SummarySynthetic repellents based on di-ethyl 3-methyl benzamide (DEET) are a popular method of obtaining protection from mosquitoes and yet clear evidence for a protective effect against malaria has hitherto never been convincingly demonstrated. A household randomized trial was undertaken among a study population of 127 families (25%) in an Afghan refugee village in Pakistan to compare the efficacy of repellent soap (Mosbar TM containing 20% DEET and 0.5% permethrin) vs. a placebo lotion. Cases of falciparum and vivax malaria were detected by passive case detection at the camp's clinic. At the end of the 6 month trial 3.7% (23 of 618) of individuals in the Mosbar group had presented with one or more episodes of falciparum malaria compared with 8.9% (47 of 530) of the placebo group (odds ratio 0.44, 95% CI 0.25-0.76). 16.7% of the Mosbar group (103 of 618) presented with vivax malaria compared with 11.7% (62 of 530) of the placebo group, and thus no effect was shown against vivax malaria (odds ratio 1.29, 95% CI 0.86-1.94). A considerable proportion of individuals (22%) had presented with vivax malaria during the 7 months leading up to the trial and thus any intervention effect would be partially masked by relapsed infections. The distribution of mosquitoes among households was broadly similar between Mosbar and placebo groups. The repellent was popularly received and very few side-effects were reported. There is a case for giving repellents more prominence in public health as a preventive measure in regions where vectors bite in the early evening or in emergency situations such as epidemics or newly established refugee camps.

Abstract. Spraying of canvas tents with residual pyrethroid insecticide is an established method of malaria vector control in tented refugee camps. In recent years, plastic sheeting (polythene tarpaulins) has replaced canvas as the utilitarian shelter material for displaced populations in complex emergencies. Advances in technology enable polythene sheeting to be impregnated with pyrethroid during manufacture. The efficacy of such material against mosquitoes when erected as shelters under typical refugee camp conditions is unknown. Tests were undertaken with free-flying mosquitoes on entomological study platforms in an Afghan refugee camp to compare the insecticidal efficacy of plastic tarpaulin sprayed with deltamethrin on its inner surface (target dose 30 mg/m 2 ), tarpaulin impregnated with deltamethrin (initially ! 30 mg/m 2 ) during manufacture, and a tent made from the factory impregnated tarpaulin material. Preliminary tests done in the laboratory with Anopheles stephensi Liston (Diptera: Culicidae) showed that 1-min exposure to factory-impregnated tarpaulins would give 100% mortality even after outdoor weathering in a temperate climate for 12 weeks. Outdoor platform tests with the erected materials (baited with human subjects) produced mosquito mortality rates between 86±100% for sprayed or factory-impregnated tarpaulins and tents (average $40 anophelines and $200 culicines/per platform/ night), whereas control mortality (with untreated tarpaulin) was no more than 5%. Fewer than 20% of mosquitoes blood-fed on human subjects under either insecticide-treated or non-treated shelters. The tarpaulin shelter was a poor barrier to host-seeking mosquitoes and treatment with insecticide did not reduce the proportion blood-feeding. Even so, the deployment of insecticide-impregnated tarpaulins in refugee camps, if used by the majority of refugees, has the potential to control malaria by killing high proportions of mosquitoes and so reducing the average life expectancy of vectors (greatly reducing vectorial capacity), rather than by directly protecting refugees from mosquito bites. Mass coverage with deltamethrin-sprayed or impregnated tarpaulins or tents has strong potential for preventing malaria in displaced populations affected by conflict.

