Tuberculin skin test and Interferon-gamma release assay agreement, and associated factors with latent tuberculosis infection, in medical and nursing students in Bandung, Indonesia.

Background: No gold standard diagnostic test exists for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). The intra-dermal tuberculin skin test (TST) has known limitations and Interferon-gamma release assays (IGRA) have been developed as an alternative. We aimed to assess agreement between IGRA and TST, and risk factors for test positivity, in Indonesian healthcare students.

Burden and associated phenotypic characteristics of tuberculosis infection in adult Africans with diabetes: a systematic review.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) increases the risk of developing tuberculosis infection (TBI). However, the evidence on the burden and phenotypic characteristics of TBI in African patients with DM is limited. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and characterisation of TBI in native African patients living with DM.

Palliative radiotherapy is effective for both well- and poorly differentiated neuroendocrine neoplasms.

Introduction: The outcomes of palliative radiation therapy (RT) for neuroendocrine neoplasms (NEN) are seldom reported. We investigated outcomes following palliative radiotherapy in a cohort of patients with NENs. We hypothesised that well-differentiated NEN will be less likely to have a clinical response than poorly differentiated NEN.

Evaluation of Ebola virus disease surveillance system capability to promptly detect a new outbreak in Liberia.

Introduction: Liberia was heavily affected by the 2014-2016 Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak. With substantial investments in interventions to combat future outbreaks, it is hoped that Liberia is well prepared for a new incursion. We assessed the performance of the current EVD surveillance system in Liberia, focusing on its ability to promptly detect a new EVD outbreak.

Towards a national equitable and sustainable clinical research infrastructure for Aotearoa New Zealand.

Clinical trials are a critical element of a modern, high-functioning, learning healthcare system. Clinical trials provide access to novel, as yet unfunded treatments, and deliver cutting-edge healthcare. Evidence from clinical trials ensures appropriateness of healthcare, allows disinvestment from practices that are found not to improve outcomes or be cost-effective, and supports the introduction of new approaches, all of which leads to improvement in health outcomes.

infection and disease in healthcare workers in a tertiary referral hospital in Bandung, Indonesia.

Background: Healthcare workers (HCWs), especially in high tuberculosis (TB) incidence countries, are at risk of infection and TB disease, likely due to greater exposure to TB cases and variable implementation of infection control measures.

Aim: We aimed to estimate the prevalence of tuberculin skin test (TST) positivity, history of TB and to identify associated risk factors in HCWs employed at a tertiary referral hospital in Bandung, Indonesia.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from April to August 2018.

Indicators of optimal diabetes care and burden of diabetes complications in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: Contemporary data on the attainment of optimal diabetes treatment goals and the burden of diabetes complications in adult populations with type 2 diabetes in Africa are lacking. We aimed to document the current status of attainment of three key indicators of optimal diabetes care and the prevalence of five diabetes complications in adult African populations with type 2 diabetes.

Methods: We systematically searched Embase, PubMed and the Cochrane library for published studies from January 2000 to December 2020.

Rifapentine and isoniazid for prevention of tuberculosis in people with diabetes (PROTID): protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) increases the risk of tuberculosis (TB) and will hamper global TB control due to the dramatic rise in type 2 DM in TB-endemic settings. In this trial, we will examine the efficacy and safety of TB preventive therapy against the development of TB disease in people with DM who have latent TB infection (LTBI), with a 12-week course of rifapentine and isoniazid (3HP).

Methods: The 'Prevention of tuberculosis in diabetes mellitus' (PROTID) consortium will randomise 3000 HIV-negative eligible adults with DM and LTBI, as evidenced by a positive tuberculin skin test or interferon gamma release assay, to 12 weeks of 3HP or placebo.

A public health intervention package for increasing tuberculosis notifications from private practitioners in Bandung, Indonesia (INSTEP2): A cluster-randomised controlled trial protocol.

A significant proportion of tuberculosis (TB) patients globally make their initial visit for medical care to either an informal provider or a private practitioner, and many are not formally notified. Involvement of private practitioners (PPs) in a public-private mix for TB (TB-PPM) provides an opportunity for improving TB control. However, context-specific interventions beyond public-private agreements and mandatory notification are needed.

Tuberculosis infection control measures and knowledge in primary health centres in Bandung, Indonesia.

