presence of hpv dna in the lesions in order to confirm th ...	2004	15196147
sexuality and women's rights in armed conflict in sri lanka.	the discourse of human rights in armed conflict situations is well adapted to respond to violence and violation, invoking internationally agreed principles of civil and political rights. however, in areas where the subject or domain of rights discourse is contested or controversial, human rights advocates appear less prepared to promote and defend such rights. sexuality is one such domain. this paper explores the complex sexual choices women in sri lanka have had to negotiate, particularly widow ...	2004	15242213
a chronology for late prehistoric madagascar.	a database has been assembled with 278 age determinations for madagascar. materials 14c dated include pretreated sediments and plant macrofossils from cores and excavations throughout the island, and bones, teeth, or eggshells of most of the extinct megafaunal taxa, including the giant lemurs, hippopotami, and ratites. additional measurements come from uranium-series dates on speleothems and thermoluminescence dating of pottery. changes documented include late pleistocene climatic events and, in ...	2004	15288523
universal ethical principles in a diverse universe: a commentary on monshi and zieglmayer's case study.	monshi and zieglmayer's case study presents sri lankan participants as having views on the privacy of health information that differ radically from those commonly found in western nations. this article explores 2 questions that their case study raises for the ethical review of research in international settings: first, are allegedly universal ethical principles--of the sort promulgated in the belmont report (national commission for the protection of human subjects of biomedical and behavioral re ...	2004	16625726
[bartholin gland tuberculosis: a case report in madagascar].	female genital tuberculosis is relatively frequent in developing countries. most cases occur in young women of childbearing age. the most common locations are the tubes, endometrium, and ovaries. bartholin gland involvement is rare. the purpose of this report is to present a case of bartholin gland tuberculosis in a 50 year-old woman and to describe the special epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic features associated with this location. bartholinitis develops insidiously until spontaneous f ...	2003	15077425
[the history of flu in madagascar].	the purpose of this paper is to actualize the historical data on influenza in madagascar. the first outbreak of flu probably occurred in 1890. the first epidemic fully described was in 1893. between 1890 and 1957, 11 outbreaks of influenza were registered. since 1978, the unit of virology of the institut pasteur de madagascar is the national reference center of the world health organization for influenza in madagascar. between 1975 and 2002, 12 epidemics of flu were registered confirmed by viral ...	2003	15678809
[influenza epidemiologic and virologic surveillance in antananarivo from 1995 to 2002].	the "institut pasteur de madagascar" virology laboratory is the national who centre for influenza surveillance in madagascar. on this surveillance collaborate the ministry of health with 9 sentinel centres. in the present article, the authors relate the results of influenza surveillance in antananarivo between 1995 and 2002. among 6341 patients with nasal and/or pharyngeal swabs, influenza virus were isolated from 427 patients (6.7%): 307 (68.4%) influenza virus a (h3n2), 124 (27.1%) influenza v ...	2003	15678811
[the current epidemiological situation of cysticercosis in madagascar].	being associated to fecal-oral transmission, cysticercosis is contracted either by auto-infection or by ingestion of food contaminated with eggs from the pork tape worm (taenia solium). in the stomach, the larvae named cysticercus (cysticercus cellulosae) hatches from the eggs and invades the host through the mucosa membrane. human cysticercosis occurs in highly prevalent proportions in many developing countries including madagascar where hygiene conditions are deplicable. serology tests applica ...	2003	15678816
