Human immunodeficiency virus and osteoarticular tuberculosis.

The human immunodeficiency virus pandemic has contributed to a marked increase in patients infected with tuberculosis. In parts of SubSaharan Africa, osteoarticular tuberculosis has increased fourfold in the past decade and approximately 60% of the patients are infected with the human immunodeficiency virus. The human immunodeficiency virus has complicated the diagnostic process and treatment.

Local and systemic concentrations of tumour necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-6 and interleukin-8 in bacterial osteomyelitis.

Osteomyelitis is a major cause of morbidity worldwide but there are few data investigating pathogenesis of infection and no investigations into local secretion of proinflammatory cytokines in patients. Tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF), interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8 concentrations were measured in pus of infected bone from 30 Zambian patients with chronic osteomyelitis (principally caused by Staphylococcus aureus), in plasma, and after lipopolysaccharide stimulation of whole-blood leucocytes. Patients had reduced body mass index compared to controls (P = 0.

Spondyloarthropathy and human immunodeficiency virus infection in Zambia.

Objective: To explore the relationship between spondyloarthropathy (SpA) and infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in black Zambians.

Methods: Consecutive patients attending an arthritis clinic in a 30 month period were assessed clinically and tested for the presence of antibodies to HIV. HLA-B27 gene was investigated by polymerase chain reaction and T cell subsets were tested in selected subgroups.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-6, and interleukin-8 secretion and the acute-phase response in patients with bacterial and tuberculous osteomyelitis.

Osteomyelitis, or bone infection, is a major worldwide cause of morbidity. Treatment is frequently unsatisfactory, yet little is known about pathogenesis of infection. Plasma tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-8 concentrations were measured before and after lipopolysaccharide stimulation of whole blood from patients with bacterial and tuberculous osteomyelitis and from controls.