Background: Health care workers (HCWs) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) continue to have an unacceptably high prevalence and incidence of infection due to high exposure to tuberculosis (TB) cases at health care facilities and often inadequate infection control measures. This can contribute to an increased risk of transmission not only to HCWs themselves but also to patients and the general population.

Aim: We assessed implementation of TB infection control measures in primary health centres (PHCs) in Bandung, Indonesia, and TB knowledge among HCWs.

Dual versus single long-acting bronchodilator use could raise acute coronary syndrome risk by over 50%: A population-based nested case-control study.

Background: Coronary heart disease occurs more frequently among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) compared to those without COPD. While some research suggests that long-acting bronchodilators might confer an additional risk of acute coronary syndrome (ACS), information from real-world clinical practice about the cardiovascular impact of using two versus one long-acting bronchodilator for COPD is limited. We undertook a population-based nested case-control study to estimate the risk of ACS in users of both a long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA) and a long-acting beta2-agonist (LABA) relative to users of a LAMA.

On the robustness of latent class models for diagnostic testing with no gold standard.

It is difficult to estimate sensitivity and specificity of diagnostic tests when there is no gold standard. Latent class models have been proposed as a potential solution as they provide estimates without the need for a gold standard. Using a motivating example of the evaluation of point of care tests for leptospirosis in Tanzania, we show how a realistic violation of assumptions underpinning the latent class model can lead directly to substantial bias in the estimates of the parameters of interest.

Antidepressant dispensing before, during, and after pregnancy in New Zealand, 2005-2014.

Background: Depression during pregnancy is associated with a number of negative impacts on maternal and infant health, therefore good control of depression in pregnant women is crucial. There is a lack of population-level information about patterns of antidepressant use during pregnancy in New Zealand.

Aim: To describe antidepressant dispensing patterns before, during, and after pregnancy in New Zealand, 2005-2014.

Patterns of metformin monotherapy discontinuation and reinitiation in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus in New Zealand.

Aim: To describe the patterns of discontinuation and reinitiation in new users of metformin monotherapy in New Zealand, overall and according to person- and healthcare-related factors.

Materials And Methods: We created a cohort (n = 85,066) of all patients in New Zealand with type 2 diabetes mellitus who initiated metformin monotherapy between 1 January 2006 and 30 September 2014 from the national data collections, and followed them until the earlier of their death or 31 December 2015. Discontinuation was defined as a gap in possession of metformin monotherapy of ≥90 days.

High risk of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection among medical and nursing students in Indonesia: a 1-year prospective study.

Background: Medical and nursing students entering their clinical programmes are at increased risk for tuberculosis (TB) in TB-endemic settings. Relatively little is known about Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection among such students in high-endemic countries.

Methods: We examined M.

Is the use of two versus one long-acting bronchodilator by patients with COPD associated with a higher risk of acute coronary syndrome in real-world clinical practice?

Background: Cardiovascular comorbidity is common among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and there is concern that long-acting bronchodilators (long-acting muscarinic antagonists (LAMAs) and long-acting beta agonists (LABAs)) may further increase the risk of acute coronary events. Information about the impact of treatment intensification on acute coronary syndrome (ACS) risk in real-world settings is limited. We undertook a nationwide nested case-control study to estimate the risk of ACS in users of both a LAMA and a LABA relative to users of a LAMA.

Child undernutrition in households with microbiologically safer drinking water and 'improved water' in Tanna, Vanuatu.

The Sustainable Development Goal drinking water indicators include microbiological safety measures, whereas the Millennium Development Goal indicator 'improved water' may be microbiologically unsafe. In rural Vanuatu, we undertook household surveys, child anthropometry, and tested stored drinking water, to investigate relationships between water and undernutrition. Using Escherichia coli most probable number, we categorized results according to Compartment Bag Test drinking water cutoffs: <1/100 mL (safe), 1-10/100 mL (intermediate risk), >10-100/100 mL (high risk), and >100/100 mL (very high risk).

Patterns of prescription medicine dispensing before and during pregnancy in New Zealand, 2005-2015.

Objective: To describe prescription medicine dispensing before and during pregnancy in New Zealand, 2005-2015.

Methods: Members of the New Zealand Pregnancy Cohort were linked with their dispensing records in a national database of prescription products dispensed from community pharmacies. We identified the proportion of pregnancies during which at least one prescription medicine was dispensed, the number of different medicines used and the most commonly dispensed medicine groups both during pregnancy and in the 270 days before conception.