[anopheles mascarensis of meillon 1947, a malaria vector in the middle west of madagascar?].	anopheles mascarensis has been demonstrated to be a vector of human malaria in the east coast of madagascar. here, we present original data obtained from 1996 to 2003 on the distribution, biology and vectorial capacity of an. mascarensis in the middle-west of madagascar. this species is consistently exophilic both for its trophic and resting behaviour. this accounts for the absence of clear impact of any indoor insecticide spraying. this species is mainly zoophilic, but can occasionally bite hum ...	2003	15678818
the origin and dispersion of human parasitic diseases in the old world (africa, europe and madagascar).	the ancestors of present-day man (homo sapiens sapiens) appeared in east africa some three and a half million years ago (australopithecs), and then migrated to europe, asia, and later to the americas, thus beginning the differentiation process. the passage from nomadic to sedentary life took place in the middle east in around 8000 bc. wars, spontaneous migrations and forced migrations (slave trade) led to enormous mixtures of populations in europe and africa and favoured the spread of numerous p ...	2003	12687757
new cytotoxic alkaloids from the wood of vepris punctata from the madagascar rainforest.	bioassay-guided fractionation of a ch(2)cl(2)/meoh extract of the wood of vepris punctata resulted in the isolation of three new furoquinoline alkaloids, 5-methoxymaculine (1), 5,8-dimethoxymaculine (2), and 4,5,6,7,8-pentamethoxyfuroquinoline (3), in addition to the four known alkaloids flindersiamine (4), kokusaginine (5), maculine (6), and skimmianine (7). the structures of the new alkaloids 1-3 were established on the basis of extensive 1d and 2d nmr spectroscopic data interpretation. all th ...	2003	12713408
infectious diseases. up close and personal with sars.		2003	12738826
brief communication: ancient dna prospects from sri lankan highland dry caves support an emerging global pattern.	recovery of ancient dna has become an increasingly important tool in elucidating the origins of past populations and their relationships. unfortunately, many human skeletal remains do not contain original dna amplifiable by polymerase chain reaction (pcr). amino-acid racemization has proven to be a useful predictor of ancient dna results. we analyzed the relative levels of amino-acid preservation and racemization of human samples from two highland dry-cave sites in sri lanka, and found that amin ...	2003	12740954
three new cyclic peroxides from the marine sponge plakortis aff simplex.	in our continuing program to identify bioactive compounds from marine invertebrates, the meoh-etoac (1:1) extract of the sponge plakortis aff simplex, collected in madagascar, was found to be cytotoxic to a series of human tumor cells. from this sponge, three new compounds and one known one, two new 1,2-dioxane peroxylactones named plakortolides h (1) and i (2), and one new 1,2-dioxolane, designated andavadoic acid (3), have been isolated and their structures elucidated. in addition, the known n ...	2003	12762807
[intestinal parasitoses in the mahajanga region, west coast of madagascar].	a study on human intestinal parasites was carried out from november 1996 until january 1997, in mahajanga's hospital, on the western coast of madagascar. we collected the faeces from 401 patients and the sera from 112 of them. faecal examination using direct examination and mif method revealed that 67.6% of the stools contained at least one parasite. the frequency of the protozoa was high (47.7%). the prevalence of the nematodosis reached 23.4%. hymenolepis nana, taenia saginata or solium and sc ...	2003	12784593
comparison of tap2 frequencies in type 1 diabetes patients and healthy controls from three ethnic groups indicates an african origin for the tap2 g allele.	in order to determine the ethnic origin of the transporter associated with antigen processing 2 (tap2) g allele, initially discovered by us in a group of type 1 diabetes (insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus) patients living on reunion island, hla tap2 typing was performed using the polymerase chain reaction-amplification refractory mutation system (pcr-arms) method in type 1 diabetes patients and unrelated healthy controls of three different ethnic groups (caucasians, indians and black africans ...	2003	12786999
