TWiP 178: The shadowlands of medicine

12/04/19 • 111 min

The Knights of the TWiP solve the case of the Man Who Lost Weight, and discuss a Plasmodium protein kinase that is a malarial drug target.

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Dickson Despommier, and Daniel Griffin

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Protein kinase as malaria drug target (Science)
Hero: Myron Schultz
Letters read on TWiP 178

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Case Study for TWiP 178

Eastern border of Uganda with Kenya, in mountains. Drinking water from nearby stream. Two young boys come to clinic, without parents. Sent in by grandmother because 1 yo brother has been passing worms. Long, white, flat. Shown photos in PD7, pinkish worm, 8 inches long, round. He points to those, what he has been seeing in brother’s stool. 1 year old seems small, protuberant abdomen; brother small for stated age, bit of protuberant belly. Diet: high carbohydrate, flour deep fried; yams; cabbage; some rice; soybeans; pumpkin; bananas.

Send your case diagnosis, questions and comments to [email protected]

Music by Ronald Jenkees

The Knights of the TWiP solve the case of the Man Who Lost Weight, and discuss a Plasmodium protein kinase that is a malarial drug target.

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Dickson Despommier, and Daniel Griffin

Subscribe (free): iTunes, Google Podcasts, RSS, email

Links for this episode

PWB social media: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter
Protein kinase as malaria drug target (Science)
Hero: Myron Schultz
Letters read on TWiP 178

Become a patron of TWiP.

Case Study for TWiP 178

Send your case diagnosis, questions and comments to [email protected]

Music by Ronald Jenkees

Previous Episode

TWiP 177: A scabrous education

The TWiPsters solve the case of the Rashy Schoolteacher, and reveal a drug from rotifers that live on the snail intermediate host which paralyzes schistosome cercariae and prevents infection of mice.

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Dand Daniel Griffin

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Progress towards global eradication of dracunculiasis (MMWR)
Rotifer compound that paralyzes schistosome cercariae (PLoS Biol)
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Letters read on TWiP 177

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Case Study for TWiP 177

49 yo man sent to Daniel for ID consultation. Reports in August visited Hawaii with family, then flies to CA. Family event there. Take him to Pakistani restaurant. One day later has gastrointestinal issues, nausea, diarrhea. Goes to urgent care, send stool for O&P. Look at stool, shows chilomastix mesnili. No medicines, will be ok. Over this period of 1 week he loses 15 pounds. Gains 5 back. End of October feels fine, no bloating or diarrhea. No symptoms but goes to gastroenterologist. Stool test returns with D. fragilis; and chilomastix mesnili. Now sees Daniel. Not on any meds. No allergies, no toxic habits, athletic. No illness in family. Normal exam. He ate salads in Hawaii.

Send your case diagnosis, questions and comments to [email protected]

Music by Ronald Jenkees

Next Episode

TWiP 179: Verminous visitors

The TWiP DVD solve the case of the Child Who Passed Worms, and discuss a non-human primate model for severe malarial anemia.

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Dickson Despommier, and Daniel Griffin

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Links for this episode

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Primate model of severe malarial anemia (Sci Rep)
Ascaris skirt (and more!)
Hero: Harold W. Brown
Letters read on TWiP 179

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Case Study for TWiP 179

From Uganda, eastern up in mountains, rainy season. 6 yo girl brought in by mother on Monday, reporting several days of feeling poorly, headache, fever, muscle aches. Negative malaria smear on Monday. Wednesday returns, feeling worse, fever higher, headache worse. Lungs clear, belly (pain on left side) has large spleen. Living in good conditions, well dressed, dirt floor house, concrete walls. Toilet is hole in back. Same dietary habits, high in carbs. No mosquito netting. Water from stream. No siblings. HIV negative.

Send your case diagnosis, questions and comments to [email protected]

Music by Ronald Jenkees