Title: Trimestre Economico

Title: Tropical and Geographical Medicine

? van Damme, J.M. (1985), The essential role of drinking water and sanitation in primary health care. Tropical and Geographical Medicine, 37 (3), S21-S32.

Abstract: The purpose of the paper is to draw attention to the fact that drinking water supply and the provision of sanitation facilities form an indispensable element in disease prevention and primary health care programmes. The world situation regarding the availability of drinking water and sanitation facilities is dramatic, in that more than 1500 million people lact proper facilities; the implications in terms of health and cost are stupendous. It is therefore a fortunate development that the International Drinking Water and Sanitation Decade (1981-1990) is on its way to an appealing initiative. The paper discusses water and sanitation related diseases, and the established experience that water and sanitation programmes can only have a health impact if they are jointly developed, and if they are integrated with health education. Operational implications of such programmes as an element of primary health care are reviewed.

Title: Tropical Medicine & International Health

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: Impact Factor

? Van der Stuyft, P. (1996), Editorial: Academic excellence and societal influence in the field of tropical medicine and international health. Tropical Medicine & International Health, 1 (6), 737.

Full Text: 1996\Tro Med Int Hea1, 737.pdf

? Schoonbaert, D. (1996), Roelants, Gilbert. Citation analysis for measuring the value of scientific publications: Quality assessment tool or comedy of errors? Tropical Medicine & International Health, 1 (6), 739-752.

Full Text: 1996\Tro Med Int Hea1, 739.pdf

Abstract: Summary: The basic concepts of citation analysis and journal impact factors are discussed in the light of quality assessment of scientific publications, individual scientists and research units. The major controversies concerning this topic are addressed: technical limitations, database selectivity, time and discipline-related biases, language and publication type biases, multiple authorship merits and citing motivations. Both positive and negative aspects are put into perspective. The authors conclude that citation analysis, even when based on journal impact factors, can be a worthwhile criterion for evaluating publication records of individual scientists or research units, as long as some of the problems discussed are sufficiently taken into account. However, this conclusion in no way implies that citation analysis may be considered as the one and only evaluation criterion.

? Gulmezoglu, A.M. and Garner, P. (1998), Trichomoniasis treatment in women: A systematic review. Tropical Medicine & International Health, 3 (7), 553-558.

Full Text: 1998\Tro Med Int Hea3, 553.pdf

Abstract: OBJECTIVE To compare the effectiveness of various treatment strategies for trichomoniasis in women. DATA SOURCES Medline from 1966 to1996, Embase from 1986 to 1996, Science Citation Index from 1990 to 1996; reference lists of existing reviews; through the manufacturers of metronidazole and tinidazole in the UK, the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register until October 1997 and informal discovery. STUDY SELECTION Any randomized or quasi-randomized trial in nonpregnant women with trichomoniasis where different treatment strategies were compared. 45 of the 124 identified studies met the criteria and were included ill the review. DATA EXTRACTION Settings, diagnostic methods, exclusions, loss to follow-up and partner treatment strategies were extracted. Outcomes sought were parasitological cure, clinical cure and side-effects of treatment. RESULTS Most trials were small, with only two trials containing more than 100 women in each comparison group. Only 11 trials followed up women for more than cine month. Oral nitroimidazoles were effective in achieving parasitological cure. Fourteen trials compared different treatment strategies with the remainder comparing different doses or different drugs. Partner treatment was effective ill decreasing longer-term reinfection rates in the one trial testing this. CONCLUSIONS Parasitological cure rail je achieved by a single oral dose of nitroimidazoles. There is, however, very little data on partner treatment strategies and long-term cure rates after initial treatment. Further research should test various partner treatment strategies to prevent re-infections and reduce trichomoniasis prevalence.

Keywords: Citation, Clinical-Trial, Double-Blind, Metronidazole, Nitroimidazoles, Ovules, Placebo, Research, Review, Science Citation Index, Systematic Review, Trichomonas Vaginalis, Vaginal Trichomoniasis

Schoonbaert, D. (2004), Citation patterns in tropical medicine journals. Tropical Medicine & International Health, 9 (11), 1142-1152.

