Efficacy and safety of weekly rifapentine and isoniazid for tuberculosis prevention in Chinese silicosis patients: a randomized controlled trial.

Objective: The aim was to evaluate the efficacy, safety and completion rate of 3-month, once-weekly rifapentine and isoniazid for tuberculosis (TB) prevention among Chinese silicosis patients.

Methods: Male silicosis patients without human immunodeficiency virus infection, aged 18 years to 65 years, with or without latent TB infection, were randomized 1:1 to receive rifapentine/isoniazid under direct observation (3RPT/INH group) or were untreated (observation group). Active TB incidence was compared between the two groups with 37 months of follow-up.

[Hepatitis B e antigen perturbs the LPS-stimulated production of inflammatory cytokines by mononuclear-derived dendritic cells].

Objective: To investigate whether hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) can modulate the ability of dendritic cells (DCs) to produce inflammatory cytokines (IL-12/IL-6) upon stimulation in vitro.

Methods: Purified adherent mononuclear cells isolated by Ficoll-hypaque density gradient centrifugation were cultured in complete medium containing granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor plus interleukin (IL)-4 to generate immature (i)DCs. Microscopic analysis and flow cytometry were performed to define the phenotypic characteristics of the iDCs.