Savings from the introduction of BPaL and BPaLM regimens at the country level.

Background: In 2022, the WHO recommended the 6-month regimens BPaL (bedaquiline + pretomanid + linezolid) and BPaLM (BPaL + moxifloxacin) as treatment options for most forms of drug-resistant TB. SLASH-TB estimates the cost-saving and cost-effectiveness for the healthcare system and patients when a country switches from current standard-of-care treatment regimens to BPaL/BPaLM.

Methodology: Country data from national TB programmes (NTP) are used to calculate the costs for all regimens and treatment outcomes.

Implementing a Substance-Use Screening and Intervention Program for People Living with Rifampicin-Resistant Tuberculosis: Pragmatic Experience from Khayelitsha, South Africa.

Substance use (SU) is associated with poor rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis (RR-TB) treatment outcomes. In 2017, a SBIRT (SU screening-brief intervention-referral to treatment) was integrated into routine RR-TB care in Khayelitsha, South Africa. This was a retrospective study of persons with RR-TB who were screened for SU between 1 July 2018 and 30 September 2020 using the ASSIST (Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test).

Early mortality during rifampicin-resistant TB treatment.

Data suggest that treatment with newer TB drugs (linezolid [LZD], bedaquiline [BDQ] and delamanid [DLM]), used in Khayelitsha, South Africa, since 2012, reduces mortality due to rifampicin-resistant TB (RR-TB). This was a retrospective cohort study to assess 6-month mortality among RR-TB patients diagnosed between 2008 and 2019. By 6 months, 236/2,008 (12%) patients died; 12% (78/651) among those diagnosed in 2008-2011, and respectively 8% (49/619) and 15% (109/738) with and without LZD/BDQ/DLM in 2012-2019.

Assessment of epidemiological and genetic characteristics and clinical outcomes of resistance to bedaquiline in patients treated for rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis: a cross-sectional and longitudinal study.

Background: Bedaquiline improves outcomes of patients with rifampicin-resistant and multidrug-resistant (MDR) tuberculosis; however, emerging resistance threatens this success. We did a cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis evaluating the epidemiology, genetic basis, and treatment outcomes associated with bedaquiline resistance, using data from South Africa (2015-19).

Methods: Patients with drug-resistant tuberculosis starting bedaquiline-based treatment had surveillance samples submitted at baseline, month 2, and month 6, along with demographic information.

Implementing novel regimens for drug-resistant TB in South Africa: what can the world learn?

Worldwide uptake of new drugs in the treatment of rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis (RR-TB) has been extremely low. In June 2018, ahead of the release of the updated WHO guidelines for the management of RR-TB, South Africa announced that bedaquiline (BDQ) would be provided to virtually all RR-TB patients on shorter or longer regimens. South Africa has been the global leader in accessing BDQ for patients with RR-TB, who now represent 60% of the global BDQ cohort.

Responding to SARS-CoV-2 in South Africa: what can we learn from drug-resistant tuberculosis?

https://bit.ly/2XupDNe

Injectable-free regimens containing bedaquiline, delamanid, or both for adolescents with rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis in Khayelitsha, South Africa.

Background: Limited data exist on the use of bedaquiline and delamanid in adolescents with rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis (RR-TB). We describe RR-TB treatment of adolescents (10-19 years) with injectable-free regimens containing these drugs in Khayelitsha, South Africa.

Methods: This retrospective study included adolescents initiating injectable-free RR-TB treatment regimens containing bedaquiline and/or delamanid from February 2015 to June 2018.

"Life continues": Patient, health care and community care workers perspectives on self-administered treatment for rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis in Khayelitsha, South Africa.

Background: Self-administered treatment (SAT), a differentiated model of care for rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis (RR-TB), might address adherence challenges faced by patients and health care systems. This study explored patient, health-care worker (HCW) and community care worker (CCW) perspectives on a SAT pilot programme in South Africa, in which patients were given medication to take at home with the optional support of a CCW.

