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The authors discuss the vision of specialized agency World Health Organization (WHO) concerning their quality care for pregnant women and newborns. The authors are critical on the increasing rate of indirect causes of maternal death due to pregnancy and childbirth complications worldwide such as haemorrhage and abortion worldwide. Also examined is the Strategies toward Ending Preventable Maternal Mortality (EPMM) and Every Newborn Action Plan (ENAP), the two agendas conceptualized by WHO.

The magnitude of the large-scale direct-current earth potential was measured on a section of a recently laid transatlantic telecommunications cable. Analysis of the data acquired on the 4476-kilometer cable yielded a mean direct-current potential drop of less than about 0.072 ± 0.050 millivolts per kilometer. Interpreted in terms of a generation of the potential by the earth's geodynamo, such a small value of the mean potential implies that the toroidal and poloidal magnetic fields of the dynamo are approximately equal at the core-mantle boundary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analyzes the low-frequency Pc4-5 hydromagnetic waves at high latitudes in the antarctic and conjugate area. Factors that affect the occurrence of hydromagnetic waves; Result of power spectral analyses of hydromagnetic waves; Information on observatories which records wave events.

In recent years there have been major efforts to develop glycoconjugate vaccines based on the Vi polysaccharide that will protect against Salmonella enterica Typhi infections, particularly typhoid fever, which remains a major public health concern in low-income countries. The design of glycoconjugate vaccines influences the immune responses they elicit. Here we systematically test the response in mice to Vi glycoconjugates that differ in Vi chain length (full-length and fragmented), carrier protein, conjugation chemistry, saccharide to protein ratio and size. We show that the length of Vi chains, but not the ultimate size of the conjugate, has an impact on the anti-Vi IgG immune response induced. Full-length Vi conjugates, independent of the carrier protein, induce peak IgG responses rapidly after just one immunization, and secondary immunization does not enhance the magnitude of these responses. Fragmented Vi linked to CRM197 and diphtheria toxoid, but not to tetanus toxoid, gives lower anti-Vi antibody responses after the first immunization than full-length Vi conjugates, but antibody titres are similar to those induced by full-length Vi conjugates following a second dose. The chemistry to conjugate Vi to the carrier protein, the linker used, and the saccharide to protein ratio do not significantly alter the response. We conclude that Vi length and carrier protein are the variables that influence the anti-Vi IgG response to immunization the most, while other parameters are of lesser importance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malaria in malaria-naïve adults is associated with an inflammatory response characterized by expression of specific activation markers on innate immune cells. Here, we investigate activation and adhesion marker expression, and cytokine production in monocytes from children presenting with cerebral malaria ( CM, n = 36), severe malarial anaemia ( SMA, n = 42) or uncomplicated malaria ( UM, n = 66), and healthy aparasitemic children ( n = 52) in Blantyre, Malawi. In all malaria groups, but particularly in the two severe malaria groups, monocyte expression of CD11b, CD11c, CD18, HLA- DR and CD86, and percentages of TNF-α- and IL-6-producing monocytes were lower than in healthy controls, while expression of CD11a, TLR2 and TLR4 was lower in children with severe malaria compared with controls. These levels mostly normalized during convalescence, but percentages of cytokine-producing monocytes remained suppressed in children with SMA. In all malaria groups, especially the SMA group, a greater proportion of monocytes were loaded with haemozoin than among controls. In a P. falciparum hyperendemic area, monocytes in children with acute symptomatic malaria have reduced expression of adhesion molecules and activation markers and reduced inflammatory cytokine production. This immune suppression could be due to accumulation of haemozoin and/or previous exposure to P. falciparum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To assess the sensitivity of an Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) algorithm to detect common skin conditions in children in Fiji. Methods We collected data from the assessments of children aged between 2 months and 5 years who presented to one of two health clinics. Every child was assessed by a nurse trained in the use of the IMCI algorithm and also an expert paediatrician. We used a kappa statistic to measure agreement between the nurse/algorithm assessment method and the paediatrician's diagnosis. Findings High sensitivity for identifying skin problems (sensitivity: 98.7%; 95% confidence interval, CI: 95.5--99.9) was found for the algorithm applied by IMCI-trained nurses, who were able to identify the one child with a severe skin infection and all three children with periorbital cellulitis. Sensitivity was high for the classification of abscess/cellulitis (sensitivity: 95%; 95% CI: 75.1--99.9) and infected scabies (sensitivity: 89.1%; 95% CI: 77.8--95.9), but lower for identification of impetigo, fungal infection and, in particular, non-infected scabies. Conclusion The IMCI skin algorithm is a robust tool that should be incorporated into the IMCI after some modifications relating to scabies and impetigo. Its use by primary health-care workers will reduce the burden of skin diseases in children in Fiji through improved case identification and management. The algorithm should be considered in other countries where skin diseases in children are a priority, particularly in the Pacific region. Copyright © 2009 World Health Organization [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Patients with genetic lesions in the Type-1 cytokine/cytokine receptor pathway exhibit a selective susceptibility to severe infections with poorly pathogenic mycobacteria and non-typhi salmonella spp. These experiments of nature demonstrate that IL-12-dependent IFNγ production is critical for granuloma formation and therefore host immunity against such pathogens. The essential role of granuloma formation for protective immunity to these organisms is emphasized by the differing granuloma forming capabilities and resultant clinical sequelae observed in these patients which seems to reflect their ability to produce or respond to IFNγ (Fig. 9). At one pole of this spectrum, represented by the complete IFNγR1/2 deficient patients, there is a complete absence of mature granuloma formation, whereas with the less severe mutations (i.e. partial IFNγR1/2, complete IL-12p40 and complete IL-12Rβ1 deficiency), granuloma formation is very heterogenous with wide variations in composition being observed. This suggests that in the latter individuals, who produce partial but suboptimal IFNγ responses, other influences, including pathogen virulence and host genotype may also affect the type and scale of the cellular response elicited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Injection of heat-killed Escherichia coli into rats results in massive loss of IgM + ve, IgD-ve B cells from the marginal zones of their spleen within 4 hr. This is matched by a concomitant increase of cells with this phenotype in the splenic follicles. The marginal zone remains depleted and the follicles distended for about 16 hr, but the histological picture returns to normal within 24 hr. Surface marker analysis of blood and spleen B lymphocyte populations throughout the course of the migration suggest that there is intrasplenic migration of IgM + ve cells from marginal zone to follicles rather than via the circulation. Factors inhibiting localization of immune complex on follicular dendritic cells were assessed for their influence on marginal-zone B cell migration. Immune complex, injected 5 hr post-endotoxin administration localized poorly on follicular dendritic cells. While C3 depletion, by cobra venom, has no effect on marginalzone B cell migration induced by endotoxin, it completely inhibits transport of heat-aggregated human gammaglobulin to follicular dendritic cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a study which described small-scale variations in polar ionospheric electrical currents. Factors that contribute to the changes in ionospheric currents; Information on magnetic components; Analysis of the interval of significant geomagnetic activity.