Full Text: 2004\Tro Med Int Hea9, 1142.pdf

Abstract: Selections of most important journals in the field of tropical medicine have previously been identified with the help of resources such as bibliographical and citation databases. This article uses ISI’s Journal Citation Reports (JSR) for 2002 to analyse the citation characteristics of the Tropical Medicine category. According to these data, this small but diverse group of 12 journals bestows some 40% more citations than it receives. Its six typical core journals tend to cite one another heavily, but they also refer a lot to multidisciplinary science and general medicine journals, and to infectious diseases and parasitology journals. Looking at the sources from which JCR’s tropical medicine journals derive their citations, it is clear that in this reverse direction, the specialty’s literature is still more concentrated. Apart from the typical core, this JCR category also contains a number of journals with more idiosyncratic citing patterns, focused on specialties such as paediatrics, a single disease (leprosy) and a representative of Latin American and Francophone biomedical science each. Implications of concentrated citedness and language biases are discussed briefly. This paper features a selection of bibliometric parameters relating to the tropical medicine journals and lists of the 80 journals most citing and cited by them.

Keywords: Tropical Medicine, Biomedical Literature, Journals, Bibliometrics, Citation Analysis, Journal Citation Reports

Glover, S.W. and Bowen, S.L. (2004), Bibliometric analysis of research published in Tropical Medicine and International Health 1996–2003. Tropical Medicine & International Health, 9 (12), 1327-1330.

Full Text: 2004\Tro Med Int Hea9, 1327.pdf

Abstract: We examine the bibliometric profile of Tropical Medicine and International Health using the subjects of the articles published and the geographical distribution of the authors. The most common subject areas of papers published during 1996–2003 are highlighted, and the most cited papers indicated.

Keywords: Bednets, Bibliometric, Bibliometrics, Children, Citation Analysis, Historical Article, Impact, Malaria, Mortality, Nations, Periodicals, Publishing, Randomized-Trial, Research

? Rabie, T. and Curtis, V. (2006), Handwashing and risk of respiratory infections: A quantitative systematic review. Tropical Medicine & International Health, 11 (3), 258-267.

Full Text: 2006\Tro Med Int Hea11, 258.pdf

Abstract: To determine the effect of handwashing on the risk of respiratory infection. We searched PUBMED, CAB Abstracts, EMBASE, Web of Science, and the Cochrane library for articles published before June 2004 in all languages. We had searched reference lists of all primary and review articles. Studies were included in the review if they reported the impact of an intervention to promote hand cleansing on respiratory infections. Studies relating to hospital-acquired infections, long-term care facilities, immuno-compromised and elderly people were excluded. We independently evaluated all studies, and inclusion decisions were reached by consensus. From a primary list of 410 articles, eight interventional studies met the eligibility criteria. All eight eligible studies reported that handwashing lowered risks of respiratory infection, with risk reductions ranging from 6% to 44% [pooled value 24% (95% CI 6-40%)]. Pooling the results of only the seven homogenous studies gave a relative risk of 1.19 (95% CI 1.12%-1.26%), implying that hand cleansing can cut the risk of respiratory infection by 16% (95% CI 11-21%). Handwashing is associated with lowered respiratory infection. However, studies were of poor quality, none related to developing countries, and only one to severe disease. Rigorous trials of the impact of handwashing on acute respiratory tract infection morbidity and mortality are urgently needed, especially in developing countries.

Keywords: Acute, Cochrane, Control Program, Controlled-Trial, Day-Care-Centers, Developing Countries, Disease, Elderly, Elderly People, Environmental Surfaces, Hand, Handwashing, Impact, Infection, Intervention, Long-Term Care, Meta-Analysis, Morbidity, Mortality, Parainfluenza Virus Vaccine, Primary, Pubmed, Quantitative, Relative Risk, Respiratory, Respiratory Infections, Review, Rhinovirus Colds, Risk, Science, Syncytial Virus, Systematic, Systematic Review, Tract, Transmission, Web of Science

? Hwang, J., Bitarakwate, E., Pai, M., Reingold, A., Rosenthal, P.J. and Dorsey, G. (2006), Chloroquine or amodiaquine combined with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine for uncomplicated malaria: A systematic review. Tropical Medicine & International Health, 11 (6), 789-799.