new cytotoxic oleanane saponins from the infructescences of polyscias amplifolia from the madagascar rainforest.	bioassay-guided fractionation of an ethanolic extract of the infructescences of polyscias amplifolia resulted in the isolation of two new oleanolic acid saponins, polyfoliolides a (1) and b (2), in addition to the two known saponins 3-o-beta-d-galactopyranosyloleanolic acid (3) and 3-o-beta-d-galactopyranosyl-(1-->4)-beta-d-galactopyranosyloleanolic acid (4). the structures of the two new compounds were established as 3-o-beta- d-galactopyranosyl-(1-->4)-beta-d-xylopyranosyloleanolic acid (1) an ...	2003	12802726
human infection with wuchereria bancrofti in matara, sri lanka: the use, in parallel, of an elisa to detect filaria-specific igg4 in urine and of ict card tests to detect filarial antigen in whole blood.	the ict card test to detect circulating filarial antigen and an elisa that detects filaria-specific urinary igg(4) were each used to screen 473 subjects from a community in sri lanka where wuchereria bancrofti is endemic. when the ict test was used as the gold standard, the elisa was found to have a sensitivity of 91.2%. however, far more of the subjects were found elisa-positive than ict-positive (76.5% v. 31.1%). the youngest children studied (aged 1-10 years) were similar to the adult subject ...	2003	12803873
participatory mapping of sex trade and enumeration of sex workers using capture-recapture methodology in diego-suarez, madagascar.	capture-recapture methodology has been employed to estimate the size of hidden or difficult-to-reach human populations such as sex workers, homeless persons, and intravenous drug users. this study took place in the context of efforts to improve the quality of curative and preventive services for sexually transmitted infections offered to sex workers in diego-suarez, madagascar in partnership with sex workers.	2003	12897692
seroepidemiological study of herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 in brazil, estonia, india, morocco, and sri lanka.	the association between herpes simplex virus type 2 (hsv-2) and human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) and the development of hsv vaccines have increased interest in the study of hsv epidemiology.	2003	12902576
sporormiella and the late holocene extinctions in madagascar.	fossil spores of the dung fungus sporormiella spp. in sediment cores from throughout madagascar provide new information concerning megafaunal extinction and the introduction of livestock. sporormiella percentages are very high in prehuman southwest madagascar, but at the site with best stratigraphic resolution the spore declines sharply by approximately 1,720 yr b.p. (radiocarbon years ago). within a few centuries there is a concomitant rise in microscopic charcoal that probably represents human ...	2003	12960385
hematology of a natural population of toque macaques (macaca sinica) at polonnaruwa, sri lanka.	hematological studies were conducted in three wild groups of toque macaques (macaca sinica) inhabiting the polonnaruwa sanctuary in northeastern sri lanka. the macaques were temporarily trapped and anesthetized, and femoral blood was drawn from 35 males and 37 females (age range: 0.33-24.5 yr). statistically significant (p<0.05) differences were observed by sex for total plasma proteins (pp), and by age for red blood cell (rbc) counts, hemoglobin (hb), mean corpuscular volume (mcv), mean corpusc ...	2003	12966516
a seroepidemiological study of toxocariasis and risk factors for infection in children in sri lanka.	a seroepidemiology study using tes-elisa was carried out in 1,020 children aged 1-12 years in the hindagala community health project, sri lanka. toxocariasis seroprevalence was 43% with 16.6% showing high antibody levels. unconditional logistic regression analysis showed 7-9 year olds to be at the highest risk (or 3.0820; ci = 1.95-4.87). dog ownership, especially puppies (or 29.28; ci = 7.40-116.0), and geophagia-pica (or 6.3732; ci = 3.87-10.50), were significant risk factors. family clusterin ...	2003	12971508
antigenic and genetic relatedness of leptospira strains isolated from the andaman islands in 1929 and 2001.	leptospirosis is a major public health problem in andaman islands. several strains of leptospira have been isolated from the andamans over the years. leptospires isolated recently from human cases were compared with one of the earliest available isolates from these islands, dating back to 1929, to study their serological and genetic relatedness. randomly amplified polymorphic dna (rapd) fingerprints of the isolates, generated with a primer used previously to differentiate between leptospira spec ...	2003	12972587
