From owner-schistosoma@net.bio.net Thu Sep 30 12:17:00 1999 Path: biosci!biosci!not-for-mail From: Philippe Esterre Newsgroups: bionet.organisms.schistosoma Subject: A new 'schisto' book.. Date: 30 Sep 1999 06:17:41 -0700 Organization: BIOSCI International Newsgroups for Molecular Biology Lines: 54 Sender: daemon@net.bio.net Approved: greveld@uni-duesseldorf.de Distribution: world Message-ID: <7svntl$n7l@net.bio.net> NNTP-Posting-Host: net.bio.net Dear All, Until now, researchers, healthcare professionals and students interested in schistosomiasis had only on choice: read the 'HUMAN SCHISTOSOMIASIS' book edited by Jordan, Webbe and Sturrock (Cab Intal Publ., 1995). In addition, a very interesting new medium (a CD-ROM called 'SCHISTOSOMIASIS', developped by the Wellcome Trust, London, 1998) was recently available. With more than 500 images and 12 (self-assessment) interactive tutorials, this CD is a member of the so-called 'Topics in International Health' series of CD-ROM. Using it regularly, both for personal (that is for fun !) and teaching purposes, with its 'companion' the 'MALARIA' CD (more than 800 images !), I found them perfect for computer-based educational support. So what place now for classic books ? Interestingly, the Imperial college Press Publ. (London) is launching two new tittles in 'Tropical Medicine and Public Health' (the name of the series). The first one (556 pages, published since this summer) is called 'SCHISTOSOMIASIS' and is edited by A. Mahmoud (Univ. hospital of Cleveland, USA). The second one is called 'LYMPHATIC FILARIASIS' (250 pages, edited by our colleague Tom B. Nutman, NIH, Bethesda, USA). We would greatly appreciate to know the opinion, including critical comments, of people who have bought one of these books ? Best regards to everybody - PHILIPPE Philippe ESTERRE (DVM, PhD, MSc) International Network of Pasteur Institutes. See our Filariasis Research program on our Web site: http://www.malarde.pf ---- present adress ---- Head of Immunology Unit - Institut de Recherches Médicales L. Malardé - BP 30 98713 Papeete Tahiti (French Polynesia) Fax: 689 431590 / E-mail: esterre@malarde.pf *********************************** THE MALARDE INSTITUTE IN 1999 : 50 YEARS AT THE SERVICE OF HEALTH IN FRENCH POLYNESIA *********************************** ***** Tagline 98 - V 1.1.36 Beta for MDaemon 2.7 ***** INSTITUT MALARDE ( http://www.malarde.pf ) 1949-1999 : 50 ans au service de la santé en Polynésie française From owner-schistosoma@net.bio.net Thu Sep 30 12:32:00 1999 Path: biosci!biosci!not-for-mail From: Philippe Esterre Newsgroups: bionet.organisms.schistosoma Subject: Doppler echo for the fields, not western-blotting ! Date: 30 Sep 1999 06:32:14 -0700 Organization: BIOSCI International Newsgroups for Molecular Biology Lines: 79 Sender: daemon@net.bio.net Approved: greveld@uni-duesseldorf.de Distribution: world Message-ID: <7svoou$pg6@net.bio.net> NNTP-Posting-Host: net.bio.net Dear All, If I am using this quip as a title, its just a reaction after reading the two (both well presented and scientifically argued) papers from the same issue (June 1999, Vol. 60(6)) of the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.. On page 954 of this issue, Ruediger Kardorff (Pediatrics Dept., Hannover Medical School, Germany) et al. provide a startling evaluation of hepatosplenic morbidity in schistosomiasis japonica. Two lessons for the 'schisto club' can be found, in our opinion, from this fascinating paper.. The first one is the distinction between echogenic periportal thickening (clearly a prognostic marker at least for upper gastroinstestinal bleeding and probably also for survival of patients with portal hypertension) and network fibrosis within the liver parenchyma (perhaps and independent, as it is not correlated with portal hypertension, prognostic marker). The second one is obviously the use of Doppler sonography under field conditions (the study was recently performed in the Philippines), in addition to 'classic' (B-mode) ultrasonography. This new work will certainly stimulate much research along these lines, both in S. japonicum and S. mansoni endemic foci. The next step will probably the official presentation of the so-called 