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Positive policies towards spontaneous settlements

Oestereich J

Ekistics, 1981 Jan;48(286):14-8.
PMID: 12143625
Matched MeSH terms: Africa, Eastern
Anti-depressant activity of Erythrina variegata bark extract and regulation of monoamine oxidase activities in mice

Martins J, Brijesh S

J Ethnopharmacol, 2019 Oct 07.
PMID: 31600560 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2019.112280

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Erythrina variegata, commonly referred to as 'tiger's claw' or 'Indian coral tree' and 'Parijata' in Sanskrit, belongs to the Fabaceae family. It is a plant native to the coast of India, China, Malaysia, East Africa, Northern Australia and distributed in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. In traditional medicine, 'Paribhadra' an Indian preparation, makes use of the leaves and bark of E. variegata to destroy pathogenic parasites and relieve joint pains. E. variegata is known to exhibit anxiolytic and anti-convulsant activities. Folkore medicine also suggests that E. variegata barks act on the central nervous system. However, there is a lack of data demonstrating this. The anti-depressant activity of E. variegata bark has not been reported in literature.
AIM OF THE STUDY: Our study focuses on previously unreported anti-depressant activity of E. variegata bark ethanolic extract (EBE) and determination of its mechanism of action possibly through regulation of monoamine oxidase activity in mouse brain homogenates.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: EBE was characterized using standard protocols for phytochemical analysis, followed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. Anti-depressant activity of EBE (50, 100, 200 and 500 mg/kg) was evaluated in Swiss white albino mice using acute and chronic forced swim test (FST) models. Furthermore, the potential use of the extract as an adjunct to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), escitalopram, was evaluated using the chronic unpredictable mild stress test model wherein inhibitory effects on monoamine oxidase (MAO) A and B were assessed by spectrophotometric-chemical analysis in mouse whole brain homogenates.
RESULTS: The extract showed significant reduction in immobility time periods in both acute (200 mg/kg) and chronic (100, 200 and 500 mg/kg) FST models. When used as an adjunct with escitalopram (15 mg/kg), the extract (100, 200 and 500 mg/kg) showed significantly greater inhibition of MAO-A and B activities when compared to escitalopram alone (30 mg/kg). Phytochemical analysis of EBE revealed presence of sugars, steroids, glycosides, alkaloids and tannins. LC-MS and GC-MS analysis identified components such as 2-amino-3-methyl-1-butanol, phenylethylamine, eriodictyol, daidzein and pomiferin, N-ethyl arachidonoyl amine, inosine diphosphate, trimipramine, granisetron, 3,4-dihydroxymandelic acid, ethyl ester, tri-TMS and dodecane, previously reported for their anti-depressant activity.
CONCLUSIONS: The study thus demonstrated potential for use of the E. variegata bark ethanolic extract as an adjunct to currently available SSRI treatment. The study also identified components present in E. variegata bark ethanolic extract that may be responsible for its anti-depressant activity. Furthermore, the study thus confirms the traditional use of E. variegata barks in improving CNS function through its anti-depressant like activity.

Matched MeSH terms: Africa, Eastern
Fulltext A molecular barcode to inform the geographical origin and transmission dynamics of Plasmodium vivax malaria

Diez Benavente E, Campos M, Phelan J, Nolder D, Dombrowski JG, Marinho CRF, et al.

PLoS Genet, 2020 02;16(2):e1008576.
PMID: 32053607 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1008576

Although Plasmodium vivax parasites are the predominant cause of malaria outside of sub-Saharan Africa, they not always prioritised by elimination programmes. P. vivax is resilient and poses challenges through its ability to re-emerge from dormancy in the human liver. With observed growing drug-resistance and the increasing reports of life-threatening infections, new tools to inform elimination efforts are needed. In order to halt transmission, we need to better understand the dynamics of transmission, the movement of parasites, and the reservoirs of infection in order to design targeted interventions. The use of molecular genetics and epidemiology for tracking and studying malaria parasite populations has been applied successfully in P. falciparum species and here we sought to develop a molecular genetic tool for P. vivax. By assembling the largest set of P. vivax whole genome sequences (n = 433) spanning 17 countries, and applying a machine learning approach, we created a 71 SNP barcode with high predictive ability to identify geographic origin (91.4%). Further, due to the inclusion of markers for within population variability, the barcode may also distinguish local transmission networks. By using P. vivax data from a low-transmission setting in Malaysia, we demonstrate the potential ability to infer outbreak events. By characterising the barcoding SNP genotypes in P. vivax DNA sourced from UK travellers (n = 132) to ten malaria endemic countries predominantly not used in the barcode construction, we correctly predicted the geographic region of infection origin. Overall, the 71 SNP barcode outperforms previously published genotyping methods and when rolled-out within new portable platforms, is likely to be an invaluable tool for informing targeted interventions towards elimination of this resilient human malaria.

Matched MeSH terms: Africa, Eastern
Development and human resources in the Islamic world: a study of selected countries

Duza MB

Popul Sci, 1987;7:1-30.
PMID: 12315536

"The present paper attempts to provide an analytical profile of development and human resources in [12] selected [Islamic] countries." The countries--Bangladesh, Somalia, Pakistan, Indonesia, Egypt, Turkey, Malaysia, Algeria, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and United Arab Emirates--vary in income levels from low to high and in population size from 1 million to 159 million. Using data from the World Bank and the Population Council, comparisons are made on the basis of mortality and fertility levels, family size, income, urbanization, labor force size and growth, education, nutrition, and health. Governmental policy changes and future directions are discussed.

Matched MeSH terms: Africa, Eastern