Full Text: 2006\Tro Med Int Hea11, 789.pdf

Abstract: OBJECTIVE To compare the efficacies against uncomplicated falciparum malaria of chloroquine (CQ), amodiaquine (AQ), sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) and combinations of these inexpensive drugs. METHODS We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane CENTRAL Register of Controlled Trials, BIOSIS, Web of Science, African Index Medicus, DARE, Digital Dissertations and Current Controlled Trials for randomised or quasi-randomised controlled trials conducted between 1991 and June 2004 regardless of language and geography. We also contacted malaria experts, searched reference lists, and contacted individual authors for unreported stud), characteristics and additional data. Unpublished data were sought and included in the analyses. RESULTS Thirteen randomised trials (n = 4248) were identified and the summary relative risks of treatment failure at 28 days were calculated. There was marginal benefit in adding CQ to SP, compared with SP monotherapy (RR = 0.74, 95% CI 0.54-1.02). Combining AQ with SP was associated with a significantly lower risk of treatment failure than SP monotherapy (RR = 0.35, 95% CI 0.15-0.82) and AQ monotherapy (RR = 0.59, 95% CI 0.42-0.83). AQ plus SP was associated with a significantly lower risk of treatment failure than CQ plus SP (RR = 0.42, 95% CI 0.25-0.72). Serious adverse events were rare and did not increase with combination therapy. CONCLUSION Amodiaquine plus SP remains an efficacious, affordable and safe option for treating malaria in certain settings.

Keywords: Amodiaquine, Antimalarial-Drugs, Artesunate, Authors, Children, Chloroquine, Cochrane, Combination Therapy, Combination Therapy, Dissertations, Drugs, Efficacy, Malaria, Monotherapy, Plasmodium-Falciparum Malaria, Plus Chloroquine, Randomized Trial, Review, Risk, Science, Sub-Saharan Africa, Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine, Systematic, Systematic Review, Therapy, Treatment, Uganda, Web of Science

? Shahmanesh, M., Patel, V., Mabey, D. and Cowan, F. (2008), Effectiveness of interventions for the prevention of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections in female sex workers in resource poor setting: A systematic review. Tropical Medicine & International Health, 13 (5), 659-679.

Full Text: 2008\Tro Med Int Hea13, 659.pdf

Abstract: OBJECTIVE To systematically review the evidence for effectiveness of HIV and sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention interventions in female sex workers in resource poor settings. METHODS Published and unpublished studies were identified through electronic databases (Cochrane database, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Web of Science), hand searching and contacting experts. Randomized-controlled-trials and quasi-experimental studies were included if they were conducted in female sex workers from low and middle income settings; if the exposure was described; if the outcome was externally measurable, it was after the discovery of HIV, and if follow-up was longer than 6 months. A priori criteria were used to extract data. Meta-analysis was not performed due to the heterogeneity of studies. RESULTS Twenty-eight interventions were included. Despite methodological limitations, the evidence suggested that combining sexual risk reduction, condom promotion and improved access to STI treatment reduces HIV and STI acquisition in sex workers receiving the intervention. Strong evidence that regular STI screening or periodic treatment of STIs confers additional protection against HIV was lacking. It appears that structural interventions, policy change or empowerment of sex workers, reduce the prevalence of STIs and HIV. CONCLUSION Rigorous evaluation of HIV/STI prevention interventions in sex workers is challenging. There is some evidence for the efficacy of multi-component interventions, and/or structural interventions. The effect of these interventions on the wider population has rarely been evaluated.

Keywords: 100-Percent Condom Program, Bali Std, Aids, Behavioral Intervention, Cochrane, Databases, Effectiveness, Efficacy, Evaluation, Exposure, Female Sex Workers, Follow-up, Hand, HIV, Hiv Prevention, Human-Immunodeficiency-Virus, Income, Infection, Intervention, Interventions, Meta Analysis, Meta-Analysis, Mining Community, Northern Thailand, Outcome, Peer Education, Policy, Prevalence, Prevention, Promotion, Prospective Cohort, Randomized Controlled Trials, Randomized Controlled-Trial, Resource Poor Settings, Review, Risk, Risk Reduction, Science, Screening, Sexually Transmitted Infections, Std Services, Systematic, Systematic Review, Treatment, Web of Science

? Chisti, M.J., Tebruegge, M., La Vincente, S., Graham, S.M. and Duke, T. (2009), Pneumonia in severely malnourished children in developing countries - mortality risk, aetiology and validity of WHO clinical signs: A systematic review. Tropical Medicine & International Health, 14 (10), 1173-1189.