the absence of hiv seropositivity contrasts with a high prevalence of markers of sexually transmitted infections among registered female sex workers in toliary, madagascar.	in a cross-sectional study in 1998 we assessed human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) and syphilis infections and their risk factors among the 316 registered female sex workers (fsws) of toliary, south-west madagascar. no case of hiv infection was detected, but 18.4% of registered fsws had syphilis. only half of these women regularly used condoms. in a multiple logistic regression analysis, risk factors for syphilis infection were multiple clients per week and, paradoxically, regular use of condoms. ...	2003	12535252
effects of household dynamics on resource consumption and biodiversity.	human population size and growth rate are often considered important drivers of biodiversity loss, whereas household dynamics are usually neglected. aggregate demographic statistics may mask substantial changes in the size and number of households, and their effects on biodiversity. household dynamics influence per capita consumption and thus biodiversity through, for example, consumption of wood for fuel, habitat alteration for home building and associated activities, and greenhouse gas emissio ...	2003	12540852
development and testing of a rapid diagnostic test for bubonic and pneumonic plague.	plague is often fatal without prompt and appropriate treatment. it affects mainly poor and remote populations. late diagnosis is one of the major causes of human death and spread of the disease, since it limits the effectiveness of control measures. we aimed to develop and assess a rapid diagnostic test (rdt) for plague.	2003	12547544
anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity in the polyherbal formulation maharasnadhi quathar.	maharasnadhi quathar (mrq) is a polyherbal preparation recommended by ayurvedic medical practitioners for treatment of arthritic conditions. an investigation has been carried out with rats and human rheumatoid arthritis (ra) patients, to determine the anti-inflammatory and analgesic potential of mrq. results obtained demonstrate that mrq can significantly and dose-dependently inhibit carrageenan-induced rat paw oedema (the inhibition at 3h was greater than at 1h after induction of oedema). mrq c ...	2003	12639750
parasitologic analyses of the sifaka (propithecus verreauxi verreauxi) at beza mahafaly, madagascar.	a cross-sectional parasitologic survey of a population of wild sifaka (propithecus verreauxi verreauxi) was conducted at the beza mahafaly special reserve in southwest madagascar. ninety fecal samples were collected from thirty 1- to 30-yr-old male and female sifakas, and the formalin-preserved and polyvinyl alcohol-preserved specimens were examined using the zinc sulfate flotation and formalin-ethyl acetate sedimentation techniques. no intestinal parasites were recovered, possibly because the s ...	2003	14582790
methodological problems and amendments to demonstrate effects of temperature on the epidemiology of malaria. a new perspective on the highland epidemics in madagascar, 1972-89.	there is a growing consensus that changes in climate will have major consequences for human health through a reduction in the availability of food and an increasing frequency of natural disasters. however, the contribution of higher temperatures to vector-borne diseases, particularly malaria, remains controversial despite the known biological dependence of both vector and pathogen on climate. misconceptions and inappropriate use of variables and methods have contributed to the controversy. at pr ...	2003	14584363
[clinical aspects and genetic specificities of cystic fibrosis in reunion island].	evaluation of the phenotype-genotype correlation of a specific mucoviscidosis mutation, "y122x", in reunion island. this mutation represents 25% of our cases.	2003	14613688
[ecoethology of vectors and transmission of malaria in the lowland rice growing region of mandritsara, madagascar ].	to evaluate the determining factors of the malaria transmission in the northwest region of madagascar, transversal studies were carried out through one year, from march 1997 to april 1998, in two villages located near mandritsara, at less than 300 meters above sea level. the rice-growing region forms an intermediate zone between the central highlands with epidemic and instable malaria and the coastal zone with endemic and stable malaria. mosquitoes were collected when landing on humans during th ...	2003	14717053
