Mycobacterium tuberculosis of the RDRio genotype is the predominant cause of tuberculosis and associated with multidrug resistance in Porto Alegre City, South Brazil.

Spoligotyping has shown Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains to be composed of different lineages, and some of them are not just geographically restricted but also affect specific ethnic populations and are associated with outbreaks and drug resistance. We recently described a particular subtype within the Latin American-Mediterranean (LAM) family, called RD(Rio), widespread in Brazil. Moreover, recent data also indicate that RD(Rio) is present in many countries on all continents and is associated with cavitary disease and multidrug resistance (MDR).

The total face mask is more comfortable than the oronasal mask in noninvasive ventilation but is not associated with improved outcome.

Background: Noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation (NPPV) is commonly used to improve ventilation and oxygenation and avoid endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation. Although clinically indicated, most patients fail to use NPPV due to mask intolerance. A total face mask was designed to increase compliance, but whether this translates into better outcome (improvement in clinical and blood gas parameters and less intubation) is unknown.

RDRio Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection is associated with a higher frequency of cavitary pulmonary disease.

Molecular genotyping has shown Mycobacterium tuberculosis lineages to be geographically restricted and associated with distinct ethnic populations. Whether tuberculosis (TB) caused by some M. tuberculosis lineages can present with a differential clinical spectrum is controversial because of very limited clinical data.

Application of sensitive and specific molecular methods to uncover global dissemination of the major RDRio Sublineage of the Latin American-Mediterranean Mycobacterium tuberculosis spoligotype family.

The Latin American-Mediterranean (LAM) family of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is believed to be the cause of approximately 15% of tuberculosis cases worldwide. Previously, we defined a prevalent sublineage of the LAM family in Brazil by a single characteristic genomic deletion designated RD(Rio). Using the Brazilian strains, we pinpoint an Ag85C(103) single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) (screened by restriction fragment length polymorphism [RFLP] analysis) that correctly identified all LAM family strains.

Discovery of a novel Mycobacterium tuberculosis lineage that is a major cause of tuberculosis in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The current study evaluated Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for genomic deletions. One locus in our panel of PCR targets failed to amplify in approximately 30% of strains. A single novel long sequence polymorphism (>26.

Necrotizing sarcoid granulomatosis in a family of patients with sarcoidosis reinforces the association between both entities.

Necrotizing sarcoid granulomatosis (NSG) is a rare entity mainly characterized by a prominent granulomatous vasculitis affecting middle-aged or old individuals and with a favorable prognosis. Although many believe it is a variant of sarcoidosis, the proper classification is still a matter of debate as some of its features are found in sarcoidosis but also in Churg-Strauss syndrome, Wegener's disease and hypersensitivity pneumonitis. In this paper, we described for the first time a case of NSG in a family with several cases of sarcoidosis, reinforcing the relationship between NSG and sarcoidosis.

Novel genetic polymorphisms that further delineate the phylogeny of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex.

In a previous report, we described a PCR protocol for the differentiation of the various species of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC) on the basis of genomic deletions (R. C. Huard, L.

Down-modulation of lung immune responses by interleukin-10 and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) and analysis of TGF-beta receptors I and II in active tuberculosis.

Immune factors influencing progression to active tuberculosis (TB) remain poorly defined. In this study, we investigated the expression of immunoregulatory cytokines and receptors by using lung bronchoalveolar lavage cells obtained from patients with pulmonary TB, patients with other lung diseases (OLD patients), and healthy volunteers (VOL) by using reverse transcriptase PCR, a transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) bioactivity assay, and an enzyme immunoassay. TB patients were significantly more likely than OLD patients to coexpress TGF-beta receptor I (RI) and RII mRNA, as well as interleukin-10 (IL-10) mRNA (thereby indicating the state of active gene transcription in the alveolar cells at harvest).

The Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex-restricted gene cfp32 encodes an expressed protein that is detectable in tuberculosis patients and is positively correlated with pulmonary interleukin-10.

Human tuberculosis (TB) is caused by the bacillus Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a subspecies of the M. tuberculosis complex (MTC) of mycobacteria. Postgenomic dissection of the M.