Decreased mortality seen in rifampicin/multidrug-resistant tuberculous meningitis treated with linezolid in Shenzhen, China.

Background: The morbidity of rifampicin/multidrug-resistant tuberculous meningitis (RR/MDR-TBM) has shown an increasing trend globally. Its mortality rate is significantly higher than that of non-rifampicin/multidrug-resistant tuberculous meningitis (NRR/MDR-TBM). This article aimed to explore risk factors related to RR/MDR-TBM, and compare therapeutic effects of linezolid (LZD)- and non-linezolid-containing regimen for RR/MDR-TB patients in Shenzhen city.

Patient pathway analysis of tuberculosis diagnostic delay: a multicentre retrospective cohort study in China.

Objectives: Delay in diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) is an important but under-appreciated problem. Our study aimed to analyse the patient pathway and possible risk factors of long diagnostic delay (LDD).

Methods: We enrolled 400 new bacteriologically diagnosed patients with pulmonary TB from 20 hospitals across China.

Indicators for prediction of Mycobacterium tuberculosis positivity detected with bronchoalveolar lavage fluid.

Background: The diagnosis of active pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) remains a challenge in clinic, especially for sputum negative pulmonary TB. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) has higher sensitivity than sputum for detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). However, bronchoscopy is invasive and costly, and not suitable for all patients.

[Analysis of T lymphocyte subsets and their expression of 4 cytokines in tuberculosis mice].

Objective: To investigate the relationship of anti-tuberculosis immunity with perforin (PFN), granzyme B (GzmB), interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), and interleukin-2 (IL-2) expression by T lymphocyte subsets.

Methods: Sixty mice were randomly allocated into a tuberculosis group and a control group (n = 30 each). Surface markers of T lymphocytes were stained with CD(3)PerCP, CD(4)FTTC, CD(8)APC, and intracellular cytotoxic molecules with PE-PFN, PE-GzmB, PE-IFN-gamma, and PE-IL-2 multi-color-labeled monoclonal antibodies, and analyzed at the single cell level.