[epidemiological data on the plague in madagascar].	the first case of plague was introduced in madagascar in 1898 in the east coast by way of boat from india. in 1921, plague reach the highlands and a large epidemic over the next twenty years. until the beginning of the 80's, only of few case were identified, notified mostly in rural setting. however gradually it has re-emerged as a public health problem. urban plague is located in the city of antananarivo (resurgence in 1978 after 28 years of apparent silence) and in mahajanga port (resurgence i ...	2002	12643093
[new method of molecular typing in human enteroviruses: characterization of madagascar "untypable" strains].	enteroviruses, members of the family picornaviridae, are responsible for a wide variety of diseases and represent a major public health hazard. typing of non polio enterovirus (npev) infection is traditionally based on a serum neutralization assay. however, this method is time-consuming, labor-intensive, expensive, and may fail to identify antigenic variation. a new molecular typing involving partial sequencing of the genome has been recently developed. in this study, 46 npev strains were analyz ...	2002	12643094
developmental neurotoxicity following prenatal exposures to methylmercury and pcbs in humans from epidemiological studies.	adverse health effects following prenatal exposures to methylmercury (mehg) have been apparent from several prospective cohort studies conducted in a fish-eating population. a prospective study in a faroese birth cohort documented subtle deficits of several functional domains at prenatal mehg exposure levels previously thought to be safe. recent additional studies also showed neurobehavioral deficits associated with exposures to polychlorinated biphenyls (pcbs) with concomitant mehg poisoning. i ...	2002	12498320
influenza under close surveillance.		2002	12631981
outbreak of influenza, madagascar, july-august 2002.	preliminary investigation found that a large outbreak of influenza-like illness occurred in madagascar during july-august 2002, with 30 304 cases and 754 deaths reported. most cases were reported from the highland regions of fianarantsoa province, in centre madagascar. the majority of the cases lived in rural areas, and children under five years and adults 60 years and older were the most affected. the outbreak was attributable to an a/panama/2007/99-like (h3n2) virus, which has been circulating ...	2002	12631982
outbreak of influenza, madagascar, july-august 2002.		2002	12476644
isolation and structure of pedilstatin from a republic of maldives pedilanthus sp.	a new cancer cell growth inhibitor designated pedilstatin (1) was isolated from a republic of maldives pedilanthus sp. the structure was determined to be 13-o-acetyl-12-o-[2'z,4'e-octadienoyl]-4alpha-deoxyphorbol on the basis of high-resolution mass spectral and 2d nmr assignments. pedilstatin was found to significantly inhibit growth of the p388 lymphocytic leukemia cell line with an ed(50) of 0.28 microg/ml, to afford, at concentrations of 2-5 microm, protection (to 80%) of human-derived lymph ...	2002	12350143
infectious disease surveillance update.		2002	12383607
influenza outbreak--madagascar, july-august 2002.	in mid-july 2002, madagascar health authorities were notified of a substantial number of deaths attributed to acute respiratory illness (ari) in the village of sahafata (population: 2,160), located in the rural highlands of fianarantsoa province, southeastern madagascar (figure 1). this region is approximately 450 km (280 miles) south of the capital antananarivo. the madagascar ministry of health (moh) and the institut pasteur, madagascar (ipm) initiated an investigation, which found an attack r ...	2002	12458917
a new triterpene saponin from pittosporum viridiflorum from the madagascar rainforest.	a novel triterpenoid saponin, pittoviridoside (1), which possesses an unusual 2,3,4-trisubstituted glycosidic linkage, has been isolated from pittosporum viridiflorum using the engineered yeast strains 1138, 1140, 1353, and sc-7 for bioactivity-guided fractionation. the structure of this compound was determined to be 3-o-[beta-d-glucopyranosyl(1-->2)]-[alpha-d-arabinopyranosyl(1-->3)],[alpha-l-arabinofuranosyl(1-->4)-beta-d-glucuronopyranosyl-21-angeloyl-22-senecioylolean-12-en-3beta,15alpha,16a ...	2002	11809069