'Niamey classification' (following recommendations from a meeting in Niger, 1996) of ultrasonographic data in human schistosomiasis, to be published by WHO.. On page 960 of the same issue, Al-Sherbiny et al. presented a so-called 'multidiagnostic approach' of human schistosomiasis (here on a S. haematobium- infected population, in Egypt). The two labs of Andre Deelder (Leiden University, The Netherlands; specialized in the development of assays quantifying schistosome circulating antigens) and Victor C.W. Tsang (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta; which has developed a 'gold standard' assay for many parasitic dieases including (neuro-)cysticercosis) have joined forces in order to apply this multistrategy investigation. Clinical data were combined with circulating antigen (serum CAA and urine CCA) and antibodies against adult worm microsomal antigens (by FAST-ELISA and confirmatory EITB) detection. I was surprised to notice that, in population co-infected by W. bancrofti (Haiti in this study) or O.volvulus (African sera), the specificity of CAA/CCA assays was decreasing to abour 80 p.cent.. As expected, this combination of 'high tech' techniques and more 'classic' approach leads to an accurate estimation of the worm prevalence and, more importantly, to a better management of patients. But we don't think that this sophisticated approach could be applied elsewhere than in the (undoubtedly well sustained and sponsorized..) Schisto Control Programme in Egypt. Definitively not in the African and Malagasy schisto foci thant we have visited in the recent years.. I would greatly appreciate any comments on these papers, and of course on my (personal) presentation of the facts. Hard work for healthcare professionals in the underdeveloped world... Best regards to all - PHILIPPE (International Network of Pasteur Institutes) Philippe ESTERRE (DVM, PhD, MSc) International Network of Pasteur Institutes. See our Filariasis Research program on our Web site: http://www.malarde.pf ---- present adress ---- Head of Immunology Unit - Institut de Recherches Médicales L. Malardé - BP 30 98713 Papeete Tahiti (French Polynesia) Fax: 689 431590 / E-mail: esterre@malarde.pf *********************************** THE MALARDE INSTITUTE IN 1999 : 50 YEARS AT THE SERVICE OF HEALTH IN FRENCH POLYNESIA *********************************** ***** Tagline 98 - V 1.1.36 Beta for MDaemon 2.7 ***** INSTITUT MALARDE ( http://www.malarde.pf ) 1949-1999 : 50 ans au service de la santé en Polynésie française From owner-schistosoma@net.bio.net Thu Sep 30 12:36:00 1999 Path: biosci!biosci!not-for-mail From: Philippe Esterre Newsgroups: bionet.organisms.schistosoma Subject: Delayed publication of 'new' books.. Date: 30 Sep 1999 06:36:01 -0700 Organization: BIOSCI International Newsgroups for Molecular Biology Lines: 39 Sender: daemon@net.bio.net Approved: greveld@uni-duesseldorf.de Distribution: world Message-ID: <7svp01$po7@net.bio.net> NNTP-Posting-Host: net.bio.net Dear Colleagues, I must apologize for my early messages on new books on Schistosomiasis and Lymphatic Filariasis. As indicated today in a mail from Siew Lan Tan (Sales Manager of World Scientific Publishing Co Pte Ltd in Singapore), the publication is now programmed for March 2000 ! (see their Home page at: http:// www.wspc.com.sg)... As stated by Michael Doenhoof (University of Wales, Bangor) `the problem of publishers so often sending notices of books much in advance of actual publication date is mischievous and very time-wasting`. Its all idle talk... Best regards - PHILIPPE Philippe ESTERRE (DVM, PhD, MSc) International Network of Pasteur Institutes. See our Filariasis Research program on our Web site: http://www.malarde.pf ---- present adress ---- Head of Immunology Unit - Institut de Recherches Médicales L. Malardé - BP 30 98713 Papeete Tahiti (French Polynesia) Fax: 689 431590 / E-mail: esterre@malarde.pf *********************************** THE MALARDE INSTITUTE IN 1999 : 50 YEARS AT THE SERVICE OF HEALTH IN FRENCH POLYNESIA *********************************** ***** Tagline 98 - V 1.1.36 Beta for MDaemon 2.7 ***** INSTITUT MALARDE ( http://www.malarde.pf ) 1949-1999 : 50 ans au service de la santé en Polynésie française