Abstract. Insecticide-treated bedding materials (sheets and blankets) could be protective against vectors of malaria and leishmaniasis À especially in complex emergencies, epidemics and natural disasters where people are more likely to sleep in exposed situations. Comparison of cotton top-sheets impregnated with different pyrethroids (permethrin 500 mg/m 2 , deltamethrin 25 mg/m 2 or alphacypermethrin 25 mg/m 2 ) for effectiveness against mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) was undertaken in a refugee camp in Pakistan. Predominant species encountered were Anopheles stephensi Liston, An. pulcherrimus Theobald, An. nigerrimus Giles, Culex quinquefasciatus Say, Cx. tritaeniorhynchus Giles and other culicine mosquitoes. All three pyrethroid treatments performed significantly better than the untreated sheets in deterrence and killing of mosquitoes. No significant differences were found between the three insecticides tested in terms of entomological effect. Washing of the treated sheets greatly reduced their effectiveness. In a user acceptance study conducted among 88 families (divided into four groups), six families complained of irritation of the skin and mucous membranes. Of these reports, one was from the placebo group (using untreated sheets) and the other five (5/22 23%) from families using deltamethrin-treated sheets. All families allocated to permethrin and alphacypermethrin groups declared an appreciation for the intervention and reported no side-effects. Ten of the placebo group disliked the intervention, citing no prevention of mosquito biting as the reason. Side-effects associated with deltamethrin indicate that alphacypermethrin and permethrin are more appropriate first choice insecticides for treatment of sheets and blankets.

A 30-year old female who initially had typical endometriosis treated according to a standard regimen later developed numerous highly vascular endometrial polyps on the vagina, cervix, ureter, serosal surfaces of the uterus, pouch of Douglas (POD) and other areas of pelvic peritoneum as well as the endometrium 8 months after withdrawal of treatment with Zoladex gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist used for treatment of this disease. We postulate that these polyps developed as a rebound phenomenon upon withdrawal of Zoladex. We believe this is the first report of this complication following use of GnRH analogue.

The aims of this study were to determine damage index in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients based on Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/American College of Rheumatology (SLICC/ACR) Damage Index (SDI) and to determine the laboratory and clinico-demographic factors affecting SDI.This is a retrospective cohort study of 94 SLE patients attending rheumatology clinics in 2 local hospitals in Kelantan, Malaysia. The patients were divided into 2 groups based on SDI score assigned by the attending physician, 0 (without damage) or ≥1 (with damage). Newly diagnosed SLE patients with disease duration less than 6 months were excluded.A total of 45 (47.9%) SLE patients showed damage by SDI score. Majority of the subjects had neuropsychiatric damages (21/94; 22.3%) followed by skin (12/94; 12.8%) and musculoskeletal (6/94; 6.4%) damage. SDI score was significantly associated with higher disease duration (6.2 ± 6.57 years vs 4.5 ± 3.7 years; P = .018), lower prednisolone dose (8.74 ± 10.89 mg vs 4.89 ± 3.81 mg; P < .001), hypertension (P = .007), and exposure to cyclophosphamide (P = .004). Hypertension (P = .020), exposure to cyclophosohamide (P = 0.013), and lower prednisolone dose (P = .023) were significantly associated with damage by multivariable analysis.Higher SDI score was significantly associated with exposure to cyclophosphamide, suggesting that lower cyclophosphamide doses or alternative therapeutic agents are recommended.

The annual SEA haze is associated with increased respiratory admissions.

We report a case of a 46-year-old Malay woman with underlying hypothyroidism post thyroidectomy who presented with worsening breathlessness, orthopnoea, productive cough and left-sided pleuritic chest pain of 3 days duration. Chest X-ray on admission showed left-sided massive hydropneumothorax. Pleural tapping revealed empyema. A chest tube was inserted immediately. The culture of pleural fluid grew Streptococcus constellatus The patient was treated with antibiotics for a total of 6 weeks and underwent open thoracotomy and decortication during admission. Subsequently, her lung condition improved and there was no evidence of recurrence during follow-up.

The goal of allergic rhinitis (AR) management is to achieve satisfactory symptom control to ensure good quality of life. Most patients with AR are currently treated with pharmacotherapy. However, knowledge gaps on the use of pharmacotherapy still exist among physicians, particularly in the primary care setting, despite the availability of guideline recommendations. Furthermore, it is common for physicians in the secondary care setting to express uncertainty regarding the use of new combination therapies like intranasal corticosteroid plus antihistamine combinations. Inadequate treatment leads to significant reduction of quality of life that affects daily activities at home, work, and school. With these concerns in mind, a practical consensus statement was developed to complement existing guidelines on the rational use of pharmacotherapy in both the primary and secondary care settings.