eupha-7,9(11),24-trien-3beta-ol ("antiquol c") and other triterpenes from euphorbia antiquorum latex and their inhibitory effects on epstein-barr virus activation.	the structures of three triterpene alcohols isolated from the latex of euphorbia antiquorum were established to be eupha-7,9(11),24-trien-3beta-ol (2; antiquol c), 19(10-->9)abeo-8alpha,9beta,10alpha-eupha-5,24-dien-3beta-ol (3; antiquol b), and 24-methyltirucalla-8,24(24(1))-dien-3beta-ol (4; euphorbol) on the basis of spectroscopic methods. compounds 3 and 4 have previously been assigned the erroneous structures of 10alpha-cucurbita-5,24-dien-3alpha-ol and 24-methyleupha-8,24(24(1))-dien-3beta ...	2002	11858748
microbial and nutrient pollution of coastal bathing waters in mauritius.	the coastal pollution problem in mauritius is exacerbated by the hydrogeology of the volcanic substratum. bacterial contamination of bathing waters and nutrients, water temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen (do) were monitored at three different spatial and temporal scales along the coastline of mauritius during 1997-1998. standard techniques for water sample collection and analysis set by the american public health association [apha. standard methods for the examination of water and waste ...	2002	11868664
coral gardener of the maldives.	abdul azeez abdul hakeem is a man with a vision. he is 53 years old, with a degree in agronomy and an idea, if not an obsession: to nurse and propagate corals on a large scale. his motive, however, is not to provide for the international marine aquarium trade but as a safeguard for the livelihood of his country, the maldives.	2002	11932501
serotyping and rapd profiles of salmonella enterica isolates from mauritius.	the genus salmonella is a common agent of gastroenteritis in mauritius, generating more cases of the disease during summer than during winter. the aims of this study were to assess the genetic diversity of isolates of salmonella enterica by rapd fingerprinting, and to establish the relationship between human and chicken isolates.	2002	12100591
evidence for a mitochondrial lineage originating from the arabian peninsula in the madagascar house mouse (mus musculus).	various subspecies of the house mouse (mus musculus sensu lato) are known to have contributed to its worldwide expansion. however, the origin of mice on some larger islands such as madagascar has remained unknown, with several sources being possible. in order to classify the malagasy house mouse, individuals were trapped in 13 different localities distributed throughout the island. for 33 individuals the control region (d-loop) of the mitochondrial dna was partially sequenced and 21 males were t ...	2002	12136419
two new triterpene esters from the twigs of brachylaena ramiflora from the madagascar rainforest.	bioassay-guided fractionation of a ch(2)cl(2)/meoh extract of the small twigs of brachylaena ramiflora var. ramiflora resulted in the isolation of the two new triterpene esters 1 and 2 and five known triterpenoids, alpha-amyrin palmitate (3), beta-amyrin palmitate (4), beta-amyrin acetate (5), lupeyl acetate (6), and lupeol (7). the structures of the two new compounds were established as kairatenyl palmitate (1) and hopenyl palmitate (2) on the basis of 1d and 2d nmr spectroscopic data interpret ...	2002	12193040
infectious disease surveillance update.		2002	12206964
in vitro antiviral activity of thirty-six plants from la réunion island.	methanol extracts of 36 medicinal plants from la réunion island were evaluated against two viruses: herpes simplex type 1 (hsv-1) and poliovirus type 2 (pv). five of them showed an effect against hsv-1 and five against pv, senecio ambavilla being inhibitor for both viruses.	2002	12234582
[the campaign against malaria in central western madagascar: comparison of the efficacy of lambda-cyhalothrin and ddt house spraying. i--entomological study].	for malaria vector control in madagascar, the efficacy of lambda-cyhalothrin 10% wettable powder (icon 10 wp) was compared with ddt 75% wp for house-spraying. this evaluation was conducted from november 1997 to september 1998 in highland villages of vakinankaratra region, at the fringe of the malaria epidemic zone, outside the zone covered by routine ddt house-spraying (opération de pulvérisation intro-domiciliaire de ddt: opid zone). treatments were compared by house-spraying in four areas: 1) ...	2001	11802266
