Two members of staff from the Institute of Translational Medicine have had papers published on the PLoS (Public Library of Science) Medicine website.
PLoS is a nonprofit publisher whose mission is to accelerate progress in science and medicine by leading a transformation in research communication.
Professor Paula Williamson, Head of the Department of Biostatistics, led the statistical team working on the study ‘A head-to-head comparison of four artemisinin-based combinations for treating uncomplicated malaria in African children: a randomised trial’. The researchers found that in a direct comparison, three types of new, fast-acting antimalarial artemisinin-based combination therapy drugs are all effective for treating children with uncomplicated malaria.
The study was in collaboration with Professor Umberto D’Alessandro from the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp and trial teams from 7 sub-Saharan countries.
To view the paper visit: http://www.plosmedicine.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pmed.1001119
The second study was conducted by Dr Melissa Gladstone from the Department of Women and Children’s Health. This was in collaboration with Dr Nynke van den Broek from the School of Tropical Medicine and Professor Jim Neilson, also from the Institute. This is the first study to show outcomes with infants born prematurely in a low income setting where gestational age has been accurately measured by antenatal ultrasound dating.
The study has shown that during the first two years of life, infants who were born prematurely – before 37 weeks gestation – continue to have a higher risk of death up to two years of age than infants born at term and are also more likely to have poorer growth and developmental delay.
These findings show that in addition to interventions in the immediate neonatal period, a focus on early childhood is needed to improve outcomes for infants born prematurely in low-income settings.
To view the paper, visit: http://www.plosmedicine.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pmed.1001121