Full Text: 2009\Tro Med Int Hea14, 1173.pdf

Abstract: OBJECTIVES To quantify the degree by which moderate and severe degrees of malnutrition increase the mortality risk in pneumonia, to identify potential differences in the aetiology of pneumonia between children with and without severe malnutrition, and to evaluate the validity of WHO-recommended clinical signs (age-specific fast breathing and chest wall indrawing) for the diagnosis of pneumonia in severely malnourished children. METHODS Systematic search of the existing literature using a variety of databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Web of Science, Scopus and CINAHL). RESULTS Mortality risk: Sixteen relevant studies were identified, which universally showed that children with pneumonia and moderate or severe malnutrition are at higher risk of death. For severe malnutrition, reported relative risks ranged from 2.9 to 121.2; odds ratios ranged from 2.5 to 15.1. For moderate malnutrition, relative risks ranged from 1.2 to 36.5. Aetiology: Eleven studies evaluated the aetiology of pneumonia in severely malnourished children. Commonly isolated bacterial pathogens were Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, and Haemophilus influenzae. The spectrum and frequency of organisms differed from those reported in children without severe malnutrition. There are very few data on the role of respiratory viruses and tuberculosis. Clinical signs: Four studies investigating the validity of clinical signs showed that WHO-recommended clinical signs were less sensitive as predictors of radiographic pneumonia in severely malnourished children. CONCLUSIONS Pneumonia and malnutrition are two of the biggest killers in childhood. Guidelines for the care of children with pneumonia and malnutrition need to take into account this strong and often lethal association if they are to contribute to the UN Millennium Development Goal 4, aiming for substantial reductions in childhood mortality. Additional data regarding the optimal diagnostic approach to and management of pneumonia and malnutrition are required from regions where death from these two diseases is common.

Keywords: Aetiology, B Conjugate Vaccine, Bacterial Etiology, Chest Indrawing, Childhood Pneumonia, Children, Community-Acquired Pneumonia, Databases, Developing Countries, Diagnosis, Embase, Fast Breathing, Filipino Children, Frequency, Gambian Children, Hospitalized Children, Interobserver Agreement, Literature, Malnutrition, Management, Mortality, Nigerian Children, Pneumonia, Respiratory, Respiratory-Tract Infections, Review, Risk, Science, Scopus, Sensitivity, Signs, Specificity, Systematic, Systematic Review, Tuberculosis, Validity, Web of Science, Who

? Esu, E., Lenhart, A., Smith, L. and Horstick, O. (2010), Effectiveness of peridomestic space spraying with insecticide on dengue transmission; systematic review. Tropical Medicine & International Health, 15 (5), 619-631.

Full Text: 2010\Tro Med Int Hea15, 619.pdf

Abstract: P>Objective To review the evidence on effectiveness of peridomestic space spraying of insecticides in reducing wild Aedes populations and interrupting dengue transmission. Methods Comprehensive literature search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, LILACS, Web of Science, WHOLIS, MedCarib and CENTRAL, and a manual search of reference lists from identified studies. Duplicates were removed and abstracts assessed for selection. All field evaluations of peridomestic space spraying targeting wild adult Aedes vectors in dengue endemic countries were included. Data were extracted, and the methodological quality of the studies was assessed independently by two reviewers. Results Fifteen studies met the inclusion criteria. Outcome measures were heterogeneous, foregoing the possibility of meta-analysis. Thirteen studies showed reductions in immature entomological indices that were not sustained for long periods. The remainder showed space spray interventions to be ineffective at reducing adult and/or immature entomological indices. Only one study measured human disease indicators, but its outcomes could not be directly attributed to space sprays alone. Conclusion Although peridomestic space spraying is commonly applied by national dengue control programmes, there are very few studies evaluating the effectiveness of this intervention. There is no clear evidence for recommending peridomestic space spraying as a single, effective control intervention. Thus, peridomestic space spraying is more likely best applied as part of an integrated vector management strategy. The effectiveness of this intervention should be measured in terms of impact on both adult and immature mosquito populations, as well as on disease transmission.