characterization of sri lanka rabies virus isolates using nucleotide sequence analysis of nucleoprotein gene.	thirty-four suspected rabid brain samples from 2 humans, 24 dogs, 4 cats, 2 mongooses, i jackal and i water buffalo were collected in 1995-1996 in sri lanka. total rna was extracted directly from brain suspensions and examined using a one-step reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (rt-pcr) for the rabies virus nucleoprotein (n) gene. twenty-eight samples were found positive for the virus n gene by rt-pcr and also for the virus antigens by fluorescent antibody (fa) test. rabies virus is ...	2001	12083333
candida africana sp. nov., a new human pathogen or a variant of candida albicans?	atypical candida strains were isolated from patients in madagascar, angola and germany. these isolates were slow growing and were unable to produce chlamydospores. they had atypical carbohydrate assimilation profiles. all strains were unable to assimilate the amino sugars n-acteylglucosamine and glucosamine as well as the disaccharide trehalose and the organic acid dl-lactate. they were germ-tube-positive in serum, but only some of these organisms produced pseudohyphae after a long incubation. a ...	2001	11820255
human sperm motility stimulating activity of a sulfono glycolipid isolated from sri lankan marine red alga gelidiella acerosa.	to evaluate the sperm motility stimulating activity of a sulfono glycolipid (s-act-1) isolated from gelidiella acerosa, a sri lankan marine red algae.	2001	11250790
population genetic structure and competence as a vector for dengue type 2 virus of aedes aegypti and aedes albopictus from madagascar.	starch gel electrophoresis was used to assess the polymorphism of 7 isoenzymes in single mosquitoes (field-collected f0 or f1 generation) for aedes albopictus (8 strains) from northern madagascar. mosquitoes of the f2 generation (3 strains of aedes aegypti and 10 strains of ae. albopictus) were tested for oral susceptibility to dengue type 2 virus. aedes aegypti was less susceptible to viral infection than ae. albopictus. the genetic differentiation was less high between ae. albopictus populatio ...	2001	11716103
a genome-wide scan for coronary heart disease suggests in indo-mauritians a susceptibility locus on chromosome 16p13 and replicates linkage with the metabolic syndrome on 3q27.	prevalence of coronary heart disease (chd), of type 2 diabetes (t2dm) and of the metabolic syndrome are in mauritius amongst the highest in the world. as t2dm and chd are closely associated and have both a polygenic basis, we conducted a 10 cm genome scan with 403 microsatellite markers in 99 independent families of north-eastern indian origin including 535 individuals. families were ascertained through a proband with chd before 52 years of age and additional sibs with myocardial infarction (mi) ...	2001	11734540
modulation of the multidrug-resistance phenotype by new tropane alkaloid aromatic esters from erythroxylum pervillei.	nine tropane alkaloid aromatic esters (1-9) were isolated from the roots of erythroxylum pervillei by following their potential to reverse multidrug-resistance with vinblastine-resistant oral epidermoid carcinoma (kb-v1) cells. all isolates, including seven new structures (3-9), were evaluated against a panel of human cancer cell lines, and it was found that alkaloids 3 and 5-9 showed the greatest activity with kb-v1 cells assessed in the presence of vinblastine, suggesting that these new compou ...	2001	11754602
zoophily of anopheles arabiensis and an. gambiae in madagascar demonstrated by odour-baited entry traps.	in madagascar we used odour-baited entry traps (obets) for host choice tests of wild female anopheline mosquitoes (diptera: culicidae) at representative localities on the east and west sides of the island (villages fenoarivo and tsararano, respectively) and at the southern margin of the central plateau (zazafotsy village, 800 m altitude). no insecticide house-spraying operations have been undertaken at these villages. odours from a man and a calf of similar mass, concealed in different tents, we ...	2001	11297101
