Performance of the MeltPro TB assay as initial test for diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis with drug-resistance detection.

Background: The MeltPro TB assay (MeltPro) is a molecular rapid diagnostic test designed for detecting resistance to antituberculosis drugs. However, the performance of MeltPro as an initial diagnostic test for simultaneously detecting the presence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) and drug resistance has not been evaluated. This study aims to assess the performance of MeltPro as initial diagnostic test for simultaneous detection of MTB and drug resistance in clinical samples from patients with presumptive pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB).

Comparing the performance of time series models with or without meteorological factors in predicting incident pulmonary tuberculosis in eastern China.

Background: Many studies have compared the performance of time series models in predicting pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB), but few have considered the role of meteorological factors in their prediction models. This study aims to explore whether incorporating meteorological factors can improve the performance of time series models in predicting PTB.

Methods: We collected the monthly reported number of PTB cases and records of six meteorological factors in three cities of China from 2005 to 2018.

Plasma indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase activity as a potential biomarker for early diagnosis of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in tuberculosis patients.

Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) remains a challenge of global TB control, with difficulty in early detection of drug-sensitive tuberculosis (DS-TB). We investigate the diagnostic significance of IDO as a potential biomarker to discriminate MDR patients among the TB patients. Plasma indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) was measured by the ratio of kynurenine (Kyn) to tryptophan (Trp) concentrations, using high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).

High admission rates and heavy inpatient service costs of urban tuberculosis patients in eastern China.

Background: Tuberculosis patients often experience hospitalization. Inpatient services may result in high medical expenditures. It is important to explore the hospitalization rates of tuberculosis patients and the potential factors that are associated with admission rates and inpatient service expenditures.

A cross-sectional and follow-up study of leukopenia in tuberculosis patients: prevalence, risk factors and impact of anti-tuberculosis treatment.

Background: To investigate the prevalence of and risk factors for leukopenia in tuberculosis patients and the impact of anti-tuberculosis regimens on the occurrence of leukopenia in newly treated tuberculosis patients.

Methods: A total of 1,904 tuberculosis patients were included in the study. A cross-sectional survey of the prevalence of leukopenia was initially conducted, and then factors influencing leukopenia were identified using Logistic regression analysis.