Effects of seasonality and irrigation on malaria transmission in two villages in Côte d'Ivoire.

The seasonality of malaria transmission was investigated in two villages in central Côte d'Ivoire: one usually with irrigated rice farming (Zatta) and one without (Tiémélékro). Adult mosquitoes were collected, from February 2002 to August 2005, inside and outside sentinel houses. In Tiémélékro, the biting rate of Anopheles gambiae s.s. showed a significant difference between the dry and rainy season only in 2003 (P<0.001). The corresponding rates for An. funestus s.s. showed significant seasonal differences in both 2002 and 2003 (P<0.001 for each year). In Zatta in 2003-2004, when irrigated rice farming was interrupted, there was no significant difference between the An. gambiae s.s. biting rates recorded in the dry and rainy seasons. In both 2002 and 2005, however, when irrigated rice farming was practised, the An. gambiae s.s. biting rate recorded in Zatta during the rainy season was significantly higher than that seen in the dry season (P<0.001 for each year). With just one exception (in Tiémélékro in 2005, the prevalence of Plasmodium infection in the An. funestus was significantly higher in the rainy season than in the dry season), no significant seasonal differences were seen in the prevalences of Plasmodium infection among the An. gambiae or An. funestus. In conclusion, although malaria transmission is quite stable in central Côte d'Ivoire throughout the year, it can be distinctly modified by irrigated rice farming.

Proteolytic cleavage of [3H]nitrobenzylthioinosine-labelled nucleoside transporter in human erythrocytes.

The transmembrane topology of the nucleoside transporter of human erythrocytes, which had been covalently photolabelled with [3H]nitrobenzylthioinosine, was investigated by monitoring the effect of proteinases applied to intact erythrocytes and unsealed membrane preparations. Treatment of unsealed membranes with low concentrations of trypsin and chymotrypsin at 1 degree C cleaved the nucleoside transporter, a band 4.5 polypeptide, apparent Mr 66 000-45 000, to yield two radioactive fragments with apparent Mr 38 000 and 23 000. The fragment of Mr 38 000, in contrast to the Mr 23 000 fragment, migrated as a broad peak (apparent Mr 45 000-31 000) suggesting that carbohydrate was probably attached to this fragment. Similar treatment of intact cells under iso-osmotic saline conditions at 1 degree C had no effect on the apparent Mr of the [3H]nitrobenzylthioinosine-labelled band 4.5, suggesting that at least one of the trypsin cleavage sites resulting in the apparent Mr fragments of 38 000 and 23 000 is located at the cytoplasmic surface. However, at low ionic strengths the extracellular region of the nucleoside transporter is susceptible to trypsin proteolysis, indicating that the transporter is a transmembrane protein. In contrast, the extracellular region of the [3H]cytochalasin B-labelled glucose carrier, another band 4.5 polypeptide, was resistant to trypsin digestion. Proteolysis of the glucose transporter at the cytoplasmic surface generated a radiolabelled fragment of Mr 19 000 which was distinct from the Mr 23 000 fragment radiolabelled with [3H]nitrobenzylthioinosine. The affinity for the reversible binding of [3H]cytochalasin B and [3H]nitrobenzylthioinosine to the glucose and nucleoside transporters, respectively, was lowered 2-3-fold following trypsin treatment of unsealed membranes, but the maximum number of inhibitor binding sites was unaffected despite the cleavage of band 4.5 to lower-Mr fragments.

A comparative analysis of breech deliveries between 1974/1975 and 1979/1980 at the University Hospital of the West Indies

Comparative data for breech deliveries at the University Hospital of the West Indies for the years 1974/1975 and 1979/1980 are presented. An increase in the Caesarean section delivery rate to 36 per cent is noted. Birthweight, route of delivery and parity are analysed with respect to perinatal outcome. Whereas the perinatal mortality rates are comparable to international standards for the greater than 2.0 kg neonate, there seems to be room for improvement in the 1.5-1.99 kg birthweight category. To this end, individualization with a more liberal attitude towards abdominal delivery in this group is recommended (AU)

Regulation of hepatic lipogenesis by dietary maize oil or tripalmitin in the meal-fed mouse.

1. The effect of varying dietary levels of maize oil and tripalmitin (0--250 g fat/kg) on hepatic lipogenesis and the levels of hepatic fatty acid synthetase (FAS), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.49; G6PD), malic enzyme (EC 1.1.1.38, 1.1.1.39, 1.1.1.40; ME) and glucokinase (EC 2.7.1.2; GK) was examined in meal-fed mice. 2. Meal-fed mice compared to mice fed ad lib. show enhanced hepatic lipogenesis as demonstrated by an increased rate of in vivo fatty acid synthesis and increased levels of FAS, ME and G6PD. The level of GK in meal-fed mice was unchanged by meal feeding. 3. Maize oil more effectively reduced in vivo hepatic lipogenesis than tripalmitin in meal-fed mice. 4. Maize oil more effectively reduced the hepatic levels of FAS, G6PD, ME and GK than tripalmitin in meal-fed mice. 5. The increased inhibition by maize oil observed at all levels of fat in the diet investigated and has been shown not to be due to decreased carbohydrate intake nor to differences between the absorption of maize oil and tripalmitin.