Prevalence of pulmonary tuberculosis among adults in selected slums of Delhi city.

Background: A survey was carried out to estimate the point prevalence of bacteriologically positive pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) among persons ≥15 years of age residing in Jhuggi-Jhopri (JJ) colonies - urban slums in Delhi, India implementing Directly Observed Treatment strategy since 1998.

Methods: Among 12 JJ colonies selected by simple random sampling, persons having persistent cough for ≥2 weeks at the time of the survey or cough of any duration along with history of contact/currently on ant-TB treatment/known HIV positive were subjected to sputum examination - 2 specimens, by smear microscopy for Acid Fast Bacilli and culture for Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Persons with at least one specimen positive were labelled as bacteriologically confirmed PTB.

Salicylic acid seed priming instigates defense mechanism by inducing PR-Proteins in Solanum melongena L. upon infection with Verticillium dahliae Kleb.

Salicylic acid (SA) is a hormone connected with various cellular functions including the fight against invading pathogens. Priming of seeds pre-sowing is a very simple method to the farmers' to produce better growth, yield and manage the pathogens. The present study was aimed to determine the growth and disease resistance ability in brinjal seeds primed with different concentrations (0.

Drug-Induced Hypothyroidism during Anti-Tuberculosis Treatment of Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis: Notes from the Field.

We followed 188 euthyroidic persons undergoing treatment for multidrug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) in the state of Karnataka, India to determine the incidence of hypothyroidism during anti-tuberculosis treatment. Overall, among MDR-TB patients with valid thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) values, about 23% developed hypothyroidism (TSH value ≥10 mIU/ml) during anti-tuberculosis treatment; the majority (74%) occurring after 3 months of treatment. Among 133 patients who received a regimen that contained ethionamide, 42 (32%) developed hypothyroidism.

Are registered sputum smear-negative tuberculosis patients in Karnataka, India, diagnosed by national algorithm?

Setting: Four districts of Karnataka State, India, that have implemented the National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP).

Objective: To assess the proportion of patients diagnosed according to the nationally recommended algorithm among new smear-negative (NSN) PTB cases registered under the RNTCP.

Methods: Information on 201 registered NSN-PTB patients as regards date of initial sputum examination, repeat sputum examination and chest X-ray (CXR) if undertaken, treatment initiation and number of days of antibiotic treatment after initial sputum examination, were collected through record review and patient interviews.

A descriptive study of tuberculosis case finding in private health care facilities in a South Indian district.

Setting: A South Indian district providing anti-tuberculosis services through the Revised National TB Control Programme (RNTCP) and private health care facilities.

Objective: To ascertain the profile of tuberculosis (TB) patients diagnosed and/or treated in private health care facilities.

Methods: Data on TB cases diagnosed and/or treated in all clinical departments of the medical college, 83 nursing homes and RNTCP health care facilities were collected prospectively.