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Biomedical subjects

Jeffrey Sachs

Publications and source records attributed to Jeffrey Sachs.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

The hyponatramia of multiple myeloma is true and not pseudohyponatramia.

The hyponatremia found in multiple myeloma and which is associated with a reduced anion gap (ag) is considered to be pseudohyponatremia due to the displacement of water by the high globulin content in the blood. Serum proteins participate in acid-base balance. Stewart and other authors in their approach to acid-base interpretation acknowledge electrical neutrality as a fundamental characteristic of body fluids. Furthermore, they have shown that both the strong ion difference (SID) and protein, specifically, negatively-charged albumin affect hydrogen ion concentration (H(+)) in the body--i.e., for example an increase in SID leads to a decrease in H(+) and a decrease in albumin leads to a similar effect. The M proteins of multiple myeloma are positively charged. As a result they cause a decrease in sodium levels and the anion gap and thus a true hyponatremia.

Acid-Base Equilibrium↗
PubMed2004

A global index representing the stability of malaria transmission.

To relate stability of malaria transmission to biologic characteristics of vector mosquitoes throughout the world, we derived an index representing the contribution of regionally dominant vector mosquitoes to the force of transmission. This construct incorporated published estimates describing the proportion of blood meals taken from human hosts, daily survival of the vector, and duration of the transmission season and of extrinsic incubation. The result of the calculation was displayed globally on a 0.5 degrees grid. We found that these biologic characteristics of diverse vector mosquitoes interact with climate to explain much of the regional variation in the intensity of transmission. Due to the superior capacity of many tropical mosquitoes as vectors of malaria, particularly those in sub-Saharan Africa, antimalaria interventions conducted in the tropics face greater challenges than were faced by formerly endemic nations in more temperate climes.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

The malaria gap.

Although the correlation between malaria and poverty is apparent, the nature of the linkages in terms of directions and mechanisms of causation is less so, and different methodologic approaches provide widely divergent perspectives concerning the impact of the disease. Certain macroeconomic studies find that in highly endemic countries, malaria may be responsible for reducing economic growth by more than one percentage point a year. Microeconomic studies, which aggregate the cost per case, find a considerably smaller impact, generally less than one percent of annual per capita gross domestic product. The large gap between these estimates suggests economic externalities associated with malaria that make the burden much greater than the sum of the costs of individual cases. Both the magnitude of the burden and the channels through which malaria affects reduces income are important for policymakers. We explore this gap, examining diverse mechanisms through which malaria can affect long-term economic development.

Africa↗
PubMed2003

Scaling-up coverage with insecticide-treated nets against malaria in Africa: who should pay?

Insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) have been shown to reduce the burden of malaria in African villages by providing personal protection and, if coverage of a community is comprehensive, by reducing the infective mosquito population. We do not accept the view that scaling-up this method should be by making villagers pay for nets and insecticide, with subsidies limited so as not to discourage the private sector. We consider that ITNs should be viewed as a public good, like vaccines, and should be provided via the public sector with generous assistance from donors. Our experience is that teams distributing free ITNs, replacing them after about 4 years when they are torn and retreating them annually, have high productivity and provide more comprehensive and equitable coverage than has been reported for marketing systems. Very few of the free nets are misused or sold. The estimated cost would be an annual expenditure of about US$295 million to provide for all of rural tropical Africa where most of the world's malaria exists. This expenditure is affordable by the world community as a whole, but not by its poorest members. Recently, funding of this order of magnitude has been committed by donor agencies for malaria control.

Africa↗
PubMed2002

The economic and social burden of malaria.

Where malaria prospers most, human societies have prospered least. The global distribution of per-capita gross domestic product shows a striking correlation between malaria and poverty, and malaria-endemic countries also have lower rates of economic growth. There are multiple channels by which malaria impedes development, including effects on fertility, population growth, saving and investment, worker productivity, absenteeism, premature mortality and medical costs.

Commerce↗