mutation analysis of a mauritian hereditary breast cancer family reveals the brca2 6503deitt mutation previously found to recur in different ethnic populations.	mauritius, a small island some 855 km off the east coast of madagascar, has a multiethnic population of about 1.2 million with a high population density of about 611 per km(2). the recent industrialization of the island seems to have been accompanied, in less than 10 years, by an increase of at least 30% in breast cancer incidence. we have detected the brca2 6503deltt mutation in two sisters of the same family of indian origin but living in mauritius for at least five generations. this mutation ...	2001	11359068
female genital schistosomiasis: facts and hypotheses.	in this paper we summarise the parasitological, clinical and epidemiological characteristics of female genital schistosomiasis (fgs), a frequent manifestation of the infection with schistosoma haematobium. means to diagnose and treat lesions in the lower and upper genital tract are discussed. based on clinical findings and available pathophysiological as well as immunological data it is conceivable that fgs of the cervix and vagina not only facilitates the infection with agents of sexually trans ...	2001	11412803
[resurgence of the plague in the ikongo district of madagascar in 1998. 1. epidemiological aspects in the human population].	between the 20th october and the 18th november 1998, an outbreak of bubonic plague was declared in a hamlet in the ikongo district of madagascar. we conducted an epidemiological survey because of the re-emergence of the disease in this area (the last cases had been notified in 1965) and because of the low altitude compared to the classical malagasy foci. the outbreak had been preceded by an important rat epizootics during september. a total of 21 cases were registered with an attack rate of 16.7 ...	2001	11475028
the natural history of periodontal disease in man. risk factors for progression of attachment loss in individuals receiving no oral health care.	few investigations have reported on risk factors for periodontal attachment loss over time in subjects with no home or professional dental care. the purpose of this report was to identify potential risk factors for progression of periodontal attachment loss among male sri lankan tea laborers who participated in a 20-year investigation of the natural history of periodontal disease.	2001	11525431
health in the huxleyan tropical island of pala.	huxley's island: a novel (1962) is a parable on "realistic idealism"--set in an imaginary island situated in the indian ocean between sri lanka and sumatra, called pala. the characters in the story include a doctor, a nurse and several patients. the general importance of health as a basic human need is well recognised. vis medicatrix naturae, the natural healing powers of the body, are taken account of, along with psychotherapy and drugs. prevention of illness is emphasised and doctors get paid ...	2001	11570002
[the plague at the tsenabe isotry market in antananarivo: a complex epidemiologic situation].	the transmission of yersinia pestis is intense among rats in the wholesale market tsenabe isotry in the capital antananarivo (anti-f1 sero-prevalence 80%, flea index 8.4 for a cut-off risk index of > 1). however, the number of plague-suspected (not laboratory confirmed) human cases has only been 3 in this district during a four years period from 1995 to 1999. a seroepidemiological survey among the market vendors was undertaken in june 1999 to test the hypothesis that the low incidence of human p ...	2001	12471741
[diagnosis of neurocysticercosis: a case report].	neurocysticercosis is the most frequent parasitosis of central nervous system in the world. neurological manifestations are in relation with locations number and topography, inflammatory reactions level and state of development of the parasite. epilepsy is the main revealing symptom. among other neurological manifestations, chronic headache, focal neurological signs, ataxia, language and behaviour disorder are the most anecdotal. the authors report a case of neurocysticercosis in a 71-year-old m ...	2001	12471750
[pseudo-poliomyelitis paralysis caused by echovirus 7].	the authors describe one case of acute flaccid paralytic of lower limbs in a 10-year-old boy with echovirus 7 isolated in the stool and a high titer of homologous antibodies (> or = 1,024). at the final stage of poliomyelitis program eradication, paralysis associated with non polio enterovirus may replace cases of paralytic poliomyelitis. in the present study, the authors highlight the needs to confirm virologically all suspect cases of acute flaccid paralytic. aetiological function of the virus ...	2000	12463037