Methods: We conducted a mixed-methods study from July 2016-June 2017.

Improved Treatment Outcomes With Bedaquiline When Substituted for Second-line Injectable Agents in Multidrug-resistant Tuberculosis: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: Bedaquiline is used as a substitute for second-line injectable (SLI) intolerance in the treatment of multidrug-resistant (MDR) tuberculosis, but the efficacy and safety of this strategy is unknown.

Methods: In this retrospective cohort study adults receiving bedaquiline substitution for MDR tuberculosis therapy, plus a matched control group who did not receive bedaquiline, were identified from the electronic tuberculosis register in the Western Cape Province, South Africa. The primary outcome measure was the proportion of patients with death, loss to follow-up, or failure to achieve sustained culture conversion at 12 months of treatment.

Delamanid for rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis: a retrospective study from South Africa.

Experience with delamanid (Dlm) is limited, particularly among HIV-positive individuals. We describe early efficacy and safety data from a programmatic setting in South Africa.This was a retrospective cohort study of patients receiving Dlm-containing treatment regimens between November 2015 and August 2017.

Analysis of CD34-positive cells in bone marrow from patients with myelodysplastic syndromes and acute myeloid leukemia and in normal individuals: a comparison between FACS analysis and immunohistochemistry.

In patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML), expression of the hematopoietic stem cell marker CD34 has been associated with a poorer prognosis. CD34 is usually analyzed by flow cytometry (FC), but may also be analyzed using immunohistochemistry (IH). The present study was undertaken to compare these 2 methods.

Peripheral blood neutrophil morphology reflects bone marrow dysplasia in myelodysplastic syndromes.

Dysplastic features of cells in peripheral blood and bone marrow were studied in 51 patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) to evaluate the significance of the degree of neutrophil granulation (G-score) and the percentage of pelgeroid polymorphs (ppp) in the peripheral blood, as indices of dysplastic changes in the bone marrow. There was a good correlation between peripheral blood and bone marrow findings, both for G-score figures (r = 0.92, P < 0.

Low-dose ara-C in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and acute leukemia following MDS: proposal for a predictive model.

Patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) comprise an extremely heterogeneous group. There is a need for decision models both for predicting the natural course of the disease and the outcomes of different treatment alternatives. In 102 consecutive patients with MDS or acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) following MDS, pre-treatment variables were studied in relation to the response to treatment with low-dose ara-C.

Liver fibrosis quantified by image analysis in methotrexate-treated patients with psoriasis.

Background: Histopathologic monitoring of the liver is mandatory during methotrexate (MTX) treatment. Fibrosis is an important histologic feature of liver damage.

Objective: Our purpose was to supply an independent measure to histopathologic grading of hepatic changes in MTX-treated patients with psoriasis.

A predictive model for the clinical response to low dose ara-C: a study of 102 patients with myelodysplastic syndromes or acute leukaemia.

The response to treatment with low-dose ara-C was studied in 102 consecutive patients; 79 with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and 23 with acute myelogenous leukaemia (AML) following MDS. The aim was to find variables that could predict the response to treatment. All patients had clinical symptoms related to cytopenia.

Cell proliferation of the normal esophagus of mice harbouring a squamous cell neoplasia in the uterine cervix.

Some human tumors have been found to induce proliferative lesions in the squamous epithelium in organs remote from the primary tumor. This phenomenon was explored in the present animal model. After a single injection of 3H-thymidine, the proportion of DNA synthesizing basal and parabasal esophageal cells as well as the pace of intraepithelial cell migration was assessed in 124 C57Bl mice.

In vitro suspension culture reactions to 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D3 in relation to bone marrow morphology and prognosis in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes.

Thirty-four patients with MDS or AML following MDS were studied with regard to survival, peripheral blood values and bone marrow morphology. The effects of 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D3 (D3) on differentiation (NBT positivity) and proliferation (3H-thymidine incorporation) were studied in suspension cultures of bone marrow cells. Twelve bone marrow donors served as controls.