Keywords: Adult, Aedes, Aedes-Aegypti Diptera, Control, Culicidae, Dengue, Disease, Effectiveness, Efficacy, Embase, Emergency Control, Ground Aerosols, Human, Human Blood, Impact, Insecticides, Intervention, Interventions, Literature, Malathion, Management, Medline, Meta Analysis, Meta-Analysis, Methods, Outcomes, Review, Science, Strategy, Systematic, Systematic Review, Thermal Fog, Ultra-Low-Volume, Vector, Vector Control, Web of Science

? González-Block, M.A., Vargas-Riaño, E.M., Sonela, N., Idrovo, A.J., Ouwe-Missi-Oukem-Boyer, O. and Monot, J.J. (2011), Research capacity for institutional collaboration in implementation research on diseases of poverty. Tropical Medicine & International Health, 16 (10), 1285-1290.

Full Text: 2011\Tro Med Int Hea16, 1285.pdf

Abstract: OBJECTIVE To assess the capacity for research collaboration and implementation research in strengthening networks and institutions in developing countries. METHODS Bibliometric analysis of implementation research on diseases of poverty in developing countries from 2005 to 2010 through systematically searching bibliographic databases. Methods identified publication trends, participating institutions and countries and the cohesion and centrality of networks across diverse thematic clusters. RESULTS Implementation research in this field showed a steadily growing trend of networking, although networks are loose and a few institutions show a high degree of centrality. The thematic clusters with greatest cohesion were for tuberculosis and malaria. CONCLUSIONS The capacity to produce implementation research on diseases of poverty is still low, with the prominence of institutions from developed countries. Wide ranges of collaboration and capacity strengthening strategies have been identified which should be put into effect through increased investments.

Keywords: Analysis, Bibliographic, Bibliographic Databases, Bibliometric, Bibliometric Analysis, Bibliometrics, Capacity, Centrality, Collaboration, Databases, Developing Countries, Health, Health Systems, Implementation, Implementation Research, Malaria, Methods, Networks, Poverty, Publication, Publication Trends, Research, Research Capacity, Research Collaboration, Systems, Trend, Trends, Tuberculosis

? Santa-Ana-Tellez, Y., DeMaria, L.M. and Galarraga, O. (2011), Costs of interventions for AIDS orphans and vulnerable children. Tropical Medicine & International Health, 16 (11), 1417-1426.

Full Text: 2011\Tro Med Int Hea16, 1417.pdf

Abstract: OBJECTIVE To review the published and grey literature for information regarding the costs and cost-effectiveness of interventions aimed at improving the welfare of orphans and vulnerable children owing to HIV/AIDS in low- and middle-income countries. METHOD We carried out a search of the peer-reviewed literature through PubMed, EconLit, and Web of Science for the period January 2000 to December 2010. We also extensively reviewed the grey literature through generalized web searches and consultations with experts and searches of the web pages of the main organizations active in providing services to orphans and vulnerable children (OVC). The search yielded 216 articles; cross-sectional or longitudinal studies and articles that did not address specific interventions were not considered. The remaining 21 articles were categorized by domain and by type of intervention strategy. RESULTS All studies reviewed were carried out in sub-Saharan Africa. All outcomes are expressed as cost per child per year (in 2010 USD). Foster care estimates range from $614 to $1921. Educational support for primary school ranged from $30 to $75. Health interventions that would ensure child survival can be delivered for about $55. CONCLUSION More research is needed to improve planning and delivery of interventions for OVC. The paucity of cost and cost-effectiveness data reflects the limited number of effectiveness studies. Nevertheless, this systematic literature review shows evidence that suggests that in the area of housing, foster care appears to be more cost effective than institutional care (orphanages).

Keywords: Africa, AID, AIDS, Care, Child, Children, Cost-Effectiveness, Costs, Effectiveness, Health, HIV, AIDS, Information, Intervention, Interventions, Literature, Literature Review, Longitudinal Studies, Low- and Middle-Income Countries, Orphan and Vulnerable Children, Outcomes, Primary, Primary School, Pubmed, Research, Review, Science, Strategy, Sub-Saharan Africa, Survival, Systematic, Systematic Literature Review, Web of Science