ABSTRACT
Ultrafast time-resolved electronic spectra of the primary events induced in the copper tetrasulfonated phthalocyanine Cu(tsPc)4-) in aqueous solution has been measured by femtosecond pump-probe transient absorption spectroscopy. The primary events initiated by the absorption of a photon occurring within the femtosecond time scale are discussed on the basis of the electron transfer mechanism between the adjacent phthalocyanine rings proposed recently in our laboratory. The femtosecond transient absorption results are compared with the low temperature emission spectra obtained with Raman spectroscopy and the voltammetric curves.
ABSTRACT
To assess the validity of different clinical criteria in malaria patients, a small study including 92 children presented with fever or history of fever were examined in a highly endemic area of Papua New Gwinea. In 21 children parasitaemia was confirmed by microscopy examination of thick and thin smear stained with Giemsa method (9 cases of Plasmodium falciparum, 8 cases of Plasmodium vivax and 4 cases of mixed invasion Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax). Only 4 from different 39 criteria analyzed in children with history of fever or hot skin showed significant association with parasitaemia (conscious disturbances, severe wasting, enlarged spleen and diarrhoea), however none of the criteria presented high sensitivity and could serve as good predictors for parasitaemia accept two (first and second one). These findings help to realize the importance of laboratory examination in diagnosis of malaria and explain difficulties in confirming or exclusion of malaria where microscopy is not available.
Subject(s)
Endemic Diseases/prevention & control , Malaria, Falciparum/diagnosis , Malaria, Falciparum/epidemiology , Malaria, Vivax/diagnosis , Malaria, Vivax/epidemiology , Animals , Antigens, Protozoan/analysis , Antimalarials/therapeutic use , Child, Preschool , Diagnosis, Differential , Female , Fever/diagnosis , Fever/epidemiology , Fever/etiology , Humans , Infant , Malaria, Falciparum/complications , Malaria, Vivax/complications , Male , Papua New Guinea/epidemiology , Plasmodium falciparum/isolation & purification , Plasmodium vivax/isolation & purification , Prevalence , Splenomegaly/etiologyABSTRACT
The study group comprised 118 patients suspected of malaria who underwent an examination following their return to Poland from the tropical countries. Evaluation of the admitted patients was based on epidemiological, clinical and parasitological criteria. The obtained data allowed to confirm acute malaria in 20 patients (16.9%) and malaria in the past, in 32 patients (27.1%). In the remaining 65 patients (55.1%) we excluded malaria. Malaria caused by P. vivax was confirmed in 5 patients, by P. falciparum in 9 patients. A mixed invasion was diagnosed in 6 patients including: P. falciparum and P. vivax in 3 cases; P. vivax, P. ovale and P. malariae in 2 cases; P. falciparum, P. vivax and P. ovale in 1 patient. We noted no relationship between the severity of the clinical course and IFA results. It was found an atypical clinical course of malaria and diagnostic difficulties in patients who used chemosuppression for malaria prophylaxis.
Subject(s)
Malaria/diagnosis , Malaria/parasitology , Adolescent , Adult , Diagnosis, Differential , Female , Humans , Malaria, Falciparum/diagnosis , Malaria, Falciparum/parasitology , Malaria, Vivax/diagnosis , Malaria, Vivax/parasitology , Male , Middle Aged , Poland , Travel , Tropical ClimateABSTRACT
Two commercial faecal antigen tests, based on Giardia specific antigens, were compared with traditional microscopical examination of faeces in 40 clinical patients, including 14 patients with a confirmed Giardia infection as well as in a survey among 96 children in four day care centers. The results obtained with these faecal antigen tests were not much better than by using traditional microscopy by a well trained parasitologist. Specific Giardia antigen (GSA 65) has been still detected in faeces up to day 4th after treatment of giardiasis, when microscopical examination of faeces was already for a few days negative. The Giardia antigen detection test was not very useful in examining the unconcentrated duodenal content.
Subject(s)
Antigens, Protozoan/analysis , Feces/parasitology , Giardia/immunology , Giardiasis/diagnosis , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Animals , Child , Feces/cytology , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Reagent Kits, DiagnosticABSTRACT
Two cases of cryptosporidiosis in adults were described. A 38 years old men presented with temporally reduced immunodeficiency and typical syndromes of 3 weeks duration. His wife had asymptomatic infection.