Studies on the distribution of abnormal cells in cytological smears. VII. Cervical brush versus plastic and wooden spatulas.

A model system of exfoliated normal human cervicovaginal squamous cells, exfoliated rodent tumor cells, and acellular, viscous, mucuslike material was used to investigate cell deposition on smear preparations made with three different instruments: plastic spatulas, wooden spatulas, and brush-tipped collectors. The total number of exfoliated cells and the total number of tumor cells present within the randomly distributed holes were then recorded for 41 smear preparations. For smears done with the brush, a total of 47,146 exfoliated cells were recorded; with wooden spatulas, 4517 cells; and with plastic spatulas, 7648 cells.

A quantitative method of estimating inflammation in the rectal mucosa. IV. Ulcerative colitis in remission.

Histological preparations of the rectal mucosa were analyzed quantitatively in 61 patients with ulcerative colitis in remission (UCR). Four histological variables were recorded: the diameter (minor axis) of the lumen of 10 consecutive (transversally cut) glands, the interglandular linear distance between 10 consecutive glands, the number of glands at high-power field examination, and the number of nuclei in 10 consecutive areas of lamina propria. The most important feature to differentiate UCR patients from non-colitic patients was the distance between glands and the number of glands per area.

Studies on the distribution of abnormal cells in cytologic preparations. VI. Pressure exerted by the gynecologist during smearing.

A model system consisting of exfoliated abnormal cells and acellular viscous, mucus-like material was used to investigate the effect of the pressure exerted during smearing on the number of abnormal cells present in the preparations. Smears were made with a cotton swab applicator from left to right with parallel strokes, without overlapping smearing and without rotating the instrument of cell collection. Light and heavy pressures done during smearing procedure were recorded by the aid of an automatic scale.

A quantitative method of estimating inflammation in the rectal mucosa. III. Chronic ulcerative colitis.

Histological preparations of the rectal mucosa were analyzed quantitatively in 51 patients with chronic ulcerative colitis. Four histological variables were recorded: the diameter (minor axis) of the lumen of 10 consecutive (transversally cut) glands, the interglandular linear distance between 10 consecutive glands, the number of glands at high power field examination, and the number of nuclei in 10 consecutive areas of lamina propria. The most important feature found to differentiate colitic from noncolitic patients was the diameter of the lumen of the rectal glands.

A quantitative method of estimating inflammation in the rectal mucosa. II. Normal limits in symptomatic patients.

Quantitative analysis of histological preparations of the rectal mucosa were carried out in 52 patients with gastrointestinal symptoms. Follow-up investigation demonstrated no signs of chronic inflammatory bowel disease. The variables recorded in the histological preparations in the 52 patients were the diameter (minor axis) of 10 consecutive, transversally cut glands, the space of lamina propria between glands, the number of glands per high-power field, and the number of nuclei in 10 consecutive areas of lamina propria (between glands).

Studies on the distribution of abnormal cells in cytologic preparations. V. The gradient of cell deposition on slides.

A model system of exfoliated normal human cervicovaginal squamous cells, exfoliated rodent tumor cells, and acellular, viscous, mucus-like material was used to investigate the gradient of cell deposition on smear preparations. Smears were made from left to right with parallel strokes, without overlapping smearing and without rotating the instrument of cell collection. With this technique a gradual decrease in the total number of cells was recorded along the pathway of the smear.

Kinetics of cell replication of the uterine cervix. V. Behavior of DNA-replicating tumor cells in invasive squamous carcinomas in mice.

The intratumoral migration of tritiated thymidine ([3H]dThd)-labeled cells was recorded at various intervals (from 1 to 240 hr) in squamous invasive carcinomas of the cervix in 25 inbred C57Bl mice. Carcinomas were induced by local application of benzo[a]pyrene for 5 months. This treatment was discontinued 7 days before the animals were killed.