Sex differences in concentrations of HMGB1 and numbers of pigmented monocytes in infants with malaria

Females generally mount more robust innate and adaptive immune responses and demonstrate a higher rate of morbidity, and prevalence of autoimmune diseases by comparison with males. In malaria, females demonstrate higher concentrations of antibodies and rates of severe adverse events and mortality following natural infections and malaria vaccination. Although monocytes/macrophages play a crucial role in disease and protection in malaria, no studies have investigated sex differences in their functions in production of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines in malaria-infected subjects. Here, we show significant sex differences in serum concentrations of HMGB1, a non-histone chromatin-associated protein, and numbers of pigmented monocytes, which are both markers of severe malaria, in infants <5 years old from a malaria endemic region in Northern Uganda. Female infants with clinical malaria had significantly higher HMGB1 concentrations than male infants, and female infants with asymptomatic malaria had significantly lower numbers of pigmented monocytes than male infants with asymptomatic malaria. There was (1) a significant correlation between HMGB1 concentrations and pigmented monocyte numbers in female but not male infants; and (2) a significant correlation between HMGB1 concentrations and parasite densities in female but not male infants. These findings suggest that female infants with clinical malaria might be at a greater risk of morbidity characterized by higher serum HMGB1 levels.

Policy Model of Community Adaptation using AHP in the Malaria Endemic Region of Lahat Regency - Indonesia

Lahat Regency is a malaria-endemic region, so the research aims to develop a model of policy adaptation of society in the malaria-endemic region to Lahat Regency. This research is a qualitative study by collecting data through interviews and Focus Group Discussion (FGD), which is then processed using Expert Choice that is analyzed by the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) technique. The results showed that there were 3 criteria in determining the priorities of the adaptation policy, i.e the hosts/society, agent/cause of the disease, and vector/environment. The policy Model was compiled using 3 criteria that resulted in successive policy priorities as follows: strengthening of preventive and curative malaria program of local-based (39.8%), strengthening malaria information system through community empowerment (17.4%), strengthening the commitment of central and local governments in sustainability fulfilment of program needs and coordination among related agencies (14.7%), projection of malaria transmission in space and time scale periodically and sustainably based on environmental factors (9%), malaria centre or malaria control centre (6.2%), the program of Chemoppropilaxis as an action against Plasmodium (5.8%), strengthening the capacity of health workers and laboratory personnel (4.2%), and development of the cross-sectoral intervention model (3%). 3 priorities became the main program conducted through a wide range of strategies.